Summertime Sip
Cool Off in the Heat of the Day
Words by Sam Lauron Photos by Shelby Bella
When the sun beats down across the city, what better way to recuperate than with an ice cold drink? Frozen drink season is upon us, and luckily there are plenty of options to choose from in Austin, including El Chilito’s Frozen Sangria.
The “little brother” of El Chile, El Chilito, is meant to resemble the taco stands frequently seen around every corner in San Antonio. “That’s really what I missed when I came to Austin,” says owner and founder of El Chile Group, Carlos Rivero, “[that’s] what I was trying to create.”
El Chilito offers a similar menu to El Chile’s but focuses on more casual, accessible features like a la carte to-go menu items. But if there’s one thing that’s the same across the board, the happy hour deals are “can’t miss.”
Every day of the week, from 3-7pm, Austinites can enjoy El Chilito’s happy hour serving their ever popular Frozen Sangria. After witnessing how much of a hit their drinks were at El Chile, Rivero wanted to offer frozen concoctions on El Chilito’s menu but couldn’t serve liquor at the fast-casual restaurant. Instead of going with a wine-based margarita, he went with a sangria to “give it the textural feel of a frozen margarita but with all the sangria flavors,” he smiles.
The fruity sangria flavors stand out within the slush texture and perfectly hit the spot for an after work weekday treat to lighten the week or to cool off when the weekend’s outdoor activities are sweltering. And what would happy hour be without every Austinite’s favorite food group: queso? Their queso is filled with a hearty serving of mushrooms, peppers, and onions. The menu also includes guacamole and ceviche that perfectly balances out the frozen drink.
El Chilito’s $2 happy hour does not disappoint with Frozen Sangrias or “Mexi-cans” and $2 off queso, guac, and ceviche. Though El Chilito has branched out from their original Eastside locations with their Burnet Road and Manchaca locations, East Austin will always play a major part of their story. Because according to Rivero, “we started on the Eastside that has a lot to do with our identity.”
Did you know? The Frozen Sangria isn’t the only frozen treat you can enjoy at El Chilito. Any day of the week patrons can indulge in an ice cold frozen mimosa to go along with a breakfast taco from their all-day breakfast menu.
Contact:
2219 Manor Road or
1623 E 7th Street
elchilito.com
