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Cactus Restaurant

4 star rating
based on 117 reviews

Category: Tex-Mex

Neighborhood: Madison Park
4220 E Madison St
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 324-4140
Hours:

Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Attire:
Casual
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Price Range:
$$
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
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117 reviews for Cactus Restaurant

Review Highlights   

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"We love the Cactus -- for its butternut squash enchilada." (in 7 reviews)
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"sonoran spa chicken is great although salty." (in 4 reviews)
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"Try the prickly pear margarita or the sangria." (in 9 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Alison R.

Elite '09

180

410

Alison R.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
10/29/2009

I came to Cactus with two friends on a weekend evening.  It was still pretty early on so there weren't that many people in the restaurant yet, but it still had a great vibe.   The service was great and our waitress was super friendly.  For the most part she stayed on top of everything we needed.

The chips and salsa were good.  I loved the salsa and was quite cheery when the waitress brought us a second round of chips and salsa while we were waiting for our food.  And for the record we didn't need a second round due to long wait, but rather due to the fact we were devouring them!

I had the chicken fajitas and they were pretty delicious.  The tortillas were really fresh and delicious.  My friend who had fajitas too got a to-go box and the waitress was nice enough to throw some tortillas in the box without a complaint.  The sangria I had was pretty delicious too - not the best I've ever had, but I'd definitely order it again.

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Photo of Hilary P.

 

2

13

Hilary P.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
9/1/2009

Service is pretty good, although a little bit of a corporate/forced feel.

I've been there a few times because my parents love it, but you're more likely to find me at a taco truck then this overpriced Tex Mex locale. Maybe all the other times I had too many margaritas to even notice the food was mediocre.

Overall, I dig the decor. Our server was pretty cool, although appeared to be mildly stoned???

We ordered 2 chimichangas- both overdry meat (shredded beef and chicken) and way to salty. And that's coming from a Salt LOVER.

I ordered the itsy bitsy seafood enchilada which looked and tasted like it was being consumed with cheese. All of the beans were overcooked and the rice was just bland. At these prices, seriously? They were also out of carnitas- at lunch already, for real?

Check out Rancho Bravo Tacos on Pine in Cap Hill. Order their carnitas anything and take it to Madison Beach for a better experience. Although ya wont get the "Tex" in ya Mex.

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Photo of Mandy C.

Elite '09

9

84

Mandy C.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
9/3/2009

I will try not to taint this review with the memories of the terrible date I had here and just focus on the food & service.  

I admit that this task may be really difficult.  oy.  Don't get me started on that date...

Anyhow, I ordered the Butternut Squash Enchiladas.  There was too much going on in that plate of food.  I think goat cheese & mole do not mix.  It did not mesh with my palate at all..  

It's in a lovely neighborhood in Madison Park with an awesome view of the water when you're walking near there but I don't know if I'd want to come back there per se.  Maybe.  With a waaaay better date.  And I'd try something new.

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Photo of C. G.

 

1

13

C. G.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
12/1/2009

Love this place! Food,  Drinks, and Vibe = A+. But beware, we came here for happy hour and were disappointed to find that the Madison location is the only one with NO happy hour. Everything else made up for it though. Butternut squash enchiladas were fan-freaking-tastic.

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Photo of Gen S.

 

1

7

Gen S.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
8/20/2009

To frame this review properly, I have to explain that I was really wanting classic Tex-Mex food when I chose to go here. The menu was not that (which is not necessarily a bad thing). However, that said, I wasn't crazy about the dishes that we did order. In general, everything pretty much had an overwhelming flavor of salt. I did appreciate the fact that they had a decent children's menu and were kid friendly.
In the end, however, I was left to ponder the question "Why would a Tex-Mex restaurant NOT make blended margaritas?" I mean, If you are going to serve watermelon-cucumber margaritas you aren't going to be any less cool making them blended.

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Photo of Kevin S.

 

0

14

Kevin S.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
11/20/2009

Fantastic Mexican/Southwest food.  Salsa is homemade and delicious.  Margaritas are strong....(bartender is freakin gorgeous too).  I had the carne asada tacos.  Everything about the dish exceeded my expectations.  The meat was tender, and even the rice and black beans it was served with stood out.  The place has got a great vibe, very friendly waiters, and decent prices.  I'll be coming back

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Photo of Alex G.

Elite '09

27

108

Alex G.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
5/12/2009

Cactus has a cozy and festive atmosphere, it is a little crowded, but once you're in your seat, you're good to go. Great service, friendly and fast. The waitress gave us free flan because it was our first visit. I might have to tell them it is my first everytime!

I went on a weekday, it was busy but there was no wait. I'm guessing it is a different story on the weekend. Anyway, they have a great menu with tasty variations on traditional Mexican fare. This includes butternut squash enchiladas, wild mushroom and sun-dried tomato chimis, and enchiladas consisting of blue corn soft tortillas. The rice and black beans are the best I've ever had, as usually I don't finish them, but I devoured them along with the rest. The margarita was among the best I've had too, although I couldn't really feel the effect.

The place is a little on the pricey side and the proportions are satisfying but slightly modest compared to the Mexican food I'm used to in fat ol' Michigan! The quality is fantastic though. This is a place I want to bring friends and fam that come here to visit.

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Photo of Doug C.

Elite '09

42

203

Doug C.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
6/9/2009

Cactus is a Tex-Mex restaurant tucked into a neat little area in Madison Park. There are a few bars I wouldn't mind trying in the cluster of shops here and it's across from a tiny park and the waterfront. The only downside is that the area seems to be a little crowded and parking can be a slight challenge (although abundant parking was only a few blocks away on a side street).

As for the restaurant, there are a number of tables across the front with (slightly obstructed) views of the water. It's a little bit of a narrow space, but it didn't really feel that crowded, even when all the tables were full. I would note that the chairs were a little uncomfortable (slightly ornate metal chairs), although this only became noticeable after sitting there for several hours.

Service was a little slow at first, but that may have been due to a sudden rush of customers around lunchtime. Afterwards, they were very prompt and deserve extra kudos for refilling our water glasses at least six times. I had the chicken quesadilla and a mango mojito. The quesadilla was nice with the proper proportions of melted cheese, chicken and bacon mixed in. After gorging myself on the starter nachos (with guacamole), the portions were large enough that I had to box part of it for take-home. The mojito was nice, especially on a hot, sunny day.

Overall, it's a nice relaxing place to catch some Tex-Mex and I'd certainly go here again. Just the next time I'd bring a seat cushion.

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Photo of AxeMe A.

 

2

85

AxeMe A.

Medina, WA

1 star rating
4/10/2009

When you want to get PISSED OFF & LOSE YOUR APPETITE.

Drinks: C
Chips: C
Salsa: B

Shrimp: D (for Seattle this was very disappointing)
Steak: C- (A bit too fatty for my taste; seasoning was nothing to write home about)

Black beans: F (Way overcooked)
Tortillas: D (It's nice they're warm, that's about it)
Cheese: D- (Really...just one type for fajitas sides?)

Management F: (Seated at table adjacent to bar where waiters kept bumping into my chair!!!! THIS SHOULD NOT BE A SEAT!

THIS IS A HAZARD & YOU SHOULD BE CITED.

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Photo of Laura O.

 

19

238

Laura O.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
4/22/2009

3.5 stars!!

Met my husband here for dinner.  We were recommended by friends to try out this place.  Parking was surprising  easy to find. I guess I was just lucky at the time!  We were able to score an outside table to people watch and enjoy the weather!

My husband was in love with the bacon wrapped, goat cheese stuffed jalapeno appetizer! He is still talking about it now.

I had the lavender sour drink- it was an interesting drink- I thought it had a little too much sour mix in it!  I ordered the butternut squash enchilada that someone else recommended on yelp. It was delicious!!  The rice was bland so I skipped it! The food portion was large and I wasn't able to finish my meal.  I was stuffed- really stuffed!

I would come back!!

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Photo of Miki L.

 

0

14

Miki L.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
8/8/2009

The chicken fried chicken is to die for, and so are their margaritas. They are busy and the staff does a fine job taking care of their guests.

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Photo of Katie S.

Elite '09

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806

Katie S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
2/22/2009

Very tasty Mex- Tex can be found at Cactus in Madison Park. While the calamari was slightly overcooked and a little crispy for our liking, everything else was spot on.

My skirt steak salad was fabulous. The meat was perfectly medium rare as requested, the bacon fresh and crispy, and the avocado abundant. Our server was very pleasant and helpful.. the food fresh and flavorful.

Great, reasonably priced food with an innovative twist, we'll happily return here for lunch or dinner on a weeknight or a Sunday night. I've seen this place on the weekends. Unless you're okay with what might be a long wait, I'll happily recommend Cactus for a decent meal.

And if my Texan boyfriend is a fan of the food here (he is), they must be doing something right.

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Photo of Angela W.

Elite '09

16

41

Angela W.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
6/16/2009

I feel like Cactus has kind of a bad rep.  In fact, I've learned that it is unacceptable in Seattle to eat Mexican out of anything but a truck or retrofitted KFC.  But sometimes, on a nice day, don't you just want to drink a respectable (and not exorbitantly priced margarita) on a patio with a nice waterfront breeze?

Yes, Cactus is so full of yuppies that they are literally pouring out onto the street.  No, it's not authentic, at all.  But they do a couple of things really well:  first, (and most importantly) drinks.  I'm partial to the prickly pear mojito, and  the cilantro/jalapeño margarita.  You can't really go wrong - the bartender pours generously and everything tastes good and fresh.  The food is inconsistent, but there are a couple of no-fail options.  The salsa, guacamole, and chips are always tasty.  The chicken tamales are totally respectable.  For dessert, the bananas dulce is a great downscale, Mexican-y version of bananas foster.

This restaurant is the perfect complement to a lovely summer day.

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Photo of Philip L.

 

1

189

Philip L.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
6/5/2009

Nice atmosphere.  Good food.  Tasty margaritas.

Went last night with some friends and enjoyed the lively atmosphere and dim, yet colorful, lighting.  Service was adroit and personable.

Everyone in my party ordered one of the four enchilada options.  I really enjoyed the butternut squash, other than it being quite heavy on cheese, and tasted my friend's seafood enchilada, which was very good as well.

Had the Cactus margarita and it was very tasty and well balanced.  One of the better margaritas I've had.

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Photo of Andrea J.

Elite '09

82

231

Andrea J.

Mountlake Terrace, WA

4 star rating
Updated - 5/19/2009

Again with the agitating, skin piercing outdoor seating! Why? I am uncomfortable in these piece o' crap chairs and uneven tables. This was a bad purchase from a VERY BAD restaurant supply store.

*Sigh* Okay onto food. The Coco Mojito is actually good. It uses coconut milk with the rest of the Mojito makings, which I wasn't sure about but ended up liking. You can't go wrong with guacamole, chips, and for an entree I always enjoy the prawn tacos.

Aside from the outdoor furniture, people watching is top-notch from this restaurant. No bums or ladies selling flowers, just flocks of good looking gay men, rich families, and fat pigeons.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    1/14/2009

    I just like this place. How could I not? It is a rare occasion for me to NOT like a Mexican fusion… Read more »

Photo of Kristy S.

 

7

57

Kristy S.

Bellevue, WA

3 star rating
5/25/2009

We biked here from Bellevue on Memorial Day and after a short wait, landed a table outside. The host was very friendly as was our waiter.

Chips and Salsa - $2, but per order? Seriously? I can see charging for unlimited or for the 2nd basket and beyond. But, I guess that is the economy.

After the ride, my boyfriend and I were, well, hungry. We shared a Spiced Caesar Salad - chopped romaine hearts with chile-dusted croutons, Cotija cheese, black beans and roasted corn tossed in our smoky Caesar dressing - not bad, but a little on the small side for $7. We also indulged in the guacamole, which was really good and of generous size.

For entrees, I had the tacos, which come with over-seasoned rice and nothing-to-write-home-about black beans. Just so you know, in my book, if a Mexican restaurant doesn't know how to do beans and rice, then they are nothing to me! I couldn't make up my mind, so the waiter let me have 2 different tacos - one with Carne Asada, which was made of natural Harris Ranch Angus skirt steak and one with grilled white Mexican prawns marinated with orange, coriander and jalapeños. $11. I agree with another reviewer - they are using TOO MANY spices and sauces that over power the meat/shrimp and confuse the palette. But, still, really delicious tacos.

My boyfriend had the Cactus Fajitas, with all natural chicken (YAY!). It came in a huge sizzling skillet with rice, black beans and caramelized onions, along with a side plate of guacamole, sour cream, Jack cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo and warm tortillas on the side. Note, this entree was enormous and only came with two tortillas. Which leads me to...

Our server. While extremely nice, he missed the boat on not refilling water, ice tea, chips/salsa and I actually had to chase him down for more tortillas for the fajitas on my way to the ladies room. But, to his credit again, he was super nice and knowledgeable. Just really busy!

Still, all in all, Cactus in Madison Park is A-OK and I would go again.

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Photo of Lisa N.

Elite '09

24

83

Lisa N.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
2/26/2009

Loud atmosphere, colourful decor, delicious warm tortilla chips and salsa. And Madison is always a nice, friendly area.

I always make the mistake of filling up on chips and salsa when I go to mexican places and I never seem to learn, but they're always so good! I'm very partial to the sonoran spa chicken, although I end up taking a great deal of it home (mostly due to my own mistake of eating chips and salsa before it arrives). The mexican lemonade is pretty different (in a good way)-- it has cilantro and jalapenos in it, but I kind of wish there was a bit more of a kick.

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Photo of Diane A.

 

1

2

Diane A.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
4/6/2009

Great neighborhood Tex-mex. Not a lot of veggie options, but what they have is great! Drinks don't taste like mixer, they are good!
There is usually a wait to be seated, but they do give you a buzzer so you can walk around. Service has been good every time I've been. Nice relaxed  atmosphere and Mexican themed decor.

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Photo of Just Y.

 

3

260

Just Y.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
3/21/2009

I always like to look at their dining room areas; colorful, fun, flowing lines, compartmentalized without feeling walled off - but I always feel a little crowded when sitting anywhere, regardless of how crowded they may actually be.

Staff is OK; I've had service range from "you're an afterthought" to average, finding myself often surprised by the lack of knowledge the server or bartender has about the products.  I also always find myself flagging down a server to get the all important drink refills - never a plus if one of your goals is to have that extra margarita before you finish dinner so you can justify the fresh one for desert.

I do like the food, finding it adequately tasty although somewhat generically spiced when the dish might be better served else-wise.  They seem to blend many "Mexican" regions into their menu, perhaps justifying some of the more subtle dishes.  I am often reminded when eating here of taqueria food I've enjoyed elsewhere, although my current dish being dressier and more expensive for the same quantity.

I guess it is telling that I often come back here when I find myself in the neighborhood, but never make any special trips to get here.

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Photo of Boo P.

 

1

19

Boo P.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
1/3/2009

Tips: for the best service/parking/waiting, go here for lunch, rather than dinner.

I didn't think I liked squash or enchiladas- but the butternut squash enchilada has seduced me. I won't order anything else from their menu, which looks otherwise Tex/Mex standard.

You can definitely get better Mexican food in Seattle, but you can't get that butternut squash enchilada anywhere else. It's the perfect comfort food, and you can almost convince yourself it's healthy. Yum. I'm pretty much drooling as I type...there is no better way to eat your vegetables than the butternut squash enchilada!

Have I mentioned what my favorite dish is? Well, it's the butternut squash enchilada.

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Elite '09

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231

Ane P.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
2/23/2009

I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food, but oh wow...I knew from the beginning of this meal that I would be coming back.

The drink menu is quite impressive...drinks such as Lavender caipirinhas and the like--it was so difficult to choose!  Even the non-alcoholic drink menu made me want to order the whole list!

Then the guacamole and chips--perfectly salty and fresh chips with nice dippings.  Very good.

But then...I saw it.  Fry bread topped with chorizo and salad fixings..and rice..and beans.  Oh gosh.  It was heaven.  The bread was so thick and bready, and if you don't want it with all the toppings, you can order it on the side with some honey.  Seriously?!  Oh right...it's not just Mexican food..technically it's Southwest food as well...which apparently translates as Native food.  Whatever.  It's good.  Real good.

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Photo of Lee A.

 

73

130

Lee A.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
11/29/2008

So yes, I'm a former New Mexican, and yeah, I'm a hard sell when it comes to New Mexican food.  But folks - this is the mehest meh that ever meh'd. The baby Jesus would cry over what these people call salsa.  I mean, this isn't even Mexican, let alone New Mexican.  

Fry bread was heavy and the wrong texture, butternut squash enchilada had all the excitement of a stale roll.  The beans and rice were so bland if I shut my eyes I thought I was eating dinner with my friend's Namaw at the Regis Old Folks Home.  

The service was harried and forgetful, although sweet.  

Do yourself a favor, hop a cheap flight to Albuquerque, and have dinner in the airport.  I'm completely serious.

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Photo of Ed C.

 

0

3

Ed C.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
8/25/2009

This place is great!  I have been to Cactus three times and the experience has been excellent every time.  The food is delightful and the restaurant has a nice ambiance.  The staff has always been very friendly and engaging without hanging over the table.  One warning may be that this is not country texmex.  This is an artistic interpretation of that food.

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Photo of Chris H.

 

48

224

Chris H.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
10/27/2008

It had been many many years since I had been to the Cactus, I believe it was approaching 15 years since my last visit to this place.  It looked quite a bit different from what I had remembered but was fixed up rather nicely with a great paint and art scheme that made it pretty relaxing.  I was disappointed because on my last trip this place was known for having an incredible selection of International Sodas, but have since discontinued serving these delicious treats from abroad.
Although there were no tables or booths available, the waitress quickly cleared the bar and set our group of 7 there.  She then brought some tasty guacamole to accompany our chips and salsa and a delicious although very very weak Mojito.  The food wasnt incredible but was definatley some of the better "mexican" food I have had in the Seattle area.  Ill have to come back and try out some other menu items here soon.

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Photo of Katy H.

Elite '09

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326

Katy H.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
2/26/2009

One word: Tasty!

I'm a fan of Tex Mex every so often and Cactus is one of few places I've revisited in Seattle that serves this style of food.

I went to celebrate a friend's birthday and we had reserved a table for 8 people. Upon showing up they notified us that although we had booked the reservation far in advance, they couldn't offer us a table until this other party finished eating. I know that was out of their control .. but they should have been prepared for us, right? We ended up waiting an extra 30 minutes just to sit down and were forced to stand outside in the cold and wait! (there were too many of us to sit inside at the bar). Kinda crummy.

They redeemed themselves though. The food was unique and tasty and the drinks were also great. I thought it was reasonably priced as well. I can't think of a single person in our party that didn't enjoy themselves.

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Photo of Sandy W.

 

3

20

Sandy W.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
8/1/2009

Cactus has the best salsa!  Weekends always seems to be a wait for dinner. My favorite dish is the seafood enchilada! It's perfect with a splash of corn kernals to give it a slight sweet taste. Location is great in the heart of downtown Madison. Service is alright. Outdoor seating for the people watchers :p

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12

59

Shannon W.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
1/11/2009

I usually like cactus but sometimes I'm disappointed. All of the entrees I've ordered have been pretty ok but sometimes the service is a little awkward because of table placement and unhappy people. On the other hand, the drinks are pretty tasty, especially prickly pear varieties.

I will probably come back if someone suggests but I won't be extremely excited about it.

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Photo of Nadeem K.

 

4

6

Nadeem K.

Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA

4 star rating
3/30/2009

I can't help but give two thumbs up to this charming restaurant nestled away in beautiful madison park.

Ambience/Decor - The best thing about this place is the decor and the ambience, most mexican restaurants go for the cheesy hanging sombreros and crudely accented walls. This place has a really interesting colored theme going on with beautiful colored lamps and lanterns which cosily warm up the place with a multi colored light. Even during the day, the layout and the decor seems to relaxing.

Food: The guacamole is absolutely fresh and so are the chips and Salsa that are served for free as appetizers. I ordered a chicken enchilada and it was perfectly cooked with fresh black beans (not mushy like most places) and a crisp fried tortilla, delicious! I've had their fajitas and the steak served with it is succulent and very tasty.

Prices: Hmm, although I could have lived with them being a little cheaper but I won't rant too much about it, the pricing is fine considering the dining experience they deliver and the freshness and quality of their ingredients. The guacamole which the waiters will always push for to be served with the chips and salsa is $6 for a small side serving which adds up quite a bit on the final bill.

Drinks: I think there is some room for improvement here as well. I ordered a classic mojito and got more ice then mojito and it end up tasting very watery. The liqour was also used very frugally in that mojito. Anyways, not really a deal breaker but still something worth considering improvement.

Other than that, I'm sure I will be back here again on a sunny weekend for some good mexican food :)

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0

6

Thomas H.

King, WA

5 star rating
8/4/2009

Great cocktails. Flavorful food--black beans especially good.

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Elite '09

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282

Shekinah S.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
4/29/2009

Madison Cactus is the hillbilly cousin of the Alki location. Where Alki is shiny, modern, and new, Madison is a bit dim, rustic, and worn around the edges. We went here on a Friday evening and it was packed. We decided not to wait for a table and sat at the bar. Well, I thought it was the bar, but apparently it is a small kitchen where a dude makes appetizers or something. An odd use of space, IMO, and the hostess station or something was right behind us so servers had to squeeze in quite often. Also, the women's bathroom was teeny-tiny and very dark. Who needs mood lighting in the bathroom? Overall, this may not be a great place for a claustrophobe.

Fry bread and chips & salsa were great, as per usual. My boyfriend got a nonalcoholic beverage, couldn't find it on the online menu but I wanna say it had the word "cactus" in it -- it was refreshing and delicious. For entrees, I decided to skip any Mexican options since I'd been so disappointed with my tacos at Alki. I went for a weekly special, a salmon dish. At first I was a little concerned cause there was alot going on, and salmon is one of those things that's pretty much perfect on its own. There were pecans, tangerines, a tangy sauce, and the whole thing was served atop flatbread and aioli. But I was pleasantly surprised at how well all the components complemented each other. The only thing I could have done without was the flatbread and the needlessly creamy aioli. I would have preferred a side item as the plate seemed a little bare. The BF got the Seafood Enchilada. He thought it was really good but it was literally SWIMMING in cheese. Way too much cheese! Service was decent and pleasant. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here again but any place that serves fry bread will always be on my list of possibilities.

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Elite '09

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137

Bert M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/29/2008

On my 33rd birthday, I was fortunate enough to see the Dalai Lama speak in San Francisco... which has nothing to do with the delicious fusion Mexican food at Cactus in Seattle.

It does, however, make me want to be reincarnated as cheese.  Everyone loves cheese; it's creamy, salty, and delicious.  Who wouldn't want to be cheese?!

My seafood enchilada was covered in the stuff.  It feels sacrilegious to say, but I actually wasted some cheese because there was a bit too much, even for me, the ultimate fan of cheese.

Also, taking a close second to the holiest of all foods, was the Cucumber-Watermelon Margarita with a small dash of chili powder, for added kick.  Really very nice.

Dock one star because it's somewhat overpriced.  $6 for a small bowl of guacamole offered in way that made us think it would be a free accompaniment to the appetizer chips.

Disclaimer: In no way is this review meant to offend Buddhists or dairy cows.

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Elite '09

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ruthy g.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
5/20/2009

I think if I didn't live so long in Texas and Southern California I would've loved this place.  However, I've had REALLY good Mexican food and this was just OK.  I went here on my lunch hour and had the wild mushroom quesadillas and the jalapeno avocado soup.  The chips and salsa...just ok.  The salsa had zero spice.  I was expecting the soup to be spicy because of its title....it was pretty bland.  3 other people at my table had the soup and none of us ate more than a few sips of the soup.  The quesadillas were also pretty bland.  My co-workers seemed to really love this place...so maybe I'm just picky.

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Elite '09

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218

Danika M.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
3/26/2009

I've heard the food here is excellent.  I know personally that they have insanely good drinks.  I'd given up on Tequila-based mixed drinks in Seattle, 'cuz it's a gamble.  Not so here.  It's ALL good.  I'm going to have to come back for solid sustenance eventually.  Oh, I almost forgot...   A lady hurled in the bathroom... It was pretty gross.  They cleaned it up right away and apologized a lot.

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Alisa B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
7/21/2009

I've been to cactus many times in the past and am always pleasantly surprised by their menu... they are currently featuring fried, stuffed squash blossoms which looking back i'm wishing i had gotten.
My boyfriend and i visited this restaurant on a lazy monday afternoon (monday being my sunday) and were delighted to see a specialty drink; watermelon cucumber margaritas... being a true tequila fiend i tried one and coerced my boyfriend to do the same. He said it needed more watermelon i said spot on! I liked the cucumber overtone and the lovely LIGHT watermelon flavor, the only thing i would have changed would be a sugar instead of salt rim.
We indulged in their fabulously warm chips and salsa with guacamole but unfortunately our server was also the bartender so therefore she had to come around the bar to talk to us at our table and we actually had to ask for the chips cause she was too distracted with other people. We enjoyed teh chips nonetheless.
For entree i had teh chimichanga which was FAR too heavy for lunch leaving me though satisfied very lethargic for the rest of the day. My boyfriend utterly inhaled the seafood enchilada and my bite or two of that was tasty and supremely worth while.
I love cactus but our service was slow and lunch far too filling. Perhapse a diferent lighter lunch menu? cut the bar into two service areas? regardless tasty treats were had by all... btw I highly recomend the navajo fry bread with honey, always a treat!

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Adam H.

Encino, CA

3 star rating
7/8/2009

Decent tex-mex food and the heated outdoor patio was nice, but feels a bit like your average chain restaurant.

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Emma C.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
9/16/2008

Wow!!  AWESOME tex-mex food! Such a fun place with really cool decor. I would definitely make sure to make a reservation.

I started out with a margarita spiced with cilantro and jalapenos, which was really tasty and different. We ordered the guacamole and that was a treat- so fresh and limey. For dinner, I ordered the crab meat tamales that were to die for. It was a special so I wouldn't count on them having it all the time. Keep a look out for them though. They were so rich and the tamale was made with poblano peppers and had a great flavor.

When I come back to Seattle, I will make a second appearance at Cactus. The service was great too!

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Chanda I.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
6/14/2009

i think this neighborhood is adorable. the restaurant made me feel like i was back in the southwest. my mom would love the red peppers hanging off the ceiling.
loved the drinks with a nice selection of margaritas and mojitos. my mojito had a coconut taste to it.
great lunch menu and with some bruch specials. i had  biscuits and gravy southwest style which was cornbread with a gravy sauce and eggs. great stuff.
the only complaint was that our food took some time to come in but then you have lots of warm, big chips, salsa, and cocktails to keep you occupied.

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Leigh S.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
8/19/2008

Salsa was perfect.
Dinner was delicious.
Waitresses were fun and bright.
And I had some Lavender Capraihina (or however that's spelled) that was to die for!
Lots of cheese though.  I mean, more cheese than anything else on the plate.  Not that I'm complaining.

And there was a pretty serious wait.  You can only make reservations if you're more than 5 people.

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2

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Chris B.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
11/7/2008

Really tasty. A cut above most Mexican restaurants. I had the pulled pork torta (the name is incomplete, and probably wrong because I can't read or remember difficult words in any language even English).
(That's not racist because I put "any language." Racist would have been saying...[fill in your own.])
(Now shame on you for thinking that.)

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Peter W.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
4/21/2008

Sitting here drunken on the restaurant floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
I put it on when I go lonely
Will you take off your dress and send it to me?
I miss your nachos and I miss your prawn
And a letter in your menu doesn't mean you're not closed
Run outside in the Seattle rain
Make your dress all wet and send it to me
I miss your soup and I miss your adobo
And a letter in your menu doesn't mean you're not closed
So spill your dinner and drip your wine
Just wear that dress when you're dying
Sitting here drunken on a restaurant floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
Bloody your hands on a cactus tree
Wipe it on your dress and send it to me
Sitting here wishing on a restaurant floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore

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