First, our host was gracious since we had to leave for different reasons! But not before mentioning that we ALL noticed some delay in serving us - a big person arrived just after and understably such regulars are more important than us so we were not reactive. But coming from Houston, Mexican food is something we cherish and the chips and watered down salsa that came late was not having any flavor, so was disappointed - but people seem good.... Ambiance would have been good if the food was worth it, no??? I could even forego the poor hosting. read more

Monarca Cantina - Monroe - An overlook that sees the lake!!!! - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Monroe, New York

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The food is AMAZING!! full of flavor, fresh, and beautifully presented. Every bite tastes like it was made with care. You can tell they don't cut corners. From the appetizers to the entrées, everything is seasoned perfectly and comes out hot and fresh. The portions are generous, and the drinks complement the food so well. It's one of those places where you're already planning what you're ordering next time before you even leave. The vibe is great, the atmosphere feels lively but still comfortable, and the whole experience just hits. If you're in Monroe and want genuinely delicious food, Monarca is a must. I'll definitely be back. read more

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The food was good... BUT the margaritas... now that's where it's at! Service was friendly and the ambiance felt authentic. Took my auntie here from Maryland and she loved the view of the lake and the margaritas read more

Monarca Cantina - Monroe - Vegetarian Enchiladas - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Monroe, New York

Food is not bad it's not superb but is eatable service is horrible they take your order but they forget about ur order and is a long wait there's no waiter around they pass next to you like don't bother them place my order and never got my appetizer they took a long time to bring you ur drinks and food came when about to leave ... the place wasn't even crowded it my second time after many years never ever again don't understand how they didn't bring food in time was nobody thereeee read more

Went here on Tuesday July 22 2025 with my parents and aunt. First off, let me go off and rant and rave about this place- located in Monroe, NY by a beautiful little lake, and an mexican restaurant with mexican vibes and decor, and food. To top it off, they have both spicy and non-spicy options, and we love our server too! Anyways, went here on Tuesday July 22nd 2025, parked, and then entered the host stand. We did ask for Isabella, but she wasn't it that day unfortunately- she's the one who served us in the past, and we like her. Anyways, it's alright though-- we were taken to a booth in the dining room. We sat down, and was immediately given free chips and salsa. They also have other sauces that may or may not be spicy at a stand- we got chiptole sauce, avacado, jalophanos sauce, and jalophanos, and more! i thought all the sauces were delicious! Oh and too mention one can order a refill of chips and salsa and it is free! Our server also greeted us right away- and he was very nice and pleasant. We started with 4 waters, and a watermelon Margerita jug. Our server did a great job asking us if we wanted anything on our rims like salt or sugar, and I didn't. It came out the way I wanted to. Anyways, it didn't take long for me to decide what i wanted- the arroz con pollo, with no sour cream, my dad ordered the same thing, but with sour cream, and no mushrooms instead. My mom ordered the vegetarian enchiladas. Unfortunately can't remember what my aunt ordered. Food didn't take long to come out of the kitchen. Food was also very delicious! still didn't even finish mine, and took it home to eat. Food portions are big, at least with the arroz con pollo. Paid via credit card, and left a cash tip. Oh and restrooms were clean this visit! Highly recommend Monarca and would be back if we are ever in the area! read more

Monarca Cantina - Monroe - Arroz Con Pollo - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Monroe, New York

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Cute restaurant. Nice location. Service was good. Food was fine. Would definitely give it another try because the staff was so nice. read more

Amazing food and service! Across from Walton lake. Great food beautiful location. I had the "world's best tacos" and we ordered the queso. Absolutely delicious!!! read more

Monarca Cantina never disappoints! The food is full of flavor, and the service is always warm and welcoming. The vibrant decor and open layout create a great atmosphere. We went for Valentine's Day and had a fantastic time! read more

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The food is consistently good and full of flavor. The service is fast and friendly. This place is the go spot for your authentic Mexican food. The place is very well decorated and ambiance is great. Recommend this place to my friends and family. read more

Was in the area and found this place via Yelp. Checked out the reviews and pics and decided to try this place out. Got seated after checking in with the host. The place is bright and not too loud. Very interesting decor they have. Started with complimentary chips and salsa which tasted fresh. Got various flavored margaritas ($12/each) which were solid. For my main dish, I got the birria queso tacos ($20) which were also solid. Overall, great experience with great food. I highly recommend this place if your in the mood for Mexican. - parking lot - outdoor seating with a view of the lake - great service read more

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Was here for a party. Wanted to share some pictures. The food was good, as were the beverages selected. The service for the party was friendly & attentive. If we are in the area, we will be back. read more

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Good food good staff good music nice decor.the 1st weekend they opened things got all mixed up in the order and some of us never got the items. Things are better now read more

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I went here with an old friend for lunch. I chose this place because the menu descriptions sounded great. We started with the ceviche. This is the menu description, Scallops, shrimp, tilapia and octopus marinated in citrus juices mixed with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, carrots, cucumber and avocados. Drizzle with olive oil. First, the dish appeared to have been made two days ago at the earliest. Cukes were withered, and all the seafood items were a dingy whiteish color. There was no octopus. There was no citrus juice. There were no tomatoes. There WAS about a TBS of tomato sauce. I make ceviche at home and of all the recipes I've seen never have they called for diced carrots. No cilantro. Not sure what this was but one thing it was NOT was ceviche. Then I had the "TACOS VERACRUZANOS" Grilled blackened Mahi-mahi topped with our Mediterranean salsa made out of green olive, caper, roasted red pepper, roasted poblano & tomato salsa. The Mahi...if it was Mahi, I think more likely tilapia, was two strips of shriveled fish about one sixteenth in thickness. I can't say if any of the other ingredients were in there as it was all just a jumbled tasteless mess. Even the side of black beans and rice were pretty bad. My friend had the SHRIMP EMBOSCADA Bacon wrapped shrimp grilled to perfection on a hot skillet over sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms covered with melted cheese. Drizzled with roasted poblano crema and served with rice, charro beans, and citrus chipotle slaw. He didn't have anything to say about it, but it looked awful. We both agreed it was a terrible meal. I'm not sure if this is the norm for this place but I am sure I won't be going there again. Our server was very good and the beer was cold, but for a $90 lunch I expect A LOT more. read more

My friend and I decided to give this place a try for lunch time and I'll have to say it was well worth coming here. I would occasionally see photos up online from my other posting and the food and the inside decor looked absolutely amazing. When you sit down the waitresses gives you some homemade chips and homemade salsa which tasted very good. My friend and I decided to get the Thursday special of Margarita for $10.00 it wasn't bad and I couldn't barely finish mine. I ordered the chicken queso and it was more then enough food it was very delicious. My friend decided to get the tacos with the rice she said it was very good. I would highly recommend coming here for lunch time as the dinner prices are kinda expensive. read more

Monarca Cantina - Monroe - My friend and I at the Mexican restaurant. - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Monroe, New York

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Beautiful location and view. Service was very good too. Didn't realize it was part of the Frontera Chain. Margarita was very good. California (veggie) quesadilla was ok. We were just having a snack and the loaded veggies enticed us. Great location but I'm not rushing to go back, I live about 25 mins away and have much better Mexican near my home. read more

The place had a great vibe and ambiance. The seating was great. The menu offered some awesome combinations or traditional Mexican restaurant. The wait staff was friendly. Overall it was a fantastic experience. The food was delicious and had a flair to it that was noticed. read more

I love that this place is covering all of the bases with Warm Tortillas when seated and a self serve Salsa area. The decor is pretty, and the music makes it lively. All that and the food is lacking authentic flavors, bland, bland, bland, however It is large portions. The service was nice and pleasant, for those things I rate it well. read more

Monarca Cantina - Monroe - Birria Quesa Tacos Dinner, El Presidente Margarita with Complimentary chips. - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Monroe, New York

I come here for the Tequila. They are lacking in vegan and gluten free options. My sister and I got a tummy ache after eating here but my husband loved it. The view is great, staff is a bit slow, very friendly. They make the guac at the table which is fun! I'll come back if they add some vegan options. read more

I had such a pleasant experience at Monarca Cantina in Monroe, and I would love to go back. This was my first time here, with a friend, and we both enjoyed it. Our server Erica was very sweet and was helpful with our ordering and dining experience. We both ordered the 'make your own combination' dinner. Since it was my first time, and I wanted to try a few different things, I went with this 3 in 1 platter. And I was happy I did. I got the street chicken taco, which is like your classic taco, with cheese, onions, and guacamole. It was delicious. I also chose the steak quesadilla, which was flavorful and meaty, and the enchilada Sonoma. The enchilada was definitely different and unique. It was topped with a creamy Chardonnay pecan sauce, giving it a nutty twist. Delicious. All that came with a side of coleslaw, rice and your choice of beans. And of course I had to get a horchata -- which was terrific and refreshing! Overall, our dining experience was great. I would definitely recommend. A nice place to have a bite to eat with a view of the lake. read more

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Came by for their awesome margaritas during Happy Hour and they didn't let me down. Their Margaritas were awesome and the bartender was awesome. Hannah went above and beyond, such a nice Ladyyyyy.. Lalo, who is the regular bartender, took over later but needless to say.. he, too, went above and beyond.. I definitelyrecommendthis location... read more

Monarca Cantina - Monroe - Beef quesadillas, chicken wings and a regular margarita.... visiting during Happy Hour. Yummo!! - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Monroe, New York

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The food here is really good better than 80% of the Mexican restaurants in Orange County. The service is good and the restaurant has such a happy vibe. Definitely a place i would go back to...and they are also on DoorDash!! read more

Before it gets busy, the service is great. I was there between the time and I can say the service went downhill from there. It's newly opened and has plenty of things to straighten up. I love the salsa and chip they gave us free when we got in. It's a good start. So much for taco Tuesday at the bar, they removed it during that time. I guess it's only for lunch. The drink is honestly so so. I think they water down too much juice to alcohol ratio. I barely taste any alcohol and a bit on the sweet side. Time to up the drink games guys. Music outside can be annoying to the neighbor, I won't be surprised one day someone come at night and smash those speakers. If you don't have outdoor seating, don't play outdoor music. What's the point? Food is honestly so so. I think they can use some more flavor. Where are the green sauce? The bean and rice is a little disappointing with zero taste. They said it was cooked in bacon and honestly I think it was boiled in water. The rice looks sad like from a buffet stand. How can you get that? Is it not fresh? But for price, it's okie. We asked for some chef special but they ran out due to demand. I will come back for that. Definitely go for fajita here. Taco is okie but I only tried one. So time will tell. Let's start with the people. Friend and family gets special attention. It's like the whole staff will come check on them. Other customers will be ignored after the initial ordering. I had to wait 15 minutes to get my check as another table had to wait 30 minutes for his drinks. I hope he got it for free. Our waitress disappeared on us after we got our food. Interior has a lot of space. I didn't know there was a whole new section on the other side of the main bar area. It's nice to come and view the lake for a while and good spot to stop after a day kayaking or swimming. Outdoor seating guys!! Five star because restaurant is hard business and I respect the fact they working things out. read more

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All I have to say is WOW!!! Came in for lunch to see if they had "lunch specials" or anything affordable and OMG did we hit the jackpot!!! Not only do they have lunch/brunch specials but have Margaita HALF PRICE PITCHERS!!!!! The chips and dips were fresh and they immediately gave us water WITH LEMONS!!!!LIKE WHATTTT???!!! The service was way above average and the hospitality was 100% on point. Food quality was out of this world!!! I had the brunch Huevos Racheros and wife got Korean Tacos. Both were outstanding!! The decorations are eye catching and very beautiful. Bathrooms clean and smell fresh. In all EVERYTHING in this restaurant is amazing! Everyone local should stop in, you will not regret it. Support local! read more

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Excellent Mexican food. Sit in by the bar & you have a nice Lake view. One of our restaurants in the area. Visit several time a month. Food is ALWAYS consistently good. read more

This is my 3rd time I have visited for dinner. I got the steak fajitas I had them before and I liked it the first time. This time it looked great but tasted very bland. The corn tortilla dominated the flavors. We also ordered 2 burrito bowls that was very bland. read more

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A delightful lunch experience for us first timers. The place is unassuming from the outside. But once you walk inside the design is so lively mexican colors, great decor touches and beautiful lamps and tables. My favorite is the Friday Kahlo wall. The whole place is a feast on the eyes, making it a very fun environment. Me and my family went on a Sunday for lunch. Kid's eat free ! The prices were a pleasent suprise and the menu has so many great options. They have a lot of fusion dishes so I was very happy to see that. I ordered a southwest salad. It was okay, everything tasted fresh but the avocado was not ripe so that was a turn off. My husband got a chimichamga and he loved it. I had a try and the chicken had an great taste. The dishes were very well presented. Truly nice experience and we will be returning very soon with family. Can't wait to return and try more dishes! read more

Monarca Cantina - Monroe - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Monroe, New York

Love the vibe to this place. Free chips and salsa. Food is good and offers a variety. We prefer to go early as lunch is cheaper than dinner. They have special drink specials on various days. We don't go on weekends due to crowds. The more crowded, I feel the less attention and food gets a bit bland as it is rushed out read more

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Ugh ! Lousy food and service.Music way too loud. Also a hair in one dish.

Could not ask for a better dining experience! The surroundings are beautiful and the food is exquisite!

I was invited here to celebrate my birthday with two other family members birthdays. It was my first time here. We were on time for our reservation of nine. I initially noticed there was not much parking space. We (3 of 9) were immediately greeted and sat at our table. We informed the server we were waiting for the other members of our party to arrive. My first thoughts were the decorations were not excessive and added to the experience. The lighting was a little dark for my liking. We ordered drinks while we waited. When the rest of the party arrived, more drinks and appetizers were ordered. The servers were patient, engaging, and attentive. I ordered a margarita and seafood ceviche appetizer. They also had a mobile guacamole station that made our dip at table side. This establishments drinks sets it apart from other similarly themed restaurants i've been to. They are big, flashy, and do not skimp on the alcohol. The ceviche was a nice portion and seasoned well. I ordered the steak Gordita burrito meal. The burrito was as I expected it to be - big and full of steak, accompanying filling, and flavor. The rice and beans I had were equally delicious. Throughout the meal the servers would attend to our requests - with a table of nine it can be a little chaotic. At the end of the meal we skipped dessert as we had brought a birthday cake that they had graciously brought to our table. Three sombreros were brought out for our three birthdays. The staff sang happy birthday and made the experience feel personal. After we finished having our cake we wrapped up and headed out. We did comment that for a party of nine the bill was very reasonable. I would come here to eat again and I would recommend trying at least once. read more

Very good, fresh Mexican Food. Salsa was a little weak and watery to start the meal, but things got better from there. Pollo con arroz was excellent and fresh. Mango caseadea was tasty and fresh also. Water tasted odd, stick to beer. read more

Good marg selection. Great Birria Tacos. Love all the options at the salsa bar, you can mix your own blend, mild, creamy, chunky, spicy. Perfect! read more

I've had delicious Mexican before and Monarca is the best Mexican I've had to date, my wife agrees and the 10 person party that we were with, everyone loved their meals. The chips and salsa were fantastic and it was some of the best guac I've ever had, besides being in Mexico itself. My wife loved her salad, and my burrito was fantastic and GIANT. Staff was friendly and accommodating and the setting itself inside is very nice. Highly recommend! Enjoy!!! read more

This restaurant is a full home run! The food is delicious, fresh, and creative. There are many vegetarian and seafood options. The cocktails are great, the service is attentive and friendly. The place itself is decorated gorgeously and with attention to every detail. I'm so happy this place opened and is so close to home! read more

Monarca Cantina - Monroe - Cocktails - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Monroe, New York

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The food is very good. But the portions are small. I've been there 4 times and have had different items from the menu. The Gringo Tacos were delicious, but small compared to a taco I would get at other restaurants. The Taquitos also delicious, but only 2 taquitos cut on half for 4 pieces. The Chimichanga delicious , but the portion was very disappointing. The portion resembled a burrito you would find in the frozen section of the supermarket. Again. The food is very good. Especially the guacamole made fresh at your table. But the portions are small read more

Came for lunch and had the chimichangas. Food was great, with the added bonus of making guacamole in front of you. This is something that is only done in authentic Mexican restaurants and you know the guac is fresh! I liked how they offer lunch and dinner sized portions for most meals. This place has a nice authentic Mexican feel which is rare in this area, and the wait staff is very attentive. Definitely recommend and will be back for drinks and margaritas. read more

Food is very good however the service is not.we sat at the bar we had to keep getting the bartender to look at us in order to get food, drinks etc. watched the bartender play on his phone while another customer waited to pay. read more

Always great food and service. This place never disappoints. Meals are delicious, big, and priced very reasonably. One of my favorite restaurants in Orange County. read more

Awesome food and presentation. Margaritas were on point as was the tequila flight. Friendly staff. Clean dinning room and well kept bathrooms. read more

Monarca Cantina - Monroe - Lunch Molcajete - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Monroe, New York

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i always drove by this place thinking i wanna go. well, i was able to go for my birthday! The vibe in this place was light and happy and colorful! lots of very cool decor all around This place is kid friendly. they gave my little one a coloring book w crayons and a water with a lid and straw. I love when they make the guac right in front of you and you can make however you want The food came out quick and it was very good. i got a salad and my bf got the quesadilla. i will def be back! read more