Everything -- all items are great. Make sure to try onion rings -- any burger -- all menu item. Staff and service are the best

Happy to write this one. Have been going here for years and HCS to a material dip I quality last year. So glad to say that they have come all the way back and maybe more. You really can't find a bad choice on the menu. read more

This is a hard review to write because I have loved eating at Hays City Store for years but they have let a few things slip, in my opinion. My dad's and mine favorite dish was Fried Shrimp with Onion Rings and we have always ordered this dish for YEARS. But the last two visits have been disappointing. Shrimp: they changed the fried shrimp coating, not so crunchy anymore and super fishy taste, like old slimy shrimp. Boo! Five us ordered this dish about two months ago with the same results but thought it was maybe just that visit. Onion Rings: they have started preparing huge batches in advance so they come to your table within 3 or 4 minutes and they are over coated, with gooey batter falling off and barely warm. To me it seems that the steam from them sitting under a warmer ruined a good dish. My husband got the chicken fried chicken and loved his dish. Also, I can no longer ignore how dirty this place is. The white doors entering are nasty as are other doors and surfaces. The AC venting is dirty as are the decorative items on display. The servers are always top notch and I tip well regardless of my opinion of the food. Maybe next time I will try a different dish. read more

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There are so many things that I love about Hays City Store, and every visit seems to remind me of all of the things they do right. I love the atmosphere and the ability to sit indoors or outdoors with shade, fans, and so many seating options makes this restaurant a great place to visit. In addition, they are always well staffed so service is amazing and this visit was no different. Our server was so attentive and helpful for our party of six that it made our visit that much more enjoyable. Their food is delicious. I've had the shrimp and grits before and it's some of the best shrimp and grits. I've had outside of New Orleans. This time I had their tortilla soup which was so flavorful and full of chicken. I also tasted the chicken fried chicken and it was delicious juicy chicken with a crispy coating. I highly recommend omens Hays City Store for a great spot to meet up and enjoy amazing food. read more

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The food was absolutely delicious. The patio was beautiful even on a very hot summer day. Our server was very friendly and attentive. read more

Hays City Store - Veggie Poblano enchiladas with rice and black beans. Delicious - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

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My family and I decided to return to Hays City Store for lunch while one of my kids was visiting during Spring Break. We drove up, parked, and then walked to the hostess station. We were greeted by a friendly hostess that put our name on the list. We waited about 10 minutes and then they called our name. They seated us outside in a shaded area. It was really nice. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed the atmosphere. After waiting a few minutes our waitress came over and greeted us. She was very friendly and took care of us throughout our visit. She gave us menus and took our drink order. When she brought us our waters she took our order. To start we shared some onion rings and nachos. The onion rings were delicious. The interior onion was sweet and the exterior batter was crispy. The nachos were tasty. The chips were thick and able to hold all of the ingredients and the chicken tinga was flavorful. For our main meal my son ordered the pepperoni pizza and loved it. My husband ordered the Fried Catfish Lunch. He enjoyed it and said the catfish was soft with a crispy, and light breaded exterior. He said that the hush puppies and fries were fine. I ordered the Meat Pizza which comes with Pepperoni, Ham, Bacon, and Sausage. The pizza was yummy. I could definitely taste the pepperoni and sausage flavor and the ham was spread out in large chunks. The crust was light and airy. Overall Hays City Store was a great place to visit for lunch. The outdoor atmosphere was great. The service was really good, and the food was tasty. read more

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This is our 2nd time eating here today. We live in the south edge of Austin, not far from Buda. We do road trips all the time, no matter how hot or cold outside, because we just love the Hill County. In that sense, Hays City Store does a nice job of keeping up with the country charm. Probably due to its super famous name, and good words of mouth, its food quality is just average. Today I'd say that the 8oz sirloin my wife ordered and my chicken fried chicken are below average quality. Server John was friendly enough. However on the way back to the car, I noticed that the recipe printed $35.99 NY Strip steak instead of the $23.99 8oz sirloin. John said he probably hit the wrong button. He corrected it with the difference. Now I'm back home, reading the new recipe again, the $12 discount is there, but it didn't take care of the tip proportionally. The food total is $46.98, plus tax $3.88, grand total is $50.86, with original tip amount $11.49, it is 24% tip. Well, not happy. I don't think I will go eat there next time. read more

I just love this place. I cannot stand wings unless they are from here only. Idk how they perfected them the way they have but- quite literally the best wings ever! Everything is always good here. Fun vibes, great for kids and families. Wait staff is always friendly and nice too. read more

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Food is always amazing with great staff whether busy or going at a slow time, it never disappoints. read more

Hays City Store - Chopped steak - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

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After a nice response from management on a prior review, I owe HCS an update. Have been back a couple of times since food was better, including Truck Stop Enchiladas, but no appreciable change in menu, until today. The now updated brunch menu had several new options and I will say the Chile Relleno Burrito was a great addition, even if not permanent. Side of potatoes could have been crispier (have to maintain that grease temp and not overload the basket) but a nice combination regardless. Huge portion that reminded me of early HCS days when they only had seating inside and the cooks would experiment on new offerings and share samples of their ideas. Keep it on the menu and change relleno to Hatch in September and I'll definitely order again. The weekday specials may have me back at a different time of day too. read more

Hays City Store - Chile Relleno Burrito stuffed with King Ranch chicken. - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

I've always wanted to eat here. We would be down that way for a weekend and see all the people sitting outside on the patio eating and listening to the live band playing. We finely made the trip from San Marcos and had a good experience. The food and service were good and a very entertaining place. Also, a great family place to let the kids be kids. read more

A lot of hype about this joint. Maybe it's because we came midday and didn't partake in the well-known outdoor space, but it was mid at best. The food was fine. The staff was in between change over so some meh service is to be expected. They looked to have a decent draft selection but most of the interesting ones were tapped out and the wait staff was not knowledgeable on what was available or worth trying. Night give them another chance on an evening to see love music, but overall, not worth the drive from SM. read more

Hays City Store - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

Visited around 7PM on a Sunday. It's already dark outside and was a little chilly, so they had their fires lit outside while the live music played. Service was great! Our table shared chips & queso, which was delicious. They serve the El Patio chips, which are the best around! I had beef enchiladas, which were delicious! I wasn't a big fan of the rice, but the beans were good. I can't remember what my friends ordered but I posted pictures. They liked their food choices as well. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Music was great, food was better, and service was friendly. The burger and pizza were a standout. We enjoyed our visit we'll try to stop again if we are in the area. read more

Don't get me wrong. They know what they got. Great atmosphere and location. The service can be good and it can be bad, but that's the nature of dining. My biggest thing is that their food is not bad but it's not great. They are really skimpy on their sides except for french fries of course. Some of their sides you pay extra, like their brussels sprouts and then they bring you six brussels sprouts. They don't even fill up the small containers that the sides come in. read more

I went to Hays City Store for a friend's birthday party, where another friend's band (Shakedown) was playing. It is a beautiful outdoor space to listen to music and eat delicious food. Ordering food with a date, we chose the Nachos. I was expecting a plate of many nacho chips covered with the various toppings. Instead, the nacho plate consisted of six large half-moon chips layered in beans, house-blended cheese, grilled jalapeños, served with pico, sour cream and guacamole. There was a choice of ground beef or chicken Tinga. Being indecisive, I asked if we could have both. It was indeed possible for an extra dollar. It was worth it! The nachos were very filling and we didn't need to order an entree. Our server, John, was very attentive, frequently checking on us to see if everything was okay, and filling up our water glasses. read more

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Food was on point, staff was very attentive & nice. Loved the fact they not only allow dogs but brought ours a water bowl! We will definitely be back when we visit that area again. read more

We have been eating at Hays store about once a month for years. The last two times have been very disappointing. The last time the shrimp was overcooked and the oil tasted old. This time the pesto chicken not good at all. There was a small dollop of pesto when in the past, it was generous amount and the bread was burned. The batter on the chicken fried steak was falling off and curled up on the ends. The wait staff has always been excellent and we've never been disappointed.. The Keylime pie was over the top as it has always been but It will be a long time before we go back. read more

Routed a long weekend from Austin to San Antonio through Wimberley just to check out Hays City Store after seeing all the rave reviews and it did not disappoint! The outdoor seating area looked like a perfect spot for a casual lunch or weekday bite, with lots of charm and shade. We were a large group of nine and opted to sit indoors, and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating and kind. They walked us through the menu, which had a great range of options ~ something for everyone, from classic comfort food to lighter fare. I ordered the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and a side salad, and it hit the spot. Everything was hearty and flavorful (and big enough to share!). It also felt like a great spot for groups. Splitting checks seemed pretty easy; their handheld device had a few hiccups, but the staff handled it quickly the old-fashioned way. Definitely worth the detour! read more

Hays City Store - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

My friends and I are in Wimberley for a girls trip and decided to come here (after Marshall at the winery recommended it). The wait was estimated to be 45 minutes, and we were seated within 15. There is a huge (dog friendly) outdoor area, and there are a zillion misting fans to help cut the heat. Most of us started with a round (or two) of margaritas and queso, as well as artichoke dip, as our apps. Gavin, our server, gave us several suggestions on what he'd recommend (that alone merits a 5-Star review - he was WONDERFUL). I opted for the fish tacos and subbed shrimp, and I paired it with two rounds of watermelon margaritas. We all loved our entrees and had incredible service, especially with how crowded the restaurant was. We will be back! read more

Hays City Store - Shrimp Tacos (subbed the fish for shrimp) - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

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The drinks were good, food was reminiscent of a chain restaurant. Very salty, fatty and fried. Sometimes that's the vibe and I'm okay with it. Everyone really liked the chicken fried steak and onion rings. Burger was solid. Portions are huge, we had a hard time finishing our food. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very family friendly. Lots of kids playing football on the grass, there is a climbing structure in a tree. My kids had a blast, played with all the kids. We loved it here, would definitely come back. read more

Hays City Store - Chicken fried steak, corn, onion rings, wedge salad & bacon burger. - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

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This place came highly suggested by community members. My visit did not live up to the hype. The hostess was amazing, our first waitress was insanely sweet! Once we moved inside due to the wind, our server seemed aggravated that we were there. We didnt let that ruin the experience. Everyone in the group ordered something different. The wings were okay, the GOAT burger was delicious, personally not worth going out of my way to eat though. read more

Hays City Store - Stage during the day - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

Lots to love about this place. It is not a long drive from the big City but seems so country once you arrive. It has plenty of parking and the place is very big. We came on Saturday and luckily made a reservation for 7 and were seated promptly. Drinks came fairly quickly but apps took way too long imo. They were delicious especially the fried cheese curds. It is a must try when we come back. The CFS was good but nothing special. The pepperoni pizza was excellent and could easily feed 2 adults. The fish taco were very large portions. My wife said the one of them was much better than the other one. This is a very hot spot on the weekends obviously because we must have seen 100 bikers in the restaurant and the lots. It was a very Family oriented crowd and all had a great time So why not a 5 star review? Location 5 Ambiance 5 Apps 5 Food 4 Wait for food 4 Service 4 It is a great place and we will definitely come back soon or recommend to friends. read more

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Food was amazing! Especially the waffles and chicken. Loved the fried cheese curds full of great flavors. Service was excellent. Even though it looked full we were seated right away with friendly staff and waiter was great as well. Nice place inside read more

Hays City Store - Chicken Fried Steak entree - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

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I'm not sure if my expectations were low and that's why I was completely blown away by how amazing this was... or if this is truly one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at. EVERYTHING tasted phenomenal and the service was divine! I was also impressed with their outdoor seating area - it reminded me of the original Salt Lick BBQ, beautiful trees, hanging lights, grass areas etc. You gotta try this place! read more

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I came here for dinner with my parents and a friend, and it was a night to remember. We sat outside in the summer evening, and it is just one of those places that feels welcoming and relaxing. The server was a little slow with things like refills, but her amazing attitude and personality made up for that by spades. As for the food, I have rarely seen my parents this happy over a meal! My parents continue to talk about the amazing prime rib special they had that evening. I have heard all about how tender and perfectly flavored the meat was, and how the cook is a brilliant human who makes the best mashed potatoes ever. Seriously, the joy this meal brought my parents makes me even forget what I ordered. I mean, to be 100% honest, my meal was not great (the Brussels sprouts were quite something and not in a good way), but I was the outlier at the table, which is fine. My friend had a massive chicken sandwich that was so big she had what seemed like a second chicken patty she could take home as leftovers. It was a good night, and I'd go back. read more

Came to Hays Country Store for lunch today and we were greeted by Tyler. We ordered ice tea and my husband had a beer. He ordered the truck stop enchiladas and I ordered the pork chop grilled with spinach and coleslaw. That pork chop was the most juiciest and tastiest chop I have ever had. It was cooked perfectly. So yummy. You have to try it grilled. Soooooo good. My husband totally enjoyed his enchiladas. Tyler was the perfect server. He was so attentive and brought me extra ice and came by just the right amount of times. And such a great personality. I also watched him handle many tables and was doing such a great job. Will definitely ask for him next time. We will be back to have lunch again real soon! It is such a beautiful day here and we are in the ice house and the sun was shining and the place is so comfortable. read more

Hays City Store - Grilled pork chop with spinach and coleslaw. - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

This restaurant is fantastic!!! Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and plenty of seating indoors and on the patio. Every dish was simply cooked to perfection. The fried pork chop was super moist and by far one of the best I've ever had! Sadly we did not get a chance to try their burgers, but if I ever have a chance to come back, I definitely would try! read more

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Off the beaten path and feels like family. Amazing food (best chips and queso) and best patio around! Super friendly staff and great service! read more

Hays City Store - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

Went in for lunch in the bar and it was great! Fries are fabulous! our server was super friendly and the food was good! They even have a band sometimes so grab a beer and some live music! My greek salad was super fresh and the grilled chicken on top was so tender! Also great chips, queso and salsa! read more

Hays City Store - enchiladas were great - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

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Great hill country vibes. The food was pretty good, it was better than what I was expecting. Service was efficient.

A friend of mine invited me here tonight, 9/14. I'm a vegetarian, I went in not having very high expectations. In all I got the black bean burger, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, we shared onion rings and cheesy bread. I gotta say all of it was fantastic. I was ultra impressed. I was not expecting much. The onion rings were some of the best I've ever had, they do the breading so well. I haven't had an old-fashioned that good in a long time. Service was great too, employees were super friendly & welcoming. read more

Very popular place so you may have to wait. Food is hit and miss, my burger could only be ordered well done, nothing else and it was very well done to the point you really couldn't taste the meat. Stay away from the burger like my relatives did and you will be fine. Decent pricing, friendly and reasonably fast service. Not sure I'd return. read more

Took a little day trip out to Driftwood and decided to try out Hays City Store. The weather was a little chilly but we decided to sit outside since they provided personal propane warming stations as well as blankets! It was much appreciated and they gave off a lot of heat! We ordered a cup of tortilla soup, the side of onion rings (4) and the NY strip. The NY strip was cooked to specifications, juicy and very well seasoned. The portion size for $35 was great as well. The chicken tortilla soup was flavorful and the fresh avocado, cheese and tortilla strips on the top was a nice touch. I can understand why their onion rings have won them awards because they were amazing! Just the right amount of batter, very large and when you bite into them, it doesn't all fall apart. We really enjoyed our time and meal and we will return with our kiddo when the weather gets warmer since there is space for kids to play. read more

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We asked a local to tell us a good place to eat and so he told us about this place. It was hopping with folks so you know it's good if the locals are there. We got a spot in the back lot before it filled up. The hostess seated us right away and we were served pretty quickly. They do have gluten free buns but the fries were not gluten free so I opted with the grilled chicken. The coleslaw was good too. My friend had a porkchop and liked it a lot. The food did take a while to come out and we heard another table having a timing issue with their food coming out but it wasn't too bad. We'd come back if in the area again. read more

If you enjoy a lively conversation, lots of people, great food and service, add in some fun for the kiddos, great drinks & cocktails.... This is your spot! Sit outside under the trees and lights, love music on certain nights....Make a reservation if you can or plan to wait 30 min for a table on the weekends. read more

All the food was phenomenal. We sat outside. All the kids running, throwing balls, and screaming between the picnic tables while people are eating and the staff is carrying large trays of food was ridiculous. They have a separate playground/kids area on the other side-- use it! read more

This is our Go-To hangout. We enjoy the food, live music, attentive managers and warm, hospitable wait staff. Don't be put off by sometimes challenging parking. I have NEVER failed to find a good spot just by being a little patient. The minute you walk up, you're greeted by helpful hosts who try to meet your requests quickly. Usually after 6:00 there's already live music from one of a variety bands already playing. In short, this is a terrific place to hang out! read more

Hays City Store - Patio view facing the stage and dance floor. - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas

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One of my favorite local places. Food is always fresh and delicious. They have a beautiful outdoor seating area as well as a closed off patio and small inside area. The patio has fans and is heated in the winter. Staff is usually friendly and fast. I will say, this place is insane on the weekends. It gets packed early and stays busy all weekend. I believe they do take reservations, but since we're local we just stick with going during the week to avoid the weekend crowds. Their pizza is my teen's favorite there, but it's only available after specific times. I personally love their Frito Pie, burgers, but their grilled chicken with sautéed spinach is my absolute favorite. The chicken is seasoned well and paired with their garlicky spinach as a side is perfection. read more

I stopped here for lunch one afternoon with a coworker and was pleasantly surprised. The service was fast and friendly and the food I saw go by me looked great. I had the colossal Cobb salad and enjoyed the meal. The name is a little misleading because it was a regular sized salad but the flavor was great and the large chicken tenders really topped off the salad. Even though we sat inside the outside dining area looked like a place to enjoy an every meal as long as there is a cool breeze. I will definitely come back. read more

Hays City Store - Colossal Cobb Salad - American Near Me - Driftwood, Texas