Cactus News & Blog
Cactus Named “Best Mexican Restaurant” in the 2025 Best of Western Washington
We got a phone call the other day that honestly caught us off guard. A producer from KING 5’s Evening Magazine reached out to let us know that Cactus was voted “Best Mexican Restaurant” in the 2025 Best of Western Washington. We didn’t campaign. We didn’t promote it. We didn’t even vote for ourselves. The people of Western Washington cast their votes, and somehow, thirty-five years in, they chose us.
That means something.
Cactus has been part of the local dining scene for a long time now. Over the years we have been fortunate to receive some incredible recognition, from Seattle Times Top Ten lists to “Best Mexican Restaurant” honors across Tacoma, Bellevue, Kirkland and the Eastside. Winning Evening Magazine’s Best of Western Washington back in 2012 was a highlight. Being recognized again more than a decade later hits differently.
High five on the win!
Maybe it is because we are not chasing awards anymore. Our focus is on the food, the hospitality, the music, the energy in the room, and giving people a place they love coming back to. Staying consistent for three and a half decades takes real work. It takes cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, servers, managers and every person who has worn a Cactus shirt or apron, past and present.
And along the way, we have embraced exactly who we are. We are not trying to be genuine Mexican. We are building something that reflects our guests, our team and our part of the world. We are not authentic. We are uniquely Cactus. Seeing that identity still resonate after all these years is meaningful to us.
So if this award belongs to anyone, it is the team. And it is our guests. Many of you have been with us for decades. Many of you have celebrated milestones, birthdays, date nights and messy Tuesday dinners with us. You are part of why this place still feels alive.
We are grateful for the support, the votes, the kind words and the loyalty that has carried us through thirty-five years of serving the food we love.
Thank you, Western Washington. We appreciate it more than you know.