I've eaten at Mercado's sister restaurant in Northridge quite a few times, and I was stoked to finally get to the mother ship. While the West Valley location is small and hushed, with dark woods and muted lighting, the OG Mercado is the exact opposite: big and bright, with a bustling edge in the air as the staff navigates between eat-in diners, people ordering take-out, and still others buying items from their meat, pastry, and cheese displays. Yes, it's a real market and restaurant in one, and the energy is palpable as you browse the large menu, knowing everything is going to be very fresh and cooked to order. It's always difficult to decide between a Choripan or Steak Milanesa sandwich, but today I opted for the Choripan -- and while I deleted the lettuce & tomato that's usually on top, I added grilled onions. As I waited, I was brought fresh-baked Argentine baguette, which was crusty on the outside and pillowy on the inside, with just a touch of chew. The bread is served, of course, with Chimichurri, but also a tomato & olive oil salsa of sorts that had a light and veggie-forward flavor that offered a nice contrast to the earthy, herbaceousness of the chimi. I've learned the hard way to no overindulge on the bread and sauces, so I pulled back after one piece -- and luckily, my sandwich arrived soon after. This is a hefty Choripan, demonstrably larger than what I've had at the sister location. A very plump, butterflied and charred Argentine sausage resting on more of that bangin' baguette (the chewy center offering solid support for the fillings), and a generous helping of grilled onions. There was a patina of "grease" on the sandwich, but that's not a bad thing -- this slight oiliness was packed with flavor, adding tremendous Argentine Umami to the meal. The sausage was meaty and dense, with just a bit of fat and a very nice punch of herbs and spices, leading to an enjoyably potent flavor very specifically South American. The onions were excellently prepared: grilled to a medium firmness, the chef bringing out the natural sweetness while retaining just enough of the original, onion bite to add extra layers of taste. As if that wasn't enough, the onions were clearly cooked in a bit of spice, which gave them an extra kick of heat that blended very nicely with the spiciness of the chimichurri. This is just an excellent sandwich. Service is friendly, the entire restaurant is spic & span clean (including the restrooms), and the crowd seems genuinely happy to be where they are, eating what they're eating. The meats, cheeses, pastries, breads and empanadas on display in the market areas all look top notch and very appealing. I'll be shopping here for things to make at home, and I'll be coming back for another dine-in meal very soon. If you haven't been, you should stop by to try it for yourself. It's just so, so good! read more

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If you are a Messi fan then his pictures are everywhere here. Argentinan restaurants are hard to find so thank you for serving the community. Story began with Paul Rodriguez serving meat at the small market. Business kept growing so they expanded to meat market/ bakery/sit down restaurant. Now there are 2 locations in the local area which is Van Nuys and Granda Hills. All I know is everything is good here and taste great. All made in house with so much love and made from scratch daily. They take the time to marinate and triple whip pasties. You can taste the difference. They must buy ingredients/ food from a high end distributor. You can do all your market shopping here, meats, spices, etc too. Market/restaurant (mercado) is your one stop shop for Argentina goods. Btw- there is vegan dishes/burger here too. Breakfast opens at 7:30am. They are a large kitchen inside. Pastries facturas are cute and deliciously fresh. I recommend 3 and coffee if you are on the run. If you have time choose some omelettes which are all under $15. I will need to try breakfast sandwiches one day. Lunch: Handmade empanadas if you are on the run. They are only $2.80 for baked or fried with meat inside. Chimichurri sauce with (crispy baked) bread is a must if you are dining in. Spices in the sauce is sooo amazing. Again I must try the lunch sandwiches one day. Dinner: I have tried spaghetti and steak which has all the right spices that does not resemble Italian. Sauce has a meaty beef stew thickness. I also like the steaks that are certified angus choice skirt steak, bone-in short rib flanks with homemade Argentine sausages. Buenos Aires burger is quite delish too unlike your normal American burger. It has chimichurri sauce inside. I must try the seafood soon because I see everyone else ordering it. Sugar time: Flan that is has vanilla custard with dulce de leche from Argentina. All desserts are good and I yes I have tried them all. Cakes super moist to flaky cakes and specials not on the menu. Improvements: alcoholic drinks would be so much more popular if they are perfect this department. It is def not my fav. I like a good mix from a bartender. The basic wine/beer is fine. Hidden gem with the friendliest staff. Muchas gracias Mercado Buenos Aires! read more

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Mercado Buenos Aires was a pleasant surprise and definitely lived up to the positive reviews. The restaurant is spacious, clean, and has plenty of seating, making it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal. My server, Luis, was outstanding throughout the visit... friendly, attentive, and always making sure I had everything I needed. His excellent service really elevated the overall experience. The highlight of my meal was easily the breakfast steak and eggs with potatoes. The steak was flavorful, prepped well, and paired perfectly with the eggs and crispy potatoes. The coffee was also very good and complemented the breakfast nicely. Before the meal, I was served a sweet bread with cream and berry topping, which was a nice touch and a tasty way to start. I also tried the skirt steak with a side salad on a different day. While the steak had some flavor, it was much heavier than expected, and unfortunately the same can be said of the side salad. The silver lining in this instance was the french baguette, which was fresh enough but nothing particularly memorable. As far as desserts, I had the tiramisu, and it was fantastic. It was light, creamy, and the perfect ending to the meal (steak and eggs). Even though not every dish was a home run. the phenomenal breakfast, excellent tiramisu, very good coffee, welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional service from Luis made this an easy place to recommend. I'll definitely be back, especially for breakfast. read more

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To no direct fault of management; this spot gets busy for lunch and available parking is scarce. Great spot for Argentinian food. One of the best entraņas in the valley. The beef stew was great; tender beef and good size chucks of veggies. The Chimichurri is great and went through two servings of it. The dining area is a decent size and overall lunch was great. It can get a bit loud inside since there is an active market with people purchasing goods as well. read more

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Espectacular! So glad we finally made it out. Fun, lively mercado environment serving up some of the best parrillas and empanadas in the valley at spectacular prices. Service by Argentinian staff was hospital and fast. Get a bottle of house Malbec for under $30 to go along with the grilled meats. Unbeatable experience for meat lovers. read more

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I met my friend Jessica today for lunch We shared a parilla Argentina which had 2 Argentinian chorizos, 2 skirt steaks, and 2 beef ribs It came with 2 sides : 1 French fries and 1 spring mix salad We always love it there! But I highly suggest you make a reservation on Open Table‼ read more

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It's been a year since I was last here. We made a reservation for 6pm Friday thinking it was going to be pretty busy. When we walked in, there were still plenty of open tables available. But halfway through our meal, it picked up quite fast and all the tables were basically utilized... Anyways, we checked in and got seated. Pretty much anywhere we wanted as it was still early. The last experience here, the service was great. This time, it was a bit slow at the beginning after being seated. It took a while till someone actually came over to check up on us and take our order. Once someone arrived, service was better. Paula/Poala was the sweetest. She took care of us that night. We started off with a bottle of the red blend which they ran out but she brought two others that were similar. The one we ended choosing was quite nice. Bold rich flavors that was perfect with dinner. I overheard that the bread and dips were only offered if you were having a meal. If you were just having empanadas or such, there's a fee for them. I don't know. The wine was good start though. From there, an order of the provoleta, Argentina style grilled provolone cheese. Thick cheese served hot in a skillet with tomatoes salsa. Perfect with the French bread that was brought out. Also, with the bread, both the chimichurri and tomatoes salsa were brought out. Cheese was quite nice but if it's sitting for a while, It does thicken up so i recommend having it asap when it's still hot. Entrees, an order of the Milanesa Napolitana. Thinly cut and breaded fried steak topped with ham, cheese and tomatoes sauce. And the Milanesa de Pollo Napolitana which is the same except with chicken. Both dishes was quite nice and served with a side which we choose the mashed potatoes. And lastly the Merluza Picatta, pan seared merluza fish topped with white wine caper cream sauce. Pretty much similar to chicken picatta. All three dishes were excellent but the sides of mashed potatoes were cold when they were brought out minutes later. Also, they forgot my ham and cheese empanada which I reminded them. To which they said that it was over there sitting. Basically forget about it. Again, when it was brought out, cold just like the mashed potatoes. Besides that, the entrees were great. Service was slow at the beginning but it did make up throughout dinner. Even the manger I believe, he came over to see if we enjoyed our meal. Also mentioned some wine that we should try next time as well as showed up some bottles. That was sweet. Not only the restaurant, they do have a nice butcher counter with fresh meat. A bakery with amazing pastries as well as frozen food for purchase. And the massive wine selection on display in the store section. Food was great, we enjoyed our meal. Parking is a tight squeeze in the lot if you're lucky but street parking is available. read more

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If you have not been to Argentina and wish to taste some of their foods, one of the eateries you should visit is Mercado Buenos Aires, in Van Nuys. The moment you walk in you are transported to another place. There are grocery items, a selection of wines (guess from where) and cases with baked goods which include pastries, cakes and then some of the well known Argentinian smaller bites. They include but are not limited to empanadas, spinach pie and their tea sandwiches with ham and cheese. There are also, freshly baked baguettes and other breads. The mood is definitely South American and so is the music, which is at a perfect decibel level, to make you enjoy it and not have to scream to talk. This place also has a sit down area, with tables and a menu where you can order more Argentinian delicacies. I came here for something small. Got three different empanadas, the beef, the chicken, and the spinach. Between the empanadas, my favorite was the chicken. It had a satisfying mix of spice and heat. The beef is also good but more milder in flavor. Both succulent and tasty. Also got a slice of the spinach pie. The service here is attentive, friendly, and swift. read more

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Honestly, I hope this place never blows up, but I'm not wanting to gate keep. Came here because I looked up best steaks in the area and my God when I tell you, the quality, the price of the service and the food itself cannot be beat anywhere near here. I absolutely mean it. It's basically a bakery and a meat counter and restaurant and bodega looking store all in one You definitely can tell the Argentinian heritage is strong at this place. There is nothing cozy and romantic and cute. This is a place where you come to to have amazing food at a great price. Started off with the provoleta and the empanadas. Empanadas were cooked beautifully and the seasoning for the beef was phenomenal. You can't really mess up cheese and onion or ham and cheese, but those were both phenomenal also. The melted provolone cheese with chunks of tomato was astonishing. For the entrées get this I got the fillet and you get 12 ounces which is 26 ounce cuts for 30 bucks. French fries come with it. Seasoned beautifully cooked exactly the way I wanted it. The pichana was also seasoned perfectly and cooked too perfect perfection. Again dinner for three people with appetizers and two of those being fillets came out to 120 bucks. Again you cannot beat that anywhere. read more

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This place has such a real authentic Argentinian vibe that every visit feels warm! They have so many Argentine products, amazing traditional desserts, and of course famous Argentine wine. But honestly, we keep coming back mainly for the meat. Their parrilla is LOVE. Perfect for sharing with 3-4 people, incredibly flavorful and always satisfying. And the desserts... they're so cozy and delicious, they honestly taste like something my grandma would bake for me :) Warm, homemade and impossible to resist. Another huge plus is the pricing, very reasonable for the quality and portions you get. The staff is always welcoming and attentive, which makes the whole experience even better. This place feels authentic in the best possible way. One of our absolute favorite spots whenever we're craving real Argentine food in LA. read more

Mercado Buenos Aires - Parrilla Argentina - Argentine Near Me - Van Nuys, California

If you're craving truly authentic empanadas, this place should be at the top of your list. The empanadas are perfectly buttery and flaky, and the fillings are incredibly flavorful. I ordered the beef empanadas with shoestring fries, and both were excellent. The dessert selection also looked amazing, I'm already planning to come back and try more of their fruit tarts. I had the strawberry fruit tart. Service was decent overall, though I would recommend a bit more attentiveness at checkout. Before looking up, the cashier spoke to me entirely in Spanish without attempting to switch to English, which may work for the area but still felt a bit impersonal. Despite that, I'll definitely be returning. The food speaks for itself. Parking: Very limited Indoor Dining: Bright, open, and vibrant atmosphere. Crowd: Busy (a good sign that the food is worth it). They offer a wide selection of desserts, a variety of empanadas, as well as pasta, sandwiches, and more. I will be back for more! read more

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Que rico!! If you know Argentine food this a great place to stop. The empanadas were Good but a little bland, some need salt while others needed just a little less sauce. The traditional milanesa was fantastic; the napolitana had what looked like cheddar cheese on it which is something I'm not used to. The merluza was excellent, light and breaded in more of flour base than bread crumbs or cornmeal. Their service was great, truly loved tha didn't rush us. We were there for about 3 hours. Each server was friendly and attentive to all the customers needs. It is truly a great spot and feels like a little Argentina between the decor and the products! read more

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Don't bother ordering by phone for pick up, they won't make your order. Unusually cheese empanadas are made to order, therefore I call ahead to avoid waiting. I've now called in an order three times and every single time they did not have it ready. read more

Food is alright, the coffee was good the service was good there's barely any parking this was ok but wasn't bad or good

Per Cindy S - "An Argentinian : cafe/deli/bakery/specialty-market" that I visited at 7:40 am. Opened in 1989 and has a sister in Granada Hills. I usually do stop by if I'm within several miles due to their quality coffee, pastries and steaks. Today coffee with some pastries. The coffee is ground fresh and is amazing and the pastries were still coming out from the back. I had a Medialunas which is a small buttery and sweet croissant and a Miguelitos which is a layered dulce de lech pastry. They also offer various breads, other delectable pastries, sandwiches, and all types of grilled steaks. Yerba mate are on the shelves in various packaging. Parking is easy in the early morning but difficult other times. Plenty of tables for dining and some counter seating. Probably one of the top 5 food places on the Valley to visit. read more

Mercado Buenos Aires - Argentine Near Me - Van Nuys, California

We haven't been here in several years, and very glad we came back. Interior is very clean, our server was friendly and prompt, and provided excellent service. We both order the Friday special which is a filet mignon in a delicious Malbec red wine sauce. We did not give a five star to this place, because, although everything else was very good, the filet mignon was not of a great cut as we had hoped. It was cooked medium instead of medium rare, and there were areas that were quite tough. All said, we were glad we came here and enjoyed our meal. We will definitely be coming back, as we enjoy ourselves. read more

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Don't go to watch World cup games. If you ended up outside, no food, no video with audio. They didnt even sell water. read more

Mercado Buenos Aires - No audio - Argentine Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Fantastic Argentinian restaurant --had beef, spinach, and chicken empanadas, Picanha, Caesar salad, and pasta. Everything was delicious. Atmosphere is low-key. Service was excellent. read more

It was my brother's birthday and he wanted flan. I searched Yelp and came upon a review of Mercado Buenos Aires that said it had great flan. When I arrived, the place had a casual vibe was packed with people eating and more waiting for take-out. This is always a good sign. The lady at the counter was helpful and brought me flan that just came out of the oven. The prices were reasonable and the flan was ...outstanding! We ate heartily and enjoyed the extra dulce on top. If you're craving desserts, look no further! read more

Everyone here was wonderful. I went to Argentina about 10 years ago and have missed all the food and wine there. This place is great because it's a restaurant, bakery, butcher, and grocery store all in one. One of the staff was very nice to help me pair a wine with the chorizo and pork belly I bought.and she gave me several options. I bought an assortment of alfajores and some sandwiches to go also. I can't wait to come back and try more of their menu. read more

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Amazing food at a very fair price. Chimichurri is top notch as well as their steak sandwiches. Empanadas are delicious too!

I ordered a Neapolitan beef (parmegiana) ... impossible to eat, I like sabao... horrible, it had never happened before read more

Mercado Buenos Aires - Cold and tasting like sabao - Argentine Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Charging $25 per person to be in your restaurant yesterday is wild. $25 just to stand IN there. Seats not guaranteed. Didn't mean you got a drink or ANYTHING. $25 per person just to stand inside. RIDICULOUS. read more

If you like garlic and chimichurri deliciousness, get yourself to Mercado Buenas Aires! We were seated right away. Our server was helpful. We split the Parilla Completa which comes with beef skirt steak, beef ribs, chicken, salad & fries. And I wanted to try the sausage so I added a chorizo Argentino. Bread and chimichurri sauce plus another salsa that might have been tomatoes & red peppers showed up on our table. The chimichurri sauce is SO GOOD! The skirt steak was excellent as was the super tender chicken. Even the fries were perfect! The ribs were ok. Afterwards we bought a jar of chimichurri sauce, a slice of cheesecake and a chocolate covered cookie thing. All yummy! We'll definitely return. read more

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The Angus beef and the short ribs, the chorizo and even the salad was delicious. Service was friendly, my only complaint. Is the parking, especially at peak hours. But definitely worth the waiting for a parking spot read more

Excellent service and very tasty food. Excelente servicio y la comida muy sabrosa , Las empanadas muy ricas. read more

Giovanni is an amazing manager--friendly, welcoming, and truly elevates the experience. The service is now excellent, and the food is consistently incredible. We stopped coming for a while due to past issues with rude service and management, but we're so glad we gave it another try. Everything is delicious--the meats, sandwiches, desserts, bread, and wine are all top-notch. Thank you for turning things around! read more

Mercado Buenos Aires - Milanesa De Carne - Argentine Near Me - Van Nuys, California

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Love love love Buenos Aires, every plate was delicious but the empanadas holy wow! Service is amazing

Food was good. The service was pretty good too although they were busy. I would definitely go again when in the area. read more

My favorite restaurant in the valley. Best picanha, entrada, and tomato salad. Chimichurri and the tomato sauce stuff is to die for. Ask for Paola the wonderful server. 5 read more

This place has good items in terms of groceries and imported products. The dine-in menu is good too. I don't think the food is out of this world, but it's good. The service is a bit slow to be honest. I would say this is more of a 3.5 star place but I'm rounding up. read more

I love that LA has every type of food at arms reach. I was craving Argentinian food and it did not disappoint. Fantastic jamón y queso white bread to go sandwiches.... However I don't know why you don't have chipas..... donde estas las chipas???? I miss them so much! Please add to the menu! Great empanadas tho read more

Mercado Buenos Aires - Cafe de capuchino y empanadas - Argentine Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Sad sad sad, what happened here? 3/4/26 2:45pm. This place is not the same, I don't see the same staff, Parrilla medium Rare comes burned, expired, tough meat, the service is poor except for a nice gentleman who asked how food was , but we had a girl that could absolutely care less being there, we complained about the some of the meat being burned and some gone bad , the manager is absolutely rude telling us that their Parrilla has been the same as always, bs I have been coming here often w family and he went to saw that "people say they've been coming for a thousand years, that is the argument" and never apologized. I will definitely complain to the Better Business Bureau and the California Department of Public Health, hope they change the staff and the Manager. read more

Mercado Buenos Aires - Burnt meat and tiny brown chorizo, one of the staff said that is def not and Argentinian chorizo - Argentine Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Been here several times and the food is always on point. The best chimichurri I've had. Everything is prepared fresh and the staff is always friendly and attentive. Murals and pictures of famous Argentinian sportsmen adorn the wall e.g. Messi. I know he played for the Spurs, but how 'bout showing Ginobili some love too. Football matches are broadcast and the crowd gets into it. You're in for a good time. Love this place! read more

Mercado Buenos Aires - Argentine Near Me - Van Nuys, California

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The staff is so nice, even on their busy days. The meat is so tasty and made well. They have a variety of options. Their parking lot is not big, so it's hard to find parking, but their restaurant inside is spacious and I've waited maybe 30 minutes max at a time for the food when I order to pick up. read more

Walking into this place was a tear jerking experience, making me think of home the food was absolutely incredible, and the experience of the parrilla was so special. The people serving went above and beyond to provide a good atmosphere. They even taught someone next to us how to pour mate properly. The desserts are incredible, the Mercado altogether was well worth the stop read more

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Great and family style place. Service most of time good. food is lovely and seems to be fresh. read more

Lorenzo is the man! I was on a 10 mile walk to pick up my car from the tow yard, and he hooked me up! Let me charge my phone! Got me some waters! Great guy! read more

This is a hidden gem in the San Fernando Valley. My wife and I stopped in for dinner and were very impressed not only with the quality of the meat, but also the portion size. The food was delicious and the chimichurri was very tasty. We were very impressed with the service and the atmosphere. We will definitely be back. read more

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The meal (Parrilla Completa) was excellent. Wonderful short rib flanks and skirt steak and juicy chicken breast (for two). The best part of the meal was our server Camila. She was so friendly and attentive. And she graciously listened to my husband's stories of Paraguay. A busy place, full of life even mid-afternoon on a Saturday. Definitely get the panqueques filled with rich dulce de leche! Thank you Camila for a lovely experience and birthday celebration. read more

Mercado Buenos Aires - Parrilla Completa - Argentine Near Me - Van Nuys, California