Open since March 2010, Cantina 18 is located in Raleigh's historic Cameron Village, just minutes away from downtown.
Chef-proprietor, Jason Smith relentlessly searches for the freshest seasonal ingredients from North Carolina farms and purveyors for his affordable take on on Southern-Tex cuisine.
Open for lunch, brunch and dinner, seven days a week, Cantina 18 offers a variety of dishes ranging from taco platters, nachos, sandwiches and seasonally inspired entrées.
A family-friendly neighborhood favorite, Cantina 18 provides great food, creative drink options, outdoor-patio seating and hospitable service... always at affordable prices.
For you private or business function, ask about our Private Dining Room
Starters
$6
Queso
$6
$9
Queso fundido
chorizo, grapefruit pineapple salsa
$9
$7.50
Cantina 18 guacamole
pico, cilantro. lime
$7.50
$9
Goat cheese guacamole
tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, black beans, cilantro
$9
$7.50
Pineapple habanero guacamole
Cantina 18 hot sauce
$7.50
$7
Chicken tortilla soup
avocado, hominy, crispy tortilla strips
$7
Nachos + Quesadillas
nachos topped with lettuce and sour cream / quesadillas served with Southwestern slaw
$11
Short rib nachos
corn, peppers, beans, goat cheese
$11
$9.50
Grilled chicken nachos
pickled chilies, pineapple, bbq sauce
$9.50
$9
Black bean & avocado nachos
cherry tomatoes, grilled corn, pepper jack cheese
$9
$9
Chicken quesadilla
white cheddar, sour cream
$9
$14
Chicken tinga quesadilla
charred red onion, topped with poblano crema
$14
$14
Chorizo quesadilla
pintos, smoked apple salsa, topped with chipotle crema
$14
$14
Short rib quesadilla
cheddar cheese, topped with avocado purée
$14
$10
Black bean quesadilla
spinach, pickled red onions, tomatillo relish, topped with cilantro crema
$10
Salads
$7.50
Sunny Creeks Farm lettuce
pickled peppers, apples, jicama, queso fresco
$7.50
$7.50
Romaine salad
black beans, grilled corn, tomatoes, cheese, crispy tortilla strips
$7.50
$5
+ chicken
$5
shrimp $7
ground beef $5
salmon* $6
steak* $7
Dressings
your choice
• cilantro-lime vinaigrette
• balsamic vinaigrette
• spicy buttermilk
Burritos
served with salad or Southwestern slaw
$11
Short rib
pickled onions & poblanos, cheese, rice & beans, chipotle crema
$11
$11
Pulled chicken tinga
chiles rajas, charred onions, rice, pintos, cheese, tomatillo relish
$11
$11
Carolina Classics fish
jicama radish slaw, rice, poblano crema, romaine
$11
$10
Vegetarian
rice & beans, spinach, jalapeno pico, chilies rajas, pickled corn, salsa verde
$10
Entrées
Fajitas for one or two
peppers & onions, sour cream, cheddar cheese, tortillas
chicken $14 / 23
steak $15 / 26
shrimp $15 / 25
short rib $15 / 25
$17.50 for 1 person
Choice of two fajitas
$17.50 for 1 person
$27.50 for 2 people
$27.50 for 2 people
Taco platters
served with a choice of black beans, verde rice, refried beans, or southwestern slaw. Substitute side salad for $2.50
Ground beef
black bean salsa, white cheddar, romaine
Grilled chicken
apples, cranberries, goat cheese
Blackened Carolina Classics fish
jicama radish slaw, salsa verde
Spicy braised short rib
pickled corn relish, chipotle crema
Crispy shrimp
spicy slaw, queso fresco, scallions avocado puree
Vegetarian
braised mushrooms, poblano, tomatoes, cilantro crema
Pork belly carnitas
smoked apple salsa, poblano crema
Duck confit
grapefruit & pineapple salsa, roasted poblano, chile balsamic vinaigrette
$7
One taco
$7
$11
Two tacos
$11
$13
Three tacos
$13
BEVERAGES / DAILY SPECIALS
$6.50
monday
house margarita
$6.50
$4
tuesday
all draft beer
$4
$9
wednesday
top-shelf margarita
$9
$3.25
thursday
mexican bottled beer
$3.25
$6.50
friday
glasses of sangria
$6.50
Cocktails
$8.50
/
$28
Skinny girl margarita
Blanco tequila, triple sec, fresh lime, agave nectar
$8.50
/
$28
$11
/
$38
Top shelf margarita
Tres Agaves blanco, Patron Citrónge, house-made sweet & sour
$11
/
$38
$8.50
/
$26
House margarita
Blanco tequila, triple sec, house-made sweet & sour
$8.50
/
$26
$9.50
Pineapple jalapeño margarita
Cuervo Silver, Patron Citrónge, citrus, jalapeño
$9.50
$8.50
Tequila mojito
Blanco tequila, mint, fresh lime, cilantro simple syrup
$8.50
$7.50
/
$22
Strawberry-vanilla bean sangria
Strawberries, vanilla bean, white wine, strawberry vodka, brandy
$7.50
/
$22
$7.50
/
$22
Blackberry Ginger sangria
blackberry, Canton ginger liqueur, white wine, Absolut, brandy
$7.50
/
$22
Tequila
Blanco (silver or plata)
$8
1800
$8
$9.50
avion
$9.50
$9.50
Cabo Wabo
$9.50
$8
Tres Agaves
$8
$8.50
Corazon
$8.50
$7
Cuervo
$7
$9.50
Don Julio
$9.50
$7
Espolon
$7
$9.50
Herradurra
$9.50
$7.00
Lunazul
$7.00
$8.50
Milagro
$8.50
$8.00
Sauza Hornitos
$8.00
Reposado (rested)
$9.50
Cabo Wabo
$9.50
$9.50
Corazon
$9.50
$9.50
Cuervo
$9.50
$9.50
Cazadores
$9.50
$10
Don Julio
$10
$9.50
Herradurra
$9.50
$7.00
El Jimador
$7.00
$7
Espolon
$7
$7.00
Lunazul
$7.00
$9.00
Milagro
$9.00
$10
Patron
$10
$8.00
Sauza Hornitos
$8.00
Anejo (aged)
$8.50
1800
$8.50
$9.50
Cabo Wabo
$9.50
$9.50
Cazadores
$9.50
$7.50
Lunazul
$7.50
$17.50
Don Julio 70
$17.50
$10.00
Herradurra
$10.00
additional $1.50
Make any tequila a margarita
Housemade sour mix, triple sec and orange juice
additional $1.50
Floats
$2
Gran Marnier
$2
$2
Pama liquer
$2
$2
Domaine de Canton ginger liquer
$2
Draft Beer
$5
/
$16
Pint / Pitcher
Seasonal brews my be subject to change or price
$5
/
$16
Dos Equis Amber
Negra Modelo
Pacifico
Fullsteam Paycheck Pilsner
White Street Kölsch
Crankarm Whitewall Wheat
Lonerider Shotgun Betty
Foothills Hoppyum
Red Oak Amber
Mother Earth Park Day Pilsner
RCB Hell Yes Ma'am
Mash House IPA
Bottled Beer
bottle
$4
Corona
$4
$4
Corona Light
$4
$3.50
Budweiser
$3.50
$4
Dos Equis Amber
$4
$4
Dos Equis Lager
$4
$3.50
Michelob Ultra
$3.50
$4
Modelo Especial
$4
$4
Negra Modelo
$4
$3.50
Miller Lite
$3.50
$4
Pacifico
$4
$4
Bohemia
$4
$4
El Presidente
$4
$3
Tecate (Can)
$3
$4
Bold Rock Apple Cider
$4
White Wine
$7
/
$24
Zenato pinot grigio (Italy)
$7
/
$24
$7
/
$24
Whitehaven sauvignon blanc (New Zeland)
$7
/
$24
$7
/
$26
Laguna chardonnay (California)
$7
/
$26
$9
/
$36
Falanghina chardonnay (Italy)
$9
/
$36
Red Wine
$7.50
/
$30
Meiomi pinot noir (California)
$7.50
/
$30
$7
/
$22
Arcangelo salice salentino (Italy)
$7
/
$22
$8
/
$24
Alta Vista malbec (Mendoza Argintina)
$8
/
$24
$7
/
$24
Canyon Road cabernet sauvignon (California)
$7
/
$24