Do not come on a wkend! Came on Sunday after 3pm to avoid crowds unsuccessfully. Parking sucks, you can find it. You just have to walk. If Trader Joe's is overstimulating..this is that on steroids...actively trying to avoid touching people because it's that crowded. It's like Disney but for a grocery store. The food here is good, but can be overpriced. Some people may have to fight for seating just after fighting for parking lol. There's a good sized seating area inside and even outside and a lil bit on the sides of the food stands and then a smaller patio in front of the market which is where I ended up b/c everywhere inside had someone at a table. I will say it looks like live mariachi on wkends? They were fantastic from what I saw and heard whilst waiting for food. I love they offer a pitcher for agua Fresca which the line can be long but goes fast. I love the banana leaf tamales, pricey. The ceviche is fresh and the pulpo (octopus) was satisfyingly soft. First time I came here was on a Monday? Around 10ish? And it was chill, still people but normal grocery amount like when you normally go shopping. It's worth a try at least once to see the hype, but best to come not on a wkend. read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Pulpo ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Checked this place out with 5 friends and we had a blast! It was like a fever dream. This place is so exciting it's like running around a Mexican Costco. Also love that the stalls all have an open kitchen concept and you get to see, and especially smell, a bunch of stuff made fresh! The workers are all very friendly and everyone seems in good spirits. Super lively and bustling atmosphere on Friday noon. Great place to grab a bunch of stuff and have some fun eats. The ceviche bar was my favorite. I also got to try the chicharron and guac combo and it was such a guilty indulgence. Habanero guac was not spicy at all, maybe I had a weird batch. $3 tamales were good! Tres Leches cake was OK. Street tacos are still superior to the tacos here, but the variety of things you can stuff your face with here is why this place is fun. Really need to go back for the grocery shopping aspect because the tortilla stall had the most exciting variety of handmade tortillas and I saw $2 strawberries! read more

See all

I love the many options of places to eat. I love the ambiance of the music and people hustling and bustling to get their food and/or groceries. The way they display their chiles is so enticing. Seeing them make the delicious fresh handmade tortillas and seeing the wall of bread and cakes is a win in my book. I was craving birria this time and when I saw beef ribs on the menu, I about lost my mind. I had to order it. The best part? I see everyone waiting off to the side once they order but not me. I get told to wait one minute at the register because they are going to hand me my food right then and there. I watched in awe as the lady went to the huge pot and pulled out my beef rib and handed it over with some fresh tortillas. The platter came with all the sides and I went straight to the tables to devour. Juicy tender fell off the bone deliciousness. 10/10!!! read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Beef Rib Birria - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Mercado González is a really fun spot--kind of like a modern Mexican food hall alongside a grocery store. Each little stand serves something different, so you've got options like tacos, street hot dogs, sushi, tamales, chicharrones, churros, popsicles, pastries, and aguas frescas. Prices were actually pretty reasonable considering how nice the place looks. We tried a mix of things--tacos, churros, tamales--and everything was solid. It's definitely a cool place to walk around and try different bites. Only downside is it gets really busy, especially on weekends. Parking and seating can be tough, but once you're inside, the atmosphere is lively and the food's worth it. Would totally come back to try the spots we missed. read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

After seeing this specific Gonzalez Market (Mercado Gonzalez) featured on Instagram, I knew we had to check it out, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. From the moment you walk in, the energy is high and the aromas are irresistible. Fresh, hot tortillas are being made right in front of you, if they handed them out at the door, no one would complain. The workers were all so friendly and inviting us to try samples, even when we said we tried it... they would push more! We made our way straight to the bar, because where else can you enjoy a drink while walking through a grocery store? It's a unique and unexpected experience that definitely encourages exploration, and a bit of spontaneous spending (like those $75 gold coins we didn't plan to buy!). The food offerings are impressive. The fish taco was a standout, and while we attempted to sample a little of everything, there's simply too much to take in on one visit. Fresh guacamole is made right in front of you, and the salsa bar offers samples to help you decide which heat/flavor you want to choose. Whether you're shopping for meats, snacks, or pan dulce (my son found a giant one for $5!), there's something for everyone. The liquor section is equally well-stocked and worth browsing. If you'd rather enjoy your food on-site, the outdoor patio is a great place to relax and soak up the sun. Overall, this location has taken an already well-loved market concept and elevated it. I'll definitely be returning, and next time, I'm coming even hungrier. Plan to spend at least an hour here...there's a lot to see, taste, and experience. read more

See all

A Fun Dinner at a Vietnamese Seafood Place I recently picked up some friends from John Wayne Airport who were in town to visit family. We decided to try out a Vietnamese seafood restaurant that we had heard great things about. I was really impressed with how fresh everything was! We ordered clams, oysters, and sea snails, and they were so good we ended up getting more. We started our meal with a mango salad, which was a mix of green mango, spices, onions, peppers, and fish sauce. It was super refreshing and a perfect start to the dinner. Everything we tried was well-made and full of flavor. I enjoyed it so much that I'm planning to bring my friends back in just a couple of days! If you're looking to try some delicious seafood, this place is definitely worth checking out. read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Lots of Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

One of my favorite places to shop. They truly have everything--restaurants, fresh produce, seafood, quality meats, fresh salsas, and so much more. It's a one-stop spot that never disappoints. read more

See all

STOP HIRING GRINGOS THAT DONT SPEAK A LICK Of SPANISH at the bar!!! My mom needed help in Spanish and this white boy at the bar looked at her with such disgust!!! Like then he said I'm sorry what did you say! Bro you literally work for a Mexican market....please northgate require a little Spanish for your employees!!!! Keep the culture and language clean! read more

What is going on?? I'm so sad to put three stars but I have to be as authentic as possible. There used to be more quality food! Now it's all for the "gram". Honestly, the three stars are for the wonderful employees and workers. Always kind and friendly; you can always count on Latino people for their warm hospitality for the most. The quality has gone exponentially down and prices have increased. I know times are tough but the quality has gone down. From the chicken tacos to the papa tacos. The food tastes very low quality now . And the drinks are unbearably sugary. Like come on! So many people have high sugar levels and these feel like they might put you on a diabetic coma. As a Mexican American who is well acquainted with authentic Mexican food from various states it feels a bit sacrilegious to eat low quality food. In terms of presentation, yes very cute and quaint. Awesome customer service. However I'm not too sure I'd like to come back for the food. The coffee is also underwhelming. read more

Mercado Gonzalez (Costa Mesa) is a unique, festive experience. It's not Disneyland, but the decor and energy is very reminiscent. Mexico-themed murals and decor proudly shine across the location as upbeat Mexican music rings. Mercado Gonzalez is a beautiful place. Tourists and locals are scattered across this tremendously humongous location. I arrived on Sunday (around 12:20PM). Some are buying freshly cooked churros. Others are purchasing groceries, piñatas, or pottery. Another group might be tasting free samples (ex: mango ice cream, bread pudding) before investigating the busy food hall filled with vendors (small businesses) selling tamales, tacos, juices, or other treats. However, the staff are the hidden heroes. Despite the large flow of customers and visitors, the location remains clean. It's very common to see workers maintaining the area from behind the scenes. Also, staff is very welcoming. While my family ate, a staff member (name tag said "Edith") checked to see if everything was going well. She then proceeded to check other visitors. Staff speaks English and Spanish, and you can hear many Spanish speaking visitors happily chatting. Unfortunately, Mercado Gonzalez's food vendors are hit-or-miss. Many are capitalizing on the festive, happy atmosphere. For example, the Agua Fresca (Juices) station felt like a tourist trap. Prices felt high like an amusement park food court at times. Thankfully, I appreciated the business that sold the churros inside Mercado Gonzalez. Tasty! Overall, Mercado Gonzalez is a unique, bright experience. If nearby, it's a must see. 4.5/5 read more

See all

Came with my girlfriend's meetup group for lunch. Large group, about 20 of us. The food court area was busy and crowded. Fortunately one of the members arrived early and saved us a large table when it opened up. Once we all arrived and met up at the table we started checking out the various food vendors. Everyone ordered whatever they wanted to eat and we waited for our food to be prepared. Great ambiance, there was live music and the singer took requests. One member made a request and ended up singing a partial duet with the singer. Good food, reasonable prices, and great atmosphere. read more

Live up to the hype for sure. Interesting set up, more of multi-food stall market than a traditional grocery store. What amazed me the most is Chicharron!!! OMG, it's crispy, it's fatty yet melt in your mouth. Honestly, maybe I never had a really good Chicharron., but the one piece they gave to me is the best I ever had! The churro from El Moro was the reason we went, the Chicharron will be the reason I go next time. Already plan to go back, and we live in Rancho LOL.... read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Chicharron and store guac!!!! So good. - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ugh, I was so excited for Mercado Gonzalez but it was such a let down. I'm not sure exactly who this grocery store / food hall is for but the food was so expensive and not really that good. The bread, in particular, was just kind of...soulless? Like nothing about it gave off authentic panadería vibes, it tasted very mass produced. I will say that the store is very well stocked and organized. In addition to all you regular groceries you can also get lots of Mexican treats and goodies here which is nice. I'm not sure I'll be back anytime soon. The highlight for me was El Moro Churrería which I'll review separately. read more

See all

Got off the freeway to make special trip here. One stop shopping for ready to eat freshly made Mexican food. Lots of parking. There are a lot of vendors under this one roof. You can buy produce and grocery shop for the week and also pick up tons of ready made Mexican foods, drinks. I bought enough fresh tamales gift to a friend and to have some for the rest of the week. Instead of bring a six pack of beer, I bought a six pack of tamales to a party. They have a variety of choices to choose from the traditional savory to sweet corn tamales. We also purchased the container of fresh guacamole, and purchased some fresh tortilla chips. We also got big containers of agua frescas. They have fresh Chicharrones too! They have tones of tables so you can buy your food and eat it on the food court. When we came they also had a band playing to entertain you while you enjoy your food. When I come here, I always leave happy. read more

Had to add another review for Mercado Gonzalez! Great place to visit anytime to eat! We enjoyed ceviche, beef birria, tamales, and churros! Service at all locations was great ! Perfect place to prep the Day of the Dead celebrations. Amazing vibe throughout the store - great Dia de los Muertos decorations! Check it out before the season ends! read more

See all

the vibes are immaculate here. its so lively and i loved looking around. at every corner there was always something happening! this is one of the only spots in socal that im aware of that has inca kola. im very glad we went out of our way to get it here. the worker stationed at the self-checkout was very quick to assist us. would love to stop by again! read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Came here Sunday afternoon to grab some drinks and food with friends! It was my first time coming here and it's not a regular North Gate there's live music and multiple food stalls ! We got our food pretty quickly. They have outside seating as well with some TVs playing football games. There is so much going on here I felt a little overwhelmed ! But it's really fun. Our torta bread was really hard though and the food was just okay. Our drinks were really good though. Parking was horrifying though we had to park all the way by the Home Depot read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Food - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

This place is all kind of awesome. It's huge, the size of multiple supermarkets with everything you can think of in the food chain from farm to table. The market has an open lay out, well lit with several area and stations based on food categories. There is fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables produce, a wide variety of meat cuts from local butchers, available to take home or cooked to your liking. Fresh pastries, bottled spirits, beer and wine, tortillas tamales and tacos made on the spot. All of the vendors are helpful and provide samples. There is plenty of free parking, inside and outside seating and bar tables. This is a place I will continue to visit when in the area. read more

See all

An incredible grocery store with tons of space for kitchen supplies like traditional Mexican pots, grills, and mortar and pestles! They have everything you need from fresh produce to tabletop essentials. The quality of the produce here is unmatched, especially when you factor in the price. The tomatoes and peppers are absolutely beautiful and much cheaper than your typical American chain grocery store. The butcher also has a great selection of meats, marinated and un-marinated. The fish monger is just as good! There is an endless selection of spices and dried staples, and with the staples you also have the option to buy in bulk! Typically when I visit, I get something to eat in the food court, buy groceries, shop at the bakery, and if I deserve a treat, I get a churro, too :) read more

See all

Northgate is not your average grocery store, it's a party in a market. Our first stop was the churro stand right at the entrance. Fresh, warm, golden churros that basically begged to be dipped into caramel, chocolate, and condensed milk. We gave in. Zero shame, zero regrets....pure joy in fried dough form. Then the real adventure began. Inside this place, you've got over 20 food stalls in their food court to choose from. Pizza, seafood, birria, ceviche, you name it. We went straight for the street tacos, obviously. Delicious. We then followed up with a michelada and margarita from the bar (yes, still inside the store). Whoever designed this setup deserves a raise. Once we'd stuffed ourselves, we did the sensible thing: grabbed a cart and actually did our grocery shopping. Tip: shopping is way more fun after tacos and margaritas Parking was easy. This Northgate has turned grocery shopping into a fiesta. If you're looking for errands that don't feel like a chore, this is your spot. read more

I'm soooo sad that I found this place RIGHT before we left to move to Texas. We went on Sunday about 10am, which was perfect, crowd wise. I went the Friday night before & was overwhelmed by all the people. I bought some ceviche, some pollo asada, churros, & Mexican hot chocolate. ALLLLL of it was amazing !! I wish we had a place like this near Dallas TX! read more

Mercado Gonzalez feels like a Mexican version of Eataly, and I mean that in the best way. It's a full market experience all in one place: groceries, a butcher shop, a bakery, and multiple food stalls covering different styles of Mexican cuisine. You can wander, try a few things, and easily turn it into a full meal. Food-wise, the Mexican sushi, tacos, and mango ceviche were all highlights. Each stall feels focused on doing its thing well rather than trying to be everything at once. On certain nights they even have live mariachi, which adds to the atmosphere without feeling forced. The butcher shop is excellent, with high-quality cuts, and the bakery is a must, easily some of the best Mexican pastries around. This is the kind of place you can visit for a quick bite or spend an hour exploring. A really impressive spot that brings a lot under one roof and does it right. read more

See all

Love love love this spot! There are so many vendors inside and everyone here is SO nice :) From food, to drinks, to dessert, and even live music - they have it all! This is a great spot to come walk around, eat, hang out, shop...there's so much to do and all the food is amazing. Highly recommend! read more

On a Saturday morning at 10am in early August, my brother found a close parking spot. Since we were in the area. We decided to get a fresh churro, buy Mexican bread, and fresh tortillas. My sister lined up to buy churro while I went to buy bread with sugar cubes on bread and bread rolls. They were fresh and so I bought a few. Next, I wandered to the fruit and veggies and bought fresh guacamole and watching the lady make it at the stand. Then I continued to look at fresh tortillas area and look at food hall. It was hard to decide what to buy at ready prepare food section. Nice ambiance of Mexican music playing in the background. The self checkout line was short and I had to scanned my receipt before we could leave. read more

See all

What a super cool place. We were new to the area so we truly didn't know what to expect but will definitely go back. For one, the grocery options are extensive and super cheap. There are some free options throughout which is always a huge plus. And they have such a great variety. But before you get groceries you have to try one of the many stalls for lunch. The outdoor seating area is so quaint and well-maintained I was surprised it was essentially free regardless of whether you even bought anything. We enjoyed a lot of the food we got at the stalls and the lines move pretty quickly, so you can do that and grocery shop fairly efficiently. read more

I was a little disappointed, I expected the food to be better. If u hate crowds, do not go on the weekends....way too crowded for my taste. Overall it was a good experience, but don't see myself returning. read more

I have heard so much about this place and couldn't wait to check it out. We finally went last weekend. There are many food vendors, as well as a tortilleria, a bakery, floral shop, regular groceries, pottery, shoes, etc. There are lots of places to sit, both inside and outside. We went on a Sunday around lunch time. I was expecting it to be more crowded so I was pleasantly surprised. My husband got carne asada tacos, and I got a fish taco and a tamale. We had fun walking around checking everything out. read more

See all

I had heard so much about this market from tik tok, so I was excited to check it out. The food hall was amazing, and the staff were really friendly. There were plenty of samples to try, which was AWESOME! My favorite was the huge chicharron paired with fresh guacamole. The chicharron is sold by the pound, and the guacamole is made fresh daily. We ended up sitting outside, and it was perfect--soaking up the sun and enjoying the refreshing winter breeze. read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is like the Disneyland of Mexican markets. There's so much to see and experience. The store is clean, modern and full of bright colors and lots of delicious food. I usually enter through the left side by El Moro and have to stop to get churros if the line isn't bad. They're made fresh to order and so good. The bag of 4 ($9) is perfect because they're thinner than your typical churro and you'll want more than one. I also recommend the caramel sauce ($1), but not so much the chocolate. After you get past the churros, there's a large bakery section with cases of Mexican sweet breads and cakes. Further inside there are sections for fresh salsas and guacamole, marinated meats, ceviche, produce, cheese and even a whole area for Mexican candy. They literally have everything you could want. One of my favorite sections is the freshly made tortillas. They have flour and corn tortillas available in sizes for street tacos to burritos. You can watch them making the tortillas and they often hand out samples. Nothing beats warm, fresh tortillas. People don't come here just to shop for groceries, but also for the food court. They have stations for things like taco plates, tamales, paletas, agua frescas and more. The tamales are great and so are the rice and beans. There's no other market like this in OC. The workers could be a bit friendlier and more helpful given the type of place they're trying to be. But regardless, if you enjoy Mexican food, you should visit (Just not on the weekend if you want to avoid the crowds). read more

See all

Here is where you will find a smorgasbord of salty and sweet. I love that the second you walk in here you see every nationality. Everyone is smiling with hungry eyes as they scan every booth filled with cheeses, drinks, sweet treats, tacos, burritos, muletas etc. It's an experience to just step inside and bask in the happy atmosphere. I love that the employees give samples ie) their corn bread, fresh, warm tortillas. The employees look genuinely happy, and we came during live music night which was a treat because it felt like we had front row seats to a concert. The tacos of asada and al pastor, burrito of lengua was so affordable and delish. The al pastor meat was just a little tough to chew. Overall the prices are reasonable. The agua Fresca is a hot spot as everyone wants to sample as much as they can and for $8 or less you can get a 24 oz of whatever your heart desires. We chose pineapple and loved the small chunks of pineapple in it. We had to end the night with fresh paletas that didn't disappoint. I loved how at the end of my coconut paleta there were chunks of fresh coco shavings that burst with flavor/chewiness. We've had their pan dulce here and it's of course super soft, and has such an eclectic mix that you wind up ordering 1 box full or more Make it a family night, date night, a I'm just hungry for some bomb food night, you won't regret it. read more

See all

Come during the day during lunch and it'll be the best time especially on the weekday (don't have to fight for parking). I tried guac, tortilla chips, salsa, cheese, even a cut of a cheese covered burrito. Majority of the stands can offer samples and are nice about it if it isn't busy They have a good variety especially if you need anything specifically from Mexico ( seasonings/ candy), but expect the groceries to be pricier. For example the ceviche at other northgates may be 8.99 and its around 12 here. But they are very good about allowing you to order smaller portions. Sometimes staples are cheap like jalapeños were $0.69 a pound and everything looks fresh. I loovee the oxaca cheese (8.99), which again pricy bit everything is fresh and good quality. Mango cups are around 6.99, they also have meats already cooked for like $20-30/lb and premarinated for $20 a package. One of the best things here is the tortillas are made fresh. A pack of corn tortillas is like $4, but if you live alone, the masa dough is only $1.50/lb and makes a looot ( I got 2lb but only needed 1). They also have a guac station, i tried the habanero and it was spicy, the jalapeño was not and chunkier so they were a good mix together. Also have agua fresca Station and a huge wall of Mexican sodas. There's seating in the food court immersed inside, it can just get busy/filled. I passed by the flowers and was surprised at how fresh they looked for a decent price and they were quite pretty for grocery store flowers. Checkout is super easy, the lanes are divided by a single line and number of checkout is called which can make the space a bit tight, but self checkout is very open. Theres security and a good variety of staff. Im impressed that despite past grand opening for quite a while now the market seems to still stay on top of it. Overall, I'd recommend this place as a nicer looker fresh market and suitable for smaller parties looking to diy their taco night with quality ingredients. read more

See all

Wow. This is crazy cool if you love Mexican food. Multiple areas making their own special specialties. Fresh tortillas being made as you watch, chilies are roasting, meat grilling. Cold beer and alcohol too. You can eat indoors or outdoors. It's loud, full of people, busy and you will love it too. read more

I love this people, culture, music and art...We walked through all positive vibes mercado is all about colors, happy faces, friendly people, great tacos, tamales, ceviche and what else you can count on! They have selection of great food, fresh fish, chicken meat, veggies, fruits and etc. if you want buy souvenirs this is place to be! You don't need make your luggage heavy and you can buy whatever you liked there here! Its reasonably priced and in my opinion, some items are even cheaper! You can find what you come for! All great, quality Latino products that you cant find in the other stores you can find here! Great spices from All over central America to. This is my place to go from now on! Best music and great dance! We had a real fun! read more

See all

+ Bustling Mexican supermarket + dining hall. + Restrooms w/ paper towels & water fountain in the rear right-side corner of the dining hall. + Wide selection of Mexican food to choose from. . Decent amount of indoor seating, though this place is often very crowded. + Ample parking. + Boisterous ambience. read more

I came by after going to the OC winter fest before Christmas. I am very glad that I did not eat earlier. This market has a huge food court. We ate birria tacos and seafood shrimp cocktail. Food was leading more on the spice side, However, they tasted pretty good! It was pretty crowded probably due to Christmas shopping. The groceries look very fresh! There was a huge spice section and they decorated like store in Mexico. I was having so much fun walking around the grocery store. Prices of the product was recent able. read more

See all

This is what I imagine a Mexican whole foods would be like. It's so big and clean. The hot food is fresh and delicious. Best churros of my life outside of Mexico. read more

See all

Aguachiles suck now they don't sell per pound and just give you soup. And my Lord was a lady so rude. read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My girlfriend and I were in the area and somebody recommended we check this place out. We had seen it previously and did not think much of it because there is a Northgate in San Diego. We were blown away when we walked in and this is not your average North Gate. There is soo much food, deserts, and beverages to try here. Customer service at every station we visited was 10/10. We got the pozole 10/10. Tamales 10/10. Mangonada 10/10. We will be back to try more. This place is unreal. Must try it. There is alot of seating. It's clean. Overall great experience. read more

Mercado Gonzalez - Verde pozole - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Review is for los mesquites asados. I really wanted to like this place, but the experience was disappointing from start to finish. After ordering, it took nearly an hour for our food to come out, and during that time the staff seemed completely unattentive and showed little sense of urgency. At one point, a cashier looked directly at the long line of waiting customers, took off her apron, and walked away -- which pretty much summed up the lack of management presence. We ordered the "La Familia" platter, advertised as serving 3-4 people, but the portions were shockingly small. There were only enough tortillas for about one and a half tacos per person, and the chorizo looked roughly hacked up rather than properly prepared. For $50, the value just wasn't there. To make matters worse, we went back to ask for extra onions and cilantro just to add some substance to the meal, and that took another 15 minutes. Between the long wait, misleading platter size, and overall disorganization, the experience felt borderline like false advertising. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this restaurant based on this visit. I hope they improve their portion accuracy, staffing, and overall service because right now it falls far short of expectations. read more

Wow what a cool experience! Ended up here on a random Saturday afternoon because we were craving a sweet treat and my husband loves churros which led us to try El Moro Churrería. One step inside this massive market and we knew we had to check it out and explore every corner. It's the most warm and inviting place, designed with bright colorful artwork and great music playing throughout. It's also kept very clean and organized. We spent nearly 3 hours checking out every section, from cowboy hats and handmade leather sandals, to Mexican candy, artisan soaps and candles, paletas and ice cream, an Aguas Frescas bar, and a wide variety of food court-style restaurants. After picking up some produce, snacks, and a few baked goods from the Pastelaría, we discovered the full bar and patio and decided it was time to treat ourselves with a couple of margaritas from the bar. Who knew grocery shopping could be so fun? (Pro tip: Their carts have cupholders, so you can get your margs or cocktail first and then roam around and do your shopping.) I highly recommend checking out this market... but make sure to allow yourself some extra time to wander around if it's your first time. read more

See all