Cactus OTB Authentic Mexican Cusine

Very disappointed with the service here. Employee who took my order was very rude and gave me attitude when I had asked for guacamole. During the whole order she continuously rolled her eyes at me and my friend. As someone who works in the customer service field and hospitality this was not OK with me.
Food was ok. Not the best but not bad. My friend was not able to eat his burrito because of his allergies to onions. He asked for no onions or pico due to his allergies and they gave it to him anyways… Don’t think I will be back.

I’ve been going to this place since it was a Mexican restaurant only and didn’t think it was anything special. It seems like sometime in the last year they changed ownership, or maybe just changed strategy, and now they also serve Peruvian food. The Mexican food is still the same but their Peruvian offerings have made this place better, in my opinion. Also, they now have lunch specials, which I don’t believe they had before. Most of the time I order a Peruvian dish and they’re pretty good. I’ve had the lomo saltado, the fried rice, and the fried noodles and thought they were all well prepared. The Mexican food here is still so-​so. I’ve tried many of their offerings such as the plates, enchiladas, tacos, and burritos. They’re not terrible, but I’d say they barely passes the acceptability test. In other words, I’ll order it if I’m really craving Mexican food, but under no other circumstances will I choose it over their Peruvian offerings.
The service here is also pretty good. The guy who runs it (seems like the owner) is friendly, and the girl who takes the orders behind the register during lunch hours is helpful. If you opt to dine-​in, go to the counter to order your food, pay, then proceed to seat yourself.

Stopped in for a quick to-​go order. Ordered a tostada salad and a wet chicken burrito. Both were delicious! Definitely going back for more soon. Not to mention super cheap.

I was hoping for some Peruvian food and was expecting Peruvian food to be different than Mexican food, but it seems as though everything on their menu is Mexican food. I realize that statement is confusing, but it’s because the experience was confusing. After realizing that this place is a Mexican restaurant, I settled with steak fajitas. The description read «strips of steak,» but what I got was small chopped up pieces of beef. The flavor was great however. The service was okay/​good. There wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm, but folks were nice.

Great food to go! I thought the crunchy tacos would get soggy on my way back to work, they did not disappoint. Happy I found a new lunch spot close by. :)

This place was just okay. Nothing really special about it. Perhaps I got the wrong thing on a menu but to claim « Unilocalers love us» means there probably shouldn’t be a «wrong thing on the menu». I got a steak burrito but they forgot the guac inside it. I opened it up to put in the sour cream (because it comes on the side) and had no guac! The flavors were lackluster. I enjoyed the chips though and the server/​cashier was a sweetheart!

Their mexican food is very good, but the peruivan food I felt just had no flavor. Ordered the papas la hucanana It tasted like they mixed cheese and Turmeic together no other spices were added.

The staff was very friendly. The vegetarian burrito was not really edible. I liked the tortilla and the guacamole but the beans had some weird flavoring that was off for me. The cheese was not there. I ate half because the dude at the counter was watching and I felt bad leaving a whole burrito.

I ordered from the Peruvian menu. Peruvian food is heavily Chinese influenced as their is a large Chinese population in the country. Chef Wan I believe is of Chinese descent. Entrée’s include various fried rice dishes (arroz chaufa), chow mein (tallarines saltado). I ordered the Kan Lu Wantan from the Chef’s Specialties section. Just as the menu described the plate was a bed of crispy fried won tons topped with bbq pork, chicken, shrimp, vegetables, pineapple, and sweet and sour sauce. Very tasty.
The service was slow and the waitress seemed indifferent as to whether I was enjoying my meal or not.

Every time I call to place a to go order I’m out on hold for at least 10+ minutes and if I hang up and call back the line is busy for another 15 – 20 min.
Much better service with the old owners.
They should really work on this! so irritating!

Well it’s really more of a one and a half Stars I guess. Service continues to go down hill with the new dining system in place. So previously you would go up to the register and order now they have you sit and a couple of. Waitresses?.. Take your order. This all sounds good and great except that they are untrained not that friendly and not that skilled. Service is poor at best. The food was always very good but has gone downhill consistently since the new management take over. Now They are promoting a new Peruvian menu in addition to the Mexican food this restaurant has always been famous for. Where is offering other selections is all fine and good it seems like they have more interest in selling you Peruvian food than they do Mexican food which unfortunately is the reason we are all there. Honestly every time I have gone it has been one owner and a t-​shirt one owner in a suit coat a couple of women all just walking around checking on customers. Well let me clarify that checking on the Hispanic customers. If you speak Spanish you can expect to have the owners come by your table and chat you up however if you’re blonde hair blue-​eyed probably not going to happen. I noticed this the first time the second time and this last time I have been there. In fact this time the couple across from us was trying to get the owner’s attention but could not even get more than a glance from the owner whereas everyone else was getting kisses on the cheek and handshakes from the owner. For what it’s worth. the owners did not come by my table either. The servers check on us a couple times. Not really sure what’s going on here but I sure do miss the old El Rancho. Not sure I will make a return visit. As a restaurant owner and a small business owner in the neighborhood it makes me sad not to support one of my own but until the downslide is corrected I think I will visit one of our other small businesses for dinner.

Holy Moly! Worst service I’ve ever had! So bad I kept looking for the hidden camera! Rude, disgruntled servers who ignore you for 15 minutes, then cop an attitude when you order. It’s a pay first eat later arrangement so you’re stuck. Food was pretty good, hence 3 stars. Improve the service and this place could be good.

So decided to come check this out… It was pretty good. They have Mexican, Peruvian, and Chinese. We are the Peruvian! It was good! They give u chips and salsa when you sit down which are ok. I just wish the customer service was a little better and that they are more attentive to there customers… she never asked for our drink order. I had to ask her to take our order. The price is OK. I maybe will go back

Great food and great prices! The reason for docking a star is that the service is very hit or miss. I order from Cactus at least once a week and usually the same order every time. Sometimes I will get my full order w/​salsa, sour cream, and gauc on the side (which is part of the dish) and sometimes whoever is at the register will try to charge me. Twice I have had to show them the menu to prove that it’s included.
Aside from some incidents of confusion with the menu the food and overall vibe is really great. Low prices and they regularly text me coupons. I’ll gladly continue eating here!

I ate here for the first time and it was delicious food. The service was very good and they were all friendly. In fact, I met the owner who happened to be there working and he has a very nice demeanor. He cares about the food quality and how people feel about the experience. I couldn’t be happier. I will be back for sure.
I started with the albondigas soup and then I ordered the carne asada burrito. Yum

Great food!!! The restaurant is intimate and the staff is friendly. Great people with great attitudes and great food. A must if you’re looking for your next Mexican food fix!
I had some tacos and an horchata and I wasn’t disappointed. Being Mexican myself I am picky when it comes to my Mexican food. Some can’t pull it off but this place has done a great job at keeping the authenticity and the flavored just right.
Thank you guys for a delicious experience! ^.^*

I ordered the carne asada tacos with rice and beans, they were very good! Clean, fresh, healthy dish. Portions a little bit too lean for my preference but it might be a trick to get me to order more — prices very reasonable!!! I will be back!

Update on my last review…
Came in the other day wanting to try something new. Im officially in love with the taquitos! The meat inside was tender and flavorful. Like I’ve mentioned before.
The staff is always very pleasant, and they have amazing chips and salsa.

Very close to my office and us er new ownership. They take credit cards but bathroom is nota available even for customers. So you better come with clean hands.
Fajita burrito a carte is great and about $ 12 with tax. Take it with steak.
Salsa is also very good and fresh.

Been coming here since I was a kid, thanks to the BEST STEAK NACHOS ever. This tiny Mexican joint has a plethora of celeb 8×11’s on the wall for all the celebs that have coming in including Michael Jackson.
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LOCATION
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On Ventura + Noble near the 101/​405-​freeway interchange in Sherman Oaks. It’s a pretty tine place, about 7 – 8 tables, you walk up to the counter to order and then servers bring you your food. The owner is an old man who’s nice like Santa Claus, generally cares about his restaurant and has been open for decades.
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LA COMINDA
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~ EL RANCH STEAK NACHOS — One of the best things in life to eat. It’s tortilla chips, carne asada steak, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, onions, refried beans. I usually get it with EXTRA STEAK and EXTRA CHEESE for $ 3.00 more. Everyone needs to eat this atleast once in your life. (⁵⁄₅)
~ CHEESE ENCHILADA — It was really good. A really good Cheese enchilada swimming in a gooey pool of two different cheeses. Sliced green onions, guacamole, seasonings, lettuce and pure deliciousness. (⁵⁄₅)
~ CARNITAS TACO — It wasn’t anything special. Slightly above average. (³⁄₅)
~ CHIMICHANGA — It’s a deep fried burrito but honestly it was just average, maybe a nod below since I had EL MARIACHI’s version a week prior which was simply amazing. This was just an average burrito that was a bit greasy fried and crunchy. (²⁄₅)
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AND SO…
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Like I said, this place makes THE BEST Carne Asada Nachos ever, which is why I love them. I’ve been coming for like 20+ years now, originally with family, then with friends and dates and honestly… it’s just really really good food. On top of that the owner is a genuinely nice guy, his son/​s work there and it’s a nice quaint atmosphere. Recently I’ve started exploring their menu and have found a few new tastelicious things.