Hula Hut Reviews

Love this joint. Chuy's meets Hawaii. Chile rellenos, tubular steak taco, pork burrito.....the menu is all good. Great date or family place.

The location is great, the siting outside is nice. The service was "whatever" style, the waiters were wearing scruffy clothing, one person wearing tight lycra top and bottom. The food was average, bland, and salty. I suspect "microwave chef" was involved. There is a fast-food ambiance to this place.

Located right on the water. Food is excellent, fast friendly service. Located on the water where you can watch fish swim.

Great place for a drink,chips and queso! But honestly the staff were down right unfriendly and moved so slow. It’s the kind of place that knows your going to go there because of its location but they don’t have to give service or quality.

Sister in law visiting from LA so we took her for lunch at Hula Hut. Very relaxed atmosphere with great view. We sat outside, and even in Texas heat, it was quite comfortable. Burgers and chicken sandwiches were good, queso compuesto was awesome!! Service was prompt Prices were reasonable.

Have to eat here once a week to get my Fish Taco Fix. I haven't tried anything else (except the ridiculously delicious key lime pie). Good T. Great service. See you next week

We sat on the back porch surrounded by ceiling fans, so don't let the summer temperature deter you from sitting outside. The casual atmosphere: shorts, sandals, and sunburns suited us well. Appetizers arrived before our water--fast! We ordered enough to take home for lunch the next day--grilled shrimp flautas, the avocado, the noodle salad (my fave), and the chicken sandwich--very tasty. The water and tea glasses are super big, so you don't have to constantly ask for refills. (Helpful). The waitstaff was attentive. Everyone around us was having a great time. We watched the sun set and made our way home. We had a lovely low-key anniversary dinner. Thanks, y'all.

I dare you to prove me wrong. This place is downright disgusting. The food is terrible, the staff is clueless, and the place is filthy. So many more places to eat.

Stopped I. For a drink after walking the dogs. The area was decorated really nice for Xmas. Got some free chips and salsa. Had the painted Donkey Punch and watched the Gopher game which was fun being from Minnesota. Cool spot check them out

My best friend and I came here this afternoon for a late lunch and we were relatively disappointed: 1. The chips were cold and when asked for new ones, the server said their chip machine was broken. The manager said it takes time for the chips to warm up but that’s not what the server said. 2. The overall quality of food was average. Fajitas weren’t sizzling and the quesadillas were underwhelming (not enough cream cheese) and room temp. 3. Facebook had Happy Hour advertised on November 9th however the restaurant was unaware of Happy Hour and said it doesn’t exist, so another thing that didn’t meet expectations. Service wise, no one was present to greet us at the door and it took a few minutes for someone to realize someone was there waiting to be sat. The server was okay, even though she could have just been fine with us ordering fajitas for one instead of pushing us to order fajitas for two. I understand stand an upsell but she was not happy when we simply asked for more tortillas for our half pound. When we brought these concerns to management’s attention, he was trying to reason with me, which is fine but it still just felt like excuse after excuse instead of actually delivering. It’s fine if you want to back up your team but you also need to appease the customer. My friend and I used to come here all the time and were looking forward to this experience. We love Hula Hut and I’m sure this review won’t make a difference but hoping the right people see it so you are aware of what is going on at your restaurant. Thanks for having us, but probably won’t be back for a while.

We came here for lunch and sat outside at the bar along the water. If you're going to come, make sure it's a beautiful day out and come for the view. That's honestly what makes this place great. The bartender and server were great, attentive, and on top of our order. The food was a hit and a miss. My boyfriend ordered the shrimp tacos (grilled instead of fried), and those were delicious. I wish I ordered those too, because I kept asking for more bites. I had ordered a steak tubular taco, which I do not recommend. It is the size of your forearm and more of a burrito. It was pretty spicy, and not enough sour cream or anything to accompany it. Just overall, not worth my money.

My wife & I went here on a Thursday Afternoon around 2pm. We sat outside on the open deck. Wife loved the cocktails she had. I had the nanchos & she had the steak rolled enchilada. Food was very good & the salsa was awesome. Great lakeside place to eat & hangout.

This restaurant has always been a bit hit or miss, but its "on the water" ambiance is nice after a hot summertime day. Our last visit was definitely a "miss". First, when you cook the restaurant's trademark Hawaiian fajita chicken, actually cook the chicken. Medium rare might be fine for steak but not for chicken. However, the most unforgivable problem was with our drinks. In most restaurants, Shiner bock beer is served in chilled, longneck glass bottles - that is the gold standard for this beer. We were dismayed to see the beer delivered in a can, and to add insult to injury, when we asked for chilled glasses, the waitress acted like we were from Mars. This is Texas, people, and a Texas beer, get it right. When we finally got glasses, they were hot - straight out of the dishwasher. Its pretty certain that no one likes drinking beer in the summertime out of "heated" glasses. Management, get your act together - we are fine with the "eclectic" wait staff, but we do expect competence. Attention to detail would go a long way toward restoring this restaurant to its onetime premier spot in the Austin Tex-Mex restaurant scene.

We took a bus load of kids from Illinois to eat here and were very satisfied! Actually, we split the load up and about half went to Hula Hut and the other half went next door to Abel's on the Lake. Hula Hut did an outstanding job getting us all seated out by the water, ordered and served in short order! The food was great and the portions were huge! Servers were wonderful - friendly and very efficient. Hope to go again sometime.

Hula Hut is about 10-15 minutes away from west campus. It is on the water. There is both inside and outside seating. It’s fun to sit outside and have a drink. Order their Queso loaded. It’s yummy!

Really enjoyed my visit. It was very crowded with the holiday weekend but the staff was working hard to make sure people were taken care of. Food was delicious. The queso and coconut shrimp were particularly great. We had Jen as our server and she was amazing. Definitely want to return.

The view is nice ... that’s it. Came here for lunch and the food was subpar and the waitstaff was scattered and not attentive.

We were looking for a casual place on the water after the wife finished at the Austin Film Festival. We walked by Rainey Street Saturday but crazy busy so started looking a little further out. We found this place and it was excellent. Tip 1 . Parking in front full and we were lucky to get a place in the overflow parking at 5pm. Tip 2. Get place on the pier overlooking the water. We started with Queso with Fajita beef. Nice + free flow Tortilla chips excellent. I wasn't so hungry so I went for Chicken tortilla soup. Great Flavour .Excellent. Wife had chicken enchiladas with rice and beans. Almost like chicken and dumplings. Excellent. $46 inclusive booze (excluding tip) We loved it you will too.

This establishment is especially nice because of its overall good Mexican food and riverside venue. If it's cool enough, you can be seated in the area with open windows (screened), and enjoy the breezes off the river. You can also see some interesting wildlife, like turtles, fish, or birds. There is also seating in a closed-in air-conditioned area. Pleasant dining, modestly priced!

Ambience is good. service is fast. Food is decent. Cocktails are amazing. House margaritas can keep flowing :)

I have had a dream about the nachos since we went, not kidding. Good food and a great place to go with friends and kids. Location is great and there is lots to look at to keep kids entertained while waiting for food.

Let’s be frank, when did Mexican food get so pretentious? Some places are so full of themselves now, cough cough, charging for chips and salsa. Mexican restaurants used to be colorful, fun, and lively, which is exactly what the Hula Hut is. The location was amazing and the atmosphere was great. We sat on the pier with colorful lights all around us and lake views to gawk at. The food blended some Hawaiian elements with a predominant Mexican menu. The kids had the shrimp baskets, my wife a Hula bowl of wonderful ingredients, and I had the Chicken Chile Rellenos. All of it was tasty and filling. The food is most Tex-Mex style instead of authentic Mexican, but it was delicious and fun. It wasn’t perfect, but neither is life.

This place is beloved by the UT community and we've been excited to try it but I am not exaggerating when I say this was one of the worst meals out/overall dining experiences of my life. We arrived after the Sunday lunch rush and were seated in a section with only one other group. The first red flag should have been that in a section full of empty tables, we were seated at one that hadn't been cleaned. Then, despite there being plenty of staff, it took at least 10 minutes for someone to come to our table. When I asked for our drinks to be put in "to go" cups the "waiter" (I use quotes because he was actually the bartender who reminded me of Spiccoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High) said "I don't think we have those." Okay...a restaurant with no "to go" cups. Whatever. Then we waited so long for our food only to be served food that had clearly been sitting on the pass for a while. The refried beans looked congealed/crusty on the top. My fried avocado was cold. My son's fish Taco was a joke. The one piece of fish in each Taco was only half the size of the tortilla (see pic). Our daughter enjoyed her tortilla soup but when she asked for a to go container (it was a very large portion), she was not given a plastic or Styrofoam container but a paper one and it immediately started leaking out of the seam...so we were forced to leave a $10 bowl of soup. Additionally, we had to wait so long for the check that I finally had to go to the hostess station to ask for it (I had to interrupt the two hostesses who were busy looking at Instagram). Our bill was $46.01 but Spiccoli didn't bring us a check and I had to ask him to bring it (quite honestly I wanted to review the bill bc I didn't trust him) & I gave the bartender $60.01 and he responded "you gave me too much." I am not kidding. I had to tell him to bring me change. Anyway, Austin has too many great restaurants for us to ever consider returning here. The view is nice but not nice enough to compensate for everything else...

They say this is a hidden treasure in Austin so since we were passing thru and it is outside, we thought we would try it. We showed u at 430pm on Friday with a 35 min wait. There is no where to par so by the time we parked and walked back across the street to the restaurant our time was up. We asked to sit outside and we were put by the back bar. One side of faux windows was open but the other side wasnt. Our neighbors were hurling inappropriate comments and very loud which I did not appreciate my teenagers hearing. We were brought a half basket of chips for 4 teens and 2 adults. Our order was taken and we never saw our waiter again. I do not appreciate a waiter getting in our face with his elbows on our table and his nose hanging out of his mask while taking our order. We ordered queso but had no chips to finish it with since our waiter never showed up. The food is not really that great and t certainly reminds me of a chain restaurant that is not at all authentic and has frozen thaw out and heat up food to serve. Our order was wrong and we never got that corrected, drinks refilled, never got dessert and I finally gave u and left. Also it is inappropriate that the waiter stands there with his machine watching you put in his tip that he did not deserve. Your bathrooms need to be cleaned and the women's hygiene trashcan overflowed on to the floor. There was no soap in the bathroom and no one wears masks here, even through the city mandates it. We will not return which is a shame because the scenery was beautiful and this place has lots of potential.

The location is great because it is right on the water. I wish the weather would've been warmer. We would've sat outside. The food was delicious and the service was fast and friendly. We will go back and I recommend it. It is kid friendly also.

Manager was discourteous and acted too engrossed in table section management to help her employees set up a table for a large group. Her staff was following her rules for open sections but very stumped as to how to please guests. Result was not the Hula Hut standards. Always a good pleasant time at this restaurant but today quite the opposite Hopefully things will revert to the old standards

I was not anticipating this restaurant would feel so alive, kind of like a fiesta. Apparently, reservations are the way to go here, especially when planning on sitting out on the patio. We waited briefly by the large outdoor bar, enjoyed a few drinks while taking in the view, although it was busy, it was not overwhelming. Although I would have preferred to sit outside for dinner, we were offered a table inside and took it. The staff seemed to be very on top of their game and tenacious at promoting a timeline for dinner, but dining with family we haven't seen for several years seemed to have slowed their roll a bit, our server adapted very well to the change. The food was very good, nothing really stood out on the excessively large menu, but I found it comparable to other tex mex restaurants. They have a great location! Cheers!!

Food was okay but chips were stale and portions were misleading. I got the tuna tacos and I swear I got two pieces of tuna and a million pieces of lettuce. The bathroom’s soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers didn’t work. The atmosphere was good but I’d say rainforest cafe is better.

A friend who I was visiting for a 4-day weekend in Texas took me out to eat lunch here to celebrate my birthday. We ate lunch outside over the lake, which is Lake Austin. The atmosphere is incredible with beautiful views of the lake and the homes dotted along the hillside. I ordered a Caesar Salad with grilled shrimp and it was delicious. The shrimp were large, plump, and seasoned just right. It was a busy Saturday and our waitress did a great job waiting on us.

Hula Hut on Lake Austin. Been going for years. Probably the last time. Almost choked on food contaminated with bits of sharp plastic. Looked like it came from a sour cream container or something similar. I’m pretty sure I swallowed some of it and I am now waiting to see what comes out. Stuff happens, but when I told my server about it and gave him a piece of the sharp plastic I pulled out of the back of my throat, I was expecting him to let his manager know so they could go and investigate. Didn’t want others to have the same experience, but he did not. I asked him what he did with it and he said he threw it away, but he would let his manager know. I insisted he needed to go right away and they need to figure out where it came from. I made sure to talk to a manager and I don’t believe they really took the time to do it. They just said they were sorry about that. Beware, apparently they do not take food safety very seriously. I remember taking food safety classes when I worked in the restaurant and if something like that happened, the food got checked and dumped. We took it seriuosly.

We had Chili Relleno and Macadamia-crusted Mahi Mahi. I think the frying ruined the flavor of both dishes. They turned out bland. Service was friendly and prompt but not coming back for the food.

I’m not sure a “restaurant” could get any worse. The hostess set us at a table that had dirty dishes on it. And when we inquired, the ditzy blonde states “yea, i’m gonna get that”. The menus had sticking tortilla chips stuck to all the pages.The waitress had a few more scruples to her head but not many. We ordered a hamburger, they ran out of pickles, we ordered tea, they already dumped the tea down the drain at 9pm(they close at 10). The salsa still had an old chip stuck in it. So they re-use the salsa. The fish tacos were terrible, no taste, just a terrible terrible place. Even my long island ice tea was not tasty. How?? DO NOT GO HERE! terrible

We were here about 3:30 on a Friday afternoon and the place was hopping. I couldn’t believe the staff coverage they had. Haven’t seen many places that have people working and everybody moving in high gear. Parking in lot and overflow across the street. Eat inside or outside under the pavilion on Lake Austin. The food is excellent and portions big. The make their tortillas fresh. It was amazing watching the two ladies pinch and roll the little balls of dough then form into flat tortillas and put on huge round surface to cook and turn by hand. Fresh warm tortillas, ummm. Chips were fresh friend also. Salsa was good but a little watery. Queso Blanco was very good. Not chunky peppers but well incorporated and blended in the cheese. Delicious. Quesadilla and enchilada were delicious. Not your typical Tex-Mex place. Has a Hawaiian twist to the place, but not some cheeky tourist place. Seemed to be many local regulars meeting up as well as out of town newbies there on a local recommendation. Menu is online as well as you QC scan & look up your menu on the table.

Excellent food, great wait staff, super fun vibe. Ate inside the covered bar area since it was a little chilly outside. Still fun. Had the Montego Bay Shrimp tacos. Excellent.

Had a great lunch today. It was my first experience with a deep fried avocado and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend this appetizer. My pork burrito was also delicious and the chips and salsa hit the spot. I enjoyed my food so much I’m sad to say I may be skipping dinner tonight, which is a big deal since one of my primary reasons for visiting Austin is the food! Also - note the outside seating has great heaters so it’s totally fine on cooler days. Don’t miss this place.

I have not been to the Hut in over 20 years. The chips and salsa alone would have me come back! The meal was really good and the service was as well. One thing that was odd was how the tables were laid out. Made it hard to get comfortable as the neighboring table was right up on us. I would make a return trip here!

I loved that it was on the water. The fajitas were so good with the Hawaiian sauce. I definitely willl be going back. We went for my birthday I loved it. If you order the guacamole you get a lot.

What a fun funky vibe at Hula Hut- great way to bring people in. Sort of Caribbean island meets fishing pier. Lots of outdoor seating with nice views of the “lake” and the dam. Service super attentive. We didn’t get drinks do can’t comment on those but the food was pretty good, nothing fantastic but still above average. The food being ok was the reason this doesn’t get five stars- but like anyone knows when you’ve got the view the food is normally secondary. Definitely worth a visit

Excellent service and the sheltered dining outside over the lake was delightful! All three of us enjoyed our entrees. The fried, stuffed avocado was delectable!!

This place used to be a favorite of ours, but the last couple of times we have visited have been truly disappointing. The view and atmosphere are still wonderful, but the wait staff is apathetic at best and often just flat out rude. I don’t know what has happened to management, but it appears to be nonexistent. In the bar area, they ran out of glassware, napkins and salsa dishes for their self-serve chips. Nobody seemed concerned or in any hurry to rectify the situation. Tables were left unbussed for large lengths of time even though there was a long wait to be seated. When we finally were seated, we had to ask for utensils several times: even AFTER our food had been delivered. I would give them a pass if this was the first time this kind of thing had happened, but it is not. I am very sorry to say that we will not be going back again any time soon.

The food was not worth the one hour wait. Priced very high for low quality Mexican food. Queso is can sauce. Vi can get that at Walmart. Expect fresh at restaurant. Chips were stale, on a busy Saturday night.

Karin was great! Would visit again just to sit on the patio in her section. Food was good and view was great. Chips are serve yourself!

Stopped by on Tuesday following Memorial Day weekend. I got there early for lunch before the noon rush waiting on 2 work partners. Hostess was just blah with a follow me. Not sure there was even a hello. The waitress was prompt and returned quickly with water and STALE chips. I waited for my buddies to arrive and asked them to taste the chips and yes they agreed, greasy and stale. Waitress brought some more on request and they were better. My buddy opened his silverware and the fork was covered in dried food. Waitress was prompt and apologetic. I ordered the grilled salmon tacos. The refried black beans were dry and pretty tasteless. The rice was nothing special but not bad. The salmon was a bit too fishy smelling and tasting. All in all I felt like I was being served left overs for a $15 lunch with water only. I hear the burgers are good but I wouldn’t know and probably won’t find out. The waitress did comment they were very busy over the Memorial Day weekend that ended yesterday but ya know Not my problem. My friends said they’d give it another go so it’s just personal preference. Overall the place has a nice ambiance but it’s lunch and these type clickish establishments remind me of being at a theme park more so than a quality restaurant.

Great atmosphere. Prices reasonable for large portions. Various frozen margueritas tasty and affordable. We were a party of 10 and had a variety of dishes. Hamburger was flavorful but a little dry. I had stuffed avocados. Least favorite thing at the table. It seemed like it the avocado and other filling in it had all been blended up and shaped into a ball, breaded, then fried. Highly not recommend. Beef fajita enchiladas also seemed a tad dry. Good salsa and chips.

We always like to come here when we are in Austin , lovely setting looking over lake Austin this always has a lively atmosphere , we arrived around 5,30 and was able to grab a seat by the Tiki bar which was mainly due to it being very hot and this table had no shade !!, there was a queue to eat outside but we just eat at the bar , good selection of food and happy hour margaritas!! just a great place to relax and enjoy the view

Food at the Hula Hut is still pretty darn good. Love their salsa. Tubular Taco still the best thing on the menu. Margaritas are tasty. It just seems like the wait staff and the building are a little tired. Austin has to be a tough market to own a restaurant in. Hula Hut has held on a long time!

Hula Hut is a fine place for a casual meal. The location is good, especially if you can get a seat outside and close to the edge of the water. We were seated at a table in the middle where we couldn't really appreciate the view and there was a lot of hustle and bustle all around us. The food was tasty and reasonably priced. The wait staff was pretty good. It wasn't the cleanest place I've been.

Very crowded, our server (Sara) did a great job and was really sweet to everyone. Self-serve chip & salsa bar, Happy Hour chicken tacos and flautas were very good, my husband said the mahi-mahi was also very good.

My son had just flown in to Austin airport and wanted to try a new place. We checked with my sister in law who lives in Austin and she recommended we come to Hula Hut. What a great choice. My wife and I order the stuffed shrimp poblano peppers and they were delicious. My son enjoyed his huge hamburger. The chips are also amazing. We will come back in the near future.

Please let TripAdvisor know when you are closed. Our Uber dropped us off to a closed restaurant. Now we are stuck trying to find another place to eat and a way to get there.

Austin treasure turned into Austin trash. Don’t bother coming here anymore. We’ve been long time regulars. The management doesn’t value regulars and they are very rude, The bartenders have been lovely. Although, there are not near enough of them. It’ll be a beautiful sunny day and they have 1 bartender working the entire place. Worst of all, they just changed owners. I was really hoping for an upgrade. Instead they changed the best part…The CHIPS and QUESO. They took away what was actually working for them And they added a ridiculous $20 docking fee per person. Thank goodness Ski shores did an upgrade. I really hope the new owners are open to feedback and return to the chips and queso everyone loved.

Nice place to grab a quick bite to eat. Small, quiet and relaxed. Good food. Right in downtown Cleveland.

The food is delicious. We came for the stuffed avocado and it did not disappoint. It was the best thing I had in a long time. The chip and salsa they give you for free was a nice added touch. My waitress was the best

Wow! The food is pretty average, but fine. The service was outstanding. For a fun spot RIGHT on the water, this will fit the bill. Nice breeze on a completely covered dec. I would love to come here by boat. Definitely highly recommend for that purpose.

This place had neat decor and our table was inside with a view of the lake. I had the macadamian mai mai and hubby had the Hawaiian fajita combo and added a side of rice and beans. They serve you free chips and salsa which was delicious! I wld definitely go back again if we’re in the area.

Ok!!!! Hula Hut was so much fun for me. I arrived around 5 pm and sat on the deck. I was promptly greeted by my server who let me know I could serve myself for chips and salsa. This was my first visit here so this was a cool experience for me. I am a college student and was traveling solo. I ordered a Hu La La to drink while I savored my chips and salsa and scanned the menu for my entree. I ended up choosing the Shiner Bock Fajitas and rice. They were absolutely fantastic. I am from the north so this was a welcome change to my normal routine. The homemade tortillas and the steak were just perfect. I ate every bite. The service was incredible and the view was spectacular even in December night. I had tickets to attend an event next door at Mozart’s and was early and they didn’t mind me sitting there and enjoying the view, warm breeze, and another drink after dinner. I can not wait to return to ATX and dine here again. The service and food left me very happy .

Great service, food and view! The chips and salsa were fresh and plentiful and the service was courteous and quick. View was really cool on the water. Fish tacos and chicken enchilada were delicious!

Drinks are a great option in this place and food is good but the best thing is the view of the docs and the Austin lake

The fishbowl is the best drink if you like sharing. Food is good, plenty of it and to take home. The view is awesome, and the free chips & salsa are a bonus while you wait for a table. Expect to wait, this place is busy. Sit outside if you can find a spot with shade, it's worth it. Enjoy!

The food was pretty good. Not the best I have ever had, but certainly acceptable. It was a tad pricey and the service was fine, but not stellar. The payoff is sitting over the water watching boats come and go and enjoying a nice fall Saturday.

One of the most overrated chains I’ve ever seen. We went to one in North Texas and it was awful. I heard this one in Austin was awesome, so we gave it a shot. Brought 14 family members for a reunion of sorts and outside of our server who was wonderful, this place is a disaster. The 16 year olds working front of the house have no idea what they’re doing. I had to talk to a manager about our seating situation and she was clearly forcing being friendly and not at all helpful. The food is Tex Mex with a Hawaiian flare that means nothing more than putting a canned pineapple slice on the plate. According to our entire party, food was average at best. I will say their drinks are good. Bathrooms are like being at a frat party. Never again will I return to a Hula Hut and I would recommend you stay away as well. 2 stars only because our server was awesome and I wish I remembered her name so I could give a shout out.

Food is fine, average but I like the place. There is something about the atmosphere, the servers or the other patrons. Parking is difficult even with a parking lot.

Great place for family lunch on the Colorado River. The food is good and hearty, the staff is very nice

Brilliant space overlooking the lake. Credit card facilities, WiFi, restrooms, outdoor seating, parking, valet. Festive vibe. As many nachos as you want. Bars for days. Brilliant portion sizes. Come with a group or family! Photo heaven! Drinks specials daily.

We went here today. The restaurant has a neat vibe and is on the water which was entertaining for my kids. The portions were huge and we definitely could have shared. The salsa and queso were very good. The stuffed avocado was okay. I’m glad that I tried it, but I won’t need to order it again if we go back. Everyone enjoyed their meals and the service was excellent.

Food at the Hulu Hut is so-so. But, you're not going for the food, you're going for the people watching, which includes the wait staff. Interesting people, to say the least.

The food and ambience are excellent. Our son took us there as it’s one of his favorite places. Lots of free parking, it’s on the riverfront so gorgeous views.

Great Mexican food with a Polynesian twist. The Hawaiian fajitas are particularly good. During meal time, expect to wait 30-45 minutes. Parking can be a challenge - on street parking is all metered with Austin's quirky metered parking system. There is minimal parking on site, and part of that area is taken up with valet parking.

We were kinda excited to try this waterfront restaurant that really looked nice on Texas DayTripper. It turns out, it is a sprawling dockside restaurant. We visited mid week for lunch. The day before was quite cold, but our lunch was out on the over the water dining area and the weather cooperated. Nice views, but they put the bar on the waterside of the dining area blocking most of the views. ?? Whats up with that? We've been to numerous waterfront restaurants and dives in Florida and along the Gulf coast...putting the bar area where the view is seemed strange. Turns out its mostly, but not all Mexican food. Hubby had street tacos and I had shrimp tacos. They were good, but nothing that would make us rush back. Service was average. Maybe we'll give it another try, maybe not.

On our last night in Austin we decided to do a meal on Lake Austin – the views from the Hula Hut while waiting on our table were so peaceful and relaxing. We did have about a 30 min wait for a table which was no big deal. After being seated service was friendly and prompt. Food portions were large and most items were wonderful. Only downside of our meal was the salmon which was way under seasoned. Margaritas were delightful.

Nice "on the lake" eatery with Hawaiian inspired texmex. Long waits for outdoor tables, but worth it

We were excited to try Hula Hut, expecting a Hawaiian-inspired experience. Unfortunately, it was a letdown. The menu read like a typical Tex-Mex joint, and the food was subpar. As Mexicans, we know good guacamole, but theirs was overly salty. We canceled our other orders and left disappointed. The only redeeming quality was the pretty views. If you're looking for authentic flavors, keep searching. Hula Hut misses the mark.

Disappointing is an understatement! I ordered the Tuna Tacos, plate was cold, tuna was cooked but totally without seasoning. The Texarita was obviously made in a big bucket. Date ordered the fish tacos, what came out can only be described as "Fish Stick Tacos". Complained to MGR, all he kept saying was he'll pass it on to the "New Owners". Finally returned the terrible tacos. and got a Nacho plate. Was hot, but just barely seasoned. We went here because the 2 times before the food was fabulous, but new corporate owners, cut the staff, changed the time tested recipes, switched to cheap frozen off the truck frozen food. Formerly the place would have been packed at this time of day, was virtually empty and the food still took forever to arrive. The photos below, Former fab fish Tacos on left, Frightful Fish Stick tacos on right. Who put's tartar sauce on fish tacos, unless you're trying to disguise the paltry fishstick! The only bright spot was the waitress, but it must get really tiring to spend all day apologizing for the "New Owners"

Wow! This place is so cool, right on the river and the place is so cute. I loved the queso and the jalapeño ranch is so worth trying. The fajitas come out hot and sizzling, the staff is great and we love it here!

Beautiful view while sitting on edge of Lake Austin. Lots of wildlife to see and entertain the kids if you bring them along. Went for lunch so not any special meal or drink prices. Service was fine and friendly so I definitely recommend.

The food is a successful blend of Hawaiian and Tex-Mex, the Texas Tini beverage was delicious, and the atmosphere was fun. The location on the river is great. We were there at sunset and it was a pretty sight.

i have ordered for delivery from the Hula Hut many, many times. It’s RARE (like the extinct DoDo bird) that they EVER get an order correct. Doesn’t matter which delivery service, Hula Hut will totally mess it up. After tonight, I’ll never order for delivery or go to their restaurant again. I’ll also do numerous other reviews on other sites to express my deep dissatisfaction. If you are wise, neither will you !!

The hula hut is on the water and has outdoor seating. We just had a salad and a hamburger and although both were good, not really an assessment of culinary skills. Service was good.

Amazing position...but this is the dirtiest place where I ate in Austin. Plate was okay, nothing special. Would not recommend at all.

If you like to sit on the deck and watch the water birds while you eat, this is a great choice. The food is average but the service is excellent. There is plenty of parking across the street and up a small hill.

Service was so bad (including management), I had to look online to see if poor service was the theme like Dick's Last Resort. Plenty of other options out there, don't waste your money here.

We had my husband’s surprise retirement party from American Airlines at the Hula Hut in Austin, Texas. The Palapa venue was perfect! We had great weather and an amazing view of Lake Austin. Event Coordinator Gina work closely with me to ensure the party went off without a hitch. Gina and Jacob worked the event and were beyond amazing in giving everyone who attended a fantastic experience! I highly recommend The Hula Hut for your next gathering!

Front receptionist lost our reservation in queue. We had to ask for napkins and utensils. Food was not up to the quality we were expecting.

Apparently they had some servers no show so the wait was bad, we ended up in the bar which was crowded and packed service. Bartendar was trying but was completely snowed under. Chips n salsa are always great, love jalepeno ranch n tortillas as well. Had chicken guac tubular taco, always my favorite. Friends enjoyed shiner bock fajitas, fried avocado and palm tree hugger nachos. Cocktails were good, too!

Nothing good to say about our visit. Wait time was an hour even though there were feee tables. Line for bar was ridiculous. Food was awful. Margaritas were weak. No one in our party of 5 liked it. Service was only ok. Will NEVER return.

The location was pretty cool and the view was nice, but the food was below average and the service was just ok. The kids’ tenders were rock hard and chewy, the grilled mahi mahi was dry and flavorless. The salsa was good!

Its nice to be by the Waterbury the water is pretty dirty. Salsa not the best , very tomato saucy taste. The waiters seem nice but the runners who run food out seem annoyed. Each time we have gone. Prices for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are listed close on menu with no bold difference in print. Food is okay.

My husband and I headed over to Hula Hut based on the reviews and location right on the water. W e arrived and the main dining was full but the bar with a view of the water was open seating. We enjoyed our view, but that was about it. The service was slow, and it took forever to get drinks. They were only mediocre and by the time the waiter came to take out order we just asked for our check. My biggest complaint was that the place was dirty. The tables weren’t wiped down and most of them were left full of dishes while we were there. The menus were gross/sticky and the bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I’m only giving them a two instead of one because I didn’t get a chance to taste the food. Although after using the bathroom, I would wonder how clean the kitchen is.

It's been 15 years since we have eaten at the Hula Hut. It was a very enjoyable experience. We love the location, right on the lake, and the decor. The food is excellent, and the service superb. We hope to eat there again soon, certainly not wait another 15 years.

Couldnt get chips, salsa, water, drinks, silverware...food came but we were So disgusted by the Waiter, and 2 mngrs teliing us to get it yoreself...including a lady mngr and a pinhead mngr named Ed that we begged for a tab on the round of drinks so we could leave...im disabled w a heart condition and it was too much Stress and Anxiety. God bless all...i only pray others arent treated like this. Happy Memorial day to All...Thank you for your service

Excellent service and food even in the crowded rush of the holiday season! Fantastic Happy Hour specials! Sat in the bar this time - very lively with eclectic AUSTIN decor! You must go to the Hula Hut if visiting Austin! Flautas, Tubular Tacos, Queso and Much More!

Unfortunately I have to write a poor review for the Hula Hut. I'm not sure if this restaurant is suffering from staffing shortages like other restaurants in Austin. (1) Waited 1.5 hours before being seated. (2) Toilets were not working. Felt sorry for the kids. (3) Tables were not wiped down after dishes removed, so the napkins were full of dirt. (4) Bones were in chicken when eating. I advise finding another restaurant to eat while in Austin.

I had heard about this resteraunt and was looking forward to eating here. I was with a group and we were on the top floor. The band was so loud I couldn't hear myself think. The wait staff was rude and slow. They asked for credit cards before we had been served anything. My waiter acted like he was doing us a favor to take our order. The view of the lake was gorgeous, but the eating experience was poor.

We were told that there was a wait of over a hour. But a wfamily of bigger than mine walked and and was seated immediately . Service was terrible! We ordered a double tequila neat and they put ice in it . When we sent it back and they gave me a sauce shot smmfh. Food came out 47 mins after. Don’t waste your time ,

This restaurant looked like a fun place to try while we were visiting Austin. Our server was very nice and she is the only reason I gave it an extra star. I started with the $14 Hu La La drink that is served in a fishbowl. It was so bland tasting and I was wondering if there was any alcohol in it all. It tasted like watered down sugar free Kool-aid. I ordered the chicken quesadilla and it was also bland tasting and the chicken was very dry. The restaurant itself was very dirty. The bathroom's were disgusting, makes you wonder what the kitchen was like. With so many other restaurant choices in Austin, I wish we would have tried something else.

I've been going to Hula Hut for years, but lunch yesterday was a real let down. The table and menus had a sticky film on them. The drinks were watered down and way overpriced. They charged for creamy jalepeno dip, which was not the consistency or flavor it's supposed to have. My Cesar salad had too much dressing that had been sitting on it long before it was served to me so it was soggy. It came with a mango quesadilla, which had good flavor, but wasn't hot and wasn't crispy on the outside. The service wasn't that hot either. It was a gorgeous day and we love sitting on the patio with a view of the lake and the tiki decor, but Hula Hut will have to get back to the high standards they used to have for great food, friendly service, and cleanliness if they want people to keep going there.

Love coming here for lunch to sit by the water. Great views, great food, & some damn good margaritas! Best spot is at the very end of the deck, past the bar. Only a few seats on the deck so grab them early. We got here about 11 on a Sunday, before it got packed. When we left at 1 the line was out the door. We had the fajita queso & Thai BBQ fajitas (beef & shrimp), everything was so good! We'll be back!

We're from Houston and this place was recommended to us for the atmosphere. We thought we were being smart by going early (11 AM) on Mother's Day for a lunch on a bright, but breezy, day. But this place is apparently extremely popular and it was already packed when we got there. Even though it was crowded and the hostess advised us there would be a wait for our party of five, we wound up being seated within 5-10 minutes after arrival (but the wait times undoubtedly got longer as the day progressed). The place advertises itself as Tex-Mex with a surfer twist...and it pretty much lived up to the billing. The menu was varied, but not overwhelming with too many choices. Traditional Tex-Mex options (tacos, nachos, burritos, enchiladas, etc.) were accented with polynesian sauces and grilled pineapple. At our table, we had the grilled chicken Texas nachos, BBQ chicken tacos (supplemented with grilled pineapple), cheese Pipeline enchiladas, shrimp soft tacos and The Weekender, a Tex-Mex salad served in a flour tostada bowl. The wait time between ordering and being served was not long, even though there were a lot of tables to serve. Nothing bad to say about any of the dishes that were consumed in our group. Don't go expecting a cheap meal, but the bill won't break your budget either. The five of us got out for $85, tip included.

First time here. We sat outside with a view of the river. Beautiful. The food was excellent. The fish tacos were well cooked with great seasoning. They come with beans and rice, which were delicious. The staff are pleasant and professional.

I came to this restaurant during my vacation via a recommendation from a friend who is currently residing in Austin, big mistake. We were greeted at the door and asked for our seating preference out of an indoor seat, patio or covered patio. We opted for the patio. The only table in the shade was still dirty so we pushed the plates to the side and waited... and waited. After almost 10 minutes we were hastily greeted and told that he would return shortly. That was a lie. Not so soon after our waiter returned and asked if we were ready to order but we had never been given menus so clearly we weren’t. Way too long after that, (approx. 20 min) we found out that our waiter was 2 weeks in and the only person covering the entire outside area. After that info we were a little more understanding but the fact still remained that our first impression was quickly going downhill. After waiting longer I asked to speak with the manager and once he was located, politely asked if he could send some additional help our way or even just to the patio in general. He basically brushed me off and told me he just sent someone that should be out there helping already... but there wasn’t, otherwise I wouldn’t have needed to speak with him in the first place but moving on. It didn’t get better, it got much worse. Our drinks were as equally wrong as they were disappointing (no glass cups on the patio so they serve you a very small plastic cup instead), the “self serve” chips & dip area was poorly kept and my food order was wrong. Service was so slow that I just decided to keep it instead of waiting another hour to eat since we had already driven all the way from the resort at lake Travis to try this place. A damage control crew of about 3 waiters, not the manager, took the initiative to come out as we finished and tried to repair the damage but it was far too late. One of the damage control waitresses even went to ask that our mediocre drinks be comped, a small positive gesture, but as someone who’s worked in the food/service industry I would’ve preferred to hear from the person in charge who of course was again no where to be found when we were ready to leave. To sum it up, a poor staffing decision made for an even poorer experience and the food was just ok. Don’t waste your time here. You’ll regret it. - A non returning customer.

My family will not be returning to the Hula Hut establishment as I found it not suitable for children and not a family friendly environment. I took my wife, 13 yo stepson and handicapped brother (he walks with a cane) for dinner and placed our name on the outside guest waiting list. My wife, stepson and I went to wash up in the bathroom and my brother went to see if their was open available seating at the outside bar. The waiter told my brother there was no open seating but insisted my brother sit down anyway at an open table. My brother told the waiter he wanted to wait his turn and not cut in front of other guests but the waiter insisted on seating him. When my wife, stepson and I arrived at the table we found my brother there with four ice waters, and we ordered some margaritas.The waiter had told my brother there was no salsa for the chips (and wouldn't be any until after a long wait) but queso was on sale for 1/2 price, which was an obvious ploy to fatten the bill as I walked 15 feet from our table and got 3 bowls of salsa from the chips and salsa station for our table. I also served my guests tableware and napkins after our waiter disappeared for what felt like eternity, and got up again to serve my guests more chips for the table. My brother had asked the waiter to deliver our salads before the meal, but when that didn't happen my brother had enough and expressed his concerns over our exceedingly poor service. The waiter told us he had seated us before others on the list as a favor, although I don't understand how that had anything to do with his lackluster service. The waiter told us we were free to leave. When we asked for a manager she told us the waiter shouldn't have sat us before other guests (I'm not sure how that is OUR fault) and we asked for our bill so we could pay for our drinks. We obviously had no intention of paying for the absolutely untouched food on the table after this horrid experience. The drink bill never came and when I got up to check on it the general manager Ed Buttman was rude, arrogant, contemptuous and condescending and told me the waiter would bring the bill, which never came. I called the police dept, which arrived to escort my family from this nightmare. We will not be returning to Hula Hut.

Nice lunch on Lake Austin. Good choices on the menu. Good slips to pull the boat in on the dock. They are lacking in carrying some simple things like ranch dressing. They have inside and outside seating.

My granddaughter and I were in Austin for our yearly girls trip. We went to the Hula Hut on the recommendation of a friend. Obviously very popular, parking was difficult but they do offer valet. Our wait wasn't long at all. We opted to dine outside on the covered patio/veranda. Such a lovely view! We watched turtles swimming and climbing on the docks, boats coming and going and took in the scenery, hills and distant houses nestled among the trees. Dinner was very good, hot and flavorful. We shared a pu pu platter with shrimp, salmon and fish tacos - sort of Tex-mex meets Hawaiian. Service, selection and pricing were all good. Would definitely go back. Very family friendly. Highly recommend!

We were out on the boat and stopped in for 1 drink. Our group all had the lake austin lemonade which was really good. The food smelled amazing and this place was packed. Expect to wait for a seat during peak season. Bathrooms were clean but a winding trek through the restaurant to get to them. Good amount of boat parking available.

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

Venue; Though we've been around and about in austin over a decade, we tried Hula Hut for the first time. The venue sport an Hawaiian surfer look as touted on their web site. Spot on, if it is designed to look like someone whom never been to Hawaii look. Unfortunately the place needs a serious cleaning, unless it suppose to have that local scroungy nasty dive look. Lint and grease buildup has to be a thousand years old. Food; I ordered the half-pound beef burger Hawaiian Style Hula Hut Burger with toasted focaccia bun with lettuce, tomato, pickles & sliced red grilled onions, Jack cheese, two slices of grilled pineapple and Bacon. My wife ordered Macadamia-Crusted Mahi Mahi fish platter or dinner, and my son ordered the Grilled Fresh Salmon dinner. My meal was uninspiring, forgettable even. My family had a more favorable dining experience than I. Disclosure; I've live in Asia over fifteen years, with many times in Hawaii. I know the smell and flavor. That said, I was the one who picked Hula Hut. Is it just another hipster restaurant? No. This place was here & "hip" before being hipster was cool. What is then? It is just another Mexican restaurant with a very watered down island flair. Should you visit? Yes of course. How can you boast about having an eclectic Mexican palate if don't visit?

I arrived on time after ordering online and followed the directions on the sign. I texted my name and space # so the food could be brought out. No response. Waited but no one came out. I finally walked inside and was told "yes, your food's been waiting for you" as I was handed a bag. I explained to the Hostess I didn't mind walking in but the sign should not tell customers to text and wait if the food won't be delivered. She apologized by saying "it usually doesn't work" and people frequently have to walk in. Food was well packaged but is not hot. Certainly not worth what we paid. I have eaten inside numerous times and the food was good but online ordering is NOT. Won't do this again!

This was an awesome 242 foodie experience...went there twice during our trip. The food was savory, the presentation was beautiful, the proportions were more than satisfying, and the view of the lake and mount was beautiful.

We loved the location, the view at the lake is really nice. Liked the chips and salsa. Dinner was not good at all, way too much cheese. Not even close to Mexican food.

We enjoyed our visit to Hulu Hut. We had fish tacos and shrimp chili relleno; both were very good and Tex-Mex. The atmosphere was fun and different on the lake, especially since we had a storm come through.

I had a great meal at Hula Hut today. I always keep my expectations low for restaurants on the water, for some reason they are never amazing. Today I went to Hula Hut with low expectations, thinking it would be overpriced and not very good. My Al pastor style tacos were actually very good and our server was super nice. We didn't wait to be seated and it was really nice eating outside. Free chips and salsa were good. Lunch for two was just $26 and the portions were beyond generous. A fun place to have lunch with a friend.

Our goal was Happy Hour and early dinner by the water. Seated by the water near tiki bar... nice! Happy Hour was a bust! Special insert to drink menu looked like beers covered .. . but turned out no beers included. Over priced ($6) beers. Dinner of ribs (full rack) was OK, decent salad included but drenched in oil dressing. A little would have been fine. Noodle salad with plenty of vegetables was good. Service staff were indifferent...

Hi everyone, this is a place my family and I love to frequent. Dinner has always been great and the sunsets are breathless..the staff is friendly and if they make mistake they will quickly get it corrected...That is why we love to come..Family friendly even with little ones.

So my family was looking forward to this meal as my daughter came in from Massachusetts to visit Austin for the first time and had discovered this place. Based on the reviews we thought it would be fabulous. It was not. And, I might add in reading the detailed reviews after the fact, many of the people rating this 3 stars are being extremely generous based on their comments. If you aren't going to go back, why 3 stars? to me that is 1 star. I will never ever eat here again, free would not get me back. Its dirty, hot, service is poor, food was served cold (even the fajitas which is pretty darn hard), and no even close to value for the money. They are just getting by on positive reviews and the view. Tex Mex with an asian twist is complete bull. Throwing one handed slice of pineapple in fajitas is not an asian twist. I can get a slice of pineapple at my local texmex in my neighborhood in Houston. To begin at the beginning, we waiting 1hour 40minutes to be seated. with this kind of wait, and the crowd and great reviews we figured good things were coming. Well, we were seated by a completely unfriendly unhelpful hostess who had no menus and told us they were out of them. We then sat waiting for someone to find us menus and take a drink order for 15 minutes. I finally went to find a manager and a guy comes from the back who was as disinterested as the hostess who sat us. He said he'd look into it. When I went back to the table a lady who said she was not our waitress offered to take our drink order and find us menus. No chips, no water. nothing until finally a waitress showed up at the 20 minute mark along with the same manager who seemed thrilled he found a waitress for us and menus. Thinking that a manager being involved would ensure we'd be checked on and our meal would be done correctly, we ordered our food and had high hopes. Unfortunately, it didn't get better. My salad was done wrong (yep you can ruin a salad), those who ordered fajitas had cold fajitas without enough tortijas even after requesting extra at the order. The waitress didn't follow up after the food was delivered, nor did the manager ever come back to check on us. Just ridiculously poor poor meal. the quality was bad, the service was bad, the meal was bad and anyone who gives this place 5 stars is either the staff at hula hut itself or people that have never had a proper tex mex meal. there are about 1,000 choices for Austin...try a different one and live without the view. This place should just be shut down.

Okay, the view, as expected- lake front- Serene at lunch time and party party party at night for the happy hour crew. Folks simply roll up in boats , dock, and grab a table. You can stay standing at the outside bar, too. The restaurant is equal parts fiesta and hula. Tex-Mexican-Hawaiian fused dishes somehow work really well together! Expect chips and salsa at the table. Holly was a perfect server. Amicable, efficient, and well versed in all menu items. If you like spicy- ask for spicy salsa. Austin doesn't really use a lot of heat in the food. Turtles hung out with us lakeside. We eavesdropped on people from all over the world surrounding out table. We went midday day when it was hot and say issue but the breeze and our tall, glasses of understand tea kept the heat at Bay. Do order the stuffed Chile rellenos and ahi tuna tacos. Pictured here.

The ambiance takes this place from 3 to 4 stars for me. The outdoor seating hovers out over lake Austin and there are multiple bars outside which help if there is a wait. Tonight we were told a 45 minute wait to sit outside, but it was only about 15 - which was nice. Service was good and the food is in mass quantity - the portions are solid! They even gave a great complimentary dessert for my wife’s birthday.

I am sorry to say that HH has lost their culinary edge. It used to be good fun, the scene and good food. No more. You can still enjoy the lake and fun vibe but the food is really poor.

Hula Hut is always a good time and a great place to hang out with friends. I love the location on the water and its fun, casual vibes. For this visit, I had the macadamia encrusted mahi mahi and really enjoyed it. It was served on a bed of grilled spinach and came topped with a fresh chunky mango pineapple salsa and a chopped side salad. Portions were generous. Also had a frozen mango lime swirled margarita that was perfect on a hot day. If you're a taco fan, they hand make all their tortillas on site. Our server was excellent; it was busy, but she did a fantastic job. The menu is mostly Tex-Mex with a bit of a Polynesian twist. Highly recommend this spot for anyone wanting to enjoy a casual lunch or dinner on the lake.

A nice surprise that this restaurant by the water. Half Mexican/half Polynesian cuisine. The mahi-mahi and its accompaniment are worth the visit.

Hula Hut is set back in an area along the lake. Landscaping is like that in a tropical resort. We ordered guacamole as an appetizer, and it was good. Tubular tacos were good, too. It was big, like a burrito, and served with rice and beans. I'm a big eater, and even I had food left over. I would suggest sharing any of the tubular taco plates. I also liked the fact that iced tea was served in a large cup, which kept me from having to ask for several refills. All of this with a beautiful view of the lake. This was the first time for us to go here. We'll be back!

Amazing restaurant on lake Austin. With seating inside, outside with Hula or Tike Huts. Enjoyed our lunch. Right on the water. Excellent atmosphere. Recommend a visit as it is only a few minutes from down town Austin.

The Hula Hut is a great spot to meet with family or friends. The food, service and atmosphere are good. The chips and salsa come out quickly and the wait staff are always attentive. The prices are a little on the high side, but that doesn't stop our family from stopping in when we are in town.

A lake side restaurant with lots of scenic outdoor seating. They probably could have survived on the great site alone, but I was pleasantly surprised by the outstanding food and service.

The enchiladas at the Hula Hut on Lake Austin we’re very good. They place has a run down water bar look, but there are several seating areas, some outside on the water. It was kid friendly when we were there, and the little boys had a great time feeding chips to the big fish off the dock. The service was very good, and the beer was cold.

I was disappointed. The seating plan is a mess. We went out to the pier bar to wait for our table, got buzzed, went clear back up front only to be dragged back to the pier for seating. Disorganized. Pineapple margarita was very good. I had the shrimp tacos that were very average. Prices didn't match the taste of the food.

We went for dinner on a Sunday around 7 pm. They ran out of avocado, queso dip, modelo negra, and salads. That left us with limited choices. The fajita meat was good and the portions were quite generous. The tubular steak taco was huge and very tasty. The chicken and guacamole taco was lacking guacamole. The server was nice. All in all, it was just ok. There’s way better Tex Mex in Austin.

Dinner here with an evening on the lake. Can pull right into the dock slips reserved for restaurant patrons. Food was good and prices mostly reasonable.

Staff here wasn’t very friendly, in fact pretty rude. Food was fair and as expected in this sort of place.

Used to be good, now meh and just overpriced. Waiter was nice. Disappointed. They seriously need to do some general upkeep. Bathroom was nasty snd smelled terrible!!

Me and my family came for a weekend trip to Austin. Wanted to find a nice please to eat and scrambled upon hula hut. Inside was closed due to corona virus. We ended up with a hour and 40 min wait to be seated by that time the place was close to closing. The location is nice, right on the lake. The drinks at the bar were fair, the food was pricey and not that great, we got plastic ware Which was hard to cut into our chicken and the drinks came in plastic cups. You have to look at the menu digital on your phone. We left with a 104 tab and not that satisfied. If it weren’t for the view I could give it a 1 Rating. Not the best place to eat if your looking for social distancing. Everyone is on top of each other and only about a total of 5 people worse a mask.

Because the restaurant is sitting lakeside, it's got a feel like you're dining at a restaurant at a beach. The food is okay, I wasn't exactly impressed by it.

The food was great I got the shrimp chili relleno and it was a ton of food. It tasted great. The waiter was good. The chips and salsa we're good as well, we ordered a side of queso and it was good. The price was also reasonable, we got appitizers, drinks, and dinner and spent less than $55. Only problem had with the place was parking. The lot is small and it took me forever to find a spot.

I've been eating here for 20 years or more I guess and I always love the chicken guacamole tubular taco! Great chips n salsa and tortillas and jalapeno ranch as well. My friend loved her pineapple chicken enchiladas, other friend really liked her quesadillas. Stuffed avocado was just soso to other friend.

We hit this well-kept Austin secret where the wait staff is professional and fun and very knowledgeable about the menu. Our server, Austin, was awesome and totally added to our visit. The service was quick, despite the restaurant being crowded. We didn't mind if there was a wait because we were taking it all in. The food was amazing! I had the shrimp enchiladas and it was a huge portion of food that required me taking a portion of my dinner home. Unlimited chips and salsa and a nice variety of frozen drinks from the bar kept us busy. We'll definitely be back to try some of the other items on the menu and enjoy the view of the water sitting out dining on the pier.

Went on National Margarita Day and had an absolutely horrible experience. The girl at the front said we had a 10 minute wait after she entered my phone number so my family and I waited at the front-first available table after changing from outside table. Noticed tables inside came open and after 15 minutes, people arriving after us seated. After 20 minutes, standing in front still, was told I was paged—showed my phone since I was not paged and discovered they incorrectly entered my phone number. No apology. After then being seated for 5-6 minutes, no waitstaff came or acknowledged us-maybe some confusion as to who had the table. Was ready to go to the bar myself to get our drinks or walkout. Had to walk back to the front to ask if we had a waiter. The young lady said she would get us our drinks but then informed us she could not order the alcoholic drinks. The waiter then came back, apologized and provided good service though we pretty much gave our full order in advance to make sure we wouldn’t wait any longer. He was the only one who was really trying to make up for the front fiasco. It wasn’t even as busy as other times and had better service. Perhaps it’s time to provide some sort of inservice and put adults at the front. At least the food was good—so were our Margaritas.

a great evening can be spent here on the water, the scenery is awesome, the vibe in the restaurant is great, the food is good, a great place to visit in Austin if from out of town, so exciting

We enjoyed lunch overlooking the lake & it was so peaceful an relaxing ! Food was great & lots of it ! Drinks were good ! Had a great time visiting and enjoying the view ! Staff was very friendly! We will recommend this place to family & friends !

We have wanted to go to this place for a long time. Passing through Austin,we decided to detour and have a late lunch. We ordered enchiladas. Everything was so good and fresh. Lots of cheese which we like. Thin crispy chips and two different kinds of salsa. Would like to go back again.

We enjoyed a great Mexican food meal on Lake Austin! Food fresh and flavorful. Polynesian fajitas were awesome! Nice views. Dining outside over the water is nice.

Nice views. Food half a step above casa ole. Service mediocre. They do make fresh tortillas on site. Several items on menu were not available including there signature drink.

Really cute set up and vibe but unimpressed with everything else. We came 30 mins before closing so I’m giving this place the benefit of the doubt. I tried to order a salad - they were out of lettuce. Their chicken tortilla soup was so bad we sent it back. I ordered the tubular taco, which was a bit salty and way too cheesy. Texas nachos were ok. Everything is very affordable so that’s a plus. Wouldn’t go back.

We stopped for lunch for a party of 8. The restaurant was close to full but the host rearranged the two remaining tables and seated us immediately. Food was excellent. The rellanos and fried avocado were our favorite.

Bad food, bad margaritas, fair service. Queso was barely passable. Beef taco salad had mystery meat. Chicken quesadillas were marginally edible. Margaritas were weak without much taste. Setting is nice. Save yourself and try another place.

This may not be the typical dining establishment for an anniversary meal. Unless you eloped in Hawaii about 36 years ago. That is what makes this place perfect for my wife and I. The eclectic Hula / Hawaii theme while on the lake makes this place a favorite place for us to visit every time we drive to or through Austin. Travis was our waiter, very knowledgeable about their food and very attentive to his tables. He actually appeared to be having some fun at his job, we don't see that much these days. We started with a large portion of guacamole with our chips,nice! My wife ordered the Veggie Pipeline Enchiladas and raved that they were some of the best she ever had. I ordered the Macadamia crusted Mahi Mahi, cooked perfectly and I was pleasantly surprised with the entire meal and price. We will be back again.

Hula Hut was once my favorite Austin eatery, decades ago, when I lived there. Recently, some girlfriends and I traveled back and decided to see whether it would hold up after all these years! It definitely did! We were fortunate to skip the (long) line for a table by opting to eat at the bar. The bar is now located at the end of the deck and offers the best views of the lake (and sunset if you happen to be there at the magic hour). The drinks were cold, the food was hot, and our server was great, even when we asked him to pull up the shades so we could have an unobstructed view. My friends conspired with the waiter to surprise me with dessert too, which was a delicious mix of cinnamon crips, fruit, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream. There are plenty of vegetarian and gluten free options here!

The food and the service were amazing! I loved everything. I had a salad and my husband had the Shiner Bock fajitas and both were delicious. This place also had some of the best salsa and quest that I’ve had in a long time. My only complaint is that it took quite a while to to get our food but the waitress did a good job of keeping chips and drinks full while we waited.

The service is horrible.. The sever was arrogant. Food was nasty.. I will never come back to this place!!!

The food was no better or worse than any other Mexican restauraunt. The service was fair as it appeared that we received part of another party"s order.

Nice location on the water. The place was packed though and the wait long, even though we were there at 5:30. We ended up sitting in the bar area because we didn’t want to wait long because we had little kids. The kids were not thrilled with this place. I thought it was so-so. I would say with the right table near the water, outside - it might be good. But it was 105 degrees outside and we had to sit inside and couldn’t enjoy the location.

We moved to Austin recently and what a fab find! Outside bar service was amazing, Eric, along with the view....feels like I’m on vaycay! Food outstanding! Coconut shrimp app, tuna tacos a must!

next to the river, a little but good menu… but the waitress and barman are the worst in Texas…. they do their job poorly, in a bad mood, they try to cheat on payment and the administrator does not know how to solve problems …. please change the staff!!

We had lunch on the patio. The views are beautiful! Authentic Tex-Mex with affordable prices and a good Happy Hour menu. Attentive service.

We had a fun and casual meal at Hula Hut. The location is the draw and what really shine, being on the water. But there is room inside the funky interior on windy days. Food is not the showpiece, I am sorry to say. But the help is friendly and quick.

Sitting at the outdoor bar while the sun sets over the lake is always a great way to end a day. The drinks were good and the food is ok. This is always a good hang out for a nice view and fun atmosphere. I plan to return on my next visit to Austin!

What a great place! Except for the parking! I guess that is the sign of a popular place, that it is crowded, but I would like to see more convenient parking. However, after getting over that, this is an outstanding restaurant. It has a great menu with many varied options. Prices are fair and service is good. The food is awesome. Views of Lake Austin and Miller Dam are outstanding. I recommend this place to anyone who is looking for good Tex-Mex food.

This was a private event on the private deck. Great view, great food and drinks. It is set right on Lake Austin, open air and very festive.

The best is the location. Amazing to spend the afternoon. Food is good (Tex Mex) and the service great

Excellent tubular tacos! And chips and jalapeño ranch are fantastic. Queso is ok but not the best. Lots of fun on the lake.

I’ve been coming here for years and have always loved the food and the vibe, but this visit was not a good one. The food was bland and the large margarita tasted horrible! Even the vibe was missing. I was wondering why the place was not packed on a Friday night, with the start of Spring Break. I guess now I know. I’m sad it has come to this.

We had been to the Hula Hut previously and was excited about returning, however we were sadly disappointed and a little grossed out. We knew there could be wait, not problem. Put our name on the list for a 30 minute wait. Notice the bar area was empty but one table. After asking, we were told we could immediately sit in the bar area and were able to order drinks and food. So we did; Cut the 30 minute wait down to zero! The bartender was extremely nice and quick to take our drink orders and deliver them. Very tasty! The salsa was extremely spicy that we couldn't eat it. We order queso; it was good. We didn't eat a meal, but what we saw were plates loaded down with tons of food! Prior to leaving we went to the ladies room. This is where we second guested our visit. The floor was so sticky that our flip flops were sticky to it! The tile had layers of yuck on them! The restroom was a mess! Only one stall had tissue paper. No handtowels or wall dryers for your hands. Trash was overflowing onto the floor. The counter was covered in towels and water. Again the floor was extremely sticky. We paid our check with a healthy tip. Because our bartender was doing a great job! When leaving we notified the hostesses of the condition of the ladies room. They all looked at each other as if just finding out there was a ladies room. I understand it is difficult to keep high traffic areas clean, but I shouldn't loose a shoe over it. Nor should the place where employees are using the restroom and washing their hands be such a mess. Unsanitary. Marking the Hula Hut off my list of places to eat for a while.

While we were a large group, and I knew to expect a longer wait on a Sunday night, we were told it would be a hour.... not an issue at all. At the 60 minute mark, I went back up to the front where a young man, who looked to care less about what was going on around him, said he'd go check when we could be sat. A few minutes later he said it would be a few minutes, at which point I let him know we had already been waiting an hour. We continued to wait until the 90 minute mark, checking in every 10 minutes to see what the issue was, and got a non committal answer each time. We asked to speak to the manager and that moment, the table became available. Our service was lackluster, our food was partially incorrect and took longer than normal to arrive and had to continuously ask for more chips & salsa - as you can imagine we were terribly hungry after waiting an hour and a half and needed something to snack on. The manager never came by, we never got an apology for the lateness of our seating and overall had the worst experience I've EVER had at any restaurant in all my years here in Austin. I had close friends from out of town in and I was utterly embarrassed at the service, the treatment we received and the food. Hula Hut, you should be horrified and disgusted as well - that's not how a well known Austin restaurant is run.

This place has very great ambiance. Lots of bars. Drinks are good. Prices are cheap. Good value. Service should be faster but the food makes up for it. Must do for anyone visiting Austin

We went to the Hula Hut on a warm Saturday evening. After a short wait, we were seated inside, as opposed to outside which has a better view of the boats on the river. We ordered the following: Shrimp pineapple enchilada, Hawaiian beef fajita, and Thai BBQ beef fajita. Lots of interesting decorations in the restaurant. The Hula Hut advertises itself as “Traditional Tex-Mex with a Polynesian twist”. And as a friend said, “If you are looking for anything authentic, don’t go there.” Otherwise, a nice place to eat, good atmosphere.

The restaurant is decorated with a very fun theme on the lake. The food was very good and service was also good.

Ladies night out Happy Hour, we ordered all the appetizers and a selection of drinks and they were cheap and delicious!