Mercado Pasadena

140 S Lake Ave #101, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
$$$ Mexican restaurant
(658 Reviews)
Price Range $20–30

Welcome to Mercado Pasadena, a vibrant culinary gem nestled in the heart of Pasadena, California. This delightful Mexican restaurant invites you to savor the rich flavors of traditional cuisine, intertwined with a modern twist that will please the most discerning of palates.

As you step inside, you're greeted by an inviting atmosphere that strikes a perfect balance between casual dining and an elegant night out. The space is adorned with hints of Mexican culture, creating a warm backdrop for your culinary adventure. Whether you're seated inside or outside on the patio, the ambiance is always buzzing with the joyful energy of fellow diners and skilled chefs bustling in the kitchen.

The menu at Mercado Pasadena offers a tantalizing array of dishes that showcase the best of Mexican flavors. Start your journey with the Chile Relleno, where traditional batter envelops a delightful mix of panela, oaxaca cheese, and queso fresco, all culminated with a vivid yellow mole. For seafood lovers, the Deep Sea Scallops are a must-try, featuring jumbo scallops perfectly seared and nestled on crispy potato pancakes, all enhanced by a zesty quatro chiles salsa.

Don’t miss out on their signature Ceviche Verde or the rich Pollo En Salsa De Cuatro Chiles, a beautifully pan-seared airline chicken that melts in your mouth, served with queso fresco mashed potatoes. Vegetarians will also find a delightful option in the Tacos De Coliflor Al Pastor, where tender cauliflower meets cilantro-lime aioli for a fresh finish.

Of course, no meal at Mercado Pasadena would be complete without delving into their exquisite dessert offerings. The Tres Leches Cake, soaked in three types of milk and paired with fresh berries, is both a feast for the eyes and a decadent slice of heaven that captures the essence of traditional Mexican sweets. For a unique treat, try the Carrot Cake Tres Leches, a delightful twist on the classic that brings together rich textures and flavors.

Customer feedback consistently highlights the exceptional service at Mercado Pasadena, with many praising the attentive and friendly staff who contribute to an unforgettable dining experience. Each guest leaves with a smile, eager to return for more of the delicious cuisine and welcoming atmosphere. However, the restaurant is popular, and it’s recommended to make reservations to secure your spot—especially on bustling evenings.

If you’re looking for a destination to cater to your cravings for authentic Mexican flavors and a lively dining experience, look no further than Mercado Pasadena. Whether it's a casual dinner or a special celebration, this restaurant promises to delight your senses and leave lasting memories with each flavorful bite.

Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Has outdoor seating
Has no-contact delivery
Offers delivery
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Highlights
Has fast service
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves happy-hour food
Serves healthy options
Serves late-night food
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Trendy
Upmarket
Crowd
Good for groups
Popular with tourists
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Children
High chairs available
Has kids' menu
Parking
Paid multi-storey car park
Paid parking lot
Plenty of parking
Pets
Dogs allowed outside
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

11:30 AM - 9:00 PM

Tuesday

11:30 AM - 9:30 PM

Wednesday

11:30 AM - 9:30 PM

Thursday

11:30 AM - 9:30 PM

Friday

11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday

11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Sunday

11:30 AM - 9:00 PM

658 Reviews
Albert Lee

21 Sep 2025

I was craving mexican food, and boy was I happy. We had the happy hour meals, and the Nachos was really good. It is pricy. Between my wife and I, we spent over $200... But mostly because we kept ordering more food and drinks, then more food and drinks... then more drinks... because it was all so good. The guacamole was $18, but it was delicious. It's a good amount, probably enough for 3-4 ppl. Would I get it again? Yes. Food: top tier. Parking... is not the best. They don't validate for the Parking in the Commons. And the parking prices there is $2 per 20 minutes. Find local parking, or the parking south of there and cross the street. That parking has 90 minutes free and uses an app.

Kari LaBomme

16 Sep 2025

We went to Mercados to celebrate our anniversary. The chips were fresh and hot with yummy salsa. My husband got the chicken enchiladas (usually served with mole) with their yellow mole but for some reason they put it on the side. The sauce was delicious but the enchiladas would have been better with the sauce on. I got the Dine LA prix fixe menu with the house salad, shrimp taquitos, skirt steak with cheese enchilada and bread pudding. It was all tasty. The skirt steak was a little tough but well seasoned. The cheese enchilada wasn’t melty but it looked really pretty! The bread pudding was good and would have been even better with a scoop of Dulce de leche ice cream. Overall we had a nice meal and the staff were friendly and attentive. The restaurant is beautiful.

Koko Chantal

13 Sep 2025

Hands down the BEST customer service I’ve had in a very long time. Was greeted by a very friendly hostess & sat right away. Our server Cassidy (I pray I got it right) was AMAZING!!! Very polite, patient, funny & knowledgeable of every dish & drink we were curious about. Very aware of our needs, not once did we have to look for her nor stop another server to ask for anything. Before leaving I asked to speak to her Manager so, that he’d be aware of how awesome she was & because of this great experience I had I’d definitely return as well as recommend to friends & family. Not allowing me to post videos The food was so good, fresh & authentic

M F

04 Sep 2025

Food was delicious and service very fast. The restaurant itself however needs a bit of updating, it has a particular smell when you enter. Bathrooms also need a bit of a refresh or deep clean. Thankfully we were seated outside and it was really nice.

Ralph Gonzales

01 Jun 2025

Food: 4.5 out of 5 (easily) Service: 5 strong out of 5 Atmosphere: 3.5/4.0 (benefit of the doubt) My Cousin recommended this location. We were finally able to give Mercado Pasadena a shot. **Reservations are a MUST** Sat. Evening dinner, only waited 4 mins, with our reservation. We were seated in a nice booth between the kitchen line and the front entrance. The view was nice, if you like to watch the food exit the window from the kitchen to the front. Our server advised us of the drinks of the day, and we ordered the 1st 2 he suggested (one non-alcoholic for me). We both enjoyed them. We ordered 3 appetizers~ (2) scallop & 1 guacamole & chips. The scallops were very nice, with the spicy puree, fresh sautéed carrots & zucchini, and caramelized potato puree!! Very flavorful, nice presentation, an overall well above average appetizer. Guac.: The onions were too large and chunky for a bowl of guacamole. Maybe a bit too many onions took away from the star (avocado) of the appetizer to shine. I love onions, but this was overwhelming. [My humble opinion] He suggested 2 specials of the day and we took him up on the offer and ordered them both. My wife had the Sea Bass and I had the 16 oz. ribeye. Both came with their own flavorful sauce and side of veggies. My steak was cooked to temp (med-rare) and her sea bass arrived with a beautiful crispy skin that totally complimented the flakey, white fish. We would recommend both. The steak was well seasoned and the flavor matched the perfect grill marks. All in all, order the Sea Bass if you are in the mood for flavorful fish, cooked properly. Dessert: Okay, this is the tricky part. The reason we even came in to try the Mercado Pasadena, was for their flan. I joked with my wife and asked her, 'Wouldn't it be funny if the flan wasn't that good?' I know, my bad, I spoke entirely out off line. It came with a nice liqueur sauce, fresh berries, cream, and a sprig of mint. The edges were the perfect consistency, but the further you dug into the flan, the softer/runny center was exposed. So, if you like your flan firm all the way through, good luck. Maybe it was a 2nd rate batch that was under baked. If this is the way it is supposed to be served, then I give it a 2. We at all the edges, all the way around and left the soft, runny center. It was a solid 20% good. There that's my opinion. Because our server provided such a professional and pleasant service, it made our overall dinner experience a very SOLID 4.5 out of 5 We shall return. Thank you for the pleasant experience. $$$** Our check for the evening: $195.

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