I have been to many Restaurants and even to those overseas. I must say this is my favorite! It is Hard to find something on the menu that is not flavorful. You get the most welcoming feeling when you are here and I cannot say enough good things. I really just don't understand the negative reviews myself. The staff is wonderful, polite, and professional. Do not forget to say Hello to Gloria when stopping by, she is always full of laughs and a smile. I will continue to visit the Cactus Cantina as my favorite place to have a cold drink, delicious food, and organic laughs. I think you will agree. read more

Not a fan. Food is meh to sometimes good... to sometimes not good at all. Bar is sketchy the later it gets. Smells kinda funky sometimes. Bathrooms could be cleaner. I'm surprised it's still in business. It was better years back IMO but there's better places around. read more

I went to Cactus Cantina for monday night football & had a blast, the food was Delicious ( I ate a TON) , the staff were all incredibly kind & fun. When you are there you are family, I am definitely a regular. read more

Cactus Cantina - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

Decent restaurant. Clean. Friendly staff and cold beer. With that said, there are many places that one can find better quality Mexican food. The menu was a little confusing as well seeing as this is a Mexican restaurant... There were many many more burger and sandwich items than there were actual (ha!) Mexican food. I feel like if this place focused more on their food and maybe spent just a little more for better quality, this could easily become a regular go to spot. read more

Great place for dinner and drinks. Staff is friendly and the servers are amazing people. The selections offer something for everyone and the flavors are great. Reasonably priced and the drinks are strong. They definitely free pour here and makes for a fun Friday night, if you have an Uber or designated driver. read more

New to the area, gave it a try, drinks were good, but the food was nasty to be polite. Fish & Chips was so dry, the fish crumbled inside, not flaky, way overcooked. Had to go get my check after waiting 15 mins to see our server. Don't think I will return, which is a shame because I was looking for a new favorite local eatery read more

Cactus Cantina is a family favorite. Our typical orders include the chicken alfredo and machaca with eggs. Both dishes are excellent. The portions are large too so you can always take leftovers home. Our service has always been exceptional here. read more

This is my first bad review in two years of using yelp. Very Disappointing experience. Came here to support a fundraiser for my daughter's softball team. We were met with a VERY Rude waitress (Julia, which apparently is the owners daughter) who seemed overwhelmed and was very demeaning. I showed up after some parents had already been there. The girls were all at a table and asked to move since they were not getting food (which they were) I told her that I wanted to order food but she hadn't come by at the time I got there. With a snarky response she says "I've been here serving for 2 hours, once the girls move, I'll come back to take your order" she came back 10 min later, asked if I wanted anything and I changed my mind. After that she avoided the table walked around the other tables and did not come back for another 20-25 min to ask if we were okay and wanted something else. At that point I ordered. She may have been frustrated or annoyed but she had very unprofessional customer service it was the worst I've had in a long time. Right before some of us were leaving the team was innocently passing out flyers to our already invited guest and some new guests. They didn't know they couldn't do this. Instead of talking to the girls, she took the flyers and went up to one of the parents and with a RUDE tone and not so discreet said " THEY are NOT allowed to do that! I am going to rip these up and you cannot have them anymore! WE are not doing anymore fundraisers with you guys, this has been HELL!" I couldn't believe what I saw and heard. I'm not sure what's going on with her, but she should not be in customer service. Being the owners daughter does not give her a right to talk to customers that way. I was really hoping to like this place and thought it was great the owners helped the girls with this fundraiser. But with the horrible service she provided, I will not be back. I encourage you take your business elsewhere. Please!! read more

Went to have dinner with a friend chips were stale salsa was tasteless didn't have any heat ordered chili verde not enough pork in meal!! Would not recommend read more

Came in today 12/11/17 @1:30 for lunch and service was horrible. We waited more than 15 min to be seated and the restaurant was empty. Needless to say we left to eat somewhere else. I can only imagine how bad it is if the restaurant was busy. I will never come back to this place. read more

My wife and I have been going to the Cactus Cantina since they opened. We make at least two trips a month, sometimes once a week. This is the quintessential neighborhood family restaurant. The food is not gourmet, but it's good. The prices are reasonable, and the staff is always attentive and friendly. Speaking of the staff, there is virtually no turnover. They've had the same waiters an waitresses for years. That tells me that they enjoy their jobs, and that carries through to the way they treat the customers. Try the Loaded Nachos. A lot of food for a great price! read more

I have lived about 2 miles from this place for 6 years, decided to go there on today for my birthday as I was always curious, etc. The food was superb and absolutely delicious. I had the Shrimp Fajitas and my wife had the Carne Asada dinner., which she loved and said it was excellent. Chips and salsa very good, staff was very friendly from the moment we walked into the place. Our server, a young lady by the name of "Melanee" was simply terrific. She was friendly, engaging, very attentive, and made us feel very welcomed and important. We will definitely be coming back as we had a great experience. Kudos, once again to "Melanee" a terrific waitress/server. Fred Grier read more

Always Good Food!!! We've Never had a Bad Meal here & Always Look Forward to Seeing a Friend here. I would recommend this restaurant to Everyone!!! It's a Great Place to have a Fundraiser. read more

Cactus Cantina - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

This place is dogshit... Don't get anything from them Mexican menu none of it's good and all 3 of the soups suck, yes we tried all 3... Only came here before Pepitos was closed for Halloween... idk why read more

Ambiance is good. Always busy! Expect to wait for a table but it's worth it. Their food is great and the staff is very attentive. Always have a good time when we go. Only problem I have is how expensive their regular drinks are. Ugh they need to reduce those prices other than that it's a good place to go. read more

Cactus Cantina - I can't believe how expensive their drinks are. I just paid 3.50 for a child's apple juice. Almost had a heart attack. - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

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Their chicken and steak fajitas are awesome. The filet is great too. I forget what they're called but they are small little two bite pieces. And who can forget Richie. By far the nicest guy and always great conversation. Especially movies lol. I used to go every Tuesday for lunch. Missed maybe three months due to being busy but it's my go to place up here for sure. Owners are awesome too! Just an all around great local place. read more

Our family has been coming here for years. The staff is super nice and the service is great. It is really convenient to grab dinner and a drink here before going to the movies. read more

I love their hot wings and potato skins. The Tacos are yummy too. It's a good lunch spot.

Second time to the cantina. We are local living in the Woodcrest area. First time the food was ok and bland. Service was good. Second visit good service again and food was still just as bland as before. Chips were stale. How do you serve chips and salsa and have stale chips?! Their beens and rice don't even have much flavor. I hope this place steps their game up and can make the food more tasty since it is a cool spot. Miguel's just has better Mexican food and that's fast food folks. read more

Average at Best. nothing special about first meal there. Food,drinks, service all just average.We're not likely to return to spend $60.00 for average. read more

Horrible service walked out the older blonde server ignored us for 15 minutes so I had to walk out will never go back....

We wanted to come here so we did and definitely wasn't satisfied. It's really bright, maybe some dimmer lights, the tv's were not centrally located. As far as the food, we ordered the fajitas because the reviews seemed good but we were highly disappointed. The chicken and shrimp were boring . We were expecting a more authentic Mexican flavor but it seemed like just salt on it, rushed on the grill and the veggies weren't fully grilled. We gave the entree back and spoke to the manager so we could share our concerns . His response was " we sell a lot of it". Needless to say , they won't be selling it to us anymore . Don't come get some !!!! read more

My review is based on my deep and passionate love for their shrimp skewers plate. I often come here every couple months just to get the skewers. I don't know if I can suggest anything else but them as I haven't bothered to try anything else. If you like shrimp, butter, and lemons go here and get the skewers. read more

Food was ok service was horrible got stuck next to fish tank in bar which was ok but then we realized we were in bar seating , we waited for close to 30 min to order a appetizer no bar tender no waitress was horrible service will not go back to this restaurant. read more

Average Mexican restaurant with excellent service. Restaurant appears to need some up to date but still a nice local spot in the area.

I really wanted to give this place two stars by my husbands carne asada was good and our server was nice. We were hoping and expecting real Mexican food. No not at all. The of the salsas were spicy and the shrimp cocktail was flavorless. The raspberry margarita tasted like cough medicine and they didn't not have the cheesecake I was eager for after dinner. That's a pet peeve that food is offered they do not have. read more

The good : caddy margaritas are big and powerful. Carne asada. Fajitas. Prime rib The ok: good sized beer . Very small selection. The ribs. The baked chicken The bad: outdated decor. Small tvs. 1990 menu Its a place to come back to because of great service but the menu and interior need a facelift read more

Best fajitas around, and tacos as well. This place is real good and they are all nice in there

Female Bartender was exceptionally disrespectful. Hostess was pleasant, but not the bartender. If I could give less then 1 star I would...as it is: it is overly generous given her rude behavior. read more

Hubby really enjoyed his carne asada. I had beef tamales and they were pretty nasty. They had a weird taste and the meet was really chewy. The beans and rice were really good though. The best part was the love punch was was awesome! Bartender was super efficient and friendly. read more

Cactus Cantina - LOVE PUNCH. - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

Great food, cool bartenders, lots of locals but everyone is cool tuesday taco night is really good....can get packed though read more

I had a bad experience as my 18month old Grandsons child meal had a piece of a broken toothpick in it, luckily I asked him for a bite felt something sharp poke me and the it was. I told the waitress who said sorry I will tell the cook and that was the end of it, then came the bill I asked to speak to a manager got Billie the waitress she said there was nothing she could do other than give him Ice cream... I was done... we were regular customer so it wasn't like I'm some flake trying to get freebies...we have spent thousands of dollars over the years. I tried to talk to the owner Gloria called several times she was never there also sent a letter with 2 pictures still nothing! I am done with Cactus Cantina... they are lucky I didn't get the toothpick lodged in my throat.... *** PICTURE OF THE TOOTHPICK IS MY PROFILE PICTURE! read more

Terrible service today. First ones to be seated but the last ones to have our order taken. After letting our waitress know that it wasn't right to make us wait so long she messed up our order and and only brought one order when we placed two. read more

Cactus Cantina has been one of our go to restaurants since we moved to Riverside three years ago. I love their carnitas. But now they want to charge $1.50 extra to substitute grilled vegtables for the beans and rice. So I won't be having it any more. I am so sad! read more

I was craving Mexican food so I decided to give the a try! I had the chicken tacos which where great I really liked the Spanish rice it was so fresh and authentic! I will be read more

This place was a total disappointment, its too packed, they wanted to sit us right by the cash register, their mango margaritas did not taste like mango! Its a good place to go if u want bad service lol..... the waitress was taking too long.... and when she brought out her food she had her thumb on the inside of my plate, freakin nasty! The bartender was eating while serving drinks, and they would hold the drinks on the very rim of the glass.. :-( so unsafe* read more

This place was awful! We ordered a pitcher of margaritas and there was a fly in it! While our waitress was trying to serve us she almost hit me in the face-twice! I believe she drinking herself because her eyes were half open & she was slurring. Disappointed all the way around with this restaurant. You can't pay me to eat hear. read more

A party of about 20 of us attend this place and the service was the worst I've ever experienced. The food was OK when the lame waitress finally could get everyones orders correct. Do yourself a favor and eat somewhere else. read more

First off took us 10 minutes to be seated with at least 5 waitresses and workers walking right past us, we finally asked to be seated and they were like oh ok? The place wasn't packed it was a Tuesday at 545. Food was descent, portions were moderate the price was pretty good for what you get. read more

I really wanted to like this place because Its close to me. I could walk here if I wanted to. The inside is like an outdated Sizzler's from the 90s. Our server was AWESOME, and out drinks were okay, but the food was average. The food is very affordable, but tastes like home-cooked food that I could have made myself. I'm honestly not a picky person, but I just wasn't impressed with their food. Maybe one day i'll return to give it a second chance, but overall I wasn't impressed. read more