Cactus Reviews

4.4

69 of 3,215 Restaurants in Seattle


Reviews

I’ll be back

By Charles S |

Went for Sunday dinner and had a great meal. I had a brisket burrito that was really good and the soup was thick and full of favors.

Great braised brisket

By Daniel D |

I am giving this place four stars based on the braised brisket tacos alone. I also had a fish taco which I didn’t much care for. It was heavily breaded and too well done for my taste. They have great salsa here and the guacamole was just ok. Overall, the brisket was good enough that I would come back just for that.

Great Sunday brunch

By Lalyc |

The restaurant across the street was full until mid afternoon so we walked across the street to Cactus. I am glad we did! We started with chips and guacamole- delicious - a little spicy but not too much. Then we both ordered huevos rancheros- black beans, tortillas and a delicious runny egg on top. We finished up splitting the flan - creamy and sweet. Staff was friendly - they let us in a few minutes before opening because it was cold outside! Warm people, warm food.

So many choices on the menu. Christian was very attentive and helpful.

By tfowler7 |

Best Mexican!!! If this was in my hone town I’d be here 3-4 times a week. Everything was amazing. The rice and Beans were even the best I’ve had.

An excellent brunch in a Seattle neighborhood

By connieSanibel_Fl |

Cactus features Southwest cuisine, especially New Mexican. We had a great Bloody Mary, a tacos carnitas, and the New Mexico enchilada, which was one of the best brunches we have ever had. And we have been eating brunches for a long time. The service was quick and friendly.

Quality interesting food at reasonable price

By drjudo |

Chose this place based on its interesting menu. Was quite lively inside, with good decor and music. I ordered the house margarita, which was good and slightly cheaper at happy hour, and the grilled jalapeños - three bacon-wrapped peppers with a mild goat’s cheese filling. The jalapeños had a nice fresh charred fruity taste and were not excessively spicy. My main course was the carne asada, juicy and cooked as ordered, and topped with a rich chilli salsa. It came with excellent spiced refried black beans, homemade yellow corn tortilla, an unnecessary grilled large spring onion and lime corn (I’m no fan of sweetcorn but this was okay). I finished off with the Cuban flan, which was rich and silky. Total was a reasonable $45. Prompt and friendly service. Definitely recommend!

Surprisingly Good

By james n |

So for a chain restaurant I was not expecting the food and service to be as good as it was. I was expecting an "average" Mexican meal but instead found the atmosphere, the food and service above average. The salsa was good. I tried their ceviche and it was pretty good. For a main I had the Flank Stake and it was very good. The cut of meat and the cook was very good and the flavor was spot on. Just the right amount of heat! Very surprised at the over all experience. Definitely worth checking out. And the service staff was very good.

Nah

By BowmanInc |

What does it say about a Mexican restaurant when the favorite thing you ate were the complimentary chips and salsa? I ordered the Green Enchiladas ($14.50) - Blue corn tortillas and shredded chicken with Jack cheese, garlicky tomatillo salsa and sour cream. Not great. They just tasted bland. My $8 Cactus Margarita was nice and strong. My server seemed dour. Total damage for one person after tip = $30 I wouldn't return.

Good honest Mexican food

By Nick |

Second time I've been here and enjoyed it equally as much. The brisket burrito is flavoursome, filling and they do solid margaritas. Service is always great and the atmosphere has a bit of a buzz. Good place to sit outside when the weather permits.

Good Mexican food

By Lynn L |

We had dinner here; had a short wait for a table for 6. Restaurant a bit noisy, but food good. Value for quantity was good, especially compared to other city locations. Chips were fresh and tasty. Be careful if waiter offers desert as though it's complimentary; it's not!

Great!

By Travel 1 |

Great atmosphere and food! Moderate priced. Fun place to go with a group. Parking is a little difficult to find.

Delicious Food, Great Service

By Kevin B |

Cactus is a great restaurant with terrific atmosphere. The wait staff is superb - very efficient and friendly. Quite a wide menu selection with some very unique options. The prices are a bit high for Seattle, but not bad for the South Lake Union area. The guacamole is great, but not worth $7.

I'm from Texas

By okhannahko |

This is decent "Mexican" food. Definitely not Tex Mex and not even close to the real thing but it's the best in the PNW.

Solid food and friendly staff

By Rasmus Preston |

Really enjoyed my lunch at Cactus. The Butternut Squash enchiladas are superb. The staff are super friendly, talkative and service is super fast. Didn't even wait 5 minutes for my food. They even gave me a free desert, as it was my first time visiting. My new favorite place!

Amazing!

By Michele W |

Everything we had was amazing! Skirt steak salad, prawn tacos, steak tacos, and flan. So tasty and a great atmosphere. Waitress was fantastic, food was fast, and the manager stopped by to chat and give us free flan since it was our first time. I’ll be visiting the next time in Seattle!

Absolutely delicious & fun!

By Ascolovesla |

Cocktails and margs were delicious. The food was even better and big portion sizes. I was able to get 2 meals out of my dinner. This place is busy, so reservation is recommended. Love the decor and style.

Great PNW spin on Tex-Mex

By Jackson Teal |

Great PNW spin on Tex-Mex with all the main hits. Tried the fish tacos, chips and salsa, and spicy shrimp and it was all fantastic. We’ll definitely be back. They’ve also got a nice heated outdoor dining area shielded from the wind.

Seattle Family Reunion

By George M |

Food was great. I had smoked brisket burrito--terrific. Wife had an excellent chicken fajita. Portions were large, salsa great, prices were higher than I am used to, but worth it. Only wish I could bring it back to devour it all.

Unexpected Flavor Bomb Delight

By rainbirdreader |

We were in the area yet again for medical and wanted to try a different place than our regular haunts. Being from NM, I am always up for southwest flavors or anything in a tortilla while my husband usually wants rice based cuisines. From the first cheerful greeting and comfortable padded booth seating to the piping hot chips, queso and plates of food, we were just IMPRESSED by this restaurant. I absolutely loved the house salsa. Eating my delicious "Green Enchiladas" I literally said to my husband "these aren't authentic to NM but they sure are good" finding out soon thereafter that Cactus tries to deliver just that...the flavor you love with fresh takes on familar favorites. My husband had a red chile sauced fried chicken. I especially loved our ice cold crudite starter of jicama, cucumber and bell pepper seasoned with chili lime salt....pick some up at Trader Joes if you agree how good it is 'cause it sure tasted the same to me and that is a good thing. We were stuffed at the end of the reasonably priced meal ....plan about $30 per person plus drinks...but staff comped us some flan for being new customers. I can't wait to go back!

Delicious food, great service

By lilas_buddies |

We visited the downtown location. Although we only had a party of five they allowed us to make a reservation since we were on a tight timeline which was very helpful! The service was friendly prompt and attentive, bringing refills of chips and salsa, and water, right on queue The food was very good, and we had a whole variety of meal types. An enjoyable meal all around!

Nice Bar

By OldRoadWarrior60 |

I arrived during Happy Hour on a Monday. There was a pretty good crowd in the bar area. The bar tender was friendly and attentive. The Classic Margarita was tasty, but the pint glass was filled with ice, so I opted for a Dos Equis draft after my first round. The food was all good if not outstanding. Maybe 3.5 stars? If in the neighborhood I'd go back, but I wouldn't travel too far to eat there again.

Good, not great

By myklrl |

The pros: Excellent friendly service. The manager even went the extra mile with a free dessert as it was out first visit. The enchiladas and Navajo bread were really good. Prices were fair and the atmosphere is lively. The cons: I really thought their chips and salsa were very weak. Bland and uninspired. I also felt the staff didn't really know what to recommend...they were sort of all over the board with their suggestions. I tip this slightly above 3 stars, and give it 4 only because I feel like they really are trying and have a good thing going. Just get those chips and salsa up to par and you'll have me sold.

Well handled snafu amazing food

By Nate M |

My wife and I had dinner here and the food was amazing. Highly recommend eating here. Not only was the food good but the service was incredibly fast. The restaurant was packed but our food was delivered less then 5 minutes after we put in the order. Utterly amazing. You really get a good idea of the quality of a restaurant based on how they handle a mistake. We had ordered 2 cokes with our dinner, but our dinner was delivered and consumed before our server realized he forgot our cokes. This was also the first time he checked on the table after the food was delivered. Without a hint of hesitation he promptly brought our cokes at no charge and offered up a delicious desert at no charge. I did not even hint that it was necessary to do those things. That is an amazing restaurant that empowers their employees to correct an issue on their own.

Excellent

By JRJ |

Food and service were great! Highly recommended! Went for happy hour - food and drinks were cheap and delicious.

Reliable, consistent

By Maria B |

I usually go to the Bellevue location but we wanted to get away from the Eastside so ended up here. It was a gorgeous evening and we managed to get an outside table. Pity it's right on the street but still lovely. As it got later the overhead heat lamps came on which made it really comfortable to linger as it got colder. The food here was just the same as Bellevue, I had my favorite, the Shrimp and Kale salad, and my friend had the spa chicken. Both great. Service good, chips and dip yummy with the chips nice and warm and salty, and the margaritas on the spot. One of my favorites.

Great tacos and drinks

By Terri K |

Great food! We got the street tacos and fish tacos and both were delicious and flavored well. Chips and Guac were good too.

Great authentic Mexican and Flan!

By Stephenie S |

I went to Mexico and came immediately back to Cactus to have the flan. I had been craving it while in Mexico. The food is authentic and delicious. The flan is so good that I sometimes pick up a couple of them to go. Seriously, even if you don't like flan, try it. Tip - The SLU restaurant is in near a lot of offices and gets packed for lunch. Try happy hour or dinner for faster service.

Fun Spot with great food

By Brook F |

You just can't go wrong with Cactus. Their food and beverage options are always good and a real variety. Love their fish tacos and their other entree's won't dissapoint.

Great place for lunch, fun and delicious

By Quazi F |

I had a great braised brisket chimichanga for lunch. The presentation was great and the food tasted very good. Service is fast and efficient. Prices are reasonable.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!

By Wildwoodatheart |

We were here for a wedding celebration of all things. (Not many restaurants in Seattle will take reservations for larger groups. We had 11 people.) The staff here were absolutely fantastic in accomodating our group. They had a nice long table set up, and service was top notch. We all felt so special, but the bride and groom were especially ecstatic. We were allowed to bring in a celebration cake of our own. Everyone ordered a different meal, and all were wonderful. Drinks were served quickly. I had a couple glasses of sangria, which was lovely. What a celebration, and what a wonderful place! We will definitely be back, but probably with a normal-sized group. This is now one of my favorites in Seattle!

pleasant... tasty choices

By Gacho |

This place is better than the normal “mexican” spots that seem to be everywhere... which are actually tex-mex. That being said, the ceviche was not great. The shrimp skewer was a bit on the sweet side, but it was ok. Try the baja margarita, it’s refreshing. ambiance is nice and lighting is dark, but well done. Service is friendly and quick.

Fantastic Brunch

By MomoADV |

Huevos Rancheros! House made Chorizo! Fresh squeezed Orange Juice! Hot green Chili biscuits. Even chicken and waffles. You will be pleased with this choice for brunch.

Great food and service!

By lillimack |

Stumbled upon Cactus as we were roaming around looking for a spot to eat dinner. The inviting atmosphere and (not too loud) music drew us in. We were impressed with the quality of the food and the thoughtful service. I highly recommend the butternut squash enchiladas! At the end of the night, the manager brought us a complimentary dessert because the server told him it was our first time visiting. So nice! A great spot for a casual and delicious bite!

Real Mexican food

By rra_100 |

A great Mexican eating experience. From the décor to the drinks and food you definitely feel like you could have been in Mexico. The food is really tasty, and has a great execution. Service is excellent.

The Cactus?

By Samsonite_0 |

Not all Cactus restaurants are equal unfortunately. The Cactus restaurant on Alki is definitely #1, but the one in south Lake Union is questionable. Food didn’t seem scrumptious, yet I found what was plastic or thick paper blended with my taco and almost ate it, lost my appetite for a sec. Ordered between lunch hours when it’s not very busy. How do you mess this one up when there’s no rush, I was literally the only person picking food up with no tables occupied. I’m saying no to another visit, get it together guys….

Not from scratch, not good value

By UBayFoodie |

Happy hour is just ok, they make the Margarita mix earlier in the day...Not the best margaritas, even when a squeeze of fresh lime is added...it's tough to share some of the appetizers with a group, the bean dip comes in a little jar, more high than wide, so scooping with chips is tough...it would be more appealing and easier to eat spread out on a plate ...don't ask for a low calorie Margarita, you'll get a regular Margarita with soda in place of some of the mix; the kicker is, this costs you twice as much and comes on a smaller glass! There are better choices for Mexican happy hour.

Decent Mexican Meal

By pabirds |

The atmosphere here is nice, especially in good weather as they open up the wall windows to the outdoors. The food was standard Mexican, but good, with all you'd expect on this sort of menu. Lots of margarita options.

Veggi options - Great service, food, drink, atmosphere.

By Connor H |

5/5 - unreal service, food, and atmosphere. Sat at the bar for dinner and a drink by myself during a work trip to Seattle. Sooo happy I went to Cactus. Got the veggie chimichanga and the collaboration Mexican beer. Both fantastic. The service was super fast and the food and drink were great. They brought me out a small desert flan as it was my first time at Cactus. Really nice caring touch.  Would very highly recommend this place to others. I’m vegetarian and there are lots of options!!!

Amazing food!

By Navy89 |

Our first time here and from start to finish our dinner was amazing. Attentive yet non-intrusive service. Food was crazy good from the jalepeno pepper appetizer to the guacamole and our brisket chimichanga. Their salsa is delicious as well as the margaritas. If we lived in Seattle we would eat here all the time!

Great place for breakfast or brunch!

By Krisinseattle |

Had intended to go to Portage Bay but due to the over hour wait, ended up at Cactus across the street! Had a great breakfast of Huevos Rancheros ($12.50), Migas ($13.50) and the Chicken and Waffe ($14), which I think more as a Southern dish (Charleston) rather than Southwest. All were very good, service was good and the coffee good. Music was quite loud, a bit hard to talk over, and portions were larger than necessary (no one finished their plate). Would definitely recommend, and the lunch and dinner menus looked delicious!

Disappointing service and standard food

By @Person185 |

This restaurant has shown to have average food and not very good service. We were told we would have to wait because they were short staffed, which makes sense. However, we waited much past the time they had originally said. While we were waiting, we were unable to get drinks at the bar because not all members of our party were 21, so we sat out side for almost 30 minutes and were very thirsty. Our server seemed uninterested in us and did not feel the most welcoming. The service was very casual and we didn’t feel it was anything special. The food was very standard for a Mexican-American restaurant, nothing really stood out. The rice and beans alone were very good. Overall, we were disappointed because we thought it was going to be very memorable food, but it did not turn out that way.

Very good dinner experience overall

By DeeEss |

My wife and I had dinner at Cactus on our last night in Seattle. Even though the food and service weren't perfect, we enjoyed the experience overall. I made online reservations, and we were seated immediately when we arrived (outside, at our request). We started with margaritas, the Cactus for me and the Oaxaca for my wife. The Cactus was okay, but it had a lot of juice -- the Oaxaca was better, and for our second round, we both ordered that. We didn't order any appetizers, but we were served chips and salsa. There were lots of appealing items on the menu, so it was difficult to choose our dinners, but with our server Colin's help, we finally did: I had the Camarones D’ El Diablo prawn tacos, and my wife had the Butternut Squash Enchiladas. Both were pretty good, but the enchiladas were better. We didn't order dessert, but we were served a complimentary (and tasty) Three Milk Cuban Flan, which apparently they do for first-time diners. Colin was very engaging and helpful when we made our menu choices, but not very attentive once we received our food. We had a wait quite a while for our drinks, though the food came out quickly after we ordered it. Prices were very reasonable. If we were back in the area we would try Cactus again.

Excellent service and a superb meal!

By VAD859 |

The chicken fajitas with a plate of garnishes--cheese, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes-- was more than one meal so getting a carryout container was merited. Accompanied by warm tortilla soup, black beans, caramelized onions, and Mexican rice, this meal is highly recommended. And...Let's not forget those warm chips with freshly made chunky salsa. Oh, my! Talk about good. Dave room for the best flan ever. Served chilled with creamy caramel sauce, this custard literally melts in your mouth. Service is impeccable. The environment inviting. Recommend highly when in the Lake Union and Center City area.

Excellent Food & Service

By Ray W |

Tried this Mexican during our visit to Seattle - Lovely food and service - Manager came over and thanked us for choosing his restaurant, and gave us a complementary desert - Worth a visit if you are up that end of the City

Quality food & service

By jaydent1402 |

We went there for brunch only because the recommended cafe across the road was way too busy. Totally worth it! Awesome service from the moment we walked in and the food was even better.

Great lunch place

By Alex P |

Good food, great atmosphere, excellent location, awesome guacamole! Very popular with lunxh crowd from nearby Amazon campus, so do come early.

Good authentic food

By Mary B |

I am from Texas and being skeptical of Mexican food outside of Texas. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The food was authentic and fresh. The service was very good

Spicy fusion YUM!

By Sarah H |

I stopped by for lunch to go, and sipped a sage-citrus cocktail while waiting for my bean tamales with chipotle kale salad. Everything was delicious and the service friendly and attentive in the bar section.

Everything was perfect

By Lorrie B |

We spend a lot of time travelling and subsequently eating out. And no matter where we go, it can usually be said, "this was good but......." because inevitably there is always something that is a little off. But I can't say this about our trip to Cactus, literally everything about the experience was perfect! The location was great, the decor warm and inviting on a rainy Seattle night, the server top notch! And then the food, plentiful, flavorful, interesting and delicious! And then once we'd stuffed ourselves, they even sent us a dessert on the house because it was our first visit there. Was really a great time. Thank you.

Friendly staff and great Mexican food

By Alfonso F |

Very nice place to have lunch and/or dinner and they adapt to the time of day in order to best serve patrons. Beautiful selection of Mexican treats. Very quick to serve if you're in a hurry.

Worth a visit

By Samsla |

Excellent Mexican food and good service. Busy neighborhood at lunch time but we didn't have to wait.

Delicious food great atmosphere

By Jacqueline S |

We had a lovely tasty meal here, service was excellent and the quality of the food we had was brilliant we even took what we couldn’t eat away in a doggy bag. Good staff - would highly recommend

Delicious appetizers

By MJB |

We had the flautas, the chicken quesadilla, the camarones el diablo, and nachos with our margaritas. All very good.

Full menu available - delicious, fresh food and clean

By R W |

Had a great lunch here recently. They seem to take the virus situation seriously so we felt that everything was handled well in terms of cleanliness and distance to other tables. The food was fresh and delicious as usual and we appreciated the fact that they have their menu available unlike many restaurants that are running on a "small modified" menu! We were able to get some of our favorites. Parking was easy because of virtual work and the ambiance in the restaurant is nice. The manager came by and gave us a free flan for coming in which was a nice surprise. We'll be back!

Superbe romantic dinner

By oliviachristelle |

My husband and I tried Cactus on a recent trip to Seattle. It was a wonderful experience. The food was super fresh and tasty, the staff was attentive and very friendly. The home made tortillas and the flan 3 lèches are to die for!

Great West Coast Mexican Food!

By John K |

First, and foremost, we were greeted by Chief (yes, that's his name) and then Rachel, our server was great at helping us explore their menu. Ultimately, my wife and I had two delicious meals, and at a very reasonable price. Chief, who I believed to be the manager, even gave us an order of Flan on the house to thank us for coming in on our first visit to Seattle. Wish they had locations in Texas!

Modern Mexican

By terivogelsang |

Visited during Happy Hour for a great deal. The Happy Hour menu features a number of appetizers to allow you to make a meal. The three tacos were definitely my favorite and they have great guacamole.

Beautful restaurant, great service, food okay

By OneOfTheSisters |

A really beautiful environment that was fun but not too noisy. Great drinks including traditional margaritas and fun non-alcoholic drinks too. Great flavored salsa with the chips to start. Our server was very good. Two meals were excellent (BBQ tacos and Carne asada) and two were disappointing (Fajitas and Chimichunga). Rice and beans were not very well seasoned. Better options around for tex-mex.

Yummy Mexican in Seattle

By NC-World-Traveler-Sr |

Located in the South Lake Union area, we found this restaurant while walking around the area. We gave it a try and were very happy we did. Nice ambiance, good service and great food made for a very satisfying meal experience. Lots of variety on the menu to chose from. Food was well presented and piping hot on delivery. We recommend adding this place to your list for lunch or dinner.

Awesome place to mingle

By EndyBOSTON |

Been here with some work friends after hours, great atmosphere and wait staff. Their apps are great, as are the tacos. Good food, some of the best Mexican I've had. So good that I came back for take out.

Great place for a group

By Carol B |

We had 14 adults and 6 small children gather after a college graduation and it was wonderful. Reservations were made ahead of time and they were prepared for us and even printed menus with a Congratulations, Michael at the top. Really nice. The food was delicious and plenty of it. The service was great and we were well taken care of. I would heartily recommend this for good food and service for a large group. We were very pleased and everyone went away happy and we had a great time being with each other.

Great Mexican Restaurant

By B L |

Went here for dinner after spending the afternoon at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum and Space Needle in the Seattle Center. It is a bit of a walk from the Seattle Center, but walking is much easier and maybe even faster than trying to drive. We had the butternut squash enchiladas, which were excellent and the chicken fajitas. The fajitas were a little different than most fajitas that I have had - caramelized onions instead of peppers, but still very good. The member of our party who has celiac disease had dinner off of the gluten free menu and was fine. Like most restaurants in Seattle it is somewhat expensive, but not out of line The service was friendly and efficient. It would appear that there is absolutely no place to park around this restaurant.

Great Mexican food

By Amre M |

After going to two Mexican restaurants, we ended up here. To start, their chips and salsa was a good start especially the salsa one of the best ones. For the main course, we got the brisket burrito, steak fajitas, and kids brisket taco. All were excellent especially the brisket, it was to die for if you love brisket. Definitely recommend if you like Mexican food

Casual, Fun, & Delicious!

By LittlePuffy |

Located in the trendy South Lake Union area. Popular for a reason! The food is really good; a likeable combination of affordable yet fresh and delicious. We enjoy their outdoor seating whenever weather allows. Our server today, Oscar, was excellent!

good food; good drinks

By d1289 |

Good food, good drinks .. tried this place a few times now. We usually just go in for a few margaritas and appetizers which works well for us (especially during happy hour). It does get quite bust for sure so plan ahead ... especially when the sun comes out. Went twice on this trip and both times enjoyed our visit and snacks .. we will return for sure.

great food

By Yangling Z |

We got there on Sunday morning 10 AM, right when they opened. The waiter asked if we wanted chips and guacamole. We were a bit taken aback, being so early. It's very good, nevertheless. Main dishes were even better. I had this fried chicken, which has a piece breast and lots of other ingredients that created a very delicious flavor. One of the most memorable dishes in my memory. Another friend also commented how great her dish was.

Good place for a quick bite and drink

By Bruce C |

Overall it was a really good place and there were no negatives - just felt like something was missing and maybe it was ambiance. Food was pretty good, people were very nice and very helpful, and drinks were really good. We'd definitely go back for a quick stop like we did this time.

YUM YUM

By Frances V |

We love going to Cactus in Seattle or in Kirkland. Food is fabulous, everything is delicious. My favorite is a Chicken Fajita, the tortillas are hand made at Cactus adding a special touch to the food. Seasoning is excellent, great family restaurant or for celebrations. We have been there dozens of times and have loved it each time. We always take out of town company there for an easy meal with a vast menu sure to please anyone and great for children.

Good ambiance, Mexican with a flair

By fast72 |

We tried the Pepino Smash and Patron Agave for our drinks. Both were very good. We had steak fajitas and carne asada. The cuts of meat here were the best I had on my whole trip in Seattle. I thought menu prices were very reasonable. Our server also gave us a flan on the house as we were first time customers. We will be back next time we are in town!

Adequate

By Super D |

Very Loud atmosphere but service was good and fast. Uneventful meal don't really plan to go back. Blandish tasting mexican.

Good value and wide selection of Mexican food and drinks

By Mike B |

I have been to Cactus a number of times for both lunch, dinner and drinks. The service is quick and attentive and there is a good choice of food and drinks - all at reasonable prices. It can get quite crowded at lunch so it's worth reserving a table in advance if you can.

Guacamole was great

By MeraKi25 |

The guacamole was great... just the right amount of onion and jalapeño mixed in. Tone of chips come in a to go order. Fish tacos were ok, but nothing special.

Nothing prickly about this Cactus! Fantastic!

By TravelElixirofLife |

Walked by here many times during our three day stay in the area. So glad we wandered in for lunch today, and had the best meal of our trip! Just sorry we waited until our last day! Thanks to Josh and Brandon for their top notch service and hospitality, and the food was fresh, fantastic, and fairly priced (there are some very annoying pricing schemes in Seattle, but not at Cactus!), and a fun, chill vibe. Stop in and try for yourself - you won’t be disappointed!

Less impressed this time

By Rehsinup19 |

We came here for lunch and had an okay meal but enjoyed this less than we did on our last visit. The service was great but the food was bland.

Way Good

By Edunbar3 |

A cool spot in a great place with a very hip vibe and seriously awesome cocktails and a very delicious brunch menu across the board.

Chimichanga

By Michael |

I ordered a Chimichanga and I was very disappointed. I worked at Mexican resturant as a main cook and this was 1/2 a usual order. About 3 oz of meat, 1/2the size. Terrible. $14.5. Service was ok. Sorry but you need real improvements on this dish. Too bad your so skimpy. Should of read the reviews better.

Buzzy and fun place

By Back_to_Sandringham |

While there is nothing original about the concept (a modern take on Mexican food in a post-industrial lounge setting with trendy music and a huge drinks menu), Cactus delivers it well. The mushroom quesadillas were bursting with flavour, the fish tacos were nicely presented and the unexpected complementary flan at the end was a nice touch. The place was pretty packed, so things took a little while to arrive, but the atmosphere is lots of fun, so we didn’t mind. Recommended.

Love! Get the Butternut Squash Enchilada!

By rubyandasta |

We love this place, have been to the Lake Union, Alki and Kirkland locations and all are great. I always get the Spa Chicken and hubby always gets the Butternut Squash Enchilada. Both are fantastic. They also have very interesting margaritas, my fav is the Baja with cilantro and jalapeño. This time they had a seasonal one with Adobo, really tasty.

Wonderful for the Holidays

By Hal72 |

It is becoming a tradition to pick up our daughter at SeaTac and head to Cactus. Just missed brunch today but the dinner was probably even better. We had three different drinks; all very good. We had a vegetarian burrita, the holiday special red and green enchiladas, and the special short ribs. All were tasty, with well defined flavors. Nice sized portions and a great wait staff that was there when we needed them.

Great food and service.

By MisRay |

This food was so good. Waitress was on point and never let our chips or drinks get even halfway empty. Also got complimentary flan for being first-time customers. Well worth the visit and so easy to walk to from our downtown hotel.

Spicy Tamales, Yum!

By Norman S |

Veterinarian to steak fajitas, the food was great. Good service and a wonderful Margareta. I'd make this place a regular.

Wonderful meal, fun non-alcoholic drinks

By Laura L |

My husband, teenaged son, and I were in Seattle over our vacation. A friend who goes to Seattle for work frequently had suggested we try Cactus. It was short walk from our hotel in Lake Union, so we went there. Among the items we ordered were guacamole & chips and the braised brisket tacos and tacos pollo. They were quite delicious. I'm not a big drinker and our son isn't 21, but we both enjoyed two of the "no sin alcoholic" drinks. I had the Pepino Smash and my son had Mexican lemonade.

Great spot

By Helen |

Visited here 3 times, each time the service and food have been great. Prices are fair for what you get, portion sizes are good. Happy hour menu is great as well

Delicious and great service

By bendsy |

Very happy with our nice evening in this restaurant. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. There were plenty of veggie options and non-spicy dishes as well as the usual meaty and spicy Mexican dishes. The non-alcoholic cocktails were delicious and we got free refills. We even got a complimentary dessert. Cosy and comfortable, good value, very clean. Would happily go back.

Southwestern delight

By L B |

Apparently a chain and we try to find unique stand alone local restaurants. But this was great, like the reviews suggested. All the food was great, wonderfully prepared, ample portions. It’s southwestern , not your standard Mexican. But that was a great outcome for us as the standard Mexican (in US) can get a bit boring. All dishes were wonderful- the service was great too. Would highly recommend

Authentic Mexican!

By Perry I |

This place has all your favorites and then some. The homemade guacamole and salsa was fantastic. The Margaritas were great. The portions are very large. Thank you to the manager who brought us the coconut flan on the house for being first time customers.

Good Mexican Food with Nice Atmosphere

By Paula L |

The atmosphere is very nice and on a warm sunny day you can't beat sitting outside! I've had lunch there and for small parties (2 or 3) if you get there before noon, you usually don't need to wait for a table! Great salads, chips, salsa & guacamole! Their Happy Hour is pretty fun as well ... really tasty margaritas with a decent selection of happy hour appetizers

Good Mexican food near downtown Seattle

By AbhishekJS |

If you are near downtown Seattle and want to try some good Mexican food you should definitely to to this place. The place had good food and lively ambience and some fresh guacamole :) Go for the seafood enchiladas and Pablo's special estrada. Vegetarians can also find some good option there

Happy hour to remember

By Patti4709 |

My partner and I stopped here for a drink at happy hour on a busy Friday evening and stayed for dinner. Delicious margaritas and good selection of other drinks and beer. Very good salsa and guacamole as well. Had an order of tacos and spicy shrimp and a chicken quesadilla- all were good Friendly service and because it was our first visit we were a free dessert that was delicious. We will be back

Good mexican food

By Zano |

Quite good place for mexican food, with good service and reasonable price. I had a brisket burrito and it was quite good!

Best salsa we have ever had!!

By WayneR1956 |

We went there on a Saturday because of an invitation (we chose Saturday morning because of free parking and less traffic that time of day getting to Seattle) , the experience started out exceptional. we had salsa with chips and guacamole ( the guacamole was an extra charge), and as mentioned the salsa was the best we have ever had - anywhere. I had Brisket tacos, they were OK as long as I put salsa on it. My wife had the tortilla soup (she rated this very good), and the enchilada (she rated this good). I will say - the service was well above average (Thank you Morgan). But as far as food goes (except for the salsa) it was ~ average. A note on Parking - 2 Hour free on Saturday and Sunday.

Yummy Sou'western Mexican Food & good service

By OneWayVancouver |

Our group of four only needed to wait two minutes for a table. As soon as we were seated, our server brought a basket of tortilla chips with a bowl of salsa that had lots of fresh chopped coriander. We were quite hungry after an afternoon of sightseeing, and the chips & tasty salsa were just the ticket to tide us over while we looked at the menu. My wife ordered the Navajo Torta with additional braised beef & a house salad, while I ordered the Grilled Skirt Steak Salad. The other couple ordered the Gulf Shrimp in a spicy sauce special. My wife's salad arrived promptly; it was a good-sized portion of mixed greens with pumpkin seeds and a tasty vinaigrette dressing...and only $5! As we waited for our mains while my wife had her salad, our server brought another basket of chips & salsa. He must have known we were hungry! All our mains were nicely plated & delicious. My wife couldn't finish her big salad & her main, but I was able to eat the rest of her salad for her...which made my meal very filling. My skirt steak was very flavourful, and grilled rare to keep it from being chewy. My salad also had quite a bit of smoky bacon which combined perfectly with the dressing and greens. At only $11.59 + $3 for the additional braised beef, my wife's Navajo Torta was another big meal deal which she found delicious and very satisfying. I didn't try any of the shrimp special, but the other couple said it was delicious, & just right in size. A very busy restaurant, with mostly an after-work happy hour crowd. Overall, we were very happy with our choice of a place to eat.

Awesome

By Rodney D |

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,---oi,oi,oi. Do yourself a favour.and a flavour..... Great atmosphere and people of all nationalities.

Salsa is addicting

By Gregory B |

Good service and very good food The fajita and nacho were great. Loved the chips and salsa. Big thumbs up!

After a good dinner, went back for a brunch

By Mike B |

On vacation, after a good dinner here, we came back for brunch. I am writing a second review because the churro waffles were super fantastic delicious. They are worth making this a brunch destination. My wife had a chicken quesadilla (Pablo's Special) which was also very good. Shout out to Saphyre, who is an excellent server.

Good Mexican Food

By anitgeorge |

Not an expert in Mexican food, but I was really happy to try this place out. It is usually crowded around noon time on Mon-Fri. The quantity of certain dishes could be overwhelming!

Friendly Inviting Restaurant

By Chelsi S |

Delicious food and drinks with a lovely outdoor seating space for those who enjoy the fresh air. The vibe of the restaurant was and I’m sure still is fantastic with numerous groups of different individuals. I would recommend the sweet and tart key lime pie to finish off the meeting, family gathering or whatever entente calls for a relaxing, delectable restaurant.

Good Corporate Mexican food

By CaTraveler7777 |

We were there on a night when there was a light show at MOHAI and the place was much busier than usual, I'd guess. So it was slow getting the table turned around and it was slow getting the food. A couple of dishes were wrong and had to be sent back. The food was good, mild standard American/Mexican fare. It looked like a better place to get a beer after work in Amazonia than for a really good meal, but the food was good.

Great Go To Place

By jackiebr63 |

This is our usual go to place in downtown for a relatively inexpensive and usually always delicious dinner. We love the abundance of superb salsa and yummy chips (too yummy) and guacamole. My husband & I order the mushroom quesadilla appetizer with the shrimp fajitas and we are always totally satisfied with the flavors and the meal. Last night we also tried the Queso and the flavor was surprisingly good, not a velveeta flavor, but something much more tasty and ‘real’. It was absolutely packed but it was a Sunday Holiday weekend night & when the four of us have eaten here on previous Sundays, it’s usually quiet.

Decent Mexican Food with Outdoor Seating - Less Crowded with Amazon Working from Home!

By Third Day Adventures |

Cactus has been a good choice for Mexican Food in South Lake Union and we've been there several times in the last few years. We enjoyed our most recent visit as Cactus SLU has outdoor seating and (for better or for worse) it's less crowded than usual given that Amazon employees (who usually pack the place) are currently working from home. We also appreciated their efforts to reduce safety concerns during the Covid Pandemic ... - Pre-wrapped and sealed silverware and napkins (see photo) - Outdoor patio with numerous tables - Touchless menu and payment options (scan QR code for the menu and to pay the bill - see photo). Disclaimer: Clearly no restaurant can eliminate Covid risk 100% and this review isn't by any means a guarantee of a 100% safe experience, but we wanted to highlight the restaurant's efforts to reduce the risk and hope that they're able to "ride out the storm" so to speak and stay open until more of the Amazon employees come back to work.

Fresh food, friendly service

By JulyChild |

My friend and I sat at the bar and had a blast chatting it up with the server about everything from the food to Gilmore Girls! The food was fresh and delicious, and my margarita was great. It was packed but it's clear to see why, and that didn't affect the service. I'd definitely return here.

Wowed by the food and service

By LC F |

As first timers trying to get a good bite to eat we were "wowed" by their great customer service from the moment we walked in. Nice and clean restaurant and it was nice that we got our food quickly without having to wait a long time. Their guacamole tasted fresh and spicy and it was a good complement with their salsa. I got the burrito (or burrita is what they call it) which was AWESOME and my wife got the chimichanga which was crispy and spicy and YUM! My wife and I had a great time and to top it off, the manager thanked us personally for choosing their restaurant and gave us a free flan which we couldn't resist. And despite being too full from the dinner, we gobbled it up because it was so good and creamy. A big Kudos to our awesome server (who wore a Faith necklace), great food and an awesome experience at Cactus Restaurant!

Loved it!

By tenniswinegirl |

Great lunch! We are not local and a bit unsure about Mexican food in Seattle. Very pleasantly surprised! Salsa was very cold and fresh...different than what we are used to, but delicious! Good, inventive margaritas and mojitos. Creamy guacamole was very tasty. Loved the stacked butternut squash enchiladas...never would have ordered on my own, but trusted our server and was glad I did. Service was fast and friendly...even surprised us with delicious, complimentary dessert. Good mix of locals and tourists. Glad we stopped in!

Food was amazing!

By Rupal |

Food was amazing! Their chips and salsa and the guacamole. We had tacos and enchiladas! Worth the visit.

Unique Mexican restaurant

By TravelingWithJ |

I don't typically choose to have Mexican when I go out, but went with a group at a conference and pleasantly surprised. All the typical selections but with a unique preparation flare.

Not A Top Choice Restaurant

By VanEsq12 |

There were multiple people in this party, and so the three stars are an average of all our experiences. Mine was 1 star. I would never eat here again. I got the brisket tacos, and left 99% of it. I've never had anything as salty or greasy in my life. $18 wasted. It made me sick to look at it. The corn tortillas were literally saturated! Others in my party had eaten there once before and had one dish they felt like was worth the money. On the whole, this was not a favorite for both price, taste, food quality or service. The prices are high, the food heavily spiced and once we ordered, we only saw the server again for the check. There are many restaurants on this block. I'd try one of those.

Delicious

By arnonyogev |

The dishes are hearty and delicious. Good atmosphere, kind staff and vegeterian friendly. Highly recommended!

Upper scale Mexican food

By Pjveetwin |

I come here every year while visiting my sister as it's her favorite spot. I would consider this south western rather than Mexican food. A very nice high end setting with a full bar. I think happy hour is the best time to come! Not sure our server really knew the dish's this time, so I made a decision on my own. Everyone's food was very good. I had a Mayan style enchiladas, something you would not ordinarily find above the border. My wife had a seafood plate which she really enjoyed.

fun place

By Travel 1 |

Very nice atmosphere and food is great! Service is excellent and a wide variety of entrees. Parking can be a problem

Efficient service and high quality food

By ready2go123 |

Being from Southern Cal, I had modest expectations for a PNW Mexican restaurant. Met up with a colleague for lunch and had efficient service - food was ready so fast we weren’t sure it was ours! Very much appreciated to stay on schedule for lunch time. Quality was also excellent- I had the shrimp tacos. It was a little heavy on the sauce, but I like things pretty plain so I’m sure most would not have an issue. Will definitely recommend and be back for dinner time.

Brunch Goals: Cactus SLU Totally Nailed It

By Dave W |

If you’re in Seattle and not hitting up Cactus - South Lake Union for brunch, you’re seriously missing out. We rolled in with our pups (yes, it’s dog-friendly!) and snagged a spot on their heated patio—total vibe. Evan, our server, was a rockstar from start to finish and honestly made the whole experience feel next-level. Now the food? Ridiculous. The Dulce de Leche Donuts were pillowy magic, Churro Waffle was crispy with cinnamon-sugar perfection, and the Tres Leches French Toast… no words. Just order it. They even surprised us with a Three Milk Cuban Flan on the house for being first-timers. Who does that anymore? Cactus, you’ve got a new fan. Rating: 5/5 Dog tails wagged: 2/2 Would brunch again? 100% yes. #SeattleEats #BrunchVibes #DogFriendlySpots 🐾🍩🍮

Your Average 'Mexican'

By TSinParis |

I had dinner here with a colleague last week. The food was fine but I would say about average. The margaritas could have used a bit more tequila. We had the adovada tacos which were quite good but lacking a bit of depth (spice?). It is however a fun and popular place to hang out. Service was friendly and efficient.

Dinner

By Vicki A |

Great food .. they went out of their way to seat us outside like we asked!! Margarita’s were delicious.. they surprised us with a free Dessert to share after we said no to buying because we were too full!! It was scrumptious!!! Our meals were great and tasted wonderful!!

A fun, happening restaurant.

By theRobertL76 |

Cactus on Terry Avenue was a fun experience. It seems to be a gathering spot for both locals and visitors to the city. The wait staff was fun, helpful, and friendly. Our food was quite good, plentiful, and had a nice presentation. My local beer was cold and tasty. My wife's cocktail looked and tasted good. On top of all this, the waitress, upon learning that this was our first visit, presented us with a free cheesecake, which was delicious. For the Seattle area, the pricing was mid-range, or perhaps a little less. Cactus was a very short walk from many of the hotels in the area, and is worth the visit.

Order The Queso!

By misopiso88 |

My kids and I were in South Lake Union and decided to try Cactus for dinner. There were a bunch of people waiting for tables so we put ourselves on the list and waited about 20 minutes. We ordered a few different dishes and shared them all. We loved the queso and tacos! DELISH! Highly recommend.

GREAT MEXICAN FOOD

By Gerry E |

The guacamole and the fried bread were delicious. Their Hibiscus Mango non-alcoholic drink was wonderful and refreshing. The tortilla soup was good. The carne asada tacos were very tasty.

A good lunch

By Mswooly |

Came here for lunch on my last day in Seattle. I suggest getting there before noon, otherwise you will wait. The food was good and the service was good. We ate at the bar so we could get in and out quickly.

Great Margarita

By Nicole L |

Went for the housemade chorizo chimichanga and it was good; met my expectations for a tex-mex place. All the servers were extremely welcoming and friendly and one of the best margaritas I've had in a while!

Eclectic Mexican

By RaePalmSprings |

This is not a typical Mexican restaurant but a little more gourmet with its foods. It has a friendly vibe and really tasty prepared meals. The brisket was exceptionally flavored and presented nicely along with the enchiladas and seafood dish. Margaritas very large and sooo good! Wait staff was very attentive and the place had some of the freshly made and tastiest salsa around.

Good service, average food

By Luigi |

Good service at Cactus, prompt and happy to assist. Ideal for a quick lunch alone or with friends/coworkers. Food was ok but nothing worth coming back. I’d suggest adding some photos to the menu to help customer set their expectations.

Nice customer service, delicious food, beautiful interior design

By Eli |

The food is delicious 😋 The waitress&manager offered us an alternative meal coz I ordered something spicy food but I can’t not really handle it🥲. Very appreciative of their kindness.

Decent food and prices

By Mac W |

Stopped in for lunch before a meeting. I got the crab tamale which was pretty good but not amazing. The guac was average as well.

Amazing Brunch!

By Teri24 |

Six of us enjoyed brunch here. From the minute we sat down the waitstaff was attentive without being annoying. The bloody maria was spicy and those who had the strawberry-rhubarb margarita raved about it! I had the smoked ham benedict which is served on Green hatch chile biscuits along with crispy potatoes. Excellent! Wish I could go back for dinner!

Tasty menu

By 1wholovestravel2013 |

The flank steak fajitas were fabulous. Very tender, flavorful and not overcooked. The flour tortillas that were served along with the meal were very light and fresh. The wait staff were very attentive and friendly. The only thing that I was not crazy about was that the tables were very close together. All said and done we had a positive experience and would visit again

"Doing Birthday's in Seattle!"

By Debbie R |

We had a wonderful time at Cactus in Seattle, we (5) were seated and served by a very nice young man by the name of Christian and he was very attentive and polite, we were there to celebrate 3 birthdays with family and friends, and have a relaxing lunch together, the food was fabulous and let me say the corn tortillas holding my tacos were the best i have ever tasted!! Christian topped off our lunch with 2 flan birthday deserts and 3 candles!! "CHEERS!"

Very Good Mexican Food

By Oregon_Coast_Duo |

We visited their Happy Hour and enjoyed a couple very good options from their menu. Service was good and the beer selection was very good. It provided both family dining and a range of other customers in the very comfortable casual restaurant. We will return when we return to Seattle.

good, 'not great.

By kyme |

nice atmosphere great salsa chips guacamole were good salt content was real good (not to much that you need to drink a gallon of water after words) the fajita's were ok had better at Azteca( which I cant stand) very disappointed in them how do you screw up that! soggy vegetables beef was tough, just terrible.they say they have chefs they must be drunk cooks at best . The people that work there are top notch very friendly the host/ manager engaged in to there patrons makes you fill appreciated and welcomed. the drinks are excellent! will go again just not for food or ill just eat something else

Great food, drinks, and service! Ask for Evan to be your server!!

By Stone9315 |

Excellent food, drinks, and service!! Evan was our server and he did a great job making sure our drinks were full and our food was to our liking. We started with the salsa and guacamole. It was delicious! My wife had the brisket chimichanga and I had the brisket burrito (after reading all the reviews) and we weren’t disappointed. The meat was well seasoned and tender. For drinks, we did the cactus margarita and the peach Bellini margarita. Both were good but for the money, I would stick with the cactus. Thank you Evan and management for making sure our stop into Seattle for a cruise was memorable at the dinner beforehand!

YUM

By Samantha J |

I love Cactus! Everytime I am in Seattle I make sure to stop by. The ambiance can be a bit noisy, the servers are usually happy and cheerful BUT IT IS THE FOOD that makes Cactus the place to be. The nachos are my favourite, as well as the chips and salsa they give at the beginning. One thing to look out for is their drinks: they are amazing but very strong. My most recent drink was a mango mojito and it was great! Definitely stop by if you're in South Lake Union!

Dinner and brunch

By nevadajan |

We ate dinner with a large group and returned because it was so good and fairly unique. Not just your typical meal, it was flavorful and not weighted down with too much cheese. Service was pretty good,even on a busy night and super fast for brunch. The alcoholic beverages were also great.

Great Mexican

By Lyrebird35 |

Visited this after reading other reviews, and was not disappointed. Fantastic food coupled with excellent service. A short distance from city centre but well worth the visit.

Make sure to come early

By Craig K |

This place is hopping. So make sure you come early, especially for lunch. Come at noon and expect a 40 minute wait. I love their steak burritos so much that sometimes I stuff my face so much I can barely make the walk back to work. It's about 20 bucks a person food/drink/ chips and salsa. Less if you get water obviously. Great tasting mexican cuisine. I'm a repeat customer for sure.

Not your everyday Mexican restaurant

By akittynamedsassy |

We went to Cactus for lunch. It was difficult to find parking, but we found one close by. First impression: this is not your everyday Mexican restaurant. I ordered the skirt steak fajitas. The meat comes in a little cast iron pan, along with grilled onions (no other grilled veggies), black beans and roasted pumpkin seeds. Everything is separated. Everything tasted good. The salsa and chips were excellent. Not hot at all if that is what you want. A downside was the noise level in the restaurant. I could barely hear The conversation of the person I was dining with, but could hear everybody else too well. What is it with these hipster type restaurants: they seem like they TRY to make the ambience loud and the seats uncomfortable.

Exquisitely Unique Mexican Fare!

By Allen B |

Friends who live in West Seattle took me here because it is one of their favorite eateries. Now I know why! The menu is filled with very creative renditions of Mexican dishes. All are delicious! As are the house Margaritas! It's always busy so expect a short wait or take it to the bar until your table is ready.. The atmosphere is warm and service is prompt and attentive. It may be my new favorite Mexican restaurant.

Not memorable but not bad

By Mike B |

Standard Tex-Mex, OK but I wouldn't make it a destination. One weirdness: the fajitas do not come with any bell peppers and none are available. However, I had the steak fajita and the meat was pretty good. My wife had chicken fajitas, which were OK except for lack of bell peppers. Decor is a bit strange because there is nothing to remind you of Mexico: industrial roof with exposed pipes and ducts, lighting and other interior design that do not bring to mind Mexico. I happened to like it OK but thought it odd. Margarita undistinguished.

Great Fajitas & Margaritas!

By annabur2016 |

This restaurant has a great atmosphere and I was made to feel very welcome. I had a great table looking out at the rest of the restaurant. I ordered the fajitas which were delicious and the margaritas go down very well. The service is excellent and I will definitely return here.

Excellent!!

By skeghaus |

We visited the Terry Street location and enjoyed an excellent meal! The menu offers some inventive and fresh entrees along with excellent cocktails. Wonderful service and a great dinner value within a beautiful setting.

Elegant and delicious.

By ArlettaC |

Cactus is an elegant yet funky restaurant that serves delicious Mexican food. Very friendly service, lots to choose from on the menu, and a very attractive dining room. I had the chicken fajitas, daughter tried the tacos, husband had a burrito--all were excellent. Good chips and salsa. Everything was fresh and good. When we were seated, our waitress asked us if it was our first visit to the restaurant, which it was. When we finished our entrees, the manager stopped by with a complimentary flan dessert, since we hadn't been there before. Nice touch!

amazing carnitas

By Ronald C |

We had the guac, the carnitas, the fish tacos and 2 draft dos equis beers . Excellent. Fresh food ,great service ,cool vibe. A repeat in the future

Simply Superb

By David L |

I don't even think this is because we live in Switzerland and are generally deprived of Mexican food - this place was great. Went back for more on Sunday after a first experience at Friday lunch. Nachos were stupendous; melted cheese throughout and the house-made chorizo is incredible. Burritos were customary American enormous, covered with a bit of sauce and filled with beef brisket, chicken or chorizo. Chimayo Enchilladas (with chicken, chorizo and cheese and green chile) amazing too. Chips, salsa, guacamole, omelets and skirt steak salad all get top marks. Last but not least, I want another Ultima Margarita! Can you tell we liked the place?

Great quality for reasonable price with superior service

By knygaard |

Brought my four kids who found many menu items to choose from. Service was excellent. Super quality at reasonable price level. Will definetely come here again!

Date night done right!

By Cory A |

My fiance and I wanted a date night with something special. We both love Mexican food and this place was right by the hotel. Fast seating, quick and knowledgeable waiter. I had the brisket tacos, and I about cried when I took my first bite. My fiance had the enchilada and it was pretty tasty too. We also had caso for a starter that was pretty knock your socks off. And this is where they really deserve praise, I am kind of a nut for ginger beer. Everywhere I go I try new kinds. Well these guys and their house brew knocked my socks off! Winner! 30 stars

Basic Gringo Mexican

By Elana56 |

Lived in both Santa Fe, New Mexico and Oaxaca, Mexico and Cactus is basically Gringo Mexican. That said, I've had much better, more authentic and cheaper food out of a taco wagon. And the guacamole was laughable as were the totopos. The avocados were hardly mashed up, there was no lime juice and a few tomatoes thrown in does not make guacamole. Handmade corn tortillas made made by hand, not pressed on a tortilla maker with scalloped edges. I will say that Cactus has some intriguing fusion items like lemonade with jalapenos and salmon chipotle tacos but this is not an authentic Mexican restaurant. Would I go back, maybe, but I'd rather drive to my favorite taco wagon up on Aurora.

Fanastic Food and Fast!

By James P |

After a long day travel, the longest wait here was the few minutes it took to prep a table. Fast and courteous staff ensured we had drinks in minutes and mains in under 10 minutes. We had the Poblano pepper and chicken fajita - both generous portions and excellent. Great watermelon margarita - real watermelon flavour, not that synthetic flavouring. Complimentary flan for dessert was a nice touch!

If you’re craving Mexican food in Seattle, this restaurant fills the bill.

By Experiencedwithfood |

If you’re craving Mexican food in Seattle, this restaurant fills the bill. It probably deserves 5 stars by Seattle standards, but I rated it based on Houston standards which has the best fajitas I have ever tasted. We had takeout of chips and salsa and guacamole and beef fajitas and chicken fajitas and tortilla soup and the spiced Caesar salad. Everyone enjoyed their food. The fajitas were pretty good (by Houston standards), but a little sparse on the meat portion size. Nonetheless, I would recommend it and I would go back which is saying a lot.

Great Dinner! Super fast and very fresh!

By Doug@Windermere.com |

We had take out tonight and it was fabulous. Easy parking for take out in front. It was ready and waiting on the take out table when I got there. Good portion size and super fresh, including the fresh tortilla chips. Great take-out option until we can dine in again. The only thing I missed was the killer margaritas’!

Just went for drinks so cannot comment on the food.

By SteveK28762 |

We just popped in for a drink following a long flight to Seattle and found this a very comfortable and welcoming place. we didn't order any food but what we saw certainly looked good. The bar staff were very friendly too. A short visit but would recommend.

Great Mexican Food

By Prateek M |

Visited this place along with my friend for dinner Location: It's right on the main street and can be spotted very easily Ambience: It's a lively place and is usually quite crowded. We were lucky that we reached there before 7 and got seated immediately. People coming at the usual dinner time had to wait atleast 15 minutes Food: We started off with couple of drinks and nachos with Salsa and guacamole. The drinks were quite nicely prepared and the guacamole tasted quite good and authentic. For mains, I went ahead with a chicken-chorizo dish and my vegetarian friend ordered a tofu dish. The food portions are large enough to feed a very hungry soul. Both the dishes tasted quite good Service: The service was quite prompt and our server was quite friendly Price: It's a slightly expensive place but nothing outrageous.

Great Fusion-Food

By Jason Park |

The food here was fantastic. I've always liked good fusion-food. Also, the Happy Hour food selection was a great addition to the meal. I'd say this is my 2nd favorite brunch place in Seattle. Enjoy the great food!

A LITTLE RUSHED PERHAPS

By M N |

On a beautiful afternoon in Seattle, our party of four decided to enjoy an early dinner at the South Lake Union location of Cactus, a restaurant serving Mexican and Spanish cuisine. Cactus is a chain, well decorated, clean and welcoming and they have outdoor seating. Despite the sunny weather, we chose to eat inside. It was Happy Hour at the time and the bar area had attracted what seemed to be a young business crowd. Although the bar was busy-ish and the patrons animated, we were seated at the opposite end which was empty and quieter; fine by us. This is not my first visit to a Mexican/Spanish restaurant but my first to Cactus; the name I think is very appropriate. We ordered drinks and and poured over the menu. The drinks came and in no time we had placed our order. As we were hosting family for dinner, I didn't pay much attention to the prices but judging by the bill, liquor is quite expensive considering it was Happy Hour. One of our party mentioned that Happy Hour may be restricted to the bar area and while I can't imagine this, it might be worth asking if you find yourself eating there ate that time. In any event, our guests had been there before, knew what to order and we all sat ready to have a good time. I should say from the outset that we did. Dining out is just as much about friends and family as it is the food. However, in my opinion, good wait staff will help guests get into the moment so to speak. The wait staff were pleasant but no more than that. Our starters came and in no time it seemed followed by our entrees. If I return I will make sure our wait staff tell the kitchen not to rush. I am certain they would have slowed down if asked but frankly, not being busy doesn't open the door to bringing entrees out before the guests are ready for them. It made me feel like the staff was getting us out of the way for when the real customers arrive. All in all the food was OK but I can think of many places who do it just as well and manage to make me feel it was worthwhile and worth the money. For Seattle I don't suppose $130 for four people is OK, just not my cup of tea.....

Not your average Mexican

By Christine M |

This place had an amazing vibrant feel as soon as you walk through door! We were there for a meal but trust me Hapoy hour was rocking..... our waiter was pleasant and more than happy to answer questions and enquirer about your day that made you feel comfortable and as if talking to a friend! Meals were large with the flavour even bigger! Although we passed up on dessert we were brought out a complementary Creme brûlée to share...... OMG I have never tasted anything so good! Very reasonable prices and would be great for couples, groups and families of all ages! If you love good food with heaps of flavour do your taste buds a favour and eat here at least once .... but bet you will go back again!

Fantastic tortilla soup

By Frequent_Traveler500 |

Very good soup as was the Caesar Salad. Husband had green chili enchiladas with very tender shredded chicken. We were first timers and they comped us flan for dessert. Prickly pear margarita also delicious.

Our Favorite Meal!

By roses011 |

We reached Cactus via the Lake Union Trolley-4th stop from catching it near Westin Hotel.. Great Happy Hour.enjoyed the jalapeño margarita and lots of appetizers to share. The Key Lime pie was a fave..we all wanted to go back again just for that! Chris,,our waiter, did a great job with out group of 5 seniors!

Cactus-Can't Wait To Return!

By LeiLani777999 |

My son and I ate a late lunch at Cactus after touring the Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum. It seriously was the best Mexican food we have ever enjoyed. I can't wait to visit Seattle again to see my son and take him to eat at Cactus!

Best Mexican food around!

By opinion45 |

This place is amazing! People are friendly, we were seated very quickly and the service was great! Our food came out at a good rate and they even gave us free desert! Best Mexican food I've ever had!

Good Southwestern Food

By WayneBrock |

I have been going to Cactus since the early days of Madison Park. This lunch visit it was nice to see the the Sante Fe Enchilada back on the menu. This was a favorite of mine... great red sauce, lots of cheese and an egg on top. Perfect! Even better with a Ceasar to start (ask for Pepitas instead of croutons). Sadly, most of the enchiladas are now "stacks" rather than rolled... seems a bit of a cop-out. Not the same experience. The drinks here are tasty. Their house Margarita("Classic") is still special with the Paloma being a new favorite. On special was Elote... some of the best I have tasted. Only frustration is that I arrived 10 minutes before 3 (happy hour). The waiter made no mention of this so I ordered off the regular menu 5 minutes before three. I would have saved at least $6. That said, the happy hour menu looks great. I do like this place.

Great Mexican fiood!

By blade44 |

Great Mexican food. The menu was extensive and varied.Salsa was vert good and the guacamole was great. Staff was very pleasant and friendly and service was very efficient. We are from out of town and will go back when we return to Seattle.

Great Visit

By Ann C |

We wanted a Mexican and cactus was highly rated! Well it didn’t disappoint.. Mojito was fresh, refreshing and tasty! The food was great. I had the vegetarian chimichanga and it tasted amazing, the sides of black beans and rice added to the flavor! Being first time customers we were given a free pudding a small creme caramel which was to die for. Service was fantastic, food hot, drinks great! Would definitely recommend

Dinner for two

By ROBERT B |

Service was great. EveryTime we blinked our water glasses were filled. The nachos and salsa while waiting were very good. Our food was excellent.

Legitimate Mexican

By Gua_Flor |

Legitimate Mexican with delicious dishes. The chief car are the fajitas, which serve 2 people with sobra (although it appears on the menu as an individual dish)

Cactus

By Oregonduck1 |

Excellent food and service. Been an off and on customer for 30 years and it is always good. Great menu

Typically odd Seattle Mexican fare, but better than most

By Truthbetold2U |

Chips, and Salsa in particular were very hearty (pieces of vegetables) and were just right heat for my palate (but not husband who likes a spicier salsa). They had nothing hotter except for bottled hot sauce. I ordered the chicken enchiladas. They were prepared with chicken, green sauce (scant amount) inside a blue tortilla topped with a layer of cheese that was burnt (I think on purpose) to a crisp. With like one teaspoon of sour cream on top. The chicken was shredded and braised? - it was flavorful. The rest, a somewhat bland hot mess. Black beans were well seasoned and perfectly cooked. So about $20 for beans and salsa as those were really the highlight of the meal. I have to mention our server. His attention and speed were perfect, but that manner of voice? It was like a strange sing-song like he was auditioning for an annoying Lounge patron. We couldn’t help giggling every time he spoke to us or other diners. I mean this could not possibly be a real persons manner? If you’ve encountered this server you will know exactly who and what I mean!

Outstanding restaurant

By kgm_travels |

This restaurant has amazing food. We had chips with salsa and guacamole, and the tacos camarones. It's all fresh and amazing flavours. It's a fun atmosphere too, and at a reasonable price.

Great Service, Delicious Food

By Elizabeth M |

Stopped by here solo for a late dinner one night. There was a wait, but luckily there was a seat at the bar. All of the staff was very friendly! I enjoyed the following: Baja Margarita, Johnny Utah Pale Ale, Austin Guacamole, Carnitas tacos, and the Flan. I loved the margarita, but it was not spicy enough for me, so I switched to the Johnny Utah Pale Ale - loved that local beer! I loved the guac, but it was far too much, especially considering it was just me. I couldn't pick between quest or guac, and the gentleman behind the bar suggested this app because it is basically guac *topped* with cheese dip. It was good, but I think I would have really enjoyed one of the other two kinds. The only thing I really disliked the entire meal was the house salsa that came with the guac... like, I HATED it. That's all I have for negative reviews though The Carnitas Yucatecas tacos: They allowed me to sub both the rice and beans that this dish came with to enjoy the spiced Caesar salad. I LOVED this salad! I would go back and just eat that (with a pale ale, of course). The tacos were very flavorful - Caramelized achiote pork braised in banana leaves, caramelized pineapple salsa, red onion escabeche, cotija cheese, cilantro... what's not to love. I was slowly falling into a food coma and wondering how big of a bag I would need to take the amount of leftovers I had accrued back to my hotel room when the owner brought out a flan "on the house" Dessert is a separate stomach after all, so I was luckily able to eat this entire masterpiece with help of the random gentleman that was sitting to my left. He was a little disappointed he didn't also get a free flan, so I was happy to share. 10/10 would recommend; 10/10 would eat here again; I actually wished I lived in Seattle so that I could slowly work my way through this entire menu. Phenomenal. Go try it!

REVISIT FOR DINNER

By Gerry E |

We had been here before, but decided to return for some more Mexican food. We enjoyed the food, and the outdoor patio.