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Longtime iconic Austin burger restaurant Chumikal’s Cafe is closing. Its last day on 3223 East 7th Street will be on Saturday, October 27. Owners Michael and Margarita Raupe, who opened the restaurant nearly 30 years ago, decided to shutter the restaurant because they want to retire.
The Raupes worked at that other institutional Austin burger chain Dan’s Hamburgers before they decided to open their own restaurant in 1989. Originally called Chubby’s, the then-smaller restaurant was located in South Austin near South First before they decided to relocate over into the Govalle neighborhood and changed the name to Chumikal’s.
The restaurant is known for its burgers, which with a mix of burgers, sandwiches, and all-day breakfast. At some point, the restaurant also served up Salvadoran dishes like pupusas and pasteles, courtesy of Margarita.
This marks another classic Austin restaurant shutter this year, after Hill’s Cafe and the Frisco. To come are the eventual shutters of gelato shop Dolce Vita, the South Austin location of Threadgill’s, and pizzeria Frank & Angie’s.
