Green Cactus Grill: A Place for T’z
Hola Stenchiritos! Senor Tibs here again with another mexitabulous taco review. Today I attempt to dispel the myth that So-cal style Mexican food is unavailable outside of the San Diego/LA area. In a market that is flooded with tex-mex restaurants touting themselves as Mexican food it can be confusing for connoisseurs of the meat filled treat. This little gem which sprouted up a couple years ago seems to be leading the trend in fresh, “authentic” mexi fare and a much needed alternative to the same old blah.
Green Cactus Grill, or the “Cack” has a few locations located around the island and was inspired by the Mexican food available in Tijuana. The owner took what he liked most back from the Westside: cilantro, onion, salsa fresca, red and green sauces, fresh tortilla chips, and real Mexican cheese. Everything is freshly made every morning with no lard, preservatives, or freezers. The staff is rather surly and possibly Mexican, although they could easily be Peurto Rican. Wait time can be excessive and nowhere near as fast as other places I have visited however the quality of the food has yet to be less than superior.
Green Cactus is a strong step towards establishing good taco shop quality grub in a market flooded with tex-mex dispensers. No crispy tacos here, just straight up cilantro n onions with meat on a warm corn tortilla just like Mamma makes! If you want a taco bell-esque “Mexican” meal than this place isn’t for you as it is far too zesty and the flavours may make you explode.
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Look at the ultimate flav’z of this tasty T creation!!! Fresh onion and cilantro flavorfully dance upon this bed of grilled steaky perfection whilst being lovingly wrapped in two warm corn tortilla. A splash of the red and a hint of the green and you have a zesty treat chock full –O- meats! |
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Hey can you say a trio of taste sensations? Im talking about crispy fish, curly shrimps, and conglomeratey beans. Fish is done cabo style with “white sauce”, cabbage, and tomatoes . Shrimpers are plentiful and robust and served with cilantro n onions. The massive Ranchero burrito is an amalgamation of pasty guacamole, shredded jack cheese, lettuce, black beans, and god knows what else. This monstrosity is served on a large flour tortilla and is really the only thing I found mildly disgusting… |
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The salsa bar is replete with spicy carrots which makes this salasa bar unique on the island, however its lack of the rich, zesty chipotle salsa is disappointing. While the red sauce is better than most of the other tomato paste sauces around, it is rather bland and detracts from the overall quality of the establishment. |
If you want all the tastes of Tijuana without the STD’s and poorly made hammocks step on up for a terrific nod to the cuisines of the South. Fresh, authentic, and affordable with several locations across the island its really a no-brainer.
4/5 Chilito’s!