Welcome! Let's get this started.
Finish logging in.
Mexican food restaurant est. 2013 in the New Monterey area. Casual, colorful decor. Order at the counter, and food is served in to-go style (disposable ware). Menu is all-vegan and uses some faux meats. Dishes offered include crispy potato tacos, fajitas with side of rice and beans, tortilla chips, taquitos, tamales, and combination platters. Horchata and cake available. Open Mon-Thu 11:00am-8:30pm, Fri 11:00am-3:30pm, Sun 11:00am-8:30pm.
-
791 Foam St, Monterey, California, USA, 93940
-
Loading...
-
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
-
-
Last update on 17 Jun 2024 by Guest
Update business info -
Are you the owner?
Claim this business
-
-
379 Reviews
First Review by magickbaby
AmandaSakiye
Points +3424
So perfect - Edit
Really loved the nopales taco a lot! The pozole soup was also amazing. So good! I’d love to come back and try more items!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-07-20
Guest
Aly&Sean
Points +1943
Wow - Edit
So glad to have found this place on a recent trip. I was in the area for work and visited a relative who is not vegan but really enjoyed the food! They have a huge menu! The enchiladas were delicious
Read moreGuest
marianimagines56
Points +183
My husband is in heaven - Edit
Such delicious food!! Very traditional choices but so good!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-07-07
Pros: Tacos with chickin', Chili rellenos, Quick service
Guest
ttothemc
Points +158
Delicious Mexican food - Edit
We ordered chips and salsa pineapple salsa, taquitos and a combo plate with an enchilada, crispy potato taco and taquito. Everything was delicious and fresh tasting. I would come back again and try more. Sorry no pics. We devoured everything.
Read morePros: Massive menu, Hearty, healthy and delicious , Plenty of places to sit.
Guest
2vegan4life
Points +26
Crazy good - Edit
Cantaro burrito and the fish taco were SO good. The staff was very friendly and the food came out super fast. Don’t forget the flan!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-06-26
Guest
Virtual_Vegan
Points +45
Great Vegan Mexican! - Edit
This restaurant has, hands-down, the best vegan Mexican cuisine. Their menu is huge and just so good! As a visitor to Monterey I was delighted to experience El Cantaro, but now I wish there was something this nice in my hometown. The burritos we had were large and very flavorful. I also had a Baja- style "fish" taco topped with diced mango that was awesome!
Read morePros: Large all vegan menu., Reasonably priced., Great tasting food!
Cons: Parking is a bit tight.
Guest
gimme_veg
Points +61
Tasty! - Edit
I had the enchiladas with mole sauce, black beans and rice. Everything was very flavorful. Service is very fast too. Highly recommended 😊
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-05-31
Pros: Food, Service , Cleanliness
Guest
BenMazaya
Points +397
Amazing Mexican - Edit
So delicious, very authentic, reminded exactly of the street food in Mexico and not some Americanized version of Mexican cuisine!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-05-27
Guest
JRSIII
Points +198
So darn good - Edit
Our favorite lunch stop up to Big Sur!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-05-07
Pros: Options, Taste , Que Rico
Guest
fairyprincesss
Points +284
Like This Place! - Edit
I go to the Sacramento location all the time. I get the nachos, quesabirria burrito, and asada el cantaro burrito. For some reason, the Sacramento location tastes better and my boyfriend agrees. Although we still really liked the food here!!
Read morePros: Good food, Good portions, Lots of options
Cons: Sacramento location has better flavor
Guest
vonmoxie
Points +30
my only regret is not ordering more! - Edit
HUGE all vegan menu. We got tacos. a tostada, side of rice n beans, & chilaquiles. Not exaggerating- the frijoles tasted just like my abuelita’s 🥲 Shame they were closed on Sat because there were about 10 more things I wanted to try. Really really fun place and 1000% will be back.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-05-02
Guest
EthanSewell
Points +42
Delicious! - Edit
Very flavorful and good sized portions! Quick and delicious - would definitely recommend
Read moreGuest
Hippiechick1970.lt
Points +65
Phenomenal - Edit
At first I was confused with items listed with cheese, chicken and beef/steak. In sure the staff gets asked often but I had to verify " this is all vegan right?" It totally was great food. The best so far I've had in the area. I'm surprised there aren't more vegan items in the area so this was a gem of a find
Read morePros: All vegan, Food was amazing, Service was so helpful
Cons: Red salsa was too hot for me, dining is more Cafe casual than restaurant
Guest
pharomommy
Points +18
Must go! - Edit
This was the most amazing vegan Mexican food I have ever had. If we could have one by our house I'd be there every chance I got. Fresh, delicious, full of flavor and large portions.
Read moreGuest
VeganWithATwist
Points +526
Absolutely perfect!!! - Edit
I had the tofu and veggie burrito and a kale salad. My husband got the Nopal (cactus) burrito. Everything was delicious. We were just so grateful to be able to choose from such an extensive menu without any concerns about what might or might not be vegan. Another plus - the service was fast and friendly. If we lived here, we would be at El Cantaro all the time!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-04-06
Guest
walkaboutdave
Points +70
100% Vegan Mexican Food - Edit
Every item is delicious! So many options. This is a very small restaurant with a small indoor seating area and a couple of small tables outside. Parking can be difficult to find, so you may have to walk a couple of blocks. If you have to walk, do it! It is worth it!!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-04-05
Guest
VeggieHeather
Points +206
Delicious Mexican food - Edit
Loved everything we ate. The fish taco was the best. Your restaurant is the best restaurant I’ve ever gone to. well, it’s one of my favorites.😃🐢🐶🐦⬛🦮 (The last part was by my six-year-old)😅
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-03-26
Cons: Jesus music
Guest
Nicknselena
Points +358
Vegan Tameles! - Edit
This place has so many choices it was impossible to choose. Multiple kinds of tamales, chile rellenos, tons of burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and more. It’s also all organic!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-03-25
Guest
sheiner
Points +145
Delicious tacos and burritos - Edit
Flavors of their tacos and the staff was really nice
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-03-18
Pros: Large menu, Variety of tacos , Courteous staff
Guest
emmalovesanimals
Points +763
Incredible! - Edit
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!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-03-07
Pros: Quality, Flavor, Variety
Guest
KaylenPowers
Points +35
PHENOMENAL! - Edit
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! ♥️🌮
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-02-20
Pros: Portion size, Allllll vegan so I could pick anything! , Quality of food
Cons: I live too far away from them, I can’t go back in time and eat it all over again
Guest
santiagoeb94
Points +403
Must visit - Edit
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!).
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-02-16
Pros: Authentic, Savory, Generous
Guest
AllyLo
Points +16
Fantastic meal - Edit
Have had the pleasure of eating at both there Sacramento & Monterey locations. Great food, lovely people, happy times. Can’t go wrong with any combo plate and their pozole is delicious. 10’s all around 💚🍀
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-01-26
KaylenPowers
They are in Sacramento!?!?! This is the best news. We are relocating to the area!
Read moreGuest
afootman
Points +22
Awesome affordable Mexican - Edit
Nice fast service with big menu, all of it vegan.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-01-09
Pros: Burrito, Enchilada, Taco
Guest
CaleyBear
Points +140
Won't be back - Edit
Food was decent, staff was friendly, but I really don't want to listen to religious evangelism at a restaurant
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-11-21
juneau_andrea
Were they preaching or something? Or something on the tv? I know it’s run by seventh day adventists but I’ve never heard them speak about it.
Read moreTheSecondAmigo
I agree with @juneau_andrea. I've been to this restaurant several times and I've never noticed any religious promotion. Was this on their TV monitor? (If it was on their TV, I would've found it easy to ignore it since the sound is usually muted).
Read moreGuest
dynam!te
Points +735
Best mexican food ever - Edit
It‘s simply the best mexican food I ever had. The lady took her time to explain everything, location was clean with about 30 inside seats. 10/10, would go back! Everything seems to be organic, non gmo etc.
Read moreDessert was also nice!
Pros: Very tasty, Organic, non gmo
Guest
mightymonica
Points +383
Great Mexican food - Edit
We door dashed this twice and tried a lot of the menu. Standouts as excellent: mole, tortilla soup, potato tacos and empanadas.
Read morePros: High quality ingredients , Fresh even door dashed, Lots of options
Guest
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 69116 times.