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Cactus Ya Ya
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
9 reviews for Cactus Ya Ya
This place is always packed when we visit. On occasion we have to park in other lots because theirs is so full! This place has been a win every time. They start with salsa and bean dip as accompaniments to tortilla chips.
Onto the food... The entrees I have ordered from Cactus are both cost-effective for the amount of food and deliciously unique. Thus far my favorite is their smoked salmon tostada! It is an enormous dish and the smoked salmon adds a lot of flavor. I've also had the enchilada with halibut and that is also excellent. They utilize the almost-pickle flavor of capers for seasoning.
I really enjoy the dim, southwestern atmosphere of this place and the eclectic unique flavors in the dishes. The food here has great flavor and there is something for everyone.
My first trip to this restaurant was on my birthday and my family (and my sister's friend) came to take my boyfriend and me out to dinner. They all agreed it was delicious. More specifically my dad loved the portion size, flavor and jalapenos of the tostada he ordered and my sister fell in love with their garlic mashed potatoes.
Since I have returned, I've yet to have a disappointing experience.
I went here for dinner, it wasn't particularily full at all and the only real business was at the bar and the outside seating. Unfortunately, our server failed to give us much attention at all.
We ordered margaritas, but they sucked and weren't worth the money spent. If I wanted to have a generic mix margarita I would have made it myself. The food was decent, but nothing to write home about. 3*'s.
After dinner, we patiently sat at our table waiting for our check, which wasn't a big deal until it came and I had to track down our server who was no doubt trying to make a lasting impression on the bartender or some crap like that. I don't know how much longer I would've had to sit around until she came by to take our bill.
Wish the rating could've been higher, but unfortunately a lack of service and a half way decent Marg makes Cactus Ya Ya the no return list.
I decided to try this place because the parking lot is always full. The outside looks like a dive bar but to my surprise the inside is cozy and inviting. The food and drinks are priced great. The service was also very good. I am a fan an will be back soon. It's a must in the 'cove'.
Best Happy Hour - Best thing on the menu is their Thai Chx--ya ya rolls ( I crave them when I haven't had them for awhile). I have yet to have anything on the menu thought that I didn't like.
Their chips not only come with salsa but also a bean dip that is very good. The service is prompt and ready to serve and usually isn't that hard to find a table during Happy Hour, really depends on the day.
Fav drinks are their basic margarita and Liquid Love (which is a martini, very good)
Who would serve happy hour in the summer when you have a large outdoor seating area in the bar only? CYY does.
Cold, stale chips, drinks with some undrinkable mixers, and staff that is overwhelmed and can not find time to serve water.
For some reason my co-workers pick this place every now and then even after we consistently are disappointed.
Nex time I pick where we go.
Great deal on Happy Hour, great food and great service. I recommend the chicken skewers.
Great Food, Great Drinks, Great service.
My favorite thing about this place is their menu...and happy hour menu especially. It is tough to find good happy hour places you aren't forced to eat fried food, unless of course you overlook what you really wanted to order and make a concious choice not to eat your favorite stuff.
Ya ya rolls, fish tacos, and the quesidilla are my favs.
And did I mention the drinks...two thumbs up.
I like Cactus Ya Ya. I go to lunch here often. Have great lunch specials... especially Fish Taco Friday. Their Fish Tacos are the best of anywhere including San Diego. Also check out the Ya ya rolls... peanut chicken is the way to go. The chicken skewers are great they have awesome peanut sauce. The Wednesday lunch special is Tiger Prawns... really good if a bit greasy. The only drawback is when it is busy the acustics are terrible and you can't hear a thing and the chips are sometimes a bit tough from not being heated enough.
Cactus Ya Ya...a Mill Plain original. I guess this was one of the first spots to hit my humble little neck of the woods. I've driven by more times than I can count and never stopped in until a few days ago. It was maybe last Thursday or so...it was packed on a weeknight at 9PM. Nothing is packed in SE Vancouver on a weeknight, so I grew curious the last couple years and did some research. Reviews on lesser websites {cough...shiteeesearch....cough} mostly showered it with praise. One reviewer even saying something like never mind those boring "American style Mexican restaurants"...and Cactus Ya Ya is basically Southwestern Fusion type stuff...so I don't know what the hell they were talking about...anyways. I generally hate variations on Mexican food...especially Tex-Mex...the god of all awful Mexican "fusions". So yeah..I walked in, it was packed. Stood there like a dork for about 5 minutes....pretty much to find out that there was no way in hell I'd be eating any time soon. So last night I popped in after work and took a seat at the mostly empty bar around 8:30. By 9PM, the bar area was pretty much full and now I get why...
THE GOOD - Great service. Nice people here, very personable. It attracts a friendly crowd...hell, I made a couple new friends too. I had the steak tacos which were surprisingly good. Keep in mind my Southwestern-style prejudices...this was a breakthrough for me. The meat had a perfect blend of spices and I just forgot about what kind of food it was and enjoyed the taste.
THE BAD - Honestly, while the main course was awesome, the rice wasn't really my taste. It wasn't bad...just not for me.
THE UGLY - It's so damn popular, you better arrive 30 minutes before the 9-Close happy hour or good luck finding a seat AT the bar let alone IN the bar. But you know, I guess this could be considered a good thing even though I listed it in the ugly. I was just bummed the first time I tried to go and couldn't. But you know, I get grumpy when I'm really hungry.
IN SUMMARY - Happy Hour is STRONG. Good food. Great service. Cool crowd. I found a new hangout within stumbling distance. "Great success!"
