Stumbled upon a new Mexican Restaurant today.
Directly across the street from Linguang MRT station. Great spot to stop between Muzha and Taipei. This is more of a sit down enjoy the meal type restaurant. Chinese and english along with pictures on menu. Staff speak English.
Enchilada and taco were both great. They have quite a variety on the menu even including chile relleno. Plates include mexican rice, beans, and small salad.
Funny, we stumbled upon the same place today!
We had just dropped the car of with the mechanic for a maintenance session and were on our way to the MRT for our first visit to Macho Nachos when two doors next to the garage we saw this new place:
facebook.com/pages/Cactus-M … 5807351411
400 Sec. 3 Heping E. Rd. Da’an Dist., Taipei,
Phone: 223773525
Cactus is new, it only opened in January, the cook/owner is Mexican, and we really enjoyed our meal.
I had the Nachos and Beef Enchilada, and hubby had the Taco.
Nachos were strange, instead of melting cheese on top they use a cheese/milk sauce. It did not do it for me, and I mentioned this to the English speaking waitress/owner (who might have heard this before as she immediately asked if it made the Nachos too wet).
However, the good thing was that there was plenty of cheese sauce and toppings!
That was my only grumble about the food!
The rest of the food was Mexican (not tex-mex), so cheese was not an issue.
The Enchiladas were beautiful, the beef was cooked perfectly and NOT dry, and covered with an interesting red chilli sauce (not spicy, slightly sour).
Hubby was happy with his traditional tacos, and both meals came with rice, re-fried beans and extra tortillas.
Service was friendly and even though we were the only ones when arrived, it soon filled up!
We will be back (next time we need to get work done on the car)
Great to hear about this place. It’s been a while since Roland and Amy closed shop. Hope the prices are better than Mayan Grill’s. If they have Negra Modelo, I’m there. 
[quote=“Incubus”]It’s been a while since Roland and Amy closed shop.[/quote] Is it really their shop? I’ve been hoping for them but I don’t see any reference to them on that fb page.
Haha, no. I meant it’s been a while since R&A vanished that we’ve had any good Mexican food in Taipei, and this place looks pretty good. BTW, anybody know what’s happened to Roland and Amy?
I would also like to know and hear that they are fine and enjoying a vacation. Wow, flashback ten plus years and they were the only in Taiwan. I wish them well.
BTW this isn’t OT. 
Stopped by again for lunch last week. Had an enchilada, chili releno, and a hard taco. Mmm… The plate looked fantastic when it arrived and the food is good. Came with refried beans and mexican rice.
They had a lunch special with burrito, tortilla soup, and a drink for $220.
Introduced two friends who are picky and they liked it too. We all cleaned our plates.
Hubby and I went there again tonight, this time with my (Taiwanese) parents-in-law…their first Mexican food experience and they loved it: Hard tacos, steak burritos, beef enchilada, plus a side dish of the yummy guacamole.
Can anyone comment on this place? I stopped by last week hoping to get some delicious mexican food, but it looks like they are now closed.
bummer , was bout to recommend this place to some folks in taiwan.
That really sucks. The OP made the first post in Feb and called this a new restaurant, and now it’s closed?! Unbelieveable.
Was this perhaps on a Monday? This page says they’re always closed on that day.
Was this perhaps on a Monday? This page says they’re always closed on that day.[/quote]
We just tried to go this past Sunday, and it was closed with a sign on the door saying that it was for sale.
Was this perhaps on a Monday? This page says they’re always closed on that day.[/quote]
We just tried to go this past Sunday, and it was closed with a sign on the door saying that it was for sale.[/quote]
I went on a Wednesday. I wonder why they closed after only opening for three months. Maybe I should give the for sale number a call. Borogove, did you happen to write down the number?
[quote=“jonstains”]
I went on a Wednesday. I wonder why they closed after only opening for three months. Maybe I should give the for sale number a call. Borogove, did you happen to write down the number?[/quote]
Didn’t write down the number, but they have a Facebook page if you want to try to contact them through that.
Was this perhaps on a Monday? This page says they’re always closed on that day.[/quote]
We just tried to go this past Sunday, and it was closed with a sign on the door saying that it was for sale.[/quote]
I went on a Wednesday. I wonder why they closed after only opening for three months. Maybe I should give the for sale number a call. Borogove, did you happen to write down the number?[/quote]
Um…could it be that the business was bad cos the food was shit? 
mexican food is still a novelty in Taiwan. It will take time for it to build up.
Most restaurants fail within the first year they say. IF it stays open beyond 18 months theres a chance that it will make it.
On my recent walks around Taipei i was very pleased that one of my fav steak houses was still in its same spot and still open .
Prices for set meals have crept up from 550nt to 1100nt since i was last there in 1999 though but so happy its still there. And i suppose 1999 money at 550nt is equal to 1100nt today.
Sorry to hear this mex restaurant closed. Was bout to recommend to a few friends in taipei.
The food was good. But that isn’t the determining factor in Taiwan.
Price is the determining factor in Taiwan. At a certain price point around ~200 (or less), Taiwanese for a regular meal will only rarely spend the money no matter how good the food is. It wasn’t cheap enough to compete with other shops in the neigborhood selling baozi, beef noodles, wonton, mcdonalds, etc. for $50-100. And they can’t lower the price without reducing the quality.
Even though across from an MRT stop, still not in a good location i.e. with little walk-by traffic that would spend that much money. Most people that ride the MRT are the same people that won’t spend much money for food.
Yeah they need to be real close to a five star hotel perhaps or in the Taipei 101 mall or some other mall where spending 250 nt to 300nt for a meal is common.
I sent the restaurant a message on FB and here’s the owners reply.
Cactus Mexican Restaurant
My name is Ron Juarez and part owner of Cactus Mexican Restaurant.
I’m sorry to say that the Cactus Restaurant is now closed. I’m having issues with my partner that made it impossible to continue this enterprise with them. I’m currently back in L.A. and letting my representative handle my affairs. Once these issues are resolved, I will consider coming back and opening again, but probably in a different location.
I would like to thank everyone who visit my restaurant and had the opportunity to partake in my cooking and the many compliments the food received. The restaurant gave me a chance to meet many wonderful people and was worth the hard work it took.
Thanks again,
Ron Juarez
You can read it here:
facebook.com/pages/Cactus-M … 5807351411