Reviews for most of the Mexican restaurants in Pueblo have one or two people who really like them, followed by one or two who hate them. I have to admit I was leery going in because of the mixed reviews. I wound up being pleasantly surprised. The host was no one to write home about. He sat us in the bar (without asking us) which was not terrible. Within Minutes Matthew came and introduced himself, took our drink orders and brought us chips. We told him we would need a few minutes. A waitress came shortly thereafter and asked if we were ready to order. She was not nearly as friendly as Matthew turned out to be. She answered my questions and confirmed that any substitution is an additional dollar. We still needed a few minutes so she left. Matthew returned and I had still more questions. He offered us more chips even though our basket was not empty. We initially turned him down as the menu clearly states additional baskets are not free. He said he was not going to charge so we agreed. The salsa is cold but spicy. Most of the chips were store bought, but there were a few thicker homemade ones thrown in as well. Matthew clarified the fee for substitutions was only on their select few combination dinners. I wound up ordering the Cactus Flower Chimi which was okay. There was supposed to be cheese inside, but there wasn't so it was dry. Matthew substituted retried beans for black and avocado slices for guac. He also accommodated my request to have my chimi served with all toppers on the side (so it stays crunchy). I had multiple choices for the color and heat of the chili that normally smothers the chimi. I opted for mild green and it was wonderful. I also really liked the jalapeño cheese dip I would have liked more than the tablespoon I was given. My husband had sirloin tacos on the waiters recommendation. I thought they were a little bland but my husband said they were okay. Portion sizes were large and prices were about average for Mexican food. This was neither authentic Mexican, nor Mountain-Mex or Tex-Mex. The sign called it Southwestern. It was worth what we paid and we are satisfied, but it was not extraordinary. As for the bathrooms, the ladies room smelled pleasant and looked presentable. There was a few pieces of toilet paper on the floor in the stall I chose. My husband said the men's room was raunchy. I might eat there again, but I might also try something new. Ask for Matthew. He was much better than the lady.
(3)
Heather M.
Fast service and strong drinks! My waitress was very sweet and attentive - definitely impressed. I had the Adavado tacos and a margarita. The tacos were good with pork and cilantro added to all the usual taco fillings. And the margarita - delicious and strong. Or I'm just a light weight. Either way, left very happy with this meal.
(4)
Tee S.
Wow, per the reviews guess am glad was turned down for a party of 25. Was told that no parties over 15 persons to interrupt their walk in business on Fri/Sat eves. Get over yourself. What a complete joke!
(1)
Katie K.
After reading the reviews I was dreading the salsa. Mine was fairly decent. No ketchup and tobasco here. The chips were slightly stale I think. They were quick to bring me my drink and take my order. My food came fairly quickly. I ordered the two chili rellenos with rice and beans. The rice was not very fluffy. It still had a lot of flavor. The beans were fairly good. The rellenos were a slight disappointment. So. Much. Egg. The green chili was delicious. Great service. If I come back ill try something different.
(4)
Brad P.
The service was average which helped get a 2nd star. Generally the place was dirty. The menu was covered with taco sauce as if that was an appetizer. The cups were sticky. As for the food ....nothing fresh. I would compare the rice to microwaveable rice. Happy not to visit this place again.
(2)
Heather P.
We just moved here and everyone recommended this place and we should have walked out when we walked in. First of all, it looked like Denney's, Mexican style. There was food and nasty stuff all over floor. Another strange thing, we did not see ONE Hispanic looking individual who worked there or as patrons either....that should've been a red flag. THEN, our chips and salsa tasted like Tabasco and ketchup combined...Kinda like a concoction that a 7 year old made for dinner and that you grudgingly choked down out of kindness. Oh but the nastiest was left for last! The food was luke warm and tasted, I am not being dramatic, like tacos from Carls Jr. or perhaps if IHOP had a Mexican plate. The good news was, and the only less than terrible aspect of this outing, was that our male waitor was somewhat nice and friendly. Although when we complained, he acted confused and almost uncertain as if he had never even ate the food there. To top it off at the end of the night when we got home we felt sick; that feeling was like when you eat too much Taco Bell at 2 am after leaving a club. I felt like I needed to hose my intestines out! Please NEVER GO HERE!
(1)
Lincoln D.
Sunny Side Slopper!!! Cactus Flower GOOD!!
(5)
Lola W.
We went on a busy Friday night and had to wait 30 minutes to be seated. I don't mind waiting for a good meal, but this one was only adequate. The salsa was good, but the chips were fried, dried out flour tortilIa ones; and not even warm like at most Mexican places. I ordered a margarita, it wasn't very good, so after a few sips ordered a beer instead. When she brought the beer, she took the margarita, which was 3/4 full. At the end, I asked about a refund for the margarita, and she went and asked one of the managers on duty, and when she came back she said she couldn't refund it, 'drinks are drink at your own risk'. I've never heard that before. Drink at your own risk? Are the drinks that bad? Do they contain dangerous chemicals? Why don't they have a surgeons general warning posted? They must have many complaints about drinks to have that slogan. Next time we'll go to Three Margaritas. There the food is good, the drinks are great, and the chips are warm, crisp corn tortilla chips. Do yourself a favor and drive to the next exit to Three Margaritas
(1)
Tom H.
In a word, Yuk! I will say I enjoyed the Flan after a decidedly limp and tasteless chimichanga. They like to smother everything in green chili here and the waiter was surprised when I ask for no sauce on mine. Highly unlikely to return, ever! Every dive has it's local regulars and they are welcome to it.
(1)
Missy B.
My partner in mexican food crime and I were out in Pueblo for work and came to this place after a client recommended it to us. The food was better than I expected and the guacamole was superb! I got the flautas which was weird because I don't much care for them and this instance was no different. The green chile on top was good though. And they serve it on the side so your food isn't drowning in it unless you want it to be! Our server was very attentive and took good care of us. Overall, I like this place. I will be back, but I will most likely order something different!
(4)
Phil H.
I travel a lot and Yelp is amazing help to find good eats. But it's not perfect. Dear fellow Yelpers - what in the living daylights were you thinking giving this place 4 stars? Unless the category is 'Denny's goes Mexican' or 'interesting ketchup as salsa', I just don't get the positive reviews. The decor should have kept me away, but we were hungry and trusted the reviews (Tony H, why or why did I not listen to your wisdom?). Even with the ketchup salsa, the chips were bad, the steak was tough, the flautas were blah, they had pasty flour tortillas. Top Shelf margarita is Cuervo gold. The only redeeming quality was the friendly staff. Stay away - Colorado has much, much better Mexican food.
(1)
Tony H.
I DO NOT GET THE POSITIVE REVIEWS. First off, Chipotle is better than this and cheaper. Was looking for local cuisine as I was passing through the area. Ordered the fajita tacos. The beef in the tacos reminded me of beef tips visually and the way they tasted. The ingredients were piled on top of the flour tortillas and were impossible to eat with my hands. Had to eat the meal as if it were a salad. The "tacos" were placed on top of the refried beans and rice. Basically the presentation was a pile of food. Barely ate the meal. Everything about it was poor. Had me craving Chipotle. Even the chips and salsa were poor. AVOID.
(1)
Jon C.
I went in skeptical after reading some reviews. The salsa is just ok. The margaritas are better than average and strong. I always say, get what they are good at. They are good at the sloppy. Green chile over a burger with an egg and lots of toppings. Unreal. I couldn't finish it. If I ate this every day I would die in a week. It is a treat. Good service. Never been in Pueblo before, but will remember this place.
(4)
Samantha V.
This place is delicious! I went here on my first dinner date with my bf. It is very special to us. not expensive great food nice service!
(5)
Sharon T.
Had a great lunch today. We had the enchiladas. They were to die for. Everything was nice and hot, especially the chili. The waitress was awesome. Ken and Sharon
(5)
Prentice H.
Real iced tea & good guacamole!!! She had the Cancun chimichangas, I had the "Cactus Flower" chimichangas. Everything was very good. I liked the New Mexico influence, with the hot green chili sauce on my chimis, but it wasn't as hot as I had hoped. The salsa was also very good, but, in contrast to other reviewers, I found it to be mild, maybe medium. But then, I consider jalapenos to be mild-medium.
(4)
Wayne B.
I had high hopes but alas. I asked that my vegetable fajitas be prepared with jalapeño peppers. I was told I could have them on the side but the cooks were unable to handle cooking chilies because the fumes would be like mace. This was unlike any Mexican restaurant I had ever patronized. Mexican cooks that can't handle cooking with chilies? Never again.
(1)
D T.
We stopped here on a trip down to southern Colorado and we had a great meal. Everyone raved about the taste, the portion size and how inexpensive each meal was. Also, it's easy access from the freeway. Delicious
(4)
Angela L.
Food was extremely good. Served so hot from oven it was steaming. Wait staff very nice and happy hour margaritas 2 4 1 was great. Worth the visit.
(4)
Jon N.
I try to eat here each trip to Pueblo. The pork and avacado burrito is as good as they come. Tasty green chile, fresh ingredients, nice staff. Enjoy!
(5)
Matt S.
1st time here, in town on business & this place was close, chips & salsa were on hit, if ur in the mood for sum fire tell them u want to try their hot salsa...but either way real tasty, I had the pork & guacamole burritos per another yelp review, not somn I would normally order but they were bomb, oven temp & not crazy huge portions. I was in the mood to drink & the house margarita on the rocks w/an extra shot was just what the doctor ordered, they confirmed the extra shot each time which I liked cuz sometimes u never know if ur Gunna get that extra liquor or not...I grew up on traditional Mexican food & this place is great, no regrets & I'll b back to see what else the menu has to offer.
(4)
Kim S.
Food was fantastic homemade Mexican food. Loved the fajitas, enchiladas and great salsa. Check in on Foursquare for a free sopapilla. Service was a bit slow but the food came out quickly and server was very sweet and friendly. I would go again in a second!
(5)
Aravinthan R.
Great Mexican decor..Great tasting food and amazing martini's. A classy Mexican restaurant. Definitely worth visiting. The Fish tacos are top notch. Prices are reasonable too.
(4)
QUINN B.
We stopped here on our way home from Denver. Service was good and food was very good. We asked for a spicier hot sauce and it was definitely hotter with a great flavor. I got the Cactus Chimichanga. It was a huge plate smothered on a delicious grean sauce very spicy. Guacamole and jalapeno cream on top. Way too much for one person to eat but there is always a to go box. My husband got the stuffed sopapia. Little too thick but the stuffing was also very tasty
(5)
Jed S.
Fun, tasty stop during a road trip. Veggie Fajitas excellent w/ just rite pico de gallo, and the rest. Attentive service. All in all a good experience.
(4)
Dawnette S.
Don't know what to say except this is very average food.
(2)
Eric F.
Beans rice tortillas. All Mexican is the same. One unique menu item is their chicken and jalapeño cream cheese enchiladas. Must get these with the cream sauce. Yet you'll still get beans and rice on the side. 5 stars based on this 1 menu item. 1 star for the service. I have never been in a restaurant as many times with mediocre/terrible service. Never even a 'thanks for stopping in' from the servers or host. An 'I give you food, now you give me tip' attitude. I'll still go back for the enchiladas.
(3)
Tim C.
On a trip. Found this near I-25. Service: Superb, friendly, cheerful, attentive. Checked after first bite. Kept beverages full. Food: Spicy, chunky, tasty salsa. Delicious house pork chinichanga in flavorful red sauce. A little dry for my taste; I should have asked for extra sauce.
(4)
Shannon M.
This Mexican restaurant is handily located in the same parking lot as the hotel we were staying at on our way through Colorado which was pleasing because the boyfriend and I were both having serious Mexican cravings. Yum! Homemade taco chips and salsa to start, enormous margaritas (only $1 more for the extra ounce!), and super good food that was well-priced in portions that weren't ridiculously huge (only a little bit huge). My taco/enchilada combo was extremely good (go for the red chili sauce) while the boyfriend's fish tacos were EXCELLENT. No really. SO GOOD. If you're in the neighbourhood, definitely check it out.
(4)
Elane R.
I love Cactus Flower. I think for trying to get traditional Mexican, this is about as good as it gets in Pueblo. They have an authentic decor, as well as delicious dishes featuring the renowned Pueblo chili (green is my favorite). I love especially the little touches--such as the way they bring you wine in a chilled/frozen glass, or the hot fresh baked chips and salsa on the table. You have to try this restaurant at least once.
(5)
M G.
Our second time here. Loved It the first time. Second time service was slow and rude.
(4)
Tom H.
The food is lame. The only flavor is salt. The rice is overcooked. The tortilla chips are mostly from bags and seasoned there. The salsa tastes like garlic powder and oregano. Just don't bother. Taco Bell is better. On the plus side service was fast and friendly. I ordered medium chili sauce and it was appropriately medium.
(2)
Shane S.
Food excellent, service hit and miss except for Maria! Only REAL complaint is that when their employees are off they hang out at the bar. And they, especially the female employees are loud and obnoxious talking about how much tips they made, boyfriends, customer, other employees, etc. I think management does not care about this perception to the guests. I was sitting at the bar when 2 females servers got off they threw their dirty aprons and dirty work shirts onto the bar like they owned the bar....gross!
(3)
Sfc R.
Chips and salsa are gross. Food is substandard. Thank you though for the kind person that took care of our check.
(1)
Jennifer C.
Chips were good, chicken tacos were great!! Staff was very friendly and gave great advice.
(4)
Mary S.
My husband and I have been eating at the Cactus Flower off and on for several years and every time the food seems to get worse. They even use Krab in a couple of the dishes but it doesn't say so on the menu. I really don't have much good to say about the place except it is nice inside. I gave it 3 stars because I can't give it 2!/2
(3)
Cindy B.
Cactus Flower is surrounded by several chain hotels just off a highway. Why would anyone expect the food here to be anything more than serviceable? It's the American version of Mexican food and if you've been driving for 8 hours, are staying at one of the hotels near the restaurant and are starving, it will do. But if you have the time and energy, go elsewhere. I had a pomegranate margarita, blue corn enchiladas and flan. The margarita tasted like watered down pomm, no hint of fresh lime juice or tequila. I sent it back and V2 was much improved. The enchiladas were bland. The flan was cloyingly sweet and served with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry! I expect that the 4 and 5 star reviews are from people who've never had amazing Mexican food. In LA we're graced with several excellent Mexican restaurants. Cactus Flower will disappoint anyone who's enjoyed good modern Mexican.
(1)
Raoul D.
Excellent green chile! Very tasty. Highly recommend the pork and avocado burritos. I'll be back very soon - hidden gem!
(5)
Stephanie E.
As a Las Vegas hostess at one of the most prestigious hotels in Las Vegas, I was so impressed with the warm and friendly service that the folks at Cactus Flower had to offer! I walked in and was greeted by a friendly host and whisked away to my table that was in one of the main dining rooms. They have all sorts of different color sombreros, old Mexican blankets and decorative dishes on the wall that definitely gives off the vibe of being at my grandmas. They also have really beautiful vibrant wall murals all around the restaurant. My server was Joe. He was super helpful at helping me navigate the menu and he even helped me pick out a chili Margarita that was sooo good with my complimentary chips and salsa. I opted for the cream cheese enchiladas with spinach and I am so happy that I did! The chicken was tender and flavorful, the sauce had a good kick and my food came out relatively quickly! I also got a side of fideo, and it was so good! I am very impressed with the level of service, the delicious food, and the speed of service! My whole stay was deserving of standing ovations. Next time I'm on this side of Colorado I am making sure that I definitely make a trip to Pueblo for this cute little restaurant!
(5)
Uschi B.
Loved the ambiance. It is a very big dining area. Friendly staff and very good food. Recommend if you like Mexican good. Guacamole on the side slightly overpriced. Very good chili rellano!
(4)
Bert E.
Two words....smothered porkchops!!!! One of the best things I've ever eaten. The rest of the menu is fantastic too.
(5)
Matthew M.
Don't really understand the hate that some reviewers have. They are super friendly, fast, just great people in general. The margs are awesome, the price is fair and the food is good. To the haters of oregano in salsa, they actually use cilantro. Don't hate if you don't even know what your eating.
(5)
Susan O.
My family has been going here for more than a decade. We never need a menu and the usual host knows us by name. This past weekend, the food was great as always, but the service was not just bad, but horrible. Embarrassingly so. We brought a family friend for the first time and we were embarrassed how bad the service was after all our rants of how great this restaurant is. The manager did contact me via FB, and we have yet to get in touch, but an effort was made after the fact. However, when we complained while still dining, we just got the sad puppy dog look from the guy up front that we didn't know. Our regular guy wasn't there. I hope this situation gets fixed, because my family of 9 used to eat here regularly. Now, I'm not sure I want to go back. Food isn't so good that I want to be treated like crap and my children treated poorly.
(4)
Peter S.
Walking in to the Cactus Flower was amazing. It is a huge building that looks really good! 1 bowl of chips n salsa was a little disappointing but not a deal breaker. My wife had an amazing pork and avocado taco plate where as I was left underwhelmed by my steak tacos. They tasted bland unfortunately. Overall I am left unsure hence the 3 stars.
(3)
David B.
Pueblo is close enough to New Mexico to be influenced by its cuisine, and when I ordered the tamale plate I was asked the New Mexico State Question, "Red or green?" (chile) However, the green chile was thicker and tastier than any I had in New Mexico, nor was the tamale one of those little hard brick-like things I've had there. Not too much masa either, it was a perfect blend with the pork. Conscientious about bringing more water to the table, too. Really good place.
(5)
Keebler F.
Wonderful. Love the salsa. The fajitas had an excellent marinade and plenty of them to share. Was surprisingly enjoyable
(4)
Olivia S.
I came for a work lunch around 1:30 on a Tuesday. The service was slow. I really enjoyed the chips and salsa but the food was just okay. I ordered the shrimp fajitas, my coworkers had the chicken enchiladas and some sort of monster burritos. The burritos were HUGE! A lot of food, but not the best Mexican in Pueblo.
(3)
Christan C.
So disappointed in this place today. I have been here before and usually order the Tacos Bistek. I have enjoyed it so much I recommended it to the rest of my family and they ordered it as well. It was terrible. There was no flavor at all; it was terrible. I sent mine back and the rest of my family, who are way to polite, finished less than half of their meal. The manager came to check on us and offered to replace my meal with something else. I was past the point of eating anything so I just asked to have it taken off my bill. The manager offered to replace the other two plates my family had ordered, but by then it really was too late. To try to make things better, he would bring out sopapillas for the table. We waited but the sopapillas never showed up, but the full bill (minus my plate I sent back) sure showed up. They didn't even offer a discount even though we left the majority of the food they brought out was left uneaten. The manager didn't even try to check on us again even though he was less than 20 feet away. I won't ever return there again nor would I recommend it to anyone. They really need to step up their customer service and food quality.
(1)
Sandra A.
Sucks.. very slow chips stale, waiter was slower than molasses. . Our food came so late that we filled up on chips .. $30 down the drain
(1)
Christopher S.
This is probably the best Mexican joint in town as far as the quality of the food combined with the look of the restaurant. They have a great selection of menu items and the green chili is some of the best in town, and that's saying something. It's locally owed and operated, it looks really nice, and it's conveniently located right off the highway. I always take friends here when they come to visit Pueblo.
(5)
Joshua T.
The cream cheese enchiladas turned me into a big fan. The atmosphere is pretty decent. I like the food. Quick service and alert servers. Food was fresh and hot.
(4)
Patrick S.
Good food, big portions. Always busy. Food didn't take to long. Good atmosphere. Try the Fajita Tacos
(4)
Jessica F.
So, I really wanted to love this place because it was touted as being the "Best in Pueblo." Unfortunately, it was a disappointment to me. One of the first things that I did when we arrived was inform our waitress that I have a gluten allergy and did they have a GF menu. She looked at me and said "what's gluten?" I should have left then, but my family was hungry and this was close to our hotel. So, the waitress got more information from the kitchen and attempted to share with me what I could have. My husband and I ordered fajitas for 2 and after 10 minutes the waitress informed us that they no longer had that as an option, but that she put in 2 separate orders... Ok. The long and the short... Went to a Mexican place where I wasn't able to eat chips (they "think" they might have gluten), the fajitas are marginal, and the staff unaware. Good news: at least no one got sick!
(2)
Tracy B.
The entree was good and the drinks were good, but the chips and salsa were terrible. Probably the worst I have ever had.
(3)
Kyle J.
I shouldn't have been surprised to find bare minimum dinning in the hotel district of this city. For what its worth, I got decent service, and the place had OK tortilla chips. Not *great* tortilla chips, just not terrible. But then, there was the *AWFUL* house salsa. Too thin and overwhelmed by dry oregano, this tasted like the dregs of cheap "out of a can" salsa mixed lazily with some dry spices and poured into a bowl. The chips were probably better off without this miserable sauce. Finally -my entree. A Mexican steak which was just a giant hunk of sinew and fat, served with a cheap, terrible chili sauce. (Noticing a trend with their chili sauces?) I couldn't even finish this disgusting meal. I paid and left with the dish mostly unfinished.
(2)
LeAnn F.
My husband and I ate here tonight and the food was mediocre. The guacamole was really dark and tasted old. The service was slow and our order was incorrect. The Spanish rice was over done and mushy. Their hot salsa was more mild than the hot you buy in the store. Hadn't eaten here for a long time and won't be eating here ever again. When I pay for a meal I at least expect the food to be better than I can make at home.
(2)
C S.
JUST SAY NO! We arrived at 8:30 with a party of 16. The place was practically empty but it took them 30 minutes to shove four tables together and seat us and another hour to get our food out to us. We had young children with us who were falling asleep at the table before they could get their food and eat at 10:00. When it was brought to the attention of the manager she got defensive and argumentative rather than proactive in an effort to encourage us to ever return. The food was very mediocre, salty, canned, not tasty at all. The waiter tried to overcompensate by being too familiar which was uncomfortable. Just avoid this place all together.
(1)
Tj O.
Wow! Great food and service! One of our new favorites in pueblo! Try the Cactus combo!!
(5)
Trent W.
Really great service, and great food as well. I had the enchilada especial. We had a group of about 19 and they were patient and kind and served us promptly. Best restaurant in pueblo.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar 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.
Briles S.
Reviews for most of the Mexican restaurants in Pueblo have one or two people who really like them, followed by one or two who hate them. I have to admit I was leery going in because of the mixed reviews. I wound up being pleasantly surprised. The host was no one to write home about. He sat us in the bar (without asking us) which was not terrible. Within Minutes Matthew came and introduced himself, took our drink orders and brought us chips. We told him we would need a few minutes. A waitress came shortly thereafter and asked if we were ready to order. She was not nearly as friendly as Matthew turned out to be. She answered my questions and confirmed that any substitution is an additional dollar. We still needed a few minutes so she left. Matthew returned and I had still more questions. He offered us more chips even though our basket was not empty. We initially turned him down as the menu clearly states additional baskets are not free. He said he was not going to charge so we agreed. The salsa is cold but spicy. Most of the chips were store bought, but there were a few thicker homemade ones thrown in as well. Matthew clarified the fee for substitutions was only on their select few combination dinners. I wound up ordering the Cactus Flower Chimi which was okay. There was supposed to be cheese inside, but there wasn't so it was dry. Matthew substituted retried beans for black and avocado slices for guac. He also accommodated my request to have my chimi served with all toppers on the side (so it stays crunchy). I had multiple choices for the color and heat of the chili that normally smothers the chimi. I opted for mild green and it was wonderful. I also really liked the jalapeño cheese dip I would have liked more than the tablespoon I was given. My husband had sirloin tacos on the waiters recommendation. I thought they were a little bland but my husband said they were okay. Portion sizes were large and prices were about average for Mexican food. This was neither authentic Mexican, nor Mountain-Mex or Tex-Mex. The sign called it Southwestern. It was worth what we paid and we are satisfied, but it was not extraordinary. As for the bathrooms, the ladies room smelled pleasant and looked presentable. There was a few pieces of toilet paper on the floor in the stall I chose. My husband said the men's room was raunchy. I might eat there again, but I might also try something new. Ask for Matthew. He was much better than the lady.
(3)Heather M.
Fast service and strong drinks! My waitress was very sweet and attentive - definitely impressed. I had the Adavado tacos and a margarita. The tacos were good with pork and cilantro added to all the usual taco fillings. And the margarita - delicious and strong. Or I'm just a light weight. Either way, left very happy with this meal.
(4)Tee S.
Wow, per the reviews guess am glad was turned down for a party of 25. Was told that no parties over 15 persons to interrupt their walk in business on Fri/Sat eves. Get over yourself. What a complete joke!
(1)Katie K.
After reading the reviews I was dreading the salsa. Mine was fairly decent. No ketchup and tobasco here. The chips were slightly stale I think. They were quick to bring me my drink and take my order. My food came fairly quickly. I ordered the two chili rellenos with rice and beans. The rice was not very fluffy. It still had a lot of flavor. The beans were fairly good. The rellenos were a slight disappointment. So. Much. Egg. The green chili was delicious. Great service. If I come back ill try something different.
(4)Brad P.
The service was average which helped get a 2nd star. Generally the place was dirty. The menu was covered with taco sauce as if that was an appetizer. The cups were sticky. As for the food ....nothing fresh. I would compare the rice to microwaveable rice. Happy not to visit this place again.
(2)Heather P.
We just moved here and everyone recommended this place and we should have walked out when we walked in. First of all, it looked like Denney's, Mexican style. There was food and nasty stuff all over floor. Another strange thing, we did not see ONE Hispanic looking individual who worked there or as patrons either....that should've been a red flag. THEN, our chips and salsa tasted like Tabasco and ketchup combined...Kinda like a concoction that a 7 year old made for dinner and that you grudgingly choked down out of kindness. Oh but the nastiest was left for last! The food was luke warm and tasted, I am not being dramatic, like tacos from Carls Jr. or perhaps if IHOP had a Mexican plate. The good news was, and the only less than terrible aspect of this outing, was that our male waitor was somewhat nice and friendly. Although when we complained, he acted confused and almost uncertain as if he had never even ate the food there. To top it off at the end of the night when we got home we felt sick; that feeling was like when you eat too much Taco Bell at 2 am after leaving a club. I felt like I needed to hose my intestines out! Please NEVER GO HERE!
(1)Lincoln D.
Sunny Side Slopper!!! Cactus Flower GOOD!!
(5)Lola W.
We went on a busy Friday night and had to wait 30 minutes to be seated. I don't mind waiting for a good meal, but this one was only adequate. The salsa was good, but the chips were fried, dried out flour tortilIa ones; and not even warm like at most Mexican places. I ordered a margarita, it wasn't very good, so after a few sips ordered a beer instead. When she brought the beer, she took the margarita, which was 3/4 full. At the end, I asked about a refund for the margarita, and she went and asked one of the managers on duty, and when she came back she said she couldn't refund it, 'drinks are drink at your own risk'. I've never heard that before. Drink at your own risk? Are the drinks that bad? Do they contain dangerous chemicals? Why don't they have a surgeons general warning posted? They must have many complaints about drinks to have that slogan. Next time we'll go to Three Margaritas. There the food is good, the drinks are great, and the chips are warm, crisp corn tortilla chips. Do yourself a favor and drive to the next exit to Three Margaritas
(1)Tom H.
In a word, Yuk! I will say I enjoyed the Flan after a decidedly limp and tasteless chimichanga. They like to smother everything in green chili here and the waiter was surprised when I ask for no sauce on mine. Highly unlikely to return, ever! Every dive has it's local regulars and they are welcome to it.
(1)Missy B.
My partner in mexican food crime and I were out in Pueblo for work and came to this place after a client recommended it to us. The food was better than I expected and the guacamole was superb! I got the flautas which was weird because I don't much care for them and this instance was no different. The green chile on top was good though. And they serve it on the side so your food isn't drowning in it unless you want it to be! Our server was very attentive and took good care of us. Overall, I like this place. I will be back, but I will most likely order something different!
(4)Phil H.
I travel a lot and Yelp is amazing help to find good eats. But it's not perfect. Dear fellow Yelpers - what in the living daylights were you thinking giving this place 4 stars? Unless the category is 'Denny's goes Mexican' or 'interesting ketchup as salsa', I just don't get the positive reviews. The decor should have kept me away, but we were hungry and trusted the reviews (Tony H, why or why did I not listen to your wisdom?). Even with the ketchup salsa, the chips were bad, the steak was tough, the flautas were blah, they had pasty flour tortillas. Top Shelf margarita is Cuervo gold. The only redeeming quality was the friendly staff. Stay away - Colorado has much, much better Mexican food.
(1)Tony H.
I DO NOT GET THE POSITIVE REVIEWS. First off, Chipotle is better than this and cheaper. Was looking for local cuisine as I was passing through the area. Ordered the fajita tacos. The beef in the tacos reminded me of beef tips visually and the way they tasted. The ingredients were piled on top of the flour tortillas and were impossible to eat with my hands. Had to eat the meal as if it were a salad. The "tacos" were placed on top of the refried beans and rice. Basically the presentation was a pile of food. Barely ate the meal. Everything about it was poor. Had me craving Chipotle. Even the chips and salsa were poor. AVOID.
(1)Jon C.
I went in skeptical after reading some reviews. The salsa is just ok. The margaritas are better than average and strong. I always say, get what they are good at. They are good at the sloppy. Green chile over a burger with an egg and lots of toppings. Unreal. I couldn't finish it. If I ate this every day I would die in a week. It is a treat. Good service. Never been in Pueblo before, but will remember this place.
(4)Samantha V.
This place is delicious! I went here on my first dinner date with my bf. It is very special to us. not expensive great food nice service!
(5)Sharon T.
Had a great lunch today. We had the enchiladas. They were to die for. Everything was nice and hot, especially the chili. The waitress was awesome. Ken and Sharon
(5)Prentice H.
Real iced tea & good guacamole!!! She had the Cancun chimichangas, I had the "Cactus Flower" chimichangas. Everything was very good. I liked the New Mexico influence, with the hot green chili sauce on my chimis, but it wasn't as hot as I had hoped. The salsa was also very good, but, in contrast to other reviewers, I found it to be mild, maybe medium. But then, I consider jalapenos to be mild-medium.
(4)Wayne B.
I had high hopes but alas. I asked that my vegetable fajitas be prepared with jalapeño peppers. I was told I could have them on the side but the cooks were unable to handle cooking chilies because the fumes would be like mace. This was unlike any Mexican restaurant I had ever patronized. Mexican cooks that can't handle cooking with chilies? Never again.
(1)D T.
We stopped here on a trip down to southern Colorado and we had a great meal. Everyone raved about the taste, the portion size and how inexpensive each meal was. Also, it's easy access from the freeway. Delicious
(4)Angela L.
Food was extremely good. Served so hot from oven it was steaming. Wait staff very nice and happy hour margaritas 2 4 1 was great. Worth the visit.
(4)Jon N.
I try to eat here each trip to Pueblo. The pork and avacado burrito is as good as they come. Tasty green chile, fresh ingredients, nice staff. Enjoy!
(5)Matt S.
1st time here, in town on business & this place was close, chips & salsa were on hit, if ur in the mood for sum fire tell them u want to try their hot salsa...but either way real tasty, I had the pork & guacamole burritos per another yelp review, not somn I would normally order but they were bomb, oven temp & not crazy huge portions. I was in the mood to drink & the house margarita on the rocks w/an extra shot was just what the doctor ordered, they confirmed the extra shot each time which I liked cuz sometimes u never know if ur Gunna get that extra liquor or not...I grew up on traditional Mexican food & this place is great, no regrets & I'll b back to see what else the menu has to offer.
(4)Kim S.
Food was fantastic homemade Mexican food. Loved the fajitas, enchiladas and great salsa. Check in on Foursquare for a free sopapilla. Service was a bit slow but the food came out quickly and server was very sweet and friendly. I would go again in a second!
(5)Aravinthan R.
Great Mexican decor..Great tasting food and amazing martini's. A classy Mexican restaurant. Definitely worth visiting. The Fish tacos are top notch. Prices are reasonable too.
(4)QUINN B.
We stopped here on our way home from Denver. Service was good and food was very good. We asked for a spicier hot sauce and it was definitely hotter with a great flavor. I got the Cactus Chimichanga. It was a huge plate smothered on a delicious grean sauce very spicy. Guacamole and jalapeno cream on top. Way too much for one person to eat but there is always a to go box. My husband got the stuffed sopapia. Little too thick but the stuffing was also very tasty
(5)Jed S.
Fun, tasty stop during a road trip. Veggie Fajitas excellent w/ just rite pico de gallo, and the rest. Attentive service. All in all a good experience.
(4)Dawnette S.
Don't know what to say except this is very average food.
(2)Eric F.
Beans rice tortillas. All Mexican is the same. One unique menu item is their chicken and jalapeño cream cheese enchiladas. Must get these with the cream sauce. Yet you'll still get beans and rice on the side. 5 stars based on this 1 menu item. 1 star for the service. I have never been in a restaurant as many times with mediocre/terrible service. Never even a 'thanks for stopping in' from the servers or host. An 'I give you food, now you give me tip' attitude. I'll still go back for the enchiladas.
(3)Tim C.
On a trip. Found this near I-25. Service: Superb, friendly, cheerful, attentive. Checked after first bite. Kept beverages full. Food: Spicy, chunky, tasty salsa. Delicious house pork chinichanga in flavorful red sauce. A little dry for my taste; I should have asked for extra sauce.
(4)Shannon M.
This Mexican restaurant is handily located in the same parking lot as the hotel we were staying at on our way through Colorado which was pleasing because the boyfriend and I were both having serious Mexican cravings. Yum! Homemade taco chips and salsa to start, enormous margaritas (only $1 more for the extra ounce!), and super good food that was well-priced in portions that weren't ridiculously huge (only a little bit huge). My taco/enchilada combo was extremely good (go for the red chili sauce) while the boyfriend's fish tacos were EXCELLENT. No really. SO GOOD. If you're in the neighbourhood, definitely check it out.
(4)Elane R.
I love Cactus Flower. I think for trying to get traditional Mexican, this is about as good as it gets in Pueblo. They have an authentic decor, as well as delicious dishes featuring the renowned Pueblo chili (green is my favorite). I love especially the little touches--such as the way they bring you wine in a chilled/frozen glass, or the hot fresh baked chips and salsa on the table. You have to try this restaurant at least once.
(5)M G.
Our second time here. Loved It the first time. Second time service was slow and rude.
(4)Tom H.
The food is lame. The only flavor is salt. The rice is overcooked. The tortilla chips are mostly from bags and seasoned there. The salsa tastes like garlic powder and oregano. Just don't bother. Taco Bell is better. On the plus side service was fast and friendly. I ordered medium chili sauce and it was appropriately medium.
(2)Shane S.
Food excellent, service hit and miss except for Maria! Only REAL complaint is that when their employees are off they hang out at the bar. And they, especially the female employees are loud and obnoxious talking about how much tips they made, boyfriends, customer, other employees, etc. I think management does not care about this perception to the guests. I was sitting at the bar when 2 females servers got off they threw their dirty aprons and dirty work shirts onto the bar like they owned the bar....gross!
(3)Sfc R.
Chips and salsa are gross. Food is substandard. Thank you though for the kind person that took care of our check.
(1)Jennifer C.
Chips were good, chicken tacos were great!! Staff was very friendly and gave great advice.
(4)Mary S.
My husband and I have been eating at the Cactus Flower off and on for several years and every time the food seems to get worse. They even use Krab in a couple of the dishes but it doesn't say so on the menu. I really don't have much good to say about the place except it is nice inside. I gave it 3 stars because I can't give it 2!/2
(3)Cindy B.
Cactus Flower is surrounded by several chain hotels just off a highway. Why would anyone expect the food here to be anything more than serviceable? It's the American version of Mexican food and if you've been driving for 8 hours, are staying at one of the hotels near the restaurant and are starving, it will do. But if you have the time and energy, go elsewhere. I had a pomegranate margarita, blue corn enchiladas and flan. The margarita tasted like watered down pomm, no hint of fresh lime juice or tequila. I sent it back and V2 was much improved. The enchiladas were bland. The flan was cloyingly sweet and served with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry! I expect that the 4 and 5 star reviews are from people who've never had amazing Mexican food. In LA we're graced with several excellent Mexican restaurants. Cactus Flower will disappoint anyone who's enjoyed good modern Mexican.
(1)Raoul D.
Excellent green chile! Very tasty. Highly recommend the pork and avocado burritos. I'll be back very soon - hidden gem!
(5)Stephanie E.
As a Las Vegas hostess at one of the most prestigious hotels in Las Vegas, I was so impressed with the warm and friendly service that the folks at Cactus Flower had to offer! I walked in and was greeted by a friendly host and whisked away to my table that was in one of the main dining rooms. They have all sorts of different color sombreros, old Mexican blankets and decorative dishes on the wall that definitely gives off the vibe of being at my grandmas. They also have really beautiful vibrant wall murals all around the restaurant. My server was Joe. He was super helpful at helping me navigate the menu and he even helped me pick out a chili Margarita that was sooo good with my complimentary chips and salsa. I opted for the cream cheese enchiladas with spinach and I am so happy that I did! The chicken was tender and flavorful, the sauce had a good kick and my food came out relatively quickly! I also got a side of fideo, and it was so good! I am very impressed with the level of service, the delicious food, and the speed of service! My whole stay was deserving of standing ovations. Next time I'm on this side of Colorado I am making sure that I definitely make a trip to Pueblo for this cute little restaurant!
(5)Uschi B.
Loved the ambiance. It is a very big dining area. Friendly staff and very good food. Recommend if you like Mexican good. Guacamole on the side slightly overpriced. Very good chili rellano!
(4)Bert E.
Two words....smothered porkchops!!!! One of the best things I've ever eaten. The rest of the menu is fantastic too.
(5)Matthew M.
Don't really understand the hate that some reviewers have. They are super friendly, fast, just great people in general. The margs are awesome, the price is fair and the food is good. To the haters of oregano in salsa, they actually use cilantro. Don't hate if you don't even know what your eating.
(5)Susan O.
My family has been going here for more than a decade. We never need a menu and the usual host knows us by name. This past weekend, the food was great as always, but the service was not just bad, but horrible. Embarrassingly so. We brought a family friend for the first time and we were embarrassed how bad the service was after all our rants of how great this restaurant is. The manager did contact me via FB, and we have yet to get in touch, but an effort was made after the fact. However, when we complained while still dining, we just got the sad puppy dog look from the guy up front that we didn't know. Our regular guy wasn't there. I hope this situation gets fixed, because my family of 9 used to eat here regularly. Now, I'm not sure I want to go back. Food isn't so good that I want to be treated like crap and my children treated poorly.
(4)Peter S.
Walking in to the Cactus Flower was amazing. It is a huge building that looks really good! 1 bowl of chips n salsa was a little disappointing but not a deal breaker. My wife had an amazing pork and avocado taco plate where as I was left underwhelmed by my steak tacos. They tasted bland unfortunately. Overall I am left unsure hence the 3 stars.
(3)David B.
Pueblo is close enough to New Mexico to be influenced by its cuisine, and when I ordered the tamale plate I was asked the New Mexico State Question, "Red or green?" (chile) However, the green chile was thicker and tastier than any I had in New Mexico, nor was the tamale one of those little hard brick-like things I've had there. Not too much masa either, it was a perfect blend with the pork. Conscientious about bringing more water to the table, too. Really good place.
(5)Keebler F.
Wonderful. Love the salsa. The fajitas had an excellent marinade and plenty of them to share. Was surprisingly enjoyable
(4)Olivia S.
I came for a work lunch around 1:30 on a Tuesday. The service was slow. I really enjoyed the chips and salsa but the food was just okay. I ordered the shrimp fajitas, my coworkers had the chicken enchiladas and some sort of monster burritos. The burritos were HUGE! A lot of food, but not the best Mexican in Pueblo.
(3)Christan C.
So disappointed in this place today. I have been here before and usually order the Tacos Bistek. I have enjoyed it so much I recommended it to the rest of my family and they ordered it as well. It was terrible. There was no flavor at all; it was terrible. I sent mine back and the rest of my family, who are way to polite, finished less than half of their meal. The manager came to check on us and offered to replace my meal with something else. I was past the point of eating anything so I just asked to have it taken off my bill. The manager offered to replace the other two plates my family had ordered, but by then it really was too late. To try to make things better, he would bring out sopapillas for the table. We waited but the sopapillas never showed up, but the full bill (minus my plate I sent back) sure showed up. They didn't even offer a discount even though we left the majority of the food they brought out was left uneaten. The manager didn't even try to check on us again even though he was less than 20 feet away. I won't ever return there again nor would I recommend it to anyone. They really need to step up their customer service and food quality.
(1)Sandra A.
Sucks.. very slow chips stale, waiter was slower than molasses. . Our food came so late that we filled up on chips .. $30 down the drain
(1)Christopher S.
This is probably the best Mexican joint in town as far as the quality of the food combined with the look of the restaurant. They have a great selection of menu items and the green chili is some of the best in town, and that's saying something. It's locally owed and operated, it looks really nice, and it's conveniently located right off the highway. I always take friends here when they come to visit Pueblo.
(5)Joshua T.
The cream cheese enchiladas turned me into a big fan. The atmosphere is pretty decent. I like the food. Quick service and alert servers. Food was fresh and hot.
(4)Patrick S.
Good food, big portions. Always busy. Food didn't take to long. Good atmosphere. Try the Fajita Tacos
(4)Jessica F.
So, I really wanted to love this place because it was touted as being the "Best in Pueblo." Unfortunately, it was a disappointment to me. One of the first things that I did when we arrived was inform our waitress that I have a gluten allergy and did they have a GF menu. She looked at me and said "what's gluten?" I should have left then, but my family was hungry and this was close to our hotel. So, the waitress got more information from the kitchen and attempted to share with me what I could have. My husband and I ordered fajitas for 2 and after 10 minutes the waitress informed us that they no longer had that as an option, but that she put in 2 separate orders... Ok. The long and the short... Went to a Mexican place where I wasn't able to eat chips (they "think" they might have gluten), the fajitas are marginal, and the staff unaware. Good news: at least no one got sick!
(2)Tracy B.
The entree was good and the drinks were good, but the chips and salsa were terrible. Probably the worst I have ever had.
(3)Kyle J.
I shouldn't have been surprised to find bare minimum dinning in the hotel district of this city. For what its worth, I got decent service, and the place had OK tortilla chips. Not *great* tortilla chips, just not terrible. But then, there was the *AWFUL* house salsa. Too thin and overwhelmed by dry oregano, this tasted like the dregs of cheap "out of a can" salsa mixed lazily with some dry spices and poured into a bowl. The chips were probably better off without this miserable sauce. Finally -my entree. A Mexican steak which was just a giant hunk of sinew and fat, served with a cheap, terrible chili sauce. (Noticing a trend with their chili sauces?) I couldn't even finish this disgusting meal. I paid and left with the dish mostly unfinished.
(2)LeAnn F.
My husband and I ate here tonight and the food was mediocre. The guacamole was really dark and tasted old. The service was slow and our order was incorrect. The Spanish rice was over done and mushy. Their hot salsa was more mild than the hot you buy in the store. Hadn't eaten here for a long time and won't be eating here ever again. When I pay for a meal I at least expect the food to be better than I can make at home.
(2)C S.
JUST SAY NO! We arrived at 8:30 with a party of 16. The place was practically empty but it took them 30 minutes to shove four tables together and seat us and another hour to get our food out to us. We had young children with us who were falling asleep at the table before they could get their food and eat at 10:00. When it was brought to the attention of the manager she got defensive and argumentative rather than proactive in an effort to encourage us to ever return. The food was very mediocre, salty, canned, not tasty at all. The waiter tried to overcompensate by being too familiar which was uncomfortable. Just avoid this place all together.
(1)Tj O.
Wow! Great food and service! One of our new favorites in pueblo! Try the Cactus combo!!
(5)Trent W.
Really great service, and great food as well. I had the enchilada especial. We had a group of about 19 and they were patient and kind and served us promptly. Best restaurant in pueblo.
(5)