Review: Hai Ky
Austin is weird in many ways. One of those ways is the abundance of Vietnamese eatery choices. I had a Vietnamese roommate that informed me that there was a huge migration of Vietnamese years back but for what reason he didn’t say. Either way, I’m thankful for all the wonderful Vietnamese choices I have in this city.
One of my favorite places is Hai Ky in South Austin. Tucked in a small shopping center off Oltorf, the most crime ridden street in Austin. Despite that, the neighborhood isn’t as bad as the reputation declares it to be. In fact, the street is relatively nice. However, I wouldn’t visit Hai Ky past 11 PM you dig?
Hai Ky is a small operation. I would guess it could seat 30 people or so comfortably. Many local honors are proudly displayed on the large, store front windows. Inside, the walls are decorated with many works from local artists. The decor is simple but effective. The only problem I have is that, every time I walk in, my shoes feel sticky to the floor. It’s not like they don’t clean their floors but there is always that sticky sensation every time you walk through. It’s more of a kitschy quirk than an annoyance. As for the service, it’s always been fast and friendly. Although laid back, the staff seems knowledgeable and professional.
The first dish I wanted to highlight is their Spicy Hai Chicken. This lovely dish is a stir fry with flat rice noodles, various veggies, tender chicken, seasoned with a peppery yet sweet house sauce, and topped with fresh cilantro and chopped peanuts. Hai Ky is best known for their fresh taste and this dish doesn’t disappoint. There were multiple layers of flavor from salty, sweet, sour, peppery, herby, etc. Flavors partied well together and my tongue and nose were in heaven. As a plus, the portion was generous. YUM.
Aside from pho, the Vietnamese are also known for their vermicelli bowls, thin rice noodles topped with meat and veggies and served at room temperature with fish sauce. YUM. I can safely say that Hai Ky has one of the best vermicelli bowls in the city. I mean…check out that pic! Trust me, it tastes just as good as it looks. As usual, the taste was super fresh thanks to the super fresh veggies. The egg rolls were crunchy and made a good addition to the bowl. The grilled pork was good and tender; however, it did lack that grilled flavor I love in these bowls. The flavor profile was fresh, herby, slightly sweet, and salty. I had a smile on face the entire time I was eating.
Hai Ky is the complete package. It has great food, great prices, and great portions. If you want something Asian, fresh, and relatively healthy, Hai Ky is a great choice. I bet you’re wondering why I’m only giving it a 4/5 if I’m so glowing about this place. The reason is that there are times when the food isn’t as good as it could be. Recently, Hai Ky has been hitting the spot right on. I hope it can be consistent in the future. For now, it gets a well deserved 4/5.
-jj
Hai Ky
1931 East Oltorf Street
Austin, TX 78741-4031
(512) 693-2464























































