La Lucha — Restaurant in Houston

First off, the restaurant itself is beautifully decorated - rusty, cozy, chic with an amazing ambiance - definitely a great place for a date! But I came a little late (~8pm) on a Sunday evening.. not sure if it's a bit louder during the rush. The bar is super nice as well if you just want to come by for a drink and there's a pretty large patio! Next off, the service and the staff - everyone is so welcoming and friendly, including our server and hostess - always a huge plus for great service! And most importantly, the food:

*House Baked Yeast Rolls 3/5 - I expect yeast rolls to be fluffy and super soft. These ones were very over done and a bit too crispy on the top. I could cut through it with a knife, when i expected the yeast roll to get flatten cause of the softness. They were good, not amazing. The butter is sweet, which was a nice touch.

*Pollo Especiale Fried Chicken 3/5 - My friend ordered these and I took a small piece to give it a try. The chicken was ok - I think because the skin wasn't crispy enough and the meat wasn't juicy enough. I've had better chicken. Though you can choose your dipping sauce - we tried all 3 (wood roasted oyster sauce, a spicy cranberry sauce and a harissa sauce) and they were fantastic! It also comes with pickles and jam for your biscuit.

*TX Blue Crab Fingers 4/5 - I didn't try this but from my friend's comments, it sounded like they loved the flavors but it was a bit pricey for what you get. That's all I can say about this one...

*Peel 'n' Eat Shrimp 4/5 - This was good. The shrimp were large and cooked well - the shell came out easily and they were split for easy peeling! The sauce was good as well - we got the Thai Basil Garlic Butter and there's lots of lemongrass and shallots! I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because the sauce didn't seep into the shrimp and it was more of a peel and dip type deal - the shrimp itself is very plain if you don't dip it in the sauce again. The little net bag that it came in was also very difficult to find the opening for in terms of how it's served.

*LA Crawfish Bread 3/5 - My friends loved this dish. I, however, thought it was mayo heavy and not enough chunks of crawfish. It was very interesting to see it was a pressed panini type deal. Not my favorite crawfish bread.

*Steak and Hash with a Fried Egg Special 2/5 - This was probably my least favorite of the night. The steak wasn't very tender and the flavors were almost charred. The hash browns were very crispy though.

*Wood Roasted Chicken Salad 5/5 - Omg yum! the wood roasted chicken was tender and juicy and the salad was flavorful and fantastic. The cabbage, curry flavor, spiced cashews and mint all came together and made a very delicious salad.

*Apple Crisp with Vanilla Soft Serve 4/5 - The apple crisp came in a small cast iron skillet. It was on the sweet sweet side - so if you like overly sweet desserts, this is for you! The vanilla soft serve was delicious and compliments the Apple Crisp well because it's not as sweet.

*Nutella and Vanilla Soft Serve Swirl with Baked Saltine Crumbles and EVOO 5/5 - If anyone knows me, they know I can't say no to ice cream and this one wasn't an exception. I love the sweet and salty flavors, so this one did it for me. The soft serve was good - not overly creamy. I liked the flavors because it was nice and light. The saltines and EVOO combo added a crunch and I love the addition of the salt to the sweet ice cream! I would come back just for this!!!

Overall, the food was good. I wasn't overly impressed with the dishes but they were good and there are a few items I would come back for. The service and ambiance added to the experience, so therefore it gets an overall 4 stars and I would definitely come back! Prices are also decent for everything we ordered and for...

On last week, I visited LaLucha, a quaint little restaurant located in the heart of the Heights. The ambiance was very nice and the decor was aesthetically elegant. For starters, I ordered the deviled eggs a favorite of mine at any restaurant and for my entree, the wood roasted fish of the moment. The fish was a very pleasant surprise to my taste buds smoked to utter perfection and was unlike any other fish I’d ever tasted, two thumbs up for me. However when my husband received his order of fried chicken, it was just okay, nothing to write home to anyone about. I’m personally not a fried chicken person and haven’t had it in years and when I tasted it, it was just okay, nothing spectacular about it. Our waitress was also super busy swamped with big parties and my husband I both agreed that we didn’t get the attention we deserved.

Fast forward to a few days later I left a review and received a message from one of the managers of the restaurant, Kelly. She was very apologetic and also very concerned that we didn’t have the best experience when visiting their establishment as they thrive on providing the best customer experience. She wanted to make things right and for us to give them another chance at offering the experience that they’re known for giving and invited me back out their treat. Upon arriving, I was immediately greeted and seated at my table. My waiter Omar was super attentive and although he had several tables with large parties, he ensured I was well taken care of. Shortly afterwards, one of the managers came over to introduce themselves and welcomed me back thanking me for giving them another chance. Within minutes later, my order arrived immediately hot off the grill and I couldn’t have been more pleased. The chicken was fresh and the waffles were drizzled with a caramel syrup that had my tastebuds doing a happy dance! And I think what made the chicken better this time around was the added caramel syrup. Before leaving, the GM Michael came over and thanked me for stopping back by and giving them another chance and told me that my meal was on the house and that he hoped I would stop by again in the near future…

A class act all around, hands down some of the best customer service I’ve experienced at a restaurant. What did it for me was the personable demeanor of everyone and in my opinion going above and beyond to make me the customer a priority. Thank you La Lucha for your outstanding customer service...

If you're looking for true Southern comfort elevated, La Lucha delivers in spades. From the moment you walk in, you already know you’re in for something special: warm vibes, a touch of glam, and that unmistakable aroma of seafood and fried chicken doing their thing.

Red Fish on the Half Shell: This was something else. The fish was fresh, flaky, with just the right char, and sitting on that half shell added a theatrical flair. Briny, clean, and full of Gulf flavor. Every bite felt like it had been crafted with intention.

Fried Chicken (with 4 sauces): If heaven had a taste, this chicken nailed it. Crispy, perfectly fried skin that stayed crunchy even after a few minutes. The chicken inside? Juicy, moist, and absolutely comforting. And those sauces? Honey‑sambal, oyster mayo, green harissa, and a seasonal jam all doing different flavor pivot...sweet, spicy, tangy, umami...so no matter how you dipped, it was good.

Shrimp / Pork Dumplings: A brilliant break from the usual Southern lineup. These dumplings brought some texture (those soft, chewy wrappers) and richness from the pork and shrimp blend. Flavorful sauce, good heat, and just enough to want more.

Sides & Atmosphere: Warm biscuits, perfect pickles, maybe even a jam or two; the supporting cast is strong. The place feels polished but not pretentious: good lighting, friendly but not overbearing service, and a bar that’s worth grabbing a drink at.

Service: Attentive. Knowledgeable. When you want recommendations, they’ve got them. When you just want to take your time and enjoy, they give you space.

Value: It’s not “cheap eats,” but what you get: quality, flavor, portion size, everything makes it absolutely worth it. You end up feeling well fed, happy, and like you didn’t settle anywhere less than excellent.

Sometimes flavors can skew salty especially on fried things. Not always, but when the batter is especially bold, it can lean that direction.

Valet parking is the norm, and parking spots can feel tight or a bit of a hassle if it’s busy. But again, small price to pay for the payoff on the plate.

La Lucha isn’t just one of the best Southern / seafood‑fusion places in Houston, it is one of the best. If you’re craving fried chicken that knocks, oysters that sing, dumplings that surprise, or fish that hits that sweet spot between rustic and refined, this is your spot. Everybody buzzing here for...