John
Sat at bar for dinner. The drinks were good. The food was also good. I had the enchiladas. Although they were more like a soft taco than the traditional enchiladas I've had before. the staff was friendly and the service was good. I will be back next time I'm in the area.
Spencer Mclennan
Anyone that can’t give this place 5 stars hasn’t tried enough Mexican restaurants. Absolutely the best! The chips are so fresh and the best ever and combined with the salsa … Wow! The Margarita is amazing! Perfect blend and not too sweet. I can’t recommend this place enough!
Cheridy Bell
Great place. Food was amazing. House margaritas even better! Go!
Edited to include: one of the house specialties was right up my alley but included an allergen. They made it without the allergen for me. And wow - bartender service was just awesome.
05fwaz
I just love this place. Their house margarita is so good and the servers have good recommendations based on what you like. I keep getting their Michoacan Special. Possibly not spelled correctly, but it was a server recommendation. It is chicken, shrimp, and, veggies over rice covered in a spinach cheese sauce. I highly recommend it. It goes so well with their house made hot sauce. You need to eat their chips too. They make them fresh so don't feel too bad that you have to pay for them.😊
Jennifer K
This quaint spot served up some amazing food. It took awhile to get our order and never had drink refills. It was not busy so I expected better service but I loved the food. Chips are amazing!!
David Gearring, Sr.
My go-to place for everything Al pastor. I've been coming here for a few years, now; every meal has been praiseworthy. I pass multiple other tacquerias to get to this downtown spot for food/taste that I can count on to be great every time.
Cindy Contreras
The food was phenomenal! I am an authentic Mexican so I tend to be picky with my food. This place met all the expectations. Everything was delicious, but if you’re a sizzling fajita fanatic, and you’re eating with another person, try the fajitas for two. It’s very well served! I honestly loved it. I will be back!
Kevin Leung
Continues to be one of my favorite Mexican restaurants! I always get the Barbados taco sald and a couple tacos. If you're feeling hungry go for the chorizo quest dip, but the chips and salsa are delicious!!
Sol
Awesome spot for a fast lunch, lunch specials are $11 and you can do combinations. All come w rice and beans.
Chicken fajita lunch special ($14 fyi) was still a generous portion with 4 tortillas included. I was super stuffed after, can eat half and take half home next time!
Kelly Brokamp
Super nice atmosphere, clean and they have a few tables with umbrellas outside for outdoor dining. Service was the best! Their ice tea was freshly brewed and made perfectly! We will be new regulars for lunch!!
Anna Hammond
I loved this restaurant instantly!! Staff was friendly, service was good, and the food was magnificent. The ambiance was nice, the meal and dessert were made with care. Also very much appreciated the offer of Mexican coke it’s one of my favorites. The spice level and homemade hot sauces were an added bonus, will come again!
Jayar Klug
Randall is one of the most knowledgeable and kind bartenders I have ever met. His presence feels calm and in control, and it’s like he could read my mind when I described what I wanted. I got a spicy margarita with raspberry- and it was the best margarita I’ve had in my entire life, and I mean that. I had another even tho I didn’t plan on it.
As far as the food goes, it’s not bad. The rice was alright, the meat was juicy and somewhat tender, the vegetables were fresh, and it all came out really quickly. The TVs had sports, and the atmosphere is chill and friendly. The prices are fair. But by far, the bar is the best seat in the house
Andrea Escalona
Great margaritas, and the service was very good. I ordered nachos and didn't like so much. For sure I will come back for the margaritas!
Beth Jackson
We had a party of 10 while in town for a work event; stopped in for lunch and we had a wonderful experience. The food was delicious, service was fast and excellent, and a overall great experience.I will definitely be a returning guest.
Pete Mauro
Great classic tex mex style place that seems out of place amongst overpriced, neglected chains downtown. Highly recommend for the price. Enchiladas are amazing
James Littlemyer
The food was great and the house Margarita was the absolute best I have had. I have visited numerous Mexican restaurants across the country and this establishment has the best house Margarita of them all. If you are in the area you have to try Taqueria Mercado.
David Knutson
A mellow Sunday evening meal to close out the weekend. The restaurant was well staffed and ready to serve towards the end of the day. I was impressed that all of the dishes were well seasoned and prepared carefully enough to allow for the flavors of all ingredients to stand out individually while blending for excellent taste. We enjoyed the tamales and enchiladas. Todo está muy rico.
Mike OC
I have been a regular at Taqueria Mercado (aka "TM3") for the past 10+ years and the place never disappoints! The food, service, and ambiance is always on point and it seems to constantly be busy, which is a breath of fresh air for a downtown Cincy restaurant. Keep doing what you're doing TM3 and we're thankful to have you as a downtown Cincy staple establishment!
Jessica Lauren
I absolutely love this place! Best guac in the city! Steak burrito is on point! Perfect margaritas!
Shandra Havens Irwin
From Chicago to Florida, DC and everywhere else, TM is hands down the absolute best Mexican restaurant 👌🏼
Tammie Rafferty
Best Mexican food! Fresh, authentic, delicious. Amazing drinks and friendly staff.
Nivens Imani
I ordered take out twice. Yesterday and today. Tacos and quesadillas with rice. The food was disgusting. The chicken was dry and barely seasoned. The ground beef was really "wet" for a lack of better words. That too was barely seasoned. The rice tasted like warmed up rice a roni. It was just all bad. I won't be back ever again. You cant get good tacos here or anywhere in cincinnati for that matter.
Dori Gaier
Absolutely superb!!! Excellent service, delicious food and clean, friendly environment. I'd highly recommend visiting this restaurant if you're in the area!
Jodi Schmidt
The best tacos! Great choices! Not your average Mexican food - love this place
Jeromy Cannon
Good food and drink at reasonable prices. My only complaint is with the Pink Floyd cover band playing entirely too loud for such a small venue. I'm a musician and DJ and I think it's too loud.
Jáe Mosley
Reasonably priced with generous proportions. Awesome margs and cool ass bartenders!
Doug Sovonick
Great food and great people. I am addicted to the Chicken Enchillada with cheese sauce.
Jennie Davis Marcum
Margaritas, Food and Service was all fantastic!! Probably the best chips and salsa I've ever had.
Jeremy Moore
Pulled pork nachos happily fed my belly for 2 days and tasted just as good re heated
Comfortable environment inside and the hustle and bustle of OTR outside ✨
Robert Smith
Came with a friend at the very end of lunch. It was pretty quiet. The service was good and fast. I had a taco salad. Should have added queso as a dressing. All in all a great place and I will definitely come back.
What Bri's Cooking
Got dinner here with my lady Architects before heading to a show at the Shakespeare company. I had only been here for lunch before and it was nice to see this place come to life at happy hour. We had just missed the drink specials, but it was just as well. One margarita was PLENTY! They are strong and delicious like a little tequila fairy is behind the bar. It was a good thing we got tons of chips and had to walk a bit before the show, because we were defiantly feeling the effects.
Niliab1
Best chips around, LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!!!. Food is good, friendly staff and the chips are the best I have ever had. Margarita is pretty good too. Usually go for lunch before the matinee at the Arnoff.
Bmccoyjr
The only customer and waiting for 25 mins. I've been waiting for over 25 mins to order so far. 9/5/14 @230 pm.
Internet Shopper
My Fav Mexican Restaurant in the Cincinnati Area.... In my opinion, this is the best Mexican restaurant in the Cincinnati area. The menu is large and the flavors remind me of taquerias in the southwest.
Becky Hancock
I love this place! Great carnitas tacos! Very authentic taste. Friendly and quick service. Give it a try!
Jewelrybytiti
I've had better. I have eaten here about 5 times in the past 2 years. It seemed to be better the first 2 times. Maybe they have a new cook? The last 2 times I ordered the veggie burrito and both times it was just bland. Not very good. I also had the Tamale and an enchilada. Nothing special. Also pretty bland. The waitress was friendly but I wouldn't go back for the food. My pick for best Mexican in Cincinnati is The Blue Agave in Tri-County.
Grayk4
Bleh. We ended up here because Rio Grande was closed because of weather damage and someone in our group suggested it. If this is authentic Mexican, I will go back to the fake stuff. I ordered a burrito being used to other Mexican restaurants serving it with beans and rice. The waiter came out with my burrito by itself on a plate dry. No salsa inside or outside. I asked if it came with beans and rice and the waiter said only at lunch(?!) It's apparent they cook the chicken themselves because my first two bites had a piece of bone in them. The burrito seemed bland so I ordered salsa to eat it with. I also ordered the beans and rice ($2.50 each) I won't be returning here. I will wait for Rio Grande to reopen.
Loves Vittles
Love it!. Nice atmosphere, great service and delicious Mexican food. The tacos are outstanding.
Calliope O'Clair
Fun on Weekend Nights. Food is nothing special, but snacks and drinks are. Bands usually play and it is a great spot to people watch & listen to music.
Ashleigh Sanders
Taqueria No No! Greasy, col.... Taqueria No No!<br/>Greasy, cold food. Chicken chimi came soggy. Quest was good. With all the GREAT places to eat downtown you don't need to have taqueria mercado's sub par maxi an food.
Navyman
The best tacos I have ever had. I will keep coming back.
Tablefortwo
Good, but....... While the food is very, very good here it's not without a price..and I mean that figuratively and literally. We were asked if we wanted chips and salsa...um, who wouldn't? Isn't that standard in a Mexican restaurant? Well...yes and no apparently. At Taqueria Mercado the customary chips and salsa that are always brought to the table complimentary style are $1.99....and if you're a newbie (as we were) no one tells you this. As you can imagine this was particularly upsetting to find out AFTER we ordered a second round. The only reason we didn't say anything is because the chips here are not good--they are stupid good. They are so good it's ridiculous. Light, crispy, crunchy melt in your mouth flavor beyond reason.They are better than any chips we have had...even in Mexico. Salsa was pretty standard but good. The fajitas for two (chicken, beef, chorizo and shrimp) were delicious and portion sizes were good for the price. Drink prices are not disclosed--which I am not a fan of. Margaritas were very tasty and they don't skimp on the Tequila. S..L...O...W....service but the staff was friendly. Restaurant and bathrooms were clean (bonus points) It's give and take in this place....but to be honest I'd go back just for the chips. They are amazing and were the best part of our dining experience.
The Good Dawg
Good food, good service! Had two pitchers of margaritas (awesome) a little tart, but went down fast. The fajitas for two was great and a neat presentation (at least they are trying). The only complaint is the draft of cold air that will creep up on you every time the door opens. Also, the band was so loud. They were really good but Wtf, I was screaming in my wife's face, I think I lost my voice. I will go back.
Spooner
Great! but... ...it would be sweet if they added a panderia like the one in Fairfield! I would be buying baked goods all day
Elias
Authentic yes but my Carna asada was tough and the waiter was really not too enthused. Salsa was good and so were the quesadillas but all in all not a great experience.
Goi Cuon
HORRIBLE SERVICE - bland food. I've never thought it was that great, but I've been here for meetings 3 times in the last 6 months and it's been horrible every time (only went out of courtesy to the person who set up the meet). The service is TERRIBLE, no matter what time of day. Not only do you have to beg them for refills, you have to hunt for your server (or ANY server) to get any additional service once your food arrives. The last two times they mixed up our plates and couldn't properly identify the different meat they brought out. And once you get your check, you're dead to them. On top of all that, the meat was dry and the tacos were completely bland. Had to cover them with salsa to get them down. Never going back.<br/><br/>Don't bother... go to La Mexicana instead!
Dale
Very good authentic Mexican food. Always a good lunch spot.
Renata Jackson
I've not had the pleasure. I watch the Rick Bayless show on most Sundays. The food always looks so good. And of course the way he describes how its prepared is an added touch. I wonder if you have a favored dish that's close or the same as a Rick Bayless dish. I realize that you too are an authentic mexican restaurant and you must have some similar dishes to the ones that Rick prepares. Right? If I were to visit your restaurant which dish should I order? Renata
Jen S
So delicious! Homemade chips and queso will brighten anyone's day. Great service. Ate there for the first time yesterday and I'm still thinking about how good the food was!
Glen
Spicey expectations. Taqueria Mercado - downtown cincy on the corner of 8th by the main library<br/><br/>first impressions<br/>I got there at noon 15, so I had no notions that it would be a fast turnaround. It was probably a 10-15 minute wait which is not unreasonable at all during lunch hour rush. It was busy and it was steady. The kitchen was humming and rolling food out quite efficiently actually (I like it when I can see the kitchen and watch how they do the magic) You can also watch all the other dishes role out and see how they look so you can see one and go - man I should have ordered that one. The gentleman working the register and taking take out orders was very approachable and friendly, answered all my questions and was very knowledgeable of the food, how it was prepared and taste profile. He gets an A+ for today.<br/>I ordered the taco and enchilada lunch special with a side of chips and salsa for carry out - about $9. personally, it seems a bit pricey but right in there with the rising price of eating lunch downtown. You get the spoon of classic mexican or spanish style rice which was fine - fluffy, flavorful but pretty typical, a spoon of classic bean goo and 2 perhaps 6 inch corn tortillas, they may slide 2 or 3 of those per taco or enchilada in there because they are nice and thin (which is a good thing). <br/><br/>taco with carnitas - The meat was diced into small pieces, hunks of fat were a bit more prevalent than was appealing and a bit chewy usually meaning that it was not cooked long enough to render properly. It was bland, underseasoned and none of the deep rich flavors of carmelization were to be found which is, in my book, the signature for good carnitas. <br/><br/>Enchilada with brisket - Brisket, when done right, is an amazingly flavorful and delicious piece of meat. This was good, my smile came back and the classic enchilada red sauce is nice and flavorful. It's more of a dip than a pour - as in it looks like they do the dip the tortialla in sauce and then wrap it up instead of making the wrap and pouring it over. I'm fine either way really - not as messy but you don't have any extra's to sop up. The brisket was a treat and next time will likely double up - that is if I can keep myself from the tongue - yep beef tongue it's on there - don't be shy give it a try.<br/><br/>Chips and salsa<br/>As some have mentioned or complained that they charge for the chips and salsa I say that's one you need to just let go. These are genuinely good and in my frugal opinion a good value for what you get. There's a little extra love into these and not just grabbing a handful out of a bag and tossing them on the plate. The chips were cooked perfectly, very crispy and crunchy and still warm - nicely seasoned and will certainly have those again. The salsa is a good balance, not one I would order a gallon of but certainly better than most I have had in restaurants. <br/><br/>They have a little serving of sauce on the side, not exactly sure what they call it but be warned, that little guy packs some heat. The sauce itself is really quite good and reminds me of dried chillies that have been rehydrated and pureed into the sauce. I dove in and had a nice spoon of it and as the heat built I realized perhaps a little moderation is advised as sweat began to bead up on my forehead. I ended up putting it on everything by the way. <br/><br/>I have more things to to sample and my experience will certainly get my back in there for more.
George
Decent. I ate there for lunch, and the Shrimp Fajitas were pretty good. I drank my 1st Mexican Coke, and it was great. It came in the glass bottle, and had real sugar instead of corn syrup.
TroyRad
Great food. Decent service. Chips & salsa are not free. Soda is a bit expensive. I would add an additional $ to classification when you add everything up.
Desmond Lane
GREAT!!!. The food is excellent and the service is even better!!!!! i eat at the bar becuase the bartender, Michelle is so friendly!
John
Great Food... I eat at the Taqueria at least once a week, sometimes more if I'm out with friends. I've tried almost everything on the menu and like it all. The food is really good. If you want good service and good food, eat at the bar. Mishele is always appealing and service is good. Not to expensive either. Its a must go..
Kim And Steve
The Taqueria. Wow! We have friends that eat there all the time and swear by it! They sit at the bar with Michelle. They love the food, drinks are great and the service is awesome. We decided to check it out and we have been back 2x this week! Love Michelle and the Taqueria. Very addicting
Brittney Hidenrite
Dont waste your time.. The bartender was rude. She got my order wrong and brought my boyfriend's food out cold twice. I ordered a large margarita and it was tiny and very overpriced. Don't waste your time.
Chris
Authentic Midwest tex mex. Had the mole pollo which was sweet and a bit udder sauced. No free chips and salsa but what you get for $1.99 is very fluffy/crispy fried chips and rich, spicy salsa (more would be nice). Did not see agua fresca on the menu but they had two dispensers next tot the soda which may have been for that. The most authentic Cincinnati tex mex we've had.
Mark Wilke
Very slow service they charge for chips and they charge for water. Not worth it and won't go back....food wasn't good and was expensive
Ronnajaxn
Authentic Mexican in Downtown Cinci!. I was born and raised in Southern California, and speak fluent Spanish even though I am not Latina. Trust me when I tell you I know authentic Mexican food. I had been searching for authentic Mexican and could not find anything even close to the food I missed so much from California. That is, not until I found Taqueria Mercado!!! I have not had Mexican food this authentic and delicious since my last visit to Cali several years ago! And cheap! Great tacos (get the carne asada with onions and cilantro!) and the beans are delish! I'm going again today to try the barbacoa tacos, although I am also very interested in the Caldo de Marisco (sort of a Mexican bouillabaise) served only on Fridays. I'm afraid that I will show up there so often I will embarrass myself! Try it! You will like it!
SH
Great food!. Love the food here. Also, the food usually comes really fast - no super long waits. My favorites are the tacos and the chimichangas.
Brother Jed
Best among the 3, and one of best Mexican in Cinci. Nuff said. doesn't get much better than this. No better chips and salsa anywhere. Al Pastor burrito is the best.
Alexzandra Joan
High Expectations?. I really had a good feeling about this place, but was a bit let down. Our service was good, but very VERY slow. Luckily,we had plenty of time! <br/><br/>I had the tostadas, and found them unexciting, even with a pile of sauce! Others seemed to enjoy theirs a bit more, so I'm prone to giving this place another try in the future, but ordering a different item.<br/><br/>On the pros side, they have a great atmosphere and they serve Mexican Coca-Cola!! (no corn syrup sweetener!)
Bob
Overpriced bad service. The food was overpriced and just ok. The service was unfriendly and illusive.
JDesigns
In a second opinion. I have been back a few times after the first experience I had. The service is still in need of some work but the spicy bloody homemade mary's are devine. The food I cannot help to indulge in especially...... the simple taste of the chips and salsa. No matter how hard I try I just can't resist for lunch or dinner.
Ajboots
Yumyum. The food, service, atmosphere, and price were all excellent. The food seems pretty authentic and I really loved my steak quesadilla, chips, salsa, and guac!
Tenny
Love the Tortas. This place is simple, but the environment is enjoyable and the food is great. Their breaded steak tortas is fantastic and super reasonable!!
Lisegillen
Cuidado!. The food is great at Taqueria Mercado 3 but they often<br/>bill credit cards twice so use cash!!!! Its happened to me and friends at least 4 times that I know of.
Erica Esham
Great!!! Service questionable. I met my mom for lunch here one day because we wanted to test it out before dinner, it was great! We have gone again for dinner since and are planning on going for a birthday celebration this week. <br/><br/>There are FEW if any places in Cincinnati where you can get remotely authentic Mexican food... the salsa is... SALSA! If it's hot, it's hot and the magaritas were so good I have four of them! (not during lunch) The only complaint I would have is that the second time (during dinner) we had one waiter and they switched us to another girl and it was obviously one of her first nights. She was trying to juggle simutaneously learning the bartending proceedures and waiting on tables so our service wasn't that great. <br/><br/>Very affordable and as authentic as you can get in Cincy!
Epicurista
FABULOUS-- put up with your service gripes. OK, gringos. Let's face it, we are surely (hopefully) tired of the Chi-Chis and Don Pablos if we truly want to experience the culinary wonders of the world... backyard. Give these delightful purveyors of the real flavors of Mexico a break; there may be service gltches, sure. Will you find ANYTHING comparable to the camarones diablo served here within our tri-state limits?!? Ithink not. Don't write them off, even if you are going for cocktails, chips-and-salsa. Chips are almost pastry-like, crispy and flaky like your own grandmother's pie crust.! I have been a long-time gringo diner at the Fairfield location, and I commend the downtown venture. And I will go back time and time again for the phenomenal food. I think they are often surprised by the crowds coming in their doors; never have I seen them be unfriendly about it. (Which is something I cannot say about too many of their fellows in downtown Cincinnati.)
Yum
Can't Wait to Go Back. I ordered a simple lunch. A taco and quesadilla. There was a broad selection of meats to choose from. We started with the chips and salsa. After the first bite I knew the meal would be good. The chips were delicious and so was the salsa. With that much flavor in that simple foundation, I knew the other food would be just as flavorful. I am looking forward to going back to try the other menu options. I will definitely be starting off with the chips and salsa again.
Kristi
It was just ok.... Terrible service. One waiter for a pakced room. Drinks ordered and never arrived. Food was alright, nothing amazing.
CinciVeg
Soooo good!. Good and fresh and fast and delicious! Yumm, horchata!
Chris Nascimento
Taqueria Mercado. I have eaten here twice. Each time I have left disappointed in both the food and beer selections. <br/><br/>This place is a bad, Americanized version of what someone thinks Mexican food should be. No, it's not that pricey, but it is not very good-a American interpretation of what they think Mexican food is. As a matter of fact, it is not quite the lousy Tex-Mex variant either you typically see in the states, but it is still someone's poor attempt at real Mexican food. Though the price may not be high, you can note this reflected in the taste.<br/><br/>If you are there late in the evening, the have tons of domestic swill, plus about two craft beers. Word to the wise, if you want to have Mexican beer, skip the crappy beer and stock up on Negra Modelo. It's better than Corona or Dos Equis. But since you are offering an American interpretation of Mexican food, why not go with more American craft beer?<br/><br/>The service was actually quite good and friendly each time I went. It is too bad they had nothing good to serve. Trio Diablo, a latin jazz band was playing and doing an excellent job. Very laid back.
Tablia
The barbacoa!!!. Was the best I have had!!!!
Penguino
Penguino. Went there after yoga class and tried a little bit of the everything. they made a special plate for me with 4 meat selections and they were very good. I felt like i was back in Mexico. The flavor was pretty much what i remember in Mexico, "pretty authentico". They made a special "salsa muy picante" for our table and that was very good and HOT. Que Picante! The sangria was very good too. and our bill was very not bad. I would eat there again.
Augiedoggy
Kinda disappointed : (. Tried this restaurant after an afternoon show downtown on sunday & thought it would be better. It was okay but nothing special...I've had better Mexican around town.
Heather
VALUE&TASTE. I could not believe when I cut into the burrito and it was a cheesy/steak gooey bite! most burritos I have had are filled with either beans or rice or a huge tortilla that in folded serveral times on the ends. I paid 5.50 for what I feel was an entire ribeye, authentic mexican cheese and a sid eof rice and beans. <br/>The service was very friendly and fast. I liked the inside because it felt so open, contrary to other reviews. I liked the big windows an open space, my waiter told me they added panels to the ceiling to cut down on the echo (which we did not experience-seems others have in the past).<br/>Defineately recommend!
Rand Richard
It Is What It Is. I've loved Taqueria Mercado in Fairfield since they opened a one storefront place years ago... It's since grown to a 5door complex taking over the whole little plaza. To me it's worth paying the gas money to go to fairfield and get much fresher food,a more extensive menu, in a much more ethnic enviornment!!! You'll come out ahead in Fairfield... because the prices are cheaper thereby paying your gas for the trip. More menu choices and lot's more authentic ambiance.<br/>Downtown is ok for lunch but it wont be a "quickie" thats for sure.. The serving staff needs some guidance on multi-tasking and speed!!! and more knowledge of the menu and the ability to communicate that clearly to the non english speaker would be helpfull. It was necessary for me to do some clarification to my friends when we were there and I unfortunately knew the menu better than our server did.. If you need a downtown lunch go downtown.. if you're going out for Mexican go to Fairfield...
Benito Melendez
No bueno!. I have tried the place in Fairfield, and while I wasn't overly impressed, I wanted to give them another try. Considering the lack of geniunely good tacos downtown, I tried the new location. What I got was what I should have expected? Tacos: the meats were all very dry, the tortillas were as well and of low quality. Torta: the bread was bordering on stale and was lacking flavor. Sorry my brethren, I tried it and was disappointed.
Roth
Might go back. If a group of people were going there, I'd go, but I can't see going there after work by myself again. Too many awesome Mexican places in town. Maybe I ordered poorly. Chips/guacamole, and enchiladas al pastor (w/ red sauce). Guac had good flavor, but was too blended for my taste, aka not very chunky. Beans & rice were very typical. Al Pastor pork enchiladas were decent but not mind blowing. Biggest hit (and biggest miss) of the meal was the chips. Obviously home fried, they were crispy and light with great texture and flavor. Thing was that they were also verrrry greasey/oily. Eating environment was kind-of drab. Strange to eat Mexican food with Rockabilly music playing the entire time too.<br/><br/>So not saying I wouldn't go back, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't what I was hoping for either. Oh, and the menus are b/w photocopied paper and folded. Some of the writing is small and hard to read, as it is black on a gray background, and the pictures are just blobs of black and gray. Not too professional.
JohnO
The best Mexican in the Tricounty. I've been to the Fairfield location and loved the food there. I went to the downtown location and the food there was even better. Simple, yet incredibly flavorful. The guac was fresh, the chips were the terrific, and the variety of tacos was unparalleled. The goat meat taco was great, but the pork taco was probably the best I've ever had. The only way that the experience would have been better would be if the Bengals hadn't choked in the last minute.
J. Lane Randolph
Very good Mexican food. Great flavor. I will be be I will be back.
Ckalota
Open on sunday. That's hard to find downtown. And the food is great.
Local Foodie
New place, but not bad. This is a new place, so they are still adjusting a little, but that's no reason to avoid it. They are serving authentic mexican dishes, and I love their tacos, which are like La Mexicana's, except less oily. The first time I went with a friend we sat at the recently opened bar (it had only been about a week or two) and chatted with the bartender, a guy named Jodi. He was a pretty cool guy and said prior to working here he had only been to Don Pablo's. Being huge fans of mexican food, my buddy and I gave him some pointers and mostly suggested La Mexicana as a comparison. <br/><br/>When they serve you they also bring out three bottles with different sauces, a mild/medium, a hot, and a verde. They make the batches often (if you look on the bottom you'll see a sticker saying when it was made) and they rotate them often to chill them so they stay fresher, which is great to me. My buddy and I thought the verde could use a little work and when the bartender asked us what we thought I let them know it could probably use a little more lime, heat, and maybe a dash more salt. He said he's pass the info on and low and behold I came back a week later and they seemed to have taken my suggestion b/c there was a noticeable improvement on the verde. They have lunch specials that you can get all day, just at 50c more after 3 pm. Those seem to be the perfect portion and come with creamy rice and beans. The beans could use a little salt, but I'd rather they stay the way they are and allow me to add the salt since some places over-salt the beans. My friend agreed that he likes they use slightly less so you can adjust as needed. <br/><br/>This may bee a shocker to some, but the chips and salsa are not included. They are $1.50, but they are good. The chips use the same tortillas as the tacos, so they are a bit different that most people are used to. They are light and airy, but greasy at the same time. I can't pinpoint what oil they use (possible olive or canola) but it makes the chips taste very good. The salsa has a good flavor and texture, a little thicker than most restaurants and a little sweet, but good. I recommend the guacamole as well, which is dynamite and a great addition to the chips. The only thing that I'm pretty disappointed in are some of the meats. I had one of the two pork selections (not carnitas, but the other one) and chicken my first time. The pork was on a taco, and good, but the chicken enchilada had kinda greasy chicken, which was strange I thought. My 2nd time around I got two tacos, one chicken and one barbacoa. The same friend wanted to go again and he loves the barbacoa, so I thought I'd try it. The chicken seemed less greasy this time and tasted great, but the barbacoa was half fat. I had to pick through the get it out. This probably isn't an issue for most, but I try to eat healthy most of the time (mexican being a vice of mine) so I picked through it. Hopefully they'll lean up some of their meats to make them less fatty, but aside from that I dig it. If interested you can even get tongue or tripe (cow stomach) as your meat. I'll stick with chicken for now. I hear they can get pretty busy at lunch, but keep in mind this is downtown. Anyplace downtown can take a long time with lunch orders, so I wouldn't use that as a fair judge. That's why I tried it at night.
Steph
Authentic, solid Mexican at a great price. My husband and I went for dinner on a Saturday night at 7:30pm. The place was pretty empty. Only 3 or 4 tables taken, and when we left, there was nobody in the restaurant. I can't believe how empty it was given how good the food was. Nachos were great, and the tacos were served like tacos should be.....meat, cilantro, onion, and garnished w/ limes. I also loved that we were given 3 sauces with our meals. The manager told us that the bar had only been open for a week which may explain why it was so empty on a Saturday night if people didn't know that adult beverages are now available. The quality of the meat could be improved a little (not bad, just not great), and the service needs to be improved. They weren't busy at all, and the service was below average. I want this place to survive as it's good Mexican and gives an alternative to Nada if you want a chill, laid back place for solid Mexican.
FoodAficionado
Best Authentic Mexican Cuisine!. Best authentic Mexican cuisine. Glad this is not another Tex-Mex'ican restaurant. It's the real deal! If you've never gone, you should go! Try the Horchata! Amazing Mexican drink! The burritos and nachos are amazing! As with everything on the menu. I have been to both locations, Fairfield and Cincinnati; the staff is friendly and attentive. They are still learning the flow in Cincinnati though, they just opened. The food is delectable and can be considered addicting. Love this place and can't wait to go again! You should really check it out!
Jennifer Sands
Very Authentic!. Que Rico! Taqueria Mercado had wonderful service and even better food. The ingredients used are authentic and fresh, a great combination. It was a surprise to find Mexican food this wonderful in Cincinnati. The tortilla chips and guacamole were made when we ordered them and we even were given a sample of the desserts they will soon offer. Que bien!
Public.info
Horrible service.. Went there for lunch, mix up with my order which was understandable. Talked to the server about it, he then indicated he would take care of the issue. Then promptly forgot about me. Talked to two more employees, who each indicated they would take care of the mix up. No one ever did. I can understand the mixup, but I can't understand/forgive just ignoring it after it's been brought to your attention.
Jennifer Taber
Delicious. We went for lunch today and there was a quite a large crowd of diners as well as to go order pick ups. I ordered the shrimp salad with grilled shrimp, tomatoes and avocado. Seems very simple but had lots of flavor and healthy. My co-workers ordered lunch meals of tacos, which came on corn tortillas, which I find tastier than the flour ones. Their meals also came with rice and beans and after having a taste of the beans, I can say I will be ordering something that comes with beans next time. Our meals were a good price for the quantity of food and while the service was a little slow at times, I attribute that to the fact they have been opened just about a week. Very excited to have a Mexican restaurant open right around the corner from the office. Perfect place to grab some food on the way back from the gym!
TheRavenousPrincess
While I liked the enchiladas, the rice and beans were very boring and I can’t say that the guacamole was awesome. Good, yes, but not the best I ever had. I REALLY wanted more of the husband’s shrimp!
Entertaining Views From Cincinnati
Looking at the menu, I was inspired by seeing Goat Soup and Tripe Tacos. I wasn't interested in ordering them, but I found it a step ahead of a typical Mexican Cantina. Unfortunately, that's where the originality ended for me. Looking through the rest of their offerings, it repeated most
One Clean Plate
Taqueria Mercado has been our favorite lunch place in Downtown Cincinnati for a while, it’s ridiculous it’s taken us this long to finally share our love of their delicious tacos and burritos with everyone else. For that, we sincerely apologize. What makes Taqueria Mercado great isn’t the fact that they are cheap, or the easy to get to location, nor the fact that they are huge and have a ton of seats. It’s the flavor and quality, and they are mind-blowingly amazing, especially since the majority of Mexican restaurants in Greater Cincinnati are in that “just okay” area and tend to copy each other. There are other great pl
Ed Paff Jr.
As far as Mexican food goes it is the best we’ve had in the last few months.
Joe
Taqueria Mercado opened a couple months back in the old Javier’s space, across from the Main Library. The layout of the interior is essentially the same as Javier's with a bar on the far right (with margaritas on tap), but now you order from your table. To start off, we ordered some chips & queso for $2.25. The chips are made of the same tortillas as the tacos -They are oily, but also light and airy. I thought they were very good – perhaps the best chips and cheese downtown (Move over Burrito Joe’s)
Becky
I decided to see what the deal was with this place. SO eventually I found it. I'm not too skilled with 8th street apparently......I found a convenient yet pricey parking lot across the street. I must say the decor inside is very nice. Very high ceilings a
Corey
We just got back from lunch at Taqueria Mercado . It just opened downtown on 8th and Walnut in the past week and has replaced another good mexican restaurant Javiers. I had never heard of this restaurant, but I know some of my co-workers have eaten at thi
Gavin DeVore Leonard
(T)hese tacos are clearly the real deal. The carne asada was seasoned well, the barbacoa was moist and delectable, and while the carnitas may have been the most tame of the three, it was still very yummy.
Epiventures
My waiter has the nicest smile I've ever seen; his teeth almost blind me. He doesn't seem to know much English and though I'm trying earnestly to order the "very best thing" on the menu, all I'm getting are up-and-down nods and those big, white pearls. I'
Cincinnati Bites
Taqueria Mercado 3's menu is exactly like the one at the Fairfield location (or any of the locations, for that matter), and so is the quality: delicious.
Cincinnati Nomerati
I've never been a huge fan of love at first sight. At least not when it comes to serious relationships, anyway. I don't doubt that it could exist, but the best relationships, that I've had developed over time. Take David and I, for example. We had a a yea
Liz
as everyone and their cousin knows by now judging by a) the internet buzz and b) the crowds, taqueria mercado has opened a location downtown in the old javier's spot. i am a loyal taqueria mercado fan but rarely get the chance to eat there since it's all
Foodhussy
Why Should You Go? The prices are great - it's definitely a good deal! The guac is better at La Mexicana but they don't have a torta. It's nice before a show too - since it's so close and never as busy the fancy places.<br/>
Julie
Until just recently, it was hard to find downtown Cincinnati restaurants that were open late, or served breakfast, or served lunch on weekends. Usually, you could find one of the three, but not all.
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