01/12/09

DEE-licious Mexican food

by alingane

The food is unique, but also authentic. They serve a wide range of burritos, enchiladas, plus tamales, chile rellenos and more of the platos tipicos that you'd expect from a sit down restaurant in a fast environment.

• Pros: Right next to the BART station
• Cons: Always crowded

10/14/06

totally average at best.

by g_peters

this place attracted my attention one day when i was getting off the BART. it was justs remodeled and it had the look of a really nice fast food place. naturally i had to try it but i was sadly disappointed. their food was mediocre and salsas were so inauthentic they could barely pass for mexican... very gimicky. the decor was the only saving grace. although it was confusing since it looked as if the food should taste good since it looked so nice on the outside but it was a big let down. they claim to use Niman Ranch meat but the way they cook and store their meats really doesn't do Niman Ranch justice. you're better off spending a little more somewhere else to get a nice Niman Ranch Pork loin so you can enjoy it the way it's supposed to be enjoyed. we ordered a chicken salad, two tacos, and a burrito and two drinks between two of us and our bill came out to be almost thirty dollars! the tacos had BEANS in them which in my opinion is totally weird. all i could taste was the beans. the salad was decent and the burrito was just average at best, if that. the only good thing was that i could wash the bad taste it left in my mouth with their draft beer! i hate to say it but this place is really deceiving from the outside in. when i logged on city search to write this review i read all the other reviews for this place and i can't tell you how shocked i was to see such a poor inaccurate representation by a city search editorial... and coming from the other reviews on bad service, and declining quality, i should have read those first before spending my hard earned money at a place that is all bark and no bite.

• Pros: close to bart
• Cons: flavor, food, service

05/13/06

good food, but overpriced and poor service

by alyk

been going to cactus for 5+ yrs and the food just isn't worth the trouble any longer. the last 8 times we've gotten to go food, there has been a mistake.

04/25/06

Great quick meal

by jcm55

Cactus is my default location for a quick meal. It's walking distance from my house, and the price is right. Best fish tacos and fish burritos I've had anywhere. I see several negative comments about the service here, but I haven't had any problems. It's no five star French restaurant, but certainly on par with other "gourmet" fast food restaurants where you order at the counter.

02/22/06

Awesome shrimp plate and flan

by jessgopal

This is my favorite mexican place. You can't go wrong with anything you order. It's all really fresh. A little noisy and crowded most of the time, but food comes pretty fast. Try to get the flan when they first cook it and package it -- yum!

08/30/05

Como se dice "grubbin' burritos"?

by chula

I come here regularly, and now that I've gotten used to their burritos, everyone else's seem to be lacking something. I've never gotten anything but the "burrito mejor" so I can't speak to the quality of the other items. I always get my food to go, because the dining room is always packed with noisy children. The service is very efficient. Oh, and they have a great salsa bar, as any good taqueria should.

• Pros: yummy burritos, salsa bar
• Cons: noisy, crowded

06/01/05

User review by chrisparamore

by chrisparamore

best in the bay hands down. i love this place and highly recomend to everyone.

05/20/05

Best in the Bay

by hjs5114

I lived in Rockridge for three years. During that time I becamed hooked on Cactus Taqueria. The food is always fresh and tastes great, the portions are generous and the service always friendly to me. Now when I return to the Bay Area I always make a special trip to Cactus for the Carna Asada Mejor Burrito on a Spinach tortilla with Black Beans!!!

• Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere
• Cons: Not Located near home

08/30/04

no problems here

by owenseightbal

I go to the new catus a couple times a month and have never had a problem with the staff. I wait in line get my tacos and go. I am not there to chat with the assembly line. I have only once had my order screwed up. They gave me prawns instead of chicken.

What I do find annoying are the patrons. Waiting in line with self important and rude " rockridgers" who think nothing of running in front of you as you walk to the door is typical.

Go for the food but run from the patrons.

06/30/04

East Bay college kids swear by this small local chain that serves cheap, fresh, generous portions of Mexican fast food.

by Contributor

The Scene
Long a favorite with families and college students, the cafeteria-style service is quick and kid-friendly. The place has a festive air, with wooden chairs and tables lacquered in primary colors, and the open kitchen lets you watch the cooks power-chop an assembly line of tomatoes. Mealtimes are almost always busy, and the noise level increases accordingly.

The Food
A massive menu of fast-food renditions of Mexican dishes offers plenty of variety for big and small appetites. Fat foil-wrapped burritos are loaded with a choice of beans (black, pinto or refried), salsa and nine meat, seafood or vegetarian fillings. The nutty, spicy pollo con mole rojo is one of the more inventive choices. Messy, overstuffed tacos are served in soft, warm corn tortillas. A deserving favorite, the sweet husk-wrapped corn tamales with fiery poblano chilies are surprisingly authentic. Enchiladas, tostadas, nachos--whatever you order, count on fresh ingredients and generous portions.