Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Iron Cactus San Antonio

    3.4 (2.3k reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Bars, American
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Iron Cactus San Antonio Takeout or Delivery

    Iron Cactus San Antonio Photos

    IRON CACTUS SAN ANTONIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Touristy
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Iron Cactus San Antonio

    Recommended Reviews - Iron Cactus San Antonio

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tableside Guacamole
    Chriss N.

    Wife and stopped in for dinner. Loved the atmosphere with a more date night feel. Service was phenomenal! The table side guacamole is hands down the best along the Riverwalk! Stop in and give it a try, you will not be disappointed!

    Shrimp and Steak Fajitas
    Rich J.

    This was our first time in San Antonio. This was also our first Mexican fusion restaurant that we have been to. WOW was this place cool, and fun to be at. Michael the manager was amazing and treated my wife and I like locals. Genesis, our waitress was outstanding! Both Micheal and Genesis were friendly, accommodating, and helped us select choices on their menu that were fantastic. We will be back thats for sure. Iron Cactus is a must see and if you're hungry even better. We loved it.

    Pollo Relleno
    Julie K.

    I'm from out of town and came here on many recommendations. I was sadly disappointed. We got the lobster stuffed jalapeños. 3 for $18. Not worth it. I got the pollo relleno. The flavor was really good but my chicken was very overcooked. Service and atmosphere were great! Nice that it was right in the riverwalk. Is it worth the drive?...no

    Marisa M.

    My date and I came here hungry looking for some good Mexican food and well unfortunately the food wasn't good especially for the price we paid. Let me just start off ... our server Rick was stellar and he made a great table side guacamole right in front of us. He was very attentive. I ordered the fajitas and they were not what I'm use to back in El Paso. The meat was so tough and not tender at all. And don't be surprised at not getting salsa because they don't bring you any and DO NOT bother on getting extra tostada chips for your guacamole because it's an extra $2 every chip bowl. We should've known better then to eat at place next to the river walk... we thought it would be great but the food was mediocre. Oh and my husbands burger was horrible it had no flavor at all. Overall we were super disappointed with the food but happy with our server.

    Picadillo Purses
    Rose E.

    This is just a good, solid Tex-Mex restaurant on the Riverwalk...and this was our second time here! We started with this appetizer, Picadillo Purses...and we loved it! Filled solid with beef, corn and carrots, they were quite good. For our entree, I had the Shrimp Tacos and my husband had the Pollo Relleno...and we both thought our dish was quite satisfying. I also really enjoyed their Pina Colada...small, but very strong and tasty! We sat on their patio, and it was comfortable...and the service was good. I wouldn't say this is THE best Tex-Mex or Mexican foods we've had, but the foods were solid...and the ambiance was nice enough to merit at least 4 stars.

    Genie M.

    A waitress from another restaurant highly recommended this place and so glad she did! It is on the riverwalk. Great view from inside and outside. The hostess was welcoming and accommodating! Our server/ bartender was awesome and amazing! Steven provided great customer carrier. He explained how the food was prepared. He made suggestions and gave great tips so that we all were satisfied with our meals. The decor inside is warm and inviting! The food was five stars. Everything I ate and tasted was fresh and felt as if it was made with love! Would definitely come back if im in the San Antonio area!

    My hand is larger than the $2 serving of chips!!! The waiter told me since COVID it's been like this!!!  5 thumbsdown!!!
    John D.

    The food is ok!!! They chips and salsa must be ordered and charged for? WTH? Service sucks!!! You gotta wave down a person to get anything!!! This ain't cool!!! The atmosphere and feeling is ok but not fabulous!!! I'm gonna get changed an arm and leg for some crappy service!!! Oh well!! I'm hungry!! Not a recommended place!!! Chip refills are $2!!! This place is straight garbage!!! Don't go here!!! I'm surprised that don't charge to use their restrooms!!!

    Paella
    Vanessa A.

    The service was super nice and we ate outside on a beautiful day on the riverwalk. The paella was perfect and even better the next day! They give military discount and extra discount if you show up to eat in uniform!

    Drinks - strawberry mocktail and mezcal margarita
    Molly L.

    We came here on a weeknight and there was walk-in seating available. We tried quite a few different things - the guacamole, queso, cheese quesadilla, veggie fajitas, paella, and some drinks. The paella had good flavor but was a little more wet than my partner would have liked. The cheese quesadilla was also pretty good, filled with Monterey Jack cheese. The veggie fajitas were very small and not as sizzling as we would have liked. The dips were delicious - our waiter made the guacamole in front of us and the queso was in a cast iron pan so it stayed warm throughout the duration of the meal. Overall we enjoyed our food and the ambiance was nice, though there are some dishes they can work on.

    Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Salad
    Melody C.

    An insanely good experience! The food at the Iron Cactus is delicious. Everything was incredibly flavorful and felt like the perfect mix of traditional and modern adaptions of Mexican food. All the food was so fresh and bursting with unique flavors. You must try the Tableside Guacamole - it was such a fun experience and was absolutely delicious. Our waitress let us know that Iron Cactus is one of the top 10 tequila bars in the US, and it sure does seem like it! With over 100 different tequilas on the menu, you are sure to find one you like. You have to grab a margarita here - they were delightful! The service here is incredible. Our waitress was super attentive, helpful, and spirited. I noticed the other tables nearby getting great service as well! There were also two mariachis going around offering to play songs for each table and they were super talented! There is both indoor and patio seating. Inside it is dark and moody. The patio has a great view of River Walk and is perfect for people watching. I definitely recommend the Iron Cactus!

    Stuffed Avocado
    John W.

    Situated right along the river walk with indoor and outdoor seating, we made a stop at the Iron Cactus for a delicious lunch! The host was extremely friendly and accommodating; something you don't get too often. Our waitress was also helpful when making suggestions and attentive. The table side guacamole was definitely a highlight for my family; I don't even care for guacamole and I couldn't stop eating it. We loved the view of the riverwalk from our table. My son loved the stuffed avocado; I don't think he even came for air once he dug into it.

    Ivayana L.

    Great drinks, good food, & great service! This restaurant is located right along the Riverwalk so if you can get a table outside, do it! Also do not miss out on tableside guacamole, it was so good and worth it! Everyone enjoyed their food & we were a group from all across the US in town for a conference so that's saying something! I ordered the fajitas and i was stuffed for at least 24 hours! Their drinks were also delicious and the servers are seriously knowledgeable when it comes to the menu. They know exactly what to respond with if you don't know what to order!

    Avocado & Portabella Fries
    Victor H.

    Sunday evening walking on the Riverwalk, we were looking for tex-mex and this was close to our hotel. Fortunately people were clearing out when we arrived so we could get seated inside. The margaritas are pretty good; we did the blood orange and prickly pear on the rocks and both were tasty. As for food, my girlfriend ordered the brisket enchiladas while I ordered a trio of appetizers (avocado/portabello fries, brisket quesadillas, pork tamale pops). The food was alright, the enchiladas are smoothered in the adobo sauce with some cheese and are filling although they needed more seasoning. The quesadillas were probably my favorite of the appetizers. The avocado/portabello fries are crispy but again, need more seasoning. And the pork tamale pops are tasty but if it wasn't for the sauces, probably wouldn't have much flavor. For the prices you pay, you're paying tourist prices for a basic tex-mex experience. But they do good margaritas and we had a good server in Eric who was attentive and helpful. We'll probably come back again but just for drinks and maybe for the tableside guac which people raved about.

    Pollo Relleno, Grilled Ahi Salad and table-made guacamole

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul P.
    109
    956
    3615

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam B.
    9
    43
    16

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cody H.
    29
    15
    7

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 57

    Iron Cactus San Antonio Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Iron Cactus San Antonio

    Are there vegan options?

    I don't know about vegan, you'd have to ask. My SIL and niece are vegetarians and they had the veggie enchiladas. I'm sure there things to eat that are vegan but probably not too many options to be honest.

    Can I make reservations?

    They do not take reservations. It's all on a first come first serve basis. They do not answer the phone. I did send a message from their website and received an email reply with the above info about no reservations.

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    Yes!

    View All 4 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mexican 50,971 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Esquire Tavern

    The Esquire Tavern

    4.1
    (3.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Update to first review below, rating updated from a 3 to a 5 star (drinks & bartender would get 10+…read morestars if we could rate that high): Saturday night: Went back for after dinner drinks at the Downstairs (a "speakeasy" throwback, look up the history of the place to see why). Drinks were AMAZING! Bartender Rob made the best Negroni I've ever had. I asked him to use whatever gin he thought best--result was an artistic smooooooth full-bodied drink. Told him when I was done I'd lick the glass if it wasn't considered so uncouth for a 'mature' lady like myself to do so Hubby's Buffalo Trace bourbon old fashioned was also outstanding. Rob was the bartender last night who did such a great job, and his work was even better tonight. We highly recommend The EsquireTavern for excellent cocktails. We love the long wood bar and high copper ceiling upstairs, but love the intimate speakeasy atmosphere downstairs even more. We'll definitely be back every time we're in San Antonio! First review, Friday night: Drinks were great (Manhattan and Bourbon Old Fashioned). REAL drinks, no complaints at all about those. And the bartenders were very friendly and helpful. Those aspects of the Esquire get 5+ stars from us. But the appetizers were not good, close to inedible. It was about 8:30pm or so, so maybe they were getting ready to close out the kitchen but the chalupitas with chicken tasted like rubber, and no flavor at all. The seafood platter had something in it that was breading with shell inside, but no meat of any kind. We couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be. The shrimp was good and the fish was good but those other things... We'll always love the drinks, the long wooden bar, and the ambiance at the Esquire Tavern, but we'll eat somewhere else and come here for before or after dinner drinks. (See update above to this review for when we returned the next night for after dinner drinks.)

    Drinks good price but nothing special. Super sweet on the bexar hug and French 75…read more Food was overcooked and mediocre. Au just super salty. Service slow and lacking. Riverwalk restaurants pretty much suck, and for sucker tourists maybe. Haven't had a good experience yet.

    Photos
    Rum for the Hills
 
 dominican republic rum, piña amaro, gentian amaro,
 pamplemousse, pineapple, lime, demerara
 SERVED ON CRUSHED ICE
    Rum for the Hills dominican republic rum, piña amaro, gentian amaro, pamplemousse, pineapple, lime, demerara SERVED ON CRUSHED ICE
    Chili Salt Fries
    Chili Salt Fries
    Chicken Fried Steak

    See all

    Chicken Fried Steak
    Tokyo Cowboy

    Tokyo Cowboy

    4.3
    (719 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Went to Tokyo cowboy on a whim to celebrate my friends new job. And boy did it not disappoint…read more The menu seems interesting at first. Maybe even a little confusing, but I think it's all part of its charm. 100% take the recommendations from the server they know their way around that. It was a nice eclectic way of perusing through a menu that seemed like it was gonna be a disaster, but then ended up cohesively melting in your mouth, the entire journey. Such a good night, me and my friends are still raving about it!

    We came here for a late dinner and had:…read more Yuzurita: good citrus margarita Kota tea: it was okay, it was strong on the alcohol but weak on the tea Krab and crab roll :. A bit messy to eat but I would get this again. Udon noodle with pork belly: noodles were kind of irregular in lengths. I really liked the sauce with it but it felt like it was missing something. Light dish. Tc double cheese burger: very strong flavors, somewhat sweet. Dense/heavy dish . Our waiter was quick and friendly. The restaurant lighting was dimmed and gave a more intimate /bar environment. I think the ac was broken here because it was very warm and they had fans going on around the room. I think this place would be good for someone who is prefers an American fusion cuisine that leans heavily on the western style dishes. The fusion elements were cute but I still left unsatisfied but still full. We did not park. We walked here right from the river walk. Not a bad place to go if you arrive in town after 9 pm.

    Photos
    Individual bathroom
    Individual bathroom
    Mac & Cheese
    Mac & Cheese
    Senpai Sour

    See all

    Senpai Sour
    Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails

    Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails

    4.3
    (398 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Step into Ambler and Texas hits you like a proper cowboy: leather chairs, wood‑grained walls, and a…read moreriver view that whispers, you belong here. This isn't flashy it's honest, bold, and unapologetically Texan. The food lands like a punch: brisket smoked to perfection, chili‑glazed short ribs that demand attention, and Gulf red snapper with chorizo crust that makes your mouth sit up. Sides and sauces? No filler, just full‑flavored allies. The drinks are sharp, strong, and right. Mezcal Old Fashioneds, tequila‑bright margaritas, and cocktails that feel like they've seen the world but still know how to have fun. Service doesn't hover it knows the rhythm. The River Walk hums outside, music drifts in, and every bite and sip feels like it belongs to this place. Five stars. Bold, beautiful, and unmistakably Texas.

    I'm actually shocked at how bad of service this was. We approached the hostess stand and were…read moreimmediately told there was a 10 minute wait. They told us they'd add us to the list, but they never actually did. As we waited for 20 minutes, 4 other groups were immediately sat and were not informed of any wait. When we followed up, they never apologized and acted extremely annoyed. To their credit, it is in a shaded area next to the river, which makes eating outside fairly tolerable/enjoyable. And the food was pretty good. Overall, I would not recommend this place to others.

    Photos
    Cute decor
    Cute decor
    Apple Cobbler
    Apple Cobbler
    Deviled Eggs

    See all

    Deviled Eggs
    Cappy's Restaurant

    Cappy's Restaurant

    4.4
    (845 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    It's crazy to me I haven't reviewed Cappy's before. Admittedly it's been a couple years since I had…read moregone since I'm always looking for something new, but as I sat and ate today I was kicking myself. Cappy's is so delicious. I used to go very often. They're a little on the pricier side but so worth it. It's beautiful inside and outside. Staff very friendly and accommodating. I won't wait so long again to go back. My go to meal the is Howard. Scrambled eggs with crab topped with a lobster tail. So so good. Even the little bread/muffin basket they serve you before the meal is great. Lemonade is delicious. My son had pancakes and bacon and inhaled them. His mother always gets the pot roast. She wasn't disappointed. I will say although the gumbo is decent, it's not the best I've had. The roux is very dark which gives it a slight burned taste. But the flavors are there. All in all love Cappy's. I won't make the mistake of staying away so long again.

    The ambiance at Cappy's was great, and we were warmly welcomed when we arrived for our reservation…read more We had a drink at the bar while waiting for our friends, and the bartenders and staff there were friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, the experience changed once we were seated. Our waiter was incredibly short and came across as rude throughout the meal. When we asked for recommendations or some of his favorite menu items, his response was essentially, "I don't know what you like," rather than offering any guidance. The service somehow felt rushed even though the food itself came out slowly, and there were very few check-ins during the meal. When it came time for dessert, we asked to see a dessert menu and were simply told, "It's on the menu you have," which summed up the lack of hospitality we experienced at the table. I ordered the Mustang Chicken, and unfortunately it was very disappointing. The chicken was fatty, full of tendon, and tasted more like a frozen piece of chicken that had been dropped into a deep fryer than something I would expect from a restaurant at this price point. It's disappointing because the restaurant has a great atmosphere and our experience at the bar started off so well. Unfortunately, between the table service and the quality of the food, I would not recommend Cappy's based on this visit.

    Photos
    Cappy's Restaurant
    Warm chocolate sheet cake with vanilla ice cream
    Warm chocolate sheet cake with vanilla ice cream
    Parisian 75

    See all

    Parisian 75

    Iron Cactus San Antonio - mexican - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...