Like good things, blind mice, and shoes, cuisines work best in threes. One-up twin dishes with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of Hawaiian Tex-Mex fusion fare at Hula Hut, located on Lake Austin Boulevard.

A trifecta of Texan, Mexican, and Hawaiian cuisine results in unexpected offerings at this eatery with up-close views of Lake Austin. Palm tree hugger nachos ($6.99) line the front of Hula Hut's hunger offense with black beans, carrots, spinach, and zucchini under a thatched roof of monterey jack cheese. Crusted coconut shrimp ($8.99) is another opening option and preps appetites for an entree of Hawaiian fajitas ($11.99 for half an order)––chicken glazed in Polynesian plum sauce and flanked by red-bell peppers, green onions, and pineapple. The chile-rubbed salmon tacos ($8.99) come topped with fresh cilantro and jalapeño-lime sauce and turn heat-loving taste buds into spiky, tropical blossoms. The gargantuan huli-huli luau platter ($22.99) is sure to satisfy tummies with any taste and includes ribs, chicken nachos, barbecue chicken tacos, chicken flautas, a chicken sink, a chopped salad, papas asadas, and chile con queso chips.

Hula Hut pays homage to its Hawaiian heritage with a grass-thatched bar, bamboo walls, and fire-tongued tikis. Patrons can dine on a deck overlooking the water to complete their tropical eating experience. Weekend waits can be long, so get there early, go during the week, or bring a coloring book.

Reviews

Austin City Guide featured Hula Hut. More than 290 Yelpers give Hula Hut an average of 3.5 stars, 85% of Urbanspooners recommend it, and more than 180 TripAdvisors give it 3.5 owl eyes:

• The Hula Hut menu blends flavors from Mexican and Polynesian cuisines to form what they like to call Mexonesian. Favorites on the menu include Tubular Tacos, Coconut Fried shrimp, and Pu Pu Platters common in the "homeland" of Hawaii. – Austin City Guide
• This joint is straight up kitsch. Who the hell decides to fuse Hawaiian and Tex-Mex food in the same place? And - against all odds - it works brilliantly. The drinks are strong and good. The tortilla chips are made fresh. The queso was excellent. The jalapeno/cilantro ranch dip was addictive. – Frank F., Yelp