Mercado Restaurant Manhattan Beach

Great place for happy hour. There is plenty of bar, outdoor, and indoor seating. The staff was very polite and attentive. The quality of the food is good, although we tried a few items. The bathrooms were maintained cleaned. Definitely a place to visit.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

We had an incredible meal with impecxable service at Mercado in Pasadena, and wanted to try the Manhattan Beach restaurant. Very disappointing. First thing I did was ask if they had the Branzino, which was amazing in Pasadena. I was told yes. I explained how we came for it specifically. We ordered drinks and as we were about to order our main courses, we were informed that the last one had been sold..on a Wednesday at 7pm. After drinks not being correct and food not being delivered together we left with feeling of no need to return to this location. If you want the best Mercado has to offer, you have to drive to Pasadena.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 3

I love the guacamole and chips there. I have to say the filet (steak) taco was unappetizing. The meat was grey and rubbery. I have had steak tacos where the meat is cut into strips. This was one thin slab kind of like gyro meat.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 3

My absolute favorite Restaurant 😍 HANDS DOWN!!!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great atmosphere and very good food. Service was really good as well.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

First time here, but what a great experience:
- Best fish tacos I've had in years, no contest. The fish were cooked perfectly, but the add-ons on the taco sealed the deal. Delicious sauces, and pico. 10 out of 10.
-They also have a great happy hour menu.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

We tried Mercado tonight and absolutely loved it! We came during happy hour and had no wait for a table. The prickly pear spicy margarita was one of the best I’ve had - super flavorful and strong. The carnitas nachos were amazing as well as the dos gringas tacos and enchiladas de pollo en mole. We’ll definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My sister had a horrible experience for her graduation at Eddie V and we choose to come here . This manager , staff , waiters was so awesome sweet and accommodating. They made us feel so welcomed and went above to make our night better. This restaurant deserves all the great business. I already told so many of my friends about this place . They have a great happy hour , very strong drinks , good food . The location is also good with free parking. 10/10 recommend

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great meal for lunch gathering!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We celebrated Christmas Eve at Mercado with a table of 10, and the experience was nothing short of perfect. The menu—particularly the tacos and seasonal specials—was outstanding. Exceptional service can be hard to find for large groups, but David was incredible and kept everything running smoothly. A five-star evening

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Mercado Manhattan Beach: A Review That’s 90% Enthusiasm, 10% Queso Coma

I walked into Mercado Manhattan Beach expecting solid tacos and left questioning whether I’d just experienced peak human achievement or simply overdosed on crema. The answer, it turns out, is both.

Let’s start with the star of the show: the Al Pastor Tacos. These little corn-tortilla miracles arrive looking like they’ve been drizzled by a hyperactive Jackson Pollock who only owns green paint and a grudge against restraint. The pork is shaved so thin it’s basically prosciutto’s tropical cousin, caramelized toueto edges that taste like someone figured out how to bottle campfire. Then they hit it with pineapple that somehow manages to be both sweet and aggressively tangy—like if piña colada grew up and started doing CrossFit. Topped with onions, cilantro, and enough green sauce to power a small salsa cartel. One bite and I actually whispered “dios mío” unironically. My dining companion heard me and nodded solemnly, as if we’d just witnessed a religious event.

Up next: the Queso Fundido, which should come with a warning label and a waiver. This is not “cheese dip.” This is molten queso Oaxaca doing its best impersonation of a lava flow in a cute little bowl. Chorizo chunks bob around like spicy little life rafts. You will attempt to be civilized with the provided tortillas. You will fail. You will resort to spoon. You will consider bathing in it. The waiter will pretend not to notice when you guard the bowl like Gollum with the One Ring.

And then, because apparently we hate ourselves, we ordered the Flautas de Pollo. Picture taquito’s fancy older sister who went to culinary school in Guadalajara and came back with strong opinions about presentation. Perfectly rolled, fried to a shattering crisp, then piled so high with lettuce, crema, queso fresco, and pico that it looks like a edible Jenga tower. One wrong move and you’re wearing half of it. Worth it.

Service was the kind of attentive that makes you feel mildly famous—like the staff genuinely wants you to have the best night of your life, and they’re willing to sprint for extra limes to make it happen. Cocktails are dangerously good (the mezcal situation is reckless), and the patio is prime South Bay people-watching real estate.

Only complaint: portions are aggressively generous, which feels like a trap. I left in what can only be described as a full-body food hug, waddling to my car while mentally drafting my will to leave everything to Mercado.

10/10, would sell my soul for more of that green sauce. Bring stretchy pants and zero shame.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What’s with charging 3% just to walk in?
The food is good but expensive. Then charge 3% just to eat there.. It’s just Mexican food already!

NOT ALLERGY FRIENDLY!
No accommodations, we typically come in 2-3x per month & they’ve been fine. So we decided to go for a birthday celebration with someone who has never been, made a reservation & let them know ahead of time of allergies. We get there 730p male waiter doesn’t introduce himself, okay just a notice. When ordering we again said here are the allergies. Based on What’s safe ordered chips and guacamole.
Waiter failed to mention chips are fried with seafood. We already ordered it.
Then placing order asked to substitute pork for chicken on 2 tacos. They including manager on duty refused.
Celebration ended paid for the chips and guacamole that we could not eat and left. Horrible customer service & additional training needed for ADA.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I like the foods there because the foods that this restaurant tastes so good that I wanted to go to this restaurant again!

Food: 5

Went Sunday afternoon for an appetizer and a couple of soft drinks was very impressed I cannot wait to go there and have their Mexican hamburger special it sounds very delicious and don't forget to order their Carnitas nachos those were really off the the hook they were so delicious The Vibes there are very beautiful nice people nice group of customers very kind can't wait to go and have dinner I'll be going there very soon

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5