Cherylynn N.
Yelp
Over tourist traps?
Looking for a local place to chill?
Or, in my case...to stuff your face with deliciousness?
Look no further than Café Guaraní.
Café Guaraní Is a Paraguay Café serving empanadas, pastries, cakes, cookies, coffee, and tea (yerba mate). For lunch, they have salads, wraps, and sandwiches. Gluten-free friendly.
They offer takeout, delivery (DoorDash), indoor dining, and outdoor dining. There's one table in front and a back garden patio. Dog-friendly.
I came in a little before 11 am on quiet Friday and it was slim pickings for the empanadas, and they weren't making anymore for the day. Def call ahead if you're coming just for the empanadas.
FYI, there is currently no mask mandate in Monterey County. Masks are only "recommended" for public indoor spaces. Most staff wore masks.
Order at the counter, grab a number placard, seat yourself, and clean up after yourself. There's a collection of over a dozen of Latin American hot sauces but some of the bottles were completely empty. There's a self-serve water station towards the back patio.
F O O D
https://bit.ly/39a5cLI
* Deep Fried Beef Mandioca (GF) w/ stewed beef, green onions, hardboiled egg ($6)
Gave this a shot since they were out of the baked beef empanadas; it's the same filling but with a yucca shell. The exterior is crispy with a good chew and filled with tender shredded stewed beef. The hardboiled egg was missing though.
* Baked Texas Brisket w/ post oak+pecan smoked prime beef brisket, salt, pepper, texas pit bbq sauce ($6)
Crisp, flaky shell generously filled with mildly smoky and tangy shredded beef brisket.
* Baked Chicken w/ cooked onions, nutmeg ($4)
Least fav of the three; filled with chunks of dry, underseasoned chicken breast. Def needs a generous dose of chimichurri and/or hot sauce for flavor.
The empanadas are served with a side of chimichurri. It was herbaceous but could have used more acid. Just a preference.
* Alfajor: Argentinian Cookie Sandwich w/ dulce de leche, shaved coconut ($4)
A local raved about this and told me she buys them by the dozen. Maybe it was an off batch but I thought it was just ok (dry). I prefer a more buttery, melt-in-your mouth shortbread cookie like Rosi's. The dulce de leche is sweet on its own so the shaved coconut made it overly sweet. Those with a sweet tooth may disagree though.
S E R V I C E
Friendly and prompt.
A M B I A N C E
CHILL! Seems like locals come to laptop camp in the indoor area. The back patio has four socially distant tables with a hammock. TT made a doggy friend in the patio, and they were making googly eyes at each other. Sorry dude, you don't have the balls for that.
P A R K I N G
Easy street parking. No meters.
Overall, I really liked the chill, laid-back vibe of Café Guaraní and enjoyed most of empanadas. Worth a stop if you're visiting and looking to escape the touristy areas.