Cactus Taqueria — Restaurant in Oakland

The cheese enchilada I had on my first visit wasn't any better than any other place that I frequent. The chips cost an extra dollar and I did not order them. The dining room is large and I suspect it would be very loud if all the tables were full. I figured I would not go out of my way to come back anytime soon.

Then I tried a bit of the chipotle salsa on my rice and I was planning when I could come back. The salsa had a wonderful smoky taste with just a bit of heat. The other menu item that I wanted to have again was an Alfajores. This Latin American cookie is a lighter shortbread type of cookie. It is filled with dulce de leche, a caramel of sorts then dusted with powdered sugar. It is very tasty cookie.

People seemed to like the crispy deep fried taco. With salsa and cookies on my mind, I went back to try the tacos. It seemed the reasonable thing to do was to try a chicken and a steak taco. I thought the chicken was a bit dry. However the steak taco, stuffed with tender meat, guacamole, cheese, spicy salsa de arbol, and salsa fresca was perfect.

I will definitely be back for the tacos,...

Loved this place since 2010 but my experience on 5/12/16 changed all that. My family and I grabbed an order for a late take-out - 3 burritos and an enchilada - almost 9PM. Now, I expect a lot of things in my burritos, but what I do not expect to find is a freaking WIRE. Yes, halfway through the burrito - sticking out from inside - was a length of wire. Had I swallowed it, I'd have choked my way into ER.

Called Cactus - it was past 9.30 by then and they close 10 - and was offered a free burrito. Not satisfied, my partner [who placed the order] visited the next day to be told by the Manager, José, that they could've refunded but now it was too late!

Are you kidding me? She explained our phone call, showed her receipt, showed a photo - nothing. He gave her credit. Credit for a place that dropped a wire in my last burrito? No thanks. Usually great food here, but apparently terrible complaint resolution. Pro tip: don't choke...

A pure VOMITORIUM.

This used to be a GREAT Mexican restaurant until Covid hit. I suspect there was a change of ownership as a result and now it is, simply, the worst restaurant anywhere in the North Oakland area. The food is way worse than a typical Taco Bell. There crispy chicken tacos are tasteless and I think the chicken was past 'due date'. The gauacamole was O.K. but the chips were straight from a bag from Safeway (actually Safeway has far better on offer). The service was horrible. I had a number 88 but the checkin person scribbled over it so it looked like 98. I had to argue with the guy that this was my order #88 not #98. After a while he begrudgingly amiteded I was right. No apology. This place should be boycotted by every Rockridge resident. Hopefully they will go out of business and perhaps a really great Mexican restaurant can reestablish here once again.

AVOID THIS RESTAURANT...