After a few weeks up north, my pho adventures bring me back down south, to Hai Ky this time. This place definitely was off my radar, but the love on yelp convinced me to give it a shot. Stepping in, what you first notice is how small the place is. Not a huge problem, but I wonder if it ever gets crowded enough to be an issue. The bathrooms aren't labeled as Men or Women, just a picture of Bruce Lee on the Men's and a picture of an Asian girl in a Got Milk? ad for the Women's. Despite the Asians on the bathroom doors, there were no Asians anywhere else in the restaurant (other than me). Usually, this is a huge red flag, but I decided to give Hai Ky the benefit of the doubt. (A pretty reliable litmus test for Asian restuarants is how many Asian people you see inside) As for the food, I went with my usual test subject, pho tai (you know, the one with the raw beef). First, the broth wasn't bad, but there was a lot of oil in it, so beware if you're put off by that. It wasn't nearly as flavorful as other pho broths around town, but it wasn't terrible / bad. The meat came out as it should, pink where it wasn't in the soup. But the add-ons (bean sprouts, etc.) weren't as they should have been. The sprouts were pretty dry. Noodle quantity was fine, but because of the grease and the little bamboo chopsticks you get, they weren't so easy to manage. Overall, it wasn't bad, but I probably won't come back. As the ratings guide goes, for me it was "Meh. I've experienced better." But I feel like 2 stars might be too harsh, because it wasn't bad, either. So I'll call it 2.5 and round up. read more

Found no evidence of any Hipster atmosphere!! Other reviewers must have been friends of these So Called hipsters !! No selection of beer or wine. Looked at one customers food, a pile of giant chunks of peppers, We left to go to 888! read more

I love this place! It is consistently very very good! It's always fresh and delicious. The plates are cheap and the portions are large. They have the BEST Vietnamese spring rolls! I also like the stir fry options! The Sichuan broccoli is amazing. read more

While I eat here on a regular basis with the 4 other of the reviewers I still feel it is necessary for me to give my 2 cents. mmmm bun. I've been eating here a while having been introduced to it years back by my friends that had been regulars for a while. The food is delicious, affordable and the ambiance is conducive to groups getting together for dinner or just stopping by for some food by yourself. Service is great and staff remembers you if you eat there more than once. I recommend the bun with chicken and eggroll (#45) and a tai iced tea. mmmmm read more

Why isn't there an option for 6 stars? I am in love with this place! I'm a regular at this location. I always think I'm going to try something new, but the 45 wins every time. The staff are super-duper friendly and I love bringing guests. I lived in SE Asia for 10 years and this is the closest to authentic SE Asian food I've had since I've been back to the states. Friendly waitstaff, quick service, consistant taste, cheap prices, huge portions, bizarre art things on the walls, a head shop next door and people who look like generically famous bands eating there everytime I go....You guys rock! Thank you!!!! I have to update this review...Since my first review, they only got more awesome! I have to be on a gluten-free diet these days and Kai Ky actually has a gluten-free menu! Life just got sweeter. read more

I have eaten here probably 30 times. I don't care about "authentic", I care about fresh ingredients that are well prepared and accurately portrayed on the menu. I expect friendly - not perfect as some people seem to demand - service and a good menu of options. I also care a great deal about consistency; I expect that a quality meal can be replicated during repeated visits. I like the employees. They know me, accomodate me readily and respond quickly to any problems that come up. Hai Ky is a great example of the neighborhood restaurant " concept " done well. The sticky floor is a chronic problem that prevents this from being a 5-star review. I have mentioned it before and will do so, if it persists, but that alone won't keep me from returning often. Other than this, I love this little "hole in the wall" wedged between a laundromat and a head shop. More people should support it, and problems should be taken up with management before they are bitched about on here. Nobody is perfect, but these folks seem to care about their food and their service. I'm a professional musician. Some of the complaints on here seem contrived and overblown. The bars and clubs in Austin are almost all vile dumps and few seem to care, yet they go nuts about a piece of brown lettuce in a spring roll once a year. Go eat at Hai Ky; great food at decent prices, I say. Suggest they get their own website, too. read more

I didn't think I'd find such good Asian food in my zipcode. This place is awesome, they're the best asian food place in the area that I have tried thus far. They actually know how to cook broccoli! Their Buddha bowl with tofu is delicious. I'd give them 5 stars if they delivered. read more

One my favorite restaurants in Austin. While the restaurant is primarily Vietnamese they have a good selection of Chinese and Thai dishes as well. The stir fry bowls add several combinations to the variety of 100+ items on the menu. There is always something new to try. The food has a lot of flavor, the portions are huge and it's all reasonably priced. Also, they have a WHOLE PAGE of vegetarian items, which is key for us veg-heads. It's definitely a veg-friendly place. Yes, it's in the slightly run down (*gasp*) neighborhood of East Oltorf, but it's really not that bad. East Austin gets a bad rap, you should have no safety concerns coming here. read more

Okay, the whole 5 stars is a little much. Hai Ky is a solid 4 and a half, losing a quarter of a point each for both unpredictable service and inconsistent food. It's not enough to knock a whole point off, but there's that. (I will, however, take a whole point off for service at the Guadalupe location, I only order to-go there because the waitstaff is the most predictably inattentive there.) That being said, I have two very picky, vegetarian children, and this is about the only place we can all agree on. We usually get the Szechuan Broccoli with tofu (76) for the kids, and let me tell you, they will eat their weight in broccoli covered in this sauce. My partner and I usually get the 101, delicious thick cut fried noodles which are doing nobody any favors in the saddlebag department, but it is so entirely delicious it doesn't matter. The 102 and 83 are solid vegetarian dishes as well, but nothing compares to the 101. I have been eating here regularly for around 10 years now, which is more than I can say for most restaurants in town. I think Chuy's is the only place that beats it, but that was mainly because a) I love enchiladas, and b) I lived down the street. Hai Ky is my go-to asian place, and right between a laundromat and an Oat Willie's, you can't go wrong. read more

In a sea of BBQ and Tex Mex, I was so glad to find much lighter dishes at Hai Ky. My vermicilli noodle bowl with pork and shrimp was just what I needed. So filling and delicious. HUGE portion. The service was quick. We were on the run, so got it to-go. Not sure what a dine-in experience was like. The guy who greeted us was reading at one of the tables. Seems very laid-back. read more

Food isn't bad, but it isn't awesome either. It's kind of your average Vietnamese food. If you aren't picky like me, you won't mind making the decision to eat here if it is convenient. It's not somewhere I will go if it is out of my way, that is for certain. The entire staff I have seen are all young, Caucasian guys. I don't know if management changed, but the first time I came here was when it was an older Vietnamese guy serving the food. The quality of food seems it has gone "americanized" in my recent visits, too. There are plenty of good Vietnamese restaurants in North Austin where I live, so the only reason I go here is because it is relatively close to my work. read more

Best vegetable soup I have ever had in my life is the Pho Rau (veggie in beef broth) here. Sure, it's not totally hard-core vegetarian. But the cow who got boiled down to make that heavenly broth died an honorable death. Note, if my 240-lb ass can't finish the Pho and another plate, don't even try. Bring $7 for the grande and get your soup on. read more

This place really amazed me when I first tried it, it completely changed my mind about pho. Previously I had tried pho at different locations but it was always off somehow. I had finally decided maybe I don't like pho, that was until I had found this place. I walked in and was greeted by a very friendly cashier girl who walked me through the menu and helped me decide on what would be the best choice for me. I walked out of the restaurant feeling great because she was so friendly! It truly made my day! And to my surprise I LOVED the pho. I had ordered to-go and was taken aback at how much food I was given and how the broth was still hot! I was so amazed. It made me want to come back and I did. Everytime I came the food was great and the employees so friendly. Until the past few months...I dont know what happened but the girls in the front have been incredibly rude and the food has not been as good. They barely give you any meat and you will be mostly eating cilantro. The noodles are all stuck together. This also hasn't been a one time incident its been multiple over the past few months. I actually decided to stop supporting this restaurant because of it. They've been rude to my husband and to myself on multiple occasions. I just can't believe it because I loved going here. Hopefully they can get their groove back but otherwise I'll just be going down the street to 888 for my pho read more

I've been to this place twice and to their other location on the drag. Best vietnamese I've had in Austin, hands down. I usually order the 96, which is combination chicken, beef, and shrimp with FRIED flat egg noodles. There are also some veggies in this dish, in short, it is delicious and very varied. The Pho is also very good, if you're into that kindof thing. I've seen Jeremy W. put down a large bowl of their pho many times, usually as a great hangover reliever. Well priced, has a decent selection of import beers (Singha, Tsing-Tao, Sapporo, etc) and the food is very tasty. Give any of their locations a try, I bet you'll be velly happy. Beauregardless read more

This place is my go-to for lunch, even though it's 10 minutes farther than the closest Noodle House. The service is always prompt and friendly, the restaurant is clean, and the food is good and crazy cheap. They have a great vegetarian selection, as well as some pretty basic Asian dishes (stir-fries and Pad Thai, that sort of thing.) Even my mother, who is terrified of any food that can't be dipped in queso, loves it when I bring her here, because she can find something she enjoys. If you're looking for a solid bowl of Pho or Bun, give Hai Ky a shot. I doubt you'll be disappointed. read more

The Pho is pretty decent with lots of meat. The service has been quite good every time i've been and the staff is friendly. Heck, i could go for a bowl right now and i just finished some eggs and turkey. Weird combo you might ask? read more

Ordered delivery and they were on time. We ordered the chicken pho and the spring rolls - both were excellent and well served. My only complaint is that the broth was a bit oily but otherwise, great experience. I'd order from them again. read more

Hai Ky is great. I usually get the same thing.. which I believe is #96 (hu teu ap chau)... or something like that. It's pan fried noodles which not many places have. Service is good as is the music and art photos they usually have posted. Hah, looks like I'm not the only one crazy about #96. read more

Chances are if you're looking for really good Vietnamese food you'll want to head up north for restaurants the likes of Pho Hung or Sunflower, but if you're on the southside and want some decent noodles without having to trek too far, Hai Ky is perfect. They have definatley done alot with the modest space they've been alloted, transforming a hole in a typically ugly east Austin strip mall into a welcoming dining area. The atmosphere is generally very warm yet informal and you can ussually find interesting art lining the walls. It's not exactly the taj mahal, but it does the trick. The food itself is overall very good and sumptious, with the noodles having a very nice texture and blending perfectly with the plum sauce. They don't have bubble tea, which is a bit of a downer, but otherwise Hai Ky's menu has everything you could want. read more

Horrible service. After watching another couple who came in after us eat, finish and pay for their meal while we were still waiting we finally asked about our food. "Let me check". Ten minutes later we are told the kitchen is backed up but they were working on it now. Then the table of 8 who came in 15 minutes after us all get their food. Still waiting. After 40 minutes are food finally shows up without an apology or comment. We can forgive the order being misplaced but to lie and not even apologize. Too many other choices to waste my time here. Food is okay at best. read more

I was better off getting some tacos at the corner store down the street. Or going to the chicken spot right next to this place. Pork in the spring rolls was salty. the sesame chicken and rice were so soft u could tell it was just sitting there and reheated in a microwave... never again. read more

This is a great option for Vietnamese food. The service is good and there is generally not a wait. The portions are very generous and the prices are reasonable. It is in a cool area where there are several other good restaurants and things to do. read more

The Original. The best. Hands down, amazing. The Pho - unbeatable. Tongue-scorching, palate tumbling broth and rice noodles. Bun - our classic go to, always fresh egg rolls and fresh, clean ingredients, just a great meal. I am partial to pork with egg rolls, but lately I've been taking the road less traveled. Buddha's delight, lemon grass, spicy hai's chicken. There honestly just isn't too much I can add that hasn't been said, not to mention that I reviewed another location before this, and that review applies to this location just as much. This is old-faithful, we used to come every Sunday for over a year as a recovery from the goings-on of the night before. Sobering-up kind of meal, to exchange stories of our debauchery the night before. Although the drag location is far more convenient for me, some of my buddies thankfully moved down to Oltorf, so I hope i'll be going back a lot more. Cool environment, funky music, funkier art, and really nice and laid bac k waitstaff. read more

The pho is good...and that is really all that matters. In South Austin, it has gotta be in the top 3 broths. Negative things include ambiance, service, egg rolls, and it is freezing in there. But when I crave a bowl of pho I will be back. read more

The hubby and I went out for date night. We paired Harry Potter with Hai Ky. I have to admit that Hai Ky was probably the more memorable part of the evening. It was really good. I don't think that I would term this place as "cute" like my pal Walker. I would lean more on the side of dive. However, with that being said, there is many a dive where good (nay great) food is to be found. When we got there at around 8pm on a Sunday night, it was slammed...and I figured that was probably a good sign. Hubby did the spicy pepper stir fry with beef on vermicelli. It came in a huge bowl and was more than enough to eat. I had the Beijing Noodles and they were both tasty and fresh. Lots of veggies, lots of meat, and a nice portion of rice noodles. It was really tasty. I had to be daring and try all of the sauces on the side of the table too. There was the usual soy sauce, hoison, chili sauce, and something like a chili oil. The last two were really good, and I certainly added some to my dish. It made a nice kick to it. The only thing I didn't like here were the egg rolls. I think that next time I will go with the rolls in rice paper. I saw a few tables getting these and they looked really good. read more

Stopped by here tonight on the recommendation of a friend. I wasn't up for trekking all the way over to Elizabeth St Cafe (and spending that much) but really wanted some pho. It's just down the street from my house, so figured I'd give it a shot. I got the Pho with steak & brisket, which seemed to be pretty traditional in the prep (the steak comes raw and is cooked by the broth when you add it). The broth didn't immediately impress me, it was somewhat bland. But they give you some extra sauces to add and with a little experimenting, it was tasting pretty good. The meat was a little bland for my taste as well, but all and all it was a nice bowl of soup. I also got the spring rolls with shrimp and pork, which would also fall into the pretty good category (the pork reminded me a little of beef jerky, but it gave it an interesting texture) - big fan of the peanut sauce. Not my favorite place so far, but there was a lot more on the menu I'd like to investigate. And my experience tonight certainly didn't scare me away, so I'm looking forward to hopefully finding some hidden gems here since they are so close to my house. I just did a quick pop into the restaurant to pick up my order. It's definitely got that shopping mall hole in the wall feel to it, which I don't mind but some might. read more

I live a hop, skip, and a jump away. Yet still, I am not sold. They have a very veggie-friendly menu, but have changed the ingredients multiple times without note (ie: what used to NOT have fish sauce is now made with fish sauce- and yah, that fact was evident @ 3am. OUCH!) This applies to the #100, my favorite dish for years. It's now a "wha...wha...wha...whaaaaaaaa". Boo, I really miss it as most of the other veggie options just don't do it for me. My husband has gotten 3 or 4 different meat items and still has no high praise to offer. The staff can be a bit "too cool for school", as well and they've screwed up our take-out order more than twice. I notice it got mentioned it the chronicle's food guide a few times and always gets props from Yelpers. Overall, I just don't get the hype. My fellow Yelpers: Do feel free to recommend another veg-friendly Vietnamese option? read more

The food at Hai Ky is fantastic. I had the Mongolian Tofu which was very good (my waiter personally suggested it). The food was hot, fresh, and came out surprisingly quick. I dropped in on my short lunch break and had no trouble getting in and out. I will be back. read more

My girl was in town visiting and wanted to try something different so i suggested this place and she agreed. I had the beef and brisket Pho. It was good, i do think the broth lacked a little flavor and the meat was okay but overall it was good. My friend had the Pad Thai and it was really good, i wish i had that instead : / will try next time. We had Spring Rolls, pork and shrimp as appetizers and they were pretty tasty. It's a small place, with cool art on the walls for sale and cool indie music playing... I think it's a little more hipster than it is authentic. They had two servers and they did everything from order taking to cashing out, to busing tables. I payed $18.85 for my pho and spring rolls + tip. I told my Vietnamese coworker about this place and she said she'd check it out just to see how legit it is :) I will be back though just for kicks. read more

I go here about once a week since it is close to the office. The service is efficient and food is served quickly. The vermicelli bowl is quite tasty, especially if you leave out the lettuce. My favorite thing is the #95. This is a stir fried noodle dish with chicken, shrimp, beef and veggies in a light house sauce. I have tried this dish other places without the same success. Oh and it fills the plate and fills me up too. read more

After a night of drinking, we were definitely looking forward to a bowl of pho. With a party of 6, we split 2 orders of springrolls (felt/tasted old), an order of eggrolls (my friend said it was good), and each had a bowl of pho. The pho was just "ok" and the service could have been better. read more

Please don't rush to give a check. I know food is good and I love every time we come here. At least it's nice to ask us too how we are doing and the food taste. read more

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So good Best Pho I've had in Austin so far! The Pho Tai Chin is amazing and the spring rolls are so refreshing. I love it here and will continue be a frequent customer :) read more

I have eaten here for years and while the service can be a little wanting I keep going back for the fried flat noodles. The first time we ate there we asked the waiter what he suggested and that was his favorite thing on the menu. My son loves the pork dumplings and generally just gets two orders of them for his entree. The food is very affordable. I've suggested this place to many friends in the neighborhood and all of them love the place. read more

Great Asian food, although I haven't tried much of the specifically Vietnamese food. My Vietnamese SO appreciates the place, so I have to assume there is some reasonable level of authenticity. I was initially recommended the No. 101 - some kind of thick, fried rice noodle with vegetables - by my friend Ivan, who seems to be so dialed into Austin anything that it's a little creepy. That said, the 101 never fails to satisfy, even though it's never quite the same dish twice. I can't entirely agree with the other reviews about the smell - while it's always clean and neat, I have found that I leave wearing a whiff of everything everyone else ate that night. Don't make it your first stop of the night, unless you plan to go home and change afterward. Final word: the place is consistently good and almost heart-breakingly cheap. I suppose you can overlook the "Me love you long time!" t-shirts, since actual Asian people are the ones who are wearing them, although it is somewhat perplexing. Either way, this place should get your business. (Did I just make a joke?) NB: the fried rangoon - pleasantly devoid of crab - comes out of the kitchen about 9000 Kelvins. Make sure it's cooled off, or it can destroy your tongue before your entree arrives. read more

I love this place. The food is always great and I eat here at least once a week...sometimes twice. FRESH FRESH FRESH! The food always tastes really fresh! The menu has plenty to offer but my favorite here is the Beijing Noodles. Very good dish. The service is good. Fast and friendly. read more

I come here all of the time thanks to my boyfriend. He loves their Pho with steak and I like the chicken version. Get the Thai iced tea, too. Don't get their fried wontons though, they resemble dry empanadas. I'm sad to read the reviews that are giving it a lower rating based on the atmosphere. I have no complaints, even as a clean freak and someone who appreciates good design. I go there for the good cheap food and fast service. Order it to go if you don't like the inside, they're super speedy with to-go orders. read more

I eat at Hai Ky Oltorf weekly and occasionally at the one on Guadalupe since I work and live close to both of them. I have tried many of the different things on the menu and have had average to great experiences. The number 96 is my favorite, Hu Tieu Ap Chao, which is.. chicken, beef and shrimp with pan fried flat noodles and all the veggies stirred fried together. You get a flat noodle which is crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside....really tasty!! I always add hoison sauce to mine as it is a preference. The fried rangoons are really good, as is the sauce they come with. I have tried the vermicelli bowls and most of the house specials plus the Create your own Stir Fry. Some I will continue to have again but some are not to my particular liking. However, there is always the Number 96 waiting for me when I can't decide. Very filling and delicious. read more

Got pho with chicken and a coconut shrimp appetizer. The appetizer was meh and the pho was tasty. I am not an expert, but I thought the noodles were well-cooked, the chicken plentiful and the broth delicious. I couldn't begin to eat an entire *small* bowl and I was full for hours! The only thing that was odd to me was lemon instead of lime on the condiment plate, but it worked. The service was haphazard, with several servers, but it was quick and did the job. I'd go back for pho anytime. read more

This is a much smaller restaurant than I expected, but there was plenty of seating inside for the lunch crowd today. I ordered the pad thai and it was okay -- good, but not quite what I was expecting. It wasn't quite as flavorful as other pad thai dishes I've had, but I did order Thai food at a Vietnamese restaurant. I would come here again but would try something different. The service was quick and friendly! read more