We loved them when they were in Bethlehem and were thrilled to see them at several events that we have attended, and that they do still have a restaurant. We have honestly never had a bad experience with them, and the food is amazing. This is so rare to find a business that you would recommend without hesitation. read more

Stopped in on a weeknight for takeout and tried the chicken chimichanga and chicken tortilla soup. The chicken could have been a bit more shredded, but the flavors were rich and delicious. I love the variety this place offers, and after trying their food at the new location for the first time in 10 years, I'm happy to say the quality has remained impeccable compared to their Schonersville Road location. While I do miss the convenience of the previous location, I'll definitely be back whenever I'm in the Emmaus area. read more

Cactus Blue - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Emmaus, Pennsylvania

Friendly staff. Excellent service. Amazing food! Baja Tacos are amazing! Pico de gallo is fresh and the quac is off the hook! read more

Cactus Blue - Baja Tacos (2) - Mexican Near Me - Emmaus, Pennsylvania

First time visiting this restaurant and it did not disappoint! We ordered fish, steak and , pork tacos. All were filled to the brim and very flavorful. Ordered chips and salsa as well and have enough left over to snack on tonight! We'll definitely be going back to try other menu items. read more

Used Cactus Blue for a college graduation party for 80. We did Walking Tacos. Everyone raved about the food! Adam was easy to work with and delivered the food on time and provided all the stuff needed to serve. Highly recommend! read more

Fantastic food and service every time! Reviews must be from their old location, because the new one is 10/10!

Cute little vibe. Our party wasn't familiar with (or a fan of) the fast casual aspect of order at the counter then wait at the table, but the staff was helpful. The food, however, was a miss. The winter dip was so runny that it would've been better eaten with a spoon. The cheese chimichangas had a sweet cinnamon flavor to them, so I wonder if there was some cross contamination somewhere? read more

Great service and great food. Loved the shrimp tacos and fried ice cream. A nice selection of gluten free options. I'll be back!

Ordered enchiladas. They came with rice and beans. Enchiladas and rice were good, but the beans came in a cup. I know why now. They were so watery and maybe only 5 beans in the cup. read more

Wow! This is the best Mexican food I've had in the Lehigh Valley. No question. My wife had delicious fish tacos, while one of my kids had a very tasty (and filling) chicken tortilla soup. Another kid (big eater) had a fantastic chimichanga, while I had the enchiladas, each with a different sauce: the mole was excellent--you could really taste the chocolate without being overpowered by it--and the verde and hot sauces were very good, too. The restaurant itself was very chill, but also nicely decorated and kinda intimate, which was really nice. The service was great and the people wonderful. They seem like a very nice family. The prices were very reasonable, especially given the quality and quantity of the food, and I think it's byob, which also helps to keep the bill low. So if your looking for a fantastic, relaxed, local, family-owned Mexican spot, this is it. read more

Customers place order for food at cash register, pay for food, then seat themselves at a table where food is brought to them. Not only was that different, chicken fajita was unusual as well; unseasoned chicken breast on top of poblano pepper and red onions. First time eating poblano peppers with fajita; bell peppers are typically used. They serve good amount of rice with black beans on top of rice and guacamole and pico de gallo on the side. It was fine once I got used to everything. read more

Stopped in on Saturday for Lunch, love the new location. It's very nice inside and colorful. Love the decoration as well. I also liked that they had a wall where they highlighted the contractors that helped them in the success of getting this new location up and running. The service was great, the lady up front was really nice. And she checked on us throughout the meal. The food was excellent, I use to live 5 mins down the road from the Bethlehem location. But now I had the chance to come to Emmaus today. So I planned a meal here. Love the steak nachos and the enchiladas with verde. Spicy but seasoned so well. I crave it. read more

The food was fantastic. Very relaxed environment, clean and pleasant. Good prices. The attention was prompt, everybody was delightful. Planning to be a regular!!! read more

The food is quite good. A small place feels more personal. Lots of smiles from other folks clearly enjoying their dishes. No problem with portion size. This place we need to patronize so it's successful and remains one of the finer Mexican meal places in the area. Glad you are on this side of Lehigh Valley now Bring Your Own Bottle read more

The food is amazing. Friendly staff. We are excited to try more of the menu options. We will dine there again!! YUMMY

The staff is always friendly, me and my wife are big fans of the Al Pastor tacos. The queso and salsa always hit the spot too!

The food was incredible! Huge portions for pretty good prices. I'd say it's a little bit more expensive than your average Mexican restaurant ($14 for 3 veggie tacos w/ rice and beans) but well worth it. Their rice and beans are VEGAN! A very nice surprise as lots of restaurants use lard in their beans and chicken broth in their rice. I got the Sol tacos which had plantains, pineapple, black bean hummus, and peppers. I asked for no cheese, to make it vegan, and they were awesome!! Downsides: The location is kind of awkward and you have to make a U-turn immediately off the highway to get there. The service was SLOW. They don't have any HOT salsa. I'm used to Mexican restaurants offering a habanero salsa, or something more spicy than your average jar of salsa. read more

Cactus Blue - Mexican Near Me - Emmaus, Pennsylvania

Nothing like the original place. As soon as I walked in I was disappointed. More like a cheap fast food pizza joint. Nice people. Clean and nice bathrooms. Uncomfortable metal chairs and tiny metal tables. Tremendously overpriced for what it is. $14.95 for enchiladas?Add $1+ more EACH, for protein?! Here?? For that price, better to go to Plaza Azteca or Casa Catrina. Walk up to the counter and order. Someone brings it out. I think we paid $7.95 for a paper container of salsa. Nice consistency, but terribly bland. Dark meat chicken in tacos. Bland rice. Paper plates. Thin napkins. Not great. No reason to return. read more

Tried this place for the first time since they moved from Bethlehem. The staff is super nice, eager to please and conscientious. The food was excellent too! It's set up to order at the counter and then they bring the food to your table. Casual style. read more

You will not be disappointed. The service is great, always have a friendly server. The food is top notch. It comes out hot and usually pretty quickly. They give you chips with fresh salsa that they bring to you as soon as you sit down. You can never go wrong with that. I love that the restaurant is BYOB. They offer pictures of margarita (frozen) with many different flavors for you to pour your own tequila in. Its perfect for any meal with great prices. read more

Cactus Blue - Quesadilla Tinga - Mexican Near Me - Emmaus, Pennsylvania

See all

Such a fresh atmosphere and fresh food! it was a perfect spot for our "business" reunion lunch!

Fantastic food, excellent and friendly service, restaurant decor is on point and cozy. Love the ability to order food for pick-up for on the way home from work, and they have never gotten the orders wrong. Chips are excellent, even a few days later. Nachos and two entrees are plenty to feed three adults, with leftovers. read more

First off, this is a family business and should be patronized by all. Food was pretty good, not great. Our meals were of average size, not massive. Food was on the bland side for Mexican fare, but that fits my spouse's tastes to a "T". Now, while we were hoping for sit-down service, this is more cafeteria style. Order food at the window, sit at your table and they bring it to you. Metal chairs are not very comfortable - this gives the feel of a fast-food joint. That's fine if that's what you are looking for. read more

We tried the new Emmaus location the other day after loving the food truck. It's nice inside but small. Its a bit like a fast food restaurant in that you go up and order, pick up, eat off paper plates, and eat quickly since the space is small with people waiting for your spot. Maybe with time, it'll work itself out. The manager was a real help in helping customers navigate but the people in the back looked fed up. I liked the two steak tacos that I had except for the overly fried shells and lack of guacamole that was supposed to come with them. I had a side salad which was delicious. My friend didn't like their burrito and didn't know that steak was an option. The guacamole on theirs was tasteless. For a sit down restaurant, I think I'd prefer Mesa Modern in Easton and then Casa Catrina in Macungie. This place might be good for a quick take out. read more

I've been coming to Cactus Blue for years, and every time it is a great experience. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. Mary-Kate waited on us this most recent visit. She was so attentive and really added to our meal. The pico and homemade chips are a great start to any meal. The entrees are generous. My favorite part is their use of shredded beef and pork rather than ground. We recently got a bunch of appetizers to share, including the tamales, carne asada fries, and flautitas mojadas. Plenty of food for 2 people. We ate 2 meals from it. The fried ice cream with funnel cake fries was a great the best part. It came out on a sizzling skillet. Well worth the upgrade. I'd recommend making reservations, especially if you're a larger group. This place gets busy and fills up quickly. read more

Not Cactus Blue of old! Well, let me start by stating, "I don't like writing/Updating this review." One of our all-time Lehigh Valley Favorites has moved to a new location in Emmaus, PA and changed dramatically. Gone are the numerous menu items. Gone are the wonderful server staff. Gone are reservations and a spacious dining area. Gone are the tasty and complementary homemade taco chips, that are now $3.95 for a tiny amount with no pico. Gone are one of their best entrées, SIZZILING fajitas served on a cast iron griddle. Now, they are microwaved, dried out, and served on a paper plate. Gone are the setups for your BYOB. Instead, you will find a "serve yourself" paper cup. And by the way, you have to clear your own table, while the next patron scrambles to occupy your seat as you leave. Clearly, something happened, COVID, Inflation, I get it. Maybe the desire to streamline to a takeout joint for Grub hub patrons, and the fast-food consumer. But, whatever happened, Cactus Blue of old, can not be found in Emmaus. This is a different place, that is trading on their previous cred. The new Cactus Blue is fast food quality, with the prices of a full-service restaurant. This new lane for CB may be what you are looking for in a quick meal. But this new version is not for me. We won't be back. Very sad and Very Sorry! read more

Cactus Blue - The New Fast Food Menu. No Bert's Burrito. :-( - Mexican Near Me - Emmaus, Pennsylvania

My boyfriend and I tend to dine here last minute when we're in the mood for Tex mex. In my opinion, it's one of be the better Tex mex places in the area. Service is timely and attentive and the decor is nice. I will say, it was a bit awkward that no background music was playing last time I dined in. However I'm there for the food right? I tend to get the enchiladas which never disappoint and I do recommend ! Portions are nice so expect to ask for a to go container when you're done your meal. For dessert, I do recommend the fried ice cream!! read more

Cactus Blue - Fried Ice Cream - Mexican Near Me - Emmaus, Pennsylvania

food is okay but they can't seem to follow simple instructions on how you want your food, ordered 5 different platters and they were all incorrect with what we had chosen, maybe tell your cooks to put down the weed. read more

Came here during COVID. Good amount of outdoor seating. Try the chimichangas

Wish I would have read the one-star reviews before ordering take-out. Explains a lot..not good. What did salsa, Pico de gallo, sour cream etc. ever do to Cactus Blue? Dry, dry, more dry. Otherwise would have been acceptable. read more

Tried their new location yesterday. Just as friendly and good flavors, as before, but it's a different way of ordering now and of course location. Instead of table service, you order at the window for eating there or takeout. They call your name and you pick it up at the food window. Easy, just different. Generous portions and very good. We had a fajitas with pork and a vegetarian cheese enchiladas with verde sauce. The guacamole and chips and fantastic and we took the banana with cream chimi home - great desert that I hadn't had before. Very good for later or with coffee in the morning. The tables are fine and plenty of room, even though they were fairly busy. They had cold drinks and have cups for some ice water, which they poured from a pitcher from the food window. They have utensil setups for eat in and takeout setups if you can't finish. Easy. We'll be back! read more

I continue to love Cactus Blue. Year after year, order after order the food is delicious. We have ordered 3-4 times (maybe more) during quarantine and are so grateful for delicious food. I do wish the pico de gallo (fresh salsa) side given when you order is bigger like it is when you're in the restaurant. Other than that and learning not to order the quesadilla Tinga, because it doesn't stay crunchy, we are totally satisfied. Last time we ordered, my in-laws joined and we were all in agreement that the food is excellent. I'm sure after writing this review we will order again - I can't stay away! Thanks for staying open and keeping us well-fed during Covid-19. You guys rock! read more

See all

Haven't been here in a few years so I was excited to dine here again. Made a reservation like recommended and was seated quickly. Disappointed with the salsa and chips, chips were over done and salsa had no taste at all. Ordered chicken flautata for dinner and was really disappointed.chicken was extremely dry and not tasty at all. Lack good seasoned chicken otherwise the condiments and rice were good. Dessert we order churros and they were delicious. Willing to give it another try in the future just must of ordered the wrong item. read more

Cactus Blue - Mexican Near Me - Emmaus, Pennsylvania

We had a wonderful dinner. The food was very good with large portions. But Jonas really made the evening. He was so professional with amazing customer service from the moment we walked in. Whatever you're paying him, pay him more and don't lose him! read more

The wife and I have been going to cactus blue for a few years now and the food is ALWAYS fresh and hot . The taste is delicious, the staff are friendly and a good group . Everything is clean in the dining area read more

Ok so I drive by this place every day that I work. I had a patient's friends bring him some food and it smelled amazing he told me it was Cactus Blue. So I'm thinking I need to try it. I looked up the place and checked on the menu. We tried to go on a Thursday night. Well, we should have made reservations because it was a 20 min wait for 2 people. Ok so that seems like a good sign, right? When we asked how long she said 20 minutes and she would "fit us in" as we didn't have a reservation, so we said ok. When they finally go to seat us, the waitress tells us we have to be done in an hour because we didn't have a reservation......okaaay.....whatever... We got chips and pico - was very fresh and tasty. Put our orders in right away - 2 orders of fish tacos - because we wanted to be in and out in an hour. Thank god we did because it took about 45 minutes to get two orders of fish tacos. I sat and watched as new diners came and some were turned away. It was interesting to note that the other patrons were not being rushed because of reservations that were coming.......anyway I digress...on to the main course..... We got our order of fish tacos. Two flour tacos with nondescript overtired whitefish (probably tilapia) and about 1 pound of cheese on both. Don't get me wrong. I love cheese. But I ordered fish tacos, not nachos with fish. Don't know that I would go back just because of how we were treated. The food seemed hit or miss - I mean fresh made chips and pico were really good - fish tacos....not.so.much. Was a little pricey considering what we ordered. The hostess area is kinda clunky. You walk in there is a tiny wall and 2 seats and you are right in the middle of the dining room with no real direction to go or place to stand to wait for a hostess - a little odd but whatever. Restaurant was clean. The area we were seated in was very cold. You needed to keep your winter coat on - not a fan of that. Did not check out the bathrooms. Wait staff - some were friendly some were not, maybe they were stressed out, I don't know, didn't seem all that busy, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe we will try them again, could have been an off night. read more

Don't know what I've been waiting for to visit. Hubby and I have been wanting to try when it was in Bethlehem now it's so close to home. A big thanks to Adam for the gift card during my surgery. You have some new fluffy customers. The carne fries were outrageous, the guacamole was fresh and flavorful, and couldn't help trying my hubby's pork quesadilla which was amazing! read more

We tried Cactus Blue for the first time since its move from its Bethlehem location...it it had always been out go to Mexican restaurant. Unfortunately, the new Emmaus location is a downgrade. It's like a fast food take out place now. You have to order the food from the counter and they serve it to you on paper plates. The menu is limited versus before also. The food wasn't the same and it was cold. Very disappointing...We will not be going back. read more

Was recommended by a coworker. My husband and I were very pleased with both the service and the food. We took a bottle of tequila with us and got a pitcher of the mix for $7. A great price for four drinks. The food came out quickly and was hot. The fried ice cream was to die for. Our waitress, Kayla, couldn't have been more helpful. We will definitely go back! read more

I had the delightful pleasure of having lunch at Cactus Blue yesterday. I was treated like royalty by the staff. Elizabeth Ortiz, Jonas, and Pete treated myself and everyone of their guests like family. The atmosphere is safe, loving, and warm. The decor is clean, casual, and whimsical. Most importantly the food was delicious. Cactus Blue combines fresh, high quality ingredients with absolute skill to create unique and beyond flavorful dishes. The prices are a steal for the portion sizes and quality you get. I cannot say enough kind words. Cactus Blue is my new favorite lunch spot. read more