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Mercadito
Mexican Restaurant$$$$
River North, Chicago
The experts at Eater and Time Out Chicago recommend this place
"The pastor and the camaron tacos are must haves!! Heaven!"(5 Tips)
"Order the pastor tacos and the chile de árbol salsa."(4 Tips)
"Order the mango guac & camaron tacos."(4 Tips)
"Try the Mahi Mahi Tacos - These were some great fish tacos"(6 Tips)
244 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- tacos
- margaritas
- good for dates
- chile de arbol
- trendy
- (15 more)
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Jeremy CDecember 19, 2015Go downstairs to Double A lounge and ask the bartender to make you a Mezcal old fashioned. Get there at 6p to grab one of the few stools or tables. And u can order tacos too - I like the Pastor.
Mark WongOctober 12, 2015Unique cocktails, amazing decor and phenomenal tacos. One of the best Mexican restaurants I've been to. Try the 'Pastor' tacos - chile ancho rubbed pork, salsa and grilled pineapple.
Upvoted 2 weeks ago
Vivian RamirezNovember 13, 2016This place hits everything perfectly: delicious and varied cocktail menu, elevated Mexican in a lovely well designed space, amazing service, pricing is great as well for this level awesomeness.
Avneesh KohliAugust 2, 2018Nice upscale Mexican restaurant with an elegant but not overly formal vibe. The enchiladas were incredible. FYI the taco plates are on the small side.
Stacy Bo BacyMarch 1, 2020Tacos are the best items on the menu, but they can only be ordered in batches of four. On the expensive side ($11.50 small guacamole!). Still, a fun, loud atmosphere and prompt service.
Scott SpauldingJuly 24, 2013Margaritas - amazing! They look small, but they pack a punch. The guacamole is superb, can't go wrong with any taco selected. Great service, get a reservation, the place is small, fills up quick!
AVDecember 22, 2017This place has a great vibe and some great food. I ordered Espada, Baja and Camarón with my friends, and the three of us agreed Espada was the best. Mango guac was awesome too.
Chicago TribuneAugust 1, 2014My hands-down favorite is the chile relleno, stuffed with a delicious cheese blend and bolstered with bits of shrimp, octopus and scallop, over a tomato and arbol chile salsa.
Subhro MApril 6, 2015Great guacamole combinations. Tacos were great - loved the garlic shrimp and fish ones. Don't forget to get a side of the corn and beans. Margaritas were great as well
ISC ChicagoJuly 3, 2021pastor taco (ancho-rubbed pork, chile de árbol salsa, fresh pineapple) subbed corn tortillas for bibb lettuce
Amy CApril 15, 2013Zomg. Where do I begin? Best speciality tacos and guacamole. Had some blueberry Margarita with a salt and pepper rim. Service was impeccable and crowd was out of a modeling cast for vogue? Miami also.
Great food, crazily flavorful. Try the Mahi Mahi tacos, and start with the guacamole. Arrive early, it gets loud (and the crowd gets obnoxious) later at night.
Rich LeeAugust 6, 2014Excellent salsa selections, you can't go wrong with any of them so you might as well get the trio! The queso fundido with chorizo is phenomenal
Tacos are amazing!! Love the cucumber one and smoky Pablo!!
Kevin MacDecember 24, 2015The tapas style restaurant has great food and drink menus, but the service, the ambiance and the energy are the must experience elements!
Eater says try the Cookie Cutter ($11) made with gingerbread rooibos tea-infused Herredura reposado, Ferrand Curacao, lemon, Negra Modelo beer and garnished with bourbon smoked sugar and orange peel.
Natalie FMarch 28, 2017The tacos are delicious. Got the fish taco and beef brisket one. Both good choices. Wasn't a fan of the drinks but that's personal preference.
Cierra CumminsJanuary 30, 2016The Carne and Cameron tacos are AMAZING. Also try the pomegranate guacamole for a fun flavor twist on a Mexican classic.
michelle jimenezAugust 25, 2015Love their fish tacos! Good for dates and lunch. To avoid crowds go during the week.
AlisonJanuary 27Came for restaurant week and it was an incredible deal. I don’t even know what my favorite item was, but a special shoutout to the flautas and all the tacos!!!
Time Out ChicagoFebruary 28, 2012Two types of guacamole, two types of ceviche, three types of tacos and a personal dessert are included in the $22 lunch. With beverages, dinner is rounds out to an even $40. Read more
Jessica PlacenciaJune 22, 2017Mahi mahi tacos are incredible. If you like mezcal try los hermanos cocktail.
Mohammed Hassan-AliNovember 9, 2014Lobster and chicken tacos are ridiculously good. Great music too. Well come back again.
Madeline GullettDecember 27, 2014Great margaritas and guacamole! They had no vegan options but made me delicious vegan tacos anyways!!
- Time Out ChicagoDecember 6, 2011Try the estrellados y tampiqueña from our 100 Best list: We order steak and eggs, and we challenge you to find a better, more fairly priced version than this aggressively seasoned $12 skirt steak.
Get the salsa trio, guacamole trio and crush the tacos. Smokey Pablo Margarita….can’t go wrong there
Mike WilderOctober 23, 2015Service industry discount daily - 50% off entire check Sundays all day, Monday thru Thursday after 10pm, and Friday and Saturday after 11pm.
Sofia PapastamelosOctober 12, 2015Great drinks in the hidden bar downstairs. The White Walker is good if you enjoy the smokiness of mezcal.
Leland BrewsterApril 20, 2016No doubt priced and portioned for River North but the tacos and guacamole are delicious and worth a trip.
KT CFebruary 26, 2011Excellent Brunch! Pancakes w/ Manchego Cheese, Strawberries, Cinnamon Butter, & Maple Syrup and Caldo de Camaron are excellent. Amazing Bloody Mary, too! And Brenda (bartender) is excellent!
BigTab R.N.June 20, 2012FYI: You can't mix and match the tacos on the menu, so you have to order three of the same taco. Service is slow. The shrimp tacos are great, guacamole is good.
Jeff CulpepperApril 3, 2017Excellent. The chips and guacamole were spicey and tasty. Taco were quite good also. Very trendy inside.
Alex NawarJanuary 8, 2017Good cocktails and ceviche though it was all a bit over priced. Packed and loud upstairs on a Saturday night with a long wait, but downstairs is quiet and had more open tables.
M Ben-DavidMarch 12, 2012Mmm for Mercadito... I recommend all the taco's especially camaron shrimp tacos & the pollo ones. The dorado mahi mahi ceviche is delicious...
Réjane TFebruary 28, 2012Try the different salsas, so very good. Fish tacos are amaze, and their margaritas trick you into thinking you're drinking juice. SO GOOD.
Peter HolowatenkoJune 29, 2014Mercadito was awesome! There wasn't a thing we didn't love about the food and service. We were there on a Saturday and it was incredibly loud, not something I would normally comment on.
Helen WardJuly 16, 2014Loooong wait but worth it! Guacamole was awesome and so were pollo tacos. "Fire" drink was yummmmmy!
Jennifer MulvihillAugust 4, 2013The steak taco (as well as everything else on the menu) is fantastic! Accidentally asking a Bull's player to take your group picture is also kind of cool.
Jessica ToliuszisJanuary 22, 2016Just love love love this Mexican restaurant. Terrific cocktails! Margaritas
Deanna M.August 10, 2013Yummy pork belly tacos and mahi mahi tacos! Margaritas were the best in town. The EDM was a good touch (:
MaxAugust 26, 2016BTIT! No reservation? Go to the small basement lounge, same menu on first-come first-served basis.
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Open until Midnight (Show more)
- Mon–Tue
- 11:30 AM–Midnight
- Wed–Thu
- 11:30 AM–1:00 AM
- Fri
- 11:30 AM–2:00 AM
- Sat
- 11:00 AM–3:00 AM
- Sun
- 11:00 AM–Midnight
(312) 329-9555
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. American Express & MasterCard)
Wi-Fi
Yes
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Drinks
Beer, Wine, Full Bar, Cocktails
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Places inside Mercadito
- 8.3
"Thriller ($13) No ones going to save you from the beast that is mezcal, velvet falernum, a tiki drink staple, apple juice and bitter lemon soda garnished with a torched lemon peel, rosemary and thyme."
Shannon Jeropke 
"The food is great. Try any of the tacos and definitely get a Little Market cocktail. I"
Tunisia Carter
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