Juanchos Fonda — Restaurant in Asheville

Edit: Redemption!!

We went back as promised and what a knock out of the park. The service and food absolutely matched the expectation we had initially. Delightful, delicious and flavorful experience. No notes at all on the meal. Thanks for a fantastic experience! MY ABOSLUTE WEIRDEST REVIEW EVER!!!

My wife and I have been Asheville natives since 2016 having moved from NY previously. After Helene, we have been trying to eat and spend local as much as possible. We live near Rockys on south side and with all of the amazing places closing because of Helene or COVID (RIP Chiesa) we are trying spend money on locals as much as possible. Enter Juanchos. Just opened on sweeten creek (practically makes it a neighborhood spot) and I'm following the reviews closely but have never enjoyed. Opened maybe a few months and the reviews I'm seeing are amazing. Fresh food, fantastic service with a very attentive and hands on owner. Constantly in the back of my mind to try out. 70s degrees out today and my and I decide lets pull the trigger. Locally owned fresh food with hands on service on a early spring day?!?! Lets go!!!! We show up ~630 PM with my wife, 2 year old and myself for food. We walk in and the place is PACKED!!! Guys and gals, its a Wednesday evening. The place smells amazing. They are making magic back there and the people that are eating at their tables are not saying a word but just eating. +++++ We get sat down almost immediately (even have a high chair on stand by) and we wait. We take a moment for the scenery that is buzzing. Place is clean, packed and well decorated.

After about 5 minutes chatting with my wife I look over at the table next to us. 4 top with one person with food in front of one person and the other 3 nothing. The one person has a BEAUTIFUL looking and smelling plate in front of them not being touched while the other three are waiting. I overhear a quiet tone of concern about drinks and food coming out at odd infrequency, but I am still ready to rock. I want in on this magic that I smell. I'm looking around and seeing that the staff are racing and also seem erratic. They are trying hard but the disorganization is apparent. My impression is slowly is changing.

25 minutes after sitting down we have finished our waters, my child is done eating his snacks we have put in front of him to hold him over while starting to crash and we still don't have menus or anything in front of us. No drink order, no nothing. We get up and we leave.

My wife has to go back inside to collect a shoe that my son dropped while we were sitting and she comes outside WITH THE OWNER IN TOW. Here is the service and touch we read about. He sincerely apologizes and entices us to come back inside and states he would take care of us personally. He explains that he's breaking in new people and it was all confusion. HE MEANS IT!! I respect the hell out of an owner that would be that humble to try to come correct a bad experience themselves and I really give him credit. Hats off again. The boy is strapped in to his seat and its still time to leave because he's already crashing but I honestly wanted to stay and see what the place was about.

We are going back!! I really think that passion the owner showed translates into the food even though I never had a bite. They don't have a food issue but a service issue which I am positive will be resolved with an attitude and resolve with an owner like that. You could really tell he actually cares.

I'm cheering them on. I really am. I'm looking forward to eating their food but apparently tonight wasn't the night. Until next time!! I actually cannot wait to update this review later on and give them their due justice.

TL:DR We didn't even eat any food. The place was PACKED for a Wednesday night and the food looked incredible on other tables. We never got served after 20 minutes but when we walked out the owner chased us out the door to...

Was so impressed by my recent first time experience here, that I now take the time to share an enthusiastic recommendation and add my 5 star rating to all the others preceding me. With perhaps a combined 40 yrs experience in the restaurant business between us, my hostess and I selected Juan Cho's Fonda seeking an adventurous and superlative culinary occasion , which was served up and delivered with aplomb. I had no previous experience with Columbian cuisine, so this was initiatory. We were warmly welcomed by staff on entering at early lunch hour, and our waiter (from Argentina) very articulately described the specials of the day, and very knowledgeably answered our questions about the menu. I was thrilled to learn that the whole fried fish of the day was red snapper, a long time favorite since my younger days growing up in New Orleans, and which i couldn't recall having since I left there in 1975! Good thing I came hungry, generous portions of coconut rice, yucca, tostones, salad fresca and avocado accompanied an impressive crispy whole fish presentation. The cross hatch cuts across the fish made lifting each unbattered morsel from the bones hassle free and I dug in much like I was eating southern fried chicken, finger style. The crispy tail fins were a delight. My hostess, having been here before, ordered her favorite , the seafood cazuela, consisting of pan broiled shrimp ,fish of day, octopus, and lobster coconut stew, with rice, tostones, cabbage salad and avocado, no disappointment there! As seniors, we both took unfinished portions home, anticipating and .extending the delight into a second meal. The owner came out at the end of our meal and was most cordial, sharing a bit of the family lineage and culture reflected in this fabulous independent Asheville restaurant. Oh, and do try the bunuelos, put me in mind of an enhanced southern...

If you’re looking for authentic Colombian food that makes your taste buds dance the salsa, THIS is the place. From the moment we walked in, we were treated like long-lost family (the kind you actually want to see). Our server Christian was an absolute gem—attentive, friendly, and always one step ahead of our cravings. And Jason, the owner? A legend. You can tell he pours his heart into this place—and probably a little magic too, because WOW. Now let’s get into the real star: the food.
It was incredible. Massive portions, bold flavors, and cooked so fresh you’d swear someone’s abuela was in the kitchen yelling “¡con más sazón!” The hot sauce had just the right amount of kick—it didn’t try to ruin your life, just spice it up a little. And the chimichurri? I’d like to be buried with it. It could make cardboard taste amazing (not that the food here needs any help). The alcoholic drinks? So good they should come with a warning label. And the guava juice for our daughter? She sipped it like it was liquid gold and side-eyed anyone who got too close. Totally fair. The vibe? Cozy, colorful, and so welcoming you’ll start checking Zillow for nearby homes. If you're not full, happy, and planning your next visit before you leave, you might not have actually eaten here. 10/10. Would eat myself into a food coma here...