MERCADO LOS ANGELES
NOW SERVING WEEKEND BRUNCH THAT HITS THE SPOT

We recently spotlighted dinner at Mercado Los Angeles, a new favorite for some of the best carnitas in town. And while dinner proved adventurous and completely satisfying, I was equally excited to give their weekend brunch (almuerzo) a chance.

Referred to as “Bronche”, Chef Jose Acevedo has created a menu of brunch favorites while managing to keep his culinary flair intact. Looking to start brunch with a drink, because that is how one starts brunch, I opted for the Guayaba Wine Sangria made with house guayaba puree, St. Germain, and bubbles, but immediately learned this was not a drink for me (no thanks!). The Mercado Margarita, a mix of 100% agave silver tequila, triple sec, and fresh sour, was an OK margarita—think Grapefruit, but I eventually learned that the way to go drink-wise at Mercado is with the Chipotle Bloody Mary, a refreshing mix of Cesar’s Bloody Mary mix, vodka and escabeche (an acidic mixture). This drink screams weekend brunch!

If you’re looking for a hearty dish to start, you can’t go wrong with the Nachos de Carnitas (pork nachos), a rousing combination of choriqueso, black beans, carnitas, guacamole, tomatoes, and onions. I swear the carnitas as Mercado are the bomb. This is the same carnitas that you’ll find on their killer happy hour carnitas tacos. Eat too much of this dish and this can be a whole meal—granted a very satisfying one.

If you’d rather start on a lighter note, the Dos Gringas tacos, made with spit-roasted pastor, Oaxaca, onions, cilantro, chile de arbol salsa, avocado salsa and served on flour tortillas, is a solid beginning to brunch. If you want to make brunch even healthier, opt for the Farmers Market Vegetables—Chef Jose’s hand-picked vegetables.

Opting for traditional Mexican brunch fare, we went with the Huevos Rancheros—two eggs, salsa verde, queso cotija, avocado, cilantro lime rice, and frijoles negros—which proved to be a satisfying and somewhat light option, and the Chilaquiles Rojas con Huevos—crispy tortilla, salsa roja, eggs, queso fresco, and onions—and make sure to add carnitas for $4 more. You can add a skirt steak skewer for $6 but believe me, the carnitas is the way to go.

Hearty food and a nice drink in a relaxing atmosphere, that’s what weekend brunch is all about. There’s nothing like day drinking on a lazy day, especially when you have some of the best carnitas in town in front of you.

Mercado Los Angeles is located at 7910 West Third Street. Weekend Brunch is served from 10am to 3pm. Call 323-944-0947.

Story by Jose Martinez

Photos Courtesy of Mercado Los Angeles