PERMANENTLY CLOSED This was my favorite Mexican restaurant in Manhattan Beach. I showed up tonight with my son and was met with a note posted on the door announcing its closure. What a loss to the community. Andrew was the best GM ever! He left a while ago but he set the tone for an awesome experience. I pray that the team members find new jobs and God continues to bless them. read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Permanent Closure Sign - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

PERMANENTLY CLOSED!!!! Super sad today! Just walked over to get an awesome margarita and was met with the all too familiar sign thanking the community! Picture of sign below! So sad read more

Mercado is a decent fast paced dinner atmosphere. The greetings at the door are fine and conversation with our server was fine. The food is the only thing really that compels me to come back. I enjoyed the Jicama tacos, they were perfectly plated and I was not expecting the tortilla to be subtitled with the actual Jicama, I was expecting a garnish but was happily surprised at the twist. The shrimp was seasoned very lightly which helped further enjoyment of the garnishes and whatever sauce was the finisher on the tacos. NOTE, the order only came with two, you can add another for an upcharge. The Carne Asada plate was just fine, took one bite and decided the dish was nothing out of the ordinary which was fine but after the excitement that the Shrimp Taco plate gave me, I was hoping for a fun twist on a traditional plate as well. Did not seem worth the $38 in my opinion. Ordered the marinated Cauliflower as a sharing side, that was fine. A tad over seasoned but not the biggest crime on the table. Garnished with chives unlike the description on the menu stating it came with pineapple and cilantro. Overall the dinner was again, just fine. I might go back for the Shrimp Taco plate but that might just be it. read more

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Business dinner at this casual Mexican restaurant. This is Americanized Mexican food. Excellent service. The chip were freshly fried, still warm! Guacamole was chunky and had bits of red onion in it. It's a must order. Bread pudding topped with vanilla delicious! I had a sample spoon of flan and it was also delicious. The enchiladas had dried chicken as the filling- not good. Food was average and would miss the mark for good authentic Mexican food. read more

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It kind of pains me to update my review to a lower rating :( I love coming to Mercado and have visited many times since my original review. Unfortunately, each time I feel that the service isn't quite the same. Nothing huge but little things here and there. But I recently came for happy hour on a Saturday, sat at the bar by myself, and was not acknowledged for almost 15 minutes. What made it worse was there were gentlemen on either side of me who got another beverage and the check without me getting a menu. They even noticed and gave me their menus! And said they'll try to get the bartenders attention for me. *awkward* but also so nice of them. I eventually ordered - my beverages were delicious and the food was good. BUT there was a HAIR IN MY CEVICHE. Ughhh and that's when I decided I needed to re-review. Look, I obviously still love Mercado bc I'm keeping 4 Stars. Will I come back? Yes. But I will continue to be mindful of service and quality / cleanliness. read more

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Went here for happy hour to watch the World Cup and it was great! We sat in the patio which does fill up quick and there are a couple of small TVs on each side. As for the food/drinks, the happy hour was such a great deal. We got to try the mushroom choriqueso (which was our favorite item), Al Pastor tacos, taquitos, shrimp ceviche and two Mercado margaritas. All of this for about $70! Everything tasted great and came out super quick too. Service was absolutely amazing. Everyone's always checking up on you, making sure you're doing okay and there was never a time we were waiting on anything too long. (Note: this was on a Saturday at 5pm happy hour during the Brazil game) Definitely would come back! read more

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Great place!! FIRST TIME!! Love the atmosphere! The outside patio! Our server DIANA was soooo sweet and made our experience that much better!! Why haven't I been here before?!! DEFINITELY coming back!! read more

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Hubby & I just came here for dinner last night. It's located in Manhattan Village. There are a few different parking lots and a parking structure in this outdoors shopping center and it is free. The interior is cozy with the warm lighting. It is decorated with Día de Muertos figures on the check-in desk and Sugar Skulls on the walls. We didn't realize Happy Hour was still happening, but it did make us happy and we ordered off that menu. There is a nice amount of offerings. Their Guacamole, not on the HH Menu, is pretty tasty! It comes with a side of Yxta Salsa Brava and chips. The chips are thick and scooped up the guacamole well. That Yxta Salsa Brava has a nice little heat to it! We asked for some hotter salsa and was offered their habanero salsa (for a fee). Our server also suggested some Torreados, but we declined and will probably get them next time. Happy Hour Tacos did not disappoint! We got Happy Hour: Dos Gringas Tacos, Jicama Shrimp Tacos, & Tako Taco. My favorite was the Tako Taco. It's the first time I had fried seaweed on top of an octopus taco! It was soooo delicious and easy to eat because the octopus was really tender & well-seasoned! I was full and couldn't fully appreciate the bites of the other two tacos, but what I tasted was indeed good. i think we need to come back and perhaps for the Taco Tuesday Menu! read more

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This restaurant is located at the Manhattan Village in Manhattan Beach where we enjoyed brunch over the weekend. My favorite dish was the grilled octopus. It was really tender and flavorful. I could have eaten that by itself for an entree. My husband had the Mexican burger, which was he said was just ok. I guess he was expecting something different, but the fries with it were nice and hot and enjoyed by both of us. I had a couple tacos and I liked them. I had the pineapple cantaloupe beverage because they were out of watermelon. It was refreshing and I'd order it again. Friendly service, although we did have to ask and wait awhile for drink refills. This is an upscale Mexican restaurant and prices reflected that. read more

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Mercado Manhattan Beach: A Review That's 90% Enthusiasm, 10% Queso Coma I walked into Mercado Manhattan Beach expecting solid tacos and left questioning whether I'd just experienced peak human achievement or simply overdosed on crema. The answer, it turns out, is both. Let's start with the star of the show: the Al Pastor Tacos. These little corn-tortilla miracles arrive looking like they've been drizzled by a hyperactive Jackson Pollock who only owns green paint and a grudge against restraint. The pork is shaved so thin it's basically prosciutto's tropical cousin, caramelized toueto edges that taste like someone figured out how to bottle campfire. Then they hit it with pineapple that somehow manages to be both sweet and aggressively tangy--like if piña colada grew up and started doing CrossFit. Topped with onions, cilantro, and enough green sauce to power a small salsa cartel. One bite and I actually whispered "dios mío" unironically. My dining companion heard me and nodded solemnly, as if we'd just witnessed a religious event. Up next: the Queso Fundido, which should come with a warning label and a waiver. This is not "cheese dip." This is molten queso Oaxaca doing its best impersonation of a lava flow in a cute little bowl. Chorizo chunks bob around like spicy little life rafts. You will attempt to be civilized with the provided tortillas. You will fail. You will resort to spoon. You will consider bathing in it. The waiter will pretend not to notice when you guard the bowl like Gollum with the One Ring. And then, because apparently we hate ourselves, we ordered the Flautas de Pollo. Picture taquito's fancy older sister who went to culinary school in Guadalajara and came back with strong opinions about presentation. Perfectly rolled, fried to a shattering crisp, then piled so high with lettuce, crema, queso fresco, and pico that it looks like a edible Jenga tower. One wrong move and you're wearing half of it. Worth it. Service was the kind of attentive that makes you feel mildly famous--like the staff genuinely wants you to have the best night of your life, and they're willing to sprint for extra limes to make it happen. Cocktails are dangerously good (the mezcal situation is reckless), and the patio is prime South Bay people-watching real estate. Only complaint: portions are aggressively generous, which feels like a trap. I left in what can only be described as a full-body food hug, waddling to my car while mentally drafting my will to leave everything to Mercado. 10/10, would sell my soul for more of that green sauce. Bring stretchy pants and zero shame. read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Queso tacos potato taquitos - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

The Baseline: For a Mexican restaurant the flavors of the food must make use of the prime Mexican ingredients (corn, beans, chiles, rice, cheese, and meats), preparation of sauces/salsas, the meal portion size must make me feel full, and feeling of the restaurant must give me the feeling of a Mexican restaurant. September 2025 Review: Food: The Mercado Surf and Turf Tabilta is like the greatest ever. It can and does feed a family of 3-4 people. Pork, chicken, and shrimp with peppers, onions, rice, and beans makes this a meal plate. Pair with the chips and salsas. We also had the seasonal margaritas which were delicious. Service: Great service the night we came. Never ran out of water (which is needed with the hot peppers). Ambiance: Week night chill describes the vibe when we came in. The lighting and music made this a great dining experience. Bathroom was clean. read more

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Food is excellent and service at table was excellent. But...I made a reservation and left a note that this was for my wife's Birthday and was hoping to surprise her with a small desert with a candle to blow out. We didn't get that experience. Clearly the note went unnoticed. Made our experience somewhat of a let down even if the food was great. Left the table disappointed. read more

It's ok. Wouldn't run to come back as there are too many fire Mexican spots in this city. Service was okay. Food was okay. I liked the guac and sides better than the entree which was enchilada suizas. It was overly saucy and not much flavor, but the rice and veggies were delicious. The hibiscus margarita was so so. read more

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Mercado is where you want to be on Taco Tuesday. Best tasting carnitas I've had in a while. The carnitas nachos and tacos were the best!!! Love the decor and vibe. Plenty of free parking and places to walk off dinner. read more

Went on a Taco Tuesday and they have great deals all night. The ground beef tacos and potato taquitos were amazing! The guacamole was chunky and delicious. Great drink specials (Mercado Margarita was $10 and $5 Pacifico). Definitely going back soon. read more

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Came with friends for lunch & really enjoyed the ambiance. Waiter was very friendly and attentive. Food was great - really enjoyed the Oaxacan Mole Enchiladas. They were savory and delicious! The Watermelon Basil Margarita is my go to. read more

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The food is still good, consistent quality, nice lunch. Classics like Guacamole always hit. The avocados are a rich, ripe green without the slightest hint of brown, and the ratio of avo to acid is on point. A side of Elote is splendid simplicity, just flame-kissed corn. I absolutely would not recommend the California Burrito. Pastor-marinated chicken is watery and bland, and the lettuce turns everything soggy. The Dos Gringas are great. Those pastor bits are juicy beneath a hot and crispy crust, and these tacos are so savory they require little else. Even the side of squash is perfectly seasoned and grilled, and the cilantro lime rice is good enough to eat by itself. For dessert, the Churro Ice Cream is accurate (and good), but I think I'd rather just have a freshly-fried churro. Flan is fantastic, super creamy. Predictable classics, mostly good. Just avoid the burrito and go with the stuff they're known for like the guac, the tacos, and the carnitas. read more

One of my favorite local spots to visit, you can never go wrong hanging out here with an amazing ambiance. Bartenders and service are friendly. My go-to items are the Filet Mignon tacos, lobster tacos, with the habanero sauce on the side. read more

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I finally was able to go here for Taco Tuesday and I have to say I was impressed. For between. $11/$12 per taco you get a pretty big taco at a better price ($21 for normal price) - and it was filling - my wife got a quesadilla and side of vegetables it was delicious The service was great and the ambience was fun and relaxed - I will be back ( I live in Brooklyn NY) and visit MB 2X per year read more

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The food was very good. We did their three course meal special. Portions were great for the price. The food was delicious and fresh. The corn tortillas are made in house and they are very good. Service was good. Our server was quick, friendly and helpful. They offered in door and out door seating, we sat on the patio and it was a nice time. The restaurant was cute and clean. Definitely recommend if you're in the area and looking for a good Mexican restaurant spot! read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Mushroom Choriqueso and Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Hmmm. Happy hour at Mercado.. I ordered the tacos Al Pastor, chicken tinga and the beef Tacos. The best tacos were the Al Pastor. The others were quite mehhh. Where are the tortilla chips and Salsa? Service - very fast. I noticed that all the tables around me were also ordering tacos. Ambiance- nice art work and dark clubby booths. read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Lela's Ground Beef Tacos; Chicken Tinga and Al Pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

The carnitas sandwich and the mushroom queso were big hits at out table! Food had great flavor and service was quick. Highly recommend sitting in the outside patio area! read more

My first time eating here and it did not disappoint. I got the enchiladas suizas with the cilantro lime rice and my dad got the carne asada with calabaza and Mexican rice. The enchiladas suizas had the perfect amount of spice ! They were somewhat spicy but it was just the right amount ! I preferred the Mexican rice rather than the lime one but they were both good. The carne asada was also very yummy. Lastly I got the flan and I would say it was my favorite thing by far. As somebody who loves sweets this was just perfect ! Some may say it's a little too sweet but I loved it. Ivan did an amazing job and stayed chatting it up with my dad, he gave my dad such an amazing experience and that means a lot to me. I also loved the artwork they had on the wall and the music haha. It was worth checking it out ! read more

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Took my husband here for Father's Day brunch. We had a 12:45 reservation and showed up a bit early--place was beautiful, airy, and surprisingly quiet (which is a rare gift for any restaurant on a Father's DaySunday). The food was...fine. My husband had the Chicken Torta and fries--he's usually a great orderer, but the server's recommendation didn't hit the mark. He was underwhelmed, and for Father's Day, thaaaaat's a bummer. I had the Carnitas with cauliflower al pastor--delicious. Bold flavors, great texture, no notes. I also couldn't resist trying the Elotes (y'all know how I feel about street corn). It was good, not great--definitely edible, but not a standout. Our daughter had the kid's cheese quesadilla and was happy, so points for that. All in all, lovely atmosphere, solid service, and a few highs and lows with the food. We'd give it another shot. read more

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Very good! The guacamole was very fresh and delicious! And the margaritas were super good. Chicken quesadillas was good too! Service and atmosphere was good!! read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Hmm... I was really excited to try Mercado, but it didn't quite land the way I hoped. The ambiance is great and the service was friendly, but the price compared to the amount of food left me a little disappointed. For example, there are no complimentary chips and salsa, you have to order them for $5 - which I missed. I ordered the mole enchiladas: Enchiladas de Pollo en Mole Oaxaqueño. The online menu description lists them as "pulled free-range chicken, Oaxacan mole, queso fresco, crema fresca, red onions, sesame seeds, Mexican rice." In some versions of the menu (older or at other locations) the dish also includes chile piquín black beans along with rice. From older photos and menus online, it looks like that was originally part of the dish. At the time I visited, the price listed was about $25 (up from $24 according to some menus), but when the dish arrived I got rice - not beans - and the portion did not feel like what I'd expect from a "Large Plates" entrée. Also, note that the online ordering menu, the website menu, and the older menu versions don't match - which might explain the discrepancy between what I expected and what I received. Overall, the food tasted good and the service was nice, but I felt like I paid a lot for what I actually got. I'm not sure I will return. The ambiance is nice though, and the food is solid. 3.5 stars. read more

Lol I have a biz client with Mercado surname. One in the world so far I've met. What does Mercado even mean? Oh yeah a market. Aside from that. Been here twice already with my utmost fav best looking dreamy and very genius person in the whole universe Babe :) ;-D And each time has been great! Customer service here is always attentive and fast and friendly. Food is delicious too. Atmosphere is aight lol. We dig the outdoors more. I'm not a fan of the inside/indoor art on the walls ha. Wish they can be a much better interior design where it's not kind of cringe unattractive ha. They need my help with that lol. There are plenty of better mexican interior designs that I can totally show them up in here. Ja for reals though. Like tulum attractive would be more ideal. It would be mucho mas mejor! Ja read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Mercado has a special lunch menu! It features a lot of the entrees offered on the larger menu, along with a choice of appetizer - salad or chips & guac/salsa and a scoop of ice cream or sorbet. I went with the Tacos de filet with rice & beans and they were perfect. We were seated outside on the patio - which is so pretty and perfect for a romantic lunch, and service was perfectly timed as well. read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Tacos de Filete - lunch special - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

I have been a frequent customer of Mercado, and have seen the expansion of Mercado across LA Mecca. With growth I have seen changes in quality and quantity of food. Unfortunately over time, I have seen the quality and food gone down hill some. For entree, we ordered the filet mignon tacos for 24 dollars. The entree only came with two small tacos that I would envisioned as an appetizer in happy hour. Seems quite small for price. Plus the taste of the tacos was a bit salty. If the tacos was not salty, I would see it as a good happy hour meal at a lower price. We also ordered guacamole which was sixteen dollars. The guacamole was good with fresh avocados but a bit pricey. The appetizer came with chips and salsa. Beyond food we sampled the margaritas. The flaca margarita, reduced calories with agave, for nine dollars on happy hour was ok but lacked a solid taste. The original margarita at eight dollars in happy hour was spot on. The Jamaica margarita was off in taste for nine dollars at happy hour and tasted like a sweet tart . We returned this as did not taste like it normally did. As for service, our waiter did a great job. Unfortunately presentation on arrival was not great. We went through multiple plates at table that were dirty and then other places presented to us were not clean. Cleanliness is key in service. Overall we were disappointed by food and cleanliness. We expect more from a place that we have visited for a while over the years across Los Angeles. read more

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Amazing!! Super cute and trendy restaurant. My friends and I came here for an early dinner on Saturday night and we enjoyed it so much! We got an order of the guacamole for the table to share. Was seasoned so well. Chips were warm & fresh! I ordered the filet mignon tacos. I couldn't believe how tender the meat was. And I'm still thinking about that tortilla!! The tortilla tasted homemade and was so delicious. I was able to replace the beans with elote - which is a must. I also got a Modelo michelada and it was amazing. Service was excellent. Would definitely come back here!! read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Delicious food and great drinks! Perfect for a date night out. Not overly crowded at all. Service is good too! Tucked away in manhattan beach outdoor shopping mall. Low key, romantic lighting and good experience all around. Ordered carnitas plate. The cheese and guacamole appetizer are too good! So tasty. Get it! Dessert we ordered flan read more

Been here twice. First time a while ago, sat at the bar and paid 100 bucks for a couple of premade mix whiskey sours. I liked them tho and the bartender was pretty cool and attentive. Decided to go last night again after work with some coworkers for drinks and some food. We asked to sit in the patio cuz we liked the vibe and dark ambiance. Super cool setting. My first drink was a whiskey sour which I didn't like. Chunks of egg and way too much lemon juice. Fresh but not properly made cocktail. For my next 3 rounds I switched to an old fashioned which is much simpler and easier to make. Can't mess that up. For food I ordered the filet fajitas. Not surprised at all, I ended up adding a bunch of salt to pretty much the whole plate. Absolutely nothing special about it. Real simple sautéed veggies and steak. Accompanied by a mini scoop of guac, black beans, rice and Pico de gallo. I should've gone with their skirt steak which my friend got, said it was good. Their alcohol is really pricey. Modelo beer goes for $9 dollars. Maker's mark $17, $18 to make it an old fashioned. I think those are some high prices honestly. At least Ivan, I believe was his name, was pretty cool. Down to earth and chill guy. Friendly and attentive. 3 stars thanks to him. read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Filet Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

I must say I was highly impressed from the hibiscus margarita and enjoyed my steak be shrimp fajitas. The shrimp were giant as well. The service was great definitely coming back read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

I've been to Mercado a few times now for happy hours, meetups with friends, or dates. It's a cool spot that accommodates various types of hang outs. The service is always pretty good. I usually order their Mole Enchiladas because I have a major mole addiction. Anything mole, I'm immediately satisfied. Their margaritas are yummy too, fyi! read more

Love love love the tacos from Mercado. Highly recommend the pescado, steak and pork tacos. The interior is chic and inviting. The booths are comfy and spacious. I've also sat outside on the patio at the bar - very nice on a summer afternoon. This place doesn't get too busy, but I'd recommend making a reservation in case it's necessary. Polite and thoughtful service. Never had an issue and dishes seem to consistently come out quick enough. Generous amount of nearby - free - parking in the lot or garage. Will be back again soon! read more

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We went to Mercado in Manhattan Beach to celebrate a birthday and it was honestly one of the most disappointing dining experiences we've had in a long time. What makes it worse is that this is not our first time with Mercado. We've been fans since the original location near The Grove and have been coming to this South Bay location for a while. We used to order takeout and dined in regularly and in the past the experience was much better. Unfortunately, that is clearly no longer the case. The service was atrocious from start to finish. We waited far too long for everything, including drinks. A single Tecate took about 30 minutes to arrive, which set the tone for the rest of the night. Nobody checked on us, nobody seemed attentive and we spent way too much of the evening just sitting there waiting. The food was equally bad. The carnitas nachos came out cold. The steak taco was rubbery. The fish tacos were incredibly dry. The birthday fajitas were also dry and underwhelming. For a place at this price point, there is really no excuse for food coming out like this. The overall atmosphere also felt off. What used to feel lively and welcoming now felt neglected and poorly managed. It was especially frustrating because this was supposed to be a birthday dinner and instead it turned into a long, overpriced, disappointing experience. It genuinely breaks my heart to write this because we have a long history with Mercado, but after this visit, we're done. There are too many better options in the South Bay to spend this kind of money on bad food, bad service and an overall miserable experience. read more

Always a great spot. Got the fish tacos and they were so full of flavor. Service is always great and you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu - it's all so good read more

Mercado Manhattan Beach - Tacos de Pescado - Mexican Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

My husband and I visited Mercado on a Saturday night, and even without a reservation, we were seated right away. We chose to sit on the enclosed patio near the fireplace, which was warm and inviting--perfect for a cozy dining experience. I started with the Blueberry Lavender Margarita and the guacamole appetizer. The margarita was delicious and strong, just the way I like it! The guacamole was fresh and flavorful, served with crispy chips and a smoky chipotle salsa that was absolutely amazing. I had to stop myself from filling up on them before dinner! For my main course, I ordered the Dos Gringas taco plate, and it did not disappoint. The flavors were incredible, and I was honestly mad that I couldn't finish everything! Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience--great service, delicious food, and a welcoming atmosphere. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Zero stars I was just there with my family four adults and toddler we waited 10 minutes and were not offered water. And before the feed goes insane four tables that we could see got seated after us got water at least got water. I won't be back read more

Mercado has always been one of my favorite spots for sit down style Mexican food, but surprisingly I had never been to my local Manhattan Beach location! I really like the ambiance of the restaurant and the service was pretty good, although they never refilled the water :( The star of the night was actually the Tres Leches Cake we had for dessert, it was soooo good, I highly recommend it! I always get the Choriqueso as an app, but it wasn't as great as I remembered, still good though. Below is everything we tried: 4.5 - Cauliflower al Pastor Tacos: tons of flavor, pretty good, but missing a little spice. 4/5 - Enchiladas de Pollo en Mole Oaxaqueno: pretty satisfying, definitely recommend it if you're a fan of mole. 3.5/5 - Choriqueso: not bad, definitely feeling, and Ilove the cheesy fondue type texture. 5/5 - Tres Leches Cake: just perfect tres leches cake, if you like desserts or tres leches cake, this is a must try! Food: 4.25/5 Service: 3.5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Value: 3.5/5 Overall: 4/5 read more

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