Great food, especially their fresh guacamole! And their carnitas are marvelous! Our server was attentive, and made great recommendations to us. read more

Everything is top notch at Mercado! The food is all super high quality and delicious! The drinks, ambience, and Covid compliance are great too! The real reason I felt compelled to post a great review is because of superior service from the staff! Our waiter John E. was honestly one of the best waiters I have ever had! You can tell he is a true professional who loves people and what he does! He was on top of things before we even asked but also knew when to give us space! He was super witty and had us laughing loudly! I hope to be served by him again soon, because my lady and I will be back often! Thanks John! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great location, plenty of seating both indoors and out. Service was great and very efficient. Although the food options seemed promising the food was just ok, nothing extraordinary. Definitely not rushing back for more. The drinks were tastefully done and very good. I would come back for appetizers and drinks from time to time. Friend wanted to try it so I decided to give it a second chance .... Hostess was pretty efficient, waitress was engaging and friendly overall service is great ... Good job to whoever trains the staff. We had several appetizers, blood orange margarita and a Mercado margarita to name a few of our ordered items. Bootom line .... Very disappointed in our food/drink items. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Tostada de ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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It's very bland for me personally. I heard too many good things about the food so I was excited to try it. I can't say it was terrible, but it wasn't mouth watering either. Starting with the drinks, I'm not a tequila girl so I asked for a vodka cocktail. I was suggested the watermelon basil with vodka. I should've checked the menu for the ingredients but I didn't because I was excited to try. It came with Chile tajin rim....I absolutely do not recommend that lol. Vodka with tajin is just a no. Whatever else was in the drink did not compliment each other whatsoever. If you know your drinks very well, unlike me, you'd be fine. Appetizers came along and we ordered guacamole (bomb) with fresh chips, coliflor Al pastor (it was okay). For entrees, my cousin got enchiladas de pollo en mole oaxaqueno...she hated it, scraped off the sauce (to her, it tasted too much like bbq sauce)...and barely ate the chicken. I ordered camarones Al ajillo (it was good but not a 'WOW' at all). It didn't sit well with me afterwards. Overall, we both enjoyed the chips and guacamole. I had reallllly high hopes for this restaurant but I've definitely had better elsewhere in LA. Maybe you would have a better experience liking the food as we all have our own preferences. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Camarones Al ajillo - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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First time at Mercado. The service is very good. We arrived at 5:45 pm on a Saturday and it was already quite busy. We had a dog with us so we sat out in the patio. I ordered a Chile relleno and only ate half of it because it was very salty.Everyone else seems to finish their food.The waitress asked me if I wanted to order something else since I didn't enjoy my food. I opted to order flan for dessert. I did enjoy the flan. We asked if we could move to a table closer to the heater and we're were told no because they had other reservations. While we were there no one was seated at that table. So we actually could have been moved to that table. Just average food. Nothing special. read more

Been anxiously awaiting the opening since I've been to their other restaurant and am so happy they are in Pasadena now! We need a Mexican restaurant like this and so far so good! A friend recommended the carnitas on his way out and Alex and Caesar at the bar say it's a specialty so I tried it and it was amazing! The portion is very large and comes with cauliflower pastor- what? So good! Add the freshly made blue corn tortillas and I'm an instant fan! They did a beautiful job with the interior and exterior. I love the clean, modern look outside and the artistic touches inside. This will be a great place for birthdays or groups and has the convenient parking structure in the back. In addition, the staff is friendly and helpful. It will be on my list of recommendations! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - It's Alex at the bar! Awesome smile and awesome service! - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place sucks. I can see why the Pasadena Dine and Dasher didn't care to pay for this food.

Fish tacos are the best! Love the guacamole, the vibe is always good. I had to sit outside last week but it wasn't super cold. Only problem is getting a table during dinner time is not as available. I think I'm going to start making reservations. read more

Came here for my SIL's birthday and it was great. We had a pre-fixed menu since we had a group of 14 in our party. Appetizers: -Dip Duo- Gaucamole and Choriqueso. Delicious! -Jicama Shrimp Tacos- Pretty good. Never thought of using Jicama as a replacement for tortilla. -Tacos De Arrachera- Skirt steak tacos. Good as well. Entrees: -Carnitas- Excellent! This is the best carnitas I've ever had. Comes with flour or corn tortilla. Highly recommended. -Carne Asada- It was a really good dish but I would definitely pick the Carnitas over the Carne Asada. Dessert: Both desserts were excellent. -Chef Jose's Flan: By far the best flan I've ever had. It's so soft and flavorful. Heavenly! Highly recommended. -Tres Leche: I ate this dessert first and I thought it was really good but once I had the flan, the flan blew this dessert out of the water. Food is a little pricey but it is worth it. The manager Justin and his wait staff were very attentive. Great food and excellent service. I am definitely coming back! read more

This is my second time at this restaurant. On a random Friday night, our family of 4 decided to eat dinner out at Mercado. Food was delicious and tasty. I highly recommended the carnitas. The watermelon margarita was way too watered down for my liking. I didn't even taste watermelon flavor. The service was lack luster. Since we had to seat outside, we asked if we could have the portable heater move closer to us. The answer was no because fire hazard. After we seated, a place set was missing. It took reminders to get the place set. My kids were sharing the carnitas, no one asked if we needed extra plates. Chips were served but bringing for salsa was an effort too. No one was rude and dishes came quickly. But it is those small details makes a restaurant worthy of many visits. read more

Probably the best Mexican food in Pasadena. I love coming here for happy hour. The chips and freshly made dips are addictive.

I will start with the positives. The food was delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed the chips and guacamole. The mole enchiladas are delightfully smoky with a hint of heat. Their spicy cucumber margarita is a welcome twist on a margarita with the spice from jalapeños and the cool of a cucumber. It's a great refreshing summer drink. The disappointments arose when my husband found a sizeable chicken bone while eating his enchiladas. It kind of ruined the joy of the meal as we spent the remainder of it searching our enchiladas for more chicken bones with each bite. We alerted the waiter and he simply responded "Oh Ok" and that was that. I was disappointed by the reaction and that the bone ruined what would have been a nice meal. read more

My family and I dined at Mercado on Mother's Day and enjoyed our various meals choices. My sweet shrimp entree was yummy and the rest of dining group enjoyed their meal choices. The restaurant was very crowded and noisy so I would love to go back to dine on an average day. The gentleman who attended our table was very cordial and attentive. Mercado appears to be a favorite for many. read more

Stopped by on a Saturday for brunch. Walked in and was seated quickly. I ordered mimosas to drink and the cucumber heirloom salad which was tasty. I would return and order it again. My mom ordered the carnitas chilaquiles which we're a good ratio of sauce and tortilla chips. All around Good food and the service was great. read more

Phenomenal flavors... never ate Mexican food this good. Here's what I recommend: Guacamole Happy hour: Mushroom Choriqueso Lela's Ground Beef Tacos Dos Gringas Tacos De Carnitas Oh and the Mexican Coke. Will definitely be back read more

We went for brunch today and had the greatest experience. Ben was awesome! Even more awesome than the chilaquiles! The mimosas are made with freshly squeezed orange juice! Cannot wait to cine back for dinner! read more

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This place is great for a date or even a family dinner they have a good menu full of traditional Mexican plates with their own flare Drinks are great specially during happy hour Must get the guacamole and chips to start Service is awesome We definitely add this place to a new favorite read more

Everything was on point. Outstanding service and food. Best we have had in Pasadena. That salsa with the guacamole is really nice. Big balanced flavors read more

Best Mexican restaurant outside Mexico City. Food is excellent quality --- I love everything on the menu. Great steaks and carnitas (and flan). Very inviting and comfortable atmosphere with attentive service. Excellent! read more

This place has a great happy hour, with great food and drinks. However the service is hit or miss. I went tonight and my waitress neglected me for 15 minutes. While I was waiting, I looked around and multiple waiters/waitresses looked my way and some along with the hostess were goofing off by the kitchen. When a new waitress appeared at my table, I inquired about what the hold up was and she stated, "oh it was a shift change." There was no apology. I was very disappointed with the service for the price of the meal. read more

So delish. Drop the norms and expectations and you will be pleased and enjoy yourself.

honestly I just love mercado. it's a go-to place when i'm home and just want somewhere good but chill. i love the guac which is consistently good but the chips are always a hit or miss (sometimes super fresh, other times they've been pretty stale). I've also had the gringas tacos which are good & I love that they have churro ice cream (which I believe is from mcconnells). they have a nice patio area with cooling mist which I love to sit at during the summer. I would definitely recommend checking them out! read more

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I had the sea bass and it was amazing!!! Service was impressive. Great ambiance. Server was on it. Really took great care of us. Pricey as expected. Overall certainly would go back. read more

Went here on Valentines Day. As a usual, the food was great and service (Angela, you are awesome) even better. Drinks, both alcoholic and non were too good. My son loves the Aqua Fresca. Very cozy place to relax. Thank you Mercado. read more

Located off Lake Ave in Pasadena, Mercado Pasadena has quality and clean tasting food. From their fresh guacamole and perfectly crunch tortilla chips to their fresh cucumber salad and enchiladas, each menu item tastes great. However, it is on the pricier side which accounts for the 3 stars. I have definitely been able to find the same or better quality food at a more reasonable price than Mercado. Parking: Free 90 minute parking with validation to the back or across the street. read more

Came here last night for my birthday. (Month) The decor is real nice and its located in a nice location in Pasadena. Sat outside view of the street. We got the ceviche as an appetizer. It was not good. Sour and just lacking flavor and just not good. (And they only gave 2 tostada chips)I got the watermelon Margherita. It was not sweet and I couldn't tell it was watermelon flavor wise and didn't come in a Margherita glass. Smh. I got the chicken enchiladas mole. The chicken was dry and had no flavor whatsoever. I gambled and got that cuz I never had mole before. 1st time trying mole. Idk if this is what mole shpuld taste like but it just tasted liie Mexican bbq sauce. The rice was actually really flavorful. (Bad sign when the rice better) My friend had the ribeye. It was delicious! One of the best steaks I've had in some time. Had the churro ice cream too.. that was really good and tasted on point for the name.All in all this place wasn't really great. I'd go for the steak. And I see why we went cuz the rest wasn't too good. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Churro Ice Cream - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Best flan in the entire world! (even though they don't serve it with whipped cream.) Six of us ordered a wide range of the tacos: fish, carne asada, shrimp, lobster, etc. We all agreed that the spices and flavors were superb. The tacos were served ala carte, with no sides. On the menu I appreciated seeing other vegetables I could order, but the price tag ($19 for two tacos) was too high to add veggies too. The sound in the restaurant was just right for visiting, and I liked the music. We'll definitely go again, if only for the flan. :-) read more

Jesse Gomez and his staff have taken a great spot and created a fantastic vibe with Mercado. The food is awesome and so is the service. Santiago greeted us and was very helpful. We felt at home. Reservations are a must as the place is popular. Great atmosphere! We've been several times and plan to go back many more! Great outdoor seat May 22, 2020 OMG! We just order delivery from Mercado and it was fantastic! The Carne Asada is amazing so is their home made chips! Perfect quarantine Memorial Day Weekend order! read more

Mercado is elevated Mexican cuisine with a wonderful ambiance and a great selection of drinks. Highly recommended for someone looking for familiar flavors in a lovely sit-down setting. read more

This charming place is conveniently located right in the heart of Lake in Pasadena. They have plenty of tables inside, but I always prefer patio cause it's cozy, safe (covid speaking) and I often come with my pooch. They have a generous selection of drinks, but jalapeño margarita is probably my favorite-- it's unique, refreshing and very tasty. The food, though contemporary, is very good too. But the service is probably MP's strongest suit. I always feel well waited and taken care of. Highly recommend. read more

Great location but our waiter kept on taking our food inside and rushing our party to leave. I completely understand you're closing but why take reservations an hour prior to closing time if we are only given 30 minutes to finish our food and drinks. Although the food was okay , I wouldn't recommend this location unless you reserve a few hours prior to closing. read more

Girls nite! Dinner and drinks @mercadopasadena. 10 of us; all 1st timers. Ambiance was great, Server was friendly, quick and correct on all orders! DOG FRIENDLY on patio. Nice laid back & chill place for happy hour. Cocktails & apps were right too! (Get the nachos w/fresh guac & watermelon basil marg) But my dinner tho!! Camarones Al Ajillo was suggested by my server. Best Suggestion EVER!! My Food was so fire , 3 more ppl in my party then Also ordered the same, with 1 to go! Presentation was awesome! We will def be back! Oh, whole parking structure behind Mercado (the commons)-trying to park on Lake on Sat night is ridiculous. Park in the #Commons; $10 max rate read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Camarones Al Ajillo was FIRE !!!! - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Food and service excellent! Spicy margarita yummy! Great experience with everything as it was our first time here. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Spicy cucumber margarita - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Fantastic food and service! We love the guacamole & homemade chips and several items on the happy hour menu are excellent.

I'm not sure how many stars to give, because this post is more about how disappointed we were with our dinner experience on Wednesday November 24th. Mercado has become a favorite place for my family since they opened. The service has been great, food delicious, consistently and reliably. So, perhaps, the standard was set very high and we've become spoiled. But, I feel it necessary to write this because either something changed or the restaurant had an off night. None of our "issues" are a big deal on their own, but the high standard was set with our prior experiences at this restaurant, so we were very disappointed and even reluctant to return. 1. We were a party of 5 and 2 of us arrived 10 mins late. When the last 2 got there, we asked for 2 additional water glasses. It took a total of 3 requests during the evening to finally get those 2 additional glasses. 2. We automatically ordered chips and guacamole because it has always been delicious (one of the best, in my opinion) BUT not that night. It was mediocre at best. The avocado was simply too green/hard for guacamole. I had to use my knife to cut it into smaller pieces, easier to eat with the chips. But, even in smaller pieces it was too hard. What a disappointment. 3. When ordering we asked for an item on the kid's menu that we always order as an extra side for the carne asada dish (our teenage son's favorite). We were told "no" because of a strict policy for children and we had none at our table. The waiter said he had no authority to make an exception, so we asked to speak with the manager. Instead of getting the manager, the waiter came back to restate that no exception could be made. 4. I gave my credit card when we checked in because it was my husband's birthday, I did not want him to pay, I knew he would insist - I notified the hostess. The waiter brought the bill, charged to my card, but handed it to my husband, who asked the waiter to please charge it to his card (not mine). If the waiter had handed it to me, there would have been no issue. But, of course, the waiter again argued this time about how he was unable to cancel the initial charge in order to charge on his card. I was able to diffuse the situation because I insisted on paying and asked my husband to graciously accept - which he did. Finally, at no point did a manager come by our table, as is usually the case when we've been there before. And, in general, the staff seemed low-energy and not their usual high-quality with attention to detail. I really hope this was simply just an off night for Mercado and that this was not a sign of a change in their level of service and/or quality of food. You set a high standard, Mercado... I'm routing for you and hoping you do what it takes to maintain and sustain. read more

Their food is consistently good & their drinks are even better. It's really nice to sit outside when it's not super hot

It hit the spot! Had a craving for mexican street corn, live nearby, and decided to give it a shot with my boyfriend. He devoured his ceviche, the corn was delicious, and they know their way around a kale salad. Also can't forget the delicious margarita of course! Thank you for the amazing service, everybody was on top of making sure we were happy, had what we wanted and needed, and that the patio was picked up and cleaned well... and all with an amazing attitude (and smiles, despite the masks hiding them :)) Thanks guys! read more

Was introduce by a close friend of mine to this place very good place for drinks & love the guacamole .. Happy hour best time to come here .. Carnitas plate is the best .. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

I didn't get to try this spot because of this I would normally not write a review. However we arrived without a reservation, understandably we expected to wait for a table, maybe even a lengthy time frame. The place was popping and there were plenty of empty tables, but reservations should be honored. The front desk gal was firm with her words "you don't have a reservation it's going to be a very long wait, maybe even hours." Ok, put us on the list anyway and we'll hang around. Discouraging us, she said we may not get a call at all. We hung out, walked around the area, enjoyed much of our time when I noticed an hour passed and the same four outdoor tables remained empty. We assumed the restaurant wasn't interested in making money to keep four tables empty for over an hour, maybe longer since we decided to leave all together. Also we never received a text that a table ever became available. Sorry I do appreciate a business that is honest but is willing to make some effort to work something out. Some restaurants will tell us they are full with reservations, and the sitting time is limited for anyone without a reservation, and I like that. Front girl was not nice. read more

Have been a long-time diner at the Mercado in Santa Monica and their related restaurant in Downtown LA called Yxta, and their now-closed restaurant in Brentwood Meradentro. Tried the Pasadena Mercado during UCLA football season before heading to the Rose Bowl and the quality did not disappoint! Very tasty food and the staff is nice. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Tacos de Carnitas Lelas Organic Mexican Rice Tamales - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California