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Iron Cactus San Antonio

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

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IRON CACTUS SAN ANTONIO ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Iron Cactus San Antonio

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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

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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!

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The Bang Bang Bar

The Bang Bang Bar

4.4
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Recently we hosted our Morrissey After Party at Bang Bang Bar, following the former Smiths…read morefrontman's sold-out January 10th performance at the Boeing Center at Tech Port and honestly, we couldn't have written a better script. Morrissey hadn't graced San Antonio in over 10 years, with past cancellations and postponements haunting fans along the way. So when he finally returned, San Antonio Moz fans showed up and showed out. Despite multiple after-party options across the city, fans from Brazil, the UK, Canada, Japan, and all across the U.S. chose Bang Bang Bar as the place to be on a cold Saturday night. Hosted by local emcee Ricardo Moz and Apollo DJ, the night turned into one for the history books. Bang Bang Bar is easily one of Texas' best dive-lounge bars...the perfect blend of gritty and cozy. Great cocktail program, solid beer selection, and a vibe that just works. The décor leans heavy into a 1950s-60s lounge aesthetic, with intimate spaces like the Blue Room and Yellow Room, perfect for groups of 7-10. Low lighting, warm atmosphere, and zero pretension exactly what you want for a night like this. Bang Bang Bar consistently supports local and touring acts, spanning punk, alternative, and DJ-driven nights, and this Moz Smiths Disco was no exception. It was wall-to-wall classics all night long. Major credit to Phanie and the Bang Bang Bar management they rolled up their sleeves, brought in extra bar staff, and handled an overwhelming crowd like pros. Fans waited up to 45 minutes in the cold, with a line wrapping around the building, and the energy inside never dipped. As the host of Panic On The Streets, I'm incredibly thankful to Bang Bang Bar for helping us pull off one of the best after-parties we've done in years. Fittingly, 2026 marks the 10-year anniversary of both Bang Bang Bar and Panic On The Streets of San Antonio and what a way to celebrate. Bang Bang Bar has long been one of my favorite bars in town, and after this night, that reputation is more than earned. Can't wait to do another Moz Smiths Disco here. -- Panic On The Streets of San Antonio

I've been here a couple of times and have always had a great time. The server/waitress was very…read morefriendly and knowledgeable on what they offered. They were happy to answer my questions and I was never made to feel rushed. The bar itself has an awesome vibe. It's divey but offer fancy drinks. The bar has a stage (we've seen FEA perform there) and they have ample seating (tables, couches, stools, etc). I also enjoy how each couch area is its own living room setup (think of what you see when shopping for couches/coffee tables) and feel/vibe. I make it a point to come and visit this bar any time I'm in San Antonio. We love supporting Phanie and her bands in any way possible. Girl in a Coma and FEA 4ever!

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More Moz Fam dancing!
More Moz Fam dancing!
Frozen irish coffees!
Frozen irish coffees!
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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.)

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

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

Iron Cactus San Antonio - mexican - Updated July 2026

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