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    Cactus Cantina

    3.5 (467 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Cactus Cantina Photos

    Business Info

    CACTUS CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - Cactus Cantina

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    Reviews With Photos

    Three taco plate (chicken, asada, carnitas)
    Andrew M.

    Came here cause it was a holiday weekend and knew everything else would be packed. Have lived by this place for 15 years and never came before, now I know why. Everything was kind of bland and tasteless honestly. The carnitas were burnt. Asada was good. Chicken taco was ok, def have had better. Food also came out very quick. We just got the salad and soup and 2 mins later, the rest of the food. Server was really nice. If it wasn't for her, I would have rated lower. Which is sad cause this place looks nice from the inside and has potential.

    Country Fried Steak
    Jeremy S.

    A good restaurant in the mission grove area in Riverside. Their menu has a wide variety of options from fajita plates to fish and chips. I went with the country fried steak dinner which was great! Dish came with the choice of two sides and garlic bread, which was pretty solid for around $17. The steak was well done and the gravy was delicious. On the other hand, my wife's burger was pretty underwhelming. $2 extra for cheese and I found the burger was not seasoned very well. Overall it is a decent option for a meal, but in our experience the food can be hit or miss. Service was good and the restaurant is okay, the table was a bit small for a party of four.

    Vanessa- Best Server Ever!!

    My girlfriends and I had the best waitress at Cactus on Saturday morning. Thank you Vanessa!! Your sense of humor made our day!

    I recently attended my cousin's wedding celebration at La Cantina, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. Our server, Valery, was not attentive or accommodating. When my cousin tried to make a simple change to his order almost immediately after placing it, she came back within seconds saying it was "already being made," which felt dismissive and unnecessary. During an important moment--my cousin's blessing--she interrupted by loudly calling out orders across the room, which was very disrespectful and disrupted the atmosphere. Additionally, the room was uncomfortably hot with around 25 guests, and no effort was made to turn on fans or improve ventilation. However, I do want to highlight that Juan did an amazing job. He was very kind, attentive to all of us, and truly helped keep things running smoothly. He made a big difference in the overall experience. Overall, the service and environment took away from what should have been a special and memorable occasion. Sadly, I won't be returning. And in responds to your comment To the business owner Thank you for your response. I stand by my review, as it reflects my direct experience at Cactus Cantina. While I understand kitchens have limitations, the request to modify the order was made almost immediately, and the way it was handled came across as dismissive. Additionally, interrupting a blessing. regardless of how busy the restaurant is was inappropriate and disruptive to a meaningful moment. I also want to address your comment about posting a photo. Referring to a guest as "creepy" for sharing their experience is unprofessional and unnecessary. There are more respectful ways to communicate concerns. I did acknowledge Juan because he provided excellent service, which shows that positive experiences are absolutely possible. My review is simply an honest reflection of what occurred from my perspective.

    Mike C.

    Been coming here for years for the great people and good food. My favorite being the ground beef Tacos. Also, don't sleep on Adryana's killer Cadillac margarita and great service!

    Chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and rice pilaf dinner
    Lily B.

    I went to the bar and I went there and I experienced a wonderful bartender Vanessa who was extremely awesome in high spirited and I had some wonderful food. I had the chicken fried steak mashed potatoes and pilaf rice it was a great experience hands-down really good drinks really good people really good vibe thank you Vanessa.

    Andrew V.

    Me and my parents like to come here pretty often for family dinners, we come often and the food is always great. The club sandwich is amazing, always have to take a box with me. We always request to sit with Faith, she's the best!

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food is very flavorless. Customer service is good, but unfortunately without good food I cannot recommend.

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    2 years ago

    Emery served us fast and knew exactly what to bring us for our order before we got the food. the food was the best! thank you guys

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    3 years ago

    Amazing service! Very reliable! Highly recommended. The workers are very kind. And they are affordable.

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    6 years ago

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    Page 3 of 12

    Ask the Community - Cactus Cantina

    How much are taco Tuesday?

    $2 each

    Is there live music?

    Not that I've ever seen

    Do they have heated outdoor seating with room for a group of 6-8?

    Yes and Yes!

    Do they have Taco Tuesday's?

    yes, $2 tacos! every tuesday. Happy hour too from 3-5!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Riverside - Chicharon

    Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Riverside

    4.7(355 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I've given Morena's their props before, but I had to add some extra love for these beautiful fish…read moreand shrimp tacos with mango salsa and for their World Cup happy hour (whenever there's a game on). Service was just as sweet as always. Pretty quiet in here for happy hour and World Cup on TV.

    We recently had lunch at Morena's Mexican Cuisine, and while it was a mixed experience, I think it…read morehas potential! The meal started off strong with their chips and salsa--super fresh and flavorful. For my entrée, I had the chicken fajitas. While they were cooked properly, I wish they had a bit more seasoning to really bring out the flavor. My wife had the enchiladas divorciadas, which were beautifully presented, but unfortunately, the filling was a bit cool. She probably should have sent it back, but since we were in a hurry, we didn't bother. On the positive side, my daughter had the carne asada burrito, and she said it was excellent. Service started off great with our younger male waiter being very attentive at first, but it slowed down significantly as our meal went on. By the end of our visit, I actually had to go up to the register to ask to pay. It was lunch time, and it wasn't that busy, so this felt a bit out of the ordinary. Despite the hiccups, I'm willing to give Morena's Mexican Cuisine another try, as it may have just been an off day. The chips and salsa, along with my daughter's burrito, showed that they definitely have what it takes to impress. I'll reserve final judgment after my next visit!

    Photos
    Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Riverside - Morenas Mexican Food Riverside

    Morenas Mexican Food Riverside

    Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Riverside - Chicharon appetizer (came with beans and green salsa) yummy!

    Chicharon appetizer (came with beans and green salsa) yummy!

    Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Riverside - Dining area has TV

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    Dining area has TV

    Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Mesquite grilled plump skirt steak fajitas

    Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar

    4.0(2.1k reviews)
    8.6 mi
    $$

    Service was good, the soft tortillas made on site were wonderful, the meals were a little bland;…read morethey didn't live up to the hype.

    Ancho's is one of those places I honestly don't know if it's considered a hidden gem or not, but…read moreafter living in Riverside for the past 3-4 years, I can't believe I've never been here until now. I found out about it through my cousin, who's a UCR alum, and I'm really glad I finally got to try it. The staff were super nice and attentive, constantly coming by our table to check if we needed more water, tortillas, or anything else we might want. Even with how busy it was, they still made sure everyone was taken care of, which I really appreciated. The restaurant was packed, and it actually surprised me because I don't usually see that many people at restaurants in Riverside. The energy inside felt lively but still comfortable. One of my favorite parts was the fresh tortillas. They come out hot and fresh from the oven, and you can literally watch them being made right in front of you, which made it even better. And the best part is they're free. We ordered the carne fajitas and chile relleno. The fajitas were incredible, the meat was juicy, tender, and packed with flavor, with that perfect smoky sear that comes from being cooked fresh on a hot skillet. Everything came out sizzling and stayed flavorful with every bite. The chile relleno was also really good, with a nice balance of savory and slightly creamy filling that paired well with the sauce. It was actually my first time trying fajitas, and I can confidently say I'll be ordering them again the next time I come back. I definitely plan on returning while I'm still at UCR to make up for all the years I didn't know this place existed.

    Photos
    Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Where's my beer ?!?!?

    Where's my beer ?!?!?

    Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Carne Asada Uncut Skirt Steak

    Carne Asada Uncut Skirt Steak

    Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Exterior

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    Exterior

    Tio's Tacos - I'm not sure how to convey on how bad the food is.  This is Enchiladas !!!!!

    Tio's Tacos

    3.3(1.7k reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $$

    I've read up on reviews saying some of the food is bad, etc SO I did my research on what multiple…read morereviews say tasted GREAT! Their Mojarra for one, is amazing with some corn tortillas, beans and rice, and lettuce. The lime garlicky sauce on that one, is what I've been dreaming of. It was THE star of the show. And we also got their wet supreme burrito mojado, with the mole sauce all over it Also tried their agua fresca, loved the cucumber and lime flavor! Great size for two to share, and we had a blast just eating and enjoying the sights laid out to see. Their pickled onions got a spicy kick to it! I loved the added crunch instead of just having the typical hot salsa. Service was great, with the waiters and waitresses checking in on us every now and then, and I liked that we pay first then eat, so we just leave after we're done! Excellent experience as the weather was perfect too, the outdoor seating has some mosquitoes but be sure to go when it's not molting hot outside! After food we got to go on a photo spree and it was wonderful.

    Very fun environment with a lot to look at!! Be sure to give yourself time to walk around and see…read morethe artwork!! The guac, chips, salas were tasty and very fresh! Aqua frescas are also super tasty! Food was just eh... not bad but not anything super memorable. It's what you'd expect from a shredded cheese on top of your beans type of place. Okay flavor, but very heavy feeling afterwards. We ordered tacos and a green enchilada. Tacos were okay, although I wouldn't order an enchilada again. The sauce was creamier than I am used to, wasn't a fan. Staff was overall very kind and service was quick for being such a big place, maybe a little too quick though.

    Photos
    Tio's Tacos - Inside

    Inside

    Tio's Tacos - Alter of little chapel

    Alter of little chapel

    Tio's Tacos - Agra frescas for days! So many flavors !!

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    Agra frescas for days! So many flavors !!

    Cactus Cantina - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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