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With a plethora of Mexican restaurants to choose from in the DFW area, how do you possibly narrow down the choices when someone inevitably asks, where should I go to eat good Mexican food?
If you want a truly Texan and Mexican experience, look no further than Iron Cactus. With only 3 locations, all in Texas, the Iron Cactus in downtown Dallas gives you the best of both worlds. The 14,000 square-foot restaurant stands 3 stories tall and overlooks the famous Pegasus Plaza. You can enjoy patio seating on each floor and the rooftop for an intimate view of downtown Dallas unlike any other.
One unique offering of Iron Cactus is their extensive selection of tequilas. Choose from over 100 tequilas to sip on, create your own tequila flight, or mix into your favorite margarita. My guest and I ordered the featured drink of the month, the Herradura 100% El Agave margarita (pictured above), made with Herradura blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, agave nectar and a splash of Cointreau. All of Iron Cactuss margaritas are made with fresh lime juice and organic agave nectar, so youll never have to worry about drinking any fake sweet and sour mix (aka heartburn).
As an appetizer, my guest and I started with one of their new menu items, the crab-stuffed jalapeños. Fresh jalapeños were generously stuffed with a creamy mixture of jumbo lump crab meat, panko-crusted, deep fried and served on a bed of lobster cream sauce. These jalapeños had just the right amount of spice for a little kick! This is a great small appetizer to share so you can save room for the main course.
For our entrees, we ordered one classic Mexican dish, the combination steak and chicken fajitas, and one of Iron Cactuss house favorites, the Southwest Paella.
Iron cactus is known for combining traditional Mexican flavors and translating them into contemporary Mexican dishes. The Southwest Paella is a perfect example of this. A traditional dish from Spain, Iron Cactus has transformed this dish by incorporating Mexican flavors of chilies, roasted poblano and bell peppers, with jumbo shrimp, mussels, bay scallops and jalapeño Texas sausage, served over cilantro-lime rice and topped with a lobster cream sauce. Each component of the dish absorbed the mixture of flavors, making every bite leaving you wanting more.
Fajitas are a classic staple at most Mexican restaurants, and the combination chicken and steak fajitas do not disappoint at Iron Cactus. The tequila marinated chicken was tender and juicy and the steak was perfectly cooked to order. It is served with Mexican rice, your choice of beans and all the fixings. Another distinguishing factor that sets Iron Cactus apart is that they make their own flour tortillas in house, so they are fresh for every order of fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas.
I always say I have a second stomach when it comes to eating dessert, so despite being completely stuffed, we decided to finish off our meal with coffee and dessert. After some contemplation, we decided on the Mexican chocolate torte and a Carajillo coffee to share. I would describe Carajillo coffee as the Mexican version of an Irish coffee, but made with Licor 43; a sweeter, more subtle addition to the coffee.
The chocolate torte consists of two decadent layers of chocolate ganache, with a mix of Mexican caramel and candied pecans in between, topped with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. If you enjoy decadent chocolate desserts, this one should be at the top of your list.
Overall, every bite, from start to finish, was delicious and the service was exceptional. So the next time you are looking to branch out from your normal go-to spots, make sure to add Iron Cactus to your list.
Iron cactus is located at 1520 Main Street Dallas, TX 75201
Happy Hour runs Mon “ Fri: 3pm “ 6pm
(Disclaimer: My meal was complimentary, and all opinions are my own.)
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