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Blue Cactus Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Korean Restaurants Tex-Mex Restaurants Vegetarian Korean, Tex-Mex, Vegetarian [Edit]
2002 Greene StColumbia, SC 29214
(803) 929-0782
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Blue Cactus Cafe
Review Highlights
"Bi Bim Bop - this is an awesome dish."
(in 8 reviews)
"for dessert, we got green tea and red bean ice cream."
(in 4 reviews)
"...yet to find a place in Atlanta that serves vegan kim bob."
(in 3 reviews)
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Rod O.
Charlotte, NC
11/21/2011 8 photos
"Sorry We're OPEN" Tex-Mex Korean? Sounds like a joke right? My friend who would never pick a Korean restaurant is crazy about Mexican and got both here.
Hole-in-the-wall GREATNESS! ! ! Great Food! Great Service! If you want to see the right way to order Be Bim Bop (sunny, runny, spicy, porky) with a sunny-side up runny egg on top and Spicy Pork (that is what my friend got) and I order mine with Beef and No Egg!
Mostly Korean menu though you could get a huge combination of flavors if you wanted. It took a while because we wanted so many of the dishes on this eclectic menu, which included some Cajun, and some other Nationalities.
When in Tex-Mex... My friend got a side of Re-fried Pintos YEAH! -
Review from Ransome C.
Greensboro, NC
1/5/2012
I'm reviewing this from how it was 5 years ago but somehow I don't think it's changed. I mean, the place has people sending them postcards from all over the world.... definitely a gem in Columbia's collection. I've since lived in NC and NYC and never have I found a Bi Bim Bop I've enjoyed more (and I have searched). As I recall the owners live above the restaurant and, if they're still on the floor, are a refreshing bit of snark and wit in the otherwise polite South East. Not in a rude way though. If I could collect together a top 30 restaurants I've been to and put them in my own little town, The Blue Cactus would be there (possibly with some saloon doors if it please them). Highly recommend Bi Bim Bop.
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Review from Nick W.
Columbia, SC
9/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Amazing. Go there long enough and they will treat you like family.
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Review from Leanne C.
Oh Blue Cactus. So much of me wants to love you but I don't think I can.
I love how you:
Remind me of the small, local restaurants in the Bahamas
Support Roller Derby
Have an incredibly relaxed environment
Have french pressed coffee
But its just not enough.
The service was incredibly slow and at first the wait staff was a little rude (until mentioning roller derby then she warmed up).
The soup was watery and lacking flavor (a pinch of salt alone could have helped) and the veggie sushi had prefrozen-tasting veggies. You gotta give them uber points for serving Korean food on the cheap but that doesn't mean it has to taste cheap.
When I walked up to the counter at the end of my meal, I observed the cook (an older white man), wasn't even wearing gloves while cutting chicken into strips. If its my friend cooking me dinner- I don't mind no gloves but if I'm in a restaurant... isn't that some sort of health code violation? While I was thinking that, he picked up his hand (with the knife in it) and used the back to wipe off sweat. Blech. Glad I was only having veggie fare.
I think that was my first and last time I'll be checking out Blue Cactus. So much potential, so sad. -
Review from Lisa R.
Grantville, PA
7/3/2010
A crowd of us ate here last night. We liked the fact that the blue cactus had both Tex-mex and Korean. We had a couple teens with us who don't have an appreciation for Asian food. We enjoyed the Kim Bop appetizer which was sushi like rolls of rice filled with picked carrots and spinach as well as the crab puffs (aka crab rangoons) My daughter and I each ordered a soup. Her, the shredded beef with bean sprouts and I the dumplings in chicken broth with coconut milk. Sorry I can't remember the names. But we were happy with all the Korean items. The Tex-mex honestly didn't appeal to me at all.
I do have to say you should not expect atmosphere. It has all the charm of a pizza shop or "Chinese" take out joint. But the lady who served us was friendly and the food was good and cheap as well. -
Review from Harpreet K.
Chicago, IL
10/20/2007
This is a great family-run resto and if I lived here, I'd be hittin it on the regular. The first thing you see when you walk in is the open kitchen area, and I don't mean fancy ass chef's kitchen, I'm talkin down-home kitchen; shit all over the place, four different varieties of Mr. Dash on the counter, pictures of the grandkids. Sat down, ate some damn delish bee bim bop, and attacked the hot-sauce shelf, containing a motley crew of hot-sauces from around the world. Who said Columbia wasn't cosmo? Bitch please.
And, I LOVE the attitude. I asked the waitress what kinda meat she recommended I get on top of my rice and here's the exchange:
Her: "Well. What do you like?"
Me: "Chicken"
Her: "Well get that. Why you askin' me?" (rolls eyes and looks at my friends like - who IS this dummy?!)
OH SNAPS!! Also, they are SUPER awesome because my friend wasn't really feeling her cuban beans and rice so they didn't charge her for them (we didn't even need to ask, they just noticed she didn't eat a lot). Finally, fantastic ice-cream selection. I had the banana, marshmellow, cookie flavor. That's right, all in one. Welcome to the dirty south my friends!! That's just how they do. -
Review from Bridget U.
Atlanta, GA
Updated - 4/11/2010
Since I no longer live in Columbia, I plan my trips according to "will blue cactus be open?" This way I can stop by on my way to my dad's house in Sumter. I get him a burrito or be bim bop, myself a be bim bop I eat there, and like 5-8 orders of kim bob to go! Then I am happy during my visit in Sumter with their extremely lacking selection of food options there.
Be bim bop is supposed to be plain until you add the red sauce, that's the way all are at every establishment that serves it. It is supposed to be cold or lukewarm, from the rice and possibly the egg. Just so folks know before venturing out and being "shocked" at such things.
i dream about their food because in Atlanta I have to drive 20 minutes down Buford Highway to get a decent be bim bop. Even then it doesn't compare to Blue Cactus. Also, I have yet to find a place in Atlanta that serves vegan kim bob.
The owners are so nice and the wife, her mom or one of the daughters are usually waiting on folks. Don't wish them more wait staff because that would increase the prices. Part of the gimmick is the wait for the food and being served by the people who love the food and their establishment.
Also, I do not agree that is a dive. It is a small, locally owned store with character. They do not focus on the interior aesthetics as much as other restaurants because they know the real reason for your visit is their unique selection of foods.
Lastly, it is Tex-Mex and Korean because of the couple who own the shop. Husband is from Arizona, I believe, and the wife is Korean. Now you know why their is such a strange combination but it works for those picky people in your group for whom eating Korean may be out of their realm; everyone likes "mexican."Listed in: Columbia Must Visits
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/28/2009
Really great fresh food- family owned and operated. They have great selections for vegetarian and… Read more »
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Review from Jay T.
Cambridge, MA
5/20/2007
Cheap as dirt, uber-delicious, vegan friendly food make the Blue Cactus, by far, my favorite restaurant anywhere. I live in Boston now, and I constantly pine for Bee Bim Bop from Blue Cactus. I've had the same dish from countless Korean restaurants, including top-rated restaurants in Boston and New York. Nobody really nails it like the B.C. (Everything else on the menu is delicious as well - everything vegan, that is.)
The place practically oozes charm. If charm could somehow be transformed into electricity, Blue Cactus could probably power the entire state. As the other reviewers have said, the service is utterly unpretentious. Mary (the waitress/co-proprietor), while sometimes curt, is actually one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. She still remembers my order, despite the fact that I only get to come once or maybe twice a year.
God, I miss it. This review doesn't really do it justice, but I can't imagine many people would be as completely wild about it as I am. I have very singular tastes. Just give it a try. -
Review from Michele D.
Sterling, VA
8/4/2008
This is a sleeper, and if you don't give it a chance, you won't know what you're missing.
You're walking around the Five Points area, hungry, wondering where you should eat. Other establishments call out to you, people sit outside all around you. The Blue Cactus is in a little area all it's own; almost off the beaten path. Look for it, it's worth it.
It was much smaller than I expected, but I knew it had alot of personality. The first thing I noticed were all of the postcards tacked up on a wall. They were from patrons who'd sent them to the restaurant and wanted to send a memento of their travels.
I perused the menu and expected to see the variety in their menu. Since I'd had my first good meal of my Columbia trip on my last day there, I was hoping to follow dinner up with an equally good meal.
I decided to order the bibimbap with beef. When it arrived, it was in a large metal bowl. Not the way I'm used to having it served, but no worries. There was rice on the bottom, and a variety of things on top such as beef, mung bean sprouts, pickled cucumbers and various vegetables such as daikon. Overall, it was very good and I was happy that I scored another winning meal.
After paying my bill at the register, I peered into the ice cream case. I asked how much the ice cream was, and was told it was something like $2.25, along with, "We stop scooping when you tell us to." Oh snap, don't tell me that! I got the red bean ice cream. I only got one scoop, but it was a BIG scoop, so I only finished 1/2 of it before tossing it.
If you're in the area, I encourage you to find this joint. It's family run, which is exactly the type of business I love to support. It's a laid back place, the food is good, service is great and the ice cream choices are wonderful.
Just reserve a little extra patience for the parking. You'll need it. -
Review from D. T.
Daly City, CA
7/18/2008
We were in the area for my little brother's graduation from Ft. Jackson. He hadn't eaten "real" food in 9 weeks and was jonesing for something "not fast food, not chain store." Thank goodness this cafe was on Yelp because we (being from San Francisco) were totally lost in Columbia. And being from SF, we pulled out our iPhones and tapped away, looking for something as far from Army food as we could get!
What we found was Blue Cactus Cafe. Other than the hidden location, we were impressed! We ordered Soon Tofu soup, Bi Bim Bap, Jap Chae and Spicy Pork. All of it was delicious. They offered Mexican food as well but we wanted Korean. The sprouts were crunchy, as were the cucumbers. The service was southern and friendly. The sweet tea was great (free refills!).
The prices were reasonable and even if we were in SF, where there are hordes of Korean restaurants serving these types of food, I would say this is some of the best I've ever had. And that is probably saying a lot since we were in South Carolina!
Bring coins for the parking meters.
By the way, "arrogantly slow" is right. But it was definitely worth it. We got in and out in approximately 1.5 hours, taking our time eating. -
Review from Jonathan D.
Durham, NC
11/8/2009
As others have suggested, the Bi Bim Bop is terrific comfort food. It's not, in my opinion, the tastiest. The simple burrito is one of my favorite things to get there. Add some chipotle sauce and go to town.
Save room for the ice cream, by the way. The Blue Cactus offers uncommon flavors that are really great. The red bean ice cream is one of my favorites because it isn't as sweet as most ice creams out there. -
Review from Lillian C.
College Park, MD
8/6/2011
I really wanted to like this place and was excited about coming, but the whole experience was a let down.
I feel like the gimmick of this restaurant is being a "family owned" local restaurant with its quirks about the happily arguing couple and slow service for really good food. I'm not too impatient, but if it takes an hour to serve mediocre food you're not doing yourself any favors. The menu was not exceptional- easy, mainsream Korean fare and burritos / rice and beans. Very vegetarian / vegan friendly and straight forward. The waitress who I believe is the daughter is nice as can be, but because there was one waitress on the floor of a relatively popular local joint, she was rushing between tables- i sat with an empty glass of tea for about 30 minutes before I had a refill. I honestly believed for the amount of customers they have, they were understaffed. At least half of the patrons around us kept turning their heads to look at the kitchen or look for the waiter.
The kim bob was bland- a little bit of unseasoned veggies in too much unseasoned rice, wrapped in seaweed, still warm but i don't think "warm" is something anyone wants out of a sushi-like dish. The plate of Korean condiments were rather unimpressive, I don't think I have much to say about it.
When the food came out, it just looked disappointing. Half of the dishes looked like they were just sitting around while the last dish cooked. None of them looked impressive or delicious. The stir fry dishes looked like they came from a coleslaw bag mixed with red pepper paste and the kim chi fried rice looked like rice and tofu in a red pepper paste, and it tasted just about that too. I ordered japchae ("chop chay") with beef and it was warm; from what I understand all the times I've had it where I'm from and from the recipes I make japchae from, its supposed to be room temp or cool. I know its a health hazard to keep food at room temp, but the dish I had isn't what I would describe as japchae- it was pretty much overcooked potato starch noodles with veggies and beef with soy sauce. no sesame flavor, no sesame seeds, not that hint of sweetness to balance the flavor, just disappointing.
I don't think this place is oriented towards true Korean food, and if their point was to make Korean food accessible / Americanized - then they're good at making it bland.
This is not a place worth traveling internationally or even interstate for, but if you live in the area / go to USC this is your place for a quirky place to eat. I didn't stay in the area long, but I don't believe there was much competition for Korean food in Columbia so they have that going for them. When I came back from SC, I actually made myself japchae to make up for my experience here. -
Review from Ind R.
Portland, OR
2/4/2007
My favorite! Tired of pretentious scenes and obsequious servers? The Blue Cactus's complete lack of ambiance and curt service is the cure.
Affordable Korean (and some Cuban), with vegetarian and vegan options galore. The Bi Bim Bop is perfect for first timers, but the stews are also great. Go with mild, if asked for your preferred level of spiciness. Take my word for it, "its an exaggerated scale." They have shelves of hot sauce, if I'm wrong.
"Good food takes time, and our food is really good." Take the hint and and don't complain when the cook takes his time in a cramped kitchen. I've had some of my best, and longest, conversations at the Cactus.
Do not order any of the few "American" options from the menu, you will be mocked. It is, however, acceptable to order the in-house ice cream. Most unique flavors: green tea, red azuki bean. -
Review from Justin S.
San Francisco, CA
5/21/2008
Korean, Cuban, Tex-Mex and 20 something flavors of exotic ice cream under one room??? Seriously, this place has something for everyone.
Mom and Pop owned an operated since it opened. Food and service is slow, but they gladly tell you that with a sign on the door. 2 hour lunches are VERY common with me and my co-workers. Best Bi Bim Bop in town. Try it with double egg. Then finish it off with Red Bean ice cream or perhaps the Ginger Ice Cream. Great place for a slow informal date. -
Review from Simon T.
Columbia, SC
5/7/2011
Decent. Slooooooowwww.
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Review from Spencer S.
San Francisco, CA
7/4/2009
Is it worth the number one rating in Columbia? No.
It is definitely a dive and was pretty crowded when we went. Food took a while but the owner told us we could grab beers at the neighboring bar to hold us over. I'm not going to pretend like I am a Korean food aficionado, but the food was alright. We had the Bi-bim-bop since it is what everyone raves about. It was decent, but doesn't deserve the godly status people have put it at. I think that if you are a local to Columbia you should try Blue Cactus to judge for yourselves, but if you are visiting the area, there are way better restaurants. -
Review from Debra R.
Sumter, SC
9/14/2008
I have no clue how or why people are rating this restaurant so highly. I'm Korean, lived in Korea for a few years, and grew up on Korean food. In fact, when I think of home cooking, seaweed soup (miyuk-gook) and soft tofu soup (soon-dubu chigae) are what come to mind.
When we moved to South Carolina I was so excited to see the excellent reviews for Blue Cactus Cafe. This restaurant is tucked away in a corner of Five Points and, to be honest, I was looking forward to the food when I saw the lack of decor. The best Korean restaurants are the ones that don't care about ambience! I ordered the soft tofu soup (soon dubu chigae) and kimbap. The first indications that my meal was going to taste awful was when the waitress, who is obviously asian, couldn't pronounce the dishes properly and asked how hot I wanted my soup. SERIOUSLY?! I've NEVER been asked this ... it's a given that it's spicy.
After a long wait (There were only two other couples in the restaurant) my kimbap was brought out. What a joke. These are supposed to be filled with veggies, a bit of meat, and very little rice. What I got was the exact opposite. They definitely skimped on the veggies.
While waiting for my soup, the side dishes came out. Most Korean meals are served with side dishes (ban-chan) and it usually consists of about 15-20 small plates filled with delicious veggies or protiens. Our waitress brought out a paper plate with two types of kimchee and kong-na-mool (I forgot the English name). That was it. VERY DISSAPOINTED because this is usually one of my favorite aspects to a Korean meal ... sampling on the potatoes, fishcakes, etc. while waiting for the main entree.
When my entree came out, I had to question if it was the correct dish. If you went to an authentic Korean restaurant, the bowl is filled to the brim and boiling with tofu, veggies, and seafood. This had none of this. It also had none of the flavor. It was rather bland and hardly had any spice.
I honestly cannot see how this restaurant gets such high reviews unless someone has never been exposed to 'true Korean food'. I'd much rather pay $2 extra and go to the Korean restaurants on Dexter Blvd. I was highly disappointed and definitely will not be going back!!!
PS - My friend, who doesn't like Korean food, accompanied me to this restaurant and ordered a house salad and Diet Coke. She asked for the dressing on the side and was informed "We always serve dressing on the side". When her salad arrived, it was tiny and came with dressing on the side, straight from the bottle it was purchased from at the store! Also, they don't have fountain drinks. She paid for each of the two cans she had while having dinner.
What a nightmare! -
Review from Jessica B.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2009
I'm so glad I wandered by this place.
Cheap, filling, and lots of options for vegetarians.
Kimchi and a burrito is a pretty awesome meal. -
Review from Charlie G.
Daly City, CA
11/30/2006
The Blue Cactus tapped a good vein of surly directly under the restaurant years ago. Since then, they've been perfecting the extraction, refinement and delivery of this surly to the general public. Their current state of the art exposes the casual annoyed indifference practiced by your average drive-thru operator for the joke that it is. It manages to convey a complete disinterest in the recipient while still informing them that asking for a set of silverware while a sanitarily wrapped set sits on the next table is one of the saddest, most pathetic things they will ever do. Must be experienced.
Also, Korean and southwestern in the same place. Ridiculous. -
Review from Bianca B.
1/3/2009
I went to Blue Cactus a few months ago while I was in town visiting a friend. He took me hear after I read a small review about it in a local paper. He had a curry dish and LOVED it. Since then, he's been back a bunch of times for the curry, so I guess it's good. I, on the other hand, had the vegetarian bimbimbop and um, no. It was lukewarm and didn't taste like much of anything unless I smothered it in the sauce.
However, I'd go back. The menu is (ridiculously) long and the waitress was sweet. It also seems like a nice gathering place for the college kids who beat to their own drum. -
Review from Kyle S.
New York, NY
11/27/2008
Very cool spot, a gret find thanks to Yelp!
Excellent, varied menu: Korean stews, burritos, black beans, chicken curries, and a cool selection of soups.
Was cool to check out the postcards they had on the wall from the owners' travels, very cool to see the inspiration come out in the food.
Also: had the amazing dumplings, very meaty and crispy.
Great place to stop for lunch. -
Review from April W.
Charlotte, NC
6/2/2009
This place was great! I got to meet the owners, a mom and pop, and their daughter (who serves as waitress)! It's such a quaint restaurant and the food was so yummy! Definitely a hidden gem in the 5 points area! If I'm in Columbia, SC again...I will have to eat here again!
By the way, if you're expecting gourmet Korean food, then you need to search elsewhere!! The Korean food here is prepared "home style", which means it's closer to how it would be served in someone's home! Nevertheless, it's freakin delicious!! -
Review from Josh A.
Raleigh, NC
8/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
Wow! What a great find in Columbia, SC for vegetarian fare. (They have plenty of tasty looking dishes for you carnies as well!) I found this place on Yelp as I pulled into town for business tonight. The find comes on the heels of a trip to Canton, OH last week, where my vegetarian options while traveling were limited to hardened baked potatoes and nasty salads from that fast-food place sporting the red-headed girl with pigtails.
The Blue Cactus was only about a mile from where I am staying in Columbia tonight, so I read the menu and reviews, and promptly made it my dinner destination. It did not disappoint!
After ordering good old fashioned tap water, I hemmed and hawed about what to have to eat! Everything looked so good, and and the smells coming from "Pop's" kitchen were amazing. I asked my nice waitress about a few dishes, and settled in on the $9.50 Curry Tofu, stir-fried with squash, onions, and carrots in a sweet and powerful curry sauce. And because it was an option, I ordered it "Thai style with Napa cabbage, roasted peanuts, and coconut milk" for $1.00 more. (Talk about breaking the bank! This is so cheap!)
While I had read a few reviews about how slow the service is here, the dish was piping hot and placed in front of me in less than 10 minutes. A wonderfully fragrant curry - almost like a Thai Panang married Red/Yellow curry and they had this love child... whatever made up the recipe it was YUM. The thick gravy-like sauce covered every bit of the fresh veggies and soft tofu, without totally drowning it. I stirred in a side of rice to make it a monster-sized meal.
Now anyone who knows me, knows I like my food spicy. When I ask for "extremely spicy" - that means don't hold back, throw it all at me - I can take it. I eat Thai bird chilies and Scotch Bonnets like Popcorn. I blow through bottles of Ghost Pepper sauce - I WANT IT HOT AND FLAVORFUL! So I had asked the kind folks at The Blue Cactus to hit me hard with heat. And while there were scores of freshly chopped peppers in the mix, I'd rate the heat factor for my dish a 3, and the flavor a 5 (of the typical 5-star scale). This is the only thing about the dish that let me down a bit UNTIL... drumroll please.... I was directed past the wall-o'-hot sauces (100+?) and directly to Pop (my name for the chef at this point) in the kitchen, who pulled some "Karl's Sauce" out of the refrigerator and told me to be careful. He had picked this stuff up in the Dominican Republic on a recent trip, and the Scotch Bonnet flavor was out of this world - surprisingly pairing perfectly with the thick curry. Insert Triple Yum here: _____, ______, and _____.
After my sweatfest, with beads dripping from my forehead, I took my waitress's advice and ordered a cup of Green Tea and Ginger Ice Cream. Made in Atlanta at an establishment whose name escapes me, there could not have been a better finish to the meal. I would give Blue Cactus a solid 4.5 stars - docking a half star only because the ice cream was served in a styrofoam cup with a plastic spoon. (Which was odd, as everything else was served on real, reusable dishes or in stainless bowls) - If they would just start serving the Ice Cream in stainless bowls, I'd say a place just doesn't get any better. Meal total: about $14.00.
If you live nearby or are visiting Columbia, I highly recommend adding this place to your list of Go-Tos. Your taste buds and your wallet will shout "Amen." -
Review from Aimee A.
Portland, OR
9/6/2010
I love Blue Cactus. The bi bim bap is fantastic but so is the Thai curry and the stir fried squid. Their ginger tea is a favorite too. Can be a long wait for your food but it's always worth it. I'm not Korean nor am I an expert of Korean foods aside from the fact that I date a half-Korean guy but it works for me.
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Review from Nicholas K.
Columbia, SC
4/14/2009
I know a few people who I don't know what they would do for food if this place closed down. Quite a few really. They are actually depressed because they cannot eat there on the days they are closed (Sunday and Monday). Me, I don't have it that bad, but for the price, you can't beat this place in all of Columbia.
For appetizers, they have truly delicious enormous french fries, fried tofu sticks, kim chi, sushi, and dumplings all for less than $5.
For entrees, they have a unique menu which combines the traditional fare of Korea (be bim bop & various hearty stews) with quality hungry man Tex-mex fare ($4 burritos made to order).
Also, it's a little known fact but as far as i know they tolerate the BYOB set. Even cheaper! -
Review from Tara S.
Rockville, MD
9/3/2010
I am so glad there is a place like this in Columbia! I've been twice and ordered the Korean shredded beef stew both times because it was so good on my first visit! It really is delicious; flavorful, spicy, and piping hot. I can't wait to go back and try the Bi Bim Bop. The service was a little slow, but I really love the laid back, casual atmosphere and enjoyed sitting on the small outdoor patio. It's a little off the beaten path on a side street in Five Points, a fun area of Columbia geared toward the undergrad crowd with lots of shops and restaurants nearby. It's definitely worth a visit.
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Review from T m.
Bluffton, SC
11/6/2010
Wow I am so suprised this has such great reviews! This is a College kid hang out and NOT I repeat not a family friendly restaurant. Staff is rud - no smiles, they seemed annoyed that we had our two year old with us, The "Krab Puffs" were frozen and the main dishes were served luke warm. We sat right by the kitchen so I watched them use the freezer and microwave a lot! With bare hands - after cleaning up tables, toucing bathrool key - etc. The only plus was it was cheap and the meat was very tasty.
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Review from Michael S.
Columbia, SC
9/9/2006
Blue Cactus is one of my favorite restaurants in Columbia. It's tucked in a little out of the way space in Five Points that seems perfectly apropos considering its menu and atmosphere. It's a strange cross between a mom and pop family restaurant and a hole in the wall diner, and serves the strangest combination of food I've ever seen on the same menu (Korean and what the proprieters term "Southwestern"). Where else can you order kim chee, tofu stew, chicken fingers, or quesadillas in the same place? The food is pretty cheap (everything on the menu is under nine dollars), especially considering the variety of food on the menu and that everything is cooked to order.
The owners are a middle-aged married couple and extremely laid back and friendly. The wife is the restaurant's server, and very casual and often blunt, which can disconcerting until you get used to it, and then it just adds character and charm to the experience. The menu is also very vegetarian and vegan friendly, and each dish can be customized on a scale of absolute wimp to so spicy you might have to sign a waiver.
I HIGHLY recommend this local gem. -
Review from Debi S.
Columbia, SC
1/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
Here's a tip. If you get the spicy pork, you can order it with extra vegetables and it will not be so hot. What an amazing place.
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Review from Craig R.
10/8/2009
Bi Bim Bop - this is an awesome dish! Great food - inexpensive and yummy! When i went to school at Univ of SC I ate here probably 2 times a week. They also serve great ice cream!
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Review from Chip O.
Columbia, SC
7/3/2009
The Bi-Bim-Bop is where it's at if you've never eaten here before. And trust me, when they say it's 'hot' you better believe them, because they can make some hot stuff!
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Review from Jina R.
Pacifica, CA
1/25/2010
i'm only in columbia for another few weeks and this restaurant had the highest amount of positive ratings, so, of course, i had to see what all the hype was about and if people here really know good korean food. honestly, the korean & tex-mex category was probably the reason why i haven't tried this place before because it's such an odd combination. i figured if the korean food is really good, the mexican food probably isn't and vice versa. with such different types of food, something's gotta give... and i was right. i REALLY wanted this place to be good because i hate wasting money on bad meals, but i was quite disappointed.
food... i ordered the krab puffs for my appetizer and it was good, but it tasted like something i could've bought at the store and made myself. for my entree, i got the curry chicken. it was pretty good the first couple bites, but after that, i started getting sick of it. it had a slight tinge of bitterness, but just the right amount of spicyness. my husband ordered the sullungtang (beef soup) and cajun red beans. the sullungtang tasted pretty authentic, so i was pleased. the cajun red beans was nothing special. i guess after you try it in new orleans, it's just not as good anywhere else. for dessert, we got green tea and red bean ice cream. this was probably the best part of the meal. i usually never save room for dessert because i eat everything off my plate, but that gives you an idea of how good the food was...
service... could be better if they had more waiters/waitresses. the lady did a pretty good job considering she was serving like 10+ tables by herself. i felt bad, but i gotta say that my cup was empty for quite some time before i got a refill.
value... prices are fairly cheap, but i still don't think it was worth it.
parking... it was kind of confusing because it seemed like the only ones available had parking meters. there's a ramp down to a parking lot next the restaurant, but that's for residents in the apartments. we drove around a few times and finally parked in a metered spot and discovered that it was free. i don't know if it's always free, but it was on a saturday night.
overall... there were a lot of people when we were there, so i'm sure my rating won't make much of a difference. in fact, i hope it doesn't because the family who owns the restaurant is really cute and i want them to do well. however, if you want REAL korean food, you need to try arirang on decker bl. i think there are other authentic korean restaurants on the street too, but i haven't been to those yet. -
Review from M D.
Columbia, SC
4/17/2009
I read lots of really positive reviews of this place and I absolutely love korean food... However, there wasnt very much spice to it and the Bi bim bop was average.. Not really exciting. The atmosphere was a dive, but it seemed to have a loyal following with lots of regulars ordering their regular dishes. There are better places in Columbia for Korean, but its not that bad there... Maybe those who only eat the greens would like it more, since its really friendly to non carnivores
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Review from Jaime N.
Los Angeles, CA
3/6/2011
I stopped in a while back and had the bulgogi, which was just okay. I'd be willing to go back but would would be more apt to try the Tex-Mex items instead of the Korean dishes.
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Review from Andrew C.
Washington, DC
11/10/2008
This resturant is cheap and very good. It is quaint and has lot's of charm with international flair from all over the place.
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Review from James H.
Huntsville, AL
12/22/2009
Maybe I ordered the wrong food, but it seemed to me you could pick anything up off their menu in the frozen food section of the grocery store with similar results.
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Review from Meg D.
Columbia, SC
1/4/2011
As never experiencing Korean food, I was a bit nervous going for the first time. However, the wait staff was very friendly and gave great recommendations on what is popular. For people that don't like Korean food, they have a great variety of Tex-Mex that is equally as delicious. I had the be bim bop and it did not dissapoint. 5 different kinds of veggies and hot sauce that you could add yourself, it was both filling and delicious. I would recommend to anyone to try it regardless if they are a big Korean/Tex-Mex fan.
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Review from para l.
Columbia, SC
5/27/2009
The hidden dive that is Blue Cactus is one of the best places to dine in Columbia. The bee bim bop + fried egg is all killer. Same with the kim chee. The menu is very vegetarian friendly, but meat eaters will also be very satisfied (see the kim chee pork). All at very reasonable prices. Also be sure to look at the large selection of hot sauces, and then burn in them.
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Review from Heather S.
Greensboro, NC
11/4/2009
Very good food and several vegan options (many of the menu items could also be made vegan upon request). The service was exceptional- while paying for our order they asked if our three year old could have dairy (very astute! they must have noticed we only ordered vegan food!) and when we said no they gave him free lemon sherbert (dairy free).
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Review from Jeff Q.
Baltimore, MD
9/14/2008
Ate here several times when I lived down there (thanks to Michael Graham for introducing me to it.) The Tex Mex is good.... and the Be Bim Bop is good too. A friend of mine liked the kimchee stew. From what I've heard, the Tex Mex (and a little Cajun food) comes from the husband of the two owners and his wife is from Korea.
