Yana was simply amazing!!!!!!! The service and food was top notch. I will definitely be back and I want Yana to be my waitress.

Sabrina and Spencer were not only professional but personable and knowledgeable. They showed me how Mercadito shows the Chicago community of River North how Hispanic meets Hell Yeah! The food was definitely exceptional, authentic and delicious. Definitely order multiple tacos. I'm a fan of the lobster. The al pastor is beyond reproach read more

Mercadito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

With gas prices being so high right now, the last thing you want to have to worry about is parking. So grateful this restaurant offers affordable valet services. The restaurant is simply beautiful. Love the artsy details. There were many lively celebrations on this day. The noise level was its own kind of vibe. Elizabeth introduced herself as our server and offered us drinks. We were definitely ready for them. I was craving a spicy margarita which was delicious and my friend ordered the lichee loco and raved about being able to taste each flavor. We started off with shrimp ceviche, fresh guacamole with mangoes and house made chips that were amazing. We had the manager come to our table to speak with us and to check to see if we were enjoying ourselves. We were. Elizabeth came back to see if we were ready to order entrees. Brussel sprouts were a bit busy and not at all a big hit. They are topped with way too many ingredients. Bring on the carne asada tacos, the brisket tacos and the quesabirria. Everything was absolutely well flavored. There was plenty of food, even for leftovers. Or midnight snacking. We ended with another drink and we shared a flan with raspberries. If you are ever in the River North area, stop by Mercadito's for elevated Mexican cuisine, good drinks and lively vibes. read more

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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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Tried this place out a friend's Birthday dinner last night. We had a party of 7 and made reservations in advance (highly recommend). Food was fantastic - the mango guacamole & hongos tacos were definite highlights! I also got an N/A cocktail - Shake The Mango Tree - which was so delicious. Service was decent but not great (they were very busy). Overall a great experience! read more

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This is a beautiful location. The server was very attentive. It did get a little loud as there was a large party enjoying themselves. Overall great dining read more

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Came here for solo brunch date on a Saturday. Pretty interior decor. Lively energy. Good Spanish music playing. Had the short rib quesabirrias, they were so crunchy and savory, 9/10. The French toast was so fluffy and moist, 8.5/10 really enjoyed it wasn't too sweet. The mocktail purple rain was my least favorite item of what I ordered, as I am more of a sweet mocktail girl, 7/10. Next time I would ask server for sweetness level. My server was Yana, she had a cheerful spirit, appreciated her vibe a lot. If you are considering a place to have a cute solo brunch date, I recommend. Put on a cute outfit and head on to Mercadito! read more

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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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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

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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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

Yana was phenomenal. She's very fun, nice personality and very professional. Mercadito is my home. I called off work just to come here for happy hours because that's the only time they serve their delicious nachos. I love it here and Yana made the experience even better. The food and drinks never disappoint. read more

Mercadito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mercadito consistently delivers an incredible dining experience in River North, but my recent visit was easily one of the best. The food was absolutely delicious! What really set the night apart, though, was David at the bar. His service was perfectly dialed in, and the cocktails he made were top-tier. Everything from the balance of the drinks to the overall hospitality was flawless. I can't wait to go back! read more

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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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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No complaints! Fun atmosphere and good food. A little expensive but it's to be expected in that area of the city. Would come back here for sure. They might have my new favorite pastor tacos! The steak tacos were good but nothing too special. Would also recommend trying any of the ceviches. read more

Mercadito - Al Pastor Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved what we were able to walk to this restaurant from the hotel. The tacos and elote was so delicious! We started with margaritas and loved snapping photos with the beautiful mural! Love all the attention to detail making you feel like you are on vacation. Such a fun place with excellent service and food! 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

(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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I went for happy hour, and the menu was great. The staff as well. Highly recommend going for happy hour if you have a chance and they have great music playing. read more

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Rafa was the best!!!!!!!!!!! I'm from San Diego so I know my tacos and I'll say this is the best you'll find in the city!!

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

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

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

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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Loved the vibe in here (thought quite loud so be prepared). The brisket tacos, classic guac, and spicy mango marg were delicious. Service was a little slow but in a way that allowed us to enjoy our time. read more

The food was great and our server Yana was amazing! Highly recommend. The guac was delicious and we loved the chips. read more

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

Came for brunch and had mixed reviews. The guacamole was amazing, the quesabirria was delicious, and the service was delightful and attentive. Shout out to our server, Jose! He did a great job. The torta was underwhelming and the beans were bland, but overall we enjoyed our experience. Very cute vibes. I'd consider coming back and trying dinner. read more

Great! Food is great. Sabrina our server was amazing and provided great service and recos read more

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

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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