We came across this place on accident during our trip to Berkeley and loved it so much we went back two days in a row. It's the perfect mix of modern but authentic. The service was wonderful and everyone was so attentive and helpful. As for food, we ordered the carne asada & carnitas tacos with rice and beans on the side and a carne asada torta. We LOVED the chile relleno and café con leche. Tasted like I got it at my Tia's house in Mexico. Would definitely come back next time! read more

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Very good food (I would give them a forth star but they served me half way warm - half way cold fried rice. Quality and ambiance is far different (in a good way) from the traditional food providers of this type in NorCal. Not sure if I want to go back, because when ordering food a la carte, I expect it to be warm hot across the board, and I don't want to repeat first experience. Parking is not easy either, but I don't mind walking a few blocks away from their location. read more

Great tacos! Lots of veggie options. We would come here again for sure. Nice to have something close in our neighborhood.

Awesome service and food. I've been 3 times, the drinks and food are always great. I definitely recommend it to friends when brainstorming places to eat!! read more

Food is amazing and so is the service!! Definitely good authentic Mexican food in the city of Berkeley!

Clean flavors & lively atmosphere, but nothing really stood out for me. The cocktail was pretty decent though, so if there's a happy hour might be a decent spot. read more

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I had a pretty awful experience here. Jose, a very nice young man, was our server and host (well at least that is what my receipt said - that his name was Jose). However, the service was awful. We kept having to get up to get our water (multiple times) even though we had table service. Drinks came after the meal (after I told him it's been sitting up on the counter getting warm), the food came out cold. He seemed nice and apologized but frankly there should have been a manager supervising and taking care of customers too - not just a kid who is either on his first day or maybe struggling and overwhelmed by other issues. The interior is pretty but at the price point, I expected more. read more

I was expecting a taqueria style meal, but received some exceptionally delicious food. Traditional plates, like mole, pipian and flautas that are uniquely prepared with distinct flavors. Great service as well. read more

Generous helping, 3 Tacos rice and beans. Up to the cashier to order, beer and Paloma's today. Spicy pork tacos, and Al pastor, so good. The flavor of the food was amazing. Nice and open a relaxing environment. Mellow for mid afternoon read more

Mercado 925 - Modelos, and some water. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Outstanding menu. Authentic and refined but approachable price point. Myself being from Chicago I'm reminded of Bayless and his team's drive for traditional ingredients and techniques. Same here, and now as East Bay residents we'll be back often. Brunch options are awesome and great for the little ones or those with a taste more continental. Best evs. read more

I had lunch with my nephews and their families for the first time in this restaurant. Everyone ordered their desired items and everything was delicious! I had a Michelada, delicious! Not spicy, with a hint of Modelo. I then had Chile Relleno, that I have never appreciated more!!!! The cilantro rice served with it was perfect!! For dessert we ordered the Flan and the Cornbread The service was friendly and the ambiance is great. I recommend this place to everyone who likes authentic Mexican food! read more

Dining on the smell alone of Mercado 925 would be worth a bill, but as you sink a fork into the mole, the enchiladas, and the tacos dorados, you're mouth will agree with what your nose already knows. Sip on the cafe con leche or Oaxacan Negroni as you ease yourself into the weekend, but go with a mezcal as a choice if you have the latter. Service is zippy yet not overbearing or rushed, responsive to questions and quick to change table placements as the crowd rolls in. read more

Mercado 925 - Mole Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Terry and I met here yesterday for lunch. It was my choice, after reading Ted R's review. Lori couldn't join us, as she'd been feeling unwell, had recovered and was wanting to stay healthy for an upcoming family vacation. I found parking on 8th Street right next to the restaurant and walked in. Alexis (I'm not sure if that is the correct spelling of his name) asked if I would like some help down the stairs. My first impulse was to say no, but then I realized it would be helpful since there isn't a railing. I appreciated his kindness. The space is beautiful, large and bright w/ natural light admitted by two walls of windows. Terry was already seated at a table by the window on University Avenue. She was looking over the menus deciding what she wanted. I was curious whether they had posole verde and when I saw that they did, I knew that was what I wanted. I have been missing it since Calle 10 closed. Terry decided on ceviche and we requested guacamole and chips to share as a starter. I asked about their iced tea, which is brewed there, and Alexis brought me a taste. It was good so that's what I had to drink. When the guacamole came it was clear the chips were house made, long, thick strips of unsalted tortillas. Perfection. The guacamole was excellent and we pretty much finished it, doing everything but lick the bowl. Our mains arrived shortly afterwards, my pozole w/ a bowl of vegetables to mix in w/ it. I didn't notice the lime wedge, so it went in w/ everything else. It needed the acid, so Terry volunteered the lime wedge from her ceviche and I squeezed in the lemon from my iced tea, which I wouldn't have used anyway. When I found the lime wedge in the soup I squeezed it in too and it was almost enough. I like things tart. It came w/ more of the chips. It was delicious and I finished it. I didn't take picture of it because it didn't occur to me and I couldn't have if it had, because I had left my phone at home. Terry and I had a nice visit and talked about the Yelp Elite Experience at Café Noir, which we'd both been accepted for. Terry had already been and spoke about the difficulty she had had finding it and gave me great directions. My plan was to go there after lunch so I appreciated the information. Before I left I wanted to use the bathroom. Alexis came over to help me stand up and told me where the bathroom was. There are two gender neutral bathrooms w/ the sinks outside, which my friend Lee D would have appreciated. The bathroom I used had one wall covered w/ multicolored patterned tiles. Very attractive. I will come back to explore the menu, which is extensive. I want to try the chile relleno for sure and then see what else. read more

What's not to like? This new spot has eater-friendly prices. Their Taco Tuesday includes Mondays and Tuesdays! When the tacos are only $3.25 each. It is cra-zy! Service is really fast too. Entered. Ordered. Used the facilities and washed my hands real quick. By time I came out, my delicious cocktail was ready and waiting for me. I glanced at my phone, and whoosh, here are my three tacos. Hola, Barbacoa, Carne Asada, and Carnitas. Ranked from better to best: Barbacoa! Carne Asada!! Carnitas!!! Mercado 925 makes everything with high-grade ingredients. I love tacos made with perfect soft corn tortillas and a fantastic salsa. The roasted tomatillo salsa is straight fire. Service is amazing. There's one point where there were two people standing in line at the counter and one of the servers rushed over to make sure that both parties were able to place your orders same time. Who else does that? I love the decor too. Not totally fancy, just really nice. Good wood and decent finishes for a place that isn't 100% upscale. This is definitely not a cheap taqueria. Just a high-end taqueria with bargain pricing. You can bet that any time I'm shopping on 4th street that if I find a long line at Tacubaya, I won't think twice about heading to Mercado 925 instead. read more

I drove by here one afternoon and saw the taco sign. Then looked it up and saw they had a full bar so we had to come. We had chicken, carnitas, fish and picadillo tacos, pozole, chicken enchiladas, guacamole and chips with Modelo and margaritas. Everything was delicious and perfect. You order at the counter, take a number and sit. We were here on a Friday around 530. Good was served super fast and service was quick and friendly. The inside is brand new and well decorated. It's my new favorite Mexican place! We'll be back regularly for sure. read more

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Finally dined in and was blown away by how beautiful the interior was. It's like being transported to a beautiful restaurant in Mexico. The guacamole that comes with the chips and guac was super fresh. The carnitas burrito and chicken quesadilla were delicious as usual. The staff were super efficient and constantly communicating and working together like a well-choreographed sports team. You can tell this place is family-run by the pride the workers put into their craft. People from all walks of life dining in. Wish I had dined-in sooner. read more

Amazing experience! My wife and I decided to take a chance and try this place. And it exceeded are expectations. The entrees, the drinks, dessert, and even the chips were packed full of flavor. The service was attentive, organized, and caring. There was not one thing we thought was just ok. This place is a gem. We plan on coming back with a few friends to share the experience. Thank you! read more

First time in, didn't disappoint! Great menu, sick bar. Good for friends, fam or date night. Will be a regular location for us now! read more

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We found this restaurant on a whim! We walked from the 4th st trying to get a (cheaper) bite along university Ave and originally wanted to have the Thai food nextdoor but there was a wait list. We found Mercado by chance and the restaurant looked sparkling new and fancy! We were surprised they served AFFORDABLE taqueria food, oh yeah!!! Score! We ordered the beef mole enchilada plate, Mercado style tacos with carne asada and al pastor, and half/half shrimp/fish taco and opted to add the rice and (refried) bean as side. The food came fairly quickly! And they looked amazing! They all tasted DELICIOUS too!! My picky toddler loved the rice and beans and the al pastor taco! we asked for extra salsa and they gave us both the mild and spicy ones, both were delicious!!! Authentic! They seem to have a full bar and though it's a "casual" restaurant, the decor and setting were very modern! Certainly a great place to bring a date to dine casually but also to want to impress. Seriously, this place was the nicest, fanciest, taqueria ever lol. The food was presented elegantly too without having to pay high prices. The best of all, their hand washing station and the restrooms were very neat, new, modern and CLEAN! We will certainly dine here again if we're in the area, highly recommended! read more

What a great place for a double date on a Saturday afternoon! I loved that you could order at the counter and get your food brought out to the table -- makes it an easier ordering process. All the food was fresh and the tacos were on point. I wish that the utensils and water was a bit more accessible since it was self serve. We went on a warmer October day and there wasn't any airflow in the restaurant so we had to keep filling up our small empty glasses of water! They had the windows open but that only seemed to let the flies in. Other than that, the staff were friendly and the restrooms were clean. Seat yourself, but no worries because the crowd hasn't yet caught on to this taco spot. I'd definitely return for those tacos! read more

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Great food, reasonable prices, and friendly service! I'm very excited that a Mexican restaurant has opened up west of San Pablo on University Ave. It's located across from the La Quinta, so hopefully visitors from out of town also try out this new spot. I ordered all three tacos (Tacos Del Mercado, Baja Style Tacos, and the Fish Taco) and the Carne Adobo. The Fish Taco was my favorite, but each taco was delicious and generously stuffed. The Carne Adobo tasted buttery in the best way possible (maybe because of the aioli). You order first, get a table card, and then choose your seat. Water is self-serve. I know the restaurant is still relatively new, but the inside is well-kept and extremely clean. The decor is very nice as well without being over the top. When you're done eating, the staff will clean up. I was in and out within half an hour on a Saturday at 11am. read more

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Tacos and nachos were good! Service and ambiance was also nice. I liked the decorations. Tip: go on Tuesdays for Taco Tuesdays, the price is lower. read more

Mercado 925 - Beef, carnitas, and veggie taco - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Checked this place as my bf and I were in the area. My bf ordered the mole enchiladas- one chicken and the other beef barbacoa. It came with a side of rice and beans and he was stuffed! He loved the flavor of the mole sauce and enjoyed the hot sauce bottles that were given (so SPICY we loved it). I ordered the Al pastor tacos and the meat was nice and charred giving the meat flavor. The tortillas were fresh and the chips and pico were yummy. The overall restaurant is spacious, easy to order, and you find your own table. Loved how modern and clean it was and the waiter was very friendly. Would come back to try other items! read more

Mercado 925 - Chips and pico - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The burritos here are top notch! I saw the good reviews here and it sure did not disappoint. The chicharrones are so flavorful and crunchy, and the mole was delicious. The burritos themselves were very filling. They have a full bar and looks like a nice place for dinner as well. I would definitely recommend getting a burrito here. read more

Mercado 925 - mole burrito and chicarrones de pollo burrito - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Still delicious, but the prices are out of control. I know everything is more expensive these days, but the price hike after they built out their new space is a bit too much for the food, so we've stopped going. :( read more

Great ambiance and delicious food. The Baja Fish taco and Beef Birria Was yummy and so was my Cosmo drink. The chips and guacamole was fresh and delicious! Definitely coming back with my friends or hubby! read more

We placed an order to go when some friends came over this week and the food did not disappoint! I got the chicken flautas and my husband got mole burrito. Our friends also got the potato tacos, fish tacos, and plantains. Everything tasted so good. And the prices are very reasonable! We live a couple blocks away and will definitely be back for more! read more

This place is so good! As fine dining Mexican food goes, this place hit the spot for me. It's been a challenge finding actual authentic Mexican food in Berkeley and this place got it down! The drinks were also yummy. The tacos are a bit pricey but I'd pay the price because they try to purchase sustainably grown food. The shared plates is where it's at! Definitely get a few of those for the table. Don't skip out on the rice and beans either! If you're thinking about getting ceviche, doooo it! So good. It's a nicely renovated restaurant great for both big groups and smaller parties looking for a fun night on the town. read more

I have a Mexican-American wife who is a snob in the food department. Despite the many Mexican places, we only eat at a few including this place. I usually go fried chicken torta and she will do the various tacos. The black refried beans and green rice is quite good. It's a step-up in food quality from most Mexican places in the area. read more

Have been here for dinner, taco Tuesday, and brunch. Great authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price! Ambience and service is great. Love everything but highly recommend the carnitas tacos! read more

I liked everything about our visit, but the mole poblano sauce has too much cinnamon for my tastes. It makes the sauce taste muddy and masks whatever else is present. The ceviche is excellent as are the beans, rice, and enchiladas. Coffee is first rate and excellent flan. First rate and friendly service. read more

Amazing. Great food, friendly ambience. Always a real treat to visit or order for home.

Stumbled upon this place while waiting for friends. Great food and beverage selection at very reasonable prices. Perfect for large groups or date night. I like that it's located close to the University Ave exit so it's easy to get in and out and avoid the Berkeley traffic. Staff is super friendly and provides great service. They are in the process of expanding into the adjacent space to become a much larger venue. Paloma was well made, enjoyed the salt and Tajín on the rim. The ceviche and the pozole are excellent. Also enjoyed their house made chips and guacamole. read more

Can only speak to a delivery chicken burrito, the easiest target to hit. What I got was a $15 bean and rice burrito with just enough chicken/guac to make you wish it was a chicken burrito. (See photo) The materials were cooked well, and the flavors were excellent, although the rice was .. citrusy? Maybe that was the guac. It was odd to see not-Mexican-rice in a burrito but it wasn't bad so there you have it. I'll try again some other time, perhaps it was just a fluke. read more

Mercado 925 - Come on now, 80% rice and beans, 10% chicken 10% extras? C'mon. Those are Taco Bell proportions. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is an excellent brand new California Mexican food place with generous portions. We ordered brick-sized burritos, the plato (good for kids because it's like a make your own taco bar), fluffy chili relleno, and the nachos. Everything was tasty and filling and big enough for us to have leftovers. I am still thinking about the nachos with the thick cut strips and melty fresh cheese. We ordered it to-go, but I look forward to eating there (and revisiting the review)--it looks like a big space, and the drinks menu is interesting. Great addition to the West Berkeley neighborhood! read more

Authentic Mexican food and modern ambience!! Finally a place to hang with friends and get quality cocktails and solid eats!

Really surprised by all the 5 star reviews here. Maybe Berkeleyans are so desperate for Mexican food in this area. We ordered the sofritas burrito and veggie and sofritas tacos. Food came out quickly. Everything was just OK. The $12 burrito was rather large but did not have anything special flavor wise. It was rather boring inside. Sofritas is supposed to be crumbly and seasoned. It was chunks of fried tofu with no flavor at all. It came with beans, rice, and salsa. Sour cream and cheese are an extra 50 cents each and guac is a whole 3 bucks more! Unreal. So in order to get a super burrito, I have to pay 4 dollars extra. The tacos were fine, wasn't a huge fan of the veggie mix of zucchini and carrot. Mushrooms would have worked better. Everything is extra here. Chips and salsa are $4. Enchiladas don't even come with rice and beans on the side. I'm so tired of these kinds of places in the Bay. Honestly feels like a white washed Mexican restaurant. I'm just gonna stick to my good old ol fashioned hole in the wall Mission Taqueria. read more

Breakfast EVERY DAY! And you can sleep in because it's served until 3pm! This family run restaurant really hit it out the park for me. Amazing food! Lovely servers! Great ambiance! My partner got the crispy taco with potato and egg. I got a trio of Mercado tacos with al pastor, carnitas, chicharron de pollo, and I can't tell you my favorite because each was so delicious! This is also a lovely date night spot, as I noticed they have a full tequila and mezcal bar! read more

Pipian Mole Burrito was pretty spicy, but very delicious. Very big portion, too. Service was nice and the space was very pleasant. read more

Mercado 925 - Pipian Mole Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Restaurant looked promising when we walked in but soon became disappointed. As a Mexican American woman I expected good food to go with the good looking restaurant but i personally think it was not worth my money. The service was not good. I had to ask for a straw and water twice. My agua fresca came after my food. Small plates when we got our food. Huevos rancheros were not memorable. Burrito barely had flavor and Cesar salad was not good. Let alone ask for something extra and pay extra. Food doesn't taste authentic and the Ambiance was very boring. Went for Mother's Day and was honestly sad coming out of there. read more