Hot Fish House — Restaurant in Lakewood

From the moment we stepped into The Hot Fish House, we were wrapped in a wave of soul, sound, and savory perfection. The air was thick with the rich rhythm of classic 80s hits — from the genius of Ray Charles to the smooth croon of Lionel Richie — filling the room with a nostalgic, joyful energy that brought people together, not just to eat, but to celebrate life.

And celebrate we did.

The mac and cheese — oh, the mac and cheese — was a decadent, velvety masterpiece. Golden-topped and baked to perfection, it held the warmth of generations, like someone’s grandma had just whispered a secret into every bite. It was rich, creamy, and impossible to put down.

Then came the catfish: tender, perfectly seasoned, its crispy cornmeal crust giving way to a melt-in-your-mouth interior. Paired with golden crinkle-cut fries, it was Southern comfort at its most refined. The cod, meanwhile, was juicy and pristine, kissed by lemon, the bright citrus dancing effortlessly across the taste buds with every bite — a sultry delight indeed.

The lemon-lime daiquiri was a showstopper on its own — tangy, refreshing, with a hint of lemon zest that lingered like the closing note of a Marvin Gaye ballad. It lifted the meal and our spirits to a whole new level.

Mid-meal, the staff greeted us personally — not out of obligation, but with sincere warmth. They thanked us for being part of the magic that happens daily at the Fish House, for helping carry forward a tradition that inspires not just meals, but movements. It was a reminder that this place is more than a restaurant — it’s a living, breathing piece of culture.

Thank you, Veteran/Chef Quinton Gethers, whose vision, grounded in his Charlestonian roots and the enduring traditions of the rural South, brought this soul sanctuary to life. And a heartfelt thank you to Grandmama Virginia Pearl Brown, whose love, lessons, and legacy flavor every dish. Her spirit lives in every bite.

My husband and I couldn’t stop dancing, singing, laughing — this food doesn’t just feed the body, it lifts the soul. This place connects people. It builds life-lasting bonds. It upholds the richness of the African American community and reminds us of our roots, our power, our sacred bond as a people.

This is the...

We were excited to try this place after reading all the good reviews. There aren't a lot of southern cooked food options in Tacoma. Unfortunately, as it goes sometimes, the experience did not match up to the reviews.

I'll start with the shining star of the experience which was the catfish. It was crisp and pretty tasty. Possibly a little under seasoned but the crisp batter and moist fish made up for any of that.

Next, we'll get to the shrimp. The batter wasn't crisp and the shrimp had a bit of a fishy taste to them. They were overcooked and rubbery.

The shrimp and grits were palatable but were served early and sat while the other food was being cooked. The grits kind of congealed on the bottom. Overall, edible but there's better shrimp and grits in the area.

Now it's time for the sides. What a disappointment. The fries were bland and almost undercooked. Even two kids that love less seasoned French fries wouldn't eat them. As an adult? There are multiple fast-food places with better French fries. Almost all of them.

We tried ordering the collard greens but despite sitting on the counter next to all of our food we drove home, and they weren't in the bag. We paid for them but didn't receive them. More on that later.

The jambalaya was under seasoned, and the texture was mushy. I've had better rice out of a microwave bag.

Last but not least, we tried calling their listed phone number multiple times to order. After we got home and realized they neglected to give us a side we tried calling a bunch more times. Then later in the evening we tried more times before they closed. Nothing. Ring and ring and ring and then it goes to a voicemail box that can't take messages. We also tried to email to the address listed on their website and it bounced back as undeliverable.

Overall, this was one of the most expensive mediocre meals we've ever had. I should have listened to the dissenting review on Yelp that brought up nearly all the same points I did. We could have saved our money and spent it on a meal worthy of the cost. We will not be returning to this place despite the catfish being solid. Poor food, poor service, and astronomical prices are a bad combo when you're running...

I have had this spot on my bucket list for a while but the only days we were able to drop in were when they were closed. However, we got the chance to check them out on Sunday morning after dropping off our dog for a grooming appointment. We entered and were greeted with a gorgeous restaurant that was blasting soul music. There were a few people ahead of us which was fine as we got to look at the menu to see what we wanted. Our cashier was polite with us and made sure to read back our order to ensure it was correct. It was nice to listen to her sing along with the music playing too.

I got the shrimp and grits while my boyfriend got the smoked turkey leg. Our order did take quite some time, like maybe 30-40 minutes but we enjoyed the vibes and each other's company. We later find out from our cashier/cook who told us that she saw we were busy chatting and wanted to make a fresh batch of grits for me so I'm grateful for that. The food was absolutely some of the best soul food that I think I had in Washington state, which I know may not be saying a lot but there are also a few Southern stables in Washington. The shrimp and grits were just heavenly and comforting. The smoked turkey leg is definitely worth the menu and you will be leaving with leftovers unless you have a big appetite. I also didn't know that it came with cornbread which was also so good as it is already sucked with some honey and it was just a fluffy sweet cloud. Just melts in your mouth! We also did get the sweet tea and it was probably one of the best sweet teas that I had ever had as it was simply refreshing!

My only complaint was that my shrimp and grits was supposed to come with egg but I did not receive egg in my order which was disappointing. I was so hungry though so I just ate my food without thinking to ask since the female employee did mention she made my grits fresh. Other than that, we are definitely wanting to come back to try out some...