Neon Cactus — Restaurant in Fairview

When it comes to celebrating special occasions, the Neon Cactus on Stacy Rd in the Fairview Town Center is a top contender. My family and I decided to hit up this spot after my niece's graduation, and boy, did it deliver! Even with our sizable group of 25, the manager and staff were incredibly accommodating, ensuring our experience was seamless and enjoyable.

Drinks that Delight Our evening kicked off with a couple of cocktails that set the tone for a fantastic night. I opted for the Oaxaca Old Fashioned, which came with a cool presentation that I wish I had captured in a photo. The drink had a great smoky taste, perfect for anyone who appreciates a nuanced old fashioned. My wife chose the Santo Paloma, served in a quirky skull glass that had the whole family giggling. This drink was a grapefruit lover's dream, balanced perfectly with just the right amount of tequila.

One thing that stood out was that all the alcohol in the bar hails from Texas-based companies, a nod to the establishment’s commitment to their Texan roots. The vibe here is super cool, with plenty of seating options both inside and out. I’m already looking forward to coming back when the place is buzzing.

A Symphony of Sips As the night progressed, we sampled a variety of drinks, each one more impressive than the last. The Desert Flower and the classic Frozen Margarita, made with Socorro tequila, were both excellent. But the star of the show was the Mezcalita, smoked in a box for a dramatic presentation and a rich, smoky flavor. And let's not forget the sharable Amethyst Fizz – an absolute showstopper! This large, vibrant drink made its way around our table, and everyone was thrilled by its taste and presentation.

Appetizers to Savor We started with the Shrimp Cocktail, which came with a homemade sangrita. The spicy blend perfectly complemented the shrimp and jicama. Next up were the Chicken Tinga Flautas, which I could easily eat all day. The Chipotle aioli that accompanied them was the perfect match. The Barbacoa Deviled Eggs were also a hit around the table, though I must admit, they were just okay for me since I'm not a huge fan of deviled eggs.

Entrées that Impress The pièce de résistance :) of our meal were the freshly made corn tortillas. This detail alone elevated the entire dining experience for me, as it brought back nostalgic memories of my abuela making tortillas on a hot comal. While they also offer flour tortillas, they aren’t freshly made, so corn tortillas are definitely the way to go here.

My wife’s Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad was a masterpiece in simplicity and presentation. The cilantro-lime vinaigrette tied everything together beautifully. As for me, I devoured the Los Camarones Tacos. Each taco was generously stuffed with three jumbo shrimp, topped with a corn tomatillo relish and cotija cheese, all nestled in those divine freshly made corn tortillas. The flavors were spot-on and the portion size was just right.

Final Thoughts If you find yourself in the Allen/Fairview area, make sure to head over to Neon Cactus. Located conveniently at the Fairview Town Center, this vibrant spot offers an inviting atmosphere, outstanding drinks, and food that will leave you craving more. Whether you’re there to celebrate a special occasion or just enjoy a night out, Neon Cactus promises a memorable...

Ugh!!! I wish I had a better experience. This place was so cute and had such a great atmosphere, and our appetizers were delicious. But unfortunately, our service was the worst I have ever experienced. To put it into perspective, we got there at 8 and didn’t leave until 10 and we had to get our food to-go because of how horrible and slow our waitress was. I want to preface this by saying I am a 19 year old who has literally never left a review on a restaurant before, I always tip, and try to be so extremely respectful and understanding of serving staff because I know how hard of a job it can be. But this service was laughable. We asked the host (who was so kind and helpful) to be sat on the patio, but it took about 15 minutes before someone came to help us. Finally, a waitress came up to us and asked if someone had helped us, to which we said no, but never introduced herself or gave us her name. She took forever to get us our appetizers, and we had to remind her several times to bring us more water and chips. A little after we got our appetizers, she asked us if that was all we wanted, to which we replied saying that we wanted to order main dishes as well. We put our orders in right then, two orders of fish tacos and one of carne asada tacos. We waited at least 30 minutes without her checking on us before she comes back telling us she had just put in the fish tacos but couldn’t put in the carne asada tacos because they were out. At that point we were so over it and just wanted to leave, so we told her to just forget about the carne asada tacos and bring our fish tacos to-go. We wait probably another 25-30 minutes when she comes up to us and asks if we had gotten our tacos yet…girl do you see any tacos??? No????!!! Anyways our tacos finally come and there are no rice and bean so we ask for some and she was like “those don’t come with the to-go tacos” … and we were like well they were on the menu so can we please have some? So she went and brought us some, and then just stood there…not saying anything for a good 30 seconds lingering over my father’s shoulder. Genuinely one of the most awkward moments I’ve ever experienced. We finally broke her silence asking if we could get check. She said yes and brought it to us. When we got it, there was an option to pay via QR code, so that’s what we did because honestly if we gave her that check again who KNOWS when she would’ve been back. And while my dad is paying she’s literally just standing there awkwardly watching us. I don’t understand it was the weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced. Now please, don’t get my wrong the appetizers we ate were DELICIOUS and the music, decorations and atmosphere were all so adorable and right up my alley!!! It makes me so sad we had a bad experience, because looking around, all of the other waiters were far better than her. I truly do want to go back sometime because I think she was the only problem, but if she is my waiter when I go back…I will be asking for someone...

The Neon Cactus is S-tier and I'm smitten by the overall atmosphere, staff, and the amount of attention spent in the presentation and taste of food is phenomenal.

I'm glad I came into Neon Cactus this evening. My friend Vic recommended me to this establishment and I instantly knew I had to try it when they mentioned they served smoked mezcal and birria tacos. Vic served my husband and I with carefully crafted cocktails. I met Vic, Roman, and Kat and they're all so tentative to my every request. I'll be visiting Neon Cactus more regularly because their food is seasoned to perfection

⭐ Staff: 10/10

The atmosphere is inviting I took a seat at the bar. The stools are well-padded and comfortable. I love being able to banter with the staff and other patrons. The construction of the bar makes conversing easy.

Atmosphere: 10/10

Alcoholic Beverages:

I first tried the Mezcalita margarita and I was blown away with the flavor. The notes of mesquite wood and mezcal made such a tasteful concoction. After finishing the Mezcalita I felt a buzz and ordered a wonderful mezcal flight. If you want a buzz get a Mezcalita but if you're in the mood for something heavier the Mezcal flight is the way to go.

⭐ Mezcal flight: 10/10

⭐ Mezcalita: 11/10

Appetizer:

My husband and I ordered the Barbacoa Deviled Eggs. They are tasty and are light on the stomach if you don't want anything too heavy for a starter. I think they would've paired nicely with a hot sauce of some kind. I love deviled eggs and they were great.

Entree:

I ordered the Taco Platter for my entree I chose a Birria Taco, Pastor Taco, and Korean Short Rib. These tacos are not only tasty but satiating. Neon Cactus loads these tacos to the point they're almost spilling over. You get your bang for your buck.

I like how the tacos have diverse flavors from various different cultures.

My favorite taco is the Pastor Taco. I haven't had a Pastor Taco ignite my taste buds like Neon Cactus'. The fresh pineapple paired with the marinated pork..MM MM.

My second favorite is the Korean Short Rib..it's a must try! The birria taco is good too it's my third favorite on the list of tacos I've tried. I wish it had more notes of ancho chiles, and guajillo.

⭐ 8/10 Korean Short Rib Taco

⭐ 11/10 Pastor Taco

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