If you want top-notch service, gourmet food, and a dry martini, you might want to skip this place. It's old, funky, loud, and cool as hell. If you don't get it, you won't like it. You probably won't like the people, because they have seen every kind of snobbery there is.
However, if you want a badass margarita, food that begs to be washed down with ice cold beer, and to sit in the same space as some of the greatest American musicians and artist, DON'T MISS IT. Places like this are getting rare.
Jessica Biggs - Villanueva
+5
Very unique place with amazing food and best of all, great service!! The servers are running around the whole night but they have an amazing attitude and they take the time to make you feel welcome.
Queso with Chili added was hands down the best Queso in Austin!! � � � �
I’m really glad that my friends brought me here during our quick stay in Austin. The environment has a great “hole in the wall” vibe with delicious food that’s priced really well. Service was great and I will definitely be coming here every time I visit Austin.
Great chili, fantastic "Mad Dog Margaritas, good company. Don't visit Austin without trying this place. I sat at the bar conversing with the coolest bartender on the planet. "I wish I was in Austin, in a chili parlor bar, drinking mad dog margarita's and not caring where you are...". - Guy Clark
Tania Lynn Galer Manchaca
+5
Best little dive place around! We just can't stay away! We've tried everything on the menu and it's all good. The drinks will knock your socks off!
For well over 15 or more years I've been going every time I visit Austin. I've had nothing bad on the menu. I recommend the frito pie. And a mad dog margarita while your at it.
best chili.cold beer,fast service....great choice. The longhorn game was on making it even better.
Love this place! It's not fancy but the food is amazing! I had the tamales covered with chili. I was in heaven. Next time I'm trying the Frito pie!!
Hole in the wall...thought it was closed until...the scents of smoking meats wafted across a damp, rainy, splashy Austin street, just steps from the capitol. As a northerner, I can take heat on the t9ngue, but, this was a tasty 3xplosion of flavor...cheeseburger with jalapeños, avocado and bacon, plus a sampler size of medium chili. I started sweating after two bites of the chili..deliciousness...going back tomorrow. 😉
Best place to get an OUTSTANDING bowl of Red. Also, a great bowl of NM Green. One of the "Mecca" places for all Chiliheads and those who adore chili.
Exceptional service and great food and fun! Double X is plenty hot Tripple XXX will light you up! Sampler is a great way to enjoy the best of their bill of fare!
The place never disappoints. Awesome food awesome service ��
It's a rundown looking restaurant that resembles a dive bar but serves some good food. For starter I ordered the tostadas and salsa to start and it was spicy but delicious homemade salsa with some crispy chips. For main I ordered the chili sampler of white pork, venison, and black bean beef sausage chili. Venison and white pork were ok, just bland bowls of soup, but the black bean beef sausage one was very good, full of flavor without being spicy. I also got the gumbo sampler and that was delicious also. I was warned not you get the habanero beef and pinto beans because it's the spiciest thing they have in the whole restaurant, so don't order unless you can handle it. The bathroom was pretty nasty and the scenery is tacky but if you only care about trying some good chili then you should come
We visited on a Monday night and we’re surprised to find a line but it moved quickly. We had the chicken burrito, the chilli bowl and shared some nachos. The flavours were amazing, the chilli spicy but not too much. Genuine good tex-mex, value for money.
A diamond in the heart of Austin. Such an amazing spot for chili. Came here after visiting some museums. Located in the centre of downtown. Tried the xxx chili and it did not disappoint. Burrito was amazing too. The atmosphere gives of dark yet relaxing vibe. Definitely a spot you have to check out if you’re in the area.
My favorite spot in all of Austin. Great service, hard-to-beat prices, *delicious* food. Mad Dog Margaritas are iconic. The “Habanero Beef & Pinto Bean Chili” is some of the best, most addicting chili you’ll ever have. They’ve got a great variety of chilis & all sorts of other menu items. Pictured: pork chop dinner smothered in queso & habanero chili, cheese nachos w/ habanero chili (jalapeños on the side), two Mad Dogs (:
So I got the sampler with the black bean, venison and pork chili and also got a chuck beef frito pie to try to sample everything. The black bean one was my favorite. All of them were unique. I didn't care for the chunky pulled pot roast style meat in the chucky beef one but the heat was very good. The restaurant it self is more of a ran down dive vat style than a restaurant. I would definitely come back though!
Always support local! This place has been in Austin for a bit and is know for its Chili. We went for lunch and had the burgers. It’s an old school burger, tastes great, and hits the mark. No fries, they have chips. The chili selection is plentiful and there is a full bar. Several people coming in on their lunch break.
A Texas hidden gem next to the Capitol!! We had the hot beef chili & pork chili!! Nice heat and flavors!! LOVED the interior dining room decor & vibe! Parking is limited in the immediate area but worth the walk.
Great chili, really smart tasting menu. The chunky beef chili, omg! Habanero chili good n hot but still edible 👍🏼while bean chili, very classy.
Maverick Horseback Riding
+5
First I came in for ice only.
Talk about a cheap date! The staff was so friendly I asked to ice down my horses and again they obliged. So we stayed for a beer. They brought us water!! THANKS TX CHILI PARLOR!!! Y’all rock!
Michelle Duerksen, AFSP (MZD Tax)
+4
We stopped here on our way to San Antonio, but wanted to visit the TX State House. Food was great and the menu did offer many options for all pallets. My husband did a bowl of their 3XXX Chili and added in more jalapeños before tasting. At first he didn't feel the heat but about halfway in it finally started to hit him and he was using crackers to cool mouth down.
I had the frito pie with the level 1 chili. The chili was pretty mild but for those who don't like spice they would say it was too spicy. At first we both thought that the servings were small but they wound up being the perfect amount and the price works with the plate size.
This is a hole in the wall kind of place. Note that it is not ADA accessible for wheel chairs into the restrooms they are very tiny. Go in with an open mind for the staff and atmosphere. Staff is very friendly and very helpful.
The iconic restaurant featured in Quentin Tarantino's " Death Proof." The Texas Chili Parlor is scary goodness at its finest! The gumbo was full of flavor, and the chili was incredibly tasty, and did I mention HOT!? Well, it's HOT!! A must try if you're visiting the capitol building as it is only two blocks away. The service was awesome and fun. I highly recommend this perfectly rustic spot I Austin.
I’ve lived here for nearly a decade and finally paid a visit to the famous Texas Chili Parlor. It was wonderful— no complaints. Great customer service. Everyone was personable and friendly. I felt right at home! The margs were good and the chili was delicious. I’m planning on visiting again soon.
In town for a conference and my husband mentioned wanting to try this for a long time so we walked over and had a great time! We had chili tasters and nachos. Of course we had to get the Mad Dog Margaritas, that’s a must do! The chili was amazing. The tasters are a great way to try a few different flavors. We were seated and waited on quickly. We went early…around 5:00pm and it was busy but no wait. I highly recommend giving this place a visit.
I was in Austin for 3 days and ate lunch here for 2 of them. I had the enchiladas one day and a cheeseburger on the other.
The food is fantastic, and the service is quick. I visit Austin 1x a month, I can't wait to try more menu items.
I highly recommend checking them out if you are in the area.
We came in today. Not our first time. I grew up coming here. It's a gem. But today our service was phenomenal 🙌 they were busy but never missed a beat.
Food was delicious as expected and the mad dogs will make ya boogie.
Nice little chili place. Went on a Wednesday evening and had to wait for maybe 15 minutes. The staff is friendly and the chili tasted good. It's not the best chili but a solid one. My only complaint is the large chili portion is a little too small. I would not recommend any of the fountain drinks because the ones we had had a strong chlorine taste. The water and the rest of the drinks were fine though.
Wow! This place is an instant classic. Cosy environment and the Chili is to kill for. We have the steak & enchiladas, Mac and cheese chili, the chili potato and the chili hot dog. Everything was great. Just be careful as hot chili can be a bit hot. They really know their chili.
Please like this review and follow me for more honest reviews.
The cheese enchiladas with queso are the best! Beans and rice are very tasty. The chili potato is really good. Side salad is huge. The beat part is the atmosphere. It's a dive, plain and simple. Just the way I like it!
Pretty good! Stopped in to try the famous chili, did not disappoint. Got chips and queso to go along with our tasters (we tasted mild and med), chips were very good! Reasonably priced snack after visiting the capital. FYI, it's a sticky-table type of situation there, but I think that's the intended ambiance for that type of bar/restaurant.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes