Cheer Up with ESK

East Side King continues dive bar domination with Cheer Up Charlies location and unexpected new menu

East Side King continues its dive bar domination with a new location at Cheer Up Charlies opening on Wednesday evening. The famed trailer's Asian-fusion fare — along with some unexpected new menu items — will be available seven days a week from 5 pm - 1:45 am.

This is the fifth location of the critically acclaimed collaboration between Top Chef: Texas winner Paul Qui and co-owner Motoyasu "Moto" Utsunomiya. Other locations include the brick-and-mortar on South Lamar Boulevard, Hole in the Wall, Liberty Bar and Wonderland.

The new Cheer Up Charlies menu will definitely satiate happy hour hunger and late-night cravings alike, with new offerings like the Moto Dog, a shrimp po’ boy and a beef pho’ boy, as well as ESK staples like beet home fries.

Take a look at the full menu below.

Moto Dog, $6.50:  Custom-made Tender Belly 100% all-natural Berkshire pork hot dog, karashi, kewpie, pickled cabbage, shaved bonito, nori, negi  

Thai Fried Fish Sandwich, $7.50:  House-made crispy panang curry fish cake, sweet chili sauce, sweet carrot, pickled cabbage, green papaya, cilantro  

Shrimp Po' Boy, $9:  Cornflake crusted gulf shrimp, sweet cabbage slaw, Sriracha, nori, lemon, cilantro  

Beef Pho' Boy, $9:  ESK Italian sandwich au jus , Pho broth poached beef shabu shabu, semi-soft comté cheese from Antonelli’s, house jardinière, lime, karashi  

Beet Home Fries, $7 (vegetarian, gluten-free):  Deep-fried roasted beets, Kewpie mayo, shichimi togarashi, green onion  

Brussels Sprout Salad, $7 (vegetarian, gluten-free option) : Fried Brussels sprouts, sweet & spicy sauce, cabbage, basil, cilantro, mint, onion, jalapeño, deep-fried bun  

Gaufrettes, $3:  Anchovy vinegar chips, kewpie, nori, green onion  

House Made Jardiniere, $1 (Vegan) : Spicy pickled vegetable relish

Co-owners of East Side King Motoyasu "Moto" Utsunomiya, left, and Paul Qui.

Motoyasu Utsunomiya and Paul Qui east side King

Photo courtesy of East Side King Facebook

Co-owners of East Side King Motoyasu "Moto" Utsunomiya, left, and Paul Qui.

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LOADS OF FUN

The Chicks' Emily Strayer opens Austin-designed laundry cafe in San Antonio

Photo courtesy of\u00a0SOAP Laundry Lounge

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At least one member of The Chicks is ready to make nice with San Antonio. Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Emily Strayer will open SOAP Laundry Lounge, a swanky laundromat and coffee bar at 900 Oblate Dr., on December 4.

Although Strayer and her husband, musician Martin Strayer, are often on the road, they purchased the building as a long-term investment in their adopted hometown. She envisioned the spot as both a neighborhood amenity and a community hub.

“SOAP was born from the idea that everyday tasks can be enjoyable,” Emily Strayer says in a release. “I wanted to create a space that’s not just functional but inspiring, a place that brings people together and helps elevate how we live, even in the simplest moments, like laundry.”

SOAP Laundry Lounge customers can catch up on emails while handling their chores.Photo courtesy of SOAP Laundry Lounge

Although they couldn’t do much with the machines, Austin-based FÖDA conceived an interior to look far different from most grimy laundromats. Natural materials, a warm color palette, bubble-inspired details, and tons of lighting make the interior look far from sterile.

The laundromat portion of the 5,500-square-foot building offers 64 slow water, energy-saving machines — 28 washers and 36 dryers — outfitted with the Aquawing Ozone Laundry System, a hospital-grade sanitization technology that kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses.

In addition to self-service, SOAP offers a wash-and-fold option starting at $4 per wash. The laundromat uses a card-based payment system, which allows customers to load funds via cash, card, or EBT. The cards can be used throughout the concept, including the coffee bar.

The drinks take at least some of the drudgery out of the much-hated chore. The menu includes a full roster of espresso drinks, teas, lemonades, and pastries alongside a few seasonal favorites like a Mexican mocha and a peppermint cold brew. With the complimentary WiFi, the concept almost functions like a coworking space.

SOAP Laundry Lounge has plenty of wide open spaces. Photo courtesy of SOAP Laundry Lounge

Strayer says she is not through investing in the Alamo City, hinting at some long-term plans.

“I wanted to invest in something that truly belongs to San Antonio,” she adds in a statement. “SOAP is just the beginning. I hope to continue expanding offerings that make everyday life a little more beautiful for our community.”

After the invite-only grand opening party, SOAP Laundry Lounge will be open daily from 7 am to 10 pm., with the last wash at 9 pm.

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