Texas Chili Parlor

[immamac 42,521]

So I'm sitting here about to eat a delicious meal (pics incoming) and I'm listening to the most unhinged old man shit ever. 

This one guy is giving another guy shit because he doesn't hate RFK enough. They think RFK entering the race hurts trumps chances. They are talking like caricatures of people who make no sense at all and are just pure outrage. 

What kinds of stories do you have from here? 

[South Austin 52,147]

I feel bad for your household tonight.

[hornmpa96 2,598]

Not Texas Chili Parlor but several months ago at Los Tios in Houston, my son and I were subjected to a conversation in the next booth where the 3 old white folks were convinced that slavery wasn’t that bad for the slaves. Free housing and food. What’s not to like?

[immamac 42,521]

These guys just said none of them have ever been on social media and then said that it’s what’s wrong with all the libtards. 

[immamac 42,521]

Oh my god. Now they are on speaker of the house shit. Jim Jordan the democrats got a hold of something about that sex shit when he was a national championship wrestler and they are waving it around. 

[DalTxHornFan 3,085]

Enjoy the food and drink, regardless.  What a great place!

[SydneyCarton 47,885]

When I was a stuntman I used to hang out there. One night a hot ass group of chicks came in and we proceeded to party. Sadly it ended up with me wrecking my car and one of the girls dying. They tried to hang me with manslaughter but I was sober as a judge. 
 

After that I laid low in Tennessee for awhile, which was a real fucking beating. 

[immamac 42,521]

3 minutes ago, DalTxHornFan said:

Enjoy the food and drink, regardless.  What a great place!

Was a great meal.

[coachherman'sgrill 1,982]

2 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

When I was a stuntman I used to hang out there. One night a hot ass group of chicks came in and we proceeded to party. Sadly it ended up with me wrecking my car and one of the girls dying. They tried to hang me with manslaughter but I was sober as a judge. 
 

After that I laid low in Tennessee for awhile, which was a real fucking beating. 

Ummmm.......??????

[SydneyCarton 47,885]

15 minutes ago, coachherman'sgrill said:

Ummmm.......??????

Sigh. Pearls before swine. 

Edited October 12, 2023 by SydneyCarton

[Celery Man 20,886]

I used to work right there and would get lunch at the bar a few times a week. Was great, even if it was loaded with assholes in flag lapel pins I could usually snag a seat at the bar and Brendan or Mike would slide my enchiladas and a Diet Coke in front of me in a matter of minutes, side of salsa. In and out in 15-20 minutes. No crazy stories really from being a lunch time regular. Totally independently of me, my in laws were/are regulars which was funny. Totally threw me for a loop one time at a barbecue at their house to see the long time waiter with the mustache and the rolled up pant leg (Buffalo bill, can’t remember his name right now although I should) out of context. We sold my wife’s old civic to one of the cooks. Still get bummed when I think about Jessica once in a little while (who was killed by a car while biking home from work late one night).

Edited October 12, 2023 by Celery Man

[That Guy 955]

Wish I was in Austin. 

[safe sex 11,684]

 

Edited October 12, 2023 by safe sex
Lack of good Death Proof gifs smh

[Biff Tannen 45,499]

I had no idea what to expect when this thread showed up in CR

[Celery Man 20,886]

7 minutes ago, That Guy said:

Wish I was in Austin. 

Have overheard so many times the story about how the drink didn’t exist until after the song.

[Celery Man 20,886]

16 minutes ago, Celery Man said:

Totally threw me for a loop one time at a barbecue at their house to see the long time waiter with the mustache and the rolled up pant leg (Buffalo bill, can’t remember his name right now although I should) out of context.

Kyle

[Longhorn_Fan68 33,843]

55 minutes ago, immamac said:

So I'm sitting here about to eat a delicious meal (pics incoming) and I'm listening to the most unhinged old man shit ever. 

This one guy is giving another guy shit because he doesn't hate RFK enough. They think RFK entering the race hurts trumps chances. They are talking like caricatures of people who make no sense at all and are just pure outrage. 

What kinds of stories do you have from here? 

is the reason this is here because of the top-right corner?

[Pescado_Rojo 19,331]

I went once and they were out of chili. You may have heard the story before.

[bolverk 29,405]

20 minutes ago, Celery Man said:

I used to work right there and would get lunch at the bar a few times a week. Was great, even if it was loaded with assholes in flag lapel pins I could usually snag a seat at the bar and Brendan or Mike would slide my enchiladas and a Diet Coke in front of me in a matter of minutes, side of salsa. In and out in 15-20 minutes. No crazy stories really from being a lunch time regular. Totally independently of me, my in laws were/are regulars which was funny. Totally threw me for a loop one time at a barbecue at their house to see the long time waiter with the mustache and the rolled up pant leg (Buffalo bill, can’t remember his name right now although I should) out of context. We sold my wife’s old civic to one of the cooks. Still get bummed when I think about Jessica once in a little while (who was killed by a car while biking home from work late one night).

I'm pretty sure I sat next to you at the bar during my lunch break once while you were scrolling through Surly/Shaggy. I think I recognized you because you'd recently shown some vacation photos in the travel section, plus you were scrolling through Surly/Shaggy.

[Gatorubet 30,117]

14 minutes ago, bolverk said:

I'm pretty sure I sat next to you at the bar during my lunch break once while you were scrolling through Surly/Shaggy. I think I recognized you because you'd recently shown some vacation photos in the travel section, plus you were scrolling through Surly/Shaggy.

Bar security cam

[Celery Man 20,886]

24 minutes ago, bolverk said:

I'm pretty sure I sat next to you at the bar during my lunch break once while you were scrolling through Surly/Shaggy. I think I recognized you because you'd recently shown some vacation photos in the travel section, plus you were scrolling through Surly/Shaggy.

yeah almost certainly that was the case. or at least, that was probably after my then girlfriend and I's first europe trip and that was in my peak sit at the chili parlor bar during lunch and eat enchiladas while scrolling shaggy era

[atomheartbevo 89,450]

1 hour ago, immamac said:

RFK

1 hour ago, immamac said:

What kinds of stories do you have from here? 

I used to go there when Lee Harvey Oswald's daughter Rachel worked there, back in the late 80s/early 90s.  She was working her way through nursing school, and was cute and nice.  Didn't know who her dad was until I had eaten there for years, which is funny because I was into the JFK stuff at the time (Stone's movie had come out a few years before).

That's not much of a story though.

[bolverk 29,405]

15 minutes ago, Celery Man said:

yeah almost certainly that was the case. or at least, that was probably after my then girlfriend and I's first europe trip and that was in my peak sit at the chili parlor bar during lunch and eat enchiladas while scrolling shaggy era

Yup. It was the Eurotrip.

[DalTxHornFan 3,085]

My favorite virtual background for Zoom calls:

[Anastasis 23,394]

58 minutes ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

I went once and they were out of chili. You may have heard the story before.

Still think this is a bit. 

[ConferenceRoom 6,130]

18 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

I used to go there when Lee Harvey Oswald's daughter Rachel worked there, back in the late 80s/early 90s.  She was working her way through nursing school, and was cute and nice.  Didn't know who her dad was until I had eaten there for years, which is funny because I was into the JFK stuff at the time (Stone's movie had come out a few years before).

That's not much of a story though.

I was going to mention that Texas Monthly interview she did while working there. This is even less of a story than yours. 

[Anastasis 23,394]

15 minutes ago, DalTxHornFan said:

My favorite virtual background for Zoom calls:

Right click save as. 

[DalTxHornFan 3,085]

My UT-centric clients always recognize that background.

[DalTxHornFan 3,085]

Ripped it off from this article during the Covid stuff.  Some other good Austin related Zoom backgrounds, too.

Keep Your Meetings Local With 10 Extremely Austin Zoom Backgrounds

https://austin.towers.net/keep-your-meetings-local-with-10-extremely-austin-zoom-backgrounds/?pro=jude@towers.net

[The Original Greaser Bob 2,799]

2 hours ago, immamac said:

 

[Born to Run 6,568]

Still think this is a bit. 

I went to Popeyes once and they were out of chicken. All types. And fish and shrimp. After 10 minutes I deduced they had rolls and sides. But not beans and rice.
Just close shop bro.

[Brisketexan 104,628]

I went once and they were out of chili. You may have heard the story before.

@Bozo_Casanova and @Kyrie Eleison , to the white courtesy phone.

[Bozo_Casanova 26,285]

1 hour ago, Anastasis said:

Still think this is a bit. 

it's not - it was me, @Brisketexan, @Pescado_Rojo, @Kyrie Eleison and KE's fiancee-now wife.
We went to the Chili Parlor and they were out of Chili. It was like that Sesame Street when they tell Big Bird that Mr Hooper died, and Big Bird keeps asking when he's coming back. She said they didn't have Chili and somebody would say, "oh well I'll have XX," and she would say "again, no, I'm sorry we don't have Chili today."
Then she offered us "white chili," whatever that is. 

Edited October 12, 2023 by Bozo_Casanova

[Hornius Emeritus 12,420]

2 hours ago, Celery Man said:

Have overheard so many times the story about how the drink didn’t exist until after the song.

Not true. The song was released in 1995. The Chili Parlor opened in 1976. The heyday of the Mad Dogs was shortly after it opened. Guy Clark said they invented it because it was cheap. Back then, not too many people drank mezcal.

[chainsaw 9,838]

3 hours ago, hornmpa96 said:

slavery wasn’t that bad for the slaves. Free housing and food. What’s not to like?

[Celery Man 20,886]

8 minutes ago, Hornius Emeritus said:

Not true. The song was released in 1995. The Chili Parlor opened in 1976. The heyday of the Mad Dogs was shortly after it opened. Guy Clark said they invented it because it was cheap. Back then, not too many people drank mezcal.

Interesting - certainly I’d take your word on it but I’d heard from staff several times that it wasn’t a menu item until after the song. Maybe they’re misinformed, or maybe it just wasn’t officially listed on the menu until later.

[immamac 42,521]

I’m thinking we need a surly gathering at this place. 

[hookemATL 11,611]

Don’t ask for Lone Star. And I go frito pie with extra onions and japs. Nomzzz

[F250 28,691]

4 hours ago, immamac said:

So I'm sitting here about to eat a delicious meal (pics incoming) and I'm listening to the most unhinged old man shit ever. 

This one guy is giving another guy shit because he doesn't hate RFK enough. They think RFK entering the race hurts trumps chances. They are talking like caricatures of people who make no sense at all and are just pure outrage. 

What kinds of stories do you have from here? 

The Steel Shank thread is over in lulz.

 

 

[smokebomb 357]

I’ve long been a patron of the Chili Parlor & the day it closes might be the true death of Old Austin. It’s a great restaurant & you can never go wrong with the Frieda’s enchiladas and/or the frito pie. Never order a Lone Star because I was told it’s not served due to a shitty sales rep back in the 70s or 80s demanding they only serve Lone Star beer. So they told him to kiss off & have never sold it since. 
 

My understanding is the current owner (Zub?) bought it from the 2nd owner in 2002. She bought it from the original owners in the late 90s but didn’t pay her sales tax & the state closed her down. The original closure notice is still hanging on the wall on the right as you head to the bathrooms/kitchen. Zub was a two decade patron of the Parlor & couldn’t see it closing, so he paid off the taxes & took over the restaurant. I’m also pretty sure I saw him on an episode of Art Mann Presents drunker than a skunk at the AVNs in Vegas. 
 

As was alluded earlier in the thread, the Parlor was used for a scene in Tarantino’s film Death Proof but they added a jukebox & switched the ‘entrance’ to the kitchen/bathroom area. In the 2000s, Tarantino often visited the place & would hang out with one of the waitresses when in town. She was on his arm during one of his Austin premiers. 
 

And the waiter that always rides a bike & has his pant leg rolled up has been there at least 20 years. He always looks stoned as hell but when I first started going, his only job was to keep everyone’s water & tea filled at lunch. He seemed happy in doing it & did that for many years before ‘graduating’ to being a waiter. 
 

Again - the Chili Parlor is an amazing place and an Austin staple.  

Edited October 12, 2023 by smokebomb

[atomheartbevo 89,450]

5 hours ago, ConferenceRoom said:

I was going to mention that Texas Monthly interview she did while working there. This is even less of a story than yours. 

Given the demographics of Surly and that she worked there from the late 80s through the mid 90s (maybe later, I stopped going in '94/'95 as I was not in Austin very much after that), I have a feeling that she served more than one Surly poster (who probably flirted with her as well).  Unfortunately, no photos from that time as far as I can tell.

[Celery Man 20,886]

If it isn’t known, the Chili Parlor is low key a great Tex-Mex place. Their green cheese enchiladas are my favorite in town. They make their salsa with serranos and it clears your sinuses.

[Anastasis 23,394]

Use to hit the place up all the time after happy hour at the real Cloak Room. 

[marriedup 68]

My birthday lunch with family is always at the Chili Parlor. When my kids were little they would bitch about it (nothing fried!) but tough shit, it's my birthday. Now that they are grownish they still give me shit about celebrating my birthday at the Chili Parlor, but they love it. I catch them going with their friends, so passing the torch to the next generation and doing my part to keep old Austin alive.

[jimmyjazz 45,560]

Love that place.  My only problem is XX isn't hot enough but XXX is too hot for my tastes.  I was hemming and hawing one day and the exasperated waiter said "look, I'll have  them make you a bowl of half and half".

Oh.  Good idea.  It was perfect.  /nocsb

[4th&Five 41,461]

A buddy and I thought it would be cool to eat there before seeing Guy at the Union Ballroom one night. We walk in and there’s Guy and Verlon in the back booth having a pre show meal. Shouldn’t have been surprised but we both thought it was cool as shit. 

[pacman 7,330]

Ny uncle proposed to my aunt there in the 80s, real romantic lol. It is where they first met.

CP used to have something on the wall to commemorate but it disappeared awhile back when CP moved things around.

Edited October 12, 2023 by pacman

[Kyrie Eleison 9,312]

11 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

it's not - it was me, @Brisketexan, @Pescado_Rojo, @Kyrie Eleison and KE's fiancee-now wife.
We went to the Chili Parlor and they were out of Chili. It was like that Sesame Street when they tell Big Bird that Mr Hooper died, and Big Bird keeps asking when he's coming back. She said they didn't have Chili and somebody would say, "oh well I'll have XX," and she would say "again, no, I'm sorry we don't have Chili today."
Then she offered us "white chili," whatever that is. 

[Covri 6,231]

14 hours ago, immamac said:

 

Disturbing lack of cheese hinge.

 

[Pescado_Rojo 19,331]

11 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

it's not - it was me, @Brisketexan, @Pescado_Rojo, @Kyrie Eleison and KE's fiancee-now wife.
We went to the Chili Parlor and they were out of Chili. It was like that Sesame Street when they tell Big Bird that Mr Hooper died, and Big Bird keeps asking when he's coming back. She said they didn't have Chili and somebody would say, "oh well I'll have XX," and she would say "again, no, I'm sorry we don't have Chili today."
Then she offered us "white chili," whatever that is. 

That was a menu item? I thought that was her nickname for Brisket