From the moment we sat down to the moment we left, the service at Cactus in Proctor Tacoma was outstanding. Our waiter, Mark, was incredibly attentive -- checking in regularly, keeping drinks topped off, and making sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling rushed. Exactly the kind of hospitality that makes a meal memorable. We started with the Guacamole Sampler -- Traditional, Carlito's Way, and Austin Style -- served with warm housemade chips and their signature salsa. Every style had its own personality, and the flavors were spot‑on across the board. A fantastic way to kick off the meal. For my entrée, I went with the Seasonal Al Pastor Tamales, and wow... this dish is a true taste of the south. The ancho, guajillo, and achiote citrus slow‑roasted pork was rich and tender, perfectly balanced by cumin black beans, pickled pineapple, white onion, and serrano salsa. Every bite had depth, heat, and brightness. My wife ordered the Smoked Chicken Tomatillo Soup -- hominy, red bell peppers, carrots, onions, chipotle, buttermilk crema, cilantro, and blue corn tortilla strips. Served with fresh housemade sopes, it was comforting, flavorful, and beautifully layered. A perfect bowl for any season. We also shared the Navajo Fry Bread -- honestly, this should be listed under desserts. Warm, soft, slightly sweet, and absolutely delicious. The overall vibe was relaxed and inviting. It can get a bit noisy -- especially for someone like me who's hard of hearing -- but the energy is still warm and enjoyable. Cactus never disappoints. From the kitchen to the front‑of‑house, the team consistently delivers great food, great service, and a great experience. Hats off to the cooks and staff for another fantastic visit. We'll definitely be back. read more

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I always enjoy my visits to Cactus restaurants in the Puget Sound area. The food is to notch, mouth watering, so flavorful and I always enjoy something new that is just over the top. Our waitress, Brianna's recommendations were helpful, so good and exceeded my expectations. I had the Poblano Chili Relleno - love them and this was exceptional! I also had the house margarita that was so amazing - I was actually surprised by it. They have quite a few crafted margaritas so ask what is popular as they might have something seasonal. The Bitter Orange Margarita is the bomb! The restaurant in Tacoma is using the Yelp waitlist so please use that as this place fills up quickly on the weekends and at night has a massive wait so tap that Waitlist button! read more

Cactus Restaurants - Proctor - The world wide wait... - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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It was my first time yesterday and the waitress was super nice. And never had a restaurant package my leftovers for me before lol.

When we arrived we got seated right away. Our server was super friendly and patient when we were still deciding what to order. I ended up getting the same burrito I'd gotten in a previous visit. Unfortunately it was not the same experience. It was barely warm and the brisket? Well, that was difficult to find inside the burrito. It was a bummer after such a good visit previously; but at least our server was great. read more

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My second time visiting Cactus restaurant in Proctor. The service was much improved from the first visit. Kudos. But the food was flavorless. I ordered the appetizer Shrimp Diablo. I expected it to be spicy. Instead it was absolutely flavorless. If you're afraid of heat and want to feel like you're eating Mexican food, this is a good place you. If you actually like flavor & spice - don't eat here! You'll be as disappointed as I was. read more

Cactus is a classic. It's not the best Mexican food ever, but it doesn't disappoint. My favorite thing is the Austin style guac, it's to die for! Service is always solid, and it's always easy to walk in, which is nice. Whenever I need a marg and some decent Mexican food, this is the spot. read more

Great place to have food. This is my second time here and I highly recommend going there. This time was a little bit different with the server who was just not as friendly as our first serve server we had. I don't even remember the servers name that's why we're getting four stars, but she did check in every once in a while. But definitely rate four stars due the food and the quality of the restaurant and how clean it is highly recommend.. read more

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My Flauntas were cold. They were on top of cold rice. I had to send them back. By the time they came back my wife was done with her meal. Not good. The portions were small. You might want to put a third flaunta on there. I'm a man not a child. This was definitely a child's portion. You will not be seeing me for a long time . Very very disappointing. read more

Great experience here! Food and service were both awesome! Great drink menu. Large selection of menu options. Comfortable seating in a large restaurant. Visited for lunch. Our waitress was fantastic. She took great care of us! The food was all fresh, came out hot, and enjoyable. We ordered the bacon wrapped jalapeños to start. Meals included: brisket, tacos, chimichanga, and crab tamales. Our waitress asked if we had been in before, and we told her we had not. They surprised us at the end with a complementary flaw to try. That was a fun surprise. Would recommend and we will be back again. read more

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Loved this place! They were pretty busy on a Friday even before the dinner rush. Luckily my family got here at a good time so we could get a table because we were not able to get reservations. Tommy was our waiter and he was excellent! Food was great! I had the shank which was just excellent and so tasty. Chips and salsa were good and everyone else loved their food for the most part. Ambiance was very modern and comfortable. Overall it was a good family dinner and Tommy even helped celebrate my dad's birthday by bringing out some flan. Definitely appreciated it! read more

Cactus Restaurants - Proctor - Spa chicken - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Came by on a Friday night with no wait to be seated. Enjoyed a nice booth by the bar. Comfortable noise level and dim enough for a cozy vibe. Tried some fun cocktails, fajitas, and squash enchilada which was delicious. This is a perfect date night spot as well as an anytime joint to visit for Mexican food and drinks. We were treated to complimentary flan for our first time visit. We will be back! read more

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Super-fresh Mexican dishes! A great place for food that is well beyond the typical. Very accommodating for small groups.

Cactus is a vibe, think modern Mexican cuisine. Their guacamole is chef's kiss. They constantly have new seasonal dishes rotating which I love. The Camarones El Diablo are spicy, but delicious. The nachos are a great option with chicken as well. The Sonoran Spa chicken and Carne Asada are both delicious. I do not like their rice but they do have substitutions. I will say Cactus is on the pricier side and you have to have an open mind as it is their food has an acquired taste. The vibes and drinks are great. They get super busy but they do take reservations. I've only come for dinner but their brunch menu looks amazing also. read more

Cactus Restaurants - Proctor - Happy Hour menu ( food ) Mon - Fri from 3 to 6 Sat & Sun from 3 to 5 - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Great service and cool decor n atmosphere.. food was good too . Comfortable seats available. Happy hour deals 2-6 pm read more

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Good food and ambience. Was able to have a conversation without yelling. Stayed for over an hour without any issues and wait staff was super nice and helpful. read more

It's a nice restaurant and a good ambience. Personally I loved that they have a vegetarian menu but everything we tried was pretty similar on taste and had the same rice and beans as a side so I can't say I loved the food. The service was good and they were set to give us a flan on the house to try. I would recommend if you generally like Mexican food and and don't have any dietary restrictions. read more

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This place was great! Location is in the middle of the hipster Proctor neighborhood in Tacoma. Ambiance was warm and inviting. Service was on the higher-end side. And the food, wow! I ordered the street tacos (added a third taco for an extra $3). Could have been satisfied with just the two tacos, but still killed the third. Fresh ingredients, nice presentation, full of flavor. Got my hands messy, that equates to great tacos! Cost me about $21, plus tip. Worth it! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Tacoma. I had the Christmas tamales with Rioja. The monkey business is a solid cocktail.

I love the menu variety, the rotational items, the gluten free options and the kid friendly (but not exclusively kid friendly) seating areas. Food is great, drinks are yummy and the ambience is great. We love coming here, especially with friends from Gig Harbor Area (we are in Spanaway) so it's a nice little meet in the middle. read more

Cactus Restaurants - Proctor - Queso Birria - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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My husband and I went on a Thursday late afternoon. We sat in the bar area. Had a great attentive server . My husband ordered a frozen margarita and said it was wonderful. We ordered the guacamole sampler. Now we know which are our favorites! I had the spicy shrimp dish and the husband had the special burger tacos. All was good. read more

We had a fantastic lunch here! Our server was wonderful, very attentive and helpful with the menu. I asked her what my options were as a vegan, and she gave them to me right off the top of her head. I got the Jackfruit Chimichanga veganized (no dairy), and my friend got the Smoked Brisket Tamales. We both absolutely loved our food. They asked us when we first got there if we had been there before. At the end of the meal, they brought us a free (unsolicited) flan for being newcomers. The atmosphere was nice, the bathrooms were clean, the food was awesome, the service was on point... we will definitely be back! read more

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Second time visiting this restaurant, and we voted it our #1 favorite foodie spot on our latest trip to WA this September. As vegetarians, they have awesome options. This time, I opted for the jackfruit tinga tacos. It comes with black beans and rice, and although delicious, I wished it was warmer in temperature. The jackfruit was delicious and their tortillas are great! By the way, their unsweetened mango iced tea is also great for iced tea lovers out there. The server was lovely. We were catching up with a friend, which she recognized, and was patient with us trying to figure out what we wanted to order. Their restaurant is also very beautifully decorated and comfortable. We highly recommended this restaurant to our family who live in Poulsbo. read more

Cactus Restaurants - Proctor - Jackfruit Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Not your average Mexican-American restaurant. My kids described it as "bougie tacos for millennials." Probably a fair assessment, but that doesn't mean it's not good. Fun, clever cocktails along with the classic margaritas and mojitos. Okay but here is the reason I'm writing this review: I've been 3-4 times and while it's all been good (shrimp and jalapeño grits!), the chile relleno is probably the best I've ever had. Beautifully deep-fried and crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, served of a bed of rice with mole! Come on!! I will happily return for this menu item alone over and over. Downsides: one of my kids has not found her dish yet. It's okay some kids just want to go to El Toro. Husband likes the chimichanga but wishes it were a little bigger. read more

Love love love cactus!!!! By far my favorite Mexican restaurant in the planet!!! Some of our favorite servers, food is always on point, amazing seasonal menu, yummy drinks! Just the BEST read more

Went there today, and the food was delicious. I would come back again. Already referred some friends.

I love all the Cactus restaurants I've been to, but the Proctor location is probably my favorite. I've never had one bad dish from this place! If you like casual-upscale Tex-Mex food, Cactus is a must. Service is friendly and personable; they stay busy and they get the job done. Now let's name check some of my favorite menu items. For brunch, you can't go wrong with Tres Leches French Toast, Chilaquiles Divorciados, and the Gaucho Breakfast Tacos. My personal favorite drink is La Última: Dobel Diamante Reposado, Grand Marnier float, black lava salt rim. On the main menu, the Navajo fry bread is absolutely amazing. Honestly, it's a really good place and I'm at a loss to pick other dishes as my tops. Come check it out and find your own favorites! read more

Went for a friends birthday for appetizers and drinks before doing a whiskey tasting nearby. We were so happy with the service and food that after our tasting, we went back and had dinner and dessert! I highly recommend this restaurant. We did go on a busy day so I made reservations ahead of time, but it seems like a pretty popular place so I would suggest to do so as well. Great specialty drinks and food options. No questions I will be back! read more

Cactus Restaurants - Proctor - Shrimp and grits - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

We will definitely be back! Our favorites today were the corn chowder, the stuffed squash blossoms, the Chili Relleno dish and the Tall Cactus Margaritas! read more

We visited the Proctor St location last week. Everything was delicious! Smoked Chicken Flautas, Tres Leches French Toast, Roasted Green Chile Clam Chowder, Sonoran Spa Chicken, kids chicken quesadilla, Burrito Brisket lenera, chips with guacamole and salsa, even the drip coffee. Then, received an Amazing flan dessert. The service was excellent, staff genuinely friendly and attentive. We will be coming back read more

Had a big group order for a business lunch meeting through door dash. Everything went through on door dash just fine. Order placed, credit card charged, etc. 30 minutes after we were supposed to get our order, I get a text saying that "We're sorry, your order from Cactus Restaurants was cancelled because the store is unable to fulfill your order." I called Cactus and the guy I talked to insisted it was a door dash issue and gave off every indication that he had no interest in dealing with actually fixing things. Passing off whatever issue your restaurant is having on DD is lame. read more

The restaurant was very accommodating for my food restrictions (gluten-free, dairy-free, no legumes, no night shades). I enjoyed the jackfruit tinga tacos in lettuce cups, and we substituted the beans for the squash mix. I also had the veggie crudités to dip in the guacamole since I cannot eat corn and they do not have a dedicated fryer for the chips. read more

We visited Cactus twice during our recent work trip in Tacoma. The staff are friendly, the service was efficient and the food was a quality product. We enjoyed the Spicy Ahi Tacos Starter, the Butternut squash enchiladas, Chicken Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Child's Nachos, Bananas Dulce, Churros and Flan. All dishes were delicious and at an affordable price point. The black beans and rice served with each entree were flavorful and served perfectly. Cactus Proctor offers a nice casual dining experience whether you dine inside or outside. read more

Cactus on Proctor is officially my favorite Mexican restaurant. Everything about this restaurant feels high quality - from the interior, the bar, the outdoor seating with heaters, the service, and of course, the food and drinks!! I love the traditional guacamole, salsa and fresh warm chips to start... so much so, anytime I visit, me and friends make multiple orders. For entrees, my go is sampling different types of tacos or order the burrita! Excited to try something new next time - there's still many dishes on the menu I'm excited to try! For dessert - get the flan - it's the best I've ever had. It's truly perfection, and they know it, because the menu says it has a money back guarantee if you don't like it! For drinks... I cannot get over how amazingly good/balanced the alcoholic mexican coffee is. Honestly, it makes my top three drinks I've ever had! The skinny margarita is great too (it takes as if it wasn't "skinny"). Seems like every time I come here, I go all out and so shocked how fairly priced everything is. I can pig out without ever breaking the bank. Yeah... I can see myself being a regular here. Love it! read more

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Oh heck yeah! If you are looking for good Mexican food in Tacoma, this is the one! We didn't have reservations, so we got on the list and did some shopping next door to pass the time. We were told 20 minutes, but ended up waiting close to 40. I don't fault Cactus, the food and drinks are so good no one wants to leave. I also saw them handling some large groups on a Saturday night with ease. We got Roxy as our server and she did an awesome job taking rare of us. Our order was taken quickly and the drinks were on the table just moments later. We dropped the food order in and it was also out pretty quickly. Everything was awesome! I had the chile rellenos. The goat cheese combined with the jalapeño jelly was an awesome combination. The flavors were in perfect balance. The breading on the chile was so light and flaky. Yum and yum! I also ended up getting the Mexican S'mores for desert. Make sure to leave room for that one! Thank you to Roxy and the rest of the team at Cactus! Great service, great food! read more

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Food is absolutely amazing, the service is fantastic. One of my favorite places in Tacoma!

Food is delicious. Servers are friendly and attentive. Ambience is relaxing and upscale casual.

We recently visited Tacoma and chose Cactus on Proctor for lunch. What a wonderful experience! We had the Pork Tamales and Cotija Chicken. Wow!! Flavor, presentation, and portion size were far above our expectations. Wonderful atmosphere, friendly staff, highly recommend! read more

Love this place. But the brunch is not great! Definitely will not go back for the brunch. But All the other food is awesome and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Manager is fantastic too. They usually have nfl mlb and nhl games on the bar area TVs. read more

We have lived in the Phoenix Valley (Arizona) for the past 4 years and haven't found SW food as good there as we had at your N Proctor restaurant in Tacoma today. Our daughter who lives in Gig Harbor recommended you to us. So glad we came here. Keep up the good work! read more

I've been to Cactus many times and each time I had went here, I always had a great experience and great food. I haven't made a review for Cactus yet but decide to do one now. I ordered the Spiced Caesar Salad with grilled Prawns. The salad was dressed perfectly and tasted really good with the grilled prawns. I wanted dessert as well when I went and saw there was a seasonal item which was the Canela Butter Cake. The cake was really soft and delicious. It too sweet and goes well with the sauce on top. Not a big fan of banana ice cream but it was still pretty good. read more

Cactus Restaurants - Proctor - Spiced Caesar Large with Prawns - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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