Fonda Mexican
Note: scheduled post. Still on holiday. Back soon though. Boo!
I’ve heard that Fonda, a Mexican style cantina in Richmond, is always busy, with lines down the street. I don’t spend much time in Richmond, so I can’t confirm whether or not this is true, but with the popularity of Mexican food in Melbourne, I can believe it.
Before we went on holiday, Alastair and I had an early dinner with Hazzie and Gazman. We rocked up at 6pm and were seated straight away – hooray to not lining up. We quickly looked through the menu and ordered at the counter.
For beverages, Fonda has Mexican beers ($8-$9), Jarrito soda ($4.50) and horchata ($4.50).
I fell in love with horchata when we visited Spain many years ago. I was absolutely hooked and I drank it almost every single day we were there (often several times a day). We were in Spain for about a month, so that was rather a lot of horchata.
From what I’ve gleaned from the internet, Spanish horchata is made with tigernuts, while Mexican horchata is made from rice. It’s not the same. 🙁 I knew it and I ordered one anyway. Fonda’s version is made with rice, water, cinnamon, vanilla and evaporated milk. And actually, I did enjoy it – it’s like rice milk with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla.
The four of us shared a serve of corn tortilla chips ($6) with guacamole and smoky salsa. The chips were good.
As well as the chipotle chips ($6) – chips drizzled with chipotle aioli.
Alastair and I also had a fish taco ($6) with chipotle aioli, pickled carrot/onion and cabbage. I thought it was okay. I didn’t find it that exciting – it was a bit like having a fish finger in a tortilla. It needed more sauce or something.
We had heard that the burritos were quite large, so also ordered just one to share between the two of us. The grilled chicken burrito ($14) was filled with quinoa, salsa verde, corn, queso fresco and cabbage.
Thankfully it was served cut into two halves, because it was a big, fat burrito. Tastewise, like the taco, I didn’t find it that exciting. Definitely one to share by the way – it was very filling.
Haz and Gazman had one of the quesadillas ($12). It looked really good – there was so much cheese inside it.
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.
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Fonda Mexican
48 Swan Street
Richmond
Phone: (03) 9429 0085
Web: fondamexican.com.au
Iron Chef Shellie
October 2, 2012 @ 1:16 pm
I can make fish finger tacos at home. I won’t be rushing to this place!
Thanh
October 3, 2012 @ 5:17 pm
I thought the tacos were ok and the chips were really addictively. I definitely wouldn’t line up for it.
April
October 11, 2012 @ 11:02 am
Wow, quick meal. It’s on my side of the city so I guess I should try it one day. Thanh’s comment about the addictive chips has kind of sold me!
msihua
October 15, 2012 @ 7:48 pm
Because of you! I’m hooked on the horchata now! And agreed, fastest meal ever!