The Cha Cha serves awesome nachos.The Place: Cha Cha Lounge, 1013 East

The Cha Cha serves awesome nachos.The Place: Cha Cha Lounge, 1013 East Pike Street, 322-0703The Hours: 5-8 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday and MondayThe Digs: Located in the basement of Bimbo’s Cantina, the Cha Cha is festooned with red lights, Day of the Dead paraphernalia, and bathroom wall graffiti. The clientele consists of budget-conscientious hipsters, local musicians, and college students, all eager to booze and chow down on Mexican food.The Deal: This is as cheap (and as happy) as happy hour gets on Capitol Hill; drink specials are $3 sangria, $3.25 wells, $4.25 house margaritas, plus 50 cents off all pints and $1 off all pitchers. Food specials, made upstairs in Bimbo’s kitchen and brought down to the bar, are $1 chips and salsa, $2.50 tacos, $2.95 cheese quesadillas and bean burritos, and $3.95 cheese nachos – for $1 more, you can get a fully-loaded plate of ’em with sour cream, green onions, jalapenos, and your choice of chicken or beef. Damn. The Verdict: Happy hour at the Cha Cha is for people who like their music too loud, their drinks strong, and their food greasy. You wouldn’t take a first date here (unless you want it to also be the last date), but for friends, it’s an awesome hangout. You can’t get a better deal, unless you opt to stuff your face with liquor and food at home. But Bimbo’s burritos probably taste better.