2.5 stars is closer. The waitstaff is delightful and really smoothed out the not so tasty food. The spicy margarita was pretty good. I like sitting outside. Our fundito was good but we didn't realize they serve it with soggy corn tortillas. That was a bummer. I wish we'd gotten the trio with fried tortillas. My quesadilla itself was one of the least flavorful things I've ever had but the cilantro cream was tasty. Azul has better food if that is your goal. PC is good for drinking outside and eating crunchy chips and salsa. read more

Love the chips they use for the trio appetizer! Our server was very helpful and made lots of recommendations, which made it easy to try a few new things on the menu. The atmosphere was great and everything came out fresh and flavorful. Definitely a spot I'd come back to! read more

Pink Cactus - GH Appetizer Trio - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Terrible. Overpriced, food was bland and portions inconsistent. Drinks were overwhelmed by ice and served in tiny glasses ($15 for a thimble of margarita). Our waiter was new, 2 weeks in, and very nice but he clearly was embarrassed by the prices and the food and drink. After my 3 sips of the $16 Cadillac Margarita I asked if I could have a glass of wine but was informed they only have wine in cans - one red, one white and one rose. It's been a while since I left a review on Yelp but felt the need to warn others. Avoid the Pink Cactus. They could tell we were not impressed by the photos we were taking of the tiny drinks and portions so they brought out churros on the house (nice gesture) but that's not going to save them from a 1-star review. read more

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I didn't get a great picture here, but that's because my experience was not exactly satisfactory at the Pink Cactus. I brought a couple of my friends here who were visiting from out of town on a Friday night. I'm not sure if they were just understaffed or what was going on, but it took almost an hour for us to get our food! We ordered some margaritas which were great, then we put in our food orders. After about 30 minutes I finished my drink and ordered another one. Then another 15-20 minutes went by and we still did not have food. Our server seemed to be frustrated with the kitchen and a little bit with us (even though we didn't complain at all) but she brought my two friends a margarita each on the house, which was nice! We finally got our food after about an hour and it was decent, but not worth an hour wait. When we got our bills I was a little disappointed to see I was still charged for my second margarita when our server had brought my friends one for free because our food took so long. Anyways, this was a long story but basically it was a mediocre experience. read more

Pink Cactus - Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

New favorite Mexican spot...the food is outrageously good and the portions are massive. Great people watching sitting outside and cool chill indoor vibes. Good service as well. read more

Pink Cactus - Nachos - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Not sure that I would come back here- the service was poor. Our waiter was pretty dismissive and not accommodating to my family and I's requests. I asked for a VERY simple removal on their taco salad (no avocado) and he was like yeah no can't do that. Similarly my dad asked for them to not put the garnished cilantro ontop of his taco and he was like no can't. I understand changing the items on the menu is annoying for the chefs- however these requests were VERY simple and easy to not put on as they are just added when plating the items. The food itself was good- if you order tacos you definitely need to order 3-4 to feel full as they are very small. They have VERY limited seating, you can only eat outside if you are a small party (tables of 2). They have a great drink selection so if you are into various Margarita flavors you should try them out. read more

Pink Cactus - Assorted tacos - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Pleasant little place. & when I say little, I mean little! The parking lot only has a few spots so you'll probably have to park somewhere on the street. The food was pretty good however the cauliflower taco is very spicy & the menu does not say anything about that at all! My partner was disappointed in that. The margs were pretty good & a little weak but still tasty! I would definitely come back here again for sure! Plus it's a woman owned business so gotta support! read more

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Cute little Mexical restaurant in downtown Charleston with seating indoors and out. I have dined here on several occasions since they've opened and have enjoyed every visit. The food is all made to order by the owner, Brooke, and her staff. They have specialty meals available on specific days of the week such as their Tuesday Birria plates and Sunday Brunch. And don't sleep on the brunch...Oh Mmm Gee...Delicious!!! Their drinks are on point and I highly recommend the signature margarita. Just go ahead and order a pitcher, trust me! I don't know what else I can say other than great food, great drinks, a welcoming staff and a laid back environment to eat, mingle, and have fun! read more

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we came here for dinner on a thursday night with a reservation and were immediately seated. the hostess and servers were very attentive and kind. the drinks and appetizers came out very quickly. the spicy margs were incredible and the perfect level of spice. we got the appetizer trio and the queso was especially good! I had the shrimp quesadilla as my entree and it was so good. definitely recommend but if you have a large group make sure you have a reservation as it filled up fast! read more

Pink Cactus - shrimp GH Quesadilla - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This is a really cool spot for happy hour. The food was authentic Mexican with the best chips I've ever had. The drinks were beautiful & delicious! This is definitely a cozy place you want to go to catch up with friends for some tacos & tequila. Parking is a little tricky but definitely worth the hassle. read more

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The BEST chips and queso in Charleston!!!!! And only $5 during happy hour. Margaritas are all really good as well - strong and not overly sweet with fun flavors. Entrees are a little pricey but I enjoyed my quesadilla a lot. We had excellent service! read more

Pink Cactus - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

This was the worst service ever. We didn't get a menu until 45 minutes in and was encouraged to order before we had a menu and knew the prices. We got chips and queso before water and got our margaritas before water was brought over. I might add the water was lukewarm. Then they said they were out of flower tortillas and could not make a burrito but somehow still saw burritos coming out of the kitchen. Never asked how the food was and then asked to split the check yet still got a one check. Good took forever and was very small portions and did not taste well. read more

Attended the Pink Party for the Pink Moon. So much fun & festive! Restaurant is known for the outdoor seating. Great food! Very friendly wait staff. read more

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Kind of a small restaurant. Food was delicious and nicely portioned. Service was good.

We recently traveled to Charleston, SC and stayed in a rental right across the street from the Pink Cactus. It was so close, we went inside to try it out. We were so glad we did. Inside it was quaint and cute. There were many people dining in groups having what looked to be good conversations. The time we went was Tequila and Taco hour. My wife got the pink cactus, I got the mango margarita and everyone in the family order tacos. Everything was delicious, our wait staff was fun to talk to, professional and helpful, the service was quick. We had a great time! read more

Pink Cactus - Mango margarita - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Amazing, no notes, 10/10! Food was so good and my margarita was absolutely perfect. Go here! read more

Pink Cactus - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

10/10!! The chips were probably the best homemade chips I've ever had. Everything was delicious, and although they took a little long because they only had one man in the kitchen, it was worth the wait. The place is a little small, but great service, great ambiance and even better food!! read more

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Pink Cactus is a laid back place with $20 pink margarita pitchers and amazing carnitas.

Pink Cactus is a great stop for happy hour with their $6 drink deals and $4 tacos. We made a reservation to ensure indoor seating and beat the summer Charleston heat. Not as pretty as the outdoor vibes but grateful for the AC. Service was okay, they could definitely utilize one more staff given how busy they were. Plates just lingered on the table too long. With regards to food, everything was really yummy and quite spicy. Definitely a punch to each item we ordered including the queso. My husbands favorite was the birria taco while I was very pleasantly surprised by the cauliflower. We also definitely recommend doing the trio of dips as all were great. Also do not skip out on their margs. The mango was our favorite. All in all a good casual dining stop in Charleston. read more

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Do not go here! Their food is so mid and for every minor change they up charge. We ordered chickens and steak tacos and they were so bland. Waste of money, we got an app, two tacos each, and two drinks for $80. Better places in Charleston. Save your money read more

In my humble opinion the parking in the rear is terrifying to come in and spend top dollar for mexican food. I would have expected a place like this to do a taco Tuesday special, not just like "our meat of the day is...." and to have a couple extra tables for when large parties come in and you make funky shaped tables so that there are bonus tables and no chairs so walk in's have to feel uncomfortable (on a random Tuesday evening in the off season mind you) and awkward asking if we can just shuffle in and sit at the bar. The food was decent and the portions were large enough to share with more than just the 2 of us girls which was nice since it's quite expensive for Mexican food. I'd come back if someone was having a celebration and it was their pick, but other than that I didn't really get it.. read more

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I Pink Cactus...one of the best places to have margaritas for happy hour on a pretty day out. Great pitcher specials, excellent happy hour food options. Have always had excellent service while there...I think Pink Cactus is consistent, which is a huge compliment in the restaurant world! read more

This place is really falling off. The cups were filthy and I had to ask for a replacement cup, which was also dirty. I included an image of what we wiped off the mouth of the lid. The waiter was nice but didnt fix anything or seem sorry. So so so disgusting and disappointing read more

Pink Cactus - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Pink Cactus is my go to restaurant / bar for Friday afternoon happy hour. I love the margaritas which you can get in many different flavors such as mango and pineapple. The food is great too with happy hour deals on tacos, queso fundido, and more. The nachos are the best nachos on the peninsula in my opinion! Pink Cactus is definitely worth checking out if you're craving some authentic Mexican food! read more

Pink Cactus - Pineapple margarita - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We recently traveled to Charleston, SC for a girls trip and our friend was raving about getting here (this was her second time)! She had the taco plate which they said was 2 proteins, but honestly felt like 4 portion sizes of really amazing flavored shrimp and chicken. I got the ceviche, which I've never had with shrimp, but the flavors were amazing- spicy, tangy, really nailed it! Patio is super cute and the inside is spacious as well. I think everything in Charleston is a little more expensive than I was used to so I wouldn't say that was anything to point out here specifically! Service was kind, fast, and wonderful. 10/10 would go back, and FYI there is a 4-6PM happy hour deal as well~ read more

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Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and fast yet delicious food! We got pitches of pink margs which were delish!!! And I got a chicken quesadilla which was perfection read more

Pink Cactus - Tripple dip and pink marg - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Very overpriced, couldn't justify $7 per small taco, and food was average. Nothing special, just pricey for Mexican. Also were out of the birria tacos when I went in around 7, disappointing. Better Mexican places nearby. read more

If you're going here, here's what you can expect in each different aspect. Ambience: Music was way too loud inside, if you like partying than maybe you'll be okay but I think the average person would get a headache. Sitting outside wasn't much better, as small fleas swarmed us and bit us repeatedly as we sat. Maybe if you go some other time of year it'll be better but that's how it was mid March. Service: service was slow. It was really busy and it seemed just one guy was doing all the work. He'd bus the tables, take orders, bring food, etc. With 10 something tables of people it meant getting anything done took awhile, I don't blame the guy serving he was trying his best, was just a bit slow. Food: Got queso dip for the table, the queso was solid 4/5. The cheese was hot and nice and gooey. The chips are thick but nice and crispy. I ordered two steak tacos and one birria taco. If you've ever had actual Mexican tacos in Monterey, or atleast in south Texas, I'd say that this place was closer to being authentic tasting than it is to being one of those American taco restaurants. If 10 was authenic and 1 was American, I'd rate them a 7. The steak tacos were good but the green salsa inside was a weirdly sweet. The birria was really solid imo. read more

The menu is very accommodating for those who are gluten free. The service was good and not only helpful but also conversational. The only thing I would note is the music is very loud so it is difficult to hear those across the table. read more

I was a little skeptical about trying Pink Cactus after seeing the reviews, but I really wanted to try their happy hour and lovely margaritas so I gave it a shot! My friend and I arrived there right at 4 and found some seating outside. We weren't sure whether to go inside to ask for service but within about 10 minutes of talking someone came out and gave us menus. We ordered a round of the Pink Cactus, or prickly pear margaritas, and the queso. The queso was yummy but I do wish the chips had a little more flavor to them. The Pink Cactus was pretty but it tasted like a regular margarita. I've had a prickly pear margarita in Utah made from the cactus there, so maybe my standards are higher? I ordered a pineapple margarita as well and I liked that one so much more! It was really refreshing and sweet! For tacos I ordered the carnitas and the chorizo. The carnitas was super juicy and full of flavor. The chorizo was good, but a little too spicy for me. In the future I'll order the carnitas and/or ask the spice level of the meat. Parking was really easy at that time too. There's spaces in front and in the back of the building. Overall we had a great experience and you can't beat those happy hour deals! read more

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We showed up for happy hour 4-6. It was a great time and food was even better. I would recommend this place for a future bachelorette spot before going out on the town. read more

Pink Cactus - Coconut Jalapeño Marg and the Trio Dip Appetizer - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Wowwwww. Very satisfied with my experience. I had the cauliflower quesadilla with rice and beans. I loved that they had several vegetarian options available. Harder to make it vegan but overall so great. Inside was small but capable to seat our party of 10. A ton of seating outdoors. Somewhat difficult to find parking. I will go back and try their enchiladas and adult bevvies:) read more

Pink Cactus - Cauliflower quesadilla - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Food, service and drinks were a great first impression! The guacamole app was good and really appreciated the fresh chips! Had the recommended carnitas chile rellenos and it was very good and the sauce was on point with a little spice but had me wanting more. For drinks, started with the Paloma and although I was skeptical from the appearance it was great! We all had some Mescal which was amazing Peloton de la Muerte and then some tequila -La Gritona- both amazing!! We are only in town for the week but will definitely be back for more and highly recommend! read more

I loved their parking lot patio situation. It was really nice to sit outside under the pink lights. We got nachos and a few dishes. We all loved the nachos, the margaritas were OK, the dishes were good but the rice and beans weren't as good as my daughter hoped. The waitstaff was great, super nice people. read more

Pink Cactus - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We are a big pink cactus Stan for happy hour Monday through Saturday. Some great deals on margaritas and food items. A classic for us is the pinapple margarita or the spicy margarita (it is very spicy though- mostly the rim) but I'm also not a spicy margarita person. Happy hour is from 4-6 and we always forget until the very last minute but we get there and they are always so busy but so sweet and patient. So be prepared for a little wait even if you are seated. The patio is small and right on the road but it so nice with the sun, they do have a few umbrellas and some seating under the roof kinda. They have a cool inside aswell. Parking is rough, but if you aren't staying long then parking on the side streets can be easy to find. There are a lot of one ways around there so heads up. We love the chips and queso, they have a great consistency and their chips, and their queso is very creamy, but not too thick. The chips always taste so fresh and we love how crunchy they are. It's like kind of like two layered tortilla chips, they taste really fresh. However, they do have a little bit of oil on them still, that's how you know they're fresh. We enjoyed the green salsa, the red one isn't our favorite but it didn't stop us from eating it. Definitely check them out during happy hour or really anytime! read more

Pink Cactus - Chips and queso, margaritas - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Good and unique Mexican food. Relaxed and casual. 9/10. Pink Cactus is a casual and modern Oaxacan/Mexican style restaurant. Their food is freshly made, even down to the chips. It's a relatively small restaurant. The indoor area has seating for 20-25 people and a bar that seats 6-7 people. Reservations are recommended for indoor dining, but bar and outdoor seating is available without reservations. We didn't make reservations, so we chose to sit at the bar. Service was good. We were taken care of by a server and the bartenders. For drinks, we ordered the Pink Cactus margarita which was good. For appetizers, we ordered the Appetizer/Chips Trio, which had two salsas, queso and guacamole along with freshly made homemade chips. This was really good. For dinner we ordered chicken quesadillas which had good flavor and spice. It was served with rice that had a good spicy flavor and beans which also had a really good flavor. We also ordered Mexican tacos - taco de asada (steak and salsa verde) and taco de pollo (chicken tinga) - both were very good, but I think the pollo was a little better. We had a good time and enjoyed the food. The Oaxacan style is different than most Tex-Mex restaurants (and better IMO). I recommend Pink Cactus and give it an 9/10. read more

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I visited Pink Cactus during restaurant week. They have a great value 3 course menu for $25 dollars. We made a reservation for the patio but when we got there it was pretty open and we were able to choose any table we wanted. We seated by the space heaters because it was a coldish night. For my first couse I ordered the Queso fundido which comes with four corn tortillas so that you can make your own tacos. The cheese was topped with pepitas and poblano pepper and was cooked to order and came out hot and perfectly melted. It was a really enjoyable dish. We also tried the guacamole which is served with homemade tostadas which were clearly just fried and came out warm and delicious. On that note..Not sure if the tortillas were made in the restaurant or bought, but they were some of the higher quality tortillas I've found in restaurants in the area. For my main dish I had the Tacos Dorados which are deep fried tacos filled with chicken and served over a bed of guacamole.. They were phenomenal and I could not stop eating them. For dessert you get a pick of a paleta (ice cream bar) or a cocktail , I went with the cocktail and it was a really good choice. It was some sort of coconut margarita with volcanic sea salt Definitely great value for the price and I will come back for more! read more

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Pink Cactus is a great place for a selection of margaritas and Mexican food. I'm not a fan of margaritas and the bartender is always happy to make me a custom drink. This is a plus in my opinion. I have always walked in and have been seated right away. Great environment for lunch and dinner! read more

Tortilla was one of the best I have ever had- which made the taco 5-stars! Happy they included limes on the side for flavor and thought the taco was a great texture and perfect level of moisture in the meat! Service was very accomodating, even when my party asked to switch tables due to being directly in the sun. (An inconvenience which the serve gladly obliged) Margarita had bold flavor- very fresh and smooth. Definitely great value- I will come back next time I visit Charleston because Pink Cactus impressed me. The taco was so good that I need to come back to check out what else they have on the menu in addition to ordering tacos (if it ain't broke, don't forget it) read more

Pink Cactus - Spicy Margarita - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Whether it's Taco Tuesday, Fiesta Friday, or just a day that ends in "day," Pink Cactus is one of my favorite go-to Charleston hotspots for tacos, margs and other treats like their Avocado Lime Paletas! The breakfast tacos and Agua Fresca were my favorites, and the Chilaquiles didn't disappoint. They also have a great happy hour. read more

Pink Cactus - Tacos Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina