Mercado Gonzalez Northgate Market

This place is clean, sparkling clean. Also the food and service from the staff was excellent. The different food stations to eat lunch here was over the top, in the best way possible. Just go and try something new! It's all so fresh and the employees really do seem to enjoy working there, it really comes across.

I had such a great time exploring this big Mexican supermarket! The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming — it really felt like stepping into a little piece of Mexico. The store was full of authentic Mexican products, from fresh produce, to spices, salsas, traditional baked goods, and a wide variety of snacks. I especially loved how many unique items you could find here that you wouldn’t easily see in a regular grocery store. It’s a fantastic place whether you’re shopping for specific ingredients or just browsing and soaking in the experience. The staff were also very friendly and helpful. I’ll definitely be coming back — highly recommend if you love Mexican food and culture!

We’d been hearing great things about this place for a while, so we finally decided to check it out—and wow, it’s definitely the biggest Northgate we’ve ever seen. While it offers the usual staples you’d expect from any Northgate, this location stands out with a unique layout inspired by the traditional mercados of Mexico. Think of it as a modern-day market under one roof, where each section feels like its own little specialty shop—fishmonger, butcher, cheese counter, and more—all beautifully arranged with care and authenticity. Beyond groceries, there’s also a solid lineup of food options. You’ll find everything from tacos to sushi (yes, even sushi). We went for the tacos and some perfectly crispy fried fish, paired with icy cold micheladas from the in-house bar—definitely a win for a casual lunch. Before heading out, we made one last stop for churros, and they were hands-down some of the best we’ve had in years: warm, crispy, and dusted just right. This Northgate isn’t just a supermarket—it’s an experience. Whether you’re shopping or snacking, it’s worth a visit.

An incredible grocery store with tons of space for kitchen supplies like traditional Mexican pots, grills, and mortar and pestles! They have everything you need from fresh produce to tabletop essentials. The quality of the produce here is unmatched, especially when you factor in the price. The tomatoes and peppers are absolutely beautiful and much cheaper than your typical American chain grocery store. The butcher also has a great selection of meats, marinated and un-marinated. The fish monger is just as good! There is an endless selection of spices and dried staples, and with the staples you also have the option to buy in bulk! Typically when I visit, I get something to eat in the food court, buy groceries, shop at the bakery, and if I deserve a treat, I get a churro, too :)

The prices are a bit pricey, actually steep. Considering that mexican food is the least expensive to make, check for yourself (beans,rice,tortillas). However, there is a wide variety of different products and the atmosphere is very friendly, the employees are on the move. Five stars ✨ to the employees, the place is clean and acceptable.

Great value. They have authentic Mexican pottery bowls and many stuffs. The breads were really good with reasonable price! We also love delicious food selection, and even pork belly was only 3.99/lb

I am a new fan of these markets! Amazing little gem of a find in the OC area and worth bringing friends and family by. Delicious tamales!! Delicious agua frescos and freshly made churros! You don’t want to miss this place - especially if you’re a foodie.

This place has a lot of food places to eat and it is a nice place just to walk around. I went and ate then did my normal market shopping before I left. I didn't notice a price difference from the regular Northgate Market. It is more than just a market it is like a shopping center inside of a shopping center!

This is like the Disneyland of Mexican markets. There's so much to see and experience. The store is clean, modern and full of bright colors and lots of delicious food. I usually enter through the left side by El Moro and have to stop to get churros if the line isn't bad. They're made fresh to order and so good. The bag of 4 ($9) is perfect because they're thinner than your typical churro and you'll want more than one. I also recommend the caramel sauce ($1), but not so much the chocolate. After you get past the churros, there's a large bakery section with cases of Mexican sweet breads and cakes. Further inside there are sections for fresh salsas and guacamole, marinated meats, ceviche, produce, cheese and even a whole area for Mexican candy. They literally have everything you could want. One of my favorite sections is the freshly made tortillas. They have flour and corn tortillas available in sizes for street tacos to burritos. You can watch them making the tortillas and they often hand out samples. Nothing beats warm, fresh tortillas. People don't come here just to shop for groceries, but also for the food court. They have stations for things like taco plates, tamales, paletas, agua frescas and more. The tamales are great and so are the rice and beans. There's no other market like this in OC. The workers could be a bit friendlier and more helpful given the type of place they're trying to be. But regardless, if you enjoy Mexican food, you should visit (Just not on the weekend if you want to avoid the crowds).

Heaven! Honestly why aren't ALL Northgates like this. I love all of the food stands. I felt like a kid in a candy shop until I saw they had a little area with all sorts of Mexican candies and then I just died! There so much to take in and discover there! They have so many different stands to eat at, a few bars, an ice cream shop and who can forget the famous El Morro churreria from Mexico City. The churros were so good! They're not super sweet like amusement park churros. I got the French hot chocolate which is thicker and not as sweet at regular hot chocolate. In addition to all the eateries, there's also the regular market. I loved being able to eat and then grocery shop!

I love coming to this place whenever I'm in the area. This is a supermarket with lots of food stalls inside. It is absolutely huge inside. There are lots of tables to grab your food and find a spot to eat. Service was very friendly inside. If you do come here to shop, everything is laid out neatly and easy to find. I always come for their ceviche.

I came by after going to the OC winter fest before Christmas. I am very glad that I did not eat earlier. This market has a huge food court. We ate birria tacos and seafood shrimp cocktail. Food was leading more on the spice side, However, they tasted pretty good! It was pretty crowded probably due to Christmas shopping. The groceries look very fresh! There was a huge spice section and they decorated like store in Mexico. I was having so much fun walking around the grocery store. Prices of the product was recent able.

What does your dream food hall look like? Is it colorful? Is it full of music? Is it specialty food? Mercado Gonzalez is all of these things....and its my dream food hall! In fact...I think I may move in here! Because of the size of the outside shopping center, there is substantial parking. How far you have to walk to the Mercado will depend on time of day and if you are going on a weekend. Upon entering you are thrust into a celebration full of Mexican puestos. It feels like you are on a guided tour vacation! I recommend taking a quick lap through before choosing...there is only so much space in your tummy! Coming here with a bunch of friends is recommended. It will allow you to try as much as you can, without committing too much stomach space. And you will need the space. Every food stall has beautiful offerings...mostly made to order. I was able try... Ceviche Spicy Mango ceviche Avocado ceviche Aguachile verde Aquachile negro Guacamole with jalapeños Regular homemade chips Fried tostadas for ceviche Blue corn tortillas Carnitas torta ahogada Elote mexican street corn Grilled chayote Grilled cauliflower Tacos de lengua Tacos de al pastor Aguas Frescas Tepache Rompope Horchata con Cafe Champurrado Tamales con pollo Rib Tamales Cheese enchiladas Spicy lobster sinaloan sushi Paleta de arroz con leche Churros w dipping sauces All this food was not one trip...it was food from two visits...but all the food was delicious and amazing. If I had to choose the highlights...the standouts were... Churros -very different from the churros I normally have -light airy and delicious with the sauces Aguachile Negro -deep rich flavor with hearty ingredients -addictive Agua fresca -Rompope was rich and delicious -Horchata con Cafe was something I could easily drink everyday -Tepache was the drink I never knew I needed in my life Enchilada -believe it or not, the cheese enchilada was done perfectly. So savory and delicious. The combination of spices really made this enjoyable, bite after bite. I will definitely be back because this is my new home!

Absolutely love walking around and exploring all the different vendors and products at this large market! So much to taste, see, and smell! The ambiance is super fun, vibrant, and casual, and service from the tamale shop and churro shop were both friendly and helpful. We tried the pork tamale and beef tamale and both were sooo good! They were flavorful and spicy, so it was hard to pick a favorite. I would recommend trying both unless you clearly favor one protein over the other. Didn't get a chance to try the agua fresca stand, but love that there's such a wide variety of options as well as a large selection of Mexican soda too. The churros are a must here! Currently there is a seasonal gingerbread one but we opted for the classic cinnamon with chocolate dipping sauce and it definitely hit the spot. On our way out, we also picked up some incredibly soft feeling tortillas that smell amazing. Can't wait to try making tacos at home! Next time, we want to try purchasing from the meats/butcher section. There are so many options at this cool market, whether you're looking to grocery shop, enjoy some specialty items or hunting for a neat gift, need a fun hangout spot to meet up with folks, or looking to grab a bite to eat or drink! The cocktail bar also looked amazing... Will have to come back soon!

After having dinner at a restaurant nearby, we decided to check out this market to see what all the buzz is all about. We were so full from dinner so we didn't try their foods out. Most items in the market are overpriced. We walked around, bought some pastries, and left. Not sure if I would be back.

I was 'wowed' the second I stepped into Mercado! So much to see and take in! The colors are vibrant, the variety is plentiful, and vibes are fantástico! I especially loved the churros from El Moro. Wow, so delicious! They are made fresh, and you can taste the quality! These really are a 10 and make Disneyland churros a 5 because those are frozen and taste highly processed and just not as good. I got the combo and chose the Mexican hot chocolate, but that was way too thick and rich for me. We couldn't finish it, so I won't get that again. We also tried the torta, burrito, and cheese quesadilla from Tacos Los Güichos which were fine. I like the salsa bar complete with sliced radishes, limes, onions, and three kinds of salsas. They had a bakery section that smelled divine. They had fruit tarts, chocoflans, conchas, chips, salsas, fresh-made tortillas, produce, regular groceries, a food court, frescas, etc. I could spend a long time in there, lots to look at. There is also a patio section with more tables. Everyone was friendly, and there was live music from a traditional band on Sunday night. They even had fresh ice cream bars that I want to try next time, with my churros, of course! Next door, there is a 5 Below and TJMaxx Homegoods along with several other eateries and shops in the same plaza.

It's that time of year again! The family tradition of making the tamales we all know & love. Everyone has their favourite place for materials & ingredients, but for now, my new favourite is "Mercado," by Gonzalez Northgate. One of the cool things about living in Southern California is the wonderful variety of cuisines & grocery stores from all over the world. Seriously, if it exists, you can probably find it here. I visited "Mercado" Costa Mesa during Grand Opening Week in 2023, & have enjoyed shopping here whenever the need arises ever since. Although parking can be a nightmare at times, & it would be nice if their telephone system & phone customer service were improved in the various areas of the store, vendors, etc., Mercado is still an awesome place to visit & shop. Unlike other Northgate markets, "Mercado" is truly a destination. Modeled after the open-air markets in Mexico, this part-grocery-store-part-food-hall really is truly a feast for the senses. In addition to an awesome produce department where they have a 5-Day Fresh Guarantee, their meat, dairy, & liquor departments are impressive as well. You can also visit their onsite bar, view art exhibits & sculptures available for purchase, & more. As you listen to the live music, here are some of the other wonderful items & puestos at Mercado: * Tortilleria - Fresh tortillas & masa daily. You can literally see them making everything from start-to-finish. The tortillas hot off the assembly line are amazing, & the masa is some of the freshest I've had which helps make our at-home homemade tamales extra fluffy & delicious! * Chiles y Especias Spices - Visit this area & you will literally feel transported to another place. They feature an amazing variety of chiles for making your own homemade salsa, sauces for tamales, enchilada, mole, etc., dried beans, fresh cinnamon, & more. Also available are decorative hanging chile & garlic for both display & culinary use. * Florería Nayel Floral Department - Fresh flowers & beautiful arrangements. * La Tamalería - Not feeling like making your own tamales? They offer chicken, beef, pork, cheese, corn, pineapple, strawberry, & seasonal tamales, along with champurrado & atole served hot & fresh daily. The line can get long, but it's totally worth it! * Dulceria - Mexican candies you may not find at a lot of places. Cool piñatas too! * Chorizería - Freshly made pork chorizo, langozina, & even chicken chorizo for those of us who do not eat pork. * Various food stands like street tacos, birria (both beef & goat), fire-grilled meats, menudo, & more. Long lines, but pretty good. * El Moro Churrería - Churros & champurrado freshly made to order with both cinnammon/sugar & plain sugar options. Dipping sauces extra. Although I'm not a fan of their churros, it's a pretty popular spot, so check it out for yourself. * Pastelería de Gonzalez Bakery - This is one of my favourite places in the entire store (of course). They offer a wide variety of fresh pan dulce, pan de queso, & more. The refrigerated cakes & gelatin desserts are amazing! Again, long lines, but worth the wait. Looking for a unique experience where you can get your shopping done, grab a bite to eat, listen to live music, & more? Definitely check out Mercado!

Overall, a really incredible experience. Walking in, we all felt like we were transported to the markets in Mexico City, and the smells of the bakery, spices, and delicious foods were a taste sensation. We went to get micheladas at the bar, and the bartender made us an awesome flight, featuring purées he and his team made for different fruits. Highly recommend a passionfruit michelada! The sushi was also really good, and I wish I had more room to try the small shops. Well maintained and beautiful!

This is a food court in Costa Mesa run by Northgate Markets. It's my favorite type of food court. It's filled with tons of authentic Mexican food and it's full of great flavors. Walking through here, I feel like I'm in an amusement park. I love coming here to meet with my wife after work on a weeknight. I think that crowds are craziest during weekday lunch and weekends. There are so many things to appreciate here including: Tacos and corn grilled over mesquite charcoal at Los Mesquites Asados Sinaloan-style sushi Amazing sonora-style tortillas that are still warm in package Delicious salsas and ceviches Tons of agua frescas and fruit paletas Hot churros at El Moro Churreria Marinated meats and tons of difficult-to-find cuts at their meat counter Fresh queso blanco at their cheese counter Prices for hot food at the food stalls aren't cheap, but I'm willing to pay them. You can find some nice deals for food/meat/groceries and baked goods if you shop through the market here. Some of the hype has died down since it first opened, but I think it's a really fun place to eat/visit/shop.

This is the best! I absolutely loved being here. This market made me fall in love with markets and all of the stalls. The food, the coffee, the cans of goods, the fresh fruits and veggies, the meats, the candies...all of it was so good. I have to say that if I worked in the area, I'd probably eat here every day. They have the tamales, the tacos, the stage where people can perform, the music and the biggest canela I've ever seen...literally! This place has it all. And it's bright and shiny and when we come back, I look forward to piling up on all of the goodies. Another big plus is that the people who work there are so nice and helpful. I know why this is a destination. I wish we had one in the bay area (East Bay - Richmond/San Pablo) because they would have so much business. This place is amazing and I look foward to a repeat visit.

This place is super cool! It definitely isn't what I expected looking at the outside. When I walked it, I was overwhelmed with all the options. There is a market area with groceries, a liquor store, an area you can buy pan dulces, and a churro shop!! There are like 4 or so places to choose from in the food court with tacos, tortas, birria quesadillas, chile rellenos, and a bunch of other foods. There's a station you see them making fresh tortillas, salsa, and guac... like what?!? Anyways, can you tell I thought this was cool? Lol. My bf and I bought food and a drink from the bar inside (not my fave drinks) and then sat outside on the patio. They have plenty of seating both inside and outside. Outside has booth seating and tables along with TVs around the patio, which would make for a fun Sunday funday spot to watch the games!

I love going to Mercado, but boy oh boy is it a mission to find a table for a party of 6 - especially on a Sunday afternoon. Eventually we acquired a table after the lunch rush. Once we were seated, my family and I were able to relax a bit (it's so stressful finding a table!). The food court is always happening when I visit. I have never been disappointed by the food. Tamales, tacos, ceviche, agua fresca, tortillas; EVERYTHING IS SO YUMMY! Parking is just as stressful as finding a table. Come with patience and you will have a great time.

This place has it all! It's literally a one stop kinda place. Come for groceries but If you're hungry they have a variety of options: *seafood, tacos, tamales, sushi, extensive cheese section, liquor area, fresh aguas (flavored waters) and a bar. To top it off, you can have freshly made churros or pan dulce for dessert. They have fresh guacamole and chips along with the biggest salsa bar I've ever seen. They have a candy area, Mexican specialty items (tortilla press, terracotta candles, a flower section and more. You can enjoy your meal in the food court area or find a quiet table along the inside perimeter of the market. The service was friendly and the place was clean. They have a lot going on in this place, in a good way. It just works! I will be visiting again to try more foods. We had tacos and the tortillas were freshly made. All of it was delicious. We topped it with a churro which was perfection!

Fun place to go! A little overwhelming at first but it definitely makes grocery shopping a fun experience. Would come back.

Stopped by here recently for the first time, and was completely blown away. The music, smell of the food and the overall vibe just puts you in the mood to have an enjoyable experience. Tried a few of the food options from a couple locations and it was delightful. Had some enchiladas, nopales guisados, birria tacos and Mexican cokes. The way the food was prepared took me back to vacationing in Mexico, what a treat. After we were finished eating picked up some groceries and the produce and items they carry were great quality and packaged nicely. If you're looking for a way to take a local mini culinary get away, this is a great stop for that!

We met up with some friends on Thanksgiving week who suggested having lunch at Mercado Gonzalez. From the moment I walked in I was surprised / impressed by how much variety and food options were available. I immediately stopped to buy some churros for the kids which were amazing. Then I walked around a bit to purchase a burrito, birra and carne asada tacos. I then bought three types of cervice for my wife and friends. The burrito and tacos were excellent but we felt the cervice was too acidic. There was live music near all of the food vendors but it was too loud to be honest so we sat outside in the patio which had ample space. Overall, if you like Mexican food and are in Orange County I would recommend coming here for a meal, and groceries if you're inclined.

This Mercado was referred to us by a friend. I now see the hype. This has something for everyone. Plus it has its own restaurant if that's what you choose, but definitely not needed. Love the vide and the outside patio. Very clean and the staff is very helpful. I enjoyed the many sample opportunities. The churros are a hit. Definitely return to try something different. My only very small complaint was the Cadillac Margarita could have been better but it made up for it with the generous amount of tequila Also, their rajas con queso tamales would be to my liking if made with roasted pasilla chiles instead of jalapeños.... Overall, great experience and loved how it was so clean.

This market deserves a 5 star review! It is a vibrant and bustling market that captures the heart of Mexican culture and cuisine. Theres live music, tons of small shops for food, and makes you feel like you're transported elsewhere We went on a saturday evening, and it was a bit difficult to find parking! Although it's a grocery store, it had great ambiance and food. The food options at Mercado Gonzalez are fantastic, featuring an array of traditional Mexican dishes that are full of flavor and prepared with care. From freshly made tacos and tamales to sizzling grilled meats and ceviches, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

The chicken tamale lacked any chicken. Masa was good but it had a little spec of chicken. The pork tamale had a good amount of port.

Loved this place on our recent visit to the LA area came here several times. The mercado has amazing items for sale and great food. The restaurants inside where amazing we tried several of them My top two was the Ceviche location and the Birria. Don't forget to grab some churros for desert as well.

Stepping into this Mexican supermarket instantly fills me with vibrant energy. The space is bright and lively, with colorful murals (I found out they're by muralist Claudio Limón) adorning the walls. The open, spacious layout is full of artistic displays, making it easy to navigate and fun to explore. My friends and I entered through the side door on the left, where the first thing we saw was a sleek white stall: El Mono. This churro stand, which has been around since 1935 in Mexico, caused quite the buzz when it first opened here, with a really long line waiting. It even has an open kitchen so you can watch the churros being made fresh. Unfortunately, we were too full to try anything this time, but it's definitely on our list for next time! Next door is **Pastelería**, a bakery that features a long row of refrigerators stocked with colorful Mexican pastries. Their croissants are huge, literally larger than a person's face. The bakery is open-kitchen as well, so you can watch the bread being made right in front of you. As we wandered further, we passed stalls selling vibrant dishware, garlic and chili peppers strung together in rustic burlap sacks, handcrafted soaps, and even liquor. Then, we stumbled upon **Paletería le Nena**, an ice cream stand that surprisingly had pistachio flavor! I bought a strawberry milk popsicle and tried a bite of my friend's pistachio flavor --both were absolutely delicious, and at just $2.99 each, they were a steal. At the center of the supermarket (right where the main entrance is), there's a huge produce section, followed by aisles of sauces, seafood, fresh meats, cheeses, and cooked meats like pork trotters. In the **Asados** section, you can even watch them cook the pork through a glass window, alongside crunchy fried pork skin, which my husband loves. I grabbed a bag for him to snack on later. The tortillas are also made fresh on-site by a machine, and they're still warm when you pick them up--super fresh! At the back, you'll find the **Carnicería** (fresh meat section) and **Mariscos** (seafood section). Unlike some Asian supermarkets that can sometimes feel a bit unclean, this one felt spotless, with bright lighting (especially in the seafood area), making everything look incredibly fresh and surprisingly affordable. As you enter from the main entrance, to the left, there's **Floreria Nayel**, a flower shop full of vibrant colors, and next to it, a drink stand called **Aguas frescas**. To the right, there's a **Cafeteria** with tons of food options where you can order and find a seat to enjoy your meal. It even has a bar called **Entre Nos** where you can take a break with a drink. Exploring this supermarket is not just about shopping, it's really a fun way to immerse myself in a different culture and cuisine. 2300 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

I've been wanting to check this place out for a while, but it's always so busy! I finally decided to visit during the week, and it was much less crowded with shorter lines....definitely a pro tip if you want a more relaxed experience. True to its name, "Mercado" offers a vibrant mix of food vendors and an actual market. We started with the aguas frescas and loved that you could sample them before deciding. My favorite was the crema con leche (strawberries with cream) absolutely delicious! We also couldn't resist the churros, and wow, they did not disappoint. Served hot and fresh, they were packed with flavor and melted in my mouth. We'll definitely be going back to try more food, especially the taco stand and seafood stand.There's so much left to explore!

This was my first time here and I was impressed with the amount of food options I saw. They have tamales, tacos, carnitas, tortillas echas a mano, carne asada, paletas, aguas frescas and a full bar. They had live entertainment which was a mariachi band and just the vibe overall was great. I chose to try the tamales preparados and they were delicious! the staff was friendly and everyone was so welcoming, I can't wait to go again

This market is awesome and so much more than a market! It's a combination of supermarket + trinkets + food stalls/food hall. They even have a live DJ and makeshift dance floor. The vibes here are great and it's fun to come to grab a few eats and cocktails and listen to some live music! There's a bunch of family style round tables lumped together on one side of the market, as well as outdoor patio seating. I imagine seating can be a challenge during peak hours, but we were always able to snag a seat the few times we came. As for groceries, their meat section has reasonably priced meats and their ceviche is sooo fresh and delicious. They also have seemingly endless selections of salsas, guac, and fresh tortillas. Their produce looked fresh too and nicely organized! Definitely make a trip here, it's worth it.

On the 8th Day, González created the Mercado - and he filled it with sushi, tacos and churros, oh my! And a full bar too! OMG! Only the mind of a genius, or one divinely inspired (I humbly confess I had dreamt of building such a wonderland many years ago, but was not well capitalized so...) could have conceived such a utopia. Why stop at one? Why only Costa Mesa? Don't the hungry masses in Reseda or Alhambra or Upland not deserve an Oasis like this? A supermarket and 5 star food court smashed together harmoniously! It works!! Go see for yourself. Bring your appetite and reusable shopping bag... you'll need both!

YES, YES, YES, I'd recommend this place. Forget about all the beautiful culture on display. I'm focusing only on their ceviche. It's on point!!!! It literally tastes like my parent's ceviche. The fact that they don't roll their eyes when you ask for samples is a huge plus. They have so much patience. Even when the line is growing they're focused on who they're helping. Love that the have a wide selection of different ceviches.

This is a fun little place to check out if you're in the area, it has a lot of eateries inside and a grocery stoked with Mexican goods, they have a bar inside as well and a churro making spot. The food is good, they have a variety of things to chose from and the service is always fast and friendly, it is a bit overpriced but it's alright

The Disneyland of Mexican grocery stores/food halls! My friend and I spent 3 hours here and had so much fun. We got lunch there and had tacos, birria, carnitas, churros, and watermelon aguas frescas. Recommended getting the green salsa with the carnitas. They also provided samples throughout the store so it reminded me of Costco too. Can't wait to come back to try more food and get some marinated meat to grill at home!

The ambiance is an assault on the senses at this Mexican culinary destination. The food choices go on forever and it's all delicious. Fresh everything tamales tortillas salsas carnitas birria all in their own stations and the churros are divine

Just wow!! This place is the ultimate take on a Mexican street market with amazing food stands, produce, and about any kind of Mexican staple you can think of. I only wish my own town had one. We sampled the freshest ceviche, carnitas, tacos, tortas and tamales. Truly excellent and the prices were terrific. Can't wait to return.

I still love coming to this Northgate Mercado! Even though I love all of the things that I get from here (i.e., fresh tortillas, dried goods, cheeses, churros, chorizo, produce, menudo, tamales), I usually frequent this place for just a few favorites. I mostly stop in for their fresh salsas and ceviche. They are my absolute favorite to stop in and grab. For $12.99/lbs, the ceviche is fresh and so flavorful! It is a great price for the quality! The red Molcajete salsa is so good! I know many other Mexican supermarkets make their salsas fresh, but the Molcajete from this place is the best! They sell the salsas prepackaged at $5.99/lbs, but you can go up to the salsa counter and ask them to scoop you a specific amount. This place is worth checking out if you haven't been!

How amazing can a supermarket be? This is like a packing house times a million, prices are excellent, quality is so fresh, people are friendly, and the music is blasting. It's nothing but good times in here, with everything you might need within arms reach. The people behind the counters are so, so wonderful. They joke around with you and make recommendations for you; it's just a hospitable atmosphere. Even the crowd, when they're milling about and trying to weave through others are always smiling. It might be because of the michelada deals or the live DJs they seem to have every weekend, but it's wonderful to watch families and couples dance to the VERY loud music. The food is amazing quality. I am the biggest ceviche fan to exist and I love that they give samples and give you a serving of three for a very decent price. Agua frescas are fire, sushi was delicious too but some items are overpriced. Got some fresh guac, chicharrones, warm tortillas. While oogling the fresh tortilla machines, a lovely lady gave my family and I little scraps that were SO warm and soft. Core memory for sure. They have an incredible variety here. Tacos, tortas, birria, wings, millions of fresh salsas, tomatillos, takis to eat with your ceviche, barbeque, sushi, and bars. All for decent prices. After piling on your food, there's a lot of seating available in different sections of the market. This is a labyrinth of amazing food and drink. You'll find anything for everyone here, please come here and get me a tank of ceviche here while you're there!

This is my second time coming here! I love Mexican culture and though they put a lot of detail in here , cost is going to be higher due to convenience, decorations, and the service they give you ! Overall a great place to come back n hangout . I bought artesano black clay pottery from Oaxaca The carnitas n beans were delicious, the churros - amazing foods amongst many other places their !

What an amazing market slash eatery! This place has everything from produce, fresh tortilla and bakery items, a butcher, a ton of different salsas, fast food eateries, housewares and cooking items, including grills. There is so much to see and experience here that I spent almost 2 hours exploring. This place is clean and organized. Visiting here on a Sunday, there was a mariachi band performing at the food hall. I sampled the tamale, churro, juice and taco stands. Each one was outstanding. I went home with a couple packs of tamales, a pitcher of hibiscus juice, a giant pink concha and some ceramic cups.

8-2-2024 We - my son, his gf, and I went here after our brunch at Fogo de Chão in Irvine to walk off our food. This is a Mexican market with a variety of specialty items. We got aguas Fresca- watermelon, mango, . and my favorite passionfruit. We also bought some fresh baked pastries and freshly made tortillas along with cheese with chives. Also, I got some strawberry and chicken tamales This establishment was very clean and provided us with great customer service.

Mercado Gonzalez Northgate Market is simply amazing! They offer the freshest ingredients, making it a go-to spot for anyone looking to create an authentic meal. Whether you're searching for unique spices, fresh produce, or specialty items, this market has it all. The variety is impressive, and the quality is top-notch. Highly recommended for anyone who loves cooking with the best ingredients! Not to mention grabbing a bite at one of the many stations.

This place has an awesome vibe. It's much bigger than your typical supermarket and very unique in that it has a food court with a variety of vendors. The bar area has plenty of large screen TVs indoors and out. The soccer game was on when we were there and everyone was cheering on their teams, adding to the fun atmosphere. The freshly made tortillas and churros is a must try and this market is worth a visit when you're in the area.

Who is the mastermind who created this gem of a Mexican Supermart in Costs Mesa? From the vibe to the music to the smells, this market feels clean and has an energy of warmth and love? From the vegetables, to the food areas, to the carneceria to the churro station to the sea food to the poultry, everything is laid out in an inviting matter. I came here solely for the churros and they were the best I've ever eaten. The service here is friendly, inviting and sincere. Cannot wait to come here again sometime.

Not your average Northgate Market! This is a grocery store, a food hall, a butcher shop, a bar, a bakery, a deli, and so much more. All under one roof. Some of the puestos (stalls) and shops here: Aguas Frescas Las Delicias - refreshing drinks! Asados El Mesquites - wood-grilled meats Carnicería La Preferida - marinated/cut meats Carnitas - has slow cooked pork and chicharrones Chiles y Especias - chilis, spices, seasonings Chiva Torta - tortas ahogadas (salsa sandwiches) Chorizería - artisanal sausages for sale Cremería - domestic and imported cheese counter El Moro - they make one of the freshest churros! Entre Nos - bar with Happy Hour M-F 3PM - 6PM Florería Nayel - flower bouquets and potted plants Frutería El Puesto - sliced fruits packed in cups Hacienda La Cofradía - mini liquor store inside La Nena - ice cream and paletas made in-house Las Cazuelas Guisados - home cooked meals La Tamalería - handmade tamales La Tapatía Birriería - spicy beef or goat stew Mariscos El Pariente - ceviches, aguachiles Marisquería El Puerto - fresh seafood counter Prospera - ATM, payday loans, check cashing etc. Pastelería - pan dulce (sweet bread) and desserts Salsas El Molcajete - guac made to order here! Sushi El Sinaloense - Sinaloa-style sushi! Tacos Los Guichos - popular South LA taco stand Tortillería - Freshly grounded and pressed tortillas! Certainly a place you can spend hours wandering around. I already ate prior to coming here, which was a big mistake. Only had room to try the churros ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-moro-churrer%C3%ADa-costa-mesa-2 ) and then bought groceries to take home. Separate review on El Moro to follow... but I can say it was five stars! Definitely returning, but on an empty stomach next time!

lives up to the hype! Truly the best churros I've ever had! I love how you can see it being made as well! located in a huge northgate supermarket, so you can walk around while waiting for your order! there's a few tables for you to eat at too.  *iced latte lechero - i wasn't sure what this was and i didn't enjoy it lol *churro *chocolate dip

Beautiful establishment and so many options are offered here. We went with family from out of town and they were in awe. Mercado makes you forget you are in Costa Mesa and in a little town itself! There are shops for trinkets, piñatas, beers, restaurants and groceries. We tried one of the stands and ordered their birria family pack which fed 4 people and had left overs. The service was quick and easy to maneuver since most restaurants will offer a buzzer or number for you to look out for. There is ample seating inside and a beautiful seating area outside. Unfortunately we didn't find a high chair but kids were content. A must try is the churro stand. The stand fries the churros fresh, a nice crackle and soft dough in the center sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. We will definitely be back to try their various hot chocolate options!

- Vibes: 5/5 (casual first date, or hangout w friends) - Crowd: 4/5 (can get quite full especially on weeknights) - Menu: 5/5 (options for everyone!) - Parking: 5/5 (big shopping center) Mercado is my favorite weeknight hangout. Whether you want a happy hour with friends, a place to take visitors, or want some shopping + dinner, this is it. The building is half supermarket, half shops/storefronts with lots of food options. There's a lot of indoor seating scattered around the food stalls, or cute booths outside. There's also a full bar that specializes in margaritas. It's always been pretty full on week nights when I go, but you can find seating if you circle around long enough. Drinks: I've tried the Cadillac margarita, which was reduced price for happy hour. It was quite strong which I appreciated. My friend got a generous pour of wine too. Food: I HIGHLY recommend the ceviche stand- most affordable and varied ceviche I've ever tried. You can even get some free samples. I love the aguachile and mixto (fish/octopus) ceviches the best. Get some guacamole and chips to go with it! My friend loved the birria and asada tacos she got from the stand by the bar. Service in general is very fast. I can only speak to what I've tried (I'm addicted to the ceviche sorry) but everything smells fantastic so I'm sure you can't go wrong.

This place is literally the Mexican Disneyland of supermarkets! I'm honestly pretty mad at myself for taking so long to come here. Overall, as a market I love it here. This place is HUHE and the options are endless. There are a ton of options and different sections to choose from. They have a great big seating area with a TV playing old Spanish movies and a ton of amazing artwork on the walls. Great ambience! There was even someone very nice handing out samples of warm flour tortillas with chorizo and salsa - that was one of the best things I ate. It was so simple but incredibly good! They have a vast array of options to choose from: aguas frescas, fresh flowers, fruits, chiles/beans, salsas, guacamole, tortillas, baked goods, cheeses, beverages, candies, piñatas, paletas, all the meats, seafood, sushi and fresh churros. I wanted to try as many things as possible so we got 2 different ceviches, birria tacos, asada tacos & al pastor tacos, churros & an aguas fresca. I wasn't blown away by the tacos we got. If I had to choose, the chorizo and al pastor were the better ones. I think al pastor was good mostly because of the pineapple. The asada lacked in flavor & the birria had a lot of fatty pieces in it. If I was really craving tacos, I probably wouldn't come here. My favorite foods that I'd come back for are the churros and the ceviche! The ceviches were fresh, well seasoned, well priced and had a good amount of seafood in it. The churros came out hot and covered in cinnamon sugar. It makes sense why that churro place has been around since the 1930's - they know what they're doing. We got it with the cup of hot chocolate which is a HUGE cup. It was good but not worth getting it with it again. My favorite dip was the caramelized milk. This place will be a monthly visit!

This place is so fun!! So many options to choose from. I've been on a weekend around 11:30 and a Friday around 6:30, both times it has been packed. Luckily the staff work super quickly so food is out fast and as soon as people leave a table they turn it around. It can also get very loud with music and a band, but it just adds to the fun atmosphere. Can't wait to go back!

I had a great time here last weekend. So many food options and prices are fairly reasonable. I had tacos de canasta which I've always wanted to try and was surprised they had them here. They were good! I also had a chile relleno which was huge! I loved the fact that u could go buy tortillas amd salsa to have with my food that I was already enjoying there. From mariscos, to guisados, agua frescas, tortas ahogadas, cartinas, steak, burritos, pollo asado, tostilocos to tacos, there is something for everyone. They were giving out free samples too which I really liked! The staff was super friendly and helpful when ordering. I will definitely be coming back to try more delicious food.

Free parking! It's in the same plaza as mcdonald's. You can't miss it. it's huge!!! There's A LOT going on!!! There's a lot to see. If you enjoy people watching, this place is it!!! Market is super clean and organized. Be prepared to wait!!! I went on a saturday morning at 11 am and it was super busy! To avoid the large crowds, I would highly suggest getting there early to avoid the rush of people. There's plenty of seats for indoor and outdoor. However, if you are with a large group it might be challenging to find a table for everyone to sit. Good place to go with a group and split up! There's something for everyone! They offer samples of different styles of guac which I thought was so cool. They offer samples of fresh tortilla. It's just fun to see how tortillas are made.

Immersive mercado that celebrates the Mexican culinary experience with food stalls as well as fine dining restaurants. Came at 1PM on a Sunday and place was PACKED, parking is free but a bit difficult due to so many visitors. Finding seats/a table inside was also hard, again market was very crowded. Market overall super clean and organized! Buche tacos have nice chewy texture but were under-seasoned; carnitas tacos were super flavorful with mostly lean meat - tacos were $2.50 each, normal sized with generous amount of toppings! Service was friendly - they give out lots of free samples and will text you once food is ready. Tamales were pretty solid - masa was set and moist, not mushy but not dry and crumbly. Fillings has so much flavor and spice thought I wish there was a better masa to filling ratio!