This is a great restaurant to go to. It is too bad that main street of Milpitas is dead which makes this place in the middle of nowhere. The food is delicious, the enchiladas, carnitas, and chimichangas are great. Great place if you are tired of going to the chain mexican eateries but still want a place to dine in.
(4)
Carina M.
I really can't believe I haven't written a review for this place. I thought I had, then looked on my calendar and saw that I had gone there, but didn't cross it off...meaning I had written a yelp review. I usually get a chimichanga, but this time around I opted for the flautas. Both are equally good and I found I prefer the carne asada chimichanga over their chicken one. I ordered chicken flautas - nice, light and refreshing for a late afternoon snack. My partner in food crime, Judi M., got nachos. Of course, I snagged some off her plate. ;) Service has always been excellent in the times hubby, friends and I have frequented (are you listeneing, La Milpa?). Between Baja Cactus and Casa Azteca, La Milpa will never need enter our Mexican food repertoire ever again.
(4)
Adam C.
Great homemade salsa!!!!! Great banana milk shakes!!!! My favs to order is the Chimmichunga, Enchiladas Rancheras, and the Fajitas. Cannot go wrong with much here. Repeat offender X 10
(5)
Florence W.
3.5 stars because of the inconsistencies. Been here many times, I've had good experiences and not so good experiences. After a while, I've learnt what to order and what not to. The service are pretty much ok, friendly and most of the time they leave you with your company alone. The chips and salsa are good , except maybe once or twice we had stale chips. Don't get the burrito or tamale, Do get the chicken mole or enchiladas. The sauces here are good. A good place for Mexican food if you're in the area!
(4)
Donna P.
[[Disclaimer]] The following references to "Cucarachas" or cockroaches, are strictly comedic in nature and do not reflect any insinuation that this sparkling clean establishment is, or has ever been so infested! And now, to the Loyal Fans of the Spam Can, I present to you.... ....a ping-pong match! "Uh, Ma? Weren't this supposed to be a restaurant review?" (This from Captain Pie Hole) Sigh. Well, yes, Pa, but you and me was battin' opinions and stars back and forth over the table too fast to follow--So, I wanted to give the folks back home a sorta play-by-play review. "What EVER!" (Uttered in a snarky tone by Pa, um, I mean "The Captain") AHEM! Without further ado.... We were tired after a long day, and just looking for something good on the way home. Baja Cactus seemed to fit the bill. Besides, the Cap'n last visited them 10 years ago, so it was time for whatyacall a RE-evaluation. THE GOOD --Enchiladas del mar were delicious, filled with fresh shrimp and crab meat, and topped with scrumptious guacamole and sour cream. --Quick, attentive service --Slightly-spicy Salsa --First batch of chips --Tasty Guacamole --Nice presentation on the plate --Clean restaurant, cute decor THE OK --Rice & beans --Red sauce on enchiladas THE BAD --Food was not HOT (temperature-wise). It was warm/hot --Second batch of chips was stale (maybe a hint that we should just pay and get out? It was close to closing time after all.) --The beef in Pa's dish was tough... Oops! I mean "The Captain's" meat was tough... Damn!... What I meant to say was... Sh**!.. Never mind. THE UGLY --The canned music recordings. Fifties era gringo-mariachi, bouncing off the walls at cucaracha-crunching decibels. How many times can you listen to "The Mexican Hat Dance" before you start wanting to speak stereotypical, gringo espanol in a condescending manner, and asking if they have any sombreros we could buy, ala Chevy's? They DO have a nice-looking breakfast menu, so I'd be willing to try them again. Ma and the Captain, over and... PA! STOP TEASIN' THAT CUCARACHA! 'Afore you know it you'll be a-bringin' one home with ya fer a pet... AGAIN! Sigh.... ....over and out! This and all other reviews posted on yelp.com by "Ma Megabyte" are copyrighted 2009/2010 by Pie Hole Publishing. All rights reserved
(4)
Kristen H.
Pretty standard, tasty Mexican food. Reasonably priced for the portions you get. We had extremely quick service, which I appreciated, and the server was really friendly. I ordered cheese and chicken enchiladas rojas, which were pretty good. Bottom line: although I enjoyed the food and the service was good, I wouldn't rave about it nearly as much as the other reviews on here. It seemed pretty standard.
(3)
Cherylle Q.
I used to come here often for lucnh when I used to work nearby, but now I seldom make my way over to it. They are reasonably priced and have good portions - may be a little big for some, but you can think of having some leftover to take home as a snack or lunch the next day. I've only had their chicken, which is extremely juicy - I either have it in a crispy taco, tostada, quesadilla, tamale or chimichanga - all of which are delicious! Note: their chimichanga is HUGE.
(4)
Richard L.
Chicken Mole at it's finest! At least in the northern San Jose/Milpitas area. I've had mole from a lot of different spots, but as far as it being served in Milpitas, this is the spot to go. Light but full of flavor, served with freshly made tortillas, rice, and some of the best refried beans I've had in a good while. The chicken is moist, and the sauce served has everything you're looking for. A little spice, a little sweetness, and it compliments all the other elements included. The restaurant itself is nice! Well decorated, but not to the extreme. Big enough to hold large parties, but also plenty of tables for that intimate date. I'd recommend this to anyone whos craving that chicken mole authenticity. I've yet to try the other items, but they're definitely intriguing.
(4)
Jaime O.
Baja cactus, we've loved you a long time. Its been difficult getting into your rythm lately. The service is a little off putting - but clearly sincere. My shrimp cocktail had GUSTO! (maybe a tad too much for some, but I like it spicy). We will be back, undoubtedly.
(4)
Diane S.
All I have to say is CHECK YOUR BILL before paying. My son ordered a cherry coke and got two additional refills. When the bill came I thought it seemed a little high. I asked the waiter to please go over it with me and once I took a second look they had written Roy Rogers on the left side of the bill with three marks right after and then all the way to the right side of the bill it was written $2.95. Basically they did not add up the three charges ($9.00 for a Coke) and it was left up to me to figure this out. I believe they were hoping I didn't catch those charges. When I asked the waiter why he didn't tell us that there was no free refills, he then replied that it's in the menu, HUH??? This was the point where I am sure my face got a little red. I suggested to the waiter in the future he should make sure he tells his customers that there are no free refills. Eventually, he said that he normally would tell his customers, but I guess he forgot to tell us on the first refill and the second..HA! I felt this was handled inappropriately from the way they wrote the check up to the point where they did not offer to remove those two extra charges for the soda, I mean Roy Rogers..... My chorizo sope was good and the beans and rice were okay, but I will NEVER go back to this restaurant again based on their (staff-waiter) deceiving ways...
(1)
Rebecca M.
Mmm this has to be the most authentic Mexican food I have had in awhile. Even while in my hungover state at brunch I couldn't resist nearly cleaning my plate. As I said before something about South Main Street in Milpitas weirds me out; but since I have found several hidden gems on this street just over this past weekend I have begun to see it in a new light. The decor of this place is great- wooden booths and lots of light. If it were later in the day, I could imagine drinking margaritas here for hours on end. The food and selection is typical fare but the quality is outstanding. I had the pork and over easy eggs with corn tortillas- absolutely delicious. The chunks of pork fall apart in your mouth and when mixed with the beans and egg in a homemade corn tortilla the different tastes really pop out. Pricing was good, ambiance was great, and the food was fantastic. What more can I ask for?
(4)
Tam F.
I have been here twice now when meeting the boyfriend for lunch in his work town. My guy and I like Mexican food a lot. This place isn't a must go to place, but it isn't a stay away from type place either. Chips and salsa are good. The salsa has a little but not too much kick. The beans are a bit runny for my taste, the meat is average, the portions good. My bf said he had the best chimichanga he has ever eaten today. That is enough to earn a star on its own in my book. The food is decent. The service is decent. It can be VERY loud during lunch-especially on a Friday when people get paid and are drinking... Oh yeah, the bathroom was super clean which is a a bonus!
(3)
Gary L.
The good: they have mole, the service, homemade corn tortillas. The bad: the mole is very tasty, but is mostly sauce, and very little chicken. The salsa and chips are run of the mill. A lot of things are microwaved. It is slightly overpriced. Apparently a lot of locals agree, because there were only 2 other tables occupied when we were there. Overall this is not a bad restaurant, but to give it 4 stars invalidates the reason for yelp, and 5 stars is just plain ridiculous.
(3)
Jan P.
I became two months pregnant after attempting to finish off my large combo plate here! A+ for heaping the plate with tasty rice, for large portions of chips with good salsa, and for a pretty scrumptious tamale and chile relleno combo. Minus points though for fake horchata which was soo obviously made from a mix. C'mon, you SO cannot strain horchata that well, and nor does horchata come out white white...even though it was served in a large cup. In summary, it's a clean taqueria with standard fare, nothing out of this world, but pretty good nonetheless. Definitely a nice pit stop before heading out to the mall to walk off your newly acquired baby. Boyfriend says burrito is only so-so, but he throws in another vote for the tamale.
(4)
James N.
For years I drove by Baja Cactus and didn't go in. I think I must have gone here once long ago and didn't find it to be everything I wanted. This confirms to me that back then I was young and stupid. This place to me NOW is a staple in my Mexican dining life. For me, it is about the Steak Tacos. They are great. They are well seasoned and the tortillas they come in....there is just something wonderful about them. I try other Mexican places in my life, the steak tacos are typically...meh. Here, they are great. Yes, the chicken is also good, the salsa & chips are plentiful, crunchy and in large baskets and there is usually room for any sized lunch party you want to bring in, but don't forget the steak tacos. They are delicious. Just thinking about them now is making me hungry. Bring a friend too, why not, they'll thank you for it!
(4)
Justin D.
This place is very close to the great mall, so I'd recommend giving it a try if you are in the neighborhood, beats the alternatives. I had enchilada verde with beef. The sauce was good, beans and rice were good as well. The beef had good flavor and was not overcooked, juicy. As mentioned by others, the salsa and chips were good. (a bit spicy for my daughter). My daughter had a quesadilla with rice and beans. She ate everything, I was surprised, she usually passes on the beans. I tried a homemade lemonade, pretty good. Tasted a little over sweetened and a little watered down, maybe that's just me. I would recommend this place, I don't get down in this area much, not sure I'd make a special trip just to go here, but am willing to try more on the menu in the future. Hard for me to debate between 3 and 4 stars, I am guessing if I go back and am satisfied I would upgrade easily to 4.
(3)
Bryan T.
Baja Cactus is the good old reliable lunch time destination for Mexican food. The dishes are tasty and portion size is very reasonable. Service is generally reliable but there have been a few times where we've had a waiter/waitress that looks annoyed or unhappy. They have it all. My colleague with discerning taste always goes for the sopes. He loves them! In contrast, I like to mix it up. I've tried a wide range of dishes here from Carnitas to Chimichangas, Sopes, Enchiladas, and Chile Rellenos. For me, most Mexican cuisine starts tasting the same if it's from the same source, so we've been rotating between Baja Cactus and some of the other establishments in the area. Ever notice that effect with certain foods? I feel that in Mexican food the ingredients are generally the same from dish-to-dish, it's just the visual construction that is different. Case in point - taco versus tostada. I've always been interested in trying the Clamato Beer drink that they had advertising for previously. I think it's called Chelada? I'm a fan of Bloody Caesars, so this interests me. Unfortunately, every time I've been to this place has been for work and I'm not going back to the office with beery clammy breath. Solid 3-stars from a regular.
(3)
Gianluca V.
Best MOLE POBLANO I've ever had!
(4)
Eric P.
"Wow" is really all I have to say. This is the best Mexican food I've had in a looong time. I read over the other reviews and maybe I just got lucky... but damn it's good. Here's the deal... I had to work through part of my lunch and needed food, but only had 20 mins to pick up food and eat. A coworker had leftovers from one of my favorite restaurants (which is too far away from the office to get for lunch) and it had me craving Mexican food. So, I hit Google. "Mexican food near Milpitas,CA". Bada bing. Pops up with a good rating. 1.7miles away. Here I go. Called in my order "Chicken Soft Tacos". Left work, got to Baja Cactus, they had my food ready to rock. Taco's, beans and rice with chips and salsa on the side. As I walked in, I noticed their flan. Not a lot of people like flan, but I love it and I've had a hard time finding good flan around here. So, I bought some. The flan is EXCELLENT. Maybe some of the best I've ever had. Salsa is great. The tacos were awesome. The beans were cheesy. Overall, there's nothing that I could possibly have wanted differently. 5 stars. This place rocks.
(5)
Irene A.
It was edible. No big surprises here. I wish I wasn't lazy and actually made the journey to my favorite mexican taco truck to get my fix, but we all make mistakes. I had the carne asada tacos and camarones rancheros. Both bland and the asada was dry. The beans were terrible, watered down with no hint of lard and heart attack. I've realized that when it came to mexican restaurants, if their beans suck, then their food won't be that great either. So far, my theory has been correct. Glad I tried this place though, to avoid it in the future. Oh..the salsa was good at least.
(2)
Jaymes H.
warning a burrito plate does not include an actual burrito ... its like a biiig enchilada. I got the chile verde, it was pretty tasty. NOTE : Generally not a big fan of mole, so apparently im messing the best thing this place has to offer.
(3)
J P W.
Went here with the family.. Let me tell you, My sister and I are the ONLY mexican food eaters in the house. My father believes its a bit too rich and my mom is very critical when it's not her favorite restaurants in Milpitas. The waitress that served us was a very pleasant woman, although she didn't give us the best service, she was kind and offered great suggestions. I got the beef burrito with chicken flautas -- not that great imho. My family's reaction to their food was even worst than mine! My mom just pouted while eating her Cactus&eggs... Not a good sign. My father just seem discontent with his tamale, burrito and taco combo. I think this place is worth another shot though, so will be editing my review once i do. Try this place because I still believe its one of the hidden treasures of Milpitas.
(3)
Jillian N.
been coming here since I was a baby, and my parents had their first dates here. after all these years, the atmosphere is still warm and cozy, the staff is friendly (an recognize regular customers :D) and the food is delicious. order the de res chimichanga- I always wanna try something different but always end up choosing this!
(5)
DJ M.
Love this restaurant!! I have been coming here for about 20 years - Hands down the best Camarones Rancheros in the bay area!!!
(5)
Brian T.
Been to this restaurant twice now. First visit warranted it 4 stars but I unfortunately had to bump it down to 3 after the 2nd visit. The main reason to visit this place is for it's carnitas plate! One of few places that actually deep fry their carnitas in lard instead of just steaming it. Sure it's unhealthy -- but I don't think anybody really correlates Mexican food with a healthy diet. Anyways the carnitas is unbelievable -- crispy on the outside and juicy and delectable on the inside. Just make sure you order it during lunch time and not dinner as I'm suspecting that's when the lard is still fresh and they can still fry it properly. (I bumped the rating down one for the inconsistency) Other than that, the Sopa de goat is pretty awesome too -- tender meat in a chipotle like soup. And how often do you get to order goat anyways?
(3)
John M.
Great, great restaurant. Highly recommended. The carnitas plate was one of the best I ever had. Great chips and salsa too.
(5)
Davlyn S.
Oh no, no, no, no, no. I hate leaving any review less than 5 stars as a small business owner and knowing what it does to a business but this restaurant has forced me to do so. People need to know. I have had two experiences. The first time was during a Sunday while I dined alone during the day. The service was phenomenal and I wish I knew the servers name to give her praise. But the food was- okay. Not better than that. But I was impressed because they had menudo. The second time- all bad. First of all they don't have real margaritas. It says maragarita on the menu but it is wine with margarita mix. And it is awful. I brought a few friends and it was a weekday night. My bad since I didn't understand what I was getting myself into. The server told us as my friend pointed out but I didn't pay attention. To me wine margaritas is a horrible idea. Then the service itself was unfortunately bad. I get the feeling that the server couldn't understand us but would choose to ignore us when she didn't. More than once I required attention and instead of her saying one minute or I will be with you she just moved on when I was pretty loud about my needs. Good service is important to me as I own a business and like to think I know somewhat what that entails to make customers happy. The food was mediocre again. My menudo had absolutely no hominy in it and we had to request it. And with the service being quite bad I just can't see myself going back there. I will go to my favorite- Casa Azteca for sure next time.
(3)
Mike M.
This is a great spot to get your fix on classical mexican food. The food is simple, tasty, and filling. We started off with complimentary chips and salsa. I had a delicious carnitas burrito platter, which was accompanied by a salad, rice and beans. I also had a bite of the numero quatro combo -- pork tamale and cheese enchilada. The food was fresh, moderately spicy, and tasty. I love classic Mexican food and have been looking for a local spot so this fits the bill. My only complaints are the small parking lot outside and the live music from the mariachi band that plays at nights which can make having a conversation difficult.
(4)
Jaclyn L.
The boy was craving Mexican food and margaritas tonight, so after a bit of searching, we stumbled across Baja Cactus. The menu contains the typical burritos, tacos, fajitas, tamales, combination plates, etc. I ordered a beef enchilada and tamale combo, which also comes with rice, beans, and a small salad. The tamale was delicious! I usually order tamales at Mexican restaurants, and I must say, this was better than the norm. The salsa was also a highlight of the meal. It was different than the usual chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. This salsa contained chopped green onions and just the right amount of spice. The downside to the meal were the margaritas. They were not chilled and were either too strong or not flavorful. I probably wouldn't order them again. The restaurant felt comfy, as if you were walking into somebody's home or a local diner. Bright Mexican art mixed with Christmas decorations were scattered all through the restaurant - a nice touch for a rainy December night. A group of musicians also came in and sang a few Christmas songs for the restaurant. Feliz Navidad!
(4)
Nicole R.
I've been here twice without realizing just how good this place is, until afterwards, when I start to crave Mexican food and all I can think about is the food I've had here and the rest of the food I want to try. They accommodate large parties as I had attended a baptism celebration here years back, with a fixed menu of 3 selections to make the whole process easier. Even with all the chaos, the service was stellar! Even with a smaller party of 10, they rung us up individually to avoid the hassle of a short tab. I've tasted their mole, yet never mustered the courage to order it on my own. I guess trying something other than the regular chimichanga, enchiladas, etc. scares me but I for sure will get it next time. It's just that good and I regretted that I only sampled it from my fiance's plate last time.
(4)
May O.
Pros: Service is good for a packed restaurant Parking is good (lot and street) Beer is nicely chilled Salsa is great with a nice kick Cons: The chips were unedibly hard The shrimp fajitas was disappointing. The menu called for tiger shrimp, I was expecting at least a 20 count size, but what came on the sizzling platter was at least a 30 count size of shriveled up shrimp with at least 2 lbs of peppers and onions. Also, this doesn't even come with rice. All this for an outrageous price of $14.95. I would give it lower rating, but my coworker loves the mole here and I must say it looked really good. Next time I will try the chili verde.
(3)
ALAN Y.
Our family and another went there last night , 4 adults and 4 kids. Service was friendly and quick. Haven't been there in a few years. Quality is still there. Service is better than I remembered. The margarita was weak. But food was solid. Not crowded at all for a Saturday night at 7:45.
(4)
Vi C.
We come here often. I have had several different salads and always pleased, kid gets a huge "child's menu" nachos and doesn't eat for another day after. Hubs has tried many combo plates, happy with the meat a seafoods here. People complain of the service, for one, tip better. And for those who think the place needs a makeover look at what they charge and how packed the place is. This isn't some run of the mil chain restaurant like El Torito's and I'm glad it's not because it reflects in their food. Great taste and not over priced. Calling tomorrow to see if they cater....
(5)
Annie C.
YUM! I love this kind of Mexican restaurant. Went here the day before Cinco de Mayo with my Mom for Dinner, so the place was empty- we had great, quick service to say the least! I had cheese enchiladas and my mom had a shredded beef chimichanga. Both good, but OMG, that chimi was good....I am a vegetarian for the most part, so I was stealing crispy little non-meat bits from the outside of my mom's chimi....so good. Not greasy or soggy at all. Of course, the free chips and salsa are always good. They have a nice big menu, lots of choices. Looking forward to going back, maybe for breakfast or lunch....
(4)
Nancy C.
The gold standard for Mole. We compare every mole we order anywhere to Baja Cactus. One was close and 4x the price in Santa Fe, NM. We've even special ordered the sauce and brought it home!
(5)
Sanllin T.
Best mole chicken ever! The sangria is great, too. I always leave the place feeling like I ate too much, but the food is just fantastic. The service can be hit and miss, but the food made up for it.
(4)
Stephanie R.
This is one of my families fave Mexican restaurants. After a long time of not eating there, we all went last week for my brothers birthday. As always, I enjoyed my enchiladas and a glass of horchata. I always love their chips and salsa as well. The people who run the place have always been really nice, and they keep the place really clean.
(4)
Tricia B.
I ordered the enchiladas del mar, they were ok. My daugther ordered a chicken burrito, the meat was dry and the burrito was pretty tasteless. My other daughter ordered flautas, also dry meat and not enough salt. It took ages for us to get refills on our water. Friend ordered the shrimp special and said it was good. I make Mexican food all the time at home and it's way better than this stuff, will not return. Oh, and they had boxing on tv right next to our both, it's really not appetizing watching someone get his face knocked out while I'm trying to eat.
(2)
Christine N.
Not bad! I come here occassionally with my co-workers for lunch and hubby for dinner. I haven't ever been disappointed. The food is pretty good and really affordable. Portions are large and filling and the staff is friendly. Good solid lunch stop or when you're craving a burrito or some enchiladas. Yum!
(4)
Jeanie C.
Baja Cactus is my favorite (so far!) restaurant that serves the typical American-style Mexican food that we all grew up with and love. I find that a lot of this type of local restaurant with the 'combination platters' and all the typical fare ends up being bland and boring. Not this place, though, everything is full of flavor - even the salsa isn't afraid to have a nice kick to it. Baja Cactus also serves some other items you can try if you are feeling a little bolder - like the goat stew or the cactus! The service has always been friendly, the food tasty, and the price is good too. Everyone in my party was quite pleased with their meal. Recommended, give it a try!
(4)
Jaz P.
my recommendation is the Enchiladas Emoladas. delicious! and they give tortilla chips and fresh salsa to accompany your mexican home-cooked style meal
(5)
Dave C.
I came here with my daughter and we split a Chicken Quesadilla. Chips and Salsa were good. The Quesadila came with a side of sour cream and a side of guacamole. The Quesadilla itself was just ok. Nothing great. I will come back to try other things on the menu.
(3)
Dave K.
Great food Mole was great. Service was good
(4)
Sel A.
Steak soft tacos... that's all I gotta say! Y U M!
(5)
R P.
We have been going to this place for over 10 years. Nothing on the menu is less that fantastic. My fav: Tuesday lunch special - Cilranto (sp) chicken. They make their own core tortillas! The enchilada emolidas (sp?) are awesome as well. Great chips and spicy salsa. Can't recommend enough. This is the gold standard I measure all other Mexican restaurants with.
(5)
Silke M.
very good food and friendly service, cozy atmosphere and pleasently quiet and mellow. My favorite is the chicken mole, second the steak ranchero, I tried the shrimp rancheros whiich think were frozen shrimp but still good due to the great sauce. Also love the Sangria soda and the salsa dip has a nice kick to it if you like it spicy.
(4)
Todd M.
Tried this place as it was one of the highest rated mexican restaurants in Milpitas. Got there and it was empty on a Sunday night. Not a good sign. Sat down, the salsa is awesome. Just enough heat, ate so much of it, didn't think we were going to be eating dinner. She got the halibut/shrimp thing, I got the Steak Ranchero. Both were the best we've had in the area. Recommend? Yup!
(4)
Song-My T.
I love coming to Baja Cactus! The salsa and chips that they give you at the beginning are great. The place is very affordable as well. Every time I come here, I order a chicken crunchy taco and an enchilada. The food is flavorful, and the salsa they provide compliments it well. The restaurant has a nice decor, and the staff is friendly. Baja Cactus is located in a really random area, but it is probably the best restaurant on Main Street in Milpitas.
(4)
Courtney H.
This place has been a family favourite for at least a decade. Very good food! And I love the ambiance of the place. The only thing I don't like about it is the teeny, tiny parking lot, which I know they have no control over. Sometimes you have to find parking on the street, which isn't easy as Main is a pretty busy street.
(4)
Lyn B.
The best chimichanga ever! Not a fan of the other stuff, but love the chimi! Good prices & portions, fast & friendly service. When you dine-in, the chips & salsa are free. For take-out, they charge you $2.50 if you want it. Makes no sense to me...
(4)
Chris R.
Yowsa! Get your Mole Poblano here! I have been hankering for a Mole dinner for quite some time. Not wanting to go experimenting on this particular night out I turned to Yelp for some help. Since I was going to do business in Milpitas (AND I WAS STARVING) I hit up this fine site for some local advice and turned up Baja Cactus Restaurant. When I arrived I found just what I was looking for. - Local flavor without the chain restaurant distractions. - Local people running the place. - Tucked away in the neighborhood. - Real food made by real people. - Tables and chairs with china, glass, and metal utensils. - Alcoholic drinks. Baja Cactus Restaurant fit all of those needs and more. One of the standards I measure a good Mexican restaurant by is their ability to serve a variety meals. A place that actually has mole on the menu is a place that will impress me. Mole' is not that hard to make or keep but most places seem to think this dish is too unusual for us gringos to eat. Why that is I don't know. I also like a place that has real tortillas and a dam fine tamale. A margarita that slide down easily will also draw me in. So how did Baja Cactus Restaurant do on the meal. To answer that I 'll pick them apart first. - Parking: Excellent! Both a private lot and street parting were available. - Hours of operation: Average to better. You can get breakfast here. But don't expect a midnight meal as Baja closes at 9PM. - Appearance. Somewhat dark on the outside at night. Once you are inside the place brightens up to a cool little Mexican place. They have Piñata-esque papier decorations all around. Thank god Baja avoided the year-round Christmas lights you see at so many places. - Seating: The tables and booths were average for your little homey Mexican restaurant. You're family will easily fit unless you have brought along the second and third cousins. I was shown to a table promptly after arriving. - Service: Baja Cactus Restaurant has top notch service. The older lady who served me (Alta?) was fast and pleasant. She never hurried me and I always felt a warmth and caring when she made her rounds. who cares if there are small language problems when you have people like this! - Setting: A small negative here since they used paper napkins. But overall a good setting with metal ware, china, and glass. - Margarita: I found my drink to be too sweet! The The next time I will order something else like a Modelo. - Chips and Salsa: Top notch! I could have have snacked on the chips and salsa all night. One of the better salsas served. Just the right amount of kick. Baja Cactus brought out some limes when i asked so I could spritz the chips. Yum! - Tortillas: Do Baja Cactus make their own? I forgot to check but it would not surprise me. These are not your regular store bagged tortillas. As with the chips I could have made a meal out of just the the tortillas. Close the grandma's style. - Tamales: I had the pork tamales. These were a big disappointment. The masa came out too watery when served. The pork filling was VERY bland. The red sauce on top was the only thing that tried to save the dish. The tamales were so boring I left one on the plate. Hormel canned tamales are better. On the flip side of my opinion you could feed the very young and very old their tamales without worry. - Beans: They did a good job on the refried beans. Nice cheese on top. - Rice: Average job on the rice for semi-bland style. Maybe they make it this way for the Americans. Better than many places but certainly not the best. Need more cumin, cilantro, and salt. I have made better Mexican rice at home. - Mole: I say Ole'! Baja Catus' Mole Poblano was a real winner in my book. The chicken was cooked just right. The sauce was tasty! The appearance was a deep dark chocolate just like you would expect it to be. When I go back to Baja Catus Restaurant make sure you don't come between their mole' and me on pain of missing a body part! If you were to look at my plate afterward you would have found it licked clean. So were my fingers, the nails, even the spot on my shirt (happens to all mole eaters) was given attention to save what I could. I considered eating the paper napkin too. I think I must have enjoyed it too much because I got high off of their Mole. Price: With the plate, drink , and generous tip my meal was $23. Not bad. Overall I count my meal at Baja Cactus Restaurant as a win. The Mole will certainly bring me back one more time. Many of the other menus items I saw on other table also looked great too. And with the chiliquilles shown on the menu I have a breakfast run in my future. I have to thank my fellow Yelpers for once again steering me to a good place. Even with the tamale landmines Baja Cactus Restaurant has fulfilled my desire to have a nice plate of Mole Poblano set before me.
(4)
Alyce M.
Not bad... I had the lunch special #9 and the waitress didn't even tell us that it was a hot plate I burnt my hand :( And the ice tea tasted burnt as well....
(3)
J L.
I don't really *love* Mexican food and have always tried to skip a team lunch when they want to go to *that* place in Alviso. My co-worker convinced me to come here and I'm happy I did. The chips and salsa are so good! I had the fajitas last time which were good and today I had the chicken soft tacos. Our server described the tacos as small so I went with the full order. That was a tasty mistake as I definitely found the tacos larger than normal. I'd definitely be back!
(4)
Ray C.
Can't believe I never reviewed this place. I used to come here all the time with my girl. I would order the same thing(Enchiladas Rojas) every time. They are consistently delicious. Always ate every single bite off the plate. It's that good.
(4)
Donoho B.
I'm a mole whore and man enough to admit it! Mole is a very personal experience. Some like it sweeter. Some like it a bit more bitter. Some like it with stronger hint of cinnamon. I Love it at Baja Cactus. I Love the mole here. I don't even order it with the dish it's supposed to come with. Lucky for me they're very amenable and after all this time have stopped giving me strange looks when I order Nopales con Huevos with Mole on top (lunch or dinner) or Chorizo con Huevos with Mole on top. I kinda have a thing for eggs too... The corn tortillas are excellent and are not to be missed. I give Baja Cactus 4 stars instead of 5, because Mole appreciation varies so much from person to person, and I haven't tried enough of the menu to round out my suggestions. Though you can't go wrong with the flan...
(4)
Charlie B.
I would give Baja Cactus (fondly known as BJ Cack in my inner circle) 5 stars but I have to settle for 4 because I was scolded by a waitress for talking about something inappropriate (I believe the words "dominatrix lesbian" may have been uttered a tad bit too loudly). I sulked for a while, but enjoyed my chips and salsa until my FABULOUSLY crispy bean and cheese burrito was served in all of its melty cheese glory. Luckily I didn't get myself in any more trouble. I HIGHLY recommend Baja Cactus. But behave yourself. They aren't playing around.
(4)
Jeff P.
Pretty average Mexican. Didn't like the salsa.
(3)
Carlo Dolce Vita A.
Food is plentiful. The Menudo soup is hearty and flavorful. Good lunch spot.
(3)
vien p.
Took a friend to eat here several months ago. When we ordered, she pointed to the dish she wanted, and attempted to pronounce the name of the dish. The waitress nodded, and when our food came, it wasn't what she ordered. The waitressed brought back the slip that she scribbled our order on, and "corrected" my friend on what she had really ordered. We pointed out on the menu the correct dish my friend ordered, and it turned out that the waitress wrote down the dish listed below the one my friend wanted. The waitress left and that was it. No offer to change the dish or anything. The waitress came to clean up after the meal and saw that my friend did not even touch her dish. She then scolded her, telling her that next time, she should order clearly, and pointed out the differences between the dish brought out versus the dish my friend wanted. RUDE!!! I am sad to experience this...I love this place. Staff usually isn't too attentive, but they are generally nice and get the job done. I am not going back.
(3)
Dave M.
I really like Baja Cactus. We don't eat there anything like every week but when we ask the question "where do we want to eat" this one always comes up. I like the food. It's different from my other favorite Mexican place in Milpitas but it's still really good. And I like the friendly people. And the decor is cute. About the only think I don't like about it is the parking. It's always very crowded at meal times.
(4)
Scott L.
Always have good food and for the most part good service. I wish the food were more stunning and when I called to make sure that they served Mimosas... that they actually did. That was a disappointment as that was the a key reason for coming here. Of course for me, I'd rather have a margarita, but...
(3)
KT N.
Place has great food but the service needs some serious work... two waitress' and 5 tables and it seemed like they were in the weeds the whole time... My wife asked for a re-fill on chips n salsa which we were out of and we waited, and waitedm and waited.... then my wife looks over her shoulder and the waitress is stuffing her own face in the kitchen. Rightous... automatic dollar tipper yup yup... will go back for the good autentic mexican but hopefully get a different waiter next time
(3)
Dean C.
You will not find better Mexican food in the bay area. Been going here for 25 years and it hasn't changed a bit.
(5)
J. S.
This is my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant all-around. I've been coming here ever since I was a kid, and the food has never changed, which I think is very refreshing. I hate it when I go to a restaurant that I really like and the chefs change or the restaurant changes vendors and the food is just completely different. That's definitely not the case here. The chips, salsa and rice are all excellent, and the beans are some of the best I've ever had at a restaurant. Beans are very important to me in Mexican dishes because they're such an integral staple and they're so simple. In most cases, if I don't like the beans at a Mexican restaurant, I don't like any of the other food either. I always order the enchiladas rojas with cheese and they've never disappointed me. The enchilada sauce is actually better at Mexico Lindo on Silver Creek Valley Rd. but everything else is better at Baja Cactus, which is why I say it's my favorite Mexican restaurant all-around. Sometimes I also order a bean and cheese burrito a la carte to take home and eat later because I love the beans so much. Another really good thing to note about this place is that the only people that know about it are regulars or the friends/family of regulars since it's not a chain and it's kind of easy to miss if you're driving down Main St. This means that you can bring someone here for a special dinner (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, etc) and you don't have to worry about crazy crowds. When my sister and I brought our mom here for a Mother's Day lunch this year, there were only a few full tables, and the server even gave my mom a chocolate covered strawberry as a little Mother's Day gift. So Nice. :)
(5)
Michael F.
Very convenient location near Great Mall. Have been a few times on the way to a movie. The guacamole is great, and the crispy ground beef tacos are my favorite. Also, the pinot beans (with pork) are wonderful.
(4)
Veronica G.
You can always judge a Mexican restaurant by the quality of their tortillas. Are they soft, supple, yet have a hearty taste? Or could the Aztecs have used them as flying discs of death in times of war? Can they hold the contents of rice, meat, salsa and whatever else we put in them and remain intact as we chow down or do they split or get soggy or allow spillage of the contents? Are they store bought or homemade? As a Latina, I consider myself an expert (tortillas were my family's bread) and I am proud to say this place passes the test. Their tortillas are homemade and have passed the endurance and taste tests. Ok yeah, they serve other food besides tortillas. I can safely tell you they serve a great meal morning, noon and night. Their breakfasts are absolutely killer. During the week it's only served from 9:30-11:30 but on the weekends I think you can order it til 1 or 2. Seriously if you can make it, go! The chilaquilles (fried tortillas with eggs and salsa) are just as good as my mom's and the nopalitos (pickled and cooked catcus) are tasty too. Both of these items are also served after breakfast too I believe. The omlette ranchero (steak, peppers, onions with red sauce over it) is also quite good but be warned, this food is HEAVY! My friend and I go here and we waddle the mile back to his house in pain-PAIN I say. I'm sure we look like a couple of weeble wobbles.... Lunch and dinner are equally good to breakfast. Their combo plates are made up of standard Mexican restaurant food and are a real bargin for your money. Chances are you will have leftovers. However the real Mexican food is where the true challenge lies. Their mole is wonderful, just the right thickness and spice (another friend from San Diego judges the quality of a Mexican restaurant by the quality of the mole and it passed his test too). The chile rellenos another friend raves about. The carnitas and carne asada are also excellent. Still want dessert? They do make an allright flan but the standout is their layered apple pie. No joke the slices are huge and they have something like 12 or 13 layers that make up the pie. As if this wasn't good enough though, the service is equally wonderful. Talk about efficient. You usually get chips and salsa and your drink order pretty quickly and I don't think ever had to wait an excessive amount of time for my food. Plus the salsa is good and has a nice kick to it. Yep, who would have thought downtown Milpitas would have decent Mexican food?
(5)
Gors P.
what i ordered... de carnitas burrito ... did i order the right one or did i got what i ordered or have they given me something else...any of these could be possible. when i got my order it came on a take out plate box instead of the typical foil and brown bag..., in it the tiniest burrito about the size of a kids fist, rice and refried beans on the side. in the socalled burrito in it came with tasty carnitas, guacamole with more cilantro than avocado, whole beans and a bit of salsa. overall the food was good but the portion, price and unconventional preparation was a letdown for me. by the way... my order was taken by a very nice and gracious all american english speaking caucasian grandma in this authentic mexican restaurant, and one of the few host or waiter who ask me if i want a glass of water or something while i wait for my order. :)
(3)
Tony L.
Closer to 2.5 stars overall. The salsa was pretty good - albeit a little too salty. I had the Chili Colorado Burrito and the sauce was very bland and did not go well with the flour tortilla at all. The Spanish rice on the side was very different from other places I've had, but still pretty good and did however go well with the sauce from the Chili Colorado Burrito. I wouldn't be against coming back if somebody insisted, but with so many other great Mexican places, I wouldn't necessarily prefer it either.
(3)
Jack S.
My girlfriend and I dined at Baja Cactus for dinner yesterday. She works in Milpitas and had lunch before and had enjoyed it. I ordered the chile colorado and it was bad, My girlfriend who is latina tasted it and believed the sauce came out of a can. The beef was tender but the sauce was gross. Her chimichanga was ok. The salsa is good though. I will not be returning.
(2)
H C.
Good grub at decent prices. I wouldn't say this is your cheapest Mexican joint in terms of price but it's still well worth the visit. We chose this spot for the meeting of the parents and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I shared one of the house specialities - grilled sliced filet mignon - and it was enough food for both of us. Definitely get the corn tortillas - housemade and delish. Perhaps my favorite part of the meal... besides the company of course.
(4)
Gene A.
This place is pretty good. The chips and salsa were great. Not over-salted and overly greasy. I ordered the pablanos, which was Mexican sausage and potatoes between two corn tortillas smothered in a sauce. That was very good. My vegetarian co-worker enjoyed her chile relleno. The service was very prompt and accomodating. I would definitely come back to this place.
(4)
Rachel W.
This place serves very good Cali-Mexican food. The salsa and chips were very good. I had a carne asada burrito that was very tasty. I don't remember what my husband ordered, but he exclaimed that he really enjoyed his food. We would come here again.
(4)
Heidi L.
The food didn't knock me off my chair.. I mean, it was good, but not sooo mind blowing that I would go out of my way to come here if I wasn't already in the general area. They have a lot of combination plates that allow you to try multiple things off the menu which is a big plus, and their prices aren't bad either.. I had the chile rellenos, an enchilada, and I believe, a burrito. They were all right.. The service was okayyyy. It was a relatively busy night. The atmosphere is really homey. I liked that.. Cute little place, but the parking sucks balls. Carpool!
(3)
Lynee L.
Always enjoy the chicken enchiladas enmoladas (mole sauce) & good salsa. The staff is friendly and I've never had to wait for a table at dinner, but lunch can get crowded. My rating is for the dish I had...haven't tried anything else.
(4)
Rene R.
This is real food like your Tia makes in Chihuahua! Tortillas are good, service is great. My favorite is the chile rellenos! Actually, this IS my favorite restaurant.
(5)
Elizabeth L.
Used to work close by...fresh, yummy salsa. I've actually never had bad food or service here. Seemed to me when I went a lot that the place is always filled with the same faces. :) The food is fairly authentic, but not the MOST authentic I've ever had. They have good portions for the price and REALLY GOOD desserts. It's great for lunch time and also has a fun evening environment perfect for Friday with friends!
(4)
Adrienne S.
I love their chimichangas! And the chips and salsa is yummy, too. I have been coming here for about 10 years and the food is always consistent.
(4)
Regan C.
Came here for lunch. Had an enchilada and burrito combo for $9.xx. I was extremely full afterwards. Its one of the better Mexican places I've had. The free chips and salsa was also great, especially the salsa. I'd get there slightly early, since its not a big place and can get crowded easily.
(4)
Ryan T.
Came here from the reviews.... wasn't too impressed. nice little place... didnt really dig the food. the search for a proper carne asada burrito continues.
(2)
Marie T.
Baja Cactus makes a fabulous, homemade Pina Colda (without booze) cake that is served warm. Wow! What a moist & delicious cake. Also the chicken nachos were perfect tonight!
(5)
Jacki E.
I think the food here is pretty bland. I don't know why my coworkers like this place. For real Mexican food, I prefer going to hole in the walls. Their rice had no taste. I'm not Mexican, but I know this is not a restaurant that caters to the Mexican palette. I guess the good thing about this place is that their portions are large and they cater to the corporate lunch crowd.
(3)
Cheryl S.
Best Mexican food in Milpitas. I go in for lunch as often as possible. Always order #5 chicken and is always excellent. Great chips and salsa at no charge.
(5)
Sara K.
When we want to go out for Mexican food, this is the only place we go! In over 16 years of patronizing Baja, I think I've been disappointed only once. This is the place we take friends from out of town when they ask for Mexican food. Chips & salsa are always yummy & the salsa actually has a zing to it, chili rellenos are the best I've every tasted & the chimichangas never taste greasy. Beans & rice are delicious as is the bit of lettuce salad you get on your dinner plate. The only thing I haven't liked is their tamales. I've been there for lunch & dinner, service is always friendly & efficient even when they are busy, which is often. Until recently, I'd never tried any of their desserts because I'm usually too full but co-workers took me there for a birthday lunch & I got a complimentary slice of cake along w/ singing & a silly sombrero. The cake was a white layer cake w/ frosting & coconut on top & even though I'm not a big fan of coconut, there was something about the frosting that was delicious!
(5)
David G.
Great food, great service. I had the carnitas tacos as recommended here and concur they are excellent. Service was super quick but I never felt rushed and in fact stayed a while at the table to talk with my friend.
(4)
Mayank R.
A very nice place to eat some great mexican food. This place is so much better tan the chain restaurants like El Torritos etc. Love the Nachos and salsa dip. This is the first place where I could taste some spice in salsa and fell in love with it. I need spice in everything being India :-) Ordered the lunch combo of Chicken Enchilada and Chile Relleno and both were mouth watering, although I think Justo Graciano's echilada still beats everything ;-) I have to go there to eat so many other things but for now, let me talk about the dessert. We tried the fabulous tres leches cake, comforting as a child's favorite blanket. It's a white cake oozing milk that manages to be moist but not soggy. We also had umm...some kind of egg pudding which was amazing too. Finally we had one more dessert, I forgot :-P Well all in all, lunch was totally satisfying and thanks to yelp for I wouldn't have know otherwise. It was my turn to choose a eat out for our team and everyone left happy and tript. Last but not least the service is great too. Even though it was very crowded (good Latha made reservations), things flowed fast.
(4)
Kim N.
A solid sit down mexican joint. Lots of combinations and a la carte items. Addictive chips & salsa. The jalapeno poppers were pretty tasty and so was the Chile Relleno. I'm used to $1 soft tacos and lots of meat selections from various taquerias but the $3.50 steak and carnitas tacos here are fairly large. I'd definitely give this place a try for dinner if it weren't so far away from me. But if you're in the area and can navigate around the old parts of Milpitas then it's worth a shot. Sounds like from the other reviewers that the apple pie is what this place is really about.
(4)
Stuart D.
Great lunch spot. This place gets packed so get there before noon. The chips and salsa are great. Salsa is different, but really really good. This place has pretty authentic food! Its not your Chevy's, Pedros, or El Burro. The chile verde is the bomb. They actually use tomatillos so the verde is green like it should be, it's more on the tart side vs. spicy, the pork isn't all dried out, very good. The service is great and friendly, prices are good too. Park across the street at the school as their parking lot is kind of a joke.
(5)
bryan o.
In the food world (as well as the outdoor survival world), some types of cacti can be prickly pears--spiny packages that protect a lovely, watery pulp and edible flesh. The Baja Cactus is no gourmet stop, but it is a passable business lunch destination. The establishment boasts fairly enticing salsa and chips as an appetite stimulant for in-restaurant diners and very clean bathrooms. (The latter is a real plus appreciated by both restaurant goers and survivalists.) Alas, the refried beans and the sliced iceberg lettuce sides firmly place this restaurant in the volume food category. Which is a shame, since some of their dishes, such as their abondigas soup and their moles show real inspiration. I would give it a 2.5 star rating, if such were possible.
(2)
Doreen R.
I love MOLE, so I ordered the Enchilladas Emoladas and they are great! The chips and salsa are also good. The chips are crispy and light not greasy and hard like other places. I would definatley try this place if you like Mole. I haven't tried anything else here b'cause Mole is my "thing" but I'm sure all else is good too.
(4)
Alex B.
Just your ordinary sit-down Mexican joint. The food is a bit bland - nothing better than Chevy's or El Torito. The sangria was tasty, though.
(2)
Dan H.
This place makes the best Horchata I've ever had. The food is pretty good, but nothing I rave about, and I've tried several different items.
(4)
Carla C.
I went here for the second time at lunch today. Previously, it'd been with a large group from work. It was nice to sit down, chat and enjoy the food. It is a regular, run of the mill mexican place. Their chips and salsa are really good (the chips are thick and CRUNCHY). The salsa is just spicy enough for me, a red-headed 'Huera'. I ordered crunch taco with chicken, with sides of beans and rice. The taco's were hard to eat they were so crunchy! Their great taste made up for it, though I did spend time picking up little pieces of taco shell that fell. The beans and rice were really good. Not to greasy, not to salty. Even though I was totally stuffed I kept taking the chips and dipping them in the rice and beans. Delicious! I don't even want to think about how many Weight Watchers points it was. Ugh. The service was really good as well. The woman greeted us as soon as we came in the door. Our waitress came by to check on us. She also noticed as soon as I closed the menu and was there to take our order. As soon as I pushed the plate away she was right there, asking if we needed anything else (I needed a to go box). My fiance said it was 'just okay' though. I made the mistake of taking him to Tlaquepaque which spoiled him. He thought it was average. I'd definately go back again.
(4)
Rain D.
this is one of our good friend's favorite restaurants... i have been here 3 times after he introduced it to us... very yummy. So far everything I have gotten was very good. It's nice because it seems like you have to be in the know to know about this place since it's easy to pass it by with not noticing it.
(4)
Daniel M.
24 bux for 6 tacos and chips and salsa. Good price, great quality for a V-day dinner, sitting on that circular bed and drinking soda to wash it down. How u like me now! I like this place from going there in the ninety's and whenever i'm in the area or on a break from getting happy at galaxy's this is great food. and, yes i'm a cheap date thinking that the thought was all worth the expense.....of course if lotto came to play...eh whatever.
(5)
Steve C.
Love it. Mole is wonderful. Shredded beef has a great flavor. Ranchero sauce is good, though not the best I have ever had. This is my new standard Mexican fare. I think the best in milpitas for sure.. Salsa is good, kind of sweet, could be a little spicier. ( sorry Casa Azteca , I can't handle your salsa )
(4)
Kathleen M.
Mexican Mole on Main St. in Milpitas. Between Baja Cactus and Cactus Fresh (a Mexican place I frequent in Santa Clara), I can't keep the names of these places straight anymore. Thankfully I only eat at Baja Fresh once every two years or so, or that would be even more confusing. The chips are good and thick. No greasers or salters in sight. The salsa is good and spicy, but nothing groundbreaking. The boyfriend got crispy tacos ($7.99) - one with beef and one with chicken. He said the meat quality was fine. However, I could see his disappointment that the tacos were the hard-shell-taco-out-of-a-box kind instead of the crispy fried, artery clogging kind. I ordered the chicken enchiladas enmoladas ($9.99) which included rice (fine but nothing special) and beans. I asked for pinto beans instead of refried, and was sad by how bland they were. The mole sauce was thick and rich, and I'm undecided on whether or not I liked it. I think it's my own fault since I'm not a huge mole fan to begin with. I ordered enchiladas with mole because I had read they were the house specialty. (Also the house specialty? From what I hear the multi-layer apple pie.) Our server was friendly, but we had to wait around awhile for our check. Even after I asked for a box for my food, she didn't come by with our tab or to check up on us for another 10 minutes. The restaurant is located in a strip mall (there are so many strip malls in Milpitas I wonder if the entire city is actually located in a strip mall in Fremont at this point) and looks a little tired with lots of older wood booths, but was transformed into a really festive place the first time I came in to grab a menu. I'd go back, but I wouldn't rush or anything. bajacactusrestaurant.com The latest it's open all week is 9 p.m. (not sure of the hours/days)
(3)
R M.
Tacos Mexico being the best hole in the wall taqueria, this is the best mexican restaurant around, with the best soft tacos in the bay area. I eat a ton of mexican food, and we have great mexican restaurants around, but here's what makes this place great - 1. Freshly made corn tortillas - it's tough to find a mexican restaurant with fresh corn tortillas 2. Very good carnitas - not the best, but consistently juicy, full flavored, and tender. 3. Great Machaca con Huevos. Crispy, without being over done. 4. Very good mole sauce, perfect combination of sweet and spicy. Service is hit or miss, I get better service during the day, and have had a couple experiences on weekend evenings slow, and unfriendly. Knocking 1 star for inconsistent service. Horchata tastes like it's made there, but a bit lacking in flavor.
(4)
Lindy P.
It's pretty yummy here, but I have a feeling when looking at my food that it was hellllla fatty. So hahha, but it's okay. It was good.
(4)
anthony t.
Awesome Burrito...This review might be a little bias because I'm still full from that awesome carnitas burrito and the bottled coke the only thing I think this place could do better is the salsa i mean to have an awesome burrito and just and ok salsa is redundant because if you add the salsa the flavor is diminished by the lowest common denominator but overall great burrito
(4)
Chris W.
I had passed the Baja Cactus Restaurant on a number of occasions while passing through Milpitas and finally decided to stop in for lunch with some co-workers. The lunch rush was in full effect with all tables full and many large groups so I was excited. We decided to wait with 2 groups ahead of us and were quickly seated in a corner table but could not escape from the lunch crowd. It's a lively place for a meal with attentive service and happily fed patrons. I was excited to try one of my favorites, chili colorado, in the burrito form. It was described as the typical chili calarado with sauce both inside and out with rice, beans and a small salad garnish. I sipped on home made horchata and snacked on delicious chips and salsa while I waited for my dish. My first impression of my order when it arrived at the table was that the sauce topping my burrito was an uncommon bright red. I'm was expecting the normal deep, rich red that you would expect from a hearty stew of beef and peppers among other ingredients. I dug in none the less. My first bite was a bit disappointing unfortunately. Although the tortilla was fresh (not home made) the ingredients did not meet my expectations. The sauce was a bit light and vinegary and the beef was less then top notch although tender. The beans were probably the best part of the meal a, in addition to dipping a few chips into them, I found myself adding a bit to each bite of my burrito. I would have to say that I think the beans, as well as the horchata, saved my meal. I will be going back although not ordering the chili colarado. The menu, however, looks like it has a lot more to keep me busy.
(3)
Cindy M.
I've been coming to this place since elementry school and it's always a Milpitas favorite! Breakfast is my favorite here and can't go wrong with anything! Chips and Salsa is sooo good! Also try the banana shake...although it's not made the same way as it was a few years ago. Used to get this all the time but now it's too milky for me. But my son loves it. It's a shake so needs to be a thicker consistancy. The orginal owners used to be there all the time and they were sooo nice always chatting with the customers making them feel welcomed. Current staff is great but not the same vibe. Overall a great place to eat.... Make sure u go hungry
(4)
Silvana R.
This place taste GREAT from the first time they opened... this is my favorite place by far.... People are nice too....
(5)
Chris L.
thought this was a typical hole in the wall mexican restaurant but its actually a sit down restaurant. The food was great - gotta try them steak nachos.. one of the better nachos i've had in a while.. the service was friendly, kinda slow even though it wasn't as busy, i enjoyed my lunch there
(5)
Steve S.
Do you like chocolate? Do you like Mexican food? Have you ever heard of mole? (Pronounced "Mohl-Ay") Mole is a sauce that is made from chili, spices and a little bit of unsweetened choclate. I believe it is derived from a blend of Aztec and Spanish cuisine. Baja Cactus is the only place in the South Bay where I've been able to find truly delicious mole poblano. I've tried their enchiladas, which were excellent, but I keep coming back for the chicken mole poblano.
(4)
Sylvia H.
3.5 stars I came here with a friend for lunch. We arrived early thinking we should beat the lunch rush, especially b/c it was Friday too. Surprisingly at 12pm there were no lines and a few empty tables still. I guess this place doesn't get as much traffic as other places in the area? The restaurant was still crowded but just not packed. Anyways, our waiter seated us and immediately returned with our complimentary chips and salsa! :) The chips tasted fresh and warm. It wasn't oily at all like at some other places. The salsa had a slight kick to it but I would have hoped for some tomato chunks. Nonetheless, it was still appetizing. For my entree I ordered the chicken soft taco plate ($8.50), which comes with 2 tacos and a side of rice, beans topped with cheese, and a small salad. The meal was definitely filling and I did have leftovers to pack. The tacos came with corn tortillas wrapped in shredded chicken and guacamole. The chicken was really moist and the marinade juice was gushing out of the tortilla. But the juices didn't make the tortilla soggy at all. There wasn't anything really special about the tacos. To me, it lacked a bit of flavor. I've had better tacos from the taco trucks and from more authentic mexican restaurants. My friend ordered the chile rellenos plate ($9.95), which came with two chile's and a side of rice, beans, and salad. He seemed to enjoy his meal. The chile's seemed a bit on the small side though. But he didn't' have any complaints. I wouldn't mind coming back here since it's close by work and the staff is very friendly here. And, this place satisfies my hunger for mexican food when I'm unable to make it to the taco truck on a rainy day.
(4)
Jill C.
Baja is our favorite Mexican restaurant in Milpitas. Great chili rejanos and terrific salsa. Their specials are excellent. Real Mexican food.
(4)
Kara C.
My favorite Mexican place in the south bay, hands down! This is why- *Excellent specials, haven't ordered one that I didn't like. *The salsa. Best I have ever had, more than just tomato-y spicyness. *Fast service. *Food is not bland... they actually use -spices- (unlike many other Mexican restaurants I have been to where all the dishes taste the same!) *The salsa. *The salsa. *The salsa. and last but not least- *The salsa.
(5)
Steely K.
Yet another great Mexican restaurant in Milpitas, sharing the spotlight with Casa Azteca and La Milpa. This family-run spot has a friendly, warm atmosphere, but can get pretty noisy when it's crowded. The menu is pretty standard for Mex food, but the food is very good and the servers never rush you. Complimentary tortilla chips and spicy salsa are brought to your table just after you're seated. The menu offers 2- and 3-item combination meals that include spanish rice, refried beans and an on-plate (and therefore warm) salad. My only complaint is that one time I ordered a Margarita, and it tasted kinda funky...not sure what was going on there. From then on I just order a Corona with my meal. :-)
(4)
Alicia W.
Whoever has given this place a rating lower than 4 stars needs to understand that this is not Tex-Mex food. It is not "better" the more chillies you dump into it. This is authentic Mexican food. (Some clueless individual even compared it to the "real" Mexican food he gets from a taco truck.) This place has home-made mole (pronounced "MOLE-ay") sauce, the only I have found in Silicon Valley, and the best I have tasted in a long time. (Try the "enmolada" items to sample it.) As mentioned, the corn tortillias are expuisite. This is home-made food by a wonderful chef. This place is privately owned, a nice family place. For a change, try it in the evening when it is very puiet. The only criticism I have of the place is that the salsa and chips are so good, it is tempting to get full before the meal comes.
(5)
DAISY V.
Well first I want to say that I am Mexican and I am very pickie about my authentic Mexican food! Specially when it comes to Restaurants. I was a little bit nervous eating here at first but come to find out that there was no reason to be this place is great my family and I love it! I have been here about 5 times since I found it here on Yelp. On my first and second visit I got the Enchiladas with Camaron (Shrimp), I don't like this style of enchiladas but this was amazing, third visit I got the Pescado Enpanisado and that for me was not that great only because I don't like deep fried fish (not sure bout all you guys), My kids ordered the kids soft taco and my kids loved it!, fourth visit I got the Birria (is a spicy Mexican meat stew with lamb) This I only eat when my mom or a family member makes it (home made) because again I am very pickie with my mexican food but I ordered it here and OMG it was sooo delicious with there hand made corn tortillas, and my fifth visit I got the Pescado Veracruzano ( which consists of poached fish with tomato , onion , capers and chilli) I ordered mine with no capers and I have to say this has got to be my FAVORITE dish from here; all the flavors it has combined with the fish is sooo great and with there hand made tortillas! I totally recommend this place for families, groups, couples, whatever it is I recommend it! Oh and I have to say that there plates are very, very, very filling!! I know one thing for sure I will be coming here more often!
(5)
eric k.
yeah... this place was pretty good.... sitting down like this actually reminded me that I hadn't had mexican food like this in quite a while... the hot plate, the full course of beans and rice with the order... Taquerias ... sure...but that's not really what I consider a full sit-down kinda meal... at least not when you consider something like Tacqueria Los Charros the norm... I like TLC... but I just don't think of it the same way. The salsa was good... the plates were hot.. the rice was really fluffy(yes..and this is coming from an asian guy). I was actually a little surprised that the burrito wasn't bigger... but just call that a shift from "big and cheap" to a bit more quality. A good... heavy lunch... and even though the burrito wasn't as large as I was expecting... half of it is still in my fridge waiting for the next meal/opportunity.
(4)
Keiichi M.
When I think mexican in this area, I usually think of Maria Elenas in Alviso. However a friend and I wanted to change it up a bit and yelped a new place. We got a little lost getting there due to construction near by, but we eventually found it. First thing we noticed is that the parking lot is VERY SMALL!! there is a sign that says we can park at the church, but it is across the street, and a few buildings down, which kind of sucks. Instead, we parked in the lot next door. We got in and we weren't seated right away, most likely because there was a birthday crowd there. But when we sat, we ordered rather quickly and our food came out extremely fast! I had to try their chimichangas, and I have to say that it was pretty well made! Very tasty and priced about average. Their free chips and salsa are great as well. I really enjoyed their salsa, which has a little bit of a kick to it. We did order beer and they do not have the ones we got in draft (XX amber, and corona). So we payed close to 4 bucks for a bottle of beer (where we could have gotten a case of 12 for 12~15 bucks!!!). Anywho, tastes great, but had to take off one star for the beer and parking!
(4)
Liz L.
Excellent spicy salsa, the guac was good, but the camarones fajitas were a little bland. The fresh home make corn tortilla were good. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was excellent. The food needed to be a notch better for me to give them 4 stars. All in all, I would go back and try other choices from their menu.
(3)
Hao L.
As part of my effort to keep trying all the restaurants in Milpitas, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the food here. The chicken mole poblano was YUM. Not a lot of places seem do mole, and it was delicious here. People I was with had a chicken chimichanga, chicken burrito, and carne asada burrito - everyone liked their food. Also, I am not a huge fan of the rice and beans that usually come with, but the rice and beans here were very tasty as well. Who knows, maybe it's all made with a ton of lard, but who cares! :-) Well, ok, I do care, but a it was worth it. They serve breakfast here so think we'll try that next...
(5)
SuperDeeDuper S.
Yummy! Great Mexican food that can put you right into a coma before return back to work. Love the place!
(4)
Toni S.
I get withdrawal symptoms if I don't get there at least once a week. I am completely addicted to the Enchiladas Poblanas. I always ask for the sauce to be Mole Poblano rather than the sauce they usually use and it makes this dish even better. They have a great menu - very extensive and of things not on the "typical" Mexican restaurant menu. Love the sopes, queso fundido, too. And the salsa served with the chips is just spicy enough to get your attention and not hot enough to burn your mouth! LOVE Baja Cactus
(5)
Teesta K.
Shitty location, cozy interior, amazing sangria, reasonable prices, and good food. Enough said!
(4)
Jessica T.
mmm I love this place :) but their taco salad is $10 -__-U Inside the place is REAL nice looking like an actual home big plus service was great too
(4)
Marc M.
It's a family-friendly Mexican restaurant with very good food. We're regulars, and haven't found an item on the menu yet that we were disappointed with.
(4)
christina l.
fantastic food. friendly service. it's one of the regular places my husband and I visit for dinner when we don't feel like cooking. he always order the mole enchiladas. parking can be tricky during busy hours. they have their own lot, but it's not really that big.
(5)
Kalani B.
CHEESE ENCHILADA ROJOS. the best.
(5)
Mike F.
Great mole, and incredible corn tortillas. I'll never look at corn tortillas the same again, made up for the slow service. Price was right, food great.
(4)
Flo T.
Sopa de Albondigas. That is their Wednesday special and it is THE reason why I started eating at this place and continue to go back. It's a Mexican meatball style soup and it's good on a cold winter nite or when I'm deathly ill and I need a soup that tastes like it came out of a mom's kitchen. Another plus about this place is that they make their own corn tortillas. I've had many of their other plates and it's a place definitely worth trying out!
(5)
Tracie L.
I always forget how much I like this place. On my most recent trip, I got a combo plate with a beef crispy taco and a pork tamale. Honestly, the taco was gone within 2 minutes (soooo good!) but I left half of my tamale (not so good). The beans were great. It's weird to comment on something we normally just think of as a side, but I remember when I lived closer to Baja Cactus, we'd get a big order of beans to go and just have beans and cheese for lunch. They're tasty!
(4)
Diana T.
We had a girl's lunch here on a Saturday after trying to eat at Gourmet express and found it was closed (yelp info was wrong I guess). The food at Baja's was delicious and not at all greasy or heavy despite being lots of cheese, meat, and beans. We started the meal with chips and a deliciously spicy salsa. The crispy taco shell was sooo good (think 100 x better than taco bell's), though the carne asada was just ok. My enchilada was tasty as well. The best part--rice, beans, and a bit of salsa with good conversation. Go hear and get your mexican food fix with combos from $9-$12. Good service too!
(4)
eve m.
Tasty Mexican food, menu full of variety, comfortable atmosphere: This restaurant has it all. SO and I just discovered it and have been regulars ever since. We give glowing reviews to the chips and salsa, the pork chili verde, the cheese enchiladas, shredded beef crispy tacos, and the rice. The quesadilla was OK - nothing special - then again, a quesadilla isn't exactly rocket science. Prices are reasonable. Staff has always been friendly, if perhaps a bit prone to rushing you.
(4)
Eric M.
Decent mexican restaurant in milpitas. i come for the apple pie though. havent had one like it anywhere else yet.
(4)
Sam C.
I have been going here for a few years now. Never cared for the staff but the food was good.. Well I can no longer make excuses for bad service.. The waitresses obviously have never been trained in customer service. They do not say hello.. when I say "thank you" they do not reply with your welcome.. they plop the food down and leave without even asking if we need anything else.. they are openly rude which is inexcusable since we are spending money.. last time I went it was pretty busy.. my two sons received their plates but I watched mine go to the table behind me.. I sat without food for a while - when the staff finally noticed they delivered my plate to a different table they pickup up the plate from the lady behind me - rushed it to the back then quickly brought my plate - problem was it was the same main dish that they delivered to the other table. All they did was switch out the rice and beans - since the lady already started to eat from the plate.. when I asked if it was the same dish they lied and said - no, this is new.. when I asked a different staff member they said - yes but she didn't touch it yet... that was the most disgusting thing that they could have done.. given me a plate that someone else may have eating from.. the waitress was unapologetic and I told the owner I would never be back.. which I am sure he can care less... I told him I can deal with rude waitresses but disgusting serving practices was not acceptable..
(1)
Javier L.
This place is dug away on main street in Milpitas and it is worth finding. I have gone here multiple times, not so much because of the food but the service is great. I am from San Jose and there are better Mexican places out here, but if I am ever at Great Mall and feeling like having some Mexican food, this is my go to place. It is worth checking out, you will not be disappointed....
(4)
Gina A.
I love this place. The food is great, the atmosphere is nice (although I prefer their old decor to their new decor) and the service is good. I love their chips (better, crispier and fresher than La Milpa), they have a great home-made apple pie that is to die for, their enchiladas verde are an impressive second place to my bf's mom's enchiladas verde (she's from D.F., Mexico) and you can't go wrong washing down all this food with their margarita or sangria. Mmm, mmmm, mmm...now I am hungry!
(4)
Smarty Pants P.
First let me say that Mexican food is my "least" favorite food.... It's always too heavy... However, Baja Cactus Kicks ASS!!!! We discovered this joint about ten years ago.... By far they have the BEST salsa... Also, every Tuesday they have CLIANTRO CHICKEN to die for... All white tender meat simmered in cliantro sauce... OMG!!!! We try to go there every Tue, it's almost a addiction... Their rice is awesome too... I've try few other on the menu and they are equally good.. However, Cliantro Chicken is the BOM! We went to late lunch @ 1:00 and cliantro chicken was all sold out... Will never make that mistake again...
(5)
Morey R.
Best Mexican Food in the AREA hands down. Love this place!
(5)
Diane B.
Baja Cactus has been my family's favorite restaurant for more than 20 years. My son loves it so much, he's having his wedding rehearsal dinner there. The food is consistently great. We love everything we've ever tried and will continue to go there regularly until they close or we die, whichever comes first.
(5)
Sheri A.
Its Mexican, it has a menu, it smells like good mexican food.... but is it the best? Well its not something I will wake up the next morning and think Wow... and hopefully its not something that I will wake up in the middle of the night and think Why? Meaning Why did I eat that??? So it was good but nothing to write home about. I had shrimp fajitas and my friends had Chimichangas... but the meals weren't huge and the service was on the slow side (we went for Dinner on a Wed night) so overall not bad, but not great so I probably wont return. Sorry... I guess I have to continue to work my way around the top rated on Yelp :)
(3)
S. S.
My sister introduced this place to me because she works nearby. I used to have my birthday lunch here because I love the fresh handmade tortillas. There is no substitute as far as I am concerned. I usually stick to the carnitas plate or the carnita sopes and haven't tried many other thingson the menu. And as a special splurge have a glass of horchata to wash things down.
(4)
Eric L.
Went there for the first time with a couple of coworkers for lunch. The parking lot is tiny, but we scored the last available spot. A sign said there was parking across the way, but a good sign if the parking lot is full. We were seated quickly, the drinks came fast (just water with a TON of ice). We received the standard mexican fare of chips and 2 small bowls of salsa. I only tried one, but it wasn't spicy at all, reminded me of pico de gallo. Anyways, I had the Chile Verde chimichanga, no beans, just rice. The verde sauce was good. The rice was good, just added some salsa like I always do. The chimichanga though...it was about the size of my hand. Not think and crusty crunchy goodness. It was a bit more than a wet burrito. It was just ok. It had 1 large chunk of pork and maybe 2 small pieces. That was it. When I thnk of a chimichanga, I want a big fried burrito that's filled with gooey-goodness. This was not. The others said their food was good. I will try it again at a later date, maybe get something that had some filling in it besides the sauce. Overall, it was ok for a $12 meal, but I expected more, especially for the price.
(3)
Barry J.
This has been a favorite of mine for the past 15 years, since I saw it listed as the best hole-in-the-wall mexican restaurant in the South Bay. I visited and fell in love. The Enchiladas Enmoladas with it's sauce with hints of chocolate is incredible. The Mole Polblano has also made me put many miles on my car. The service has always been friendly.
(4)
diana t.
you know how you go to certain mexican restaurants and you always order your food without refried beans because they taste disgusting and have that weird grey color to them? well this isnt one of them. their beans are soooooo good. the reason i eat here is because i crave their beans. i betcha that they make them with lard which is why they're so tasty, but it's okay because it's worth the triple bypass heart surgery. their food is really authentic. and they give you free chips and salsa. my favorite is the enchilladas and the taco combo. the mexican rice that comes in the combo is okay too, but as i said, the beans are the real stars.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Spencer H.
This is a great restaurant to go to. It is too bad that main street of Milpitas is dead which makes this place in the middle of nowhere. The food is delicious, the enchiladas, carnitas, and chimichangas are great. Great place if you are tired of going to the chain mexican eateries but still want a place to dine in.
(4)Carina M.
I really can't believe I haven't written a review for this place. I thought I had, then looked on my calendar and saw that I had gone there, but didn't cross it off...meaning I had written a yelp review. I usually get a chimichanga, but this time around I opted for the flautas. Both are equally good and I found I prefer the carne asada chimichanga over their chicken one. I ordered chicken flautas - nice, light and refreshing for a late afternoon snack. My partner in food crime, Judi M., got nachos. Of course, I snagged some off her plate. ;) Service has always been excellent in the times hubby, friends and I have frequented (are you listeneing, La Milpa?). Between Baja Cactus and Casa Azteca, La Milpa will never need enter our Mexican food repertoire ever again.
(4)Adam C.
Great homemade salsa!!!!! Great banana milk shakes!!!! My favs to order is the Chimmichunga, Enchiladas Rancheras, and the Fajitas. Cannot go wrong with much here. Repeat offender X 10
(5)Florence W.
3.5 stars because of the inconsistencies. Been here many times, I've had good experiences and not so good experiences. After a while, I've learnt what to order and what not to. The service are pretty much ok, friendly and most of the time they leave you with your company alone. The chips and salsa are good , except maybe once or twice we had stale chips. Don't get the burrito or tamale, Do get the chicken mole or enchiladas. The sauces here are good. A good place for Mexican food if you're in the area!
(4)Donna P.
[[Disclaimer]] The following references to "Cucarachas" or cockroaches, are strictly comedic in nature and do not reflect any insinuation that this sparkling clean establishment is, or has ever been so infested! And now, to the Loyal Fans of the Spam Can, I present to you.... ....a ping-pong match! "Uh, Ma? Weren't this supposed to be a restaurant review?" (This from Captain Pie Hole) Sigh. Well, yes, Pa, but you and me was battin' opinions and stars back and forth over the table too fast to follow--So, I wanted to give the folks back home a sorta play-by-play review. "What EVER!" (Uttered in a snarky tone by Pa, um, I mean "The Captain") AHEM! Without further ado.... We were tired after a long day, and just looking for something good on the way home. Baja Cactus seemed to fit the bill. Besides, the Cap'n last visited them 10 years ago, so it was time for whatyacall a RE-evaluation. THE GOOD --Enchiladas del mar were delicious, filled with fresh shrimp and crab meat, and topped with scrumptious guacamole and sour cream. --Quick, attentive service --Slightly-spicy Salsa --First batch of chips --Tasty Guacamole --Nice presentation on the plate --Clean restaurant, cute decor THE OK --Rice & beans --Red sauce on enchiladas THE BAD --Food was not HOT (temperature-wise). It was warm/hot --Second batch of chips was stale (maybe a hint that we should just pay and get out? It was close to closing time after all.) --The beef in Pa's dish was tough... Oops! I mean "The Captain's" meat was tough... Damn!... What I meant to say was... Sh**!.. Never mind. THE UGLY --The canned music recordings. Fifties era gringo-mariachi, bouncing off the walls at cucaracha-crunching decibels. How many times can you listen to "The Mexican Hat Dance" before you start wanting to speak stereotypical, gringo espanol in a condescending manner, and asking if they have any sombreros we could buy, ala Chevy's? They DO have a nice-looking breakfast menu, so I'd be willing to try them again. Ma and the Captain, over and... PA! STOP TEASIN' THAT CUCARACHA! 'Afore you know it you'll be a-bringin' one home with ya fer a pet... AGAIN! Sigh.... ....over and out! This and all other reviews posted on yelp.com by "Ma Megabyte" are copyrighted 2009/2010 by Pie Hole Publishing. All rights reserved
(4)Kristen H.
Pretty standard, tasty Mexican food. Reasonably priced for the portions you get. We had extremely quick service, which I appreciated, and the server was really friendly. I ordered cheese and chicken enchiladas rojas, which were pretty good. Bottom line: although I enjoyed the food and the service was good, I wouldn't rave about it nearly as much as the other reviews on here. It seemed pretty standard.
(3)Cherylle Q.
I used to come here often for lucnh when I used to work nearby, but now I seldom make my way over to it. They are reasonably priced and have good portions - may be a little big for some, but you can think of having some leftover to take home as a snack or lunch the next day. I've only had their chicken, which is extremely juicy - I either have it in a crispy taco, tostada, quesadilla, tamale or chimichanga - all of which are delicious! Note: their chimichanga is HUGE.
(4)Richard L.
Chicken Mole at it's finest! At least in the northern San Jose/Milpitas area. I've had mole from a lot of different spots, but as far as it being served in Milpitas, this is the spot to go. Light but full of flavor, served with freshly made tortillas, rice, and some of the best refried beans I've had in a good while. The chicken is moist, and the sauce served has everything you're looking for. A little spice, a little sweetness, and it compliments all the other elements included. The restaurant itself is nice! Well decorated, but not to the extreme. Big enough to hold large parties, but also plenty of tables for that intimate date. I'd recommend this to anyone whos craving that chicken mole authenticity. I've yet to try the other items, but they're definitely intriguing.
(4)Jaime O.
Baja cactus, we've loved you a long time. Its been difficult getting into your rythm lately. The service is a little off putting - but clearly sincere. My shrimp cocktail had GUSTO! (maybe a tad too much for some, but I like it spicy). We will be back, undoubtedly.
(4)Diane S.
All I have to say is CHECK YOUR BILL before paying. My son ordered a cherry coke and got two additional refills. When the bill came I thought it seemed a little high. I asked the waiter to please go over it with me and once I took a second look they had written Roy Rogers on the left side of the bill with three marks right after and then all the way to the right side of the bill it was written $2.95. Basically they did not add up the three charges ($9.00 for a Coke) and it was left up to me to figure this out. I believe they were hoping I didn't catch those charges. When I asked the waiter why he didn't tell us that there was no free refills, he then replied that it's in the menu, HUH??? This was the point where I am sure my face got a little red. I suggested to the waiter in the future he should make sure he tells his customers that there are no free refills. Eventually, he said that he normally would tell his customers, but I guess he forgot to tell us on the first refill and the second..HA! I felt this was handled inappropriately from the way they wrote the check up to the point where they did not offer to remove those two extra charges for the soda, I mean Roy Rogers..... My chorizo sope was good and the beans and rice were okay, but I will NEVER go back to this restaurant again based on their (staff-waiter) deceiving ways...
(1)Rebecca M.
Mmm this has to be the most authentic Mexican food I have had in awhile. Even while in my hungover state at brunch I couldn't resist nearly cleaning my plate. As I said before something about South Main Street in Milpitas weirds me out; but since I have found several hidden gems on this street just over this past weekend I have begun to see it in a new light. The decor of this place is great- wooden booths and lots of light. If it were later in the day, I could imagine drinking margaritas here for hours on end. The food and selection is typical fare but the quality is outstanding. I had the pork and over easy eggs with corn tortillas- absolutely delicious. The chunks of pork fall apart in your mouth and when mixed with the beans and egg in a homemade corn tortilla the different tastes really pop out. Pricing was good, ambiance was great, and the food was fantastic. What more can I ask for?
(4)Tam F.
I have been here twice now when meeting the boyfriend for lunch in his work town. My guy and I like Mexican food a lot. This place isn't a must go to place, but it isn't a stay away from type place either. Chips and salsa are good. The salsa has a little but not too much kick. The beans are a bit runny for my taste, the meat is average, the portions good. My bf said he had the best chimichanga he has ever eaten today. That is enough to earn a star on its own in my book. The food is decent. The service is decent. It can be VERY loud during lunch-especially on a Friday when people get paid and are drinking... Oh yeah, the bathroom was super clean which is a a bonus!
(3)Gary L.
The good: they have mole, the service, homemade corn tortillas. The bad: the mole is very tasty, but is mostly sauce, and very little chicken. The salsa and chips are run of the mill. A lot of things are microwaved. It is slightly overpriced. Apparently a lot of locals agree, because there were only 2 other tables occupied when we were there. Overall this is not a bad restaurant, but to give it 4 stars invalidates the reason for yelp, and 5 stars is just plain ridiculous.
(3)Jan P.
I became two months pregnant after attempting to finish off my large combo plate here! A+ for heaping the plate with tasty rice, for large portions of chips with good salsa, and for a pretty scrumptious tamale and chile relleno combo. Minus points though for fake horchata which was soo obviously made from a mix. C'mon, you SO cannot strain horchata that well, and nor does horchata come out white white...even though it was served in a large cup. In summary, it's a clean taqueria with standard fare, nothing out of this world, but pretty good nonetheless. Definitely a nice pit stop before heading out to the mall to walk off your newly acquired baby. Boyfriend says burrito is only so-so, but he throws in another vote for the tamale.
(4)James N.
For years I drove by Baja Cactus and didn't go in. I think I must have gone here once long ago and didn't find it to be everything I wanted. This confirms to me that back then I was young and stupid. This place to me NOW is a staple in my Mexican dining life. For me, it is about the Steak Tacos. They are great. They are well seasoned and the tortillas they come in....there is just something wonderful about them. I try other Mexican places in my life, the steak tacos are typically...meh. Here, they are great. Yes, the chicken is also good, the salsa & chips are plentiful, crunchy and in large baskets and there is usually room for any sized lunch party you want to bring in, but don't forget the steak tacos. They are delicious. Just thinking about them now is making me hungry. Bring a friend too, why not, they'll thank you for it!
(4)Justin D.
This place is very close to the great mall, so I'd recommend giving it a try if you are in the neighborhood, beats the alternatives. I had enchilada verde with beef. The sauce was good, beans and rice were good as well. The beef had good flavor and was not overcooked, juicy. As mentioned by others, the salsa and chips were good. (a bit spicy for my daughter). My daughter had a quesadilla with rice and beans. She ate everything, I was surprised, she usually passes on the beans. I tried a homemade lemonade, pretty good. Tasted a little over sweetened and a little watered down, maybe that's just me. I would recommend this place, I don't get down in this area much, not sure I'd make a special trip just to go here, but am willing to try more on the menu in the future. Hard for me to debate between 3 and 4 stars, I am guessing if I go back and am satisfied I would upgrade easily to 4.
(3)Bryan T.
Baja Cactus is the good old reliable lunch time destination for Mexican food. The dishes are tasty and portion size is very reasonable. Service is generally reliable but there have been a few times where we've had a waiter/waitress that looks annoyed or unhappy. They have it all. My colleague with discerning taste always goes for the sopes. He loves them! In contrast, I like to mix it up. I've tried a wide range of dishes here from Carnitas to Chimichangas, Sopes, Enchiladas, and Chile Rellenos. For me, most Mexican cuisine starts tasting the same if it's from the same source, so we've been rotating between Baja Cactus and some of the other establishments in the area. Ever notice that effect with certain foods? I feel that in Mexican food the ingredients are generally the same from dish-to-dish, it's just the visual construction that is different. Case in point - taco versus tostada. I've always been interested in trying the Clamato Beer drink that they had advertising for previously. I think it's called Chelada? I'm a fan of Bloody Caesars, so this interests me. Unfortunately, every time I've been to this place has been for work and I'm not going back to the office with beery clammy breath. Solid 3-stars from a regular.
(3)Gianluca V.
Best MOLE POBLANO I've ever had!
(4)Eric P.
"Wow" is really all I have to say. This is the best Mexican food I've had in a looong time. I read over the other reviews and maybe I just got lucky... but damn it's good. Here's the deal... I had to work through part of my lunch and needed food, but only had 20 mins to pick up food and eat. A coworker had leftovers from one of my favorite restaurants (which is too far away from the office to get for lunch) and it had me craving Mexican food. So, I hit Google. "Mexican food near Milpitas,CA". Bada bing. Pops up with a good rating. 1.7miles away. Here I go. Called in my order "Chicken Soft Tacos". Left work, got to Baja Cactus, they had my food ready to rock. Taco's, beans and rice with chips and salsa on the side. As I walked in, I noticed their flan. Not a lot of people like flan, but I love it and I've had a hard time finding good flan around here. So, I bought some. The flan is EXCELLENT. Maybe some of the best I've ever had. Salsa is great. The tacos were awesome. The beans were cheesy. Overall, there's nothing that I could possibly have wanted differently. 5 stars. This place rocks.
(5)Irene A.
It was edible. No big surprises here. I wish I wasn't lazy and actually made the journey to my favorite mexican taco truck to get my fix, but we all make mistakes. I had the carne asada tacos and camarones rancheros. Both bland and the asada was dry. The beans were terrible, watered down with no hint of lard and heart attack. I've realized that when it came to mexican restaurants, if their beans suck, then their food won't be that great either. So far, my theory has been correct. Glad I tried this place though, to avoid it in the future. Oh..the salsa was good at least.
(2)Jaymes H.
warning a burrito plate does not include an actual burrito ... its like a biiig enchilada. I got the chile verde, it was pretty tasty. NOTE : Generally not a big fan of mole, so apparently im messing the best thing this place has to offer.
(3)J P W.
Went here with the family.. Let me tell you, My sister and I are the ONLY mexican food eaters in the house. My father believes its a bit too rich and my mom is very critical when it's not her favorite restaurants in Milpitas. The waitress that served us was a very pleasant woman, although she didn't give us the best service, she was kind and offered great suggestions. I got the beef burrito with chicken flautas -- not that great imho. My family's reaction to their food was even worst than mine! My mom just pouted while eating her Cactus&eggs... Not a good sign. My father just seem discontent with his tamale, burrito and taco combo. I think this place is worth another shot though, so will be editing my review once i do. Try this place because I still believe its one of the hidden treasures of Milpitas.
(3)Jillian N.
been coming here since I was a baby, and my parents had their first dates here. after all these years, the atmosphere is still warm and cozy, the staff is friendly (an recognize regular customers :D) and the food is delicious. order the de res chimichanga- I always wanna try something different but always end up choosing this!
(5)DJ M.
Love this restaurant!! I have been coming here for about 20 years - Hands down the best Camarones Rancheros in the bay area!!!
(5)Brian T.
Been to this restaurant twice now. First visit warranted it 4 stars but I unfortunately had to bump it down to 3 after the 2nd visit. The main reason to visit this place is for it's carnitas plate! One of few places that actually deep fry their carnitas in lard instead of just steaming it. Sure it's unhealthy -- but I don't think anybody really correlates Mexican food with a healthy diet. Anyways the carnitas is unbelievable -- crispy on the outside and juicy and delectable on the inside. Just make sure you order it during lunch time and not dinner as I'm suspecting that's when the lard is still fresh and they can still fry it properly. (I bumped the rating down one for the inconsistency) Other than that, the Sopa de goat is pretty awesome too -- tender meat in a chipotle like soup. And how often do you get to order goat anyways?
(3)John M.
Great, great restaurant. Highly recommended. The carnitas plate was one of the best I ever had. Great chips and salsa too.
(5)Davlyn S.
Oh no, no, no, no, no. I hate leaving any review less than 5 stars as a small business owner and knowing what it does to a business but this restaurant has forced me to do so. People need to know. I have had two experiences. The first time was during a Sunday while I dined alone during the day. The service was phenomenal and I wish I knew the servers name to give her praise. But the food was- okay. Not better than that. But I was impressed because they had menudo. The second time- all bad. First of all they don't have real margaritas. It says maragarita on the menu but it is wine with margarita mix. And it is awful. I brought a few friends and it was a weekday night. My bad since I didn't understand what I was getting myself into. The server told us as my friend pointed out but I didn't pay attention. To me wine margaritas is a horrible idea. Then the service itself was unfortunately bad. I get the feeling that the server couldn't understand us but would choose to ignore us when she didn't. More than once I required attention and instead of her saying one minute or I will be with you she just moved on when I was pretty loud about my needs. Good service is important to me as I own a business and like to think I know somewhat what that entails to make customers happy. The food was mediocre again. My menudo had absolutely no hominy in it and we had to request it. And with the service being quite bad I just can't see myself going back there. I will go to my favorite- Casa Azteca for sure next time.
(3)Mike M.
This is a great spot to get your fix on classical mexican food. The food is simple, tasty, and filling. We started off with complimentary chips and salsa. I had a delicious carnitas burrito platter, which was accompanied by a salad, rice and beans. I also had a bite of the numero quatro combo -- pork tamale and cheese enchilada. The food was fresh, moderately spicy, and tasty. I love classic Mexican food and have been looking for a local spot so this fits the bill. My only complaints are the small parking lot outside and the live music from the mariachi band that plays at nights which can make having a conversation difficult.
(4)Jaclyn L.
The boy was craving Mexican food and margaritas tonight, so after a bit of searching, we stumbled across Baja Cactus. The menu contains the typical burritos, tacos, fajitas, tamales, combination plates, etc. I ordered a beef enchilada and tamale combo, which also comes with rice, beans, and a small salad. The tamale was delicious! I usually order tamales at Mexican restaurants, and I must say, this was better than the norm. The salsa was also a highlight of the meal. It was different than the usual chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. This salsa contained chopped green onions and just the right amount of spice. The downside to the meal were the margaritas. They were not chilled and were either too strong or not flavorful. I probably wouldn't order them again. The restaurant felt comfy, as if you were walking into somebody's home or a local diner. Bright Mexican art mixed with Christmas decorations were scattered all through the restaurant - a nice touch for a rainy December night. A group of musicians also came in and sang a few Christmas songs for the restaurant. Feliz Navidad!
(4)Nicole R.
I've been here twice without realizing just how good this place is, until afterwards, when I start to crave Mexican food and all I can think about is the food I've had here and the rest of the food I want to try. They accommodate large parties as I had attended a baptism celebration here years back, with a fixed menu of 3 selections to make the whole process easier. Even with all the chaos, the service was stellar! Even with a smaller party of 10, they rung us up individually to avoid the hassle of a short tab. I've tasted their mole, yet never mustered the courage to order it on my own. I guess trying something other than the regular chimichanga, enchiladas, etc. scares me but I for sure will get it next time. It's just that good and I regretted that I only sampled it from my fiance's plate last time.
(4)May O.
Pros: Service is good for a packed restaurant Parking is good (lot and street) Beer is nicely chilled Salsa is great with a nice kick Cons: The chips were unedibly hard The shrimp fajitas was disappointing. The menu called for tiger shrimp, I was expecting at least a 20 count size, but what came on the sizzling platter was at least a 30 count size of shriveled up shrimp with at least 2 lbs of peppers and onions. Also, this doesn't even come with rice. All this for an outrageous price of $14.95. I would give it lower rating, but my coworker loves the mole here and I must say it looked really good. Next time I will try the chili verde.
(3)ALAN Y.
Our family and another went there last night , 4 adults and 4 kids. Service was friendly and quick. Haven't been there in a few years. Quality is still there. Service is better than I remembered. The margarita was weak. But food was solid. Not crowded at all for a Saturday night at 7:45.
(4)Vi C.
We come here often. I have had several different salads and always pleased, kid gets a huge "child's menu" nachos and doesn't eat for another day after. Hubs has tried many combo plates, happy with the meat a seafoods here. People complain of the service, for one, tip better. And for those who think the place needs a makeover look at what they charge and how packed the place is. This isn't some run of the mil chain restaurant like El Torito's and I'm glad it's not because it reflects in their food. Great taste and not over priced. Calling tomorrow to see if they cater....
(5)Annie C.
YUM! I love this kind of Mexican restaurant. Went here the day before Cinco de Mayo with my Mom for Dinner, so the place was empty- we had great, quick service to say the least! I had cheese enchiladas and my mom had a shredded beef chimichanga. Both good, but OMG, that chimi was good....I am a vegetarian for the most part, so I was stealing crispy little non-meat bits from the outside of my mom's chimi....so good. Not greasy or soggy at all. Of course, the free chips and salsa are always good. They have a nice big menu, lots of choices. Looking forward to going back, maybe for breakfast or lunch....
(4)Nancy C.
The gold standard for Mole. We compare every mole we order anywhere to Baja Cactus. One was close and 4x the price in Santa Fe, NM. We've even special ordered the sauce and brought it home!
(5)Sanllin T.
Best mole chicken ever! The sangria is great, too. I always leave the place feeling like I ate too much, but the food is just fantastic. The service can be hit and miss, but the food made up for it.
(4)Stephanie R.
This is one of my families fave Mexican restaurants. After a long time of not eating there, we all went last week for my brothers birthday. As always, I enjoyed my enchiladas and a glass of horchata. I always love their chips and salsa as well. The people who run the place have always been really nice, and they keep the place really clean.
(4)Tricia B.
I ordered the enchiladas del mar, they were ok. My daugther ordered a chicken burrito, the meat was dry and the burrito was pretty tasteless. My other daughter ordered flautas, also dry meat and not enough salt. It took ages for us to get refills on our water. Friend ordered the shrimp special and said it was good. I make Mexican food all the time at home and it's way better than this stuff, will not return. Oh, and they had boxing on tv right next to our both, it's really not appetizing watching someone get his face knocked out while I'm trying to eat.
(2)Christine N.
Not bad! I come here occassionally with my co-workers for lunch and hubby for dinner. I haven't ever been disappointed. The food is pretty good and really affordable. Portions are large and filling and the staff is friendly. Good solid lunch stop or when you're craving a burrito or some enchiladas. Yum!
(4)Jeanie C.
Baja Cactus is my favorite (so far!) restaurant that serves the typical American-style Mexican food that we all grew up with and love. I find that a lot of this type of local restaurant with the 'combination platters' and all the typical fare ends up being bland and boring. Not this place, though, everything is full of flavor - even the salsa isn't afraid to have a nice kick to it. Baja Cactus also serves some other items you can try if you are feeling a little bolder - like the goat stew or the cactus! The service has always been friendly, the food tasty, and the price is good too. Everyone in my party was quite pleased with their meal. Recommended, give it a try!
(4)Jaz P.
my recommendation is the Enchiladas Emoladas. delicious! and they give tortilla chips and fresh salsa to accompany your mexican home-cooked style meal
(5)Dave C.
I came here with my daughter and we split a Chicken Quesadilla. Chips and Salsa were good. The Quesadila came with a side of sour cream and a side of guacamole. The Quesadilla itself was just ok. Nothing great. I will come back to try other things on the menu.
(3)Dave K.
Great food Mole was great. Service was good
(4)Sel A.
Steak soft tacos... that's all I gotta say! Y U M!
(5)R P.
We have been going to this place for over 10 years. Nothing on the menu is less that fantastic. My fav: Tuesday lunch special - Cilranto (sp) chicken. They make their own core tortillas! The enchilada emolidas (sp?) are awesome as well. Great chips and spicy salsa. Can't recommend enough. This is the gold standard I measure all other Mexican restaurants with.
(5)Silke M.
very good food and friendly service, cozy atmosphere and pleasently quiet and mellow. My favorite is the chicken mole, second the steak ranchero, I tried the shrimp rancheros whiich think were frozen shrimp but still good due to the great sauce. Also love the Sangria soda and the salsa dip has a nice kick to it if you like it spicy.
(4)Todd M.
Tried this place as it was one of the highest rated mexican restaurants in Milpitas. Got there and it was empty on a Sunday night. Not a good sign. Sat down, the salsa is awesome. Just enough heat, ate so much of it, didn't think we were going to be eating dinner. She got the halibut/shrimp thing, I got the Steak Ranchero. Both were the best we've had in the area. Recommend? Yup!
(4)Song-My T.
I love coming to Baja Cactus! The salsa and chips that they give you at the beginning are great. The place is very affordable as well. Every time I come here, I order a chicken crunchy taco and an enchilada. The food is flavorful, and the salsa they provide compliments it well. The restaurant has a nice decor, and the staff is friendly. Baja Cactus is located in a really random area, but it is probably the best restaurant on Main Street in Milpitas.
(4)Courtney H.
This place has been a family favourite for at least a decade. Very good food! And I love the ambiance of the place. The only thing I don't like about it is the teeny, tiny parking lot, which I know they have no control over. Sometimes you have to find parking on the street, which isn't easy as Main is a pretty busy street.
(4)Lyn B.
The best chimichanga ever! Not a fan of the other stuff, but love the chimi! Good prices & portions, fast & friendly service. When you dine-in, the chips & salsa are free. For take-out, they charge you $2.50 if you want it. Makes no sense to me...
(4)Chris R.
Yowsa! Get your Mole Poblano here! I have been hankering for a Mole dinner for quite some time. Not wanting to go experimenting on this particular night out I turned to Yelp for some help. Since I was going to do business in Milpitas (AND I WAS STARVING) I hit up this fine site for some local advice and turned up Baja Cactus Restaurant. When I arrived I found just what I was looking for. - Local flavor without the chain restaurant distractions. - Local people running the place. - Tucked away in the neighborhood. - Real food made by real people. - Tables and chairs with china, glass, and metal utensils. - Alcoholic drinks. Baja Cactus Restaurant fit all of those needs and more. One of the standards I measure a good Mexican restaurant by is their ability to serve a variety meals. A place that actually has mole on the menu is a place that will impress me. Mole' is not that hard to make or keep but most places seem to think this dish is too unusual for us gringos to eat. Why that is I don't know. I also like a place that has real tortillas and a dam fine tamale. A margarita that slide down easily will also draw me in. So how did Baja Cactus Restaurant do on the meal. To answer that I 'll pick them apart first. - Parking: Excellent! Both a private lot and street parting were available. - Hours of operation: Average to better. You can get breakfast here. But don't expect a midnight meal as Baja closes at 9PM. - Appearance. Somewhat dark on the outside at night. Once you are inside the place brightens up to a cool little Mexican place. They have Piñata-esque papier decorations all around. Thank god Baja avoided the year-round Christmas lights you see at so many places. - Seating: The tables and booths were average for your little homey Mexican restaurant. You're family will easily fit unless you have brought along the second and third cousins. I was shown to a table promptly after arriving. - Service: Baja Cactus Restaurant has top notch service. The older lady who served me (Alta?) was fast and pleasant. She never hurried me and I always felt a warmth and caring when she made her rounds. who cares if there are small language problems when you have people like this! - Setting: A small negative here since they used paper napkins. But overall a good setting with metal ware, china, and glass. - Margarita: I found my drink to be too sweet! The The next time I will order something else like a Modelo. - Chips and Salsa: Top notch! I could have have snacked on the chips and salsa all night. One of the better salsas served. Just the right amount of kick. Baja Cactus brought out some limes when i asked so I could spritz the chips. Yum! - Tortillas: Do Baja Cactus make their own? I forgot to check but it would not surprise me. These are not your regular store bagged tortillas. As with the chips I could have made a meal out of just the the tortillas. Close the grandma's style. - Tamales: I had the pork tamales. These were a big disappointment. The masa came out too watery when served. The pork filling was VERY bland. The red sauce on top was the only thing that tried to save the dish. The tamales were so boring I left one on the plate. Hormel canned tamales are better. On the flip side of my opinion you could feed the very young and very old their tamales without worry. - Beans: They did a good job on the refried beans. Nice cheese on top. - Rice: Average job on the rice for semi-bland style. Maybe they make it this way for the Americans. Better than many places but certainly not the best. Need more cumin, cilantro, and salt. I have made better Mexican rice at home. - Mole: I say Ole'! Baja Catus' Mole Poblano was a real winner in my book. The chicken was cooked just right. The sauce was tasty! The appearance was a deep dark chocolate just like you would expect it to be. When I go back to Baja Catus Restaurant make sure you don't come between their mole' and me on pain of missing a body part! If you were to look at my plate afterward you would have found it licked clean. So were my fingers, the nails, even the spot on my shirt (happens to all mole eaters) was given attention to save what I could. I considered eating the paper napkin too. I think I must have enjoyed it too much because I got high off of their Mole. Price: With the plate, drink , and generous tip my meal was $23. Not bad. Overall I count my meal at Baja Cactus Restaurant as a win. The Mole will certainly bring me back one more time. Many of the other menus items I saw on other table also looked great too. And with the chiliquilles shown on the menu I have a breakfast run in my future. I have to thank my fellow Yelpers for once again steering me to a good place. Even with the tamale landmines Baja Cactus Restaurant has fulfilled my desire to have a nice plate of Mole Poblano set before me.
(4)Alyce M.
Not bad... I had the lunch special #9 and the waitress didn't even tell us that it was a hot plate I burnt my hand :( And the ice tea tasted burnt as well....
(3)J L.
I don't really *love* Mexican food and have always tried to skip a team lunch when they want to go to *that* place in Alviso. My co-worker convinced me to come here and I'm happy I did. The chips and salsa are so good! I had the fajitas last time which were good and today I had the chicken soft tacos. Our server described the tacos as small so I went with the full order. That was a tasty mistake as I definitely found the tacos larger than normal. I'd definitely be back!
(4)Ray C.
Can't believe I never reviewed this place. I used to come here all the time with my girl. I would order the same thing(Enchiladas Rojas) every time. They are consistently delicious. Always ate every single bite off the plate. It's that good.
(4)Donoho B.
I'm a mole whore and man enough to admit it! Mole is a very personal experience. Some like it sweeter. Some like it a bit more bitter. Some like it with stronger hint of cinnamon. I Love it at Baja Cactus. I Love the mole here. I don't even order it with the dish it's supposed to come with. Lucky for me they're very amenable and after all this time have stopped giving me strange looks when I order Nopales con Huevos with Mole on top (lunch or dinner) or Chorizo con Huevos with Mole on top. I kinda have a thing for eggs too... The corn tortillas are excellent and are not to be missed. I give Baja Cactus 4 stars instead of 5, because Mole appreciation varies so much from person to person, and I haven't tried enough of the menu to round out my suggestions. Though you can't go wrong with the flan...
(4)Charlie B.
I would give Baja Cactus (fondly known as BJ Cack in my inner circle) 5 stars but I have to settle for 4 because I was scolded by a waitress for talking about something inappropriate (I believe the words "dominatrix lesbian" may have been uttered a tad bit too loudly). I sulked for a while, but enjoyed my chips and salsa until my FABULOUSLY crispy bean and cheese burrito was served in all of its melty cheese glory. Luckily I didn't get myself in any more trouble. I HIGHLY recommend Baja Cactus. But behave yourself. They aren't playing around.
(4)Jeff P.
Pretty average Mexican. Didn't like the salsa.
(3)Carlo Dolce Vita A.
Food is plentiful. The Menudo soup is hearty and flavorful. Good lunch spot.
(3)vien p.
Took a friend to eat here several months ago. When we ordered, she pointed to the dish she wanted, and attempted to pronounce the name of the dish. The waitress nodded, and when our food came, it wasn't what she ordered. The waitressed brought back the slip that she scribbled our order on, and "corrected" my friend on what she had really ordered. We pointed out on the menu the correct dish my friend ordered, and it turned out that the waitress wrote down the dish listed below the one my friend wanted. The waitress left and that was it. No offer to change the dish or anything. The waitress came to clean up after the meal and saw that my friend did not even touch her dish. She then scolded her, telling her that next time, she should order clearly, and pointed out the differences between the dish brought out versus the dish my friend wanted. RUDE!!! I am sad to experience this...I love this place. Staff usually isn't too attentive, but they are generally nice and get the job done. I am not going back.
(3)Dave M.
I really like Baja Cactus. We don't eat there anything like every week but when we ask the question "where do we want to eat" this one always comes up. I like the food. It's different from my other favorite Mexican place in Milpitas but it's still really good. And I like the friendly people. And the decor is cute. About the only think I don't like about it is the parking. It's always very crowded at meal times.
(4)Scott L.
Always have good food and for the most part good service. I wish the food were more stunning and when I called to make sure that they served Mimosas... that they actually did. That was a disappointment as that was the a key reason for coming here. Of course for me, I'd rather have a margarita, but...
(3)KT N.
Place has great food but the service needs some serious work... two waitress' and 5 tables and it seemed like they were in the weeds the whole time... My wife asked for a re-fill on chips n salsa which we were out of and we waited, and waitedm and waited.... then my wife looks over her shoulder and the waitress is stuffing her own face in the kitchen. Rightous... automatic dollar tipper yup yup... will go back for the good autentic mexican but hopefully get a different waiter next time
(3)Dean C.
You will not find better Mexican food in the bay area. Been going here for 25 years and it hasn't changed a bit.
(5)J. S.
This is my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant all-around. I've been coming here ever since I was a kid, and the food has never changed, which I think is very refreshing. I hate it when I go to a restaurant that I really like and the chefs change or the restaurant changes vendors and the food is just completely different. That's definitely not the case here. The chips, salsa and rice are all excellent, and the beans are some of the best I've ever had at a restaurant. Beans are very important to me in Mexican dishes because they're such an integral staple and they're so simple. In most cases, if I don't like the beans at a Mexican restaurant, I don't like any of the other food either. I always order the enchiladas rojas with cheese and they've never disappointed me. The enchilada sauce is actually better at Mexico Lindo on Silver Creek Valley Rd. but everything else is better at Baja Cactus, which is why I say it's my favorite Mexican restaurant all-around. Sometimes I also order a bean and cheese burrito a la carte to take home and eat later because I love the beans so much. Another really good thing to note about this place is that the only people that know about it are regulars or the friends/family of regulars since it's not a chain and it's kind of easy to miss if you're driving down Main St. This means that you can bring someone here for a special dinner (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, etc) and you don't have to worry about crazy crowds. When my sister and I brought our mom here for a Mother's Day lunch this year, there were only a few full tables, and the server even gave my mom a chocolate covered strawberry as a little Mother's Day gift. So Nice. :)
(5)Michael F.
Very convenient location near Great Mall. Have been a few times on the way to a movie. The guacamole is great, and the crispy ground beef tacos are my favorite. Also, the pinot beans (with pork) are wonderful.
(4)Veronica G.
You can always judge a Mexican restaurant by the quality of their tortillas. Are they soft, supple, yet have a hearty taste? Or could the Aztecs have used them as flying discs of death in times of war? Can they hold the contents of rice, meat, salsa and whatever else we put in them and remain intact as we chow down or do they split or get soggy or allow spillage of the contents? Are they store bought or homemade? As a Latina, I consider myself an expert (tortillas were my family's bread) and I am proud to say this place passes the test. Their tortillas are homemade and have passed the endurance and taste tests. Ok yeah, they serve other food besides tortillas. I can safely tell you they serve a great meal morning, noon and night. Their breakfasts are absolutely killer. During the week it's only served from 9:30-11:30 but on the weekends I think you can order it til 1 or 2. Seriously if you can make it, go! The chilaquilles (fried tortillas with eggs and salsa) are just as good as my mom's and the nopalitos (pickled and cooked catcus) are tasty too. Both of these items are also served after breakfast too I believe. The omlette ranchero (steak, peppers, onions with red sauce over it) is also quite good but be warned, this food is HEAVY! My friend and I go here and we waddle the mile back to his house in pain-PAIN I say. I'm sure we look like a couple of weeble wobbles.... Lunch and dinner are equally good to breakfast. Their combo plates are made up of standard Mexican restaurant food and are a real bargin for your money. Chances are you will have leftovers. However the real Mexican food is where the true challenge lies. Their mole is wonderful, just the right thickness and spice (another friend from San Diego judges the quality of a Mexican restaurant by the quality of the mole and it passed his test too). The chile rellenos another friend raves about. The carnitas and carne asada are also excellent. Still want dessert? They do make an allright flan but the standout is their layered apple pie. No joke the slices are huge and they have something like 12 or 13 layers that make up the pie. As if this wasn't good enough though, the service is equally wonderful. Talk about efficient. You usually get chips and salsa and your drink order pretty quickly and I don't think ever had to wait an excessive amount of time for my food. Plus the salsa is good and has a nice kick to it. Yep, who would have thought downtown Milpitas would have decent Mexican food?
(5)Gors P.
what i ordered... de carnitas burrito ... did i order the right one or did i got what i ordered or have they given me something else...any of these could be possible. when i got my order it came on a take out plate box instead of the typical foil and brown bag..., in it the tiniest burrito about the size of a kids fist, rice and refried beans on the side. in the socalled burrito in it came with tasty carnitas, guacamole with more cilantro than avocado, whole beans and a bit of salsa. overall the food was good but the portion, price and unconventional preparation was a letdown for me. by the way... my order was taken by a very nice and gracious all american english speaking caucasian grandma in this authentic mexican restaurant, and one of the few host or waiter who ask me if i want a glass of water or something while i wait for my order. :)
(3)Tony L.
Closer to 2.5 stars overall. The salsa was pretty good - albeit a little too salty. I had the Chili Colorado Burrito and the sauce was very bland and did not go well with the flour tortilla at all. The Spanish rice on the side was very different from other places I've had, but still pretty good and did however go well with the sauce from the Chili Colorado Burrito. I wouldn't be against coming back if somebody insisted, but with so many other great Mexican places, I wouldn't necessarily prefer it either.
(3)Jack S.
My girlfriend and I dined at Baja Cactus for dinner yesterday. She works in Milpitas and had lunch before and had enjoyed it. I ordered the chile colorado and it was bad, My girlfriend who is latina tasted it and believed the sauce came out of a can. The beef was tender but the sauce was gross. Her chimichanga was ok. The salsa is good though. I will not be returning.
(2)H C.
Good grub at decent prices. I wouldn't say this is your cheapest Mexican joint in terms of price but it's still well worth the visit. We chose this spot for the meeting of the parents and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I shared one of the house specialities - grilled sliced filet mignon - and it was enough food for both of us. Definitely get the corn tortillas - housemade and delish. Perhaps my favorite part of the meal... besides the company of course.
(4)Gene A.
This place is pretty good. The chips and salsa were great. Not over-salted and overly greasy. I ordered the pablanos, which was Mexican sausage and potatoes between two corn tortillas smothered in a sauce. That was very good. My vegetarian co-worker enjoyed her chile relleno. The service was very prompt and accomodating. I would definitely come back to this place.
(4)Rachel W.
This place serves very good Cali-Mexican food. The salsa and chips were very good. I had a carne asada burrito that was very tasty. I don't remember what my husband ordered, but he exclaimed that he really enjoyed his food. We would come here again.
(4)Heidi L.
The food didn't knock me off my chair.. I mean, it was good, but not sooo mind blowing that I would go out of my way to come here if I wasn't already in the general area. They have a lot of combination plates that allow you to try multiple things off the menu which is a big plus, and their prices aren't bad either.. I had the chile rellenos, an enchilada, and I believe, a burrito. They were all right.. The service was okayyyy. It was a relatively busy night. The atmosphere is really homey. I liked that.. Cute little place, but the parking sucks balls. Carpool!
(3)Lynee L.
Always enjoy the chicken enchiladas enmoladas (mole sauce) & good salsa. The staff is friendly and I've never had to wait for a table at dinner, but lunch can get crowded. My rating is for the dish I had...haven't tried anything else.
(4)Rene R.
This is real food like your Tia makes in Chihuahua! Tortillas are good, service is great. My favorite is the chile rellenos! Actually, this IS my favorite restaurant.
(5)Elizabeth L.
Used to work close by...fresh, yummy salsa. I've actually never had bad food or service here. Seemed to me when I went a lot that the place is always filled with the same faces. :) The food is fairly authentic, but not the MOST authentic I've ever had. They have good portions for the price and REALLY GOOD desserts. It's great for lunch time and also has a fun evening environment perfect for Friday with friends!
(4)Adrienne S.
I love their chimichangas! And the chips and salsa is yummy, too. I have been coming here for about 10 years and the food is always consistent.
(4)Regan C.
Came here for lunch. Had an enchilada and burrito combo for $9.xx. I was extremely full afterwards. Its one of the better Mexican places I've had. The free chips and salsa was also great, especially the salsa. I'd get there slightly early, since its not a big place and can get crowded easily.
(4)Ryan T.
Came here from the reviews.... wasn't too impressed. nice little place... didnt really dig the food. the search for a proper carne asada burrito continues.
(2)Marie T.
Baja Cactus makes a fabulous, homemade Pina Colda (without booze) cake that is served warm. Wow! What a moist & delicious cake. Also the chicken nachos were perfect tonight!
(5)Jacki E.
I think the food here is pretty bland. I don't know why my coworkers like this place. For real Mexican food, I prefer going to hole in the walls. Their rice had no taste. I'm not Mexican, but I know this is not a restaurant that caters to the Mexican palette. I guess the good thing about this place is that their portions are large and they cater to the corporate lunch crowd.
(3)Cheryl S.
Best Mexican food in Milpitas. I go in for lunch as often as possible. Always order #5 chicken and is always excellent. Great chips and salsa at no charge.
(5)Sara K.
When we want to go out for Mexican food, this is the only place we go! In over 16 years of patronizing Baja, I think I've been disappointed only once. This is the place we take friends from out of town when they ask for Mexican food. Chips & salsa are always yummy & the salsa actually has a zing to it, chili rellenos are the best I've every tasted & the chimichangas never taste greasy. Beans & rice are delicious as is the bit of lettuce salad you get on your dinner plate. The only thing I haven't liked is their tamales. I've been there for lunch & dinner, service is always friendly & efficient even when they are busy, which is often. Until recently, I'd never tried any of their desserts because I'm usually too full but co-workers took me there for a birthday lunch & I got a complimentary slice of cake along w/ singing & a silly sombrero. The cake was a white layer cake w/ frosting & coconut on top & even though I'm not a big fan of coconut, there was something about the frosting that was delicious!
(5)David G.
Great food, great service. I had the carnitas tacos as recommended here and concur they are excellent. Service was super quick but I never felt rushed and in fact stayed a while at the table to talk with my friend.
(4)Mayank R.
A very nice place to eat some great mexican food. This place is so much better tan the chain restaurants like El Torritos etc. Love the Nachos and salsa dip. This is the first place where I could taste some spice in salsa and fell in love with it. I need spice in everything being India :-) Ordered the lunch combo of Chicken Enchilada and Chile Relleno and both were mouth watering, although I think Justo Graciano's echilada still beats everything ;-) I have to go there to eat so many other things but for now, let me talk about the dessert. We tried the fabulous tres leches cake, comforting as a child's favorite blanket. It's a white cake oozing milk that manages to be moist but not soggy. We also had umm...some kind of egg pudding which was amazing too. Finally we had one more dessert, I forgot :-P Well all in all, lunch was totally satisfying and thanks to yelp for I wouldn't have know otherwise. It was my turn to choose a eat out for our team and everyone left happy and tript. Last but not least the service is great too. Even though it was very crowded (good Latha made reservations), things flowed fast.
(4)Kim N.
A solid sit down mexican joint. Lots of combinations and a la carte items. Addictive chips & salsa. The jalapeno poppers were pretty tasty and so was the Chile Relleno. I'm used to $1 soft tacos and lots of meat selections from various taquerias but the $3.50 steak and carnitas tacos here are fairly large. I'd definitely give this place a try for dinner if it weren't so far away from me. But if you're in the area and can navigate around the old parts of Milpitas then it's worth a shot. Sounds like from the other reviewers that the apple pie is what this place is really about.
(4)Stuart D.
Great lunch spot. This place gets packed so get there before noon. The chips and salsa are great. Salsa is different, but really really good. This place has pretty authentic food! Its not your Chevy's, Pedros, or El Burro. The chile verde is the bomb. They actually use tomatillos so the verde is green like it should be, it's more on the tart side vs. spicy, the pork isn't all dried out, very good. The service is great and friendly, prices are good too. Park across the street at the school as their parking lot is kind of a joke.
(5)bryan o.
In the food world (as well as the outdoor survival world), some types of cacti can be prickly pears--spiny packages that protect a lovely, watery pulp and edible flesh. The Baja Cactus is no gourmet stop, but it is a passable business lunch destination. The establishment boasts fairly enticing salsa and chips as an appetite stimulant for in-restaurant diners and very clean bathrooms. (The latter is a real plus appreciated by both restaurant goers and survivalists.) Alas, the refried beans and the sliced iceberg lettuce sides firmly place this restaurant in the volume food category. Which is a shame, since some of their dishes, such as their abondigas soup and their moles show real inspiration. I would give it a 2.5 star rating, if such were possible.
(2)Doreen R.
I love MOLE, so I ordered the Enchilladas Emoladas and they are great! The chips and salsa are also good. The chips are crispy and light not greasy and hard like other places. I would definatley try this place if you like Mole. I haven't tried anything else here b'cause Mole is my "thing" but I'm sure all else is good too.
(4)Alex B.
Just your ordinary sit-down Mexican joint. The food is a bit bland - nothing better than Chevy's or El Torito. The sangria was tasty, though.
(2)Dan H.
This place makes the best Horchata I've ever had. The food is pretty good, but nothing I rave about, and I've tried several different items.
(4)Carla C.
I went here for the second time at lunch today. Previously, it'd been with a large group from work. It was nice to sit down, chat and enjoy the food. It is a regular, run of the mill mexican place. Their chips and salsa are really good (the chips are thick and CRUNCHY). The salsa is just spicy enough for me, a red-headed 'Huera'. I ordered crunch taco with chicken, with sides of beans and rice. The taco's were hard to eat they were so crunchy! Their great taste made up for it, though I did spend time picking up little pieces of taco shell that fell. The beans and rice were really good. Not to greasy, not to salty. Even though I was totally stuffed I kept taking the chips and dipping them in the rice and beans. Delicious! I don't even want to think about how many Weight Watchers points it was. Ugh. The service was really good as well. The woman greeted us as soon as we came in the door. Our waitress came by to check on us. She also noticed as soon as I closed the menu and was there to take our order. As soon as I pushed the plate away she was right there, asking if we needed anything else (I needed a to go box). My fiance said it was 'just okay' though. I made the mistake of taking him to Tlaquepaque which spoiled him. He thought it was average. I'd definately go back again.
(4)Rain D.
this is one of our good friend's favorite restaurants... i have been here 3 times after he introduced it to us... very yummy. So far everything I have gotten was very good. It's nice because it seems like you have to be in the know to know about this place since it's easy to pass it by with not noticing it.
(4)Daniel M.
24 bux for 6 tacos and chips and salsa. Good price, great quality for a V-day dinner, sitting on that circular bed and drinking soda to wash it down. How u like me now! I like this place from going there in the ninety's and whenever i'm in the area or on a break from getting happy at galaxy's this is great food. and, yes i'm a cheap date thinking that the thought was all worth the expense.....of course if lotto came to play...eh whatever.
(5)Steve C.
Love it. Mole is wonderful. Shredded beef has a great flavor. Ranchero sauce is good, though not the best I have ever had. This is my new standard Mexican fare. I think the best in milpitas for sure.. Salsa is good, kind of sweet, could be a little spicier. ( sorry Casa Azteca , I can't handle your salsa )
(4)Kathleen M.
Mexican Mole on Main St. in Milpitas. Between Baja Cactus and Cactus Fresh (a Mexican place I frequent in Santa Clara), I can't keep the names of these places straight anymore. Thankfully I only eat at Baja Fresh once every two years or so, or that would be even more confusing. The chips are good and thick. No greasers or salters in sight. The salsa is good and spicy, but nothing groundbreaking. The boyfriend got crispy tacos ($7.99) - one with beef and one with chicken. He said the meat quality was fine. However, I could see his disappointment that the tacos were the hard-shell-taco-out-of-a-box kind instead of the crispy fried, artery clogging kind. I ordered the chicken enchiladas enmoladas ($9.99) which included rice (fine but nothing special) and beans. I asked for pinto beans instead of refried, and was sad by how bland they were. The mole sauce was thick and rich, and I'm undecided on whether or not I liked it. I think it's my own fault since I'm not a huge mole fan to begin with. I ordered enchiladas with mole because I had read they were the house specialty. (Also the house specialty? From what I hear the multi-layer apple pie.) Our server was friendly, but we had to wait around awhile for our check. Even after I asked for a box for my food, she didn't come by with our tab or to check up on us for another 10 minutes. The restaurant is located in a strip mall (there are so many strip malls in Milpitas I wonder if the entire city is actually located in a strip mall in Fremont at this point) and looks a little tired with lots of older wood booths, but was transformed into a really festive place the first time I came in to grab a menu. I'd go back, but I wouldn't rush or anything. bajacactusrestaurant.com The latest it's open all week is 9 p.m. (not sure of the hours/days)
(3)R M.
Tacos Mexico being the best hole in the wall taqueria, this is the best mexican restaurant around, with the best soft tacos in the bay area. I eat a ton of mexican food, and we have great mexican restaurants around, but here's what makes this place great - 1. Freshly made corn tortillas - it's tough to find a mexican restaurant with fresh corn tortillas 2. Very good carnitas - not the best, but consistently juicy, full flavored, and tender. 3. Great Machaca con Huevos. Crispy, without being over done. 4. Very good mole sauce, perfect combination of sweet and spicy. Service is hit or miss, I get better service during the day, and have had a couple experiences on weekend evenings slow, and unfriendly. Knocking 1 star for inconsistent service. Horchata tastes like it's made there, but a bit lacking in flavor.
(4)Lindy P.
It's pretty yummy here, but I have a feeling when looking at my food that it was hellllla fatty. So hahha, but it's okay. It was good.
(4)anthony t.
Awesome Burrito...This review might be a little bias because I'm still full from that awesome carnitas burrito and the bottled coke the only thing I think this place could do better is the salsa i mean to have an awesome burrito and just and ok salsa is redundant because if you add the salsa the flavor is diminished by the lowest common denominator but overall great burrito
(4)Chris W.
I had passed the Baja Cactus Restaurant on a number of occasions while passing through Milpitas and finally decided to stop in for lunch with some co-workers. The lunch rush was in full effect with all tables full and many large groups so I was excited. We decided to wait with 2 groups ahead of us and were quickly seated in a corner table but could not escape from the lunch crowd. It's a lively place for a meal with attentive service and happily fed patrons. I was excited to try one of my favorites, chili colorado, in the burrito form. It was described as the typical chili calarado with sauce both inside and out with rice, beans and a small salad garnish. I sipped on home made horchata and snacked on delicious chips and salsa while I waited for my dish. My first impression of my order when it arrived at the table was that the sauce topping my burrito was an uncommon bright red. I'm was expecting the normal deep, rich red that you would expect from a hearty stew of beef and peppers among other ingredients. I dug in none the less. My first bite was a bit disappointing unfortunately. Although the tortilla was fresh (not home made) the ingredients did not meet my expectations. The sauce was a bit light and vinegary and the beef was less then top notch although tender. The beans were probably the best part of the meal a, in addition to dipping a few chips into them, I found myself adding a bit to each bite of my burrito. I would have to say that I think the beans, as well as the horchata, saved my meal. I will be going back although not ordering the chili colarado. The menu, however, looks like it has a lot more to keep me busy.
(3)Cindy M.
I've been coming to this place since elementry school and it's always a Milpitas favorite! Breakfast is my favorite here and can't go wrong with anything! Chips and Salsa is sooo good! Also try the banana shake...although it's not made the same way as it was a few years ago. Used to get this all the time but now it's too milky for me. But my son loves it. It's a shake so needs to be a thicker consistancy. The orginal owners used to be there all the time and they were sooo nice always chatting with the customers making them feel welcomed. Current staff is great but not the same vibe. Overall a great place to eat.... Make sure u go hungry
(4)Silvana R.
This place taste GREAT from the first time they opened... this is my favorite place by far.... People are nice too....
(5)Chris L.
thought this was a typical hole in the wall mexican restaurant but its actually a sit down restaurant. The food was great - gotta try them steak nachos.. one of the better nachos i've had in a while.. the service was friendly, kinda slow even though it wasn't as busy, i enjoyed my lunch there
(5)Steve S.
Do you like chocolate? Do you like Mexican food? Have you ever heard of mole? (Pronounced "Mohl-Ay") Mole is a sauce that is made from chili, spices and a little bit of unsweetened choclate. I believe it is derived from a blend of Aztec and Spanish cuisine. Baja Cactus is the only place in the South Bay where I've been able to find truly delicious mole poblano. I've tried their enchiladas, which were excellent, but I keep coming back for the chicken mole poblano.
(4)Sylvia H.
3.5 stars I came here with a friend for lunch. We arrived early thinking we should beat the lunch rush, especially b/c it was Friday too. Surprisingly at 12pm there were no lines and a few empty tables still. I guess this place doesn't get as much traffic as other places in the area? The restaurant was still crowded but just not packed. Anyways, our waiter seated us and immediately returned with our complimentary chips and salsa! :) The chips tasted fresh and warm. It wasn't oily at all like at some other places. The salsa had a slight kick to it but I would have hoped for some tomato chunks. Nonetheless, it was still appetizing. For my entree I ordered the chicken soft taco plate ($8.50), which comes with 2 tacos and a side of rice, beans topped with cheese, and a small salad. The meal was definitely filling and I did have leftovers to pack. The tacos came with corn tortillas wrapped in shredded chicken and guacamole. The chicken was really moist and the marinade juice was gushing out of the tortilla. But the juices didn't make the tortilla soggy at all. There wasn't anything really special about the tacos. To me, it lacked a bit of flavor. I've had better tacos from the taco trucks and from more authentic mexican restaurants. My friend ordered the chile rellenos plate ($9.95), which came with two chile's and a side of rice, beans, and salad. He seemed to enjoy his meal. The chile's seemed a bit on the small side though. But he didn't' have any complaints. I wouldn't mind coming back here since it's close by work and the staff is very friendly here. And, this place satisfies my hunger for mexican food when I'm unable to make it to the taco truck on a rainy day.
(4)Jill C.
Baja is our favorite Mexican restaurant in Milpitas. Great chili rejanos and terrific salsa. Their specials are excellent. Real Mexican food.
(4)Kara C.
My favorite Mexican place in the south bay, hands down! This is why- *Excellent specials, haven't ordered one that I didn't like. *The salsa. Best I have ever had, more than just tomato-y spicyness. *Fast service. *Food is not bland... they actually use -spices- (unlike many other Mexican restaurants I have been to where all the dishes taste the same!) *The salsa. *The salsa. *The salsa. and last but not least- *The salsa.
(5)Steely K.
Yet another great Mexican restaurant in Milpitas, sharing the spotlight with Casa Azteca and La Milpa. This family-run spot has a friendly, warm atmosphere, but can get pretty noisy when it's crowded. The menu is pretty standard for Mex food, but the food is very good and the servers never rush you. Complimentary tortilla chips and spicy salsa are brought to your table just after you're seated. The menu offers 2- and 3-item combination meals that include spanish rice, refried beans and an on-plate (and therefore warm) salad. My only complaint is that one time I ordered a Margarita, and it tasted kinda funky...not sure what was going on there. From then on I just order a Corona with my meal. :-)
(4)Alicia W.
Whoever has given this place a rating lower than 4 stars needs to understand that this is not Tex-Mex food. It is not "better" the more chillies you dump into it. This is authentic Mexican food. (Some clueless individual even compared it to the "real" Mexican food he gets from a taco truck.) This place has home-made mole (pronounced "MOLE-ay") sauce, the only I have found in Silicon Valley, and the best I have tasted in a long time. (Try the "enmolada" items to sample it.) As mentioned, the corn tortillias are expuisite. This is home-made food by a wonderful chef. This place is privately owned, a nice family place. For a change, try it in the evening when it is very puiet. The only criticism I have of the place is that the salsa and chips are so good, it is tempting to get full before the meal comes.
(5)DAISY V.
Well first I want to say that I am Mexican and I am very pickie about my authentic Mexican food! Specially when it comes to Restaurants. I was a little bit nervous eating here at first but come to find out that there was no reason to be this place is great my family and I love it! I have been here about 5 times since I found it here on Yelp. On my first and second visit I got the Enchiladas with Camaron (Shrimp), I don't like this style of enchiladas but this was amazing, third visit I got the Pescado Enpanisado and that for me was not that great only because I don't like deep fried fish (not sure bout all you guys), My kids ordered the kids soft taco and my kids loved it!, fourth visit I got the Birria (is a spicy Mexican meat stew with lamb) This I only eat when my mom or a family member makes it (home made) because again I am very pickie with my mexican food but I ordered it here and OMG it was sooo delicious with there hand made corn tortillas, and my fifth visit I got the Pescado Veracruzano ( which consists of poached fish with tomato , onion , capers and chilli) I ordered mine with no capers and I have to say this has got to be my FAVORITE dish from here; all the flavors it has combined with the fish is sooo great and with there hand made tortillas! I totally recommend this place for families, groups, couples, whatever it is I recommend it! Oh and I have to say that there plates are very, very, very filling!! I know one thing for sure I will be coming here more often!
(5)eric k.
yeah... this place was pretty good.... sitting down like this actually reminded me that I hadn't had mexican food like this in quite a while... the hot plate, the full course of beans and rice with the order... Taquerias ... sure...but that's not really what I consider a full sit-down kinda meal... at least not when you consider something like Tacqueria Los Charros the norm... I like TLC... but I just don't think of it the same way. The salsa was good... the plates were hot.. the rice was really fluffy(yes..and this is coming from an asian guy). I was actually a little surprised that the burrito wasn't bigger... but just call that a shift from "big and cheap" to a bit more quality. A good... heavy lunch... and even though the burrito wasn't as large as I was expecting... half of it is still in my fridge waiting for the next meal/opportunity.
(4)Keiichi M.
When I think mexican in this area, I usually think of Maria Elenas in Alviso. However a friend and I wanted to change it up a bit and yelped a new place. We got a little lost getting there due to construction near by, but we eventually found it. First thing we noticed is that the parking lot is VERY SMALL!! there is a sign that says we can park at the church, but it is across the street, and a few buildings down, which kind of sucks. Instead, we parked in the lot next door. We got in and we weren't seated right away, most likely because there was a birthday crowd there. But when we sat, we ordered rather quickly and our food came out extremely fast! I had to try their chimichangas, and I have to say that it was pretty well made! Very tasty and priced about average. Their free chips and salsa are great as well. I really enjoyed their salsa, which has a little bit of a kick to it. We did order beer and they do not have the ones we got in draft (XX amber, and corona). So we payed close to 4 bucks for a bottle of beer (where we could have gotten a case of 12 for 12~15 bucks!!!). Anywho, tastes great, but had to take off one star for the beer and parking!
(4)Liz L.
Excellent spicy salsa, the guac was good, but the camarones fajitas were a little bland. The fresh home make corn tortilla were good. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was excellent. The food needed to be a notch better for me to give them 4 stars. All in all, I would go back and try other choices from their menu.
(3)Hao L.
As part of my effort to keep trying all the restaurants in Milpitas, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the food here. The chicken mole poblano was YUM. Not a lot of places seem do mole, and it was delicious here. People I was with had a chicken chimichanga, chicken burrito, and carne asada burrito - everyone liked their food. Also, I am not a huge fan of the rice and beans that usually come with, but the rice and beans here were very tasty as well. Who knows, maybe it's all made with a ton of lard, but who cares! :-) Well, ok, I do care, but a it was worth it. They serve breakfast here so think we'll try that next...
(5)SuperDeeDuper S.
Yummy! Great Mexican food that can put you right into a coma before return back to work. Love the place!
(4)Toni S.
I get withdrawal symptoms if I don't get there at least once a week. I am completely addicted to the Enchiladas Poblanas. I always ask for the sauce to be Mole Poblano rather than the sauce they usually use and it makes this dish even better. They have a great menu - very extensive and of things not on the "typical" Mexican restaurant menu. Love the sopes, queso fundido, too. And the salsa served with the chips is just spicy enough to get your attention and not hot enough to burn your mouth! LOVE Baja Cactus
(5)Teesta K.
Shitty location, cozy interior, amazing sangria, reasonable prices, and good food. Enough said!
(4)Jessica T.
mmm I love this place :) but their taco salad is $10 -__-U Inside the place is REAL nice looking like an actual home big plus service was great too
(4)Marc M.
It's a family-friendly Mexican restaurant with very good food. We're regulars, and haven't found an item on the menu yet that we were disappointed with.
(4)christina l.
fantastic food. friendly service. it's one of the regular places my husband and I visit for dinner when we don't feel like cooking. he always order the mole enchiladas. parking can be tricky during busy hours. they have their own lot, but it's not really that big.
(5)Kalani B.
CHEESE ENCHILADA ROJOS. the best.
(5)Mike F.
Great mole, and incredible corn tortillas. I'll never look at corn tortillas the same again, made up for the slow service. Price was right, food great.
(4)Flo T.
Sopa de Albondigas. That is their Wednesday special and it is THE reason why I started eating at this place and continue to go back. It's a Mexican meatball style soup and it's good on a cold winter nite or when I'm deathly ill and I need a soup that tastes like it came out of a mom's kitchen. Another plus about this place is that they make their own corn tortillas. I've had many of their other plates and it's a place definitely worth trying out!
(5)Tracie L.
I always forget how much I like this place. On my most recent trip, I got a combo plate with a beef crispy taco and a pork tamale. Honestly, the taco was gone within 2 minutes (soooo good!) but I left half of my tamale (not so good). The beans were great. It's weird to comment on something we normally just think of as a side, but I remember when I lived closer to Baja Cactus, we'd get a big order of beans to go and just have beans and cheese for lunch. They're tasty!
(4)Diana T.
We had a girl's lunch here on a Saturday after trying to eat at Gourmet express and found it was closed (yelp info was wrong I guess). The food at Baja's was delicious and not at all greasy or heavy despite being lots of cheese, meat, and beans. We started the meal with chips and a deliciously spicy salsa. The crispy taco shell was sooo good (think 100 x better than taco bell's), though the carne asada was just ok. My enchilada was tasty as well. The best part--rice, beans, and a bit of salsa with good conversation. Go hear and get your mexican food fix with combos from $9-$12. Good service too!
(4)eve m.
Tasty Mexican food, menu full of variety, comfortable atmosphere: This restaurant has it all. SO and I just discovered it and have been regulars ever since. We give glowing reviews to the chips and salsa, the pork chili verde, the cheese enchiladas, shredded beef crispy tacos, and the rice. The quesadilla was OK - nothing special - then again, a quesadilla isn't exactly rocket science. Prices are reasonable. Staff has always been friendly, if perhaps a bit prone to rushing you.
(4)Eric M.
Decent mexican restaurant in milpitas. i come for the apple pie though. havent had one like it anywhere else yet.
(4)Sam C.
I have been going here for a few years now. Never cared for the staff but the food was good.. Well I can no longer make excuses for bad service.. The waitresses obviously have never been trained in customer service. They do not say hello.. when I say "thank you" they do not reply with your welcome.. they plop the food down and leave without even asking if we need anything else.. they are openly rude which is inexcusable since we are spending money.. last time I went it was pretty busy.. my two sons received their plates but I watched mine go to the table behind me.. I sat without food for a while - when the staff finally noticed they delivered my plate to a different table they pickup up the plate from the lady behind me - rushed it to the back then quickly brought my plate - problem was it was the same main dish that they delivered to the other table. All they did was switch out the rice and beans - since the lady already started to eat from the plate.. when I asked if it was the same dish they lied and said - no, this is new.. when I asked a different staff member they said - yes but she didn't touch it yet... that was the most disgusting thing that they could have done.. given me a plate that someone else may have eating from.. the waitress was unapologetic and I told the owner I would never be back.. which I am sure he can care less... I told him I can deal with rude waitresses but disgusting serving practices was not acceptable..
(1)Javier L.
This place is dug away on main street in Milpitas and it is worth finding. I have gone here multiple times, not so much because of the food but the service is great. I am from San Jose and there are better Mexican places out here, but if I am ever at Great Mall and feeling like having some Mexican food, this is my go to place. It is worth checking out, you will not be disappointed....
(4)Gina A.
I love this place. The food is great, the atmosphere is nice (although I prefer their old decor to their new decor) and the service is good. I love their chips (better, crispier and fresher than La Milpa), they have a great home-made apple pie that is to die for, their enchiladas verde are an impressive second place to my bf's mom's enchiladas verde (she's from D.F., Mexico) and you can't go wrong washing down all this food with their margarita or sangria. Mmm, mmmm, mmm...now I am hungry!
(4)Smarty Pants P.
First let me say that Mexican food is my "least" favorite food.... It's always too heavy... However, Baja Cactus Kicks ASS!!!! We discovered this joint about ten years ago.... By far they have the BEST salsa... Also, every Tuesday they have CLIANTRO CHICKEN to die for... All white tender meat simmered in cliantro sauce... OMG!!!! We try to go there every Tue, it's almost a addiction... Their rice is awesome too... I've try few other on the menu and they are equally good.. However, Cliantro Chicken is the BOM! We went to late lunch @ 1:00 and cliantro chicken was all sold out... Will never make that mistake again...
(5)Morey R.
Best Mexican Food in the AREA hands down. Love this place!
(5)Diane B.
Baja Cactus has been my family's favorite restaurant for more than 20 years. My son loves it so much, he's having his wedding rehearsal dinner there. The food is consistently great. We love everything we've ever tried and will continue to go there regularly until they close or we die, whichever comes first.
(5)Sheri A.
Its Mexican, it has a menu, it smells like good mexican food.... but is it the best? Well its not something I will wake up the next morning and think Wow... and hopefully its not something that I will wake up in the middle of the night and think Why? Meaning Why did I eat that??? So it was good but nothing to write home about. I had shrimp fajitas and my friends had Chimichangas... but the meals weren't huge and the service was on the slow side (we went for Dinner on a Wed night) so overall not bad, but not great so I probably wont return. Sorry... I guess I have to continue to work my way around the top rated on Yelp :)
(3)S. S.
My sister introduced this place to me because she works nearby. I used to have my birthday lunch here because I love the fresh handmade tortillas. There is no substitute as far as I am concerned. I usually stick to the carnitas plate or the carnita sopes and haven't tried many other thingson the menu. And as a special splurge have a glass of horchata to wash things down.
(4)Eric L.
Went there for the first time with a couple of coworkers for lunch. The parking lot is tiny, but we scored the last available spot. A sign said there was parking across the way, but a good sign if the parking lot is full. We were seated quickly, the drinks came fast (just water with a TON of ice). We received the standard mexican fare of chips and 2 small bowls of salsa. I only tried one, but it wasn't spicy at all, reminded me of pico de gallo. Anyways, I had the Chile Verde chimichanga, no beans, just rice. The verde sauce was good. The rice was good, just added some salsa like I always do. The chimichanga though...it was about the size of my hand. Not think and crusty crunchy goodness. It was a bit more than a wet burrito. It was just ok. It had 1 large chunk of pork and maybe 2 small pieces. That was it. When I thnk of a chimichanga, I want a big fried burrito that's filled with gooey-goodness. This was not. The others said their food was good. I will try it again at a later date, maybe get something that had some filling in it besides the sauce. Overall, it was ok for a $12 meal, but I expected more, especially for the price.
(3)Barry J.
This has been a favorite of mine for the past 15 years, since I saw it listed as the best hole-in-the-wall mexican restaurant in the South Bay. I visited and fell in love. The Enchiladas Enmoladas with it's sauce with hints of chocolate is incredible. The Mole Polblano has also made me put many miles on my car. The service has always been friendly.
(4)diana t.
you know how you go to certain mexican restaurants and you always order your food without refried beans because they taste disgusting and have that weird grey color to them? well this isnt one of them. their beans are soooooo good. the reason i eat here is because i crave their beans. i betcha that they make them with lard which is why they're so tasty, but it's okay because it's worth the triple bypass heart surgery. their food is really authentic. and they give you free chips and salsa. my favorite is the enchilladas and the taco combo. the mexican rice that comes in the combo is okay too, but as i said, the beans are the real stars.
(5)