Mercadito Reviews

I was very impressed with the atmosphere--casual yet the food approaches fine dining. All of the tacos on the menu sounded delicious, and my choice of the barbacoa tacos did not disappoint; they were flavorful, fresh and spicy. The mango and chipotle guacamole was excellent. My drink was unusual and made just right. I highly recommend this restaurant.

I came from outta town, and this was highly rated on TikTok. I enjoyed the food and my waiter Rodrigo was excellent. He suggested items for me to try and they were immaculate. When I return to Chicago I will definitely go again. Food was delicious, the tacos were top tier. Definitely worth the price

This was our first visit to Mercadito. Our service was less than stellar. Our waitress did not do a good job explaining the menu at all, even after we told her it was our first time visiting. In fact, she was very rude and cut me off twice when I was trying to ask a question. The food was decent but on the spicier side. The most annoying thing is that the server/restaurant refused to separate our check, and never told us this would be the case at the beginning. Our server told us we could each calculate what we owed and she could run tabs for separate amounts, but she did not do this for us. Due to the poor/rude service and the server's unwillingness to accommodate their guests, we will not be retuning, especially when there are so many other great food choices in Chicago.

A friend from home recommended here and it was a brilliant recommendation. Despite being massively jet lagged after just arriving earlier in pm we were determined not to miss this place. So glad we didn’t. Food is delicious. We had the really tender pulled pork tacos followed by the sharing plate of barbecued steak with beans and rice. Both dishes were sublime. The guacamole (homemade) was also incredible. Service was quite brilliant Definitely a must

Arrived on a thursday night, group of 8. Service was really good and we only had to wait a few minutes for the first course, even though the place was a bit crowded when we arrived. Great quacamoles, tacos and seafood. Can warmly recommend this place.

Food was very good. Initially we were going to eat inside but it was so loud we could hardly hear each other. Sat outside which was nice. Restaurant has an "optional surcharge" which we asked to be removed but it was not. Service was OK. Server was attentive but took along time to get our drinks (they came after the food did).

Celebrated my birthday at Mercadito with one of my close friends. The staff was attentive and friendly. Ordered guacamole which was great. Enchiladas and The Surf & Turf taquiza. The food was pretty good. The cocktails were great. Traditional margaritas & Don Julio shots. It was a great time at a great place.

Our party of three arrived without a reservation around 7 PM on a Friday and, although the restaurant seemed packed and was very busy, we were seated immediately inside. They have a small outdoor seating area, but this was full and most likely had a long wait. We ordered three tacos: carne, pollo, and pastor. These are street tacos so they aren't very large, and they come four to an order. All were delicious, and we all thought the carne was the best, followed by the pollo, then by the pastor. The carne had a moderate amount of filling, the pollo was large, and the pastor seemed pretty bare and lacking. The 12 tacos between the three of us was a good amount to make us all content without being full. We wished we had put in another order of carne tacos because we ended up having to wait longer to get the bill than to get the tacos. Since it was a warm day, the restaurant had it's windows open, but this meant that the inside of the restaurant received the heat from outside without much of a breeze. We were pretty warm and a little sticky and somewhat uncomfortable the entire time we were there. The inside was also very noisy and the staff looked rushed. We had a hard time hearing each other since it was so loud. There don't appear to be any sound absorbing materials anywhere inside. The service and environment could've been better, and the tacos are a bit pricey (~$4 per individual taco) but the food was amazing and we all want to go back and try out the rest of the menu.

Great food. Red snapper is amazing and the choice of guacamole with chips is delicious. I recommend trying the selection of all guacamole. Mushroom tacos were also excellent. I would recommend booking a table as it gets busy! Only negative is the drinks are quite expensive. Good choice for vegetarians.

My husband and I took our son to Mercadito for his 25th birthday. His sister and her boyfriend joined. We shared some chips, salsa, and two different types of very tasty guacamole for our appetizer. Chips were plentiful, and we each ordered various entrees and sides. I had blackened swordfish tacos, which were delicious, and two regular margaritas. The music was extremely loud, but it was from my era -- 70s and early 80s -- so I enjoyed listening. We all had a good time. We had a bit of a sticker shock with the bill at $266 with tip. With only 4 alcoholic drinks and entrees that were less than $20 each (no dessert), it adds up quickly ... so be careful.

Beer was warm due to cooler dying. Chili relleno stuffed with seafood disappointing. Guacamole too spicy. Oh well. Nice atmosphere.

We visited with some friends who live in the area for lunch and this place is a favorite of theirs. The decor here is pretty eclectic, not sure what the design is about but they have cozy, large booths and good atmosphere. They have tons of creative tequila cocktails, which were enjoyed by my 3 companions, I hate tequila so I tried one of their refrescos with bubbles (cava) and it was delicious and refreshing, they come in a variety of fruit flavors. We did a trio of guacamole and a trio of salads which come with deliciously addictive house made chips. For entrees we did a variety of tacos as well as a pollo torta (which was huge) and everything was fresh and yummy. Pretty much everything had some spice to it so if you’re sensitive to that it might be hard to find something on the menu but overall we enjoyed our visit.

Great food, terrific ambiance and super fast service. We ordered our food on a busy Saturday night and the food was out in less than 15 min. Appetizers were soooo tasty, drinks were great. I bit expensive for the size of the glass but really good. Ended the night with the naked bike ride out front of the restaurant. LOL!!!

We typically visit Mercadito every time we come to Chicago. Once again, it was outstanding. From their authentic flavors to excellent table service and very good drinks, this is an excellent choice for either lunch or dinner. We had several tacos (pastor & carnitas were excellent) including a veggie option (mushrooms). We also had an excellent queso fundido con rajas. As good as any we’ve tasted. And of course there are plenty of choices for cocktails including margaritas w tequila or mezcal. We now prefer mezcal margaritas. If in Chicago, try Mercadito for authentic Mexican food.

Startled with guacamole & salsa. Group of four shared five plates of tacos for $10.50/each on Friday night. Pork, shrimp, steak, potato, fish tacos. Some of the best tacos we’ve ever had. Everything was superb!! I am a margarita snob and their house margarita was killer!!! Ambience was loud. Worth it. ❤️❤️❤️. Go for it. You will not be disappointed!

After a not so pleasant experience at Frontera Grill around the corner on Clark. My wife we fortunate to have found this little gem on the Open Table app. We were greeted by Mark one of the owners who seated us in a large wrap around booth and quickly told us about the food and the drinks that he has mastered oh so well! Service was very friendly and attentive and we even had the pleasure of meeting Mark's wife and beautiful daughter.This WILL be a regular stop whenever we get back to Chi-town!!

Stopped there for lunch . Very good, upscale Mexican food. ...Tacos, sandwiches, drinks. They apparently are known for their tacos..although I think fairly expensive.

If you can eat outside as the restaurant is pretty noisy. A huge variety of margaritas,all delicious. Pineapple and mango guacamole also delicious! All of the entrees were equally good. Service was wonderful.

Thinking we taxpayers should pay off college loans, go to this place and watch those young folks gulp down $15 dollar drinks. I mean, I’ve paid $15 for a Margarita many times but never for one this small. Given the size of the glass and the amount of ice they pack into it, you’re getting maybe 3 ounces of actual drink, and that is watered-down by the extensive shaking of it. And the tacos, I’ve bought tortillas at grocery stores ranging from Whole Foods down to small Mexican grocery stores and never have I seen tortillas so small. Marketing-wise, they should call them something more elegant, like “we use only the heart of the tortilla.” But they were very delicious. Trendy, loud, young, expensive but tasty.

Great food, great ambience- a bit noisy though on the weekend. Awesome Tacos, bite sized.. the ceviches were the highlight. Selection of beer was disappointing.

I am such a huge lover if Mexican food. This restaurant by far has some of the best that I have tasted. For me, guacamole is always an appetizer must have. I had the traditional and mango guacamole. Both were amazing! Swordfish tacos and plantains were amazing as well. The drinks here are definitely unique and delicious and this restaurant is not shy with the alcohol. Wait staff was great. The only issue we ran into was that we had a reservation but we still ended up waiting about 30 minutes to be seated. Other than that, everything was wonderful. I definitely recommend having a reservation because this place is very busy. The food is fairly pricey but I think that it is worth it. Overall the dining experience was great and I will definitely be back.

We stopped in for a happy hour drink, the cocktails were fantastic! This is the pepino el pyu. Cucumber and tequila heaven.

One of my worst dining experiences ever ! 1). It was 85 degrees inside. Sweating 2) LOUD My daughter got an alert on her Apple Watch. 95 decibels I feel sorry for the employees 3). Food quality mediocre. If you order 4 taco dinners. They bring one out. 10 minutes later bring another 2 dinners and 10 more minutes the 4th Then they charge $200 for 4 taco dinners and 2 margaritas. Go to Taco Bell.

Not one of the best Mexican restaurants I've been, but still I had a satisfactory dinner. The staff is very professional and friendly, the food and drink options are very wide and the quality of the food is great. Prices are pretty high though. Wonderful Margarita.

A must visit every time I’m in Chicago. Great ambience Drinks are an amazing concoction of different ingredients that work well with each other. Give it a try Won’t be disappointed

Lively environment - great for groups and celebrations! We had the BEST service (I believe her name was Paula? (we were there Saturday 8/16/25)!! Especially with a 90-minute bottomless brunch, the F&B quality was great and the beverages were continuously refilled. The Amiga Sandida was SO delicious + Mango salsa is also highly recommended.

Met a friend who lives in Chicago for lunch here. The best margarita and tacos. Excellent. I could just sit here and drink and eat all day

Was truly looking forward to a fantastic experience. What I received instead was awful. I had a table of three...2 petite women and a 6'5" 275lb man. They put us at a corner booth/table. It was so loud that we had to literally yell at each other to hear anyone, other than our neighbors, speak. Speaking of neighbors...the table next to us was, literally, next to us. There was, maybe, 2 inches between my table and theirs. One of the men ruined the appetizers on our table when he was trying to squeeze between our tables and ending up rubbing his rearend on our plates of food. The drinks were seriously overpriced at $18 for a small margarita. The food left a lot to be desired as well. The portions were decent for what they charged. The staff...well, there were so many people working different jobs that it seemed to take an act of congress to find the correct guy to order another drink and then we had to find another employee to get the check...and yet someone else to bring a box for the leftovers.

Went while in town on a girls weekend. Made a reservation ahead of time, and they got us in promptly when we arrived. We had the traditional guac and salsa verde to start, along with a couple margaritas. All were good, though chips portion was small, as was guac for the price (but it was delicious). We tried several kinds of tacos - the carne, the barbacoa, and the carnitas. They were all delicious and a great balance of flavors and textures overall. The carne were my favorite - the asparagus made a surprisingly good addition. The barbacoa were tasty and had great texture, and were by far the juiciest (also messiest). The peanuts were a clever addition to the carnitas texture-wise, but the spice overpowered the other flavors (and I like spicy). Food is served quickly, which is good, but Service felt rushed (we were in and out in less than 40 mins and that included taking a few extra mins ourselves to finish our drinks. Atmosphere is loud and crowded - we were seated near the bar and had people standing directly behind our chairs, so much so that we got bumped repeatedly. If not for that and being rushed (read our plates being pulled at one point before we were even done eating), I would give it 5 Stars. I would like to mention that our server was very friendly, just seemed hurried.

Service and food meh…very loud. I guess more of a bar scene and food comes secondary. Did not like any of our plates, chips and salsa were the best part, but not even good

We were looking for a place close to our restaurant. Great drinks and service. Enjoyed sitting outside. Service was great. Food did look good, even though we didn't order any.

Fantastic lunch today at Mercadito! Fresh made guacamole was delicious and our margaritas were spot on! Our server, Mariana, gave good recommendations and was very attentive Great vibe, inside and outdoor seating, excellent food, reasonable prices. It’s a must visit spot in the River North! We will definitely look forward to a return visit!

Enjoyed the food and drinks. Wish there were more choices for draft beers. Barbacoa Tacos were good... Beans and rice was rather dull

We decided on this place for lunch, we were seated and sat for almost 10 minutes with no service or acknowledgment, the hostess that sat us was only 10’ away. And there were only 2 other tables occupied in the entire establishment. We got up and left.

Went for dinner tonight ( Saturday). We booked because we couldn’t get in last night. Just as well because busy again. Through no fault of the restaurant we asked to be moved table. (Other diners)This was granted and we had an amazing meal. The service was incredible and we watched a well oiled machine run smoothly. Paul chatted with us and we were given a complimentary drink. We didn’t realise he was the owner till we parted. Great staff, food and music!

We were from out of town looking for vegetarian Mexican food. This was delicious. Not crowded on a Saturday night at 7, fast service and excellent food. They can make any entree vegetarian, which was really nice. Good atmosphere too.

Place does not to appear to be much from the outside, when we got in, we were surprised it had a nice look inside . Food was very good but very expensive, place is loud and bathrooms were dark and kind of dirty, woman’s bathroom downstairs had a leak in the ceiling- probably wouldn’t go again

Really great setting and really great food. Atmosphere super and the Margaritas were the bomb!! Raphael adds to the experience without a doubt. A true professional

Had a business lunch here with co-workers. The Pollo Tortas was very tasty. Service and atmosphere was pretty good although a touch loud. I would go back.

I had high hopes for this place, given the reviews and its pedigree. The menu looks diverse and interesting, but still has an honest connection to the source cuisine. Ultimately, though, I was disappointed. We tried several guacamole types and cervices types. While the guacamole generally were good, the cervices were not at all. Both were quite expensive, as well, which was a further disappointment, given that they weren't that good. We tried a bunch of different tacos, which were all generally tasty -- as long as you ate them straight away. One set was delivered to us cold...which was not good. I would suggest ordering to share, as the benefit of having multiple people at our table was the opportunity to try a series of different types of tacos. Some are absolutely better than others (as with all meals at restaurants, I suppose...), but this was a successful way to ensure that no one was stuck with a lemon. Our server was helpful and accommodating, and the service was generally very good. There are lots of great places to eat in Chicago, and I would recommend giving this one a pass.

We were in town for a trade show and we made the walk around the river north looking at different menus/places and decided to give this place a try. Glad we did! We opted to eat outside because as other reviewers have mentioned, the inside was pretty loud. The outside street noise wasn’t bad, and for us a good choice. Great service and really good Mexican food…really good!

We came in late night with a group of co-workers after a team event. One of us had worked here. We got the VIP treatment. The food is amazing and the margs are top notch. The atmosphere is very cool. I highly recommend this spot if you are in River North.

I love good tacos; I despise bad ones. Marcadito has the good ones and has quite a variety. One wish: that you could order less than four and thus have a little room, and a bit of extra funds, for appetizers or other dishes.

We were very disappointed with how we were treated by the restaurant. We had booked a private room only to find out upon our arrival that there were no private rooms but rather we would be in the basement, with just a few other tables. Also, we were originally overcharged on our bill and then when we brought it to the attention of the manager, Olga, she updated our bill and, in fact, increased the price. While appreciate that mistake can be made, this was very disappointing as I felt they were trying to take advantage of us. We finally got the bill corrected to the right amount and rather than spending more time in the restaurant at the bar, we decided to take our business elsewhere...and will never return. It should be noted that our waitress was excellent and she took very good are of us while we ate. The issues with the restaurant were not her fault and she made a bad situation at least palatable.

In search of a casual, but delicious meal, we stumbled upon Mercadito on a Sunday evening, and oh what a find! The guacamole was some of the best we have had and both the shrimp tacos and mahi tacos were excellent! Add some veggies with a side of brussels sprouts! The decor was fresh and modern and while noisy, it was a fun vibe! Make a reservation just in case--I can see how they get busy.

Mercadito does tacos and margaritas pretty well. The watermelon margarita was right to my taste, sweet but still refreshing (it was in the 80s that night). Tacos are small and flavorful. You don't walk out feeling heavy. The atmosphere is cool but loud. Top 40 music is playing throughout the establishment and tables can be pretty close. The crowd is young hip Chicago downtowners so it seems like it's a good place catch dinner and drinks before a long night out on the town.

We came here because a friend of mine highly recommended it and I was so disappointed. We arrived at 5:30pm and seated way in a back corner which was fine at first, however it turned out to be a huge issue because they pretty much forgot we even existed. As soon as we sat down the waiter came and was very helpful with going through the menu and we all ordered drinks. That is when everything went south. We did finally get our order but 2 of dinners came out a good 20 minutes before my daughters. And our waiter was no where to be found. Actually the only time we saw him was when we got our bill 2 1/2 hours later. Yes I said 2 1/2 hours. The table next to us was seated 3 times before we left and in our attempt to wave down our waiter or anyone else for that matter we got look's but that's about it. The food once we got it was pretty good . The street corn was highlight for sure as we found the taco's were just average. 1 of us actually sent our taco order back because it was cold (we did have the meal removed from the bill thankfully) and we ordered 2 desserts only to receive 1. By that time we didn't care and just wanted to leave With all of that being said I just can't give it a high rating. I visit Chicago all the time and this was one of the worst experience I have had ( next to McCormic & Schmicks which was brutel)

I decided to try this place on our trip to Chicago due to an article from a blogger called Gal on a mission, plus I also checked the reviews online as well. Our server Rafa was friendly and attentive, the decor and atmosphere is lovely but when it came to the food my husband and I were greatly disappointed. We ordered the Guacamole due to reviews saying it was the best. Taco choices were carne and camaron. The guacamole was bland, the carne taco tasted like beef and oil, shrimp was oily and both had a funny taste. On top of all of all this my husband was very perturbed that a busser kept staring at me instead of focusing on his tables. To make a point, my clothing was nice casual and not revealing, therefore that was a bit rude. Coming from someone who used to work in restaurants I think it should be spoken about at staff meetings; do not stare at the customers. Sad to say that on our future trips back to Chicago, Mercadito will not be on our list.

It was a surprise, but a good one. Not all of the salsa’s were great, but the off menu hit salsa was excellent and the tacos were 10/10.

Most Mexican restaurants have similar menus and decors. Not this one. Well presented room with lots of tables although you are squeezed into small areas if 3 or less. Food is delicious and service is very good. The acoustics make conversation difficult. Prices are a bit high but this is downtown Chicago.

Some friends recommended this as a really good Mexican restaurant. Having been to Mexico many times I was expecting the best. However, tacos were just ok, the mole had the same flavor but not great. The margaritas were supposed to be “famous”, but again were only ok. To overrated for the price. And more thing that I did not like was the ambiance. To dark for me. Even the bathroom was so dark and co-ed one really had to be careful To be fair though some people in my party liked it.

Had a guys dinner with a friend and everything was great. Scored a table outside on a perfect June night. Mixed drinks (margarita) was outstanding. Shared all the food with my friend - green salsa, mahi mahi ceviche, and tacos, all excellent, and we capped it off with an anejo tequila the waiter recommended which was perfect. Speaking of which our waiter was very attentive. A great dinner out.

We opted for Mexican cuisine for our last night in Chicago and were recommended Mercadito. When we arrived we were met by a full and lively restaurant which boded well for the evening ahead and my expectations were high. It had been raining and the seat my wife was to sit in was covered in rain water which is understandable but when we asked if it could be wiped down an employee used a wet cloth and walked off so we just ended up using a napkin ourselves to dry it off. Then the waitress came over and explained the menu, we ordered guacamole and two plates of tacos. My wife unfolded her napkin and found dried salsa on the napkin and cutlery. She approached a two members of staff who were chatting and explained the situation. She had to ask for a clean napkin and cutlery and they seemed put out by it! The food arrived quickly and all at once. After that we were just rushed. We were asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu whilst still eating our tacos. My plate was whipped out from under me as I was finishing my food and my wife was still eating. Rush rush rush... We weren't there longer than 35 mins. Is this a fast food joint? I'm confused? That being said we quite enjoyed the food although it is far removed from real Mexican flavours. Then the real insult came the bill... Very overpriced for what it was and the suggested tip starting at 20% after the poor service we had left a bitter taste I'm my mouth. Food is ok but this place is massively let down by the service.

We were 5, four italians and a mexican friend. We’ve chosen two excellent ceviche, a perfect guacamole with habanero, and some tacos with shrimps and fish, really tasteful. Mexican biers and piquant micheladas. In my opinion, one of the 3 best Mexican risto in Chicago.

We were lucky to be able to make a last minute online reservation and try this lovely place. The service was really good, very polite and informative waiters, guacamole dips and tortillas were amazing, I liked the classic one better whereas my husband found it a little hot so munched on the mango version. For tacos we ordered the chicken and steak, they were both very delicious and hot as can be expected with Mexican food. Definitely recommend this place for a night out.

Great spot in River North for a casual lunch with coworkers. We showed up late to our reservation but they very graciously accommodated us. I ordered the Al Pastor tacos. Eh. That is all I can say. Just "eh" --- they were missing a little something something. I tried to trade a taco with my co-worker Lauren, but her fish tacos looked bland too. Brian offered me a brisket taco, but that seemed like a trap.

Fun atmosphere! Highly recommend the Surf & Turf (if you like meat)! Margarita was delicious! Matt was a great server! 😊

The tacos were great. Margarita so good too. Every single item that we got was scrumptious! Highly recommend it

A really good choice for Mexican food. The place is lively and noisy. The food is really good: the chicken enchildas were among the best I ever had, and the crispy brussel sprouts with chorizo, pickled onion, salsa roja, and crispy shallots were brilliant. I never expected brussel sprouts to be that good. Portions though could be bigger.

Dinner with 3 business colleagues on a Tuesday evening. Staff was friendly and helpful. Ambiance is classy with plenty of lighting for those of us who need reading glasses. Food was fantastic starting with their selection of guacs. We shared 5 plates of various tacos, each of which was better than the next. Small but well balanced and tasty margaritas.

My husband and I always have brunch here when we're in town. The flavors are amazing and you don't feel sluggish after. I highly recommend splitting a few guacamole and salsas and 1 entree. It's the perfect start to the weekend!

We accidentally found this place wandering the streets trying to make sure we hadn't missed anything. It was a little past lunch time, and we were hungry. Mexican is my favorite food. We got right in, although there was still a lot of people eating. We started with margaritas and guacamole. I'm picky about my margaritas, but this was among the best I've ever had. The guacamole seemed expensive, but there was a huge amount of it, and, again, it was extraordinary. I would love to go back. We shared 2 orders of tacos, the carnitas and the steak al Carbon. Absolutely out of this world. The service was perfect and quick. The food and drinks could not be beat. What an amazing accidental find!

And much more... I had a very good chevice (they have three options) and some juicy carnitas tacos (out of 8 or 9 kinds). Their main courses seem interesting too. Comfortable and big inside, cozy and kneet in the patio. To go back.

We went for an early Friday dinner. Dimly lit and moody atmosphere with a lot of open space. It was a welcome respite from an otherwise cold and rainy evening. The guacamole (several varieties) was a bit too smooth but had good flavors and spice. The taco offerings were varied and eclectic. I had brisket which was quite good. My wife had a fish dish that she really enjoyed (she claimed much spicier than advertised) but came with in a large portion. Overall, very enjoyable. One minor negative was the single room bathroom that necessitated a wait. Cute icons on the door though.

Order the traditional guacamole and chicken tacos. They're both so good! The tacos have some sort of light sauce on them that tastes amazing. The margaritas are great as well. A little bit pricey, but it's a great central location in the city and is always busy. Lunch is more low key whereas dinner is loud and bustling with every table full on the weekends. Make a reservation in advance for dinner. I've been here multiple times since moving to the area for the summer and everyone I've brought has loved it as well! Great for groups and dates.

Despite the (mostly) rave reviews we had almost the same poor experience as “Disappointing” below. However ours was without the food as we left after being completely ignored for almost 30 mins. The service was so bad I had to pinch myself, not because I wasn’t wearing green on St Pats (shame on me) but I kept wondering if we were really in America. Still we were lucky..... there are loads of amazing places to eat in Chicago, so we easily found a great lunch elsewhere This was meant to celebration lunch for my birthday, so I’ve written them a little song to the tune of Despacito. “Mercadito, donde es mi comida, estoy insatisfacito, quierro uno burrito, es mi cumpleanito, en el dia de San Patricio, y soy Irlandesita” - really sorry for the poor Spanish.

Fantastic tacos and guacamole. Very creative and fun drinks. It's a fun place to go with a small group.

We had booked a table which was not ready upon arrival so we had drinks at the bar and that was strange as there were free tables. Once we pointed it out to the waiter we were seated quickly. Other than this we had great service, delicious food. Definitely not your local joint as it’s trendy music and fairly high prices but great experience.

Tried a variety of tacos and all were very tasty - shrimp, chicken, carnitas, beef, mahi mahi. They're just pretty small individually. The enchiladas were delicious and loved by many. The guac is expensive; overall expensive.

We had reservations (this is highly recommended) and we were walked right in. The staff were all super friendly and very helpful. They found out we were celebrating a birthday and they brought out a complimentary dessert at the end of our dinner. I loved the ambiance and the music and the food was to die for!! I have to note- my mother is Mexican and is SUPER picky when it comes to good Mexican food. She LOVED the food (except the flautas) here. It was kind of like tapas style where we got a bunch of plates/sides and we all shared. We ordered 2 different guacamoles and loved the pomegranate guacamole- yes...it sounds strange but it was delicious! We loved the steak and carnitas tacos. The steak was juicy and tender and cooked to perfection. We also got the elote and the mac and cheese and you can't wrong with either of these dishes. The only thing we didn't LOVE were the chicken flautas- we could have done without it. For dessert we had the caramel bread pudding and the flan- the bread pudding was exceptional. The margaritas were also very good- maybe a little on the sweet side, but delicious! My sister loved this restaurant so much she wanted to come back the next day! You won't regret this spot!

We started our night with a delicious margarita and it git better from there. We sampled the triple quacamole, traditional, mango and spicy, all of which were very tasty. Dinner at our table had a couple with enchilada dinners, another with tacos and I had red snapper. Everyone was very pleased with their dinner and I must add that my snapper was sensational! Another great extra was the black beans and rice. We will definitely be back!!!

Went for early dinner at 5pm, fresh off a plane from London. Great service and attention from staff coupled with tasty food, worth a visit. Try the tacos, really good. Sorry I was too tired to try the margherita!

We sat at the bar and had a great time talking with Omar and Donny. Both were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and highly skilled. They made us feel so welcome and special, it was really a highlight of our trip to Chicago. We enjoyed the salsa trio, micheladas, and the chicken and fish tacos. Donny was amazing at recommending mezcals to try (Bahnez pechuga!), and was so gracious to chat with us and answer all our questions. Everything was so good, we can't wait to come back.

Stopped by for happy hour. It was good. Had nachos, hot dogs and margaritas. All was good. Happy hour is held in the basement and was super dark and uncrowded for a Friday night. Still, the food was good. I had had better margaritas.

A very unassuming storefront opens up into a loud, bustling atmosphere of friends, great drinks and delicious food. The tacos with Bibb lettuce are a great alternative to corn tortillas. The chips and traditional guacamole is great.

Really good Mexican food, however very limited choices for Vegetarian and limited options on what they could make into veg. Small portions and pretty pricey for the amount of food served. Really good Margarita.

We had the mixto ceviche which was pretty good except for the cracker it was served with which was tough and bland. The sopes de tuetana which is masa boats with a topping of bone marrow and salsa was unusual and very tasty. The enmoladas de pollo was excellent and the mole sauce was terrific. The side of beans was also more flavorful than most. The only complaint is that it is so noisy conversation is difficult and many of the table are so close to one another you can hear neighboring conversations.

Came into Chicago for a date night and picked this restaurant for its location and it was awesome! We both had house margaritas that were delicious. The traditional guac and chips were a great start. Had a nice little kick to it. I had pollo tacos and my wife had carne. Both were amazing flavor. The churros to finish it off were hot and perfect!

Disappointing all around. Restaurant was unbearably noisy. It was difficult to hear anyone but the person sitting to your right or left. Tacos were meh -- at best. And enchiladas at $34 should have been a lot better than they were. And were served lukewarm. The icing on the cake was discovered after we'd paid and left: we'd been offered a "sample of guacamoles" and received three small bowls of guacamole accompanied by three small bowls of chips. Our mistake was to accept this offer, thinking it was on the house, and that it was not a proper sized appetizer. And none of us really wanted it that badly. To my shock this "Trio Guacamoles" set us back $35.

We had the barbacoa & estilo baja tacos. They come four to a plate, but these tacos are two bites. They were delicious and the most expensive tacos I've ever had. We also had a glass of wine and a cocktail, and for these four items we paid $70. I could literally buy 20 normal-sized tacos at the taqueria by my house for that price. Plus, those are big and I am uncomfortably full if I eat 3. We left here feeling still hungry. Also, weird thing, but the prices in their computer system just barely don't match the prices on their menu. They were off by a dollar, which I'm aware isn't a lot but I guess just make sure you're double checking? They either need to update the menu or their system.

We went for lunch with some friends, had a drink at the bar, then ordered quite a few appetizers to share for lunch. All types of tacos were tasty! Food was great! Margaritas have to be experienced! Close to the river in downtown Chicago.

the restaurant food and drinks amazing. The drinks are made with fresh ingredient, please order the Pepino el Pyu it’s amazing. The food is also made with fresh ingredient, the ceviche it’s something out of this world.

Great lunch at Mercadito! Estilo Baja and the Pastor street tacos were delicious! Add sides like the Green Rice Casserole and some Guacamole and Ceviche --- makes for an outstanding group lunch! Great service, fun atmosphere... really great place to eat!

I used to go to Mercaditos at least once a month when I lived in Chicago. It's a fairly priced upper scale Mexican restaurant with a good environment. Their Camarones taco is to die for. And they do have the best margaritas. Beware it's strong though, two of them might get you drunk...

The food is really spectacular. Loved everything my wife and I ordered. Prices aren't too high, other than a sneaky margarita "special" that was $14. The busboy was busting his butt to help, but the service was otherwise indifferent. Four hostesses spent much of the evening chit chatting up front while we waited a long time for our waitress at various point. Once ordered, the food came quickly. But the place was simply too loud to have any thoughtful conversation, which may have been a blessing since the table next to us was 6-8 inches away. If you want to go there with a bunch of friends where music is fairly loud, then this may be a good choice, for the food is terrific. I would not recommend it for a romantic night out, however.

The food and drinks were fantastic! The margaritas we had were delicious - each one totally different! We had and loved the Traditional Spicy, the Big Nose Goes to Mexico, and the Pepino El Pyu! Some the food items we couldn't stop talking about afterward: the cumin guacamole (part of a delicious trio), the ceviche, the camaron tacos, the brisket tortas, the green rice casserole - even the chips and salsa were spot on! I highly recommend it and will go back soon!

Marie was a fabulous waitress. I eat at here every time I am in Chicago. The black beans are an amazing hidden surprise. Everything is truly amazing from chips to margaritas.

Great food, friendly and attentive staff. Fast service. High prices but worth it. It is advisable to book a table.

Was in Chicago for a conference and craving Mexican! We searched the web and found Mercadito! We LOVED it - fresh, delicious, creative menu options and the guacamole and mango is AMAZING!!!

We decided to venture out for some Mexican fare and ended up at Mercadito. Appetizers included elote and in house guacamole dip with chips, while entrees included soft shell tacos with veg and non veg fillings. Food was absolutely on point. Entrees were good. The apps were even better. Price point was very reasonable. (2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 drinks came up to 70) Atmosphere was lively and noisy, even for a Sunday night. Some don't like the noise factor. We didn't mind it at all. While the place was jammed, it never felt overwhelming. Recommendation: Look for extra bonus points while reserving via OpenTable (we scored 1000 points) & make sure you order the elote 😎👍🏽

Had taste for Mexican but we weren't super hungry. Wanted to try this place because heard the margherita's were amazing. This was 100% true. Also shared the brussel sprouts and pollo (chicken) tacos. All very delicious. Definitely recommend if you're in Chicago and in the mood for Mexican.

This was a very slow Saturday afternoon for the restaurant, which makes the badly flawed service for our party of four even more depressing. After the server asked and was told we would like a few minutes more to choose our food, she disappeared for some 15 minutes. Eventually, two of us ordered egg-based dishes; two ordered tacos. One egg dish and one taco order came out first. More than five minutes later, the other egg dish came out. Then we waited...and waited...until I got the server's attention, said the delay was unacceptable and asked her to tell me why this was happening. Her lame explanation was, "We are a tapas place." None of these dishes were what would be called tapas. The fourth person did not get her food until 10 minutes after the third. Then, as is so sadly common in U.S. restaurants (even high-end ones, which this decidedly is not), an attempt was made to remove one person's plate before the other people had finished eating. My rating of "poor" owes to the bad service having spoiled my enjoyment of the food, which was good but a bit overpriced. For the coup de grace, the restaurant handed me a bill with pre-calculated tip numbers that started at...20 percent. (I usually tip 20 percent, but not if you give me the impression that is the mandatory bottom line.) On the plus side: the server acted on our request to turn down the conversation-stifling level of the music. I had wanted to try Mercadito for a long time. Once was enough.

Such an amazing place for a date or a night out with friends. The food is exceptional and the chic ambiance is unrivaled.

The pomegranite guacamole was amazing...the waitstaff not so much. Drinks took way too long and came after our food. But I can forgive that because everything tasted great.

If you want to eat earlier make sure to make a reservation. We waited to make a reservation and were not able to eat until 930. The wait was definately worth it! Started with house margaritas and a couple of the guacomoles which were amazing! We then shared plates of tacos and also had an order of the elote (corn). Everything was amazing - fresh and flavorful, cooked to perfection. The seating is tight so make friends with your tablemates. Can't wait to go back!

We got there at 5:30 and were attended to right away and throughout our meal. A couple of the wait staff were especially friendly and told us some history of the place. The margaritas were smooth, but expect to pay about $14 for that. Our party of four shared the guacamole with chips (excellent) and we tried three different small taco plates. All were delicious in the corn tortillas.

We had shrimp tacos and margaritas. The margaritas were just ok, definitely better ones in the nearby area. The shrimp tacos were pretty dang awesome. Would definitely return for the tacos!

Had lunch with my adult kids and wife on visit to Chicago. Beautiful , comfortable restaurant. Great service, great food. I'd go back in a flash.

We ate here for lunch and the tacos were excellent! They are small so you may want to order a few different kinds to try. Everything we had was delicious!

Went for dinner with hubby. I use a walker, and the staff was totally accommodating without making a fuss or drawing attention. We made reservations and were seated immediately on a busy Friday night. Very lively vibe - lots of groups of friends clearly enjoying themselves. A little difficult to hear, but that’s just the nature of fun, busy places. Food was great - mostly spicy. All staff were a delight, but our server, Paula, was superb. Helped us find the right foods/chef adjustments needed for allergies, and even brought a surprise dessert “drink” because she anticipated we’d run into allergy issues with the dessert menu. Incredibly thoughtful! Very attentive without hovering. GREAT personality - a total sweetheart. Go to Mercadito, and ask for Paula - she’ll be sure you have the best possible experience.

We went to Mercadito for the first time with our friends for "date night". We ordered appetizers - we had the traditional guacamole, the asparagus guacamole, ceviche mixto and queso fundido with brisket. The traditional guac had more of a garlic taste, but was delicious. While you could see the asparagus in the asparagus guac, you really couldn't taste it. The ceviche was good and the queso fundido with brisket was great with their home-made corn tortillas. We ordered tacos - shrimp, steak, lobster, and chicken to share. I ordered the carne asada - not to share. Everyone raved about the shrimp tacos and thought the food was good overall. My carne asada came with white rice and black beans. Food was good, albeit the carne asada could have used just a little more seasoning/flavor. Us girls had their margaritas but we requested them with Don Julio vs. the house tequila and they were delicious! My husband had "the little market" and my girlfriend's husband had "big nose goes to town" (or something like that). My husband really liked the little market and thought the chile powder along the rim gave it a different taste. We sat close to the bar and watched how the bartenders never seemed to stop mixing drinks. Overall, the service was very good - just the right amount of attention! The decor is modern and they have good music playing. The only negative is that it seemed to get very loud as it got more and more crowded. It seems to have poor acoustics. We felt like we'd been yelling the whole time trying to hear one another.

They have wonderful guacamole. Everything is very spicy but delicious. So be ready to face it. Now, one thing that I discovered and got me dazzled was a margarita with mezcal. And now I am addicted to mezcal thanks to Mercadito!!! Thaaanks!

We had a pretty good meal here on a Saturday night. I made reservations but it still took them 15 minutes to seat us, I'm assuming because people were lingering. There is a lot of seating in the restaurant and a bar to stand at but this place is loud. And sort of hot. But the food was good, came out quickly and our waiter was pretty attentive. I would not even try to bring children in here for dinner on the weekends. Side note, my boyfriend's cocktail (the Misty's Sleeve) was weirdly spicy. I was trying to ask our waiter why it was because none of the ingredients seemed to explain the heat but I'm not sure if he didn't hear me clearly or didn't care. Just FYI though, it's spicy.

Hello! Absolutely loved the food! Great atmosphere! Had the steak and shrimp tacos which were outstanding! The quesadilla appetizers were some of the best I’ve ever had! The bread putting melts in your mouth! I felt that they needed a better coffee selection! The only change I would do would change the music to more hip Mexican music!

Excellent Food. Good Ambience. Great Service. I went for dinner without booking a table, when I reached I was promptly provided one without any delay. Salmon Platter that I had was excellent. Must visit if you are in Chicago.

We visited Mercadito on a recommendation from our hotel. We loved this place! Small plates, upscale and traditional options, and great service. I used to work at a Mexican restaurant and fell in love with flautas, but very few places compare. The flautas were incredible here. So were the tacos pastor — good heat and flavor. Good strong drinks and a fun, lively atmosphere. I was craving the flavors the next day.... we hope to make it back here next time we’re in Chicago!

Would highly recommend this delicious restaurant. Great guac to start and excellent food, drinks and service overall. Mahi taquitos, pastor tacos, green rice, salsa... All FOH staff were happy and helpful.

We were a party of 4 celebrating a birthday, seated at a very cramped 3 person table. My biggest annoyance is when I am rushed through my dinner. That was our experience at Mercadito, but on steroids. Our appetizer, entree, drinks and sides were brought out all at the same time. Imagine that at a table the size of a coffee table. We had stated that we were celebrating a birthday when the reservation was made but not one mention was made by the restaurant staff - another peeve. We had to chase down our waitress to ask her for a birthday dessert. We were rushed through our evening so quickly we still had time on our meter! I am certain Mercadito is all about turning tables. We were not up for fast food dining.

I may have walked out of this place if it weren’t for the fact we were meeting a friend from out of town. The guacamole triple was very good. The shrimp enchiladas I enjoyed. My wife had the tacos with lettuce wrap she enjoyed too but the best was her drink. So it’s good just keep your coat on this winter at this place.

In my opinion, this is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago. We were quickly seated in the main dining room. The margaritas are perfectly made and ample. The traditional guacamole and the mango one both very tasty. The lobster tacos were good; however, not much meat. The torta of beef brisket absolutely delicious. The restaurant has a huge selection of tequilas too. The server (Jesse) was great in every way. I highly recommend and would return as there is much talent in the kitchen.

My hubby and I shared some small plates on a Saturday. I had the Bloody Mary which was spicy and to die for good! Mahi mahi tacos were crispy and so many flavors. Guacamole very good, we tried two kinds. The goat milk flan was a surprise. Different and delicious. I do like goat cheese so think about that. Hubby had tres leches flan, also good but mine was exceptional. Service fantastic. We will be going back! Highly recommend!!!

The place was hopping. It’s small so it’s very close seating and very noisy. It’s a tapas style mexican restaurant. Food comes out as it is ready and most is good for sharing. The guac was excellent. Most of the dishes were spicy. Service was very good. Only disappointment where the margaritas. All were very sweet - maybe too much agave.

First time there.....food just ok but expensive for Mexican. Service just OK as well. Worst thing was the incredibly LOUD crappy music....couldn't even hear the person right across from me speaking. Wouldn't go back.

Ate at Mercadito with a colleague on a whim. Was a great decision. Enjoyed a speciality and the house margarita. Started with guacamole and salsa and the Brussels sprouts too. Shared two separate taco dishes (pork and steak). Flavors in both were amazing. Server was friendly and attentive. Will definitely go back next time I’m in Chicago.

Came on the recommend of a friend. Fantastic find. Red Snapper is amazing. Arrived early (5:00) and it filled quickly for a Wednesday night. Highly recommended.

The food was good especially the guacamole. Service average and the place way too loud so lacked ambience. Disappointed.

The food and margaritas were great!!! We had exceptional service from our waiter, Andres, and we will be going back on our next trip to Chicago!

We had a great meal at Mercadito but were in before 7 p.m. which meant it wasn't that loud or crowded yet. By 8 p.m., it was packed and so LOUD. So I would suggest getting there on the early side so you can focus on the delicious food and not on how you can't converse with your friends. I would dock it a star to Very Good because of the sound level, but Mercadito gets a full Excellent because their food tasted like it came straight from Mexico City. The chicken flautas were legit amazing. Just like I remember eating in the DF. They also had a fantastic chocolate cake dessert with apples and caramel.

this place gets really packed so do make resurvation if going on weekends. Amazing mezcal cocktails & tacos. Downstairs bar is a fun spot for HH

Really enjoyed the food. Everything we ordered was really good, especially the rock shrimp appetizer. The place is really nice, good music, good vibes, and good margaritas!

For a trendy spot the food is surprisingly decent (though not anywhere close to the caliber of Frontera or other gourmet Mexican places) but the noise level makes it bordering on intolerable. Aggravating the noise level-or possibly the cause of it-is the ridiculously and absurdly loud music blaring on the speakers. We were a party of 7 sitting at a round table and those just on the other side of the round table could not hear those on the other side from 6-7 feet away. So go if you would like for decent food but either don't plan on conversation or plan on a sore throat the next day.

This is an amazing spot! Super fun happy hour! Great enchiladas! If you go you MUST request Andres as your server! He is amazing, gave great menu recommendations, and made our night super fun!

This was another good selection while in Chicago's North Loop area. We visited Mercadito on a Sunday late afternoon. No wait time. We had excellent service. They were having a few "support breast cancer awareness specials" on the menu. Some proceeds were donated to the cause. We had the taco specials, which were great! Try the chicken and fish tacos when you go there. The presentation is nice, but the tacos are amazing! Nice atmosphere and nice music to move your feet too. We recommended this place to a few of our co-workers who will be visiting Chicago in a few weeks. Looking forward to going again next time I'm in Chicago!

We decided to give the Mercadito a try but was a little disappointed in our overall experience. This place is extremely LOUD. You can barely hold a conversation with someone sitting right in front of you without yelling. My ears were pounding but the time we left. Food was tasty but very small portions for the money. Waitress was friendly n a constant mission to up sale everything throughout the evening. My wife’s meal cane out first and by the time mine came out she was done. I would not go back here when I come back to Chicago.

The food, service, and restaurant itself was amazing! Had a fabulous ceviche I'll never forget! Will be back whenever I visit the city again!

I had a great experience here. The mango guac was delicious, the beer I tried was really good and so were the tacos! We got to sit outside which was pleasant. Great place and amazing service. Check it out if you are in the area.

Walked in here at about 530 on a Thursday night. The restaurant was about a third full(lots of open tables) , none of the tables outside were occupied, bar was not full, no one was in front of us waiting for a table. Was told since we didn't have a reservation we could eat in the windowless basement or wait 45 minutes for upstairs tables. We went across the street to Barrio, They had people sitting outside, they had people sitting inside, we were seated when we walked in.

Our dinner was amazing - starting with the guacamole (we had pineapple guac - so good). The tacos are great for sharing - we ordered all different types and shared with the table. The drinks were very unique and delicious - great kid drinks with homemade juices and soda too! Our waiter was so attentive and made sure the kids had what they needed so the adults could enjoy their dinner! It was a great evening - I highly recommend!

It’s amazing how you’re treated can affect everything. The ambiance was great. The food was delicious. The price was too high (even for Chicago), but our server was horrible. It felt like she tolerated us. I had to wave her down on three separate occasions because she barely paid any attention to us. It wasn’t a busy night and she was quite friendly with another nearby table, so I’m not sure what was going on.

Great selection of dishes, the list is not big and small. And it’s very very tasty. I like the way they served food. Highly recommend!

Went here off a friend's recommendation and I see why! Delicious food and drinks. The house margarita and traditional guacamole were the highlights! They have other options but I wanted to try their takes on the "classics" and was not disappointed. I also enjoyed the fried plantains and chicken tacos and fried fish tacos. Fast service and did not wait long for the food to come out. Recommend if you are looking for good Mexican!

This restaurant has the best cucumber margaritas and other cocktails. I had a Paloma Diabla Which was amazing too and had some spice to it. The Canerón tacos are the best shrimp tacos in Chicago! I get them every time. Really good mango and pomegranate guacamole, amazing queso fundido, and phenomenal ceviche (all of them are amazing). If you have room for dessert- the tres leches cake is phenomenal!!

Mercadito was good, my wife and I shared a plate of taco, which are smaller, and rice and beans. It was a perfect portion for us. The food was pretty good and the drink were great.

Mercadito has an incredible twist on Mexican cuisine that leaves you wanting more! Heads up though, there truly isn't anything on the menu that isn't spicy. Although things tend to be on the hotter side, they definitely aren't lacking on flavor! Food is served as it comes out of the kitchen which is kind of fun, because you get to see everyone's entree and appreciate the beautiful presentation! My must have dish, the lobster mac and cheese, NEVER disappoints! Enjoy!

Fresh tasty tacos ! I do recommend the ones with shrimp! Amazing margaritas! U hv to hv more than one! Very loud inside but fun, a few tables also outside. Friday evening pretty busy, so better reserve in advance.

We reserved this place a month ago in anticipation of 4th July and the reviews we read online. The place did not disappoint, we were seated right away and had a wonder booth - chair table in front of bar. the ambiance and the service were top notch. We ordered their salsa pair , guacamole and different type of tacos to share. 1) Salsas - get the mild and medium, they were perfect! 2) Guacamole- we had the in season peach guacamole, I would skip guacamole as it’s not worth the price. 3) Drinks- they know their drinks, order any one and you won’t be disappointed 4) Chicken Tacos - excellent 5) Fried Mahi-mahi tacos - I would definitely order these if you have to order something fried and want that fresh fish 6) Mushroom Tacos - solid choice for vegetarians We ordered a side of rice which I would skip, not value for money and it was warm and not fresh as I like. For Dessert they had only one option which Tres Leches Cake - it was good but not excellent, the dessert definitely needs new presentation Come here for a special occasion or a date night or weekend ! Also, as your server to double tortilla the tacos, as I would surely do that next time. They make in house tortillas which are to die for !

Really enjoyed this place for lunch! Authentic and delicious. Highly recommend the ceviche and shrimp tacos!

Love the guacamole options, and the brisket & shrimp tacos are out of this world!!! This time...only a 2 star. Our waiter/wait staff were great, host stand/bartender terrible!!! However, we had trouble getting 3 out of a party of 4 seated. Had to wait until all arrived....so we went to the bar. The female bartender started to take our order and then passed on to the next person. We kind of blew it off and waited for our friend to arrive. We they did (5 minutes later) all of a sudden our table was gone and we had to wait another 15 minutes...so we went to the bar, again. Same female dark haired waitress. This time we actually got to order (mind you there we 3 other customers at the bar, not busy!) grey goose/soda with lemon and a glass of Cabernet. She quickly shut us down...no Greg goose. Titos or Kettle 1...my husband replied before she said kettle. She was rude again..and just said when you figure it out...let me know...I am busy here. Just have to call this out because she lost the restaurant money on two occasions and if I were the owner/manager I would want to know.

The food is terrific and the staff is professional and courtesy. The restaurant was clean and music was at a reasonable listening level. The prices are reasonable given its central location in Chicago. I would certainly return here.

Very delicious taco.we were 10 people and one of our friend had her food late. We talked to Will the manager and he waived the cost of the dish AND he served us 3 plates of desert on the house. Will took care of us very nicely. We enjoyed ourselves very much. We recommend the resturant but be careful they have a time limit on the table.

Had dinner here before a show. Tacos El pastor were outstanding,as was our ceviche.We also had a Brussel sprouts dish that was very tasty.

The BEST mango guacamole served with warm chips and Pastor street tacos...a great mini feast in a lovely setting presented by a great server...ole!!

All of the food was great with the exception of the tres leches. Strong taste of liquor and not sweet at all as I would expect. Asked 3 employees about the tres leches and they all stated they were new so they had not tried it. Giving 3 stars as the restaurant charged me increased prices on every item that I ordered that did NOT match the menu that you scan at the table. They also did not allow me to verify the check prior to paying. This is a reminder to everyone to to request a copy of your bill PRIOR to submitting payment!! Menu said $3.50 for salsa, charged $4.50. Traditional guacamole menu states $12 charged $14!! Carnita tacos on menu $17.50, charged $18.50. Carne tacos $19 on menu, charged $19.50. (Receipt attached) Disappointing and unethical!

Very lively and loud restaurant.... but really good food. Nest to go on groups so you can sample lots of dishes.

My 12 year old son insisted I write this review and give the restaurant 5 stars because he loved it! Our family of 4 got a quest fundito with wild mushrooms for an appetizer which we all loved. My son got the steak tacos, I got the chicken tacos, husband got the enchilada and all were absolutely delicious. There is no kids menu so my 9 year old was a bit put off by the menu but they said they could make her taco with whatever she wanted and she was thrilled. If you get tacos prepare to leave hungry or order more because you only get 4 small soft tacos. Each is maybe 5 inches across. Not a ton of food but amazingly tasty. Our dessert was fabulous. Wait staff was attentive- our waters were refilled continuously and the waiter was great with the kids.

We were told by our concierge at the hotel where we were staying about Mercadito & how all the locals go there. We decided to go there for a late lunch. We asked our waiter (awesome service) what he suggested? We ordered a couple of different salsas, guacamoles & margaritas, they were out of this world. Then we all (5) decided to try different things so that we can try it all, Ceviche,Chicken Taquiza Lobster tacos & Carne Asada. So much food & it was beyond excellent. Atmosphere was Great, Happy & Beautiful. Before we left we tried it again & it was just as good. If ever you're in Chicago, this is definite must try.

Food was good but there's so much great Mexican food in Chicago. Drinks very good. Horrendous music: way, way, way too loud eurotrash dance tracks. Server presented the bill to sign on a tablet and had already selected the 20% tip, telling me I could modify it - that's my standard, but doing that is very presumptuous and a turnoff.

It was loud and busy and a Saturday night. We walked in,party of 2, no reservation and were seated immediately. Our server took drink orders iwithin in minutes, we ordered our food shortly after and were served quickly. Seriously, I'm sure it won't always be this way but we were so impressed, we were literally there less than 15 minutes and had our food and drinks! The guac was awesome - just enough bite, but not overly spicy. We shared the smoked brisket tacos and they are to die for, delicious!

I had not had good Mexican food for over a year, and several friends recommended Mercadito. Well, it was not far from my hotel and it was a beautiful afternoon, so I took a stroll to Mercadito. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and everything, including the restrooms, was very clean. I think that Mercadito suffers from the same disease from which many upscale Mexican food restaurants suffer -- in order to appeal to a more upscale market, the authentic flavours, aromas, and food presentation are set to appeal to a broader customer base, rather than the customer base that wants over-the-border food. The food is blander, more recognisable in presentation and taste to someone who has never been to Mexico, and more counterfeit or quasi Mexican fare. I guess I knew I was in trouble when I saw that the restaurant offered a brunch (not so Mexican, in my opinion), though the execution of the brunch concept was weird: you could choose one entree, which was inside a box, and that was it -- my experience with brunches is that you pay a set price and then help yourself to many and sundry foods as often as you like. I chose two salsas with an order of taco chips, one habanero and one tomatillo. Neither had much of a kick in it, sadly. I went for the chicken enchiladas, which were tasty, but not delicious or authentic. Again, pretty bland -- certainly not something that would satisfy a craving for Mexican food. I was surprised to see that brussel sprouts were offered as a side dish....do they serve brussel sprouts in Mexico? I had a couple of Mexican beers and a cup of coffee to finish -- total including tip, was $60, which did not strike me as being much of a bargain. Despite my complaining, the wait staff and the manager could not have been nicer or more professional. They made the whole experience pleasant (not Mexican or authentic) and made me feel like they genuinely liked me and wanted my business. I might go back, now that my expectations have been set.

We had the best time!! We were recommended to try Mercadito and so glad we did. Definitely try the Amiga Sandía and ask for it spicy!

One of my colleagues was really jazzed about coming here for tacos but at the end of the day, I was underwhelmed. The food was good but the service was sub-par. We shared several taco plates - steak, fish, mushroom and shrimp - and they were all adequate but not stop-the-presses good. The corn side dish was really good. Drinks were good too But the service. It was a Monday night, the place was not crowded and everything took forever. I think they had one wait staff working. I realize Mondays are slow, but come on. I won't be rushing back to Mercadito.

I love this place. Went to Chicago to visit my friends and we decided to go here. I had Carnitas and Al Pastor, delicious. The Mexican Moscow Mule is a must, really good. My Mexican friends had a Torta, and Flautas and they said was really good, just like her abuelita makes them. I really like the place, they had Latin music, even the waitress speaks Spanish (I’m Latina). I highly recommend this place.

The service was top notch! Our waters were constantly filled (which you needed with the spice) and our waiter was very present and helpful. Our tacos were unreal!My husband and I both enjoyed our meals very much. The food is spicy, so if you’re not into that, you won’t enjoy it. I’d definitely return to Mercadito the next time we make it to a Chicago! Oh and the margaritas are unreal!!!

The atmosphere food and service were all amazing. I'll definitely try to come back again as it's reasonably priced and I made great memories.

My husband and I were looking forward to to a delicious Mexican dinner on our trip to Chicago and Mercadito fit the bill. We made reservations and found the restaurant lively upon arrival. We we offered outdoor seating, which we were hoping for. We people watched and enjoyed Pollo Tacos and Surf & Turf Taquizas.

We made reservations for this place a month in advance anticipating that we were going to get a great Mexican meal. Boy were we wrong! When we arrived they sat us outside at a little table in front of the door. Every time someone went in or out, my husband got bumped, it was terrible. When our waiter took our order we had picked an appetizer and a main meal. We had just got our appetizer's when another waiter arrived with our main meal. We complained to another waiter that the food came too quickly, so he sent it back. Then, yet another waiter apologized for bringing the main dish out so quickly and said that they would remake it for us. We waited 40 minutes as well as several enquiries on where our food was. When we finally did get our order, which was the chicken enchiladas, it was cold and tasteless. Taco Bell offers better food than this place!

Perhaps the food can be good but the server was rude and unprofessional damaging the all experience in this restaurant. My mom was visiting from out of the country and can’t eat spicy food. When I asked the server for options his answer was everything here is spicy in a very arrogant way. Even the salads and tortillas are spicy he said, That’s ridiculous. Any Mexican restaurant can make an exception and prepare a meal without any spicy sauce. we ended ordering few items there just because of the commute but we will never return.

We had a fun date here. It was on a weekend and was super loud. Food and drinks were good but a little expensive

We have had many disappointing experiences with service and food lately and this restaurant has given us hope! The food was so good and service even better! Highly recommend this place to anyone!

My family had lunch reservation in preparation for my daughter's photo for her graduation. We ordered drinks, food. The service is great, our waitress always ensure that we are enjoying our drinks, food. This is a Mexican restaurant but also served good ceviche, tacos.

Awesome! Had a great time. Amazing food and great service. A really good atmosphere and authentic Mexican food

I had lunch here with six business colleagues. The ambience is shared food with pass-around side dishes and racks of small soft tacos (4 per rack). We enjoyed guacamole and an assortment of tacos, shrimp ceviche, along with caramelized plantains and for desert. All of the food was tasty and of good quality, although over-priced (even by Chicago standards). I might come back (for the food) but there are better priced good quality Mexican food opportunities in the city.

Wonderful restaurant with great food, great service, and a great tequila selection. Go early and grab a cocktail downstairs at the Mezcal bar. We had a phenomenal table and the food was superb. The snapper and elote! Mmmmm! Definitely have the queso with chorizo for an appetizer. It was sooooo good. If you are a tequila drinker....the Casa Noble Anejo is a sure bet. Paul the manager looked over our table as did Matt our server and we couldn’t have had better service. Definitely will be one of our go to’s while in Chicago. By the way it was seriously NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY soooo we didn’t expect service to be great because it was packed but this is truly an orchestrated affair and everyone works together. Highly recommended.

Nice Mexican tapas menu. Margaritas and service were very good. Good atmosphere but a bit loud. If you don’t like sitting close to strangers you may not like your table

Don't let the outside fool you. Great little Mexican restaurants with the best margaritas around. The place was packed but there was no rushing you through. Loved it.