Fonda Mexican — Restaurant in Sydney

My partner and I stopped by for a quick bite on our way to the shops. The restaurant was half full, with plenty of seats out front. Interestingly, the waitress seated us towards the very end, in one of the booths. Odd choice - unsure if she didn’t want us to be seen (?we were wearing active wear), if the tables were booked, or if she allocated us the booths because the were super duper uncomfortable - with the table pressing against us. As we were leaving, the tables out front were still empty.

We ordered the prawn tacos, barbacoa taco, guac and chicken quesadillas. We also got a Watermelon cocktail jug.

It’s a pay before you eat restaurant - 3 minutes after paying at the counter, the food arrived. Literally the guac and all mains were on the table with 3 minutes. We got the cocktails ~15 minutes after we had already started eating. Suspiciously fast.

The prawn tacos looked anaemic, were splattered with subpar sweet salsa made from canned pineapple, and a rock solid lime wedge. The barbacoa was a step above, but the filling was scanty as well. For what we were paying and the vibe of this “fancy” place, we expected a corn tortilla - not a flour one.

The guac/sprinkled pico was somewhat fresh, but lacked any form of acidity and was pasty/dry. Tortilla chips were mid. The chicken quesadilla was dry; overwhelmed with cheese and barely had any chicken for it.

The cocktail was relatively nice, but was essentially watered down watermelon juice with a hint of lemon. It’s supposedly for 4 people, but with the sheer amount of ice that was in the jug, it barely filled a couple glasses.

The service was alright, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing terrible, just mid. Giving it 3/5 as the seating choice didn’t make sense and made us feel uncomfortable, both literally and figuratively. With avg service, expensive food, and quality/flavour that is poorer than GYG - we don’t see why anyone would spend their money here.

Stay away...

Ordered a vegan meal via UE, then ordered the same meal another day. This time the order didn't come with sour cream - dry corn chips and cheese is pretty uninspiring so when I realised they forgot a key ingredient I was pretty annoyed. I called up and spoke too two unhelpful staff members about getting one sent to me only to be told after 10 minutes of back and forth Fonda don't do sour cream and what they had sent me previously was diary. The staff member who really couldn't care said he'd grab a manager and proceeded to hung up the call. No manger called back, they had all my details. Pretty poor service and lack of care for their patrons to be so complacent with ones dietaries and then not even bother to call back and apologise. Your company promotes a vegan menu which is the most disappointing thing. Wouldn't recommend the vegan nachos, they are dry and not worth the money. Nor would I recommend the venue after the poor...

Stumbled upon Fonda in Surry Hills and it’s easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the area. The vibe is spot on – relaxed, vibrant, and with just the right touch of Latin flair.

I tried the nachos and the fiesta burrito bowl – both were packed with flavor and really well-balanced. You can tell they use fresh, quality ingredients, and the portions are generous without being overwhelming.

The service was excellent. The staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, which made the whole experience even better. It’s always a plus when they can give solid recommendations based on what you’re in the mood for.

Also, shoutout to their cocktail list – the spicy margarita was a standout.

Will definitely be coming back. Whether it’s for a casual lunch or a fun night out with friends, Fonda has got the atmosphere, food, and...