4. Restaurants

Taqueria Mercado

6507 Dixie Hwy, Fairfield, OH, 45014
  • (513) 942-4943
  • Store is closed

Taqueria Mercado Menu

  • Appetizers
  • Ensalada / Salads
  • Tacos
  • Quesadillas
  • Burritos
  • Tortas & Tostada
  • Fajitas
  • Plates
  • Specials
  • Veggie
  • Veggie/combos
  • Side Dishes
  • Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Taqueria Mercado

  • Appetizers
  • Ensalada / Salads
  • Tacos
  • Quesadillas
  • Burritos
  • Tortas & Tostada
  • Fajitas
  • Plates
  • Specials
  • Veggie
  • Veggie/combos
  • Side Dishes
  • Desserts

  • Tom A.

    I just reviewed the Downtown location, and was reminded that I had eaten at this (Fairfield) location a several years back. Ate with several of my roller-coaster buddies, and they didn't really care for Mexican food, especially the authentic kind (what a shame!) But for me, I was delighted to be there. Compared to the downtown restaurant (on Walnut at 8th across from the Main Library) this is more of a hole in the wall, yet seems more authentic, noting the large Mexican immigrant population that is found in northern Cincinnati/SE Butler County. There is also a bakery, and other Mexican businesses, next door. Definitely something worth trying, especially when making a trek to Jungle Jim's (just up the street).

    (4)

  • Trevor R.

    This place is authentic! Just like the other reviewers have said, it's hard to believe this place is in Fairfield, Ohio. I travel frequently, especially to the western states, and this place beats Mexican meals I've had in so cal and paid 4 times a much for! We started off with chips and guacamole, which in 90% of Mexican establishments I've been to I must add salt to the mix to give it any flavor at all, but the guac was perfect. Bursting with flavor and delicious. Next, the meals were huge. We shared veggie tacos and a large burrito. It was all two of us could do to finish half of what we ordered. The burrito was full of flavor with some of the best carne asada ever... Not to mention this burrito was about twice the size of one you'd find at chipotle for the same price. All in all, Taqueria Mercado is a real gem in the winter hellhole that is the tri-state area. As an aside, it appears the owners of the restaurant own the entire mini-mall in which the restaurant sits. We checked out the Mexican bakery at the opposite end which had some giant pastries. Definitely a must see.

    (5)

  • Gary S.

    As a foodie, I am always looks for tasty culinary delights along the way. Cincinnati has very strong German roots and the food reflects this heritage. Which is why I was completely taken in a different direction when i was told about Tacqueria Mercado. My colleague, who is latina, advised me of this establishment, speaking of its wonderful authentic mexican taste. Naturally, I was curious. As a native of SoCal, mexican food is readily available. I am happy to say that Taqueria Mercado wins my vote for Best Mexican food in Cincinnati. The menu contains the stable (but delicious) taco menu but also includes a wide variety of other mexican specialities. I had the carne asada (tender and flavorful) and the barbacoa. They have plenty of choices and are even open to making vegetarian dishes for you (evidenced my my other colleague). They also have a wide variety of hot sauces to garnish your dish. Try the orange spicy sauce in the plastic bottle if you like a tangy kick to your tacos. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous, like a family quinceanera (look it up). If you are looking for a calm environment, this is not the place for you. Finally, all the staff are quite friendly and make the place a heartwarming place to eat after a long day at work. I have yet to try the Mexican Coke like others have advised but the food has me hooked. I look forward to my next visit. Salut!

    (5)

  • Matt T.

    I am still a fan, I have been going to this place for at least two years. I just wanted to write about my experience I had today (12/27/09). As per my other review and being the weekend, one would think that I would get the goat soup. Well my internet friends, I did not not. I just ordered three tacos. Simple lovely tacos. Consistently made up of corn tortilla, meat, onions and cilantro. I had three, two with Chorizo and one with grilled steak. I had these tacos around 3:00pm and I am still full and its about 9pm now. And that is saying a lot, I am a big guy (250lbs+) and I was nearly defeated by three little tacos. God, I love this place. I promise Yelp that I will stop gushing about this place....soon..... .....maybe

    (5)

  • Rebecca J.

    After a long journey to wherever land my first impression of the place was wow this place is going to be good. Located in a seedy strip mall next door to a mexican grocery store. Lot's of excitement going on right then. Enter. The service was prompt and friendly but the food was slightly less scary than the dark parking lot. My chicken enchiladas were so spicy and greasy I could hardly choke them down. As for my friends fajitas (boring yes) they might as well have been deep fried. If authentic = grease then that it is.

    (2)

  • Phil M.

    this place is coo

    (5)

  • Joshua S.

    Carne Asada Burrito, large....mother of heaven, let the colon busting begin!!!!!!! I've been eating there for years, it's always been great. The Coca-Cola from Mexico is great. People are always nice there, though every once in a while I do some menu pointing. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Michelle M.

    Add me to the meager ranks of the dissenters. Maybe it's more authentic than most. I don't know; I've never been to Mexico. Being authentic, however, doesn't make me love it. As far as I'm concerned, the food was just okay. I had enchiladas, so I didn't experience the burritos that everyone seems to rave about, and they were alright; I've had better. The service was okay, but I was sad to see that chips and salsa weren't free.

    (2)

  • Robert M.

    Feel like you are in the real Mexico and not like taco bell or don pablo's. Plenty of taco served tradational style, be sure to try the tougne. As a drink you can not go wrong with the fresh squeezed OJ or Mexico Coke Cola. Located in a strip and a great place to stop on the way to the Jungle.

    (5)

  • Donald E.

    Hands down, the best tacos in Ohio. I moved to Cincinnati from Los Angeles In 2006, and love Mexican food. This is the only Mexican I've found in Ohio that is worth travelling to (it is unfortunately 40 miles from my house). Try the Carne Asada or Carnitas tacos. Simply done using fresh tortillas and flavorful grilled meat. Skip the rice and beans and order an extra taco -- it is worth it!

    (5)

  • Crystal R.

    After reading the good reviews I was very disappointed to find that the place was a dump. You had to pay for chips and salsa, and I found the food very bland. Overall it's one of the worst Mexican restaurants I've ever been to!

    (2)

  • Lauren A.

    For authentic Mexican food, this place really is as good as it gets. The first thing I tried to order was iced tea and the waitress told me that they didn't carry iced tea because they don't have it in Mexico, but they had all sorts of other fruity drinks to try. I didn't try any, but still, I thought that set the tone. I ordered a vegetarian torta, which is basically a sandwich on a long, fluffy bun. It had beans, cheese, avocado, lettuce and tomato and it was delicious. They give you red and green salsa and hot sauce in squeeze bottles and all three were great. It was also handy to be able to squeeze more on for each bite! My husband had the vegetarian quesadilla, which was huge and delicious and a chicken taco, which he also liked. The waitress was really helpful and explained everything to us without acting like we were stupid. The best part though? The whole bill came to $12.21. Great place, great food and the price is right!

    (5)

  • Juliane S.

    The 4 stars are the for the food. It is just as outstanding as the other location and the lunch prices are beyond cheap. The service is good at this location but it is more of a hole in the wall. The bar isn't as well stocked and the restrooms are REALLY TINY. That being stated I eat here for lunches and it really is a a great place to catch a lunch break.

    (4)

  • Matt R.

    This place is more authentic than half the other mexican places around Cincy but the tacos that I had were lacking in flavor. The menu is exciting in terms of offering some good dishes, but the meats need a little more flavor. The salsa also wasn't impressive, but I tried adding it to the tacos to get more flavor. The best mexican food I've had so far in the area is from either Acapulco or Dinastia Latina. Good mexican food is hard to come buy...this place is definitely better than others that use cheap flour tortillas and serve cheap ground beef tacos. Taqueria Mercado just needs to use some more spices with the meat for more flavor.

    (3)

  • Mark K.

    Wish we had a restaurant as good as this back in CBus.

    (4)

  • Scott B.

    Absolutely. Positively. Without question. The best Mexican food in Cincinnati. The margaritas are absolutely lethal. In a good way. Wherever you live in Cincinnati or northern Kentucky, please please please do yourself do yourself a favor. Go here. On route 4 just north of 275 like 2 miles. Get a large margarita and pretty much anything off the menu. Burrito. Tacos. Any of the specials. Taste all their homeade hot sauces. And then get another margarita. The best.

    (5)

  • Sasha P.

    Until last week it seemed impossible to find real mexican food in Cincinnati....I didn't realize I had to go to Fairfield! Authentic, delicious and reasonable. I echo all the positive comments other people have already posted and am guessing those who didn't like it were introduced to mexican food at Chipotle - not mexico. From carnitas to tripe they have it all. Simple delicious tacos - just like they are meant to be! Viva taqueria mercado!

    (5)

  • Jack J.

    The first and (so-far) only "true" Mexican restaurant I've found in Fairfield. Amazing selection, great prices. They use fresh avocados!!

    (4)

  • Ellen N.

    on par or better than anything in Chicago...it makes me dream of home.

    (5)

  • Wendy G.

    This place was better than most taco stands in Cincinnati but still far from the great flavors I experienced growing up in California. The carne asada tacos were not as great as I was expecting but the carnitas tacos were pretty good. Service was quick and affordable so I would say it is worth a try if you are in the area...just wouldn't make a special trip for it.

    (3)

  • Jason H.

    Taqueria Mercado knocked Taco Loco off the top of my list for good burrito joints. Coming from Chicago, I'm used to having the ability to get my hands on a fresh kick-ass burrito at anytime of the day, or night, in any direction. Taqueria Mercado has the best burritos that I have had in the Cincinnati area, ever. It's simple. There is nothing fancy about this place. They serve fresh Mexican food, cooked to order. I have tried other things on the menu that others I've gone with have ordered but I have never ordered anything other than the small Steak Burrito. I've never seen the large and cannot imagine how big it is. The small is filling enough. And it's not served on a place, drizzled with red sauce, topped with cheese with a side of rice and beans. I've posted a picture. It's a burrito on a plate. That's it. They give you their three house hot sauces. I've only tried their Hot (red bottle) version. Awesome. You eat these burritos with your hands. Imagine taking a small football into your hands and eating it. But the football is filled with steak, beans, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and wrapped with a killer buttery tortilla. Yeah... that's one tasty football. This is not a "Mexican Restaurant" like El Rancho Grande. This is more like a Mexican diner. This is the closest and best place that I have found in Cincy that reminds me of the places that I frequently frequented back in Chicago. With that being said, they're not going to offer you chips and salsa. If you want chips and salsa and/or queso, then order it. They have those items and they're good. Remember, it is a Taqueria and not a fancy schmancy restaurant. A small Steak Burrito with a cold Horchata is just about as perfect of a lunch as you're going to get. If you don't like Taqueria Mercado then there is something wrong with you. If you've had their burritos and you disagree with me, then you're wrong. Would I go back? Si. I typically go at least twice a month. I don't plan on changing that routine anytime soon.

    (5)

  • Kellan C.

    Loved it! Gave it 5 stars because it's the best Mexican food I've found in Cincinnati. Salsa, guac, and queso were all really good so I started the meal off right. Then I had the taco salad with chicken which was also really good. The only negative was the iced tea. Tried the sweet and unsweetened and both weren't very good. But I didn't think that was enough to bring this place down any notches. I guess I also which the service was faster. They got it out quick, but waiting on our check took a while. Especially since I was trying to get back to work. Overall it was great tho

    (4)

  • Jason K.

    Finally 2 years after moving here from Chicago my wife and I finally found a really Mexican place that has great burritos!!! I can't wait to try something else upon my next visit!

    (5)

  • Mike H.

    Pay for chips and salsa. Staff is not very friendly but the food is amazing. Had the burrito and loved it.

    (3)

  • Neil M.

    I got the Carnitas tacos, and they were a bit greasy. My wife got the chicken tacos, and they were a bit dry. Also, I'm spoiled... no chips and salsa is probably more traditional, but I love to get my chips and salsa on!! Overall, would try again, their tacos are solid but not mind blowing.

    (3)

  • Jessica T.

    I LOVE this place! Since I moved here from southern Colorado I've been searching for decent Mexican food. This restaurant is authentic, has huge servings, is always tasty, and the staff are nice. Do yourself a favor, and order the horchata (sweet cinnamon rice milk) and go next door to the bakery for dessert - the churros are fantastic!

    (5)

  • Jim H.

    This place is simply the best Mexican food you'll find in the area. If you're from OH and your idea of good mex is a chain like HH Burritos (which means you like a white rice to meat ratio of 10:1) this isn't for you. If you like a lot of food, a lot of MEAT, great prices, and a joint that only added Nachos for the Gringos, then step up and try this place. Try the ceviche. The carnitas torta. You have to appreciate that it's ALL made on site, fresh, to order. It's not the same every time, and that's ok. I love the reviews that say "the chips were too crunchy" or "where's the cheddar cheese on my taco?" Please just head to The Bell and free up a seat for me. This place is killer and if good Mexican food is your thing, you'll enjoy and you'll be hooked.

    (5)

  • Brooke R.

    We stopped here to meet up with some friends while driving through Ohio. The selection was solely because of the Yelp reviews. I wish we didn't. The chicken tamale was dry. The chips were stale. My son's cheese "quesadilla" was dressed & looked like a taco. When I asked about it, the server claimed it was a quesadilla. They did bring us what we had asked for, but then the quesadilla was wet & leaking water. The burrito mercado was good (smothered in queso, how could it not be!?), but not good enough to make up for some other major fails. Including a loooooong wait time. They brought food one plate at a time. My 20 month old, hungry son was last to get hi plate--15 mins after the first person got their food & it his food was wrong!

    (3)

  • Sam S.

    The food is ok but the service was terribly slow and the music deafening. I do not plan to return

    (2)

  • Khiemo S.

    Fish taco was amazing. Brisket and tripe taco, not so good. Horchata was good. Mercado special was good. Rice and beans were okay. Chips were warm and salsa was good. Service was really slow and subpar. My server forgot my rice and beans and did not even come back to check on us after we ordered. Also, the place is really cold. They must not have the heat on or something. We are with our coats on the entire time.

    (3)

  • Bubba L.

    Went there tonight with a friend. Had the special fajitas for two and dessert. Great food and good service.

    (5)

  • Jessie T.

    I am personally not a huge fan of Mexican cuisine in general, but this place is my favorite spot in Cincinnati to go to for it.. not to mention it's connected to a Mexican market and a Mexican bakery (their tres leche cake is the bomb BTW). I literally like any taco/quesadilla here.. whether it's the chicken, steak, fish, or beef tongue. Everything is made fresh here and is not greasy at all.. and still has so much flavor. I also love the tortillas they use. The only complaint that I have is that the servers are not very attentive.. so ask for everything you need when you first place your order. I've experienced this multiple times. However, the food here is quite worth it and I always make an effort to make the drive out there to get my fix. You must try this hidden gem!!

    (4)

  • Heather K.

    Always like to take my out of town friends here in combination with a trip to Jungle Jim's. Best experience in Cincinnati for the price! I enjoy the tostadas and margaritas.

    (5)

  • John D.

    Very fresh. You can taste every ingredient. Flavors are well blended. What a fun find. Can't what to come back when the bakery is open

    (4)

  • Allen-Molli S.

    Always great food and drinks !!! The staff is great !!! But the food is off the chain

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    Taqueria Mercado is a wonderful authentic Mexican restaurant. The restaurant is in a small strip mall next to a Mexican bakery, and general store. I got the lunch special of two chicken tacos, and my mom got the fajitas lunch special. Both were about 7 dollars and came with beans and rice. They had a bunch of specials on the menu for lunch other than what we got as well. My chicken tacos were incredible! I added some of this green sauce they had at their table that I believe was house made and was incredible. The tacos were full of great chicken, onions and some cilantro with limes. They were simple and delicious. The rice was amazing to put in the tacos, if you can fit them they're so full. My mom thought her fajitas were great, but nothing to rave about. Definitely more authentic than going to a Chili's and getting some for 12 dollars. The place was packed at 3 on a Friday and that amazed me as well until I got my tacos and then I understood because I would go at any time of day to eat some! If you want some authentic, yummy and reasonable food definitely check this place out! I was so full afterwards and incredibly happy with what I ordered. I would've ordered more if I wasn't so full

    (4)

  • Xiaoheng P.

    Good for both lunch and dinner. For lunch the portion is a little smaller and cheaper, but still more than enough to fill me up. For dinner I generally order their steak fajitas, portion size is more than enough to feed two of us. For 12$ you get a full plate of steak fajitas, with rice bean salad on the side, and you get about 6 tortillas with it. Additionally if that's not enough to fill you up, you can order individual tacos for 2 dollars each, I been to mexico twice now so I can tell the food is pretty legit. On the down side, their food is a little greasy, even after asking for light oil. I really wish they could improve on that. (-1 star for that)

    (4)

  • Jean P.

    Great food excellent customer service and very authentic Mexican ambience. We loved our tacos refried beans and rice.

    (5)

  • Ben D.

    Authentic Mexican in Cincinnati! it was absolutely delicious. The girlfriend had a margarita and it was as authentic as could be. You will not be disappointed, unless you were expecting Taco Bell. The food was awesome! And they have green chili dishes! For those from the southwest and miss green chili, eat here. I remember having the enchilada dish and pollo con mole, and they were great (and too much food!). It was great. Did I mention how great their green chili is?

    (5)

  • Nobuyuki S.

    It's funny how things can be connected. I learned of this restaurant in a most indirect way. I was in Mason at the Kings Automall and stopped at Taqueria Maya. The manager and I had a conversation as I paid the check. One or two months later, he was at Taqueria Mixteca in Trotwood (near Dayton). We talked a couple of times, and he told me that he was related to the owner of Taqueria Mercado. Since the food at the other places was good, I thought that this place was an easy choice. I had to use GPS to find this place, as it can be confusing. It wasn't far from U.S. Bank and it was directly across from Michel Tires Plus. I was greeted almost as soon as I opened the door. There were two sides, with the cash register directly back from the front door. I was ushered into the right side and told to take any seat. I don't remember anyone's name, but everyone was friendly. When asked for a drink order, I got sweet tea, and she brought a huge glass back. I ended up ordering fish tacos with rice and beans. Since it was Saturday, the lunch combos cost an extra $1.00, for a total of $7.95. Since I asked for fish tacos, that was $1.00 extra for each of the two. They were worth it. The mixture of onions, tomatoes, and cilantro over the fried fish was good. Thankfully, they didn't use some mayonnaise-based sauce like many places do. (I usually end up sick because some restaurants are careless and leave the sauce at room temperature too long.) The rice and beans were good and the portions of everything were just right. I was a bit confused by the sauces. Two green taco sauce bottles and a ketchup bottle, apparently with the hot sauce, where I usually see mustard bottles for mild and ketchup bottles for hot. The tacos didn't need any sauce, as they were quite moist, though only one of the tortillas broke and they used two for each taco. The price after tax was a bit over $12 and normally, I would scream bloody murder when lunch is that high for a casual meal, but the food was worth it.

    (4)

  • Heather L.

    Yummy authentic Mexican with great service. Try the chimichanga. They also have good margaritas! Only reason I don't give a 5 star rating is no free chips and salsa, it is a charge.

    (4)

  • Christine M.

    I like good Mexican food, West coast Mexican food, to be more precise. From the tacos to the horchata, the beans, and the jamaica...it's pretty on point here. Taqueria Mercado is a place that's understated in many ways, and not super close to us, but a big hit whenever we've been there!

    (4)

  • Deborah B.

    The food is authentic l'm from Texas but live in Michigan so I'm always on the lookout for the real deal when I travel. This was it in the Cincinnati area! Quest and guacamole particularly good. Enchilada was very good if short on sauce. Taco as well but be aware it only comes with meat and cilantro! They brought hot soft corn tortillas with the meal--sure sign it's authentic! Would have been 5 stars except for service. Friendly but glacial speed. Had to ask for silverware. Waited forever for chips and salsa. Atmosphere is typical for the genuine Mexican article.

    (4)

  • Matt Y.

    I'm giving this place 5 stars because their pricing is excellent. You can go here and get good authentic quality for the price. There are a few trendy mexican places around town but this place can definitely hang because you get the best bang for your buck in Cincinnati. They have breakfast which is rare for a Mexican place in town although I can't remember what I got. I have been here many times for lunch and dinner though. Just know the chips and salsa do not come with the meal but hey, it's good if you get it. Guacamole was pretty good as well. The quesadilla is great - good size and plenty of quesa fresca. The Cubana sandwich was very good too. I typically pick up some carnitas tacos for a meal and they're just as quick as fast food for the same price. They include limes with the tacos. I haven't had anything I didn't like yet. Also there is a mexican supermarket next door which has some meats, produce, and pantry items that you can try your hand with at home. I think this place does it right and I am always excited to go back.

    (5)

  • Tabitha W.

    A friend of mine was visiting for the weekend, and we decided to stop here for lunch since it was conveniently on our way to Jungle Jim's and I had read good things about it. As we pulled up, I recalled that my husband and I had once pulled into this same parking lot, surveyed the restaurant, and ended up eating somewhere down the street. But you can't judge a book by its cover, right (or a restaurant by its' off-putting storefront)? We were instructed to seat ourselves shortly after walking in, so we settled into a booth on the left side of the restaurant, near the bar. We ordered Guacamole, Carne Asada Tacos, and a large Veggie Quesadilla. They brought chips and salsa out with the guacamole, so I'm not entirely sure if chips and salsa come complimentary, since they weren't brought out as promptly as they normally are at Mexican restaurants. As the rest of our food was brought out, suddenly the music just started blaring, like loud inappropriate club music that you don't expect to hear at 1:00 in the afternoon. With the kind of lyrics you don't want your children exposed to. :-P After bringing me a box for my leftovers - that large quesadilla was very large indeed! - our waitress failed to reappear with the check. We eventually just went up to the front counter, and the cashier was able to pull our order up after we told her what we'd had. My friend had ordered his tacos with just lettuce and cheese, but he was charged extra for these ingredients. All in all, the food was fine, but the service was questionable and the overall atmosphere was very off-putting. I doubt I'll be back.

    (2)

  • Greta W.

    Maybe I came here on a bad day. That's why I'm giving them two stars instead of one. The first red flag was that it took about 5 minutes to get my food. Seemed a little quick, but they weren't too busy so I figured maybe that was why. I got the fried pork. It was overly greasy and had very little flavor. I've made better rice at home than I had here. It was undercooked and cold. The beans looked like they came out of a can. I know GOOD authentic Mexican food and I love it. This place did not fall under that category. Disappointing.

    (2)

  • Sara M.

    We came here for brunch and the food was absolutely delicious and authentic. The music was just loud enough to make it lovely but not obnoxious. Out waitress was very efficient and took great care of all the guests. It was impressive to see her work so effortless although she was very busy. Loved this place and will definitely come back many times!!!

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    Having been to Mexico twice, both the Atlantic and Pacific sides, I seldom went to sit-down restaurants. But what I do know is Mexican street food. Since I think street food is the best kind of food, I really miss it when I'm back in the States. Since I have to go inside to eat, and I've come here several times, I thought, I might as well leave a review. This place is, Lit. [da bomb], with a kaboom at the end. I always go for lunch, but I'm sure their dinner options are just as amazing. Lunch specials are amazing deals for the amount of, and quality of, food you get. Tacos and Quesadillas are fantastic. I don't know if its the tortilla they use or what, but they are great. (Note: I always ask for corn, but for some reason, they always get it wrong and give me the flour ones, but I have to say, compared to other Mexican places, even the flour tortillas here rock their socks off. They're kind of fried so they don't have such a "floury" texture) Their tacos are double-layered like the ones you get in Mexico, though they are a bit larger than their street food counterpart, but they are really just...delicious. Some people have complained that their meat is dry, but hey, I'd rather have a clean eating experience, than greasy, saucy muck flowing down my arm as I bite into the taco. And their hot sauces; they have 3 kinds that range in heat. They aren't hot enough for me, but they're still fantastic. Oh and, their rice and beans; I could eat them all day. Their regular fajitas aren't bad either. I get that when I go with my SO and what I love is that the waitress never once asks "that's it?" when we order just one (its definitely big enough for 2 people). And they have FRESCAS! The only thing I wish they really had though, were tamales. I feel like they could make great tamales. I'm too scared to try them elsewhere. I don't even bother to try new places. *tear wipe*, this place is so good. And I love the paintings inside.

    (5)

  • Grant M.

    I had this place last night for dinner. The outside looks a little rough, but don't let that fool you. The food is fantastic! I got the burrito...it was HUGE! I would recommend this place in a heartbeat.

    (5)

  • Matthew W.

    Best torta and horchata I've ever had. Wonderful place, great prices. The hot sauces are fantastic, try them all! (with caution :))

    (5)

  • Texas G.

    Worth the drive if you are looking for authentic Mexican food that is full of flavor. Coming from Texas and now living on the east side, we often search for this type of restaurant. We had brisket enchiladas, tamales, and menudo (weekends only). Wish they would have had barbacoa and carne guisada. Chips and salsa are extra and we weren't asked if we wanted any, but when we finally got them, the salsa was mild and delicious. They offer a variety of homemade sauces. We would definitely go back! Afterward, we went to the bakery next door for some delicious Mexican pastries.

    (4)

  • Tina N.

    Love this place. Good food, reasonable prices. Very authentic. Their margaritas are yummy!!

    (4)

  • Park R.

    This place where I'm in Cincinnati is my go to place for authentic Mexican food for the chilaquiles and the tacos well you can't leave them out they are good as well and the bakery where they make tamale s I can't go and not get one

    (4)

  • Bill K.

    This restaurant became an instant favorite of ours from the first visit. It's a non suspecting place located in a small strip center on route 4. But inside mexican cuisine heaven is housed. You have to try their Horchata. It is a delicious cold drink made of rice milk with a subtle cinnamon flavor. I had never tried it before. Even so I found it delicious and get it every time. My wife being from California had had Horchata many times there and still gave high marks on this version. Fresh chips, great salsa. A nice medium. I ordered the fajitas. The veggies were a perfect al dente and perfectly seasoned. The meat was tender and also perfectly seasoned. My wife had the house special. The Special Mercado. It is a chicken dish mixed with cheese dip over Mexican rice. The chicken was tender and full of flavor. Their refried beans are the best I have ever had. So much more flavor than the norm. Mercado also has a nice array of desserts as well that look delicious but we haven't tried those yet. But we plan to! I highly recommend Mercado if you are in the Fairfield area. You won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Zack F.

    I tried this again recently and the vegetarian torta has definitely improved. I loved it. I'm going to start making these at home now. The chips are still heavily fried. I picked up a slice of tres leches cake. Fruit is canned, and I have never been a huge fan of milk cake, but I enjoyed it because it was more firm and subtle. However, feedback from a huge fan of tres leches that is wet and spongy was that it fell short, so, YMMV.

    (4)

  • Matthew H.

    This is the best Mexican food I've had in my short time living in Cincinnati. The tacos are amazing. Very basic and authentic. Double corn tortillas, onions and cilantro, and delicious meats. I've tried the chicken, carne asada(steak), suadero(brisket), and the best of them all the carnitas(pork). Other then the tacos, ive also tried the burrito, which was ridiculously huge. My only complaint with the burrito was the distribution of ingredients inside the burrito. The cilantro was all bunched up in the middle, and the sour cream was all at the bottom. Other then that it was really good. The lunch specials are a great deal, and the take out service is pretty fast. Also the prices are really solid, you could easily eat a ton of food for less then $10. More if you buy drinks obviously. This is one of the few places I've been to in the area that I could honestly eat at every day.

    (5)

  • Kristan H.

    Probably the best Mexican food I've had in Cincinnati, both in terms of quality and authenticity. The ambiance is only so-so (kind of a "dive" feel with Mexican flavor) but service is friendly and quick. FYI you can order lunch specials even at non-lunch hours, you just pay $1 more. I usually get the lunch combo that has 1 small quesadilla* (steak) and 1 enchilada (chicken) along with the refried beans and rice. So good! You can also get bottles of Fanta or Mexican Coke (i.e., made with real sugar, not corn syrup). *Their quesadillas include lettuce and onions, but that doesn't mean they skimp you on the meat.

    (4)

  • Jeff S.

    Previously, I gave a 4 star review. The good fod and low price made Tequira Mercada an incredible bargan. Unfortunately, they recently raised the prices significantly. An over 40% increase on our favorite meals. The food is still good, but with the high prices and poor atmosphere, we probably won't be back.

    (1)

  • P. G.

    Food was excellent but service sub-par. Tortillas did not arrive with main course and had to ask for chips and salsa. Steak Ranchero and Fajitas were cooked perfectly but Chimichanga under-cooked

    (4)

  • Kerry H.

    This is my go to Mexican joint in town. THE MOST AUTHENTIC that you can find anywhere around Cincinnati. Believe me, I know...I eat Mexican food at least once a week and have tried numerous places in my 20+ years here. The only reason I give it four stars is because it's not the best ambiance, but that's also why I get my food to go more often than not. You can't beat the prices and they staff is always so friendly. Fast, friendly, authentic. I'm not sure what else to say because it's that awesome!

    (4)

  • Tim O.

    When you walk in you expect your typical mexican restaurant. Beans, rice, etcetera etcetera. .. Taqueria Mercado is that plus authentic, amazing food. The chefs aren't pulling out frozen dishes to microwave, they take the true care necessary for an amazing experience. Come here, come often, tip well!

    (4)

  • Chris H.

    What a hole in the wall. We stumbled across this place about 6 months ago and have been back 6-7 times since. My fiance refers to it as 'the dirty place' when she suggest a place we should eat for the evening. I'm not saying it is dirty, it just is an honest hole in the wall. Nothing wrong with that either, it is the food that we come back for. $2.25 tacos, which my fiance loves. Simple but good. Two small tortillas with shredded chicken, onion, cilantro and lime. Full of flavor. I stick to the $7 large burrito. This thing is huge. Makes a chipotle burrito look small. Again, full of flavor. We drench our food in the creamy red hot sauce. I have no idea what it is called. Of the three sauces that are served table side, one is green, one is red and one is creamy red. The creamy red one is SO addicting, hot but not overwhelming. Service has always been friendly and fast here. We ran into Jungle Jim and his family last time we were there, so it has his stamp of approval :) All in all a great little place to grab a cheap eat.

    (4)

  • Joe H.

    Great authentic food, nice staff, cheap drinks. The music can be a bit loud and the kitchen sets the tone for your wait. But I would definitely recommend this place for anyone.

    (5)

  • Cameron L.

    Authentic Mexican food, reminds me of my Uncle Mario's in Mexicali. I think they're definitely using lard for the beans and rice, and I'm not complaining. Had the shrimp tacos, tamale and enchilada. Taco had sneaker jalapeño, which I loved/hated.

    (4)

  • Stu K.

    Need a hangover cure or are you nearing a Man vs. Food competition? Get the Breakfast Burrito...any of them. Ham or Chorizo, Eggs, Cheese, Refried Beans, Sour Cream and LOTS of love. Unbelievably good, fresh and enough to share...we're talking 1 burrito for every 2 people, seriously.

    (5)

  • Bill E.

    I went here for lunch after shopping at nearby Jungle Jim's and the restaurant was pretty empty. The host was also my server and was very prompt. I ordered lunch special 8 which is a taco and a enchilada and also ordered chips and guac. The chips and guac came out right after they were ordered and about three minutes after that the lunch special came. Everything was really good and I highly recommend it to everyone. : A must after eating here is going to the bakery right next door. The bakery has fresh baked goods like churros, tres leche cake, cookies as big as a baby's head and much more. Plus the bakeries prices are really low and the quality is really high.

    (4)

  • Alex H.

    The tacos were delicious. I had lengua and al pastor as well as a tamale. I will definitely be back here when I get a hankerin' for Mexican. The place was recommended to me by an American who was born and raised in Mexico and it got her seal of approval.

    (4)

  • Tom W.

    What Boca is to Food Network cooking, Taqueria Mercado is to Mexican, the best, period. Admittedly, they have little authentic competition in a town where the locals still bemoan the loss of Zantigos when it merged with Taco Bell, but regardless, the best. If you are expecting to be asked "hard shell or soft?" when you order your taco, you might be as disappointed as a Texan ordering chili at Skyline. But if you have an open mind, and select a meat other than ground beef (actually, I'm not sure it's even an option) you will be treated to the best Mexican food experience Cincinnati has to offer. Be sure to stop in the Mexican Bakery next door when you leave and get a fresh Churro, it's fried cinnamon sugar coated pudding filled delight.

    (5)

  • J P.

    Great tacos. About as authentic as you'll find in the area! I took off a star for the dine in experience- poor layout, somewhat unclean inside, and not-so-friendly service. I took another off half due to no chips & salsa offered with meals the last few times. If you want a taste close to the border this is your place- just don't expect any flash or smiles. Reasonable prices for the portion. If only I could vote 3.5...

    (3)

  • Michael S.

    After driving by a number of times and hearing great reviews by friends, we decided to try it out last night. It was a good crowd but we only had to wait 5 minutes for a table to accommodate our two families. The left side, which is the bar side, had the music loud, but we did not have to shout to have a conversation. Unlike other local mexican restaurants which have huge menus exceeding 10 pages, the menu was offered great variety but not overwhelming. Started with a large margarita on the rocks which was plenty strong. Chips and salsa were $1.50 but the salsa was worth it. A little sweet and a good amount of heat. I picked a variety of tacos; carnitas, al pastor and carne asada. All came served with just onions, cilantro and a lime wedge on soft corn shells. Simple and delicious. Everyone at the table commented on how good their orders were. Service was efficient, friendly and attentive. Now we are planning to go back and tryout breakfast and the bakery next store.

    (4)

  • Caroline C.

    I don't really like to post a review when I am the only dissenter, but this place is just way overrated. Chile Rellenos on Fridays only - Minus 1 star Meat is not flavorful, just greasy - Minus 1 star Atmosphere is greasy, must change clothes after visiting - Minus 1 star The food isn't very flavorful or spicy. I kept having to apply the sauces in order to get more flavor. And it didn't work. I didn't have that totally satisfying 'mouth is on fire' feel after I ate. This isn't worth a special trip out to Fairfield/Route 4. There are places in town that have the same level of authenticity.

    (2)

  • Andy D.

    Simple, but great! Jimmy B from Jungle Jim's turned me on to this place about 6 months ago. He was surprised I hadn't been, being such a foodie. I was definitely missing out for a long time! Really authentic Mexican cuisine...simple and perfect. I LOVE the tacos - Awesome meat, fresh cheese and squeeze of lime is all you need! Make sure you stop by the bakery before you leave too! Would highly recommend the Taqueria!

    (4)

  • Bobby C.

    Always a great diner lunch whatever the burrito from the west is my favorite

    (5)

  • Wendy R.

    I really enjoyed our lunch. Their carnitas were very authentic. I will be back for more!

    (5)

  • Keith F.

    This is our favorite Mexican restuarant. The food is always fresh and the Margaritas are strong!! Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • John W.

    Coming from the southwest, I miss good authentic Mexican food. Great for Cincinnati. I really enjoyed it.

    (4)

  • Jason K.

    Awesome Mexican food. I moved here from California, and haven't been able to find good Mexican food until now. This place is the real deal. Sit on the right side of the restaurant, it is a little more quiet.

    (5)

  • Laura R.

    Absolutely the best Mexican food I've ever had (if you like authentic that is)! No, the chips and salsa aren't free, but it's worth the $1.50 (or whatever low amount it is) for them as the salsa is fantastic! By far the best thing to get is their tacos. Carnitas is my favorite, but everything I have there has been good! This is one of the few restaurants I regularly go to. LOVE IT!

    (5)

  • Dave V.

    Not half bad, not great -- says the gringo with unsophisticated tastes. Cheese dip and chips, okay. Steak tacos nicely presented, but the soft shell was very dry, and the cilantro was too abundant -- both masking the taste of the filling (which others have raved about). I had to douse the taco in sauce in order to get it down. For dessert, the three-milk cake was huge, sweet, interesting, but nothing to go out of my way for. Decor was basic, the room and kitchen seemed clean, the lunch-time crowd was sparse.

    (3)

  • Christie C.

    We are regulars at the Fairfield location. BEST margaritas ever. We eat there a couple of times a month, and the kids love it. We've tried fajitas, quesadillas, tacos, nachos (which are some of the best), rice, refried beans and a few other things. ALWAYS a good, authentic meal - and an inexpensive way to feed five of us! Great service, too. I honestly didn't even like Mexican food at first, but my hubby kept dragging me here, and I finally became a fan! After dinner, stop by the bakery a few doors down (Fairfield only) and pick up some goodies there. We always get a few things for breakfast the next morning. Also very good!

    (4)

  • James H.

    Great food, quality ingredients and prompt service. Also the 3 house hotsauces they serve up are quite good as well. You get your money's worth as far as price to portion size too. My only gripe was that the host and the waitress weren't attentive at all... But I go to restaurants for the food, I can deal with lackadaisical attitudes.

    (4)

  • Nathan P.

    Listen up: what you've been eating is not Mexican food. Sorry. What we have here are over-seasoned, over-salted, processed, hormonal packages of some mutated dish vaguely resembling their ancestors, whose sole purpose of existence is to fool you into thinking you're eating something Mexicans would eat. It's OK, I've eaten it, too. But from now on, please: acknowledge and respect the difference, or continue to be laughed at by our southern neighbors. To get an idea what authentic Mexican street food looks like, watch The Mexico City episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, or just Google 'antojitos mexicanos' and take a look. All it takes is good, fresh ingredients. Tacos the traditional, classic way: meat, a little onion and cilantro, corn tortillas. That's it. It doesn't need hot sauce, but you can have it if you want it, along with radishes, chiles, tomatoes. Another glaring distinction from American culture: little waste. They don't dare throw away the pig guts... every bit gets used. Besides, that's the good stuff. Taqueria Mercado gets it fairly close. They serve up good quality, traditional, very flavorful meats like tripas and lengua, chorizo, the standard carnitas and carne asada, among others. Burritos are griddled; again classic. And everything's fairly cheap: about two bucks for tacos, two bucks for chips and salsa. You can eat very well for $10 a person. This purist's only detraction: I think they may sacrifice some traditional ingredients and quality to get more business. They include chile sauce, but fresh chiles would be nicer, along with cabbage, radishes. I admit however that I haven't asked for them. While I appreciate that they are also very quick, because they're almost always busy, I would not mind if they focused more on preparation. I found out they prepare their carnitas in about an hour, which to me doesn't seem like enough time to properly make it. But hey, here in the States, I'll take what I can get... and believe me, it totally doesn't suck.

    (4)

  • Trisha K.

    Good food and very authentic! Spicy, but not a ridiculous burn...very flavorful. HUGE burritos and excellent soft corn tortilla tacos with fresh lime and cilantro. Excellent CHILAQUILES ROJOS or VERDES. They serve their food with 3 different sauces, which are seemingly homemade. The atmosphere is fun with murals on all the walls and music. Yes, the check cashing booth is inside the restaurant, but I never feel like it's taking over my dining experience. The service is friendly, attentive and accomodating. LOVE going for breakfast on th weekends! They have great coffee and fresh squeezed oj too. Last but not least, Taqueria serves GREAT tres leche cake. There is an excellent pastry shop at the other end of this strip mall and they make great cookies, cake and flan.

    (5)

  • Mister L.

    East LA in Cincy. I like this place especially when I feel homesick. As soon as I walked in, I knew it was going to be good: decor screamed random mexicali and blaring latin dancy rap pop music. The food is not tex mex but hole in the wall good and even has that really sweet mexican Jarritos soda pop.

    (4)

  • Hyatt G.

    Yeah, they are destined to have poor service. BUT the ceviche tostada's rock!

    (4)

  • Josman R.

    I'm Mexican and I'd say this is my favorite Mexican Restaurant! This place has the stuff that you won't find in any other Mexican restaurants in Cincinnati (menudo and barbacoa on weekends for example). When you are in there you feel like you just crossed the border: authentic waiters, cooks, customers, music, TV channels, drinks, etc. They have big portions that would satisfy anyone ( and I must say that I eat like there's no tomorrow!) On top of that, they have the grocery store and the bakery on the side so you can get some churros or Pastel de Tres Leches after your dinner! *By the way, I must add that if you are expecting something fancy this is NOT the place for you. You'll get tasty food and big portions for a good price. Not the place to take your date for a romantic dinner but perfect to take your buddies for a fun meal.

    (5)

  • Joe J.

    Very authentic Mexican that is located on the western side of Dixie Hwy in Fairfield. It's always very reassuring when you walk into an ethnic restaurant and English is the second language. This is the real stuff. After living in New York and being exposed to authentic Mexican cusine, my wife and I have searched for non-watered down and American-polluted Mexican food. We found it at taqueria mercado. The service was fast and efficient and was not annoyed by our lousy American pronounciations of traditional Mexican fare. The food was fresh and the portions were generous (we split two and had food left over). We ordered carmitas tacos and shrimp with a spicy sauce. They do not give you chips and salsa so we also had an order of chips and guacamole. It was hot and fresh and served with three different sauces. We will be back soon for more!

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :9:00 am - 9:3

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Categories

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

Taqueria Mercado

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