El Mercado Restaurant

hours aren't posted here or at website! Called early morning and no answer machine at 7:30 am. more

When You order a top shelf margarita or Mexican Martini they put in a splash of Couintreau and then make the drink with Juarez Triple Sec. Inexcusable. more

Excellent service, margaritas and food! My wife and I had margaritas and the brisket tacos...ooohhh sooo good!! more

Friendly people made conversations, on time service. Pros: Good Service, Decent Food, Nice prices Cons: Food is nothing special more

After living just 2 blocks away from El Mercado for the last 14 years, and being a regular customer during that time, I decided after last night's experience I will never return. Pros: It's Cheap Cons: Manager is terrible. Bartender is Homophobic. more

El Mercado is a typical run of the mill Mexican Restaurant. The margaritas a are solid and their beer selection has all the standard Mexican beers. For an appetizer we tried the jalapenos stuffed with bacon wrapped shrimp, and they were amazing, a nice kick from the pepper mixing with perfectly boiled shrimp and thick juicy bacon. As an extra bonus it was served with a garlic sour cream dip, which was a little runny (think ranch dressing texture), but tasted incredible, it honestly tasted just like sour cream with a kick. We each tried a different dinner special that had a little bit of everything. The plates came out over flowing, in fact after dinner we ended up with lunch and dinner the next day from the left overs. The food was solid, not the best you've ever had, but good. The main feature here is that you get a LOT of quality food for very little money, for example, 2 people, 1 margarita, 1 Mexican beer, an appetizer and 2 dinners the bill was only $30. Pros: Good service, lots of food for little $$$ Cons: Parking lot is way too small more

This was one of the worst Tex Mex restaurants I have visted in Austin. The food was incredibly bland looking and very bland tasting. It was as if they forgot to season everything. There was very little cheese (and it was fake looking). Usually you can count on the refried beans and rice to be good but even this was missing salt and seasoning. Don't go; you will waste your money and end up eating some of the worst food. Only plus: the services was great. Pros: Service Cons: Terrible food more

Terrible food - I ordered enchiladas and they didn't come with sauce on them. Have you ever heard of enchiladas with no sauce? Rice and beans were inedible. My dining partner picked at his food as well. And it wasn't particularly cheap. Lots of other places are cheaper and tons better (i.e. Maudie's). Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere. Pros: Small and cute Cons: Terrible food more

I've tried a lot of Tex Mex in Austin and this is my current favorite. The food is very tasty and reasonably priced. The hot latin kisses - jalepenos stuffed with cheese and wrapped with bacon - are excellent. They have several off-beat menu items like fish or shrimp tacos or spinach enchiladas. I don't really care for their refried beans - made with shortening - but their charro beans are wonderful. The atmosphere is colorful and fun, although I find the TV's placed around the perimeter a bit distracting. Pros: Inexpensive, Good atmosphere, Family friendly more