There’s only one place in Austin that can satisfy the wants of dive-bar enthusiasts, chili lovers, and Downtown workers hungry for excellent enchiladas. That place is Texas Chili Parlor. There aren’t a lot of spots that can wear this many hats successfully, but TCP has been playing the role of a bartender, chili vendor, and Tex-Mex restaurant on Lavaca and 15th since the mid-1970s. And it’s been doing it with the grizzled expertise of a business that opened its doors a full year before chili became the state dish of Texas (coincidence?). Walking in feels a little like entering a cave—it’s dimly lit and chilly inside—and there are usually a handful of people sitting at the bar who look like they’ve been there since the restaurant’s inception. It has that “old dive-bar aroma” mixed with the lingering smell of beer and chili spices. A few windows let just enough light enter the dining room to prevent you from stubbing a toe, while also serving as a reminder that you’re on a busy street just a stone’s throw away from the Capitol. There are about half a dozen different chilis on the menu—including a few with beans for anyone not from Texas—with varying levels of heat (x, xx, xxx). If you’re not really sure where to start, there’s a chili taster where you can try mini portions of a few different varieties. They also have a full menu of Tex-Mex staples like burritos and fajitas, but for the mashup of the century, you’ll want to try the Freidas Enchiladas plate—two cheese enchiladas topped with a giant ladle of the chili of your choice. It adds a deep, savory note (and some giant chunks of soft, stewed beef) that we never knew could work so well as a blanket for some enchiladas. After work, pop into Texas Chili Parlor during Happy Hour for a few bucks off the Mad Dog Margarita—they’re as potent as they sound—and some shelter from the sun. TCP is an Austin institution that’s been immortalized in song, and after a few Mad Dogs, you’ll probably be singing about it, too.