Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp — Restaurant in Lufkin

Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp

Since moving to East Texas at the end of 2019 my search to satisfy my New Orleans’ taste buds have found a few delightful and delicious establishments.

Tia Juanita is one of those few. Highly recommended by a new acquaintance in a conversation concerning tasty and properly prepared New Orleans type food in local restaurants in East Texas my wife and I struck happiness.

A Culinary Smile appeared on both our faces. This is a neighborhood style restaurant with a Home Run type of menu and a Grand Slam kitchen staff. Obviously a staff properly trained in the way food is prepared in South Louisiana with a hint of Mexican flavor.

Now to what we splurged on from a diversified and difficult to select menu.

Chips & Queso Large portion and good Queso

Gumbo My selection and I only did the Cup, although two larger sizes are available, to check them out. Also selected the Chicken and Sausage over the Seafood. Fantastic and on my next visit will start out with a larger bowl. Rice was prepared nicely and Gumbo with a Dark Roux.

Crab Cakes Two grilled Lump Crab Meat Cakes with a Rémoulade Sauce. Second best Crab Cakes we have enjoyed outside New Orleans.

Char Grilled Oysters Traditionally prepared with Garlic Butter and Parmesan. Had to send my pleasure to the Chef. So satisfying.

Shrimp Brochette Six Jumbo Bacon wrapped Shrimp stuffed with Jalapeño and Mozzarella Cheese, Jalapeño Grits and sautéed Veggies along with a side of Pineapple Pico de Gallo. Absolutely some of the best grits you will taste. And the container of Mexican Butter served with this dish is something I could get baptized in.

Location of the restaurant is in a nice area with lots of parking. Clean restrooms and very large area to dine, drink, or listen to music.

Diversified and tasty menu making it difficult to decide what to order. Large selection of drinks including wine and beer.

Ashley took care of us and will be requested on out next visit. Felipe is the very personable and professional Manager and takes care of business with Baleigh.

Unfortunately we do not live in Lufkin but Tia Juanita will be good enough reason to...

Bad bad experience at the Lufkin Tia Juanita..my hubby and I have gone there at least once a week, if not more, since they opened here. But today was absolutely the worst ever!!!! We were meeting several friends for a birthday get together, 7 folks in our party. We waited for our table and once I saw where they were seating us, I simply asked if we could move to another table...btw, the staff were in process of cleaning said table, but we were the first of our party to arrive so there was no rush. I had never sat at the original table and also NEVER been waited this was all happening within minutes. I asked the hostess to see if we could move. She left the table (I'm still standing) and returned and so NO as per manager assist Daphane. I said let me go see. I was told NO bc I'd already been seated and the table I wanted had been assigned...ok I left and returned to my table..I watched the other table over 8 minutes with no one ( these are tables were exactly the same just one was in the back and one in the front. Our server came who was very nice and we ordered our drinks..second couple of our party arrives and isn't happy with the table and asked the waiter if we couple move to the front, where this table is still empty...he checks and says sure!!! WHAT??? I was told no now we can move??? Bottom line no one was ever sitting at the table I very nicely asked for. I think Ms. Daphene must have been having a bad day, but dont take it out on customers..in the end we tipped the first kid for moving us. Then to top it all off the food took forever, longer than we have ever waited! This may all seem trivial but when you pay as much as you do you expect great service!!! Today was just not the case!! We are just gonna let them be for awhile and most definitely wont refer anyone else there for a while either! Sorry Tia Juanita's...

I first discovered this place at the location in beaumont. It was great. Then I started eating at the location in Port Arthur and it too was wonderful. After my aunt's death I started eating at the ones more local to my area like the one in Lufkin and henderson. I haven't eaten at the one in Port Arthur or Beaumont in several years but I can say that the ones in Lufkin and Henderson are really bad. And I am so disappointed. It has been almost 3 years now since I got what could be considered an actually good meal at either location. I have gotten a couple of halfway decent meals but good meals are now a thing of the past and I have quit eating or all together. I love seafood gumbo. And the locations farther south used to serve really good gumbo. But these locations have not served good gumbo in years. In fact the last five times I've ordered gumbo from them the room has been burned and the gumbo has a horrible burned flavor that anyone, having tasted it in the kitchen, would have known not to send that out to the floor but they do anyway. I realize that good help is hard to find but if something is bad, don't send it out onto the floor. My good friend used to always order the Cajun girl po-boy and it would arrive burned. She was always too polite to send it back and I don't like to override the decision of others but the last time it was so burned that she literally wouldn't eat it and I made them take it back and correct it. It's as if there is no manager ever checking the food coming out and they are happy to send out whatever the kitchen throws on the counter. This used to be a a good restaurant with good all-around food but it's been so long since they have had a single consistent meal that I no longer go to tijuanitas for any reason. And it's a shame because it used to be a...