El Chile Cafe y Cantina

About

The margaritas at El Chile have always been the move, and happy hour just makes the math better. Monday through Friday, 3 to 5:30, margs are $2 off, cocktails $2 off, beers $1 off, and appetizers drop $3. It's straightforward discounting on a menu that was already priced fairly.

El Chile sits on Manor Road in East Austin, and it's been a neighborhood staple long enough that the crowd reflects it. You get regulars at the bar, families in the dining room, and people who just know this is where you go for solid Mexican food without the tourist markup of South Congress or Rainey Street.

El Chile happy hour isn't flashy. The queso is reliable, the margs are properly balanced (not too sweet), and the staff has been doing this long enough that the kitchen doesn't slow down during the rush. Sometimes that's exactly what you want out of a Tuesday at 4 p.m.