AMAZING !! My top favorite food items would have to be the dip trio!!! It's a must !!! And all the cocktails are yummy ! My favorite is the Jamaica one ! Also the ribeye is a must !!! The pasta is okie . Not amazing. The tacos are yummy. But the main star is dip trio and ribeye. !!! (: the service is super good too ! Highly recommend trying this place. My favorite guacamole in LA read more

Great clean and truly delicious food, the service was fantastic and the vibe is very nice. We love Mercado and we will be back . read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Pasadena. I've always had a good experience here, particularly on the outdoor patio which is a nice place to relax in the late afternoon. The guacamole is great, as is the tacos de pescado a nice combination of white fish, lime cream and chili sauce. The chicken in the enchiladas de pollo just melts off the fork. I'd also recommend getting a side of the Calabacitas which is a combination of grilled zucchini, onions, and tomatoes with a nice flavor. The staff is very friendly and let's you take your time, the happy hour also has some great deals. Highly recommended. read more

I always drive by Mercado on my way home and finally tried it this weekend.. I wish I tried it sooner! First, I got the Mint Lemonade and it was sooo good and refreshing! It also comes with 1 free refill which is nice cause most places would charge you for something that isn't considered a "fountain drink". My family shared some guacamole and chips - that didn't disappoint either! The guacamole had a nice flavor to it, the chips were fresh, and we enjoyed the salsa also! My husband and I shared the Camarones Al Ajillo and the Carne Asada. I really enjoyed both of the dishes. They both were cooked really well, and even the bread that came with the shrimps was really good too! The service was really fast and our waitress was really kind and attentive. The host we had was really kind as well! Will definitely be back! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Camarones al Ajillo - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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First timer 100/100 Came to celebrate my anniversary. Meet a lovey waitress named Crystal who explained sweetly how everything is fresh and made daily . Lets start with the cocktails ,all the juices are made daily you can taste the freshness and smoothness of the drink ,super enjoyable I really enjoyed a Jamaica Margarita & Cadillac margarita,so glad I did, I haven't had a fresh cocktail in a while ,hard to find in your local restaurants. I had to order the Mole enchiladas 10/10 From the sauce light not heavy or over sauced chocolate or spice ,it meet the level of perfect flavor. I love me a good Flan and I have to say this definitely is what a fresh well made Flan tastes Like,the texture was just right . Service was excellent. I have to say one of my best places ,Great food ,fresh cocktails and great service with beautiful art and ambience. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu . read more

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I do not recommend this Mercado location. Manager was a fool, we ordered over 150$ only on food and ordered 2 double shots of vodka. They cut us off from ordering alcohol after 2 double shots. read more

This place is happening! Heat lamps for the tables outside. Higher tables to the right of the bar inside and regular tables to the left. Reservations help. Highly recommend the jicama shrimp tacos- they're surprisingly light, healthy, tasty. Service was great, especially given how busy they were with a weekday dinner crowd. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Jicama Shrimp Tacos Watermelon, cantaloupe, grapefruit agua fresca Elote - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Mercado has multiple locations across Southern California including Hollywood, Manhattan Beach, and this one in Pasadena. This location is in The Commons shopping mall with other restaurants and shops. We came here for happy hour (Monday through Thursday 4-6:30pm and Friday through Sunday 4-6pm). We ordered their mercado margarita ($9) which were decent. This location is not super big and is a little narrow. The food is on the pricier side but the happy hour is not bad. read more

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One of my friends raves about Mercado as it's her go to spot for margaritas and cocktails so we decided to do a little girls day trip here for a mid day snack. After dining here the groups consensus is Mercado falls somewhere between 3.5-4 stars. There were some things done well and others that need a little improvement. Overall we were happy we tried it but there are a lot of Mexican restaurants in Pasadena, we have more to see. The pros: Margaritas live up to that hype! Delicious and refreshing. Perfect ratio of tequila and mix. Simple in their presentation but done well and tasty. We had a nice variety of margaritas and everyone liked theirs. I went with the classic house margarita and it hit the spot. 4.5/5 for flavor. My friends got a skinny margarita and a strawberry marg, both said their drinks were great. Food overall was pretty good, just pricey. Since we were snacking and not having full on meals per say we tried little apps or smaller plates/sides. I went with the guacamole appetizer and it hit the spot. 5/5. I know guacamole isn't that exciting but when done right with some fresh homemade tortilla strips it's a dip that always hits the spot. The guacamole was generous and the chips were super hot, fresh, and crispy. Yum. My friend got the veggie tacos and she liked them. My other friend got their elote side dish and while she liked it she did note it had a little too much spice. Overall I think the food and drinks here are solid. Room for improvement was service / pacing. First off I do want to mention our waiter was super nice and friendly! Once he began service I felt he was very nice and attentive. So no complaints once he got going and he was very personable and on top of things during/after our meal. My critiques with service were just that we had to wait while before being acknowledged or having our orders taken. In fairness it seemed a bit busy and the patio was almost full so it's not like people weren't hustling. But even the small gesture of an acknowledgment or waters helps. We waited what felt like a bit to place orders but once our waiter started he did great. Something weird with the meal/service was the pacing....our food came out before our cocktails and before our waters! Lol. So odd. That's a first. The literal order we receive everything was - Dishes/food, close behind was our margs, and a while after glasses of water. Probably this alone is what had me contemplating 3 stars BUT food and drinks were good and staff nice. Just a toss up here. Lastly this place is a little more of an elevated Mexican dining spot so prices reflect this. I'll happily pay extra $$ for amazing food and service. But in fairness, my bill came to about $35 for guacamole/chips and one house margarita. At this price point and the little quirks with our meal I do have other Mexican restaurants I'd recommend before this one but definitely glad we checked out it. Ending this review feeling torn but generous to give them 4 stars. There is potential and the food/drinks were good. Come see for yourself and enjoy their covered outdoor patio! read more

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Love their filet mignon tacos, dip trio, and Jamaica ! Service is good, ambience is not super fancy but nicer than some.

Food & service are great here. The only issue is finding parking. Their house-made corn tortillas are amazing & food is fresh, especially the branzino & carnitas fish with tortillas. Drinks are great & happy hour is good too. read more

Came to Mercado for dinner with my team & absolutely loved it! I know they have a location in Santa Monica and one here in Pasadena (closer to me). We came on a Wednesday & it was not too busy. The food was so yummy -- a bit on the pricier end for sure. I ordered the Camarones al Ajillo and shared a few appetizers with my co workers. My favorite appetizers were the guacamole + mushroom chori queso, and also the Mexican kale salad. Would I come back? Mayhaps. This is a great option for high scale Mexican food in the area :-) I will be back soon! read more

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The food was excellent. Pricey. Service was good. Only complaint is waited an hour to be seated (Monday). Word of advice, make a reservation. Beautiful restaurant. Loved the trendy lamps and the Mexican Dia De Los Muertos art. Nice bar and delicious cocktails. I would return again. read more

A wonderful place to visit and enjoy the outdoor ambiance with family & friends. There's a courtyard view with heaters for the cooler evenings. Our group didn't really care for the avocado sticker spotted inside the guacamole but everything was pretty delicious. The mushroom fondu dip was so addicting our group ordered 4 as it comes in a small soup cup. Happy hour available! The chicken was perfectly cooked. The other dishes were average but loved the fresh tortillas. Drinks were great! Flan was one of the best! Service was attentive. Parking garage is about two blocks away and street parking has two hr limit. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Such a tasty spot! I enjoyed the lunch special which includes appetizer, main and dessert. First chips and salsa. Chips are homemade, served warm and extra crunchy. Their guac is some of the best I've ever had! Next I had filet mignon tacos. Now I was worried because upon serving I noticed meat was one large slab per taco. Not chopped as typical asada is. Once I folded and bit into it, I found no problems . It was delicious. Tortilla was homemade as well. I thought the lunch was great value for the money. Per usual I over ate on chips and salsa so I had a nice sized to go box which I'm pretty stoked about. Go try this place out. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Filet tacos - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Tacos are amazing but heavy drink menu. Service was nice. Sis not live all the dishes. Atmosphere is nice. Like the booths.

I came here for my anniversary lunch with my parents. This was our first time eating here. It was pretty empty around 1 PM on a Saturday. We were given a brunch menu so it didn't have all the items I was expecting to see from the dinner menu. They don't serve chips and salsa. For our app, we got a ceviche tropical. For some reason they modified it from the menu version which was confusing. We were four people and it only came with 3 tostadas. When this happens, usually the waitress would mention this when ordering. I asked for one more tostada and then she charged us for an extra order of 3 which wasn't cool. The ceviche was on the smaller side despite being $25 and had wayyyyy tooo much lime. The manager stopped by and wished us happy anniversary and then said we could also get enchiladas from the dinner menu at brunch. My mom and I tried ordering chicken enchiladas verde style. My dad got fish tacos and my husband got a breakfast burrito. The waitress was so confused during the entire process. Our enchiladas really threw her off for some reason. She and some other waitress came by and asked several times whether we wanted mole or verde sauce and we wanted Mexican or cilantro lime rice. I was worried the entrees would come out incorrectly but they didn't. The food was decent though everything skewed on the more citrus side. I was thinking they would give us something for our anniversary since the manager came by and the waitress mentioned it but we got nothing. Food was okay and service was meh. read more

I was craving their Enchiladas (Suizas) and came for a quick brunch. Food was great, and their agua frescas are yummy (today was cantaloupe and guava). Had the guava and chips before and that is a definite must. Staff is amazing, including Michael (our server) who was friendly, insightful with his recommendations and an all around awesome person. Glad I came again! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Enchiladas Suizas. Try their mole version. This is still good, but prefer the mole one as the verde one is a bit tangier. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Sadly i didnt take photos but i must say the food was 10/10. Drinks were excellent: Tangerine marg was incredible and quite stiff. Super refreshing 10/10 Bloody mary 10/10 Tried both types of ceviche 10/10 fresh and great flavor Chips and guac 10/10 really love their tortilla chips also had the mushroom queso it was yummy Fish tacos were fresh and delicious 10/10 Side of corn was good 7/10 Tacos al pastor 10/10 Chile relleno 8/10 Mole enchiladas 7/10 Would definitely recommend! Oh the service was very good too. read more

Great ambiance and excellent service. I had the cucumber salad with chicken--it was delicious, with a light, sweet, and tart dressing that I loved. My friend enjoyed the ahi tuna tacos. My jamaica drink was so-so, not as sweet and tart as I prefer. I wouldn't order it again. Overall, my consensus is that I'd definitely come back as the food was of quality and very yummy. read more

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Mercado remains a reliable heavy hitter for Mexican-inspired cuisine in Pasadena. The space is still as stunning as ever, providing the perfect backdrop for a meal that--for the most part--hits all the right notes. The Standouts: * The Octopus: Still the star of the show. It's as perfectly executed as I remembered. * Gringa Quesadilla & Shrimp Tacos: Both were flavor-packed and highly satisfying. * The Essentials: You can tell a lot by the basics; the guacamole was delicious and the chips were notably fresh. The Letdown: * Tuna Tacos: These were the only disappointment in an otherwise stellar lineup. They just didn't live up to the standard set by the rest of the table. The Verdict: Service was sharp and attentive, which only added to the experience. Even with the slight stumble on the tuna, Mercado is still a must-visit. read more

We ordered the Carnitas plate, which was not on the lunch menu but was available. The carnitas was cooked perfectly and excellent. The cauliflower medley was very good . The plate comes with tortillas so make sure you order the homemade corn tortillas. We also had the guacamole and chips and the guacamole was very good and the chips were hot. For dessert we had churros. It came with two different sauces. Staff came to our tables several times. Excellent service and will be returning. Patio seating is available. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Carnitas plate - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Brunch was absolutely amazing !!! And their pineapple jalapeño whatever that cocktail was I had a bunch of lol I got the chilaquiles. Usually for dinner I get the shrimp plate it's to die for ! read more

First time trying this restaurant and very happy with what we ordered . The food was yummy and the presentation was so nice ! The service was really good and the server was so friendly and helpful. A very nice ambiance! Wish I had taken pics of my food .. next time ! read more

Great elevatated, modern mexican food that is constanty consistence and taste amazing. And all of their staffs are great! Love this place. So if you like quieter, I would recommend that you sit outside on the patio, they have cover and heating in the fall and winter months so you are not cold. Just a lovely place. read more

By far, this is our favorite Mexican restaurant. Lovely atmosphere, friendly, helpful, attentive staff, and delicious food. My favorites are the house margaritas and the carnitas. Best I've ever had. read more

As a local, Mercado is hands down one of our favorite places to eat. The food is consistently amazing, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared every single time. Everything on the menu is delicious, and you can truly taste the care that goes into each dish. The staff is just as wonderful as the food. Everyone is always so kind, welcoming, and attentive, which makes every visit feel special. They make you feel like family. This has been one of my kids' favorite restaurants for years, and it's become a tradition for us. We've been coming here for a long time and it never disappoints. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an incredible meal and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. read more

I went here for an office dinner, and it was an enjoyable experience. Everyone who helped out during our dinner made it incredible. The servers helped out making sure everyone came out in time. The food here is strange but in a good way. I ordered the shrimp plate, the rice had some veggies and some lime giving it a savory taste. The bread thay came with it was some and buttery. Even though we were outside, it was nice and cozy. The tables had enough space for everyone who joined us. read more

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Every single dish from the warm chips and incredible guacamole to the bread pudding dessert with horchata ice cream was so so so yum. The service of the front host and server was also above par. They were very welcoming and checked in on us multiple times. We came in on a Friday night and the place was packed. Despite that, we were seated on time and served promptly. The server knew exactly what to recommend per our preferences and we were so happy with all of it. We ordered the scallops on a pan fried potato patty and asparagus and the seabass special on a bed of corn and the most perfect mango pico. The food was so fresh and they really seem like they have a great sense of flavors and ingredients that complement each other. The cocktails - a mezcal cucumber jalapeño and guava chile margaritas were both perfectly balanced. We asked for them to be slightly sweet and they listened (which is rare :)) Amazing. Would highly recommend and come back! read more

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We came to Mercado for an early Christmas dinner since my daughter was in town from out of state, and the experience turned out to be so much more meaningful than we expected. Kyle and Cassidy provided phenomenal service. From the moment we arrived, they were warm, attentive, and genuinely caring. Our family had recently gone through a very difficult situation, and without Kyle knowing any of that, she created such a welcoming and joyful atmosphere. Her kindness, attentiveness, and positive energy truly lifted our spirits and made the evening special. Cassidy was equally amazing--thoughtful, compassionate, and on top of everything. Together, they made us feel taken care of and allowed our family to have a wonderful meal. Great food is important, but incredible service like this is what turns a meal into a memory. Thank you, Kyle and Cassidy, for making our family's early Christmas dinner one we'll always remember. read more

It's good but not the best I have had. Drinks are not stingy on alcohol. Service is friendly and fast. The vibe is lively and date nightish. Parking lot behind the Commons that can be validated for a discount, but if you park across the street after 7pm you don't have to pay a penny! Now that all of the housekeeping is out of the way.. the food. We ordered the enchiladas rancheras, carnitas and sides of calabacitas and queso fresco mashed potatoes. Flavors are good but ambitious. The carnitas tasted like they were marinated and braised in piloncillo. I wish the carnitas plate would have come with rice & beans, but instead it came with a side of guacamole, pico de gallo and cauliflower al pastor (I didn't care for the smokey taste and super crunchy consistency). The pico was spicy; the guacamole good. I was a little thrown off by the sweet aftertaste of the carnitas. The real winner was the handmade corn tortillas. OMG.. next time I'll get tortillas with crema & queso fresco! The enchiladas were good but a little soggy. They fell apart the longer they sat. Didn't try dessert because we were full. Menu is pretty plentiful. read more

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Not your regular or typical Mexican restaurant. It is very Americanized. And that's not something I was looking for. Especially not for the price :( read more

Service and management have somehow gotten worse. This has been a regular stop for us. Bartenders and the chef are nice. The managers have been absolutely rude. Today the manager said you have to leave by 6:30 no explanation nothing, he had the waiter bring us the check and demanded and said time to go. Fathers Day service was horrible. Scratching this place permanently off the list. read more

Love the happy hour here! The skinny margaritas are so refreshing with the shrimp tacos and beef tacos. The shrimp tacos are wrapped in radish. The beef tacos are crispy! Both are my favorite! Happy hours runs on the weekends and are until 6:00 pm. read more

The food was delicious! Would recommend going there for small bites and drinks. The reason for the 4 star is that our table was forgotten for some time at the start and we couldn't get anyone's attention for a while to take our order. But I think that's because they were switching over from lunch to dinner and were busy with setting up. After that the service was great throughout the meal. I'd go back again to try it again when I have the chance! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Head over to Mercado in Pasadena for authentic Mexican cuisine with a side of fun! The chefs here and the artists in the kitchen made every dish like their love letter to food, using fresh, local ingredients, that jump off the plate. I came with a party of 6 humans and 2 doggos and I couldn't have had a better experience. We kicked things off with a mountain of chips and not one, but two dips, a salsa habanero with a punch of spice, and the yxta salsa brava, with a bold, cheesy, smoky taste. For the main event for myself, I ordered the Camarones al Ajillo. As a self-proclaimed lover of big shrimp - cue that iconic "Drake and Josh" episode (you know the one about their obsession with big shrimp) - this dish was a revelation. Plump, juicy shrimp seasoned with garlic butter paired with cilantro lime rice with just the right amount of zesty freshness, and a crunchy ciabatta, also perfect for sopping up every last drop of their heavenly sauce. Just when I thought my night couldn't get any better, and hey, it was a "treat myself" kind of night, I met my new true love: the Churro Ice Cream. I love anything that has cinnamon so I already love regular churros. They put my love for churros, cinnamon, and ice cream all together here to make a creamy and delicious ice cream. Consider my heart officially stolen. Our waiter was exceptional and always ensured we had more water because we sat outside. I even got a mosquito bite and they brought me a wedge of lemon to help it! Everyone is so friendly here. All in all, whether you're a big shrimp enthusiast or a want to be reincarnated as their churro ice cream, like me, Mercado is where you want to be then! I'm already counting down the days until my next visit! read more

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I would normally give them a 4 stars but my 5 pm reservation on Sunday experience became a 3. Guacamole and chips were 5 star but the carnitas tacos were so salty I couldn't eat it them. My dinner guests were fine with the salt level however. The scallops appetizer was really good but again a little salty. PS, the happy hour menu was a good value. As for the ambience, it ended up in disappointment. We were in the big booth near the kitchen, very nice for 6 people however half-way through the meal, we had to listen to banging and chopping as they were doing prep work. The staff told me the kitchen door wouldn't close so it really interfered with our dining experience. Too bad as I brought out of town NYC folks and was hoping to enjoy the scene at Mercado... Sitting out side might have been a better option. read more

Place was barely mediocre even before the health department shut it down last week. Oversalted, overpriced and under proportioned. Basically a poorly-managed trap for affluent neighborhood diners and after-work happy hour junkies who wouldn't know good Mexican food if it bit them on the ass. Go to Guisados instead. read more

The food quality isn't quite as consistent as it used to be, and the service feels a bit average. It seems the overall experience has declined compared to before, and the establishment could benefit from some improvements and upkeep. read more

First of all the city has the most bizarre idea of how to keep the restaurant businesses alive in this area. One hour parking and then you must move your car! Hadn't even got the check and had to scarf my food so I would't get a parking ticket on Lake street in front of restaurant. Ridiculous!!!! Ruined my lunch with an old friend because we had to rush out of there mid conversation and barely choking down the rest of our food. Wanted dessert but had to go somewhere else because when I tried to feed the meter it said I had to move to a different zone!!! WTF!!! I'm not a Pasadena resident, I was visiting and drove an hour through traffic from West Hollywood to get there. Totally disappointed in the entire experience!!!! Now on to the food and service..... really quick, short, non responsive staff. Time was 1:30pm so honestly the lunch rush was over but they must be short staffed because they never spent more than a few seconds at our table for order...questions...etc. I guess since we wanted WATER to drink they felt it wasn't worth spending any time as their alcoholic drinks would have added $30-$40 to the tab. I've had better beef tacos for a 3rd of the price at any taco truck in town! They were awful! Padded with soft potatoes I nearly choked on the dryness. My friend didn't finish her salad either. It looks like a high end Mexican restaurant, it's priced like a high end Mexican restaurant but it's the WORST Mexican meal I've EVER had in Los Angeles!!!! Hands down!!!! read more