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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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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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

Ambiance: Have our reservations during lunch hour and restaurant was probably 20% capacity. We were not allowed to take our table until full party was present. We were giving a choice to wait outside in the HEAT or order drinks at the bar. It was reservation of 6 and two were about 5 minutes late. We ordered agua fresca of the day and guacamole. The agua fresca was room temperature even with ice in it. It was an insult specially for that price with no refill! Guacamole was good. Then we got out table and took our drinks and guacamole to the table because we paid for them and the waiter was not happy about it making a face when he found out that we didn't ordered from him. From them the service got worst. The waiter offered the chef specials and one member of our party asked for the set lunch menu and the waiter gave us face and asked us if the host gave us that part of the menu and we all replied no. He took a deep breath and left to get the menu and only gave us two small menus for all to share. We had to take turns to read the menu and decide what we wanted. Gave us a couple of minutes and came back to ask if we were ready. The restaurant still about 60 percent empty. Rude and in a hurry asked us if we were ready. We placed our orders and we were not informed that there was no substitutes or changes for that menu still with some attitude. I personally was not feeling welcome there. The food look good. Unfortunately it was SALTY so I don't know if the chef cook it that way or extra salt was put on our food. The carnitas sandwich was super salty and the salad dressing the same. Fish tacos, rice and black beans also salty. Looks like the steak tacos were ok. Now the tortillas look freshly made there. They were thick and to my taste cold and undercooked. NEVER eat a taco in a cold undercooked tortilla. Then it was time for dessert. He spoke low when mentioned sherbet/sorbet and he corrected our pronunciation. It looks like he was not happy working there that day and decided to make us pay for his misery. To top it off 18% was automatic added for his service. Plus yu need to pay for parking. read more

Came here for happy hour and loved every bit of it! Easy to walk in and opening of indoor/outdoor seating. We ordered: + DOS GRINGAS: 2 Al pastor tacos on flour tortilla - good but just a bit salty + CARNITAS NACHOS: my favorite thing here! Tortilla chips with carnitas, beans, queso, guacamole & pickled veggies. Perfect for sharing. I used to go to Mercado a few years back and forgot about the happy hour until now & will definitely be visiting more! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Dos Gringas, Carnitas Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Food & service are great here. The only issue is finding parking. Their house-made corn tortillas are amazing & food is fresh, especially the branzino (off menu) & carnitas with corn tortillas, and their queso. Drinks + mocktails are great & happy hour menu is good too - the carnitas nachos are a must. This place always slaps. 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

Food: 4.5 out of 5 (easily) Service: 5 strong out of 5 Atmosphere: 3.5/4.0 (benefit of the doubt) My Cousin recommended this location. We were finally able to give Mercado Pasadena a shot. **Reservations are a MUST** Sat. Evening dinner, only waited 4 mins, with our reservation. We were seated in a nice booth between the kitchen line and the front entrance. The view was nice, if you like to watch the food exit the window from the kitchen to the front. Our server advised us of the drinks of the day, and we ordered the 1st 2 he suggested (one non-alcoholic for me). We both enjoyed them. We ordered 3 appetizers~ (2) scallop & 1 guacamole & chips. The scallops were very nice, with the spicy puree, fresh sautéed carrots & zucchini, and caramelized potato puree!! Very flavorful, nice presentation, an overall well above average appetizer. Guac.: The onions were too large and chunky for a bowl of guacamole. Maybe a bit too many onions took away from the star (avocado) of the appetizer to shine. I love onions, but this was overwhelming. [My humble opinion] He suggested 2 specials of the day and we took him up on the offer and ordered them both. My wife had the Sea Bass and I had the 16 oz. ribeye. Both came with their own flavorful sauce and side of veggies. My steak was cooked to temp (med-rare) and her sea bass arrived with a beautiful crispy skin that totally complimented the flakey, white fish. We would recommend both. The steak was well seasoned and the flavor matched the perfect grill marks. All in all, order the Sea Bass if you are in the mood for flavorful fish, cooked properly. Dessert: Okay, this is the tricky part. The reason we even came in to try the Mercado Pasadena, was for their flan. I joked with my wife and asked her, 'Wouldn't it be funny if the flan wasn't that good?' I know, my bad, I spoke entirely out off line. It came with a nice liqueur sauce, fresh berries, cream, and a sprig of mint. The edges were the perfect consistency, but the further you dug into the flan, the softer/runny center was exposed. So, if you like your flan firm all the way through, good luck. Maybe it was a 2nd rate batch that was under baked. If this is the way it is supposed to be served, then I give it a 2. We at all the edges, all the way around and left the soft, runny center. It was a solid 20% good. There that's my opinion. Because our server provided such a professional and pleasant service, it made our overall dinner experience a very SOLID 4.5 out of 5 We shall return. Thank you for the pleasant experience. $$$** Our check for the evening: $195. read more

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We made the trip down to go to William Sonoma and walked by this place and decided to try it for lunch. Husband and I just wanted something to share since we had a big dinner plans. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by a super friendly gentleman and seated us right away. He made recommendations on what to order and also let us know the popular dishes. Ordered the carnitas nachos and the ceviche. The carnitas were so good and perfectly cooked with the right amount of chips and toppings. The cheese sauce was so delicious and came with pickled jalapeños. The ceviche was bomb, a definite must order. Don't just pass by this place, try it! The restaurant is placed at such a cute location. Plenty of seats inside and outside. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Nachos de Carnitas Brunch - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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First time at Mercado Pasadena and it was wonderful! The ceviche negro was fresh with great texture, and the Dos Gringas taco was outstanding -- tender pork, Oaxaca cheese, flavorful salsas, all wrapped in a slightly crispy handmade tortilla. The flan was creamy and indulgent, the perfect sweet ending. What impressed me most was the service -- warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming even though I was dining alone. Food 4, service 5. I'll definitely be back. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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

We normally go to the Mercado in Hollywood (which we love) but received a gift certificate to this location. Parking was not close and not free, but it was a nice enough night to walk from the lot. 4/5 - Carne Asada: marinated skirt steak, guacamole, Yxta salsa brava, cebollita, calabacitas, queso fresco mashed potatoes, tortillas 4/5 - Flan: Really good 4/5 - Carnitas: Chef Jose's slow-cooked natural pork, guacamole, Yxta salsa brava, pico de gallo, cauliflower al pastor, cilantro, tortillas 4/5 - Surf and Turf Tacos: 1 filet taco and one lobster taco. 3/5 - Choriqueso: I normally love this when we get it in Hollywood... Maybe they make it differently? Melted cotija, parmesan, oaxaca cheese, white wine, mushroom-chorizo, poblanos, fresh chips 3/5 - Pulpo al Pastor: Spanish octopus, pastor marinade, grilled pineapple, grilled onions, cauliflower, lime aioli, crispy cilantro Food came out to 3.7 stars. The service was good, so I will round it up to 4 stars. read more

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Really cute location and vibe. Definitely grab yourself a seat outside on the patio for maximum ambiance. I got a reservation for Friday at 7pm because I'm extra (extra anxious, that is!) and it wasn't even needed. Parking was surprisingly easy to find and plentiful (we parked in the back lot on shopper's lane) but there was a decent amount of street parking available too - I just don't want to chance another strict Pas meter maid hitting us with a violation. The food's good but man, is it SALTY. We got the appetizer dip duo and all of us really loved the mushroom choriqueso. That one knocked it out of the park for the table. The guac was good, chunky, and fresh. The chips were unlimited and had that salty, extra crunchy bite. We tried the lobster tacos and the fish of the day (striped bass over elote and calabacitas). The lobster tacos fell apart one bite in and had sooooo much cheese, I lost the lobster! But we dropped some guac on here and they were fine. The bass was good, very fresh and seasoned more lightly than anything else, which was a nice change. The elote didn't really live up to my expectations - I guess I just prefer street elote and there's nothing wrong with that. The calabacitas were okay - just something to put on the plate to finish the dish. Would have preferred some Mexican rice tbh. My friends enjoyed their meals (cauliflower tacos and enchiladas) and tried the drinks of the night (pineapple margarita). The margarita looked gorgeous and disappeared quickly, so I'd say it was well-received. Service was thorough, friendly, and quick but would've loved some more water for our table. This is how I know the food was super salty - we were all chugging water and waiting desperately for the refill! read more

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

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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

Excellent food and wonderful service. Our waiter, Michael, was cheerful and knowledgeable about the menu. He was attentive to our needs and made our dinning experience top notch. We started with the chips and guacamole which were fresh and flavorful! We had the Cadillac and watermelon margarita both were nice. My sister had the fish tacos and I had the filet tacos. Both were absolutely delicious. Do yourself a favor and stop by for a meal. We will definitely be back aga read more

Mercado - Pasadena - The filet tacos. Yummy! - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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

Been here twice. Their food is pretty good Mexican food. They are very expensive though for what you get. They don't offer complimentary chips and salsa - they charged us $5 for them. Not very big portions and overpriced meals. They also tack on a surcharge. The food is really good, nice atmosphere, and service is good! 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

Been coming here on and off for years and the prices don't match the service. Waiter doesn't come by to ask if we need anything , got our order wrong , no refill , no check , no to go boxes . Gosh dang !! the service sucked like ridiculously ! Also - they note , if you want the random 3% surcharge to be removed they will accommodate so when I asked for it to be removed the mgr or whoever gave a whole lecture why they charge . Ok, just keep the 3%. . Never coming back read more

Dessert Dessert Dessert The food isn't bad which is why this is a 4. Or 5 star. But OMG is the dessert chef here on point. My family will eat elsewhere for dinner and routinely come here for the dessert which is also consistently offering new options. The cocktails are also very nice. read more

We came here to honor El Arco Iris (heartbroken this had been shut down in Eagle Rock in York) because we heard it was ran by the grandchildren of the people who ran El Arco. It is located in a very nice area of Pasadena, the environment is very clean, feels kinda swanky. Definitely different than El Arco, but I'm not upset about it. I ordered the Carne Asada and subbed out the sides for two orders of rice (I love my rice). My best friend ordered the carnitas. We also got the chips and guacamole. Everything was amazing. A little disappointed we had to pay to get chips and salsa (the guac was incredible I do have to say). But we came during happy hour so the drink were $5 including the spicy margarita for my friend, who said it was legitimately the best margarita she had ever had. She got two. The food was also amazing. My steak was so tasty, the rice delicious. They also make their corn tortillas house-sooo good! They're soft and thick. Everything was amazing, we left feeling so satisfied. Also, our waitress, Sam, was incredible. She was so attentive, explained things thoroughly, gave her suggestions. She was incredible and needs a raise! She knows how to keep her customers happy :) Definitely spent a pretty penny, but we wanted to treat ourselves and we sure did. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Carne Asada with two sides of Mexican rice - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Mercado is an upscale modern Mexican restaurant located in the South Lake area of Pasadena. It's in a nice small courtyard with a few restaurants like Uovo, SugarFish and Dan, so it's great to have so many choices. There is usually some street parking but there is a parking structure behind. The service was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is relaxed and the decor is modern with some nice artwork on the walls. The special margarita was blood orange, very good and the aqua fresca was watermelon and cantaloupe, good melon flavor esp the cantaloupe cause I'm a fan. We started with the Dip Duo, queso with mushroom chorizo and guacamole with chips. The chips were freshly fried, crisp and light. The star dip was the queso, next time will have to get a gallon of that stuff. The chicken mole enchilada was good, mole a little too sweet for me, but overall very tasty. The camarones al ajillo were huge, well cooked, a little spicy but the surprise was the fresh baked ciabatta bread, very light and tender. We shared a flan, very rich and worth the calories. Overall the experience was fun and the food great, definitely a step above the other local Mexican cuisine places. 5 stars. read more

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So cute for a date night with your special someone or your friends! The area surrounding the restaurant was so lively and fun, and the restaurant itself had great date vibes. Loved our kind server and the extensive menu. We ordered the guac to start (delish) and I ordered the chicken enchiladas and my husband got the special Mexican burger of the night. He said it was the best burger he's truly eaten. My enchiladas were yummy, a little sweet, but excited to try other menu items next time we come! Their spicy mango marg was YUM, too! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Enchiladas de Pollo en Mole Oaxaqueno - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

GREAT MEXICAN FOOD AND SERVICE ON LAKE AVENUE ============================================= My husband and I met our friend for her birthday lunch last Thursday, September 28, 2023 and we all loved everything. First of all the service was excellent from beginning to end from the hostess at the beginning to our servers along the way. I ordered a spicy margarita with cucumber and it was excellent. It tasted great and I could tell they didn't skimp on the tequila. Our friend told us they have a good happy hour that I definitely need to check out. It's my birthday month, so I am going to have to get my husband to go back. We shared the guacamole, salsa and chips and we all loved those. My husband, aka the guacamole snob who makes his own, loved it which is saying a lot. The chips were warm and delicious too. I am so glad we ordered those. We all ordered tacos which were great. I chose the fish tacos which were really good. I can't remember which ones our friend ordered, but they were most likely beef. My husband loved his chicken tinga tacos. I am so happy he liked everything, because if he doesn't like a meal we will most likely never return. That's just how Mr. Picky rolls. It was our friend's birthday so she chose the flan which looked good. My husband ordered his own vanilla and churro ice cream. I was committed to not eating any, but it was so good I had to indulge in a couple bites. We will definitely go back again. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - The spicy margarita with cucumber is so good. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Went here last night for happy hour first time here the place is nice lots of people restaurant and bar. We had tostada and cheese dip it was so good we had to order twice of the tostada. Drank a couple of drinks! Like it here and will be back! read more

Excellent restaurant. I definitely recommend this place!! Happy hour is wonderful. Staff especially nice and helpful!

The food was good, but the manager's attitude completely soured the experience. We ordered guacamole, entrees, and drinks and spent well over $100. When we asked for the check, I asked if we could get a small bag of chips to go. Our server was happy to help, but the manager stepped in and said we would need to be charged for it. I've gotten chips to-go in the past, so it was a bit of a surprise, and the interaction felt petty and unfriendly. The charge itself was not the issue. The manager's attitude overshadowed what would have otherwise been an enjoyable meal. read more

Really like the menu and the customer service of this place. Tasty Mexican, even for vegetarians. I had the coliflor tacos and they had a delicious sauce and fresh veggies on the side. Nice outdoor patio and yummy drinks. The menu has a lot of fresh and healthy options. Parking in the back or on the street. On Lake in Pasadena. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The food was AMAZING. We got the filet steak tacos and lobster tacos, WOW! The flavors were perfect and steak melted in your mouth. Very nice, quick, knowledgeable service. 5/5 stars read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Guacamole and queso duo - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Super cute places tucked away on Lake with a nice vibe. Popped in after work and told my friends to order for me. I had jicama wrapped tuna and shrimp Tacos. So delicious and flavorful. Perfect place for a date or after work happy hour. Lots of structure parking nearby. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Jicama wrapped fried shrimp tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Very solid restaurant that serve quality food Ambiance (5/5): Decently nice decor with high energetic vibes but not over the top where you cant hear each other talk. Excellent for casual gathering with friends. Service (4/5): Just did the bare minimum. Straight to the point. Nice staffs. Food (4/5): Highlight was definitely the shrimp and carne asada. - The carne asada was delicious. Nice and juicy. The only small critique is that I felt it was burnt on the bottom (not talking about the grill marks), but to others, it may be considered a "beautiful char" so i'll leave it as that. - Shrimp was cooked to perfection. Loved the sauce. Pairs great with the bread. Pineapple with the rice was questionable for me. But to each their own. - Surf and turf tacos were alright. Not sure why they need to leave the skewer stick with the steak inside a taco that's meant to just be picken up and eaten. Meat was buried underneath a lot of garnish and the room isn't the brightest so I can imagine it being a safety hazard if someone starving unknowingly grabs it and devours it. - Fish of the day was mediocre. Id skip it. A bit dry. Overall I would definitely come back with friends just to eat the shrimp and carne asada. Excited to try other things on the menu next time! read more

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I had not been here since before the pandemic. I wasn't sure that the food would still be as good, but any doubt I had was erased when the first dish came out. The food was even better than what I remember. We had several of their dishes (we shared) and it was all so delicious. And the service from everyone, host, servers, bartenders, was exceptional. I am looking forward to my next friend gathering being held there. This place is definitely a must! read more

Been here several times. Drinks are so refreshing and tasty! Food is good although a little pricey. Low key vibe. Service is good, too. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Flor de Jamaica is my go to drink. So good! - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Best place for service, ambiance, & Mexican food w often a healthy spin!! Yum capirotada, churro ice cream & their version of tres leches. read more

I usually don't leave reviews, but the atmosphere at the host stand really set the tone for the rest of the experience. An older gentleman who appeared to be a manager came across extremely intense and curt when speaking to both guests and staff. It made the environment feel uncomfortable and tense before we were even seated. Customer service starts at the front, and unfortunately the interaction felt more cold and dismissive than welcoming. read more

The experience felt disappointing from start to finish. The restaurant already seemed poorly maintained with old patio furniture and cleanliness concerns, and then there was an unexpected 3% surcharge added to the bill that wasn't clearly explained beforehand. Hidden fees on top of an uncomfortable dining environment left a bad impression. read more

Unfortunately the restaurant did not feel clean or well cared for. The patio area had rats nearby while customers were eating, which was very unsettling. The outdoor seating and furniture were also old, unstable, and visibly dirty. It made the whole dining experience uncomfortable. read more

I am sorry but $38 for two margaritas and $250 for 3 average meals and just 2 drinks is way too much. I won't go back again. On top of that they charge you a 3% additional FORCED fee "to offset rising prices". I guess $19.00 for a margarita is just not covering the rising costs. read more