Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Iron Cactus San Antonio

    3.4 (2.3k reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Bars, American
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Iron Cactus San Antonio Takeout or Delivery

    Iron Cactus San Antonio Photos

    IRON CACTUS SAN ANTONIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Iron Cactus San Antonio

    Recommended Reviews - Iron Cactus San Antonio

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Pollo Relleno
    Julie K.

    I'm from out of town and came here on many recommendations. I was sadly disappointed. We got the lobster stuffed jalapeños. 3 for $18. Not worth it. I got the pollo relleno. The flavor was really good but my chicken was very overcooked. Service and atmosphere were great! Nice that it was right in the riverwalk. Is it worth the drive?...no

    Marisa M.

    My date and I came here hungry looking for some good Mexican food and well unfortunately the food wasn't good especially for the price we paid. Let me just start off ... our server Rick was stellar and he made a great table side guacamole right in front of us. He was very attentive. I ordered the fajitas and they were not what I'm use to back in El Paso. The meat was so tough and not tender at all. And don't be surprised at not getting salsa because they don't bring you any and DO NOT bother on getting extra tostada chips for your guacamole because it's an extra $2 every chip bowl. We should've known better then to eat at place next to the river walk... we thought it would be great but the food was mediocre. Oh and my husbands burger was horrible it had no flavor at all. Overall we were super disappointed with the food but happy with our server.

    Picadillo Purses
    Rose E.

    This is just a good, solid Tex-Mex restaurant on the Riverwalk...and this was our second time here! We started with this appetizer, Picadillo Purses...and we loved it! Filled solid with beef, corn and carrots, they were quite good. For our entree, I had the Shrimp Tacos and my husband had the Pollo Relleno...and we both thought our dish was quite satisfying. I also really enjoyed their Pina Colada...small, but very strong and tasty! We sat on their patio, and it was comfortable...and the service was good. I wouldn't say this is THE best Tex-Mex or Mexican foods we've had, but the foods were solid...and the ambiance was nice enough to merit at least 4 stars.

    My hand is larger than the $2 serving of chips!!! The waiter told me since COVID it's been like this!!!  5 thumbsdown!!!
    John D.

    The food is ok!!! They chips and salsa must be ordered and charged for? WTH? Service sucks!!! You gotta wave down a person to get anything!!! This ain't cool!!! The atmosphere and feeling is ok but not fabulous!!! I'm gonna get changed an arm and leg for some crappy service!!! Oh well!! I'm hungry!! Not a recommended place!!! Chip refills are $2!!! This place is straight garbage!!! Don't go here!!! I'm surprised that don't charge to use their restrooms!!!

    Genie M.

    A waitress from another restaurant highly recommended this place and so glad she did! It is on the riverwalk. Great view from inside and outside. The hostess was welcoming and accommodating! Our server/ bartender was awesome and amazing! Steven provided great customer carrier. He explained how the food was prepared. He made suggestions and gave great tips so that we all were satisfied with our meals. The decor inside is warm and inviting! The food was five stars. Everything I ate and tasted was fresh and felt as if it was made with love! Would definitely come back if im in the San Antonio area!

    Paella
    Vanessa A.

    The service was super nice and we ate outside on a beautiful day on the riverwalk. The paella was perfect and even better the next day! They give military discount and extra discount if you show up to eat in uniform!

    Drinks - strawberry mocktail and mezcal margarita
    Molly L.

    We came here on a weeknight and there was walk-in seating available. We tried quite a few different things - the guacamole, queso, cheese quesadilla, veggie fajitas, paella, and some drinks. The paella had good flavor but was a little more wet than my partner would have liked. The cheese quesadilla was also pretty good, filled with Monterey Jack cheese. The veggie fajitas were very small and not as sizzling as we would have liked. The dips were delicious - our waiter made the guacamole in front of us and the queso was in a cast iron pan so it stayed warm throughout the duration of the meal. Overall we enjoyed our food and the ambiance was nice, though there are some dishes they can work on.

    Stuffed Avocado
    John W.

    Situated right along the river walk with indoor and outdoor seating, we made a stop at the Iron Cactus for a delicious lunch! The host was extremely friendly and accommodating; something you don't get too often. Our waitress was also helpful when making suggestions and attentive. The table side guacamole was definitely a highlight for my family; I don't even care for guacamole and I couldn't stop eating it. We loved the view of the riverwalk from our table. My son loved the stuffed avocado; I don't think he even came for air once he dug into it.

    Ivayana L.

    Great drinks, good food, & great service! This restaurant is located right along the Riverwalk so if you can get a table outside, do it! Also do not miss out on tableside guacamole, it was so good and worth it! Everyone enjoyed their food & we were a group from all across the US in town for a conference so that's saying something! I ordered the fajitas and i was stuffed for at least 24 hours! Their drinks were also delicious and the servers are seriously knowledgeable when it comes to the menu. They know exactly what to respond with if you don't know what to order!

    Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Salad
    Melody C.

    An insanely good experience! The food at the Iron Cactus is delicious. Everything was incredibly flavorful and felt like the perfect mix of traditional and modern adaptions of Mexican food. All the food was so fresh and bursting with unique flavors. You must try the Tableside Guacamole - it was such a fun experience and was absolutely delicious. Our waitress let us know that Iron Cactus is one of the top 10 tequila bars in the US, and it sure does seem like it! With over 100 different tequilas on the menu, you are sure to find one you like. You have to grab a margarita here - they were delightful! The service here is incredible. Our waitress was super attentive, helpful, and spirited. I noticed the other tables nearby getting great service as well! There were also two mariachis going around offering to play songs for each table and they were super talented! There is both indoor and patio seating. Inside it is dark and moody. The patio has a great view of River Walk and is perfect for people watching. I definitely recommend the Iron Cactus!

    Fajitas for one
    Cody H.

    DO NOT GO Waited over an hour for our food. Waiter only came by the table twice in that time. After sitting there for 45 min or so we finally asked a passing waiter if we could get some water. And maybe our food. He said he would go find out. After about 10 min he came back with refills and part of the food. The rest followed shortly. All of the food was cold. The fajitas are like 31 dollars. Wayyyyy over priced for what you get. Maybe for a kids meal it would be good. Eventually we were able to leave. Our waiter passed off our table to another waiter. Upon walking out the manager was apologizing and asked what happened. We explained and our waiter magically appeared claiming we were lying. One problem. The other waiter showed up and confirmed to the manager all of our claims were true. We did not ask for a refund. Nor was one or any kind of compensation offered. There are much better Mexican food places in San Antonio. Don't waste your time with this one.

    Avocado & Portabella Fries
    Victor H.

    Sunday evening walking on the Riverwalk, we were looking for tex-mex and this was close to our hotel. Fortunately people were clearing out when we arrived so we could get seated inside. The margaritas are pretty good; we did the blood orange and prickly pear on the rocks and both were tasty. As for food, my girlfriend ordered the brisket enchiladas while I ordered a trio of appetizers (avocado/portabello fries, brisket quesadillas, pork tamale pops). The food was alright, the enchiladas are smoothered in the adobo sauce with some cheese and are filling although they needed more seasoning. The quesadillas were probably my favorite of the appetizers. The avocado/portabello fries are crispy but again, need more seasoning. And the pork tamale pops are tasty but if it wasn't for the sauces, probably wouldn't have much flavor. For the prices you pay, you're paying tourist prices for a basic tex-mex experience. But they do good margaritas and we had a good server in Eric who was attentive and helpful. We'll probably come back again but just for drinks and maybe for the tableside guac which people raved about.

    Pollo Relleno
    Adam B.

    Food was decent, drinks were amazing along with the best view of the river. It's decent but not as spectacular as I thought it would be

    Pollo Relleno, Grilled Ahi Salad and table-made guacamole

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul P.
    109
    956
    3615

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cody H.
    29
    15
    7

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam B.
    9
    41
    15

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 57

    Iron Cactus San Antonio Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Iron Cactus San Antonio

    Are there vegan options?

    I don't know about vegan, you'd have to ask. My SIL and niece are vegetarians and they had the veggie enchiladas. I'm sure there things to eat that are vegan but probably not too many options to be honest.

    Can I make reservations?

    They do not take reservations. It's all on a first come first serve basis. They do not answer the phone. I did send a message from their website and received an email reply with the above info about no reservations.

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    Yes!

    View All 4 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mexican 49,467 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Esquire Tavern

    The Esquire Tavern

    4.1
    (3.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Daniel is AMAZING! thanks for the help and making me laugh!!! Love the atmosphere/vibe.read more

    Update to first review below, rating updated from a 3 to a 5 star (drinks & bartender would get 10+…read morestars if we could rate that high): Saturday night: Went back for after dinner drinks at the Downstairs (a "speakeasy" throwback, look up the history of the place to see why). Drinks were AMAZING! Bartender Rob made the best Negroni I've ever had. I asked him to use whatever gin he thought best--result was an artistic smooooooth full-bodied drink. Told him when I was done I'd lick the glass if it wasn't considered so uncouth for a 'mature' lady like myself to do so Hubby's Buffalo Trace bourbon old fashioned was also outstanding. Rob was the bartender last night who did such a great job, and his work was even better tonight. We highly recommend The EsquireTavern for excellent cocktails. We love the long wood bar and high copper ceiling upstairs, but love the intimate speakeasy atmosphere downstairs even more. We'll definitely be back every time we're in San Antonio! First review, Friday night: Drinks were great (Manhattan and Bourbon Old Fashioned). REAL drinks, no complaints at all about those. And the bartenders were very friendly and helpful. Those aspects of the Esquire get 5+ stars from us. But the appetizers were not good, close to inedible. It was about 8:30pm or so, so maybe they were getting ready to close out the kitchen but the chalupitas with chicken tasted like rubber, and no flavor at all. The seafood platter had something in it that was breading with shell inside, but no meat of any kind. We couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be. The shrimp was good and the fish was good but those other things... We'll always love the drinks, the long wooden bar, and the ambiance at the Esquire Tavern, but we'll eat somewhere else and come here for before or after dinner drinks. (See update above to this review for when we returned the next night for after dinner drinks.)

    Photos
    Gorgeous full bar
    Gorgeous full bar
    Chicken Fried Steak
    Chicken Fried Steak
    Rum for the Hills
 
 dominican republic rum, piña amaro, gentian amaro,
 pamplemousse, pineapple, lime, demerara
 SERVED ON CRUSHED ICE

    See all

    Rum for the Hills dominican republic rum, piña amaro, gentian amaro, pamplemousse, pineapple, lime, demerara SERVED ON CRUSHED ICE
    Bubba's 33

    Bubba's 33

    3.9
    (487 reviews)
    8.9 mi
    $$

    Ambiance- it's loud, many tvs w various sports events, like a fun 'chaotic' buzz w all the decor…read moreand energy. Service- been there twice & the service was amazing both times, super cute, well mannered, helpful, kind, friendly/ everyone from the host to bus boys everyone is like Chick-fil-A friendly (chicken n pickle lost this) Food- vibes one time we had burgers soooo gigantic and delicious!!! Fries delicious all of our party enjoyed our burgers This last time we had pizza, wings, tater tots and grilled chicken salad - oh goodness it was so yummmy! We had a toddler w us & they we so cool with us & with the little one Now I we know where to go for a laid back, loud fun, family friend, great service place to go when we want a cheat meal! Thank yall! Keep it up for some reason good food & great service are rare to find

    The appetizers were OK, typical Bar Food....almost not worth mentioning. We had Salads chicken was…read morefine and we order bacon bits which were scarce but they did cover the salad in these potato things which were gross. Waiter said it was fine and that I could pull them off.... Nice. I did and revealed quite a bit of ice-burg lettuce just getting a little brown.....maybe a free specs of bacon that costs extra.....they really push it also. I won't eat here again. Besides the place needing a really good cleaning..... everything. You'd probably be amazed how must dust you are eating when the air conditioning system starts blowing. Look at the picture frames and electrical outlets with power cords, blow up the picture and see. They don't bother cleaning the table sides or menu holders......YUCK So I tried with the on duty Manager in the ASH gray tshirt who I thought at first was the Dishwasher. He was Ok the first conversation, we told him we just wanted the table to be cleaned. They complied, took them twice though. The second conversation he listened but I could tell he couldn't care less, so I looked for reasons to not to call the Health Inspector and asked him for some??? He told me to call the Managing Partner and kinda laughed then walked off. I saw this place must be owned or Managed-by Texas Roadhouse...... what a shame, this place could be great !! It is NOT. Additional note: Restrooms were filthy and unattended, used paper all over and unattended trash overflowing. I just think this is a sign of poor Management at this location. Maybe some re-training is in order ?? The single bartender was also overwhelmed. Plenty of waitstaff checking phones, group talking where they could have been helping out other areas that needed attention. This is the Culebra and Loop 410 Location. I never had a problem at 1604 and Culebra/Shaenfield Rd. Location....... I just wanted to be clear.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Boneless wings
    Boneless wings
    Crispy Fried Pickles

    See all

    Crispy Fried Pickles

    Iron Cactus San Antonio - mexican - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...