My favorite family store in Chicago.I know the family for 35 years, they’re wonderful people.El Mercado is a little treasure, love this place.

Prices are a lil higher but what concern me the most is the horrible customer service, at the meat counter and at the front end. Very bad attitude from those employees. Im never going back to that market.By the way, the empanadas from El ñandu are much better than theirs.

How have I not reviewed El Mercado yet. This place is amazing. A wonderful little bodega with great Argentinian items. The butcher in the back has some great quality for very low prices. Now for the cherry on top. This place has the best empanadas you will find in the US! Hands down the best empanadas ever!! There are tons of varieties and fried or baked.

I give it 4 because they do not accept credit cards, only cash

Very nice. Well organized and good amount of different brands. A bit expensive but worth it. The lady in the front (cant remember her name 😩) she was very friendly and I love how she had the knowledge to explain and answer whatever question the clients had. 👌

Very nice place amazing empanadas. nice staff. that one handsome looking casheir deserves a rase.

I recently ordered 5 pounds of pork from this establishment after sampling at store. The next week I picked up order and headed home. When I removed foil I observed that the pork was not fully cooked. I called the store to discuss my concern and suddenly heard a click as I talked. I followed up a second time and the result was the same....click. It is obvious to me that this store does not value the feedback from customers. Other places would have told the client to bring back food for a replacement or refund.I will never give business to this establishment again. The father who founded this market was a gentleman and a smart businesses man who would have taken care of the customers concerns.

Such a cute shop! Very helpful & knowledgeable staff. Also theyre alfajores are amazing!!

The best empanadas in the city. Low price great food. The staff is amazing. Little branch outside to eat around the corner.

Always good service, food, and prices. Get the Chorizo from their meat counter its amazing.

Great little market with very helpful butcher. The empanadas are the real deal. Visit!

I absolutely love this market!!! The empanadas are amazing and They have the BEST blood sausage!!! I am also happy that they carry jars of Uruguayan Dolce De Leche as well. TOP NOTCH!!

This market is great to shop nice workers any 1 who pass by it please stop by give them little support.

I have not checked the shop out. I come in for the empanadas. THEY ARE AMAZING! I will come in soon to check the shop out.

I almost don’t want to let this secret out but they deserve all of the love chicago can offer. The empanadas are so good, I will go out of my way in order to eat these. AND they sell the the chimichurri from Tango La Sur!! Hidden gem in the city XOXO

Great Argentina Meat cuts 🥩 !Vacio💯💪

Amazing quality. Friendly service!

Refuse to comment cause is the best meat in Chicago😍😍

Empanadas to go made me feel like I was back in Buenos Aires. Sweet beef, ham and cheese,choclo are my personal faves. Great South American treats, quilmes beer (technically Bodega sur next door), fresh made chimichurri, butcher with Argentine cuts, all kinds of mate. What more can you want!!?

Never been yelled at,Just told you we dont have itin a place before.Bad day? Dont care! Change jobs!

Delicious empanadas and fresh baked goods. Cash only.

Great selection, but the prices are unreal, very, very expressive. And only accept cash.

Fantastic food, friendly staff, regularly awesome atmosphere. They charge affordable rates and the food quality is very good. Keep it up.

I like it but is expensive, good quality of products

Delicious empanadas, Argentinian meat and small groceries.

Incredible small bodega with imported food from all of South America. Such nice staff!!

The food was super appetizing.

Great selection of Argentinean and Peruvian staples and prepared food. The empanadas are great! Heads up: They only accept cash.

Two thumbs up for this place. the place has an awesome feel to it. food is similar to a place in san francisco i liked.

Southport has tons of empanada shops, but El Mercado is by far the best one. Great selection of meats and interesting products as well.

For a butcher they have a surprising amount of vegetarian options for empanadas. I highly recommend the eggplant and caprese. The have some imported sodas that are super yummy too.

Great meat market. Small selection, but what they have is great. You cant beat the price either, much lower than Paulina or Genes and the quality is top-notch.

Great assortment of south American goods. Nice that they have a butcher but the meat, the beef short ribs were really heavy with fat, not good quality. Great service!

It was so fresh. This place has an awesome atmosphere.

So Cute and really cool imported foods from South America!

Ive only had the empanadas, about 6-7 varieties. The first time they were great. The second time several were dried out and too salty. The third time they were just okay. The sweet beef is my favorite, and the corn is surprisingly tasty as well. Other empanada places include salsa but this place charges 50 cents for a tiny cup. Its cash-only but empanadas are just a couple of bucks each.

Best empanada of my life! WOAH! I recommend the corn or chicken. Be careful... they will melt in your mouth and heart.

Great place for Argentinean and Uruguayan style meats, Uruguayan Yerba Mate and Brazilian sweets. Great empanadas and alfajores. Nice folks too!

I found what I am looking for the Mate

I go to el Mercado every week, they have the best empanadas, service is great and the Argentine atmosphere is very nice

The empanadas are the best ive had!!! go for the corn and cheese or chicken and you will not be disappointed! great atmosphere and selection, low prices

My favorite place to buy Yerba Mate. El Mercado has the best selection for Yerba Mate outside Argentina! Love this place !

Yerba mate! Empanadas! Alfajores! Really tasty empanadas, too! This store has made our trip to Chicago worthwhile all by itself!

We live down the block and they have great priced steak, you can purchase sides Togo from tango sur and always a few potatoes or onions to cook with our steaks and the staff is always so helpful!

Go there and eat empanadas, you wont regret it :D

The woman who work in the register dont have costumer skils to work with costumer really 👎 she probably tink they are the only argentinia store in town

Rating this just on the empanadas. 3.8/5. The empanadas were tasty and full of meat, but I found the meat under-seasoned and on the bland slide. Still good, but 5411 empanadas were better.

Cute store with great prices on steaks and groceries. The Homemade empanadas are fabulous!

The sweet beef empanadas are excellent! They are also at tango sur, folklore, bodega sur and ñ. All great places!

I love this place.

Incredible meat quality, and such nice staff

Excellent customer service !

Fresh meat. Nice little store with Argentinian specialties.

Dulce de leche is kind of expensive. They dont sell alcohol, sadly. Good meat selection although none of the meat comes from Argentina actually

Best steaks. Quality is prime. The empanadas are a must.

Very good argentinean and south american grocery. Several brands of yerba mate to try.

Good assortment of Brazilian foods and other south american countries! They have picanha!

I tried the beef, chicken and spinach empanadas, beef and chicken too salty and wasnt that great like they say in the Chicagos Best show but try it for yourself and be the judge I wont be back, otherwise nice people small store with small butcher shop and a selection of Spanish products

Amazing meat, the best empanadas, grumpy butcher

Very good meat (tenderloin)

They have delicious empanadas ... !!!

Bad customer service and very salty empanadas.

Delicious food

The empanadas are spectacular!!

Small selection. Staff watched me like a hawk but they didnt have anything I was looking for so I bought a can of beans.

Very rude employees and their empanadas are disgusting.

Quality cuts of meat. They speak Spanish. A little pricey than Im use to but hey they are 1 block away from me.

Some of the best Empanadas in the city!

Great service

I finally went shopping and found friendly faces. The butcher always ready to help and advise. The lady at the box is kind and polite. Many products from my country that are difficult to find and meat of excellent quality. Ideal to treat yourself!

A disaster, the least friendly staff I have ever seen, they do not respond to the greeting and if you ask them something they do not look you in the eye, the empanadas are horrible and they do not accept cards in the middle of 2020. First and last time, there are better options away in Chicago!A disaster, the least friendly staff I have ever seen, they do not respond to the greeting and if you ask them something they do not look you in the eye, the empanadas are horrible and they do not accept cards in the middle of 2020. First and last time, there are better options away in Chicago!

Very expensive. The empanadas were not that good.

An incredible place. A hidden gem in Chicago.

Amazing

Empanadas la salteña! Caramel cookies! Mate!

Excellent. You can find everything.

Well

Marvelous