The potato tacos at @elcantarovegan are my favorite! This place is a must when we are in Monterey. Everything we've had here, the combo plates, quesadillas, burritos, etc. are delicious! (instagram: jax.vegan.eats) read more

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Best Mexican food we've had in a long time. It was incredibly authentic and flavorful. And it's vegan?! Say what?! Would have never guessed! Crispy potato tacos - fried to perfection without feeling heavy, the toppings were Chile relleno plate was perfectly portioned. Mole sauce was chocolatey, rich and spicy. Beans, rice, and corn tortillas were standard sides for the main dishes were traditionally prepared and delicious. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. You can watch your dish being prepared in front of you which was fun, and then chef was appreciative of our compliments on our meals. We really wanted dessert, but there was no way we could have squeezed in any more food. Excellent all-around experience. read more

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Service was great ! Food was delicious. Accommodated the allergies in our party. So happy to have found this little spot on our adventure.

This was really good food! I will say that they could use more spices/ seasonings in my opinion. But the portion sizes were great and the food was good overall. There is a very small parking lot in front of it. read more

El Cantaro - Empanadas - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

If I could give 6 stars I would! We came here on a Sunday afternoon. Parking is limited but we were able to snag one in the small lot in front of the restaurant. Once we walked in, we were surprised with how vegan many options there were! We got a variety of dishes including a wet burrito, tacos, soup, and flan. Each dish was delicious with its own unique flavor profile! We loved it with the flan being my personal favorite. This spot is definitely a vegan's dream. We will definitely be back! read more

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The food is good if your schedule permits you to eat it. I'd give 5 stars for food and service, but it gets knocked down to 2 stars due to the fact the hours are the worst for going out to eat. The food is good but who cares if you can't eat it... read more

First time trying vegan Mexican and I enjoyed it! Ordered a steak burrito with a spinach wrap and a nopales taco with a hibiscus aqua fresca. The mild sauce had a nice kick and more on the spicier side. Place is no frills and walking distance to the aquarium. Staff also nice and service is fast. A nice new food experience from the norm. read more

El Cantaro - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

OMG their food is so good! I am in town for a few days and was excited to go to an all vegan Mexican restaurant. The first day I got a pineapple and black bean burrito and it was so delicious. The next day I got the tofu veggie burrito and I loved it so much that the third day I got the exact same thing. I would eat here all the time if I lived here. The counter staff is super friendly and helpful and my food was ready quickly, even at prime lunchtime. Highly recommend! read more

Great spot near the monterey Aquarium. They have maybe 8-10 parking spots or you can find street parking as well. Awesome menu with tons of vegan options. I ordered the Enchiladas and it was delicious... slightly salty but otherwise it is perfect for me. Every time i come here, it is always clean. You order at the counter and then, grab a seat. Wait time is about 15 min, food is always fresh! read more

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El Cantaro is fantastic Mexican food--vegan or not. It tastes great--plus it leaves me feeling lighter and less stuffed than meaty greasy burritos. I lived in the neighborhood and had my eye on El Cantaro while they were building it out. I went there maybe 3 days after they opened. It was so yummy and friendly that I went there often. It's been a while since I lived there. Then I recently went back. Looks like they got a little fancier with the digital menu screens and some different art on the walls, but the menu looks mostly the same. I'm not sure I've ever had anything else besides the El Cantaro Burrito--it's that good. I think this might be the first place I've ever had Mexican hot chocolate. I'm kinda particular about hot chocolate, so I got it to-go because I wasn't sure what it was all about; I didn't want them to be offended if I dumped it. I LOVED IT! and I bought it again and again. I've also started making hot chocolate at home with cinnamon almost every time. Jamaica (Hibiscus "tea" [hibiscus punch]) is also great! Clean bathrooms. Just a couple free parking spots, but more metered parking on the street. If you choose to give a thumbs-up or not, I hope you found my review helpful! read more

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We found this place browsing Yelp. I saw the menu and it looked very appealing. They have very good vegan Mexican food. We were a party of 6 and there was a big variety of different dishes. All of them sounded very delicious. So, we decided on a chile relleno plate, wet steak burrito, mushroom quesadilla, and a regular cheese quesadilla. And my dish was that tlayudas oaxaqueñas. Everyone said that their food was very good. The salsa and the spices were on point. I really liked their seasoning. Nobody had any left Overs. Proof that there was no complaints at all. Just to describe my dish since I didn't Even know what tlayudas were. There was a big crunchy tortilla. It was no tostada because they are fried. The tortilla was topped with black blended beans, red cabbage, pico de gallo, and green salsa. With some fresh avocado. It was so delicious. I am already thinking what am I taking for next Time I visit. A huarache sounds good. Highly recommend. It is very convenient. Walking distance from the Monterrey bay aquarium. Your order at The counter, the menu is on top of the counter and there is plenty to choose from. read more

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10/10 vegan food, i can't wait to come back! the steak and chicken are so flavorful and delicious. they have a tasty horchata (soy based) too. i got the combo plate and it was a great way to try multiple things! service was super friendly and fast. read more

Food was amazing. Wife and I loved the Pozole soup, mushroom taco and nopales taco! This is vegetarian food done right. Service was ok. The cashier wasn't particularly friendly. Inside is small and basic. You definitely only go there for the food. read more

My sister stumbled upon this restaurant. She raved to me how delicious it was knowing that I'm vegetarian. We were in the area so we wanted to come here. We shared the nachos. It was so delicious. They asked if we wanted jalapeños, so I said on the side. I like pickled jalapeños so I assumed that's what it was, but these joints were fresh! read more

El Cantaro - Napkin holder - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Combo #2 beef tacos , green sauce with spinach enchiladas, pinto beans, rice. It was all very tasty, the menu is vast and has a kids menu. Inside was very warm. Value was decent for the area. Food is served quite fast. read more

Great service and even better food! I took my meat-eating boyfriend and even he was thoroughly impressed. The food tastes authentic and delicious, I was so happy to find a spot where I could get real Mexican flavors without the meat! read more

El Cantaro - Taquitos Plate - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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On a road trip to Big Sur, I stopped here both on the way there and back. That's how good it is, and so rare to find a fully vegan Mexican spot that hits these flavors. On my first visit, I got the combo with an enchilada (red sauce), potato taco, and chik'n taco. It was a good portion size and I ate the whole thing. Love their rice and beans. The red sauce is on point. On the way back, I focused on tacos, getting the asada tacos (a special) and a fish taco. The asada tacos were soooooo good. The vegan meat had a great texture. I did ask for a side of salsa for a little more heat. The fish taco wasn't my favorite, but it did have the seafood vibe. The worst thing about this place is that they're closed on Saturdays and that's when I usually find myself in Monterey. If you catch them open on another day, don't hesitate to go. read more

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Decided to stop by for a quick snack, which did not turn out to be a quick stop. I only ordered a single crispy potato taco, which took over 15 minutes to come out. Not the wait you expect from a taco spot. The crispy potato taco wasn't what I expected from the name. I pictured crispy potatoes in a soft tortilla, but it was actually a soft potato in a fried tortilla, no problem. The potato was well seasoned and the texture contrasted the tortilla nicely. It was topped with vegan cheese, tomatoes and veg. The "cheese" was ok, not too dry but not moist/fatty either, which is to be expected. All in all, a pretty tasty taco, but not worth the wait or the price point (currently $5 for the crispy potato taco). read more

El Cantaro - Crispy potato taco - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Amazing burritos anytime im working down in Monterey my boss begs to go get lunch from el Cantaro. The service is great, everyone is welcoming even over the phone. They are fast paste & the restaurant is always clean. read more

Everything is totally great here EXCEPT, sad to see use of plastic utensils and plastic water cups. Not necessary and not environmentally sound read more

GREAT vegan options - vegan Mexican food done right with tons of options, combinations, and a-la-carte items. Downside: 10% service charge for ordering on their own website is tough to swallow (unlike their food). read more

The BEST vegan Mexican food I have ever had. Pictured is the chicken nachos, two ranchero (faux beef) tacos, and one crispy potato taco. 10/10 read more

El Cantaro - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Came here with some friends after visiting the Monteray Bay aquarium and it was by far one of the best Mexican restaurants that I have been to. The fact that this was a vegan based place was so unique and had an abundant amount of options for vegetarians. I ordered the enchiladas with vegan meat and they were amazing! I also tried the tacos with a vegan fish meat. The red sauce was very spicy and the green one was flavorful. If you are near this area, I 100% recommend visiting this place, you will not be disappointed. read more

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Ordered Combo #2 was tasty and craving for a pozole soup. The pozole soup was way too salty and filled with onions a very little Hominy. I do not recommend it, and took off one star from the review. read more

visited Monterey from so-cal and I was so pleased to find an all vegan Mexican restaurant since they're a bit hard to come by! I went to the aquarium and it was literally right next to it, so I told my boyfriend we were eating there afterwards we considered eating somewhere near the warf or on cannery row but I'm sooo glad we chose to eat here! I got a combination plate to get some variety and everything I got was bomb! The tacos de nopales (cactus) and the enchiladas are especially good! My boyfriend is Mexican and not vegan and he loved them! The horchata was sooo bomb too! I get so excited whenever I find vegan horchata since it's never at regular Mexican restaurants. The atmosphere was nice too! Nice music and fresh ocean air. friendly staff too! read more

El Cantaro - combo 4: a chile relleno, fish taco w/ mango salsa, salad, rice & beans combo 2: tacos de nopales & chicken, 1 enchilada, rice & beans. - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

I don't eat vegan food super often, but this place was fantastic. Looked like a family ran the place and I enjoyed that it felt mellow inside and was near the downtown area. Maybe I'm just a big back but I thought the combo platter could have been a little more filling for the price I paid. The chamoyada was the best part. I would go back again just for that. I can't do half stars but I'd say my experience is closer to a 4.5/5. Worth going to if you're taking a day trip in the area. read more

Excellent! Loved the Potatoe tacos but everything is so good! Fast friendly service. Highly recommend! read more

Probably the best Mexican food I've ever had. And the best place to eat in Monterey. Every other place in Monterey we went to was terrible or very mid and we had el cantaro on our last day and it saved the trip lol. No but seriously I wish I had it one more time before leaving. The vegan meat didn't taste fake, artificial, or like soy like all the other vegan places I've been to. Everything that I tried tasted delicious and my friends liked everything they had as well. Chips and salsa 10/10 - the salsa is VERY spicy though Carne Asada Tacos 100/10 best thing every especially the green salsa on top Beans and rice were also great and the rice was nice and fluffy and soft and not grainy/hard. Will def becoming here again if I'm ever in the area! Fast, quick and friendly service read more

El Cantaro - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Got a burrito and a plate with mole, enchiladas, rice/beans and a salad with a side of their horchata. Would say the price is a little on the higher end for casual dining. Food is good and there is plenty seating. Seems like a small business, very cozy. read more

El Cantaro - Burrito and plate - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

The food is always made very quickly, and I visit Monterey about 5x a year because my grandparents live there and I try to go here literally every day when I do visit. There's a few other vegan spots in the area, but this is by far my favorite. The chicken tortilla soup is amazing so is the tortilla jalapeño salad. Even my grandparents enjoy coming here, and they aren't vegan! read more

El Cantaro - Tortilla Soup, Tortilla Jalapeno Salad - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

This place has a lot of great options. Anytime I'm in town or in the area, I must always stop here to get a torta. They have really good Al Pastor and Carne Asada. Very authentic flavor and style. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. They never disappoint with the food. Con: They are closed on Saturdays????????? This place definitely has the best Vegan Mexican Food on the Central coast and NorCal. read more

This has become my go-to lunch spot whenever I do a road trip out to Big Sur. I've gotten the appetizer taquitos, fish taco w/ pineapple salsa, the beef tostada, the mole plate, and horchata and all of them have been incredible. The menu is massive, so I won't run out of new things to try. I appreciate how quick the service is too. I have a small nitpick though, which is that the menu is a looping video on a tv screen that goes black for a a few seconds every couple minutes, which is weirdly annoying when you're trying to choose what you want. Also, chips and salsa are not included, which most Mexican restaurants provide for free. Instead they charge 6.75, which is weirdly expensive in comparison to the rest of their menu. Overall, 10/10 I absolutely love this place. read more

Kind people, casual atmosphere and a wonderful menu. Biggest, crispiest (mashed) potato tacos I've ever had!

I know people that LOVE this place and go several times a week. For myself the food is too heavy. I do enjoy the nachos, and rice. It is counter service. Parking is terrible. read more

What does El Cantaro lack?? Plenty of seating, friendly and efficient staff, kids menu, and an excellent menu!! Steak fajitas were delicious, mole negro I've never had before so nothing to compare it to but it was very good. Kids were happy with grilled cheese, bean and cheese burrito, and freshly made hand cut French fries! read more

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

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I have been coming here for the past four years and every time I'm in the area I just know this is gonna be my stop before leaving town. I love the freshness of the food. I love the creativity and I specially love how they make a little soya chunk seem so delicious. I always suggest and tell everybody to get the chile relleno plate and of course a ranchero taco! read more

El Cantaro - One Large Chile Relleno Plate - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Love a vegan Mexican place, especially in a touristy area. This place is obviously a local fave and also visited by tourists looking for vegetarian options in an area that is otherwise mostly seafood. The potato tacos were my fave item, the tacos were wet due to the salsa so wasn't as enjoyable. My son ordered the Combo#3 and he really enjoyed. Would totally recommend trying it out! read more

El Cantaro - Crispy Potato Taco - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Good food in Monterey, CA! I was here about a year ago and food is still good but not as amazing as I remembered it, it did get a little bit pricey and it shouldn't have cause it's more of a taqueria. Coffee is not good. But food is good enough. Service is good. And place is clean. Great vegan option if you're in that area. read more

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This place easily has some of the best food I've ever had in my life. My wife and I come to Monterey often, 50% because we love it here and 50% to come back to El Cantaro. I left a review immediately after finishing eating my first time here, this review is probably my 20th visit. It's rare that a restaurant has a menu with no bad options. Everything here is delicious. Cannot recommend it highly enough. read more

I've been going here for my nacho fix. It never disappoints! I have to warn you that the serving size is HUGE so I always go with hubby, my daughters, or all four of us. The place can get busy but today, we didn't have to wait long for food and for a table. They have indoor and outdoor seating. They have a big selection of food which I gotta try next time I come here not craving nachos. It's fast paced so no chitchat from the staff. They are nice though, since 2020 (when I first started coming here) through now. read more

El Cantaro - Nachos with steak (extra). It probably doesn't look like a big serving from this angle but it is. - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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