Hula Hut

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.

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.

Total yumminess The view amazing The food on pointThe service on pointThe day perfection

Hula Hut offers a fun lakeside vibe, and we stopped by just in time for their happy hour, which features a half order of nachos and your choice of a frozen or on-the-rocks margarita. While the happy hour experience was a highlight, the rest of the meal left much to be desired.Happy Hour Highlights:The nachos were a pleasant surprise and quickly became the standout of our visit. Made with their house-made tortilla chips, they were loaded with toppings and packed with flavor. Despite their unassuming appearance, the chips were crispy and held up well under the generous layers of toppings. The pico de gallo added freshness, and their jalapeños delivered a perfect kick without being overpowering. We scarfed them down in no time--they were that good.The margaritas were also excellent. Both the frozen and on-the-rocks options were flavorful, refreshing, and well-balanced. I especially appreciated the option to add Tajín, which gave the drink a zesty kick.The Corn Chowder:Unfortunately, the corn chowder was a major disappointment. My wife ordered it, and neither of us could get past the odd texture and flavor. Unlike a typical chowder with visible corn kernels and a hearty consistency, this soup had a strange, overly creamy texture, almost like fluffy, airy cream cheese. The corn is ground up into the soup, making it unrecognizable, and the overall effect was off-putting. My wife described it as "cheese dip with shrimp in it," and we both found it unappetizing.The Roasted Chicken Enchilada:I ordered the roasted chicken enchilada, which came with rice, beans, and a small side salad. While the flavor was good, this dish was essentially a burrito, not an enchilada. The size was massive--more in line with a burrito--and it was made with a flour tortilla rather than the traditional corn tortilla. Adding to the disappointment, the creamy sauce poured over it caused the tortilla to become gummy, which detracted from the dish's overall appeal.Final Thoughts:While the happy hour nachos and margaritas were excellent, the rest of the meal didn't live up to expectations. The location on the water is definitely a plus, but the lackluster dishes make it hard to justify returning outside of happy hour.Overall, I'd recommend Hula Hut for their limited happy hour specials and waterfront ambiance, but if you're coming for a full meal, you may want to temper your expectations.

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!!!

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!

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)

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.

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!

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: LemonadeChips+QuesoGuacamole Fried Avocado tacosTexas 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!