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Bäco Mercat

(Now Closed)

Gastropub$$$$

Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles

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Bäco Mercat

The experts at LA Weekly and Eater recommend this place

143 Tips and reviews

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kim gDecember 24, 2012
Everything was amazing! Our waiter was on top if it! Knew exactly what we needed and was always checkin in on us! The food had so much flavor and the desserts were heavenly! My advice, eat everything!
EaterOctober 30, 2013
Chef Josef Centeno stretches his baco-wings to cover brunch too. His yeasted waffle and dry-cured ham plate are an excellent pair. The breakfast baco is also good for the hair of the dog.
LA WeeklyFebruary 27, 2015
Get the original bäco with pork, beef carnitas & salbitxada or the famous chicken “ribs” with cucumber, sesame &cardamom, which are available until midnight on Fri + Sat, 11pm, Mon-Thurs + 10pm on Sun Read more
Justin OrdovezaMarch 5, 2015
Wonderfully inventive sandwich combinations, these flat bread sandwiches are pretty substantial. The Beef tongue schnitzel is a meaty masterpiece. It's a great way to introduce someone to beef tongue.
Alice HuMarch 9, 2015
Everything is so good here. Service is fantastic too! Wide selection of veggie tapas- eggplant and cauliflower were favorites. Sea bass and ravioli (pictured) were amazing as well.
Saleh AAugust 10, 2016
The okra with yogurt is amaaaazing . The zaatar sumac labnih appetizer is out of this world. The waiter is very friendly. The baco's according to my brothers are amazing. I loved it overall ❤️
Adrian PhillipsOctober 10, 2014
Been here 5+ times
The vegetable small plates are fantastic. The bäco's though are just amazing. The Pesco bäco is my personal favorite. The soft shell crab one (usually in the summer) is a treat. Order a cocktail too.
LA WeeklyJanuary 29, 2016
Be it a smoky romesco on a veggie-driven flatbread or a yellowtail collar with yuzu koshu and walnut viniaigrette, something at Bäco Mercat will get you, and get you good. Read more
Los Angeles TimesJune 4, 2013
Go for the Bäco, Josef Centeno's signature creation, a kind of flatbread sandwich halfway between a Catalan coca and a taco pumped up on 'roids, slicked with a goopy, vaguely Mediterranean sauce. Read more
Alex MoskalyukOctober 1, 2017
Fabulous place with entire dinner menu very adventurous and inventive. If L.A. had a Michelin star guide, Baco would get a star or two
Omari AllenFebruary 16, 2018
This is a perfect spot to dine with friends or simply treat yourself to a moderately-priced, delicious lunch. The Jerk Bäco is packed with flavour. 👌🏾 I didn't want to end. 😩
LA WeeklyAugust 4, 2014
The menu reads almost like a graduate exam in culinary poststructuralism, mixing flavors from Italy, France and western China, Georgia (U.S.) and Georgia (Eastern Europe), Tuscany and Peru. Read more
LA WeeklyMarch 18, 2015
Be it a smoky romesco on a veggie-driven flat bread or a whole roasted chicken with saffron honey, something at Bäco Mercat will get you, and get you good. Read more
Franco CalizFebruary 11, 2015
Strange, strange drinks with the assurance that they are also very good house made one. New bitters a wide selection of drinks and smart bartenders. Don't forget great food. The bacos are legit.
Chefs FeedMay 6, 2016
"Folded inside chef Josef Centeno's delightfully soft and slightly chewy flat bread, the fava fritter (think falafel) is crispy on the outside and soft and moist within."- Nathan Lyon Read more
Los Angeles TimesAugust 3, 2014
The menu here reads almost like a graduate exam in culinary post-structuralism, mixing flavors and structures from Spain, France and western China, and Mexico and Peru. Read more
AlainDecember 22, 2015
Fabulous food, the mix of styles, just unbelievable. I never had Brussels sprouts like here anywhere else, a real delight! Guys, do me a favor, open one in Antwerp!
Serious EatsMay 29, 2014
Chef Josef Centeno's first solo venture, this buzzing space turns out uniquely international plates for dinner, and casual sandwiches for lunch. 3 stars.
Megan RichApril 3, 2013
Been here 5+ times
They gotta bring the Inca Punch back! Best things here are their veggies--squash blossoms, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, potato salad. Also: hamachi , and all the pizzas. I want to eat here every day.
LA WeeklyMarch 18, 2015
They've reinvented the sandwich (or is it a taco? A wrap?) in the form of a bäco, a flatbread/pita arrangement that smooshes soft bread with tangy sauce with meaty meat. Read more
Andrew SalehMarch 18, 2013
The oxtail bäco is complex, hearty, and delicious. Plus, it pairs almost perfectly with the speedball, a wonderful concoction consisting of aged rum, cold-press coffee, and cinnamon.
Sean BesserFebruary 4, 2013
I don't know how to describe this fusion place, but it is a MUST try. Their baco's (which are an SE Asia influenced sandwich) are amazing and something I find myself craving all the time.
EpicuriousSeptember 22, 2014
Opt for chef Josef Centeno's seasonal vegetable-driven fare like blistered okra with tomato and basil or the now-legendary "caesar" brussels sprouts. Read more
Doug de WetAugust 7, 2015
When peaches are in season, their Peaches and Goat Cheese salad is tangy, sweet, and refreshing; it's an all around great dish.
KatJanuary 29, 2015
An explosion of tastes in my mouth. The shishito and kale, and the cauliflower, are fantastic. Be prepared for picante if you get the pesco bäco, in a good way.
Yuval ZukermanJune 16, 2018
Terrific interesting food. Great service and cocktails. Go for the pork shoulder and NY steak.
EaterJuly 30, 2012
In addition to the bäco expect a bevy of seasonally inspired plates, craft beer, boutique wine, modern cocktails, and house-made sodas. [Eater 38 Member]
Rebecca PruzanApril 5, 2013
Great food, cool vibe and the sweetest staff. I brought my 8 months old baby and the hostess really did everything to make it easy. The Caesar brussel sprouts and hamachi crudo rocked my plate: FTW!
Jenn WongOctober 7, 2013
The "Slayer" for the win and a close second was the oxtail sandwich (baco) and the beef tongue baco was also bomb. Also loved the vinegar shrubs at the bar.
Stephen SheppardApril 13, 2019
Baco bread with eggplant and mini chicken schnitzels were delicious! Happy hour wine was very good. This is a great place.
Los Angeles TimesMarch 6, 2012
With an inventive menu, smart urban setting and late-night hours, Bäco Mercat already feels like a fixture in downtown L.A. The food is gutsy and delicious and the prices are moderate. Read more
EaterJuly 9, 2012
n addition to the bäco expect a bevy of seasonally inspired plates, craft beer, boutique wine, modern cocktails, and house-made sodas.
Adrian PhillipsFebruary 17, 2015
Been here 5+ times
Went last night (2/16/15) and they have added a fried chicken Baco to the menu. Always been a fan of Chef Centeno's fried chicken so this does not disappoint (it's huge).
Simple FoodieDecember 18, 2014
Hamachi Crudo, Patatas Bravas, Sunchoke, Bazole, Original, Toron & the best ever - the Cauliflower. Best Cauliflower in the city.
LA WeeklyMarch 18, 2015
The rest of the menu darts all over the globe, and reveals more about Chef Josef Centeno’s point of view than it adheres to any particular trend or style. Read more
Doug de WetSeptember 1, 2014
The caramelized cauliflower and el pesco baco are texture filled, flavorful, cravable, and satisfying.
Kyle DeWittAugust 27, 2012
Who cares if this place is a hipster suck - food is amazing and the beer even better. Get the original bäco with a brown ale and enjoy the clowns wearing vintage everything.
Natalie NoblittFebruary 27, 2014
The hamachi crudo and lace battered squash blossoms are fantastic! Really can't go wrong with any of the small plates or baco.
DowntownLA.comAugust 31, 2012
"You can find exactly what you’re looking for just within a few blocks – AND have the train take you home" – Check out Tatevik Simonian's bar crawl @ http://www.ThisIsMyDowntown.com/Tatevik-Simonian
Isabel ZhongOctober 1, 2018
Had three kinds of veggie dishes plus soft shell crab,amazing distinguishing flavors,yum yum in my tum tum!
Los Angeles magazineMarch 2, 2012
Ragù is subbed with beef bírria on papardelle. Fried shrimp arrive with heads on, ideal for popping. Chicken thighs are cut into “ribs” and slathered with Szechuan sauce. Read more
Cooper Barrier BaileyMarch 20, 2014
Wow... An epic letdown! Didn't come close to living up to all the hype! Service gets a 1.0 out of 5 (Alexis was great and that got the 1point) and the food gets a 3.9 out of 5 for a total score 2.49.
LA WeeklyFebruary 27, 2015
Chef Josef Centeno's flatbread sandwich, bäcos, are worth eating any time of day. Read more
Edward ForteAugust 16, 2015
Nice for a lunch, tasty food from Flatbread and sandwiches. Desserts could be better but overall good food
@JaumePrimeroDecember 7, 2012
You must try the Crispy Pork Belly Baco! One of the best food inventions ever! Will definitely be coming back soon.
Sarah PharesJuly 16, 2015
The menu is organized around these flatbread sandwiches, but there are lots of good dishes to share. (from a friend)
Cordelia MartinezSeptember 14, 2019
Sourdough is so good! Get the dip and the Caesar Brussel Sprouts and the Cauliflower
Pete HamillNovember 21, 2013
Place is amazing!! Any of the Baco sandwiches are great. Everytime I'm in downtown LA I try to stop in.
Alyssa PriceJuly 13, 2013
Try the house made vinegar sodas. You won't regret it. Tomato Basil pictured.
Stephen HorelSeptember 15, 2013
Limited menu 3-5. The Baco is amazing. Seats around 50. Great service - good vibe - amazing food

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