7 top Hooters menu items you’ve got to try

Hooters restaurant has been around for 39 years and despite its often frowned upon notoriety, it’s found great success as a restaurant, and they offer one epic menu.

Perhaps that’s the same as the old running joke about Playboy magazine: “I just read it for the articles!” In truth, Playboy magazine was the place to be published for articles, short stories and opinion. Trust me, as a writer I know. If you were published in Playboy, that was a big deal!

Writers like Stephen King, Richard Matheson, Mordecai Richler and many other greats were published in those legendary pages.

The attractive ladies scantily clad or barely clad, were just an editorial addition to the whole works that additionally entertained the reading masses.

And perhaps the same can be said about the institution that is Hooters restaurant. The attractive waitresses are indeed there, but this restaurant deserves to be known far beyond the obvious attraction to the establishment. Time to read between the lines, people!

How great is the Hooters menu? Just keep reading to see…

An old employee handbook that was in circulation amongst employees before 2006 read as follows, according to Wikipedia:

"“Customers can go to many places for wings and beer, but it is our Hooters Girls who make our concept unique. Hooters offers its customers the look of the ‘All American Cheerleader, Surfer, Girl Next Door.’ Female employees are required to sign that they “acknowledge and affirm” the following:-My job duties require I wear the designated Hooters Girl uniform.-My job duties require that I interact with and entertain the customers.-The Hooters concept is based on female sex appeal and the work environment is one in which joking and entertaining conversations are commonplace.”"

What the waitresses look like and their manner of dress is one of the biggest selling points to the place, and this is something that the company has never really shied away from, despite high criticism and the company often coming under fire. But like Playboy, Hooters Girls, as they are called, are often some of the most intelligent, accomplished and ambitious women around.

Successful pro wrestler and athlete, Liv Morgan was a Hooters Girl and what she has gone to accomplish in her field is extraordinary. And there are indeed others…

But perhaps it’s about time we get down to the menu…

7. Fried Pickles

Off of their appetizers menu, which indeed has a lot to offer, these are a perfect tangy, savory and evil way to start your meal at Hooters. They’re naughty enough to let you know you’ve failed on your diet and tasty enough to get the ball rolling, but the great thing about fried pickles is that vinegary bite you get to counterbalance all the deep fried batter.

6. Hooters Original Buffalo Platter

You can’t go to Hooters without trying the wings. They’re famous and they deliver. On this platter, you find more than that though…buffalo shrimp are added to the mix of wings and their absolutely legendary dipping sauce is present here too.

5. Key Lime Pie

I mean dessert goes a long way and you can’t get any better than this. The freshness of the key lime pie is perfect for the end of a meal—especially one that had a lot of high fat options on it…that citrusy freshness helps battle the aftertaste of all that fried batter.

4. Hooters Original Buffalo Chicken Tacos

The buffalo chicken, as mentioned, is primo here, and with this dish you get the added benefit of the perfect Tex-Mex meal. Let’s be honest…is it ever not appropriate to eat a taco? Okay, maybe you really shouldn’t pull one out at your grandma’s funeral, but a part of me thinks that if she were still around, even she would be saying, go on and eat…you’re all skin and bones.

3. Lots-A-Tots

Okay…yet another incredible starter. So who doesn’t love tots? Now add a bunch of melted cheese, bacon. Green onions and oh yeah…sour cream. Do you still hate tots? If you do, I don’t know what to tell you.

2. Home Run Burger

Okay…so for those with an appetite, especially for meat, this bad boy packs a serious punch…one worth 4, yes 4, beef patties between the bun. The brioche bun, which a lot of restaurants are using these days, works very well here.

1. Shrimp Platter

Okay…they say seafood is often not to be trusted in a bar room type of place, but Hooters is one bar location where you can enjoy your beverage of choice, the friendly employees (and their attire), and a delicious platter of shrimp. It’s a great serving and is indeed delicious.

What are some of your favorite menu items over at Hooters, dear readers?