The Cactus Mexican Restaurant in Waterloo

Best Mexican in the city! Will be back again and probably again and again. They won t roll out the red carpet for you and treat you like royalty, so as long as you can get over that, you will likely have a good experience!

Exceptional food and value. Owners are an absolute delight.

I got enchiladas doble carne and they were amazing and the service is good too

This place must be closed...MUST BE CLOSED. THIS IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAD IN ANY COUNTRY. THE WORST. The owner is simply not interested in serving. A group of 6 went there. No smile no welcome. Asked us to sit. Ordered mojitos. No soda..very flat and not cold. Pointed it out and owner simply said this is all you get. We still insisted that is not tasting good when not cold can you please replace it or rather give us Jarritos instead? He said I will give you Jarritos but you will have to pay for Mojito. Seeing this rude behavior, I said I cant pay for this. Hardly taken couple of sips and not tasting good. Owner simply went back to kitchen and cancelled our order without even asking if wed want to still eat or not. PATHETIC experience! Such restaurants should not be allowed to operate. A disgrace to Mexicans who are usually jolly and welcoming.

This restaurant has the worst service ever!! I wish i could just give zero to this place. The food tasted good but because of the kind of rude behaviour towards us, our experience was not good at all. The owner was not interested at all in explaining the menu items. In fact we even noticed the portion of nachos given to us was in a smaller dish as compared to other tables. They didn t bother serve water or cutlery until we requested for it, while the other tables were being attended first. It felt RACIST at many instances during our time. My husband even complained about the service but the owner didn t even bother to acknowledge! Worst restaurant experience ever!!!!

Food was so good! We got complimentary chips, food came quickly, the main guy was super kind and had a smile on his face all night. No leftovers, food was TOO GOOD. Definitely recommend.

Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Love it!

This is one of my favourite restaurants in the area! I ve visited about 4 times and always had a great experience! The food is awesome, the staff are super friendly, and the overall atmosphere is welcoming! I recommend the tostadas!

10/10

The best place for real authentic Mexican food

We ve visited The Cactus every week for the last 5 years. This restaurant has the best Authentic Mexican food in the region with fresh and well seasoned ingredients and it has become our delicious indulgence with food that taste and feels like home. The facilities are a little bit small but ,in case the amazing food is not enough, the environment and service is so excellent , welcoming and warm that makes you feel like part of the family. Do yourself a favor and visit the Cactus!!

Very small burrito. Half the steak in it was unchewable. Overpriced for the portion and quality. Would not recommend.

The food and service was amazing.

Amazing food, amazing service. Will be coming again!

Great place! Had amazing churros here!

Very authentic, everything we ordered was very yummy. We would return a thousand times!!!

Friendly service, good food. Good to see this restaurant is bustling!

Fresh tortilla, beef, and veggie. Loved the taco. Loved the salsa with the nachos. Im planning on eating a buritto ! Food : 5/5 |

A well-stuck Boing opened for me. Excellent service!

They opened a boing for my girlfriend that was very hard, excellent service!!!!

Good food! It really is an authentic mexican restaurant

Delicious authentic Mexican food.

Delicious! Such a great hidden gem. We enjoyed every mouthful, and the margarita was tasty too!

All in all, one of my favorite places to eat.

Vegetarian options: Available Parking: Plaza Food : 5/5 |

Very good! Very authentic! Very fresh! A must try

I only order enchiladas Verdes chicken because they re awesome. Love the music videos on the TV. Dude came out from the kitchen to make sure everything was cool. Overheard they cater tacos by the hundreds, good to know.

Delicious food and amazing people!!

Food is really good here. Its a smaller type restaurant, a little dated but wow food is good. Vegetarian options: My daughter loved how many vegetarian options she could try.

Had a nice lunch here, staff was friendly and food was tasteful. If in the area will come back.

Very pleasant experience. Will return soon!

Food is always great here! The owner is awesome and friendly! Always service with a smile. Serving authentic dishes from Mexico, where you cant find anywhere in the city. Love that their fish tacos are not breaded!! Margaritas are always a great choice! Food

The tacos were excellent. I really like the Double Corn tortillas instead of wheat for the tacos. Doesnt taste like all the fast-food Mexican places, tastes authentic and homemade.

Their suadero is one of the best (if not the best) tacos in the region.

The best Mexican food in this city! and the margaritas are pretty darn good :-)

Loved the music! Loved the food! Looking forward to bringing my friends here!

This might be the best Mexican food Ive ever had

This is one the best places I ve been for Mexican food - very authentic and delicious. Staff is great, and the feel is also nice. Highly recommend.

Parking: Great spot! Easily the most authentic Mexican food in KWC! Food

The food was okay kinda bland, and there was a hair in my bf s plate. Also the server seemed standoffish and not very friendly. The only good thing was the complementary chips and salsa which was really good.

Good food

The food here is worth the wait! The food was delicious.

Went here w my family for my 40th birthday the staff are absolutely lovely people. Very friendly welcoming atmosphere and the food was INCREDIBLE. They sang me happy birthday and gave me a shot of tequila w dessert and let me wear their sombrero! 100% will go again and again!

I frequently visit this restaurant. The guacamole is the absolute best! Tacos always have well seasoned meat, the perfect toppings, and hit the spot every time. I highly recommend checking it out!

The food was absolutely delicious! I have been back here multiple times. I would highly recommend this place.

I visit this restaurant frequently as it s close to our office. It s always so delicious and fast and friendly service.

Ive had lots of experience with Mexican restaurants and this one was quite disappointing. We arrived for an early dinner so the place was mostly empty but we still waited 20 min to out drink orders in and another 15 min to get them. I asked for water but they forgot to bring it and the waiter seemed annoyed that I asked again. The food took 30 min to arrive. I ordered Enchiladas Verdes; the chicken was super dry and the sauce was lacking in flavor. Husband and kids got the Enchladas Rojas and were also disappointed by the chicken. The sauces were odd as well. Not flavorful and with an odd smoky flavor. Not once did the waiter ask how we were doing during our meal. Will not be returning.

Good attention that you feel the warmth of the Latin people

The best Mexican food I ve had in Canada since I arrived here.

Coming here feels a lot like a small restaurant in Mexico and it is amazing! I had the quesobirria and it was phenomenal!

This is without a doubt the best mexican Restaurant in KW and Guelph area. I have tried all of them, I am sure what I am saying. this is 10000% pure mexican food, like if you were in Mexico, owned by Mexicans. If I could, I would eat here everyday haha.The tacos al pastor!!! uff the best of the best.

Decent food and low key. Possible to eat for under 30$ for two. Gluten free options. Dietary restrictions: Gluten friendly tacos, tostadas, and chips.

This busy and very authentic little Mexican restaurant was a delight to celebrate or anniversary. The food was absolutely spectacular and delicious as were the hosts. The atmosphere was very happy and bright and loved listening to that music in the background. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for real Mexican food. Yum!

The atmosphere and the service at this place is amazing, and the food is delicious.

Excellent Mexican food. Personal service from the people working there.

Theyre bad at service because they are great at cleaning colons.

First time here. We tried the tacos, nachos, and churros. Loved the flavors, highly recommend!

Small space but so worth it. Food was great had carne asada and it was so good, had salad, rice, mashed potatoes and beans. Lots of good options on the menu and they do take out also. Prices are reasonable as well for the amount of food.

Delicious and fresh food, good prices, and friendly people.

Great place for authentic Mexican restaurant experience.

Always busy. If you are craving Mexican, you need to come here. Food is delicious. Service is so so, as they dont have more then one server. Prices fare and lots of parking. Really nice family restaurant.

Best pepper sauces Ive ever tasted. Please dont ever change the recipe for them.

Huge choice of menu items, and specials on the board. Enchiladas Rohas were great, and so was the Chimi (not in photo). Items served very quickly at our Thursday lunch.

Amazing service, great food and great atmosphere. Good value as well. Will 100% be coming back!

Reasonably good food. Good price point.

The food was delicious! The service was friendly.

Probably the best Mexican food you can get in KW. The staff are always very friendly and the food is very high quality and delicious.

Great food. Friendly people. Authentic Mexican food and atmosphere.

So happy I visited this restaurant! Staff were amazingly friendly and the food was to die for

People have told me The Cactus is the real deal and they werent wrong. Had the enchiladas verdes and it was delicious. Asked for it spicy and they delivered. 10/10.

If youre looking for delicious, authentic Mexican food in a lively and inviting atmosphere, The Cactus Mexican Restaurant is the place to be! I had the pleasure of dining here recently and was blown away by the incredible flavors and friendly service. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, from classic favorites like tacos and burritos to more unique options like enchiladas, gringa and chimichangas. Every dish we tried was bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors and expertly prepared. The atmosphere of the restaurant is also top-notch - with colorful decor, lively music, and a super friendly staff, its impossible not to feel welcomed and energized. Whether youre looking for a casual meal with friends or a festive night out, The Cactus Mexican Restaurant is the perfect spot. Overall, I highly recommend The Cactus Mexican Restaurant to anyone looking for an authentic and unforgettable Mexican dining experience. The food, service, atmosphere and staff are all exceptional, and I cant wait to come back for more!

Would give 10/10 if it was possible! We had the enchiladas rojas and tried three different tacos as well. Everything was delicious and piping hot! Can t wait to try everything else on the menu.

Best nacho soup ever....

The best Mexican food in town!! The only downside is that I have to drive an hour to this restaurant.

The best Mexican food weve had since Texas.

Very good and fresh Mexican food. A little pricey but very much worth the price. It fills up fast so be there early or try calling in.

Amazing food and service. This is truly a gem in the waterloo area. 10/10 would recommend!

Loved this restaurant. Service was fantastic and loved the food. The men playing mariachis were the best part of the evening

Excellent, REAL Mexican food. Its a trip to Mexico on a plate. The food is well served.

This place is a hidden gem! The vibe is authentic, margaritas are big, Modelos are cold and the food is delicious! Highly recommend if you want to save on the flight to Mexico for dinner! Yum!

Very good

i really recommend the nachos and churros here, SO YUM and portion size for nachos is huge. i think the tacos were just okay and not the best i ve had and service was pretty good.

Best food ever love The Cactus

Great dinner tonight! We were a large party of around 20 and the service was excellent. The margarita was delicious and I enjoyed the chicken enchiladas Rojas medium spice level. I found them to have a nice amount of heat but I might try Spicy next time!

Good food. We were in a large group and had a great time.

Went here with The Tri City Food Ninjas. The food was very authentic and very good! The staff was impressive in their handling of such a large group

The Ninjas checked out The Cactus tonight! The staff was so pleasant. They were attentive, fast and had a very warm demeanour. I can tell they really appreciate every customer that walks through the door. The food was amazing. I loved learning that most of their menu is gluten free. I got the Carne Asada . Everything on my plate was seasoned and cooked perfectly. It was fresh, flavourful and the best corn tortillas I have had in a while. Over all. Would 10/10 recommend. These folks put their heart into this and deserve all the success in the world :) Dietary restrictions: Most of the menu is gluten free

We ordered food from here with great expectations based on reviews with great expectations. We were extremely disappointed as it was tasteless and bland.

Went with the Tri City Food Ninjas for dinner and was impressed! I ve never had Mexican food in Ontario that is as good as the Mexican food in the States, but the Cactus was without a doubt the best Mexican I ve had in years! I ordered the chicken enchiladas with extra rice and had a margarita. The staff was very friendly and service was great! The margarita was just perfect and very refreshing while the enchiladas were full of flavor! I ve typically found Mexican rice to be bland but the Cactus rice was well seasoned and delicious! I would definitely recommend and fully intend on returning.

Quaint restaurant with terrific food and service. We had a large group which was very well handled. I had the Chimichanga and a Margarita. Delicious!

Authentic Mexican restaurant. Service is slow because almost everything is made by hand and fresh per coming orders. Worth the wait

They take a lot of time to serve and the food is not funny nor does it look Mexican, the owner will make you crazy if you are Latin he prefers to serve foreigners better than those of his nationality

Very bad service, they take a long time to serve in a very bad way and the food and drinks without flavor I would not return

We had a nice time there (4 of us) and the food was quite good. I felt the portions were a bit small for the price but the tacos I had were tasty. We all enjoyed our visit and would go back again.

It was our first time, but we didnt feel like it. Their quesadilla with cactus stuffing is awesome. I personally love spicy food, and their condiment sauce did blow my mind, and if we ever visit that area again, that would be our must go again place.

Kind staff, great food, reasonable prices.

Terrible attention, I will not return to that place

Tacos where amazing!

Delicious food! I got the tacos dorados and my boyfriend got the big burrito. The burrito was overflowing with meats and toppings and flavour! It was hard to pick from the menu as everything looked so good- will have to be back to try some more!

Great, authentic food - enjoy it!

I have visited it twice and tried the pozole and the quezabirrias. I think they are excellent, I will return very soon that is for sure.

I made a pick up order which I prepaid for only to show up at the restaurant at 12:30 pm the restaurant is closed the sign says it should be open at 1130 am, want my money back you crooks! I will get it back my money back or I am going to cost your business far more than what my order cost,

Ive only ever ordered the double meat enchiladas, which are a little pricey, but still taste quite good! Update: went again and tried the quesabirrias and pozole, so good!!

Update your working hours when you close randomly for a week

Drove here from the center to find out they are closed for a week. Why won t you update your working hours

Best and most authentic Mexican food in the region. They are short staffed (like most restaurants these days) but they were helpful and friendly with nothing left to desire. We will get our Mexican food from here every time from now on.

Authentic and absolutely amazing!!! Delicious wonderful service!

Heard so much about this place on FIWTR group so decided to give it a go. Ordered 4 take out items and not one was fresh and went to the bin. Extremely disappointed in the taste and quality of food served. Could not finish even one dish and had to through them out. Do not recommend !!

Came from Cambridge to try this restaurant and upon arrival we noticed only one other table with customers but still waited for 10 min for our drink order then we wanted to order guacamole and were told that they were out. Seriously if you are going to operate a Mexican restaurant you might want to send someone to the store to get supplies. We just left as we didn t feel good about continuing there. Waitress seemed to be bothered about waiting on us. We won t be back.

Went here for my wifes 40th birthday dinner. It was really good. Authentic Mexican food. Id reccomend this place to family and friends... Parking: Lots of parking available

Always great food and service. Best tacos in town. I took my niece out for her birthday lunch.

Very very clean friendly staff ,seems like a popular spot , authentic mexican food and very tasty!

Everything Ive had here has been delicious. Great authentic Mexican. Highly recommend the chile rellenos when theyre on special

Great authentic Mexican food. Burrito was the bomb!

Hidden gem with delicious and fresh Mexican eats. Unassuming and casual vibe, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and almost always packed! Highly recommend.

This restaurant was a huge let down. Has been on my radar for over 6 months and was super excited to grab some food. My wifes quesadillas were bland as all get out. Sad looking dish with very few diced tomato and a tiny amount of runny liquidy sour cream. The meat looked like tuna and had no seasoning. My tacos were sub par and had very little flavour as well.

Best authentic Mexican food in KW

Not spicy, not super authentic, store-bought tortilla and whatnot :(

Great music, great food, and nice staff. I enjoy both their locations, and always have a hard time choosing what to eat because it is all so tasty! Wheelchair accessibility: No stairs. Cant remember if they had a door button though.

We stopped in as my son will be moving into the neighborhood. To be honest the service was good but we had to get up to order dessert. My son is a football player and likely they hadnt seen anyone want to eat so much. Also you have to get up and pay but we didnt know that. The food tasted awesome the dip was a bit spicy would have wanted the water on the table first but these are small things. Friendly and liked the decor. We will definitely be back. Some people beside me had a margarita and if I didnt have to drive a long way home I would have liked to try that. Parking: In a plaza lots of free parking available

The food is amazing, well worth stopping in if youre looking for authentic Mexican food

Tasty and authentic food. A bit pricy and the portion is a bit small.

Tasty burritos for a good price

The food here is amazing, wow. You get great big portions and delicious authentic food. I recommend 100%.

Loved this place!!! Myself, children and grandchildren went for lunch today and it was unbelievable! Great authentic tasting food! Reasonable prices. Great authentic atmosphere! Excellent portions! Highly recommend

Food was good. No prices on the menu needless to say, I was surprised after eating

Amazing!!!

Delicious food. Worth every penny.

We visited The Cactus Mexican Resturant for lunch. We were greeted by a very friendly waiter. The atmosphere (clientele, music, dining room) reminded me of Mexico. I ordered shrimp tacos. They were absolutely delicious. It was so wonderful hearing Spanish spoken and feeling like being in Mexico. I would happily recommend to friends and family.

authentic Mexican, we loved it and will definitely be back1

Brought me back to Mexico! Very authentic and delicious! The food was too good to take pictures of! Highly recommend the Birria!

Love the food. Great quick service.

Has a small family restaurant feel. The food and drink were OK, the meat in the taco were a little dry and seemed over cooked to me. The price felt a little high for the level of experience. I would not go back anytime soon. Worth a try for anyone looking for a nice Mexican restaurant in KW.

I m from Mexico and this is one of the only places in Canada that I have found to be as delicious and authentic as Mexico! The owners and staff are so friendly and the food is amazing of course. I have brought my family and friends here numerous times and they have all loved it! They are very good at catering the food to your liking too (if you like spicy or not, if you eat meat or are vegetarian). Couldn t recommend this place more!! Best Mexican restaurant in Ontario Vegetarian options: Meat-free options available! Dietary restrictions: Veggie people can find plenty of food options here! Kid-friendliness: Very calm yet fun family atmosphere. Wheelchair accessibility: It is wheelchair accessible!

Extremely RUDE...!! We get there at 7.30 and closing time stated 8 PM. Before we enter the restaurant a guy told us we will be closing at 8. And he was literally not willing to serve us or any new customers. He came to take order and even didnt explain the dishes in the menu clearly. We pulled off from that place without having food.

We found this gem when all of our go to taco places were already closed. We were a party of 3 and all got one of their specials tacos Queso Birria which comes with 3 pieces per order for $18.99. Unlike the other restaurants I go to, this one is less greasy and the consomme is not too salty! Not in the picture but they also have Tamarind Jarritos ($3.99) which can be hard to find in other Mexican restaurants. It is a family run business and the server was nice and fast. We didnt have to wait long for our food except for the churros ($3.99/ea 12inch), which is understandable because it was freshly cooked. Two things to improve: the specials are not on the menu but it s posted on a board without prices. Although the price wasn t surprising, it would be good to know how much I m paying. 2nd, there will small flies in the washroom. Although it didnt smell bad and the flies weren t bothersome, it could lead to more problems. The restaurant is worth trying! We will definitely go back again.

Absolutely delicious and authentic Mexican food. The portions were generous and the presentation was lovely. I would highly recommend ordering the pozole, but all the foods we tried were excellent. The service was friendly and prompt. The restaurant was clean and spacious. When walking in you are greeted by the staff in a very friendly manner. We will definitely go back. Vegetarian options: A number of the dishes available come with your choice of meat or vegetables.

Probably the worst Mexican food I have ever had.

We sat down and had to wait 15 minutes for our server to come over to the table, while they were all siting there having a family reunion. Took over 25 minutes to get us drinks and almost 40 minutes to take our order.

Oh man!!! It was amazing!!! If you want real Mexican food without a plane ticket tag, here is the place. It was delicious!!! I had the mole, and my husband had the Rojas sauce. What a treat!!! The Margherita was also very authentic. I just have to say... authentic also means stronger than the Canadian version of it. Be aware. But sooooo delicious!!! We will be back... and soon!!!

Really good tacos and their homemade sauce is great!

Good authentic Mexican food run by Mexican people

Arguably the best Authentic Mexican restaurant in Kitchener-Waterloo. I regularly visit this restaurant from work and on personal visits and never get tired. Fajitas and Enchiladas are a must-try. Friendly owner and family-run. You ll feel the Mexican hospitality and warmth.

We love this family owned business. The father and son service combo is the best.

Ask for the specials. The shrimp tacos I had might have been the best tacos Ive had since Cozumel street food. This place is real Mexican food.

2023-11-03: returned with a different group. 22 of us this time, on a Friday night. The restaurant was PACKED, there were three staff and food came out very quickly. I enjoyed my guac; the chimichanga was okay. Still a good choice for quick, simple meals. __ Solid little kitchen. We went as a group and swamped them - only one server for 20 of us. Food was tasty, server was nice and polite and hustled. Ill go back

Authentic and delicious

Food was really good. I wish I had visited earlier while looking for Mexican food instead of wasting my time in burrito chains which are quite tasteless. Loved the place and service. They were so friendly and nice. Portions were pretty filling too.

Real authentic Mexican food. I had the monster burrito, and it was absolutely amazing. Service was great.

Some of the best Mexican food I ve ever tried outside of Mexico. The server was very friendly and knowledgable, the homemade salsa was full of flavour and had a great kick, and the enchiladas rojas were delicious! I will absolutely be back again.

Arrived with a group of 8 right at lunch, they were busy but still found space for us. Food came promptly and all at once, all great portions and quality.

Very good food and margaritas are exceptional. Excellent friendly service as well.

Great place! 5/5 Gotta try the homemade hot sauce. Phenomenal!

Im enjoyed the food with my family, excellent service

The service is friendly and the atmosphere is good, it was very busy on a Saturday evening but it didn t take long to get our food, kudos for that. The food is generously served, tacos al pastor come with 2 tortillas and you can still make 2 tacos out of it and the alambre is enough for 6 tacos too so good value for the price, they have vegetarian options and off menu stuff like birria quesadillas last night that were pretty delicious.

Not mexican myself, but food is very authentic. Better than mexican places in Toronto. Always great to support local family run resturants, especially when the owners were this nice. Come here and get some delicious tacos, nachos, and churros.

The Cactus in Waterloo, ON, is a charming family-owned Mexican restaurant that truly stands out. The welcoming atmosphere and diverse menu cater to all tastes. Their margaritas are a highlight, impeccably crafted and enhancing the overall authenticity of the experience. Dont miss the churros served hot and irresistibly sweet, they provide a perfect conclusion to a delightful meal. The Cactus excels in delivering a genuine and flavorful Mexican dining experience in the heart of Waterloo.

The only word i can use to describe the food, atmosphere, and service, is beautiful. The flavors of every dish we tried, were so balanced, working together perfectly. Everything from the complimentary chips and dip, to the appetizers, to entres, and churros. All of the food and the flavors were just simply beautiful. Service was welcoming and friendly throughout dinner. Even with multiple (2 families of 8 and 2 families of 5) large parties that they were catering to, they still took the time to make sure that my girlfriend and i were taken care of. Kid-friendliness: Fuper family oriented, family owned, big family parties welcomed

Amazing food, amazing people !

Authentic Mexican food, generous portions. We lucked out and went when the special was $5 tacos and $1 churros. We will definitely return to this restaurant. Food

I have a very mixed review on this place. It started off as one of my go-to spots to get bussin tacos. Easily a 4 or 5 star. The service was also decent when I would go pickup. I recently had a birthday to celebrate and choose this as the dinner venue. I called to book, and the worker who answered had music blaring in the background and constantly asked What?. Anyways, he confirmed it was booked and to let him know if anything changes. OK. I then tried to follow-up to confirm the number of people a few days before the event, no answer. Called them again, nothing. Called 7 times the day of, no answer. I arrived at the restaurant early to see what was going on. Turns out that they went on Christmas Break, and failed to inform me that they actually couldnt host my party since they were closed. I now had 13 people who I had to get into a taco restaurant within 30min. Guanaquita (El Salvadorian) came to the rescue. And they also have bussin tacos. Wont be coming here any more because of this. Its really unfortunate too cause I raved about this spot, but the way I was treated was undeserved.

I visited the place with my friends. A nice place for gathering and enjoying Mexican food. The food (chicken fajitas) was delicious but I felt its a little bit expensive.

It seems like they are closed for holidays. I wish they were considerate of their customers to update their hours here on the map as well. I wasted my time and gas to go there and find out they were closed by seeing a paper sign on the door.