Lucha Cantina — Restaurant in Rockford Township

First review- 5 stars.

It was my boyfriend and I’s first time at Lucha Cantina and we really enjoyed it. What made me want to visit was because someone from work brought in the chips and salsa and I thought to myself I NEED MORE. My coworker said, “I only really go there for their chips and salsa”, and I can see why. They have the freshest ingredients in their salsas with a variety of flavors, and chips made in-house. My boyfriend ordered carnitas tacos and they did not disappoint. Get the homemade corn tortillas for an extra buck more, they were kinda worth it. What made our experience special was our kind server, Steph B. She was so easy to talk to and she knew her stuff. She even gave us an extra bag of chips to take home with us without us even asking :) Anyways, the feel of the space is very retro colors meets chic. I will be going again with my mom who is also a chips and salsa fanatic (but then again, who isn’t?). These though, were worth driving 30 minutes for :D

UPDATE A half of a star if I could, only for their chips and salsa tasting like they did last time.

I brought my family for the first on a Friday, my second, and I could not be more disappointed, WOW. I had high hopes and was so excited to show my family what I experienced the first time visiting Lucha Cantina. Right away when we arrived, the hostess’ were so clueless it was not even funny. There were dirty tables left for about ten minutes that could have been sat. There was NO bus boy visible. I never ONCE saw the manager. The server was so flippin rude to us right from the gecko because we wanted to move around the tables to accommodate our party, and so that we could see each other. She insisted that there was going to be no room and we were going to be in the way, but there was CLEARLY enough room for even ANOTHER table. She seemed to get aggressive and after we asked to speak to the manager, she eventually moved the tables for us. She had a very rude tone when she was asking us to get out of her way, even when I was helping her. She quickly realized we were right and there was in fact room. She left us to wait for about 10 minutes after we knew what we wanted from waiting an hour because there were no open tables, looking at the menus. She came back out, acting as if nothing ever happened, which I thought, okay, I’ll try to forget too. After waiting almost 50 minutes for our food, we finally got it. Never once was our table cleaned off from old dishes.Knowing how a restaurant should run for the most part from learning being a hostess and a server for 5 years at two different restaurants- THIS was not the way one should run. Especially after seeming like a restaurant who has a name as a higher end restaurant. I would think by now they would have their act together and know how to give good quality service, even on a Friday, but I am very disappointed to say that Lucha...

Shout out to our waiter, Jake! Even though my expectation was more traditional, this restaurant and staff did not disappoint with its friendliness, execution and follow-up. Jake was very polite and informative and was prompt on the follow-up for refills. Check-out was hassle-free.

My bf and I discussed the food with each other while we were there, and we both agreed that the food looked, smelled and tasted fresh and good. The salsa was delicious and did not overpower the flavor of the food, the green salsa had a nice kick to it as well, the meats were tender and juicy and were complimented well with the surrounding flavors.

The white rice was a dry-textured rice which is my favorite and I could smell an aromatic on them - cilantro maybe? I'm not too good with names of ingredients, but it was good, and the beans I could tell were seasoned. I was able to enjoy my beverage for its taste and not because any of the food was dry. To other diners, I would say please do not confuse dry texture with a dry taste. There's nothing I dislike more, personally, than wet slimy rice, so the dry texture is my favorite. The rice was seasoned ofc with that cilantro aromatic. I really enjoyed it!

The restaurant is not a traditional mexican/spanish environment, but it still does not disappoint and provides a fine dining experience. What you're paying for are quality ingredients served fresh and plated very nicely (really, the presentation of the food was very clean) and a very accommodating and friendly staff. I would also like to point out that the restaurant offers a lot of vegan options as well! While I myself am not vegan, I like that the menu was very flexible and easy to read.

Overall, the restaurant still deserves 5 stars in my book and our compliments to the chef(s)! Thank you for your friendly...

Lucha Cantina in Rockford, IL, offers a lively and vibrant atmosphere with its eclectic decor featuring bright, colorful, murals and sugar skull statues. The restaurant has a fun vibe, with options for private parties and an inviting outdoor dining area. Tequila lovers will appreciate the extensive selection, including some limited-edition options you can purchase and enjoy at home.

The food experience is a mixed bag. The menu thoughtfully includes gluten-sensitive options, which is a plus. We tried three appetizers: the yucca tater tots, ribeye steak tacos, and a bowl of chips with pineapple salsa, habanero salsa, and house-made guacamole.

The yucca tater tots were a standout, crispy on the outside and warm with a well-seasoned interior, complemented perfectly by the smoky, spicy chipotle mayo. The pineapple salsa was a delightful blend of spice and sweetness, while the habanero salsa offered a rich, smoky flavor with cumin and garlic. (Personally, I like when the vegetables in salsas are chopped smaller, and less watery).

However, the ribeye steak tacos were disappointing. They came warm but not freshly cooked, leading to a dry, less tender steak, and the rice was similarly dry. The guacamole was smooth and creamy, though it leaned heavily on cumin and garlic, which may not suit everyone’s taste.

On the drink front, the Southside Adjacent cocktail, made with gin alternative, fresh lime, mint, and soda water, was refreshingly excellent.

I’d consider returning if the steak in the tacos were prepared fajita-style and served hot. The pickled jalapenos could use more pickling for a better punch. Overall, Lucha Cantina is fun and has potential, but there’s room for improvement...