Hula hut is DOPE. It's on the water, they give you tons of chips w spicy salsa and have amazing frozen drinks. If you don't like that I am sorry read more

Maybe one of my favorite places in Austin forever until this week. This food was disgusting and un edible. The pipe enchiladas were the grossest thing. I can't believe that even served it. It came up way too fast to be fresh and the shrimp tacos had these little bitty Chinese shrimp in there and we have the Texas Gulf Coast right next-door. Let us on the shrimp taco was old and they just poured a bunch of mayonnaise or ranch all over the shrimp I want to tell some of the staff that the lunch was horrible and they said we know we've had the same problem and we've been trying to tell the owners whoever bought this place should be arrested for destroying one of the most iconic places in the world, people make quality food or you'll be out of business soon so disappointed read more

We stopped by Hula Hut for a small bite while showing a visitor around Austin, and it was a delightful experience! We sat by the bar area with a view of the Tom Miller Dam, which was the perfect spot to enjoy a fried stuffed avocado on a spring-like day. I just wish there were more non alcoholic options, aguas frescas perhaps! The service was quick and friendly, and it wasn't crowded since we were there mid-afternoon. We also took a moment to admire the newly refreshed dancing fish fountain, which added to the fiesta-like atmosphere. I appreciated the new pastel colors of the fountain. Our visitor thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant, including the food, view, and service. Although we didn't try their cocktails this time, I know they serve up some yummy frozen drinks, which we'll have to try on our next visit. read more

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We went here this afternoon after not going here in 10 years and it was worth the trip. We live in southwest Austin and just normally don't go to that are. Only a few people were at hula hut do we were seated quickly and waited on and had the platter of ribs, chicken soft tacos, nachos, fried potatoes, salad, queso, guacamole, chicken tacos and fried potatoes. Everything is tasty warm and good flavor. The platter had a sample of everything. If you haven't been it is right on the lake and a great experience read more

Hula Hut - Huli Huli Luau Platter - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

I have visited this place just once but it was good, by the water, on summer is amazing, and the food is good

Richy was an AMAZING server! Very fun! The drinks were good and the ambiance was great! A casual spot!

2 Stars -- Love the place, but really disappointed in how we were treated. My friends and I are regulars at Hula Hut, and we've gotten to know a lot of the staff over time. We're all around 15 years old, and the team there has usually been super friendly -- we've always felt welcome and really enjoy the food and the fun atmosphere. That's why what happened recently was so disappointing. One night, we stopped at a gas station to grab a few things before heading to the boat landing to go fishing. As we were walking out, a man in a black and white floral shirt got off his motorcycle and said, "You kids actually paid for that, right?" We were totally confused and told him, yes, of course we paid. But instead of just leaving it there, he accused us of having an attitude. We weren't being rude -- we were just surprised and honestly a little uncomfortable being questioned like that. We quickly realized that this man was actually a manager at Hula Hut -- someone we've seen before at the restaurant. That made the situation even worse. We've always been respectful, and to be treated with suspicion for no reason -- especially by someone we recognize -- was pretty upsetting. We're giving this 2 stars because we still really love the food and appreciate the rest of the staff, who've always treated us kindly. But this interaction left a really bad impression, and we hope Hula Hut takes this seriously and looks into how their managers are representing them outside of the restaurant. read more

Perfect place to sit outside on a beautiful Summer day (But avoid sitting outside if it's over 100.. you will be burnt... lol) It has awesome chilling tiki bar vibes which I loved! It's a Tex-mex restaurant so they have variety of food (haven't tried any food here yet, tho) and nice cocktails as well. You can sit near the Colorado river and enjoy the beautiful view in front of you. As you walk in, you can sit either inside or outside at the deck bar. It's always packed with locals and tourists as well, so I would recommend to visit early in the morning as soon as it opens (the weather in the morning is definitely better to sit outside!) We sat at the bar and ordered some bottles of beer as well as frozen margarita which was pretty good. The staff could have been a bit nicer, but I understand we visited during very busy time. I would bring anyone who visits Austin to this place for great views you can get here :) read more

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Loved Hula Hut! Such vibrant and fun decor in the restaurant and they are super accommodating to walk-ins and allergies! Our server was very nice and attentive, always ready to fill up my water and coffee and checking in on how we enjoy our food. The BBQ chicken tacos were so so good! The portion size is fantastic and hearty. I highly recommend this place for a casual lunch or dinner! It's so cute and underrated. read more

Austin fun in every way! The lake May rise and fall, but the Hula Hut yum and atmosphere remain sure fire! The menu is tropical as are the fanciful drink selections. The wait staff are outstandingly gracious and helpful. I had the shrimp chili Relleno, and was delighted by this whimsical take on a classic fave. The parking can be challenging, but well worth the effort! Miss Sophia give this a four paws up! read more

Hula Hut - Shrimp Relleno Dinner - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

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WE LOVE LANA!! Not gonna lie the food was mid but Lana was so sweet & beautiful it made up for it. Shes a total cutie pie. Amazing service. We sat on the patio & it was such a vibe. read more

It is clear that people come for the views and not the service. The menus and and table were filthy. We were not given menus right away and had to wait a while for silverware. The food is okay. My husband liked the crispy fish taco and I enjoyed my grilled fish taco. The refried beans were fantastic! Some of the best I have tasted. My daughter did not like the Caesar salad (which was not a Caesar salad at all) but thought the quesadilla was okay. Food was okay but it was clear that they are very understaffed and overwhelmed. read more

Hula Hut - Sunsets - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

Worth checking out this place for the view of the lake and the Hawaiian chill ambiance, especially during sunsets. Food-wise, the restaurant is average. The best item on their menu is the stuffed avocado and the guacamole. The stuffed avocado is very unique because it is fried on the outside and stuffed with creamy flavorful chicken on the inside. The restaurant also gives you complimentary chips and spicy tasty salsa. I recommend ordering their guacamole, it is chunky, flavorful, and has mango salsa in it. The restaurant staff is super friendly, but just know that it is always packed, service is not fast, not the cleanest of places, and waiting for tables can be long as 15-30 minutes, especially in the evenings. read more

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Great location and space. Friendly staff, though often spread too thin. Good queso. Horribly, inexcusably, incredibly weak frozen margs -- consistently. read more

I visited Hula Hut for the first time during a recent trip to Austin. It was easily the best dining experience I had during my entire trip. We visited on a Saturday evening so it was very crowded, but we didn't have to wait long for a table. We opted to sit outside so we could watch the sunset. It was hot, but we survived. I ordered the slow roasted pork tacos, which were amazing. I was a bit skeptical about them because Chicago had fantastic Mexican food, but the tacos could easily rival anything made in Pilsen. The tacos were juicy and well seasoned. The tacos were served with rice and beans, which was also pretty good. My sister ordered the Hawaiian BBQ pork sandwich. She thought it was just okay. Our friend had the steak tubular taco, which he enjoyed. My sister also had the key lime pie, but she didn't like it. She said it was warm, which isn't typical, so she worried that she would get sick if she ate it. She said it didn't taste very good either. The vibe and ambiance were cool. The island theme is fitting given the name. The Tex-Mex food infused with Hawaiian flavors is an interesting mix. I can't recall our waiters name, but he was pleasant and attentive. The manager, Manny, stopped by the table to see how everything was which was awesome. He was personable and friendly. I told him that the pork tacos were amazing. Overall, our experience at Hula Hut was positive. I'd visit again during a future visit to Austin for sure. read more

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What a great experience! We got delicious drinks, an app, 2 entrees and a dessert for under $100. Burger was fantastic and that stuffed avocado was so good. My husband doesn't even like avocado that much and I think he almost licked the plate. Service was top notch! Thomas is one of the best servers you can ask for. Friendly, fast, funny, knowlegable and anticipated everything we could possibly ask for. I was so impressed with him that I felt the need to inform a manager when I left. Atmosphere is like a vacation resort. Can't wait to go back! Just moved here from New Orleans and can definitely see us becoming regulars here. Loved it! read more

Dropped by yesterday to celebrate my husband's birthday, while the vibes were great we had to wait around 45 minutes to get a table! Didn't think it'd take so long on a Monday evening so beware of that before visiting and no they don't take reservations in advance. However we could hang around the restaurant while we waited since it's pretty big and they've got a huge outdoor space on the water, AMAZING sunset views. I loved the location and will be returning just for that! They give you complimentary tortilla chips and salsa, we ordered some queso and inhaled it all before taking any great pictures! The fish sandwich we got was also delicious, we got blackened fish and next time I'd try it fried. The white sauce/ranch that came with the fries was absolutely addicting. Service was quite slow, but our server was nice and kept our dietary restrictions in mind. read more

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Great food, customer service and decor. You have a great view of the water. The prices were reasonable and the food was very good. Will go there again! read more

Cute atmosphere, decent drinks, and acceptable service.. but the food can be a little hit or miss. They have updated the menu to identify vegetarian items, which is very helpful. Even though their online FAQ says the queso is not veg, they have changed that, so that's excellent news. They do give free chips and salsa, and the salsa is pretty good, so there is that. They also have added a jalapeño ranch like chuy's. And there are great happy hour deals. I like sitting outside on the tiki bar over the water. It is a cute place for occasional meetups or to take out of town guests. Don't come expecting a culinary delight, but you will still have a good time. read more

Hula Hut - Happy hour redefined! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

As a long long time Austinite who remembers when Hulu Hut opened on the lake decades ago, there will always be a fondness in my heart for this spot. The food is not exceptional by any stretch of the imagination but the drinks are great and you can't beat the atmosphere on the water! read more

Had been here for a birthday party several years ago and thought it was a decent enough place. Took friends after boating this weekend. Awful (shrimp in enchiladas still in the shell) food. Awful drinks. Awful service. Expensive. Nice view. read more

It's been a few years since we visited Hula Hut, mainly because of traffic getting down south. We made an exception and went for dinner. The restaurant was about 80% full, wait staff were very attentive, and the food menu seemed pretty much the same as what we remember from a few years ago. We heard they're no longer part of Chuy's, but I honestly couldn't really tell the difference. Things we liked, very attentive service, queso was excellent, and the salsa for the chips was some of the best we've had in Austin. We didn't care for a couple of things, seem like my beef fajita tubular enchilada was missing a lot of beef. If I had to guess, I'd say there were two to three ounces at most of beef fajita meat in the enchilada. Mostly cheese and tortilla. The rice and beans were standard so no real problem there but my Haleakala drink seemed an awful lot sweeter than I remember it but then again it wasn't on the menu so I'm not sure if they made it with a different recipe that they use now or whatever. So the experience was decent but not enough to say we're going to rush back next week. read more

Hula Hut - Tubular beef fajita enchilada. Great presentation but definitely not enough fajita meat on the inside. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

This restaurant has a surcharge for using credit card but the waiter did not tell me in advance. I was charge extra $11. Also, if you want to switch vegetable comes with the dish, they will tell you "no problem" but they will charge extra money without telling customers. I found out these extra charges when I got home. very upset. read more

Food is trash, besides the queso dip/ service and the view is the only things that keep this place alive.

The view is pretty, but the food isn't great enough to come back. Service was good for being busy, but I wish the food had more love in it.

I've been eyeing this place for over a year. My boyfriend is from Hawaii and I wanted to find a "tropical" themed restaurant. The seating is insane here. The wait was going to be over an hour long, but any bar seating was open and free for grabs. We took awhile before finding a bar opening. It did take awhile for anyone to attend to us, which was probably due to the insane amount of people. I think they were there for the happy hour. The only reason I would ever come back is for this beautifully cooked stuff avocado. It was insanely good. I forgot to take picture of the rest of our food (steak tubular taco & 2 soft salmon tacos). Mine was subpar but my boyfriend loved his. The food is overly greasy, so prepare for that! Great views of the lake! read more

Hula Hut - Entrance - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I used to go here a lot as a kid when I used to live in Austin, but now that I came to visit to eat there as an adult, I can finally have some sort of formed opinion. We went before the dinner rush on a Monday, so because of that the service was great and our server was on top of everything. So I can't say much of how it is when it truly gets busy here. Chips and salsa were provided as usual--they were not overly greasy or stale, and the salsa was spicy how we like it. My husband and I shared the Hawaiian fajitas. I was hoping the fajitas would come out sizzling in the skillet, unfortunately it was not but at least they were hot. We got the combination with steak and chicken, which we thought was a good amount for the two of us. Tortillas were great, not too thin but not too thick. Our friends got the chimichanga and pork tacos, which they really liked but weren't aware that the portions would be so large. Overall, probably from my biased childhood memory of this place I would always recommend people to come here for some food with a nice view of the lake. I think the food could be executed a little better, but I'm just happy the food wasn't cold and the flavor was still what I remember. read more

Hula Hut - Full Hawaiian Fajitas - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

Decided to check this out for dinner while in town for a business trip. Upon arrival you get chips and salsa which had a decent kick. We were told after sitting down waiting on menus that there was a QR code that they covered with The chip basket. I had the Diamond head noodle salad. It came with the sauce on the side which was good. I wasn't a fan of the grilled shrimp which was cold from the moment I got it. Expected that to be warm for being grilled. My husband had the Hawaiian fajitas which was different. However it was good. Great sauce. The server was nice but it was hard to get his attention. We had to flag him down basically every time we needed something. Glad that the checking out process went well thanks to the mobile check out. read more

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They say there is a way back for every man/woman/child. And lucky for Austin Hula Hut found its way back. Forget everything I said in my previous interview. The current Hula Hut I saw this weekend was exactly as I remembered it from 2000s. Thank you for bringing it back, than you for cleaning up, thank you for organizing it, thank you for keeping this place running. Thank you for employing amazing staff. Thank you for keeping the old favorites on the menu. A million thank yous. read more

Disgusting food. Awful service. Ew. Don't come here unless you want nasty food, not to be waited on until 20+ minutes after you've been sat & then to still spend a bunch of money. read more

5 stars means the place was extraordinary. 4 stars means it was pretty good. 3 means it's about average. Which is why I'm leaving the 3 stars. The stuffed avocado was decent, but the place feels a little dirty. I sat on the patio one Sunday afternoon and it felt like the bar top hadn't been wiped down in days and the bar itself looked disheveled. If you can look past the cleanliness, then this place is pretty unique and definitely has a Hawaiian-ish vibe. read more

Hula Hut - Nice Patio - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Super fun place to feel like you're somewhere besides Austin. Indoor and outdoor seating options and beautiful lake view. All the food was delicious and I'm shocked I haven't been here before in the amount of time I've been local. Service was great, friendly waiter and helped us with making great selections off the menu. Kept the margs coming at a timely pace. For food we did texas nachos w beef, the mexonesian shrimp Flautas and steak tubular taco. Everything was great! Highly recommend for a beautiful day with no time constraints so you can really enjoy it to the fullest! Also for all my local boaters, they have parking and a ramp to walk up to the place as well for easy in and out. read more

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Good food! Great view! Austin has so many great places to and I would go here again. Everyone was nice. Certainly recommend!

This "was" always the place to go when out of state visitors come out or just for fun because they "had" the best drinks and I "loved" the stuffed avocado! NOT ANYMORE! The last couple times have been a big disappointment! Our Stuffed avocados weren't hot! No oozing cheese and chicken when I cut it open! Geez!! I bragged about this, how great the food is and none of our were hot! What's happening here! The coronarita or whatever it is here was a small beer with a side Margarita, not the cool one with the beer in the margarita. Friends rolled their eyes. Time to find a new spot to frequent with friends and visitors! Add to my list of "Not good anymore" restaurants!!! Also, slow to get a server! Started in the bar area outside but very windy!! Came inside, waited another 10 minutes at our table for "someone" to wait on us read more

Hula Hut offers indoor, deck, and covered outdoor dining. With all the seats they offer, you would think they would have a better handle on organization, however, it's a bit of a rodeo.... NOTE: deck dining does NOT require a wait list, it's first come, first serve. All other dining options, you must either book inside or out at the hostess stands. & what the other seating is next to Hula Hut, someone please educate me because I'm just as confused with that one... Service, not the fastest, which wasn't a surprise. Food, just as much of a disappointment. Hula Hut claims themselves as "Mexican Food with a Hawaiian Twist", but honestly this was more Tex-Mex... and that's being polite. We ordered the BBQ Baby Back Ribs, the Chicken Flautas, and the Guacamole Salad. The Baby Back Ribs were overly salty, the Flautas too fried, and the Guacamole underwhelming. read more

Hula Hut - BBQ Baby Back Rib Appetizer*, Chicken Flautas, & Guacamole Salad - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food was great. Z is the best waiter ever!! He was so funny and brought out our food so quickly.

We went for an early lunch. Found a parking place. Amazing service and food. I can't wait to go back again. This is the place I take out of town folk. Great menu. On lake Austin near downtown. read more

Hula Hut - Fish taco and avocado taco. Delicious. Best salsa and tortillas in town. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Food and service was awful. Hair in our nachos and had already waited forever so we got some to-go. The to-go nachos were nasty.

Update: For the first time in 5 years, we returned to have lunch. In the past, there would have been a 30+ minute wait on a weekend. There was not a wait. The restaurant was clean. The food was good. It has been 5 years since I wrote the last review where the restaurant was filthy, the service was terrible and the management was failing. It looks like the new corporate owners (Union Venture Group) have brought back the old Hula Hut that long-time Austinites knew and loved. Hopefully, they will recover the regular customers that they lost before the sale. read more

It's one of those places in Austin that used to be so cool but I doubt locals go there. The wait was insane and the food was just okay.