Hai Ky

Elite '08

36

101

Kerry G.

Austin, TX

Spring rolls were pre-wrapped and stored in the fridge, so when I got them they were rubbery. The Pho was tasty, but there was a hair in it.
Our waiter was high.

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14

23

bj h.

TX

normally a 4 star, but I'm offsetting one of the previous reviews.

this is not some uptown place, people.. it's east oltorf.. COME ON. it's like comparing a schwarzennegger movie to schindler's list. S. movies are GOOD for what they are.. but they're not HFS movies. Make sense?

Hai Ky falls into this category.. and I DARE anyone to find good service at any Austin vietnamese restaurant.

Anyhow.. the soups are good, and they can jack up the spice if you iike (it's already at a good heat normally)

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Elite '08

24

66

Carrie C.

Austin, TX

The good-
- super fast and friendly service
- good music
- pretty paintings
- pho is tasty and not greasy
- grilled pork in the vermicelli bowl is not too fatty
- servings are large and cheap

The eh-
- peanut sauce is kind of watery and not that great
- the parking lot is difficult to make a left out of to get back to I35

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1

3

Y M.

Austin, TX

Love the food, hate the service. I have been so furious at the lack of attention from the waitstaff that I have contemplated never going back here. Yet I can't stay away.

Nothing like some good ol' fried tofu. Hai Ky is extremely delicious and I must admit I'm addicted to this place. I have been known to frequent this place oh, lets say, twice or even three times a wee-- I just opt for take-out.

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6

27

Clara M.

Austin, TX

Hai Ky has come to West Lake Hills!!! Yea!  We don't have that many good restaurants here and I have high hopes for it.  It is in a location that seems to be bad luck for restaurants - formerly Texas French Bread, RJs and Brix.  But the decor is now beautiful - nice and cozy - really good atmosphere - soft lighting.  The smell wafting out - definitely drew me in. I got take-out and it was almost instantly ready.  I liked it a lot - it was a noodle veggie dish with fried tofu.  The fried tofu was not good though - chewy and tough.  I plan to talk to them about that - I really want them to suceed.  The flavor of the dish was great, though.
I plan to eat there a lot.  Oh and prices and quantity are great.

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17

17

Foolio I.

Austin, TX

Ahhh... the little Vietnamese oasis in southeast Austin.  Unlike traditional pho joints, Hai Ky does not display water buffalo photos and rice fields or pictures of their own food on the wall.  They do not pump cheesy Vietnamese muzak over the PA system.  Instead their walls display funky paintings from local artists and they blast Thievery Corporation and Zero 7 from an 80s boombox.  The waitstaff are all decked out in matching black t-shirts too.  They'll do the "Sprockets" dance if you ask them to.  No unsanitary community plastic chopsticks sitting in the middle of the tables either.  Every patron gets their own disposable bamboo chopstix.  Huge plus in my book.

Hai Ky is part of our lunch rotation here at work in SE Austin.  If you look at what we have to choose from (Whataburgers, Quiznos, Catfish Parlour, and the fifty Taqueria Arandas),  this cafe has to be at the top of the list.  I've tried most of the dishes on their menu -- I always end up getting the #60 Sate Beef.  Lots of chili peppers, generous portions of stir fried beef and green onions, some cold veggies on the side, and lots of rice.  Occasionally, they'll mess it up and put too much sauce, but it's good 90% of the time.  If you're a vegetarian, they have several tofu bowls to choose from.  And for you compulsive types, they do have a "make your own stir-fry" option.

Favorites:
-  sate and ginger beef
-  vietnamese taro eggrolls  (not sure if they still have this)
-  grilled pork and eggroll bun (vermicilli noodles)

Not a fan:
-  pad thai (I don't think they even use rice noodles)
-  any of their pan fried noodles
-  egg noodles
-  tight parking spaces
-  don't accept AMEX

Oh, I wanted to mention that the food is prepared very quickly.  We'll sometimes call in with eight take-out orders, and it'll be ready in 15-20 minutes.  There's also an Oat Willies next door if you want to replenish your supplies.

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Elite '08

39

103

Sasha C.

Austin, TX

What a strange and odd Vietnamese place in Southeast Austin.  Located in an attractive strip mall surrounded by burger chain, Hy Kai is very much so the best restaurant in the neighborhood.  That said, it isn't really that remarkable food wise.  I mean I felt more satisfied from Thai noodle house than I did here.
I love the artwork and the feel of the place.  It seems fast paced artsy, yet relaxed.  Its cool the way the handsome young employees are all gathered behind the little counter busy with various tasks.  Yeah It's way hip to be here.  It's a good excuse to check out the South side.  I waver here between 3 and four stars.  Getting in and out of the driveway is a tad sketchy.

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0

7

ed b.

Austin, TX

Makes my top five. Very warm and hip atmosphere, expecially for this genre of restaurant. But, I must admit, I've been on a pho mission and I found the end ofthe rainbow at Dong Nai (South Lamar). Hai Ky served me a great Vietnamese coffee, on the plus side.

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Elite '08

167

303

Jaime M.

Austin, TX

Decent:
-My friend's yellow veggie curry
-Vegetable selection in the bowls
-General atmosphere/diverse crowd
-They serve beer, which I didn't order, but it's a nice touch in a small place like this one
Not so decent:
-The WORST TOFU I have ever had. Some of the pieces were so crispy-fried as to be inedible and many of them were old looking -- like they'd been sitting in a packet of freeze-dried frozen tofu for way too long.
-My lemongrass bowl was more like sweet soy sauce with a hint of lemongrass toward the bottom, sort of, if I squinted and crossed my fingers
-Hair in my food

So basically, I'd recommend this place if you want to eat dishes that don't contain tofu or if you don't mind tofu blocks that cut the roof of your mouth. Pretty cool little joint, probably. Just not my particular experience.

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Elite '08

90

186

Shanna H.

Austin, TX

Update (4/1/08)--I knocked off a star, because the service is going downhill. The waitress last night was just surly, bringing my boyfriend's dish out several minutes before mine, and when I inquired about mine--since they didn't say, "Yours will take an extra minute" or whatever--she silently stalked off, checked the ticket, then brought it, kind of plopped it down, and scowled. Another scowl for the refill of tea. Sorry you're having a rough night sister, but you are in the service industry. (Although the disgusting noises the plastic bottles made while filling up little containers of sauces seemed to amuse her and elicit a laugh...)
---
This is my favorite place for pho in my neck of the woods. The dishes are just right. The pork vermicelli bowl is delicious, and the ambiance isn't even that bad (for a pho place) with original art on the walls. There's usually good music, too, and the wait staff is nice.

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50

126

Angel Q.

Austin, TX

a relaxed vibe with decent viet food at great prices. Reminds me of the kind of asian joints you'd find in Los Angeles.

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0

2

Michael B.

TX

Chances are if you're looking for really good Vietnamese food you'll want to head up north for restaurants the likes of Pho Hung or Sunflower, but if you're on the southside and want some decent noodles without having to trek too far, Hai Ky is perfect.

They have definatley done alot with the modest space they've been alloted, transforming a hole in a typically ugly east Austin strip mall into a welcoming dining area. The atmosphere is generally very warm yet informal and you can ussually find interesting art lining the walls. It's not exactly the taj mahal, but it does the trick.

The food itself is overall very good and sumptious, with the noodles having a very nice texture and blending perfectly with the plum sauce. They don't have bubble tea, which is a bit of a downer, but otherwise Hai Ky's menu has everything you could want.

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82

305

Alexandra L.

Austin, TX

Whenever I'm feeling a cold coming on, or feeling a little hungover, their tofu veggie pho soup is just the thing.  Their food's always fresh, and you get lots of cilantro for the soup.  I like the art (some of it for sale) they display on the walls - very quirky and insane.  The interior reminds me of those hip, pan-Asian noodle/tea houses from L.A. - except a bit toned down.

They stopped serving bubble tea, though, and I wish they hadn't.

Once, out of goodwill, I corrected their Spanish "dish washer wanted" sign on the window.  But they left the old sign up.  Fine, I won't help them anymore.  See if they can hire a Spanish-speaking dishwasher with a grammatically incorrect sign!  Still love 'em, though.

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0

4

doug g.

Austin, TX

Been here many many times.  LUnches are out the door.  It is jammed packed.  THe waiting staff is so courteous and nice.  They try their best to accomodate.  The food.... let me tell you.  It is excellent.  THe soups to the buns to the stir fries.  THey also have a great vegetarian menu.  BUbble tea and great artwork.  I love this place.
If u havent been here, your missing out. Its a great austin place and i heard theyre opening  a new branch in westlake.... awesome

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4

19

Chris L.

Austin, TX

I would give it 4 stars, but once I ordered a veggie meal for a veggie person and it had bits of chicken in it... not very cool! I have been back, many times, and I still like it very much.

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10

100

teri s.

Austin, TX

i like hai ky a lot.  one reason is that it's never usually that busy.  the food comes out quickly and is tasty.  i like their descriptions of the food and the artwork is interesting.  i go for the spicy hai tofu and usually share some of the veggie egg rolls.  also good is the tofu/vermicelli dish with the choice of veggie eggrolls or spring rolls.  i forget the name.

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