
Mexican Food in Downtown Austin
If you are visiting or new to Austin, here are some must-do activities to do: attend a concert, go to the bars on 6th street, visit the Texas State Capitol, tour the University of Texas and enjoy delicious Mexican food in downtown Austin at Iron Cactus. Dine in the restaurant or on our rooftop patio. Our rooftop patio has views of 6th street and the downtown skyline.
Start off your meal with a drink and one of our appetizers. The Iron Cactus drink menu features crafted cocktails and premium tequila. There is a reason we were voted one of the top tequila bars in the United States. Order a chile con queso and tableside guacamole for the table or try one of our new appetizers. Our new appetizers are lobster tacos, crab-stuffed jalapenos, and ahi tuna ceviche. You’ll want to order everything!
There are so many tasty entrees to choose from. You can’t go wrong with one of our sizzling fajita options. We have Angus beef skirt steak, tequila-marinated chicken, shrimp, and herb-grilled veggie fajitas. House favorite entrees include stuffed avocado, vegan tacos, Mexican meatloaf, and Baja fish tacos. Make sure to leave room for dessert! Enjoy the vanilla bean expresso crème brulee with fresh whipped cream and seasonal berries or try our twist on a classic dessert: margarita key lime tartlet. Check out the full lunch and dinner menu here.
Iron Cactus Downtown Austin hours are Monday – Thursday 11 am – 10:30 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am – 11 pm, and Sunday 10 am – 10:30 pm. Come visit us for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Eat delicious Mexican food and enjoy the atmosphere of Downtown Austin at Iron Cactus!



Just thinking about a great meal at the Iron Cactus gets folks excited. Because when you walk in, you’ll be greeted by sights, sounds, smells and most of all tastes of amazing Mexican food Downtown Austin diners have loved for almost 25 years. Whether it’s the sizzle of steak or chicken fajitas or sight of your server hand-making table-side guacamole, an Iron Cactus dining experience will tantalize each of your senses. Why not start your experience with the taste of a cool, refreshing, sweet and sour margarita? Nothing cools the fire of jalapeños like a delicious Iron Cactus Double Barrel Margarita, made right before your eyes with Herradura Double Barrel Reposado tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and natural sweet agave syrup. Just one taste and you’ll agree that your day just got a LOT better! Follow that wonderful beverage with one of our amazing appetizers, like our brisket quesadilla or crab-stuffed jalapeños. Your mouth will be in food heaven if you start your dinner just like this!
At the Iron Cactus, you will find spaces to accommodate parties of virtually any size. The Mezzanine level of the restaurant is the perfect size to support an intimate gathering of friends and family. The casual style of the room makes it the perfect setting for a cocktail function, and it can comfortably seat 40 guests for dining. 
Something great about the cuisine at Iron Cactus is that you’ll always find flavors that suit all tastes and palates, whether you seek unique or comforting offerings. Want to get a taste of something other Mexican restaurants downtown Austin won’t offer? Why not order up some Picadillo Purses? Wrapped in crispy phyllo dough, you’ll find seasoned ground sirloin melded perfectly with roasted corn, carrots and pepper jack cheese. Once you pop one of these morsels in your mouth, you won’t want to stop. Or why not enjoy a perfect combination of seafood and Mexican flavors with our fresh mussels? Steamed fresh and topped with a charred tomato butter sauce and serrano peppers, this dish will dance along your tongue and leave a smile on your face.


With so many outstanding items on the menu, your mind can run wild picturing all the amazing dishes. Perhaps you find yourself craving the scrumptious Iron Cactus chicken enchiladas. If you are, it’s certainly understandable. White meat chicken is cooked low and slow with an assortment of Mexican spices until it becomes fork tender and shredded to perfection. This chicken is mixed with spicy, savory hatch green chiles then wrapped in fresh-made tortillas, coated in our delicious verde sauce, made with tomatillos, onions and peppers. Finally, the dish is topped with a blanket of Monterrey Jack cheese and served with Mexican rice and your choice of mouthwatering beans. If picturing this dish doesn’t have you reaching for your car keys and headed out the door for Mexican food near me in Austin, then nothing will!
Once we know the date, time and location of the event, along with the number of guests you expect to serve, we can work up a proposal for you to start you on the way to a successful event.
All this culinary goodness is assembled atop a cast iron plate and brought right to you. The meat is still dancing from the heat of the grill. The aromas intoxicate your nostrils and beckon you to fill your mouth with all of these delicious flavors. But not too fast! This delectable dish is yours to enjoy, but it’s piping hot from the kitchen, so why not bask in the moment first.
As far as private dining at Iron Cactus goes, we offer three separate areas that can be used for your private event. You might opt to use our Cactus Room for your event space. The Cactus Room maintains the same sense of décor and ambiance that you’ll find in the rest of the restaurant, but with the added element of privacy for you and your guests. This room will seat 90 guests but can accommodate up to 120 people for a cocktail event. In addition to your own private bar, the Cactus Room is wired for your audio/video needs. You will also find the Cactus Room has its own side entrance for the use of your party. These are just a few of the great features you will find at the Iron Cactus, one of the best restaurants with private rooms in Austin.