By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

If you’re ever in Monterey, California, perhaps on your way to Big Sur, be sure to eat at El Cantaro, a vegan Mexican restaurant.

El Cantaro has an extensive menu that includes traditional dishes, favorites of Mexico, enchiladas, tacos, burritos, tortas, nachos, and tostadas. On a recent visit, it was hard to decide what to try. Would it be Chile en Nogada – a poblano chili pepper stuffed with veggie ground beef, pecans, and dried fruits with a sweet, creamy walnut sauce? Or maybe empanadas, stuffed with mushrooms and topped with guacamole, puréed beans, and vegan cheese. Or perhaps Tortilla Soup featuring veggie chicken, roasted corn, and tortilla strips in a spicy vegetable broth.

El Cantaro tacos   

I opted for two tacos. One, the Fish Baja Style Taco, combined vegan tuna with shredded cabbage and homemade mango salsa. The other, a Vegetable Taco, featured a variety of sautéed vegetables, beans, salsa, and vegan cheese on a homemade tortilla. I liked all the different flavors and the creative use of lots of vegetables.

El Cantaro tostada

My companion chose a Tostada de Nopales and a Spinach Enchilada. The tostada was a crisp tortilla topped with puréed black beans, nopales (cactus) salad, green salsa, vegan cheese, and avocado slices. The enchilada was filled with mushrooms and onions and topped with a creamy spinach sauce.

Spinach Enchilada

     All dishes were presented beautifully. We could indicate how spicy we wanted them (medium) and they were pleasantly spicy. El Cantaro has indoor and outdoor seating as well as take-out. They offer a selection of juices, smoothies, and other beverages. Their dessert menu includes vegan flan, vegan ice cream, and vegan cheesecake.

El Cantaro is at 791 Foam Street in Monterey, California. They are closed after lunch on Friday and all day Saturday. Check the website for updates on the hours that they are open.

Visit their website at https://www.orderelcantaro.com/.

To find a list of veggie restaurants in the USA and Canada visit: https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php