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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.
As a latina and vegetarian of 6 years, I couldn't have been more excited to try out El Cantaro. This Vegan Mexican Restaurant offered some of the most delicious tacos i've ever eaten. The Chickin' and Fish Baja Style Tacos were impressive and nostalgic. The hidden gem of El Cantaro offers an array of dishes, from tortas to burritos to pozole to flan. That being said, I will be coming back to feast on the rest of their delicious menu.
Best vegan Mexican restaurant around! If there is a wait, wait and order everything on the menu! All time fav
Great lunch. Parked up the street, no wait to order, food came out quickly. Awesome vegan options, potato tacos were the favorite.
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!!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
26 days ago
5 days ago
14 days ago
Finally made it to the original location of El Cantaro in Monterey and was definitely not disappointed. Same great service as the Sacramento location, but this one has a few additional items that can only be found here. Once I saw Mole Negro I was sold- and rewarded. I sat outside with my dog and enjoyed my meal after a day at the beach. The flavor was absolutely delicious and the portion made two meals. Take advantage of the small parking lot out front if you see an opening, otherwise it's paid street parking. Highly recommend if you're anywhere near Monterey. read more
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
7 days ago
As a latina and vegetarian of 6 years, I couldn't have been more excited to try out El Cantaro. This Vegan Mexican Restaurant offered some of the most delicious tacos i've ever eaten. The Chickin' and Fish Baja Style Tacos were impressive and nostalgic. The hidden gem of El Cantaro offers an array of dishes, from tortas to burritos to pozole to flan. That being said, I will be coming back to feast on the rest of their delicious menu. read more
2 months ago
Best vegan Mexican restaurant around! If there is a wait, wait and order everything on the menu! All time fav read more
5 days ago
Yummy veganfood - we especially enjoyed the Chili Ralleno plate and the BBQ chickin' burrito (very different flavors!). The service was friendly and prompt. read more
20 days ago
My vegetarian husband liked the chicken taco the most. He said the beef and fish were ok but he wish he'd gotten three chicken tacos instead. I got the combo 3 and the green sauce is delicious! The hand made tortillas were the best part read more
6 months ago
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
7 months ago
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
9 months ago
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
22 days ago
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
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
4 months ago
2 months ago
4 months ago
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
11 months ago
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
2 months ago
9 months ago
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
3 months ago
6 months ago
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
1 month ago
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
9 months ago
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
11 months ago
5 months ago
3 months ago
4 months ago
5 months ago
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
6 months ago
5 months ago
9 months ago
10 months ago
2 months ago
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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More info about El Cantaro
791 Foam St
Monterey, CA 93940
Directions
(831) 646-5465
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https://www.orderelcantaro.com
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Ask the Community - El Cantaro
Are you open Memorial Day Monday?
Hello, Yes we Will be open from 11:00- 8:30 pm.
Is the restaurant all organic? Like all menu items are organic?
ALL ITEMS ARE 100% VEGAN, AND NON GMO’s MOST ORGANIC PRODUCTS ARE USE WHEN IN SEASON, AND IF NOT ORGANIC WE GET THE NON PESTICIDE PRODUCTS. OUR GOAL IS ALWAY TO GET THE BEST…
What vegan cheese do they use or do they make their own?
They use Daiya. I asked when I was there.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
47 reviews that are not currently recommended
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