Asador at Cheer up Charlies

Asador at Cheer Up Charlies is a laid-back spot that pairs simple, flavorful food with a relaxed bar-style atmosphere. The menu is fairly focused, which helps keep things straightforward, and the dishes we tried were well-prepared and satisfying for the price. Portions were reasonable, and everything came out hot and fresh. The vibe is casual and social, making it a good place to grab a bite while enjoying the surrounding energy of the venue. Service was friendly, though not rushed, which matches the overall easygoing feel. It’s a decent choice if you’re nearby and want something uncomplicated and filling.

Wanted to try a few things, so I got chips, salsa, and guac as well as a chicken taco and cauliflower taco. I wanted more onions on the cauliflower taco, but I will give it credit for really good flavor. The chips were homemade, guac was really good! The chicken taco was my fave....added some guac and it was fire. I've seen a few comments about the price being too high at $7/taco. My local taco place sells the small street tacos for between $3-$5 each. These are 6 inch shells, so nearly double the size of the street tacos. I thought pricing was absolutely fair and the food was tasty.

Good taco truck at The Grackle. Simple menu with tacos and chips and queso/guac/ salsa. Food was really good, good was fast, and easy to order at the truck. 4 stars because there was no napkins, it's greasy af, and they should wear gloves when making the food.

Great flavors! Different than the typical tacos you get here. The homemade flour tortillas are some of the best I’ve had (actually tastes a bit like Asian Bing if you’ve ever had that). The green salsa is a way better flavor than the typical Austin taco truck green sauce. There aren’t a ton of options, but you don’t need them. The brisket (served like burnt ends), carnitas and grilled chicken were all very tasty! It is kinddd of pricey though. $6.50 for one taco 😅

Just saw a show at Mohawk and came here right after for a quick bite. My son and I are vegetarian, and absolutely loved the Mushrooms & Mole tacos, as well as the cauliflower one. The food came out very quickly (it wasn't busy), and the food was hot and delicious. It seems like they're making their own tortillas and they're awesome. The accompanying salsa was the perfect spice level. Loved it!!

It takes a pretty bad experience for me to rate a place this low but this was horrible food. Queso here was super watery and tasted more like bad milk than authentic queso. It was so bad. Briscuit was so dry and thin and soaking in loads of grease. Definitely over cooked. Quesadilla was also made pretty bad.. It was more like a fried taco. However, worker was very friendly but I would not come here again, unfortunately.

I love this place! I love the smoked brisket tacos, quesadillas and nachos. The balance and proportions of everything are perfect. The flavor is amazing! The people who work there are always friendly. At the location that I normally go to, the chef/taco master Jake is super awesome! There are a ton of taco places to go in Austin. Asador easily exceeds most of them. The smoked brisket takes it over the top too. I super highly recommend!

Great food. Chicken, brisket, and carnitas all great. Don't like the 20% auto gratuity

One of the best gay bars I've ever been to. Bonus-walking distance from home. It's all you'd expect from a great gay bar. Inclusion, love, fun. Great drinks. Great staff. Great crowd.

Such a great place to start your night. Inclusive environment. Just full of the right type of people. Everyone is there to have a good time. Whether it's to catch a show or to hang out outback and chill. Three bars throughout the venue making it easy to get a drink when you need one. Food truck on site... Although you broke my heart when you took away Arlos. This was a sin against me. This is an Austin staple of the queer community. I am really glad to see so many lesbians coming here. This place really serves the community well. Parking sucks. Don't even think about trying to park on red river. Walk a few blocks and it's way easier. And leave your car here and walk to 4th Street or east.

This is a dope bar. They often have drag shows and fun queer events that make them a standout gay bar to go to. I love the location of this bar as well, because it's right next to a few concert venues (Mowhawk, Stubb's, Moody, Antone's, etc) which is primely located for continuing the party post-concert.

Drinks aren't badly priced. The music was fun. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to be working there.

Great service. It's a local live music place, nothing fancy. There is an indoor area with air conditioning. The live music is outdoors and I got many mosquito bites :(. The drink options were nice with a vegan option, which I tried - the Yeti made with vodka, coconut milk and Khalua. It was pretty good.

So much fun post concert drag show on the outdoor patio!! No cover charge and such talented artists highly recommend!!!!

Impossible to put into words what a great space this is. I've traveled all over, you won't find a more open, kind, generous space. Ideal for lesbians, karaoke, fun. Inclusive. Fabulous drinks and just a great time all around. I would say this is a rarity and you must go if you're in town. Thanks so much. Really appreciate it.

I'm genuinely surprised this isn't listed as a 5 star spot in ATX. If you're one of those people who is worried that you might not be "gay enough" for a gay bar, you have nothing to fear at Cheer Up Charlies. It's an incredibly welcoming space where the vibe is very relaxed queer freedom. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Now maybe I'm biased to loving this place because I got to see an incredible drag show when I came here. But even before the show began I was having a good time. The drinks are strong (and vegan) without being overwhelming. Cider? Yes please. A cocktail? You can't go wrong. Everyone is so friendly behind the bar(s) too. There's indoor and and outdoor seating. It's mostly outdoor so be prepared for that. The area on the opposite side of the building from the stage is nice and quiet if you need a respite from the noise.

This bar was so much fun! Good music. 2 bars one inside and one outside... there might have been another but go and check it out! Drinks were yummy and staff were nice!

Nate and I stumbled upon Cheer Up Charlies while in the area for a show at Stubb's later that the evening. We actually ended up going there two separate times that night because we loved this bar so much! They have some unique cocktails, kombucha, and non-alcoholic options. I got the kale limearita and it was refreshing and tasty! I loved the big menu with its fun design and easy to read text. There was a lot to see at Cheer Up Charlies in their outdoor area - a big stage for bands, fun murals, interesting seating, a photobooth, a neon cat being projected onto the floor, etc. We had so much fun just hanging out. The bartenders were very friendly and kind. I felt really welcome and comfortable and would definitely make this a go-to spot if I lived in the area.

Met up with our gay friends here when we visited Austin-- this is a really fun queer bar with a fantastically friendly staff and a lovely outdoor space in the back, perfect for hanging with friends and meeting new ones. And the Gin Wilders are super tasty!!

My buddy and I stopped in here for a quick drink while staying at a nearby downtown Austin hotel. I wouldn't classify this as gay bar but really more of a place that caters to everyone and people can just hangout and be themselves. Being later in the evening (after 1 am) it was very laidback and quiet but with the music venue here, I expect it gets lively here. The outdoor area is the best feature as there's not a ton of indoor seating. Wish they had Shiner here but otherwise I found no issues with the bar offerings and service. Worth a look if you're wandering around downtown. Recommended.

Such an eclectic and amazing hang out. This bar was walking distance from my hotel. Many delicious drinks to choose from and an extremely friendly and kind staff. Love the ambience too!

There is often a smell in the inside of this Cheer Up Charlie's like cotton candy fog? There were many fun nights with great music considering the alternative. I am a straight girl and i consider myself an Ally to a certain extent. Cheer Up's hosted Sky Huchens Darkwave Showcase called Nite School. It was the most goth yet fun dance music with artists from different cities that were pretty good until like last winter. Then it was like the hidden message that the music sucks intentionally because of good artists being afraid of stalkers or something like that. The owner of Cheer Ups rules, and has been kind to me.

Cheer Ups, you're changing, and not in a good way...and I'm not talking about losing Arlos, but yeah that's also a bummer :/

The best queer bar of Austin. I never thought a bar could be so welcoming, chill and open for all. I can never talk this place up higher, it is the best. Their drinks are all so delicious. I just wish we had a bar like this in my home city.

Great cocktail menu & had a great time enjoying the music and entertainment at their 90s country night.

Drinks are strong, dancing is fun, and this is truly the best place in Austin to be safe and feel queer joy. Long live chups

fun always! Great established spot in ATX.. great drinks and fabulous bartenders!! It's great for Happy Hours or any hours..

This cute little bar is one of my current favorite live music spots on Red River. They have a small stage inside and a large outdoor stage that backs up to a rock wall and makes for great music acoustics in the open air. Cover charges and drink prices are reasonable, and there's a full bar inside. We've seen some fun local bands there. Cheer Ups is known locally as an "ally bar," which essentially means that they welcome LGBQT patrons and straight patrons who are chill and inclusive of everyone. In other words, it's representative of Austin. So feel free to be yourself there, unless you're a jerk, in which case just steer clear. Parking is as you can find it on the street, which is the main challenge of the Red River strip.

This is a great spot for LGTBQ+ and allies. The drinks were great and the music was even better! The Halloween themed drag show was hilarious. Lots of food trucks are close by, great location for a good time.

We came here on the recommendation from our tour guide. She said it was one of her favorite spots for live music and cool vibes. - This is definitely the spot for good music and cool vibes. We did not know it was LGBT friendly but it made it all the more awesome since it was diverse and welcoming. Their cocktails were good and they had a decent selection of beers. If I lived here, I could see it being one of my favorite spots.

Didn't get a chance to try the food but the service and ambiance was a step above - the vibe changed several times but as one genre shuffled out a different crowd welcomed the next act. Everyone was Kool and there for the same reason, to enjoy themselves in a judgement free atmosphere. It was refreshing. Had a great time, will definitely return.

I'm not drinking these days, but I spent a Saturday night at Cheer Up Charlies a few weeks back and had an excellent time. I went for a Noir at the Bar event, a gathering of crime writers reading our work on stage while people enjoyed drinks on the patio. The bar was well set up for this sort of event. We were able to take over one area of the bar without dominating the whole place. There was at least one other distinct outdoor area as well as an indoor bar that I never even saw. The bar was fun and comfortable, with a lively but low-key atmosphere. We met up with a friend and his friends after the reading, and I found it easy to socialize and even meet new people on what I'm going to call the back patio (such a bounty of patio!). I didn't have anything to drink, but my husband seemed to enjoy the local canned beer well enough. I'm sure I would've had an even better time with a beer or two in my system, but I was pleased with Cheer Up, Charlies. It was a great place to spend a Saturday night. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a cool place to drink in Austin.

Solid bar on Red river. They have cool cocktails and a decent selection of beers on tap. The prices on the drinks are reasonable too. If your on red river and you've just seen a show, it's worth stopping by. The inside is nice and somewhere between your standard Austin dive bar and also a more boughie cocktail bar. I think the most fun thing to do here is people watch. The squad that rolls through is always distinctive. They often have cool events and bands come through. There's a stage and it's good for dancing. They do stuff like 90s girl band nights, and other fun goofy things. The do a lot of pride/LGBTQ stuff too which I think is cool. They also have a nice patio in the back. The way the bar is set up there are kind of three areas to hang out. There is nice patio and second patio facing red river with a food truck, Arlo's. I'm not a huge fan Arlo's and the line at this location can get pretty long, but its fine. This is your only option for food here. Overall, it has a pretty unique personality for a bar in Austin. That's an accomplishment considering most bars here have personality and this one stands out above the others.

THE SPOT to pregame before you go to any show in the Red River District. Staff is very friendly and they definitely make sure you are having a good time while you're there. Anyone who visits Austin, needs to stop by here and truly experience a bar that is accepting of all. Keep on rockin'!

First visit was perfect, good happy hour deals. AC was pumping, good variety of drinks. Also an exterior patio section. Sign is also very cool.

Top-notch queer space that's inclusive to everybody. Female-owned. Great dancing, themed parties and indoor/outdoor spaces. Drinks are great too. I've frequented the best queer bars across the country, and the experience at Cheer-Up's is second to none.

Awesome vibe with decently priced drinks. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for indoor or outdoor spots.

Definition of "divey". With the right group of friends (Don't bring your "W Hotel" friends here, it can be fun. Vegetarian food truck, Arlo in outside lounge area so you can enjoy the bar scene with some food and alcohol. Speciality Cocktail drinks are STRONG. Habenaro drink spicy. I saw someone need finish the entire thing, and I didn't either due to the strength (not spice). Live music DJ and crowd; dance floor inside. It's nice to have a bar that has multiple dimensions to cater to customers. Hit it during the late evening and trail down the street for all food truck option. Best of all, it's away from all the super crowd of 6th. Better body mobility.

I came in with friends after a wedding reception. Super funky place! Very colorful with lots of space to dance. When I was in they were playing all 90's and early 2000 music. I wasn't drinking on this particular night and it was a little much for me, but I know with a few cocktails I would be ready to dance the night away in here. Everyone was having a great time and that was definitely contagious. My friends all enjoyed their drinks.

Amazing, relaxed, diverse, eclectic, eccentric, weird, house-music, local business, fun energy, casual, unique, gay straight and all of the others, good music, karaoke nights, good drinks, vegan comfort food on premise..... all around, this is my favorite austin spot to hang out on the weekends. I typically avoid the overcrowded clubs and bars... cheer Ups is always fun.

This particular night, my husband and I were grabbing a bite at my favorite burger place down on 6th and afterward we were walking to a show at the Frank Erwin Center. On our walk up Red River we stumbled upon Cheer Up Charlie's. We had additional time to kill before our show so we stepped inside for a drink. I immediately feel in love with Cheer up Charlie's as it reminded me of one of my favorite local dive bars in south Austin. Upon entering I saw they had a stage for local bands. We were a little early in the night for music. We went to the bar area to grab a drink. They had vegan friendly drinks which is a bonus for me as I can't have dairy. I ordered the vegan yeti which was a White Russian made with coconut milk. Yummy! They had other hipster inspired drinks that includes a kale and lime margarita. However, if those drinks are not your thing you can get some beer on tap. I later learned that this is in fact a vegan bar via their website. Overall a really cool dive bar. I would love to come back and check it out in the future.

In love! Big, parachute-shaded outdoor music venue on your right and on your left is an outside bar with intimate lounge seating and vegan food bar. Inside is another bar and a ground-floor stage. Organic juice blend cocktails, local beer, kombucha on tap. Came here with my coworkers for drinks and champagne after SXSW, and performed inside at a launch party for an Android app. Fun! Music nightly, rolling events all year long. Voted Best in Austin by the Austin Chronicle.

Cheer Up Charlie's is such a happy place! I've had so many good times with them at this location and the old one on the eastside. It's always a go to spot for me, my husband and our friends. I love the new drink menu and the stage inside. I have been lucky enough to catch some pretty cool shows randomly here. That's just the thing - you can always count on Cheer Ups for great music, fantastic drinks, wonderful people and an exceptional time all around! I will admit it has been nice to get to know the Red River area a bit too. Love you long time Cheer Up Charlie's :-P

Pretty amazing. Laid back and fun. Cocktail menu is more delicious sounding then actually was. I started with the gin one and it was just ok. Very weak drink. I went with vodka tonics after that and it was a better bet. We went to a qtpoc Fuego night and the music was amazing. So much good music, friendly everyone, lots of outdoor space, good room for dancing. Arlo's kitchen is right next door for some late night eats. Overall great.

Another highlight of our Austin trip. From the dance club inside to the chill courtyard to the outdoor art market, this place is just COOL. Drinks are priced well and taste even better. Staff was nice and service was fast. Sat for hours and chatted with friends. Hated leaving. Easily the best bar we visited on vacation.

Cheer ups has grown up since I walked in the doors for the first time in 2014. New gravel, landscaped exterior, nice clean bathrooms....heckin' different now. I stopped in for a show on a Monday night and grabbed a drink at the inside bar and wandered outside where they now have picnic tables and ample seating. Sound was great and it was a small and easy going crowd. During the inside show I was able to grab a seat at the lone high top mid way through and still get a great view while I worked to convince myself not to hit the Arlo's food truck next door. Bonus: I feel like ride share drivers have to love stopping here because the ease of pickup/drop off.

I came here for a frose tour with some girlfriends and instantly fell in love with the place! I start this review with the caveat that it was a frose tour and it was not the first stop... Though my memories may be hazy, I remember enjoying the place. They had the best frose of all our stops because I enjoyed the hint of watermelon. There was some frose induced dancing, which led to the purchase of an activated charcoal Popsicle dipped in tequila and more dancing. Closed my tab and was delighted to know that my drinks only cost me about $10 and off to the next place. Unfortunately, we came during the day so I did not get to enjoy the live music, but now Cheer Up Charlie's is definitely on my radar and I cannot wait to return!

Great spot and vibe for drinks & dancing! Came here for their NYE event, and our group had a fun time! I like how there is an indoor and outdoor space, especially since the inside can get hot with so many people. The crowd didn't feel too claustrophobic and people overall were chill. Street parking is limited, especially on busy nights, so you'll probably end up ride sharing. Arlo's is right outside, and Cheer Up is in walking distance to plenty of other food options. Definitely a nice option if you're not in the mood for Sixth or Rainey.

Just a weird Grove half ass drink only thing cool was the doorman!And it's not my cup of tea and I'll never go back to this place ever good luck if you go there

I experienced severe inebriation while frequenting this establishment during SXSW, so my memories might be slightly altered, but I remember rather friendly staff, a delicious selection of alcoholic beverages, 17 strong men wearing victorian era circus clothing spinning plates in the corner, and a wide variety of delicious food to enjoy under the beautiful Austin night sky. Furthermore, the restrooms were unisex and I witnessed a woman relieving herself in a urinal. Her compatriots stared at me as I walked in, presumably from the fact that a member of the opposite sex was witnessing this bizarre coming of age ritual. I was proud to have been privy to such a significant cultural event. I wish her luck in her future journey as the head of that clan of women, and pray that her decisions in the future are blessed with the wisdom of the 8 foot gorilla that asked me if I had a cigarette from his perch on the roof. Thank you.

Our first time here was on Friday. It was amazing! Bartender was super friendly! She even remembered our tab and service was fast. The Stacks put on a great show! The outdoor area is perfect. The aesthetic was everything to us!

Cheer Up Charlie's may well be the cleanest dive bar I've ever visited, if you can call it a dive. It's more like the cabana party house in the backyard of the coolest lesbians you've ever imagined. The decor is homey, cute, comfortable, and spacious. The drinks are reasonably priced. I had a Spicey Cuban, a little weak on the flavors, but the Michelada I had afterwards was tangy, tasty. The service is fast, friendly. The music is pleasant. They offer live music nightly. Cheer Up Charlie's has a definite female vibe, a nice change from the overwhelmingly male gay bar scene, everywhere else.

This place was my favorite date night spot because they host the best Arlo's food truck in town and the bar's tolerable...but the stupidity we incurred tonight has totally changed my opinion on the establishment--I would have given it 2 stars before. Before tonight, no matter when we came, there has never been a cover to just enter and order food. Even when the door people were collecting for the bands playing, they'd let you in for food no problem (and even then I've never been asked for more than $5). Tonight, they wanted SEVENTEEN AMERICAN DOLLARS EACH just to walk in their gates and go to the Arlo's truck to order food from a different company). This weekend is Pride, so it's great to know they're perfectly ok with only charging an INSANE cover when the LGBTQ folks are celebrating (which is insane, since they were I guess at one time a queer oriented bar?). Super great optics, regardless. On an average day, the bar's ok for an insufferable hipstery-vibe bar. They don't serve your standard Pepsi or Coke beverages, so enjoy the questionable tasting sodas at like $3/pop (with the generosity of ONE refill). Their beer menu is small and unremarkable and they don't carry what the (extremely common) beer I drink when I indulge, and their cocktails are pretty pricey for what they are. The inside bar area is exceedingly poorly laid out and even when the bar's not terribly busy (like say midweek at 7), I've had trouble crossing the floor to get to the restrooms or making my way to the back to actually order a beverage. The best area, in my opinion, is the small outside area with picnic tables that's basically on the opposite wall of the inside stage. It's usually quiet and not nearly as densely packed, even when they're busy. Their parking lot is a joke and almost always inaccessible (when not blocked off entirely) because people will cram into it and park behind other parked cars, so good luck I guess. As someone who has a handicap and uses their permit parking from time to time, it'd be great if they at least ALWAYS had those spots accessible for myself and other crips, but nah. Basically this place has skated by with me because of Arlo's. Now that I know their crappy ethics regarding price gouging a marginalized group, I'll never return. Arlo's has lost my respect and my business, too, for cooperating with this clownery.

People calling this a dive bar must have much higher standards than me, lol. Cool, laid back bar with great indoor and outdoor seating areas. Awesome outdoor stage area for live music up against a cliff backdrop. I stuck with the theme of the bar and tried their Golden Ticket drink, not bad. Overall a fun place.

I wish I could give Chups 10 stars. The way it's set up is cool in itself; there are patio areas on both sides; the smaller one to the left has a cute photo booth & an adjacent vegan food truck, Arlo's, which's so good that I'm gonna have to write a separate review for it. The larger one to the right has a stage set against a beautiful natural rock wall. There's also a nice sized stage inside with a cool painted backdrop, disco ball, etc. There's always a good show going on. They have a few signature cocktails listed above the bar, super easy to order. The violet palmer is my favorite so far. This is the most comfortable queer friendly space in Austin imo

This place is very rad! My brother walked in and automatically felt at home (Cali boy). The interior is decorated in many different colors which I loved! The price for drinks was very affordable ! They have outdoor seating with shade,tables, chairs and benches. We would definitely come back!

Cheers Up's is one of my favorite places in Austin. There was an issue with my debit card and one of the bartenders went above and beyond to help. Love the vibes, love the people.