Mexican food restaurant est. 2013 in the New Monterey area. Casual, colorful decor. Order at the counter, and food is served in to-go style (disposable ware). Menu is all-vegan and uses some faux meats. Dishes offered include crispy potato tacos, fajitas with side of rice and beans, tortilla chips, taquitos, tamales, and combination platters. Horchata and cake available. Open Mon-Thu 11:00am-8:30pm, Fri 11:00am-3:30pm, Sun 11:00am-8:30pm.
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791 Foam St, Monterey, California, USA, 93940
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- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 17 Jun 2024 by Guest
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343 Reviews
First Review by magickbaby
sidneylbanks
Points +252
Great vegan Mexican - Edit
So many options, all vegan!! Delicious food & horchata.
Read moreGuest
mtwdmn
Points +67
Great food with lots of options - Edit
Huge selection of fully vegan Mexican food. We had the vegetable enchiladas, tacos, - kids burrito (with side of fries?), nachos, and the flan. They were out of chocolate cake. Everything was amazing. The red sauce on the enchiladas was pretty spicy but not painfully so (they also offer a mild green sauce as an option). The nachos were really good too: no fake meat but a solid cream and cheese alternative that worked well.
Read moreThe food was served on to-go style dishes with plastic cutlery, likely to save on dishwashing/water? There’s some outdoor seating but only two-tops. Food came out relatively quickly, but it’s also a very small kitchen so it looked like folks behind us had to wait.
Went here around 5pm on Monday and it was empty, with 6 parking spaces in their “lot” free. By the time we left, about 40 minutes later, it was packed. They have two high chairs. Bus your own tables.
Pros: Selection, Quality, Price
Cons: Dishware, Parking, Possibly speed
Guest
oszum
Points +682
Goooood - Edit
I’m not very familiar with Mexican cuisine, so I went with a random pick (the menu is huge!) and I was pleasantly surprised. The portion was big, the food was super tasty and well-seasoned. And the dessert! Wow! Fried plantains with ice cream was insanely good!
Read moreGuest
MilesVeganEats
Points +528
Combo 2 and a pozole soup - Edit
Great combo that offers two soft tacos with choice of plant proteins, one spinach enchilada with choice of red (spicy) or green (mild) sauce, pinto or black beans.
Read moreThe combo was delicious and I finished the whole dish.
The pozole soup was a disappointment. Super salty, tons of onion, very little cabbage and very little hominy. Due to how salty and the proportions of ingredients were so off, I only had a few sip. Please think twice before ordering pozole soup. Taking one star off, this should be served to customers.
Pros: 100% vegan, Location for tourists, Traditional Mexican food veganized
Cons: Carelessly prepared pozole soup
Guest
Angelzrkute
Points +137
Curious - Edit
I was just disappointed that the empanada made fried
Read morePros: Guacamole, Service , Cleanliness
Cons: Empanada fried
Guest
richwich
Points +11
Favorite spot for aquarium visits - Edit
We always come here with our family when visiting this area. They have great food that’s a welcome break from all the fried foods in the touristy spots nearby. My favorites are the tortilla soup and tofu burrito!
Read moreGuest
MicheleLucas
Points +58
Great Food (lots of choices) - Edit
I loved the food here. There were so many options to choose from. They let us try one of the sauces before we ordered. My sister, who loves and makes her own molé sauce, loved the molé here on the enchiladas. You can't go wrong.
Read morePros: Great food, People nice
Guest
NickTustin
Points +1277
Amazing - Edit
-steak mega quesadilla-- 9/10 great
Read more-pozole-- 9/10 great, spicier than I could easily enjoy at hot temps tho
I wish so badly I lived near this place, what a menu!!
Guest
veganmamabear
Points +372
Excellent horchata, OK burrito - Edit
The staff and atmosphere at this place are both lovely.
Read moreWe are Mission style burrito people, and found the burritos very heavy on beans and rice, but much less so on other fillings, making for a heavier meal.
That being said, the hot sauce was delicious, as was the horchata. The flan was very good as well.
Guest
MariaD
Points +3176
One of the best vegan burritos I've had in my life - Edit
The tofu burrito was incredibly flavorful and packed with beans, veggies and tofu. Very glad to have ordered in from here when visiting Monterey ❤️
Read moreGuest
BertieBert
Points +82
Incredible! - Edit
Huge menu, there is truly something for every craving, everything is so flavorful. Took a nonvegan who could not believe their tastebuds!
Read morePros: Lots of options, Tasty
Cons: Hours are inaccurate, they are open 1pm-830pm
Guest
elinorcita
Points +50
Delicious and authentic - Edit
We love El Cantaro and usually go once a month as a special Sunday lunch. The combo plates are my favorite and my kids love the grilled cheese, french fries, and fruit. You have to get an horchata as well! Everything is cooked fresh and I love the dining area which is clean and welcoming.
Read morePros: Taste, Location , Cleanliness
Guest
MichaelStrait
Points +26
Seriously Good Vegan Food - Edit
On our first visit to Monterey since becoming vegan (5 years ago) our first stop was at the only fully vegan restaurant in town near our hotel and we were not disappointed! El Cantaro Vegan Mexican Restaurant is a cozy little place near Cannery Row with a surprisingly large menu of vegan options including feaux meats if you like. We had the veggie enchiladas and grilled pineapple veggie burrito. They were so good, made with fresh ingredients. We'll definitely be going back to try out other items on the menu. Such a delight to know everything is vegan so you don't have to worry about ordering something billed as vegetarian but not really vegan.
Read morePros: Fresh authentic Mexican vegan food
Cons: Smallish place with not much parking
n0_Neimz_FLatAerth
all Real food should be a Basik Right for all! And not a money making business!
Read moreGuest
Brycew
Points +1707
Wide menu of regional Mexican dishes - Edit
It would be great enough that any form of vegan Mexican food exists on the California coast, but El Cántaro blows expectations away by featuring little known Mexican dishes that are hard to find at Mexican restaurants anywhere in the US, such as mole poblano, chiles en Nogada, tlayudas, memelas, pozole and so much more! Have brought omni friends here and they were convinced it wasn’t vegan. Highly recommend the any of the tacos, tortilla soup, memelitas, and horchata!
Read moreNote: there is another location of El Cántaro in Sacramento with mostly the same menu, not sure if it’s the same owners or if it’s more of a franchise arrangement, either way the Sac location is good too!
Pros: Large menu, Some dishes that are normally only found in Mexico, Desserts
Cons: Closed on Saturdays and closes early on Fridays , Staff is friendly but not enthusiastic
Guest
Anngee
Points +244
Authentic taste - Edit
This was my second time coming here. The food is so delicious and filling.
Read moreI got my burrito wet with both sauces. Warning ⚠️ the red sauce was really spicy! I loved the flavor of the green sauce. The nachos were really good and the guacamole had the right amount of citrus.
I ordered a strawberry cheesecake togo after we were all done eating.
Pros: Free parking out front
Guest
toastandjammies
Points +1302
Overrated - Edit
I really want to love this place, but I’ve gone several times over the years and have always been disappointed. Maybe it’s the bad vegan cheese that tastes like it’s from the early 2000s? Or the fact that a lot of the food is too greasy? Either way, I’m not a fan.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-12-02
Guest
MatMountain
Points +290
Tasty Mexican vegan food! - Edit
We loved our items, very tasty and traditional.
Read morePros: Great flavor, Blue zone items
Cons: Plastic knives (bring your own, too much waste), Plastic containers for hot sauces
Guest
SteveTaylor
Points +93
Huge menu, great options, affordable! - Edit
The only vegan place in Monterey, great for visitors (except that it's closed on Saturdays).
Read moreHuge menu, options for everyone, and tasty. Affordable and quick service.
Pros: Lots of options (almost too many!), Great flavors, Good choices of fake meat vs whole foods
Cons: Closed on Saturdays
Guest
Daniella.Davina
Points +18
The Tamales are fantastic! - Edit
The Tamales are fantastic! The staff was friendly. I’d come back again 👍
Read morePros: Tamales, Friendly staff, Nopales
Guest
dragonfly913
Points +21
Delicious, unique Mexican vegan - Edit
This restaurant has Mexican standard fare and more unique offerings as well. I love to try things on the menu I have not had before. I am never disappointed. My omnivore friends and family members have also very much enjoyed their food. We leave satisfied for a reasonable price. There is lots of variety. The one time my food was too spicy for me, they quickly and cheerfully replaced it to my satisfaction. A great restaurant with a a relaxed atmosphere and good customer service. By far my favorite vegan restaurant.
Read moreGuest
SarahS88
Points +2631
Loved it - Edit
So excited to support the only vegan place in town! The food was great, our fav dish was the spinach enchiladas- will come back if we are in Monterey ever again!
Read moreGuest
JanBou
Points +48
Delicious Mexican food! - Edit
I got a combo plate and everything was so good, can’t wait to go back.
Read moreGuest
AlexViecco
Points +54
Amazing food. So many choices - Edit
The food looks amazing and was extremely fresh. Highly recommend and I have to tell you it was delicious. Had the pozole and a Baja taco. Could add a burrito and call it a day!
Read moreSalud !
Pros: Fresh, Tasty, Delicious
Cons: N/a, Small stomach and live too far to eat more often
Guest
TheJBJ
Points +56
Very delicious Mexican & tons of options - Edit
I ordered combo #3. Enjoyed every single bit of it, including the tangy green tomatillo sauce on the enchilada and black beans (choice of black or pinto). It was very filling and nice to have so many vegan options! Would totally come back here.
Read morePros: Tons of options
Cons: Can’t think of any?
Guest
Luchi
Points +907
Incredible - Edit
Delicious everything with overwhelming amount of options. Made my day, just perfect
Read moreGuest
zoeythebird
Points +277
Yummy! - Edit
Food was good, drinks came in glass instead of plastic 👍
Read moreSmall parking area and roadside parking was available.
Guest
BeckyC
Points +934
So much choice! - Edit
I had total vegan choice panic in this place and opted for the combo 1, it was all delicious, fast and the staff were helpful!
Read morePros: So much choice , Huge portion
Guest
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