Ok honestly this place is a such a vibe. I give it the highest rating because I love the ambiance of the patios, the bright colors and tropical theme are hella fun--somehow without even being tacky. There was ample seating which is nice and a lot of the tables had a nice view of the lake! Can't complain about the food for what I expected...they messed up my friend's fajitas (brought the wrong meat) so sadly my quesadilla was cold by the time i got to eating it, but it was still fine and prob woulda been better warm. The queso was so good!! I'm not a queso connoisseur at all, I haven't had it a whole ton so I don't have much to compare it to...but I really enjoyed it. The reason the place gets 5 stars tho is because the sweet girl boss waitress brought my dog the BIGGEST pup cup he's ever received in his whole 3 years of life!!!!!!! #SPOILED! She was so awesome for that and she even fed it to him so I didn't have to get contaminated by his spillage. Whenever my family and friends come into town, this is def a place I'll bring them--it's a fun, vibrant environment and decent food! read more

Hula Hut - Quesadilla and Hawaiian fajitas and Queso Compuesto - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Love it when you enter a restaurant and you are welcomed warmly! The host let us choose our table outdoors and of course we sat at the very end on the lake! What a fabulous view! The chip's and fresh salsa are amazing! I started with the One Eyed Monster bc I love anything that has banana in it. Sweet drink with such a good taste. The bartender is amazing and she's also our server, just precious! The nachos were fabulous! The beef & chicken had great flavor. A favorite spot! read more

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

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The view of the lake is very beautiful, especially if you go around sunset. The service was good We got our food in the timely manner in their margaritas are pretty strong. Their food was really good. I enjoyed their pistachio salad. Definitely good time for a date we're just to have casual drinks with friends. read more

Hula Hut - Chips and guac - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

We had a party of 17 there tonight. We had a great time. Our waitress, Shelly , did an awesome job with a large party and was very pleasant! Food was great! read more

Food and scenery were amazing but the service was subpar due to being asked about beverages before our butts hit our seats . It felt very rushed to result in long waits for our drinks and entrees. I'm not one to leave a bad review but it was probably an off night to start the summer season. I do recommend the enchilada for a large portion read more

The place has definitely a Hawaiian Vibe. It's a big place so got a table right away the view to the water is pretty good. We paid $60 for two plates & 2 drinks so price is average. The service was good, cordial and fast. Parking outside the place was pack but there is street parking available outside. Food flavor was good - definitely a good place to go with a big group read more

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An Austin classic, situated right on Lake Austin next to Mozart's (the best coffee shop in town). The views are amazing, the drinks are strong, and the chips and queso are delicious. I've had great experiences with their enchiladas and baja shrimp tacos. I believe the owners are also connected to the Chuys franchise restaurant, so you can expect something similar at Hula Hut! read more

Food was good Loved our flautas Creamy spicy queso and chips 1/2 rack of ribs Great service our guy was on point Ambiance of Town Lake and hula vibe is always fun You need to go and experience and Austin institution folks read more

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Wanted the classic Hula Hut experience--outdoor patio with that killer view of Lake Austin. Requested outside seating specifically for the lake view, but they had these ugly tarps blocking everything around the patio. It wasn't even cold or raining, so no reason for them. Totally killed the vibe and the whole point of sitting out there. Food was a letdown too. Ordered a regular burrito, but they brought me was like a cheese-style enchilada instead--super soggy and gross and it was falling apart from all the cheese on top of the burrito. Then, the other half had this big random chunk of avocado just plopped in there, not mashed or spread or anything. Just weird and off-putting. I've heard great things about the place for years (the Hawaiian-Tex-Mex twist, the location), but this visit was disappointing all around. Patio setup needs fixing, and kitchen mix-ups like that shouldn't happen. Probably skip it next time unless I'm just grabbing drinks by the water. read more

Perhaps the most not so anticipated update on an Austin classic...Hula Hut. For those who aren't in the know an offshoot of Chuy's Tex-Mex. Same dishes as makes no difference with a Hawaiian twist. What led me back here was COVID and the limited menu at the now corporate owned Chuy's. Can't get a Chili Relleno anymore? Hello Hula Hut! Last review 2009 and maybe 5 visits since. Quite popular due to it's Lake Austin BLVD location. Beautiful scenery but without the normal markup you see at similar places in ATX like The Oasis. I had my chili relleno fix recently. Went back for the Macadamia crusted Mahi and the Baby Backs with tangy BBQ Sauce. Dined with friends and ordered the Shrimp Wonton appetizers. Even grabbed a bite of of the Thai BBQ Beef Fajitas. All good visits except one. GF and I went to the elevated section and put our names on the list. We were told 5 minutes and they seated larger parties and maid us wait 10 more minutes when we could have been seated at a larger table. read more

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Sat out back on the dock and got to enjoy the view of the lake. The food and service was excellent! Definitely recommend you try this place

We've been loyal patrons of Hula Hut for decades, but our last two visits have been highly disappointing. At first, I thought it was just an off night, but unfortunately, the problems repeated themselves. When we arrived, the restaurant wasn't busy, yet it took over 20 minutes before a server even came to our table. After placing our order, she never returned to check on us or offer drink refills. When my meal finally arrived, it was cold. I flagged the server, sent it back, and was later told that someone else had been given my food and she would have to put the order in a third time. By then, everyone else at the table had finished eating, so I canceled it altogether. Another guest at our table waited until after the food was served to finally receive their drink -- which was first delivered to the wrong table. As someone who once worked as a server through college, I have great empathy for the challenges of the job. But service like this cannot be overlooked. For the first time, I did not leave a tip. After all, TIP means "To Insure Prompt Service." read more

Come for the view and laid back atmosphere. It's really something else. Even on a weekend, they had plenty of capacity to accommodate our part of 4 with no wait and no rush to turn our table over. Food is typical TexMex with a tiny splash of Hawaiian essence. Enchiladas were surprisingly decent with good portion size. Chips and salsa were a clear standout in terms of food. Cocktails were a la Chilis or Applebee's quality, albeit double the price and half the portion. Unfortunately no beer taps so you'll have to settle for $7 bottled brews. The atmosphere though makes up for it. I think. I'd come back again. read more

hula hut is a hilariously charming restaurant with a beautiful view. the service was alright, and their portions are huge albeit a little bland. the salmon fillets in my tacos were ginormous but they weren't seasoned well and pretty dry :') win some lose some lol. overall okay place though and a great spot for sunsets! read more

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

I visited Hula Hut at about 3pm on 12/19/2024 with a party of two. This was my first time here, after someone who has been to this institution many times took me here. This is a big establishment with lots of indoor and outdoor space. We were sat outdoors at a table under the covered deck. We had a few drinks. I had the Frozen Watermelon Mojito and the Texas Margarita, which were both frozen drinks. This was middle of the afternoon, and we also shared the stuffed avocado, which was one of the best things ever. We also shared the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Fried Ice Cream, which was so yummy. Overall, it was a good experience. The server was very kind; however, she was a little overworked and probably had slightly too big of a section, which made service very slow. read more

Hula hut is always a spot to bring out of town guests. Fun restaurant on the lake. Kids loved the cup of tortilla soup at 8 bucks. Free warm chips and two salsas. I immediately ordered the queso and Jalapeño ranch dip. Our waitress was a sweet heart. Lots of fun photo ops for the Holidays. Yelp Elite approved!!! read more

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Food was actually really good. Same with the drinks. Larger portions than expected. Quick service, nice server. Location was BEAUTIFUL. While I was a group of 2 I did realize larger groups were often walking away because they could not accommodate them. If you are in a group larger than 4 I'd reccomend calling ahead of time. read more

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Have always loved Hula Hut; but, was shocked by the "Hooters-style" bar maids' outfits out in the new outside bar area. Ugh! Seemed more like racy ladies from the docks than we see in West Austin. -- Hope the management will reconsider the outfits for these women who are just trying to serve drinks. Have more class, Hula Hut. read more

I came for a private holiday party which was hosted in their smaller hut to the right of the restaurant as you walk up. It was so festive inside with all the holiday decorations and perfect for our party! Their DJ had a great playlist with a little bit music for everyone. We started with appetizers then moved into the fajita buffet. Everything was delicious and drinks made well. Staff was attentive and friendly. I highly recommend for events! read more

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Parking - The lot is shared with a few places, so spaces fill up quickly. Food - I tried the grilled fish tacos. The seasoning was a little salty, so you may want to ask for the jalapeno ranch to be put on the side. The tortillas were fresh and so soft! My boyfriend tried the BBQ chicken tacos and thought there was too much lettuce in them. Our friend likes to regularly order the chicken tortilla soup, so I may have to try that next time. Service - Our server was very friendly and made sure to refill our drinks. We talked about the cold weather and she took the time to build rapport with us. They have really nice patio seating along the water. I wish it was warmer so we could have sat out there! read more

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

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If this is not the best ambiance for a restaurant then what else is? They have mastered the art of rendering a beach-side shack. Glad the weather was awesome when we went. It was 10 member party for an office lunch and we got a corner tables. The service was prompt. They had a system in place. A lot of birds kept flying in and made the experience fun. My order: Lemonade Chips+Queso Guacamole Fried Avocado tacos Texas Nachos I had my eyes on tubular tacos but I learned that they're just burritos and thus I went for the next unique dish - fried avocado taco. The dishes tasted well. The fried avocado was one of kind. They were fried well and not too oily at the same time. It was well breaded. The dishes had authenticity to it. The guac was so fresh and creamy. Loved the Texas Nachos! read more

My husband and I decided to visit Hulu Hut for lunch. We went at 11:00 AM to beat the lunch rush. We parked in the lot across the street and walked to the restaurant. There are signs to see the host inside. We went inside and no one was there. We walked around to the side where the outside seating was and had to ask someone about seating and they told us to go back to the host stand at the front. We went back through the restaurant and saw someone there. She greeted us and sat us outside as we requested. After sitting we were greeted by a waitress very quickly. She gave us menus and took our drink order. She then left for a few minutes and returned with our waters, chips and salsa and took our order. The chips were thin and crispy with a little salt. I really liked the Mango Pablano Salsa. It was not too spicy with a little sweet flavor. I ordered the Texas Nachos with Grilled Chicken as a starter and the Chicken and Guacamole Tubular Taco. The Nachos were made of thick tortilla chips with refried beans, cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo and jalapenos. I requested the guacamole and sour cream on the side. They were really good. The chips were able to withstand all of the ingredients. The chicken was tender, the cheese was gooey, and the guacamole was fresh but salty. It was a good starter. The chicken and guacamole tubular taco was delicious. It was chicken and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla with sauces on top and on the side. The sauce gave it flavor while the other ingredients made it filling. The rice and beans both had a slight flavor and were okay. The waitress did a good job. She was friendly throughout and she came to check on us multiple times and refilled our drinks. Overall this is still one of my favorite places to go in Austin for the atmosphere, food, and service. read more

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What a great location for a restaurant. It was right in the water. The service was friendly but somewhat slow. It was fine though because what a great view of the river ! We had chips and salsa which were delicious and the spinach and shrimp tubular taco was fantastic! Be prepared to take some home. Thank you for the great experience ! read more

The atmosphere is great! I recommend it for sunset dinner! The service was great! Many options for food choices! read more

Hula Hut - View from the bar table - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

Huge patio for great outdoor dining. The ambiance was fun and eclectic. Food was so delicious and much more than I expected! How they get basic tortilla chips next level is beyond me. Huge portions! I got the 1/2 order of fajitas and it was so much food, I got about 4 tacos out of it. The cocktails were tasty and came in fun vessels. Shoutout to our server Miguel who was very knowledgeable about the menu and friendly giving us tips of places to try when in Austin read more

We had an impromptu late lunch date here. First time at this restaurant. Parking lot was pretty full! They share a space with a few different businesses. read more

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Incredible visit! We stopped in to share appetizers and have some drinks. Everything was great! Our server was super attentive and the food and drinks, delicious! We sat out on the end of that long seating pier, and the weather was gorgeous. Hula Hut was restored back to the days of it's glory! And the bathrooms have been remodeled, which was a pleasant surprise. They had seen better days for sure. We'd stopped going to Hula Hut, due to it's condition and meh food on our last visit. Now, we can't wait to go again! read more

It's been over a decade since I last visited Hula Hut. On my grand return visit I arrived at on an off-peak time on a Thursday in the hot Texas heat. I hesitated regarding sitting outside but went for it, because it's the most fun out on their patio....and I don't regret it. I enjoyed watching the ducks, Egyptian geese and giant turtles swimming around and taking a rest on the Hula Hut's floating decor. There are fans blowing and the patio is shaded. If you try hard to you might think you are somewhere more tropical than Austin, TX. The chips are really good, crispy, airy and salty. Both accompanying salsas were good too and I especially like the salsa that had hints of pineapple in it. For lunch I opted for the Surfer salad with Mahi Mahi, sans cucumbers. The Salad was chock full of ingredients, including really fresh avocado slices and a large portion of Mahi Mahi. The jalapeño ranch dressing was yummy and not too spicy. It was happy hour when I arrived which was a happy find....to celebrate I enjoyed the mango frozen margarita with a tajin rim, and was pleased it had mango and citrus flavors without being over sweet. Service wasn't the best, and as I said it was a slow time. After I was seated it too awhile for anyone to acknowledge my presence. And after my food arrived I had to wave my hand to get anything I needed (extra water, extra dressing, my tab) despite several employees hanging out and chatting amongst themselves or watching something on their phone. read more

The host made us feel so welcome! However our server we waited on for what felt like 30 minutes for the check. read more

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

This was such a fun spot to grab lunch. Sitting out on the deck overlooking the water is definitely the right move. I ordered a piña colada, and it was the absolute best piña colada I have ever had. Dangerously good and so refreshing on a hot summer day. The shrimp flautas were different than I imagined, but they were very tasty. The outside was perfectly crispy and the interior was super flavorful. I will say the place could use a few updates. The tables had seen better days and the menus were so worn that some of the items were impossible to read. However, this wasn't a huge deal. read more

Hula Hut - Piña Colada - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

Fun little island get away in the heart of Austin. This beautiful place is on the water where you can enjoy a delicious cocktail and eat some decent food. I felt like I was in Hawaii for a bit with the warm Texas heat and the nice breeze coming from the lake. The food was pretty good and came in large portions. We began with free chips and salsa which I was surprised by. The salsa was super tasty and had a very small kick to it. For my main I got the crispy chicken tacos which comes in 4. They were topped with a drizzle of an orange sauce and came with a side of their jalapeño ranch. Very delicious food. The tacos were crispy and paired super well with the sauce. My partner ordered the cheese enchiladas and devoured the plate. My uncle got a taco plate which was the size of 5 tacos. It was massive. And my aunt got the carnitas tacos plate. Everyone enjoyed their food and even went home with left overs. I ordered an unsweetened ice tea which was very refreshing. My partner got a margarita which was tasty and strong. I really enjoyed the ambience and the staff was sweet. The only reason I dropped a star was because the staff forgot about us and we had to wait to order and get drink refills. It didn't seem too busy at the time. There are a ton of great views and places to get some great photos by the water. I'd come back to this joint again. read more

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Hula Hut. Authentically Austin. Food is good , views are excellent. Sitting on the Lake minutes from downtown. I had a Burger and a cold Draft Brew. Kept it simple. Going during Daytime is cool but nighttime is way better. Cute Women everywhere just go! Thank me later read more

Hula Hut - Bacon Burger w/fries and a Brew - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

I haven't been out in years, but it's nice they are under new management and have cleaned up the place. It's nestled on the lake, so if it's not so packed, you can have a lovely time on the patio. Unfortunately, for us, they were slammed. If you're not lucky enough to find parking in the front, you will have an advantage in finding a spot in the overflow lots. There was an extremely long wait, but we were lucky to sit at the bar. Unfortunately, because they were so busy, the bartenders were also slammed. It was not their fault; the guy helping us was super friendly and professional. As I was parking, my friend ordered me a painkiller, which was not on the menu (also, it wasn't my request). However, if you want a cocktail, stick to what's on the menu because it wasn't my favorite. We had another drink on the menu, which I would happily return for. We both ordered fish tacos. I had grilled, and she had fried. When the food runner brought our food out, he called the order incorrectly. He then scolded us, saying, "Guys, I was calling your order." It was very unprofessional if you asked me. We let him know it was because he had the wrong order. My first taco was good, but the fish tasted overcooked and rubbery in the second one. I also ordered a side of tortillas since they are made fresh, but I never received them. The bartender had even assured me they would be out, so I was bummed about that. I was so ready to leave, and it took so long to get the bill that I didn't even think of checking if I was charged for it. Would I come back, sure, but not on a busy weekend? For me, I believe this was the main reason for the food and service being slightly under par. If it's just drinks and appetizers, its absolutely a no-brainer to enjoy the views. read more

My fiancé & I ate here twice and enjoyed it each time. This time we sat outside and had a table overlooking the water, which was a solid view. Our server was a young man & UT student named Clay. After we ordered with him, the queso was brought out less than a minute later. Same with the guacamole salad, and then my fiancés drink. Service times for the food were excellent, especially on a fairly busy Friday night. As for the food, the guacamole salad was solid, and so was the queso. The chips & salsa could've been better in my opinion, but this also isn't a 100% Tex Mex place. The mahi mahi was very good, and they brought out to us very hot & fresh off the press. The shrimp quesadilla was also hot when served, although I would've liked more cheese on the quesadilla. It was interesting too in that it also had corn inside the quesadilla, which was an interesting change up. Overall, definitely a good spot, with solid views. We will be back at some point for sure! read more

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I enjoyed the overall atmosphere, and the drinks tasted great. Food was pretty good, and I enjoyed their take on fusing different cultures in with the typical "tex-mex" cuisine. The Thai-themed fajitas were delicious, as well as the Hawaiian grilled chicken. There is plenty of patio space, so if you get turned away from Quince being too full, you'll know that Hula Hut is a great option, as well. Our kids also enjoyed the sand box outside. read more

Hula Hut - Sand box - Tex-Mex Near Me - Austin, Texas

Almost gave this place 5 stars and has a lot of 5 star elements. The number one factor that is unique and great is the location and atmosphere. We sat outside on the back deck and it was beautiful and a lot of fun. Lot of in theme decorations accompanied by a fantastic view of the water. Food wise we were impressed and happy with how reasonable everything is priced. We ordered the rib appetizer which was one of our favorites. The portion size and sweet Hawaiian influenced flavor made it an excellent choice. The chips and salsa provided is also really good, I was big fan of nothing the traditional red salsa and Hawaiian one. I ordered the chicken tubular taco which was again well priced and a large portion. While good, I found each bite I was looking for a bit more from a flavor standpoint. It was a bit bland but that said I ate it all and was fairly satisfied. I bet there are other entrees like the ribs that would be a better choice for me so will definitely try next time. Service was kind and attentive. Certainly will be back and it will be great spot for future date nights! read more

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Great food, complimentary chips and salsa were very fresh, drinks and views. No wait on a Friday afternoon. read more

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Hula Hut is an Austin institution! My husband's family regularly orders takeout from here to enjoy at home: Shiner Bock fajitas, Hawaiian fajitas, queso, and extra tortillas. A crowd pleaser every time! I really enjoy eating at the restaurant as well. There's a nice back deck where you can eat along the water as well as indoor seating with fun decor. The menu is extensive, and there's also a happy hour menu (Mon-Fri afternoons). I very much enjoyed my frozen mango marg (just $5 during happy hour) and my Seaser salad-mango poblano quesadilla combo. Super tasty, reasonably priced food & drinks at a fun location. Makes me want to hula! read more

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It was my first time coming here. The views are terrific and I love the Hawaiian aesthetic! The hula hut tables are so cute. I got the hula hut burger thinking it would be a classic choice. When I received it, I was dismayed to see that while big, it didn't have any wow factor to it and was very plain. There was no ketchup nor sauces! It was also awkward waiting for my order-you should wait around the to-go area because they will call your name. I thought it would be better to receive a number or a ticket (receipt) or even text me because they got my phone number. The doors are confusing, there are multiple paths. You can either enter through the doors for dine-in, head to the side of that for to-go, or walk all the way around to the back to seat yourself. You are definitely paying for the view and not the food, which in that case, just walk around for free. read more

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Hula Hut, we love you and you have us always coming back for more! The views are great day or night. The staff is always cheerful and helpful and will answer any questions you may have. I've had a handful of items from the menu over the years, but what takes the cake for me is their Hawaiian fajitas. The plum sauce is just absolutely incredible. They also have this yummy pineapple salsa as well that I always eat too much of. Outside on the patio, there's a self refill area for chips and salsa, so you can just fill until your heart's desire. All their fish tacos are great too. Def pay them a visit! (I don't really have any food pics so enjoy a pic of my fam on the dock outside lol) read more

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