SCW and I stopped into El Cantato while staying in Monterey Bay. This place was a priority for me as it's all plant based and Mexican. Parking is sparse in front of the restaurant but paid parking is nearby. We entered and wow, the place was busy. Not overwhelming but lots of people in the indoor dining area enjoying their food. The menu is overheard and we decided what we wanted and ordered. The employees were kind and helpful, we probably were the only people that didn't speak Spanish well in the restaurant but that wasn't an issue, SCW got the number 2 combo, I got the mole. Also ordered an appetizer. Seated and waited about 10 minutes and our order came out. Everything was freaking amazing. Such great flavors and so fresh. Even SCW who doesn't necessarily gravitate towards Mexican food made nom nom nom sounds the whole time. The mole was incredible, the best I've ever had. The whole time we were here it was an endless stream of customers, even late lunch hour. SCW was impressed by the contrast stream of people coming in. We even walked around the wharf nearby for a while and drove past again and it was still packed with people. Do yourself a favor and visit El Cantato. I know I will. read more

El Cantaro - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

This is an amazing Vegan restaurant. I was in the area for the day and found this place. I haven't been to many Mexican restaurants with any vegan options let alone a full Vegan menus. It took our party (8 people) a while to decide as we were spoiled with choices. But we had time as it was pretty busy for a Friday around 1. I ended up getting the carne asada nachos and the aqua Fresca that they had that day (mango and watermelon I think). Both were absolutely spectacular. The picture included might not show the best scale but I had 2 others helping me to eat this plate and otherwise I would not have been able to finish it (even as a larger man). The crunchy jalapeños with the chips, beans and guacamole were the perfect balance. As a meat eater, the texture of the faux meat was a touch odd, but the flavor more than made up for it. The staff was helpful and attentive even as they were balancing supporting customers, answer phone orders, and taking regular orders. My wife and will definitely be stopping by here more often!! read more

El Cantaro - Carne Asada Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Christian radio talking at me and my daughters the whole time, every time. Amigo, you are driving customers away with this station and maybe that's how it should be- your mission to expand Christianity will lower your customer base and hurt your profits and allow you to pay less people. It's cool I'm sure your employees want less pay, less hours, and to listen to this all shift, every shift. And we know: the power of Christ Compels You to spread God's ideas despite what the heretics say. You're righteous, we get it. But you make amazing food, and are doing amazing things for the Mexican Community and the Vegan Community (and with that, the innocent animals of this world). Someone, somewhere down the line helped inspire the business decisions you are making right now. Maybe let this help you too. I moved to Santa Cruz the same year you opened and have been visiting 8-10 times a year since. Your menu continues to be extensive, and this last visit your cheeses weren't even as gooey as they had been (in the past the vegan cremes and cheeses were on the heavy side, but our 4 meals were all great yesterday.) We do know to order over the phone, because your line is slow, the options take a long time to explain, and the preparation is often a long process too. So we ordered ahead. Then got told we couldn't do that and would have to leave, but we had kids so you said this time was ok. After being scolded, we counted 26 seats. We took up 4 of them. Lots of available seating, and four smiling vegans in your restaurant, being cute (daughters 1 and 4) and writing 5 star reviews and spending maybe $5k there over my lifetime. Chill with the condescension, your service is slow AF sometimes. Everyone knows it and talks about it. We are seasoned and know to order ahead now. It's what we're going to do, while we continue to give you our money, while you consistently take a long time to get food to us if we order in store. Hopefully you stick around forever! Hopefully you change your horrifying radio station- but maybe God upstairs' opinion is more important than your customers. Gobbless read more

First timer here, I decided to venture out and try vegan Mexican food for the first time. Boy was I pleasantly surprised with this location. It is a small restaurant with a variety of dish options. I ordered their Combo #3 which came with 1 rolled Chikin taco, 1 crispy potato taco, 1 enchilada & finished off with a side of rice & beans. A very filling plate and presented very lovely I might add. The flavor from the green salsa on the enchilada completely stole my attention. It was so flavorful, a balance of acidity and salt which really competed the dish. My girlfriend ordered the Nopales Burrito, the flavor was most definitely there but a little too wet on the inside. Needed a bit of a crunch or something to soak up the pico de gallo. Aside from that, we also ordered the agua de Jamaica & it was not too sweet which paired up nicely with our meals. The service was fairly quick which was great given they stayed pretty busy our entire time there. If in the area, we would definitely come back. I would order a plate of those enchiladas though! read more

El Cantaro - Combo #3 - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Combo#3 plate- potato taco, taquito, enchilada in red sauce, guacamole, red cabbage, rice, black beans. Every single thing was delicious and didn't even miss the meat. Kid's bean and cheese burrito with pinto beans was also delicious and made in house. Mango smoothie with oat milk. Awesome local restaurant read more

This place is what my Mexican vegan dreams are made of! One bite of the crispy potato taco and I KNEW it was five stars for me. Simple and delicious flavors, tasted better than some non-vegan spots. Will absolutely be back. I ate my food so fast I didn't take any pictures. read more

This restaurant is located a few minutes from the busy area near the aquarium and I'm glad we ate lunch here. There are a few parking spots outside of the restaurant, which is nice as parking is pretty limited in this area. I love that everything is vegan. I'm vegetarian and while there are a lot of non meat Mexican dishes, a lot of them are cooked with beef or chicken stock. So eating here was great. They have so many items on the menu, from pozole to tamales. I went for the mole tamales. It was not bad, a bit dry. My husband got the chikkin taquitos - crispy and yummy. Service was good and the restaurant was clean. I'd be happy to return when I go back to Monterey! read more

El Cantaro - Menu and order here - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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My sister was in town for the weekend, and after spending the day at the aquarium, we got hungry and she suggested we stop here for a bite. To be honest, I probably would have never visited this restaurant as I am not vegan, but my sister on the other hand is. El Cantaro is 100% vegan which is absolutely amazing for those who eat a vegan diet. It's a casual spot where you order at the counter and seat yourself. They bring the food out to you, which is great, but you're expected to clear your own plates when you're done. There is plenty of indoor seating with outdoor seating available as well. The location is perfect if you are spending the day at the aquarium or walking along the costal rec trail. I ordered the combo #3 that included a crispy potato taco, a "chickin" rolled taquito, and one enchilada and a side of rice & beans. For my drink I went with a large horchata. The food was delicious. 10/10!!! Service took about 20 mins from order to ready but I appreciate that the food was made fresh. The cost was on the high end for a casual spot like this. My combo plate was $22.62 and my drink was $ 6.50. read more

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This review is long overdue! From our first visit 5 years ago to our most recent yesterday, the food quality and service have remained stellar. We have tried a variety of items on the menu and have never been disappointed. The nachos (we get 1/2 size) are, according to my husband, the best he has ever had! Reviews have mentioned long lines and limited seating. Yes, space is limited, but by going at slightly off hours we have always found plenty of seating. The lines are usually shorter off hours as well, but we are glad to know that business is hopping- we want El Cantaro to be around for a long time! We live an 1 1/2 hours away but never miss an opportunity to eat here when in town, and have even made the drive a few times just to grab lunch at El Cantaro. read more

El Cantaro - Nachos, Crispy Potato Taco, Rice and Beans - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

I've never had vegan Mexican food and this was absolutely delicious. The corn tortilla melted in my mouth. The chikin was so good!! I'm so tired of the typical fajita and this was a breath of fresh air. Such a cute little place felt like I was visiting a friends home and eating delicious yummy food. It's a must try! Service was very fast and they were very generous with our 3 year olds needs. Thank you - we will be back read more

Great tasting vegan food. Very convenient location right in front of aquarium. The staff were very friendly and professional. Large portion sizes. Plenty of sides and salsas that you can order. The food was well put together, well presented and arrived on time. All of us enjoyed the food. We will visit again. Thanks to the team at this place. read more

El Cantaro - Chile relleno - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Hands down one of the best mexican food places I have had in a long time. Went simple got Handmade corn tortillas and a side of rice & beans. Wow. Tortillas were phenom and the rice & beans. Don't be nervous about it being a vegan mexican food place. It is tasty and they deliver goodness and it's plant based. If by the Monterey Bag Aquarium go in! read more

On a trip back from Slo, we stopped here and were so pleased. Everything here is vegan and the flavors are amazing. The food itself is also so diverse within the menu. I got the pineapple chickn burrito and it was so delicious and unique. I've never had a barbecue burrito before that was completely vegan. The barbecue sauce wasn't super overwhelming and it was absolutely delicious. The service was also pleasant and the food came out quickly. The food was piping hot so that's one thing to keep in mind. Parking is limited but we found a spot. read more

I saw the good reviews and wanted to try it for lunch while we were in town. To say we were underwhelmed would be an understatement. We ordered a serving of chilaquiles with green sauce and chicken enchiladas with red sauce. The chilaquiles were basically a handful of chips and mushrooms, soggy and swimming in what tasted like cheap grocery store green sauce. The enchiladas were no better. It was $50 for 2 dishes and a water. I rarely write reviews but felt compelled to write one for this place. Anyone who has access to good Mexican food (this means YOU, my fellow travelers from LA) will find this overpriced and unappealing. Sadly one of the worst meals I've had in recent memory. Tasted worse than hospital cafeteria food. Served on paper plates with plastic cutlery, as well. Just overall a bad experience. read more

El Cantaro - Chilaquiles. Not recommended - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Delicious!! We came here a few years ago and just got to go back yesterday while we were visiting. Wow SO good! I wanted to get everything on the menu! I ordered the relleno combo plate that came with a fish taco, rice beans and salad. I also got the pozole, and brownie with ice cream for dessert. Everything was REALLY good. Yum yum. Makes me want to visit Monterey again just to come here. Friendly staff, clean and quiet restaurant. read more

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Restaurant is scheduled to open at 11. Door was barricaded by chairs and cleaning supplies. Other folks waiting knocked to see when they would open and staff did not respond. Didn't say "please wait" or explain. I waited quietly until 11:15 but door was still barricaded. Imagine if folks had ordered takeout. Apparently good food does not make up for bad service and operations. read more

A welcome surprise in Monterey to find vegan Mexican food. We were stoked! The food was really tasty. Loved the veggie tostada. I would go back. The one suggestion is it would be amazing if they had a small patio or a few chairs to eat outside in beautiful Monterey. read more

Every time my husband and I are in Monterey, we find ourselves coming back to El Cantaro. This is hands down some of the best plant-based Mexican food we've ever had. The service is amazing, and the food options feel endless. I highly recommend the chikin nachos!! The chips are homemade and the chikin is packed with flavor. Truly some of the best vegan nachos my husband and I have ever had. The tortas are also really good and super satisfying. As far as the plant-based meats go, the "asada" and "chikin" are definitely our favorites. If you're looking for delicious vegan food in Monterey, this place is an absolute must try! read more

El Cantaro - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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i'm currently eating the yummiest burrito ever!!! this restaurant just doesn't miss!!!! read more

El Cantaro - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Love this place, have only been here 3 times though. If they were open fridays and saturdays, my business would undoubtedly triple and I'm sure many other working locals feel the same way. read more

There's a reason why this spot belongs on your vegan bucket list! I highly recommend the El Cantaro burrito (add guacamole!). Eating there is nice, but it's even better to take your order to go and walk the 2 blocks down to the water. See you there! read more

Delicious & flavorable vegan Mexican cuisine! Pleasantly surprised at the selections, from enchiladas, to combo plates, to burritos and empanadas & tacos. We had the nopales burrito and the spinach enchiladas. Both were Very good. Quality ingredients and good service. Order at the counter and the staff will bring your food to you. They are very efficient and friendly. Small place with fairly quick turnover in tables. Prices and portions are decent, especially the burritos which are a hefty size. Ask about the water of the day. We had the hibiscus water which was yummy and not too sweet. They have vegan chicken & beef but we didn't try those and stuck to the veggie entrees. We will return now that we have this nice option. read more

El Cantaro - Nopales & veggie burrito. - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Wide variety, delicious and fast. Healthier options available or traditional fare. Convenient location with plenty of parking read more

I've been here twice now with my girlfriend who is vegan and both times we've eaten phenomenally. Our big issue is deciding what to eat. Being from san jose and oakland, its special to be in the Montery area and we want to "aprovechar" or make the most of our visit. In our first visit we ordered the... - combination plate - red enchilada, flauta, and a taco. - ranchero vegan ground beef taco - vegan mole tamal - churro ice cream Everything was very good. The red enchilada was a little too spicy for my GF's taste but it was good. My mole tamal was delicious, and the churro ice cream hit the spot. It wasn't our first choice of dessert, but there were a few items that were sold out. I also wanted to try the chile relleno nogada but was also sold out. In our second visit we ordered the - chicken fajita plate - red and green enchilada plate - pozole The chicken fajita plate was very good. My GF was thinking about a few months later even. My red and green enchiladas were very good, if I had to choose I enjoyed the green more than the red sauce, but both were good and I enjoy variety. Lastly the pozole was spot on, with bits of vegan meats inside, I wasn't missing the meat. It was delicious and had flashbacks of times I was nursing a hangover with non vegan pozole. Again however the chile relleno nogada was sold out. Ive been curious to try this dish vegan or non vegan for quite some time. We're be planning our next trip soon and will be try to arrive early to make sure I can get to try it. read more

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Grateful for this all vegan spot in a city that doesn't have a lot. The veggie burrito was yummy and the horchata was very refreshing. I thought the cactus taco was all right. Their corn tortillas are very fresh tasting. They have a few vegan meat options but none of them were my jam. read more

The food is consistently delicious! It's the only vegan restaurant in all of Monterey. I love the Taquitos, posole and memelitas. We have to save up to eat there, it's pricey for what you get. Chips and a 2ounce salsa is $7.99! There is no customer service and the food has never come out all together. So I recommend take out so you can eat at home in peace at the same time. The feeling I get when I'm in there is that we're bothering them. Food 9/10 Service 3/10 Ambiance 6/10 I'm putting 4 stars because I don't want to give a bad review. Sharing this might help owners, staff and future customers. read more

Took my family and didn't tell them it was vegan. They were all in shock when we broke the secret ;) It's a must try if you're in the area! read more

Food and service are top notch. I was in town for a conference and I returned to this awesome establishment every day.i even suggested it to others who visited. Everything is delicious, Everything! I tried different menu items each day. I haven't had Chile relleno in years, since becoming vegan, it was good. The tacos are great, I really enjoyed the tacos (I had fish and potato). I can't pronounce the dish that blew my mind (see photos) but it was so good, I will order it again. The desserts are excellent. I tried the plantains and the cheesecake, a bit pricey imo but tasted great. I understand there's a Sacramento restaurant and I'll definitely be visiting that one soon- I'm willing to drive an hour to dine here for sure. The service is second to none, perfect. They play Christian music, which is nice but not overbearing. The aesthetic is akin to a street fair or food market. All of the attention is on the food and service. The bathroom is relatively clean. You can tell the floors haven't been steamed in a while. All in all, near excellence. read more

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Unfortunately, after visiting a few more times, this place seems a bit disorganized. I have had orders given to me as to go when I asked to eat in, and to go orders given to me cold even though the order was placed in person. The last straw was eating a rancid taquito where I seriously worried I was going to get sick. The hours are also weird. read more

Have been here twice now while in the Monterrey area and LOVE this place! it was recommended to me by my soon to be hubs, and if you're wondering if that's why I'm marrying him...maybe!!! JK =) But I will say Vegan Mexican Food definitely equals happily ever after. This is a small, order at the register and have a seat or carry it out (as there isn't much of a dining area). There are plenty of delicious and creative options, all reasonably priced. The food comes out pretty quickly, and the flavors are all on point. Seasoned well, fresh, and good size portions. Highly recommend! read more

El Cantaro - Steak Fajitas Plate - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Family run restaurant that always delivers delicious vegan food. I can't say enough good things about how well they treat their customers. I constantly recommend this place to people that are not just vegetarian. Probably eat here once a week read more

El Cantaro is the go to spot every time I am in town. The best vegan mexican food i've ever got the chance to enjoy. Great food, a causal spot, not fancy but delicious and hits all the marks! read more

Food was so so good. Great organic, vegan and gluten free options!! The carne asada, chickin and meatless ground beef are all gluten free. Finished all my food in less than 5 minutes and went back to order more. The food: The corn tortilla is delicious. Also had gluten free flan. Their vegan chickin' and as so similar to the taste and texture of chicken. Beans and rice were on point. We tried the asada, chickin and ground beef less beef tacos and they were all so good and all gluten free. Guac also delicious! Nayeli was super helpful as she helped us navigate our dietary restrictions with patience! Space was clean with in and outdoor seating. Thank you and will be back again! read more

Came for dinner, and it was packed! It's walk-up service and the person taking your order brings it to your table. Seems like they do a decent takeout service. They do have high chairs for the kiddos and their restroom was clean. It has a very family-friendly dining vibe. As for the food itself, I got the Two Tamales Plate, a side of avocado and a sparkling apple cider. The tamale with the tomatillo sauce were delicious. I think the red/mole sauce was decent. It's extremely nice to go to a Mexican restaurant knowing there isn't any lard/pork infused in their dishes. I'll be back! Price: $28.21 (w/ tip) read more

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My friend recommended this place. We came 50 min before they closed. They ran into my friend that recommended this place. I ordered Combo #3 and hubby ordered Combo # 1 They were both yummy! The only photo taken was my husband's Combo # 1 plate. I was too hungry to take a photo. Everything tasted clean and well executed. For being vegan I was surprised the vegan meats didn't have that vegan meat taste and scent. All was so good. Every time I come to Monterey, this will be a spot I will always eat at. read more

El Cantaro - Combo # 1. The mole tamale was very delish. They make their rice and beans right. - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Small, quaint, unassuming restaurant with some of the best vegan Mexican food I've ever had! The vegan chicken they use is phenomenal. Their mole sauce is so flavorful. Really every thing was perfectly seasoned and not overly salted or oily. Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

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Good tasting food along with pleasant and professional service (Jasmine) at a reasonable price. Ambiance is good as long as the background music stays at low volume. read more

For my vegan folks, that like authentic Mexican food, this is a must go in Monterey. I'm not vegan nor vegetarian, but my friend is and I support him. We came here and there was so much variety. I wanted to give the mole a try, and so glad that I did. It was so good! A bit spicy for me, but I couldn't tell that it was vegan. The "fake chicken" had the texture of real chicken. Horchata was amazing as well. My friend had the vegan chicken burrito and loved it The only reason for four stars was that it was super cold inside. We came here for dinner, the door was wide open and there was no indication that the mole was going to be so spicy . But other than that. Will definitely come here read more

El Cantaro - Authentic Mole Negro Oaxaca Style Plate - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

I was really excited to find a vegan place to eat at, but unfortunately the service was terrible. Our order included a dessert, which I didn't say to delay bringing (I wanted it right away with the order, as it was for my son, who didn't like the other menu items), and they didn't ask. It didn't come with the food, so I assumed they'd assumed I wanted it at the end, and were waiting to make it. I shared my soup with my son (I wanted to try both the soup and the enchiladas), and he ended up enjoying it well enough, so fine...I gave him my soup, and waited for the dessert. But... then I noticed they had actually fried the bananas already, and the plate of them was just sitting up next to the cashier at the counter. It sat...and sat... and sat... and I began thinking, "That better not be for my dessert!" because I don't want bananas that were fried twenty minutes ago and have been sitting exposed and getting cold next to the cashier, and all the guests coming in to pay for food at the cashier. The cashier was out at the tables talking for a very long time with two older ladies, and didn't return to the cashier station for at least 10-15 minutes. I had even walked up to look at the plate of bananas (confirming they were what I thought they were, and hoping they weren't mine), and the cashier didn't bother to notice me. So I went and sat back down, waiting for her to stop chatting with the ladies. Finally, she returned, and I went up to ask about the dessert that hadn't come with our food. She said they were waiting to deliver it last, but will make it now. I said, "Oh, so those aren't my bananas sitting there?" She said yes, they are, but they will re-fry them to warm them back up again now. I expressed my concern that those bananas had been sitting there already fried for over 20 minutes, and that I didn't want those ones, but new ones. She just flatly said again, don't worry, we will RE-fry them for you. I said I don't want you to re-fry cold old bananas that have been sitting out already pre-fried this long, and that double-frying would make them oilier too; I want freshly made ones. Instead of remaking it for me, she just rudely handed me a refund receipt without saying anything else. I didn't ask for a refund -- I wanted the dessert made right -- not double-fried limp bananas that had been exposed so long because they made a mistake and fried them too soon. If they're going to wait to deliver the dessert to later, they should also wait to MAKE the dessert until then. Why the heck would they fry my bananas right away, only to sit them on the counter for a very long time? Bad timing, and bad service. And she was so rude about it.... I wasn't the bad guy there, but the way she handed me that refund receipt that I didn't ask for, and without a word, no smile, no apology, no offer to remake the dessert... I will NOT be back. This is an example of losing customers because of a bad employee. You've lost three customers, as my non-vegan family who came with me won't be back either (my husband only ate here because I chose it for dinner... you see, often your vegan customers bring you non-vegan customers too by default). Our son is also vegan, and he's who I ordered the fried bananas for, so he didn't even get to try it. I thought my soup and enchiladas were good, but given the terrible service, we just won't be back. My husband was also pretty upset at us trying this place because he would've much rather gone to El Torito (being non-vegan), it was his favorite choice--and so the fact that me and my son didn't enjoy our vegan experience here, it was a waste of dinner. Our options there are extremely limited, but at least we always have fun and have never had a bad experience at El Torito. read more

Decided on this place for its good review. Not good, expensive $5+ per taco. 1 lime per 3 tacos, no sauce provided on the side.