Award-winning

El Mercado Modern Cuisine

4.2

323 Reviews

$30 and under

Mexican

Top Tags:

El Mercado Modern Cuisine brings you the daily adventure of obtaining fresh ingredients from the market to cook the perfect supper.

At El Mercado Modern Cuisine, we take this everyday trip and transform it into a modern dining experience.

We carefully choose our ingredients for our hand-crafted cocktails and dishes to bring you the best expression of our Modern Cuisine.

Offering a Taco Tuesday & Thursday special of 3 Tacos for $12, Happy Hour every day (5pm-7pm). Bottomless Mimosas on Sundays from 11am-3pm. All night Happy Hour on Wednesdays.

Live Entertainment from Friday - Saturday from 7pm - 10pm and Sundays from 11:30am - 2:30pm.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 4, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Global, International, Latin American
Hours of operation
Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(714) 338-2446
Website
http://mercadomodern.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Private party facilities
Let us plan your special event. Celebrate your birthday, private corporate event, happy hour gathering, etc. We have multiple options from our Patio, Dining Room and semi private lounge area.
Private party contact
Jose Cerrudo: (714) 338-2446

Location
301 N Spurgeon St, Fl 1, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Neighborhood
Santa Ana
Cross street
3rd Street
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Aguachile$15.00
Shrimp, serrano, cucumber, avocado, red onion, chipotle powder
Avocado Toast$13.00
Sourdough, everything bagel seasoning, organic sunflowers, cucumbers
Empanadas (2 Per Order)$13.00
Seasonal veggies, serrano beet puree, pea puree, queso fresco, sour cream
Homemade Potato Chips$5.00
Chips & Salsa$5.00
Roasted tomato salsa
Chips & Guacamole$13.00
Pepitas, tomatoes, onion
Cauliflower$15.00
Adobo, sauteèd tomatoes & red onions, crispy potato, peruvian style saltado
Quesadilla$13.00
Blue corn tortilla, salsa puya, huitlacoche, Oaxaca cheese
Brussels Sprouts
Burnt Brussels, cheese, mix pickled veggies, xoconostle & chile ancho reduction
- Half Lb$15.00
- One Lb$17.00

Mains (Lunch Portions)

A la Mexicana Omelette$15.00
Tomatoes, Onions, Cactus, Verdolaga, Red Tomato Sauce, Choice of Carnitas or Chorizo
Pulpo a la Plancha$19.00
Octopus marinated with Oaxaca chile, Chula Vista tequila glazed, chorizo oil, roasted potatoes, cabbage puree and broth, peas
Breakfast Buritto$15.00
Chorizo, egg, potato, cheese, sour cream, pickled onions, tomatoes, avocado
Omelette$15.00
Carnitas, cilantro, onions, salsa verde, roasted potatoes
Buttermilk Pancakes$10.00
Burnt piloncillo maple syrup, evaporated milk, fleur de sel
French Toast$10.00
Easter inspired sweet custard, goat milk sauce, jamaica syrup, orange marmalade, bananas & strawberries
Chilaquiles$12.00
Tortilla chips, salsa verde, cotija cheese sunny side up eggs, pickled Fresno, pickled onions
Enchilada Verde$15.00
Free-range chicken, crema, house blue corn tortilla, queso Seco, rice & beans
Tlayuda$15.00
Oaxaca cheese, black bean spread, pea puree, tomato, cream
Camarones a la Diabla$15.00
Sauteed shrimp, mich mole, almonds, red lentils
Mole$15.00
Chicken, cotija, pea puree, jocoque, sesame seeds, homemade tortillas, rice & black beans
Huevos Rancheros$14.00
House blue tortilla, queso fresco, bean puree, sunny side up eggs, salsa Quemada
Estofado Pork Belly$15.00
Sunny side up egg, crispy pork belly, estofado sauce, roasted carrots and potatoes
Carnitas$15.00
Slow roasted pork, pork jus, salsa verde, pickled onion, cilantro, homemade tortillas
Steak and Eggs$24.00
8oz Arrachera, scrambled eggs, Potatoes, Salsa Puya

Tacos

Add rice & beans to any taco $4

Jamaica$15.00
2 Blue corn tortilla tacos, sauteed hibiscus, pea puree, jicama, avocado
Shrimp$15.00
2 Yellow tortilla tacos, garlic-ginger, roasted carrot puree, sauteed shrimp
Pork Belly$15.00
2 Yellow tortilla tacos, roasted potato, pea puree, pickled Fresno chilli
Ahogados$13.00
3 chicken stuffed flautas, avocado, cream, serranos, cotija cheese, xoconostle salsa, chicken jus

Desserts

Coconut Ice Cream$10.00
Coconut flakes, pistachios
Oaxaca Flouress$10.00
Vanilla bean ice cream, Oaxaca chocolate, pistachios
Carrot Cake$10.00
Easter inspired whipped cream, Pineapple compote

What 323 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2

4.2 based on recent ratings

4.2Food
4.2Service
4.2Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

323 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely amazing experience with super knowledgeable staff.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
One of the best kept secrets in the OC. Cocktail’s were outstanding and the food exceeded expectations. Worth the drive.
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J
Jessie
Los Angeles
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
It is worth a try this cute charming restaurant. I was not familiar with the area so parking got me extremely frustrated and also knowing I had to walk a short distance. There’s construction around the restaurant and I do feel bad for the owner that is not entirely easy to just valet park or see the front door from the street. But when I finally figured out the parking debacle, I was pleasantly surprised to see how nice the vibe was. A musician was playing and he was FANTASTIC!! service was good once they finally got to you. Seems that Friday night employees had called in so there was ONE waiter but he was pleasant and apologized for the wait and the parking. Food was GOOD and the drinks ok. Overall we ultimately had a very nice dinner and enjoyed the music a lot. I would recommend this spot.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, great service. Priced very well. Carne Asada was 10/10. All the flavors combined together were outstanding.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2023
overall3food5service2ambience4
Came here Saturday night, food is really good, very flavorful. Just service us EXTREMELY SLOW. Ordered 2 apps, 3 entrees They brought them all out at once, but took about almost 40 minutes
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was amazing & the ambience was phenomenal. The service though was not it, even though they did a 20% auto gratuity.
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AV
AnaV
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall2food3service1ambience3
The service was just very slow, there were so many issues with bringing the food out to the tables. We were celebrating our anniversary order drinks and an appetizer drinks came out but not the appetizer then we decided to order our food that came before then the appetizer. Server never offered if we wanted to order more drinks or re filled our water glasses. Just over all not very good service.
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JG
JujGrif
Central Coast
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service was excellent and the atmosphere was great! Food and drinks were amazing! Definitely returning!
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SV
SaraV
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 13, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
We had a wonderful experience at La Mercado. Because we are both vegetarians, it isn’t always easy to find restaurants that serve good vegetarian Mexican food. But La Mercado does! We ordered the enchilladas, empanadas and the vegetarian taco’s. The only downpoint for us was that the music was a little to loud, which made it hard to speak. But overall a great experience.
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S
Steve
Los Angeles
283 reviews
vip
4.0
283 reviews
Dined on October 12, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
There was no one in the restaurant due to the street being half closed for new sewer pipes beng installed. The happy hour tacos and enchiladas were excellent. Glad we were there for happy hour as 4 tacos and two enchiladas came out to $47 with no drinks. Still, the food was really good, with a hint of spice to make one sweat. The music was a touch too loud for my tastes, but no complaining there.
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SW
SorenW
Orange County
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service, drinks and food! The octopus is amazing!
Is this helpful?
LF
LoveFud
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious and lovely experience. Loved the live music.
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O
Ojos
Los Angeles
13 reviews
3.0
13 reviews
Dined on September 20, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience2
This is a trendy place for younger people than us. Good vibe and energy. Our server was an attentive and friendly young man. The ambiance, music, and the focus on alcohol are clearly evident. The Hibiscus Margarita looked fantastic and was pretty tasty but weak. Best served during Happy Hour so you don't pay full price. We ordered the cauliflower appetizer and it was the most delicious of all the dishes. The cauliflower was not overcooked and retained its fresh taste and feel. The saltado and light sauce were perfect, sweet caramelized red onion, with a hit of soy sauce. And the homemade chips were a much better take on Peruvian Saltado fries. Since it was Tuesday we ordered some tacos, shrimp, and pork belly. The corn tortillas were fantastic! We also had the chicken enchiladas which were pretty good. The white rice was nicely seasoned and the black beans were pureed and tasty, don't skip those. The Chicken Tacos Ahogados were a bit of a disappointment. They are not really tacos, they are flautas which are typically made with a flour tortilla. Ahogado means drowned, the flautas were crispy, and sitting in a bowl with a tasty jugo featuring avocado slices, radishes, herbs, and spicy serrano chile slices. The chicken inside was dry, stringy, and not very tasty. Good thing there was enough juice to soften it up with. The dessert was a flourless Mexican chocolate topped with ground pistachios and served with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream. Delicious!
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RD
RobertD
Las Vegas
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall3food2service2ambience3
We were first seated at a table let then 10’ from the band, which made it impossible to communicate. Moved us our side Service was slow
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D
Daniel
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall1food1service3ambience1
Carne Asada was not prepared medium as requested. Flavors of most dishes were bland, cocktails were too sweet, food came out at different times (perhaps the restaurant is not staffed for our group size of 7). Service was slow, perhaps they were understaffed.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Mexico City
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on September 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food is amazing. It’s our go-to place when craving Mexican food. The cocktails & mocktails are refreshing and delicious as well. We ALWAYS order the guacamole obviously, quesadilla, shrimp tacos and the carrot cake. You can never go wrong.
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RL
RaulL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved this place, excellent service, super friendly staff, amazingly delicious food, awesome drinks, and great ambiance. Good place to go with friends, a date, or family. A little pricy, but it’s worth it because it’s quality. Cocktails are amazing! Loved the “Ay Madre” and the “Italian Wolf”, recommend those. Other drinks looked amazing as well, didn’t get to drink any of the others, would have if I could have but had to drive! Visit El Mercado!
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G
Galycali
Los Angeles
4 reviews
vip
1.0
4 reviews
Dined on September 9, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
Food was very salty and just overall not good. Music is too loud. Service was slow and not welcoming. Just didn’t feel like a happy place. Parking was a pain as well. Not in the best area.
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ZF
ZacharyF
Orange County
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a great place to have a pleasant dinner. The food was amazing. This is one gem that I’ll be going back to on a regular basis.
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P
Pete
Orange County
17 reviews
vip
4.0
17 reviews
Dined on September 3, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
Had a lovely meal during Sunday brunch. Live entertainment good selection of breakfasts and lunch entrees. Food is excellent
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G
Gonza
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on August 25, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
They charge extra 20% ( service fee) in your bill.
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BF
BrianF
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome date night, great food and cocktails, thank you!
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w
wynediva
San Francisco
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on August 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was an unexpected surprise for all of us. The food was so incredibly flavorful and all made from scratch! Do NOT miss the mole, it transports you back to Oaxaca Mexico with one bite. The cocktails were delicious and innovative and the service was impeccable. Can't wait to go back!
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d
dibou
Los Angeles
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
Cute restaurant with really wonderful food. The cocktails were amazing as well. Service was very good. The only issue we had was the loud music - there was a band (and they were great) but it was loud and it made it hard to have a conversation. Next time we’ll sit outside in the patio. Great food though!
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S
Shaz
Los Angeles
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on August 2, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
Amazing pork belly tacos. Great mezcal margaritas. Good Taco Tuesday deal.
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JG
JimG
Washington DC
36 reviews
vip
5.0
36 reviews
Dined on July 27, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience5
Incredible Mezican food. Best I've ever had. Very unique. An explosion of flavor in all dishes.
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NA
NeslihanA
Switzerland
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 26, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience3
Totally over rated...the food was not really tasty.
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DB
DanielB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 15, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Happy hour menu was on point💯we ordered one of everything and we were not disappointed. Also ordered shots and all of them were tasty. Will go back for the dinners.
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MK
MichelleK
Los Angeles
4 reviews
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 8, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience4
The food was bland…I ordered the chips & guacamole as an appetizer. I ordered the carnitas and a side order of rice & beans. The appetizer needed salt & spice. The carnitas were edible…but, not incredible. The beans has the oddest flavor & the rice had no flavor at all. I ordered a margarita which had salt which won the flavor contest! I wouldn’t recommend for a meal…Note: The guitarist was great!
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B
Buddy
Los Angeles
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on July 2, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
We enjoyed our food and drinks. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. The live music scheduled was cancelled which was a bummer but will recommend the restaurant.
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RH
RachelH
Orange County
6 reviews
vip
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Everything We had was delicious, fresh & unique -the brussel sprouts and guacamole where great appetizers. For meals we had the pulpo a la plancha which was cooked perfectly and the chicken taco ahogados & the rib eye special which were also very good. The mezcal cocktails were incredible - the italian wolf, tiene tambou were exceptional. Also enjoyed a cocktail with pisco which we had never had and it was refreshing and delicious called- chilcano criollo. Servers, staff were very attentive, Guitarist playing was nice too
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AW
AmberW
Orange County
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The restaurant had delicious tacos. They have a special on Tuesdays and Thursdays for tacos, so I recommend going on those days. Their house margaritas were delicious, I recommend the passion fruit margarita. It was so delicious! The ambience was very nice, but dimly lit. It is also a big space the echoes, so it make get loud at times. Overall would Recommend. Just a note, it may be hard to get parking. I would come a little bit earlier to hunt for a space to park.
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G
randyG
Orange County
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food presentation and service was outstanding. Main course dinners are a little pricey but with the new cost of everything going through the roof, I guess they are within reason. Live guitar music added to the ambience but being an open high ceiling dining room, noise level from other patrons was somewhat distracting from the music itself. The area has been revitalized and we will be back. Atmosphere inside was warm and inviting.
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E
Emend
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great customer service. Amazing ambience. Live music is a nice touch to the place
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L
Lace
Denver
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 10, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience4
The food in the price tag that came along with, It just wasn’t worth it, unfortunately. We ordered close to seven different dishes to be eaten family style and we weren’t given new plates once. We were also not given serving utensils for all of the dishes. Unfortunately, the food was very under seasoned and left much to be desired. Overall a very underwhelming dining experience.
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RB
RBfromHB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place to done with friends. The tapas style menu let's patrons explore the chefs creations with nominal fiscal impact. El Mercado is a great value, cocktails were good and make sure you get some smoked mezcal. The flourless cake dessert was delicious and capped the experience. Bring a friend, or two or three for an epicurean delight.
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CB
CBass
New York Area
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is great. We haven’t ever had something we haven’t liked whether dinner or brunch. The flavors are bold and fresh at the same time. Definitely worth a trip to DTSA to eat here.
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DJ
DJ2432
Los Angeles
19 reviews
2.0
19 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall2food2service4ambience4
Im sorry to say we were disappointed with this restaurant. Everything looked so good but wasn’t. We ordered chips and salsa to start which you have to pay for and the chips were stale and the salsa had absolutely no flavor, which I’m not sure how you make salsa with no flavor. Our meal was also just ok. For the prices they charge we expected a better quality. The ambiance was very nice but we probably won’t go back. Sorry!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was one of the best experiences I have had with a restaurant in a long time. The quality of the food was excellent, the ambiance and service were great, and the place was clean! Highly recommend
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent margaritas. We started with roasted brussel sprouts, they were great, and then ordered shrimp tacos. Everything was very good. I'll be back!
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

El Mercado Modern Cuisine offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (714) 338-2446.

El Mercado Modern Cuisine is rated 4.2 stars by 323 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 4, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for El Mercado Modern Cuisine

301 N Spurgeon St, Fl 1, Santa Ana, CA 92701

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Cross street
3rd Street
Neighborhood
Santa Ana
Hours of operation
Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Global, International, Latin American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://mercadomodern.com/
Phone number
(714) 338-2446
Private party facilities
Let us plan your special event. Celebrate your birthday, private corporate event, happy hour gathering, etc. We have multiple options from our Patio, Dining Room and semi private lounge area.
Private party contact
Jose Cerrudo: (714) 338-2446

El Mercado Modern Cuisine

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Cauliflower

Shrimp

Chicken Enchiladas

Appetizers

Aguachile$15.00

Avocado Toast$13.00

Empanadas (2 Per Order)$13.00

Homemade Potato Chips$5.00

Chips & Salsa$5.00

Chips & Guacamole$13.00

Cauliflower$15.00

Quesadilla$13.00

Brussels Sprouts

Mains (Lunch Portions)

A la Mexicana Omelette$15.00

Pulpo a la Plancha$19.00

Breakfast Buritto$15.00

Omelette$15.00

Buttermilk Pancakes$10.00

French Toast$10.00

Chilaquiles$12.00

Enchilada Verde$15.00

Tlayuda$15.00

Camarones a la Diabla$15.00

Mole$15.00

Huevos Rancheros$14.00

Estofado Pork Belly$15.00

Carnitas$15.00

Steak and Eggs$24.00

Tacos

Jamaica$15.00

Shrimp$15.00

Pork Belly$15.00

Ahogados$13.00

Desserts

Coconut Ice Cream$10.00

Oaxaca Flouress$10.00

Carrot Cake$10.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does El Mercado Modern Cuisine offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is El Mercado Modern Cuisine restaurant rated?

Is El Mercado Modern Cuisine currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information