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    Cactus Restaurants - Kirkland

    4.1 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    CACTUS RESTAURANTS - KIRKLAND ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Ruairi M.

    Cactus was pretty good. The chicken tacos were a good price for what you get and tasted pretty nice. My server was very friendly and efficient as well. Inside was nice and clean. The tequila colada was also very good.

    Baja Tuna Poke Bowl
    Alexa D.

    Went for happy hour with some girls. I guess they only have happy hour at the bar now, which was a bummer. The bar was indoor only and it was a lovely day, so we sacrificed the discount for the sun. They have a fabulous mocktail selection at reasonable prices! I got a ginger mint fizz and it was so good- not overly sweet and just as cute as my friends' cocktails. Loved all the options. The queso was good too. I am vegetarian and they were able to have the meat on the side for us, which was lovely. I usually get the seafood enchiladas, which are amazing, but wanted something cold on a hot day. The waitress recommended the poke bowl, which I had never even heard of, and it was phenomenal! Refreshing, ample protein, great seasoning. Loved it and would get it again. I love that they have a whole gluten free menu online, makes it so easy for me. I will say, service is a bit on the slow side if you sit outside. Just much harder to waive down your server. We waited about 20+ min between her coming to our table, so we ended up being there about 2 hours when we could have been done in one otherwise.

    Come to me my lovely... hibiscus mango deliciousness
    Ash G.

    I don't know who needs to hear this but honestly if you are in the mood for American Mexican cuisine, you cannot go wrong here, but not only that, their drinks and their desserts are just as good (especially that caramel cake with pepitas when its around). I ordered my fav which is the chimichanga in chicken (please be aware shrinkflation is real and this little guy has definitely shrunk lol) still tasty and plenty for one person. We also ordered the Burrito Lanera, which is ginormous and I believe a seasonal Shrimp Tamale as well, both were very flavorful, but between the two I think the Burrito won. As always the Hibiscus Mango Sour is a clear winner and favorite with the fam so make sure you try it out if you haven't already Shout out to the wait staff, you guys are awesome and just to note for whatever reason it's quieter at the bar than the family section so if your wanting less noise that's the place to be

    Michel S.

    Came here for the first and Elle was great and she provided great customer service. I was meeting friends and even when they were there I still was seated. The salsa, guacamole and the quesadillas were amazing! My friend almost licked the guacamole bowl it was that good! The restaurant is up beat and lots of familiesX dates and basically people that wat to have fun. The manager came in towards the end of our dinner and gave us a complimentary tres leches flan or something like it. It was delicious! When I am back in Kirkland, I will stop by.

    Seafood enchilada
    Alicia X.

    I went for a late afternoon meal. It was still fairly busy for the time. Since I was by myself, I ended up in the area where it was seat yourself. It was a bit awkward being there for a bit because I felt like I wasn't sure who's attention to get to order from since I wasn't drinking. I ended up getting the seafood enchilada. I enjoyed it. Compared to some other reviewer's photos, it feels like they skimped on the cheese but I didn't notice when eating. I enjoyed it. It was a solid meal and I wouldn't be against going again if I'm in the area.

    Carne Asada
    Candi O.

    I came here with a group of 7 others to celebrate my daughter's college graduation. We had to wait awhile for a table. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. We were seated indoors. We were asked if we would like chips and salsa. I said "yes". There was a charge, which surprised me (I'm used to chips and salsa being complementary at mexican restaurants in California). Anyway, our server was pleasant and fairly attentive. The food was good and moderately priced. We enjoyed our meal.

    eggs benedict
    Branden N.

    Disclaimer: BRUNCH REVIEW, STREET PATIO This is an underrated weekend brunch spot in downtown Kirkland! Cactus has friendly and quick service, paired with Mexican influenced breakfast dishes that will have your mouth watering. Don't let the Latin/Mexican-American themed menu dissuade you from dining in during brunch hours, as the Chorizo skillet, eggs Benedict, and mimosas all exceed expectations without breaking the bank. Our party of 3 left happy, satisfied, and full! The food came hot, fresh, and quick for a busy Sunday around 11:30 AM. For 3 large adults ordering 3 entrees and 3 alcoholic beverages, the total came to around $37 per person including tax and a 20% tip ($110). I definitely recommend coming here for a great brunch experience in downtown Kirkland. Bonus points for pets welcomed in the outdoor patio.

    Green enchilada
    Jody O.

    Atmosphere 5 Service 5 Food 5 We love this location as well as the Madison Park location- you can't beat their patio in Kirkland on a sunny day & it's dog friendly. We were there for lunch on a busy Saturday & only had to wait about 10 minutes. Sammy served us & she was excellent. We each got scratch margaritas that are always delicious. We like to try a few dishes to share so we got the bacon wrapped jalapeños- delicious & a little spicy, Mexican street corn- so yummy, smoked chicken quesadilla- so tasty with the smoky flavor & the green enchilada with rice & beans. This was amazing- the blue corn tortilla and the tomatillo sauce were so delicious & the beans & rice were so good as well. We'll definitely be back soon!

    Oaxaca margarita and banana coconut desert
    Hanna S.

    Great food. Libations leaded and unleaded. Our server Madison deserves a very special shout out: professional. Warm, attentive, anticipatory - bringing the dog a bowl of water. Serving on a hot day at the busy hour especially with outdoor tables can be demanding and she did it with Grace. Good job, cactus for finding hiring and keeping her Our food was very good. I really appreciate having the vegan jackfruit tacos on the menu. I just get any cream or cheese on it. Quality of ingredients were excellent .

    tres leches French toast
    Sarah H.

    One of our reliably good local food spots to walk to in downtown Kirkland. I love their chips and salsa, and most recently their brunch game has been strong. Solid food but it does tend to get busy and service out on the patio is iffy when busy.

    Joy Q.

    Convenient location and friendly service with patio seating. Food was pricey and flavor was okay I liked the margaritas

    Lauren V.

    Love love love this restaurant. The vibes are immaculate, the drinks are amazing, and the chips are drool worthy. I was in town with a friend and we went to cactus twice during our visit. We ordered the Austin style queso and a couple of drinks. Their queso is *chefs kiss. Pro tip is to join the waitlist through Yelp because they are typically pretty packed.

    Chicken Chimichanga
    Julia K.

    I love that they have a really nice patio area to enjoy the outdoor weather during the summer and it's dog friendly. I ordered the chicken fried chicken and I enjoyed it. The mashed potatoes go great with the fried chicken. They use chicken breast but I didn't find it too dry. The service was great and friendly.

    Tex Mex Queso with Corn Chips

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    Cactus Restaurants - Kirkland Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cactus Restaurants - Kirkland

    Can you request the patio when you join the online waiting list? Or is it luck of the draw?

    Hi Christina, You may request a patio table when you join the online waiting list, just make a note of it in the provided box. Since we have far fewer tables on the patio… 

    How do I join the waitlist?

    Join waitlist through yelp on cactus page or Nowait app

    When does Happy Hour return in Kirkland?

    We have Happy Hour during Brunch from open to 1pm.

    Hi! Do you have happy hour?

    Thank you for your interest in dining with us. The only happy hour we are currently offering is brunch happy hour which is from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Have a good rest of your day!

    Wondering if the waitlist on Yelp includes outdoor dining?

    Yes, it does.

    Looking to have a Father's Day dinner, is the dining room open? Can I make a reservation?

    Hello, Our dining room is open at a limited capacity during King County phase 1.5 opening. At… 

    I have a group of colleagues coming in from out of town next week. Can you accommodate a group of 6-8 for dinner so we can all sit together? reservations recommended? thx

    Hi Marty, We could absolutely accommodate your party! Please call the restaurant so we can get your party on the books! The store number is (425) 893-9799.… 

    Does this restaurant have air conditioning?

    Lisa, We do have air conditioning at our Kirkland location!… 

    View All 9 Questions

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    El Encanto

    El Encanto

    3.3
    (252 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$
    Speaks Spanish
    Minority-owned & operated

    Beautiful setting with an incredible view. The restaurant has a lot going for it, especially if…read moreyou're looking for a memorable atmosphere and a dinner that feels a little special. The food is quite good. I wouldn't call it authentically Mexican, but rather a contemporary, slightly elevated interpretation of Mexican cuisine. Personally, I would have loved a bit more of those bold, authentic Mexican flavors to come through, but overall, the dishes were enjoyable and beautifully presented. The staff was genuinely warm, welcoming, and attentive throughout the evening. I did change my mind shortly after being seated and asked to move from indoors to the patio. Our hostess, Aguilera, gave me a quick look that said, "Really? Already?" but was very gracious and accommodating. In the end, moving outside was definitely the right call! The wooden chairs indoors look beautiful but become a little uncomfortable after sitting for a while. The carved seating cocoons along the walls are visually striking and add a lot of character, although they're probably better for admiring than for a long, leisurely dinner. The outdoor seating, on the other hand, was very comfortable. The biggest opportunity for improvement is the acoustics. Conversations really travel and bounce around the interior, which naturally leads everyone to speak louder just to hear each other, creating a bit of a vicious cycle. During a busy dinner service, it can get quite noisy. That said, I'd absolutely come back and happily bring friends or visitors for a memorable dinner. My preference would definitely be a nice-weather evening with outdoor seating, where you can really enjoy the view and atmosphere. Pro tip: Ask for a Carajillo! It's a Mexican espresso cocktail that can be surprisingly hard to find done well. They have one here, and it was delicious, beautifully presented, and one of the highlights of the evening.

    Our whole group was very disappointed with our dinner experience tonight. We were there for about 2…read more1/2 hours, and our server was essentially absent the entire time. We had to repeatedly flag down other servers and bussers just to get basic things like water refills, blankets, and a dessert menu. Our server was a young, slim Indian gentleman. We didn't catch his name because it wasn't listed on the receipt, but he walked past our table multiple times without ever checking on us. I ordered my steak medium, but it came out blue rare. As you can see in the photo, it was extremely undercooked. Since I'm pregnant, I wasn't willing to take the risk of eating it, so I ended up leaving most of it. Overall, the location and the view were absolutely beautiful, but the service and food were both disappointing. No one at our table enjoyed their meal. The tacos were okay, but nothing memorable. Based on our experience, I don't understand the hype surrounding this restaurant.

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    El Encanto
    El Encanto
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    Cielo Cocina Mexicana

    Cielo Cocina Mexicana

    4.1
    (370 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    I've been here many times -- mostly for team lunches with coworkers or happy hours. It's always…read moregreat. I've had their street tacos, habanero enchiladas, California burrito... everything is great. The burrito is huge and full of fries, beans and meat. The meat is super tender and flavorful. The enchiladas have a super spicy, luxurious sauce that I couldn't get enough of. Their guacamole appetizer is also awesome. The inside has like three zones - a darker, moodier corner with booths... then high tables near the bar that are airy, with a ton of light... and then an outdoor area with umbrellas to keep the sun from beating on you too bad. They're all a great vibe -- just different. This is a beautiful, modern, clean restaurant that fits perfectly into Bellevue's scene -- but it almost has too much 'corporate polish,' like a Microsoft high-rise tower. My only mildest of criticisms is that this polish kind of obfuscates how soulful eating Mexican food can be.

    Easy spot to get to close to my hotel. I went the other night with some co-workers while in town…read morefor a conference. The staff was fun and friendly, very attentive. The margaritas were delicious. Generous size for the price point as well. Their salsa was spicier than I expected. I had the quesabirria tacos and while the meat was a little drier than I'd expect from a birria taco, the consommé was wonderful. Their beans were tender and tasted homemade and so did the rice. Great location, perfect for a happy hour or casual dinner.

    Photos
    Entrance area
    Entrance area
    Nachos and carne asada fries!
    Nachos and carne asada fries!
    Seating area

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    Seating area
    Plaza Garcia

    Plaza Garcia

    4.0
    (287 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    We were feeling like having some Mexican food and Plaza Garcia came up in the searches so we…read moredecided to check it out. The ambiance was pretty chill. There are the usual Margarita and Corona signs on the walls and windows of the restaurant. After we got seated, we were right away served with home made chips and salsa. They even brought their super spicy homemade salsa. The chips were warm and the salsa was delicious...something that I judge a lot of Mexican restaurants on. We tried the veggie fajitas and chimichanga. Both were served in generous portions and were delicious. I just wish that the pricing was a little bit more favorable as each item was around $23 when it could have probably been around $15. For dessert, we got the churros which were filled with sweet cream and drizzled with whipped cream and chocolate. They were delicious but, again, instead of $10 I think this should have been more like $7. I recommend Plaza Garcia for some good authentic Mexican food but come prepared to spend some higher than average cash.

    What a delightful little place. The staff made it what it is. If the food was bad, I would still…read morecome back because of them. Such heartfelt and kind staff members! Welcoming and professional. The place was surprisingly, very, very clean and well decorated! The food was perfect. We both got burritos so delicious. My husband and I had taken a hike down a beautiful ravine near OO Denny park and then eaten here afterwards. It was a perfect way to end our date. I can't wait to be back!

    Photos
    Plaza Garcia
    Plaza Garcia
    Plaza Garcia

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    Cactus Restaurants - Kirkland - tex-mex - Updated August 2026

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