I would highly recommend Emma! She was a fantastic waitress for our large group. I would highly recommend for your next large party

I really want to give them the fourth star here, you can even consider this a 3.5, just because the service was amazing!! We had such a fun and cool server. She was great! I also love the decor and vibes here. The photo op with the neon sign is SO fun. I want to come back to try lunch or dinner service, and will probably stick to more casual dishes then. I'm sure it'll win me over the next time. We did come for brunch for restaurant week and thought it was a great deal, it felt like two entrees for $30. First course I got the chicken flautas which I LOVED! Great flavor, toppings were perfect. My partner got the quesabirria and absolutely devoured it. The steak and eggs were where we felt let down. I had asked for my steak medium well and it was very pink, I'd even say medium RARE. It's a thin cut so temperature shouldn't be under done in my opinion. My partner got his medium and was also disappointed in the temperature. It comes with a sauce on it and I knew I was going to end up taking it home anyway so I didn't send it back. It was pretty good when I reheated it at home! That said, it was a pretty grisly cut of meat and, as we were marathoning steaks for restaurant week, my least favorite steak of restaurant week. I also ordered my eggs over hard and felt they were underdone, the yolks were done just slightly enough to be not runny but were gel-y, almost like a soft boiled egg. These were also better once reheated. The flavors on the steak were good! And the sauce was really really good!! But underdone food is a big one for me. Again, I would totally come back and get flautas again. I'd love to try their salsas too. Just a case of the wrong items to order, I think. read more

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One of my go-to happy hours in the city. The service is okay but can be good. They do rush you in a friendly way because it can get extremely busy. Keep ordering or it's uncouth to sit too long. No babysitting your drink or food so time can pass. Great seating inside and even better during the summer. The camarón tacos are by far the best (only complaint is how small they are). They have a wonderful array of salsas, guacamoles, & ceviches for shareables. The drinks are the best part of the visit. You get what you pay for. Overall 7/10 read more

Mercadito - Spicy Mango-Rita - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The vibes are there! Beautiful moody restaurant that really sets the seen. The staff is great and attentive and very accommodating. As far as food it was good! The special granola with pomegranate seeds was a great way to start off the meal with fresh warm tortilla chips. The tacos were the best things on the menu by far. Everything's was fresh and delicious, I would highly suggest the pastor tacos. Over all it was a good experience. read more

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Emma is a superstar. Great place, GREAT food. Phenomenal service. A+++++. We had a late lunch here on Cinco de Mayo. Fantastic time. Great crowd great place can't say enough about it. read more

The pescadillas dish was very well composed. I really enjoyed the creativity from the squid ink masa. I thought that the spiciness from the chipotle tinga really cut through the crispness of the tortilla. And the pico de gallo highlighted the mahi mahi. A special shoutout to our waitress who went above and beyond to split our appetizers four ways for us as well as our entrees. read more

Mercadito - Pescadillas - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm baaaack! I've been here for brunch, but this time I went for restaurant week! I was completely satisfied, full, and content about the deal they had. $45 dinner and I got a full size of each entree. I got the shrimp ceviche, carne asada tacos, and the churros (so delish and warm). The shrimp ceviche was perfect- tasted fresh. The order of 4 tacos was super filling. And lastly, those warm churros came with caramel sauce, berry sauce, and chocolate sauce. Just so so so good! read more

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My girlfriend and I were able to get a last-minute Saturday night reservation at Mercadito, and I'm glad we did. We kicked dinner off with a spread of dips that included their Especial, Chile de Árbol, Tomatillo Salsa, and Tradicional guacamoles because why not. To wash it down, we ordered a Spicy Mango-Rita and the Amiga Sand cocktail. The Mango-Rita wasn't exactly "spicy" (the tajín rim was the only spicy part), but it was super refreshing, so no complaints. For our entrees, we split the Pastor and Carne tacos. The Carne was pretty good, especially when topped with the Chile de Árbol salsa. But the Pastor? That one was a whole different story. Packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and that pineapple topping was chef's kiss. Service was great, the vibe was lively, and overall it's a solid choice if you're craving upscale Mexican in River North.... and don't mind paying $25 for four tacos. read more

Mercadito - Pastor and Carne Tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here for the bottomless brunch haha The drinks were okay! The food was also just okay! Service was fine Honestly not a memorable spot but pretty solid. read more

Mercadito - Steak and Eggs Torta Desayuno - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Mercadito has a little bit of something for everyone. I got the Quesabirria which was delightful. The consume was comforting and well seasoned. I would also recommend the poblano Mac and cheese, with its gooey yummy cheese and bits of corn. The service was quick and professional with multiple people cleaning our table between appetizers and finishing dishes. The tres leches was dry so I wouldn't consider it tres leches. The ambiance was hip and you could tell a lot of people came there on the regular after work. read more

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Went to Mercadito in River North and the tacos surprised me. I got the al pastor and the pork was packed with flavor, tender, smoky-sweet, and just enough spice. The pineapple chunks hit the right balance, juicy without taking over. Meat had that crisp edge that makes every bite better. Topped with cilantro and onions. Honestly, I could've kept eating them. The only thing that didn't wow me was the tortillas. Not bad, just kinda basic. For a spot like this, I was expecting something a little more special, but they didn't distract too much from how good the filling was. Place itself is pretty loud, like you have to lean in to hear your friends. Normally that bugs me, but here it felt part of the vibe. Service was quick, food came out hot. All in all, those tacos made it worth it. read more

Mercadito - Al pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The guac was delicious and I highly recommend the enchiladas! Very filling but light and flavorful. Yana was a fabulous server and brought amazing energy to make sure our table had a great time! read more

The loaded brussels were divine!! I didn't have any tacos since they only offer corn tortillas, however, the sides were yummy, and the atmosphere was lively and fun. read more

Mercadito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love love love. Came here for dinner and had been to the brunch previously. Everything is great! We had the short rib birria tacos (I'll be back to try this myself, and then the lobster tacos which were amazing. Shared a number of sides and were all a hit. Moody ambiance. Waiter was really sweet read more

Mercadito - Langosta Tacos , Esquites , crispy brussel sprouts, guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

(G)o or no go- Go! So fun and solid lunch prices - good bang for your buck! (W)ow - you can always get me with a themed restaurant. (A)mbiance - oh boy Mercadito knew what they were doing with the fun neon signs and colorful tropical decor. Friendly and quick sevice too. (M)enu - Best menu item was the pastor tacos - juiciest tacos ever! The touch of pineapple is genius and takes the grease off the pork. Runner up is the mahi ceviche. The lime juice kept every bite of the ceviche fresh. Honorable mention to the mango guac, which was surprisingly orange instead of green. The steak burrito was solid (and huge!) but nothing to write home about. read more

Mercadito - Pastor Tacos, Steak Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The flavors are flavoring here and they are delish! I stopped by Mercadito in the heart of River North and let's just say... I'm already plotting my return. From the homemade guac (fresh, zesty and not playing games ) to the braised short rib quesabirria tacos and pastor tacos topped with juicy pineapple, cilantro, and onion - every bite was a hit. The meats are very well seasoned! And let's not forget the margarita pitcher I tried the classic margarita and it was smooth with just the right kind of kick to keep the good vibes flowing. Mercadito isn't just dinner........ it's a whole vibe. Elevated Mexican flavors, great cocktails, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. read more

Mercadito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was here on Saturday night for the first time. It was very busy but we were seated quickly. Our server brought waters and gave us time to look over the menu. For apps we got a salsa duo. I was a little surprise because their "especial" salsa seemed like it would be a basic house salsa but it was actually kind of creamy and was SUPER HOT. It did list habenaro in the ingredients but there was an actual habenaro salsa that I figured would be the hottest lol the chips were good but you could tell they either made them the day before or early that day. They seemed like they had been sitting around. We also got the chipotle shrimp which were delicious. For meals we got carne tacos and queso Birria. Both were flavorful. We also got the corn side dish which was a bowl of corn with mayo just plopped on top with seasonings. I figured they would mix the mayo in like more "street corn" dishes. Overall was good but likely won't rush back. read more

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Yana is the absolute best and made our delicious food taste even better! Great vibes!

We are Streeterville locals and easily the best tacos no matter which one you order! Guaranteed or we will come take them from YOU!! YUM!!!!! read more

Went here for lunch with a group of coworkers and had an average experience. The food was good but overpriced for lunch. We started with salsa and guac. The chips were great! Salsa and guac were lacking flavor. For my main I had a burrito. Service was mostly fine however all of my coworkers got their meal and they somehow missed mine. Took a while to find someone to flag down but 15 mins later I finally got my burrito with no explanation on the delay. 3% service fee on all bills... why are places still doing this? Just increase menu prices. Lastly they do automatically add 20% gratuity to parties of 6 or more. read more

Mercadito - Steak Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Marie was amazing, great service! Very responsive! The tacos were delicious! Wonderful night out in Chicago!​

This is a happening restaurant in the Riverwalk district. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. Their happy hour menu is a great deal (up to 6pm). I enjoyed the Carne Asada tacos, nachos and a margarita. Their salsa was delicious too. The inside of the restaurant has a fun, loud, happening vibe to it. read more

Mercadito - Carne Asada Carne Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great night! Margs were flowing! Our waitress, Emma was a star! Emma! Emma! Emma! Emma!

At 3pm on Cinco de Mayo weekend, this place was hopping! The lively atmosphere makes for a great place to get together with friends and celebrate any occasion. We were definitely glad to have a reservation, so I recommend making one especially while visiting during peak times. To start, we ordered the classic margaritas and the street quesadillas. The margaritas had a nice kick and were not overly sweet, which I really enjoyed. While the quesadillas were fresh and indulgent, I did feel that the dish lacked some flavor. For the main, we decided on the carne tacos and they were quite filling! I really enjoyed the crunchy onions and creamy sauce, but felt that the beef was on the tough side and a bit under-seasoned. I think that this would have been easily improved in both cases with just a bit more salt and heat. Overall, we had an enjoyable experience and were glad to have visited. Would stop by again sometime to try other menu items! read more

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I came here last month for a work event and wasn't amazed by the entrees, which were too fusion for my preference. However, the churros we got for dessert were tantalizingly delicious, so a couple of weeks later, I brought my friend here during her birthday weekend for a second round of scrumptious churros. They're so crispy and sugary; it's a good thing I don't live in the area because they're seriously addictive. If Mexican fusion is your thing, then this spot is definitely for you, but if nothing else, do yourself a favour, and at least come for the churros. read more

Mercadito - churros - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went to Mercadito since we were looking for an early happy hour that served margaritas. Everything on the happy hour menu was about $10, including the margaritas. My friend and I ordered tacos, guacamole, brisket nachos and of course house margaritas. All the food we ordered was good; Not outstanding but what one would expect for happy hour and priced at $10. My friend is very picky about her tequila so she didn't get the house margarita. I did Not and regretted the choice that night/next morning since I didn't feel well. Headache etc. Thats what usually happens when I drink cheap tequila. The last time I got a bad tequila headache was when I went to a cheap taqueria in Cancun Mexico. I have been to alot of happy hours in Chicago the last 2 months, and have ordered the margaritas on the happy hour specials. This is the only restaurant I have gone to in Chicago that I felt sick after drinking the house margarita. Maybe it was just a brand of tequila that I reacted badly to. My friend, who ordered Casa Amigo tequila for her margarita, did not have issues with her drink. Regardless, due to this experience, I doubt I will come back to Mercadito. read more

This was our first time trying Mercadito. Overall the experience was pretty well rounded. The service was excellent and the food was above average. The menu was on the smaller side so it allowed for quick service and better quality. The cocktails were delicious as well. If you're trying to find a trendy Mexican restaurant in a great location, try it out. Great crowd. read more

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Good food, a little noisy, and definitely not cheap -- but still a nice evening out. Honestly, this was probably a 3-star experience, but I had a great time catching up with a friend, so I'm tacking on a fourth star for the company. You can decide for yourself... The interior is stylish and modern, but loud--like, really loud. Not ideal for conversation. We ended up sitting outside, which was a little better, aside from the valet cars idling right next to our table. So yeah... chips and exhaust fumes. Speaking of chips and salsa: $8 for a small basket and a tiny ramekin of salsa. I did eat the chips--no complaints there. I asked for more salsa, but instead, they brought another basket of chips too, which I didn't want and politely declined. I was just trying to stretch the salsa a little further. Later, when they cleared the (empty) first basket, the server asked about it. Slightly awkward moment, but points for attentiveness. Service was friendly but felt a bit inexperienced, or maybe it just skewed younger. We might have looked out of place dining at 6 PM--I think they assumed we had a curfew or something. Drinks were fine: I had a Negra Modelo for $8, my friend had a Tito's for $14. Pretty standard pricing for The Loop. Now, the food: I had the chicken enchiladas. They were beautifully presented and genuinely delicious, but at $34 for just three enchiladas with no sides, it felt overpriced. That's $10.67 per enchilada, and not even a spoonful of rice or beans on the plate. A little disappointing at that price point. My friend had the $36 chile relleno, which came with a small side of rice and beans. She ate most of it and said it was good--though to be fair, she's a small person with an appetite to match, so the portion probably worked out perfectly for her. (Also, I was picking up the check, so who's to say? ) Overall: The food was very good, the vibe was trendy but not exactly cozy, and pricing is on the steep side for what you get. If you're looking for conversation-friendly ambiance or value-packed plates, this might not hit the mark--but if you're after good flavors and don't mind city pricing, you'll be satisfied. 4 stars -- just go in with eyes open. read more

Food was really good. Service was mid we had to keep asking for the food to come out after we ordered the valet was 15 dollars out side nice vibe and drinks were pretty good. read more

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Super great service! Our waters were never lacking, there were many waiters/waitresses that help refill water, take away dirty plates, etc. you'll feel like royalty when you walk in. The food was delicious! being from California, I'm very particular about my tacos, and this place delivered! The carne tacos were really delicious, and mouth-watering. The ambiance felt authentic and calming with light playing music. 10/10 would go again. read more

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The ambiance and service is great. The waitress and hostess were very nice and we were seated immediately. We were there for a birthday and got bottomless and it was totally worth it since it includes mimosas, bloody Mary's, and a few others. My only negative was that with the chilaquiles you had to pay an additional $2 if you wanted egg which I haven't seen before. read more

Mercadito - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a really enjoyable lunch here. Lots of GF options and we got the guac trio and quesabirria. Both really delicious and fresh with the former having some heat too although the chips were pretty oily and fragile. I did try my friend's pastor tacos and they were a little too salty for me and I didn't care too much for the queso with chorizo but I would highly recommend the place for the guacs, quesabirria and for the friendly service! read more

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The ambience of this establishment is beautiful. This is the perfect date night spot to go to no matter what time of the day. We ordered a mango cocktail and a watermelon cocktail. Both drinks were very good. The watermelon cocktail is very refreshing and a bit spicy. The mango cocktail was perfect. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. We ordered the chicken tacos and brisket tacos. I enjoy the chicken tacos because it came with more toppings as a brisket tacos kind of lack on the toppings. The brisket tacos did have more meat on them and they were very juicy. The chicken tacos were really good with the sauce. Both sets of tacos were good. You only get four, which is not enough for the price, but the taste of them makes up for it. It does get crowded in there so it's good to make a reservation before hand to ensure you do get a nice seat. We sat inside. They do have outdoor seating, but it is a busy area and I don't suggest sitting outside unless you want to smell car gas. Other than that beautiful place. I highly recommend. read more

Mercadito - Chicken Pollo Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute and aesthetic place. The staff were very accommodating to changing our party size on a Wednesday night. We did a trip of little salsas and the tomatillo salsa was the only one mild enough for me to eat, but it was pretty good. We also did the traditional guac which had a little bit of a kick and was just ok. The short rib Quesabirrias were excellent - favorite app for sure - they were cheesy and the juice was really good. The chorizo queso fundido was also really good with a little bit of kick but nothing too spicy. For mains we did a few tacos and the esquites. The esquites were kind of wet but I still really liked them. The best tacos were definitely the carne. The pastor were just ok - not super flavorful. And I wasn't a big fan of the brisket - it was kind of smoky, but didn't really work for me in a taco. read more

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Really enjoyed my date at Mercadito. Super cute atmosphere. Definitely a get dressed and add a heel type of vibe. Service was great. Attentive, polite, quick. I order lobster tacos and omg they did not disappoint. So delicious! I would go back again and again just for those. Usually I don't feel like lobster has too much of a taste, but they dressed this taco to perfection. Everything on it was a perfect pair. We also ordered sides of elote and rice. I loveee elote and it was so tasty. Had a couple of drinks. 1st was a pineapple "lemon" drop. Totally didn't know you could change the flavor on that drink. Pineapple was good but I'll go for strawberry next time. Also had a side car. This was ok. A bit watered down. Overall beautiful restaurant right off the Riverwalk and I'll definitely be back. read more

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Family friendly! My 6 year old had a lot of fun! Huge variety of mini tacos, brisket, chicken and lobster were our favorites, cocktails were very good too! The wait staff and hostess desk were super nice and engaging! Clean bathrooms and overall very airy vibes with nice decor to boot! One star off for cramped booth with side stools and rushing us off despite the reservation, but hey, that's River North for you. read more

We had reservations for 6 people and even though 50% of the group had arrived; the hostess refused to give us the our table till the entire group was there. The acoustics of the basement is so terrible that it's difficult to have conversations. The only saving grace was food. read more

Mercadito - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great location in River North, perfect place for a group happy hour or dinner. We ordered the guacamole, pollo tacos, esquites, and the flan napolitano. Everything was delicious, I look forward to coming back. read more

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Walked in on a Saturday night and had a weird experience with the waitress. Initially when we asked for a table she said NO and laughed again so we thought its a joke. She was helping us find a table and would turn back and make weird expressions. We were made sit in a spot where it was congested so we asked another waiter who was taking our order if we could move to another table and he let us find a table. After a while the same waitress walks in and rudely tells us that "Let her know next time when we move to another table". We told her that the waiter who was serving us found the table since we wanted one. No apologies and extremely rudely she walks off. The other staffs were extremely friendly otherwise. We sat inside and it was extremely nice. Mostly fits for a friends group hangout place. Food was outstanding. Plaintains- Very well made and so tasty Appetizer - beer battered shrimp- extremely delicious Chicken pollo was a huge entree and can be easily shared The quantity is pretty huge and easily shareable Reduced one star for rude service and another for noisy ambiance read more

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Unfortunately, we will not be returning. The busser/server would come up from behind and just take things that we still needed without asking anyone. On many occasions we had to stop her or ask the waitress for another because the busser would just take it away from the table. If there is a person away in the restroom, you do not just take her plate or her napkin without asking somebody if she is still working on it? Frustrating as it happened frequently, that we had to guard our things. We never received the Guac when ordered, and the waitress didn't even notice that we were still waiting on it, and we had to ask her where it is- somehow it was missed by the kitchen. Lastly, portions sizes were not great - the salsas were so tiny- and as a larger party we had to continue to ask the waitress to refill our chips, which should've been anticipated that we needed more than two small bowls of 8 chips. Food tasted great, but the service did not make for a great experience. read more