Fonda Chelsea

Name: Fonda Chelsea
Address: 189 9th Ave, New York, NY, United States, 10018
Telephone: (917) 525-5252
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

822 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mexican

Top Tags:

Now serving Lunch, Dinner and Brunch on weekends!

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Aug 16, 2022

7:00 PM

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(917) 525-5252

Other options

Order online

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Mexican
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(917) 525-5252
Website
http://fondarestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Roberto Santibanez
Private party facilities
Whether you’re planning a sit-down business dinner, a birthday cocktail party, or a holiday celebration, Fonda offers an array of delicious menus served in our comfortable, festive ambiance with stellar service from start to finish.
Private party contact
Erika Hebbezni: (917) 822-5882

Location
189 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Neighborhood
Chelsea
Cross street
21st St & 22nd St
Parking details
None
Additional
Delivery, Gender Neutral Restroom, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access

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Popular dishes

Guacamole
Guacamole made to order, served with hand pressed tortillas, chips and pasilla de Oaxaca salsa
- Serves Two$14.00
Flautas de Pollo$10.95
Two crispy tortillas filled with shredded chicken, topped with salsa verde, pasilla de Oaxaca salsa, queso fresco and crema
Sopa de Tortilla$8.95
Roasted tomato pasilla chicken broth, grilled chicken, Chihuahua cheese, avocado and crema
Sopa del Dia$8.95
Please look at the special's list on the back of your menu
Frijolitos con Queso$8.95
A new FONDA classic: soupy black beans, queso fresco, avocado, salsa verde, crema and pickled radishes
Queso Fundido con Chorizo$13.95
Oaxaca and Chihuahua cheeses baked with chorizo, served with soft corn tortillas and fresh tomatillo serrano salsa. Substitute chorizo with sautéed mushrooms
Zarape de Pato$12.95
Soft corn tortillas filled with braised duck with roasted tomato-habanero cream sauce
Huarache con Hongos$12.95
Oval organic masa "boat" black bean spread, sautéed mushrooms, salsa verde, salsa chipotle, queso fresco and crema
Croquetas de Jaiba$12.95
Lump crab croquettes served with three sauces, avocado serrano, pickled jalapeno mayo, and habanero roasted tomato
Taco de Pescado$10.95
Northern style crispy fish taco, corn tortilla, cabbage, smoky salsa and avocado salsa. Also available with grilled fish
- Available as Entrée$21.95
Ceviche de Atun$13.95
Diced rare ahi tuna and baby shrimp, citrus chipotle marinade, fresh parsley & mint
Tostadas de Carne$11.95
Crispy tortillas with black beans, topped with habanero spiked shredded beef, romaine lettuce, cured red onions, radishes and cream

Taquitos

Three soft corn tortillas filled with your choice of:

Filete$11.95
Beef tenderloin, bacon, poblano peppers, onions, Chihuahua cheese, cilantro and spicy habanero sauce
Carne Asada$9.95
Grilled marinated skirt steak with onions, cilantro and chile de arbol salsa
Pollo$9.95
Pulled crispy guajillo chicken with onions, cilantro and salsa verde
Al Pastor$9.95
Chopped marinated pork with pineapple, onions, cilantro and avocado tomatillo sauce
De Panza$10.95
Slow cooked pork belly avocado mayo and pico de gallo

Ensaladas

All salads available with: Grilled chicken, add $7, Grilled skirt steak, add $11, Grilled jumbo shrimp, add $12

Ensalada de Betabel$9.95
Roasted red beets served with avocado, poblano peppers, oranges, cotija cheese, lime and olive oil dressing
Ensalada de Aguacate y Zanahorias$10.95
Avocados, roasted carrots, toasted pecans, soft goat cheese, sprouts and bibb lettuce drizzled with a lime mustard vinaigrette
Ensalada Fonda$9.95
Arugula, radishes, red onions, and green apple tossed with a lemon, olive oil vinaigrette

Entrées

Enchiladas Suizas$22.95
Pulled chicken filled tortillas, creamy tomatillo sauce, baked with chihuahua and oaxaca cheeses
Enchiladas de Mole Negro Oaxaqueño$23.95
Soft corn tortillas filled with braised chicken topped with a stone ground Oaxacan black mole, chopped onions, cream, queso fresco, cilantro and sesame seeds
Enchiladas Vegetarianas$21.95
Soft corn tortillas filled with carrots, zucchini, corn kernels, pickled jalapenos and Chihuahua cheese; topped with your choice of tomatillo serrano sauce or roasted tomato habanero sauce, crema, queso fresco and cilantro
Carnitas de Fonda$24.95
Cast iron skillet braised pork shoulder, salsa verde, pickled poblano peppers, charro beans and tortillas to build your own tacos
Carne Asada con Hongos*$27.95
Grilled skirt steak with sweet corn mushroom sauce, served with green bean escabeche
Costilla a la Mestiza$26.95
Slowed braised short ribs served with chile Meco-Tomatillo sauce, sliced poblano peppers
Pollo Norteño$23.95
Boneless guajillo marinated chicken tossed with melted Chihuahua cheese. Served in a skillet topped with chiles serranos "toreados" and cured red onions, with warm hand pressed tortillas
Salmon al Grill$26.95
Grilled Atlantic salmon fillet over crushed fingerling potato, salsa verde topped with watercress relish
Pescado Tikin Xic$26.95
Achiote marinated Cod fish served over plantain white rice with a velvet black bean sauce and pickled habanero onions
Camarones al Ajillo$27.95
Jumbo Shrimp and cremini mushrooms sautéed with olive oil, garlic and ancho guajillo chile peppers (Not available for Brunch)
Callos y Camarones$26.95
Pan seared diver sea scallops and jumbo shrimp served with hazelnut mole and guajillo strip
Chile Relleno de Verduras$21.95
Roasted poblano peppers filled with sautéed spinach and raisins, served with tomato guajillo sauce, cotija cheese, pickled onions and Mexican crema

Sides

Nopalitos$8.50
Sliced prickly pear cactus pads, teardrop tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, crispy pasilla peppers, olive oil and lime juice
Esquites$8.50
Corn kernels, cooked in a butter epazote broth, chile de arbol and queso fresco mayonnaise
Espinaca con Hongos$8.50
Sautéed spinach and mixed mushrooms
Plátanos Fritos$8.50
Sweet plantains with cream and queso fresco

What 822 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.3Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Manhattan
Mexican

Sort by

Filters

MR
MarinaR
New York Area
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a wonderful evening out… the service was great.. and the food was fresh and delicious! They have many choices in margaritas and cocktails, leaving us very happy diners!
BF
BrunchwithFriends
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love Fonda. The food is delicious, the drinks are on point, the brunch is a great deal, wait staff is friendly, and the location is perfect. That's why we keep coming back every chance we get!
ET
EricT
New York Area
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall4food5service4ambience3
Unusually good Mexican cuisine, served in abundance.
j
jameson
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service3ambience4
The food was delicious, drinks can be a bit more stronger. Otherwise is an excellent restaurant.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on August 8, 2022
overall2food1service3ambience2
Place was decent and workers were nice. The food was really bland and lacked major flavor. It was almost a drag to eat my food. Very boring flavors. I would personally not come back.
DB
DBinNYC
New York Area
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 7, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience4
Great food, wonderful cocktails, acceptable service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fonda was such a gem that I came across. Food was absolutely delicious. Crab croquettes were so enjoyable with the right amount of spicy. The spicy blood orange margarita was amazing and the guacamole was a sure hit. Viviana provided excellent service. Can’t wait to return.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Good ambience, great customer service
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 3, 2022
overall2food1service3ambience3
Terrible experience
w
wnyc
New York Area
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best drinks and Mexican food in Manhattan ! Great appetizers and entrées .
a
amasnyc
New York Area
67 reviews
vip
5.0
67 reviews
Dined on July 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
We ordered Chicken Taquitos and French press coffee. Both were absolutely delicious!
NV
NikkiVW
New York Area
46 reviews
vip
4.0
46 reviews
Dined on July 23, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience4
We purposely requested an issue table because it was so hot out. There was little to no air conditioning and the one fan they had was pointed at one table. Our waitress was nice, but, she would not check on us and took forever to take our dinner order. We finished our appetizers before we could flag her down to take our dinner order. Just not the great service we were expecting.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful waiter, delicious food
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on July 9, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
Incredible meals. Cocktails can and should be improved.
RN
RobN
New York Area
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on July 8, 2022
overall5food5service3ambience4
The watermelon gazpacho was amazing, as was the mole.
H
Hawi
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on June 28, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Everything was great, except that we waited for an hour and a half for our main dish to arrive. They threw in a desert on the house, but we couldn't stay longer to enjoy the rest of our stay because it was getting late.
S
Sophia
Philadelphia
6 reviews
vip
2.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 28, 2022
overall2food4service1ambience2
Their website says that they have the pre fix menu on Tuesdays; apparently they don't. Waitress was rude with a short temper
MJ
MikeJ
Indiana
8 reviews
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on June 27, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience2
Wait staff was ... a bit snooty, crammed party of 5 at table for 4 and said couldn't move us because the other table was for a reservation. But what the heck we had a reservation through OpenTable... hmm. At the end they brought me the wrong bill and when i brought it up came back very short and said don't worry that the bill would be corrected, however the lower "correct" bill never showed up but the higher by almost $100 is on my bill. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone
C
Cb20
New York Area
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love Fonda and the entire staff! Incredible food and wonderful vibe always!
JR
JacquelineR
New York Area
91 reviews
vip
5.0
91 reviews
Dined on June 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Food was amazing and so was the service. Drinks where really good. The only issue is it was too hot. More fans!
MB
MBKB
New England
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on June 20, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience3
We had a wonderful dinner at Fonda! Margaritas, guacamole, and the enchiladas suizas were all great! And the service was excellent. Will definitely be coming again!
Y
Yorkville
New York Area
49 reviews
vip
5.0
49 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience5
Took a chance on a new restaurant in Manhattan and so glad that I did. Food was very good, service was as well, except for a server (not our main one) who got a bit surly at the end of the meal. Just a short walk from Penn Station in the wonderful neighborhood of Chelsea.
JP
JohnP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and vibe - always love coming here with friends.
MH
MarkH
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and drinks!
G
Gene
New York Area
35 reviews
vip
5.0
35 reviews
Dined on June 16, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience4
Food was excellent.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
7 reviews
vip
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 12, 2022
overall3food4service3ambience4
The service was quite slow and requests had to be made multiple times. But the cherry on top for my friends and me was the non-acknowledgment of why we came. I had listed that we were celebrating a birthday, which the server never acknowledged. Instead, when we are leaving, we hear several staff members singing to a different table (who were receiving a higher quality of service throughout their dining experience compared to us). I asked the waiter what the difference was and he stated with indifference that oh well they ordered dessert. It didn’t explain the spilling of drinks on our guests, the long wait time for food, or the wrong orders being brought out and insistence that those dishes were what we ordered.
K
Kristin
Washington DC
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on June 12, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Great brunch deal if you're looking for a place to celebrate while a friend is in town! Three brunch drinks and a select menu for $37.95.
KB
KerriB
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 10, 2022
overall3food3service4ambience4
The margaritas were warm. The fondue wasn't hot when it got to the table.
FN
FoodieNYC
New York Area
54 reviews
vip
3.0
54 reviews
Dined on June 7, 2022
overall3food2service4ambience3
I think Fonda is slipping. Prices are high and food was hit and miss. Service good. The fish tacos need a rethink. They had no taste whatsoever and they were heaped with a bland slaw with no flavor or dressing. Pineapple Upside Down Cake should have been carmelized on the bottom and missed opportunity to char or caramelize the little bits of pineapple on top. Corn side dish had too much runny sauce and corn also would've benefitted from being grilled or charred. These extra touches separate from the great chefs from the average ones. Carnitas were moist and tasty, tortillas and guacamole excellent. I ate at Fonda a few years ago and was blown away. I fear they've settled into mediocrity. Fonda needs to up their game.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 6, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience3
Great food, loved the side dishes - fried plantains and corn! We sat outside, crammed and on plastic chairs - not so great but it was too noisy inside so that’s why we chose outside. For the dinner service, I think they should be able to offer decaf coffee which they didn’t have. Overall good food and would come back again.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
food was impeccable, service exceptional, and atmosphere was lively and fun without being too noisy. 10/10 strongly recommend and w sleep on the queso with chorizo!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience2
Open table says the brunch deal is bottomless but it’s actually $39.50 for a meal and three of their brunch drinks. Mimosas were mostly orange juice but their tequila drinks were very strong. The food was okay, spicy which was nice. Overall, I won’t be going back for brunch, it’s not a good deal for just okay drinks and a limited brunch menu
BB
BrenB
New York Area
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and drinks! Perfect for the summer!!!! Best margaritas and best service!
AD
AnitaD
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 30, 2022
overall3food4service3ambience3
Bottomless brunch is no longer bottomless. They cap at 3 drinks and don’t even provide a to go cup if you want to leave the restaurant. You have to pay for another drink in order to get it to go. It was loud and the space was tight. Wasn’t the brunch I was expecting.
EA
EvaA
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
The food and the service are excellent . I found the background music a bit loud.
m
mrjcs
New York Area
43 reviews
vip
4.0
43 reviews
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
Food and service were very good. Only 2 bathrooms are insufficient for a restaurant this size.
LG
LeahG
New York Area
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Been to this restaurant many times and it never disappoints. A bit on the loud side for me but strong drinks and reasonable food prices.
JM
JoshM
New York Area
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food, atmosphere, and service at Fonda Chelsea were all excellent. They have a nice array of delicious Mexican dishes available. Highly recommended!
CR
ConstanceR
Exclusive
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 17, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Very nice food and drinks. Always great service. A little pricey
G
Gerry
New York Area
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I've been to Fonda before and remembered the food was excellent. Service is pleasant, servers have personality and are friendly without being fawning. My only negative is that it is VERY noisy. My friend and I are old and the hearing isn't what it used to be, so I would prefer a quieter environment, but the food and service make up for it.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Fonda Chelsea using the Order Online button. Fonda Chelsea also offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Fonda Chelsea also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (917) 525-5252.

Fonda Chelsea is rated 4.6 stars by 822 OpenTable diners.