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Cactus Restaurant

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121 Park Ln, Kirkland, WA 98033-6114
Kirkland, WA 98033

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(425) 893-9799
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Cactus Restaurant - Kirkland, WA
Cactus Restaurant - Kirkland, WA
Cactus Restaurant - Kirkland, WA
Cactus Restaurant - Kirkland, WA
Reviews
( 17 )
( 17 )
( 6 )
( 6 )
( 1 )

Best

I love their Happy Hour menu choices and the atmosphere. As long as I've been going there it's busy all the time. There food quality and...

Worst

I was really hoping to have a good review to post for this new to the Eastside spot. We had dinner there recently and the service and the food were bad to mediocre. Our server got...

Gets better each time I go 2/26/2007

John Provided by Partner
This and Jalisco next door represent the high and medium end of Mexcian dining in Kirkland. Choose Jalisco for some down-home, standard fare, and ... more
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Good service, decent food 10/30/2006

Had lunch at the Kirkland Cactus today. The squash enchiladas were wonderful, but the fajitas were very average. The meat didn't seem to have been seasoned at all. Good chips, decent guacamole. Our service was very attentive, but overall I'd have to say that it was just an average experience, nothing special, nothing terrible. I've tried to get into the Madison Park version of this outfit and on multiple occasions the wait has just been too long. Pros: Good service, solid food more
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WONDERFUL appetizers, service, salsa/chips, margaritas, ambiance 7/12/2006

We LOVE this Cactus! We really enjoy going with another couple and ordering 4-5 appetizers. The nachos are outstanding, the mushroom quesadillas delicious, the coconut shrimp fantastic, etc. We have walked down to the restaurant at least a dozen times in the last year and have yet to be disappointed. You can call it Mexican or Tex-Mex or whatever, it is always GOOD!! Sure it gets noisy, but that's part of the ambiance. Inside or outside, it's always a fun place. Pros: Everything is delicious, great service. Cons: Poor parking, too noisy for the hard-of-hearing more
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Mmmm...Chicken Fried Chicken 8/1/2005

Cactus is an overall good place. Note, it's not authentic Mexican food, nor does it try to be. It's more of a combo of Southwestern/Mexican/Latin with a twist. The food can be good to very good. Both the Chicken Fried Chicken and the Pollo Rellenos are my absolute favoriteswash it down with a Dos Equis draft. On Fri and Sat nights it can get pretty crowded so there can be a wait. They have a decent bar (Mexican beer on draft!) and they make good margaritas. It's a good spot for just drinks too. I like. Pros: Food, Margaritas Cons: Sometimes long wait more
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Mostly good, but beware 5/10/2005

We've been to this Cactus a few times now for dinner and found the food and service to be good to very good. Recently we stopped in just for desert and drinks and while the Bananas Dulce were great as usual we were a little floored by our drinks. $7.00 for a Gran d Marnier and $9.50 (!) for a sipping rum that I can't remember the name of. The prices themseslves were not particularly shocking, but neither of the pours would have filled a shot glass. We won't do that again. Pros: Most of the food Cons: Parking at peak hours more
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Finally, good mexican food in Seattle 4/23/2005

We have been to so many local Mexican restaurants around the Seattle area and have finally found a great one! The margaritas were awesome, the salsa was homemade and the rest of the food was sooo good. We waited about 25 minutes for a table, but enjoyed a beverage at the bar. When our table was ready the hostess let our bartender know that it was time to cash out...very nice. I would highly recommend this restaurant! Pros: Margaritas, Salsa, Service Cons: Busy more
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Just so-so 3/24/2005

Tried Cactus Wednesday night for dinner - there was a one hour wait. Forget it. Had lunch there the next day and still had a 15 minute wait. Wait staff is overworked. Took forever to get chips and salsa. The margarita's are pretty good - not watered down. The chimayo enchilada was just okay. Pumpkin seeds in the rice added a nice crunch. Waaay too many black beans were served alongside. This place is just okay. Pros: Ambience, Friendly Waiters Cons: Overworked waiters, Mediocre Food, Parking more
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Great Southwestern food, now as good as the Seattle location 1/14/2005

I gave these guys a 2-star review back in '05. Well, I've since been several more times and am happy to say they've cleaned up their act. Their service is better, the drinks are better, and the food is great. It stil lacks the charm of the original location, but I've ordered a few drinks and cleaned my plate every time. The Chile Relleno, chicken fried chicke, and skirt steak are especially delicious. I'm leaving off a star because the black beans and rice that come with so many meals are a bland afterthought (although the pepitas in the rice are a nice touch). They should really take a cue from Ooba's; now THOSE guys know how to make some killer beans and rice. Also, bring back the original Cowgirl Brownie. What are you thinking, taking away the cinnamon ice cream!? That's the best part!!! more
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dont understand the hype 11/24/2003

The environment is fun but the service is terrible and I didnt enjoy the food at all and it was way overpriced for what we got. The most terrible thing was the brownie for dessert... I dont know who would serve a rock hard innedible burnt brownie and think it was acceptable. We didnt even get a discount when we complained. Totally unacceptable in my view. Pros: atmosphere Cons: Service, Cost, Food more
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Outstanding 3/17/2003

Finally a savvy place to eat on the Eastside. Excellent food and service. I have never had such delicious chicken prepared as the Chicken Fried Chicken. The Pork Adobo is also mouth watering. Be sure to order the guacamole, it's perfect with the warm tortilla chips they give you. The Eastside needs some hip ambience and the Cactus is where it's at. Dinner, drinks, apps, you name it, you won't be disappointed. Pros: Reasonably Priced more
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a reason to cross the bridge 12/27/2002

I have always enjoyed the Madison Park Cactus - and now have a reason to cross the bridge to Kirkland! Love the new decor, great interesting and delicious food and tasty well made drinks. Pros: great drinks, great food Cons: sometimes a wait more
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I Things are really looking up! 12/26/2002

I had heard they had a new sous chef so we tried it agian. While our first experience was nice, this one was even nicer. We'll be going back!! Pros: Great Food, Good service, Nice atmosphere Cons: Parking more
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Should have stayed w/ Madison Park Loc. 12/26/2002

I love the Madison Park Cactus, unfortunately the Kirkland location is nothing like it. At Madison Park, I've never had a bad dish. In Kirkland, I'm not sure if they can make a good one. In the future, I'll just cross the bridge. Pros: On the Eastside Cons: zero lighting, Poor Food, Bad Parking more
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Amazing Mexican 12/20/2002

We originally went to try the cocktails after reading about the bartender in Seattle Magazine. While the cocktails were great (the bartender had the night off) we were very happily surprised at the quality of the entire experience. The atmosphere was very festive. The food was fantastic (I had the special, my husband had the snapper). The salsa was amazing. The bartender on duty poured us a sample of some tequila that was really good. That was great as we would have never ordered on our own. We live in Kirkland and have seen many places come and go. We both agree The Cactus will be here for a long time. more
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Awesome 11/16/2002

The food and drinks were outstanding. I had the Pork Adobo and my companion had the Chicken fried Chicken. Both dishes were well crafted with balanced flavors. The service was prompt and courteous, the drinks were phenominal. And the flan topped off fun, filling evening!!!! Pros: Fun active atmosphere, Inexpensive more
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This Place Rocks! 11/14/2002

i found this place by accident and had one of the best meals of my life. started with a garlic shrimp dish (and drinks of course) had the 'portobello torta' for dinner. both were incredible! my partner had fajitas which were also very good. it is a fun, happening place with good service and we didn't have to spend a ton. overall, very good. we've learned on subsequent visits that parking can be a problem as well as needing to wait for a table. Pros: food, environment Cons: parking more
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Cactus Muy Bien! 11/11/2002

We had dinner with a large group. The service was casual but prompt, but it was busy so that was OK. The Tappas were generous and well prepared. I had the Chile Rellenos and found them to be very well prepared and very fresh. Cactus is a restaurant that you can visit frequently and get a great meal with good service and not feel like you were abused on price--which was needed on the Eastside. Pros: Good food, Eastside location Cons: Busy, Noisy more
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Kirkland Needed Cactus 11/9/2002

We were thrilled to find out Cactus opened in Kirkland. There just aren't enough good places here. We think Cactus is, most of all, a great deal. We never spend more than $40.00 for the two of us (appetizer, one drink each and entree) and always leave happy. We find the food to be every bit as good as the one in Seattle and the drinks are better. Bottom line is this is the best Mexican, by far, on the Eastside. My complaints; can get quite croweded and noisy. Pros: Food, Fun, Drinks Cons: Long wait, noisy, parking more
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It hurts! 11/6/2002

I went there a few months ago with my son (who's 6) and my husband. We ordered the fried green tomatoes which were really wonderful, but that was where the fun stopped. They had nothing kid friendly on the menu. Everything seemed a bit to frou-frou to me. The atmosphere was great and the wait staff friendly and informative. The food was disappointing for what we paid -- we ended up stopping at Taco Time on the way home if that tells you anything. Pros: Great Staff, Fun Atmosphere Cons: Overpriced, Boring tasting food, Not kid friendly more
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Go for drinks, not food 11/6/2002

Ok, so I've only been there once (Kirkland). The atmostphere was nice (decent music too) and the oaxaca was good. Oh, and our server was great. But the reason for going there is to have good food, and well, that left a lot to be desired. I plan on going back, but only for appetizers and drinks. Pros: Drinks, Atmosphere Cons: Food more
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Owner Message

  • Since 1990 we have been offering Seattle innovative Southwestern, Mexican and Spanish cuisine from our humble Madison Park restaurant, Cactus. Home to Seattle’s first tapas bar, we continue to innovate with seasonal menus, nightly specials and fresh cocktails.

Editorial

  • The Scene
    Fiesta colors, decoupage-style wall murals, sunflowers and chili peppers hanging from the ceiling provide a fun overload of Southwest flavor. The restaurant's large windows...

  • 9/27/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday 4-9 p.m.
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Moss Bay
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