Since moving to Orangecrest a year and a half ago we've been coming to Cactus Cantina pretty much every week. My husband has been telling me wow there prices have been going up and not like other restaurants. My husband ordered the shrimp dinner. I believe the price has gone up $7. My son ordered a steak it was rare instead of medium and they recooked the steak but there was blood all over the fries. I ordered taquitos and the guacamole they gave me was literally a teaspoon and clearly not enough for 4 taquitos so I asked for more and was charged 5.99 for a tiny container of guacamole. My husband and I each had one beer and my son had a soda. We were going to pay with cash thinking surely $100 we had on us would cover the bill. Our bill was $96 and with 18% tip not enough. This place has gotten too expensive for this family of 3 to go to on a regular basis read more

Came here about ten years ago (probably nothing spectacular because we never came back until now). Kind of busy on Saturday night so that's a good sign. Food: 4 stars. Better than I remembered. Better than I expected. We didn't get complimentary chips and salsa so we had to ask. The chips were not great like they were starting to taste kind of stale. Can't complain. They were free. However, my fish and chips (well, fish and choice of side so I picked rice pilaf) were tasty. Crisp and no "fishy" smell. Lol. Rice was soft and had flavor. My son's kids' meal fries were good, right amount of salt and not mushy. My hubby's prime rib had good seasoning and was tender. Price: 3.5 stars. Like other chains of similar food (we did use a coupon of bogo 1/2 off and the waitress took off $6 um..half of $12.99). Service: 4 stars. Fast and friendly. Even gave us check midway through our dinner. Atmosphere: 4 stars. Music was loud enough so my kids didn't sound loud. Nearby, a group sang happy birthday to a party so people seemed friendly in there. read more

Cactus Cantina - Fish and chips. Kids meal chicken tenders. Complimentary chips and salsa. - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

This restaurant was previously held in high esteem in all regards. The service, drinks and ambience remain at a high standard. However on our last visit on 2/22/24 disappointment is the lasting impression. When we entered the undeniable scent of old grease/deep frying oil was prevalent. The delivered selections were proof, to our palates the oil hadn't been changed in some time. Being very hungry we could only eat half our order. This is very disappointing as we've enjoyed this restaurant since its opening. Perhaps the state's egregious taxing and onerous food labor laws are to blame but we will pay more to get less old oil greasy food. We've decided to wait for a month or two before chancing a return visit. Perhaps if more patrons comment on this matter the oil changing will be back to the previous schedule. read more

Basic food. Leaves a lot to be desired. Our service was pretty good. The food was very basic. Steak Fajitas: Oily vegetables, fatty meat, beans were flavorless, rice was...rice. Comes with 3 tortillas. Easily could've created 6+. Teriyaki Salmon w/cornbread and whipped sweet potatoes. Salmon was alright, sweet potatoes were not flavored properly, cornbread was dry, slightly sweet. Had a beer and the Cadillac margarita was ok. read more

Cactus Cantina - Teriyaki Salmon with whipped sweet potatoes and cornbread. Overall, 4.5/10. - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

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I had my dad's funeral reception here on 7/29/22 in their special event room for about 40 people. The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. I couldn't imagine it going better and prices were reasonable. I highly recommend Cactus Cantina! read more

A great place to go for a huge variety of great food and excellent service! I've gone to Cactus Cantina several times and it never disappoints. The portions are huge and are marked at a great price. One of my favorite meals to get is the steak fajitas. It is so flavorful and really fills you up. The staff at Cactus Cantina is great and truly takes care of you. You can tell the local community loves Cactus Cantina with the amount of regulars that visit when you go eat and how long they've been in business. I highly recommend everyone to try some food here! read more

The service was not up to standard. The waitress was rude with an attitude. She redeemed a little towards the end. They messed up on the potato since it was asked not to put onions on it. Anyways, we give the potato to my grandma and she takes a bite...so they bring another potato without onions. Naturally we think the other potato can be eaten by my grandma...but no the waitress takes the freaking potato back..like who is going to eat that potato? Give me a break read more

Nice, consistent, family restaurant. We've been coming here for over 15 years. I like the tall Coors Light and shrimp skewers with grilled vegetables. read more

I'm giving this Resturant all stars solely based on Steven S's service! He is an exceptional server. Food isn't good but Steven is absolutely phenomenal. He keeps the soda refills coming and is constantly checking on all his tables. read more

It's very unfortunate i wish i could say better things but the food was not good, shrimp cocktail was old and smelled, tacos were disappointing and toppings were old. I will say the young gentleman service was very sweet and nice. But unfortunately I will not be returning. read more

Honestly the food was delicious yes we had some issues with the order but they were quick to fix it and discounted meal also which wasn't necessary!!! The wait was long but it was expected since it was the day before Valentines.. overall great service once seated and good food. read more

Cactus Cantina - Lobster Tails Filet Medallions - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

Really good tasting food. They have Mexican and American food. We loved the salsa offered with the free tortilla chips. We had a rambunctious 5 year old with us and our waitress was just awesome with him. read more

I LOVE this place. I'm so happy they are opened again. The food is still as amazing as it was prior to covid. The bartender Maite (yes I spelled it wrong) is amazing. She remembers what we had last time we were here. She smiles behind her mask. Gloria the owner always sends a smile to every customer that's walks into her place (home). read more

We go to cactus Cantina for breakfast and each time we go it's perfect service. It is great I've never been disappointed we went there on Mother's Day and they were on point no wait great service great food Samantha was an excellent server on mothers day Thank you For the good food and great service we love you guys read more

I stopped in here after spending 20 minutes not being served at the obnoxious place called Locals Public House (non-locals beware). What a difference. Julie (got name from recepit) came right up, seated me, got me chips and extra sauce and promptly took my order. She and a petite young blond woman asked me what I needed every time they passed. Food was excellent- Bacon Burger with veggies. It was the opposite of sitting 20 minutes unattended at Locals Public House. read more

Reserved the event room for the reception after my dad's memorial service today. Gloria and her staff did an amazing job taking care of my friends and family. The servers were on it and kept everyone's drink full. Our food came out right on time and was fresh, hot and delicious. Thanks so much Cactus Cantina, I highly recommend this family owned restaurant and guarantee we will be back. read more

My husband and I love this family owned and operated restaurant. Gloria is so Extra personable and fun and fantastic! I miss going in but still Order from them during Covid. Jacquie and Vern read more

This is one of the best home cooked style restaurants in town. Today my family came in for dinner and we were served by Ashley P. The best customer service from this sweet young lady! She was really on top of things. I had the cod, mashed sweet potatoes, and grilled veggies. The cod was cooked perfectly. Very tender and flaky. The mashed sweet potatoes were creamy and sweet yet savory, and the grilled veggies were slightly charred and flavorful! They give you a portion large enough to share literally. Definitely worth your money! Come in and say hi yo Ashley P you will really enjoy dinner there, lots of choices! read more

I love their cornbread and baked potatoes. The steak is always good and the portions are huge.

Excellent food and great service might come back for prime rib. Loved the atmosphere and the service was quick

What's worse than super dry prime rib that was left under a heat lamp too long? Being treated rudely by the manager who continued to argue that it was fresh because they sold several orders that night - as she stood at the opposite end of the table arguing. So rude. read more

Cactus Cantina - Dry tough prime rib. - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

I'd give zero if I could....we waited over an hour for our food while we watched 3 tables come and go around us. When we asked the waitress what was going on she said it was a "technical issue" with the computer. Instead of the manager coming over to apologize she had the waitress offer us queso, as if that would make it better. When we stopped to talk to her on our way out she said was too busy to deal with us. To top it off the food sucked! We won't go back there. read more

This is not authentic Mex food. The staff and waiters are nice, the service was good but the food was not good.

Janey is my favorite person ever she is the best! Incredible service and amazing atmosphere!

This cozy bar and grill offers a relaxed taste of Riverside charm. When we arrived for a Sunday lunch with the family and, being a holiday, the place was relatively quiet. We were seated immediately and soon after asked for drink orders. My drink was forgotten, but the waitress was quick to catch it and corrected it, so no harm done. The restaurant centers around a wraparound bar with booths hugging the edges. A little picky of me, but the single lizard plaque in our area and cactus glasses weren't quite enough to convince me of the desert/cantina theme against otherwise old-fashioned decor. Still, the wall art featuring bits of Riverside history and culture were a nice touch. I ordered a shrimp salad with a cup of chicken noodle on the side. The soup was frankly underwhelming. The clear broth had little flavor, as the soup was more of a chicken stew. All I found in terms of noodles were a few pieces of soggy, broken penne. Celery was overcooked as well, but carrots were alright. The shrimp on my salad were so impressive and honestly they saved my meal. The caesar was served with huge, plump shrimp with a gorgeous sear on them. They were amazingly cooked. Croutons appeared housemade and had a good crunch. On the side was garlic toast that was a little simple but nonetheless tasty. Romaine could've been a little crisper. This restaurant offers a diverse menu that catered well to everyone's cravings. The waitress was helpful and prompt throughout our meal. Three stars for needing a bit of an update and for food that was satisfying and fairly priced, but could be improved even more. read more

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The staff there lacks proper etiquette. I noticed the manager back talking a lot of customers and stressing out her employees very loudly as I tried to eat. I even noticed an employee running to the back to cry. The manager (at least in her 50s) does not value her employees as they all seem like stressed older teens/young adults. I would not support this business due to the treatment the employees receive. read more

A couple of Fridays ago I went to have a drink with a friend of mine. Our bill was given to us and we split the check. I come home and something possessed me to check my bank account. It turns out, that I was charged twice. The first was for the total amount and the second was a split. I called this establishment and explain to them what happened. I was told that the waitress didn't see the other card and charged my card the whole total, when she realized there was a secondary card she reversed it. But obviously that didn't reflect on my account. It just left a bad impression for me since this was my first time there. I'm not saying don't go but I will say make sure every card used to check out is visible for them to see. read more

We love Cactus Cantina Great food, their beef taquitos are my favorite! Chicken Ceasar salad is my healthy go to. My husband loves their rib eye, their hamburgers, and Carna Asada Plate. Great Tacos and Frajitas too read more

Cactus Cantina - Steak and chicken Ceasar Salad yummy - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

I odered ribeye with baked potato and grilled vegetables (carrots, broccoli & purple onions). I ordered my steak medium rare. It came back medium. The vegetables looked like they were picked off a salad and grilled after cooking the steak. Baked potato was not hot. Also with plate a sliced bread toast. Why? The waitress was extremely polite , helpful and friendly. I would not recommend this place for dinner. Complimentary chips and salsa, sucked. Salsa was flavorless and chips dripping with oil. It was like dipping tasteless greasy chips on water. read more

Very disappointed with their prime rib. I ordered my prime rib medium and it came medium well, the meat was a little tough to cut and it was very dry! I let the waitress know that my prime rib was dry and a little tough to cut so, she took it back and said she would bring me another piece. When she returned she brought me back the same piece of meat and said that the cook told her to tell me that it was cooked medium and showed me that the cook had cut the meat up to show me the areas of where the meat was cooked medium...the waitress looked embarrassed and offered to take it back to him, but at that point I decided to just keep the plate. I don't usually ever send anything back but this meat was over cooked and too dry for me, and for the Cook to cut it up and send it back to me was kinda disgusting! Needless to say, I did pay for the prime rib only to bring it home to my dogs! read more

Let's just say from the time we walked in all eyes were on us... and not in a good way. It was super uncomfortable. My family had been intending to eat here for a while after reading the reviews, but we didn't even make it past inside the door. Never again.. and I will definitely tell everyone about our experience. read more

I installed yelp onto my phone just to warn you people that skipping lunch is a better option than eating here. Their service is ok. But the food is horrible. I ordered the Sizzling Fajitas. I cannot believe the audacity of the waiter to claim that their meat is "higher quality", which is why they were expensive. Honestly, their complimentary chips/sauce should have been a massive red flag to leave this place and never return. Their vegetables look like they came straight out of a freezer. read more

Service here was great! Upon arrival I was greeted by Julie who quickly got me seated and water before I even asked. She was quick to bring extra salsa to go with the chips that were fresh and not oily which I liked. The food was great as well. The wet burrito was very saucy and absolutely stuffed with shredded beef. The portions where huge and the price was fair. The restaurant was quite and they had some games on too. I plan to come back on a weekend to catch a game with some friends. I definitely recommend a visit here. read more

my family and I have been coming here since I was a little girl! very comfortable atmosphere, clean and inviting. staff is always so friendly and polite! we have never experienced bad service here, our food is always fresh, hot and delicious. today was no different! i had the carne asada plate and it was so flavorful and cooked very well. such a great neighborhood spot! read more

Well after seeing this place driving by several times in wanting to eat there it was finally open let me tell you what a disappointment it took 20 minutes for anybody to even come and check if we wanted water chips and salsa When they came in took our order everything was good when we got our order 1st of all a Moscow mule a Moscow mule I know what it is ithough it is it is not definitely a fruity cocktail cocktail she swore it was the fruity . Please learn what the customer orders.She came back and asked what salad dressing we wanted wanted and once again replied ranch when we got our salads it was blue cheese After reading the reviews I should have taken them up and got my money back But told them how crappy their service was and I would pay my bill but not leave a tip The manager seemed happy and quieted to serve her down when the server said she would pay for our meal She seemed extremely happy the manager because they were not losing any more money I'm sure of you need to get your act together and run a restaurant like a restaurant I am a manager of a restaurant myself and own my own catering company we'll never be going back read more

Looks are deceiving. Place looks great on the outside but restaurant was not great. The inside reminded me of a vfw. Service is lousy. Waitress was slow and not very attentive. We ordered Mexican food. It was disgusting. Definitely not authentic. Beans taste like from a can. Rice is bland. The menu states all Mexican food comes with guacamole. We ordered Nachos, enchiladas, and a burrito. Nothing came out with guacamole. Not even the nachos. I asked the waitress her response is avocados are to expensive to buy. I than told her don't you think that's something you should let customers know when they are ordering. And than as we were eating our food we happened to look up at the light above us. It was so disgusting and dirty like it has never been cleaned . It had layers of dust and even a spider web. Overpriced place that was very disappointing. read more

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It's kind of off the main road tucked in the corner of a shopping center. But worth finding. Really good food and a good variety. I split an order of steak fajitas with my wife. A single order was plenty and we have leftovers-happy lunch for me tomorrow. It is a lttle loud , Televisions are all around and there is a bar in the center. But it's a good atmosphere. Our server tonight was exceptionally nice. Her name is Fe and she was attentive and cheerful. She took excellent care of us. We are already regulars, but we keep coming back and referring others.. read more

Pricy but worth it my meal was delicious and I will definitely eat here again and try the pork chops!!!

I wish I would of taken a picture of my food, but unfortunately I didn't. So I went to eat at Cactus Cantina last night and I've gone there more then a few times, I always order the same thing which is the Halibut and The Halibut is always delicious except for last night! It was tasteless I mean no seasoning at all and so over cooked I could literally tap my fork on it and hear the tap. I'm not the type of person that sends my food back because I'm afraid of them messing with my food so I ate it especially since it was expensive. We did mention it to the waitress but all she said was I'm sorry and that they changed their distributor which is Sysco. I've never been so dissatisfied with halibut.. I won't say don't go there because I've always liked their food just not this time.. read more

Good food, comes out fast and chips and salsa right when you sit down. Good all around spot.