Chupacabra Cantina — Restaurant in Austin

I am not one to frequent Dirty 6th, as a matter of fact, I tend to avoid it like the plague of fratsorority 20-something ATX tourist infestation that it is.

That being said, like any Austinite who has lived here more than a month (unlike most of the people you find on D6) every now and again I have to serve my semi-annual penance and go to D6 for some event or friend's birthday or to show a visiting friend/relative/perspective AirBnB client what to avoid after their first time here; I just so happen to be in the vicinity for a "special event" this Saturday night which led me to my inadvertent burger discovery.

I also usually loathe the parking sitch on D6 because of the lack thereof on top of dealing wall the skunky drunkies on and off the road. I kid you not, but I actually witnessed 2 car accidents on my walk from Red River to the Chupacabra and one very near hit and run on my walk back. The D6 stretch is not for the faint of heart, folks!

Why am I telling you all this? Because when I say I'd brave D6 on my next downtown misventure to get another burger here, you know I am not paying lipservice!

I was starving because there was not free noms at the "special event" I went to and I was at the point of famine where my primal urges set in and I just wanted a juicy chunk of meat and a beer and anything that gets in my way will have to deal with the consequences and repercussions. However, I came upone the Chupacabra and a Godzilla like incident was happily avoided.

I was a lil put off initially cuz this definitely had a "Bro Bar" vibe when I entered, but after I was immediately greeted, sat and my really accommodating waitress (who, bless her heart, had the Bro Table next to me) immediately brought me a water and took my order and then immediately brought me my beer, I was impressed! Even when I told her I was on "meter time" (I miraculously found a spot, but the 3hr max goes by quick in D6 time) she even brought me out my tab & took my payment before my burger came out!

Speaking of...I had the honey jalapeno cheeseburger (sans the actual jalapenos because my stomach and they are not on speaking terms) and though it took longer to come out than it did for me to inhale it, it was worth the (epically long) wait! This thing was so damn juicy, greasy, honey bacony w/the flavor kick of the jalapeno w/o the pain that I was in carnal lust! Add to that the surprisingly delicious waffle fries ($1.99 upcharge) and I was in horkdown-heaven!

The beer was $5 for the pint of Hijack Cream Ale and the burger w/fries came to $10.48, so with the well-earned tip, I walked away dropping $20 and gaining a 5lb food baby, but you always get a little bit of price uptick on 6th and though not what I would usually spend for a burger, fries and a beer, it was not a bad deal comparatively with other places around town.

So, well done Chupacabra, you have managed to somehow make me hate Dirty 6th a little...

The reason for the one star is the extremely poor service in response to an obvious error on the part of the kitchen. Errors are going to happen but management is supposed to be ready to respond. We were a large group that placed our orders separately for food - several individual orders for of 3, 4, and 5 meals. While waiting, we bought more than  several items of logo merchandise, ordered pints of beer, and several flights. We were spending a lot of money here. Each individual "group" order was received in a relatively short time. Except one of our groups. They waited. And waited. And waited. After 35 minutes past the last previous party receiving their food, we asked about the order. "It is coming right out now" was the response. This pattern occurred for three more intervals of 10 minutes each. One server started apologizing and to try to make up for the error offered to bring them complimentary glasses of water for the inconvenience. Really? Water? In a glass? Not "So sorry for the RIDICULOUSLY long wait - this meal is on us" or anything of the sort. When the order finally came it was still incomplete  and the 3 chicken strip dinner only had 2 chicken strips. The other dinner finally arrived and to make up for the missing 1 chicken strip 2 strips and a few extra fries were brought. All that was given for a lost order that took well over an hour after all other parties received & ate their meals was verbal apologies, 1 extra chicken strip and a few fries. All I can say is customer service is not being practiced well...

Theres street parking and some private parking around the area but no private parking.

The music is way too loud for sure. I could not hear the ppl on the table next to me while we tried to eat and have a conversation. this is set up a bit like a club almost, lots of loud music and dancing.

FEND FOR YOURSELF when it comes to ordering you do it with the bartender there is no true wait service here. SO GET YOUR OWN NAPKINS cause nobody will bring them to u.

FROZEN STRAWBERRIES MARGARITA- like every frozen drink, way too weak even for me. here they do not make sure it is well made and the drink was too weak and sour.

SUPER QUESO - huge! you can definitely share with at least 4 ppl and it is funny how the chips come in a paper bag, the presentation here fells like its for money saving and not for cleverness impact.

ORANGE BRISKET TACO- my taco was cold!!! So cold. But super spicy it was disgusting. I couldn't even eat it, and since you do not enjoy table service here I had nobody that noticed my unhappiness with the meal.

SIDE OF RICE AND PINTO BEANS - the rice and beans were ok. I could taste that they been on one of those water heaters waiting for me lol. Overall the rice and beans were ok.

No way, there is no excuse to serve cold food at all. I'm sorry but. Weak drinks, no table service and cold food.... I cant .

They are definitely more worried about being a bar that is very clear. this is not a great place to eat, not even if I am starving and this is the only place open I would not...