It's a quaint small place with clean rustic Mexican decor. We had great service. Chips were hot, thin and crispy with tangy well seasoned salsa! Good chips and salsa makes a Mexican restaurant and this was a great start. Wife and I share chicken and shrimp fajitas and oh my goodness they were amazing. We loved the grilled onions and bell peppers with the chicken and shrimp. Plenty of hot tortillas to complete our meals. Large portions we could barely eat it all, but did. Loved it. We will come back. read more

This is our local Mexican restaurant in our town and we eat here frequently. The owners are awesome and run a very great good quality business. We love the fish tacos, the chimichanga, the freshness of their food and the salsa. This local restaurant draws a crowd for miles based on their reputation. If you get a chance to eat here, you will not be disappointed! read more

The fish tacos at Iron Cactus are the bomb!! It's a go to every time. We are glad to have such an awesome restaurant in Calhoun.

Best Food, everything is amazing!! Awesome service, friendly staff. Very nice place to eat, always clean . read more

Iron Cactus never disappoints. My 2 friends took me for my 65th birthday. We always share the chicken, beef & shrimp fajitas. So so good!! The tortilla chips are always crispy & yummy!! The Margarita is always refreshing! Go to Calhoun & enjoy some Mexican & a Margarita!! read more

One of the best Mexican reataurants you will ever visit. Service and food are always excellent!!!!!

Overall, the experience was a mix of good and bad. Service was good. Restaurant was dimly lit, which we liked. Chips were thin and fresh, and the salsa and queso were great. There was no discernible cilantro in the salsa, which is rare, but a plus for us because we are not cilantro fans. The kids ordered nachos and a kid's chicken quesadilla. My husband ordered the enchilada rancheros, and I ordered the Mexican cornbread with tortilla soup. We also ordered the pear and dessert pear margaritas but were told these were discontinued. The server recommended a black cherry and mango margarita instead, so we got those. The margaritas were large, very strong (we didn't finish them), and served in styrofoam cups. My husband said his enchiladas were average. The kids were happy with their food, but my soup was very salty, and the Mexican cornbread was not as expected. I had been to this restaurant and ordered it years ago and loved it, but on this visit, the outside was overcooked, and it was almost entirely meat (like more than 90% meat). I was expecting far more cornbread with noticeable peppers, but all I tasted was meat and cheese. It was very disappointing. Would not recommend and will not order again. read more

See all

The Iron Cactus is awesome. Food is 9 out of 10, and the service is great. Very Family friendly and welcoming restaurant. No matter if you eat it there or take it home. It is great. read more

I created a Yelp account simply to say this. Atmosphere and Decor was 5 Star. Salsa tasted like unseasoned crushed tomatoes, chips were stale, guacamole tasted like something from Walmart refrigerator section. Ordered Tamales, they were dry, covered in cheese, and tasted like frozen tamales thrown into an oven. Beans were covered in the same half melted cheese, and rice was overcooked and mushy. The only saving grace about this meal was the Modelo. Do not recommend. When "Raymond H." the reviewer under or above me says that the hamburger is his favorite meal at a Mexican restaurant then you shouldn't expect much. read more

Food was delicious but when we left we put cash of 8.00 on the table for the tip and used our debit card to pay for the meal... when I looked on my bank account they added the 8.00 cash to my debit card card so they ended up with a 16.00 tip....not happy about that.... read more

Great food, fantastic service, I would go there even if they weren't just down the road.

This was my first time to eat here. I placed a "To Go" lunch order Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. I ordered the Cactus Special with shrimp and my mom ordered the Fried Avocado, which came with a little taco and soup. Of course, we ordered chips, salsa, and queso. We were so incredibly surprised. These meals were the best we've eaten after years of wasting our money at other restaurants around this area. We have finally found a restaurant to call our favorite. We will be back. Thank you for exceeding our expectations! I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

We were making our way through from Dallas to Florida and yelped a place to grab a quick dinner. I ordered the enchilada verde and my husband ordered the chicken fajitas. They were both pretty good but what was absolutely amazing was their home house made frozen margaritas. I wish my husband grabbed a couple gallons. This would have been perfect on the pensacola beach. My husband did recall that the folks here as well as the owner were super personable. We definitely will make a detour back here again. read more

The owner, Brad, is a super guy. Food has always been amazing. I have even used them for catering events and it never disappoints! Try the Cactus burger....if youre wanting something other than TexMex... it's good! read more

Amazing food and owners! Great dine in or bar eating!!! Fun upbeat vibe and very popular with locals...so it's like a community setting where everyone seems to know someone eating next to them!!! read more

It has been a long time since we decided to drive to Calhoun and eat here. It was my understanding the owners of the old Ernestos downtown Monroe had opened this place. The few times I went in the distant past, the food and service was good, as it was at the old Ernestos. Today we were there when they opened the doors for lunch . Let me just say the service left much to be desired. The chips were stale and not warm. We had about a 35 minute wait for our food and it was nothing like the delicious food they served years ago. Oh well. I suppose it could be another casualty of Covid. Who knows, but our money doesn't go far these days so we will pass on future trips to Iron Cactus. read more

Small place, they are popular so it would be nice if it were a little bigger. Everyone was nice. I had the grilled Tex-mex chicken with vegetables and it was yummy. read more

This is our neighborhood restaurant. It is popular and can get crowded. It is worth the wait. The service people are nice. It is famous for the margaritas. The hamburger is many people's favorite meal. I really like the grilled shrimp spinach salad and the shrimp fajitas. I will happily eat there often. read more

Great Margaritas, family atmosphere, friendly staff, great service, reasonable prices, did I mention great margaritas haha. My go to for dinners, lunch.... read more

A restaurant that has been around for 10+ years in a town full of "Mexican" "Tex mex". Eat here and you will know why they are still the best. read more

This is definitely my new favorite place in all of North Louisiana. I've been on the hunt for some food with actual tasty flavoring, rather than most of the mediocre stuff I've been having of lately. A lovely friend recommended this place as "the best Mexican around" so I had to go! I should've known when there was no parking and a wait on a Thursday at lunch, that this would be excellent. We had the baja fish tacos and lunch shrimp fajitas, both were so good we couldn't pick a favorite. The portions were heaping and the lunch meal came with a sweet tea. Everything tasted so fresh and salty, just like Mexican should. And the fajitas come with the best garlic butter to drizzle on top and the onions are cartelized to perfection. I surely can't wait to go back. And the best part was that the service was wonderful, our waitress kept apologizing for the wait and crowd and busy status of the place. I wouldn't have changed a thing and I'm already excited for my next visit. A must visit! read more

Iron Cactus - Lunch shrimp fajitas, enough for 2 - Mexican Near Me - Calhoun, Louisiana

See all

The food was really good and the service even better and while I would like to give this place 4-5 stars, I just can't. I'm no stickler for every Covid-19 rule, but this place takes the cake. Not one server nor customer bothered with a mask or sanitizer. The bar was packed shoulder to shoulder (against state rules) and while I respect their right to ignore the laws, couldn't they at least try? Not every customer is of the same political persuasion and maybe have health issues. Yes, they could stay home and perhaps they should, but Iron Cactus should advertise that they do not partake in public health precautions. read more

You wouldn't notice this place if you were just driving by but Iron Cactus is a must stop restaurant! Wonderful service and the food is immaculate... the margaritas are the best in Ouachita parish! read more

Never have been a fan of this Mexican place. The taco beef always seems to be unspiced. There are a lot of people that come out to this store. We live close by but not likely to stop again. read more

One of our favorite restaurants in the world (disclaimer: I've only been to one other country). Some of my favorites: 1. Mexican cornbread. Huge serving size, cheese overload, moist cornbread with the perfect amount of burnt, crispy goodness on the edges. 2. Pulled pork tacos. Oh man these things are tasty. Tender pork, crispy cabbage, and a sauce that is out of this world. 3. Ribeye. Yeah, that's right. A ribeye at a Mexican joint. This steak was better than most steakhouses can cook. Sixteen ounces of juicy, flavorful beef cooked to perfection. I could go on and on...the fries, the beans, the nachos, the grilled chicken, the salsa. Just go there. read more

Actually pretty good me and my brother randomly stopped by here for lunch while looking at a job in the area.

Okay, true enough, this place sounds like some early-eighties hair metal rock band, and there's nothing really wrong with that. I actually like the name of this place quite a bit, and were it actually a hair metal rock band, that would rule too! I think I saw Iron Cactus open up for Judas Priest at The Summit in Houston in 1983! Or maybe it was for DIO and Dokken at Reunion Arena in Dallas, 1985? Either way, Iron Cactus brought it! And just as their same-named spirit animal rock band would've brought the heavy metal, this Iron Cactus in small town Calhoun brings the heavy Mexican, and man, do they bring it with loads of delicious flavors, and tons of excellent, efficient, and friendly customer service! This place has been up and running for near a decade, and will have been open ten years come 2020, and during our Saturday night pop-in, this restaurant's popularity hasn't waned in the very least! For the night we visited, this place was certifiably slammed! After attending the ULM-ULL football game at Malone Stadium in Monroe earlier in the day, we hit this spot, so that we could dine and wait for darkness to descend nice and good so that we could make our last leg of our day trip: Candy Cane Lane Drive Thru Christmas Light Park (See my Yelp Review, pics and vids!) also here in Calhoun. (Dude. Calhoun is happening!) So, we ate here to fuel our Christmas Cheer, and it worked! We had to wait for a table, but we were politely informed it would be no longer than about a twenty minute wait. They called for us after only 18 minutes. The food and service was just outstanding, it really was. A pleasant experience for the whole family. We hope to come back through Calhoun again some time, and stop by the Iron Cactus yet again, and try some more of their deliciously-described menu items. We only had so much room, this first visit. Go to the Iron Cactus!! And if you're passing by or through Calhoun around the holidays, check out Candy Cane Lane Drive Thru Christmas Light Park as well! All of your senses will be delighted! : ) read more

See all

First time there and it was my birthday dinner. Fajitas for my husband, tostadas for me. While the chips and salsa were so good I expected the meal to be great. It wasn't. His fajitas were slathered in some kind of orange looking sauce and didn't even smell like fajitas. The tostada was broken up and the beef was dry and tasted weird. I sent it back after one bite but it wasn't taken off our bill so I paid for something I had ONE BITE of. Our waitress was great though. read more

Best hole in the wall Tex-Mex, and really the only edible non-fast food, non-pizza option in Calhoun. Their fajitas and quesadillas are cooked to order and by far the best items on the menu, but the stuffed avocado and the Mexican pizza are definitely worth a try. read more

Chips, queso, salsa, and a strawberry margarita with sugar is all I need, but their Mexican cornbread and steak are quite tasty too! Love running into people we know who frequent there too! read more

These people know what they are doing. 1st the salsa and chips are very good. They offer a variety of really nice Mexican dishes. It is worth the drive to Calhoun to enjoy their food. read more

Iron Cactus - Iron Cactus - Mexican Near Me - Calhoun, Louisiana

See all

My rating is based on the fact that not one employee nor customer even bothered with a mask. It's a mandate and they purposely ignored it. Maybe it's just the Calhoun location? Maybe I was there on an "off" night, but if you have sick or older family or don't thing Covid is a hoax, best to stay away. Food was great and service friendly, but they ignore the mandate and Louisiana is suffering for it. read more

The service is great. My favorite place to go the food is like no other it's unique in this area the food is just great!!

The food is great but i wish they had more tables to eat and more parking spaces....i think they have outgrown their present location

I had a Fajita taco salad. Salad was served in a fajita shell. A generous portion of nicely seasoned tasty fajita steak was provided with fresh lettuce / etc. You can expect to wait between 10-15 min to be seated. A young lady was our waitress and provided excellent service. IRON Cactus provides reasonably priced tex-mex food that has never disappointed. read more

Best Tex-Mex in the area. Margaritas are very good and very strong. Beware. The wait time to get a table is usually pretty long, and the service is usually pretty slow, but if you aren't in a hurry, it is worth the trip. read more

Everyone in the area always recommends this place so I was looking forward to eating there. Major disappointment! Salsa was the worst I've ever had, like v8 with a few bits of tomato thrown in. Some fried queso sticks on the appetizer menu were gross. The veggie quesadilla was pretty good. I won't go back unless I'm in that area and absolutely starving. read more

Wonderful wonderful wonderful !!! Our favorite Mexican place bar none ! Fajitas and enchiladas to DIE FOR and the best chips and salsa I have EVER put in my mouth !!! Service is ALWAYS fabulous but get there EARLY cos they fill up quick and they STAY full till they close. read more

First time at Iron Cactus, but it won be our last! The fajita meats were excellent! Chicken, shrimp & steak. Large portions and moderately priced. Be sure & top off your meal with the fried cheese cake. We had strawberry & chocolate toppings. Service was also good! read more

Excellent! Delicious, fresh Mexican food. I had the chicken quesadilla. quesadilla was perfect. Others at the table had the fajitas and enchiladas. Definitely a place that I will revisit. The place is so popular that by 630 there was a wait. Go early. read more