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Mercadito

3.7 (2.6k reviews)
Closed • 10:30 am - 10:30 pm

By appointment only

Updated 1 month ago

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MERCADITO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Very loud
Trendy
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Mercadito

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Reviews With Photos

Mixto ceviche- Pomegranate guacamole
Kendall H.

Mercadito Chicago delivers bold, well-executed flavors in a lively setting. The pomegranate guacamole remains a standout--fresh, creamy, and vibrant, with bursts of pomegranate adding a subtle sweetness and satisfying crunch. Served alongside warm, fresh tortilla chips, it's an excellent start to the meal. The mixto ceviche was equally impressive, bright and refreshing with a welcomed kick of heat that complemented the freshness of the seafood. The chile relleno was the highlight: generously stuffed with lobster, shrimp, corn, Chihuahua, and Oaxaca cheeses, creating a rich, savory dish with plenty of depth. Thoughtful flavors, quality ingredients, and attentive service make Mercadito a Chicago dining experience worth returning to.

Tacos
Tony D.

Food was good. Service could have been better, but it was as a busy night. Small and lively place, so it worked well for us and the kids. Would go back the next time we are in Chicago.

Tacos
Paula W.

Vibrant and upbeat restaurant, with good service and very flavorful food. We had tacos which were delish and I loved the tortilla. The flautas were great and cooked perfectly. We also tried the birria tacos, the meat was very good. Dont forget to try the corn it was a great dish as well.

Margarita
Crystal C.

Organized a work happy hour here, and overall it was a solid spot for a group. I called ahead to ask if we could split checks, and they said it would be fine as long as everyone stayed in their seats. As more coworkers decided to join, I had to book a second table. That's where things got a little confusing. We were told the original table could split checks, but the newly booked table couldn't. We ended up getting different answers depending on who we talked to, but thankfully they ultimately accommodated our group and allowed us to split the bills. I also really appreciated that they seated our tables right next to each other. The happy hour itself is definitely worth checking out. The $10 margarita was surprisingly strong, so it felt like a great value. I also ordered the two tacos for $8. It was a solid deal, although I wasn't particularly blown away by the tacos. The ambiance is modern, the seating is comfortable, and it's an easy place to hang out with a group after work. Aside from the billing confusion, I had a good experience and would come back for happy hour.

Churro
Anthony D.

Good food and vibes. The place was packed on Saturday for lunch but we were able to get a table outside. We tried: - Chips and Salsa - Al Pastor Tacos - Chilaquiles w/Steak - Churros Overall really good, but definitely make a reservation ahead of time. The salsas were spicy, especially the Habanero and Especial - but worth it. The meat was flavorful too and shoutout our waitress for grinding that day.

She's like my sister
Lisa P.

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.

Dining area
Angelic B.

I had the pleasure of being invited to Mercadito for bunch and oh my my! We had a full spread that was absolutely stunning. I tried the churros (to die for btw), lychee mocktail (also so yummy), guac & al pastor tacos. If you're coming for brunch I'd say dive straight in for breakfast! Lunch items were yummy but breakfast was a home run. So delish! The hash was cooked so well and perfectly crispy. Still dreaming about them! The inside of the building was clean, vibrant, and polished! Staff were also so nice and attentive, thank you!

Breakfast Burrito
Maegan R.

Went with a group of friends for brunch. Our waitress Sabrina was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Enjoyed the original guacamole and the bottomless brunch drinks. Had the breakfast burrito and it was delicious. Great brunch spot.

Flautas
Jacqueline O.

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.

Dinner menu 5/9/26
Ash W.

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!

Spicy Mango-Rita
Anya J.

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

Pastor and Carne Tacos.
Joel Jr. M.

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.

Steak and Eggs Torta Desayuno
Vanity H.

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.

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3 months ago

Fun brunch menu. Food and drinks are great, but it is extremely loud, hard to have any conversation.

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3 years ago

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4 months ago

Yanna was absolutely amazing! We came to celebrate a birthday and she had the best energy. Food and drinks were amazing!

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7 months ago

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4 months ago

Yana was our server and we had the best experience!! The food and service were unbelievable!! Highly recommend.

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11 months ago

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3 years ago

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4 months ago

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4 months ago

Service and food. Rafael was the best server ever. he had great attention to detail and was attending to every one of our needs.

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4 months ago

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4 months ago

Yana was the best server!! So enthusiastic and knowledgeable!!! We ordered way more than we would have because of her descriptions.

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4 months ago

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5 months ago

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5 months ago

The food was great! Raphael was a wonderful and attentive server. The place was busy and a little loud worth it.

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10 months ago

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5 months ago

Yana was wonderful! Super full of energy and so kind! It was my birthday and she brought out a dessert!

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2 years ago

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5 months ago

Raphael was fab! Great food and atmosphere. Tacos were solid. Drinks were fab. Great service.

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5 months ago

Love their mimosa brunch special! It's always a good time there and our server Yana made the experience all the more enjoyable :)

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Page 3 of 67

Mercadito Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mercadito

Is this place kid friendly?

Yes, it is. In fact, the night I went I saw little ones there well after bedtime!

Any gluten free options?

We have plenty of gluten free options!

When will your seasonal mango chipotle guacamole come back?

Summertime

Good for kids?

I took my 8 year old for brunch.. I don't know that this would be the place to take kids for dinner... For is delicious!

Is the noise level a little lower earlier in the evening?

Nope. It's a noisy place probably because of the acoustics.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Step off the streets of Chicago into a beautifully dimly lit fondue experience is so cozy inside…read morewith the music of a live Spanish guitar that really create a private magical experience. All the premier dinners come with salad, cheese, fondue, and the chocolate fondue - You are just choosing what protein you would like. The Prince Geja combination has a little bit of everything. However, we most liked the seafood which includes lobster and the scallops were to die for! Also the beef also cooks well. Favorite dipping sauce included the pimento mayo, chimichurri, and garlic butter. The cheese fondue is quite rich and the bread is quite filling so maybe get as much cheese as you can on each piece of bread. The chocolate fondue, I think is actually the best course as the Belgium chocolate melts so well and has a decadent but not overly sweet flavor. It pairs well with all that is provided for dipping, which includes poundcake, rice Krispies, strawberries. They also have some liquor that they light on fire at first so you can roast the marshmallows. It is such a well thought out experience. Service flows very well from two waiters who take your order set up your fondue pots for each course, but be prepared to spend at least 2 hours on this experience. Check out the Groupon but also I read a review that they just tack on the extra $50 so it's not really too much of a savings. Not sure if this is true.

Had a fantastic evening at this classic spot!…read more Food was super tasty and fresh! The seafood was probably my favorite! The full dinner with chocolate and cheese was perfect! Also appreciated that they were accommodating for the vegetarian in our party. Everything except the cheese course can be made vegan friendly as well. The service was top notch! Appreciated that they called me ahead of time to confirm our reservation and ask about food allergies. All the staff was incredibly helpful and attentive. They were quick to refill items and answer any questions we had. The location is classic fondue restaurant, cozy and romantic. However, also perfect for catching up with a friend. I love the history in this place and really enjoyed the mood lighting. Pricing was fantastic for the quality of service, food, and drinks! Look forward to many happy returns!

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Gemini

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2.2 mi•Lincoln Park
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Back Again - Gemini Pt 2, but this time for brunch!…read more I enjoyed my first dinner experience here so much last week that we had to come right back to try their weekend brunch. From the start, the hostesses were inviting and lovely. The restaurant is very pretty, warmly blending a modern style with a touch of classic French bistro elegance. I'm mostly so impressed with how versatile the restaurant actually can be, shifting seamlessly from an elegant, upscale dinner setting with its beautiful U-shaped marble bar to a bright, whimsical, and enchantingly airy brunch setting. The fully opened bifold windows are adjacent to the pergola-topped patio, letting a glorious, cascading breeze drift through the space to create a wonderful indoor-outdoor flow and a lively weekend energy. Once again, we thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered: Super Green Vegetable Salad: The kale, broccoli, avocado, asparagus, and peas were crisp and fresh. We loved this so much during our first dinner visit last week that we had to order it again for brunch! Spectacular! Nova Lox Platter: The wild salmon topped with diced red onion, capers, and hard-boiled egg crumble, served with an everything bagel and a side of chive cream cheese, was excellent. French Onion Frittata: The rich gruyère and caramelized onions were wonderful. If you're a French onion soup lover like me, this is a can't-miss!! Definitely will be reordered and often. Fantastic! Daily Omelette: Ordered from the special menu, featuring black truffle salsa, mascarpone, and Calabrian chile honey. It was absolutely phenomenal, perfectly cooked, and the flavor combination was incredible. Our server, Sarah, was excellent and made the experience even better - we even share the same name! The management team was also incredibly warm and attentive, stopping by our table to welcome us back. Returning twice in one week says it all. This restaurant has made it into my regular rotation and is hands down one of my new favorites!

Over all this place was okay, and when I say okay it was mediocre…read more How ever I would like to point out that the staff and I repeat the staff was very friendly not to mention very welcoming. I came here with three others and we all ordered different things from the brunch menu along with a few drinks. The atmosphere here is open, modern, and pretty eye catching, we all heard a few negative comments about brunch here and rather than just taking words of advice we came anyways. To be honest we should've went elsewhere, the only thing about the food that actually seemed to have any flavor was the fries and even they were a little salty like my wallet when we left LOL The Jumbo (not so much) Lump Crab Benedict at $25 was honestly boring lacking any flavor also it didn't even come with potatoes I ended up sharing my Lincoln Park Turkey Club that was good but even it was pretty basic at $21, the Burger at $21 literally looked like something off the kids menu the bun was bigger than the patty LOL and the Blackened Chicken Caesar at $19 was more like an appetizer size and the chicken at least it was juicy not dry. Other reviews about brunch here seem to be about the same and honestly I think it's funny they don't even try to elevate their food when so many say about the same things. I think the only reason why people come to this place is 1. It's located in Lincoln Park and 2. that makes it a trendy spot to eat. So why bother fixing anything when it's just trendy and flavorless Their brunch is mediocre but apparently dinner is where it's at. However after the experience with brunch I'm not even sure I would even go back. Come here for the staff eat at your own expense maybe your food will have flavor or not but honestly do what you want and keep it trendy

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4.3(349 reviews)
1.0 mi•Near North Side
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This might be my favorite rum bar in the country. If you want intimate spaces, moody lighting,…read moreextensive rum selections, and drink specials come here. Monday nights are my favorite because they offer a different specialty rum in special. It's a great way to try different kinds. They also serve beer, wine, and every other spirit you can imagine. Cocktails are on point. Seating options are varied: bar seats, small tables in back, bench seating with tiny tables up front. Quiet and comfortable.

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Mercadito - mexican - Updated October 2026

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