El Cantaro

791 Foam St, Monterey
(831) 646-5465

Recent Reviews Order Online

Customers' Favorites

Combo 1 and Tlayudas Oaxaquenas
Crispy Potato Tacos Plate
Burrito with Steak
Mushroom Empanadas
Veggie Burrito
Taco de Nopales
Chips and Salsa
Taquitos Plate
Chile Relleno
Chips & Salsa

Menu

Appetizers
Empanaditas
Red beet flour, filled with a mix of veggies topped with cheese and sour cream.
Taquitos
Four corn tortillas filled with spiced chicken then rolled up and served on a bed of lettuce and guacamole.
Memelitas
Three small homemade tortillas, black bean purée, topped off with cabbage, cheese, and tahini salsa.

Soups
Tortilla Soup
Marinated chicken, fresh avocado, cheese, roasted corn, and tortilla strips in a spicy vegetable broth.
Pozole
Hominy corn stew, spiced broth, with chicken topped with cabbage, radishes, and lime wedge.

Salads
Tortilla Jalapeño Salad
Spring mixed lettuce with corn, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, tortilla chips, cilantro, and ranch jalapeño dressing.
Kale's Salad
Walnuts, raw beets, onions, carrots, and amino acid vinaigrette.
Spinach Salad
Strawberries, carrots, jicama, pumpkin seeds, and agave lemon vinaigrette.

Traditional Plates
A Large Chile Relleno
Stuffed with cheese, in a tomato sauce. Serve with beans, rice, a small salad & your choice of flour or corn tortillas.
Fajitas
Sautéd with onions and bell pepper, serve with beans, rice, and your choice of flour or corn tortillas.
Tlayudas Oaxaqueñas
Puree of black or pinto beans topped with cabbage, avocado, cheese, salsa Fresca, and green sauce.
Authentic Molé Negro
Serve with chicken, beans, rice, and your choice of flour or corn tortillas.
Chilaquiles
Fried corn tortillas with your choice of tomatillo or red sauce. Served with rice beans topped with avocado, sour cream, cheese, and mushrooms.
Famous Chile en Nogada
Poblano chile pepper stuffed with pea protein ground beef, pecans, and dried fruits with a sweet creamy walnut sauce. Served with rice, salad, and tortillas.

Favorites of México
Crispy Potato Tacos
Four tacos stuffed with mashed potatoes. Topped with cheese, sour cream, salsa Fresca, and lettuce. With a side of pinto or black beans.
Empanadas
Three stuffed with mushrooms topped with guacamole pure beans, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream.
Mega Quesadilla
With cheese, lettuce, and tahini salsa topped with avocado slices.
Sope
Hand-made corn tortilla, topped with pinto beans, lettuce, and cheese.
Taquitos
Four chicken stuffed corn tortillas topped with guacamole, cheese, and salsa Fresca. With a side of pinto or black beans.
Huarache
Corn tortilla layer of beans, cheese and tahini mild sauce, avocado with your choice of cactus or mushrooms.

Combination Plates
Combo#3
One crispy potato taco one chicken rolled taquito, and one enchilada with lettuce, salsa Fresca, sour cream, cheese, guacamole, and a side of rice, and pinto or black beans.
Combo #2
Two soft tacos your choice of chicken or steak, one spinach enchilada your choice of green or red sauce topped with sour cream, cheese, cilantro, onions with a side of rice, and pinto or black beans.
Combo #1
One tamale of your choice, one vegetable enchilada of your choice of green or red sauce with a side of rice, beans, and salad.
Combo#4
One Chile Relleno, one fish taco with a side of rice, beans, and salad.

Enchiladas
Vegetable Enchiladas
Three enchiladas in a tomatillo sauce, cheese, sour cream, onions, cilantro, and a side of rice and beans.
Spinach Enchiladas
Three enchiladas with mushrooms spinach, onions, tomato, cilantro, cheese sour cream, and a side of rice and beans.
Enchiladas
Three enchiladas your choice of tomatillo o red sauce, sour cream, onions, cilantro, and cheese. With a side of rice and beans.
Enmoladas
Three chicken enmoladas with coloradito mole cheese, and parsley. With a side of rice and beans.

Burritos
El Cantaro Burrito
Grilled chicken or steak, cheese, pinto or black beans, Spanish rice, and salsa Fresca.
Tofu Veggie Burrito
Black beans, rice, veggies tofu, pico, cheese. And green salsa.
Bean & Cheese Burrito
Black or pinto beans.
Nopal Burrito
Cactus in chipotle sauce, beans, rice, pico de gallo, and cheese.
Veggie Supreme
Grilled veggies, rice, beans, salsa Fresca, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, and guacamole.
Fish Tuna Burrito
Chipotle sauce, black beans, rice, cabbage, and cheese.
Dos Amigos Burrito
Black or pinto beans with rice.
Grilled Pineapple Veggie
Black beans, rice, zucchini squash, carrots, and fresh pineapple salsa. Mild green salsa.

Tacos
Crispy Potato Taco
Fish Baja Style Taco
Vegan tuna fish topped with cabbage. With a choice of seasonal homemade mango salsa or pineapple salsa wheat and soy protein.
Chicken Taco
Homemade corn tortilla served with cilantro, onions, and a choice of mild or hot salsa.
Taco De Nopales
Cactus, onions, cilantro, and salsa.
Ranchero Taco
Meatless and soy-free grounds topped with cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce. With a choice of mild or hot salsa.
Mushroom Taco
Sautéed mushrooms topped with cilantro, fresh onions, and salsa.
Sautéed Vegetable Taco
Homemade tortilla, beans, salsa, and cheese.

Torta
Nachos
Beans, cheese, salsa Fresca, roasted jalapeños, sour cream, and guacamole.

Tostadas
Tostadas De Nopales
Black puree beans, cactus salad, avocado, cheese, and green salsa.
Tostadas
Chicken seasoning, topped with cheese, lettuce, cilantro, onion, cream, and avocado.

Kid's Menu
Cheese Quesadilla
With a side of beans.
Bean & Cheese Burrito
The side of fresh-made seasoned fries.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
The side of fresh-made seasoned fries.
Enfrijoladas
Two deep-fried corn tortillas smothered in black bean puree and cheese with a side of rice.
Memelitas
Two hand-made tortillas, layered with beans and cheese, and a side of rice.
Jelly Wrap
Two small flour tortillas, strawberry jelly, and a side of seasonal fruit your choice of jelly or peanut butter.

Desserts
Fried Plantains
Served with vanilla soy ice cream, strawberry sauce, and carob chocolate sauce.
Cheese Cake
Vegan cheesecake topped with fresh strawberry,& strawberry sauce.
Vanilla Soy Ice Cream
Fried Plantain
Served with vanilla ice cream, topped with strawberry sauce, and chocolate sauce.
Sorbet
Ice cream strawberry, and mango.

Juice & Smoothies
Antioxidant Blend Smoothie
Orange Juice
Freshly squeezed orange juice. Your choice of organic soy milk or almond milk.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Strawberry Smoothie

Sides
Chips & Guacamole
Beans 8oz
Tamal Mole
Home Made Seasoned Fries
Rice 8oz
Chips & Salsa
Tamal Rajas
Guacamole 4oz
Sour Cream 2oz
Guacamole 2oz
Tortillas
Brown Rice 8oz
Cheese

Beverages
Horchata, Jamaica & Tamarind
Bottle Water
Hot Mexican Chocolate
Hot milk, with imported Oaxacan chocolate.
Ice Tea
Hot Tea
Organic, chamomile, lemon ginger, raspberry, & black or green tea.

Photos

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Recent Reviews

Loooove this spot! First visited ten years ago or so and returned recently when visiting the area. Everything is delicious and service is fast. Kind people, delicious food. Cannot go wrong! Love the enchiladas and burritos especially. Yum! Updated from previous review on 2026-03-07
March 2026
I loved every bite! I got combination #3. So much food for a reasonable price. Fast service and exactly the kind of “mom and pop Mexican” food you’d expect! I wish I lived closer, but id be broke! Give them a try. Even if you aren’t vegan it won’t disappoint! ♥️🌮 Updated from previous review on 2026-02-20
February 2026
Every time I come to Monterey I stop here. The staff is friendly, the flavors are authentic, and the portions are generous. My partner and I shared the nachos and ate a taco each one (the nachos were so big that we could actually could have shared only the nachos!). Updated from previous review on 2026-02-16
February 2026

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El Cantaro

791 Foam St, Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 646-5465