Hoover's Cooking Reviews

Nice, savory flavors in the fried chicken. Could've been a little crispier. The meat was juicy and tender.

Home cooking at Hoover's. Great desserts too! I haven't tried the barbecue but sure smells good. Great menu!

Four of us wanted to linger for over an hour reminiscing while being served fresh drinks, hot food with a choice of how spicy. Hoovers ticked all those boxes for us. The "glass" of lemonade was a small pitcher! Since there were free refills, they did not have to come back as often. The menu has a wide variety of starters, main dish selections and sides to choose from.

I visited here with my family after seeing Hoover's on the Travel Channel. I'm embarrassed, becasue I've never heard of Hoover's Cooking and they've been in business for over 15 years! It is truly a local place with some of the best food that we've ever had. The menu is varied and loaded with down home main dishes and sides. It reminded us a lot of Low Country cooking in South Carolina. I'm not a big chicken fried steak lover because it's usually greasy and the meat is tough and full of grissle. Well, I read about the CFS at Hoover's, I ordered it and it is THE BEST CHICKEN FRIED STEAK I've ever had! It was so tender I cut it with my fork -- no knife needed. The sides I chose (that was the hardest decision on the menu because they have so many choices to choose from) were collard greens, mashed potatoes and yams. They were outstanding. Another in my party got the BBQ chicken along with collard greens, butter beans & mashed potatoes. The same rave reviews as mine. The other ordered the meat loaf with carrots, yams and creamed spinach -- they made it thumbs up unanimous on everything. There are so many things on the menu we'd like to try and I wish they offered a sampler platter. The service was incredible and the prices were reasonable. Austinites need to make this secret known around the area because it is truly a gem on the eastside of I-35.

We frequent Austin about twice a year and always stop in Hoovers . This was the first time we had their breakfast. I was surprised that nothing on the menu was "unique". When you go expect very traditional breakfast options.

I value the opinion of the locals as much (or more) than TripAdvisor and both said this was the place for good food and service. Very southern with all the standard choices. Not expensive and good portions.

If you are looking for a filling, tasty meal, then this is your place! Southern cooking with everything you could possibly want on the menu. It’s off the beaten path so wasn’t crowded when we were there on a Friday afternoon. Patience was our sever and she was great! Bathrooms were in poor shape. Looks like there’s mold on the ceiling and maybe on the walls?? Kind of a turn off.

Wonderful Sunday night meal! Great service to accent wonderful home like cooking. Super veggies. Our table service was excellent and friendly. Plate scraping good comfort food. I have been here several times and always satisfied.

The staff at Hoover's was fantastic (attentive and friendly). Outside of the staff, I was not a big fan of Hoover's. The food was OK, but nothing special. For the price, I would recommend going elsewhere. I had the fried catfish with a few sides and my friend had a salad. Both were not bad, but not worthy of the price.

The woman at the counter was saying she hated her job. She said so out loud. They had the different salads displayed in a glass cooler. I asked about one of the salads and she did not know what it was. She said it was a chicken club sandwich ?!? I ordered the chicken club salad, waited 10 minutes and then she handed me a Caesar salad. I gave it back and waited another 10 minutes. I then asked for a refund. She said that was not possible since the manager was not there. She tried to call them on the phone . I said I can not wait any longer and to go ahead with preparing the salad. The only reason they did not get just 1 is that the salad was very tasty , fresh greens, avocado, and nice not-dry chicken. Maybe with a new staff this place would be ok

We used to eat at Hoovers when they were in San Antonio and were very disappointed when they closed the restaurant. This weekend we were in Austin and looked Hoovers up and decided to have lunch there. We were not disappointed! The jerk chicken was as amazing as before as we're the yummy sides and the sweet potato biscuits. Our boys had never been to Hoovers and they are now hooked. We will make the drive to go there again!

I visited on 8-15-2015 at 11:15 am. My husband ordered breakfast chicken fried steak and a fried egg, and a breakfast taco on the side. It was ok. I ordered a chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, and mustard greens. The mustard geens were sweet, I do not like sweet greens, and the green beans tasted funny. So I exchanged them for sweet potatoes and creamed spinach. They were better, even though I did not like the creamed spinach Restaurant is over rated. Maybe I ordered the wrong food. I heard the barbecue and fried chicken are good.

Hoover's makes the best chicken fried steak in town, no contest. Always crunchy and just enough heat to be delicious without so much heat it makes you sweat. (Avoid the mac 'n cheese tho.)

We'd eaten here last year and I thought the food was a bit better, but still very good and a def'n "do over". My wife's chicken was too dry, but my burger was very good. Large portions and more than fairly priced. we'll be back, for sure.

Food was overall average for me. Tasty, yet nothing stood out as over the top gotta-get-back-here-quick. I ordered the ribs which were a little dry for my taste. I also had green beans and fried okra. I really enjoyed the fried okra and would order that again. Our team came for lunch and a few ordered the chicken fried steak, which they recommend. Other notes, parking may be tight depending on the time and day you come. Also, they will not seat you until everyone from your party is present.

I use to live down the street from this place many years ago and I stopped eating here when they instituted the $3 charge for sharing a plate. Come on! Really?! That's so un-Austin friendly. With so many other goodnight eateries in the area, I hadn't been back for over five years because of this, until the other day. We were headed to Eastside Cafe for dinner, but as usual, they were on a wait and we were exceptionally hungry after a day of flying. We should have staved off the hunger, because the food at Hoover's was substantially bland, over-cooked and over-sauced. I had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, yams and macaroni and cheese. (It was a tour of starch!) by far the best part of the meal was the yams. Everything else was very mediocre. My boyfriend had the turkey dinner. It looked and tasted like a pile of mush. Not a lot of flavor...Or, way too much spice, like in the gravies and green beans, which almost rendered the meal inedible. For $40 bucks, I'd definitely spend my $$ somewhere else. I'll check back in another five years, if they are still around.m

Everything here is good. For entrees, I particularly like the Jamaican Jerk ribs, the barbecue chicken, or the Frisco burger.

Hoover's is a very laid back, simple décor restaurant. They have a very good menu with lunch specials that include old favorites such as chicken fried steak, meat loaf, fried catfish, and pork chops. They have some great salads and sandwiches. I had one of their lunch specials, chicken and dumplings, on my last visit. I love their sides--pinto and green beans, carrots, fried okra, mashed potatoes. I often get a vegetable plate since I love their home cooked vegetables. Service is good and I always enjoy the food.

Quality has declined; not sure if restaurant has changed owners, it there is a definite difference in the quality of the food. We are from out of town and make it a point of stopping by, but won't be going out of our way anymore. The last two visits have been disapointing!!!

Average food and atmosphere. There's better southern/American eats in Austin, but this place is an institution and still going strong.

Always a family favorite, my hubby's family is from this side of town and this place is the best!! Great soul cooking! Always a must for us, best sweet potato and peach cobbler in town, hands down😉

My niece lives in Austin, Texas and loves the food and music culture of this weird (keep it that way!) city. She took us to Hoover's Cooking and we were so pleased with the meal, the service, and the atmosphere. It has a funky retro appeal with great Americana-comfort food. Service was good, prices were great. I had the eggs benedict with hash - delicious. Will be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The mashed potatoes were dry. Truthfully I don't remember my entree was not memorable enough for me to remember it. Wait staff was sort of slow and didn't check in often. I might give it another shot if I'm in the area.

If you pick your spots - Hoover’s going to be a fantastic food experience. Chicken Etouffee, Cajun catfish, friend chicken, fried okra, black eye peas - all fantastic. The cornbread was sweet - just like Mawmaws. Little awkward with the wait staff…not sure if it was COVID-19 or just slow service. We did have to wait a bit before somebody even showed up in the room to bring us our drinks. No, the first impression is not one of overt friendliness BUT the food did not disappoint.

Before attending a broadway show at Bass Concert Hall we had lunch here since it was close by. It been a while I have eaten here and excited about returning. With plenty of parking and ample seating there was not wait. Seated in a booth we ordered drinks and studied the menu. Southern cooking is the theme here and ordered fried catfish with macaroni & cheese, fried okra, and green beans. Even with all that food bread was placed on our table. It was cornbread and cinnamon bread. When our food arrived it looked great. The fried catfish tasted excellent. I enjoy the batter on the fish. The sides where very good too. It was a lot of food and pretty much ate It all except the breach of which I took him me with me. I tried my wife’s chicken fried steak and it was good too. Friendly staff made the experience eve better and definitely will return again.

Met my son @ Hoover's on Manor for lunch. This is a famous neighborhood kitchen making some of the classic southern soul food Texas style dishes that warm the soul and fill the belly! We first ordered the ice tea and then got serious with the chalk board specials and menu items. My son loves this place and ordered a chicken fried pork chop with mac & cheese, cole slaw and beans. I ordered the fried chicken breast picnic basket with a side of the kale and beets. Both of us noted how much food there was! For me there was no way I could clear my plate but I still wanted to try everything. The chicken breast was tender and moist, the breading was bland lacking a salt & pepper or other flavor and the gravy not much there. The lettuce was fresh as were the picnic fruits and the potato salad was solid - so a nice "picnic basket." The kale was free of stems and perfect as were the beets - wish it was not drowned by that much dressing for my own taste - but I ate it all. My son's pork chop was also lightly seasoned and he really enjoyed his mac & cheese, cole slaw and beans. So we had a classic throw back lunch. If home cooked southern soul food Texas style at an Austin tradition is what you seek - get to Hoover's!

We had a family get together at Hoover's Cooking while in Austin over Christmas 2014. They had plenty of seating for a party of 8, and the service was good. We were excited by all the options for vegetables on the menu, and I ordered a plate of 4 along with a catfish fillet. The food was OK, don't get me wrong, and we enjoyed the bottomless pitchers of lemonade and iced tea. But most of the vegetables just seemed - tired, like they were cooked a while ago and then left to sit. The squash medley seemed especially soggy and bland (but the candied yams were fine and the corn-on-the-cob was OK). My wife had chicken fried chicken and found if "OK" as well - not the worst, but certainly not the best she's had. In short, a good place for a large gathering, and the cost is reasonable, but expect your friends and not the food to be the center of attention.

Very disappointing. In the past, I remember Hoover's as being really good and I must say it has deteriorated considerably. The corn on the cob was virtually inedible - old, wrinkled and tasteless; the side serving of carrots was terrible...overcooked & mushy; also tasteless; the mashed potatoes were pretty bland and the dinner rolls dried out. The meatloaf was still ok - though not at all memorable. All in all, a real disappointment - Sorry to say, I would not recommend it. Will not be going back.

Three couples visited Hoover's Cooking on a Monday evening about 6:45. The restaurant was not crowded and we had no trouble getting a nice table that sat 6. Parking was also not a problem at that time. Our waiter was awesome and had us laughing in short order. He explained that all of the food was fresh and prepared on site. He also explained the daily board and shared with us his favorite items as none of us had ever eaten at Hoover's Cooking. We took his advice and had tasty, satisfying meals that some would call comfort food. The meats were smoked. I was the only one who opted for a Greek salad with chicken. The greens were crisp and accompanied by cucumbers, tomatoes, artichoke and olives. The dressing was light and flavorful and I would order it again! We started our meals with award winning Margarita's for the ladies, and beer for the men. Our meal finished up with spectacular and moist bread pudding and cherry cobbler with a dab of ice cream. We had a great time together with good food, a not too noisy casual atmosphere where we could share conversation and a very helpful waiter. We all agreed that we would return.

When I lived in northwest Austin, I was near the Hoover’s location there, which was a nice frequented during holidays or other times we wanted some good “southern home cooking.” It was sad when the north location closed. I’d been to the main locale (this one) only once before, basically because it was outside of the area where I normally went. So when recently we were going to be in the vicinity, I jumped at the chance to go here. My friend had never been here before, so she had no idea what to expect. We came in for lunch, but I immediately looked at the dinner side of the menu, because I wanted to get the dish which I missed having: Chicken fried chicken. I got the regular-sized portion, as opposed to the larger “Hoover’s” portion, and had mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, and broccoli as my sides. Neither of us had eaten breakfast, so I saw this as an opportunity for a good hearty lunch. My friend got the fish fillet, as she figured it would be “light.” She didn’t believe me when I told how big the portions were. The mac & cheese for the side went untouched so she could polish off what was on her plate. I didn’t even touch my broccoli, and only consumed about half of the rice side dish. We laughed when our server asked us if we’d left room for dessert. The interior of Hoover’s is a mix of booths and tables, plus a bar at one side. The décor doesn’t look like much, as they focus on the quality of the food. While waiting in the lobby, we were able to read all the various articles written about Hoover’s during the decade it’s been in business. While there’s no a lot to do or see on Manor Road, this is only a short distance from UT. It’s well-worth the trip for some quality cooking at an affordable price.

I had the delicious bronzed catfish with sides of fried okra, Caribbean rice, creamed Spinach. only negative is the spinach was a tad watery. My friend had the Chicken and Dumplings and enjoyed them.

Interesting menus choices but allow time because everything is v e r y s l o w .. traditional egg dishes and breakfast tacos and excellent pancakes

We looked at several restaurants and eventually settled for an old favourite, Hoover's Cooking. Casual atmosphere. I had three choices - the sausage, pork chops or the meatloaf. I ordered the Sausage, with Jalapeno Creamed Spinach, green beans and macaroni & cheese. My wife ordered smoked chicken and sausage gumbo, which was not on the menu, but one of the day's special listed on the board. The sausage was not as good as the one I had earlier for lunch from another establishment, as it had a somewhat tough casing, but was tasty. The Gumbo was good.

The Leander Garden Club dined at Hoover's for lunch following a gardens tour at Case Mills Homestead. The food was delicious, our waiter was gracious and we were stuffed and happy. Definitely a great place to enjoy comfort food. The gardeners loved the sweet potato biscuits and the corn bread. Thanks for a lovely lunch!

Perviously this has been my go-to restaurant for Texas-Southern comfort food, so I have been waiting for the opportunity to try their famous Thanksgiving dinner for years. I was not too impressed with what they put on, and of the overall service. Turkey, Mashed potatoes, stuffing all tasted vaguely institutional. The sides that came with it were very small, so also not a tremendous amount of food. I do say the candied yams were great, but nothing else stood out. Service was a bit of an issue, we waited a long time, which was expected. But once we sat down, our server had his head in the clouds a bit- kept forgetting to bring us things: rolls, drinks, pie. It was crazy busy here, partly because of the extremely reasonable price of $20 per person.

It's been many years since I've been here. It was good then so we decided to try it again since we were in the area. Just as good as I remembered. Three of us at the table. Place was busy for lunch; service excellent - well done, Todd! I had a New Orleans muffuletta, my wife a Caesar salad with garlic shrimp, my brother had the catfish po' boy. We all enjoyed our meals. I ordered a bowl of mustard greens as a side - best I've ever had. Definitely a return visit is in store. Highly recommend!

All good Southern cooking restaurants boast they are the best. I was invited to this spot for a business lunch and it was amazing. The ribs were tender and plentiful. I enjoyed the okra and tomato, corn on the cob, and creamed spinach as my sides. I left feeling satisfied and not stuffed as so many of these cooking establishments sometime make you feel. A bonus was our server. Just a smiley and wonderfully kind person. High recommend.

We were given so much food, I don't know how we finished it. The watermelon lemonade was amazing. The burgers were savory, fried chicken was delicious and the fries were perfection. The staff were amazing and friendly. Boris the waiter was the best!

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.

Came here during a trip to Austin (was about a $7 Lyft from downtown). Warm and welcoming staff who were extremely professional and attentive. The food (Fried Catfish) was delicious and so well seasoned. The sides were also yummy. Generous portion so bring an appetite. Very reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

The restaurant is noticeably clean when you enter. The greeter at the front door was very personable. Samantha was our server and she was very helpful with her recommendations. She also had great conversation and we didn't feel like she was just working us for a good tip. I highly suggest the baked beans. I also suggest the fried catfish, fries, walnut brownie, and blackberry cobler. This place is now my second favorite restaurant and seriously challenging my favorite. I will definitely return.

Came here on the referral of a friend who has dined here before. Busy at lunch but all good. My son had the catfish strips and they were delicious. My cousin and I split two appetizers as the heat was oppressive and we wanted to dine but not over load. Don't miss this place!

Good down home soul food restuarant. The chicken fried chicken, jalapeno spinach and mashed potatoes were all that. The peach cobbler and banana pudding could use some work.

The service at Hoover's is fantastic. The staff is very friendly and professional. The other customers were also friendly. Hoover's has a great atmosphere. The salad I ordered was decent for the price yet not stellar.

Wife saw a magazine article on Hoover's and wanted to go for lunch so we made the journey to east Austin for a meal. It was easy to find and there is plentiful parking in front and to the side of the building. We arrived after 3 PM for a late lunch and to try the Hoover Hour drink prices. We were greeted and seated immediately in one of the several booths by a friendly host/server. Cocktails from 3 PM to 7PM are $3.50 which sounded interesting to us. I asked for a scotch and water and wife ordered a rum and coke. He left with the drink order and returned shortly to take our food order. I opted for the Red, White and Bleu burger which the menu indicates as "A half-pound smoked hamburger patty, topped with our Aus-Tex wing sauce, Monterey Jack and Bleu cheeses, lettuce, and tomato and served on a sweet kolache bun." Wife ordered the Chicken Fried Chicken Breast which comes with 3 sides referred to as "house mates". She chose the fried okra, buttered carrots and jalapeño creamed spinach. Our drinks were delivered by someone else and we sipped to sample our Hoover Hour drinks. Although they do pour quality liquor there, my pour of J&B scotch was way on the light side for my taste. As well, it was a scotch and soda not the water mix I ordered. No big deal, I drink both. Wife's rum and diet Coke was on the weak side also. Our food arrived after a short wait and we dug in. My smoked burger patty had a very good flavor but there was no jack cheese on it, just some crumbled bleu cheese. I did not want to send it back so I went on eating. The kolache bun was toasted and was sweet and very large. I ditched the bun after a few bites and worked on the beef and French fries that I specified when ordering. The fries, to me, were not that good; overcooked and somewhat greasy. The chicken breast was very good but wife did not want the white gravy that came on it. Her house mates while not bad, were not anything special. The okra was over-breaded and lacking flavor. The buttered carrots weren't very buttery and the jalapeño creamed spinach was just OK. We ordered another round of drinks to see if the pour size would increase on the second time around. Nope, same light pour. Maybe the good pours are reserved for the regulars at the small bar. While $3.50 is a good price for quality liquors like J&B scotch and Bacardi rum, it loses appeal considering the amount of liquor actually put in the drink. I doubt that we will make the trip over there again.

We were heading toward Eastside but it wasn't open so we went to Hoovers. A delightful traditional breakfast was had here with wonderful eggs, bacon, pancakes, and garlic cheese grits. The menu is expansive for breakfast with many choices from Migas to omelets. We had a great fresh breakfast!

Cherrywood is becoming the place for trendy restaurants; one could do a restaurant crawl along four blocks of Manor and find good food on every block. Hoover's Cooking is a very friendly spot, with low-key waiters and lots of comfort food. Soul food seems to mean towering plates, sides, and cornbread; there was no way two women could finish their lunch portions. Chicken fried steak was spot on. Cornbread was a bit on the dry side, and the squash could've used some gussying up. I prefer my cole slaw vinegary instead of mayonnaise-y, but that's a personal thing. I intend to try every place in those four blocks, but would have no trouble returning to Hoover's.

This was recommended by Harrison at the Austin Visitor Center when asked where he would go. This is one of his faves and we had fantastic home cooked comfort food here. Our faves were the special: chopped steak smothered in mushroom gravy, the greens (I preferred the mustard, my companion preferred the collards), sweet potato biscuits, ribs, and the CANDIED YAMS!!! And our server Kayla was delightful and friendly and helpful.

Went here several times while in Austin. Went looking for some traditional Texas eats. (catfish, oakra, mac & cheese etc) They don't really season the food but I got that.

Hoover's is an old favorite. The offer a range of Southern and comfort food and do it well. Most dishes has two possible portion sizes, so you you can eat modestly if you want to. It very much has the informal Austin vibe.

We just had a To Go order of the backyard burgers and they did not disappoint. I probably should have stopped after eating the first half of the burger but I couldn’t resist the great flavor. The toppings were plentiful which helped compliment the smoky flavor of the burger. Definitely try it out.

Ever since I saw an episode about Hoover's on a food TV show, I wanted to try it. On my most recent visit to Austin, Hoover's was right at the top of my list. We arrived right at the Saturday night dinner rush to a 30 minute wait; we got a table in closer to 15 minutes. Our server greeted us promptly, even though he was really busy running around. We had drinks while we decided on meals. Myself and another guest tried beet frozen Margarita's. I will try anything once, and believe it or not the combination of beets and tequila and lime was really good. I wouldn't drink them on a steady basis, but they were strangely refreshing. Not sure Jack Lalane would approve, though. I had my mind preset on the chicken fried steak, and ordered the single, which was more than enough for even my hearty appetite. Sides were mashed potatoes and gravy, jalapeño greens and stewed okra and tomatoes. The wife had catfish, daughter had the chicken fried steak and her BF had the jerk chicken. We tried each other's sides and I really liked the mac and cheese. Hoover's offers a veggie plate of just sides and if I were in the mood, I bet it would be a heck of a good meal, but would still have a hard time choosing. We shared a large slice of sweet potato pie and a banana cream cheesecake for dessert. Perfect ending to a great meal. Service was very good. If I lived in Austin, I would be a regular visitor, but my waist band would regret it.

This was my first visit to Hoover's. I ordered the Cajun Charbroiled Catfish with black-eye peas, mac & cheese, and fried okra. The catfish was a nice sized filet cooked just right and was delicious. The fried okra was just about perfect. The black-eye peas were okay but barely lukewarm. The mac & cheese was tasty and cheesy but barely lukewarm. They offered 2 types of complimentary bread with the meal which included small corn muffins and some type of cinnamon bread. The corn muffins were dry as sawdust and hard as a rock. The cinnamon bread on the other hand was soft and delicious. The prices are reasonable. The portions sizes are average. The service was okay. When it comes to good home cooking, this will not be at the top of my list.

I tried this place for the first time with a friend. We found the waitstaff to be really friendly and helpful. The jalapeño cheese grits were amazing and the banana pudding cheesecake was to die for. We will definitely be back. Family friendly, laid back atmosphere.

Our friends recommended Hoover's for a get together dinner. My husband and I had neer been and were pleasantly surprised. Staff were very friendly and efficient. You can sit at a table or booth. They had a regular menu plus blackboard specials. A lot of comfort food to chose from and a lot of sides which they call "sidemates". I started with a $5. Margarita and we ordered queso (cheese) dip and chips as an appetizer. It was good but not outstanding. With all the offerings it was hard to choose but I settled on the blackboad special of Creole catfish and rice. It came with two large sides so I picked mashed potatoes and jalapeno creamed spinach. The marched potatoes were topped with chicken fried gravy. The sides were delicious but the Creole catfish was outstanding. Two good size fillets which were cooked perfectly. I devoured the catfish, ate half the sides and was stuffed. But that didn't stop me from ordering dessert. There were many pies, cobblers to choose from and I settled on a peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Delish! The rest of my party order fried catfish, sausages, BBQ chicken with smaler sides of butted beans, okra and tomatoes, fried okra and string beans. They all enjoyed their entrees and sides. I waddled out of there vowing to return.

Three of us went today 1-13-23 for lunch. Our meals were a total of 59.94 which included tax. They added a Service charge of $11.07 and we left an additional $10.00 tip. When we got home and looked at the receipt we noticed the service charge. We called and they basically said “ it’s to pay for the employees wages.” So, I guess we paid her wages for our meal plus tipped her. The meal was mediocre definitely not worth $81.00. We won’t be going back or recommending Hoover’s.

Living up north I rarely get southern cooking, and I love it. Hoover’s was rated well so my wife and I tried on our trip to Austin. It was fantastic. I had the Meatloaf which comes smothered in tomato’s and peppers. With Mustard Greens and Candied Yams I died and went to heaven. Then finished with Sweet potato pie. Wow.

Second visit to this restaurant this year. I'm from San Antonio but have family in Austin. Nice surroundings, good food, good portions, quick & efficient service! Chocolate bread puffing excellent! Meat loaf delicious! Good margaritas!

Chicken Fried Steak, green beans, cole slaw, and broccoli was absolutely wonderful. I think the price could be a few dollars less, that's why I'm only giving 4 stars. I do want to eat here again and I highly recommend trying this place.

We were looking for local flavor while visiting and came across this in one of the many websites talking about local restaurants. The main courses were all very good. The sides were ok, but not really exciting. They did have a couple of very interesting items we weren’t adventurous enough to try - jalapeño creamed spinach, kale salad. But don’t let that fool you, the main items are comfort food. Meat loaf, fried chicken, chicken fried steak, catfish. All of our meals were plentiful and well prepared. Our server was fun and efficient. One minor annoyance is that they tak on a dollar for the staff - a way for the restaurant to add cost. Just increase the prices and pay them a little more.

Did not meet my expectations. The food was definitely cafeteria style. The best part was the waiter and his friendliness.

I was in Austin for work and eating a lunch that involved talking to colleagues while eating. The service was adequate but nothing special. The server was fine but not especially nice. When asked for recommendations he gave the standard this is popular, blah, blah, blah. I'd rather have an enthusiastic recommendation for a mediocre dish than a lukewarm indecisive response to a menu full of exceptional options. The menu had a range of options and sides seemed to be the standouts. I had blackened catfish with fried okra, collard greens, and a kale and beet salad for sides. They also served a basket of mini corn muffins and other breads. I didn't try them. They didn't look very exciting. The catfish was good. The kale salad and collards were both very good. The fired okra was fine. I drank water. Overall the meal was good but basically forgettable. There were no major issues with the food or the service, but nothing that would make me want to run back to this place.

Wonderful selection of entrees, sides and sandwiches. Super service even on a day when they had a bus to take care of. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Our party of ten were all very happy with our meals. Being from New Jersey, I do not get too many opportunities to have chicken-fried steak. This version was by far the best I've ever eaten. Warning, though...stay away from the soggy green beans.

They were short on staff and didn't mention that the chef is a beginner. The fried okra was raw inside; the broccoli was a half-cooked small tree - I spent half the meal using a butter knife to cut some of the florets to eat. The mac & cheese was just plain cheap. Three veggie meal, with tax and tip cost over $17. Not worth half that amount.

The food was awesome and the staff was friendly. I definitely will go back on my next trip to Austin. I ordered Chicken Fried steak, mashed potatoes, fried okra, and butter beans!!! Everything was great!!!

My wife ordered the four vegetable plate and could not finish it...the portions on the veggies are quite large. She found them to be adequate but nothing outstanding. I ordered off the chalkboard, getting the chicken with dressing. The chicken itself was tender and quite good. The squash was the best of the sides. We found Hoover's from the staff at the LBJ Library who provided us with a list of recommended area restaurants, which was an unexpected help.

Home cooked right down to the salad dressings. Everyone loved their meal. Beet and kale salad tasty. Grilled smoked turkey and avacado sandwich a yummy surprise.

First time ever to eat at this restaurant in Austin, Texas. there were 4 of us together, walked in and was seated immediately. Waiter was right at our table to take our drink orders. He explained Hoover's way of serving customers and about the freshness and preparation of the food we would be served. He suggested an appetizer which was excellent. It was serve only after they had time to prepare it. He was always checking on us and when we were ready to order, he was there. After a brief wait and after he saw we finished with the appetizer, he shortly brought our meal. Each of us ordered something different and it was all so very good and the quanity was perfect for us all, too much for most of us. Then on to desert which was home made Cocoanut Cream pie for me, the others had pecan pie and Banana Pudding Cheese Cake. It was also home made, like all the food on the menu. What really great place to eat

Hoovers has great food ,a full bar and great deserts also great waitstaff .Check out their CHicken Fried Steak,hands down bestin Austin. Also check out all of Hoovers awards . Not to pricey

It was awesome. I had the muffuletta sandwich and fried okra. Delicious. I would definitely recommend trying out Hoover's.

My mom took me here and I was shocked at the home cooking style that was displayed in each dish I ate. Homecooking is a missed virtue.

First time here. Visited with family during a trip to Austin. Anyone who follows my reviews knows I can be pretty picky. i found the following: Restrooms were very clean Service was very polite, nice, and knowledgeable about the menu. We tried the muffuletta sandwich, 3 piece fried chicken, chicken fried steak, Kale and beets salad, garlic cheese grits and more. Everything was excellent. The chicken had a light flaky crust that was just think enough. The chicken (drumstick, thigh, breast) was exceptionally moist. I think it must have been brined because it tasted lightly seasoned throughout. The kale salad with pickled beets cut in squares and lightly marinated with a lemon vinaigrette. The dressing on the kale salad was slightly sweet and delicious. Garlic cheese grits are not on menu, they were on a posted list of changing items. If you like grits or haven't ever tried them now is the time. I could go on I am trying to convey that the attention to detail in this restaurant resulted in a very good meal. I highly recommend it.

You can't go wrong with the chicken fried steak. Plenty of daily specials. Loads of vegetables. Greens cooked properly. Big portions and great service. Love the sweet potato biscuits. Usually crowded at lunch but they move people in and out efficiently without ever making you feel rushed when you are eating. Great service--very friendly.

Was here twice in two weeks both for lunch. Hadn't been here in a while and was surprised that the salad selections had actually become so much more. I ordered the Rosemary Chicken Greek Salad and it was yummy. I was impressed with the portion size. I really shouldn't have been, after all this IS Hoovers! but I was. My husband and I returned the following week for an anniversary lunch and he had the Hoover size meatloaf and I had the chicken fried steak. Both of us enjoyed our meals. The waitstaff was very friendly. To miss the lunch crowd, we arrived at 11:30 and there was no wait to be seated.

My husband and I were on a Date Night with another couple, and we attended a play and ate at Hoover's afterwards. This was my first time at Hoovers, and I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the chicken fried chicken, but you could tell that it was rewarmed, and had not been just freshly prepared. It was an 8, but could have been a 10. The sides were very good(green beans, mac and cheese, and cornbread dressing) , and the best part was that when the bill arrived it was only "$50" for 4 adults! Haven't had that happen in a while.

Just move to the neighborhood and love Hoover's. The jamaican jerk chicken is delicious. Amazing assortment of desserts and alcohol.

Three of us went for lunch. Had chicken fried chicken and chicken fried steaks. $10.95 each I think. Three sides come with each entree, and there is a long list of sides to choose from including mashed potatoes, salad, butter beans, fried okra, cole slaw, . . . Very friendly server and prompt service. Concrete floor, wooden benches and padded chairs for seating at tables and booths. Lots of parking in front and alongside. Not fancy, but good food in a relaxed atmosphere.

This restaurant is an experience in itself. We had a short wait. The staff looks like a motorcycle outfit but they are very friendly and responsive. The entrees come with a choice of a large variety of sides (20). There is a sign board with some seasonal sides in addition. I especially liked the Okra and tomatoes. There was a little wait as it was busy but everything arrived hot and delicious. I had the chicken fried steak which was perfectly done. My wife had the meatloaf which was delicious though a little crumbly. Looking forward to going there again when we visit our daughter.

This is one of my favorite little restaurants in Austin. Country comfort with Louisiana flare. Ás usual, lunch was great: meatloaf, pinto beans, great fries, yams,... some of which is going home with me. Yummy!

It was a little out of the way from where we were staying. Not to far, just off the beaten path. The food was very good and the service was excellent. They had local specials and everything tasted home cooked! My husband even suggested that we go there a second time on our trip! Very good food and service. We will be returning. Thank hotel guy!

The food was so good! I had the ham with jezabel sauce and 3 (yes, 3) vegetables. The entire meal was very good. The service was a little slow but the butter beans and tomatoes and okra made up for it. I highly recommend this restaurant.

The last time I came here was 10 years ago and it was of the same quality if not lower. I ordered BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, green beans and fried okra. Nothing to write home about. I did like their hot sauce and put it on everything because it sort of needed it. I remember liking their fried chicken trailer across the street. Maybe I should have ordered fried chicken? If I had to go to Luby's or Hoovers, I would pick Hoovers.

Worked all morning, so we headed to Hoover’s for late lunch, early dinner. Chicken Fried Steak was the comfort food we needed, along with a great frozen margarita. They don’t skimp on the tequila in their frozen margs! Yum. Check it out any day of the week!

Very good home cooked meals. Not a lot of parking onsite, but usually some spaces available. Food is very good.

Orded a catfish dinner and it was pretty darn amazing. The batter was a nice corn meal coating, the fish tasted fresh (which can be hard for catfish) and you get 3 sides (and corn meal muffins) Loved the Caribbean rice and mac n cheese. The greens were ok, little to much hickory smoke for my tastes but all in all the meal was solid. Oh and the tartar sauce, it was kinda the best part of the meal Never new tartar could be that good. LOL Highly recommended.

We were attending an event at Frank Erwin Center and decided to try Manor rd restaurants. Hoovers Cooking was our pick. Everyone that worked there was very friendly. We ordered the Sausage & Cheese plate for appetizer. The sausage is out of this world good! I ordered the lemon pepper grilled catfish with salad, green beans & collards. My husband ordered the meatloaf, tomato/okra side, and creamed jalapeno spinach. We will return!

We enjoyed Hoovers very much. The menu is extensive and the food was outstanding. The dining room was surprisingly quiet enough to do business. I’ll go again.

I am struggling with giving this a very good or average rating. It used to be excellent but has lost so much of the home-cooked flavor that I came here for. I just had their Saturday special, smothered pork chops. The gravy had that instant flavor that comes from a pouch of dry ingredients instead of the real deal. Greeted very coldly even though they were not busy. I asked for a table of four, two people were finishing a phone call in the parking lot. They would not seat us until the arrived. I then said, OK two people. The greeter gave me a very dirty look and took two menus to a table. By the time we actually sat down, the rest of the party joined us. We never got two more menus. The service was excellent once seated. I have been coming here for years and each time it takes me longer to come back. It had been at least 4 years and I'm sure I can make it another 5 before going back. The prices are high as well for Austin standards for lunch.

If you fancy southern food, then this place is worth the trip. Friendly service, and a good menu. It's a shame the fried chicken is only available from the truck opposite. We came here twice. The first time, I had chicken fried steak. I'd never eaten it before, and won't be again! But from the sides, and what we had on our return trip, it was clear that CFS is clearly just not for me. Very good portions, and tasty.

I've been a customer of Hoovers since day one and they have never let me down. Fresh ingredients, friendly staff and great location!!

If you're looking for some Southern comfort food, this is the place! It's apparently been around forever, and going strong. We arrived around 12:30 to a full house, but was able to find a small table by the front for 2. The servers were friendly and attentive. I ordered the chicken fried steak (highly recommended on a foodie web site) and my wife ordered the smoked sausage. We both got the "Hoover sized" portions (2-4oz pieces for chicken fried steak, and three links for the sausages). The cowboy beans were a hit with my wife - BBQ beans with bacon and what looked like bits of trimmings from BBQ brisket. It was almost like a stew! I would have to say that this was one of the best chicken fried steaks I've had - tender, juicy, and not gristly. We left extremely full and happy with a big doggy bag for a later snack.

So I found this place by googling "best chicken fried steak Austin". Decided to give them a try while in Austin overnight for a concert. Popped in around 2pm, hostess was pleasant and seated us quickly. It was a slow afternoon. Plenty of options on the menu to satisfy just about any taste bud. I had the chicken fried steak with squash medley, green beans and mashed potatoes. The chicken fried steak was OK, not great. I've had better. The sides did not come out piping hot, and the squash/zucchini could have been steamed a little longer. As slow as it was in there, the waitress could have been more attentive. Did not ask if everything was okay until we were done with our meal. Did not attempt to refill our drinks. Really overall was not impressed and wouldn't go out of my way to come back again. I guess when you cook your own soul food the standards are a bit higher. I can see how this place would appeal to the soul food novice, however.

Barbecue chicken was outstanding, flavorful meat not dependent on the skin or sauce. Good selection of sides, excellent kale & beet salad with homemade dressing. The catfish po’ boy got rave reviews as well. Large selection of desserts to choose from. Friendly service. No frills atmosphere. Free parking. We will return! The restaurant also had an optional program to add $1 to the bill to help fund paid time off for employees.

A nice change of pace for breakfast (for a New Englander!). I have to say, the smiles and friendly staff made a great start to my day. I either skip breakfast all together or eat heavy and skip lunch, when I do breakfast it sets the pace for the entire day.

I used to enjoy eating at Hoover's fairly often several years ago, for great home cooking. I went last week after a hiatus and I was so disappointed that the quality has really gone down but the prices have gone way up. To start with, the biscuits and cornbread were dry, cold, and very hard. I had a Chicken Fried Steak platter for $14. The steak was very thin, and the mashed potatoes, gravy, and breading were dry and flavorless. The corn bread dressing was all right though a little mushy, and I wouldn't choose it again. We also had a ribs platter, which was 3 ribs for $15. We only got 2 ribs with barely any meat on them, and the 3rd rib had one bite of rib meat on it and that was it. Although 2 of the 3 ribs were juicy, it was extremely overpriced for so little food. The green beans had an odd pickled taste to them. I really hope they take into account this very disappointing experience, and improve their food. I know that Hoover's East Austin location is probably under a lot of pressure from the more trendy, newer eateries opening up near it, so it really needs to redo its quality to stay in business there.

We visited for lunch after visiting the LBJ Library following a recommendation from the lady in the LBJ gift shop. She was not wrong! The meatloaf and lemonade were great, so was the service. Highly recommended.

OK, gotta come clean here. I have known Hoover for about 36 years. We go WAY back. We have stories about each other that will remain untold. But everytime I travel to Austin, I stop by Hoover's to enjoy the fantastic food. I have hauled family, friends and business associates to Hoover's over the years. And you know what? They have NEVER been disappointed. Here is how my usual visit goes. I text my wife and son - what can I bring you? They text back a long list of dinner and dessert items. I eat a rib plate with jalapeño creamed spinach and the carrots. I eat it all...and all the whiile, my to order is being put together. They have even put ice around the slices of pie to keep them perfectly cold. I drive the 240 miles home. My wife and college age son have been waiting patiently, they eat a late but fantastic meal. That is what I call home delivery, Hoover's style. Go there, eat a lot, be happy.

This place was highly rated by friends, but tonight it just wasn't good. 5 of us (4 adults and 1, 6 year old) stopped here for dinner. We were seated right away and drinks orders were taken promptly. Waiter started off great. Once the drinks and our order of chips & queso arrived, service started lagging. Before the dinner was over it had failed misserably. Queso was awful, bland and not too warm. Chips seemed to be the kind fried on site, but had an off taste, probably due to old frying oil. We didn't finish it. When we ordered our entres we specifically asked to have the child's meal cone out as soon as possible. Our waiter even repeated that request. Enters were delivered without the child's order at all! Two of the other orders were wrong. Husband's entre was fine, but the sides were completely wrong (he got to choose 3 from a long list), when the waiter asked about it, he rushed away to correct those sides and brought back new wrong sides. In the meantime the child's dinner was brought to the table at almost room temperature. It was fine for the 6 year old, but it was obviously hanging around the kitchen and delivery was delayed. My husband's sides were eventually delivered as he originally ordered them. My entre came out cold, which is good for salad, but not for the 2 piece fried chicken special I had ordered. It also wasn't the 2 piece wing dinner I requested. I was told later that I had received the last wing, so they added a partial breast to the order. Both pieces were cold. The sides I ordered were barely edible. I had buttered cabbage, but I only received the hard white part of a cabbage and it wasn't cooked thoroughly, still crunchy. The first serving had a giant piece of core that was barely cooked and very unappetizing. Another waiter replaced that serving with a better portion. The cole slaw was overly dull and tasteless. No amount of salt and pepper helped it. My dinner was removed when the waiter noticed I hadn't eaten it passed tasting. It was taken off the bill. Everyone else ate their dinner without much comment. The other 2 family members liked their BBQ rib dinners, but commented that the ribs were drier and spicier than the previous time they ate at Hoovers. Another staff member came by to assure us that my meal was taken off our bill. Then he asked if I would like a dessert item. I chose cherry cobbler and the child chose a scoop of ice cream. My cobbler came out SUPER HOT...it burned my tongue. When all was said and done, we got no apologies from management or any comments at all. My meal wasn't on the bill, but the cobbler was. I can't recommend Hoover's. There are too many good places in Austin to eat. Hoovers is not one to try

This place was fantastic! Everything that each of us at our table ordered was delicious. I am dreaming about chicken fried chicken now! Will definitely return!

My wife and I had lunch here. She had meat loaf with mustard greens, mashed potatoes, and fried okra. I had the chicken fried steak with creamed spinach, black-eyed peas and okra with tomatoes. It was all delicious. The list of veggies available is quite long. There were many other interesting things on the menu that I will try on return visits. The service was very good and the staff was very hospitable. It also looks like this would be a great place to have happy hour drinks and appetizers. We'll definitely be back.

We spent our family dinner Sunday at Hoover’s. Great Southern cooking (which my husband adore’s) Great quality, large portions, great price. They have great salad’s as well in case you are not into the Southern fried affair! Great service too. It was a very casual place for a very relaxed dinner.

I had heard over and over how good this place was and it is. Fantastic fresh, home made dishes from burgers to steaks. Lots of veggies to choose from. Great service. Good parking. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. What a dining treat.

If you like wonderful southern style comfort food...this is the place! From fried chicken to BBQ ribs, greens, okra, Mac & cheese. The food is well prepared, down home cooking. Families, friends, couples, solos & business people...all seem very welcome. Casual dining at its best! Highly recommend it! Enjoy!

Their menu is promising but the taste of the food is average. The appetizers and sides steal the show more than the mains. The staff was understaffed so they struggled but were super kind and trying their best.

I've visited Hoover's Cooking several times and have never been disappointed. The fare is southern comfort food. On my most recent visit, I had the chicken-fried steak. They have a wide range of sides.

I have not even tasted the food at this place, so cannot rate it. However, the customer service was so bad, I just ended up walkingbaway. I know at least three people saw me standing there, but I don't think they could have been less interested in serving me. One even came out from the back, walked right by me, then went right back in. I won't stop by there again, no matter how much I might want some chicken.

The waiter was so gross I could not order. He had snot running out of his nose. The place was busy. Coworkers said they liked the hamburger and spinach dip.

Still bewitched by scintillating catfish memories and friendly fried chicken from the hoover truck on manor. It was 2014 and I still think about that meal at happy hour. A chipper restaurant visit in another time zone of a parallel dimension.

Okay, so I have been on a plight for a little over a year to find the absolute best hamburger in the Austin, Texas area. And this burger was good and I would order it again. The meat was flavorful and cooked just right and the bun was wonderful! I opted for the squash medley for a side and was not disappointed. There were 9 people in our party so there was the opportunity to try a little bit of everything. If good southern/country cooking is what you want, you will get it here. From the chicken fried steak to the fried catfish, brisket queso, cornbread muffins, sweet potato biscuits, vegetables and oh my, my, my, my, my the banana pudding, blackberry cobbler (because they were completely out of peach) and sweet potato pie there was not one complaint. Even the tea was good. Hoover's Cooking is located not too far off of I-35 on the east side of the highway and was easy to get to. They also have a private dining area for private parties. Can't wait until our next visit!

We had a phenomenal meal at this restaurant. If you like fried pork chops and mustard greens, don't miss out on this one. The service is fantastic!

It’s hard to find good pork ribs in beef-obsessed Texas. The ribs at Hoover’s are great - delicious and falling off the bone. I love the ever-changing options for fresh sides and desserts. The meatloaf is also a solid entree choice, but it’s almost impossible to go wrong. The price is very reasonable for what you get. The atmosphere is casual and family-friendly. No frills, but clean and pleasant.

Hefty margaritas and good food, reasonably priced. The jerk chicken was well prepared; the sides were good, although the yams tasted more like a dessert than a main dish. The chicken was big enough to split (and that was not the "hoovers" portion). Appetizers were good, too. Service was friendly and efficient.

The food is good southern food. The collard greens are amazing and spicy. The staff was friendly and service was great.

I used to love coming here and I was severely disappointed on my visit tonight. So much so I actually took the time to write this. The beans tasted like they had lots of water in them, the mac & cheese was about like Kraft, the $7 queso is just a cup & doesn't even come with salsa (that's $2 more) and with my chicken fried pork chops the gravy was an extra charge... seriously if you have to charge for gravy at a 'southern' kitchen there is something wrong ! Otherwise ribs were decent (thats why i used to come here) and the pork chops were good. Service was acceptable and we did leave full but I will not be coming back here and no longer recommend this to my out of town friends as a taste of Austin. Too many other great places to have mediocre food like this

We wanted a traditional southern breakfast while visiting our daughter in Austin. Hoover's supplied deliciously.

I love the food at Hoovers. I've eaten almost everything on the menu and like them all! The ribs and the jerk ribs are excellent.

I was recommended this restaurant by one of the docents at the LBJ Library. She said that this was a local Austin icon that served great homemade food. The place was packed for lunch. I had the chicken fried chicken. The meal was served with three sides. Everything was delicious. The bread that was served included a cinnamon type biscuit and it was unbelievable.

Good home cooking. Good food. Nothing special in the inside but it's a standard blue plate special lunch place.

This seems to be a place with a lot of history. It was a slow night this night which was a Sunday, not sure how common this is but it was fairly empty. We waited a little bit to be seated, which told me they were probably short staffed. All hands on deck...the host did make contact and after a few minutes came and sat us, he was very nice, our waiter came over right away and offered water/drinks (why don't waiters ask about appetizers...not for all you waiters,ask it helps your ticket) he did bring drinks fairly quickly and took our order. I asked for a piece of pie which I was told they had ...but then I was told they didn't have it, at any rate I didn't get the pie which it seemed they had but didn't want to cut into. At the cost of a piece of pie I guess I'm okay with not getting it. They start your bill off with a 20% service fee no matter what. No need to leave a tip, since they take it off the top. The waiter was nice and responsive so I would have left a decent tip, but since I have no choice in the matter I left a dollar just to leave something on the table because I don't want to be that guy. The food was real soul food but that is about it. The black eyed peas were cold...the greens weren't cooked down. The catfish is misleading but the jerk chicken was decent, didn't like the sauce for it. Overall, it's average, I think you will get an okay meal, and decent service.

I used to like HOOVER’S now the food is horrible my grandson would not even eat the burger, I will not be returning I don’t know what happened but it gone down hill!!!

It wasn’t all it was cooked up to be. Lots of almost really good food. Mashed potatoes had skin on, black-eyed peas were cold, collard greens needed to be cut up more, cowboy beans were just pork and beans, bread basket had to bite-size corn bread and honey biscuits, the meatloaf was dry and was doused on top with the tomato-based sauce, the fried okra was great as was the chicken and sausage gumbo. We’re just a little more attention to detail,It could have been up to a 4.0 rating but I would only give it a 3.0 today. By the way we took home a cherry cobbler for dessert and it wasn’t much better either. It was a bread dough instead of a nice flaky crust and there was much more dough then there was cherries.

The fried catfish was good, the mustard greens were a bit sweet the the chili sauce took care of that; but the green beans took the prize. Solid home style cooking.

We were looking to enjoy some good soul food so we decided to try Hoover's. I saw mixed reviews but due to Hoovers's being black owned my party of 3 wanted to show support. I can tell you that I am highly disappointed. When we first got there we sat at our table and waited 10 minutes before a bust boy came over and sat eating utensils on the table. He didn't speak or anything which we know was rude. Next, we waited 5 more minutes before I had to get up and ask to be served and was told it's a Sunday and it's like this but the place was empty. After letting them know we weren't served we sat for a few more minutes thinking we should just leave when the cashier/host came and asked have we been served and brought us menus and took our drink orders. Finally we were able to order. The beet margarita was the best thing on the menu. The collard greens taste like vinegar, mustard greens were sugar city, chicken was ok but greasy and fatty, Lima beans and potatoes soupy, and not a lot of flavor. I asked for condiments and they brought me out empty bottles of hot sauce and let me know they did not have any Hoover's hot sauce or Louisiana hot sauce. They also had Mexican music playing and no African Americans serving, cooking, or in the establishment except for the host. This place doesn't feel like home to me and that's what you need when looking for that soul mix. I would never recommend this place to anyone. The food was horrible and this should not be considered a soul food establishment. The staff gave great service to the white people but treated my party like we wasn't paying customers nor wanted. We wasted $100.00 and should have just went to McDonald's for this rate.

Love the lemonade and fries. Chicken salad a little disappointed. Hubby loved the burger. Nice staff.

This place was not on our list we kept going to places and being turned away for the size of our family so Hoover’s was a happy accident. We had given up and hoped they would take us in. I am so glad they did. The food is comfort food on high. All of it feels like your family is in the kitchen cooking for you. We all had something different I had the catfish meal others had those devilishly delicious smothered pork chops and yet others had different things. The deserts are all so tasty I can’t even list them all cause we all had a little bit of so many things. They make a beetarita and it is tasty but their margaritas are so good! I suggest you make this place a priority not a happy accident like we did. I live three hours away and would drive there more often for this place I probably will. I wish I had remembered to snap pictures but the food was so good I forgot.

As we were driving through Texas on the way to Wurstfest, we googled "Local Austin Food" and came up with "Chicken Fried Steak"! So then it was just a search for who had the best CFS in Austin. After reading many reviews, we picked Hoover's and I think we chose wisely - everything was amazing!! Great seasoning, amazing side dishes, and excellent service. The place is really cute and quirky too! If you are passing through, why eat fast food when you can eat GREAT food at a local legend like Hoover's! The bill was about the same as some gross fast food place any way!! Highly recommend!

Hovers is gem on the East side of Austin. Don't stand in line for celebrity BBQ. Walk into the funny vibe of Hovers and get the real deal. Chicken Fried Steak, Jmacian Jerk Ribs and Chicken. Eat where the savy Austin locals eat, don't stand in line with the tourists.

We made reservations for an art group on a busy Tuesday, and the staff at Hoover's was very accomodating! The atmosphere at Hoover's is casual and that made everyone in the group feel more comfortable. The Hoover's down home cookin' was great, and the wait staff were very friendly and professional. While we were sitting at the table, members of the group were planning their next visit to Hoover's! Hoover's was the perfect choice for our group outting.

I've dined at Hoovers more than a handful of times over the years and usually its a solid place to eat. Today they were operating within their 80%. The meatloaf was moist and seasoned perfectly with a tomato gravy, for lack of a better term, over the meatloaf. My green beans were absolutely delicious. The black eyed peas were okay and the mac n cheese was lacking flavor. Their prices are reasonable and you walk away full without having to break the bank on an appetizer and or dessert. On a previous visit I tried their pecan pie however I was not impressed. Also tried their happy hour margarita which is dangerously delicious.

The smell hits your nose before you even go through the door, gets your hopes all high and then the food lets you down. Now, let me preface this by saying that we were with a very large party, so this may have played a part in the temperature of the food (room temp) but not the flavor. Soul Food - Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Sweet Tea. Check. Bring it on! Let me just say there wasn't enough salt and pepper on the table to resurrect my food. Totally disappointed. Absolutely no flavor. I even tried some fried okra from someone else's plate. It looked very pretty. No seasoning. The ONLY thing I liked at this place besides the sweet tea was the sweet potatoes. That's it. This was my second attempt at Hoover's and will probably be my last. The first attempt was the same as this one, just in case you're interested.

Hoover's is a great Southern comfort food place, with some Texas touches. Our party had chicken-fried steak, Elgin sausages, fried catfish, and meatloaf, with collard greens, macaroni and cheese, creamed spinach, butter beans, candied yams, etc., etc. All were terrific. In fact, a vegetable plate would be a great way to go. Whatever you do, don't miss the cowboy beans and the pecan pie (the best I've ever had -- no kidding). Prices are extremely reasonable -- about ten bucks for an entree and three sides, with an option to "supersize."

We've eaten here several times, but the last two times have been disappointing. The food has been uniformly bland...very little flavor. The menu looks outstanding, but just hasn't delivered lately. Very, very mediocre service as well...nice waiter, but forgot the bread, then the water, and when I sent my vastly overcooked chicken back (pretty thin piece for $13!) he forgot to retrieve it and give me another fork. Just sloppy. I really want to like this place, but it's been falling short.

The Chicken Fried Steak and Ribs were amazing. I also had the Mac and Cheese, Fried Okra and Sweet Potato fires. The blue berry cobbler was excellent as well. Good for a date, business or in big groups.

Anderson, our waiter, might have provided the best service I've had in Austin. Gave great recommendations, friendly, and was great when we split the check 5-ways. Food was excellent - and prices fair.

Our son and daughter-in-law treated us to brunch at Hoover's on a recent Saturday morning before a Longhorn game. We'd been here for dinner and never even realized they had breakfast. Our son must be gluten free and Hoover's fills that need. We walked into an almost empty restaurant around 10 a.m. There was no one at the front desk and we waited a few minutes before someone noticed us, showed us to a table, and gave us menues. After that, servers were very friendly. Service wasn't especially fast, but Hoover's has a leisurely vibe anyway. The others at our table ordered eggs, migas, sausage links, grits, biscuits and gravy. All were happy with their choices. I ordered the sweet potato pancakes (without butter). I asked how big they were and the server gave me an estimate. In actuality, they were larger. I ordered 2 with a side of bacon, but 1 would have been plenty. They were fabulous! I didn't really need syrup. Prices were reasonable. As we left, the lunch crowd was entering. I suspect Saturdays can get pretty crowded later in the day!

This place reminds me of what I ate growing up. A vast assortment of greens and beans and meats. The corn muffins are outstanding. Really enjoyed lunch here. Parking can be tricky, but once inside you will be immersed in Southernn down home cooking. Just great in all regards.

This review is for the Austin airport location. The food was served messy which took away from the overall experience. The candied yams were mush. The chicken on the sliders were tiny pieces. Probably go for the two piece platter instead. I would not recommend this place.

What can I say. That chicken from the smokehouse was on point. Perfect smoke, flavor, and just falling off the bone good. Service was excellent. Aaron was on time and on target with the service. You guys have something good going here, obviously. I travel all over the world and this place just became a top shelf spot to visit while in Austin. Keep it up.

Hoovers has been around a long time in East Austin and offers a great variety of home-cooked food. Easy parking and never much of a wait.

"Made fresh every day" is what makes Hoovers special. It's not fancy but it's pure. Meatloaf, chicken fried chicken, veggies all reminded me of home. In reality- this is better than home given the surprising large variety. BTW- Hoover is very visible working here. If the owner is available so available- it's a good sign you'll be treated well. We were. He stopped by twice to check on us. That's so appreciated. Will be back.

This was restaurant was recommended to me as one to visit while we were in Austin. I am so glad that we went. I had the chicken fried steak, potato salad, fried okra, and black-eyed peas as well as a piece of the buttermilk pie while my husband had the fried catfish. The food was wonderful and the portions were enormous, enough to take back to the hotel for later. This restaurant is definitely one you want to put on your list of must eat at... Definitely recommend!!!

Good home cooking. Good wait staff. Reasonably priced. Chicken-fried steak was over battered, with barely any meat.

I had the nitrate free gluten free BBQ sausage, that came withThree sides. I had a fresh side salad, black eyed peas. Came with tasty cornbread muffins. Great choices. Great service.

I'll start with the negative...the service was slow on this night. OK, enough with the negative, because when we did get the food it was excellent. I had the chicken fried steak with sweet potatoes and cornbread dressing. Let's just say that I'm heading back to Hoover's to get a pan of that dressing for our Thanksgiving feast. Everything was tasty and the portions were generous. I'll be a repeat customer.

We ordered a burger with mac and cheese and baked beans and mashed potatoes and chopped steak w mushrooms. so good did i mention the cowboy baked beans..omg. best ever had. really. wow. go back again & again.

We ate at Hoover's on our recent trip to Texas and were amazed at the size of the portions. We could easily have shared a dinner. Each entree came with two side dishes. My husband had the ribs, which he enjoyed and I had chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and yams. Sweet bread came with out dishes. The food was good, though not super. The service was friendly and prompt. The price was excellent. This restaurant is clean and pleasant.

Yum Yum Yum! I absolutely loved this place. I was very interested to see how Austin would do when it comes to having some decent soul food, but they exceeded my expectations by far. The restaurant itself is not very large, which provides for that down home southern comfortable feel. The staff was decent, not overly friendly, but not rude and we were taken care of well. The smell was great. I know that is a very unusual thing to critique, but there was the smell of barbeque in the air and it just increased my appetite. The food, oh the wonderful food. I ordered the southern fried pork chops, candied yams, macaroni, and potato salad. My favorite was by far the yams because they was well seasoned and very sweet (as they should be). The potato salad was next in line and it was obviously home made because there we still some skins on it, which added a nice texture variation. The potato salad is mayo based not mustard based, which I prefer, so that made it even better. The porkchops were well done and had a nice crispy touch, and as for the macaroni they were simply okay. I know for a fact that I will be returning to this establishment...many more times. I really enjoyed my visit and my food, so I encourage anyone else who is looking for some soul food to go here!

Hoover’s is a great place for some good home style cooking. Great southern sweet tea and lemonade with a lovely atmosphere!! You won’t need to ask for a refill!!

I have two experiences to share: We had dinner at the restaurant with another couple. We each ordered the regular portion sized entree which included three sides. In all the food was good. Between the four of us we ordered chicken fried steak, fried catfish and smoked ribs. The consensus was the portions given in some of the sides were too small. We so enjoyed the food so much that we made plans to take our daughter and her husband with us later in the week. Our second experience was take out: Knowing that the sides were too small, we decided to Hoover size our order of ribs and chicken which meant in the case of the ribs that we would get four instead of three and two larger sides instead of three regular sides. Well, this proved to be disappointing as well as the ribs in one of the orders were rather small and the chicken portion also seemed disproportionate to the price. To continue our disappointment, the portion of the sides although sent in one cup deli containers some were scantily filled, and the cole slaw was less than half full. The food from both meals: The chicken fried steak, ribs, potato salad, cole slaw and cowboy beans were all excellent, the fried catfish, chicken, Mac n cheese, fried and stewed okras and corn bread stuffing were just okay, the spinach was over cooked, the kale and beet salad seemed to lack a third element and while a great idea would be better if dressed with a different marinade (the Italian seasoning didn't complement the flavors). The desserts were mixed, our companions said the buttermilk pie was good, we shared peach and blackberry cobblers that were just okay, their filling was good but the crusts were hard and pasty, and the pecan pie was alright. Not a glowing report. I admit that we are great cooks and so have pretty high expectations when a restaurant proclaims that all of their food is made in house. Ok, so what's the take away from this? Don't bother ordering the Hoover size, at least for take outs; If you are really hungry, perhaps order extra sides and stick to the basics of potato salad, cole slaw and cowboy beans; as far as desserts go stick to the pies. Unless we find equally good smoked ribs nearby we will likely eat here again.

We are Texan's living in Ecuador so when we come back we are wanted good southern food. Hoover's looked like it would satisfy our craving. Great chicken fried steak smothered in cream gravy, mashed potatoes, and fried okra. The only thing missing was our meal did not come with cornbread or rolls. My husband also had the okra with tomatoes and greens. Huge list of desserts and I ended up taking a piece of pecan pie back to the hotel. The service was fast but they have reduced their hours so glad we made it in time. If I remember correctly they had started closing at 3 pm which now may have changed so I would call ahead to make sure they are open.

We don't live in Austin and wanted a good local place for lunch. Hoovers fit the bill. Great selection. Chicken fried steak, meatloaf, ribs, roasted chicken, etc. and lots of vegetable choices. I had the jerk chicken and my wife had sausage. We were served very fast after we ordered. Nice southern "stick to your ribs" menu that is a good choice for a local experience. Definitely worth checking out.

had expected more due to praises and line. limited parking, They will not seat you until your whole party is present, bummer. great selection of southern fare, but disappointed in the chicken fried steak, thin meat, batter twice as thick on both sides. scraped half off to eat it. should have tried the catfish. Service was good. Make room for desserts.

I went there after seeing the chicken fried steak on TV and it didn't disappoint. The plate came with 3 sides and they had plenty of options. Finished theeal with peach cobbler and ice cream. Was full and satisfied upon leaving.

Had a wonderful meal - just like 'Sunday Dinner at Grandmas' We had the Chicken Fried Steak and Chicken Fried Pork Chop. Got to choose 3 sides each. The Creamed Spinach, Tomato/Cucumber Salad, and Butter beans were delicious. Of course we had to get Chocolate Cream pie and Bread pudding to take home. So few 'old time cafes' serving 'good food at sensible prices' left in Austin area. Of course our favorite is still the TEXAN CAFE & Pie Shop in Hutto

Chicken, liver, okra, barbecue, pie, greens, butter beans .... you can't go wrong. Best food and the nicest people in Austin.

Hoover's is usually crowded and good food is why. It is not fancy or ethnic, unless you want to call southern home cooking ethnic.The entrees are good but I only really know about the Jamaican Jerk Ribs, the vegetables are outstanding and all the desserts are, too.

Out Manor (pronounced MAY-ner) Road east of downtown Austin there is quite a restaurant boom going on, anchored -- as it has been for a long time -- by Hoover's Cooking. Madame and I enjoyed a visit on a recent Tuesday evening, our first since we moved to the Austin area a couple of years ago. We'd dined at Hoover's once before that, about ten years or so ago, and left with good memories; and, I'm happy to report, not much seems to have changed. The restaurant is still comfy in a no-frills sort of way, and the welcome is as warm as ever. Southern cooking is the name of the game, and it's quite good. Madame had a ham steak, and I ordered a pork chop; both came with three "House Mates" or sides, such as fried okra, black-eyed peas, butter beans, cole slaw, and the like. The bar offers a variety of beers but only a few wines; the house chardonnay is quite drinkable (I'm not a big fan of chardonnay, particularly when it tastes like somebody's eighth-grade chemistry project, but this one was quite decent), and we also ordered Freixenet Brut by the glass. A peach cobbler with ice cream was a great finisher for the evening. The cooking is good, and enthusiastically southern. Some of the items we ordered, such as the ham and my slaw, seemed a little too sweet. The pork chop comes in a thick layer of batter, but you can easily strip off as much of that as you wish, and the pork chop itself (yes, it's in there) was just fine. It's odd to get all rhapsodic about butter beans, but for me they were the star of the show, and they'll be on my agenda when we come back. Service was somewhat on the hit-and-miss side; our plates seemed to take a long time to appear, on a night when things had been rushed earlier but were quiet by the time we arrived. Some items on our orders were wrong, and we had to ask two or three people before we could get a little plain vinegar for some greens. That said, the overall experience was really good, and Hoover's makes a most welcome departure not only from the (over)indulgences of the holidays, but from the general run of informal restaurant dining. Prices are decidedly friendly too; all sorts of plastic are accepted. There is parking in front of the building and off to the side as well. We will certainly return, so we can dig further into Hoover's menu --

We were on the East side and decided to go back to a place we hadn't been in awhile. I want to give our server Tyler a huge thank you and she deserves 10 stars! She was amazing. She was friendly, she was attentive but not in our face. Great spirit. Overall a wonderful experience because of Tyler. THANK YOU. I got the chicken fried steak with a dinner salad, green beans and mash potatoes. Over all ok. I felt like there was more breading than mean in my chicken friend steak and the green beans were over peppered for my taste. My father got the meat loaf with mac n cheese, pinto beans and mash potatoes. My husband got the rib plate with mac n cheese, dinner salad and fried okra. Overall everyone enjoyed their meals. I think the meat loaf is very tomato. Personally, I am more a fan of the less but this is their style. If you go to Hoover go hungry. Like so hungry you haven't eaten in days hungry. There is no way to personally eat all the food. None of us got the Hoover size and I want to meet the person that does and eats it. Huge portions. Being there on a Saturday night around 7pm, I was shocked how empty the place appeared. I hope they are still doing a good lunch crowd. I know there are many more options on this side of town that used to be. My husband and I said we need to make a point to come back more often. We want it to stick around. Tyler made our night! I hope the manager or owner sees this review and rewards her.

Don't know what to say except -- my diet went out the invisible window. Yep, right out the window. I don't want to encourage too many but the pudding was so amazing.

Ethnically diverse clientele and everyone has a great time. Food is great, except for the sausage which is spectacular. Good veggies. Friendly service. Generous portions. Highly recommend.

Hoover Alexander presents some of the best Southern Style Home Food in the area. I have gone there many times for lunch & dinner. It’s always excellent! If possible save some room for desert!

Hoover's is down home comfort food and is always great, tasty and so good. Consistently hits it just right on taste, freshness and service. Don't be surprised you might have a wait but wait time is usually not long. Love the chicken fried steak and gravy.

Great service. Delicious home-style food. A huge selection of entrees, salads, veggies, burgers. Ample parking. Good location. Ambiance down-home style, too.

This place is a must when in Austin. I had the chicken fried chicken with cream gravy..it was so good! With this you choose 3 sides. I had the mashed potatoes and gravy, mustard greens, and green beans. These green beans are so good I could almost go for a giant plate of them alone. If you come, check the big chalk board on the back wall...lots of daily off menu items that look really good. Prices and service good.