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We came here before the ball game. We were not disappointed. Our server Efren was great! All recommendations he made Were on point! Everything was soo delicious! I am picky when it comes to Birria, but this one was soooo delicious! The Crudo Burrito was made just right! Very tasty The cocktail was Sooo delicious fruity and made Just right I can't wait to come Back and try more on the menu!
Love the casual vibe here. Easy to walk in without a reservation and get a spot, since the place is huge. An interesting drink menu almost the size of the food menu! Chips & Salsa: A classic starter. Neither salsa was particularly spicy. One of them tasted like smoked and puréed veggies, which was nice. Queso Fundido: A skillet with browned gooey cheese on top. Underneath is a a very thick layer of spiced ground meat. So much meat it's kinda like a shepherd's pie! You only get four corn tortillas with this, which doesn't seem sufficient given all the cheese and meat. Thankfully we had ample chips from the chips & salsa to redirect to the queso. Aquachile: A cute little ceviche dish with "raw" shrimp in a nice citrusy tangy sauce. I really liked how it was served with shrimp crackers and they would crackle when the shrimp and sauce was added on top. The ample amount of avocado was nice too, partially making up for the somewhat skimpy shrimp portion. Relleno: Really liked this dish. The eggy fried batter was perfect, nice and fluffy. Lots of cheesy inside the chili. And the fancy little mushrooms on top were a very nice touch. Elevated Mexican food the way it should be. Duck Enchiladas: I enjoyed the green sauce, which had a nice herbal flavor. However, the shredded duck didn't taste very duck-like to me. It honestly could have been swapped with pork carnitas and I wouldn't notice the difference. Also, wasn't a fan of the basic shredded lettuce on top, make it seem very Taco Bell like. Churros: Very crispy. I really enjoyed the fruit jam dip. The chocolate one was ok, but nothing like the dense rich chocolate you get with Spanish churros. Forgot to Clock Out: I was hoping the passionfruit and ginger beer would be more pronounced, but I barely tasted them. The smoky mezcal really dominated the flavor profile. While I have nothing against mezcal, it wasn't the right choice given the other more delicate ingredients. Is There Parking?: This was much more to my liking, with a very fruit-forward strawberry flavor profile. The tequila was a good choice to mesh well with the other ingredients.
Came here for a private party and wow it was incredible! Our host was so generous with an open bar and a ton of food, but the restaurant really delivered with food, service, and ambiance. I would totally come back for some tacos, drinks, and to host a party here too!
Flavors were top notch. Patofreido had a delicate crisp to it that complimented the creaminess of the dish. Only thing is that the portions felt small. The plátanos were like Mac & cheese balls but with a plantain, it was so good.
Came here for restaurant week, and wow was it a blast. I'm left surprised at why this place wasn't more full on a Saturday night, especially at their bars. The outside is an unassuming brick building, but inside was well furnished and combined traditional Mexican elements with modern decor. They had a separate area for the bar and drinks. There was also a corporate event in the back, but they are pretty out of the way and we didn't even notice them until the end. We had the $30 cocktail tasting menu, and for the price, the 3 drinks and 3 bites we got were all top tier. Parking can be a little tough since street parking is limited, but we found a spot across the street since we just passed the time for the 8am-6pm loading zone time (hint: 5:50 is a good time to hunt for parking). We ordered a cocktail tasting menu and an Enchilada with duck. It's a shame the tasting menu isn't in their traditional menu, because we were in love with every drink and bite. The meat quality was very high, and you can taste the quality of the ingredients in each bite. I attached the tasting menu, but our favorite cocktail was the Summer in the City (dark rum with passionfruit, guava, mint, and lime). The presentation of each cocktail was also very picturesque and colorful. The small plates were also very well presented and were bursting with flavor. Our favorite dish was the duck leg. I just wish they had the duck leg meat on their regular menu, because I'd actually come to eat here on a regular basis! The enchiladas was also very good, and the duck carnitas was a nice surprise. The duck was not gamey, and very tender and flavorful. Service was also very friendly. We were always greeted with smiles and they were very accommodating to our questions. A great experience with the food overall, but my review may be a bit limited since it was mainly the cocktail tasting menu.
I came with a friend on a Friday at 5:30pm for Merkado's SF restaurant week $30 cocktail and small bites tasting menu. We were seated immediately upon arriving, and I was surprised that there were only a few other parties seated, mostly at the bar, despite it being in the middle of their happy hour. The space is nice and open, with high ceilings, and I can see it being a great place for groups. We were honestly blown away by the quality and value of the tasting menu. We got three FULL SIZED cocktails paired with 3 small bites which were honestly a decent size and enough to serve as a light dinner if we weren't super hungry. The drinks were super creative, strong but well balanced and all tasty, and I would definitely come again just to have cocktails with a friend. -Great to Meet Ya: this was a gin and campari based drink, and even though gin isn't my favorite this was refreshing and I really enjoyed the herbaceous notes with the sage. -Dungeness crab quesadilla: the crab smelled a little fishy at first so I was skeptical, but this was super tasty and a good starter bite -What's Your Story: a mezcal based drink, with citrus, cream and soda this was nice and light but still smokey from the mezcal. -Chuleta al carbon: this was grilled lamb with a poblano-potato gratin; the lamb was super tender and flavorful, and the poblano potato gratin perfectly crisp on the outside and creamy inside - this dish really impressed us -Nightcap: this was our favorite cocktail - tequila, anise, pineapple and egg whites; it was simple yet complex, and the anise really tied everything together. -Chile ancho chocolate cake: the waiter was super kind to let us know the cake takes a while to prepare and checked in to see when would be a good time for it to come out - this was delicious, a nice soft lava cake style but not too sweet, and the ancho chile was just so perfect with the chocolate and ice cream - reminiscent of a dandelion mexican hot chocolate. I'm so glad I came to try Merkado, and I can't wait to come back again to try some more cocktails and bites! Definitely come check them out if you're in the area :)
We were blown away by the flavors! Every plate and drink provided its own dance in my tummy, with so much flavor. The staff ensures you're not forgotten, as it's quite the spot before and after events. The bar and dining room has many unique designs that create a rustic backdrop with tasty bites. It's definitely one I come back to often.
The drinks were really good. It didn't matter what we ordered and we ordered about 8-9 drinks and every drink came out with a perfection. The service was fast and we were seated right away. The place is very cozy and very good night spot. The appetizers were really good. The ceviche is worth trying. I loved how they gave the ceviche out with Yucca chips. That added to the uniqueness of the Dish we ordered a couple of different tacos. Pork taco was the best. The octopus was good too. Great place great service. Great food. Great drinks overall.
I used to frequent here a lot. The food was flavorful and exciting. These days I'm faced with inconsistency in every part Horchata: The horchata the past 3 times has tasted different every time; unfortunately all 3 just don't taste like horchata. Had mixture of too much cream, not enough cream, or just no spice of cinnamon. Guacamole and chips: The tortillas are still good but the guacamole is lacking in flavor and just disproportionate to the amount of chips. Tostada: Once used to be topped with exciting flavors now just resembles a ceviche on a tortilla. Unfortunate. Yucca fries: Very well done. But for the price of 4 fries, it's hard to justify vs some neighboring restaurants. Quesadilla: Was tasty and an interesting take. There's a lot going on and as I write this review I don't even remember what meat it was. Maybe it was buried under everything. Unfortunately, it'll be hard to return as each visit just feels like a gamble of what it used to be
3 days ago
5 days ago
A popular corporate lunch spot but I'll have to come back for a personal occasion in the evening so I can try the cocktails and dessert which looked amazing. We ordered chips and salsa to start. The chips were obviously very fresh, and the peanut sauce was incredible. I've never had a latin American adjacent peanut sauce before and it was so complex I couldn't stop eating it. I almost poured it over my duck enchiladas, but I wanted to experience that flavor in insolation and they were great on its own as well! The pickled red onion and crema balanced out the richness of the duck Logistics: - Indoor seating only - Limited street parking nearby, but next to a small managed parking lot and walking distance from Caltrain, the T muni line, and the end of the N line. read more
Attended a special event, a cross pollination with La Cocina chef: La Mesa de Luz: Stories, Sazón & a taste of Mexico City, an evening celebrating the flavors, memories, and stories that connect us to home. Chef Luz Dayana will shared a special experience inspired by her roots, her family, and the food that has shaped her journey with El Huarache Loco -- brining a little taste of Mexico City to the table. read more
We came here before the ball game. We were not disappointed. Our server Efren was great! All recommendations he made Were on point! Everything was soo delicious! I am picky when it comes to Birria, but this one was soooo delicious! The Crudo Burrito was made just right! Very tasty The cocktail was Sooo delicious fruity and made Just right I can't wait to come Back and try more on the menu! read more
Love the casual vibe here. Easy to walk in without a reservation and get a spot, since the place is huge. An interesting drink menu almost the size of the food menu! Chips & Salsa: A classic starter. Neither salsa was particularly spicy. One of them tasted like smoked and puréed veggies, which was nice. Queso Fundido: A skillet with browned gooey cheese on top. Underneath is a a very thick layer of spiced ground meat. So much meat it's kinda like a shepherd's pie! You only get four corn tortillas with this, which doesn't seem sufficient given all the cheese and meat. Thankfully we had ample chips from the chips & salsa to redirect to the queso. Aquachile: A cute little ceviche dish with "raw" shrimp in a nice citrusy tangy sauce. I really liked how it was served with shrimp crackers and they would crackle when the shrimp and sauce was added on top. The ample amount of avocado was nice too, partially making up for the somewhat skimpy shrimp portion. Relleno: Really liked this dish. The eggy fried batter was perfect, nice and fluffy. Lots of cheesy inside the chili. And the fancy little mushrooms on top were a very nice touch. Elevated Mexican food the way it should be. Duck Enchiladas: I enjoyed the green sauce, which had a nice herbal flavor. However, the shredded duck didn't taste very duck-like to me. It honestly could have been swapped with pork carnitas and I wouldn't notice the difference. Also, wasn't a fan of the basic shredded lettuce on top, make it seem very Taco Bell like. Churros: Very crispy. I really enjoyed the fruit jam dip. The chocolate one was ok, but nothing like the dense rich chocolate you get with Spanish churros. Forgot to Clock Out: I was hoping the passionfruit and ginger beer would be more pronounced, but I barely tasted them. The smoky mezcal really dominated the flavor profile. While I have nothing against mezcal, it wasn't the right choice given the other more delicate ingredients. Is There Parking?: This was much more to my liking, with a very fruit-forward strawberry flavor profile. The tequila was a good choice to mesh well with the other ingredients. read more
4 months ago
Came here for a private party and wow it was incredible! Our host was so generous with an open bar and a ton of food, but the restaurant really delivered with food, service, and ambiance. I would totally come back for some tacos, drinks, and to host a party here too! read more
7 days ago
1 month ago
Such an amazing venue and friendly staff. We had the opportunity to do the florals for an event here and would recommend them for all of your special events. Flawless set up, and great communication. Photos taken by @Sara's Infinite Moments. read more
Flavors were top notch. Patofreido had a delicate crisp to it that complimented the creaminess of the dish. Only thing is that the portions felt small. The plátanos were like Mac & cheese balls but with a plantain, it was so good. read more
11 months ago
Came here for restaurant week, and wow was it a blast. I'm left surprised at why this place wasn't more full on a Saturday night, especially at their bars. The outside is an unassuming brick building, but inside was well furnished and combined traditional Mexican elements with modern decor. They had a separate area for the bar and drinks. There was also a corporate event in the back, but they are pretty out of the way and we didn't even notice them until the end. We had the $30 cocktail tasting menu, and for the price, the 3 drinks and 3 bites we got were all top tier. Parking can be a little tough since street parking is limited, but we found a spot across the street since we just passed the time for the 8am-6pm loading zone time (hint: 5:50 is a good time to hunt for parking). We ordered a cocktail tasting menu and an Enchilada with duck. It's a shame the tasting menu isn't in their traditional menu, because we were in love with every drink and bite. The meat quality was very high, and you can taste the quality of the ingredients in each bite. I attached the tasting menu, but our favorite cocktail was the Summer in the City (dark rum with passionfruit, guava, mint, and lime). The presentation of each cocktail was also very picturesque and colorful. The small plates were also very well presented and were bursting with flavor. Our favorite dish was the duck leg. I just wish they had the duck leg meat on their regular menu, because I'd actually come to eat here on a regular basis! The enchiladas was also very good, and the duck carnitas was a nice surprise. The duck was not gamey, and very tender and flavorful. Service was also very friendly. We were always greeted with smiles and they were very accommodating to our questions. A great experience with the food overall, but my review may be a bit limited since it was mainly the cocktail tasting menu. read more
I came with a friend on a Friday at 5:30pm for Merkado's SF restaurant week $30 cocktail and small bites tasting menu. We were seated immediately upon arriving, and I was surprised that there were only a few other parties seated, mostly at the bar, despite it being in the middle of their happy hour. The space is nice and open, with high ceilings, and I can see it being a great place for groups. We were honestly blown away by the quality and value of the tasting menu. We got three FULL SIZED cocktails paired with 3 small bites which were honestly a decent size and enough to serve as a light dinner if we weren't super hungry. The drinks were super creative, strong but well balanced and all tasty, and I would definitely come again just to have cocktails with a friend. -Great to Meet Ya: this was a gin and campari based drink, and even though gin isn't my favorite this was refreshing and I really enjoyed the herbaceous notes with the sage. -Dungeness crab quesadilla: the crab smelled a little fishy at first so I was skeptical, but this was super tasty and a good starter bite -What's Your Story: a mezcal based drink, with citrus, cream and soda this was nice and light but still smokey from the mezcal. -Chuleta al carbon: this was grilled lamb with a poblano-potato gratin; the lamb was super tender and flavorful, and the poblano potato gratin perfectly crisp on the outside and creamy inside - this dish really impressed us -Nightcap: this was our favorite cocktail - tequila, anise, pineapple and egg whites; it was simple yet complex, and the anise really tied everything together. -Chile ancho chocolate cake: the waiter was super kind to let us know the cake takes a while to prepare and checked in to see when would be a good time for it to come out - this was delicious, a nice soft lava cake style but not too sweet, and the ancho chile was just so perfect with the chocolate and ice cream - reminiscent of a dandelion mexican hot chocolate. I'm so glad I came to try Merkado, and I can't wait to come back again to try some more cocktails and bites! Definitely come check them out if you're in the area :) read more
We were blown away by the flavors! Every plate and drink provided its own dance in my tummy, with so much flavor. The staff ensures you're not forgotten, as it's quite the spot before and after events. The bar and dining room has many unique designs that create a rustic backdrop with tasty bites. It's definitely one I come back to often. read more
The drinks were really good. It didn't matter what we ordered and we ordered about 8-9 drinks and every drink came out with a perfection. The service was fast and we were seated right away. The place is very cozy and very good night spot. The appetizers were really good. The ceviche is worth trying. I loved how they gave the ceviche out with Yucca chips. That added to the uniqueness of the Dish we ordered a couple of different tacos. Pork taco was the best. The octopus was good too. Great place great service. Great food. Great drinks overall. read more
5 months ago
15 days ago
1 month ago
I used to frequent here a lot. The food was flavorful and exciting. These days I'm faced with inconsistency in every part Horchata: The horchata the past 3 times has tasted different every time; unfortunately all 3 just don't taste like horchata. Had mixture of too much cream, not enough cream, or just no spice of cinnamon. Guacamole and chips: The tortillas are still good but the guacamole is lacking in flavor and just disproportionate to the amount of chips. Tostada: Once used to be topped with exciting flavors now just resembles a ceviche on a tortilla. Unfortunate. Yucca fries: Very well done. But for the price of 4 fries, it's hard to justify vs some neighboring restaurants. Quesadilla: Was tasty and an interesting take. There's a lot going on and as I write this review I don't even remember what meat it was. Maybe it was buried under everything. Unfortunately, it'll be hard to return as each visit just feels like a gamble of what it used to be read more
1 month ago
4 months ago
The chile rellanos and platanos were my favorite! Great service and ambiance. The coconut lime agua fresca was also so delicious, i need more of that! read more
10 months ago
2 months ago
2 years ago
Need some dinner and really wanted to have some Mexican food. Dropped by here on yesterday. Service was fast. My server was welcoming and offered some suggestions. The place was clean and busy with some good music going and the food was great! I definitely am coming back for more ceviche for sure. read more
Great place for a family brunch or for a friends party. Very spacious, modern and the food is great. They have brunch and dinner menus. We loved everything we ordered, even though ceviche was pretty spicy. Service was fast. Also the place has good accessibility for strollers and I'd call it kid friendly. read more
We visited on a Wednesday evening for dinner before a Giants game. With a large party of nine, we were glad to have a reservation. Despite the busy atmosphere, our service was prompt, and all our food arrived together, which was nice. The cocktails were delicious, and the chips and guac hit the spot. The tacos were on the smaller side, but that gave us room to try different appetizers. It is a little pricey but I would definitely come back for dinner before another Giants game! read more
11 months ago
We were lured into Merkado for the first time by their SF Restaurant Week cocktail tasting menu, which features three superb cocktails paired with generous 'bites' for $30 - an insane value, especially considering how insanely tasty everything was. The drinks were creative, balanced in unique flavor vs. liquor strength, and showcased their bar's ability to make a diverse range of drinks that were all unexpectedly mind blowing. We also ordered the El Valle and MRKDO Sando from the happy hour menu (not pictured) to round things out. read more
1 year ago
Didn't get to try the food, but the drinks were delish! Also loved the place and how spacious it was. I'd definitely go back to try the food soon. Everyone there was cool, and attentive. read more
2 years ago
Got lunch here today with some coworkers. The restaurant was empty at noon except for us (not surprising on a Friday in SOMA really), but our service as a result was nice and quick. We got chips, salsa and guac to start all of which were really good. Our main lunch orders came soon after. I got the mission bay torta. It was delicious! Came covered in the red sauce so I ate with a fork and knife and it also came with some greens and peppers on the side. Overall I really like Merkado as a lunch spot my only complaint is the price point being a little higher than other sit down lunch spots nearby. Still will be returning in the future! read more
7 months ago
I had a great time dining here. We came for Valentine's Day and the atmosphere was nice. We got started with chips and guacamole which was wonderful on its own. We went with the duck enchiladas, Barbacoa Tacos, and a side of plátanos & arroz/frijoles. I would definitely recommend the duck enchiladas and the plátanos, they were delightful. The drinks were great too, very refreshing and the horchata wasn't too watered down either. The service was excellent our waiters were very friendly. They also played Bad Bunny the entire time we were there so it was a nice bonus! read more
4 months ago
I fell in love with the interior design and vibe of Merkado. Although the music selection wasn't really what I was expecting. We actually mentioned it to the staff and they changed it to latin/Spanish music. This place is very big and it has a backroom that almost looks like it could be a club. We ordered some appetizers which were good. I loved the salsas and guacamole that came with the chips. Although we didn't order them, our server made it seem like the chips and salsa were free and asked if we wanted some, but we were charged for for them. The chips that came with the ceviche were super good. This place is beautiful and can be so great! read more
I loved the large space and decor of Merkado! They have an outdoor patio that's really nice too, but don't always have it open so I would call to double check if you're planning on going. Overall thought the food was average, and the menu options was a bit limited. When I went on a Sunday afternoon, they were only serving brunch. I ended up getting the pescado tacos which were good, but pricey for the amount they gave. I did like the drink selection, and loooved the dessert churros. The service was also really friendly. read more
1 year ago
Food was good, but one funny thing did happen. We ordered the cheese dip which was missing of an important ingredient. See picture below. Other than that, all good. read more
1 year ago
Came in as we were in town for a baseball game and I was so happy because it happened to be a Tuesday! The place was so nice and I spent a lot of time looking around and admiring the decor. We ordered a special that included the chefs taco and a Oaxacan margarita as well as other tacos and man where they delicious! The tortillas are hand made and they were so good we ordered a queso fundido to pair with it. The service was great our server was very at tentative and I also observed there were servers that would come by with water and others that just picked up plates it was fun to watch as it was like a dance or a well oiled machine! read more
2 years ago
A nice higher end mexican restaurant where I had a VC dinner at. My favourite dish was the chili relleno - I loved the sauce and the chili pepper was stuffed to the brim. read more
3 years ago
We stopped here on a Tuesday right before the spring baseball game of the San Francisco Giants vs the Athletics. The restaurant wasn't packed so we sat at the bar. We'd already gotten good from another restaurant so we went straight to the bar and grabbed margaritas. The altos margarita was great and made very well. A great balance of tequila and juice. I'd return again for it. read more
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More info about Merkado
130 Townsend St
San Francisco, CA 94107
South Beach
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(415) 874-7902
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http://www.merkadosf.com
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Do you have gluten free options?
