Cactus Mexican Grill

I don't know what they put in the shrimp and the steak burritos but it is pretty damn good. The burritos are missing a bunch of ingredients you would normally see in a standard burrito but it doesn't even matter since it is still delicious.

I ordered a quesadilla and asked what came on it. I agreed it sounded fine, but when it was made, the server put very little cheese on it and added guacamole—even though I told her I am allergic. When I reminded her, she pulled it off with her gloved hands. I asked her to change gloves because of my allergy, and she rolled her eyes, used the same tongs, and didn’t even let the cheese melt before throwing it on my plate. The woman at the register told her to remake it, but even then, the quesadilla had almost no cheese, was undercooked, and fell apart when I tried to eat it. For $12, I got food I couldn’t eat and terrible service. This isn’t the first time I’ve had a bad experience here—it happens almost every time I go. I’m extremely disappointed and frustrated. At the very least, I expect food prepared properly and safely, especially when I make clear that I have an allergy..

The bud tenders at the dispensary across the street recommended this place. You should always go to whatever food spot the budtenders at BOUTIQ recommend!!!

So the waitress was good. I was there about 11:45.. so I was expecting FRESH FOOD..which I got because my food choices were not from the buffet. The food on the buffet did not look fresh to me . I had the house special plate.. the chicken and steak were ok.. I asked for yellow rice because on the buffet they had white rice and rice and beans together and neither option looked fresh or good. I don't eat seafood but did try the shrimps that came on the plate but I'm not going to judge those because I don't eat shrimp and have nothing to compare it to. The guacamole and chips was absolutely disgusting which was very disappointing because I LOVE GUACAMOLE & CHIPS!! That was the main reason I picked this restaurant (because they have guacamole and chips) so for it to be so nasty was a disappointment.The guacamole is very watery with too much onion. The chips were stale and lack salt. The price was right along the average price for East Boston area Mexican/ Hispanic restaurants.

I am here to leave a 5 STAR REVIEW for the awesome team at the Cactus Mexican Grill. We used to live in East Boston and would love to get their burritos and carne asada. Very fresh and delicious food. We moved down to Florida and we still talk about the Cactus Grill. In fact we were just talking about how we need to go there next time we get up to Boston. You get the idea. You should definitely go there!

Best tacos ever. Steak is so tender and flavorful, and when you get a taco they put everything on it… cheese, guac, crema, etc. you can just get 2 and you’ll be full.

I had an absolutely, positively, extremely phenomenal experience at Cactus Mexican Grill. The staff is very quick and professional and will have your plate ready in less than 5 minutes. These people mean business. I’m more than proud to recommend Cactus Mexican Grill to anyone looking to enjoy real quality Mexican food in East Boston.

Stopped by for a quick bite. Found some street parking in the area a block away from the restaurant. Establishment has a pretty short menu, and some indoor seats. Tacos were pretty standard but I do think they give you a nice portion of protein with each serving. Service was also very quick. I tried to order the lengua taco but they didn't have any when I was there (Saturday lunch), so I settled for a chicken taco instead. This place is more of a order to go or eat quickly inside. It's super convenient and close to the blue line.

the portions are huge and delicious! I usually get the chimichanga (very gringo of me) which is amazing but they look like they have yummy soups too.

Crown for best tacos in Boston has been snatched by cactus Mexican grill. Ok, I only tried the cow tongue taco - topped will all they had to offer, but that one taco was the best I've ever had in the area (to date). Tongue isn't the easiest protein to get right, it can be tough, but they made it perfectly and it had a nice char. Eat here. Try it out. Other things that were good: pupusas, deep fried burrito, rice, beans. It's a small space, maybe a table or two, but I'd recommend it for take-out. They have a couple of TVs playing sports. And the staff is really nice. Also price is super reasonable, approx. $12-15 per person. Walking distance from the blue line Maverick stop.

Pretty good Mexican food! It's more of a take out place. There are some chairs along the side and one larger table in the back that you may be lucky enough to get a seat at depending on what time you go. We got the shrimp enchiladas plate, which came with a side salad and guacamole, a few tacos, and a horchata. All were pretty decent. Good for a quick bite if you need to grab something and go!

Stumbled to this hidden gem while in search of a place to get lunch while working in the area. They have all sorts of meat and other dishes displayed in a buffet style and I ordered a beef stew rice platter. The staffs are extremely friendly and you know they care when they take the time to try to pick the best piece of everything for you. The platter comes with a salad. Will 100% return next time.

There are many positive reviews for this place; however my experience wasn't great. The quesadilla was completely soggy and inedible and the enchiladas were only ok. They customer service was good though and the staff was pleasant. They refunded me for the quesadilla with no questions asked.

Was staying in the airport hotel with a couple of friends and we were looking for a place to eat within walking distance. Cactus was bustling with people even at the late hour we came in, and we waited in line for a few minutes before our order was taken very quickly at the counter. The cashier was very sweet and personally brought each of our orders to us once they were complete. The food itself was made to order and quite sizable; I got the enchiladas so I had to wait a bit longer, but my friend who got a salad received hers right away. My one complaint would be the lack of seating inside the restaurant, as we had to stand awkwardly around while we waited. Our food was delicious even after the chilly walk back to the hotel - no issues with any of the orders, and everyone in my party loved the taste. My enchiladas were great but were covered in a thick layer of cheese that had solidified by the time we got back to our hotel... oops. Nothing a quick microwave couldn't fix. Overall, a good experience and authentic food!

When someone doesn't charge extra for guacamole in a burrito, you know they have a good heart. The food here is good, the portions are huge, the prices are very fair, and the people are friendly. However, I have found that the food tends to give me indigestion and heartburn after eating, to the point that I go here far less often than I would otherwise. (It would be a thrice-a-week place for me otherwise.) If you've been eating here and don't have that problem, then great, consider this a five star review. But if you've eaten here, had indigestion but not put 2 and 2 together, consider this a piece of evidence. But certainly do give it a try. The price and flavor are definitely worth it.

Quite literally the best Mexican food I have ever had. Please come here and give them your money, you will not regret it.

Stopped by for a quick bite. Found some street parking in the area a block away from the restaurant. Establishment has a pretty short menu, and some indoor seats. Tacos were pretty standard but I do think they give you a nice portion of protein with each serving. Service was also very quick. I tried to order the lengua taco but they didn't have any when I was there (Saturday lunch), so I settled for a chicken taco instead. This place is more of a order to go or eat quickly inside. It's super convenient and close to the blue line.

Great good and great service! It's been there forever. Always fun! Check it out. You won't regret it.

Do not eat here restaurant is dirty order a bowl of food today and when I was done eating I noticed there was a dead cockroach . I feel sick and unwell and it's disgusting to me that the cooks didn't check before handing the food out . Clearly they do not do proper cleaning and I have no idea how this could of gotten into my bowl of food and god knows how many other cockroaches have been in other people food or are roaming around there food prep stations. The building inspector needs to come and check there kitchen cause they gonna get someone really sick .

Best taqueria in Eastie! I've been coming to this restaurant for 15 years and it is consistently great. Friendly staff, always busy and big delicious portions.

This burrito was huge!! The size of a small child. It was so filling and delicious. There are jalapeños in the burrito which are a little spicy for me but if you're into that they add amazing flavor.

They don't have Taco Tuesday specials but I was here on Tuesday for tacos anyway. This is definitely a central and south American neighborhood spot with menus in English and Spanish, a television tuned to one of the Spanish language news channels and a menu with all sorts of south-of-the-border styled foods. My tortillas did come from a packet and then grilled but the toppings were fresh. I had them all the way, one chicken, one beef and one pork. Loaded up with salsa and guac and sour cream and onions and tomatoes and then cilantro, they were awesomely tasty. Loaded to the max. Yum! The restaurant is definitely NOT fancy. They have a couple of tables but the rest of the place is counters and seats. A little dark, too.

This place is a joke! The menu scanner outside the business has a set of prices and the inside another. The server brought chips that were completely stale. They had to be from the previous day. It was only 11:30 AM, so they should have been freshly made. The chilaquiles were supposed to be red, but the were more like yellow with some sort of salsa that tasted canned. The beef was so thin and charred. To top it off, I ordered tortillas and received a handful. Only to find that I was charged almost $3 and server didn't say anything about them not being complementary. This was the absolute worst meal!

I work in the area and I'll stop in here for a quick lunch maybe once a week. It's quick and everyone is nice! Get the chicken taco with everything! Also, don't miss the fresh, warm quezadilla (not sure of spelling) on the counter. It's a sweet cheese bread. Almost like a cornbread. You won't be disappointed!

Great authentic Mexican food for reasonable price in Boston. I was visiting a friend in Boston and had some time by myself to grab a bite. I stumbled upon the cactus grill and was not disappointed. It doesn't look all that much in fact you may walk in and say nope but I recommend you stay. The tortas were delicious and the chicken soup was so home made and bursting with flavor. I could have had three bowls. The quesadillas were huge which I didn't expect and basically all chicken. If your in the mood for good fast Mexican try them out.

the best Mexican food in Boston!! I stop here every time I'm in eastie and try something different every time, and I have yet to be disappointed!

Open late and hey have a friendly/locals only vibe here. If it weren't for the really messy dining area and the messy bar from where food is served, it would be 4 Stars. I ordered a chicken burrito late night. Burrito was huge and filled with so many goodies- beans, rice, guac, lots of salsa, cheese (if you want), etc. Tasty and filling. Burrito was like $6 which was really really fair given how huge it was. I also got an empanada de platano. It was cold and i didn't like it, I've had way better. I just question the cleanliness of this place...

The first time I went there I didn't know what to expect but since then I have been going about once a week! This place is always busy and all tastes wonderful. Their burritos are delicious, their soups are so tasty and they always do have a giant smile on their face! 10/10 recommend!

I've never had a good vegetarian burrito. Most places just stuff a regular burrito with school cafeteria veggies (carrots, broccoli) and call it a day. Cactus Grill does that too, but it tastes freaking amazing. I have no idea how; maybe they grill their veggies or something. Either way, their burrito recipe is just so great it works even without meat, which isn't true for the majority of Mexican places. Best hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint in Boston, hands down.

Pretty good establishment! Being raised by the Southern border this food comes close and makes me feel at home. The customer service is great there's always someone ready to help the next person in line. The food is great and pretty cheap for this area. Definitely coming back!

This place is flames. Definitely stop by if you're in EB. I always go for the chicken quesadilla or burrito, neither has ever disappointed. The chicken and rice are great, and its usually in and out within 10 minutes max to get your food. Great for a quick bite in the EB area.

This place does. It. RIGHT. I have never been disappointed​. I do not eat meat or dairy and their food is bomb without it. I would recommend it ​to anyone. 10/10.

For me a #1 break it or make it for any place to eat is service. Especially if you have called in advance! Called 15mins before getting they saidnit would be done by then go there asked the guy working for 3 tacos I ordered clueless didnt say anything alll set! Never again I will be going elsewhere theres way better places to east Boston! Believe that!!!

A large burrito will run you $8.99. The lady and I each got a large burrito and weighed them at home and both topped out at about a pound and half. A POUND AND A HALF OF BURRITO.

Best place to get cheap & delicious Mexican/Salvadoran food in Boston hands down! The place is very Consistent & cheap. The flan is the best one around. The burritos are the best ones around as well. I'm never disappointed here.

Three visits and the food has been very good. The plantain empanadas are heavenly, the beef ones very good too, chicken one was good. Pork taco is very good, carnitas salad very good and a mediocre burrito. Bought a quart of salsa to go, at $3.10 you can't beat the quality or price. The tables were not clean on any visit but the staff immediately rectified upon request. A good, casual, quick option.

I just started venturing around Eastie and I'm so glad I did. I stumbled upon Cactus Grill because of its proximity to Maverick T station and was skeptical at first because of the amount of Mexican restaurants surrounding the area. That skepticism went clear out the roof once I stepped inside the restaurant. The vibes are amazing. Everyone who works there is extremely friendly and chatty; it was experience within itself to just order. I love practicing my Spanish and felt completely comfortable to do so there. Now onto the most important part; the food! I got myself a ensalada con pollo y todo (see, I'm even practicing now!). The shell to the salad was crispy and absolutely delicious. My boyfriend got a burrito and he said it was one of the most delicious burritos he's ever had. Not to mention the price of this place is absolutely unbeatable. I am absolutely in love with this place. I can't wait to come back!! Also quick note- there is a $10 minimum on credit cards.

The food is delicious it doesn't matter what you get the place is very busy the prices are inexpensive everything is fresh a very high turnover they work very hard here gold mine I eat here three to four times a week I love Salvadorian food

Go east for south of the border. I know it sounds absurd. But heed my advice. Over in Eastie, there is a small little hole-in-the-wall joint serving up some serious mexican/salvedorian stuff. Economical: yes please. Everything on the menu seems to be hovering around the $6 mark, with a few special plates in the $8-$12 for seafood dishes. Side and desserts ring in at the wallet-friendly prices of $2. Wet your whistle with maranon and jarritos or stop in sometime in the early morn for their $6.50 breakfast specials.

After moving to Boston I quickly discovered that Boston is a terrible city for food. There are hardly any good restaurants. It would be in your best interest to go to NYC or Philadelphia or DC for good food. But, this gem in Eastie makes great authentic Mexican food. The burritos are fantastic! I've moved from Eastie and still make the trek back when I'm craving a good burrito. The schmucks in Boston who Anna's is good obviously never had Mexican food. Try Cactus Grill! It's not much to look at, but damn will it satisfy your mouth and stomach.

Are you really hungry but not willing to spend more than $10 on food? This place may have your answer. Located in one of the biggest Hispanic neighborhoods in the somewhat decent city of Boston, I went here with a group of friends after doing some exploring of the East Boston area, and I thought I found another great deal that can definitely get your stomach really full. For an unbelievable price of $10, I got a large steak "chimichanga", with rice, guacamole, and beans, along with a chicken taco. After eating all of that, I was really full and my stomach was fairly happy. The tacos are really good and probably one of the tastiest tacos I have eaten so far in Boston. I liked the texture of the tortilla used. It had a nice chewiness. The chicken, onions, combined with the guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo made the taco tastier than the tacos you probably would get at a Mexican restaurant in Boston. The tacos are definitely 5 times better and tastier than Taco Bell's tacos, and they definitely do NOT use those really hard, and overly crunchy pre-made U-shaped taco shells that you see in "Americanized tacos". These tacos are fairly inexpensive, about $2 per taco, and I think 3 of them should be enough to feed a hungry person. Chimichangas are these deep fried burritos. What I like is that they really fill up the Chimichanga with a lot of beef and cheese. I thought I had the tastiest Chimichanga so far. I liked the crisp and chewy texture on the outside, and the warm chewy beef along with the gooey cheese on the inside. Rice and beans were decently good. The guacamole provided made the chimichanga and the rice tastier, and the good part is that this place does not charge extra for guacamole, unlike other Mexican food take away places. The pico de gallo is also tasty as well. This place is at a really good location. It is near the Maverick stop off the MBTA Blue Line, which is probably the best subway line Boston can offer. It is also one stop away from the airport, in case you need to escape from this city and go to better places, like San Francisco, Paris, London, Rome, or even Toronto. I think it is authentic, I heard a good amount of Spanish spoken by not just the staff but also the clientele. Overall, I think I have found the some of the tastiest Mexican food in the somewhat decent city of Boston, and $10 should be enough to get your stomach really full at this place. I think it is probably better than the local places like Taco Bell, Boca Grande, and Anna's Taqueria.

I've been exploring east Boston alot. I came across this place before. It was super busy so I decided to try something else. I stopped by another time during the week when I could look things over. I got pork ribs and beef ribs to take home. The price was good. The ribs were delicious. Seem like they slow cook them for a long time. Great ribs , juicy meat falling of the bone and delicious flavor. In my opinion east Boston has the best food in the city. I will definitely get more food from the cactus. Last note. The staff was very friendly

Always trying to find the perfect burrito or tacos, after reading the reviews and seeing four stars I decide to try this place today after a co-worker recommended it to me. I went with a large burrito mix chicken and steak and was very delicious. They call it a large to me it is a normal sized burrito in California but delivered on the taste great service all around good burrito. Only thing was this burrito cost me $10.

Cactus is seriously a staple restaurant around here. They have such good prices and their food is cooked in front of you. Anything that's in a warmer you can see coming out of the oven, the staff is very nice and most of them are bilingual. There's a great variety here- you can go healthy and get some veggies with chicken and rice or go out all with nachos, tacos.. but my favorite are the burritos, usually shrimp or steak. This place is packed at lunch time because it's so good, so if you can go right before or right after!

If you like nachos, order the nachos with everything on them. They are really good! They have a pretty big menu of all different mexican delights. The bad thing is what do you try!? The large burrito is huge, the empanadas are delicious (get the beef) and all of the dishes waiting to be served look amazing. The prices are very decent and everything is ordered sort of cafeteria style. Very friendly. That is all.

Yo real talk this is one of the best burrito joints in East Boston that is not too greasy nor pricey. I usually get the large steak burrito after a workout and its lovely! Service is pretty decent here although it can be a little slow when there's a lunch or dinner rush but all in all a great place for food!

If you are from Boston and love Anna's, I have no idea if you'll like this place or not. If you are not from Boston and find yourself questioning the life-decisions that lead you here every time someone enthusiastically tells you Anna's is "the best," this is your place. Actual burritos in Boston. Who knew? It's not El Farolito in the Mission, but it will do.

Named after a desert plant, Cactus Grill is an oasis of amazing Mexican food! We came around 9:30pm on a Saturday night and it was busy but not packed. We got steak and chicken tacos, which for $3 each comes with the meat, cheese, two salsas, sour cream, guacamole and onion. We liked the steak tacos a little bit better. The chips and salsa were also a hit; the salsa was super fresh, flavorful and mild heat. We also got a pupusa, which took a little longer to cook but was worth the wait. This is a great, authentic spot!

This is my favorite quick bite spot since I live so close. The chimichangas are to die for and the staff is very friendly. Cheap prices and high quality food. can't beat that!

These guys make the best burritos!!! They have a burrito bar, choose your own ingredients. Great pico de gallo and awesome plantains! They are efficient and delicious. Best for takeout. Their hot meals are also delicious! Authentic, fast and delicious. What more could you ask for?

Best food in east Boston. Very authentic and great customer service. Try there tacos! There great! I would love if they could do like a taco Tuesday that would be awesome.

Just had the nachos and a coke but this place has some delicious nachos! Do yourself then favor and get the Nachos con carne and thank me after.

I love their burritos so much, but legit THE LAST THREE TIMES, I got a clearly stated CHICKEN burrito, I have received beef. I don't eat beef, two of those times I got home before realizing this mistake.

Excellent packed delicious tacos for $3. No brainer. Authentic. Great portions and prices.

Good mexican food in East Boston. Nothing fancy or special, just solid Mexican that won't disappoint. The menu selection is expansive but typical. You can't go wrong with some fried sweet plantains as a side dish.

Ok, we totally did a food tour of Eastie. We weren't going to eat here but it smelled really good. Then we peeked in. The chicken looked so good too. 5 minutes later, we had an order of 1 fried chicken, 1 roasted chicken and maduros (sweet plantains). Ohhhhh yum. The chicken was moist and tender and super delicious. I had the roasted chicken and it was so flavorful. I didn't like the fried chicken as much but still thought that was pretty good. The boy ordered the maduros and ate them all by himself. He loves 'em. They were 4 for $1 but the guy behind the counter was super generous and gave us 8 for that price. Woohoo! It was super cheap and delicious to boot. We were both well fed for under $8, including a drink. Where do you get a bargain like that these days?

Long story short: Just moved to East Boston, been poking around the neighborhood, discovering my affinity for Anna's in Brookline represented just a drop in the bucket of my possible love of Eastie cuisine. Having stuck my head in a few establishments roughly the size of a Buick, I was this close to deciding those were the best spots for wonderful cheap spicy food... and then I gave Cactus Grill a chance, after having avoided it for fear that the sleekest signage in Maverick Square would mean less authentically delicious food. Oh, MAN, I had it all wrong. The spread they have set up behind the counter basically functions like a salad bar full of meat and carbs: a big heap of yellow rice and beans, maybe some fried yucca, one of those incredibly juicy roast chicken breasts (which is actually more like half the damn bird), a bit of spicy, vinegary slaw, a few tortillas, oh, and throw in one of those green things, I'm still figuring out what everything is. There's also steaks and grilled shrimp and fried chicken and chicarrón and lengua and all sorts of things to test your Maverick mettle. Granted, they may be out of certain items depending on what time of day you're there, but they'll gladly compensate by slingin' you a few extra pieces of other things you ordered (and by that I mean once again as many as you'd otherwise get) to make up for it. Of course, if you're intimidated by the massive selection at the line, they've got a menu board, but I'm really not quite sure what the point of it is, since the prices seem to fluctuate every time I'm there. The same massive steak-centered plate cost me ten dollars one day and six the next. The best thing to do is remember who you ordered from on a previous visit and make a bee-line for them when you get in the door. More reviews of more places in Eastie are sure to follow, but for the time being, as long as Cactus Grill is right down the block, you'll know where to find me: flopped on the couch with a to-go box full of Cactus Grill deliciousness.

This is definitely one of the best place to get a burrito in Eastie. I have been in several times and they are the consistent, reasonable, oh and authentic too. The people that work there are always friendly. When making your food, they are very generous with their toppings. When they go down the line to add your selections to your taco or burrito there is always a good amount of everything. There are no extra charges for toppings, if you want sour cream, you got it, beans, you got it. The meats are nicely marinated. Then they put it on the grill to get it all melty. The burritos come in 2 sizes between $5-$7. They have excellent salsa too. I usually get a container of it on the side with their home made chips to go and its addicting.