Fonda - Monash

Had dinner with a friend for the first time at Fonda in Chadstone Shopping Centre.I like the queuing system for the tables given that you'll be given a SMS when a table is ready rather than getting you (the guests) to wait in a long queue like other restaurants.Had the chicken taco and the beef taco. Both are prepared beautifully in their own unique ways. The combination of meat and salads are mixed well with a good quality taco shell.The place is lively and full of patrons. Staffs are friendly. Place is kept reasonably clean.The only negatives are needing to order and pay upfront at the cashier in front of the restaurant; long wait for the food. Luckily, I have a friend to keep me company while waiting for the food.Price of food is reasonable and happy to go back again. Perhaps on a less busy time to avoid the long wait.

Service was friendly and attentive. Fresh avocado dip was really nice being made from real avocados. Very limited menu. No nachos! Tacos were small for $6/$7. Overall maybe a good place for chips and dip and a drink before a movie. It wouldn't be my first choice for Mexican dinner with other options in the centre offering a wider variety menu. Overall food was fresh and tasty.

A quick scrumptious dinner before the movies and sensitive staff who took every step to ensure that my partner who is coeliac was catered for. The kitchen prepared her meal in separate pans using separate utensils and served her meal first so as to prevent any risk of cross contamination.

Taco was not cooked- the dough was a bit raw. Beef tasted ok, but overall the meal was too expensive for what it was, lacked flavour. Portion size was tiny.

After watching a movie in Chadstone (X-screen)we were looking for a quick meal. The queue at the New Shanghai Dumpling was way too long (About 13:10) even though it appeared that there were substantial vacant tables inside. We watched the queue for a minute or two but it wasn't moving!. So we decided to go to Fonda next door instead. The place was busy without overcrowded and wait staff were friendly.We had taco with pulled pork and fish, plus chips (fantastically fried hot of the pan!), Quesadillas with grilled chicken and charcoal grilled corn. The chips, Quesadillas and the corn were delicious. We like the place as you could carry on conversation without raising your voice, nice decor with roomy and relaxing atmosphere. We would return to this place in the near future.