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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We love to come here for special occasions. I especially love that I feel like I'm on vacation when I sit at the bar overlooking the water. We love the self-serve chips and salsa at the outside bar area and service is always terrific here. We enjoyed some delicious, perfect margaritas and tubular tacos. The waiter explained that many things on the menu have been changed, but luckily they did not remove anything that we love. 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, 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

I had not been to hula hut in YEARS, like 15+ years. Growing up in Austin, this was a cool place to go to when you'd been out on the water all day. It really wasn't somewhere you'd pick to come to otherwise bc the food was so-so. I was there recently to celebrate one of my staff member's birthday. Knowing what I knew, I had low expectations or the food. I was surprisingly impressed by the change, and honestly super thankful too! I was STARVING! The vibe was good. We sat outside on the furthest deck, near the water. The servers were accommodating and nice, despite the appearance of them being under the influence of some sort of substance. But Keep Austin Weird, right? lol, I'd go back! read more

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The place was recommended to me by a local. To be clear this is Tex-Mex with a Hawaiian touch. In that way it hits the mark. I got the chicken and guacamole burrito and I was so upset I could not finish it it was so good. The guacamole was more of a sauce then anything that the burrito sat in and the chicken was shredded. I don't know what I was expecting but it was not this but it was still a hit in my mouth. The drinks are like the emojis in your phone. Decorative. But don't be fooled also strong! read more

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

Z is the friendliest server ever! This place is an austin classic but it's easy to forget what a cool vibe it has. We ordered coconut shrimp as an appetizer ( small portion but low price) enchilada soup which is seasonal and the killed pork sandwich. So many fries!!! Nice and crispy. Great cocktail list and great outdoor bar for a warmer day. read more

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

The service was great. I loved the view. Felt like we were at the beach. Food delicious.

A fun place to hang and have food/drinks with friends. Had the Montego Bay shrimp tacos which were just ok. Nothing to rave home about but fun, friendly atmosphere on the lake and a beautiful view. The Nina colada was not the same as a pina colada as far as flavor. Was surprised by that. read more

The place used to be an Icon now the food and service are sub par at best. The best part was the fish tacos were fresh the margaritas were not very good and service horrendous 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've been here a few times over the years and I always start with the Texas nachos. I hadn't been here in about a year and decided to go back and try the new menu under new management. Well sorry to say but I was very disappointed. Take me back to 2018-2019 when Hula Hut actually had good food. Since the restaurant is under new management, before ordering I pulled up a picture of the Texas nachos from 1 year ago on Yelp and asked our waiter if they still look the same as far as toppings, portion size etc. He said yes basically the only difference is they put all of your toppings in the middle such as sour cream, guacamole, etc. I said cool that's fine and order the nachos and added the guac. The nachos I showed him and what I received were different to say the least lol. I also had to ask for my guacamole because they didn't put it on my plate. I had to go back to look at older pictures of the nachos on Yelp because all I got was about 7 loaded burnt chips. On the contrary, our waiter was very nice and friendly but it seemed like he had to take care of most of the tables in the area while we watched 2 other male waiters practically doing nothing. One waiter was just holding up the wall while looking around the restaurant in his own little world lol. Why don't they all help each other if they don't have anything else to do. It would've prevented us from waiting over 30 mins to even place an order. Oh and my bf had the crusted mahi mahi. It was flavorless. He didn't even want to take it to go. I ended up taking it home, seasoning it, and eating it with rice. 2 stars for the waiter, 0 for food read more

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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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This place is good. The food is okay. But the view you get is even better imo. Service took a while and it wasn't that busy. I'd go back and try something else tbh. I had the Pulled Pork Sandwich. Not bad, tasted good. Their drink menu is their strongest part of the menu. Good place to for apps and drinks is how this place feels. 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

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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The service was great but the food was terrible nasty. Wasted my cheat day on some nasty fried tacos. Unsure what batter was used but the fish was black and disgusting. The rice was hard uncooked and old. Beans were dying for flavor. Next time I'll stick to what I know and this place definitely isn't 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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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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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

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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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

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

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!

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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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

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

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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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'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

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

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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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

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

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