Austin Saloon Makes List Of Nation's 'Most Authentic' Dive Bars

AUSTIN, TX — The city of Austin is awash in dive bars—genuine no-frills locales devoid of pretension with a welcoming, relaxing vibe. But only one can make it into the rarefied ranks of the nation's greatest dive bars.

The Washington Post has ranked the eight "Most Authentic Dive Bars" in the entire country, and one local watering hole has made the ranks. Without further ado, the Austin dive bar honored with the distinction of one of the greatest is.....(drum roll, please): Little Longhorn Saloon, located at 5434 Burnet Rd.

The place is quintessentially Austin, a classic honky-tonk in the best possible interpretation of the term. This is a place where cold beer can be swigged along to live music with an ambiance perfect for hanging out with friends. Adding to the spot's allure—and no doubt ingratiating itself with the Post judging panel—Bingo games are staged each Sunday, an event enjoyed by patrons and newcomers alike.

But this ain't your grandmother's Bingo game, but contests formally named "Chicken S*** Bingo, but with the asterisks that we added to avoid offending the faint of heart (who likely wouldn't wander in the place anyway). It's been a tradition at the place for many years.

The avian-suffused reference to the game isn't figurative either, but involves a real-live chicken and real, um, digestive byproduct. Essentially, here's how it works: A chicken is fed, placed on a table blanketed with a facsimile of a Bingo card and patrons clutching $2 tickets wait for the animal to poop on a number on the table corresponding with theirs. Winners get cash winnings at Chicken [scatological reference deleted] Bingo, which sometimes can take a while depending on the bird's, ahem, let's just say "mood" here.

This is not considered aberrant behavior in this city, where the unofficial motto is "Keep Austin Weird" and denizens wear their eccentricities like a badge of honor. Side note: Inadvertently fitting, one of the featured bands at the place this past Friday was The Hens. We chicken poop you not! But this is another matter entirely.

Texas was well represented on the Post's list of most authentic bars. Another saloon, the Lone Star Saloon in Houston, also made the list.

One reviewer at TripAdvisor.com summed up a recent outing at Little Longhorn Saloon perfectly encapsulating the vibe found there: "Sunday late afternoon stop here. Seriously felt like we were at a family reunion after walking around back where lots of people were congregating. There were tables of potluck food and a fish fry going on. Food was all free, but they ask for a donation if you’d like."

Another reviewer said the CS Bingo was the initial draw before becoming enamored with the saloon's other offerings: "I went on a Sunday afternoon to experience the Chicken Bingo upon a recommendation of a friend. But I stayed for the excellent music and the dancing."

In addition to the pair of Texas saloons making the list, the other mentions on the The Washington Post’s Most Authentic Dive Bars in America list are:

• Nancy Whiskey Bar, Detroit
• Double Down Saloon, Las Vegas
• Subway Inn, New York City
• The Frolic Room, Hollywood, California
• Candlelight Lounge, New Orleans
• Bob and Barbara’s, Philadelphia

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