Happy Place!!! Joana took a great care of me when I went by myself. Had to go back next night with my husband and Rutgers freshman!!!

The services was exceptional and the food was delicious. I enjoyed the tortilla soup with chicken, and two (build your own) tacos, chicken and fish. Looking forward to returning soon. read more

We had heard a lot of good things about this place, so we were looking forward to trying it, especially since we haven't found too many good Mexican restaurants nearby. I ordered the cheese empanadas, but unfortunately they weren't for me. The oil tasted a little stale, and I felt like I was tasting more dough than cheese. My husband got a burrito, but his was quite salty, so he wasn't able to enjoy much of it either. The place also felt a bit loud for us with the music and TVs going at the same time. I understand that may be the vibe they're going for, but combined with not enjoying our food, we just didn't feel like sitting there much longer. We tried our food, left most of it, paid the bill, and headed out. We didn't say anything at the time because we thought maybe we just caught them on an off day. Since it's downtown and we had to pay for garage parking as well, I'm not sure we would make another trip back. I really wanted to like this place based on what we had heard, so I wish our first experience had been better. read more

I will never understand why a restaurant says they deliver on various platforms but is ALWAYS unavailable. I understand places get busy but management at FC has to be really clueless when it comes to "switching on" the availability on those platforms. Every time I call to ask if they deliver, I usually get a sarcastic response like yea duh of course we do but again staff is totally clueless that they haven't made themselves available on the platform. I wonder how much these guys are losing on deliveries or maybe this is a subtle hint that they don't want to deal with it because they're taking a loss on Postmates, Uber Eats, and Doordash. I can't be the only one experiencing this. To management: if you guys don't want to deal with these delivery services, cancel them and stop misleading people that you deliver. If you decide to keep them, talk to your account manager at said platforms and educate yourselves and your staff on how to use them so you can be more profitable in the delivery space. It's tough out there and it would be a shame if you guys lose business and the other Mexican spot in the neighborhood closes you out because they have staff that stays on top of operations. I'm done trying to give this place business and reminding them to update their availability. read more

Fat Cactus Cantina is really more about the atmosphere than the food. The decor is fun, colorful, and gives the place a lively vibe. Service was excellent, and that honestly stood out as one of the best parts of the experience. The food is pretty much what you would expect from this kind of spot: huge portions, greasy, salty, heavy, and very Americanized. Basically over the top Mexican food with lots of carbs. Not terrible, just not something that felt especially memorable or authentic. What really surprised me was that they did not have coffee or tea at all, which feels like a pretty big miss for a full service restaurant. Overall, I liked it most for the atmosphere and the service. read more

See all

Had dinner before the Yelp Elite Event at the NBPAC! Festive vibes from the decor and music! Love the art murals! Food was good- typical Mexican food! Street corn had a kick! Loved my CACTUS BLOSSOM SANGRIA! Small portion though! Parking deck walking distance and walking distance to the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC). Server did check in but really long time frames. read more

See all

Quality meal here pre-show at State Theater. Portions are very large, food is 3-4 star level, service friendly but a little slow. Fajitas were by far the best dish ordered, with a great presentation on a three-tiered dish. The blackened chicken was perfectly done and very flavorful. The Al pastor burrito was good, but way too spicy for most at the table - loaded with jalapeños. Kids loved the Jarritos selection - all laid out in a display wall at the reception desk. I knew I was in trouble as soon as we walked in! read more

See all

Stopped in before a show at State Theater and we had a lovely experience. Place was nearly deserted when we arrived, but really filled up quickly as show time approached. The chips and salsa were so fresh, always a good sign that your Mex will be a wonderful experience. They had no issue refilling our bowls of that as we waited for our meals, but it was hard to get the attention of the man who does that. I got Chimi Carne Asada Steak, served with a verde sauce and quite good. A bit pricey at $35, but tasty. My wife got Birria Pizza and my son got Birria Burrito, both good. I believe my son mentioned he got three meals out of his Burrito, which made me feel better about parting with $24. The drinks were good. I would imagine they could do better than $6.50 per bottle of Miller Lite, but what can you do. This would be a five star review if their prices were a bit better, but the food was good. Clean establishment and Christian was a wonderful server. I would go back, and their Parsippany location is closer to me. read more

See all

Cozy atmosphere .. waitress was very attentive and responsive to requests. Food was very fresh and tasty. Would definitely return. read more

See all

I met up with friends for dinner and when I arrived I parked on the street nearby. I walked in and was led to my friends. Jorge was our servant and he was great! I ordered: Chicken Tinga Arepas Chimichurri Carne Asada Baileys Tres Leches I enjoyed the Arepas and the Carne! The Tres Leches was too sweet for me! All in all a good experience read more

See all

Stopped in here before a show and was seated pretty quickly. But it was a bit of a wait before my waitress came and took my order I started off with the cheese empanadas but the kitchen sent out my main course first which was the seven layer burrito with French fries by accident. But the burrito was excellent and the fries were crispy. When the cheese empanadas finally arrived they were good as well. The food was very good. My only issues was the amount of time I had to wait for my waitress to take my order and to give me the check and I was sat under a speaker that was blasting loud music so having a conversation was a little hard. The ambiance screamed Mexican bar/restaurant it's very colorful which I loved. Overall I would go back again hopefully the service side is better and music isn't as loud next time read more

See all

Very very Noisy. The worst Nachos ever eat in a Mexican Restaurent. 7 layer Avocado dish was ok but very small portion & not worth $27 & Chicken Tinga Enchiladas was OK. Over all never going back. We miss chi-Chis at Woodbridge on Route 1. read more

Love the made to order tacos! Pick your shell, fillings, toppings and sauces. We tried several fillings and they were all delicious. Warm tortilla chips and dip are a great accompaniment. Our server kept our tortillas refilled every time we emptied it. They also offer standard menu fare - but I definitely recommend trying the made-to-order tacos so you get exactly what you want! read more

Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina - Mexican Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

See all

The 7 Layer Dip burrito may have been one of the grossest things I've ever had. It was an incredibly soggy tortilla, filled with lettuce soaked in sour cream + cilantro mayo/aioli. Barely any beans. The enchilada sauce described as spicy was actually sweet. I can't even believe they served this. (Why would you put mayo in a burrito anyway?!) I should have gone to taco bell for a better burrito for 80% less. The staff is very nice, but doesn't write down orders and my order came wrong. read more

Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina - 7-Layer Dip Burrito - Mexican Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

If you're looking for vibes for your next group dinner in New Jersey... Fat Cactus Cantina is the move! We came here for dinner and drinks and everything hit. While we ate our body weight in chips, salsa and the pineapple habanero guacamole, we toasted to the best cocktails around -- frozen margaritas and a spiced Mexican old fashioned.The sweet seduction cocktail definitely put a smell on me! Getting right into the dishes, the birria pizza was unreal. So savory and juicy! We also grabbed their elote--creamy, smoky, perfectly messy... the only way elote should be. And the fire wontons? Super crunchy with that perfect little burst of jalapeño and cream cheese combo. If you're a fan of crab rangoons these are similar! Their ghost pepper wings with Mexican BBQ didn't come to play. Sweet heat that hits you when you least expect it. The customizable tacos were perfect for those taco cravings when you just want one of everything! Super flavorful, and totally made to your style. We loved the chipotle chicken burrito. Massive, smoky, and so satisfying. The classic ground beef enchiladas were comforting, cheesy, and melt in your mouth. If you love Mexican food and portions that actually satisfy, Fat Cactus Cantina is your spot. read more

I find it surprising that all desserts are priced at $14, regardless of the type. Meanwhile, my deep-fried avocado entree is only $24. This seems like an imbalance in pricing. With that said, the food is effin' delicious! The highlight for me was the Panchicano dessert. They had the AUDACITY to deep fry a piece of tres leches cake with sweet corn batter and top that with caramel infused ice cream and Mexican chocolate nugs with a side of sweet whipped cream and sliced strawberries. ¡Five finger lickin' delicious! read more

See all

Overall a great option for Taco Tuesday. I was a little worried ahead of time as I feel like the menu is a skosh on the expensive side, especially for the taco dishes (2 tacos for 20$ minimum seems a bit much). So I was jazzed to see that there was a Taco Tuesday deal for 4$/each tacos. The pastor were easily my favorite and was actually a great taco. The pork belly was also fairly good. We grabbed the cheese dip and guac. We were told ahead of time the guac would be spicy and it was, but I don't know that the spiciness really added to the flavoring. And the pricepoint at just under $13 is high, for sure. The chips themselves were pretty fair. Food came quickly. Margs were standard. Service was attentive and gave us a good amount of water. Vibe was good overall, not so many people which is what we really wanted. If you're in the area, it's a fine option. read more

The food was amazing & the drinks were even better. My boyfriend took me here on a date! The service was great & we actually ended up purchasing one of the photos from the photographer; it even came in a clear photo frame. We got tacos; jerk chicken, chicken adobo, and korean short rib. These were delicious! read more

Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina - The margaritas were so good! - Mexican Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

We ate at Fat Cactus and had a great experience, the food and service was great. Our server Johana was super pleasant and helpful! After seeing some reviews that complained about the service I wanted to say that we had no issues whatsoever. People deserve to be recognized when they do a great job and Johana was a great server. Great atmosphere and we will be back! read more

This place is a must-go . The biggest win? You can fully customize your tacos--and yes, I mean everything: the shell, sauces, cheese, meat... all of it. That alone makes this spot stand out. I was honestly there for the customizable tacos and they did not disappoint. I ordered three different tacos--jerk chicken, shrimp, and steak--all on a classic corn tortilla. I mixed it up with sour cream on some, queso fresco on others, and let me just say... their green sauce is AMAZING. That said, I wasn't too impressed with the jerk chicken--it was more spicy than flavorful. The steak was a pretty standard steak taco. But that shrimp?! It HIT THE SPOT--sooooo good . I'd go back any day just to customize a shrimp taco again. The drinks were good and decent--nothing too memorable, but I had a passion fruit margarita and it was solid. The location itself is really nice with both upstairs and downstairs seating, and the decor is very well done. The bathroom was small but clean, which I appreciate. Service was okay, no complaints. Overall, the customizable tacos (especially the shrimp) are the real star here, and I'll definitely be back read more

Our group of 6 was promptly seated on a Saturday night, despite it being quite crowded. The food was ok, but the entrees were a bit underwhelming in general. In particular, the consomme for the birria items was bland. However, the jalapeño cheddar corn bread was pretty good. I wouldn't come back just for that though. read more

Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina - Mexican Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Food: Great value and generous portions! The guac is a good sharing size for 4-6. We had the pineapple and bacon and it was a bit too sweet for me. Still good flavors. The fajitas were good though the refried beans had a tad too much cumin. The blackened chicken was a tad too salty so we traded. My cactus salad with chicken add on was very delicious. Service: friendly, accommodating Ambiance: fun, clean, not too noisy read more

The food was reported to be good. The service was slow as heck. The ambiance was definitely cute. I came in with about 9 students as we were on a trip. The host gave us menus and taco slips to fill out. I walked 2 students 2 blocks away and returned.(10 min) The hostess had not checked on the students. She was on the phone and computer in her office. 40 minutes later we got our food but she opened the sodas and dumped the caps. Why? We were taking it to go. That forced the kids to drink it as they walked but had not started eating. Just dumb...They said the food was food though... read more

See all

Great Texmex, good prices for hefty portions. Came here on an almost 100F day and A/C was barely running which kind of subtracted from the experience. Spacious interior and fanciful decorations. Otherwise, service was friendly and quick. - Chicken quesadilla, 4/5: hits the spot, crisp exterior and cheesy inside. Goes great with the guac - 7 layer burrito, 4/5: friend ordered this and said it was hearty and flavorful that's all from meeeee read more

Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina - Chicken Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

See all

Great evening lunch here. The chimichurri steak tacos was so good Full of flavor every bite dripping succulents juices. Very colorful, cultural ambience, true to Mexico and great service. Our waitress took care of us from beginning to end. read more

Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina - Frozen mango margarita - Mexican Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

The Halloween decorations really set the vibe for this place and I loved it! I just want to start off by saying our server was great. We came here on a Saturday during Rutgers homecoming and he was still always checking in on us to make sure we were okay or if we needed anything. I love how they give you chips and salsa to start, some restaurants have stopped doing this since the pandemic. The guacamole coming in an actual mortar and pestle is such a nice touch. We got the pineapple and habenero guacamole. Let me tell you, this is sweet at first then gives a real spice kick towards the end. I ended up getting two tacos, chicken tinga and garlic shrimp. My garlic shrimp one was tender and delicious. However, I felt my chicken tinga was a bit dry and could of used more sauce. I ordered a margarita and these things are huge for the price you pay not to mention tasty. I want to come back for happy hour! read more

See all

Solid solid spot. Delicious food and great vibes - what else can you ask for? It's pretty loud so expect that but it's a great spot to grab food before or after a night out! read more

Fat Cactus is a fun Mexican place in downtown New Brunswick. There is plenty of seating, fun music, and lots of delicious food options. I'm vegetarian and have had good experiences with substitutions for any entrees that I liked on the menu. I love their 7 layer burrito. It's quite filling, and comes with a tortilla salad. And you can never go wrong with guac and chips! I didn't get drinks this time but my friends who did enjoyed their margs! read more

Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina - Pineapple Habanero Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

See all

Last night, I was turned away at the bar's door. The bouncer looked at me and said, "Not her." I was composed, with sober friends who were just as confused. To this moment, I have no idea why I wasn't allowed in, no real explanation, no real reason. And because of that, none of us went in. It was frustrating and disappointing. Whether it was a misunderstanding or something more, it left a really bad impression on all of us. Won't be going back. The vibe at the door was unwelcoming at best. Luckily, we ended up having a fabulous time at Clydz! read more

I normally come here for the drinks but the food is good also. If you want really authentic Mexican I'd go somewhere else because it's more of a drinking resturant with a very loud ambiance but the food is good enough to eat. I usually have tacos so last time I had the Birria tacos. They were really good , no complaints. I was disappointed with the service last time I came here. My waitress was good and it wasn't her fault but everything was extremely slow. We got our food before everyone got their drinks and we were asked if we wanted more chips but never received any. They also forgot to bring out something they charged us for. They seemed understaffed. Overall I would recommend this place. read more

Came here on a saturday for lunch. I prked in the parking deck around the corner. It wasnt busy at all. We were seated quickly. The place is very nice and spacious. Our servicer was very nice and attentive. They played good music as well. I can tell this is a party enviorment at night. Me and my sister ordered a bunch of apps. We got complementary chips and salsa which was good. We also got floutas, mexican corn on the cobb, sweet plantain, tostones, grilled cactus, and a fruit punch jarritos. The food came about 20 min later. Everything was ok. Standard Mexican food. The sweet plantains and tostones defiantly needed to be cooked more. And the floutas could of been more crispy. L Lastly we ordered dessert. We got the banana tres leches which was delicious. I highly recommended. The best part was dessert and the chips and salsa. If I ever come back, it will be for just that. read more

See all

This is a Mexican teataraunt with pretty decor food is hot and fresh drinks are strong and tasty we had the chips and fresh salsa and then moved onto enchilada, taco, and fajita carnitas everything flavorful and hot service was friendly . Prices reasonable read more

See all

I went to this establishment tonight and was extremely disappointed. This was my first time here and my daughter advised she had a good time when she went so I said ok. We were seated quickly at the restaurant so that was a plus. They sat us in the back however someone that was with me noticed they had happy hour but in the bar area only so she asked to be moved to the bar area. They accommodated which I appreciated. She placed our order. The food consisted of wings, empanadas and tacos. First my wings were not fully cooked so I had to send that back My friend bit into her empanada and noticed her chicken wasn't fully cooked so that had to go back and when she bought it to the waitress attention the waitress nonchalantly said oh that piece of chicken was a little bigger which made no sense because the chicken still must be cooked. My wings came back and they were still not good so I just left them. The manager said nothing, didn't apologize or anything. The duo on the happy hour menu was good And I had this drink called pocket full of sunshine which was delicious All and all for me I wouldn't go back I see all the good reviews which is great however my experience was not. read more

Guac and chips very good. Margarita good too. Prices are reasonable but I did not care for my entree (jerk chicken tacos). Very mediocre. read more

See all

Food is tremendous, but please read the entire review to see what you're in for. I've been here multiple times and personally only had their made to order tacos. They give you a sheet and you check off the ingredients. I have no desire to try anything else because the taco selection is awesome. The Al Pastor carnitas are insane! The first time I had pork belly was incredible, but in subsequent visits it turned out to be very dry and tough to chew so I'm hesitant to check that box again any time soon. Sad face. My family took us here for Father's Day and we had a variety of menu items. Enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas - all were delicious. A note to the owners and managers: please do something about the photography service. It's uncomfortable and really soils the entire experience - enough to make me reconsider ever coming here again despite the quality of the food. The last two times we've dined in, there have been pushy photographers that insist on taking your picture. The first time we experienced this, we said no thanks 3 times and the photographer insisted. He took what we thought was a Father's Day family photo and later, he shows up with a printed photo of just my very young kid and asked for $20 to buy it. We felt obligated because I didn't love the idea of some pushy stranger keeping a printed copy of a photo of my kid more or less without my consent. Not cool. The side hustle isn't worth alienating your customers. Food? 5 stars. Service? 3.5 stars (warm water in tiny glasses? Having to beg for attention from servers at times? Some vists we've had downright awful service; others it has been terrific. Hard to rate this top to bottom) Photographers? 0 stars. In summary: Focus on the food and the dining experience and ditch the paparazzi. I'll gladly update this review if the photographers get sent back to JCPenney. read more

Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina - Made to order tacos: carnitas, al pastor, barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

This was my 2nd time here, but apparently my first time reviewing. I give this spot a 5 for vibe and ambience. It is bright and lively, which definitely adds to the experience. Service was on point both times... first time dinner was lackluster... I remember the pork on my pork belly tacos being almost inedibly chewy and the rest of the meal being standard... Second time around, sat in the bar area for happy hour offerings. Honestly, happy hour wasn't that much of a deal, so you'd probably be more comfy sitting in the main area.. my margarita seemed a little watered down, so I switched to wine. But, the food seemed as though it improved. I got a taco medley that I really enjoyed... but, believe it or not, the star of the show is their complimentary chips and salsa... the salsa was BOMB! I asked for extra to take home and they were gracious enough to give without charging. It is New Brunswick, so there are PLENTY of authentic Mexican options at every corner, but I would visit here for more of a lively, sit down experience with some cocktails. read more

Fun Mexican Restaurant in New Brunswick that's a short walk to the Theater's & Comedy Factory. Has a variety of everything, that can accommodate differing tastes and allergies. Has Gluten Free choices. Offers a variety of margaritas and frozen cocktails, as well as a regular bar. Wait staff are super nice and helpful. This place is jumping. Not my first time here, it's always packed. Kid friendly. Decorated brightly, clean, and using Mexican fare. Great to hook up with a friend or with groups. Would definitely recommend reserving a table. You are given chips & salsa while looking at the menu's. My party loved everything that we ate. (Not pictured chicken enchiladas. Two downsides, should have gone for regular guacamole, the "extras" were minuscule. After leaving the garlic used (which I didn't necessarily taste or felt overpowering while eating) in the food, repeated on me all night. This is the only time (and I mean ever) that a meal has made me burp. Quite embarrassing when you are sitting at the State Theatre watching a show! I would go back again - id just ask about the garlic content. read more

See all

A fun establishment that is well decorated and offers a festive atmosphere. We frequent this spot due to its close proximity to work. The drinks are good - I like the frozen margaritas. They give you chips and salsa as soon as you arrive. If it's someone's birthday, they'll come and serenade you at your table which is fun as well. Overall, a nice casual spot to go to dinner with that can accommodate groups as well! read more

Ordered takeout, had a question about my order and Johnny on the phone was so accommodating! Food was delicious and so fresh!!

The Food was great. The service wasn't necessarily the best. The drinks were great. I recommend for a quick date night.