Cactus Ya Ya

This Mexican restaurant has a great selection of Tex-Mex entrees. I especially love their signature quesidillas with cream cheese, almonds and raisins... sounds weird but they're delicious! The prices are reasonable for their huge portions-- you can easily have dinner for under $10. The downside to this small, local restaurant is that it's pretty dark and very loud-- its almost always crowded and the bar, combined with the small layout of the restaurant, causes this. For this reason, though, I think it would be a comfortable place to take kids... a loud child wouldn't turn any extra heads! The service is usually good, although once or twice it was quite slow. Still, the great food makes up for it, esp. if you pay attention to prices when you dine out! more

This is a really fun restaurant that features a bar area as well. The menu is outstanding and has a wide variety for a good value. From the two things I sampled I would say that the food is tasty as well. The employees are very friendly and socialable. It does get a little crowded and was pretty noisy when I visited, but nothing that detracted from the overall experience. more

I attended a baby shower here of all things. The food was pretty good. Not my favorite, but pretty good. The rolls were excellent! I enjoyed the atmosphere, and it was great to relax and drink from the bar even at a baby shower. Silly it may seem, but I enjoyed it after a long day. The staff was great and friendly. more

In Vancouver, it's nearly impossible to eat out without eating at a generic chain restaurant. Thankfully, there's Cactus Ya Ya. The menu here is Mexican, and they serve some of the best tortilla soup I've ever had. Their freshly-made salsa is fantastic, as are the made-to-order margaritas. Ya Ya Rolls can't be missed, nor can they really be described, but trust me and order the salmon. Late night happy hour is a good time to go, though it will be crowded. Ya Ya Rolls are half-price, as are a few other appetizers. There isn't really a drink special; maybe $1 off a mixed drink, which isn't anything to get excited about. The meal, however, is. It's the best you'll have all week. more