Fonda Fora

Started the evening with a mango margarita that packed the perfect balance of sweetness and a subtle spicy kick—an excellent way to begin. The nachos came with five distinct sauces, each with its own personality, and the fried queso Oaxaca was a crunchy, gooey delight. The ceviche, served on a toasted flaky dough, was fresh and vibrant, but the star of the night was undoubtedly the tuna tostada—phenomenal in flavor, texture, and presentation. Easily one of the best dishes I’ve had in a while. To wrap it up, the churros hit all the right notes—crispy, warm, and indulgent. Service was friendly, though our server seemed new and still finding her rhythm. With a bit more experience, she’ll no doubt match the high standard of the food. A must-visit spot in Calgary for upscale, creative Mexican cuisine.

Lovely looking restaurant and the food looked amazing, but was just OK. Our server at dinner was excellent. Brunch was a bit of a disaster. Our server was incredibly friendly and polite but placed us on a table near the washrooms in an almost empty restaurant (let us move with no issues) and then multiple things on the kitchen side were forgotten, missing, and not done to order. A valid complaint to the manager was addressed politely -- but I got the impression it was unreasonable to be bothered by our experience. Our server was very helpful ordering food for a fussy eater with allergies.

We picked this place for dinner while staying downtown. We both love Mexican food and atmosphere and this place did not disappoint! We enjoyed the patio, and while the sun was on the patio, you could almost imagine being in Mexico. The food and staff were amazing! The prices were good. Highly recommend this place for a downtown place to eat!

Cocktail and drink menu, especially the tequila menu were exceptional. Food was not bad, we did have to send a plate back due to the potatoes in the smashed potatoes not being smashed and just being basically baked mini potatoes. Service was really kind and accommodating though which was great and afterwards they corrected the issue and sent back a new plate.

Had stumbled upon this restaurant after walking through Prince’s island park with my partner and this was a wonderful experience! Gabby our waitress was very attentive and friendly and gave a complete guide of the menu as well as made great suggestions for us. Not only was she very helpful, but her conversations with us made the evening more enjoyable and really contribute to the beautiful atmosphere this restaurant establishes when you first walk in. The food was just as exemplary as the service. Portion wise, the food is enough to share (as intended) and was exceptional in presentation and taste. The aesthetic of the restaurant certainly matches the experience and food, and would highly recommend this as Calgary top spots for sure! Thank you again Gabby for the wonderful experience and for your help. She was so incredibly kind and charming!

We enjoyed our dining experience. The guacamole and chips were a good way to start. The service was excellent. The only negative was I thought the music was too loud and made it feel more like a bar than a nice restaurant.

Visited this lovely restaurant on Mother’s Day to celebrate my gf’s mother and had a great time! The atmosphere was nice, service workers were kind and helpful, and the food was very tasty. There were plenty of menu options to choose from with reasonable pricing. The Heuvos Rancheros was a meal comparable to an eggs benedict dish and the Hortachini was a great espresso-based beverage. Definitely coming back here in the future and would recommend this restaurant to those looking for an authentic yet classy hispanic dining experience.

We had high hopes when booking a reservation at Fonda Fora for the Tacos Con Estrella pop-up featuring a Michelin-star taco concept, but unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations. Out of the four tacos we tried, three lacked seasoning and overall flavor — surprisingly bland given their $9.99–$12.99 price point. The duck taco was the standout, but unfortunately, I bit into a piece of bone — thankfully without injury. When we mentioned it to our server, the response was indifferent at best: “Oh no, that’s too bad. Would you like the dessert menu or just the bill?” There was no acknowledgment or gesture of care, which added to our disappointment. What was most frustrating, however, was hearing — after the fact — that the Michelin-star chef behind the event was unable to attend due to visa issues, and the food was instead prepared by the restaurant’s own team. We understand that things happen, but if this is the case, it should have been disclosed to guests upfront. Transparency is important, especially for a premium, event-style dining experience. We also understand that El Califa de Leon — the Mexico City taqueria that earned a Michelin star — is known for its simplicity: thinly sliced beef filet, seasoned only with salt and lime. But simplicity still requires flawless execution, and unfortunately, that was not the case here. It’s possible the regular Fonda Fora menu offers a better experience, but based on this visit, we won’t be returning. On a positive note, the restaurant has a beautiful interior and a lovely atmosphere.

After quite a few nights eating out in a row ( a hardship I know ) we were hard pressed to find a place that was different in our neighbourhood in Calgary for our final night here. FF checked a bunch of the boxes off, so we decided to give it a go. First off, I the male found the prices to be a little high, but careful selection fed us just fine for not a huge amount of money. The Degustacion de Salsas with half tortillas was excellent, with a great variety salsa offerings. Once we ate that we determined that sharing an entree made little sense given the cost and the amount of food we would likely eat. Instead we shared the Tlayudita, which was essentially a tostada with toppings that more than filled us up. Our server was great, filled with knowledge and opinions that led us to our choices, which for us turned out almost perfect. We left feeling well satisfied, and could have taken a good sized to go box, but leaving the next day made that a mute point. The lovely K raved about the traditional margarita, but the $16 number made me say a full no. The space itself is rather spartan, but the arches in the ceiling added an element of class and opened up the restaurant. Would we come back, hell yeah, but ideally with a group of four to six to take advantage of the shared offerings to make it a little more cost effective for all.

Vibes 5/5: beautiful restaurant, comfortable seats, very spacious. Service 4.5/5: very attentive but we went when it was super empty so can't say what it's like when it's busy. Somehow they seated us next to another party even though the restaurant was empty, then asked the other party to move their coats off one of our chairs ... why not just sit us apart so we don't have to shout over each other? Food 4/5: the flavours are good but on the milder end of Mexican food. I got the tres leches pancakes which had a hint of bitterness from the baking powder unfortunately. Portions are generous for the price I'd say, for the breakfast menu at least. Overall a great restaurant and a beautiful place to take a friend or date, but the food is not so outstanding that it makes my list of regular spots to eat.

I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant the service is impeccable and the food is delicious. Thank you Jen and the rest of your folks who provide this. I'm very happy!

I was there a couple times with family. Delicious food, good service and quiet ambiance. Can recommend it.

Wow! I was so amazed by this restaurant!! It served outstanding Oaxacan Mexican food with dishes of mole that are some of the best I've tasted in Canada. In addition, the service was top-notch - our server was so knowledgeable about the food and ingredients that it enhanced the whole experience. We had the private group room and a tasting menu, so didn't fully experience the ambience of the restaurant, but my brief forays into the main restaurant made me feel it was a pretty cool place - relaxed, clean and spacious. This is now my favourite restaurant in Calgary!

Definitely recommend checking out the Brunch menu! We were meeting friends who were staying at the Westley Hotel so happen to select the restaurant based on pure convenience. What a treat! I'm so used to making reservations weeks in advance... wait-lists and line-ups are usually expected midday on any given Sunday. "Contemporary approach to traditional dishes" indeed! Flavorfull, generous portions ... was really a great find for us. Will definitely be back!

Unfortunately very underwhelming. Small portions despite high prices. Definitely better Mexican restaurants in the city in terms of food, but I will say that Fonda Fora has amazing ambiance.

Usually we're a little weary of restaurants in hotels but our package included breakfast vouchers so we partook of breakfasts during our two-day stay. Wow, the two breakfasts ended up being among our favorite meals in Calgary! We had the breakfast sandwich, omelette con salsa verde, avocado toast and huevos rancheros. We ordered at the bar, presented our vouchers, and sat in the casual lobby area instead of the back restaurant tables. We received our meals and drinks relatively promptly and thoroughly enjoyed them. We can't comment on their lunch and dinner options, but judging by the breakfast offerings, those are probably winners as well. Definitely recommended.

Easy five stars!! All the food was great but the honey margarita was AMAZING. I will be dreaming of that margarita for the rest of my life! Excellent service on top of great food/drinks.

A good friend reccomend this place and she was SO right! Such delicious and authentic tasting food I would have stayed and water all night- but my stomach said it was full! The options here were amazing, the service was very attentive (my water was never less than half full and there were lots of great suggestions and helpful wine tastings too!) We started with a few of the "snacks" from the menu. The tuna tostaditas were absolutely delicious! A must have if you like ahi & Mexican flavor! We loved getting to try so many salads too! Such a great way to sample!! I missed photos of the huarache de pato confidanto- which was so good we enjoyed it before I even had the chance to grab a photo! The rest of the dishes were all full of flavor and you could almost taste the care that went into them! The atmosphere and attention to detail made this place feel that much more special! We highly recommend it and can't wait to go back again soon!!!

With outstanding service and a great selection of unique offerings this place really tries to stand out from the crowd. The portions are great and for a restaurant employing the tried and tue family style presentation Fonda Fora, really shines a a great new place to gather and share a meal with friends and files alike. The menu offerings are not overly complicated with a nice selection in any category. The deserts of which there are 3 were truly stellar with well executed versions of traditional Mexican favorites. Fonda Fora is a great new addition to Calgary's restaurant scene.

Great food, perfect drinks, amazing service. Stacy the bartender was great, funny, great personality, makes amazing drinks. Ambiance was laid back. Great place to have a drink or weddings. I recommend coming for breakfast or a drink.

It is a very pretty restaurant with a beautiful patio (however there are no umbrellas so depending on the time of day you will be in full sun) Friendly and quick service. We ordered the: - guacamole: the ratio of chips to the amount of guacamole was wayyy off not nearly enough chips and the guac was very very salty. The chips were very good but we had to ask for more (didn't see the bill so not sure if we were charged for a side order) - Masa Fries: this was my favourite from our order. A good amount of heat and a great flavour . Served in a bowl with some type of leaves making the presentation nice. Would definitely order again. - Butrata Cantaloupe Salad : this was an interesting dish. I thought I would like it more based on the ingredients but it was okay - wouldn't order again. - Ginger lemonade mocktail - sooooo delicious and refreshing. I would like to come back and try the main dishes as well as their margaritas.

We had an excellent time here. We chose a number of dishes to share: tostada, sope, beets, carrots, ceviche and short ribs. Everything was delicious. My favourite was the tuna tostada. Our server was very kind and knowledgeable. Cocktails were great too. The margarita was one of the best I've ever had.

Great food. 1 server for the whole place meant very slow. Had chips and guac and another if 4 sauces. Tacos 3 per person and a very citrus salad. Pumpkin seeds instead of pistachios, still good.

Wonderful to find a truly outstanding Mexican restaurant in the heart of Calgary!!!! Service is exemplary, and the food was fabulous. Worth coming to Calgary for, all by itself!

Not a typical Mexican restaurant. High end for sure. I'm a captain and stayed at the Hilton property adjacent to the restaurant the last three nights. Due to Covid restrictions found myself eating numerous times breakfast and dinners here. The bar has a good selection of drinks and wines and the food has been outstanding every meal. I tried a number of different items on the menu and all were excellent! The staff was friendly and the service was professional.My favorite dinner meal was the grilled shrimp. My favorite breakfast was the avocado toast and I added a salad. Outstanding! Would highly recommend this restaurant and was quite pleased it was adjacent to the Hilton.

Food is bland. Pollo Asado was cold and undercooked. Not overly impressed. Service was not bad but not great either. Not worth $45 for lunch that is cold and service that is so so.

I stayed at the hotel that is attached to this restaurant and ate at this restaurant for breakfast and dinner for 3 days. I still was not done trying things by the time I left lol. The food was amazing, the view out the window was lovely, the staff were so friendly during my stay. Really couldn't have asked for a better environment to spend my time during my business trip alone. I want to stay in this hotel again when I'm back in Calgary so I can eat this food again all week lol I'm half Mexican and live in Southern California and this Mexican food was so interesting to me and just as delicious as the mole and tamales that I am used to.

Great food. Chicken is fantastic. Left felling full. Definitely one of the classier Mexican restaurants in Calgary.

What a huge disappointment. Things started off so well. The interior design of the restaurant is beautiful. The first item on the menu, Tuna Tostaditas, were delicious. Absolute perfection. After that it all went downhill. The cocktails were watered down and uninspired. The blue corn tortillas were dry and chalky, making everything we ordered with them unpleasant to eat. The flavours of the dishes were unbalanced and again, uninspired. If you want great, high-end, authentic Mexican food, go to Native Tongues. Don't waste your money at this place.

Very nice restaurant. Interesting Mexican food choices. Definitely not traditional Mexican but still great!

Food was outstanding, and service was even better. The design was also extremely impressive. I would recommend it to anyone.

Went for lunch and was blown away. The best beet salad I have EVER had. I could have eaten a whole order of Kibis Yucatecos myself. The soft shell crab was excellent. And the margaritas were delicious. Will definitely be back and soon.

We went for lunch and absolutely loved the ambiance and design of this new restaurant. Great Mexican food. Comparable to other fine addresses in YYC. Everything was phenomenal. They also have a wonderful patio. Manager and staff were extremely nice and helpful.

Absolutely phenomenal. I cannot speak to the food but I can speak to the staff, service, and atmosphere. The bartenders, servers, and management are absolutely the hands down best people I have had the pleasure of meeting. From dean to Allie to Christine and Kevin...to Brandon and mike. Phenomenal. An amazing atmosphere that makes you feel at home even in a hotel bar and a new restaurant. I seriously cannot rave enough about this place. My go to in Calgary and I will probably be back just to see the staff here. Worth the stay at the hotel, just for these people at Fonda Fora.

Service was atrocious. Very slow, arrogant, and charged me for drinks I never got! the food was good. Hesitant to go back ...

Really great tasting mexican food! Food was well made, the tortilla wrap was made from high quality ingredients and technique. We had their breakfast banana muffin too and it was literally one of the best I've had! Prices are fair for the quality and quantity. Would go back here when we visit calgary again.