Review Fonda Mexican

Alice Caiel

Nice atmosphere and friendly service. Unfortunately out of the 6 dishes ordered only 3 were good. We ordered drinks and our lemon, lime bitters was terrible. It was basically lemon water missing lemonade and not fizzy. They rectified it which was great. We highly enjoyed the tacos, corn and sweet potato fries. We were let down by the burrito, nachos and cauliflower bites. Especially the batter of the cauliflower was too tough. Unfortunately not a fan to come back again but maybe it was just a bad service of food, other reviews seemed to enjoy. Service by workers was great especially a young male.

Cata Trees

One of my favourite places! The food is amazingly good and so are the drinks! The Coconut Margarita is to die for! Also, the staff are soooo nice, always with a smile on their face and a welcoming vibe! Definitely going back! If you haven’t try this place, give it a go… you won’t regret.

Lach Lan

Really great lunch yesterday. Food was delicious and drinks were served in a good time. I deducted one star because when paying via the QR code at the table Fonda automatically defaults to a 10% tip added. I think the default should be zero tip and you choose to add your own. It was a little more annoying because we were already paying a 15% public holiday surcharge.

Jessica Barbaro

This place is amazing and the staff are fantastic!! I'm working just out the front they have been so accommodating and I got some lunch ... Chicken taco... So tender very tasty.. highly recommend!! Edit - I have eaten here everyday for a week and bit and the tacos are amazing seriously need to check it out so good!!

Luke Lalor

2 stars. Just for the food. Minus 3 stars for the venue and service. I know it’s post pandemic and every place is struggling for staff, but this was beyond. After walking in, a waitperson finally asked if we like a table. Clearly. Despite it being less than half full she still had to clean a table. Menus came, no problems order at the counter. The lady that brought our drinks carried the wine glasses like she’d never carried a wine glass before. Cradled it a child. Food as in mentioned was great, sweet potato fries were hot and crispy, tacos were delicious. Half way through our meal, they called last drinks - to the 4 people amongst 2 tables in the place. At 830pm. In Richmond. I can understand last food, but last drinks? After the other table left, they started packing up and stacking tables around us, while we were still eating. They then turned off the heating, while we were still eating. Thankfully they turned it back on after we asked. Despite all this, the food is delicious. I’d just go to Windsor or Smith Street to eat it.

prateek mand

Great service and food. Portions were big and very well presented. Didn't accept cash payments which is understandable during pandemic. Restrooms were one of the cleanest. Highly recommended

Uthpala Koralegedara

Good service and food. Cheap happy hour margaritas.

margot mulvaney

gross flavourless food coupled with a terrible uber eats delivery. packing was awful. soggy on soggy. missed sauces. upside down stuff that isn't the terrible uber issue here. seasoning = zero. flavour = zero. cold and pure yuck. what a shame for both companies. never again. even if they found a better delivery company it won't add anything if the food is that bad.

Tom Everett

Can't recommend this place enough! The staff were excellent, food exquisite, atmosphere magnifico. Fonda is obviously really well managed and runs like clockwork. Don't hesitate to pop in, you won't regret it!

Peggy Dee

The staff were friendly, professional, competent. Drinks were fantastic. Food was really tasty. We got the 'feed me' option, which was handy when not wanting to have to make a decision, but their whole menu looked yummy. I'll definitely be back when next in Melbourne!

Greg Hookey

Great value Mexican Street Food. On point service and tasty as all fuck too

Raquel de Azeredo

Delicious and healthy Mexican food in Melbourne! Fresh and very well made ��

Kate Woodstock

We were very dissapointed there were no nachos...�

Suphidsha Chatriposayanon

Really nice food. Excellent service. Should book the table.

Sav Anna

Best.Mexican.Ever would highly recommend this place

Erin Davis

Call themselves a Mexican restaurant but don't sell nachos??

Nick Cornish

Seriously impressed, service quicker than a concord and food fresher than something really fresh. Bloody good!!

Meg McLoughlin

Delicious and fresh food which is also very authentic!

Damian Jervios

Have been here 15+ times and it never disappoints the food is always fresh and delicious.

Paula Van Rees

We had a great meal there today, awesome, Thank you!!

Maney Singh

Amazing food great customer service. ....very happy

Jen Quigley

Always awesome - fresh, flavoursome food and helpful, friendly staff. Even helped me out today with some delicious fresh salsa for my dinner party tonight! You guys rock.

Brian Kim

Ordered the chargrilled chicken burrito and had chipotle chips on the side. Had to get takeaways given COVID restrictions, but ordering at the counter was chill, quick and contactless. They also attached a cute message. FOOD - 5/5. Especially loved the slight crunch to the grain and corn. The sauce for the chicken wa spot on, not too creamy or salty. Fonda also does not fall victim to the classic burrito trap of too much wrap. SERVICE - 5/5. All members were super nice, everything was packaged impeccably and we got our food in under 8 minutes. Can’t comment on atmosphere since it wasn’t dine-in, but it looked clean and modern!

Vi Tran

Get the kingfish!!!

This Diner Is Anonymous

I've eaten here a few times now, and twice in two days last week. The chicken burrito was SO good, as are the chips. So tasty and, more importantly, crunchy AF. There's a great bottle of cider on offer too. I pitched up the next day for the lunch set menu, and had the chicken quesadilla (also excellent) with the chips (salad is also an option) and house made soda. The soda was probably a little too artificially sweet for me, but for $20 for the lot, it was a great deal. Fantastic no-fuss outlet.

MelbourneLops

We’ve walked past Fonda so many times in the evening and it always seems like such a good time. We visited recently and it was a bit of a let down to be honest. The food was very average, service was lacking and there was zero vibe. Such a pity as it was on our to-do list for ages. Will try again… probably on a whim if we walk past and its buzzing.

Gazeats

Ok zomato is definitely lying. How could this get 4.3 these tacos are so far below par it’s not funny. Nothing on the menu worth ordering. Only good thing $5 bottomless sparkling water.

Justaworkingmama

They have a good set lunch which includes either a burrito or quesadilla, fries and a sofa drink. 👌🏽Staff were friendly, restaurant is perfect for small groups and easy to locate

Jessica Sargeant (Unbeleafablefood)

As all the other Fonda venues are - this Richmond location is bright and colourful. Food is always delish and heaps of vegan options, YAY! Service is excellent at this one too :)

Angel Khong

Have tried a few dishes from Fonda; the tacos were deliciously fresh and flavourful, the grilled chicken salad was one of my favourites along with the pulled pork quesadillas, but the burrito, especially the chickpea falafel, was a bit bland. Service was friendly and quick. Fonda was a great lunch option.

Nick Collins

Fonda's are always full when I walk past them so was looking forward to this. Beef burrito tortilla and cabbage was dry, not ideal. I'd rather go to Guzman. Nice staff and vibe at least.

Michael Garzia

Clean, delicious food with good vibes up in Richmond

Burgers Of Melbourne

A little disappointing at our experience eating at Fonda. Maybe I had high hopes being a venue with multiple locations and them always being somewhat full when you walk passed, but didn't hit the mark for us. The food was dry and the flavours were bland, customer service was also missing. The food filled the gap, but don't think I would return.

Yuki Does Brunch

Lots to choose from and good options for vegetarians. Staff are always friendly however the second time we came, I asked for table water and was told to go get it myself from a bench with cups and bottles. I would recommend the horchata drink.

Some Bunee Loves Food

Grilled chicken burrito with chips and a soda drink: strawberry and mint. The drink didn't really have much strawberry taste or flavour to it but it was quite refreshing. The burrito is huge, warm and tasty. The grilled chicken was tender and moist. Really nice lunch.

Espy Eats

The team decided to order in Uber eats for lunch so we placed a massive order for 12 of us. Despite this challenge the wait and delivery time was good. I ordered the grilled chicken salad which came with cabbage, rocket, quinoa, black beans, sweet potato, corn and tortilla chips. Despite being a salad it was actually quite filling and the chicken had a reasonable heat to it. My only drama was lack of cutlery which could have been a nice addition for those folk who can’t easily pick up their lunch.

Tom Allan

Prawn and Chicken Taco amazing. Packed with flavour. Staff are so friendly. Excellent value for money. Ideal for dinning in small group. Went Fri night 31st May, 2019.

Tommi Taylor

I literally never get sick of this restaurant!! It’s perfect for a casual catch up with friends or even take away healthy lunch during the week. All the dishes are fresh, clean and flavoursome and very affordable. The staff are always attentive, I’ve never had a bad experience here. My favourite dish is the Mex-Bim-Bap, it’s a loaded healthy salad which is sure to fill you up, or the king fish ceviche which is always a winner.

Marco Pantano

The food was underwhelming overpriced for the small portion and not too much flavour. For my experience it was far from the real Mexican food. The place is more for an aperitivo or pub than restaurant.

Zoe

Trusted go to restaurant that I go to where I know I’ll never be let down! Definitely recommend for a nice dinner or just a casual everyday dinner!

Steven Gu

Fonda in Richmond. So popular and hot place with modern Mexican food. Fish and beef tacos are the must orders. More the burritos and chips are also well welcomed in young generations.

Jos Reynolds

I came here with a dear friend I haven't seen in a while at around 6ish for catchups. Firstly, we were greeted by a charming young guy with blonde hair who was so friendly and welcoming! Grabbed a nice little booth seat and the place wasn't too busy at all! (Wednesday evening) We ordered a chicken quesadilla, chicken burrito, a side of chips and 2 glasses of "La La Land" Pinot Grigio. All was stunning! Chips are chips but these were really, really good! The Mayo was A grade as well! The Chicken Burrito was so full of flavour but not over powering, super fresh ingredients and has a little fiery "kick" to it! I also didn't feel guilty as the ingredients were really fresh. It's also quite filling! All in all, the service, atmosphere and the food were all brilliant! It was a really nice chill way to spend the evening! I promise to come back and bring more people next time around! X

Sinfully Delicious

A pretty popular spot for Friday lunch. Tacos were fresh and tasty. I liked the flavouring on the fish but warning they can be abit messy n soggy if u don’t eat them quickly. I found the ginger passion fruit drink abit sour but I’d prefer a healthy drink alternative then this is for u.

John Frederick D'coutho

Like the food. Service is very good. Special thanks to Subash Karki for his service. I must say if anyone wants to eat Mexican, should Try Fonda Richmond.

Mishka

Came here tonight after a late meeting, kitchen was closing but they were kind enough to seat us. Staff were great, very helpful with the menu, all the food was delicious, and our sodas were fresh and interesting. Will definitely return.

Jordan Wong

I heard good things about Fonda, and when I went I was not disappointed. The burrito I had tasted really nice, and the wrap held together beautifully. In terms of price vs portion size it was alright but not outstanding, I was a little hungry after having just a burrito (note I have a large appetite). In my opinion it has a slight fast food vibe. Would definitely go back.

Simply WonderFood

fonda, one of my favourite little places to go. It's consistently delicious. The quesadillas, nachos and char grilled corn and my favourites. I recently discovered they also do horchata a delicious milk (rice milk) based drink that tastes like a milkshake. A good and cheap eat.

Me

Cool fit out and nice service. Food is always great at Fonda Richmond and today was great too. I usually get the quesadilla but tried the chicken burritos today. Was great!! Love the hot sauce too!

Followthefoodmelbourne

Fonda never seems to disappoint when it comes to delicious, modern Mexican food. Their menu isn’t too big or intimidating and it definitely doesn’t have the fast food vibes that many other affordable Mexican restaurants seem to have. While I usually order one of their salads, I opted for two of their tacos this time round. Delicious! The perfect amount of heat, great flavour and excellent value.

Maddy Horne

The Fonda here is a more relaxed version than the one in Chapel St. The updated menu is great! I love their soft tacos with chicken and rocket inside it interesting modern twist!

Bon Appetit

The decor is very appealing, and comfortable. Staff were a little brusque/arrogant for a pub adjacent eatery (or anywhere not uptight and French), but perhaps it was his off day. Good enough but unfortunately was v bland for Mexican, even considering we ordered a variety from bland guac to spicier quesadillas. Quite overpriced for serve size and the blandness. The "themed" margaritas didn't always allow the taste of tequila to come through. The staff had one brilliant standout, hence 3 stars and not 2: the restaurant is acutely aware of food allergies and issues and will modify and create food to fit, whereas other businesses refuse or are incompetent (sorry). It might sound as though my taste buds are dead but this was collective opinion of five people.

Split The Bill

Fresh modern take on Mexican food. Great interior. It was packed with locals on a Tuesday night. When Fonda first opened, it was unfairly compared to Mamasitas. But their quesadillas are so tasty with fresh ingredients and packed with flavour. I In short, I'm kinda fonda this place.

Sarah Gordon

Went hear for an early dinner just before it started to get busy. Ordered the grilled chicken, chips and the mushroom quesadilla. I’ve been wanting to try this place for a while after hearing great reviews but tonight they didn’t live up to them. The chips were okay but lacked something, maybe some more crunch, the chicken salad was grey in colour and quite butter while the serving size for the quesadilla seems quite small and lacking the cheese you crave when ordering it. Happy to go back and order something else because of the many great reviews

ToorakM

I adore this place. We walked past today but ended up somewhere else so had it delivered for dinner. I am making an effort to cut down on my red meat so I branched out and had a sweet potato quesadilla. Like I’d never eat it or order it but wow.. it was excellent. So good the man wanted one too and said it was better than the chicken! I love all their sauces too. The jalapeño mayo, basil mayo, chipotle sauce... top notch. The serve of purple and white corn chips with guacamole and salsa are a large serve and their chips are perfect. Overall always good getting delivery from here!

Denny Patron

Didn’t used to be a fan of Fonda but have had take away from here a few times lately and really enjoyed it! The beef brisket quesadilla is first class, super tasty and a decent size!

Kate Heather

Food was amazing. Highly recommend the Feed Me Vegetarian option, to share between two. We could have eaten the sweet potato tacos all night. Drinks were amazing. Service was great.

Nicole

I got take away from Fonda over the weekend. I ordered the Kangaroo burrito upon the recommendation of a staff member. It was really nice and the kangaroo was cooked perfectly. My friend ordered the falafel burrito and was also happy with the meal. We had the chipotle chips as a side, which were mostly crisp on the outside but soft on the inside.

KnowingMelbourne

I really like this outlet of Fonda. It’s a cute building and a stones throw from some of the other cool pubs and bars in Richmond. Perfect spot for dinner before a night out. I love the quesadillas and the corn chips here. I always go back for more!

Lole Lole Lole

It took me a while to decide what food to order because everything on the menu just sounded so good. When I finally decided on the grilled chicken burrito, I wasn't disappointed at all. It's a fat little thing that really satisfied my hungry tummy. Chicken was a bit on the pink side, might be ok for some people, but I don't have a stomach of steel so I had to pick out some pieces I wasn't comfortable eating. Chips were good with a nice smoky flavour. Even though the place was quite small, tables were spaced out nicely and I didn't feel too crammed. I'll be coming back to try the fish tacos next time.

Leena

The restaurant is near the intersection of Swan and Church St. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Kindly explained the menu and ingredients for vegan options. We had beef brisket taco and quesadillas plus set menu. Taco had pink pickle on top of beef which was unique taste and beef brisket quesadillas was juicy and tasty as we expected. Vegan burrito was looking beautiful. Overall it was very pleasant Christmas dinner with family friends.

Kimberley Leggett

Consistently good food. Favourites include the corn chips with avocado/salsa, grilled chicken salad, any of the tacos and the fish burrito. Although on the steep side ($15 for a burrito) I have to remind myself that we are in health-hipster Melbourne where munching on quinoa over brown rice and beans pushes up the price tag! Needless to say it is worth the investment. Although the space is much smaller than close sister restaurant Fonda Windsor - this Richmond spot is cozy in its won right and a great place to settle in the corner with girlfriends or on a date to catch up.

Sam

Love this place because of their horchata drink! Impossible to find- and they do it quite well. The menu seems to suit a group well, something to satisfy everyone. Personal fav are the quesadillas. A bit confused as to why they stock Coronas in a can vs bottle though..

Jude D'Souza

Great location with a great choice of seating, cost and comfortable. It doesn't feel like a Mexican place when you enter but smells it. Menu is delicious and a good amount of choice for Mexican. Definetly one of the better Mexican places around.

Timinmelbourne

My partner and I got some din dins from Fonda via Uber on the weekend. I'm not sure whether it was because we ordered via Uber but the burritos were stone cold. We ordered a chicken and a fish burrito. They tasted ok I guess. We also ordered a Mexico Pulled Pork Quesadilla which was hot and tasty. Yummmm is have another one of those haha Overall this was alright but next time I'd eat in house to see if the foods any better.

Lisa Katz

Less than average and expensive for what you get, would not waste my money. Serve was small and there are plenty more places to get good food for that price

Jonno H

Even though the service, decor and atmosphere were cool and fun, the food itself was pretty average. I got the rockling burrito, and for $16, it was pretty small and barely filled me up. The fish itself was cold. If I were to go back I'd opt for something else altogether.

The Dear Luncher

Fonda manages to execute faux-Mexican street-food cuisine flawlessly for the most part. Pretty enjoyable project they have going if you’re this way inclined. Indeed as someone that has visited Mexico – Your Dear Luncher is certainly that way inclined. It is the belief of The Dear Luncher that the Richmond branch of Fonda execute the beef burrito far more effectively than the Chadstone branch. Then again, this could be because The Dear Luncher loathes Chadstone with a passion – and as a result some of that fear and loathing has rubbed off on the Fonda that resides there. Nevertheless, The Dear Luncher DIGESTS as usual and is here to say, Fonda Richmond is great.

LJ

The staff where definitely friendly and very busy! The wine was good as always but the service could have been better just in terms of arranging seating for our reservation. They forgot to move us to our desired table so we just ate on a small table with our group. The friendlyness of the staff made up for the lack of attention to details. A few things in our meals weren't prepared the way they usually are at the other locations we go too. Over all wouldn't rave about it but wouldnt turn people away from trying it for themselves. Be aware of making reservations !

Chop Chop

Nothing to complain about here. Great enchiladas and the kangaroo burrito is something different, albeit not to my taste! Plus Mexican beer!

Good Food, Good Mood

Fonda is always good for a quick and delicious feed. This Fonda is superrr tiny and cramped. Staff are really attentive and the food standard is the same as any other Fonda. Always get the watermelon or horchata beverages.

Costa

The food is fairly good, but I definitely feel this place is over hyped. It's got a great fit out but the food is nothing to write home about. The prawn taco is a personal favourite.

KITCHFIT

I love this place. I come here often! The staff are super friendly and knowledgable. It's a very up beat and energetic atmosphere. The food is simple yet delicious! I love the new school Mexican vibes!!

Kristy S

We have been coming to Fonda for years now. Originally we loved coming in for a burrito packed with everything you could imagine for a fair price. We ordered take away tonight and spent close to $40 on two burritos and all that was in them were the basics. The most bland burrito I have ever had... If we wanted anything else we had to pay extra. Won't be going back again as there is no value for money anymore.

Binula

I love Fonda for their mid range Mexican options - much nicer than fast food, but not fancy enough to be too expensive. Decided to try their Richmond establishment and was not disappointed. The service was friendly, prompt and the food was delicious!! We ordered the DIY tostada board to share and the corn chips came out looking a bit sparse. We brought this up and they were more than happy to give us an extra bowl without hesitation. Keep up the good work!

Claudia

Hip instagram worthy interiors and lovely staff but food is awfully bland and is a tad overpriced. I guess that is what you pay for hipster Mexican.

Andrew D

Good food and service. Priced a little too high for my liking. Wait staff was prompt and food took a little longer than expected but the place was rather packed. Overall a pretty good experience.

Megan J

In recent years it has become much easier to find good Mexican in Melbourne, but I always recommend Fonda. My first experience of authentic Mexican cuisine, Fonda reminds you that fresh ingredients like chili, lime and coriander are what you should be tasting not tomato sauce and grated cheese.

Don Djoe

Pretty good food but way too expensive for my wallet. I feel like they positioned themselves rather awkwardly in the market. An expensive street food or a too simple fine dining. I went here twice, had burrito once and tacos today. They were definitely not bad, but ... too expensive in my opinion.

Melbourneats

Not too bad of a Mexican food Love their watermelon juice! Staff were lovely. Haven't come back since but due for a visit again. Take your lover or friends here, even your Mexican friend!

April

Loved the food and the 'Dem Apples' cocktail. Very friendly and attentive service, can't wait to check out the one in the CBD! Only critique was that the music got a little loud so it was hard to chat at times. Overall I loved coming here.

Jemma

The food is yummy and fresh, portions small and comparitvely expensive and the service is very in and out. I think for lunch it would be convenient and delicious however it feels a bit "takeaway" for a nice dinner.

Sarahdanpeters

Amazing authentic Mexican food! The service was great and the menu was diverse. Portion sizes weren't overwhelming, but was perfect for lunch

Kenny Parker

Been coming here since it first opened. Still a pretty solid go to for Mexican. Would always come for the fish and pork taco but recently gave the grilled chicken salad a go. My new favorite. Service has never waned either:)

Diego Goenaga

Absolutely wonderful place! The service was probably one of the best I've had in my life! What an amazing energy the person who welcomed us had! The food was delicious!! Loved the corn and the quesadillas...

Teganhammett

Fonda delivered to office:-Not enough tortilla chips -Changed salsa recipe (used to be diced fresh tomato) -Needs a rice option in burrito. Not everyone loves Quinoa

Hannah T

A tight little table next to the bar/kitchen made it a loud meal to talk over sadly as the food and serves was great. The beef burrito was scrummy but a little dry as there was no salsa due to it having raw onion in it. An onion free alternative - oh wait got it - just tomato would have been great. Sadly something did repeat on me all night which leads me to believe it wasn't raw onion or garlic free.

Mims

Always loved Fonda. Came in for my favourite last week, the fish burrito. Only to learn the ingredients have been changed. Absolutely shattered by this. It has lost its amazing taste and is quite dry now. Please bring back the original!

J0yy173

Wholesome Mexican favourites in a cozy setting. We were lucky to get seats during the lunch break. My Mex-bimbap was Fonda's spin on the Korean bibimbap where everything is thrown into the bowl. Quinoa and lots of superfoods topped off with delicious nuggets of fried fish. Yum. A colleague didn't think the pork in her dish was cooked but the kitchen thought differently. The serves are on the small side but enough for me.

Melbournefoodieee

I came here for lunch on a weekday and it was pretty busy. Lucky we had a table during the busy lunch hour. Ordered the quesadilla and two of the tacos and a side of chips. Everything was good! The only thing was the taco got soggy so when we picked it up to eat it was a mess The portion isn't that big, so for big Eaters I suggest you to order more

Nibble And Wander

Little pit stop before going to a concert, my boyfriend's favourite go -to Mexican restaurants for tacos and corn chips! Yum! They have friendly staff and the dishes come out really quick. My bf's favourite are the fish tacos! I don't have many photos but we've tried almost everything, I love the corn on the cob, the fish tacos and the traditional Mexican drinks.

Michelle Savannah Rae Summers

Restored my faith in Mexican restaurants! Great service, even a dad joke from the waiter. The food... amazeballs!! It was so fresh and tasty and not at all oily or drowning in cheese. I can't wait to eat here again. The smoothies were very nosh haha ♡

E Rock

Had a burrito which consists of beef mince and quinoa... this just in hot off the press "burrito taste like bland gumboot" i know you can do better please do your best to meximise this oversight..

Beeby

Fonda is always a good choice. The tacos and salads are great. The cocktails and general drinks list could be improved but food wise; never had a bad meal there!

Theknifeandforktalk

Always love recommending Fonda to friends and the Richmond Fonda was new for me but didn't disappoint and kept my expectations like the others. Love the chopped beef burrito, it may look small but it definitely fills you up. The chipotle chips are crunchy and delicious. Mex-bim-bap deconstructed salad with black bean falafel was highly enjoyed and such a healthy option. I also love the refreshing watermelon and strawberry aquas fresca. Always recommend no matter which location!

Bella Cameron

Fonda is an excellent place for some drinks and Mexican food. The quesadillas and tacos are amazing, and the corn is not to be missed! Definitely one of the top Mexican places in Melbourne, with a great atmosphere and nice outdoor area.

Natalie

Been here several times. And all occasions, it's busy but service is prompt. I've felt like and I probably have eaten a bit of everything on the menu from the several visits. Overall the food is good but sometimes it is a hit and miss (definitely depends which store you go to). The burrito is good (says a lot cause I'm not a fan of burritos), I much prefer the tacos here, suits better with my taste preference and lightness of the meal. Tostadas, that is something definitely worth getting. You get a taste of a bit of everything. Everything on the tostadas plate works well. The mexibimbap just doesn't work well for me. Everything was just packed and jammed tight a bowl too small for itself. It was a mess to eat. I much rather the green and torts salad, but they went overboard with the dressing.

Zuno Huungre

Very disappointed. Although the place looked cute and the service was alright, the food was very bland. Portions weren't worth the price....

Heidi

Stopped by Fonda for a quick dinner in Richmond on Saturday night. We waited about 20 minutes before being seated. I'd previously been to the Fonda in the city and had been a little disappointed, this time I ordered the fish, pork and prawn tacos. They were all quite nice but very mild in flavour. With a bit of the spicy salsa they were great though.

Grace Eats

I have so excited to FINALLY get to Fonda. The steam train of Melbourne's Mexican fad. I had walked past the one on chapel street so many time and it's always pumping so I had high expectations. I went on a mid week night with a friend, ordered the Mex Bim Bap and we shared some chipotle fries (I had a cider too). Overall, the service is really want saved this place, the staff were lovely and they really complimented the energetic and "fiesta" vibe they were going for. On the other hand I thought the food was below average on quality, originality, price and presentation. The decor was so dusty and a bit behind the times and I was surprised about the "order at the till" style of service. I won't be going back to this Fonda anytime soon (particularly with Jimmy Grants just around the corner) but I might give the Fonda on Chapel a second chance.

Mo

Small note to owner, good chairs, close the door in winter and Mexican music. Margaritas need to be generous as you charge $12-$18 per glass. Excellent food tacos and burritos were good.

Foodlover

Good food and good service, but I wouldn't call it authentic mexican food. Great atmosphere and gooe spot for gatherings and parties. I have been to Fonda on Richmond & CBD and they both have good service.

Sam

First time here and will def be back real authentic flavours with a lovely freshness, the prawn tacos were full of flavour 👍🏻🌮 great vibe and friendly greeting

Jesskaar

I don't really understand why everyone loves this place so much. I ordered their signature fish taco and fries with chipotle aioli and neither of them were particularly outstanding. The fish taco had very little fish and very little cabbage, carrot or sauce, and at $8 was very overpriced. The chips, also at $8 weren't anything special either, just another fried potato...

Marc Harvey

Fonda is a nice little restaurant, good atmosphere, friendly staff, food is fresh and tasty, the best tacos i had in melbourne. I definately recommend.

Food Comatose

Fonda is like the Mardis Gras of Mexican cuisine – bright, fun and FABULOUS. The first and original Fonda, based in Richmond, is the relaxed local you’ve been looking for. The wash of pastels and tantalizing scents of fresh corn and lime incite the senses *cue Mexican dancing bean*. LA-based chef Gery Lopez worked his magic on all four restaurants, located in Richmond, Hawthorn, Windsor and Flinders Lane, giving them a Rainbow face-lift.

Brooke Doyle

Food was good for mexican. Chips were well cooked and tasty seasoning. Cocktails were reasonably priced and were very satisifing. Restaurant was packed and abit too noisy

Deecee

Tacos where delicious. A little pricy compared to others at around $7.50 but you couldn't go wrong if you where looking for a place for drinks and quality tacos. They have a cool beer garden area which add to the vibe. Recommend!

L & K

Great atmosphere. Really lovely staff. Gorgeous food. The menu is limited but every dish hits the spot. Fresh, tasty and well presented. The prawn tacos are to die for!!!!!! Will definitely be coming back!

Grace Giuliano Mottram

First the good points about Fonda: The atmosphere, ambience and décor is good (I visited the Hawthorn outlet). It has a fun and vibrant vibe which is good for a casual night out. The not so good: Food is over priced and the portions are very small. For example for $7.50 I would expect two of the very small tacos they serve not one. I would expect two pieces of the corn rather than one. We couldn't help but feel it was a rip off. We spent a lot of money and received little for it. As you have to go and line up and order at the bar I would expect the prices to be lower. I had the fish taco, it was fine, nothing amazing, There is a strange taste that permeates much of their food which overpowers some of the other flavours. I can't quite pinpoint what it is though. I have tried quite a few items on their menu and besides the corn which is addictive none of it inspire me to return.

Quynh

Went here for a late lunch today and loved it! Ordered the DIY Tostadas board with pulled pork and it was so good! Very filling between the 3 of us, also had the mexico city pork & chicken adobo quesadillas which were very flavoursome. For the tacos I ordered the prawn, fish and beef brisket. Stand out would be the prawn ones, it went really well with the kimchi. I also had the watermelon and strawberry drink which I found very nice and refreshing. Great service too! Would defs be coming back soon!! Thank you for the great meal!

J

Seriously cannot get over how tastetastic the prawn tacos with kimchi are here. Big call...but I'm saying it, best taco ever. The fish tacos are also deliciousness plus, however the space here is much too small which generally means we don't bother heading over on Friday or Saturday nights!

Kwanzai

Great food! Fish tacos are my favourite! But I also can't go here and not order the charred corn; and of course it needs to be accompanied by Fonda's perfect margarita! Definitely my favourite place for Mexican in Melbourne. Never disappoints and service is great!

Sam&Terry

Definitely a favourite for Mexican. Well priced, tasty, fresh dishes. Always get excited to go back

Hannah Xu

I would recommend the fish tacos, they were pretty good. Quick service but the menu is quite limited. Could get more for your money elsewhere.

CU_Foodie

Okay food, good services. Good for a quick bite at lunch but I'd venture elsewhere for dinner. It is quite expensive for what you get. Better value elsewhere.

Macaulay Hey

Great Mexican at affordable prices. One of my favourite mid week easy meals. Friendly faces, tasty food & thirst quenching cocktails. What isn't to love about this place?

KAG

Had to wait an hour to get a table, but when we got there I saw the menu and felt it was very limited and didn't really have much variety. Pretty standard Mexican food, ordered a few dishes but nothing really stood.

Jess Jensen

This is such a cute little restaurant! Perfect for sharing a selection of different dishes with your friends. Reasonably priced too. Best prawn tacos I have ever had! The cocktails are also really nice but are a little bit on the expensive side for their size (come in small jars) other than that this place is awesome!

Crispymelbreview

Serves delicious Tex-Mex (the famous fusion of American and Texan). I was not disappointed and enjoyed the Antojitos - Tortillas crisps were fresh and fried just right. The Tacos and Quesadillas (Tex-Mex wheat and not corn tortillas) were tasty and well presented. All in all it's great value for money.

Jo Hombsch

Everything healthy I like put into one salad, with a sneaky side of guacamole! The chicken wasn't just grilled but chargrilled. Good for a cheap and healthy lunch. I'm especially a fan of the mint green interior.

Brekky

The meat is cooked very well. The chicken burrito was amazing, small potions but very well done. The 'Feescas' arn't that great, the watermelon drink was disgusting! Good environment, loud and boisterous not recommend for a quiet night out. Lets call it a food truck not on wheels…

Tessa Peach

This is another great place for Mexican eats and drinks - my parents treating me to this for my most recent birthday and I loved it - the food is fresh, wholesome and full of flavour - I had a huge salad complete with guacamole, corn, beans and other well-flavoured veggies and grains (there was also an option of adding meat I seem to recall). The cocktails and mock tails are also delicious, original creations. The prices are high, however (wouldn't have been able to afford on my own budget), and they don't take bookings which means it was quite crowded and the three of us were lucky to get a spot. Staff were all very friendly and obliging, as well.

C

While it doesn't quite reach the dizzying heights of Mamasita, Fonda Mexican (at least the Richmond branch!) is my go to place for a quick meal or Mexican take-away. It serves as a reasonably healthy option in what is often quite an unhealthy cuisine choice (Taco Bell anyone?). The Mex-Bim-Bap salad is a sure-fire winner, with good mix of colours and flavours that you can either mix up or eat piecemeal. It has the option of added protein accompaniments, but I prefer to invest my meat-dollars elsewhere. The tacos and burritos are also very good. For my money I like the Chicken Adobo burrito and the fish or pork tacos. The corn is also a winner, and I definitely recommend sinking your teeth into this. All in all this is a reasonably priced Mexican option that uses good quality ingredients. It gets very busy at times, with competition for the limited outdoor seating particularly fierce when the weather permits. Fonda Richmond is a good option for take-away, although you have to fight with customers who are eating in to pick up your pre-ordered meal. They do not do table service, and you have to order at the counter when you are dining in. Probably my only niggle with the place! Highly recommended.

LoveMyCake

Mexican food is a perfect option on a hot day not too heavy. It also helps that Fonda serves some wicked cocktails and frozen margaritas. Staff handle the large crowds and service is quick.

Katrina Orchard

If you love Mexican ten this place a must try. The tacos here are the bet in melbourne to my knowledge and the range leaves you constantly ordering

Melbourneknight

Highly recommended !! Fish Tacos hmmm👍👍 Awesome!! I wish they were a little closer to me. Great food especially the fish tacos, where the fish is perfectly cooked.

Ambra

Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Fonda. We had the Burnt Orange margarita, the cider and a couple of cocktails with our meals. The mixed drinks were delicious if not a little pricey. My husband didn't rate the cider. To start we shared the D.I.Y. Tostadas board. It was great - a delicious selection of treats to work your way around. For main we enjoyed the chicken quesadillas and a selection of Tacos - chicken, pulled pork and fish. All were delicious and fresh. Service was friendly prompt and unpretentious. No dessert... easily solved with a short stroll down the road to messino gelato.

Matt Lawrence

I really like this place the food is really tasty and authentic very close to actual Mexican food. The vibe is good and the staff were friendly. I have nothing bad to say about this one, looking forward to our next visit

Edward Schweitzer

Interior and service excellent. Food was tasty but a touch over priced. Loved the corn. Would visit again but a touch to pricey to be a regular.

Jessie Hams

Had been waiting to go here for a while, so I went with my mum and my boyfriend for my birthday. The decor was very nice. Got the chipotle chips as a starter to share which were quite tasty, as was the dipping sauce which was nice and smokey. However, I ordered the mex-bim-bap for my main, which was extremely peppery and acidic, so much so that i couldn't finish it. Was a bit disappointed but I'd be willing to give it another shot and try something else.

Simone

Another great example of delicious and quality Mexican food in Melbourne. The servers were friendly and helpful and service was quick. Will definitely be going back!

Juicy Glutes

I came here for lunch today with my lovely husband. We had some cocktails and they were delicious; They were quite pricy considering how small they were but they were delicious and refreshing. Then we had chips and chipotle mayo, beef burrito, chicken burrito and corn chips. All the food was amazing. It was very tasty and fresh. We had a lot of food but we did not leave feeling bloated and yuck. It was lovely. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The service was quick as well. Can not wait to come back here again. It was very, very good.

Rita Chiquita

Went there to have a little something and ended up with a great plate to share with my husband and a pork taco. The minced pork was delicious. Frendly staff and nice environment. Particularly loved the horchata drink I had. Though wish there was a bigger quantity. Will be going back soon!

Nicholas Cardona

Greatest service I've found in a long time from a casual dining type place. The staff were trying their absolute best to make sure our time spent there was as good as can be. Definitely recommend. The food was also really nice and very filling and wasn't too expensive either.

Brunino

Perfect - for casual yummy Mexican with yummy cocktails - Very family friendly- Service was efficient and informative I thought it was perfect value too

Lisa Wang

Pretty decoration, relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff. The frozen Margareta and pineapple drink were very refreshing, the mushroom quesadilla and beef burrito were tasty, surprisingly large serves as well, the charred corn was a bit watery, but overall very good dining experiences.

Addam Cao

Good casual food, fresh and fast. Been a bunch of times and never a bad meal. Would prefer table service when ordering and to be able to make a reservation...

MaLT

Awesome food, great casual set up.. will def be back again. But dont be fooled by the "Feed me" deal! Price turns out to be exactly the same amount when each dish is ordered individually!

Food Comatose

Fonda is like the Mardis Gras of Mexican cuisine - bright, fun and FABULOUS. The first and original Fonda, based in Richmond, is the relaxed local you've been looking for. The wash of pastels and tantalizing scents of fresh corn and lime incite the senses *cue Mexican dancing bean*. LA-based chef Gery Lopez worked his magic on all four restaurants, located in Richmond, Hawthorn, Windsor and Flinders Lane, giving them a Rainbow face-lift. Gone are the days of cheap, greasy street food. Fonda represents a revolution of HEALTHY (yes, you read correctly) Mexican which doesn't compromise on taste. The fresh ingredients are sourced from the Queen Vic Market and quinoa is hailed as the new rice. Just as the Aztecs and Mayans traditionally consumed them, the taco tortillas are made daily from fresh corn, so you know you're getting the real deal here. We dabbled in some frozen Margaritas with divine concoctions of passion fruit, pomegranate, lychee and elderflower to name a few. Oh dios mio, the tacos were on a whole other level for me. In approximately 4.2 seconds I inhaled the Prawn taco with caramelised kimchi & pineapple, betel leaf, Japanese mayo and the Mexico City Pork taco with guacamole, shaved zucchini, pomegranate, guajillo chilli. With a squeeze of lime juice to garnish, no Yuan can deny how damn delicious these 6-inch bad boys are. We also ordered the Chicken Adobo quesadilla with pico de gallo, baby spinach, jalapeno-basil aioli and pasilla chilli.

Isabella

Great fresh food and amazing aguas fresca and horchata!

Lucky Star

OMG. This is a serious Mexican Cantina. The 'Mexican Standoff' Cocktail is a good mix for a drink. The Adobo chicken quesadilla and Burrito definitely hit the mark. Pulled pork and mushroom tacos weren't too bad, but was trumped by the Burrito. Good spot for couples and to go out with friends.

Uqui

Went for lunch one Saturday. Had the feed me option with a friend as that seemed to give the most variety for the best price. I don't think I've ever had fish tacos before so they were interesting. I loved the pickled carrot but the fish was also great without being too overpowering. The corn was a highlight though. I love Mexican style corn on the cob even if I do spend the rest of the day picking it out of my teeth but it was yummy! The corn chips with guacamole lasted the entire meal and were that nice mix of salty and crispy. I think what I liked the best was the pulled pork Quesadilla, though unfortunately it dripped every where. It was delicious and I'd definitely get a different sauce. Next time, it's corn and Quesadilla. The taco and corn chips were nice, but they weren't the highlight.

Frans

Really good service and food, chicken salad and burrito fish was delicious.The place was really busy but food and drink coming very early. Enjoy to come back again!!

Helloworld

I usually don't mind spending some cash but when I spent a 20 dollars on a burrito and a drink I felt quite ripped off. The burrito had way to much sauce and was really soggy.

Teebo

After flying into Melbourne for the GF, we were hungry for a feed in Richmond. Mexican joints are a dime a dozen and these guys get the formula right. It's a cool little dining room which spills out on to the road and was packed to the brim. The service was efficient and friendly throughout. The food was good, we ordered street corn, dips and some tacos to start. The fish tacos were a little under dressed but the pork quesadilla was the star, packed full of succulent meat. We had a fun night and for a good price. Recommended for an easy and fun dinner with friends.

Sweetlikesugar

Always a favourite. Have recently discovered the DIY Tostadas Board. Full of deliciousness! My husband and I share this with some charred corn. It's enough for the two of us. Fish tacos are also my fav. Service is always quick and friendly.

Georgie

Love Fonda, cool cocktails and branding. Wish the serving sizes were a bit bigger but it's always good at lunch time for a quick bite to eat

Johan Snyman

My wife and I randomly stopped here yesterday. We had the tortillas and the shredded pork quesadilla. The quesadilla was possibly the best thing I've eaten this year. Staff were attentive, very friendly, and efficient.

Melbourne Foodie

$15 for a burrito. I think I've had better in the past. I ordered a chicken adobo burrito. It's good but I think it's not worth $15. Lots of mayo inside makes anything tastes nice

Kato

Only one word to describe my first Mexican dining experience... AMAZING! The chipotle chips are seasoned well, and the aioli dipping sauce is just as good! I also ordered the Adobo Chicken Quesadilla which is both delicious and surprisingly filling. The only downfall is that the tables are quite close together, and as my 2 friends and I were seated around a 2 person table, every time someone walked past they bumped into me. I guess that goes to show how popular it is! Even if I came back and had to queue for a table, at least the food is well worth the wait.

Dennis Vegan

My friends and I went here because we heard how good it was and were all Mexican food lovers. We were all actually very disappointed in the quality of the food as weve tasted better

Putfoodinme_

I am pretty loyal to the old Fonda. Eating at their Windsor establishment was a staple while I lived on the South Side. Last night I dined at their Richmond outpost and felt it didn't quite live up to the quality of Windsor. The tortilla chips we ordered were extremely stale and almost inedible and the guac and salsa did not have the same punchy flavours that it usually does. On a good note - staff were incredibly accommodating to make sure my 'no onion' requests were fulfilled and the fish taco was AMAZING.

Chelsey Ramos

Came on Sunday and was really busy. Food was good and quick. Chicken salad was really good and my husband enjoyed his beef taco and chicken quesadilla. Good place for a quick bit to eat

Libby

Hmm. Intended to go to the other taco place who were booked out and couldn't seat us, and the food here was good and service good too but overall was a bit frenetic and noisy and not so enjoyable. $115 for four people including wine (one of the teenagers only had one taco so perhaps we were a group of 3.5 people!). Fish taco not the best I've ever had but wasn't far off. Pork quesadilla great as was the beef burrito. Braised beef tacos were just ok. Will try again on a 'non-football' night and see how we go.

Ilovefood

The Fish Burrito is the best!!! And the chicken quesadillas are divine. Great service and atmosphere - this is going to become a regular haunt for me!!

Dan

Loved the atmosphere and menu. Food is delicious and quite light considering other mexican restaurant menus. Perfect location for a quick bite and catch up. Bottled beer is excellent choices

K

Not a bad Mexican spot, although I must stay I still prefer Mamasita. We had tortilla chips and dip, pork tacos, a beef burrito and a chicken quesadilla. The food was fresh and plentiful and the service was friendly and relaxed. A good spot for a casual and quick bite to eat.

Mark

Mexico is one of my favourite destinations, particularly for the amazing food. Fonda provides a wonderful Australian approximation of the mexican cuisine, as close as you can get to the real thing. Get (more than) one each of the soft shell tacos, choosing the best one is like trying to pick your favourite child.

Jimsghost

Average cantina style Mexican food. More hype than hip. The food is ok, but there are far better alternatives that offer a better experience at a lower price point

Cinzo

Sorry not for me. I took my friend who has lived extensively in Mexico. She polity informed that she didn't think it was very authentic. So take that as you will I guess. The burrito was quite plain and didn't impress me.

Emily Choo

Definitely fond of Fonda! Stopped by looking for a bite to eat before going to a gig at the Corner and was pleasantly surprised. Food was great, so much better than your standard Mex' fare. Mexico City pork quesadillas are a must (with real corn masa tortillas - none of that 'Mission' stuff *ahem* 'Salsas'). So mouth-wateringly tasty. Cute little fit-out and the place as a whole is a lot less pretentious than some other places you find on Swan St. Above all else, service is top notch! Shout-out to the awesome dude with the handlebar mo' - genuinely good human beings are a rarity these days and you're a gem! Will definitely be back when hankering for a decent Mexican feed in the area.

Iain

Mexican food is good fun. Tasty, fresh, spicy and hopefully washed down with cerveza and a margarita or 3. This is some of the best Mexican food I've had in Melbourne - but I feel the competition isn't strong. Tacos are fun to eat. Beer is good to drink. 👍

Beau James

Was here on Monday night with some friends for some food and drinks. As they don't take bookings we waited about 10 minutes for a table inside but were settled quickly. As there was four of us we went with two of the "feed me's" (total of $100) and thought we'd see how we went from there. Tortilla crisps are tasty and the bean dipping sauce is pretty damn good. The corn was cooked and seasoned perfect. Fish taco's were amazing, really really tasty. Though the standout was the Mexico City pork quesadilla. Simply amazing, full of flavour and I could've eaten all four to myself. After this we ordered a couple of 'the original' chopped beef burritos though this was a let down. Not much meat though it was filled up with cabbage and beans. The lychee and elderflower cocktail was delicious, as was the pina de coco. The tequila flight though was rough - would recommend against this if you're expecting a sipping tequila. I think it's a bit expensive for what it is but overall a good night out with friends - next time I'd stick to quesadilla's and cocktails.

Melbournian

Love this place! A regular for me and my partner... quick, easy, delicious, and pretty cheap...never spend more than $20 each (no alcohol), and leave full every time. Faves include the corn on the cob, tortilla chips and dip ( we usually get a corn each or the chips and dip to start off), and then the chicken or pork quesadilla, or chicken or beef tacos. A big plus is that most of the menu is gluten free, and they even do the quesadilla gluten free on request. Sometimes we have to wait a couple minutes for a table but when it is just the two of us it's never long.

Its All About The Food

The Original Fonda The first time I visited Fonda in Richmond the queue was out of the door, I later realised with good reason. So we dropped our name and went next door for a beer. 30 mins later we are sitting out in the court yard experiencing some of the best/authentic Mexican food I have ever had. It is fresh, light and packed with taste. Needless to say I have visited both here and Windsor many times since. Richmond is a tiny location so gets full very quickly, but it's worth the wait. Particular favourites: - DIY Tostadas board, only if 2+ are dining, as it's a big entree. - Fish Tacos

LiveToEat

Had lunch here on my birthday last year and had a lovely time! I loved their horchata drink!! And the food was scrumptious! I had the fish burritos and braised beef taco. The burritos were a little big but atleast you get fed well!

Tales Of Rose

Good when it started, but as with a lot of places when they get big, they forget that every person is a customer and that without them they're not popular. Would only go in if they were quiet

ItsTrueFatKidsLoveFood

Was in need of some mexican tonight for dinner and it looked like this place was my only option. Decided on the 'The Original' beef burrito and the chipotle chips. The chips were very average, had a nice crunch to them, but didn't rate the potato inside. The chipotle dipping sauce was nice though, but can't really get that sauce wrong. The burrito was just a standard burrito. Nothing about it stood out, bland and dry. And at $15, you can find much better elsewhere.

Johnny Rocket 88

Pretty average bland food Sloppy tasteless I'm not so Fonda Hawthorn seems a little better but really so much better Mexican in Melbourne

Elonie

Always love their fish tacos, so fresh and tasty. Also love their horchata, great drink to tone down the spicy food. The beef tacos are also pretty good. I found the burritos too big, but I guess good size for the hungry guys.

Trent Masters

I could eat here everyday if I had the money! The freshness of the tortillas is beyond brilliant. Kangaroo meat is amazballs, and the corn is beyond!

Hanah Penrose

Really cool place. Small menu, but all the food is delicious and filling for the price. Yummy burritos, dips, tacos, quesadilla. Full of flavour and fresh tasting. Yummy cocktails too. The only downfall is that it's so small, so it's really hard to get a table and fit in there. They've improved so much now that they have their huge restaurant in the CBD with heaps of tables.

Natasha Juchkov (Culinary Runway)

This was my first meal out after Live Below The Line and I have not felt as grateful as I did that I have the luxury of eating out and exploring different cuisines without breaking the bank or having to travel overseas. All of which, are luxuries many people can't afford, so I'm sorry I'm plugging this again, but Oaktree is still accepting LBL donations until the 30th of June! Mex-bim-bap + fish - $14 (+$4 meat) Corn, shaved zucchini, sweet potato, peas & mint, baby spinach, guacamole, quinoa, black beans, pickled carrots & onion, and shaved cabbage. Firstly I was quite disappointed with the amount of fish I received. $4 for 5 peices seems a bit steep don't you think? Otherwise the serving was generous, with heaps of vegetables to cover your recommended daily intake. I wasn't a big fan of the pickled vegetables as they were slightly bitter, but my favourites would've been the sweet potato and beans. The quinoa was also cooked perfectly, really soft and fluffy, and the lemon dressing added heaps of freshness and flavour.

Birdman

Not usually a big fan of Mexican but this was really good. Had some pulled pork with corn chips and condiments which was fantastic as was the corn off the cob. No wonder this place comes well recommended. Will return when looking for Mexican

Rbs

...was looking forward to trying Fonda. Opted for the 'Feed Me' option for two - two entries, tow tacos and a quesadilla. They brought almost all of it out at once. Asked them to please hold the last dish as we needed time to eat, but they wouldn't. Consequently out food got cold and we didn't eat it. I recommended ordering one thing at a time unless you want to feel like you're at KFC and don't mind cold pork.

Crissy

Fond of Fonda. Had the chicken ensalada and it was TASTY! The Aguasfrescas were very refreshing and I'll definitely be back for the charred corn.

Lachlan Bird

Mexican seems to be all the rage in Melbourne these days. We tried out this new Mexican joint in Richmond which opened not long ago. Despite its non-booking policy, apparently it’s all the goodness of Mamasita’s but without the massive 1.5 hour long wait. So what was the verdict? We ordered the scrumptious pork scratchings, horchatas, bbq corn and plenty of tacos, and knew we would be back for more soon. Hey, and you know what the best thing was? They served good food and had friendly customer service. No wonder Fonda’s cooking up a storm. Street-style corn with cheese Pork scratchings with guacamole Mmmmmm… Just try everything 2 Likes ← Back to blog

Jkcrows84

Great mexican!. Had some great mexican at Fonda. Especially loved the chicken quesadilla & beef taco! Great little spot on busy Swan St not far from where I live. Found it to be way better than Fonda in South Yarra. Highly recommend

Rhonda

Love this joint!. Great for tasty, affordable and quick mexican. Fish tacos are a favourite! NOM.

BJ_43

Certainly would not recommend this place if you are looking for an authentic Mexican experience. It has become too loud to hold a decent conversation, the staff in the kitchen are too busy to get basic orders right and it's growth has got the better of its service. I will now be searching Melbourne for the next Mexican eatery that still has it's soul...

Abbym

Change menu. Absolutely loved the menu around winter time last year. So disappointed that it has changed! The chicken burrito was delicious and a healthy alternative. Now it's changed to aioli, tortilla crips and no avocado!! You can't not have avocado in all the menu items as its a mexican place. Please change it back it was delicious !! I am no longer a regular there

Abbymccoll

Change menu. Absolutely loved the menu around winter time last year. So disappointed that it has changed! The chicken burrito was delicious and a healthy alternative. Now it's changed to aioli, tortilla crips and no avocado!! You can't not have avocado in all the menu items as its a mexican place. Please change it back it was delicious !! I am no longer a regular there

Foodfreaksmelbourne

*This review is based on our personal experience at this eatery. The menu and specific dish ingredients may have changed since this post. Please inform wait staff of your dietary needs, and discuss the best menu options for you with them. * Powered by Squarespace

The Food Society

Here are a few of our favourites from this past Summer.

Decisive Cravings

Fonda has been one of our fondest Richmond eats for quite some time. It’s small and tidy and yes everyone’s caught on so it’s teeming with people at all eating hours but it is worth the wait. While you wait for your name to be called from the list, the lane way to its side (‘Mi Case Su Casa’ sprawled on the wall makes it hard to miss), is a great place to sample a few beverages. (Fonda’s Tortilla Chips with Salsa and Guacamole) (Underrated – Fonda’s Spanked Gin Basil Smash) What used to be the iconic Salvo’s store in Windsor, is now their second Casa. An even bigger space than their Richmond restaurant but with all the Fonda menu favourites. It’s so spacious that they’ve even set up a little bar upstairs, Atico (the attic) where you can sip on array of alcoholic beverages like Tequila, beer, cocktails, lovely wines and more. (Fonda’s CBD restaurant) (The super fresh and tasty Aguas Frescas – Watermelon and Strawberry, and Cucumber an

Ben Lee Kong

Closer to Mexico, Mexican food is and has always been properly associated with what we are finally getting a taste of in Australia. Personally I like good food and there is nothing that is fad or short-lived about that.

Sweetenough_Lauren

Service at Fonda was quick and efficient. You do have to order food and drinks at the counter, but staff are good and able to assist with menu questions if required. Food came out fairly quick too. Fonda is a great place to visit for quick, fresh, flavoursome Mexican food and I will definitely be making a return visit.

A Chronicle Of Gastronomy

There was a nice charcoal flavour around the outside. The tortilla was one of the best I’ve had so far: slightly browned but tender and chewy. Some crunchiness in the burrito was given by the toasted peptitas, which I thought was a nice touch. Surprisingly there was also white quinoa included in the burrito, which wasn’t in the menu description. It helped make the burrito lighter than what it would have been if it were all subs

Evelovelle

After trying out Fonda Mexican (Richmond Outlet), it is now one of my favourite places to dine at when I crave for something Mexican. There are other two Fonda outlets in town, one strategically situated on Flinders Lane, the other at a fast developing suburb, Prahran. Charred Corn Antojito, 4.50AUD Jan and I started out with Charred Corn Antojito, probably 2/5 the size of a normal corn on the cob. The topping was grated ricotta salata cheese with a mild taste of chipotle aioli. Not the juiciest corn, nor were we wowed by it. Jan said the Charred Corn at Mamasita was way tastier. This starter dish was our least favourite of the night. Fish Taco, 7AUD We chose a soft taco shell paired with lightly battered fish meat with chipotle aioli spread underneath. It was an expensive taco but it sure tasted good. Grilled Chicken Ensalada, 15AUD Ensaladas are Spanish salads. The waitress recommended the grilled chicken, which we ordered. Its mixed together with quinoa, black beans, coriander, fr

Melina Han

Fish Taco's would have to be my most favourite Mexican dish of all. That and taquitos (I LOVE TAQUITOS! )

Melbourne Patron

I am fonda Mexican. Boo-doom-TISH! Actually, I'm not that fond of Mexican. I used to be very anti-chilli - thankfully, not the case anymore. Only in the last few years have Melburnians been privy to genuine Mexican flavours - and fresh ingredients - through the likes of Fonda Mexican . So, I'm coming around. In 2001, David Youl and Tim McDonald opened the original Fonda Mexican in Richmond.

DAMMIT JANET I LOVE FOOD

The place to go for cheap, simple Mexican food that actually tastes great! This is one of those places where you have to go and order at the counter, but the service here is fast and staff are very friendly. Keep in mind though that this is a no bookings place and that the kitchen does close early (eg. 9pm on a thursday night).

The City Lane

Fonda can get very busy during the nights, but you don't have to wait too long to get a table. Service is fast and efficient, and the food on offer is a variety of Mexican "street food", with the charred corn that's everyone's favourite and a focused selection of burritos, quesadillas and tacos.

Confessions Of A Little Piggy

I love the heat, fire, spice and livelihood that Mexican food brings to the table. Dangerously craving Mexican one night, I somehow miraculously managed to convince A to have Mexican with me that night. Next thing you know, we were at Fonda Mexican on Swan Street.

Two Bears And A Fork

"How can you get a burrito this wrong?" were the words that came from Shawn's mouth after he got stuck into Fonda Mexican 's Chopped Beef Burrito ($15). My eyes widen at his statement. Oh no...don't tell me we just ordered $61 worth of ordinary. But the place looks so cute & trendy, there are people scattered about eating away.... Braised Pork Taco Oh no. As far as Shawn's concerned, we're in foodie purgatory. Firstly, his burrito had, what seemed to be, minced beef. Okay, maybe it wasn't exactly minced, because after all the burrito was called "chopped beef" - but it was "chopped" to the point where it seemed like mince. Add to that, it apparently had z-e-r-o flavour. None. Nada. Zilch. But that's just one piece of the gripe here. Despite the black beans, salsa, and cabbage all being visibly present....Shawn declared this burrito to " have no flavour whatsoever." It seems none of the ingredients did anything for the other, or alone. They were devoid of flav

Charlie Daniels (Curious Charlie)

Very friendly staff, fun deco, what's not to like? It was a Tuesday but when we left around 7.20pm the place was full, very popular with friends for drinks and dinner after work. Service was very fast. It was very noisy inside, so I'd recommend come earlier, they're open from 12pm for lunch and don't close between then and dinner.

Eat Australia

One of my local lunchspots when at work.

Amy Wyatt

FONDA MEXICAN is home to Chef Ravi Presser and Mexican cooking sensation Lupita Manzo, who have created a simple affordable menu of authentic Mexican cuisine using the freshest produce. The name FONDA in Mexican refers to a family home turned local restaurant, a place where you can enjoy food the way mama cooks it. Literally “Mi Casa Su Casa” or “My House Your House”.

Little Miss Peckish

The only criticism I have is just how juicy this wrap was, and by the end of the meal my plate was mountain high with used paper napkins. Then again, this could also be attributed to my poor burrito-eating skills.

Marle Tyrrell

I'm not so into fashion 'trends' but I love food 'trends' and Mexican is peaking in Melbourne right now. I remember reading an article a few years ago on food trends, which used the then-current example of how Mexican was everywhere in New York. I found that really hard to believe; what could be done with burritos, nachos and tacos that hadn't already? Since then, I've learned that Mexican cuisine is a lot more expansive then those three menu items, and that they are just the tip of the iceberg.

E L I Z A B E T H A N N

There aren’t very many (good) Mexican places in Melbourne. Mostly the choices are either cheap and tacky, or expensive and unfulfilling. Fonda fills the void with a reasonably priced menu and some freshly prepared Mexican goodness.

Stefano D'Anna

Tonight led me to the latest venture Fonda from chef Ravi Presser aiming to be a hit with locals for its homely, authentic mexican menu and traditional Antojitos. The external design is fantastic, the hilarious catch phrase “Mi Casa Su Casa” hits you even as you drive past, so the anticipation leading up to my visit here was enormous. I guess that was half the problem, because in the lead up to last nights visit I had been there twice and the line had literally stretched out the door and almost knocked people over exiting nearby Union Dining . Walking in, you are greeted with an almost retro Fish ‘n Chip shop vibe(you know, back in the day when they were actually owned and run by Greeks). White walls, cash register and cooking appliances to one side and tables and chairs positioned around them accordingly. Its a tight squeeze, but everyone seems gen

Epicurean Of Southbank

Much like The Atlantic restaurant and Jane Fonda, Fonda Restaurant on Swan Street in Richmond is another polarising restaurant. Yet another Mexican inspired cantina to hit the Melbourne scene, I was intrigued to try this place simply because I read mixed reviews and also some hysteria regarding a certain kangaroo burrito that they produce. Also during one of my late nights at Der Raum, the boys behind the bar suggested that I try this place since it is around the corner from their premises and open late. I suppose that if the Mexicans can grill chicken, fish, pork and steak and wrap it in a corn tortilla and effectively make a national staple product and places like Mamasita can innovate and include offerings with ox tongue and goat why not go a step further and provide people the option to consume one of the beasts on the Australian coat of arms? This is one of Fonda Restaurant's claims to fame.

Melbfood

Mexican?. Not really Mexican but more fast food Mexican. Regardless it could be better and cheaper.

Haakon Beyer

Pretty average to say the least. Everything was under seasoned and quite frankly very bland. Better Mexican on offer

Fresh Palate

Won't be back until the beef burrito returns. We loved the beef burrito and won't return until it does, it was so good don't know why the owners took it from the menu ?! Meatball is a 2 in comparison to the winning beef burrito

Facebook User

Mexicans beware. As a Mexican I was impressed by the agua de horchata... other thab that this place is over priced. The food tastes ok but it is definitely not Mexican food. .. lets say its inspired by Mexican food.

Rob

Worst Mexican in Melbourne. Burritos should have rice in them. Full stop. In place of rice was Quinoa which was disguised as "Fonda Salad" on the menu. Waited ages. Food for our table came out over the course of 10 minutes. Early servees had finished before the latter started. Over priced. Over hip. Over noisy. Dump!

Sjl

Menu change - why remove favourites?. Replacing a beef burrito with a random meatball substitute? I love this place however hope it goes back to staying true to what made it a favourite in the first place...

Willwinter121

Nice but burnt chicken. Normally like this place, but had a burrito with burnt chicken - left a horrible taste in my mouth.

Ben Hardess

Love this place!!! But so disappointed they got rid of the beef burrito, and made it a meatball burrito!!! I eat here weekly coz it's just down the road from work and the food is always fresh and delicious just wish my favorite menu item would find its way back into the menu!!!

Googzaliciois

Yummy food and good vibe

Ben's Tasting Notes

Fresh-mex is how I'd describe Fonda Mexican. Just realised I didn't even get any melted cheese on ANYTHING! Tasty food, quick service and a Mexican beer I'd never heard of. Tops.

Jen11

I went there for dinner with my fiancé on a Wednesday night and is the second time we have been there, last time being probably a year ago. But it seems as though not much has changed because last time wasn't that great (hence why we haven't been back) and this time was no better (I thought if give it another go to see if we had a one off average experience). I ordered the chicken burrito and the chicken was so burnt all I could taste was charcoal throughout the entire thing, I couldn't even finish the meal it was awful. I'm not usually very fussy with food but this was terrible. It's a shame because this place has the potential to be a very good restaurant, but they need to get the basic stuff right.

Mischel EL

Yum & fun!. Went here with my Mr and we ordered (a bit too much) all the tacos and burritos :) it was all amazing! highlight - fish burrito for sure ! The food portions might deceive you, so order slowly. and this works out well since you can order and pay as you go. The place itself is huge! But well staffed with a pretty viewable kitchen. and the interior is super funky and modern! The staff wore happy smiles! Looking forward to going there again :)

Se4no's Kitchen

Deeeeelicious!!! Amazing authentic fresh healthy Mexican :D recommend the fish tacos!!!

Al.bee

Fast and Fresh. Dropped in here for a quick meal and wasn't disappointed. I would rate this more as cafe style (almost fast food) rather than a destination restaurant, but the service was quick and friendly and the food was good. Limited menu options had something for everyone but didn't take hours to make a decision. Food arrived quickly although somehow almost cold in one case. Loved the absence of cheese and the pay on order system makes for a quick getaway when you've had your fill.

Florenceggg

Just yum!. All that needs to be said is yum, yum and yum! Great fresh, tasty food.

Gerbert

Fresh and fun mexican. Really friendly staff and fresh great tasting food. Came here for lunch and was not disappointed

S

Yum!. Really rate the fish burrito.. In fact the beef and chicken were yum too. Quinoa was a great idea instead of rice, I prefer it! Also the sauce is delish.

JupitusMercury

Full Stomach, Full Wallet.. Really enjoyed the two visits I've made to Fonda. I've heard complaints that it's not spicy enough, that the the food is bland...if you're expecting an 'authentic' Mexican taste, I can see how you may be disappointed. But taking it for what it is - an easygoing, crowd-pleasing joint - I don't think there's much room for complaint. Service was great, food was tasty, l left with a very full stomach, and all for a reasonable price (a shade over $20). Chicken Quesadilla and Chipotle Chips are both winners. Thanks, Fonda!

Kylie

Delicious!! We went right in the middle of the lunch rush, but the staff were so accommodating, explaining up front that there would be a long wait for food, and trying their best to make sure everyone was serviced fairly. It was well worth the wait. I had the chicken burrito and it was the tastiest chicken burrito I have had for a long time.

Tardar Sauce

Flavourless quesadillas :( $20 for a small chicken quesadilla and a watermelon/strawberry juice.. both with minimal flave.. pass.

Lachlan

This is where I go when I want Mexican.

Appetite For Life...

Never dull in taste or vibe. I absolutely love this restaurant..between the richmond and now the Flinders lane locations, it is one of my go-to restaurants. I love the corn, the fish taco, quinoa salad, chicken burrito, it's hard to go wrong! My favourite drink it the watermelon/strawberry one!!

Mason_r

Yummy food! Very Small portion!. Been there with my wife and another couple. We ordered Fish Taco, Chopped Beef Burritos, Charred Corn and Chicken Quesadilla. First one disappeared in couple of seconds and the corn was completely different comparing to the photo we've seen previously. Probably a quarter of a full corn. It wasn't definitely worth the money. Burritos wasn't the best one I've ever eaten but it was OK. The last one was the best. The Avocado sauce was mouth watering while eaten with Quesadilla. We also tried Mexican Standout (Cocktail). It was brilliant! Anyway at the end we rushed into Dominos Pizza opposite, had 2 pizzas and 2 large pack of chips!

Deanricho_1999

Festivus - Oh lah good. Had the Spicy buritto and margaritas ;) Great food One of the better Mexican places A tad pricey though

JR

Fast and Fantastic.. We were seated by a lovely very helpful staff member, she explained the menus to us and to go up and pay first etc. The food was super duper quick. The atmosphere is bubbly and colourful and all staff were so chirpy. We had a fantastic bite to eat and back to the warmth of our house very quickly thanks to speedy service and chefs. Be back soon :)

Samantha Norrie

Getting worse. I tried fonda about three months ago and the food was up to standard, however i went there last Saturday night and the food was cold, bland and very ordinary. We not go back due to that experience seriously lift your game Fonda!!

Jhart1756

Last few times have been worse and worse. We came here a bit when it first opened but last three times have been getting progressively worse. Food is not good and staff need to grow up. Sorry Fonda you've lost us. Maybe it's time to focus on the food rather than world domination.

Kayla Gelston

I've been to Fonda many times and I absolutely LOVE it, the best Mexican I've eaten by far (I've been to Mexico!!). I do want to share an experience today. We ordered over the phone and was advised it would be ready in 25 minutes. I arrived at the appropriate time and was advised it would be another 5-10 minutes, then another 5, then another 2. 50 minutes from the time we ordered my food was ready. Much to my surprise, I was handed my meal as well as a full refund. I tried to give it back because I know that the food is well worth the wait however the gentleman insisted. I must say, this is my first review on urban spoon and I'm an absolute advocate for this restaurant. Amazing!

Steph A

I'm usually not a fan of Mexican food but this place is amazing!!!! A party for my taste buds! I will be back next week!

Emilia

Twice in one week, getting worse each time!. Came here with a friend earlier in the week because she lives near by, it was early and wasn't busy, the food came quickly and all, it was all fine until when we had around 5chips left and a little bit of drinks. We were still eating and drinking them, just slowly, but the guy came and took it without asking us, and after he took it all in his hand, he was like "oh did you want that still?" seriously??? this is how you kick out your customers?? Came back again last night around 9pm after working near by, it was very busy so we put our name down and waited near by. The wait wasn't long, just about 10mins, we sat down and ordered, everything was once again great, but went all down hills when the food came. The fish burrito was all wet and dripping sauce. The whole plate was wet and covered with the sauce, it was gross. And the lady who came to clean the plates were very rude, she just grabbed the plate as she is walking pass, knocking us on the way. Very very disappointed. I remember this place used to be good few years back, don't know what happened.

Janeballantine78

Two trips to Fonda in 2 weeks, one bad ..one very bad. A friend wanted to check out the new Fonda in Flinders lane last week. It was bad. Then another friend organises us to meet up at the Richmond one today for lunch. Seriously, as much as you try and polish a turd, a turd is just a turd. Fast food chain trying to hide behind a disguise of interior design. taco's fell apart in our hands and the cocktails were like they were out of a post mix. Gross. I don't get it. i think i need to find new friends.

Melanie_cornelius

Fresh and delicious Mexican.. Food was scrumptious, a new taste of Mexican.

I-eat

Cannot wait to try more.. This was our first time trying Fonda Mexican and will not be our last. The experience was not perfect but it was enough to keep us curious. We ordered the charred corn, eggplant quesadilla and mushroom burrito. The first two dishes were fantastic and did not disappoint. However, the mushroom burrito lacked flavour but does leave your mouth burning from spice. The service was fast and friendly and the prices were cheap. Will be back to try the other options on the menu.

Nicole Raynal

REAAAAALLLLY Good.. Best burrito I've ever had - hands down. I had the fish burrito and it was juicy and packed to the brim with black beans, quinoa, shredded cabbage, tasty fish, and a whole lot more that gave it an awesome flavour. The chicken ensalata was to die for - filled with coriander, pepitas, sweet potato and a tangy sweet flavour. LOVE this place and will be returning for sure.

Casual Eating Person

Very poor experience. In for a quick lunch, place was very quiet, ordered two meals with one arriving after about 10 minutes and the second arriving another twenty minutes after that.. Tortilla's were doughy and definitely not worth the inflated prices. Way over hyped..

JLAL

The food tastes pretty good. Far from Mexican tho. Burritos are more like wraps. Great staff! Music selection is horrible. Probably won't return in a hurry. Sounded like an FHM Father's Day mix cd.

Geoff McInnis

It's good but over priced as are most Mexican places in Melbourne

Chomp

Lovely, friendly, warm staff. Great food for lunch today - we had the corn, chicken burrito & beef burrito - all fresh, tasty and delicious. We'll be back for dinner if we can get in, loved it!

Roy Chan

Fish burrito?. Was pleasantly surprised at how good the fish burrito was! Highly recommend trying!

Laura

On my birthday my partner and I were supposed to go somewhere romantic, but while crossing the street we saw Fonda and decided to give it a go! Great choice!!! Delicious food, relaxed environment and reasonable prices! We will definitely go back!

BigSmiles

Loved it! Very affordable for a dinner out of delicious wholesome food. Friendly staff, very fast food service, clean and well prepared with menus & water already on tables. ((Negative comments on here are rubbish!! If you can see they are super busy have the common sense to come another time to enjoy this place. It drives me crazy that people stay then complain about the little things!) Big ups to you guys, we will definitely be back!!! :D

Laura Zavros

Great fit out. Lovely staff. Food was good but missing a wow factor. We ordered the beef tacos , pork tacos and pork quesadilla. Needed more fresh coriander and lime to finish dishes. Disappointed fish tacos were crumbed.

Ben Smart

Went there with a friend today and it was absolutely beautiful. Grilled chicken burrito is a must. Really fresh and delicious! Waiting time for a table was only 10 mins. Will come back soon

Kady

Yum! This place is awesome! My favorites on the menu the chicken burrito, the corn and the chipotle sauce. Big thumps up! All the staff were lovely.

Gwynneth

Best Mexican, hands down. The place is tiny, but filled with clearly happy people. The main kitchen is open and a part of the entrance, which I loved! Makes it feel more like a family home, and the cooking tastes just as authentic. Food was fast, delicious, cheap - only a single unisex bathroom, which is the only downside of this place. Put our names on a list for a table when we arrived, but only had to wait 20 minutes (in which we had a drink at a nearby bar) so it wasn't a problem. Very keen to go back, the grilled corn entree (with chipotle sauce and cheese) was SO delicious! Edit - forgot to mention the drinks - the cocktails are decent, but as the driver that night, the flavoured waters were standout! Ordered a Watermelon and mint Aqua - came in a giant jar with a straw, and was absolutely so refreshing on a hot night. Saw another review saying "don't expect cheese and sour cream" etc - the flavours created here are so delicious that they don't need cheese and sour cream to drown the food in! Highly recommended, very casual place, great to relax in.

KT

Great service. Great atmosphere. Great food! The grilled chicken salad is very tasty and all the different textures make it a great dish. I would highly recommend it. The marinated kangaroo salad is another really good dish. Simple flavours, but everything works well together making it a very fresh tasting dish. Another must-try is the charred corn. Would definitely come back and try more of the menu.

Birdman99

Wanky hipster Mexican. Not even really that Mexican. The combination of flavours didn't really work, not a lot to choose from, don't expect much cheese, sour cream or flavour.

Peter Jorgensen

Nice modern Melbournian take on Mexican food. Best Horchata I've had outside of Mexico.

Aaron Mclachlan

Great food. Good beer. Fantastic result. 2 thumbs up.

Birdie-num-num

Fun and friendly. Went twice last week to take some out of town friends - they were suitably impressed, it's affordably cheap and cheerful. The food is so tasty on both times we ordered all of the starters - we almost ordered one of everything. I recommend the chicken ensalada, just delicious. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!

Marc Ferron

It started off with a lack of common sense....please wipe your tables before seating someone there. Not a good start. Our focus quickly changed to the menu as we tried to locate the food items. Is that all? 11 things plus salads. What the? These few things had better be good. Ordered nearly everything from the menu (really, it wasnt a lot of food) and at best it was decent. A nice place as your local as it is really inexpensive but not really worth traveling half an hour for. We left satisfied but would we do it again?.... not anytime soon. Nothing really bad but just not my cup of tea.

Happylittleeater

It's ok.. but nothing to rave about. Interesting concept... clearly done well gauging by the number of people there and certainly offers something different to what's already in the area...but the food was nothing special. The veggie buritto was tasteless. I guess it's about the packaging, and not the content that lures people.

Charles

After hearing good reviews about this place we were pretty disappointed when we were put on the "15 minute" waiting list of which we were to wait for a text to notify an available table to then still not receive one an hour and a half later. Cheers Fonda.

Preston Starr

Fresh!. This place is good. The mexican is traditional, light and fresh. The use of Quinoa as a key ingredient in burritos and the like (instead of rice) is excellent, and makes for a healthy and fresh vibe. Service was quick, and the food was loaded with flavour. Perhaps the burrito I ordered could have had either more sauce or beef, but was otherwise enjoyable. Well played.

Helen Lai

Disappointed. I was really looking forward to trying Fondas, but I left only loving the unique cocktails served in cute mason jars. We started with the fish tacos, which were nice and moved on to the chicken and pulled pork quesadillas. These were too full of filling, majority of which was cheese, I missed the nice thin crispness of a quesadilla.

Mr Paul

Great food, great atmosphere VERY AVERAGE BEER that's always WARM!

Kim

Good vegan / GF options and cool vibe.

Stvar1

My favourite local eatery. I love Fonda. It's cheap and chic. I wish I could tell you more about the food, but I fell in love with the fish tacos a long time ago, and so whenever I come to Fonda I get the same thing - fish tacos and corn, give or take a cocktail, or horchata. And I'm not the kind of person to order the same thing anywhere else. But at Fonda, I can't go past the fish tacos. Get some in your belly now! I think I should go get some more...

Eloise Healy

Came here not long ago and in response to those who disliked the beef burrito I thought it was delicious. The quinoa in there was fantastic - maybe something some aren't expecting perhaps? Busy, not too loud so was able to speak easily to friends and great vibe. To those complaining about lining up to order, seriously, get over it. If that determines your evening take a chill pill; you can't slam a place for having that as part of their ethos. It meant that more waiters are available to bring people food and drinks and they were darn efficient might I add! Will definitely be returning and recommending.

Get Your Eat On

Fun Mexican twist. What a delight! Fish tacos were absolutely awesome! As was the Mexican drink I tried and the quesadilla's. I even liked the kangaroo burrito and chips. Everything was yum without breaking the bank. Will definitely be back =)

Saul Goodman

So disappointing. Beef burrito was starchy and flavourless, maybe should have gone with something else. Chipotle chips were good though

Nicole Power

30mim wait on a Saturday night which was fine. Vegetarian tacos were delicious as was the lychee margarita but fiancé hated his beef burrito. He said it was bland and boring.

Melodytotherescue

YUM!. Not only is there eye candy - but the food is primo!! Regular haunt found.

Foodlover12

First time visit & we really enjoyed it. I don't like the "order & pay system" it causes too much congestion in the foyer area & to be honest it really is annoying. The food was good, loved the corn & burritos & salad. The chips were disappointing nothing special but they sound so fancy on the menu. I'm sure we will be back but there are. Couple of things they could change.

Kasie May

Love Love Love. Best Mexican I've had, the tacos are delicious! Ran out of the veggie taco filling one time, a little annoying when it's the only veggie taco option available.

Meredith Ann

Obviously a popular venue, I gave it a few chances and each time the food disappointed. Fish taco had a terrible mayo, guacamole doesn't taste fresh. Great layout, babes work there, but huge question mark over the quality of their produce. Won't return.

Nick

Great food, even better service!. Best Mexican in Melbourne!!! Fresh, light and super tasty. Shivaun our waitress was just great , brilliant service!!!!! Enjoy!!

Mike

Great service from the Irish chick. Lot of fun. Great food!!

GV

I fell in love with the food from the first bite and the Irish waitress serving us was awesome. Big love

Daisy

Revolting food. Pretentious service. Although hats off for remaining so pretentious when you work at a burrito parlour.

Nicholas

Was great, now average. I've never had to line up to go to Fonda, but if I did, I probably wouldn't - I don't think it justifies any sort of wait. The food used to be great here, but lately has left much to be desired, with the food becoming more bland over time, I'm not sure if it's a new chef, or just laziness. Hopefully it can get back to making some great Mexican food.

Ruby-Jean

El Maco. Call it snobbery if you will, but lining up to make/pay an order just seemed too McDonaldsy - so started my sour note. Ordered a bottle of wine and prompted the waiter 20 minutes later if it had taken annual leave - turns out they decided to 'put the bottle on ice because it would be better served cold as they neglected to put it in the fridge earlier.'. Right. The sentiment I agreed with - the mystery in which this was enshroud was beyond me. Nothing a little communication couldn't fix. Anyhow - like most others reviewing this with a thumbs down, the food was quite bland - pork taco and chick quesadilla were served almost cold (maybe this was put on ice too?) and just had no flavour. The place also has an aroma of 'eau-de-deepfry'. Disappointed - pick up the slack Fonda (or the salt shaker for that matter...).

Zann Gava

IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT GOOD MEXICAN FOOD TASTES LIKE..... GO EAT HERE AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY.. IT SUCKED.... This was the worst mexican food we have ever had in our entire lives... and believe me we LOVE mexican and have been to many restaurants all over the world....as well as in Oz.... there was four of us and not ONE MEAL tasted good... you had to line up to order your food as well... we might as well have gone to a cafeteria at Ikea and eaten better food. i cant believe people have positive things to say about this place..obviously they have NO IDEA what good mexican really tastes like. NO WAY would we go back.....or recommend this place to anyone.

Tony Chen

Quality has dropped. I was here first week it opened when no one was around... service was amazing, and food was great!! Now both counts are lacking 3/10

LaKangurina

GREAT if you don't have tastebuds. "Tortillas sourced from El Cielo tortilleria... bread from Abbotsford Convent Bakery".... none of it worth a damn if the chef doesn't know how to season the food. This place is for Aussie hipsters who dig decor and floppy hairstyles over good Mexican food (or even good food, to be honest). I had my dinner partner taste the beef burrito I had ordered just to confirm that it was a big pile of nothingness on my plate - confirmed. I drowned it in their "#@%& off" sauce so I could convince my mouth I was eating something. Mamasita began this Melbourne trend of Mexican eateries and it will be the only one that remains when the fad is over -- because the food there is authentic and fabulous. Or go to Mexicali Rose (it's on the same street as this place!!) it's not trendy but a million times better than this for food.

Kells

Enjoyed two amazing tacos for dinner with generous fillings of pork and fish. Really impressed by the flavours. Really punchy and fresh. Great service too. This grilled corn is a must also...you wont be disappointed.

Alfred Tiong Eng Chuah

This is my 6/7th time in the past 15 months. Am disappointed by the beef burrito I am having. It used to be delicious. It tastes bland today. The tortilla is thicker too. I hate it when food isn't seasoned properly - it's just salt. Also it was at best lukewarm when it was delivered to me. The grilled chicken salad also lacks zing. U can open branches but quality suffers. I dun think I'm coming back.

Bronwyn

Not very fonda of this. Party of 5 visited the Richmond place on a Sunday night - place was buzzing and we were lucky to get an end of a long table. Atmosphere good, staff great BUT have to say - not very impressed with the food - which, really, is why you go out to a restaurant. Menu looked interesting, but when the actual dishes came they were very Meh! Corn on the cob was tasty, but where was the aioli as stated? Pork quesadilas was pretty bland both in colour and flavour - where was a bright salsa dressing to liven it up? Chicken salad was tasty but funny how the 2 other dishes of kangaroo burrito and vegetarian burrito looked just like it! That's lazy cooking. Onto to the Kangaroo Burrito - one of the most expensive dishes on the menu and really very boring. The burrito was warm-ish but the filling was cold! like out of the fridge cold! Weird! Chunks of not badly done roo were luke warm and the combo of warm, luke-warm and cold in the mouth was not good. The dish desperately needed a sauce to moisten it - it was dry and boring. A lovely Irish waiter helped us out with returning the 2 roo dishes, replacing one with a vege burrito. I just asked for it to be heated; I like my hot meal to be hot please. It came back the same. I couldn't complain again - what's the point? The point is I would not go back here for the food if you paid me. Sad.

Jimmy343

Really good food with excellent friendly service. The food here is really tasty! A casual restaurant that ticks so many boxes. Fish taco and beef burrito are my favourite dishes- freshly pressed dough filled with fresh ingredients bursting with flavour. Tijuana beer is really good and I never seen it anywhere else in Australia. My girlfriend loved the spanked gin cocktail. Great take away option in Richmond too. Well worth a try.

Candy Bacon

Fish tacos were delicious as were the cocktails. Chicken burrito was dry & inedible.

Stephen Austen

Rude Staff. Had an incredibly rude French waiter try to remove us from our table after we sat down. Didn't bother ordering.

AlanaJ

Basic menu featuring fresh and beautiful flavours. I had the chicken quesadilla and it was delicious! Good prices too. Will definitely be back. The only annoying thing was no table service - have to order at the counter. But that's not a big deal and I look forward to trying the kangaroo burrito!

Cn40

Quick and delish. We were coming home from Scienceworks and needed a quick cheap feed. We did a quick search on urbanspoon, read Fonda's reviews, jumped off the freeway and managed a park just outside. The menu is not extensive but we all enjoyed are meals. Dishes were a twist on fresh mexican as we know it and well worth a try. Service was friendly and quick however we were there well before dinner time.

Themkc

Lovely service, great food. Came in as a group of eight to a packed restaurant expecting a longish wait. The maitre d' was able to have us squeezed in a matter of minutes, with extremely friendly and accommodating service. I was taken aback by the ordering and paying by the bar, as I thought place better suited table service but I suppose it keeps the cost down and this is reflected in the reasonable prices for the good food. Everything came out very quickly and the food itself was fresh, tasty, and definitely a huge step up from many of the Mexican/Latin American restaurants which serve heavy and seemingly reheated dishes. Chose the chicken burrito and it contained a beautiful mix of ingredients, with a lovely crunch accompanying each bite. This is a solid choice for anyone around Richmond!

Hayley12

Yummy!! Great prices compared to other similar Melbourne Mexican restaurants!

Danielle Croome

Fresh and tasy - no tex mex here!!. Love this place, although i could love the wait less.. (20 mins on a Tuesday night for a table of two.. BOOK. very popular) the kangaroo burrito was cooked to perfection, you do not cook kangaroo well done.. it will turn into leather if you do that, but this chef was all over it! nice and seared. The fish taco was also fresh, zingy and the food is all very traditional fare. No tex mex cheese and guac crap all over your food either.. so if you like Mad Mex, you will be disappointed, because this place does fresh and authentic. will be back again and again BUT.- you guys do need to stop serving your margaritas in jars. That whole melbourne hipster thing is really annoying and now it is over done, properly margarita glasses will be great! thanks

Caffiend

Good but not great. Excellent for a quick, cheap meal but it seems to have gone down hill a little since it first opened. Still pretty good though and will always be a good local option!

Michelle

Overpriced. Rude staff

Laura

Cheap and cheerful. Much better value tacos than other mexican's i've been too. The fish one is great!! Wasn't sure about the kangaroo burrito... really undercooked and i had blood dripping all over my plate which kind of put me off. But great for a cheap dinner one night. Make sure you get here early though as it packs out pretty sharpish after 6.

Xikan

Good for take away, too busy to eat there and not worth the wait. Food is OK but not amazing

Nacho Man

Cold food, warm beer, patchy service. Our group was seated at a cramped outdoor table. The beer in the cooler was warm. The food could have been warmer than it was. Our orders arrived individually, the final order was served after the first or our group of 5 had finished his meal.

Rob

I love this place BUT what the f*ck happened to the f*ck off sauce??! It used to blow my head off. Alas no more. Big fat :( face.

Max Rivera

Ola senior! i used to like it, then it got ultra hip & famous AND changed the chorizo in the quesadilla. it was legit sausage & now its minced. fat chips used to be crispier. the mexican sodas are the bomb. i used to get a chorizo & a haircut, but i cant i find the barbershop anymore : (

Aly

Quick, fresh & simple. I'd been wanting to try this place for a while, so went with a few friends thursday night. Great funky vibe and we were seated pretty quickly. The service here is fast and friendly. tick. The food is fresh, tasty and simple, tick. Prices pretty reasonable and a small but quality selection of drinks. tick. Not as diverse or rich as the food at mamasita nor is it a place that you can spend a good few hours chatting with friends and slowly grazing. Get in, get fed and get out. BUT certainly makes for a easy casual cheap dinner with mates.

Antonio

Mmm cabbage. I'd heard mixed things about Fonda. And both were spot on. The positive: Great atmosphere and awesome staff. Very attentive and quick. The ordinary: The food. I had the chicken burrito. Well, I think it was chicken, I hardly noticed it. Full of cabbage, beans and quinoa. It was dry, where was some salsa or some avocado? There's lots of Mexican choice in Melbourne, and lots of much better Mexican food. Sadly, because it was a great place to hang out, I wouldn't go back.

Sarah Nammuni Dewage

Food was yum. Quick service with a friendly smile. will be back :)

Kiran Hayes

Interesting menu which has failed to disappoint! Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and just a generally awesome place for a meal.

Puddin

Great!. Fantastic GF options, great sized meals, my favourites are the fish taco, the tortilla crisps, and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE HORCHATA.

Westernasian

8.5/10. I don't think that there is actually anything that's less than delicious here - I've tried their chicken and beef burritos, chorizo quesadilla, fat chips and horchata, and not once was I disappointed with any of them. My Mexican friend, who is usually very critical against most Westernised interpretations of Mexican food, even praised the roo burrito that she'd had, so it's safe to say that this place is doing all the right things.

Heat2013

Ok, but overhyped. Bustling place, busy and cool. Perhaps more about being part of the atmosphere as about the food. In saying this, fun place, worth a try.

Melb Eater

The food is amazing! Dare I say it but the corn is actually better than Mamasita-both places take something so simple & turn it into a meal highlight. The only down side is having to go up and order, this makes group dining slightly less simplistic and the urge to order more drinks wain.

Luca

Good quality. Very nice, will go back

Ed

Good food but a bit pricy. We have ordered a chorizo quesadilla and a beef burrito. Both dish were nicely presented and very delicious. The only downturn is that it cost us $27 which is not cheap for lunch. Will go back for other food.

Happyfeet Natasha

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants. Fish tacos and a glass of horchata (served in a cute jar) are a must. The burritos are delicious we ith quinoa and beans stuffed in. They are generally pretty large so good to share if you don't have a huge appetite. I'm a big fan of the kangaroo burrito, with such rich flavors and perfectly cooked meat, you can't go wrong.

Brunching Around

Burritos are sooo good here! Had the kangaroo fillet burrito with pumpkin, pepitas, feta and quinoa. Kangaroo was grilled to medium rare perfection. Yum.

Suji

THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD. I am not a big fan of Mexican food but this place is fantastic. MUST GO restaurant.

Elle

Best Mexican yet!. I had once sworn, after a big mistake visiting Taco Bill's , that I would never eat Mexican food again in Melbourne. However, this place is a MUST!! For anyone who believes that the extent of Mexican food ends at refried beans and manky corn chips, this place will wow you. Not a huge menu but you can pretty much guarantee that you will love anything you choose (including the salad girls) and want to come back. The burritos are incredible, the corn(although a little on the small serve size) is delisthand VERY unusual-worth ordering, purely for the novelty. You may need to wait, but do yourselves a favor and wait regardless! The cantina style obviously doesn't lend itself to a fine dining experience but boys, you'll be stuffed and girls, you will be adequately satiated. GO GO GO. You won't be disappointed.

Remchi

A must go place!. Went there today the first time and it was overall great.A very artistic atmosphere, delicious food with good prices.Tried aztep soup-soo yummy , fish taco -super delicious and beef burrito -another great dish.

Harlow Quinn

So yum!. I LOVE this place. The food is so fresh and delicious. I have tried all the mexican in the city and this is by far my favourite!!! everyone should go! The burritos are fantabulouso.

Jess Skish

Great mexican. Love the seafood tacos, so good. Will be back again!

D

Super friendly service, great fresh food and has an easy going atmosphere. My partner and I recieved two complementary drinks for moving tables for a group of people. Move up!

Drlill

High expectations... nice but nothing special. Dinner thursday night , friendly staff , nice vibe , music was a little load but overall nice feel to this little mexican joint. Food came out extremely fast which was very surprising as it was packed, chicken burrito was unfortunately very bland , needed salt desperately , the salsa was too overpowering and did not have a nice flavour so all four of us scraped it off our food. The kangaroo burrito was quite dry and lacked flavour. The beef burrito however ,was by far the best pick of the night , was moist and had a nice smokey flavour to it . My vegetarian quesadilla was ok although price was a little steep i thought , mainly potato and rocket needed more vegetables the cheese was the highlight of the night, as it added the salt that all the other meals were lacking . Overall would come back, but would choose the starters and not the mains and try the cocktails which looked interesting.

Tina Tran

Mediocre. I had dinner here on Saturday night. I had the grilled corn and the chorizo quesadilla which were okay and the 'Mexican Stand-off' cocktail which was fantastic. I also ordered the chicken burrito, as I read rave reviews on the burritos here, and I found it to be extremely dry and a little bland. I love Latin American food and was looking forward to this place but it was just average and I was underwhelmed.

Flossie_1972

Had the pleasure of eating here tonight and it was fantastic. The only things we didn't try were the burrito and the chips with chipotle. The pork taco was the best followed by the chicken salad. Fab!

Phil Stubbs

Fantastic. Great burritos!!!!

Little.miss

Great, cheap Mexican joint. Really liked their authentic Mexican drinks as well. We had the veg quesadilla, fish tacos, tortiallas and chicken burrito which were all quite nice and good for sharing. The corn was ok, mamasitas would rate higher though honestly or even the one from black toro. Good thing is because food comes out so fast, u don't really have to wait too too long for a table. Bonus if ur wanting a quick meal but not so if ur wanting a place to spend the night.

Artemis

Fresh and tasty. Grabbed a quick bite here before a movie and really enjoyed the fresh ingredients, friendly service and good prices. The fish and vegetarain tacos were really delicious and the marguerita hit the spot on such a hot night. We'll be back for sure.

Tiffany Chin

Local Fav. Love the great relaxed environment. Quesadilla was too greasy for my liking but I always find getting one of each taco very enjoyable. Excellent and very well priced cocktails.

Ninniku

Fish tacos are top notch ! Frozen margerarta brill!

Chileanxgringo

I've been coming to Fonda's for a very very long time and am extremely disappointed with my last visit, the food quality has been just gone downhill but the last beef burrito I had was just unacceptable. I'd describe the beef was cooked on a burnt week old leftovers on a pan! Was just super bitter and disgusting. I won't be coming back nor recommend this to anyone ever again. Noise level is just uncomfortable aswell

MBA Food

Lackluster. Paid $14.00 for a cold half microwaved beef burrito, served by waitresses who looked like they wanted to neck themselves. They also "ran out" of the Horchata because "it was hot." Quality of service and product has gone downhill and isn't on my list of places to eat in Richmond anymore. Adios!

Diasdefutbol

Really simple boring food, not that Mexican, not much taste, will not be back.... Everything was rushed to turn the table around, not good at all.

Hunger Games.

Looking forward to windsor.. Herd you are opening a new venue in windsor. After eating here over the weekend i am excited to see you guys expand. Delicious food.

Jimmy B

Ordered beef burrito and chorizo quesadilla, service was friendly but food was bland and unappealing. Burrito had no flavor and quesadilla tasted like cheese andnothing else. Not impressed.

Claire Scoular

Good. I thought the food and drink options here were good although i would have preferred more options on the menu. Its great if you can get a seat outside as inside is a little cramped. The corn is excellent but the fish and chicken tacos were average with very little flavour. All in all not bad for a quick snack/lunch but I am not sure what all the fuss is about.

Chanos

GREAT MEXICAN, behind mamasita. This is an amazing mexican if you are in richmond, if you love mexican this is a must. the horchata is the best mexican drink i've had. the sweetness with the milk is harmonious. followed by the quiesadellas and the other tacos this is an amazing mexican.

Roger Bradley

Good quality, mexican taqueria. La fonda reminded me the first time in Mexico and the traditional Taquerias that you found in every corner ! These taquerias normally have the grill next to the tables instead of a former kitchen. the impression was positive with good selections of cervezas which reminded me the Ones I got back then. the concept of taqueria really comes together with simple light and tasty dishes. The service was quick despite the fact that the restaurant was packed. The quality was good however I would had expected the use of better ingredients to distinguish themselves from other TexMex concepts. If you are looking for a light dinner, exotic at a fair price, then search no more.

Spoongroove

Recommend the goat taco. Yummmm, maybe not quick food (this place is popular) but soo tastey

Kezmo

Not so fond of la Fonda. I was very excited to try hipster burrito central. Hailing from the US, I was keen to try what Melbourne Mexican fare had to offer. After my my second visit, I'm still not sold. The customer service is atrocious and the food isn't that great. On my first visit I had average pork tacos. On my next visit I had a chicken burrito that was full of cabbage, grisly chicken, and generally lacked in flavour. The tortilla chips are alright, the smokey chipotle salsa being the hero. I won't be returning unless I'm desperate for a feed.

SB

Really?!?!. Don't come here if you're looking for real Mexican food. Long queues of people wanting to be seated and I guess the only attraction is the cheap prices - but you could get that too at the Westfield foodcourt which is closer and delivers to expectation.

Del

Ok so I was excited to try this place after the reviews on urbanspoon....lets just say I will give it the benefit of the doubt & will not order the chicken burrito again!!!!! Too much cabbage & not enough chicken & I swear I detected some mint in there...tasted like more of a chicken wrap from trios than a "Mexican" burrito! Plus it was completely lacking in the sauce department...! However the place was packed & reviews are awesome so next time ill opt for the fish taco instead! Having just slammed their chicken burrito I will say that the service was fantastic :)

Georgia Latham

Tasty Cheap Mexican. Once you get a seat and order, the food comes out super quick so it is great if you are hungry. Tasty and Cheap Mexican in Richmond. FIsh and pork tacos were delish!

Georgia Emma Jean Morgan

Fonda is my favourite of the Melbourne Mexican revolution. Perfection between, trendy, quality food and drinks, vibes and service. Thheeeeeee bestttt Fish Taco in the universe ! Sooooo gooodddddd!!!

Nowvoyager

One of the best burritos I've had. Highly recommended.

Natasha Bird

Yum. Fonda is similar to mamasita, though in my opinion, not quite as good. It's tough for Fonda trying to compete with mamasita. If I hadn't been to mamasita before, the food at Fonda would've impressed me much more. The food is fresh and tasty, the prices are good. Service was quick and the floor staff were really nice. An enjoyable dining experience!

G.dix

Kudos for the fish Taco. Fish taco was awesome but chicken burrito was lacking in sauce and chicken and way too much veggies in them. But you gotta try the Taco. Worth a visit!

Reviewer

Great. Ordered fish tacos - really good!

Emily McVeigh

I like the simplicity of Fonda. Easy wine list, quick and tasty food that is well priced. Cool vibe, friendly staff. It's all good :)

Minny

Lovely and cute little Place. This place was recommended to me by a friend and I just love the decor. The review on urbanspoon is just so negative but I do not think it has affect the business at all. The place still have people waiting for available seats so good on you Fonda. Love your food.

Mcwonkey

The Mexican revolution....is not here. It should be easy to do good Mexican right? Not so much here. The interiors are cute, possibly too cute because it really feels like this place has attempted to quickly ride the Mexican wave that is sweeping Melbourne. But it fails to live up to the expectations set by Trippy Taco and Mamasita. The food is bland and lacks the zesty, smokiness that is needed. Quinoa is a great attempt to mix things up, but it will just end up putting people off because it can be so much more! The margaritas are great, served in jars.... but thats not enough to get me going back.

Getaround

I enjoy going to Fonda and I like the food but.... Last time we were there they gave us the wrong meals which was dissapointing wait staff were not much help after we had bitten into it either. Anyway what can you do. We love the corn and fries.

D.D

Very cool place with very friendly staff... Heard so much about the food ... But was dissapoined with the lack of flavor in the dishes ordered.... Horchata was awesome though

Mugsie

What a fabulous find.... ...right around the corner. We had to wait ages for a table for 6 but it was worth it. Food was yum and margaritas were going down far too easily.

BFree

After hearing good reviews i expected much more flavor wise from Fonda, but I found the flavors overwhelming. It's either very hot, very charcoal like or bland, maybe a second visit would prove me wrong but I won't be going back in a hurry

Georgia Nowell

YUM. There corn is amazing. Great good.

Tazzy

Great healthy fast food. Fonda mexican is great. it's healthy fast food that tastes amazing. tortillas are homemade and taste just like you are in mexico. love that the burrito (my bf had it not me, it wasn't gluten free) had quinoa in it rather then rice. service was fast and friendly as well.

Mikele Rizzi

Great little spot. We go there every week for the ensaladas. Staff is very friendly.

Offshore

Blew my socks off. I had high expectations for Fonda, and they were exceeded. Although it was a busy Friday night, our group of four was given the option of being accommodated quickly at a small table or waiting for a larger one. We took the small table, but there was enough room to enjoy our dinner without elbowing each other. Staff were efficient but friendly. All our food arrived within ten minutes of ordering and was all fantastic. The braised pork taco, although a little sloppy from pineapple juice and lime, was a taste sensation. The vegetarian taco was thoroughly enjoyed by another diner, as were the chicken salad, and various chips and bowls of tortillas. The asparagus quesadilla was a fresh and interesting combination. The highlight (apart from the pork taco) was the frozen margarita....apple, elderflower, lime - it was hard to stop at one. Thankfully it is local to me so I will be back, and back, and back....can't believe it's taken so long for me to get here!

LA.RI

Awesome burritos. Fresh, tasty and simple. This place proves that Mexican food isn't just 20kg of cheese and dirty beef. Loved it

Bill R

So Good. Kangaroo fillet burrito was delicious. Succinct Menu. Reasonable prices. Friendly and fast service.

Chloe N

What happened Fonda?. After my first trip after Fonda opened, I was really excited to return. However this time round the food was revolting to the point where we ate three bites and left. The chicken burrito was 90% beans and quinoa and 10% burnt chicken. Wine tasted like it had been left open from the night before. Interesting to see that previous reviews had the same experience. It would seem that Fonda is still running on hype, which I don't understand. Fail, I really loved you Fonda but I'm never coming back.

Vincente

Came here last weekend. Order a fish taco, kangaroo burrito and chorizo quesadilla. The fish taco tastes good (not amazing) but the burrito and quesadilla tastes terrible! It lacked salt and flavor. Very disappointed! If you decide to come here, get the fish taco otherwise don't bother.

Darren B

Awesome - but why so much hatred for hipsters by nasty reviewers?. Fonda is just awesome. It is simple, fresh, healthy, tasty.... I think the fact that they have been open for over a year now, and still have lines every day, is testament to the fact it is amazing. I saw a review on here which described the staff as hipsters. Hmmm, Fonda is in Richmond. Richmond doesn't really do hipsters like other suburbs. No offence to people living in Richmond, who are actually leading hipster existences. You are probably a minority, but I think minorities should be recognised :) However, I dont think the staff at Fonda can be characterised as hipsters. No offence to any staff at Fonda who want to be considered hipsters. But on the whole, I dont reckon the 'hipster' tag fits this place. Even if it did, who cares? Calling people 'hipsters' is a bit overused these days. Why so much hatred for hipsters? Hipsters are people too... discrimination is never cool.

Trav

Thanks for changing my opponion on Mexican food! I thought I didn't like Mexican but now realize I don't like. Tex-Mex, fish tacos and the corn are awesome!

Belinda

Just had dinner here tonight, the food was ok, the veggie burrito was a bit bland. Service was friendly and pretty quick for how busy it was.

MrsM

Reasonable prices, excellent food, good quick service. The corn is amazing. Literally. Were lucky we didn't have to wait, but could see how its frustrating.

Mary Prizini

Really good cheap mexican food comes out really quick service is what youd expect for this standard new room looks good

Jacko

Great place for baby name ideas ~ delicious too!. Beautiful frozen margarita, goat taco + fish taco delicious! Good place for baby names ;) Group us = great value for $ Even the out of towners thought better value than the last trip to Mamasita. A rival for flavour/deliciousness with good setting to boot. I'll be back!

Cassie D

Upbeat Fresh Mexican. Mexican craze going around Melbourne and this place is definitely one of my recommendations! Great authentic mexican food. The fish tacos were amazing and can't go past the beef burrito. Constantly busy especially at night packed full with people spilling out onto the street to order food! Love it and highly recommended!

MOFN

La Fawwndaaa. Mexican is legit one of mah fave cuisines having tried authentic mexican in 'Merica. I would say that Fonda isn't quite authentic, as there was not a refried bean in sight, however the food was still amaze. The chorizo quesadilla was overwhelmingly larger than my face and packed with lactosey cheese and sausage, which I would say is good value for your moniez. The fish taco (lolz) and the goat tacos were really good and bursting with flavour, however a little on the small side. Had chips and corn too, cause I could. Corn was okay but nothing, I was told, that competes with Mamasita's. Oh yeah, and horchata, ho dayum, get onto those! It was as one of my friend's has described it, "drinking a cinnamon donut"!

Andrew Douglas

I sat next to some attractive girls! 5/5 stars!

Frenchies

Thumbs up. Apart from having to queue which is something I hate but I keep coming back for more of the juicy corn with finely grated cheese and the fish taco. Not a typical cocktail bar but stunning drinks

Charlotte

Not for the faint hearted since its quite spicy but delicious food! Also exceptionally clean!

Colonel Mustard

Perfect fresh Mex. I heard a lot of good things about Fonda, but my expectations were surpassed. You can taste the freshness of the quality ingredients in Fonda's food - especially the fish taco and the grilled corn - makes me want to go back. I wish my stomach was bigger so I could fit the whole menu in! My only warning: if you are a lover of mustard (as I am), they do not have a huge selection.

Foodie

Love, but too much chilli. I love Fonda, especially the tacos and burritos, but the burritos are so jam packed with chilli that it's the only thing that puts me off dining there more often. Let people add their own to taste :)

Bla5555

I dont see what all the hype is about. Fonda's was alright. We went for dinner on a girls night out and it was packed but got a table within 15 minutes. The restaurant is tiny so there is always a line outside, but the food comes out surprisingly quick so the turnover rate is high. my friend raved about this place so I was eager to try it out, but to be honest it was nothing special to me. the wait staff had that weird pretentious hipster vibe that is becoming very common in melbourne now...is it uncool to smile or something? so weird. you'd think people in the hospitality industry would know the basics of being hospitable... i ordered the fish taco that was so highly raved and it tasted like a supermarket freezer section fish finger shoved inside a soft taco and filled with lots of cabbage. yuck. all i could taste was cabbage or onions...actually i dont even know what it tasted like because it was just this weird bland flavour. another girl ordered the chicken and quinoa salad and she couldnt finish it. chicken was apparently pretty dry and the dish was tasteless. the chipotle hot chips were soggy...........you could make them at home. the milky drink was really weird. i dont know! this place is really ordinary! its cheap for mexican food though, i guess you get what you pay for.

LiL Bug

Cons: Bland and over priced mexican food Pros: Yummy frozen margarita and the staff were very friendly... great for a chat! If only I could the same for the food as I really wanted to like this place.

Ef

What happened Fonda? I used to rave about the fish taco's, & they are cut up fried pieces of fish that have no flavour. The service has gone downhill - after asking twice for my partners meal (I was going to wait to start mine, but my partner told me to start), he finally received it at least 20mins after me. All we got was a "sorry about that". No offer of something for free - even a drink would have sufficed. After loving Fonda just a few months ago, I can tell you I won't be back. I wonder what happened to make this once delicious place drop it's standards so fast?

Anish

Not what it used to be.... Been a regular patron for over a year now, but the last couple of times I have eaten here the quality of food and service has been disappointing. As usual, it was busy last night but the chipotle chips, fish tacos, chorizo quesadilla and chicken burrito tasted nothing like it used to. Hope they improve the next time around because if they don't I'll have to find another place for my regular mexican fix.

Victoria

First time I went a year ago, it was brilliant, bursting with taste, fresh and unique. I craved it for a long time to be nothing but disappointed, fish burrito tasted like chopped up fillet o fish from McDonald, chips weren't hand cut like they use to be, very bland meal. Nothing like it use to be, will NEVER go again. Don't waste your time, whoever comments well must have a taste for bland boring food.

Hungry Princess

Fonda makes you fond of Mexican. Getting into the mexican craze - and trying everything from Mad Mex (fast food mexican) to Mamasita, i thought id venture out of the city to try my luck. This place was just the perfect place to enjoy with friends. Unsure of what to expect i wander in to see three boys working in an open kitchen - in my books, an open kitchen is always a good start. As the one closest to us pulls out another frying pan, he tells us to take a seat and come up to orderwhen we are ready. I spot a door at the back and take a peak - and im glad i did. They have a beautiful, homely decking area at the back that is clean. (It gave me ideas to have a small get together of 10 or so friends here). Following tradition my foodie buddy and i order one of everything. The Chorizo Quesadilla is fantastic, with a crunchy wrap that just bursts with flavour (though a little too spicy for my unfamiliar tongue, worth it). The beef burito was a little bit of a disppointment, with not the right taste - even for someone like me, who enojoys her vegetables. The corn was similar to mamasita but without the overwhleming cream - which although is tasty, doesnt leave you missing the fresh corn taste. The salad was an accidental order but a pleasent surprise. Filling and flavoursome - with just the right balance. Not too much dressing that itsjust dressing flavour (as i find with the standard salads). It allowed you to taste the mix of ingrediants which ranged form pumkin to eggplant to corn to beans to chicken. Definitely a rarity i would go back for. All in all its a place with great basic simple tastes that go good together (most of the time). Its affordable and the place is just a delight to kickback and enjoy your afternoon at.

Burgeritis

Fun night out. We went on Saturday night to try this little place out - having never tried any of Melbourne's trendy Mexican set. We have some of their bar snacks to start, the salsa and guacamole was delicious, but the charred corn seemed to be a little bland for my taste... Good value though. We then had the fish and chicken tacos and the pickled cactus enchilada. The tacos were delicious, and pretty good value at $6 each, but the enchilada seemed a little bit simple in comparison. The pickled cactus was interesting though... Never tried it before. However, the drinks really were the highlight - we had frozen margarita and paloma cocktails, these were the perfect anti-dote to the spicy food and gave us a nice warmth for the stagger home.

Jacyn24

Having read some mixed reviews of this place and complaints about poor quality Mexican food in Melbourne, I find it surprisingly decent. The flavours rich and the ingredients fresh, and they have nice horchatas. A great filling meal for a very reasonable price. I have been to the US and had some authentic Mexican food there. Though I can't say it's the same, Fonda Mexican does hit the spot.

Baker_smurf

Decent. Food was good, not amazing - perhaps somewhat disappointing because I'd heard some great reviews from various people which was why I chose to visit. Good for a quick, mid-week dinner.

From From

Not good at all. Have been twice and had Mexican with no flavor (citrus, herb, spice), too much BBQ ( burnt taste) and no freshness (crunch, texture, only mush) and that what don't makes Mexican food.

Hungry Ranga

Way over-rated. Food was of good quality although meal sizes where extremely small and not really genuine Mexican food.

Brad70

Mexian Mexican Mexican. Fonda is a wonderful modern restaurant that accomodates anywhere from singles to large groups. The decor and atmosphere are A1. The food is excellent and is always worth coming.

Meaghan

Yummo. I really liked Fonda. Cheap and cheerful and most importantly- tasty! The only down side is the wait for a table (a sign of how satisfying Fonda is) during the busy periods- but I'm always happy to wait!

Olivia

Crowded and Average. The restaurant was decidedly average. It was loud loud loud, with clatter and din everywhere - cramped so that no one could walk or move around without stumbling or bumping into each other. The menu was small, without much variety. The food was okay but portions were so small, and relatively uninteresting flavor-wise. Mostly bland but with some hotness, but I'd prefer mostly flavourful with slight hotness. The food was slow, and our entrees came out after our mains. Ordering extra guacamole and salsa (a must, because they served us tablespoon sized portions of them) took until after the entire meal was finished, and by then we'd eaten all our plain tortilla chips (and could not order more without also getting MORE salsa and guacamole). Ordering food was a chore, having to line up around other people's personal space (and across the path of servers exiting the kitchen) at the cash register to order. Also, the staff were slow at entering items into the cash register, meaning that I spent a good deal of time up at the register waiting to order more small portions of uninteresting food that took ages to arrive. Not keen to go back, but would if I had to with a group.

EL

My friend and I went here yesterday night! We had a bowl of tortilla chips, fish tacos and the chorizo quesadilla and my the food was delicious! :) Will be back again!

Em Belden

Trendy mexican. Enjoy a casual gathering with friends or just enjoy feasting by yourself in this upbeat modern restaurant. No booking taken so be sure to get in one opening with seating out the front, inside of course and the quiet courtyard. ruly mexican fiesta feel with splash of colour on the trimmings of doors but simplistic walls. Counter service will allow you to see some cooking techniques and the the fast and efficient service at the same time. Spicy food is at it's best and easily cooled off with a margarita or a horchata, makes you feel like your there. Music loud and great food and drink, best place for a Sunday lunch I must say. A hint of competing restaurants can be seen in there menu, but they make it there own with some dishes to give you something new. Mexican is becoming to be a true hit on the Melbourne front.

Alex

Again again. I've now been here 5 times, and each time the food has been top quality. I don't agree with all the things on their menu, but their chipotle chips and the chopped beef burrito are always delicious. Getting a table is pretty hard most nights as it's alllllways packed, but takeaway doesn't take long. Definitely going again.

Bc4774

Delicious cheap authentic!. A no fuss place located on Swan Street near Church Street. I love the concept of a "Fonda" and that's certainly what it felt like when eating here - like you were eating in someone's home. Not a bad place to take kids either. The fish tacos were definitely the standout dish. You can't book, but if you get there early enough you'll get a table. Will be back for sure!!

Imogen

Braised beef taco is my favourite. The braised beef taco melts in your mouth and the fish taco is so tasty! I like the prices and interior. Cool place, really hyped up atm so can be squishy inside, sometimes the food is a little too spicy for my liking and chips just ok but on the majority, a fantastic Mexican restaurant in Richmond.

Caffiend

Muy bueno!. Love this place. have been going weekly since it opened last november (2011). there is not really anything on this menu that isn't great, although, the pork scratchings are not my thing and i have yet to try the roo burrito. since opening, there has been a few changes to the menu. the pulled pork taco was replaced by the beef brisket version which has now changed to a goat taco. all three are delicious and the current goat one comes highly recommended. the original vego quesadilla was asparagus and queso fresco and still remains my favourite (please bring it back guys, even as a special). the mushroom quesadilla was good also and the current cactus version is tasty, too. a special mention goes out to the chicken ensalada. i don't really order salads as a main meal but this one leaves you feeling like you haven't missed out. it is also a great choice for the gluten intolerant who, for flour related reasons, can't order the chicken burrito. they stock tromba (100% agave) tequila which is just delicious and if you can, try the paloma and margarita cocktails. my favourite, though, is the tromba reposado, served straight up in a wine glass. the blanco served in a shot glass with verdito chaser is pretty warming and delicious, too. the staff (including the owners) are really fresh and efficient. the space is colourful and vibrant and although there is sometimes a little wait for a table, you can sit on the curb and sip a pacifico, head around the corner to either public bar or der raum, or, you could just stand there, mesmerised by the dough pro working its magic. the guys will call your mobile when a table is free.

Ronan Leonard

Much of the food was way too salty. The vego burrito was quite bland and yet left a very spicey aftertaste which was a strange contradiction. Corn cob was very good but not worth a revisit just for that.

John Carver

There are no old school work out videos at the eatery. There is only homemade sauces and joy. Overloaded tacos and tasty beverages. You're okay Fonda Mexican. With your pretty staff and bustling atmosphere. I'm kinda Fonda you.

Lara Halperin

The kangaroo burrito was too bland for my liking - waste of money Conversely, the corn cobs were fantastic.

C M

Yes, I am.. Firstly, who doesn’t love a kitsch name? It’s not offensive, it’s not silly... it’s cute. If you stare at it too long you begin to see visions of an American-flag motorcycle helmet and Cat Ballou, but that just means you’ve gone too far. There’s nothing like living in a cutting edge city and I’m glad that Melbourne can call itself that. At the exact same time our food is becoming more diverse, it is becoming more authentic. “Fusion everything” is everywhere and now we have simple, genuine cuisine popping up in surprising places. Whether that’s cacti-fungus in a tortilla at Mamasita or something from Pierre Mouchel, it’s all good. Fonda Mexican isn’t necessarily the most authentic and while I can’t say I’ve been to Mexico, I’m not unhappy with the deft stereotype evasion at Fonda Mexican. No Corona, no mariachi, no sombrero. It’s a simple pop-up-style cantina with an ice-cream Shoppe fit out and more seating than the space probably affords. The menu is uncomplicated but nonetheless surprising when items arrive. Soft tacos the size of a compact disc (for those who can remember such a thing), overflowing with ingredients are followed by burritos roughly the dimensions of a felled redwood and more tightly packed than a pickup crossing the Rio Grande. The tortilla chips are just that but seem to be made on site; the same can be said for the different salsas. The corn is corn, but served in a simple Mexican way (not unlike the method at the aforementioned Mamasita). Even the drinks are more unconventional than typical – the kind you’re likely to find only in a boutique supermarket. So obviously I’m a fan – with one exception: I don’t need restaurant staff to be sycophantic, or even saccharine; I merely want them to be hospitable. Everyone at Fonda Mexican was great bar one. When a staff member is in a bad mood, or hung-over, or perhaps just an unhappy person it is something customers need not be affected by. As soon as the sourness is obvious to those seated, otherwise enjoying their lunch, it can be off-putting. But one experience could be an aberration and not an endemic problem. Hopefully.

Sarah

Unsure.... Disappointing of late, will give it another go when/if they bring out a Spring/Summer menu as I quite enjoyed it early on in the year. The kangaroo burrito is nice - and filling, chorizo quesadilla & charred corn are also recommendations. Hoping they bring back the carnitas (pulled pork tacos) and elderflower margaritas...it might just win me over!

Chandy

Better food and far better service from Taco truck! Staff are rude and food is atrocious !

Samara Madden

Lives up to the hype. There is always a risk in hearing too much about how fantastic a place is before you dine there, as they so often fall short of your high expectations and I'd heard so much about Fonda Mexican it almost felt that I had been eating there weekly for months. Fonda Mexican did not disappoint. Whilst the venue was far more casual than I had expected, the food came out at lightening speed. Drinks we ordered and much food consumed, and every last morsel was delicious. The corn on the cob was a standout as was the mushroom quesadilla which had the perfect cheese to filling ratio. We aquired our table easily on this occasional, yet I would not hestitate to line up to sample the rest of the menu next time I visit.

Honeybee

Good, not great. Tried Mamasita, next was Fonda. While Fonda was cheaper, I preferred Mamasita. The corn, while still delicious, didn't stand up to Mamasita's. Other meals were good, unfortunately I didn't leave feeling satisfied. It was all good, however nothing stood out. The flavour was not varied enough in our meals, and thing started to blend into one another.

Sandra Tiepermann

Fantastic! Kangaroo fillet enchilada was awesome! They were also accommodating with my husbands food intolerances. Great place!

Lainey Bird

Trendy yes, Mexican NO. Why call it Mexican? Not in the least bit authentic, just because it's in a tortilla doesn't make it Mexican. If you want 'real Mexican' this is not the place. No cheese on my tacos, but cheese and a lime with a corn on the cob? No tables that seat more than 2. Long waits, no reservations, Smallest $12 Margarita I've ever seen.

E.t

The food tasted like bland wraps you get at hospital canteens. They need to do more with corn rather than flour wraps! The essence of Mexican is maiz??

Jacindalee

Went on a Sunday night & 6.30. Got a table easily. Waitress very helpful. The corn was amazing as was the chorizo dish. I really enjoyed my meal, loved the vibe of the place & can't wait to go back again..

Wocksie

Lovely, lovely food!. Very nice food and very different from any other Mexican food I've had. Original ingredients I suppose and also fresher perhaps. First time here so had a mixture of dishes to share. Both absolutely loved the beef taco that arrived first. Almost too small to share and will order two next time but yum yum yum. The corn and chips came next - loved the chipotle aioli and the chips were nice and crunchy, and the corn delicious. The chorizo quesadilla again was also good and the food so far had been pleasantly spicy with jalapenos galore. Spotting a good looking burrito on another table, we decided to order the chicken one as we weren't quite full yet. The burrito was very different in flavour from the other dishes we'd had, due to the combination of ingredients it was much fresher and also a lot less spicy. Although still nice, it was the least favorite of the things we'd tried and I almost felt like ordering another taco to finish on a high.... Nice beers although limited choice, and friendly service. Although a pleasant food experience, it is not the kind of place you would have a long, comfortable sit down dinner I feel. It's more a quick 'in and out' which is great if you live near, but not if you have to travel to get there. Lucky locals therefore.

Mac 501

Trendy? Not that it showed.. Until reading these reviews, we had no idea that this was supposed to be a trendy place. If we had known, we wouldn't have gone in. Luckily for us, we just happened to park outside and walk in, 'on spec', for a late lunch. Ambience was great, food was served quickly and it was both tasty and not particularly expensive. And whilst we probably looked old and daggy, no-one paid us any attention. Just got on with their own business. So don't believe all you read - except my reviews, of course.

LachlanC

Lovely - but are my clothes cool enough?. Fonda has done a roaring trade from when it first opened in a near shoebox earlier with no licence earlier in the year to now after they have taken over the place next door. I think the food is good (although you will prob have the mexican aficionados complain saying you can get better or cheaper) for a reasonable price. Keep the drinks down and you can have a reasonably cheap great meal. They also do take-away which is great for locals. All up a great place for locals and for those who are just too cool for words who like to be seen (unfortunately they have their share of these - doesn't stop it being good value though).

Grace Corby

LOVED this place, delicious, different and so affordable!. My partner and I (visiting Sydney-siders) traveled a bit out of the CBD to go here especially and weren't disappointed. No frills service and a small but enticing menu kept ordering simple. I got the BBQ corn as a starter (great!) and the Kangaroo burrito AND a fish taco, it was some of the tastiest Mexican I've ever eaten and one of the cheapest meals I had all trip. Wish this existed in Sydney!

Patrick Malcolm

Great food. But hard work. Dont like it when front of house puts his mates in without a booking before us.

Les

The crowds were right. Huge lines out the door so prepare to wait and don't complain - this is melbourne's newest and most popular eatery - serving $6 fresh tacos (fish were my fave) loved the spice factor and colourful ingredients. 9/10

Lady Bug

Fonda the Value. Great place to meet friends for a casual meal. Healthy Mexican options, that are neither to cheesy or greasy. The staff are friendly and helpful.

Charlotte McCann

Quality Mexican. Love Fonda, I think they have the best fish tacos in town. At $6 each they're pretty well priced, the chicken quinoa salad is also great, and extremely filling. Theres often a long wait though for a table, but staff are really nice and can let you know when your tables ready.

Bottomless Pete

I recommend trying one of each taco option (beef, fish, vegetarian), washed down with a Tromba Blanco w/ verdita. Friendly staff, nice location.

Disappointed

Don't believe the hype!. Went to Fonda Mexican for lunch - was so disappointed. The only thing I could taste over the slathering of jalapeno sauce was burnt chicken. I can't believe the hype over this below-average food. Walk 100m towards the city and you will find AUTHENTIC and tasty Mexican! Diners at Fonda seem more interested in 'checking-in' on Facebook than quality food. Will not be returning.

AHyde

Better options out there. Me and my partner managed to try the braised beef taco, the fish taco, the fat chips with chipotle aioli, and the tortilla crisps with guacamole and smoky salsa. Apart from the braised beef taco which was delicious, all of the menu items we sampled were uninspired. The fish taco lacked flavour, and compared poorly against the likes of the Taco Truck's offering. The fat chips with aioli were bland - if given the option between Fonda Mexican chips or Lord of the Fries chips, I'd go for the latter ever time. The tortilla crisps fared slightly better, but not enough to be a dish worth recommending. With so many Mexican options out there nowadays, I feel there's no reason for me to return here.

The Hungry Croat

Good food. Great fresh food and good service. Eat-in is miles better than take-away, had take-away twice and forgot something in our order each time. Much better since they took over barbershop next door. Only negative is that its generally full of hipster doofuses but hey, that's Richmond for you....

Lady Diner

I can almost hear the unfaithful among us moaning "aaaaw it's ok but I had to wait soooo long..." Well I'm sorry, but it's not these guys' fault they are awesome and that everyone wants a bite of this beefy burrito or a crunch of the fatty crispy chincharones! Not sure what you expect them to say ("Oh!! Well we didn't know YOU were coming!! Please, let us kick other people out for you!! Would you like a shoe-shine with your taco?") Please...Fonda has a lively, non pretentious vibe, with a cheery courtyard and multiroom space. The food is fresh and flavoursome with authentic ingredients: braised brisket taco, with melting stringy beef and sweet cubes of fresh radish, charred corn with sweet ricotta and lovely smokey chipotle, and a big burrito stuffed comfortably with crumbly beef and pork, black beans and fresh salsa. And then there was the fish taco...the love of my life, which seems to confuse many a chef. How hard is it to place some flakey, sweet crumbed fish into a soft tortilla, smother it with chipotle mayo and crown with crunchy cabbage slaw? Mexican establishments everywhere need a Ramsey-style smack down from Fonda, because this place makes a stunning fish taco. To top it off, these guys make horchata, a lovely sweet milky drink made of rice and flavoured with cinnamon. Apart from the fact that horchata nostalgically takes me back to my best friend's Quinceanera and thus makes me biased, it is a heart-warming concoction. Well done guys.

G

Would rather get Maccas. I know my mexican and this Tex Mex interpretation is heavy, cheesy, expensive, sub standard produce. Should not be even compared with Mamasita. I ordered what appeared to be a frozen deep fried fish taco - Coles sells better corn tortillas! Don't bother with this place!

Cg

Finally got to try this place out... We got there right on 6pm, got a table straight away. if you could call it a table, it was about the size of a bedside table....anyhow they delivered on the food front. the place was loud but had a good vibe. can be a cheap night out if you're not drinking. had to wait about half an hr for my corn cob and had to ask for it but was all good. overall im happy this place is so central.

Food_lover

We visited Fonda's on a Thursday night. We phoned in advance & were told they didnt take bookings but to come in at 6.30pm and it shouldn't be too busy. We arrived at 6.30pm & put our number on the phone list. We went for a drink down the road. After one hour we popped back into the restaurant but were told to wait outside for longer. After another half an hour we gave up. The staff were not very nice or understanding on the door. We received a phone call from the restaurant after 1 hour & 45 minutes of waiting on a Thursday night.

A-R

So delicious ! Absolutely love the food so Yumm ! Definatly recommend . The staff are lovely aswell

Kath Potter

Great, authentic Mexican food. Gluten free options that are incredibly tasty!

Radicallystk

Favourite mexican place. With the mexican invasion underway, this place has scaled the fence better than anywhere else. Although always busy, the wait is well worth it, with delicious food, quickly served.

Charlotte.hannah

Best Mexican!. This place is fantastic! I've been at least 5 times and it just gets better and better. Great staff, great vibe and honest healthy and super tastey food for a great price. Be prepared to wait now the the word is spreading and take a coat so you can sit out side and avoid the longer cue for an inside table.

The Girls

It seems allot of people have caught on to this slice of Mexico in Richmond, so remember you can phone ahead for a quick pick up if waiting around isn't your thing. You can't go past the chips, once you have had them , they are a must on every visit! Service is fast and friendly...if only there were more seats :(

Lisa Lewis

Food wasn't that great. I had the chicken burrito. Chicken was burnt and overtook other flavours in the burrito. The dips were nice, came with the tortillas. Service was super fast which was nice. Definitely not a place to go if your looking for a nice sit down meal. Definitely more of a fast food restaurant.

The_d_rock

La Fwonda Mexican. This place is busy and full of trendies, but really nice food and reasonably priced. See pics! Just to be clear I didn't want to like this place with the location, the hype and the bloody mexican food being done to death in Melbourne at the moment. Anyway... A mate and I went for dinner and few beers. We had a fish taco each, then shared a meat burito and a mushroom quesadila. It was all lovely especially the fish taco and the burito - which is why there are no pics of them - too delicious see. We went back to get a couple more beers and the chips. Seriously didn't need the chips, but they just looked so good on other peoples tables we wanted to try them. I will go back.

GG

Quesdilla Happiness. Not ya average chicken or cheese quesdilla... their mushroom quesdillia is to die for!!

Zander Berends

Specials please. Really like it, but some new items or specials on the menu would be good and keep me coming back. Delicious though, and reasonably priced.

Stacey

Great service, quick food. The blonde girl that seated us last night was really nice and friendly. It was very busy so I was impressed that the staff were friendly and the food was made quickly. It was cheap too, which is an added bonus .... However, I don't think the vegetarian burrito was anything to write home about.

EH

I went to this place last night. It's sort of a Mexican version of Nando's. Half restaurant, half take away place. We had the corn to start with and then we both had a burrito each. The food was delicious. It was quick service so we were in and out in about an hour.

Zetajones

Over-rated. Not sure what all the hype was about. Was a very underwhelming experience unfortunately.

Willow

My partner and I dropped in for a late lunch at 3.00 pm. We were greeted with fast and friendly service. I shared the pork scrapings accomanied with guacamole. I then had the grilled corn topped with butter and cheese. It had a delicious smoky flavour. I then had the beef taco. It was spicy and flavorsome. This was all washed down with a refreshing margarita. Fonda Mexican is recommended.

Marco

What are people talking about!! This place is just OK, by far nothing special. Melbournians are becoming like Americans, if there is a cue let's get in line! Fonda is very disappointing, its in the same food space as Mad Mex.

Toffa24

Food good. late operating hours?1?. The food is good. Not Mamasita good but much better than Taco Bill. The prices are fairly reasonable too. They advertise late night operating hours on Friday and Saturday. However I arrived at 10:10pm and the place was full but they said they weren't taking any more orders. Late operating hours?! Hmmmm.

Littlemissfoodie

Love the Decor!. I came here with my better half for lunch on a Friday. Didn't have to wait for long at all. The food was tasty and filling, the corn was a highlight so were the chips! Tacos were delicious although I wasn't a huge fan of the chicken burrito. I think I will have to go here when I am not working so I can sample the margaritas!

K. W

Great place that we happened to drive past one time (ironically to another Mexican restaurant) and noticed it was buzzing and filled with lots of people. We decided to give this place a try and by the sounds of other reviews and the congregation of people outside on our departure we must've got there early enough to avoid a lengthy wait. Fish taco was fantastic. Charred corn was tasty but unfortunately does not trump Mamasita's. Will definitely come back again for the fish taco.

Alek

AMAZEMENT. I'm salivating just thinking about this place. It is so sooo good! Having lived in L.A. and traveled frequently to Mexico I have high expectations of Mexican food. This place is as close to 'real' authentic Mexican you can get in Melbourne. Perhaps a reason why it takes a good 45 mins to get a table. But it is well worth the wait. Ingredients are fresh and of high standard. The chargrilled corn on the cob (sprinkled with creamy cheese and butter) is amazing!! I also recommend the beef taco. So tasty. For all mexican lovers out there I suggest going here, it will not disappoint!

Leah Souza

Tasty!. Not sure about the service and how the place runs, its very over crowded but the food is great definitely will be back again and again

Maria

Went on a Friday evening, fairly busy, seemed a bit disorganized but service was quick and friendly. Had the chicken burrito. Large portion but lacked flavour. I wouldn't hurry back but its cheap and cheerful if that's what you're looking for

Sha Jansen

Greatly Fonda. Heard all about this Mexican place and wasnt disappointed at all.4 of us decided to go there for lunch. Lots of tables available and every thing was clean and funky. Food was so delicious and arrived in no time at all. Staff were friendly and attentive. We tried the fat chips and chipotle aioli, the sauce was slightly spicy and very yummy. We also tried the pork scratchings and guacamole, great combo. The beef and chicken burritos were packed full and were enjoyed by everyone. Cant wait to go back and try more of the menu.

Jase

Yumm. Fantastic place for lunch, esp if you're sitting outside on a sunny Melbourne day. The fabled fish taco lived up to its reputation. Makes me want to pay Mexico a visit.

Willow

Delicious food. Amazing place. Such lovely food. Friendly staff and great service. Been many times and this place never fails to impress.

Karensellecki

Love this place. So I decided to join in the hunt for Melbourne's best mexican food given that every second restaurant is now serving mexican. My kids took me to Fonda Mexican and I was very impressed. The fish tacos are the best in Melbourne, the ingredients were so fresh and the service was fast yet friendly and personal. I'd even go so far to say that it is very, very close to the quality of Mamasitas. Very high recommended.

Food Doc

Great food, amazing tacos (love that they are gluten free!!), fab salad and great corn. Short wait, totally worth it! Great service, highly enjoyable. Will definitey be back!!

Rosie390

Interesting Mexican. The menu is quite limiting but is tasty. The fish tacos were delicious. I will be back but won't give up my regular Mexican Mad Mex just yet

Andrew R

I had the chicken burrito and tried a little of the kangaroo buritto. Overall they were bland and disappointing. Nice atmosphere but not enticing enough to make me go back.

Burbet

YUMMMMM. This place is great! But like every other great place in Melbourne it's busy so if you want to avoid a big-ass line choose your times wisely. Everything I've had on the menu has been delicious, but I especially enjoyed the fish tacos, the quinoa chicken salad and the chorizo quesadilla mm hmmm! The staff are friendly too, despite being run off their feet they'll always help you out and do their best to get you a table quick sticks. Oh and the margaritas will knock your socks off! 10/10!

Easternsuburbs_explorer

Full of flavour & quick!. We visited Fonda on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. Although it was busy, it was easy to get a table and in less than 5 mins food was on the table. Fantastic to see burritos being made from scratch right in front of us in a very small kitchen area. Fonda does what others (apart from mamasita) are failing to do - providing authentic Mexican food which is fresh, full of flavour and quick! Give señorita's in Myers place a miss because it's overpriced and dull, as well as Trippy taco and drop into Fonda! It would easily rival some of the mexican restaurants we visited in Arizona. We tried the vegetarian burritos and corn on our visit! Definitley enjoyed the vegetarian options and had a full belly until dinner time! My husband didn't even notice the silverbeet in his burrito - bonus!

MeGusta

Me Gusta

Carlo

Worth The Wait. Walking up to the to the door of this groovy little place, you'll probably see what looks to be a jam packed take away joint. It turned me off at first, but trust me, the food is worth the wait. If you LOVE Mexican, then you'll love the food here. OH, and the FISH TACOS are amazing. But you must start with the corn w/ricotta and some amazing sauce. We also ordered chicharon, chips w/ chipotle, chorizo quesadilla, burritos & more! The Horchata Milk drink is a must to refresh from all the spicy chillies... A nice selection of beers too. We will be back!

Sar

The whole package is good, food only ok. Food is only OK. Burrito was bland- I expected more after all the good reviews! Good music, atmosphere, cheap, friendly staff. Just a pity about the food!!!

Lola

Simple and good!. Go for the chorizo quesadillas and the corn! No, you are not in Mamasitas and you'll notice that when you pay your bill. Cool, chaep, simple and good.

Sally

Fresh delicious authentic Mexican finally! Obsessed with the chicken salad and fish tacos!

Dbd

Good takeout. Fish tacos & corn are good & will order these again for a cheeky take out meal. Would give the beef tacos, chicken burrito & pork crackling a miss - the latter three lacked flavour similar to other reviewers comments.

Alice Campbell

Best food ever! So healthy for Mexican I was blown away at how tasty and clean it was! Yum

Hungry

Cheap Burritos!. I was told about Fonda through a friend and I must say the food was brilliant and very well proportioned for the price! I ordered a chicken burrito of some sort and shared it with my friend, it was more than enough alongside their classic crinkly chippies! Although some of friends couldn't handle the heat, a big glass/jar of horchatta with decorative red and white straws sure fixed that. The only con I could suggest is the size to popularity ratio. Clearly they need to buy the building next to them as there is always a line down the street waiting for the yummy burritos!

JaneyKnightly

Yum. Great food, so tasty, not sure about the set up but will be back for the flavour.

Jorge López Canales

Oh, em, gee...this place is waay too cool, like a mini Mamasita, complete with hipsters queuing for a table. Fonda Mexican has got the formula down pat: sexy young staff, fast paced indie pop at 85dB, frozen margaritas served in recycled jam jars, ¡órale! The service is super fast and super friendly. This is fast food with style. And cheap, deceavingly cheap, if you're not careful you'll end up ordering way too much food, like we did. Staff were friendly enough to bring us a doggy bag, it's a cafe after all. The grilled chicken salad with chorizo, beans, quinoa, peas and other stuff was yum, and so were the quesadillas, with just the right level of spice. We turned up at 6:30 and got a table right away, the queue started at about 6:45. Welcome to my hood! I'll definitely be going back.

Dan Da Man

The food is sloppy, greasy, bland and just generally yuck. The only dish that worked was the aioli chips, but you can get them at any gastropub these days. I hated the cramped, loud space but my Mexican friend assured me that that it was authentic.

Sara Rose

Have these 'chefs' ever heard of salt?? Get the basics right, they can't even cook chips right. Also should invest in a dictionary to learn the term 'takeaway', you authentic Mexicans.

Coffelover.

After seeing the crowded restaurant, i would have expected some really nice Mexican food, but this was not the case. After being advised staff will notify us of when a table next comes up (once having been put on the waiting list) within the next 30 mins, we never received a call, despite waiting more than 45 mins. We arrived, and felt it was a hassle for staff to accommodate us. The atmosphere was not that inviting, the courtyard we were seated in was dark and small. The menu was VERY limited, and the Chicken Burrito was bland, flavourless, and consisted of grissle throughout. TRUST me, do not go here, overpriced for poor quality food. Won't be going back.

Paddle

Went here yesterday afternoon, Friday, as had seen queues on previous occasions. We got the chicken burrito and the kangaroo burrito and a side of corn. The food arrived cold and was presented in such an unappetizing way. My chicken burrito was more like a wrap you would buy at a cheap deli cut in half so that the hard black beans were visible(these were not mentioned in the menu) then the quinoa which I will never eat again, why??? There's the red cabbage and the coriander and so many tough textured overbearing flavors. I was starving and normally love good simple Mexican food. I had to leave after just eating the sweetcorn which was lovely, but can't really go wrong with that. The kangaroo burrito was just as inedible. I did tell the server that we couldn't eat the food and she said oh well sorry to hear that and took the plates, no offer of an alternative or refund. Obviously this place has gone downhill since the great reviews below. Or the normal chef is on holidays.... I won't be going back to find out.

Jeremy Young

Fish taco & grilled corn. I tried the fish taco and grilled corn on Friday night (take-away) as I was in the area and in need of a snack. The taco ($6.00), which included a rockling fillet, was a flavour explosion. The chipotle mayo has a great kick, and carrot/cabbage added a nice crunchy texture, and the fish was cooked well. The corn was decent but in all honesty a bit expensive for the size ($3.50) -- it was only 1/2 a cob of corn. I'd love to have a place like this in my area!

Theresa M

Yummy burrotis!. I don't know why people are saying bad things about this place, cause I can't think of any! I've only been here during the day and I loved it. The atmosphere was nice, not too loud and packed, and the burritos were delicious. I wish the place was larger, but other than that, this place has some of the best burritos in Melbourne!

Lioness

"like" "to school for cool" maybe if they concentrated on cooking awesome Mexican as opposed to how hip they are it just may be good. Btw guys, totally into the healthy stuff but quinoa in burrito? Food average and with toto on repeat, music even worse!

Burger

1,2,3. The tequila shots are the best way to wash the feast down.

Kelly

Love at first bite. We go to Fonda every Friday after a long run. We usually have to wait about 30 minutes, but it goes by so fast while sipping on a Paloma. The fish tacos are the best we have ever had and the staff are very friendly. Only the second time I came in, the guy taking the names already knew my name. We are taking friends back again tonight and I know we will have another good experience.

Tigers_eye

Chorizo Quesadilla is a MUST as is their Horchata drink. The beef burrito and corn are decent. The fish taco was a let down and lacked flavour. I would be back

Fat_kid

Fondling taste-buds. Ok...so with all this hype around Fonda, i was clearly expecting miracles in my mouth. Thought the food was good...great little place and great service...but nothing to really toot my horn over. I found the tacos to be fidgety and they preety much fell apart on me after the first few bites and were lacking of the great flavours you get at other *cough* establishments. Being that tsoft tacos are one of my favourite foods ever...this was a disappointment :( Apart from the negative, positives were that the burrito had some great flavours going on, corn was delish and the frozen magheritas...wow! Potent as hell so be careful if driving. I was as giddy as a school girl after just two! Place started to fill up quickly after we arrived (6pm) so make sure you get in early. Would come back for a drink and a few nibbles...but def not my hot spot for mexican.

Apegoli

Garlic Explosion and $10 beers! Nice tasty food, but nothing to write home about, and definitely not worth waiting in a line for half an hour for! Overdone on the garlic and onion so don't be expecting any kisses after dinner. This place has definitely been overhyped, won't be back in a hurry.

Nachonachoman

Kinda Fonda. Read about this place and though i would try out the food. Really bloody good. food is fresh fast and delicious and SO CHEAP. they kill it on the alcohol - but who cares! mmmm Pork Tacos are great...

Whitepony

So Fondof you. If only th plce was bigger and we can be assured of a place to sit whenever we go. Fish Taco is to die for. -----05 Mar, 2012----- Tiny mexican. I liked the idea of the freshly made wraps but there seems to be lacking a bit in punch and flavor. Poor indifferent service

MP

Mexcellent! Great food. Authentic flavors are fresh and drinks refreshing. Highlights include corn on a stick, beef burrito, and the hero of the menu (according to my wife) - the fish taco. Sip on ice cold Paloma, somewhat appropriately served out of a glass jam jar. Prices are very reasonable and the service is attentive and cheerful. Highly recommended, especially as they have now started taking your mobile no. to call when a table becomes available. Fonda are also in the process of expanding the eating area as they take over the shop next door.

PJ56

Funky Fonda. Atmosphere is fantastic! Food wonderful and not expensive. Staff very friendly. We had to wait a long time to get a table but the food arrive in minutes after we sat down. Won't spoil the surprise but the drinking glasses are so much fun!

Li Teoh

Way too small. Wish this place was bigger so the queue would be shorter. Love the tacos and burritos.

HungryGirl

Buzzy. Cheap, cheerful fresh flavours. It's not revolutionary or even Mamasita standad - but fun for a casual bite. Beers are expensive, margarhitas great, burritos bland and heavy. But tacos are awesome - especially the pork one!

Travis Bickle

Had dinner here this week. Food was delicious, great prices and friendly staff. Can't wait to go back. Highlight was the chorizo quesadilla.

Lisa

A canteen, no more. Don't go here with visions of Mamasita, Newmarket etc. Its ok, for a wrap/burrito place. Just ok. Nothing amazing.

Grace Le-francke

Was very curious & I'm not hard to please but me & my partner were very disappointed. Fish tacos were 1 fish finger & no chicken in the chicken burrito! Milky drink was like powdered milk

Nathaniel Stockley

Taco Time. From all reports, Fonda Mexican seems to be suffering the same fate as Mamasita, with hordes of anxious customers clamoring out front nightly, desperate to secure an elusive table. I dropped by midweek for lunch, and whilst it was certainly lively, there were a few high-top tables still available inside. There's a rear courtyard and seating on the footpath, however I rather enjoyed being seated indoors so I could watch the hustle & bustle of compact open kitchen. Both the fish & pork tacos I ordered were flavour packed and held a pleasing quantity of filling. I thought they were better than what I'd tried at Pacos Tacos and not far removed from those the Taco Truck serves up. Not sure it's the sort of venue I'd be heading to for an unhurried dinner, but for a quick taco or burrito, I'd happily drop by again.

Amber Clohesy

We ate here last night after keenly watching this place get built and the crowds mass once it opened. Luckily we went early and didn't have to wait. The food was extremely average. It lacked flavour and interest and would best be described as bland. Having recently dined at Mamasita and a recent trip enjoying great Mexican food within sight of the Mexican border I can only guess the popularity is due to jumping on the Mexican bandwagon and not for anything else. Oh it is cheap which is good. The drinks were nice. Fitout on trend. The general staff were to cool for school though, with only the guy at the till being able to muster a smile. I would say go que somewhere worth the wait.

RoseW

We loved it. Good Mexican (for those who have been to Mexico - you will be happy), good prices. Quick service. Go before everyone else does!

Jason Bradley

Perfect but a lil wanky. Overall the food was great. The beef buritto was yum, so was the corn and fish tacos. However, I wasn't expecting the south yarra crowd.

Coco Puff

Very cool place, quick service, yum food. I visited this place with 3 friends. Went around 6:30 on a Tuesday and got a table straight away. Heaps of staff and they all were lovely. The margarita was fantastic. The food was delivered so quickly, I'd hardly sat back down after ordering and it was on the table. Delicious food and cheap too. Just don't expect to have a long leisurely meal here, it's get em in and out (which was fine by us).

Jazz Singer

Funky. Nice Fish Tocos and much cheaper than Mama.... but very limited and cramp seating.

Allitnils

A near miss attempt to join Melbourne's Mexican bandwagon. It seems like Mexican restaurants are springing up after the recent success of Mamasita and the taco truck roaming around Melbourne's inner suburbs. Fonda attempts to recreate and perhaps benefit from the success of the aforementioned almost instant institutions by providing a small lively cupboard-spaced eatery, serving some interesting adaptations of Mexican staples. The music is loud, the waiters are loud, the people talking are loud, and the frozen margaritas served in little glass jars keep coming. The recipe it follows, you would think, would therefore be inspiring and appealing for anyone looking for an authentic trip to Mexico from the comfort of this Richmond-based restaurant. Alas, whilst everything else seems to fit together like a well-planned puzzle, the food lets them down. The fish-taco was bland, with hardly any fish and the tortilla it was served in doughy, almost with a raw consistency and overpowering taste that I couldn't even tell what was in it. The chicken burrito, an offering that I was mostly looking forward to due to its inclusion of this season's healthy grain of choice, quinoa, was bitter and completely un-Mexican like. The seasonings were bland and amalgamated together to form a mysterious filling (with the obvious over-cooked-bitter quinoa) wrapped in a tortilla. More like a wrap you'd get from a place like Healthy Habits than what I'd want to expect from a place like this. The beef burrito was okay - nothing to rave home about. It had a distinct cumin taste that I'd associate with Mexican cuisine, and the meat was well cooked. Their table vinaigrette was a brilliant concoction of spices that when applied liberally it made my insides warm up instantly. So aside from its atmosphere, the 30-odd minute wait was hardly worth it. Mamasita set a benchmark. Anyone attempting to contend against them should really try harder than this if they wish to be recognised accordingly.

Chancestance

Lunch time...busy and worth the wait. Beef burrito is becoming a favorite!!

Paul Ryan

Q Q long Q. Can't decide if food and lychee margarita was worth the wait. Good fish tacos but that was it.

Chef Locker

Was good, but.... It's brilliant to see that melbourne over the last few years are getting awesome eateries that are popping up in CBD and surrounding suburbs its creating healthy competition amongst one another and give the customer more options. Tonight i dined at Fonda. Fonda and team have jumped on the mexican wave that is riding through melbourne right now.. The tiny cornershop has alot going for it, without giving you the boring usual crap that most reviewers state, ('everthing was good/ nice blah,blah etc.) the highlight for me at Fonda was the tortilla dough press, really cool to see the team make and cook your tortilla dough in front of you. I like seeing the effort and time it takes to make it (quick!), rather than frozen crappy ones they could easily get from some import company.. so yeah! Oh and Fonda great beef burrito you have but.. the kangaroo buritto...seriously, you cant cook kangaroo like minced meat.. it was dry, tasteless and just no! take it off.

Elyse Lithgow

SO DISAPPOINTING. Having heard that people were lining up to eat here I expected great things. As a local I went in about 4pm to avoid the crowds. And ordered the chorizo quesadila. It was so boring; sausage and cheese in a tortilla. Needed some flavor. Making it spicy isn't enough. It's no Mamasita.

Sarah

Disappointing. I had heard very complimentry reports that compared this restuarant with Mamasita and so went along with great anticipation. It was a real anti-climax though. We ordered the grilled corn followed by a fish and pork taco and then a beef burito to share. The burito came out first and was acceptable. Both the fish and the pork was dry and when corn came out it was only just tepid in temperature. Service was haphazard although friendly. We had to ask twice for cutlery and hot sauce. Drinks were fantastic, but will not be enough to draw me back. Mamasita's this is NOT!

Hungry

Massively overrated . Went based on great urbanspoon reviews however was very dissapointed. Food lacks flavor and ordering system is a nightmare .

Me

Brilliant. I'm a mexican food FIEND and fonda did not disappoint. beef burrito was filling and full of wonderful flavours. corn was disappointing (mamasita still takes the cake there), but the chips with chipotle aioli are than made up for it. wonderful addition to the area... will be back soon to sample more of the menu!

Looks

Hot Beef Burrito. It was smokey and tasty. Do you know what is good about burritos; mixing the beans and the meat. Its lighter, and better than trying to get through a whole sandwich made of meat.

SP

Good value. The food is comparable to Mamasita, which is not saying that much as I thought both were a little bit underwhelming. Flavours were fresh, but failed to impress me. However, the prices and relatively short queue at dinner time (waited only 30mins) means that I much prefer this to Mamasita!

Alimex

Best fish tacos in town! And perhaps the only place to get a Horchata (not just a Vampire Weekend song). Will be back!

Tobias Funke

Easy going yet delicious. Fonda is so tasty and the staff are really fun. I doubt anyone could have a bad time here

Sangee Food Love

Delicious! Can't wait to go back...Better than Paco Taco and very close behind mammasitas but without the price tag! Keep up the great work. Salad, taco, burritos and corn were fantastic.

Cameron

Worst Mexican I've eaten in Melbourne! The owner has obviously eaten at Mama Sita and thought it would be a great idea to open a cheap knock off with poor quality, flavorless ingredients. Avoid at all cost!-

AJ Payne

Def worth the hype. Super fast, cheap & tasty! Just what we wanted. The owner chatted to us & made us feel welcome. The fish & pork taco as well as the chicken burrito were top drawer. Well worth a return visit...

Damien Bovalino

The food is good and suits the price. But not exactly the only place doing this style or original, think Pacos Tacos. The place feels more like a cafe (Nandos meets good Mexican) then a restaurant and the staff have no idea. Possibly the worst I've come across; they forgot our tacos for 40mins while they sat around eating themselves, never thought to ask why we were sitting there so long enjoying our tap water. Then still charged for the inconvenience. Made fun of people arriving after 10 (open until midnight) when they closed early until one woman asked what they were sniggering about, then the staff where suddenly shy before the manager argued with them on the street. Good food but douches.

Vigo

Great flavours in everthing...will definitly go back...delicious fish taco and chicken quinoa salad...good prices too...head waiter/host seemed a bit lost...but so busy...food came out quickly..good vibe...unpretencious..

Chichi

Had the beef burrito. Excellent. Freshly made. Tasty. Chipotle sauce creamy and piquant. Seating limited but found a table outside. Very quick service. Bit noisy inside.

Hg

Best taco I have had the pork was amazing!! Also had the chicken ensalada and it was delicious, quinoa in it was perfect. Great service, hot waiters...def be back

Opinionista

Fond of Fonda. Fonda has obviously been inundated during their soft opening and things are still being worked out. We need to cut them some slack - at least for another week or so. Overall, once we realised we had to grab our own menu and order at the register, things went pretty smoothly. The grilled corn cob was a great tasty starter and really good that it's on skewer for easy handling. Next was the chicken ensalada, which was very flavoursome with black beans and quinoa and tasty grilled chicken, some purple cabbage and peas topped off with a bit of greenery and some toasted taco for a bit of crunch. Then came the soft tacos; two of us chose the fish which was very nice, a little dry on first bite but got better the further into it you travelled until you met the chipotle(?) sauce. My other friend had the pork taco which he said was delicious. Nice soft drink with real old fashioned paper straws in a barber shop pole pattern - cute! A few things need ironing out but once these guys get sorted, I think it's going to be a great asset to the strip which has been crying out for some real honest-to-goodness cheap eats for some time. Well done to Fonda and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Honeylishuss

Nearly there.... We ate at Fonda Mexican yesterday for the first time and were reasonably impressed but they have quite bit of tweaking to do before i am personally thrilled with the food and prepared to rave about it. We ate a couple of fish tacos and then ordered two more. We also had the grilled corn on the cob. Traditional street corn is usually smothered in cheap mayo as well as cheese. Fonda left the mayo off but I still enjoyed the corn. The tiny slice of lime was just enough to give the dish the required zest- I am quite aware of the cost of fresh lime in this country. The soft taco is made from masa/corn meal and has a very rustic quality. The tortilla was much thicker than i like it to be. On the second serving the tortilla was not cooked as long as the first one and felt a bit doughy. My husband liked the weight of it (he is Mexican so what would he know) I felt the coleslaw dressing was a bit too runny as I prefer mine to stick a little more closely to the salad, but they got the salad ingedients right. The flavour of the dressing was also good. I am still waiting for someone in Melbourne to get the fish right. I believe the batter for the fish pieces should be deep fried- light and crunchy. Fonda missed on that point. (best ever fish tacos in San Diego). The horchata is served in great big jars and is tasty. I guess it's a powder mix but it tastes like Mexico- cheap but good. The server mentioned that he felt that maybe the tortillas, which are hand made on the premises, were too thick and as I said before, after the second helping, I would agree. Make them thinner, or make flour tortillas, deep fry the fish in a good batter and you are there, Fonda! Then get a good sangrita for the Bloody Mary base (the best ones have orange and tomato juice) - once you get a liquor license- beer in a glass with a salted rim (and on ice), and we will be there regularly. Good stuff!

Jonathan

Very friendly and helpful staff. The food is great for the currently limited menu. A huge tick for the generous use of kinoa. Love the fish taco and chipotle sauce. Try sit outback if there's a few of you and the weather is nice. Still some teething issues but they'll get better. Make sure you byo. I'd definitely give it a go. Areeba undelai

Mia

Delicious tacos and corn. Could eat here everyday. Good food good prices . Only improvement is couldn't find enough hot sauce !

Shazzmatazz

R.e. raw meat. I highly doubt that what you experienced was raw meat. When dealing with market fresh meats it would be blasphemy to overcook the beast and dis-respect its natural flavours. Perhaps try Taco Bell if what you prefer is "well-done?" I have tried all the dishes and it is quite clear that the ingredients are incredibly fresh and that the chef knows what he is doing. Ill definitely be back for more.

Melbourne Food Journal

Love it!. Absolutely loving this joint - a very welcome addition to Swan Street, Richmond. Have tried the fish taco, vegetarian taco and vegie burrito, as well as the corn (yum). All great, fresh ingredients - and you can watch them making the tortillas on the spot.

Campbell King

Best Mexican in Melbourne!. There is nothing like authentic mexican food and after trying many in Melbourne this is the real deal. Beef Burrito was a standout but loved the pork taco's and the quesadilla was delicious. This will be a regular outing for me!

Jess_wow43

Raw Meat. The chicken and beef mince were completely raw. The chef and wait staff told us extremely rudely and condescendingly that "it was how meat should be served" and treated us like idiots when we requested chicken that wasn't pink all the way through! Bad service, dodgy meat!!

LittleTuckerbox

The kangaroo burrito was also pretty average, generous in size but overfilled with quinoa and very wet. Also the kangaroo fillet was so blue it was still hopping, but that being said it didn't have that unpleasant raw taste so just looked unappealing. We don't mind our meat quite rare but I think it would be a total turn off to some people

MissyNess

Seen this place's name pop up everywhere lately, so since i'm on a Mexican obsession phase, I decided I might as well give it a go. Walking in, you are greeted with a amora of Mexican from the kitchen near the enterance. Going through the menu I decided to try something from each section. Started my meal with the corn and I must say this was such a let down. I honestly didn't think modern/fusion Mexican resturants can get this wrong. The serving size was small and it was obvious they used frozen corn cobs rather than fresh corn cobs. At $3.50 a per serve it's not exactly cheap and considering a fresh full size corn is only $0.70 in supermarkets, it was not just up to scratch. If it intends to compare with other Mexican resturants such as Mamasita's, they should really reconsider where they source their ingredients. Chipotle aioli chips were next. The chips where fluffy and crisp, but the chipotle mayo did nothing for me. I regretted choosing the chips over the nachos. There was no way

Stickydates

The first and most important thing we notice about Fonda’s quesadillas is that they’re dry, crispy and not swimming in cheesy oil – which already places them a head and shoulders above Mamasita‘s disappointing version. P and I demolish these satisfying wedges of chorizo and cheese-filled bread crisps, wiping up every last drop of the spicy salsa sauce along the way (the jalapenos make the dish a little hot for me, but I survive by taking large slurps of horchata between bites).

Florence Mathilde Holmes

Overall, I think Touché are going in the right direction with their addition to the Mexican wave, even if it's more in the pursuit of style than hearty substance. If I visit again, it'll be after dark, when I suspect it comes into its own.

Foodwithfrank

For mains we were both super keen on the beef taco and the fish taco so we got one each.. and then we were really, really full! Great value. The perfect lunch spot…

Em Belden

Who wouldn't want to dine somewhere that describes themselves to be a 'family's home when it is opened up to passers by as an unofficial restaurant.'? Fonda Mexican in Richmond has based themselves around this colloquial phrase, and I am even more excited to read that when in Mexico you see a sign saying 'Fonda' I can walk right on in and be fed with a meal straight from their kitchen. With travels to Mexico in the distance of 2013, I am getting more and more involved with the cuisine and it's array of spices, and the drinks that can cool me down quicker than I can blink. So when you find out about new Mexican places popping up in conversations it does urge me to get a peddle on and try them all, but my list is growing rather fast with the Mexican cuisine becoming more and more popular compared to the day where your choice of Mexican was just Taco Bill.

Syqia3

I think Fonda is an excellent addition to Melbourne’s new bevy of Mexican eateries. While I feel that it doesn’t quite have the range that Mamasita has or the range of tacos at Pacos Tacos, the food is fresh, authentic and very affordable, not to mention the excellent drinks selection of tequila and frozen margaritas that I have yet to try.

Sdk1806

Fonda Mexican really is a brilliant place. It isn’t trying to be a fancy restaurant, and at the same time it is managing to steer clear of being just another fast food joint. Positioned on Swan Street Richmond, far enough away from the crazy intersection at Church Street ensures that you will have some peace during your visit. Open seven days a week, Monday to Friday from 12:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 3:00pm. Come down in the evening and you will notice the Fonda troops creating burritos and taco late into the night.

Cat

If you go to Fonda Mexican, I’d suggest giving the burrito a miss like I did and order a bunch of smaller items instead. The tacos seem to be better value (dollar and taste-wise) and the corn is always a winner. I’ve also heard good things about the chipotle mayo covered chips, but honestly, when is a hot potato chip slathered in mayonnaise not a delicious thing?

The World Loves Melbourne

Fonda Mexican is an impressive and affordable Mexican restaurant in Richmond that brings as much cool as it does colour. This is not kitch Mexican for so many years served up by dodgy restaurant chains with cheap plastic fittings and one dimensional cuisine. This is a simple but imaginative offering that is tastefully done.

Theycallmemaggie

One word: AMAZING. Another one word: DELICIOUS. And one more just to reiterate my point: SCRUMPTIOUS. Even Laiwah, who has an aversion to anything remotely spicy, thought this dish was simply delicious.

Hold The Peas

Fonda Mexican is on Swan street in Richmond and offers a casual style of Mexican eating. Grab yourself a menu and a table, then once you decide what you want, order at the counter, get a number and the food is delivered to your table.

Plate Licker

Ample portions of horchata are served in jars and are the ideal respite when your mouth is overloaded with jalapeños. This milky beverage is light and rejuvenating, gently spiced with cinnamon and vanilla.

Yum Foodprints

This place is mamasita's without the long queue; but they really are Mexican restaurant worth visiting (and not only because you want to avoid a long queue). They are reasonably priced, fresh and quirky. I will definitely be coming back and ordering alot more than the last!

TwoMunch

Fonda Mexican was wonderful. The food swiftly appeared and was quickly demolished in a frenzy of silence and finger licking. I’m still thinking about the beef burrito now. And now. And now.

Sofia Levin

From the food to the atmosphere, it's vibrant, fresh and fun. Although less than four months old... Word has spread quickly that it's "a casual, accessible Mamasita", if not tastier, too.

Daniella Alhadeff

The literal translation of ‘fonda’ in Spanish is ‘inn’, which goes some way to describing the latest addition to Melbourne’s burgeoning Mexican food scene. But Fonda is more than just an ‘establishment providing food and drink’ (as ‘inn’ may be defined) – Fonda is an establishment providing braised pork tacos, grilled chicken and quinoa burritos and frozen margaritas.

Small Werld

Situated just out the CBD on Richmond's Swan St you'll find this little space that owners David Youl and Tim McDonald have poured their heart and soul into. Fonda is the little piece of Mexico Melbourne has been waiting for. No pretension, staff full of cheer no matter how busy they are and a menu that will give any other Mexican in our fine city a right good run for its money! Running the kitchen you'll find Cumulus Inc alumni Ravi Presser and Mexican chef Lupita Manzo. This powerhouse team is using local ingredients to plate up flavour filled options all over the menu. Our picks go to the vegie and braised brisket tacos or the grilled chicken burrito. Deluxe. In Mexico if you see a house with a sign saying 'Fonda' it means you can go in an buy a meal straight from the family kitchen. Melbourne's Fonda embraces exactly that, making you feel right at home on everything visit. Drop buy, order up some of the kitchen's finest and top it off with a brew from local brewers Two Birds.

Mel D

We started with the delicious fish taco with chipotle aioli, pickled onion and carrot with cabbage ($6). This was mine and Clare’s favourite for the night with the crispy crumbed fish and creamy aioli (topped with some hot sauce of course).

Sophie

Overall, I didn't particularly like this place even though I had great company at dinner. The food is bordering on 'just ok', the music blares too loudly, the venue is too busy and the staff don't have the time or space to really make an effort. The vibe is reminiscent of a fast-food restaurant, and I'm certainly someone who likes to take my time with meals. More conversation, less noise and subsequent yelling, and certainly rushing please. Maybe these "talk-of-the-town" restaurants just aren't for me.

Nic Cril

this place is as close as Melbourne is ever going to get to an authentic Mexican cantina – unpretentious, no cut corners (nice to see someone on the corn tortilla toasting station, as opposed to one establishment that overlooked this crucial step, cough cough) and reasonable prices.

FoodieAboutTown

The number of great places popping up on Swan Street past the Church Street cross over is amazing! And new kid Fonda Mexican is no exception! Part of the new generation of Mexican restaurants appearing across Melbourne it is fun, fast and feisty! Step inside and there is a bustling open kitchen with a fair few people crammed behind but everyone is doing their thing and action stations are pumping out amazing looking food! The flames are jumping, the press is turning little balls of dough into huge tortillas in a matter if seconds. Head out the back to a gorgeous sunny little courtyard and if you are lucky enough to grab a seat you can look forward to fast, friendly amazing Mexican!

Katherine Chiu

I love the shopfront which is cute and cozy. Moreover when you walk inside the interior is nice and warm with all the flowers and the open spaces. I also loved the high chairs and tables- it reminds me of a late night bar. The guys that work there were quite happy and I loved how they worked in a production line. I also loved the open kitchen where I saw them working on my burrito. They do takeaway as well as eating in. They have a limited menu. They mainly focus on tacos and burritos with Mexican drinks such as Horchata ($4.50, which is non alcoholic and

Sweet And Sour Fork

Fonda Mexican’s infamous Fish Tacos ($6) lived up to their reputation. A little pouch with cubes of golden crumbed fish, crunchy pickles, and a generous smear of smoky chipotle aioli was the perfect harmony of flavours with a prominent overtone of freshness. We unanimously agreed that this was our favourite dish of the day.

Melbourne Food Files

You really must try Fonda. Get there early before the crowd hits after 7. My only complaint would be that all our food arrived (speedily) at once, But I’m reaching to find fault.

Melbourne Lifestyle Blog

I ordered the vegetarian burrito and the corn. We also had a bowl of chips to share, which became 3 bowls after tasting them – the chips were crunchy but it was the delicious chipotle aioli that tipped us over the edge. There is also a vegetarian taco on the menu with zucchini, minted peas, salsa verde and lime.

Msihua

Despite having heard some people compare Fonda’s fish tacos to fish sarnies (fish finger sandwiches), the Boy and I really liked it. Actually, we prefered this version to Mamasita’s grilled fish version.

Fatboo

The food here is simple, cooked well and very affordable. I liked the freshness here.

Ichigo Shortcake

We enjoyed our dinner at Fonda Mexican on the most part although some dishes failed to wow. I loved the drink and the tacos but will definitely have to pass on the pork scratchings next time. The decor was lovely and if you’re after a quick and cheap meal or a place to socialise with girlfriends (the place was full of young girls), by all means Fonda Mexican is a good choice.

Petit Miamx

There has been a huge boom in Mexican cuisine in Melbourne as of late and I'm grateful. After coming back from the United States, I have had an unrelenting craving for good Mexican food. Of course, I am wary of the fact that it may not be as authentically tasty as in the States, I'm still open minded and willing to try. Fonda has been open since last year on the corner of Church St & Swan St. It is evidently popular with hordes of people waiting for a seat around the counter and, don't hate on me but it's the truth, heaps of hipsters loitering/sitting curbside in the alley next door. On a warm Friday night at 6:30pm, I was dismally expecting it to be packed and it was but we luckily managed to secure the last seats for 2 in the outdoor area. Since it was a warm night, I went with the Lychee and Elderflower Margarita which althought I wasn't able to detect much of a Lychee flavour, it was heavy on the Tequila and it soon enough, went to my head. Mr A decided to go with the Horchata, aft

Off The Spork

I thought Fonda was okay. It wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t wowed by it. I would’ve liked the flavours to be amped up more. But if you’re early (ie 6pm) and after a quick meal, Fonda is the place to be. We entered, ordered, ate, and were out the door within thirty minutes.

Libby Margo

It might have been a grey winter day in Melbourne but Fonda’s friendly counter staff and the rows of brightly coloured stools perked me up.

Eat And Be Merry Crew

There is probably one thing I should make clear right from the start. I have a particular view about street food which doesn’t sit terribly well with some of the popular establishments around town. To me street food’s essence is that it should be quick, convenient, tasty and cheap, suitable for eating either walking along or seated next to the road. It doesn’t need to be fancy or made with the highest quality ingredients. If that’s what I want I’d probably have a different style of food in mind. After all it’s street food right, made to be cooked and eaten on the street. Consequently when someone takes street or at least street style food and moves it to a restaurant setting it doesn’t necessarily sit well with me. That’s not to say I can’t appreciate some of the places that have sprung up around Melbourne in the last few years. It’s just that I have a preconception about what that style of food should be like which isn’t necessarily what they are trying to achieve. I don’t want it to

Food Lover

A Fonda embodies the philosophy 'My house, your house' or 'Mi Casa, Su Casa'. Is it just me or are there more and more Mexican eateries popping up everywhere in Melbourne? Los Amates has been here for a long time, then Mamasita kind of started the hype followed by New Market, Mad Mex , Trippy Taco ... I've lost count. Now there is Fonda Mexican to add to the list. Fonda is pretty close to home to my delight. Every time I drive past it, the place is absolutely packed. Finally stopped for dinner the other day when I finished early and was able to get there early enough to get a table without waiting in queue. Hubby and I decided to order a few small dishes to share and try out the menu. We started with an antojito or bar snack tortilla crisps served with guacamole and smoky

The Meatologist

Unless you have been living under a rock chances are you have picked up on Australia’s obsession with all things Mexican lately. You might be thinking, hang on Aussies have always had a love for Mexican, hell, Guacamole is almost a national dish, eh? Going by the fact that Taco Bill has been voted Australia’s best restaurant two years running, combined with the success of

Gourmet Chick

Fonda brings an unfussed and casual approach to Mexcian food. It's wonderfully addictive and I'd like to go back there at night time and test out the margarita slushy machine on the counter or some of the Mexican beers. Really though, I would just be returning to feed my newly found fish taco addiction.

Review Fonda Mexican - Richmond