Excellent little Paraguayan snack bar!! I saw this spot while scrolling thru Yelp's nearby function and curiosity of their yerba mate and empanadas brought me in. I was still feeling kind of sick but wanted something hot to drink so I ordered a mate latte with oat milk. I also had one of their beef empanadas to take away so I could eat it later. Mate latte was great and definitely would get this drink again. They also have a smoked mate drink and I would definitely come back to try this too! You have to like yerba mate to fully appreciate this drink. The mate latte is kind of a light version of what mate is like. Maybe start with this first to prepare you for traditional mate. If you get traditional mate, be prepared to have your mouth jolted and doing jumping jacks, its definitely stimulating and I love it! Later when I reached my destination, I ate the beef empanada with chimichurri sauce provided and it was delicious! After I polished it off, I had wished I brought a few more to take with me. But, at $9.50 a piece, they aren't cheap, so keep that in mind. They also have other Paraguayan/South American offerings here and I was so tempted to get a mini alfajor as it was eyeing me in the display case that said EAT ME (like Alice in Wonderland), but I did not give into this, but I so wish I did!! I will definitely come back here again and again when visiting Monterey! A true gem and next time, I have to check out their secret back garden too! read more

K this was not our first pick but we wanted to go to 1st awakening which is half a block away but their wait was 2 hrs so we stumbled upon this cafe and we were lucky to. No long wait times. Outdoor seating in the back patio. The empanadas are sooo good. Best ones that I've had. So crispy and filled with vegetables and soy. The soy croquettes were so tender and creamy. We are vegetarian so that's what we got. got. I wanted to go for more seconds. read more

Cafe Guarani - Back patio with hammock - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Super lovely ambiance inside & all the staff are very friendly and attentive. I always come here when I'm visiting Monterey! Plenty of seating and the food and drinks are some of the best in town :-) read more

Cafe Guarani - Guatemalan Spiced Mocha & Pasta Frola (Guava Tart) - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Three words: Yerba mate latte. Excellent drink, it had this rich earthiness with a hint of bitter notes from the mate and a very smooth and mild sweetness. Amazing. Solid empanadas, monkey bread was good though a little dry. Still, wonderful spot, I look forward to coming back. Super friendly service and they serve the drinks in super cute, different shaped mugs. Also, GREAT spot if you need to do work. I didn't, but it's spacious enough to have people having conversations on one side and people doing work on the other side. read more

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I loved the guava tart from this cafe, it was not too sweet and paired well with my iced vanilla coffee. The garden patio setting was a pleasant surprise, we could have stayed out there for hours if we had more time. I was unable to try the empanadas because sadly they fell over onto the floor when I was unpacking after I got home. More reason for me to go back again when I am in town. This place is a cool cafe and loved that they are LGBT friendly that is always a plus. read more

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This was the worst food we had in a long time. Bad service. They got our order wrong, we waited a very long time to find out. Then we waited more. Croquettes oily, yuka fries had no flavor, empanadas were horribly oily and undercooked and the filling was horrible, ice coffee was sweetened and didn't taste like coffee. They were cheap on ketchup. The interior was nice and cozy. We won't be back. read more

Cafe Guarani - Yucca fries, empanadas , iced coffee - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

We came here as a quick stop before heading to the aquarium - it's just around the corner so it was really convenient. We ordered the dulce de leche latte with oat milk and it was really good and super rich. The brisket empanada is 5/5 - HIGHLY recommend. The ham & cheese was also good with a white creamy cheese. We also ordered the pulled pork and beef. The pastries were good too! We got the guava pastry, chocolate chip cookie, and mini alfajors - would def recommend these too. They were the perfect size, light, and the dulce de leche filling was the perfect amount of sweetness. Chill, earthy vibe. Plenty of seating. Cute spot! Little pricey at $10 per empanada. But they were tasty! read more

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Great food highly recommended. Empanada was delicious good go to place in Monterey bay

Visited this place for breakfast. The empanadas are amazing and I loved the chimichurri sauce that came with each one. We got the brisket and ropa vieja empanadas and my partner got the cold brew. The vibes in the store were very chill, beautiful, and family-oriented. I liked how authentic the place looked. Service was nice and patient and were happy to clarify any questions we had! Please give this place a try! read more

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Delicious empanadas and guava treats! We decided to stop by for lunch and are so glad we did - recommend going earlier in the day so you can have your pick of all the options; when we went, there were a few options that were already sold out, but we were happy overall with what we got. You order up at the counter and can either take it to go or choose one of the seating areas (indoor or outdoor). All empanadas come with chimichurri sauce. What we got: - Yucca fries: lightly breaded, not too greasy, comes with 2 chimichurri sauces (one traditional and one mayonnaise based) - Smoked pulled pork empanada: we had wanted the brisket but the woman at the register suggested this since they were out of it - glad that we listened because this was my favorite of the empanadas that we tried; flavorful, not dry at all - Chicken empanada: a bit on the dry side but good with the chimichurri sauce - Beef mandioca: first time we've tried a deep fried empanada; my husband's favorite of the empanadas - the beef was well marinated - Guava tart: light pastry - great way to end the meal Wish we had more time in the area because we would definitely have gone back and tried more of their empanadas and coffee/yerba mate drinks! read more

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Enjoyed their back patio for a cafe break. Hubs ordered the Guatemalan spiced mocha and noted it was quite rich. I was happy to find that they have a Guarana Zero - hadn't had one in years. For quick snacks, we also ordered a beef empanada and beef sopa. Both the sopa and empanada were a good portion size. The sopa arrived hot - could be a bit dry but the chimichurri sauce was a good addition. The empanada was quite filling. The pastries/desserts looked interesting. I'd probably like to try some of those another time. read more

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Pricey. Yucca fries $12, empanadas $10 6 of us, breakfast togo total cost $80+, we can get better breakfast from a sit down restaurant nearby. The interior is pretty, the drinks, empanadas and bakery were mediocre. We support local businesses but we don't want to be overpaying for something like this. read more

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Unique and amazing interior that compliments their food! Dulce de leche latte was spectacular and their spiced mocha was delicious as well. Just. Look. At. This. Empanada.... Impeccable work and the chimichurri sauce was banging. Service was nice and asked what milk I wanted read more

Cafe Guarani - Veggie Empanada - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Found these folks at the Tuesday night farmers market. Wasn't able to try the empanadas then, so came to the restaurant. The gluten free/dairy free empanada was delicious! Also had the yucca fries and they were amazing. After lunch we got hot drinks from the bar. Delicious hot chocolate and the foam decor on top was gorgeous. read more

Cafe Guarani - Matcha latte, hot cocoa, and a dolce de leche - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Whether you're local or just visiting, Cafe Guarani is a MUST! Everyone who works there is very friendly and helpful. Their coffee is very enjoyable (my favorite is the Guatemalan Mocha and Dulce De Leche Latte). But the star of the show are definitely their empanadas. They are a little pricey (to give you an idea two drinks and two empanadas will run you around $30), but I personally think the price is worth it! Every empanada I have had is cooked to perfection and the filling is so flavorful. Not to mention, the chimichurri served on the side is to die for! Don't overlook their other pastries either; they are a great treat. There is ample seating, but it can get pretty cramped if there's a rush. When it's quiet, it's a great place to read a book or study. It's a very homey and cozy place (and you're definitely missing out if you haven't been here). read more

Cafe Guarani - Guatemalan Mocha, Bacon Empanada, and Cinnamon Roll - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Dulce de leche coffee was so bomb! Sitting in the secret garden as I review. It's so cute and cozy. The service is very friendly. Also got the ropa vieja empanada and omg I loved it. Didn't even need the chimchurri tbh. I'm thinking of coming back already. 10/10 definitely recommend read more

Cafe Guarani - Part of the secret garden - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Stunning gem in Pacific Grove! You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu! Oh and did I mention that it is the ONLY Paraguayan restaurant on the West Coast?? The other two in the entire US are located in Austin Texas and Flushing New York. Highly recommend the empanadas and the chicken soup. The yerba mate latte is also a standout. Regular yerba is also nice but a little strong for me so the latte really helps mellow out the flavors enough to where I can appreciate everything together in harmony. There is a ton of traditional Paraguayan and other South American décor which really helps create that authentic vibe to the place and you can choose to either sit inside or outside in the secret garden. The food is served hot and fresh and the staff is very helpful when it comes to learning more about the food and deciding what to order. You have to stop by this place!!! My pro tip is to get empanadas, sopas and a yerba mate latte to go, then hit the nearby beaches for a delicious picnic with a view! read more

Cafe Guarani - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Cute little spot! The people working always have a smile and I love their fresh empanadas. My favorite is definitely the chicken, and the chimichurri sauce is what makes it all that better. They must put a lot of love into that sauce when they make it because holy moly, I crave it more times than not throughout my week. I'll buy larger tubs of the chimichurri sauce, and make chicken lasagna with it at home. SO GOOD! Because of my love for their sauce, I've ordered chimichurri at other restaurants, and I'll tell you it's not nearly as good. read more

A bit pricey but it's a cute cafe style place with secret garden outdoor seating and indoor seating as well. Drinks are reasonable and empanada was quite amazing, they were out of the pulled pork so I got brisket and was not disappointed. Nice place to chill away from beach crowds. read more

Cafe Guarani - Brisket empanada - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I have not had many empanadas in my life but this place looked super cute so I wanted to give it a shot. Since I didn't know what to order, I asked the worker which were the most popular and she told me it was the pulled pork and smoked brisket so I got both! The empanada was pretty big but I think it was a bit too expensive (it ended up being around $20 total for two empanadas...) and I think I'd rather spend my money on a nice lunch instead. My empanadas were made well but they were too sweet for me. I think I would have preferred a more savory empanada. Maybe next time I would order something else, like their beef or chicken empanada! Also the chimichurri sauce was super delicious and I couldn't get enough of it! read more

Cafe Guarani - pulled pork and smoked brisket - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Cute lil mom and pop cafe. The empanadas were really good as well as the pastries. The 2 employees were very pleasant and helpful with helping us decide what to try. They even told us thier favorite items. Definitely will come back when I visit Monterey again. I love to support small businesses. The inside is very nice too lots of antique and wooden pieces. read more

The deep fried beef mandioca empanada was good, but the highlight of the meal was the chimmichuri sauce that came with the empanadas, I think it would go well with anything! I also tried the traditional cold Yerba mate, and the waitress was kind enough to show me how to drink it. The cafe also had a cute and cozy interior, it would be a great date spot. read more

Cafe Guarani - Cold Yerba mate - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Front staff taking orders needs work, not super inviting, but efficient. Cappuccino was good, empanadas were good. Careful of the brisket though as it is juicy, like oops drips on your light-colored clothes juicy. Order was delivered quickly and with a smile. Seating was spacious and nice. They also have frozen empanadas to take home. read more

Cafe Guarani - Cappuccino and empadana - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Good empanadas! Although kind of pricy at $8 a pop. They were hot and fresh. I really liked the chimichurri sauce that came with it. Would recommend. read more

Cafe Guarani - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

One of my favorite places every time I visit! The empanadas, any filling, never disappoint, and their chimichurri is just right--so fresh and balanced. I am a sucker for anything with guava, so I'm obviously going to love it here. A guava tart and a hot pour-over coffee, and life is good, qué no? The little garden patio in the back is charming, with umbrellas for shade and a hammock. Service is impeccable. I always get frozen empanadas to take home, too--I wish I could somehow pack up all of Cafe Guarani to bring home with me. read more

First time here for breakfast and I LOVE the bacon empanada. Breakfast empanada was a close 2nd. Also got the dulce de leche latte which was delightful - sweet but not too sweet compared to other lattes I've had recently. The people working at the front answered all my questions and brought everything out so quick. The place itself has a nice relaxing vibe- I just sat and read my book for an hour or so. It was also really clean- which I only noticed after seeing how quickly they cleaned up the tables. I never left a review for the lunch I had here the first time, but it was also very good. I'd recommend coming here for a nice breakfast/lunch- you can stay and enjoy OR get in and out very quick. Try out some of the menu items you might not recognize- I'm glad I did. read more

Cafe Guarani - Dulce de leche latte, breakfast empanada, and bacon empanada on a sparkly table! - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

So much potential but front staff (or possible owner) really needs to figure out some basic social skills. It wouldn't kill you to be welcoming and pleasant. After 2-3 visits, I will not be back. read more

Love the ambiance, especially the back garden. Even my husband loves the backyard's garden. They have the best empanadas I've ever had in my life. Service was perfect too. The only downside is the price a little expensive. read more

Cafe Guarani was a post-lunch dessert spot for my friends and it delivered on our quest for sweetness. We each got our own desserts that excited us and retreated to the back "secret garden" that was so cute. I got the lemon meringue tart and it was so good! Very lemony / acidic - with a nice flaky crust and torched meringue on top. I really loved the space and the service was really quick to get us our food! I'm looking forward to visiting Monterey again to be able to pick up some other desserts and try out the empanadas next time. read more

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Stumbled across this gem and ended up eating here three times in five days. The atmosphere is a vibe, the people working here are a vibe, and both the empanadas and spiced mocha were the best I've had in my life. And I'm almost 50. That's a lot of mochas and empanadas. The best part is the story of the place. We read it on their website while we were waiting for our coffees and it made the experience even more incredible. Big thanks to Cafe Guaraní for existing and making our few days in town that much better. read more

Cafe Guarani - Two spiced mochas, a chicken empanada, a brisket empanada, a guava medialuna and a guava cookie. - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Not the best experience. The coffee tasted bland, and the food was nothing special. The place felt a bit messy, and the service was slow and inattentive. Prices seemed too high for what you get. I probably wouldn't come back. read more

The food is excellent, the coffee is authentic, and the empanadas are delicious but unfortunately, I won't be coming back. The woman at the front, with curly hair and glasses, made me feel like I was inconveniencing her just by ordering, as if she were doing me a favor instead of providing service. I truly hope the owner sees this and considers retraining or rehiring staff to match the quality of the food. read more

Cafe Guarani - They suck! - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Such a cute and cozy little cafe in Monterey. Whether you're visiting or live around here, I would totally recommend trying this place out! The staff were very kind and got our orders out pretty quick. The ham and cheese empanada was crispy and warm, perfect for a little morning pick me up! Made me kind of want another one honestly. Also, I thought it was adorable how the sealing of the empanada says "Cafe Guarani!" Also, the pudding wasn't too sweet and pretty creamy and gluten free and vegan! I got the dulce de leche latte with oatmilk and it was wonderful! Theres also a tiny outdoor garden space to hangout and eat at as well. read more

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Lovely cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. I loved the outdoor seating in the "secret garden" with at the tables shaded by giant umbrellas. Sat outside for 1.5 hours enjoying a minced dulce de leche latte and chicken empanada with chimichurri. Simply delicious!!! Can't wait to return in the future! read more

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Service was sweet and the ambiance is really cute. The hidden garden in the back is amazing. They make everything to order and it takes quite a long time if they're busy. We didn't get much food but the coffee and chai were good. read more

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Awesome place. It was better than waiting an hour and a half for the Awakenings place next door. They really need more wait staff with some hustle or something. Had a nice Guatemalan Spiced Mocha (cool pattern on top looked too pretty to drink) with a delicious beef empanada. read more

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We were excited to check this case out bc the corn bread and empanadas looked delectable. However, we were disappointed by the price and taste. Each empanada is $10 and is the size of your palm. I got the beef brisket empanada and it was a little dry. The beef sope (corn bread) didn't have as much meat as we expected. And the beef croquettes didn't have as much meat or potato as I was expecting, it tasted like there was more bread inside. The highlights were the chimichurri sauce and the iced chai latte. The chimichurri sauce was fresh and paired really well with the foods, made them taste so much better. The chai latte with oat milk was delicious. Would definitely order it again for a morning pick me up. This cafe is super cute with fresh, real flowers at every table. The space was bright, quiet, and friendly when we arrived for breakfast. read more

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Food: 4.5 out of 5 They have outdone themselves with the chicken and beef empanadas. The filling itself was well seasoned and tender and the chimichurri sauce was the cherry on top. The crust was made perfectly to hold the delicious filling. Would love to try the other empanadas next time I run into them! Service: 5 out of 5 Friendly lady who assisted me at the farmer's market. Environment: N/A Overall: 4.75 out of 5 Always yes to these empanadas! If you can at least get a couple so you have a flight to try. read more

Cafe Guarani - Empanadas - Chicken & Beef - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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The best coffee i've had at any cafe in Monterey. The food selection is sparse so definitely not your "brunch spot" but with 10/10 recommend going here. The brisket empanada is just way above the rest in flavor, the bacon egg and cheese was fine but i wish i just got 2 brisket. The latte was the star. The pastry has coconut around it delicious but very sweet. Ambiance is great and has outdoor seating in the back if you are bringing your pet read more

Cafe Guarani - brisket and bacon empanada - Cafes Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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I take back my previous review. After my third visit, I will not be coming back. How sad that they ruin it for a potentially loyal customer. After calling YESTERDAY about when they make their monkey bread, the rude employee on the phone said "every morning"... so I say "awesome because I'd love to come by tmrw morning for some!" She didn't mention how it could take them an extra 30 mins after opening to actually have them. And so I show up when they open, and the monkey bread is from the day prior "it'll be another 30 mins for the fresh ones." Come on. Seriously, I literally planned my morning around this AND when out of my way to check in advance, so I'm not just some entitled customer. Seriously disingenuous and slightly deceitful. Why don't they care about their real customers? Ah... I asked a different dude - to his credit, was kind about it - and he said 30 mins to an HOUR. Okay. read more