taqueria mercado

favorite mexican restaurant. i love this place. i eat here for lunch 3-4 times a week. the food is fresh, delicious and not just typical midwest processed cheese-spread mexican fare. they use real ingredients, (queso fresco, jalapenos, cilantro, etc..), wonderfully seasoned meats and make their entrees usingauthenticmethods not normally found in this part of the country. their enchiladas are made from fresh corn tortillas dipped in sauce before frying and then stuffed with fresh meats, vegetebles and/or cheese. the result is a soft, warm and delicious entree far different from the stale rolls we have come to expect elsewhere. their large quessadilla makes me happy just thinking about it, a large tortilla as big as a large plate filled with meats, onions and cilantro and light on the fresh mexican cheese, served with rice and beans, it is truly impressive. i could go on and on, taco salad, torta, burrito, tamales, fajitas. all are excellent. most places i go i get stuck in a routine just ordering the same thing every time, here everything is so good i struggle to pick which pleasure to indulge in each day. did i mention the wonderful freshly made salsa, compared to the lightly flavored tomato sauce served at other restaurants in the area, it in itself is enough reason to skip the bland and drive to fairfield for this gem of a restaurant. this is the most glowing recommendation i have ever written for anything and they deserve it.

great food. i agree with many other reviewers - this is much closer toauthenticmexican than most other mexican restaurants. we frequent for lunch. great prices, great food. also be sure to visit the mexican bakery in the same strip.

great mexican in the northern suburbs. having spent 15 years in chicago i have been spoiled to great ethnic food. i love mexican food and have been so disappointed since i moved to cincinnai two years ago at the lack ofauthenticgood mexican, at least in the northern suburbs. my first two experiences were with el barzon and el rancho grande. over-salted, over-seasoned and all drenched in some type of melted white cheez whiz aka creepy cheese sauce which locals i was with seemed to adore. yuck! where is the skirt steak? where is the melted chihuahua cheese? where are the chilis?

just when i had about given up it was recommended i try taqueria mercado. when i walked in i saw what, to me, is always a good indicator ofauthenticmexican... the clientele. there were more hispanic people than not so i'm thinking this is a good sign. it's not overly fancy which is fine with me. i'm there for the food. the salsa was fresh tasting and seasoned with chipotle chilis, something i have not gotten around here. the carne asada in my entree was thick, juicy, seasoned well and not overcooked. prices were reasonable. i've found a keeper.

love it. the mostauthenticyou can get around here. you know it's a great place when all the locals eat there. tacos are simple and delicious. steak onions and cilantro with a hot sauce on the side. yes it is hot sauce so be careful.

too bad. this isauthenticmexican food, however, poorly presented to a gringo. i suspect if i was not american, i might have been served better.

well it's only taken like 3 years since i first heard about taqueria mercado for me to get there and try it! i've heard it's one of the moreauthenticand tasty mexican restaurants in town. it took my family coming down from minnesota and staying nearby for me to try it - but it definitely won't be my last trip! i branched out - they had tortas ($5.50!!) on the menu - which i'd heard of but never tried. i got a torta with carnitas - it also came with avocado, beans, lettuce, sour cream and jalapenos. the bread comes fresh from their bakery next door. let me just say - best. sandwich. ever. like i seriously will never get anything else (except maybe some cheese dip) - this was sooooo amazing and fresh and just plain freakin delicious!!! larry got the camarones ala plancha (small - $9.49) and while he's not a big fan of mexican - he did like this. (who doesn't like mexican????) aunt marty went for the shrimp fajitas ($10.99) and approved as well. mmmmm avocado! marty didn't want hers so

what i'm used to. i'm a first generation american (parents from mexico) and grew up in so cal 1 hour from the border. this place serves the kind of food that makes me think of home. they offer a combination ofauthenticitems and mix in some tex mex items. with the food, they bring out bottles of home made salsas that actually have spice to them. everything i could ever ask for with my torta, beans, and rice. highly recommended!

i am from san diego and this is the mostauthenticmexican food in cincy by far!! reminds me of home... excellent food and price.

needs attention!. tm's recent expansion is a local success story i love to hear about. i recently visited their downtown location and was pleased on many levels. however, i have held off on writing this short review until i could compare the two locations (there is a 3rd as well). having eaten at the fairfield store several times (and with the exception of the food quality which is surprisingly consistent and of course quite authentic) i truly hope management will address the disparity between the two locales from a cleanliness and service standpoint. i rarely comment on these points but in this case dirty tables, floors and restrooms as well as rather lackluster service (my family was in tow) will keep me from returning to this location for the foreseeable future. cg


-----03 oct, 2009-----

a nod to the authentic!. if your looking forauthenticmexican, taqueria mercado is the place to stop if traveling route 4 in and around fairfield, ohio. corporate or "americanized" mexican food is always easy to find and usually not much to write home about. however, with an ever increasing hispanic population moving into the area it is getting easier to find moreauthenticestablishments catering to their fellow expatriates and of course the adventurous gringo.

typically tucked away in nondescript "low-rent" store fronts, what these establishments lack in decor, ambiance and sometimes cleanliness is easily made up for when your order hits the table. on this visit i enjoyed the taco lunch special which comes with a moist and flavorful saffron rice and thick but distinct refried beans. i ordered barbacoa and carnitas as my meat selection (from a wide variety). both tacos were very good accompanied by fresh pico de gallo, cilantro and a sprinkling of cheese. looking forward to my next visit. enjoy!

not big enough.... the tortillas i mean. i ordered the chicken fajitas. the chicken came in nice big pieces, but the tortillas were so small it was impractical to try to wrap up a little of all the ingredients into the tortilla. be warned they don't use the gummy americanized flour tortilla but the real deal, home made corn tortillas, double stacked (don't pull them apart, they're meant to come 2 together). overall the mostauthenticmexican food i have had in the city. i hope they stick to their roots and don't cross over. save room for dessert!

so good. seriously, this place has some fresh ingredients and makes anauthenticmexican meal. goat tacos on saturdays. they really aren't that bad. a wonderful guacamole and house salsa. you don't get complimentary chips & salsa like the more americanized mexican restaurants, but don't over do it. you'll want to save room for a killer meal & the awesome baked goods at the mexican bakery a few doors down.

real mexican food and great burritos!. we were looking for a great place for real burritos (the ones that don't look like an enchilada made with flour tortillas) and we found them here. the place is a bit simple in atmosphere, but don't let it stop you. the food isauthenticand delicious. the burritos are large and definitely not for the faint of heart! the carnitas (pork) are a bit greasy, but juicy and flavorful. definitely a favorite of ours!