Hula Hut — Restaurant in Austin

My boyfriend and I came to try this place and were excited to do so. We came on Tuesday evening. Not very busy. Was seated outside and it took about 10 minutes for our waitress to greet us. Not a major issue but seems to be a running theme of this place based off other reviews. We ordered 2 drinks (one of which was a 6 dollar beer) and a regular chips and queso. After not liking the drink or queso we decided we wouldn’t be ordering any further and asked the waitress to bring the bill whenever they could. I would also like to mention, we were there more than an hour before closing time and before our drink order was even in, the waitress was rushing us to place a food order saying the kitchen closes soon. It was 8:50 and they close at 10. I understand being informative but this was not how the waitress came across. At this point we hadn’t even had a chance to look over the menus as we spent the first 15 minutes of our arrival waiting to be seated and then waiting for the server. After my boyfriend paid the bill he said he was charged 45 almost 50 dollars. Looking at the menu prices I knew there was a discrepancy in the pricing as our bill should have been more around 30ish dollars. I asked the waitress for an itemized receipts and she immediately seemed a bit bothered and took of quickly inside as a followed. She printed the receipt and before I could look it over she was walking away. I immediately noticed she charged for an additional cocktail that I didn’t order. I called to her and let her know before she got too far and asked for the payment to be updated to which she told me she could not do and that they would have to delete the other and recharge the payment. At this time we already showed the first charge going through so I didn’t want my boyfriend being charged a total of almost 80 dollars for 2 drinks and some queso and the waitress immediately suggested getting their manager. The manager came out and before even asking what the issue was just started telling us how he runs reports at the end of the night and the charge would fall off. They did not seem to have a lot of confidence in their explanation as the manager used the phrase “I’m fairly certain the charge will fall off within a few days” so we wanted a physical receipt to confirm and something to come back with as proof if the charge never fell off and they couldn’t provide that either. Instead just said to come back and speak with them if that happens. The place had a nice outside view but I wouldn’t come back just for that. As a previous service industry worker, I certainly understand mistakes happen. However, how you handle them and correct them makes a difference. I hope the waitress understands there’s no hard feelings but when a customer comes to you regarding an overcharge, your reaction should be one of willingness to help. Not handing off a receipt and trying to walk away before the concern has...

Hula Hut offers a fun lakeside vibe, and we stopped by just in time for their happy hour, which features a half order of nachos and your choice of a frozen or on-the-rocks margarita. While the happy hour experience was a highlight, the rest of the meal left much to be desired.

Happy Hour Highlights:

The nachos were a pleasant surprise and quickly became the standout of our visit. Made with their house-made tortilla chips, they were loaded with toppings and packed with flavor. Despite their unassuming appearance, the chips were crispy and held up well under the generous layers of toppings. The pico de gallo added freshness, and their jalapeños delivered a perfect kick without being overpowering. We scarfed them down in no time—they were that good.

The margaritas were also excellent. Both the frozen and on-the-rocks options were flavorful, refreshing, and well-balanced. I especially appreciated the option to add Tajín, which gave the drink a zesty kick.

The Corn Chowder:

Unfortunately, the corn chowder was a major disappointment. My wife ordered it, and neither of us could get past the odd texture and flavor. Unlike a typical chowder with visible corn kernels and a hearty consistency, this soup had a strange, overly creamy texture, almost like fluffy, airy cream cheese. The corn is ground up into the soup, making it unrecognizable, and the overall effect was off-putting. My wife described it as "cheese dip with shrimp in it," and we both found it unappetizing.

The Roasted Chicken Enchilada:

I ordered the roasted chicken enchilada, which came with rice, beans, and a small side salad. While the flavor was good, this dish was essentially a burrito, not an enchilada. The size was massive—more in line with a burrito—and it was made with a flour tortilla rather than the traditional corn tortilla. Adding to the disappointment, the creamy sauce poured over it caused the tortilla to become gummy, which detracted from the dish’s overall appeal.

Final Thoughts:

While the happy hour nachos and margaritas were excellent, the rest of the meal didn’t live up to expectations. The location on the water is definitely a plus, but the lackluster dishes make it hard to justify returning outside of happy hour.

Overall, I’d recommend Hula Hut for their limited happy hour specials and waterfront ambiance, but if you’re coming for a full meal, you may want to temper your...

Genuinely hate places that do not list all ingredients for the item you purchase on the menu. In a world where so many people have allergies, dietary restrictions, and food sensitivities, there is simply no reason not to be very clear about what guests should expect when they order something. How in the world are your guests supposed to know what they are ordering if the menu is not clear and consistent?

My very picky eater ordered a steak tubular taco. The taco was only filled in the center, leaving 1-2 inches of tortilla on either side without any of the fillings. If you cut out the extra tortilla, the actual size of the taco is much smaller than pictured. We both absolutely hated the "tomatillo sauce" and the guajillo sauce really only seems to be there as garnish. The worst part was that extra ingredients not indicated in the menu like spinach were added to the taco. At first I thought we missed something on the menu, but I double checked and the shrimp tacos and the veggie tacos say they have spinach in them on the menu, but not the beef or the chicken. The menu should either say that all tacos include spinach or it should be clear about the ingredients under the item description.

For the cost of the meal, it simply does not make sense that the taco had more spinach than meat or cheese in it because it doesn't even mention in the menu that it includes spinach. Really soured what was supposed to be a nice summer lunch.

It's a mystery what happened here, but we won't be back again to worry about figuring it out. For the price, skimping on the filling and including unexpected ingredients in the food was enough to turn us off. If you don't have to deal with dietary needs, food sensitivities, or picky eaters in general, this may not be a deal breaker for you and I hope you enjoy, but this place...