Mercado González — a roughly 70,000-square foot food hall and market that draws inspiration from the labyrinthine bazaars of Mexico — will officially open Friday, Nov 17 to the public. Patrons can expect vibrant murals, artisan tilework, pantry stapes at a Mexican grocery, live music, handmade crafts and, of course, a dizzying array of food, from lengua verde to cinnamon-dusted churros.
Conceived by the family-owned Northgate Markets empire, Mercado González is named in honor Don Miguel Gonzalez and Dona Teresa Reynoso de Gonzalez, the husband-wife duo who founded Northgate Markets in 1980. The emporium, located on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa, will feature more than 20 food stands.
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Highlights at Mercado González include the first U.S outpost of El Moro, a Mexican churreria staple since 1935 that also offers seven types of hot chocolate. Then there’s the slow-cooked pork at Carnitas Don Miguel, the chiva tortas at Familia Albarran, the chicken and pork tamales at La Tamaleria, and the tacos at Tacos Los Guichos.
Not-to-be missed dishes are the Sinaloa-style sushi at El Sinaloense, which offers seafood marinated or cooked in Sinaloan flavors like chili powder and lime juice, and the birria from La Gonzalez Tortilleria.
The visuals at Mercado González provide as much allure as the fare itself, like the murals gracing the interior and exterior by Guadalajara artist Claudio Limón. Other feasts for the eyes include a “quesos artesanales” display case at the cheese monger with stacks of cheese. A chicharrones stall boasts sheets of shatteringly crisp dried pig skin that pair perfectly with house-made guacamole. And rows of sausages, chorizos and other meats can be seen at the butchery.
Despite its vastness, Mercado González, designed by architectural firm Shook Kelley, offers moments of intimacy due to its village-like layout where shoppers can weave throughout the varied sections of the food hall without feeling like they’re in a boundless space.
On one side, guests will find a fully stocked Mexican supermarket with baskets of dried beans, from the common pinto to the rarer heirloom varieties, to an array of imported chills, and tasty snacks like Rancheritos and Canel’s caramels. On the other end, you can head to a destination-worthy Maizano and Entres Nos (both equipped with ample patio space), from Jorge Salim and Javier Hernandez Pons, the restaurateurs who founded LA Cha Cha Chá and Loreto in Los Angeles. (Maizano will open to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 22). And the many food stands, decked out in vibrant colors with a variety of tastes, located in between.
“We are thrilled to bring Mercado González to Costa Mesa,” said Northgate Market co-president Oscar González in a written statement. “Our store is designed to be a culinary destination where customers can indulge in the flavors of Mexico at our culinary food stands or puestos as we call them in Spanish.”
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The new effort by the González family will also offer community kitchens to budding entrepreneurs. In addition to showcasing their food, the market will help guide them to obtaining food safety certificates, learn the ins and outs of cost inventory, and support overall growth.
Opening day is Friday, Nov. 17. Hours will run from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
Find it: 2300 Harbor Blvd. (at Wilson Street), Costa Mesa