Welcome to El Cantaro
El Cantaro is a vegan Mexican cuisine gem located in Monterey, CA, offering a diverse menu of flavorful dishes like the famous El Cantaro Burrito and Grilled Pineapple Veggie Burrito. The restaurant provides a welcoming atmosphere with excellent service and a variety of fresh fruit waters and smoothies. Customers rave about the delicious food, with highlights such as the Sautéed Veggie Taco and the Special Veggie Burger plate. A must-try for both vegans and non-vegans seeking authentic Mexican flavors in a casual yet classy setting. Don't miss out on this culinary experience at El Cantaro!
- 791 Foam St Monterey, CA 93940 Hotline: (831) 646-5465
Welcome to El Cantaro, the ultimate destination for juice bars, smoothies, and vegan Mexican cuisine in Monterey, CA. As the proud owner of this franchise, I am thrilled to introduce you to the highlights of El Cantaro and share my own personal feelings about the dishes we offer.
At El Cantaro, we take pride in providing a wide range of options to cater to different dietary preferences and restrictions. Our menu features a variety of appetizers, salads, soups, and more, all crafted with the finest ingredients to ensure a delightful dining experience.
For appetizers, I highly recommend trying our Memelitas, three small homemade tortillas topped with black bean puree, cheese, and cabbage. The combination of flavors and textures is simply irresistible. Another standout option is the Kipes, four stuffed kipes filled with potatoes, mushrooms, and spices, wrapped in a bulgur grain and served with a tantalizing dipping sauce. And if you're a fan of traditional Mexican flavors, our Taquitos are not to be missed - four corn tortillas filled with spiced chickin', rolled up, and served on a bed of lettuce and guacamole.
When it comes to salads, El Cantaro offers a variety of refreshing and nutritious choices. The Kale's Salad, with walnuts, raw beets, onions, and carrots, is a true delight with its amino acid vinaigrette. The Tortilla Jalapeno Salad combines spring mixed lettuce with corn, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, tortilla chips, and cilantro, all tossed in a delicious ranch jalapeno dressing. And if you're a fan of classic Caesar salad, our version with romaine lettuce, homemade croutons, and cashew parmesan cheese, dressed in a homemade caesar dressing, is sure to satisfy.
For those looking for heartwarming soups, our Tortilla Soup is a crowd favorite. Marinated chicken is combined with fresh avocado, cheese, roasted corn, and tortilla strips in a spicy vegetable broth, creating a symphony of flavors. And for a taste of traditional Mexican stew, our Pozole, featuring hominy corn in spiced broth with chicken, topped with cabbage, radishes, and a lime wedge, is a true comfort food.
But don't just take my word for it - our customers have raved about their experiences at El Cantaro. One customer, Kaylie A., praised our excellent service and welcoming vibes, stating that the food was amazing and the prices were worth the generous servings. Another customer, C. E. B., called our food the best Mexican cuisine they've had in a long time, while emphasizing not to be fooled by the vegan label.
As an owner, it brings me great joy to see customers like Kristin M., who loved both the food and the Christian music playing in the restaurant, and Samantha G., who was delighted to find 100% vegan Mexican cuisine with authentic flavors. We take pride in creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, coupled with quick service and flavorful dishes.
El Cantaro is not just a restaurant, but a place where people can gather, enjoy delicious food, and create lasting memories. I invite you to visit us at 791 Foam St Monterey, CA 93940 or call us at (831) 646-5465 to experience the culinary wonders and warm hospitality of El Cantaro. We look forward to serving you soon!

The service was excellent and the vibes of the restaurant were really welcoming! Our food was amazing and the prices are definitely worth the servings!

Best Mexican food I've had in a long time! Absolutely delicious.
Don't let the vegan sign fool you.

Delicious! Loved the food and the Christian music playing in the restaurant. Great service.

Really enjoyed eating at El Cantaro while visiting Monterey during car week. SO nice to have 100% vegan mexican cuisine with authentic flavors. We enjoyed the chile rellenos, tostada de nopal, and horchata.
The staff were very friendly and service was quick!

Mind you, I am a meat eater trying this vegan thing so don't come for me!
It's a cool little place on a corner. Great service. Tip: They charge a dollar + more for charges, so it may behoove you to bring cash. The place has a following so you might want to call in/online your order. If you drive down it's tight parking on the premises, best to park on the street. The food is ultra fresh. I don't remember seeing any food lamps.
Now, the food:
1. The Sautéed Veggie taco. It was favorable, It just didn't "land on the tongue". It was a pureed taco with beans. 2.5
2. Special Veggie Burger plate. I will DEFINATELY come back for this one. It was a solid burger, Don't know if they make their own patties but it was delicious. Fresh as he!!, nicely stacked, nothing fell over. And the fries?! Long thick fries, no sharp shards at all. It was a good amount, not Five Guys crazy with it. 4.6
3. The Jamaica. Palatable, to not scare the kids. 3.6 (The spot to get the tart perfection, that hits the gland right under the ear, is at Mundo's on Webster, not on Fremont. They don't sell it.)

Kiddo is anaphylactic to dairy - no issues here! Loved it, delicious! Great vegan restaurant

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!

Casual spot with good Mexican food. Big menu with lots of options and reasonable prices.
My only complaint is that the pinto beans are bland, definitely recommend getting the black ones instead.