El Cantaro

El Cantaro is truly a gem, and I’m so thankful for this incredible family-run business. From the moment we walked in, we felt so well taken care of, especially by Jasmine, the daughter behind the cash register. She made every dinner during our stay feel special, welcoming us with a smile and ensuring everything was perfect. Every dish tastes authentic and absolutely delicious. What’s even more impressive is their consistency—the quality of the food and service never wavered. And the speed! When you’re craving something this good, you want it in your stomach now, and they deliver. I can’t stop raving about their wet burrito—it’s a masterpiece of flavor. Their nachos are a delight, and the tacos are unforgettable. Our personal favorite was the potato taco, which was so unique and satisfying. Everything on their menu feels so thoughtfully crafted. El Cantaro is a must-visit for anyone who loves great food served with heart. It’s clear that this family pours so much passion into every dish, and it shows. I can’t wait to go back!

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%

El Cantaro was awesome! I've never been to another vegan Mexican restaurant, so there's nothing to really compare it to, which means that I have to compare it to all other restaurants and this place is one of the best! The food is fresh and delicious, there's a ton of options to choose from and they're all delicious!

The food was very tasty ! I am not vegan and I couldn’t tell the difference between authentic Mexican food and their “chickin”. The food gets you super full as well. 10/10. The horchata is amazing as well.

Being Vegetarians it’s sometimes difficult to find options when out traveling. We were visiting the Aquarium and happened to see this place on the map and decided to give it a try. Absolutely amazing. We both would 100% recommend to both plant based and carnivorous. You’ll not even miss the meat.

Absolutely amazing vegan Mexican restaurant! I haven’t had vegan Mexican food so good since I was in Merida, Mexico. Everything was fresh and delicious. We tried a ton and really enjoyed it all. There was a decent amount of seating inside and some outside. Also some parking available out front. My only concern is the not reusable dining items, such as plastic utensils and paper plates. I would definitely recommend coming here!

I ordered the Steak tacos. I was a little disappointed with the steak. I was thinking it would be like a street taco, not at all. So if you are looking for a street taco, you will probably not be a fan. My family had enchiladas, cactus taco, and crispy taco plate. They were all pleased with their meals.

Delicious. Authentic. Warm welcoming people. You can see all the food being made with clean enthusiasm. I've loved this place for a couple years now. I've tried almost everything on the menu - all delicious. Good prices too.

This has become my go-to lunch spot whenever I do a road trip out to Big Sur. I've gotten the appetizer taquitos, fish taco w/ pineapple salsa, the beef tostada, the mole plate, and horchata and all of them have been incredible. The menu is massive, so I won't run out of new things to try. I appreciate how quick the service is too. I have a small nitpick though, which is that the menu is a looping video on a tv screen that goes black for a a few seconds every couple minutes, which is weirdly annoying when you're trying to choose what you want. Also, chips and salsa are not included, which most Mexican restaurants provide for free. Instead they charge 6.75, which is weirdly expensive in comparison to the rest of their menu. Overall, 10/10 I absolutely love this place.

My friend recommended this place. We came 50 min before they closed. They ran into my friend that recommended this place. I ordered Combo #3 and hubby ordered Combo # 1 They were both yummy! The only photo taken was my husband's Combo # 1 plate. I was too hungry to take a photo. Everything tasted clean and well executed. For being vegan I was surprised the vegan meats didn't have that vegan meat taste and scent. All was so good. Every time I come to Monterey, this will be a spot I will always eat at.

GREAT vegan options - vegan Mexican food done right with tons of options, combinations, and a-la-carte items. Downside: 10% service charge for ordering on their own website is tough to swallow (unlike their food).

Delicious & flavorable vegan Mexican cuisine! Pleasantly surprised at the selections, from enchiladas, to combo plates, to burritos and empanadas & tacos. We had the nopales burrito and the spinach enchiladas. Both were Very good. Quality ingredients and good service. Order at the counter and the staff will bring your food to you. They are very efficient and friendly. Small place with fairly quick turnover in tables. Prices and portions are decent, especially the burritos which are a hefty size. Ask about the water of the day. We had the hibiscus water which was yummy and not too sweet. They have vegan chicken & beef but we didn't try those and stuck to the veggie entrees. We will return now that we have this nice option.

I've been here twice now with my girlfriend who is vegan and both times we've eaten phenomenally. Our big issue is deciding what to eat. Being from san jose and oakland, its special to be in the Montery area and we want to "aprovechar" or make the most of our visit. In our first visit we ordered the... - combination plate - red enchilada, flauta, and a taco. - ranchero vegan ground beef taco - vegan mole tamal - churro ice cream Everything was very good. The red enchilada was a little too spicy for my GF's taste but it was good. My mole tamal was delicious, and the churro ice cream hit the spot. It wasn't our first choice of dessert, but there were a few items that were sold out. I also wanted to try the chile relleno nogada but was also sold out. In our second visit we ordered the - chicken fajita plate - red and green enchilada plate - pozole The chicken fajita plate was very good. My GF was thinking about a few months later even. My red and green enchiladas were very good, if I had to choose I enjoyed the green more than the red sauce, but both were good and I enjoy variety. Lastly the pozole was spot on, with bits of vegan meats inside, I wasn't missing the meat. It was delicious and had flashbacks of times I was nursing a hangover with non vegan pozole. Again however the chile relleno nogada was sold out. Ive been curious to try this dish vegan or non vegan for quite some time. We're be planning our next trip soon and will be try to arrive early to make sure I can get to try it.

Small, quaint, unassuming restaurant with some of the best vegan Mexican food I've ever had! The vegan chicken they use is phenomenal. Their mole sauce is so flavorful. Really every thing was perfectly seasoned and not overly salted or oily. Can't wait to go back and try more!

A killer vegan taqueria by the ocean? What more could you ask for? The food, the service, the overall vibe 10/10 would recommend and I'm not even vegan! This is my go to spot now for whenever I'm visiting Cannery Row and need a quick, delicious meal. I will warn you though, location matters and pricing can be steep. But, everything is in this area so it's to be expected really. Still worth it!

Have been here twice now while in the Monterrey area and LOVE this place! it was recommended to me by my soon to be hubs, and if you're wondering if that's why I'm marrying him...maybe!!! JK =) But I will say Vegan Mexican Food definitely equals happily ever after. This is a small, order at the register and have a seat or carry it out (as there isn't much of a dining area). There are plenty of delicious and creative options, all reasonably priced. The food comes out pretty quickly, and the flavors are all on point. Seasoned well, fresh, and good size portions. Highly recommend!

This place was ok. It was definitely healthy. The soup I got was on the bland side with little bit of spice. I wasn't feeling well so this hit the spot. I also got a sopa with vegan chicken. I enjoyed this! The tortilla was fluffy & the toppings were balanced & not toooverwhelming. I felt very healthy eating this meal haha.

Came for dinner, and it was packed! It's walk-up service and the person taking your order brings it to your table. Seems like they do a decent takeout service. They do have high chairs for the kiddos and their restroom was clean. It has a very family-friendly dining vibe. As for the food itself, I got the Two Tamales Plate, a side of avocado and a sparkling apple cider. The tamale with the tomatillo sauce were delicious. I think the red/mole sauce was decent. It's extremely nice to go to a Mexican restaurant knowing there isn't any lard/pork infused in their dishes. I'll be back! Price: $28.21 (w/ tip)

For my vegan folks, that like authentic Mexican food, this is a must go in Monterey. I'm not vegan nor vegetarian, but my friend is and I support him. We came here and there was so much variety. I wanted to give the mole a try, and so glad that I did. It was so good! A bit spicy for me, but I couldn't tell that it was vegan. The "fake chicken" had the texture of real chicken. Horchata was amazing as well. My friend had the vegan chicken burrito and loved it The only reason for four stars was that it was super cold inside. We came here for dinner, the door was wide open and there was no indication that the mole was going to be so spicy . But other than that. Will definitely come here

Excellent food and great quick service ! Their a a great variety of excellent tasting tacos !

The food is always made very quickly, and I visit Monterey about 5x a year because my grandparents live there and I try to go here literally every day when I do visit. There's a few other vegan spots in the area, but this is by far my favorite. The chicken tortilla soup is amazing so is the tortilla jalapeño salad. Even my grandparents enjoy coming here, and they aren't vegan!

Fantastic vegan Mexican place located right next to Monterey Bay Aquarium. They have all sorts of options from burritos to quesadillas to enchiladas to tamales and many kid friendly options. We got the Combo #1 plate which included a tamale and enchilada along with beans and rice. The red sauce enchilada was very flavorful and a little spicy and the tamale was covered in sauce and very tasty. I loved the beans as they were the perfect consistency and the rice was not dry at all. Definitely recommend stopping by here during a lunch break from the museum or if you're in the area!

We found this place browsing Yelp. I saw the menu and it looked very appealing. They have very good vegan Mexican food. We were a party of 6 and there was a big variety of different dishes. All of them sounded very delicious. So, we decided on a chile relleno plate, wet steak burrito, mushroom quesadilla, and a regular cheese quesadilla. And my dish was that tlayudas oaxaqueñas. Everyone said that their food was very good. The salsa and the spices were on point. I really liked their seasoning. Nobody had any left Overs. Proof that there was no complaints at all. Just to describe my dish since I didn't Even know what tlayudas were. There was a big crunchy tortilla. It was no tostada because they are fried. The tortilla was topped with black blended beans, red cabbage, pico de gallo, and green salsa. With some fresh avocado. It was so delicious. I am already thinking what am I taking for next Time I visit. A huarache sounds good. Highly recommend. It is very convenient. Walking distance from the Monterrey bay aquarium. Your order at The counter, the menu is on top of the counter and there is plenty to choose from.

Extremely tasty would have totally believed it was not vegan. Tried the ranchero taco and potato taco ended up ordering an additional ranchero taco after I was done. Great service and very cute ambiance. Will definitely be back

If I could give 6 stars I would! We came here on a Sunday afternoon. Parking is limited but we were able to snag one in the small lot in front of the restaurant. Once we walked in, we were surprised with how vegan many options there were! We got a variety of dishes including a wet burrito, tacos, soup, and flan. Each dish was delicious with its own unique flavor profile! We loved it with the flan being my personal favorite. This spot is definitely a vegan's dream. We will definitely be back!

First time trying vegan Mexican and I enjoyed it! Ordered a steak burrito with a spinach wrap and a nopales taco with a hibiscus aqua fresca. The mild sauce had a nice kick and more on the spicier side. Place is no frills and walking distance to the aquarium. Staff also nice and service is fast. A nice new food experience from the norm.

Everything we've ordered from this vegan Mexican restaurant tasted delicious. We ordered delivery the first time, and were so impressed by the food that we had to visit the restaurant in person before we left Monterey. The tortilla soup was our favorite. It's creamy and a bright yellow color and just delicious. I also enjoyed every bite of the potato taco and ordered it a second time. Burrito had the taste of real fresh tomato. Everything we've ordered had its own distinct flavor profile and we kept guessing how it's made. Very memorable experiences.

The potato tacos at @elcantarovegan are my favorite! This place is a must when we are in Monterey. Everything we've had here, the combo plates, quesadillas, burritos, etc. are delicious! (instagram: jax.vegan.eats)

Decided to stop by for a quick snack, which did not turn out to be a quick stop. I only ordered a single crispy potato taco, which took over 15 minutes to come out. Not the wait you expect from a taco spot. The crispy potato taco wasn't what I expected from the name. I pictured crispy potatoes in a soft tortilla, but it was actually a soft potato in a fried tortilla, no problem. The potato was well seasoned and the texture contrasted the tortilla nicely. It was topped with vegan cheese, tomatoes and veg. The "cheese" was ok, not too dry but not moist/fatty either, which is to be expected. All in all, a pretty tasty taco, but not worth the wait or the price point (currently $5 for the crispy potato taco).

El Cantaro is fantastic Mexican food--vegan or not. It tastes great--plus it leaves me feeling lighter and less stuffed than meaty greasy burritos. I lived in the neighborhood and had my eye on El Cantaro while they were building it out. I went there maybe 3 days after they opened. It was so yummy and friendly that I went there often. It's been a while since I lived there. Then I recently went back. Looks like they got a little fancier with the digital menu screens and some different art on the walls, but the menu looks mostly the same. I'm not sure I've ever had anything else besides the El Cantaro Burrito--it's that good. I think this might be the first place I've ever had Mexican hot chocolate. I'm kinda particular about hot chocolate, so I got it to-go because I wasn't sure what it was all about; I didn't want them to be offended if I dumped it. I LOVED IT! and I bought it again and again. I've also started making hot chocolate at home with cinnamon almost every time. Jamaica (Hibiscus "tea" [hibiscus punch]) is also great! Clean bathrooms. Just a couple free parking spots, but more metered parking on the street. If you choose to give a thumbs-up or not, I hope you found my review helpful!

Probably the best Mexican food I've ever had. And the best place to eat in Monterey. Every other place in Monterey we went to was terrible or very mid and we had el cantaro on our last day and it saved the trip lol. No but seriously I wish I had it one more time before leaving. The vegan meat didn't taste fake, artificial, or like soy like all the other vegan places I've been to. Everything that I tried tasted delicious and my friends liked everything they had as well. Chips and salsa 10/10 - the salsa is VERY spicy though Carne Asada Tacos 100/10 best thing every especially the green salsa on top Beans and rice were also great and the rice was nice and fluffy and soft and not grainy/hard. Will def becoming here again if I'm ever in the area! Fast, quick and friendly service

visited Monterey from so-cal and I was so pleased to find an all vegan Mexican restaurant since they're a bit hard to come by! I went to the aquarium and it was literally right next to it, so I told my boyfriend we were eating there afterwards we considered eating somewhere near the warf or on cannery row but I'm sooo glad we chose to eat here! I got a combination plate to get some variety and everything I got was bomb! The tacos de nopales (cactus) and the enchiladas are especially good! My boyfriend is Mexican and not vegan and he loved them! The horchata was sooo bomb too! I get so excited whenever I find vegan horchata since it's never at regular Mexican restaurants. The atmosphere was nice too! Nice music and fresh ocean air. friendly staff too!

Great spot near the monterey Aquarium. They have maybe 8-10 parking spots or you can find street parking as well. Awesome menu with tons of vegan options. I ordered the Enchiladas and it was delicious... slightly salty but otherwise it is perfect for me. Every time i come here, it is always clean. You order at the counter and then, grab a seat. Wait time is about 15 min, food is always fresh!

This is my favorite vegan restaurant every time I'm in Monterey! The food is authentic and delicious whether you're vegan or not. My close friend and I are always excited to eat here. If you haven't tried it yet, you probably should. :)

Stumbled upon this place after walking around Cannery Row in Monterey. This is the first ever all vegan mexican place I've been to but it was decently good. The menu is quite extensive, and the staff are super knowledgable on it! We asked if there were certain ingredients in some items we were thinking of getting and they were able to confirm or deny if they were there. Good for those with certain restrictions if you have them. It took about 30 minutes for 3 tacos, which was too long in my opinion, given that they weren't super busy. We got the ranchero, sauteed vegetables, and mushroom tacos. The ranchero one was pretty good, with the fake meat kinda resembling real meat. The sauteed vegetables were a bit mushy for my liking, and the mushroom taco was my favorite of the three and definitely hit the spot. All tacos came with a salsa on top, and it kinda tasted like it came from a can (mushy and not as fresh as I'd prefer). Despite all this, the portion sizes were good and I was satisfied enough afterwards. The concept of this vegan restaurant is nice for a casual bite, but it's not at the top of my list of Monterey restaurants if I'm in the area again!

Great service, even better food. I was impressed because, in my experience, most "vegan" Mexican food lacks taste or has an odd texture but not here at El Cantaro. Everything tastes fresh and homemade, which makes this the #1 spot for vegan food in Monterey. The Ambiance was very fitting for the location, the style of food, and the building. Highly recommended !

My fiance and I tried this place for the first time over the weekend and really enjoyed it! I got the combination #3 plate which included a crispy potato taco, a chicken taquito, a chicken enchilada, beans, and rice for just under $19. The young girl that served us was kind and helpful. It didn't feel as welcoming or inviting overall though, the staff seemed to be a bit overwhelmed and kept to themselves. The restaurant itself was quiet. We ended up taking our food back to our hotel room and we shared a good laugh together when we realized this place was a vegan Mexican restaurant. We somehow didn't notice beforehand. I would've never guessed based on the flavor alone, it was delicious! The only thing that had me wondering was the texture of the chicken because it didn't really look like "real" chicken lol. Sure enough ended up looking up reviews here on yelp and found out it was a fully vegan spot. Neither one of us are vegan, but I'm all for it and I'd happily get it again when we visit Monterey again

What does El Cantaro lack?? Plenty of seating, friendly and efficient staff, kids menu, and an excellent menu!! Steak fajitas were delicious, mole negro I've never had before so nothing to compare it to but it was very good. Kids were happy with grilled cheese, bean and cheese burrito, and freshly made hand cut French fries!

On a road trip to Big Sur, I stopped here both on the way there and back. That's how good it is, and so rare to find a fully vegan Mexican spot that hits these flavors. On my first visit, I got the combo with an enchilada (red sauce), potato taco, and chik'n taco. It was a good portion size and I ate the whole thing. Love their rice and beans. The red sauce is on point. On the way back, I focused on tacos, getting the asada tacos (a special) and a fish taco. The asada tacos were soooooo good. The vegan meat had a great texture. I did ask for a side of salsa for a little more heat. The fish taco wasn't my favorite, but it did have the seafood vibe. The worst thing about this place is that they're closed on Saturdays and that's when I usually find myself in Monterey. If you catch them open on another day, don't hesitate to go.

Must try - even my non vegan brother and his wife enjoyed this place so much, they came back twice during their 3 day stay in Monterey. The food is just so satisfying and flavorful!

We love this place. Vegan Mexican food at its best. The menu is extensive. Service is friendly and speedy. Ambiance is casual and homey, with a soccer game often playing on the corner TV. Tables are available outdoors, as well. The word is out on how good the food is, and one sometimes has to wait for a seat.

A vegan Mexican restaurant is a dream come true! So many options and it was so delicious! Fast and easy. Great prices. Service was great.

Must go to vegan spot while in Monterrey. Try the combo #3. It's sooo good and we got a horchata too. Right by the aquarium

Good food in Monterey, CA! I was here about a year ago and food is still good but not as amazing as I remembered it, it did get a little bit pricey and it shouldn't have cause it's more of a taqueria. Coffee is not good. But food is good enough. Service is good. And place is clean. Great vegan option if you're in that area.

Vegan. Really actually vegan. Not even cross contamination. Great Mexican food. I've been coming here for years. Pozole, great. Tamales, great. Guac, great. Mushrooms, great. The fake fish is great in a taco. The default spiciness is gringo level spicy, if you want spicy make sure you let them know.

Combo #2 beef tacos , green sauce with spinach enchiladas, pinto beans, rice. It was all very tasty, the menu is vast and has a kids menu. Inside was very warm. Value was decent for the area. Food is served quite fast.

We found this restaurant on YELP and I had the spinach encenchiladas. Outstanding flavor!!! The service was friendly and inviting. Even though this place was small, it still was pleasant.

My sister stumbled upon this restaurant. She raved to me how delicious it was knowing that I'm vegetarian. We were in the area so we wanted to come here. We shared the nachos. It was so delicious. They asked if we wanted jalapeños, so I said on the side. I like pickled jalapeños so I assumed that's what it was, but these joints were fresh!

Not a lot of vegan locations here so if you're vegan this is an easy spot where everything on the menu is vegan. Food was good and fast.

Exceptional vegan burritos! My husband said it was one of the best he's ever had so far. All their food is vegan. Their menu hosts a huge variety of healthy Mexican cuisine. Casual ambiance and friendly service. They also have their own parking lot.

Food was pretty good and definitely a good choice if anyone wants a healthier option. I wish food was spicier. Otherwise, nothing to complain.

I was excited to finally visit this place that everyone had been bragging to me about. After a long week of working at a campground about an hour away, we were excited to sit down and enjoy plant-based Mexican food. As someone who eats mainly plant-based, it can be difficult to find good plant-based food at a decent price. I love Mexican food and the fact that there was an option for a fully plant-based menu was amazing! The food was delicious, the drinks were delicious, and the place where it is located is cleverly placed in a corner of a well trafficked area. The only downside I could see is the parking situation. They are in a smaller area and the parking is a little weird entering and exiting, but people seem to make it work. Indoors, it is full of life, bright colors, and limited seating. Be sure to get there as soon as possible to get good seating especially if you have a larger party. The menu can be a little overwhelming but the customer service gave great suggestions of what has been popular as of late. I tried out one of each of their tacos and found them not only filling but very tasty. If you are in the Monterey area or any neighboring city, and you are looking for good plant-based food, you need to be here.

I literally dream about this place I love the food so much and I'm so sad I live far and have only been on vacation. I've been vegan for 13 years and I've yet to find anywhere else with this big a selection of vegan mexican food. FANTASTIC!

This place was awesome!!!! Authentic, delicious food. Pretty sure the tortillas are homemade. We were so satisfied here. The green enchilada sauce...I could drink it.

Came here with some friends after visiting the Monteray Bay aquarium and it was by far one of the best Mexican restaurants that I have been to. The fact that this was a vegan based place was so unique and had an abundant amount of options for vegetarians. I ordered the enchiladas with vegan meat and they were amazing! I also tried the tacos with a vegan fish meat. The red sauce was very spicy and the green one was flavorful. If you are near this area, I 100% recommend visiting this place, you will not be disappointed.

Bomb dot com status! Order the combo plates so you can try a bit of everything. It was so good that we will be back for dinner and maybe lunch again tomorrow while in town. You won't be sorry you made the trip. It's rare to find a 100% vegan Mexican restaurant..... we are impressed

Best vegan Mexican food in Monterey. Try the chile rellenos or the burritos! Parking onsite can be a challenge at lunch time.