What can I possibly say about Hoover's that hasn't been said already; It is one of the few places in Austin where consistency in food quality has been there since the beginning. My usual is the Jamaican Jerk chicken and it is one tasty bird. I've had everything on the menu, we'll not in one sitting but through the years and I have no complaints about it. Hoover's puts a homemade spin on his pies, meaning they don't look or taste like they ordered it from a catalog. Just simply delicious. read more

Good. Ordered a hamburger medium rare got one well done, but the smoky flavor was good, just a bit dry. I was in the neighborhood so I thought I would give it a try. Prices were a bit on the high side. Coconut cream pie was pretty darn good! My server did disappear quite a bit that caused a little bit of a wait but when he appeared back, things were okay. read more

Classic southern comfort food with exceptionally nice staff. Food equivalent of a warm hug!

Unfortunately I'm reporting without having tried my food due to me being about "Customer Service/Business etiquette" thus far #MajorTurnOff starting with the female (I'm guessing by her in person Voice & actions) started off impatient which I truly understand busy environment taking phone orders totally WAS excused in my book , been there done that TRULY UNDERSTAND it, moving forward in person picking up my food haven't been here in a looong while, I inquire with the lady (Tina is the name on the ticket) at the bar whose closing my order, me being curious and simply asking, "Is that actual beets in the Margarita?" Her response with a nod and facial expression "Yes" I kept it moving but wanted to assure all items and condiments were in place with my order she was again impatient, rude and indirect Mind You I at the time was the only customer In her presence excluding those dining in, fortunately I'm hungry and have come too far to dwell in the parking lot about my "long time coming bad Customer Service experience" here at Hoovers while my food goes cold, Perhaps the good just maybe the plus and positive compensation...Im hoping As for dinner it was good. I had the jerk chicken dinner, I didn't taste the "jerk" spice/kick within the chicken, actually the was more like smoked barbeque without the jerk as for sides: I had mashed potatoes with white gravy along with the kale beet salad I found to be my favorite from today's meal. read more

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Hoover's is good for the soul! Some of the best things on the menu are the CFS, the Elgin sausage, the big ass pitchers of lemonade, the mac-n-cheese, the fried okra, the sweet potato biscuits....the list goes on and on! I would normally give Hoover's 5 stars for the scrumptiousness of the food, but the last time I ate there while visiting Austin the mac-n-cheese was not it's usual gooey, cheesy goodness. The creamed spinach was a bit watery and flavorless. I wish Hoover's was not in such a " rundown strip-mall" type setting but I can easily overlook that when the food is on point! read more

So it's not a place to go if you're trying to watch your figure. But, it is a place to go to catch up with old friends and eat fried goods. Not a lot to say that hasn't been said already. I had the Bella Mufaletta. It was pretty good. Not awesome, but pretty good. The bread was mighty tasty. I enjoyed the mac and cheese a lot and the server did not steer me wrong with the tomatoes and okra. I think I tried a bite of almost everything at the table--and there were 6 of us--and none of it was bad. Yes, of course I'll be back. But maybe next month after I have my yearly cholesterol check. read more

I want to prelude this review with the fact that I put Hoover's on a pedestal before I even tried the food. I based this on reviews, verbal and Yelp based, and my own insatiable desire for some good Southern cooking. Service was great. We were greeted quickly and sat just as quickly. Our waitress promptly asked us for our drink orders. She then gave us plenty of time to go through the vast selection. She brought us our food and checked to make sure we were enjoying our meals. The price of the meal was also more than acceptable considering that I could barely finish my meal. I however, thought the food was unimpressive. The chicken and ribs were dry. I liked the flavor on them but they tasted like last night's leftovers. I like my country fried steak fried a bit crispier. The gravy on top was good and thick. Tasty. The jalepeno creamed spinach was a very awkward taste. I wasn't a fan. I did enjoy mixing this with mac and cheese. Those two tastes complemented each other well. The okra and tomatoes were also not that enticing. I want to give this place another try because I want to like it. I will have to try more things on the menu. read more

I'm not going to call anybody out, but Jacob R. suggested this place while in town. We've been friends for a while and he assured me this was what I needed before meeting up on 6th Street. Apparently I pissed him off because this was terrible. The parking was fine, service was splotchy, and the food was pretty bad. The chicken fried steak was suggested, so I ordered it and couldn't wait. A few minutes later a pot roast looking thing arrived at my table by a server who immediately vanished into thin air. Relatively confused, I patiently waited for our server to eventually show up. I suggested that this was not a chicken fried steak and he lucky for him he agreed. About 90 seconds later he returned with an actual chicken fry. I cut into expecting a tasty chuck of meat but instead found an ice cube. This damn thing felt like it was just taken out of the refrigerator. I ate about 6 bites then decided to fill up on the free bread. We then had to ask a different server to see if he could find my server so I could pay out and leave this place in my dust. This was the worst meal and service of anyplace I have had in Austin. I'm a little confused by the high ratings! read more

HOOVER'S! Why must you be so close to my apartment? You make it so easy to venture out for drinks and barbecue and chicken fried steak and cobbler (these are a feeewwww of my faaavorite things). But really, considering I've only lived in Austin for about a month in a half, it's a little unreasonable how many times I've been to Hoover's. How can I not?! It's decidedly relaxed; even when it's busy you don't feel choked to death or hurried. To add, the waitstaff is super cool and really friendly, which is especially nice to someone who eats alone often, like myself. On to the real important stuff -- THE FOOD. It's amazing, man. Seriously. If you're into greasy comfort food at all (and, c'mon let's face it, who's not) then you're into Hoover's. They have all the fixin's that you would normally get in a southern kitchen, but they do all the cooking. Best of both worlds, if you ask me. I'm partial to the chicken fried chicken, lightly battered and topped with gravy. MM. Also if you're feelin' barbecue they have a really awesome 'light fare' (nothing about it is light) option that allows you to have smoked chicken, sausage, and three 'smaller' sides. Again, #winning. One star off for two reasons: a) they don't have coke products. I need my diet coke bro! b) their cobbler, while very good, sometimes tastes like barbecue. -_- All in all, Hoover's is awesome. Give it a go already! Whatchu waiting forrr read more

Man, that was some mighty fine chicken fried steak! Nice & crispy, tender, & smothered in that delicious country gravy, all for less than $10! All the entrees my friends ordered were delicious as well. Hoover's make everything from scratch & it's all homemade & you can definitely taste the love. The sausages taste like actual meat, not fatty preservatives & chemicals. Their macaroni & cheese tastes like cheese, ooey gooey creamy cheese, not fake cheese powder or dry bland noodles. And there's skin in the mashed potatoes, my favorite. The restaurant looks pretty understated & it's kind of small, but I think it's part of it's charm. No fancy bells & whistles needed here, just friendly service & a rockin' chef. I'd definitely return on my next trip to Austin! read more

Hoover's is the BEST. My bf and I share a secret obsession for chicken fried steak. We love it so much, that we just call it CFS for short. Hoover's satisfied all our CFS desires; it was tender inside, crispy outside, deliciously flavorful, and the gravy was perfect. We also had the Elgin sausage, a smoked sausage with a crispy casing that case with a tart and spicy red sauce. I didn't expect to get such a sauce with sausage, but it was a perfect compliment. Side dishes were pretty tasty, French fries, cole slaw, etc., (but a warning to veggie lovers: the veggies are cooked to death, as is traditional, but goes against the modern cooking methods of just lightly cooking veggies so they retain their crispiness). We finished the meal off with a cherry cobbler. To my surprise, the cherries were sour cherries. I was so happy; I'll take sour cherries over the sweet bing cherries any day! The service was great too; the server and the hostess were super nice and attentive. read more

We came to Austin for New Years and were pleasantly surprised to one find a soul food restaurant and also one that has such great food. We ordered the fried chicken and jerk rib plates. They were both phenomenal!!! All of the sides we tasted were delicious and we both got a small side of black eye peas due to the new year! I will be back for sure!!! read more

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Talk about some home cooking! I got the pork chops! I'm glad somebody recommended this place to me. I was in town for the State Track Meet. Next time I'm coming here again! read more

Hoovers does not suck, in fact it's pretty awesome. At Hoover's we did however, suck everything off our plates. The Elgin sausage, the bbq ribs, the jalapeno creamed spinach (divine!), and the cherry cobbler were really outstanding. I tried my friends Chicken fried steak and this northerner loved it. The mac and cheese was old school delicious and worth going off diet for. Everything was smoked out back - right there. The service was great- we were there with a big group and they were very accommodating even though we didn't call ahead. I thank my friends for showing us what the texas bbq is all about. read more

YUM! My lunch here last week was over indulgence at it's finest. Meat & 3: Chicken fried chicken, mac & cheese, mustard greens and okra with tomatoes. Every bite was delicious. The chicken was really tender and not over breaded. The food all tasted really fresh and homemade. I also tried the muffaletta and it was possibly even better than my own plate of food. The fresh baked sourdough bread was to die for and the french fries were so crisp and flavorful. Oh, and don't forget to save some room for dessert! I didn't but I had some anyway...peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. It was the perfect sweet treat to end a perfect southern comfort meal! read more

This homey feel place is inviting. Great choices on the menu with plenty of sides, make your own combo or pick from the ones already made. Tried the charbroiled lemon pepper fish, so moist, so delicious. Pick two or three sides depending on the time you get to this place. Plenty of sides, from greens, rice, beans to yams and taters~ yum yum. They bring corn bread and muffins with butter on the side to compliment your meal. The waitress was nice and accommodating :) overall experience great! must try. read more

Mmmm, Hoovers was great! This was our first meal in Austin and we were huuuungry. We were planning on eating light and we ordered the chicken fried chicken hoover size to share and we devoured it really fast. It came with a side of mac n cheese and creamed spinach. All were delicious. The chicken was so crispy on the inside and really juicy on the inside even though it was chicken breast. The gravy on top was a perfect topping. We decided to also order the chicken fried steak without sides (there goes our idea of eating light) and it was also good. However, if you had one choice between the two, I'd definitely get the chicken. Service was fast and friendly. It was also within walking distance to UT's football stadium, so it was a convenient place to grab a bite to eat before the game. read more

When I need some comfort food this is the place I go to, always good and service is great! Just wish I lived a little closer, but then I probably weigh 300 pounds. read more

Ordered to go just to try it since I'm thinking of ordering catering from them for Thanksgiving. The women who answered the phone was short and lackluster. When I arrived the host greeted me warmly and directed me to the bar to pick up food. The women who took my credit card at the bar to pay was also dismissive. I get you arent getting tips per say on to go orders. But the cc slip says 50cent fee per Togo orders so youre getting something. The food its self was bland. The collard greens were watery, coleslaw and mac and cheese we just ok. The chicken fried steak was very bland, white gravy was good. Yams were good. .... I dont know if I would go again. I can deal with blah staff if the food was amazing but it wasnt. Especially when my bill came to about 37$ for to meals. read more

Just over I-35 from UT sits delicious, gravy-covered empty calories. I always get the Southern Fried Chicken, and the macaroni is awesome. Please, no one ever tell me the calorie content of the food there. That would just be mean. FYI- They don't seat incomplete parties. So if you plan to meet up with your friends that like to show up fashionably late, be prepared to hang out in the front until they get there. read more

Several people in the neighborhood recommended this place as good home cooking. Seriously? In a town famous for it's food? I went with three other people and we all ordered different things so we could sample various flavors. Not only was everything pretty bland, some of it was way overcooked. The pulled pork sliders were crusty, the baby back ribs were almost too hard to even get off the bone, the black eyed peas were bland, the mac and cheese was gloppy and mild, the blackberry cobbler was unremarkable and the buttermilk pie was mushy. We liked the sweet potatoes and the sweet potato biscuits. Otherwise, the food made me a little sad for the locals. The atmosphere is bare-bones and kind of modern, not what we expected in a Mom and Pop style place. Made me wonder if it was once in a cozier spot. read more

THE BEST BREAKFAST in Austin! Went there for the 1st time last weekend and going again this weekend. Been looking for a place that serves a breakfast as good or better than IHOP and this place does it better! You must try the specialty pancakes like the sweet potato and blueberry pancakes, they are so delicious. I got the the Migas plate as well which came with salsa, re-fried beans and chopped potatos (cooked with sauteed onions, which was a nice touch). I still need to try the homemade peach cobbler and will review that in the future. read more

Love this place every time I go, Hoovers definitely never disappoints! I usually order the chicken fried steak here and it is superb every time i go. Their sides are also good such as their creamed spinach, mac n cheese, and fried okra and portions are quite filling. I would definitely recommend if you're craving some of that dank southern home cookin! tl;dr: dank southern home cookin! chicken fried steak yooo! read more

Check your diet at the door!!!! When you eat at Hoover's, you'll want to briefly leave the nutrition straight and narrow to indulge in one of its Southern-style comfort food dishes. Because it is worth every day of your life it takes off. First off, the sides selection is amazing, and every side is homemade, made from scratch at the restaurant. I had the mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, and a dinner salad with homemade ranch dressing. Next time, I'm going to try the pinto beans, cowboy beans, and buttered carrots. The sides are one of my favorite things about Hoover's. For the entree, I had the double-cutlet chicken fried steak, that comes covered with homemade white gravy. The steak was very tasty -- the breading was clearly homemade and one of the best crusts I've ever had. The steak's texture was a bit tough, and when I asked for a steak knife, the server said they didn't have steak knives. That was my biggest issue with my meal, but it was still very tasty. I would be willing to try the steak again to see if that was a one-time thing. In addition to awesome Southern cooking, Hoover's has local bottled and draft beers and a selection of wine and cocktails. The drinks are pretty cheap, too. I will definitely be going back to Hoover's. I would go several times a week if my body could take it. read more

I figured, "What the hey?" It's been a few years. I had been before and had the pork chops and meatloaf. And those are probably the best things on the menu. Today, I ordered Jamaican Jerk Chicken and the best thing about this plate were the vegetables. Well, at least the squash medley and broccoli. The green beans still had stems. The menu states," spicy jerk seasoning". The chicken was very tender and very bland. No spicy. No seasoning. I was the jerk for suggesting this restaurant again. Needless to say, this is one Austin institution I won't make the mistake of revisiting. read more

Hoover's is and has always been just wonderful. My biggest complaint... Hoover TEASES us with his awesome fried chicken. I used to book flights just to score fried chicken at the place he used to have at Bergstrom. Alas, the morning chicken is no longer, and you can only get it on Sundays, or some mythical holiday or some such at Hoover's proper. Adding insult to industry is a big Hoover's Fried Chicken food truck parked out front on occasion. Is it ever open? PLEASE help... (picture me as a young child with huge eyes and Sally Strothers or Sarah McLaughlin beseeching you in the background if that works...) read more

Thank you for serving my family on June 18th for my husband's birthday lunch. We had a wonderful time and our service was great. I was not aware of your policy for tipping the wait staff, but the mandatory tip added to the bill was less than what our waiter would have gotten had you given me the option to tip him myself. We had a party of 5 adults and 4 children and I paid for the whole table because it was a special day for my husband. In instances such as this and with all the attentive service we received...I normally tip 25-30% but policies that impose a tip prior to informing the patron really deters people who appreciate great service like we received to only give what is required and not what was truly deserved. Again thank you for your hospitality and I just needed to share that information with you just to think about. Have a wonderful day!!! read more

Southern home cooking where the service is the key. Everyone in this restaurant hustles and worries about the fine details. I think a few items could use a bit more salt but that's an easy remedy. It's the kind of cooking that reminds you of grandmas kitchen with the chicken friend steak and chicken friend chicken. Don't forget to try the beet-a-Rita !! read more

I showed up at Hoover's having walked what felt like a million miles in the heat. The lemonade alone is worth five stars. I'm taking stars away for the following: --portions WAY too big, so everyone ended up with more food (and spending more money) than they needed. Even the small portion with sides was too much meat for most of us. --GREASY sausage. Now, I don't mind a little grease, but I mean dripping all over the place leaving a pool not just a stain on the plate. Ick. --Cheese grits--yummy, rich, but overcooked. I would try this place again for the different sides, and everyone was super nice, and I bet the pie is great, but there' just kind of TOO MUCH of everything, and that turns me off. Cornbread was a bit dry, but at least they kept bringing it! read more

This place is awesome, and when i say awesome I mean AWESOME! I took my boyfriend a couple of weeks ago because I was craving some good down home cooking. We were seated fairly quickly for a weeknight dinner hour, looked over the menu for a little while and ordered. Our food arrived quickly, but the important part is, it was nice and hot. Now to the best part. The amount of food you get is HUGE, takes up the entire plate. I ordered the chicken fried chicken with mac and cheese and fried okra. My first bite was mouth watering and just wonderful. I enjoyed every bite after that and it was all around wonderful. Now I know when I'm craving some good southern home cooking I will head to Hoover's. read more

Southern Home Cooking at it's best. Portions are large and service is great. I've had the meatloaf and their Country Fried Chicken and would always leave super full with a food coma hours later. read more

Good ol southern hospitality! Such friendly staff and the food was all so delicious. Felt like I was eating a holiday meal at home with family! We will be back! read more

Hoover's Cooking - Jerk chicken candied yams kale and beets - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

Chicken fried chicken amazing. Chicken fried steak even better. Try the Bloody Mary! One of the best I've had. Fantastic frozen margaritas! Casual good home country cooking! read more

Hoover's Cooking - Chicken Fried Chicken - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I visited Hoover's twice on Sundays after church. Both times it was crowded but staff was able to get us seated fairly quickly. Our waiters were friendly and helpful. I ordered the chicken and waffles the first time I came and had to come back again for it. Hands down the best fried chicken in Austin! The portion was great too, for the price. Food is cooked fresh; so if you come when it's crowded, expect a wait on your food. Bearing this in mind, it would have been great if our complimentary corn bread and sweet potato rolls came well before and not with our main course. Nonetheless, I'll be back again! read more

Super tasty food, no wait for a table, quick service, and ample coffee and water refills. Oh, and pretty cheap! A great spot. We went for brunch did split two plates (our usual trick for sampling as much as possible). He got the biscuits and gravy with a side of home fries; I had the breakfast tacos (cheddar, cajun ham, and potato) with a side of cheddar garlic grits. And oh my god the grits! Fantastic. The winner, by a mile, even though everything else was delicious. We left uncomfortably full, but with big smiles on our faces, and will definitely be back. Yay for Hoover's! read more

Ham po-boy was delicious. I was very hungry and expected a tad bit more, but I can tell you that there was TONS of flavor. Don't let the food fool you, its NOT good for you, but it gets the job done. And the mac and cheese is pretty tasty too. Give em a go. read more

Good lord, the butter beans... and the mustard greens, yams, fried okra, buttermilk pie, chicken fried steak, smothered pork chops, etc. Hell, you even have to stay on theme, both the frozen margaritas and the jerk chicken are right on point as well. There are some hiccups. I've had the grits come out soupy, and they've never come out great, and the okra and tomatoes were pretty bland the one time I tried them. But hey, the best of their offerings are very, very good. All that good food is delivered by friendly service in a great atmosphere. Recently, I went for breakfast for the first time, had a positive experience there as well. The breakfast menu is unique and dangerous. My girlfriend got pancakes with chicken fried chicken strips, which topped any chicken and waffles I've ever had (at Roscoe's or anywhere else). I had a concoction that was less southern cooking than an outsized parody of it: chicken and biscuits smothered in etouffee. It might have been over the top, but it sure was tasty. Maybe it's obvious, but this is one of my favorite restaurants in town. read more

Typically, when an establishment offers me an RC Cola within 30 seconds of being seated, I'm gonna be into it. Sure enough, by the time our amiably dry server Ike (like Mike, but without all that mmmm business) dropped off our basket of jalapeno cornbread and sweet potato rolls, I was pretty well swept off my southern feet. Their black-eyed peas, fried okra, smothered pork chops, jamaican jerk chicken and chicken-fried steak were the standout performances at our table, with something left to be desired by the mashed potatoes and mac'n cheese. I ordered the New Orleans Muffaletta, a tall, fat and greasy stack of salted meats and olive paste sandwiched between a super-soft sesame seed sweet sourdough bun. I'd prefer a sturdier bread, but otherwise, it's just right if you're in the mood for a salt overload. read more

My rating pertains ONLY to Thanksgiving 2011 and the food I ordered to feed my party of 12. Last year, I bought fresh turkeys from White Egret Farm (see my review to understand why I never went back). This year, after calculating cooking times for everything in the meal, it didn't make sense to cook my own. That's not entirely true. I also hate touching giant poultry. After reading the Yelp reviews, I decided to give Hoover's a try. Since I was having so many people, I was pleased to see that the turkeys were 14-16 pounds. The turkey was available roasted, fried or smoked. Since smoked turkey has a pinkish hue (and I come from a long line of overreacting, "It isn't COOKED! You could die! Spit it out!" people), I knew that my side of the family wouldn't touch it. I'd heard good things about fried turkey, and since I'd NEVER try to make one at home, that's what I chose, along with a quart of giblet gravy. My husband brought it home Wednesday night, and I wanted to sneak a peek. That turkey was VERY securely wrapped - I went at least three layers down - but it looked beautiful! The next day, the reheating instructions were simple and totally accurate. By the time we started to carve, the meat was falling from the bone. The skin was an even, rich dark brown all over, and not greasy in the least. In truth, it tasted less oily than roasted turkey. The best part was having all my guests raving and going back for more. Even after a total feeding frenzy, I have a good amount left over. For the saving in time, refrigerator space, oven space, etc. I found the $56 price tag to be fair. I would have given a five-star rating, but the giblet gravy was NOT to our liking, for the most part. The giblet pieces weren't as small as I had hoped for (and I specifically asked about it when I placed the order), and the gravy became like glue overnight. I usually add a little milk to reheated gravy, but I had to add almost two cups of milk to thin it out for serving and dilute the heavy, heavy garlic. A few guests liked it, but most steered clear. I tossed out the leftover. Next time I host Thanksgiving, I will definitely order another fried turkey from Hoover's! read more

Having had this place about 5 times and each time a different dish, i would say Hoovers deserves a four. The food is fairly good, but at somewhat on the expensive side. i just dont feel that the price correlates very well to the quality and quantity of the food. Favorite dish here is the smothered pork chops, its and "special" but seems to have never left the specials wall, which must mean its very popular. All in all great lunch place, or if you are just in the mood to eat and then go home for a nice nap! read more