My family and I stopped by Mercado for Happy Hour last week. It was my mom's second time going to the Happy Hour that same week. She really loved the guacamole, the pork tacos, and the fish tacos. We also ordered the ceviche, but the standouts were definitely the tacos and the guacamole. Highly recommend the happy hour and grabbing a seat outdoors or inside to watch any games going on! The service was fantastic - they took our order and almost immediately delivered the food after. They also checked in multiple times with us - if the food didn't come out right after, they went to go check on it for us. Great place - we'll be back! read more

Parking wasn't the easiest but manageable. The hostess status quickly, the server was very courteous and helpful with suggestions. The drinks were pretty good as so was the food. We were sat on the outside patio as they were fairly busy, it was a bit noisy as we were streetside. I would definitely skip this location. read more

The service was attentive and friendly throughout the meal, and the restaurant itself was nice. My only minor complaint is that the dining room is really dark. Mole Chicken Enchiladas 9/10 - Easily the best mole enchiladas I've ever had. The mole sauce had a rich chocolatey sweetness that paired perfectly with the savory chicken. Every bite felt well-balanced, and the combination of the enchiladas, beans, and mole came together beautifully. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Enchiladas de Pollo en Mole Oaxaqueño - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My first time and it was lovely! We sat outside on a Sunday evening for dinner with a party of 6. Gianni was our server and he was very kind, helpful, patient and accommodating. The chicken enchiladas were delicious, light and the green sauce was YUM!!! The guacamole was amazing. The queso was really good, very tasty. They told us they didn't have any churros BUT they did have churro ice cream so it happened to be around the time of preparing them so they served us churros anyways!!! Gianni was soooo nice. Bathroom was clean and large. Parking is a lot... around the streets or in the parking lot in the back. read more

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Food is really well made. I was in a rush and ordered the tacos de pescado and had some guac & chips. The tacos were so flavorful, a generous amount fish with the sauce & slaw having just the right amount of crunch and creaminess. Flour tortilla is also quite thin making it quite a light but satisfying meal. Other restaurants often smother the fish in heavy sauce but Mercado strikes the balance just right. Their chips & guac were amazing! Both were freshly made (chips were still warm). Price is reasonable for the quality you get. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Tacos de Pescado - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Stopped at this beautiful spot from a recommendation. Theres street parking. I had the grapefruit margarita which was good, very refreshing... as you can see in the picture I devoured the tropical ceviche before taking the picture. I highly recommend it. Fish tacos were light and had the right amount of crisp. The shrimp were in a delicious buttery sauce. I wasn't the biggest fan of the rice. It came with a what I describes the succotash vegetable melody.. The bread that came with it was divine. I think it was a focaccia crispy on the top lighting area on the inside with maybe a garlic butter finish. Service was fast and efficient. I don't come out to Pasadena often but I hear there's another location closer to my home.. I'll have to check that one out too. read more

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Always a Five Star experience here. You have to love how they consistently offer creative specials. Of course the food is always fresh and great tasting. Today our server suggested a beef rib special (bar b cued). Wow. So amazing a tasty. I do hope that this becomes a staple! To me Mercado is such a Pasadena treasure and a fantastic place to get " upscale " Mexican dishes and smooth cocktails. read more

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My friend and I came here to have dinner. We got the guac, tacos, and carnitas plate. The guac was great and the chips were freshly made! However, the carnitas were overly salty luckily the cauliflower , salsa, and guac helped lessen the salty taste. The food overall was ok. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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First time here. Wasn't sure what to order as many dishes have mixed reviews on the app. I had the camerones al jillo. It was pretty tasty... but the highlight of that dish wA the ciabatta bread I have never tasted ciabatta like that. It was a piece of heaven. The person I was with had the enchiladas and he said they were great as well. Got a watermelon margarita, was not impressed at all. Our server was great. Parking was around the back and I do t know the area well so I was quite confused but it worked out. Paid $11 for 3hrs. Would return. read more

This was our 2nd time here, and would come back again and again. The Chef was greeting tables and the staff was constantly checking in. The food was delicious read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Taco de Papa - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I was in Pasadena for an event and was looking for something to eat close to my hotel and I stumbled upon this restaurant. We sat at the bar, the restaurant wasn't busy at the time we went in. So it was nice and quiet and we had good service. The bar is small and cute, they do have seating outside and inside. It's not a super big place. I liked how attentive the bartender was. The food was delicious, my mom cleaned her whole plate and said it was the best chile relleno she's ever had. I enjoyed my enchiladas and my margaritas. It is a more high end place with some traditional Mexican cuisine and style. I loved the flavors, I loved how they press fresh fruits to make their cocktails. The bartender did say they have happy hour Friday evening if we wanted to come back. I would've loved to, maybe next time we come into town we'll stop in. Thank you for having great food, and service. read more

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This place has good food and great drinks. We've been here before as we waited for our sugar fish table and their bar service was great. This time we decided to eat a full meal here, and we were pleasantly surprised with their options. They offered a pre fix menu with chips and guac, tacos and dessert, so one of us ordered the filet mignon and the other ordered from their main menu a Chile relleno. The guac appetizer was very small and you can't customize it, the taco meat was tasty and well seasoned. The chile relleno sat in a bed of green salsa with corn an other vegetables which was different and it gave this dish a different taste. Will definitely come back and try other options from their main menu. read more

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I loved Mercado! We had a group of 20 last minute for a lunch meeting, and they were not only able to accommodate, but also provided the best service! We had a fixed menu (because of our party size) that included appetizer, entree, and dessert. The guac, chips, and salsa was great, but the fish tacos I had were amazing!! A little spicy, a ton of flavor. We had flan and tres leche for dessert. Absolutely delicious and I look forward to trying more menu items on another trip. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

A little pricey, but it's well worth it! Came here with baby and my parents on a saturday and was surprising to find that they weren't all that busy. Their patio is nestled in a small little mall complex, and therefore is a bit more quiet and relaxing than the bustling Lake Ave in Pasadena. We went on a perfect weather day, and most people opted to sit outside instead of inside the store. We sat inside since we had a sleeping baby in a stroller, and was surprised to find there are a few others doing the same with a stroller also! Plenty of space for all of us too. Between the 3 adults, we had ordered 2 main dishes and 1 ceviche to share. It was the perfect amount of food and I'm glad we weren't overzealous and ordered 3 mains as it would've been too much. We got a mole enchilada, ceviche tropical, and the carnitas chilaquiles. everything tasted amazing and it was the perfect dish to introduce my parents to the unique mole flavor. staff members were very friendly and super accommodating, glad we ventured out to Mercado! read more

Everytime I come we at least get the pulpo dish & mushroom choruses! Definitely my favorite menu items. On this occcasion we got the plater and added the pulpo and this can definitely feed at least 4 -5people. The menu states it's for 2-3 but honestly it can feed much more. Totally worth it! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - platter - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We had an amazing dinner with our daughter. Melissa was our waitress and she was very nice and efficient and professional. Location is great and we love sitting outside in the patio. Food was absolutely delicious & fresh my had the filet mignon taco omg it melts in your mouth and I had swordfish tacos and my husband had shrimp tacos read more

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Love their fish tacos and the best guacamole ever! Their ceviche verde is on point! Also best blackberry lime mojito mocktails around! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is a must try off of lake in Pasadena. Reliably good food every time I have been here. Chips and salsa with WARM chips. A to die for pork tomahawk. Amazing happy hour and I highly recommend the dos gringos. Every detail of that dish is made with thought and precision down to the proportions given and the wonderful crisp on the tortilla. Amazing deal! Be careful when ordering sparkling water because they'll bring you an overpriced bottle of sparkling water instead of just their fountain soda water without asking for clarification. I've made that mistake a couple times. Otherwise, I highly recommend Mercado; you can't really go wrong. read more

I ordered the enchiladas and elote. The enchiladas and corn were ok, not anything mind blowing. The flavors were a bit light and could've used a bit more seasoning. The corn was a bit overcooked as the kernels were a bit difficult to chew and weren't juicy. They are a bit overpriced and if you're looking to splurge on mediocre food, I would say this is the place to. Service on the other hand, was excellent. The servers were kind and attentive. The restaurant had a lounge/night bar vibe to it. There is indoor and outdoor seating. You can find paid street parking, park in a paid lot for $5, or if you drive a little further up you can find free street parking. I don't think I would come back here for overpriced Mexican food. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Elote - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Delicious Mexican restaurant in Pasadena! We went here aiming for a quick light lunch, eyeing the lunch prie fixe menu 3 courses at a good price of $24. You may wonder why such a low rating? Unwritten enforcement of minimum spend. We got the lunch prie fixe with the chips with salsa and guacamole, carnitas sandwich, and churros ice cream and a side of calabacitas (zucchini, grilled vegetables). The chips is double baked / fried and incredibly crispy, with good guacamole and decent salsa. The carnitas sandwich is okay - the carnitas is on the sweeter side and a little dry but the overall ingredients combined made the sandwich satisfying. The churros ice cream is mostly the flavor and is quite true to the real deal. The grilled vegetables were good. It was too much food for what we aim when we have dinner in 3 hours for the sake of trying as many places as we can and support as many local businesses while at it. I took 3 stars off because we placed the prie fixe order telling the server we will share the 3 course which he went ahead to put the order to the kitchen. 10 minutes later maybe the manager came to the table and said we can't do that and we were forced to order an additional item to serve us. He made wild claims saying California burrito or a bowl is pretty small - no, one of these is like a meal for most people. I have a feeling he'd rather sacrifice a good tip to extract and pinch out as much money from customers by enforcing a minimum order requirement? Additional time and unnecessary money and food wasted for something that was not written. I understand if the prie fixe or menu mention this rule, but it felt out of the blue. read more

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Great bar to hang out while waiting for a table at Uovo. Bartender was friendly. Chips & Salsa guac yum! Drinks were good. Great atmosphere. Chill vibes. read more

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The service and servers were top tier. Our server was friendly and checked up on us frequently. The food was brought out timely. No complaints on the service. The ambiance was cozy and modern. We really appreciated the art work. It made of ammunition shells. Definitely, go take a look on your way to the bathroom. The bathroom wallpaper is gorgeous. Then, we get to the food/drinks. This is where I would say the 3 stars comes from. We went for happy hour and ordered the carnitas tacos, green ceviche, and the gueritas, we had the pomegranate margaritas. The carnitas tacos had a thicker tortilla and were a bit salty. I asked for something spicy, and received the Brava salsa. It is not spicy. I would say it's a sweeter Chipotle flavor. Then, they brought a hanero salsa, but it has a very noticeable dairy flavor that was not to my liking. The green ceviche is not ceviche. It is agauchiles. The gueritas were really good, so if I were to return I would have those again. Drinks were decent. Flan was very sweet and it's paired with a sauce that reminds me of rompope. read more

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Nice date night spot! We came here to use our credit card dining credit and were pleasantly surprised by the ambiance. The restaurant offers a cozy mix of indoor booth seating and an outdoor patio, complete with overhead heat lamps that kept it cozy on the rainy evening that we went. We ordered the following: - Guacamole & Chips - 5/5 - Dos Gringas Tacos (al pastor, oaxaca cheese, red onions, cilantro, salsa) - 4.5/5 - Pescado Tacos (white fish, mexican slaw, pico, lime crema) - 4/5 - Calabacitas (zucchini, onions, tomatoes, grilled sweet corn) - 3.5/5 - Enchiladas de Pollo en Mole Oaxaqueño - 3/5 The guacamole was really well done - it was fresh and thoughtfully prepared with cilantro, red onion, tomatoes, and pine nuts. We enjoyed the tacos as well. The zucchini was decent but wasn't anything special. I wasn't really a fan of the mole enchiladas. The shredded chicken was a bit dry and the mole lacked the deep, complex, nutty richness that I am used to. Though if I didn't just go to Oaxaca last year, I probably wouldn't know the difference. Overall, charming spot. As it's a bit pricey, I would probably only come back for their happy hour next time which runs Mon-Thur 4-6:30pm and Fri-Sun 4-6pm. read more

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First time eating here and wow! The food was great! I order Dos Gringas, the tacos had great taste. The food presentation was great and the ambient was also good, very clean. The service was great too, no complain. Edit: What the heck! 3 percent surcharge? I don't support locations like this. read more

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The food was good but it's not cheap. I paid about $19 for TWO skimpy but well presented tacos and it didn't include anything else. We had four orders of these tacos, two appetizers, a side order of rice/beans, and three beers: $184 after tip and taxes. Afterwards we walked a few stores up and shared two donuts (Randy's?) at a much more reasonable price. They had the imitation Lad Na's donuts that you can only get at Universal Studios. Those were fun. read more

The food was excellent. Pricey. Service was good. Only complaint is waited an hour to be seated (Monday). Word of advice, make a reservation. Beautiful restaurant. Loved the trendy lamps and the Mexican Dia De Los Muertos art. Nice bar and delicious cocktails. I would return again. read more

After dining regularly at their Hollywood location, I think the Pasadena one has become my new favorite. Our server recommended the Pescado Zarandeado (branzino), and it was absolutely outstanding. The homemade tortillas were a perfect addition, and the service was attentive from start to finish. The portion was generous, definitely enough for two to share or to enjoy the leftovers the next day. When I tell you that just thinking about it and typing this review makes me want it again. The raspberry sorbet was the cherry on top. Amazing food, great service, and another reason I'll be coming back soon. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Pescado Zarandeado (branzino) - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Sunday evening team dinner. Had heard a lot about Mercado - pricey, overrated, etc - all wrong. Delicious. But pricey - but it's S Lake Ave. what do you expect? Rents high. Our waiter Gianni's is amazing! Give that guy a raise. The guacamole had onions so I had to pass, and the entire table ate onions and I didn't - so didn't try it. However, the chips and salsa were delicious. The mushroom queso dip is divine. Delicious. Creamy. Addictive. Must order it. I ordered the fillet mignon tacos - they were flattened steak - I'd prefer chopped. Would give the taco more texture. No accompanying sauce - so used the salsa - very good. The avocado was too thick. The mashed potato's were forgettable. I get it - mashed potato's in a Mexican restaurant. But why not add a fusion gravy? Flan for dessert was out of this world. Churros were slightly undercooked. A solid Mexican spot in Pasadena. Would like to try more food options. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Bland Queso Fresco Mashed Potatoes - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Horrible service and literally the to go container for the ice cream. Looks like a sample not what I should have gotten since I paid for it read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Horrible Service . Went for lunch had the prefix lunch special. The to go ice cream It literally looks like a sample - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

We ate with friends at Mercado in Pasadena and overall had a great experience. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, making it a nice place to catch up and enjoy a meal together. The food was flavorful, well prepared, and enjoyable for everyone at the table. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the seating. I specifically asked for a booth, and there were two empty booths available, but the hostess told us they were reserved for parties of six. A short while later, I noticed one of those booths was seated with only three people, which was a bit disappointing. I really care about where I sit when dining out, and that part of the experience mattered to me. Aside from that, everything else was solid Good food, good company, and a pleasant vibe. With a bit more consistency around seating, this could easily be a 5-star experience for me. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Catching up with friends - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Love their filet mignon tacos, dip trio, and Jamaica ! Service is good, ambience is not super fancy but nicer than some.

We came here many times for their happy hour. Nowadays, it's rare for places to have happy hour during the weekend. We came for happy hour. We ordered the scallop, and the nachos with carnitas. I enjoyed the skinny margaritas. While browsing the menu, the server told us the dinner menu. The steak sounds really good so we decided to have an early dinner. Wonderful place to dine for a Sunday late. afternoon. read more

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Mercado Pasadena can trace its direct lineage to Yxta (eesh tah) DTLA. And by extension, the original ancestors would be the owner's grandparents who established "El Arco Iris", the rainbow, in Highland Park. So three generations have been in the honorable restaurant business. Nice front, covered, outdoor dining patio. Inside is dark, intimate with options of semi enclosed booths, open tables, bar seating. Friendly service. 1) Dos Gringas: Two slow-cooked natural pork al pastor dressed with oaxaca cheese, red onions, cilantro, Yxta salsa brava which is mild, dark red chile salsa, avocado salsa, calabacitas/Mexican zucchini. Opted for tortillas de harina/flour and also an order of powdered Queso Cotija for a more funky, aged dairy flavour. Unfortunately, these tacos were not particularly full of shaved, roasted pork meat quantity. The red salsa marinade was very mild, bland tasting perhaps to cater to a mostly non-Mexican clientele. The plating was pretty perhaps to disguise the paltry amount of pork or to look chefly à la haute cuisine. I miss the street tacos' direct, bold flavours that include stronger vinegar, more piquant red chiles, garlic, maybe even a squirt of Worcestershire sauce to add a fruity, fermented sweetness. At $17, it was a stretch. 2) The much vaunted Chef José's Carnitas does live up to its name. Pork shoulder slow roasted in its own fat like the French Confit. Part of it is lush, fatty meat, other parts are firm and meaty. Only problem is that it was so over salted that I did a double take when I put some in my tortilla to take the first bite to discover its sharp, harsh salinity. I took this salt brick meat home to incorporate it into Carnitas fried rice so that the rice and fresh herbs would absorb and lessen the saltiness. At $35, the cook should more closely monitor the cooking process and taste test the final product to ensure edibility. 1-2a) Smoky Yuzu was an interesting collaboration of Mexican and Japanese ingredients. Yuzu/Japanese citrus and Mezcal from Oaxaca, México created a lime, lemon background for the mesquite-like smoke, and caramelized Agave-like sweetness of the Mezcal. May have a pinch of salt to enliven the flavours much like putting salt on watermelon. $17 was worth the price of admission. Had a roller coaster ride of too bland for the first course and too hyper salty in the second. Amiable service fortunately saved it from being a 2 star experience. 3- stars read more

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Pretty busy for a Tuesday night. Got seated at a "high top" along the back wall that that was very difficult to maneuver in and out of. Not a great start. And sadly, I wasn't wowed by anything here--the Fish Tacos were good but not great, the tuna ceviche was tasty but weirdly more like a poke plate than a traditional ceviche, and the al pastor tacos had mayonnaise on them. Not good, sorry. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Pasadena. I've always had a good experience here, particularly on the outdoor patio which is a nice place to relax in the late afternoon. The guacamole is great, as is the tacos de pescado a nice combination of white fish, lime cream and chili sauce. The chicken in the enchiladas de pollo just melts off the fork. I'd also recommend getting a side of the Calabacitas which is a combination of grilled zucchini, onions, and tomatoes with a nice flavor. The staff is very friendly and let's you take your time, the happy hour also has some great deals. Highly recommended. read more

Tacos are amazing but heavy drink menu. Service was nice. Sis not live all the dishes. Atmosphere is nice. Like the booths.

The food & service are always really good! Normally I write long reviews with my experience but you know what? Just try this one for yourself! I will say most recently I had the Huevos Divorciados for brunch and they were delicious! My mom had a breakfast burrito & my brother had the pancakes. They both loved what they got & everything came out hot! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Huevos Divorciados - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

AMAZING !! My top favorite food items would have to be the dip trio!!! It's a must !!! And all the cocktails are yummy ! My favorite is the Jamaica one ! Also the ribeye is a must !!! The pasta is okie . Not amazing. The tacos are yummy. But the main star is dip trio and ribeye. !!! (: the service is super good too ! Highly recommend trying this place. My favorite guacamole in LA read more

Great clean and truly delicious food, the service was fantastic and the vibe is very nice. We love Mercado and we will be back . read more

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I always drive by Mercado on my way home and finally tried it this weekend.. I wish I tried it sooner! First, I got the Mint Lemonade and it was sooo good and refreshing! It also comes with 1 free refill which is nice cause most places would charge you for something that isn't considered a "fountain drink". My family shared some guacamole and chips - that didn't disappoint either! The guacamole had a nice flavor to it, the chips were fresh, and we enjoyed the salsa also! My husband and I shared the Camarones Al Ajillo and the Carne Asada. I really enjoyed both of the dishes. They both were cooked really well, and even the bread that came with the shrimps was really good too! The service was really fast and our waitress was really kind and attentive. The host we had was really kind as well! Will definitely be back! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Camarones al Ajillo - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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