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    Hoover's Cooking

    3.6 (1.1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    HOOVER'S COOKING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Hoover's Cooking

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    Gumbo Cup
    Fellman B.

    Hoover's has been an Austin staple for Southern soul food cooking since the late '90s. It's very sad that they will be closing after 30 years in June. I went there this week for a sad event: a memorial to celebrate the life of Jamie Breaux, the husband of a friend of mine, who was a manager and chef there for 20 years. Owner Hoover Alexander and other friends and relatives shared heartfelt memories of Jamie. After the speeches, Hoover's opened a buffet line featuring some of their famous dishes: brisket tacos, barbecue wings, fried chicken, gumbo (Jamie's famous recipe), and étouffée (a classic Louisiana dish meaning "smothered," featuring shellfish like crawfish or shrimp in a rich, savory sauce served over rice). And the desserts!: banana pudding and a fig cake, (À special combination of churro and another ethnic dessert I forgot.) À band featuring Jamie's friends played a few songs. Milford Milligan, À local favorite blues singer, joined for an appropriate song: "À Good Day for the Blues." It made me cry! The restaurant is cozy, and it was specially decorated with flowers on the tables and images of Jamie throughout. Hoover Alexander was so welcoming and personable. Austin will miss him at this restaurant (though he may have another restaurant concept up his sleeve after the closing). He is too committed to serving great food to stop now! Before Hoover's, he owned a restaurant called "Good Eats." Hoover's Heals: "I have long sought to live in a state of gratitude and love, believing as l do that love-love for community, love for neighbors and friends, love for oneself-will deliver us from the obstacles and difficulties in life. Now I am bringing love into Hoover's Cooking in a new way that embraces everyone through Love Rocks Texas. We all know that Love Rocks our world, but Love rocks are a physical expression of all we hold dear. I hope you will join us in creating and sharing Love Rock by painting or posing with a Love rock. The permanence and stability of a rock lends its strength to becoming a Love The Love Rocks will, in part, be used to sustain the Hoover's Community Fund. 33% of the sale of Love Rocks will go to the Hoover's Community Fund to be disbursed to nonprofits focused on our community. This is one way that we spread the love. At Hoover's Cooking, we know that Food is Love. We invite you to share the food and love with us.".

    Chicken-Fried Steak Cutlet (1) & 2 House Mates
    Pax S.

    Well, the chicken fried steak might not be completely dead! My friend and I went to a KUTX show (ATXplained) and learned that this dish is slowly fading out of the city. Wild! Yes, chain restaurants serve a chicken fried steak but are they doing it this well? Not at all! I ordered unsweetened tea, okra, and mashed potatoes with mine. Everything was perfect with the addition of some more cracked pepper. Our server was nice (a little rushed for only having two tables) and he made sure the drinks were full and that we ordered dessert. Lord have mercy--the praline bread pudding is otherworldly. I remember eating it cold out of my fridge the next day...it was that good! Only thing I was underwhelmed about was my friend's jalapeño creamed spinach. It didn't have a jalapeño bite to it and the bitterness took over. My okra was warm, not hot. The ambiance felt like an after-church service dining room -- super cozy. I will definitely be back to keep this place on Manor Rd. It was cool to see Mr. Hoover himself! Support this business!

    Buttermilk pie
    vonnie v.

    My bf and I used to LOVE Hoover's. Their breakfast menu on the weekends was amazing especially their hoe cakes and cheddar garlic grits. Their ribs and creamy jalapeño spinach was the main attraction on the dinner menu. Then their breakfast menu was discontinued. Then the jerk ribs disappeared from the menu. My bf and I stopped going. We heard Hoover's was closing its doors forever on May 31, 2026. We decided to go back for old times sake's. We started off with the wings as an appetizer and those were delicious however we didn't get them until much later. The server apologized and said there was a mixup and offered us a free cornbread on the house. I never tried their world famous chicken that's boasted about on their t-shirts. I got two housemates (sides) so I chose the fried okra and mashed potatoes. My bf selected the jerk chicken and butter beans and creamed spinach. The cornbread arrived and was dry. The highly anticipated fried chicken had no flavor at all. The mashed potatoes were dry. I asked for gravy but it never came. The okra was hot and fresh. My bf's jerk chicken was also flavorless and a small serving. No seasoning whatsoever although the sauce that came with it made it better. His sides were good. We had never tried their pies so got two buttermilk slices and two peach pie slices to go. They were very disappointing. The buttermilk didn't taste like buttermilk and was full of nutmeg, we thought for a second it was pumpkin but pumpkin wasn't an option. The crust on both pies tasted old and was soggy in texture. We were charged for the cornbread so we called server over who corrected it. The servers were friendly. On the way out we decided to buy some t-shirts to remember Hoover's. We talked with the cashier and he said the head cook who smoked the jerk ribs left and they couldn't get them right after that so that's why they were discontinued because the quality was no longer there. We wanted to support Hoover's and pay tribute to the restaurant but the quality of the food has definitely declined although I'm sad to see its doors closing after 30+years. A lot of good memories there but this last visit isn't one of them. Bottom line: good sides and appetizer but flavorless main entrees and sad desserts is why I gave it 2 stars.

    Small cornbread serving with fried catfish in the background.
    Sherrill J.

    Great location and environment. Authentic down home menu. Great service and great food. L ordered fried catfish with collard greens and fried okra. I ordered the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes (gravy), fried okra and a small cornmeal. Everything was outstanding. Comfort food at its best!

    Meatloaf
    Rich M.

    Hoover's has changed. The restaurant that was an absolute GO-TO for years seems to be in decline. The food was OK. The service was OK...except that our server didn't seem to have any clue about the menu. Low energy, a lazy vibe and paint-by-numbers food. What was spectacular is now just average. It's sad.

    Interior
    C B.

    Texas home cooking at its best, owned by Hoover Alexander. There's a great culinary bio of this African American Austin native on their website. There's a hostess stand as you enter, then you are led into the dining area. It has a clean welcoming interior with a large chalk menu on the wall. No wait, with several customers streaming in during our visit. Delicious reasonably priced entrees and certainly a neighborhood gem. It is clearly visible from the street with parking in front. This one is a keeper. Not far from the restaurant, in this well known East Austin neighborhood is the Dr. Charles E. Urdy Plaza tile mural great for selfies.

    Ambulance Delivery
    Paul D.

    Hoover's Cooking is all about serving the local community with southern comfort food much of which is locally sourced. I have dined here before a few times in the past and was excited to return. It is located in an area full of new popular eateries, but this place is a landmark. There was plenty of parking and was easy to find. It is all table seating except a few booths. I noticed the staff took their time to seat and serve you. No rushing which made me feel more like being at my parents. It was very calm. I also noticed the "Love Rocks TX." slogan all over with a huge collection of painted rocks to spread love which remind when I myself painted a rock during Covid. There was a charm about this place watching an older man painting away. I ordered the 2PC Fried Chicken Dark with 2 House Mates, Macaroni & Cheese and Green Beans, and Sweet Tea. From looking around this place it displays local Austin history all around including items from the Frisco Shop. Once our heavy plates of food arrived the fried chicken looked very good. The food was very hot. I tried a chicken leg and the crust was crunchy and tasty. The chicken was also very delicious. The mac & cheese was great along with the green beans which had chunks of brisket in it. Overall it was really good where it was not spicy at all and perfect for older folks. Really good fried chicken. Planning to return to try the fried catfish or BBQ chicken.

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    2 months ago

    We will miss hoovers when it's closed. Best fried chicken and bits in town. Thank you for your contributions to this community!

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    Hoover A.

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Some of the Best southern cooking in Austin! Service is great and don't forget to grab a slice pie to take home

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    1 year ago

    We enjoyed our meals. The food never disappoints! Tasty food. The service was good. The manager checked on us to make sure we were okay.

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    8 months ago

    My daughter saw a large rat in the dining room. She told the waitress who wasn't concerned. We won't be going back. Very sad.

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    10 months ago

    For everyone that said this is the best CFS in Austin you are badly mistaken. I was so excited to try it and was highly disappointed.

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    Page 1 of 27

    Hoover's Cooking Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hoover's Cooking

    Mr. Hoover, Why have you stopped serving breakfast? Best cheese grits I've EVER eaten!

    I heard it had to do something with staffing. I miss those pancakes :(

    Has Hoover's stopped serving breakfast on Saturday mornings?

    Yes

    View All 6 Questions

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    Really love going to rosé goes!…read more I think everybody in town knows their service is not the best and that's not what they're known for but their cocktails are by far my favorite in all of Austin. Their drink number seven, which is basically a Yuzu gin sour is literally my favorite drink and all of Austin and still continues to be that way. Their food is also pretty decent, but I primarily go there for the drinks. Gotta get my wraps done before it actually closes down because I still don't know how to stay around

    Hoover's Cooking - southern - Updated May 2026

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