This is a wonderful Mexican restaurant with good options for every type of water - carnivores, omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans. I tried the Chile rellino and I was pleasantly surprised because it came in soup/broth. The guacamole was fresh and excellent. The chips were perfectly salted. Next time I will have to try dessert here, because apparently it has the best flan in town!
Mercado sure does deliver on flavor. Everything was so wonderfully seasoned and the plating was also lovely.The fish taco is definitely one of the best I’ve had. Tender white fish that was not dry, what a relief. Filet tacos were excellent too.Carne asada was well cooked and actually medium rare as requested. And the chicken enchiladas were perfect with a rich, deep flavored mole.
We went to Mercado for a nice dinner while staying in Santa Monica and the food was AMAZING! Delicious cocktail menu with a great Tequila selection and so many amazing meal options. Service was excellent, definitely worth the trip for us!
I can’t not give this place a 5-star review. I’m in town for a conference and had to get away by myself for the evening. Found this place and just wanted to sit at the bar, drink a margarita and eat some food. But it was packed. Not a seat available! I had totally forgotten that it’s Cinco de Mayo. ??Manager was outstanding. Squeezed me in between two reservations. I wasn’t allowed to linger, but that was fine by me on this occasion.I had items off their special holiday menu. Ceviche was fresh, spicy (almost too much) and delicious. I had striped bass with beautifully grilled vegetables, rice and sauce. That was outstanding. I enjoyed the special blood orange margarita. It might not have had the most generous pour of tequila, but it was a perfect partner to the food.Service was attentive, polite and efficient. The atmosphere is excellent. From the outside, this place doesn’t look like much. But I had a great time and enjoyed my dinner.
If you're in Santa Monica, this is a great spot...The atmosphere was great, warm, fun and vibrant. The service was amazing from the second we walked in. It was full, we didn't reserve and they made room in 5 short minutes (timing on our part was perfect but they were very accomdating and super friendly). The food was fantastic, big portions, great value and extremely tasty. Lastly, the management was on point, attentive and quick to resolve a tiny issue which promotes me to say truly was a 5 star experience! Well done!!
It's okay. The dip duo is phenomenal. The draft Modelo is a treat if you're into lagers. But beyond that there really isn't anything that stands out. The ceviche and other dishes are fine. And honestly for the quality, service and atmosphere it's well priced.
Great margaritas, friendly staff, tasty tacos
Great drinks and appetizers! Our recommended rib eye steak was burned and overcooked, we asked for medium. Friendly staff and service! Recommend their guacamole, Queso and seafood ceviche and churro ? ice cream, don’t need to drive to Santa Barbara for it ☺️
I got the enchiladas, the guacamole, and a glass of wine. Initially, I was excited about the meal but the food ended up being uninspiring and disappointing. It wasn’t real Mexican food (which is totally fine; I appreciate good Tex Mex/fusion with Mexican cuisine) but this also wasn’t a fusion. It was simply not great food that was pricey for the quality. The sauce on the enchiladas was too sweet, the guacamole wasn’t particularly exciting (a touch more lemon or seasoning would have made it better), and the house white wine was very acidic. Service was fantastic and so was the look of the restaurant, but unfortunately it didn’t have the best food. I wouldn’t recommend it and wouldn’t return.
Absolutely did not disappoint. Lots of veggie options. Very fresh ingredients. Well done!