Our Story

Chef Rene Rodriguez's love for cooking began as a child, while experiencing his family’s homemade cooking in Mexico. His immersion in Mexico’s vibrant food culture greatly influenced & inspired his career path as a professional Chef.

After moving to Canada and dedicating himself to his craft for many years, Chef Rene went on to win Top Chef Canada 2014, leaving him with fresh new ideas and inspiration to further develop his passion for cooking. After running a variety of kitchen's and explore many different types of cuisines, it was time for Chef to return to his Mexican roots and re-discover the cuisine he loves most.

Opening a Mexican restaurant was an idea led by Chef Rene’s good friend Mario Garcia, a local Ottawa restaurateur and owner of the well known "Burrito Borracho" in the Byward Market. Mario's entrepreneurial spirit combined with Chef Rene's creativity have come together to build a strong team, driven to bring a high-quality & unique Mexican culinary experience to Ottawa. Inspired by traditional Mexican food culture, Mario and Chef Rene are proud to maintain their traditions by using fresh, locally sourced ingredients — the real mercado way.  

With their shared passion for Mexican cuisine, Chef Rene and the team behind Burrito Borracho bring you Mercadito; a creative expression of traditional Mexican street food.