Hays City Store & Ice House

Quite possibly the best food in Texas. The buffalo smoked wings are the best I've ever had, bathed in a blend of traditional hot sauce, basil, and other unique ingredients. Also, their wood fire pizzas are amazing. If you’re ever within 50 miles of Driftwood, Texas, this is worth the drive. Ask for to be seated in Am B's section. She's an amazing waitress, friendly, on point, and knowledgeable.

I went with friends on the weekend at about 4. There wasn't any wait to get in. It was hot outside, but they had fans and misters going. The server was attentive without being overbearing and was quick to get anything we requested. I got the fish tacos. They were excellent! I got the Chipotle aoli on the side because it had a bit of a bite to it. The hays hurricane was also good and definitely had a kick to it. They have live music later in the evening and I was sad to have missed it. I would definitely go back!

Best pork chops and Country Fried Chicken in all of Hays County! The atmosphere, food and staff are amazing here! The drive to get here in the hill country is perfect for a lovely lunch or dinner date, highly recommend this place, I’ll be back for sure! 👍🏼

I'd like to consider myself a regular here! We dine about 1-2x per week and always experience great service, food & drinks. My favorite dish is the blackened grilled chicken with black beans and jalapeño cream corn... and a frozen margarita! 😁🍹

Service was great and very cool atmosphere. I wasn’t super impressed with the Philly Cheesesteak I ordered…..kinda messy. Everyone else enjoyed their meals. I will go back and next time order something different. I definitely recommend.

We love coming here! Servers are always ready to help and there's an awesome play place for kids in the tree on the side of the restaurant (pictured). Food is always delicious! We come with a huge group and everyone orders different things and ends up happy. Would absolutely recommend.

This place is an absolutely awesome restaurant! First the food is awesome because they have so much variety but it is ALL good! They serve pizza, pulled pork sandwich, burgers, chicken tenders, chicken fried steak, salmon, and so much more! Their brunch is also AMAZING! They have chicken fried steak and eggs with mashed potatoes, waffles, chicken and waffles, breakfast pizza and it is all amazing! I always love to get their chicken tenders, chicken fried steak, or their pulled pork sandwiches! Its so good! Also their daily specials NEVER disappoint like they are delicious! The service is always good and the waiters and waitresses are always very kind! The atmosphere is great whether you sit inside or in the outside covered patio. There is sometimes music or they just play music from speakers and they have TVs with sports on! Inside is always nice with TVs as well but a bit more chill! Highly recommend! 5 stars

The first time I came here I got their Philly cheesesteak and it was delicious! The second time I ordered the same thing cause it was just too good😅 . Now this time I wanted to try their chicken tenders and omg they were amazing! Their jalapeño gravy is out of this world and they have one of the best fries I’ve tasted. Their Cole slaw is also very good. Everything here is good! You cannot go wrong with anything actually 😅. Anyways one of my favorite places when I come visit family, hopefully one day I get to move down here😜

Great chicken fried steak... as a person raised in Texas, there are three basic (main course) food groups: BBQ, TexMex, & ChickenFried (yes, there is also steaks & burgers & stuff, but having traveled all over this country & the world- you can get great steaks, burgers & whatnot in a lot of places - the three things you really can not find to a True Texan's satisfaction anywhere else is decent BBQ, TexMex, or Chicken Fried Steak / Chicken Fried chicken. You wouldn't think it was rocket science, but... (Of course, it's tough to find epic pizza, ala Bertucci's or Chinese food, ala CA/HI/WA here - if you can help me: DM). Anyway, CCC used to be my goto for the perfect Chicken Fried Steak here in Wimberley, but since it burned down... now, for the best in the area, I head up to the Hays City Store. While it's not exactly the same - the food is as good, they have great live music, and it's always lively. Being a small town kinda guy, the fact it's usually packed with folks from both Hays & S.Travis Co isn't its best feature (but you can make reservations!), but that's also an indication of just how good it is. I absolutely recommend the Hays City store, especially if you have friends or family visiting from out of the area or even for a casual date night- (& their motto should be) it's "a very easy place to have a great time".

Routed a long weekend from Austin to San Antonio through Wimberley just to check out Hays City Store after seeing all the rave reviews and it did not disappoint! The outdoor seating area looked like a perfect spot for a casual lunch or weekday bite, with lots of charm and shade. We were a large group of nine and opted to sit indoors, and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating and kind. They walked us through the menu, which had a great range of options ~ something for everyone, from classic comfort food to lighter fare. I ordered the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and a side salad, and it hit the spot. Everything was hearty and flavorful (and big enough to share!). It also felt like a great spot for groups. Splitting checks seemed pretty easy; their handheld device had a few hiccups, but the staff handled it quickly the old-fashioned way. Definitely worth the detour!

The drinks were good, food was reminiscent of a chain restaurant. Very salty, fatty and fried. Sometimes that's the vibe and I'm okay with it. Everyone really liked the chicken fried steak and onion rings. Burger was solid. Portions are huge, we had a hard time finishing our food. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very family friendly. Lots of kids playing football on the grass, there is a climbing structure in a tree. My kids had a blast, played with all the kids. We loved it here, would definitely come back.

My friends and I are in Wimberley for a girls trip and decided to come here (after Marshall at the winery recommended it). The wait was estimated to be 45 minutes, and we were seated within 15. There is a huge (dog friendly) outdoor area, and there are a zillion misting fans to help cut the heat. Most of us started with a round (or two) of margaritas and queso, as well as artichoke dip, as our apps. Gavin, our server, gave us several suggestions on what he'd recommend (that alone merits a 5-Star review - he was WONDERFUL). I opted for the fish tacos and subbed shrimp, and I paired it with two rounds of watermelon margaritas. We all loved our entrees and had incredible service, especially with how crowded the restaurant was. We will be back!

Finally got around to trying this spot. The parking lot is always packed. They have ample covered outdoor seating as well as indoor. The place was pretty poppin' for a Thursday afternoon lunch crowd, a good sign in my opinion. I thought the inside seating looked like an old diner. I personally enjoyed the vibe. I tried the G.O.A.T burger and my husband got the chicken fried chicken. He loved it said definitely would get again. My burger was excellent. Service was ok. There is plenty more on the menu that looks so good, I'm looking forward to going back.

What's not to love. We love the atmosphere, food, drinks, music, outdoor dining and service. It's a gem in the country side. The burger with tomato bacon jam is to die for. I don't even like burgers that much but I love that burger. I love that they have frito pie on the menu when I feel like eating. We come here often. You can say we are regulars.

The is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. First off, every single person who works there is extremely friendly and attentive. It's always great service! The food is delicious, I order something different everytime and it's all good. I had the chicken fried steak my last visit and it's one of the best I've had. The mash potatoes are made from scratch and are great with the cream gravy. Drinks are fairly priced and they have an extensive beer menu. The live music is always rockin! I highly recommend this spot!

Lots to love about this place. It is not a long drive from the big City but seems so country once you arrive. It has plenty of parking and the place is very big. We came on Saturday and luckily made a reservation for 7 and were seated promptly. Drinks came fairly quickly but apps took way too long imo. They were delicious especially the fried cheese curds. It is a must try when we come back. The CFS was good but nothing special. The pepperoni pizza was excellent and could easily feed 2 adults. The fish taco were very large portions. My wife said the one of them was much better than the other one. This is a very hot spot on the weekends obviously because we must have seen 100 bikers in the restaurant and the lots. It was a very Family oriented crowd and all had a great time So why not a 5 star review? Location 5 Ambiance 5 Apps 5 Food 4 Wait for food 4 Service 4 It is a great place and we will definitely come back soon or recommend to friends.

Went in for lunch in the bar and it was great! Fries are fabulous! our server was super friendly and the food was good! They even have a band sometimes so grab a beer and some live music! My greek salad was super fresh and the grilled chicken on top was so tender! Also great chips, queso and salsa!

Came to Hays Country Store for lunch today and we were greeted by Tyler. We ordered ice tea and my husband had a beer. He ordered the truck stop enchiladas and I ordered the pork chop grilled with spinach and coleslaw. That pork chop was the most juiciest and tastiest chop I have ever had. It was cooked perfectly. So yummy. You have to try it grilled. Soooooo good. My husband totally enjoyed his enchiladas. Tyler was the perfect server. He was so attentive and brought me extra ice and came by just the right amount of times. And such a great personality. I also watched him handle many tables and was doing such a great job. Will definitely ask for him next time. We will be back to have lunch again real soon! It is such a beautiful day here and we are in the ice house and the sun was shining and the place is so comfortable.

Very popular place so you may have to wait. Food is hit and miss, my burger could only be ordered well done, nothing else and it was very well done to the point you really couldn't taste the meat. Stay away from the burger like my relatives did and you will be fine. Decent pricing, friendly and reasonably fast service. Not sure I'd return.

My husband and I returned to the Hays City Store for lunch while in the area. When we arrived the parking lot was full and we were searching for a place to park when someone kindly guided us where to go. After parking we walked up to the host/hostess stand. We were greeted and asked about seating in the patio area, in the covered patio area, and inside the restaurant. We decided to sit in the patio area as there was no wait and immediately sat down. Luckily the weather was sunny and cool. After sitting a waitress came over, brought us some menus, and took our drink order. A few minutes later she brought our waters and took our order. During our time sitting and waiting for our food we had a different waiter approach us. He said that he would be taking care of us the rest of the time. It was a little awkward but despite the changes both of the wait staff was friendly and did a good job taking care of us. We ordered the PK Nachos as an appetizer to share. They came with a choice of Tinga Chicken or Ground Beef. I decided on the Tinga Chicken. For my meal I ordered the Bacon Jam Burger with Onion Rings. After eating we decided to take a sweet treat home for dessert so we ordered the Pecan Pie with Cream to go. The PK Nachos were really good. They came with beans, cheese, Tinga Chicken and jalapenos with a side of guacamole, sour cream, and Pico de Gallo. The chips were strong enough to hold all of the ingredients and the Tinga chicken is what gave them flavor. I'm glad I got to try them. The Black Jam Burger was yummy. The burger meat was a good size and when you add in the bacon jam, cheese, and onion strings it creates a delicious combination of flavors with every bite. The Onion Rings were really good. They were crispy on the exterior with a semisweet onion on the interior. I ate mine with Ketchup but they were so good that you could also eat them just as they are. Lastly we brought home some Pecan Pie with Cream. The Pie was so sweet that we couldn't finish it. It had pecans and chocolate in it. The cream was a nice addition. Overall the service was good, the atmosphere is laid back with plenty of seating choices, and the food was delicious.

This is our Go-To hangout. We enjoy the food, live music, attentive managers and warm, hospitable wait staff. Don't be put off by sometimes challenging parking. I have NEVER failed to find a good spot just by being a little patient. The minute you walk up, you're greeted by helpful hosts who try to meet your requests quickly. Usually after 6:00 there's already live music from one of a variety bands already playing. In short, this is a terrific place to hang out!

We went here with a senior couple. The hostess needs training on how to treat other ethnic groups and seniors. The hostess was insisting on a phone number even when there were no others waiting. The senior couple were hesitant. Because they are afraid to share their phone numbers due to the fear of being hacked. Everything went downhill from there. The food was great and the ok fashion was good. It just took them half an hour to serve . Great food, terrible service.

Took a little day trip out to Driftwood and decided to try out Hays City Store. The weather was a little chilly but we decided to sit outside since they provided personal propane warming stations as well as blankets! It was much appreciated and they gave off a lot of heat! We ordered a cup of tortilla soup, the side of onion rings (4) and the NY strip. The NY strip was cooked to specifications, juicy and very well seasoned. The portion size for $35 was great as well. The chicken tortilla soup was flavorful and the fresh avocado, cheese and tortilla strips on the top was a nice touch. I can understand why their onion rings have won them awards because they were amazing! Just the right amount of batter, very large and when you bite into them, it doesn't all fall apart. We really enjoyed our time and meal and we will return with our kiddo when the weather gets warmer since there is space for kids to play.

Pepperoni pizza was delicious! Their curbside customer service was friendly and timely.

This restaurant is consistently great!!! We love going to HCS. We enjoy sitting at the outdoor bar this is is our favorite bar!!! We love the indoor bar too, indoor bar has more comfortable seats!!! We recently sat outside in the cold at one of the picnic tables ( with one of their heaters on the table) not too cold with that heat in front of us but I would have preferred to be in the bar area outside! They have the best frozen margaritas, my favorite of any place I have been!! We love every meal we have ever ordered there!!! Seriously. We are regulars. So thankful that they are close to our home Keep up the great service,HCS

I came back after a year and Was excited to have the same experience as last time. I was so sad to be let down... big time. I guess since gaining popularity, the quality of food has gone down. Service is still good but wait was soooooo long! 1.5 on a Saturday. I was willing to wait because I thought the food was worth it, but now I wouldn't wait. They've added a cute little net Playground for the kids which made the wait bearable but again, it was not worth it in the end. Maybe will try it again when i know it's not busy to see if that changes anything. We tried the chicken fried chicken, the chicken fried steak, the kids cheeseburger, the kids cheese pizza, the southwest salad, and the home run appetizer sampler.

Great food and service to match. Consistently good. Reasonably priced. Relaxed atmosphere. Because of its popularity, parking can be an issue.

We live in San Antonio and after getting off I-35, it was a nice ride there and the ride home took us through Devil's Elbow and the beautiful hill country on 281. There were 7 adults and 6 children and we did have reservations. It was a bust Saturday afternoon (1/11/25). We weren't rushed at all and were celebrating a birthday. We were occupying our table for about 2.5-3 hours. The service was great! Our waiter was very honest in his recommendations when we asked. He was very thoughtful about what we would need with all the children. Food was delivered hot and fresh. The cheesesteak had a definite bite from the Hatch green chile. Personally, too hot for me so I shared the meal with the people at my table that liked the added spice. The fries came out a little cold but our waiter was in it and brought out wonderfully hot, fresh fries promptly. The chicken fried steak was delicious. The onion rings, we were told us one of the things they are famous for and there's definitely a reason why...they were so yummy. Not greasy and breaded to perfection. The shepherds pie was delicious too. The children got pizza which was the size of a large paper plate and they loved it. The drive, the service, the atmosphere, and the food made the afternoon of family fun even more enjoyable. If you want an enjoyable afternoon take a chance on Hay's City. You won't question your decision. All around great experience!

Finally made it to Hayes city store after following their IG account for years. We cruised up at 7 PM on a Saturday night and it was packed. The wait times were two hours for outside and 1.5 hours for inside. We got lucky and scored a seat at the outside bar, where we ended up getting drinks and eating. They had a fun live band playing classic rock, but I wish they had been a little louder to hear better in the bar. We ordered the fried chicken salad and the fish tacos. We both loved the salad, but unfortunately, the fish in the fish tacos was very overcooked and dry, so we didn't eat much of that. Either way, super fun spot I will definitely check out again when I'm in the area.

Our server Savannah was so sweet, kept checking on us making sure we had everything. Had the chicken tenders with onion rings, I got 2 piece which was a good thing because it was huge! There is indoor and outdoor with live band at 6pm. We stayed indoors because we had a newborn with us. It was a really nice rustic exterior. Just know that the tables and benches are like picnic sets so if u need a chair make sure to ask.

Today a friend and I ate lunch here. It is such a cute place with wonderful outdoor dining. But-- my food was so overcooked that my grilled chicken was super tough and hard to cut and chew. Our server ignored us when we needed drinks refilled and wasn't helpful in any way. I am very disappointed as I used to like this place. I won't return.

We really enjoyed our time at Hays City Store! They have a ton of lunch specials and happy hour deals every day which is great. We took our family there for lunch, and they loved the margarita flight and the mother clucker sandwich the most! The BLT was a solid choice, and my kiddo's burger was perfect. Hubby got the soup because he was a little under the weather, and he said it was solid. I had a burger, and since they ran out of buns I just had it lettuce wrapped along with a side of Cole slaw. Cole slaw was good, and the burger was nice as well! Next time I'll definitely get the fish tacos! There is a small rope trampoline outside which is nice for kids of all ages. Just be aware that it isn't fenced in and right in the parking lot, so make sure to keep an eye out for those smaller kids! They also have little picnic tables for kiddos to sit at which is sweet! Our server was LOVELY! She was so friendly, and she made every part of the meal easy to enjoy! We appreciated her kindness and also the kindness of other servers around us! Hays City Store is a solid choice for anyone, especially families that want to get some energy out of their kids at the playscape and grab a couple drinks or brunch!

Our favorite spot in Kyle! Love the outdoor patio, great drinks and food. Awesome atmosphere with great service

I love the atmosphere at this place. Live music outside. You can eat outside - there's a bar outside you can eat at or you can eat inside. I've never had a bad meal there. We had their enchilada special, which was delicious. And always love their casa with the guac and meat in it.

Friends from Dripping Springs took us there in a small road trip to Kyle, TX. Mostly outdoors with a great pavilion that contains a bar and lots of seating. The atmosphere and ambiance is fantastic and relaxing. The menu is expansive with just about everything you could expect to eat in Texas. Of course I drank amber beer, the Austin Brewery and the Shotgun Amber as alternative to Shiner. It was great and got a huge Chicken Fried Steak and some onion rings. I was stuffed at the end and happy as a great experience and meal. I definitely recommend coming here if in the area for some Texas hospitality.

We enjoy the music. Is typical bar food and ok. Service is ok. Seems to have a lot of server turnover. But it is pleasant to go to. The brunch is OK as well.

Fun place, good drinks, and good food. I ordered the Diablo Con Carne pizza and a frozen margarita. Wasn't crazy about the crust on the pizza, but holy cow did the rest have tons of flavor (and heat!!!). I was told the heat came from the spicy chile oil, but by no means are you to sleep on the fresh jalapeño!! Margarita was good and live music was a bonus. The Mrs had fish tacos with a large hunk of fish in each and some tasty green chile sauce included. Good stuff....we'll be back.

Throwing a 5 Star at this place because they kinda do it all pretty well and there's not much else around that comes close. Great Family environment! Old school cafeteria/grocery that's been updated for the Millennial sensibilities. There's indoor and plenty of outdoor seating with lots of TV's to watch the game. They are dog and kid friendly, which was amazing since we had both with us during a trip to the Hill Country. We thought all the ladies working there were super hospitable and helpful on a cool rainy day. Food is honestly super well made and I was a little bit surprised honestly. I came in expecting just standard salt and pepper country cooking, but the quality and presentation for sure changed my expectations. There's mostly burgers, pizzas, and fried foods to choose from, but none of it comes out tasting lazy or looking thrown together. Chicken breast where you can tell that it's chicken and green beans that aren't from a can. The food tastes good and I'm making sure to come back whenever I'm out this way again. Plenty of reasonably priced drinks too, if I didn't have a drive back to Houston waiting for me after my lunch here I would've sampled a 2 or 12 of them.

Tried it twice and the food was not that flavored or seasoned well.drinks are ok but how can you mess up a simple mixture.

Hays City Store on a beautiful spring evening is a treat. Beautiful outdoor spaces, live music, delish food, good drinks. I've never had anything here I didn't like.

Absolutely love this place! Great food and drinks.. allow my baby to go as well.. Fun place! Best onion rings you will ever eat!!

Great big patio with outdoor bar. Mostly covered for those sun sensitive people. Great frozen drinks on a hot day. Additional parking in the field behind it. Fried chicken was really good on the salad. Bbq burger also really and messy. We also got the onion rings to snack on. Would definitely recommend and save one for the burger.

Great food, awesome atmosphere, and the staff was phenomenal!! This is a must stop if you're in the area!! #petfriendly

We haven't been here in awhile so today we went at 130 after lunch rush and before supper. We had sm chicken tenders with mashed potatoes and Cole slaw and classic cheeseburger with fries . We sat at a table under a large tree outside as the weather was perfect. Keith waited on us and service was quick friendly and accommodating. Food was hot fresh and tasty. Burger was cooked perfectly with fresh lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions. Reasonable prices we drink ice tea and soda. We will be back for sure and too top it off the drive was great with all the wildflowers and everything green.

Excellent food, nice patio and nice friendly service. One of my favorites in the area.

Salad is amazing and so filling! Best fried chicken tenders anywhere. Awesome outdoor seating and ice house with 50 beers on tap.

Love this place! It's great for family and friends tons of space and great atmosphere! Wait staff is awesome I don't have to wait long for anything. The food is amazing love the cream corn! So good!

Stopped in today for a late lunch. Glad we did! I was disappointed at first that the beef filet was taken off the menu. So I ordered the G.O.AT burger instead with onion rings and a side salad. It was so delicious! Burger came out medium as ordered. Flavors were perfect. Onion rings were tasty. I ordered the side salad with pico and goat cheese added. The ranch tasted homemade! That's a great compliment since I'm a ranch dressing snob! Hubby ordered the 9 piece fried shrimp with coleslaw and fries. He loved his! I tasted it and it was nice plump tasty shrimp! Not all breading with tiny shrimp. Decided to try the Berry Heaven for dessert. OMGeeee!!! It was so good. A warm churu cheesecake danish with fresh berries and whipped topping! I couldn't stop eating it! We will definitely be back!

I ordered the slam bam bacon jam pizza! It's suppose to have Brussels sprouts and I couldn't find one. When I asked about it, server said there are little green specks in there! If it says there are brussel sprouts, you should be able to see them! We do love the vibe here so I hope they will fix this!! It's very different from the last time I ordered it!

April 17, 2023 We stopped to use the RR on the way to Wimberley and this restaurant was hopping on a Monday afternoon. Menu looked good with plenty of outdoor seating

A must visit if you're in the Kyle area! Their menu is huge. We wanted to get the pizzas but they only make it for dinner and all day on the weekends. We got the burgers and artichoke spinach enchilada and loved all the dishes. Definitely get the onion rings instead of the fries. The batter was perfect and not overly oily.

Best atmosphere, best service, great food. Steak salad is the best. Chicken strips and chicken fried steak can't be beat.

What a fun spot! My husband and I were out and about so we thought we would check this place out. We sat at the bar. I ordered a chocolate martini which was not served in a martini glass but tasted pretty good. My husband got a beer and we shared the appetizer with the guacamole, queso, salsa and some kind of bean dip. The chips were warm which is always a plus for me. They got pretty busy by the time we were leaving. The bartender was slammed but very pleasant throughout our visit. We will definitely give this place a stay on our list spot!

This charming little (actually it's enormous) place out in the Hill Country is about an hour from San Antonio. There's a lot of lovely outdoor seating that was covered and heated on the day we finally visited. We've driven by a few times during what seem to be peak hours all the time. One time, I got down to ask about the wait and it was like three hours! What?? People actually wait??? Okay in my head, I think it's expanded to three, but it might have been two. It was just a little ridiculous. Definitely not a place I want to risk stopping in on if I'm famished. Of course with a wait like that, I was expecting FIREWORKS! Fireworks, I didn't get, but I got a yummy Valentine's themed margarita, chips, queso, and salsa, and tenders with fries and mac and cheese to share. The crispy homemade chips and salsa and queso (and guacamole and beans, it was a whole set) were definitely the highlight of the show. The fries were a close second, and the tenders followed. The mac and cheese tho, it was so terrible that it brings down the entire rating. I even ruined the last bit of queso trying to redeem it. What a mistake! I don't know what they were going for, but it was an unseasoned watery mess. The service was ok. Our server was nice enough, but pretty slow and no personality. Not that he had to put on a show, but ultimately he was just forgettable. I don't know if I'd go out of my way to return. Those chips were great, but not even a dull firework.

Went there on vacation. Very good food and service was great. Busy place would definitely go there again!

I like Hay City Store and have enjoyed coming hereThe place has great ambience, if you're not sitting inside. Won't do that again. Burgers were great and fries were crispy. I got a frozen margarita with the cucumber jalapeño addition that was kind of a mess. They added some concoction that was so lumpy that I wasn't able to use my straw.

We enjoyed the little drive to get to Hays city store. The service was good, fast & friendly. We ordered the chicken fried steak w/jalapeno gravy, bone in fried pork chop, frito pie & and mother clucker. The food was delicious & the portions are shareable. This place did not disappoint. I'm sure we'd be back soon. Oh, do NOT sleep on the jalapeño cream corn!