This is the place one must try who loves Mexican and is a vegetarian. They do have lot of tasty vegetarian options and my personal favourite is Fonda Nachos, broadbeans and chickpea falafel and herbed mushroom quesadillas. Especially herbed mushroom quesadilla was very warm and juicy with boiled corns in it. One could easily finish it without wanting to share. Burrito was equally good. If someone doesn’t drink or haven’t tried it ever or trying something new for their first time then kafir lime chilli cocktail!
The chicken quesadillas here are amazing! Full of flavour and the sauce gives it a wonderful touch. I wasn't the biggest fan of the herbed mushroom quesadillas as there was an unusual sourness to it but that's totally personal preference as I've seen that many people really love it. The chips are always hot and crispy and go really well with the chipotle aioli. The grilled corn is also delicious however I was a little disappointed in the serving size at $6. I have really enjoyed my experiences at fonda with the friendly staff and amazing food and will be back to try out their tacos!
I always come here with my family to enjoy a nice dinner. Our go to orders are the mushroom and chicken quesadillas which are demolished however this time with a friend we shared prawn tacos and a chicken burrito. I LOVED the prawn taco, perfect amount of flavour to complement the crispy yet soft prawns. I liked that the prawns were bite sized and despite the taco looking small it was very filling. I liked the taco over the burrito but the burrito was delicious as well, I would have loved more guacamole though. Not to mention, it was quiet when we came in and the service was lovely. Can count on me to come back again and again.
One of the down sides of Chadstone I feel, is that there aren't enough bars or restaurants serving alcohol. Sometimes you feel like an afternoon drink whilst out shopping, and I really feel that this is an untapped area. We felt like a few cocktails one afternoon, so we popped into Fonda upstairs in the dining precinct. We didn't want food, but the waitress was more than happy for us to sit in for some drinks. I love the pastel decor and the cool atmosphere. We ordered some cocktails and spritzes, and they arrived quickly. They were delicious and refreshing, and not too expensive. We enjoyed our time here, and it was a pleasant place for a break from our shopping. I would definitely return to this Fonda outlet to try their food.
There is a large variety of food on this menu. I love the decor in the restaurant, very modern and colourful. My favourite taco was the fish taco, it was light and flavoursome. The portions are quite large. The burrito was filling and it was wrapped so nicely. Would come back for a Mexican fix.
The food was delicious, fresh and very tasty! And the ambience was ver cool and employees very gentle.
Fonda is the perfect place if you feel like stopping at a casual eatery while shopping at Chadstone. The decor is bright, spacious and well thought out with greenery and modern furnishings.
I've tried the Grilled Chicken Quesadilla and the Herbed Mushroom Quesadilla also. Both are delicious! I probably prefer the chicken one as I love the jalapeno-basil aioli that it comes with.
For some reason I'm obsessed with their fries, the Chipotle Chips. I have to get them every time I come in as they're just so perfectly crunchy and come with the chipotle aioli which is so tasty.
Good work Fonda!
This place was really great, wonderful ambience and nice vibe. Food was pretty good and that Guacamole is one of the best I've ever had.
I'm not usually a fan of Mexican food but Fonda certainly made me change my mind. We visited their Chadstone outlet on a busy weekend but service remained friendly and efficient. We had the feed me set menu which was reasonably priced at $50 for 2.
The pulled pork quesadillas was the best of all the dishes. The pork was moist, well seasoned and tender. The tacos were fresh and tasty. The tortilla crips were made from blue and white corn - these tasted a bit flat but were saved by the texturally exciting salsa.
I'm starting to be fond of Fonda...
Winter bowls and fries, you can’t go wrong at Fonda. Beautifully presented and colourful plates, we can’t wait to get back here soon. Thanks heaps 😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️
The chicken quesadillas were so so good!!! Wasn’t a huge fan of the pulled pork quesadilla. The flour tortilla used at Fonda is amazing though. The beef tacos were yum with the addition of crispy tortilla chips on the top.
Food was excellent and service was fast for a busy weekend lunch. Ordered the recommended items: Grilled chicken burrito, Fish tacos and pulled pork quesadilla. I'm a huge mexican food fan but I'm not picky on authenticity; the food was great nonetheless. Fish tacos were very good.
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Ordered the Fonda Nachos with Pork, Chipotle BBQ Beef Taco, Fresh Market Fish Taco and Chipotle Chips.
🌮 Food 4/5
Very tasty! 🤤 I have been to Fonda Chadstone many times and the food doesn't disappoint, however the chips came out almost immediately after ordering - 👎🏻 they were served dry and lukewarm probably being the oldest batch. I asked for it to be replaced, they later came out fresh and hot along with the Nachos and Tacos.
💁♀️ Service 3.5/5
Self service: Order + payment first and get your own water + glasses which doesn't really bother me until there is a issue like the chips (above) which was easily sorted out. However getting water and glasses seems unclear, as they are in two separate areas 🤨 It's no service unless you ask for service, so it to be expected when you go to Fonda.
🕯Ambience 4/5
Since there's No-Service or Self Service, we are unbothered and the vibe is chill with nice seating.
Lastly, I wanted to order the Kingfish Ceviche DIY Tostadas but they don't serve that anymore apparently - thinking it'd be similar to the DIY Tostadas Board which was the best! Still waiting for it to come back to the menu!
Realistically I think I give this a 3.5. But I round because Zomato makes me do it.
The food was pretty good. Not amazing, but nice. I got a $20 set meal and I’m happy with the amount I got for the price. I got the mushroom quesadilla and it was nice. Maybe better mushrooms could have been used. The chips were dry, definitely not amazing. The strawberry mint soda was really nice.
Service was a bit confusing. There was a wait to be seated sign, but then after you’re seated you go back and order and pay at the counter, and need to remember your table number. Why not let me order first then go sit? Why not assign a table number at the counter? Would just be easier all round. Service was friendly and they explained the menu, even though I’m not sure it was necessary.
Dined Monday 10th of June at 4pm.
We ordered the set menu, $50. This included our choice of two tacos, quesadilla, corn and chips.
The tacos are never a fail, I had the prawn taco and zucchini taco 10/10. We ordered the sweet potato quesadilla, the sweet potato was cut really big and just sort of slipped out. Other than that everything was perfect. Excellent service and atmosphere was great.
Fonda Mexican Chadstone
Grilled Chicken Burrito
Charred Sweet Corn, baby spinach,pickled carrot and onion, quinoa, black beans and chipotle aioli..........
Chipotle Chips
Grilled Chicken Taco
Charred Sweet Corn,cabbage, Pico de gallo, guacamole and chipotle aioli
House Made Soda 🥤
Ginger and Passionfruit
Nice twist on Mexican food , great location just wish everyone’s food had come out all at once so that I could have taken a group photo. They actually forgot my taco ,but did bring it out once mentioned.Will definitely make another visit,might try out another location.
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Amazing Mexican food and the best service!
I had never been to the Dining Precinct in Chadstone and was pleasantly surprised to walk in and see Fonda’s cute pastel decor in a light, open space with plenty of seating.
The waiter Ken was an absolute legend, happy to help - gave great advice and recommendations and the service was second to none!
My partner ordered the Nachos and Mushroom Quesadilla while I had the Jackfruit Quesadilla, a Sweet Potato taco and the Salt and Pepper Tofu taco and we both had a strawberry and mint Soda.
I had heard there was great vegan options here and was not disappointed with their separate vegan menu! Such amazing choices! The Sweet Potato taco was a standout for me and my partner loved the Mushroom Quesadilla! All the food was fresh, delicious and so flavourful.
Would definitely recommend visiting!
Liv (nourishinglively)
+4
Checked out the new vegan vibes menu last night from Fonda in Chadstone. We were blown away by the options and the service was next level. The large store had plenty of seating & was absolutely packed. Regardless of this the staff were so attentive in ensuring we were well looked after the entire time. We ordered the chargrilled corn, corn chips, sweet potato gem taco, pulled jackfruit quesadilla, classics: fish taco, grilled chicken taco & two homemade sodas which was all absolutely incredible! We loved how fresh everything was and delicious with flavour and spice! We finished off our feast with the Bunuelos which were absolutely insane & tasted like a mix between a cinnamon donut and a corn chip! 😋 Well and truly satisfied with our feast and the service that came with it! Can’t wait to visit again! The perfect weekend or weekday evening adventure!
Friendly staff. They let me bring my own cake for my husband birthday which is very much appreciated! We had the chipotle BBQ Beef tacos and Grilled chicken quesadillas. The tacos tasted refreshing. The tender beef mixed with crispy tortillas was a great combination. I especially loved the grilled chicken quesadillas and the aioli dipping. Everything tasted light and fresh!
Never disappointed here! Food is great and service is quick which is a plus if you’re rushing to catch a movie. I always make sure to have the corn as well as a few of the tacos just so I can try each filling! Highly recommend if you’re spending the day shopping in Chaddy.
Jessica Sargeant (Unbeleafablefood)
+5
I love Fonda and all the yummy veggie options they have!
My favourite is the Mex-bimbap salad, although the veggie burritos and tacos are absolutely delish too!
The chipotle chips and the nachos are great to share, along with a cocktail or wine.
Love Fonda, always a great choice!
Edit: Fonda now has MORE amazing vegan options! My favourite is the Jackfruit quesadilla! The tacos are all amazing.
The pumpkin bounty bowl is a winner too!
Summer Mex-Bim-Pap : 😍 Amazing
Nachos : 😍 Amazing
Broad bean/Chickpea Falafel : 😍 Amazing
Grilled Chicken Quesadilla : 😍 Amazing
Ginger & Passionfruit Soda : 😍 Amazing
Peach & Mint Aquas Frescas : 😍 Amazing
Mexican food is always good and here at Fonda the quality of the food does not disappoint. All dishes were full of flavour from various spices. Top dish had to be the Summer Mex-Bim-Pap. It’s definitely something different that you don’t see on a typical Latino menu but it was very delicious. Drinks were refreshing to have after the meal.
Great place I must say. I like how they change the menu up from time to time to keep it fresh and interesting.
I’ve been here many times and it does not disappoint. Recently they introduced a feed me lunch value meal.
Keeping this review simple:
Food= 9/10 healthy, fresh and flavoursome
Ambience= 6/10 Better seating should be accommodated
Service 8/10 very good and pleasant
Money for value= 7/10 Lunch is the best time to get bang for your buck, but dinner is a tad more expensive but still good.
Overall it’s a fantastic place to dine.
A self serving restaurant that has a nice twist on Mexican food.
The nachos were delicious and so was the chickpea falafel burrito. I would have loved some more topping in the nachos and sauce for the burrito as it can get dry.
The idea of the ‘BimBap’ was creative and the flavors were delicious! Although it should be said that this is nothing like an actual bimbap or a traditional Mexican dish.
Great ambiance and friendly and fast service. I really enjoyed the prawn taco, worth a try in my opinion. Had a slight sweet taste which was awesome. The beef tacos were pretty standard. Was not a big fan of the pickled onions in them.
We come here quite a bit and it is consistently great regardless of whether lunch or dinner busy or quiet. It always has friendly staff, delicious food and a pumping atmosphere. Today we had the new menus item chicken nachos, chicken burrito (a must have), sweet potato tacos, mini chips and a cheese quesadilla- everything was spot on and the nachos was a particular hit - oozy cheese, guac and crispy chips seriously could eat it every day!
Came here for lunch with my gal, the customer service was nice! Lovely staff. I’ve had vegan burrito 🌯 but since their wrap is not vegan so they asked me if they could make it a burrito bowl and put some GF corn tacos on the side. I said yes cuz why not hahah! So good!
My friend had her fish burrito 🌯 she said it was delicious too!
Decided to try out Fonda for the first time and we were pleasantly surprised. The venue itself is quite nice and modern, and it gives a very colourful and vibrant vibe. It is card-only, but service is very efficient.
The menu isn’t extensive but it offers a range of Mexican-inspired delights. We had the Grilled Chicken Quesadilla, the Grilled Chicken and the Chipotle BBQ Beef Taco, and Tortilla Crisps with guacamole and salsa.
The tortilla crisps were perfectly crunchy, and the side of guacamole and salsa was plentiful and generous in portion. The tacos were okay - they were soft tacos but the beef one was quite dry and disappointing. The chicken taco was better but it may have been grilled for too long as it tasted slightly burnt. However the main highlight of the meal was the quesadilla - it was perfect in flavour and grilled and the sauce was exceptional.
Overall, we were pretty impressed with Fonda and it’s definitely worth a try.
Quite an enjoyable place to have a lunch or dinner. Meals come out in reasonable time, and all the staff were friendly.
The chicken and crispy prawn tacos are really yum! The bbq beef, not so much 😬. It had an odd flavour with the pickled cabbage on top.
Chipotle chips are great to share and the dipping sauce is so good!
It does get busy so be prepared for a wait if all tables are full.
I actually really liked it here despite the bad reviews. The corn is a must. The guacamole was good too. The real winner was the quesadilla. Authentic, flavorsome. It’ll fix your Mexican cravings!
Service is excellent. Happy to receive customers even as they are preparing to close up for the night. Very impressed with the staff here at fonda , Chadstone. Thank you for making it so lovely to come for a casual dinner
When it comes to Mexican restaurants, Fonda is one that I speak of a lot. Other than being one of the larger chains of Mexican restaurants in Melbourne, they also serve good quality food at a decent price in a relaxed atmosphere. Which is why I find myself visiting their one many restaurants whenever I need a Mexican fix.
I come here a lot, I love the food here. I have tried most of the food on the menu and my fave is the quesadillas and the bounty bowl with chicken.
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We had come here two consecutive nights because we liked the food and vibe. I’d say this is one of best Mexican restaurants that I have tried in Melbourne, although I don’t go Mexican often.
On Friday night we ordered chargrilled corns, chipotle chips, fish taco, falafel burrito and two sodas (basil & strawberry and ginger & passionfruit). All were good particularly the chargrilled corns. However, fish taco was a disappointment because it had a very strong fish smell. Actually I have never had fish in Mexican food in Melbourne that doesn’t have unpleasant strong fish smell :(
On Saturday night we both order the MEX-BIM-BAP and fresh soda drink of course. Yum Yum Yum! I was a not a fan of quinoa but its natural sweetness really stood out in this salad and went well with other ingredients. It is particularly a great choice when you are also on a mission to lose weight like me.
Funny story: My friend (a guy) kept ordering the basil & strawberry soda. In both nights the waiter and waitress thought it was my drink lol #stereotype#
😱Lizzie’s first impression: the interior is nicely done and really doesn’t feel apart of Chadstone whilst you’re there. So if you’re tired - treat yourself to a drink and tacos.
🍩Lizzie enjoyed: I love the fries here - it’s always cooked fresh and they put delicious seasoning in that doesn’t overpower the fries. The nachos are also very yummy - and a generous amount of guacamole.
I had the lychee crush and aperol crush and they were both equally amazing.
🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: they need more hot sauces for every table because it’s just that good!
🥇Lizzie rates overall: staff here were super friendly and accommodating. Would love to come back!
Comfortable place to sit and get refreshed after enjoying my shopping day at Chaddy. Had 4 tacos.
Me and my Dad loved the chicken taco. Chicken was tender and juicy, paired really nice with the creamy sauce.
Sweet potato taco was surprisingly good where the sweetness of the potato met the freshness of the salsa.
Beef brisket taco tasted sweet and tender. Rockling taco was quite good.
Grilled corn on the cob with cheese was nice.
Staff was friendly.
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On a Friday night it's is expected to be quite busy at Chadstone, walking through the dining terrace it was evident with lines of people waiting to be seated at numerous restaurants that this night would be no different. However, Fonda were the only establishment to have implemented a very ingenious waiting method. They would take down your number and name, and give you an estimate of when you can be seated, which would also text you to notify you when your spot is ready. In the meantime you're free to continue shopping without having to wait in a line. I've never seen this method take place and it's definitely one that should be implemented more often.
Staff members were friendly with a lively atmosphere. I had ordered a chipotle chips and a chopped beef burrito. The chips were well seasoned and topped with parsley which i found gave it a nice fresh taste, along with a flavoursome chipotle dipping sauce. The burrito was full of flavour wrapped in a soft tortilla and was very filling! Food came out quick and hot with the perfect interval between starter and main meal.
Overall, a very good establishment for a shopping centre feed!
There was a glitch with the website when I went to book online for 11 people (which might be why). Wish there'd been a phone number! Anyway I sent a frantic email on a Sunday night, and by 10am Monday morning Alice had replied and was extremely helpful! She sorted us out that day, and went above and beyond, even sending photos of the table we would sit at to be sure that's what I wanted. On the night, the staff were all lovely and the food was great. Couldn't be happier with how it all worked out. Thanks Fonda!
Food & Service: One of my favourite place for mexican cuisine. Service is quick. Staff is polite and helpful.
Look & Feel: The interior/decor detailing is so unique and superb that it just lights up your mood and brings a smile to your face when you’re seated in your table.
Recommend: grilled chicken burrito
The Official Food Hunters
+5
Have come to Fonda on multiple occasions and they never fail to disappoint! Lovely meals and so delicious 🤤 quick with service as well. Quesadilla reigns to be the favorite dish, burritos are a close second
Fondas food is so delicious! We ordered the chicken burritos and some fish tacos. Both were made with fresh, quality ingredients and tasted great. The decor was cool and the vibe of the place was casual and relaxed. I personally think the prices across the menu (particularly the drinks) are a bit high for the portion sizes you receive, but I still really enjoyed it.
This place always makes delicious food! Presentation on point, friendly and accommodating staff, beautifully appointed premises and always a buzzing atmosphere. The lychee Margherita goes down far too easily, and one of my fav drinks here. Highly recommend!
I am not a fan of tex mex food at all, but love Fonda. They do delicious quesadillas and their sweet potato tacos are the bomb diggity! My favourite dish is definitely the Mex-Bim-Bap, their take on the Korean bi-bim-bap.
Came here for my birthday lunch with my Mum. We each had a salad bowl. Mum’s was the deconstructed salad whilst I can’t quite remember what mine was called. Anyway both were amazing! And wait staff were lovely. Will be back!
This place and the ambience. Some of the best shops in Chadstone and value for money. Their servings are nice and beers are chilled.
Go their and mark this as your favourite, quesadilla were just too amazing and best on the buds.
Flying brick is the beer to go for and mark this place as your favourite.
Their tacos and chipotle fries are amazing! Not 100% authentic but who cares if it tastes nice. Will recommend if you are looking for something fresh and light.
Hungry Little Dinosaur
+4
Great service fresh food and a cute setting! This is probably the only place in Chadstone that manages to consistently impress! Nothing is skimped on here - every time I leave this place I always think to myself “that was money well spent”. Nice work guys!
Great service and quality of food. My mum has an allergy to onion and the girl was so considerate and was checking what was ok for her to eat. It was really reassuring as I knew her special requirements were in good hands. The tacos were great, very fresh and tasty as always. Highly recommend
Food tastes great and is of good quality, plenty of amazing vegetarian and vegan options! Highly recommend the corn and the sweet potato tacos!
We got the “feed me” vegetarian option for two people, which is good value and is filling unless you’re very hungry- in that case you might need to add an extra taco or so
The service was great. On a Friday night at around 6 pm we first ordered and the food came out really quickly, there was barely a wait. However, as they got busier and we ordered a second time, there was a bit of a wait but it was the wait you’d expect at anywhere when it’s busy, nothing extreme.
The ambience is okay, feels like a diner rather than a restaurant. The tables are small and just a bit too close together. However, still pleasant for a place inside a shopping centre.
LIT!: one of my favourite Mexican places as it's such a cheap eat with friends for a very beautiful venue. Not to mention, we were stuffed! Definitely try the chips with guacamole, and the quesadillas! We ordered cocktails which were very delicious for hose who don't enjoy drinking all that much.
NOT SO LIT: n/a
Love coming here with the kids. Service is friendly and fast. Kids love the fish tacos and guacamole with chips and I can’t go past the beef and chicken tacos.
Really loved this place!! The food was amazing and the drinks even better! It was on the pricey side with small portions so if you go here be prepared to spend money. Defintely worth the money. Everything was flavoursome and delicious. The atmosphere was lovely and the staff were always going out there way to ensure you got a good table that fit everyone.
For a casual Mexican restaurant they generally nail each dish. Corn was nice, juicy and sweet. Tacos and burrito very flavoursome.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back in the near future.
Great atmosphere with a simply delicious menu. It was busy and food was ready super quick. Tried the lychee margarita which was divine. Food is simple and tasty.
Fonda brings a great spin on traditional food using many of the flavours commonly found in Mexican cooking. Using authentic corn tortillas their fish taco is highly recommended.
Very nice beef burrito and chicken salad. Both could have used some guacamole as standard.
Not outstanding but would eat again.
Particularly like the tortilla chips in the burrito - great idea.
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Points for: fresh ingredients, tasty combinations
Dine Time: dinners
Weekday dinners seem to be easier/quicker to get a table. Fri/Sat nights during peak you might wait 15 mins, but they have a good SMS notification system.
I wouldn't say it's authentically Mexican, but they do use fresh ingredients, creating vibrant "Mexican-ish" dishes.
One of my favourites is the charred corn - sweet juicy kernels charred on the grill, rolled in a soft light cheese, with a bit of background heat from the paprkia.
The burritos are surprisingly big too. Don't be put off by the idea of kangaroo - it tastes just like medium rare beef. Both the beef and the kangaroo have a nice crispy texture coming in from the tortilla chips.
Tacos are small but tasty. The fish taco is like a fresh, amped up fish finger, with the chipotle aoili and lime giving it a good kick. Don't overlook the sweet potato taco - the cubes of sweet potato are fried and crispy on the outside, and soft and sweet on the inside.
Shout out to the freshly pressed tortillas.
The was one busy night where one of the guys running the kitchen was yelling things at everyone, which REALLY wasn't necessary, given how loud the place was already. It's like he was showing everyone in the restaurant how he is indeed running the kitchen and giving the kitchen staff advice, like he was one of the judges of Masterchef. This guy can tone it down a little.
Second time dining, this guy wasn't around and the kitchen managed to run perfectly and quietly.
Love being able to get away from the hussle and bussle of Chadstone and enjoy some delicious Mexican at Fonda. The food is always fresh and flavoursome. The service could definitely improve. Once they seat you, they seem to forget about you because you order at the counter. This means you don't get water, and sometimes there is no cutlery on the table.
Service was very friendly and fast even on weekends.
The watermelon juice was quite pricey and disappointing as it had more than 10 big ice cubes inside, what a rip off!!
The mushroom taco was delicious and a great starter.
Sweet potato quesadilla was also very tasty except the sauce was too spicy. Then we were told by the waiter that they gave us the wrong sauce?!?
Chips also came with a very spicy sauce, probably another mistake??
The corn was another tasty starter but the cheese was a bit strong for me.
Lots of vego choices on the menu, will definitely be back to try the rest.
Note that they provide vegan sauces as alternatives!!
Quite nice but a little pricey for my liking. Not gonna lie the decor in here and positioning of the joint is ace. Sun cascades through the window creating a very atmospheric vibe in the day, and the nights buzz with a cool neon glow.
In fact the food is really quite good, with the chips being a genuine highlight, with a great array of sauces. I guess you could say, I am Fonda.
Absolutely delicious, everything was spot on and tasted authentic. The corn was perfectly seasoned and the horchata tasted like the real deal. I definitely recommend this place to everyone wanting to experience real Mexican food.
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