Amazing food. All the tacos were good but the ranchero and the potato are my favorite. The beans and rice were flavored great.
I really liked the Mexican hot chocolate and the plantain ice cream with strawberry and chocolate sauce. Service could be nicer but overall great food at a decent price.
mallgoth_mallgrab
2023-08-21
I’ve had the steak tacos, carne asada tacos and spinach enchiladas. They are all so good.
Was very happy to see they had chiles en nogada which I have never seen vegan or even on a menu since my childhood in Mexico
8/13/25
I am in Monterey about once a year for a job and always make time to hit El Cantaro. Delicious. Today tried the fish and ranchero tacos and were also good.
They were playing some weird Christian radio station but I had headphones so problem solved. Other than that the vibes were good
Updated from previous review on 2025-08-13
DavidKWinslow
The flavor is fantastic! Ordered the Carne Asada tacos and horchata. Price is great and food is even better. Not disappointed.
FartGang
Came around 4:30pm and avoided the dinner rush around 5:30pm!
Overall, I am thankful Monterey had a nearby vegan restaurant (with so many options too) but the flavors could be improved.
Nachos 3/5 nothing special.
Fish tacos 2/5 not that flavorful even with the mango topping
Chicken taco 3/5 ok
Potato taco 5/5 best taco imo! The outer crispy layer was done nicely and the potato was nice and warm inside :)
Spinach salad 5/5 simple yet so delicious! Strawberries, jicama?, and pumpkin seeds were a nice touch. Great contrast to the rest of the meal (light feeling). Special shoutout to the salad dressing (a sweet, applesauce like taste 😋)
MonicaJane
This place was incredible and I loved it so much. I had the baja fish taco, crispy potato taco and soy meat taco and they were all delicious. Crispy potato was my favourite
Horchata is also yummy
Vegemarija
I ordered plate #1 that consists of tamale, enchilada, rice, beans and salad. It was really good and filling. I also had flan for dessert, super yummy.
JackVegan20
Absolutely loved El Cantaro in Monterey! 🌮✨ Everything I tried was bursting with flavour and totally satisfying. The mushroom taco was juicy and full of umami goodness, while the “chicken” and “steak” tostadas were perfectly crisp, hearty, and so well-seasoned I had to double-check they were vegan (they are!). Great portions, lovely staff, and a 100% plant-based menu that made choosing hard in the best way. Can’t wait to go back — this place is a must-visit for any vegan or veg-curious foodie in town! 💚
pjh13
Simple bean and cheese burrito was exactly what I was looking for. The steak tacos were also really good but I think it might have just been beyond steak
sidneylbanks
So many options, all vegan!! Delicious food & horchata.
mtwdmn
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.
The 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.
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!
MilesVeganEats
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.
The 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.
S Posko
Absolutely AMAZING!
I had vegan family members come to town and we stopped in for a bite. WOW, I was blown away! The tacos were the best I’ve ever had in the Monterey Bay Area.
Everything had so much flavor and the dishes were very filling.
I will definitely be back 100%
Sneha Shah
Excellent Mexican food option in Monterrey! All vegan and everything made fresh! We really enjoyed added pineapple salsa on our nachos, the tortilla soup, tacos and burritos!
It’s not an ambiance place but all fresh ingredients!
Jordan Barkley
The food was good, but the menu was crowded and the girl taking orders and working at the front was a complete jerk and didn’t know anything about the menu.
Amazing food. All the tacos were good but the ranchero and the potato are my favorite. The beans and rice were flavored great. I really liked the Mexican hot chocolate and the plantain ice cream with strawberry and chocolate sauce. Service could be nicer but overall great food at a decent price.
2023-08-21 I’ve had the steak tacos, carne asada tacos and spinach enchiladas. They are all so good. Was very happy to see they had chiles en nogada which I have never seen vegan or even on a menu since my childhood in Mexico 8/13/25 I am in Monterey about once a year for a job and always make time to hit El Cantaro. Delicious. Today tried the fish and ranchero tacos and were also good. They were playing some weird Christian radio station but I had headphones so problem solved. Other than that the vibes were good Updated from previous review on 2025-08-13
The flavor is fantastic! Ordered the Carne Asada tacos and horchata. Price is great and food is even better. Not disappointed.
Came around 4:30pm and avoided the dinner rush around 5:30pm! Overall, I am thankful Monterey had a nearby vegan restaurant (with so many options too) but the flavors could be improved. Nachos 3/5 nothing special. Fish tacos 2/5 not that flavorful even with the mango topping Chicken taco 3/5 ok Potato taco 5/5 best taco imo! The outer crispy layer was done nicely and the potato was nice and warm inside :) Spinach salad 5/5 simple yet so delicious! Strawberries, jicama?, and pumpkin seeds were a nice touch. Great contrast to the rest of the meal (light feeling). Special shoutout to the salad dressing (a sweet, applesauce like taste 😋)
This place was incredible and I loved it so much. I had the baja fish taco, crispy potato taco and soy meat taco and they were all delicious. Crispy potato was my favourite Horchata is also yummy
I ordered plate #1 that consists of tamale, enchilada, rice, beans and salad. It was really good and filling. I also had flan for dessert, super yummy.
Absolutely loved El Cantaro in Monterey! 🌮✨ Everything I tried was bursting with flavour and totally satisfying. The mushroom taco was juicy and full of umami goodness, while the “chicken” and “steak” tostadas were perfectly crisp, hearty, and so well-seasoned I had to double-check they were vegan (they are!). Great portions, lovely staff, and a 100% plant-based menu that made choosing hard in the best way. Can’t wait to go back — this place is a must-visit for any vegan or veg-curious foodie in town! 💚
Simple bean and cheese burrito was exactly what I was looking for. The steak tacos were also really good but I think it might have just been beyond steak
So many options, all vegan!! Delicious food & horchata.
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. The 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.
Restaurantji Recommends
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!
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. The 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.
Absolutely AMAZING!
I had vegan family members come to town and we stopped in for a bite. WOW, I was blown away! The tacos were the best I’ve ever had in the Monterey Bay Area.
Everything had so much flavor and the dishes were very filling.
I will definitely be back 100%
Excellent Mexican food option in Monterrey! All vegan and everything made fresh! We really enjoyed added pineapple salsa on our nachos, the tortilla soup, tacos and burritos!
It’s not an ambiance place but all fresh ingredients!
The food was good, but the menu was crowded and the girl taking orders and working at the front was a complete jerk and didn’t know anything about the menu.
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