Came here for some quick food before our movie. Ambiance is like Polly's meets ihop with a bit of long John silver.. besides that the food was good and the portions were huge. Service was attentive and friendly. We had the following from the happy hour menu; Loaded potato skins 9/10 ask for ranch Small nachos 9/10 ask to add protein Fried shrimp 9/10 Kids got chicken tenders and they were delicious and breaded correctly. 10/10 read more

See all

Horrible experience. The food was terrible, and the steak was so rubbery it was hard to eat. Nothing tasted fresh. The menu is all over the place with a million different items it feels like they can't decide whether they want to be a Mexican restaurant, a sandwich shop, or something else entirely. Instead of trying to do everything, they should figure out what they actually want to be and focus on doing that well. I really hate spending good money on bad food, and unfortunately that's exactly how I felt leaving Cactus Cantina. Definitely won't be coming back. read more

It was my first time trying Cactus Cantina and I was impressed with the service. We were a party of over 30 and they easily accommodated us in our own room. We received chips and salsa promptly and ordered shortly after. The food came quick for being we were such a large party. I ordered the ribeye and lobster and it was ok. The lobster was terrible, rubbery and dry. Even after soaking it in butter it didn't help. The steak was good with A1. I wouldn't order that again. The steak and shrimp fajitas my mom ordered were pretty darn good. I wouldn't order that next time I visit. read more

Cactus Cantina - Rubbery dry lobster - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

This is the 2nd time I've been here. The 1st was for a breakfast banquet. I loved our server Valerie. She had a great energy, was personable and anticipated our needs with expertise. The rest of the staff was great as well. I forgot the portions are so big lol. I had the Cactus Cantina salad. I would've added a protein, if there was a vegetarian option. Will return after seeing another movie next door read more

Came here cause it was a holiday weekend and knew everything else would be packed. Have lived by this place for 15 years and never came before, now I know why. Everything was kind of bland and tasteless honestly. The carnitas were burnt. Asada was good. Chicken taco was ok, def have had better. Food also came out very quick. We just got the salad and soup and 2 mins later, the rest of the food. Server was really nice. If it wasn't for her, I would have rated lower. Which is sad cause this place looks nice from the inside and has potential. read more

See all

very homie feel family owned very professional servers. Food is great. Drinks are good as well. Also good for families

The atmosphere is nice, we would come back for drinks, and the service, sadly not the food! The chips were not bad, salsa was tasty; however, the chili relleno was awful! Chili was under cooked as well as the shell, it was straight out wet and not from the salsa. The refried beans were almost sugary and somewhat dry, the Mexican rice was very dry and bland. The deep fried ice cream was also awful! Bummed it was somewhat pricey for such terrible food! read more

A good restaurant in the mission grove area in Riverside. Their menu has a wide variety of options from fajita plates to fish and chips. I went with the country fried steak dinner which was great! Dish came with the choice of two sides and garlic bread, which was pretty solid for around $17. The steak was well done and the gravy was delicious. On the other hand, my wife's burger was pretty underwhelming. $2 extra for cheese and I found the burger was not seasoned very well. Overall it is a decent option for a meal, but in our experience the food can be hit or miss. Service was good and the restaurant is okay, the table was a bit small for a party of four. read more

Cactus Cantina - Country Fried Steak - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

I recently attended my cousin's wedding celebration at La Cantina, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. Our server, Valery, was not attentive or accommodating. When my cousin tried to make a simple change to his order almost immediately after placing it, she came back within seconds saying it was "already being made," which felt dismissive and unnecessary. During an important moment--my cousin's blessing--she interrupted by loudly calling out orders across the room, which was very disrespectful and disrupted the atmosphere. Additionally, the room was uncomfortably hot with around 25 guests, and no effort was made to turn on fans or improve ventilation. However, I do want to highlight that Juan did an amazing job. He was very kind, attentive to all of us, and truly helped keep things running smoothly. He made a big difference in the overall experience. Overall, the service and environment took away from what should have been a special and memorable occasion. Sadly, I won't be returning. And in responds to your comment To the business owner Thank you for your response. I stand by my review, as it reflects my direct experience at Cactus Cantina. While I understand kitchens have limitations, the request to modify the order was made almost immediately, and the way it was handled came across as dismissive. Additionally, interrupting a blessing. regardless of how busy the restaurant is was inappropriate and disruptive to a meaningful moment. I also want to address your comment about posting a photo. Referring to a guest as "creepy" for sharing their experience is unprofessional and unnecessary. There are more respectful ways to communicate concerns. I did acknowledge Juan because he provided excellent service, which shows that positive experiences are absolutely possible. My review is simply an honest reflection of what occurred from my perspective. read more

Cactus Cantina - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

My girlfriends and I had the best waitress at Cactus on Saturday morning. Thank you Vanessa!! Your sense of humor made our day! read more

Cactus Cantina - Vanessa- Best Server Ever!! - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

Been coming here for years for the great people and good food. My favorite being the ground beef Tacos. Also, don't sleep on Adryana's killer Cadillac margarita and great service! read more

Cactus Cantina - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

Have to give the owners of this place a lot of credit. I had a not so great experience and they reached out and made it right. I had the same meal I ordered the last time but this time, the ribeye was cooked to a perfect medium, the potato was stuffed with bacon and had lots of butter and sour cream. The green beans were crunchy and well seasoned. I was really impressed. I don't go get a steak dinner all that often so it was a really nice treat to have something that really hit the spot. I can say first hand that if there is ever a problem with your meal, they will make it right. read more

I went to the bar and I went there and I experienced a wonderful bartender Vanessa who was extremely awesome in high spirited and I had some wonderful food. I had the chicken fried steak mashed potatoes and pilaf rice it was a great experience hands-down really good drinks really good people really good vibe thank you Vanessa. read more

Cactus Cantina - Chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and rice pilaf dinner - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

So we have been coming here for years and while the food has been inconsistent and has cost more and more, like everyplace else , the service and drinks have always been good..They have always treated us special...After Sunday, I guess we aren't... Totally different experience than what we are used to and I am sorry to say that from now on , we will be going to Flat Top where we always get great food, drinks, and service.... First, I don't know if it was a new waitress or she was just having an off day, but I ordered a chocolate martini and a lavender martini...My chocolate martini was great, but we got a lavender margarita instead...That was Okay, they corrected it....Then we ordered a grilled ham and cheese , cooked well done and a baked potato with everything on the side..Sandwich came out barely grilled and potato was loaded...Again, they corrected...When my philly sandwich came out on bread instead of a roll, (they ran out), I called the manager over...Now Marte was the bartender who knows us pretty well and was also the manager that day...She didn't seem to really care about all the mix ups and then on top of that , the Spicy Margarita I always order came out with Cucumber *which I hate ...Again , they didn't seen to really care...The waitress actually asked if we had drank any of the lavender margarita before taking it back.... read more

We love Cactus! Great food, great drinks, and wonderful service! Faith is our favorite server, and we love coming in to see her. She always makes us feel like family. Carne Asada is amazing, fajitas are great and tons of meat, chicken fried steak is delicious, and the chips and salsa are a big plus. Drinks are great too. Margaritas are always delicious. Definitely a gem in Mission Grove. read more

Cactus has always been our go to. Whenever we don't know what we want to eat we go to cactus. And the service is always great. Until tonight

Love love love Vanessa!!!!! Great good, great drinks! Very professional and love her humor!!!

Party of 2, 1st time here, sat at the bar Chill ambiance- quite a crowd but not loud considering Service- good. Was given food recommendations without having to ask. Had Cadillac margarita, watermelon margarita, & long island. All drinks made well Food- Chips & salsa was ok. Queso was yummy & the perfect size. Carne Asada & Chicken fajitas were really good, preferred the Asada as the marinade was great Bill was $100 & worth it. Will definitely be back to try more items since they have such a big selection to choose from read more

Every time we come here the food is always delicious!! Our waitress, Precious, and the food runner, Braydon, were exceptional!! Very courteous and attentive. The mango margarita with tajin is so good. We have brought friends and even held our office Christmas Party here!! Highly recommend Cactus Cantina!! read more

We always have such a great experience when we're served by Valorie. She is incredibly kind and attentive, and it's clear they genuinely care about making every guest feel welcome. She always seem to know exactly what we're in the mood to eat and offer great suggestions that never disappoint. Her time management is impressive--everything flows smoothly without ever feeling rushed. Even when the restaurant is busy, she makes us feel like we're a priority and that our table truly matters. Drinks stay full, food arrives at the right pace, and they check in just enough to make sure everything is perfect without hovering. It's rare to find someone who balances professionalism with such a warm, friendly personality. Her attention to detail, positive attitude, and ability to anticipate what guests need really set them apart. Servers like this are a big reason we keep coming back. Truly outstanding service every time! read more

First things first, I will say that the staff is great! They are super friendly and attentive. They all also had a positive attitude. The restaurant was fairly quiet (we were there on a Monday afternoon), though they had a decent amount of patrons dining here. Their chips and salsa were pretty good. The mango margarita packed a punch. We ordered the fish tacos and the combo platter appetizer which had wings, fried shrimp, and chicken tenders. I wish I read the description clearly to opt out of the cheese on the fish tacos. I tried with the cheese and took the cheese off the second. I just wasn't a fan of the flavor combo. I also wasn't a huge fan of the cheese being on the beans. My bf said the combo platter was just okay. The food, in our opinion, is a more Americanized version of Mexican food. Overall, a decent lunch, just not our favorite. read more

Me and my parents like to come here pretty often for family dinners, we come often and the food is always great. The club sandwich is amazing, always have to take a box with me. We always request to sit with Faith, she's the best! read more

Cactus Cantina - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

Reviewing banquet room service for a memorial dinner. Food was above average (our package included a cheese enchilada/ beef taco combo plate per person), but the service was pretty impressive--efficient, and fairly prompt. If in the area again, I would visit, most likely for a happy hour. read more

Cactus Cantina - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

Went for breakfast this morning it was great except I don't think 1 slice of toast is enough for a 18 dollar breakfast. How much could a slice of bread cost. I don't believe I have ever been to a breakfast restaurant that served 1 slice. That being said the service was good. The restaurant is clean & not noisy. read more

When I first moved to the area I thought they only sold Mexican food and when we went there I was surprised to learn how much variety they have ( sandwiches, breakfast, Mexican, steaks). When you eat at the restaurant they bring you chips and salsa, with anything that you order, which is really nice. We have never ordered anything that we didn't like. It has something for everyone ( including kids menus). You can also call and place an order for pick up. Our orders have always been taken correctly and everything tastes great. The restaurant is big. It can be loud ( not a negative but if you wanted to go someplace quiet then this isn't really the best spot) this is great for all ages including families or Large groups. The staff has always been so nice. We really enjoy this restaurant and I would recommend to others. read more

When I first walked in, atmosphere was a little hectic. I had a team meeting here and I stood there waiting for them to arrive. One of the servers saw me and asked if I had been helped. I said no and he said how many. I then saw the team I walked over to them. The restaurant had a packed house and it seemed other meetings were being held. Someone asked for more menus and we got them after a while. I decided to order the chicken Alfredo. Food came out in a timely manner and it was tasty. The chips and dip were also good, especially the dip. I enjoyed it here. Prices were not outrageous and were average. I had a good time. read more

We had a great experience here! Service was great, food was delicious. Free chips & salsa, chips were warm and salsa was fresh. We had ribs, fajitas and Salmon and everything was delicious. A gem in Riverside and also family owned. We'll definitely be back! read more

Our waitress was amazing. Her name is Faith. She took care of our party of 10 treated as well. The food was great. Service was great and the prices weren't too bad. read more

This was my steak fajita plate to go. this was a joke for the price I paid. I personally feel this was not worth it , there were more bell peppers and onions, than meat. read more

Cactus Cantina - Steak fajitas to go. Save your money. - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

Awesome place to eat! Great menu, food and drinks are good. Our server, Faith was perfect!! Love it here!!

The Cactus Cantina is a great restaurant. The menu had a lot of options and our dinners, chicken fajitas, were delicious. Our waitress, Faith, was kind and efficient. Great experience and excellent customer service. We'll be back! read more

We were looking for a place to get a bite after a movie and this was close enough to walk. I'm glad we did. Once inside the smells were enticing and the service was inviting. It felt like a comfortable corner bar. The quesadilla was huge and I haven't had better cheese. Ribs were very well done and so easy to eat. Some very interesting pictures of old Riverside and movies. I recommend making this a habit. read more

The absolute best place to eat! Friendly staff, great ambiance. You can't go wrong here! read more

Everything was good but the food was flavorless.Salsa with chips needed salt or something. I had shrimp cocktail and it was not good . Hubby had the fajitas did not have enough meat nor flavor. read more

Today 3/31/26: we were a big group at my niece's reception. The waitress Valerie was awesome, attentive, friendly and pleasant. She did great being that we were a big group. thank you for service read more

We had a delightful lunch today at Cactus Cantina. Our server, Yvette was terrific. She was fun, personable and very efficient. Our food was delicious, service excellent and our party of 4 will be back soon. SGatherum read more

Been going here for a while, on Fridays There is a young lady or a young gentleman that are constantly getting my order wrong I order three soft tacos by themselves and no rice and beans, please What do they do they bring me rice and beans they think I'm going to eat it, but I leave it behind they done there too many times even during the week when it's empty so we will not be going back. read more

So could have went 5. Food good. Service good. But with a pile of fajitas they only give you three soft tortillas. Tried to flag someone down to get more, no luck. No salsa so a little dry. Again tried to get someone with no luck. They also don't offer chips and salsa. At least I don't think they do. But a couple people at bar were given them but I think they were regulars and they knew they wanted them. One review says lots of TV's. Yes. But they are like 19" computer screens. Overall decent design place it just looks like I need to figure out how to order everything the first time because once you get food your on your own. read more

Cactus Cantina - Chicken steak fajitas - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

We had at least 30 people in our group today August 11, 2025. Julie took care of us and she was awesome! She was very polite, very Professional and had a great attitude with us. She nailed every one's order. The food was sooo good. I recommend Cactus Cantina! read more

Last night I went to the Cactus Cantina in Riverside and I must tell you I had a "Great" Waitress. Her name was Kristi. She was very kind, personable and she gave me excellent Service. She constantly checked on me and gave me refills on my Coffee and Checked for refills on my Salsa and Chips. It may seem to you that it is no big deal... But, after Covid I quit eating out at restaurants because of the bad service and sub-optimal food the restaurants were serving! With-out hesitation. I recommend The Cactus Cantina and the Waitress-Kristi! I haven't had good service from a Waitress in a long while... I will be coming to this Restaurant and have Kristi be my waitress. A Great Waitress with Great food! An excellent eating experience! Sincerely, Elizabeth read more

Cactus Cantina - Great Food Experience and a Great Waitress named Kristi! - New American Near Me - Riverside, California