50 Best Vegan Restaurants in Monterey

“I first visited this amazing local deli in 1989-1990. I remembered the half loaves of bread stacked high with a pile of my choice of meats and cheeses. Although I was only 18-19, Compagno’s established my standard for an amazing sandwich. 32 years later I brought my sons here for lunch. Same delicious goodness a generation later.“

“Absolutely wonderful and blessed spot to eat and the atmosphere makes you feel like you’re at home. When you enter and you’re met with their wonderful smiles I felt their true spirit came through with flying colors. The sandwiches were amazing 🤩 and the baked goods were stellar as well, thank you 🙏🏻 sincerely for sharing your love for food!“

“-steak mega quesadilla-- 9/10 great
-pozole-- 9/10 great, spicier than I could easily enjoy at hot temps tho
-combo #3 with steak enchilada and pinto and the mild green sauce - 9/10 great
-fish Baja style taco - 7/10 good

I wish so badly I lived near this place, what a menu!!“

“Amazing fresh food and super friendly staff. Lots of locals here which is a good sign when traveling, they know what’s around and chose this. Couldn’t have been happier! You won’t be disappointed!“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Crystal Fish was an outstanding dining experience! The sushi was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and packed with amazing flavor. Every dish was prepared with care and attention to detail, making each bite a delight. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, while the staff was friendly, attentive, and provided excellent service throughout the meal. From the quality of the food to the overall experience, everything exceeded expectations. I highly recommend Crystal Fish and can't wait to return for another fantastic meal!“

“I had done a search for the best clam chowder in Monterey and they are at the top of almost every list, and they were right! I got the clam chowder in the garlic sourdough bowl I highly recommend them! My wife, Michele got risotto with caramelized onions, shrimp and sole. We had a view of Monterey Bay and some sea lions playing. Our server, Giovanny, was phenomenal! He brought Michele a piece of complimentary cheesecake and a rose for her birthday. 🌹 I had the chocolate creme brûlée. Great start to our mini-vacay in Monterey!“

“I’ll offer a better than expected review. Our party of five went for Sunday brunch. 1/2 wait for an outdoor table. Excellent Southwest eggs Benedict; chicken fettuccini; fruit salad and Cinnamon toast special with eggs. Chocolate Oreo cake for dessert. Excellent service for a relaxing Sunday. Glad to return and recommend. Cheers!“

“The best part of the cafe apart from the relishing food is the owner/chef. What a kind hearted soul, friendly and witty person to meet and have a chat. What makes the food so amazing is his love and passion.
Must visit and highly recommended! ❤️“

“We love Cafe Fina and always try to dine there when in Monterey. Great food, cocktails and good wine selection. We recently had our son and daughter in law’s rehearsal luncheon there and everyone enjoyed the atmosphere, amazing food and drinks. We highly recommend this fine restaurant while visiting Monterey. Cozy, warm and friendly staff too!“

“I love stopping by Alta for something to eat and a great tasting coffee!!“

“My favorite restaurant on Cannery Row! Great service every time and great food!!“

“Great service and food…. The hostess served us and she rocked it. Great time. Will come back!“

“This is our go-to spot every time we’re in Monterey! We’ve brought friends here and they all loved it—now it’s on their list too whenever they visit. The food is always so good, the flavors never disappoint, and the vibe is just perfect. Definitely a must-try if you’re in the area!“

“Awesomeness overload great pies“

“Great coffee, food and vibe. Opens at 0630 as well. The team were lovely 😊“

“Beautiful spot, quaint and cozy, generous portions, expertly executed.“

“We have been going to Heirloom Pizza a few times a year for a while now and have always enjoyed great food and good service. This was until last night. The food was still delicious and the server was good. That was the limit of a good experience. The hostess had a look that we were bothering her by wanting to eat there. We arrived about 7pm and they were busy, but it only took about 10 minutes to be seated. We ordered fairly quickly and then waited for over 50 minutes to have an appetizer to reach our table and another 25 minutes for our main dish. By the time we received our appetizer the restaurant had only 5-6 tables with people still sitting. We understand that it takes a little longer for a deep dish pizza, but well over an hour in unacceptable. In the 50 minutes we saw no less than a dozen or so orders go out the door for pickup orders. I understand they sell pizza and there is likely a large amount of business that doesn't come an stay to eat, but we felt forgotten. If we choose to go back, maybe we should order before arriving.“

“Super friendly waitress and reasonable prices. Stopped by for dinner in the quieter part of town, and the restaurant was not too busy. The ramen and sushi were good. Be careful not to pull into the car wash, since Sushi by The Bay’s lot is on the other side of their building.“

“I have found a legitimate broker who has helped me in so many ways in the aspect of forex & cryptocurrency. At first, I was really skeptical that it won't work but I still kept the faith going until I saw a recommendation about Mrs Craig Vanessa who changed my financial status from grass to grace. Once again I'm really grateful for your help and support towards me and my family in this tough time of the year. If you are looking for a change in your finances, then connect to Mrs. Craig Vanessa today on WhatsApp through Facebook via Mrs Craig Vanessa“

“Un lugar familiar buena y deliciosa comidas esmerado servicio.“

“Delicioso 🤤 cuando lo disfrutes con las personas adecuadas para ti 🥰🥰🥰“

“Great way to start a retirement in this beautiful setting! Great wine and food- the views equally as amazing!“

“Best Italian food in all of Monterey county! Great homemade pasta! They have the best flavors here. Very authentic Italian food. Ambiance is lovely and service is fantastic. Good wine choices and delicious desserts as well. I used to love this place when it was predominantly French, but I love it more with their authentic Italian flair. If you are looking for good French food or the best pasta around this area, this is the place to go!“

“I love this place... simply the best!“

“Was here a year ago! Hopefully I get to visit this cafe again soon but never too late to leave a recommendation am I right, Great customer service 10/10 everything. I strongly recommend this cafe.“

“best tacos for miles! thank you for being delicious!“

“I have found a legitimate broker who has helped me in so many ways in the aspect of forex & cryptocurrency. At first, I was really skeptical that it won't work but I still kept the faith going until I saw a recommendation about Mrs Craig Vanessa who changed my financial status from grass to grace. Once again I'm really grateful for your help and support towards me and my family in this tough time of the year. If you are looking for a change in your finances, then connect to Mrs. Craig Vanessa today on WhatsApp through Facebook via Mrs Craig Vanessa“

“I have found a legitimate broker who has helped me in so many ways in the aspect of forex & cryptocurrency. At first, I was really skeptical that it won't work but I still kept the faith going until I saw a recommendation about Mrs Craig Vanessa who changed my financial status from grass to grace. Once again I'm really grateful for your help and support towards me and my family in this tough time of the year. If you are looking for a change in your finances, then connect to Mrs. Craig Vanessa today on WhatsApp through Facebook via Mrs Craig Vanessa“

“Amazing place food is well prepared and tasty!“

“I was so tired today from not sleeping I was ready to curl up and die. I walked in on a whim, I'm not a vegan or vegetarian or anything, but the food tasted really good and had nice texture and I felt a lot better words. Staff was really friendly.“

“We always have a pizza at Gianni's whenever we're in town! Love the veggie pizza and breadsticks😍“

“It feels like the best food in all of California. We’ve come here from Los Angeles three times already, and every time we visit, we know exactly where we’re going for dinner.
The food is absolutely incredible, the atmosphere is cozy and warm, and the owner truly captivates you with her kind, genuine smile. You can feel the heart and love behind everything they do.
Thank you so much. Highly recommend this place 🤍“

“We were hungry for something other than seafood. The Big Sur looked good. My wife had a burger for lunch so she had the chicken strips. The six pieces looked like a fried chicken, lightly breaded, perfectly fried. I ordered the Big Kauna; a double burger with bacon, jalapeños and two rings of grilled pineapple. We also got a side of onion rings. They were the best onion rings I’ve ever had. Period! The 4.4 rating is low. It deserves a 4.7 at least service was expedient.“

“flavor did not disappoint. not sure if I am a fan of the non-samples.... I'd feel SUPER guilty had they served me something and I didn't like it... making them reserve another flavor. Ultimately what I chose was good. so it all worked out- highly recommended!!“

“Amazing staff, bomb pizza, best place in Monterey for a wood fire pizza. Madison and her team go above and beyond. The owner runs a top tier restaurant and puts a lot of love into his food, the vibes, and level of service from the heart. Ian is the man!“

“Three of us stopped by here on 3/8/26 during a road trip.

It's everything one would expect out of a British-themed pub. It had good beer, character, and friendly bartenders. It reminded me of a couple of Irish pubs in and around Bedford and Boston, Massachusetts.“

“Our first visit to Lalla Grill Del Monte and it was fabulous! The food was delicious. Our waiter Tino was friendly, professional, and on top of everything. Later we went to the bar. It was fully stocked and the bartender, Rae, was the bomb! Worth a visit if you are in the area! Highly recommend.“

“Great food and service. Will definitely visit again when in the area.“

“Delicious Traditional but memorable dishes stop by for lunch if you're in the area.“

“So much choice here, and I love that a full third of the menu is vegetarian or vegan, it makes picking something genuinely fun. The sandwich options are absolutely delicious. I had the ‘Going Home for Thanksgiving’ and it was so tasty, packed with flavour and really satisfying. My husband went for the 'Go Sharks', and we both had ours on sourdough, which was perfect.

The dirty sauce is incredible, one of those things you instantly want more of. And the apple and caramel lollies at the end were such a lovely touch.

Great spot with brilliant food and loads of variety. I’m coming back before we leave Monterey.“

“Great food and very friendly staff. Looking forward to going back.“

“Great service, great food and wonderful atmosphere.“

“Highly recommend this place. We started out with the Tapas (calamari and the burrata) which was so good! Then we had the paella. It takes 30min to prepare which they told us about and it was disclosed on the menu too which I appreciated. This paella was literally the best paella I ever had EVER. ! Absolutely delicious!!!!! Shareable too! I had the Spanish Margarita for my cocktail and that was delicious too. Left completely stuffed. Definitely worth it.“

“My family from Texas was visiting and we came for the first time….. best food, service and drinks. Joe was a great and welcoming service. 100% recommend“

“Zab Zab Thai had very fast service. They made the food very fast as well. We didn’t have to wait long at all. The chicken pad Thai was incredible and the mango sticky rice was delicious. All the food we ate had been cooked with amazing flavors. Highly recommend“

“Excellent sushi restaurant in downtown Monterey. Fresh, great service and fun atmosphere.“

“I have been coming here for years. The best Mexican Food for the best price!!!“

“The fish is fresh and the new rolls are a nice addition to the menu. Tommy and Esmeralda have been offering awesome promos like buy 2 get 1 free. Check em out! #sushiyoucantrust“

“Didn't know if I was supposed to see myself or wait for a host the one helped me about 3 minutes after I got there the food prepared was not exactly what the server wrote up disappointed by that but the food tastes and the folks were walking around to assist we're notice at people who are genuinely happy to be here the temperature is a little chilly inside the restaurant but it's a nice place to be“

“great service friendly works and great tasting food.“