La Fonda Latina

We had the Paella del Mar for Two, which was great. Flavourful and, according to my lady, delicious the second day. 1/2 pitcher of Dos Equis Amber took my back to early days. Loved the tortilla chips & salsa and churros for dessert.

An old filling station repurposed as an indoor-outdoor dining experience and great for late night eats, especially when you are Pacific time and your flight just landed. To see Atlanta by bike, visit our guide at Bikabout.

A great dining experience! The staff here are really attentive. The restaurant is pristine and the food is tasty! I normally eat across the street at Felenis pizza but decided to give La Fonda a go. Everything was as it should be. The music, the service, the food were all perfect. Love this place!!

Table for 2 for Dinner Approaching the restaurant, I noticed their extremely small parking lot and was lucky enough to find some nearby street parking.  We entered and were greeted warmly and seated quickly.  The place itself had an authentic decor but the dining room was very small. We reviewed the menu and ordered a couple of Pacifico beers and the Tostones as an appetizer.  I guess they make their Tostones a little different from what I remember from other places.  They were smashed plantains, like I expected, but they were dry with an aioli on the side. I am used to them being drowned in oil and garlic.  Well, we tasted them and they were OK.  Their menu was pretty extensive, and we decided on our entrees. I ordered the Paella for one and Wifey ordered the Carnitas taco meal.  While waiting for the food, we enjoyed the authentic music being played in the background.  I observed that the small dining room we were sitting in looked like a converted garage. The food arrived quickly, and we started to dig in.  My Paella was just OK, it needed some salt or other authentic seasonings.  Wifey agreed that her food could have used some more seasoning, as well. We had a nice overall experience.  The staff was very friendly and attentive, but the food was average.

I have been enjoying the La Fonda restaurants all over the city for 28 years - seriously, my first visit on New Years Eve 1995 was exactly 28 years before my visit last night, New Years Eve 2023! I live OTP now, but I try to still enjoy a delicious meal here when I come into Atlanta. The vibe is so laid back and I love all the folk art and murals. Each location has its own distinct look. Their salsa is perfection, served very cold with smooth tomatoes, fresh cilantro and chunks of onion. Best I’ve ever had. The artichoke dip is divine - like nothing you’ve ever had unless you ate it at another La Fonda. It’s a creamy dip that’s a mix of tangy artichoke with a salty olive tapenade. I scrape the cup to get every last nibble. Their paella is amazing - a big cast iron pan full of rice and meats, but my go-to entree is the quesadilla con espinaca y camerones- spinach and shrimp! They are huge quesadillas stuffed with cheese, spinach, red onion and grilled shrimp, just the freshest ingredients. SO GOOD!! Love their black beans too - so much flavor. I had a Mexican Iceburg to drink - Dos Equis Amber beer with a big burg of frozen margarita floating on top. The lime is delicious as it melts into the beer. I left stuffed but took a Cuban sandwich and a large salsa home so I could enjoy that for lunch on New Year’s Day. Did I mention the prices are great for Atlanta too? Great food and a great value. La Fonda, thank you for making my taste buds sing for almost 30 years!

Delicious food and friendly service! The chips and salsa were great, and my paella was outstanding! Very nice outdoor seating area as well!

I come here all the time and get either cheese dip or a quesadilla. Usually it’s fine but recently they started charging me for salsa when I only get cheese dip. I said ok no problem I just won’t get any salsa thank you. Next time around they charge me $4 for chips when all I got was cheese dip. Explain to me why when I spend $12 on a quesadilla it’s free chips and salsa but when I spend $11 on cheese dip im charged $4 for chips? What am I supposed to do drink the cheese dip In a straw? I’m tired of the management. They just laugh and say bring your own chips next time. I’d like to speak with someone about this because at this point I’m fed up. The staff just likes to upcharge if you don’t spend more than $20 here.

The food is delicious. Good customer service and a fabulous patio vibe. My husband enjoyed the chicken quesadillas and chips. The Pina Colada was so tasty. The chicken soup/caldo de pollo was very lacking but had good flavor. It’s nothing like what is served at the taqueria. However we will return for other dishes.

The food is always so good, the service is friendly. And. They have plenty of outside dining which is so fun. Try the paella - it's the best anywhere. The shrimp tacos never disappoint. They're a little spicy.

Food was decent. It wasn't what I ordered but it was good. My Texas margarita was pre-mixed and not good. It barely tasted like it had alcohol in it. The servers were nice. Small place. Neighborhood friendly.

Can't believe I've lived in atlanta for 8 years and hadn't gone to a La Fonda until now. To be honest, I wasn't missing much. The food isn't the best but it's definitely a great place if you just wanna get a cheap buzz - their drink prices are great. And they have pitchers.

I'm a simple man-- I go to La Fonda Latina, I order the "Arroz Con Pollo," and I rate the restaurant 5-stars on Yelp. This menu item is a top-10 meal I've ever had in Atlanta. It has a whole half of perfectly seasoned chicken surrounded by rice, onions, herbs, and everything good they have to offer in Latin America. I gave the "La Fonda" on Ponce a similar rating for the exact same dish, and I'd say each location has their pros and cons. La Fonda on Ponce has an awesome view if you sit upstairs, but is in a sort of weird neighborhood and parking is hellish. La Fonda Candler Park (this one) is a lot more "cozy" and nestled in a beautiful neighborhood with a better interior atmosphere, but probably further away for most folks. Food and service was the same though! Will definitely be back to both.

Always hits the spot! Little latin restaurant nestled in Candler Park. The service is always super sweet & attentive and the dog friendly patio is perfect for enjoying a cold beer and quesadilla on a summer night.

Table for 2 for Dinner Approaching the restaurant, I noticed their extremely small parking lot and was lucky enough to find some nearby street parking.  We entered and were greeted warmly and seated quickly.  The place itself had an authentic decor but the dining room was very small. We reviewed the menu and ordered a couple of Pacifico beers and the Tostones as an appetizer.  I guess they make their Tostones a little different from what I remember from other places.  They were smashed plantains, like I expected, but they were dry with an aioli on the side. I am used to them being drowned in oil and garlic.  Well, we tasted them and they were OK.  Their menu was pretty extensive, and we decided on our entrees. I ordered the Paella for one and Wifey ordered the Carnitas taco meal.  While waiting for the food, we enjoyed the authentic music being played in the background.  I observed that the small dining room we were sitting in looked like a converted garage. The food arrived quickly, and we started to dig in.  My Paella was just OK, it needed some salt or other authentic seasonings.  Wifey agreed that her food could have used some more seasoning, as well. We had a nice overall experience.  The staff was very friendly and attentive, but the food was average.

The staff were friendly and service was quick. They give you chips and salsa to snack on which was great while waiting for food. We all thought our food tasted great. (Cuban sandwich, rice, beans, cheese enchiladas, and paella) They have soda and alcohol beverages. It is small inside but enough room for smaller groups. We parked for free across the street.

The quality of the food here is pretty up there in addition to the prices being reasonable. I've always come in later on a weekday when it wasn't busy but the service has always been fast and friendly. The paella and arroz con pollo are both delicious and they always make sure your free chips and salsa are full!

We came here for a weekend dinner, and were seated on the patio right away. Service was okay, a bit slow but otherwise it was fine. The food was really good, lots of menu options. Margaritas were pretty flavorful, didn't taste like a basic mix. - Paella (4.5/5): love how sour/citrusy this was! I love paella and this one did not disappoint. Lots of ingredients/add ins and great variety. - Carnitas enchiladas (4/5): these were yummy and very flavorful. Lots of sauce which I love

Great food! Check it out! Had the paella and churros. Food full of flavor and servers were friendly

Me and the friend visit this restaurant after an event we went to on a Thursday night. Very small quaint little restaurant. We sat outside on the patio. We were informed that the food was about 30 minutes behind because they were short staffed in the kitchen. We said we were OK with it because it was late and we were just really hungry. My friend and I both ordered the same thing we just got the chicken tacos the order of two. They were out of beans for the side so he offered us a salad which was just OK. And we had rice. The waiter also suggested extra of the sauce that came on the taco which I highly recommend because that sauce was so good. Have an extra of that to dip my taco and really made the taco delicious. All in all a pretty average experience. Tacos were $11.50.

Pre-pandemic I had visited this location only occasionally as I prefer the service at the locations on Ponce and Howell Mill. The food is the same as at other locations and meets expectations. La Fonda has a formula and all the locations I've visited follow it. But when it comes to service, this one is the worst. I rarely play the Black card but it's hard not to notice when you're the only non-white person in the restaurant and you're being ignored. My last visit will be my last. Yelp #16 2022

Food was excellent, the service was superior. We sat outside so unfortunately there were a lot of flies & bees.

La Fonda is one of my favorite restaurants, and my favorite dish here is the chicken tacos. they have really delicious yellow rice as well, and it's overall a good restaurant. 9/10 recommend for everyone

I was in the area, checked my Yelp app...and the reviews were good (for the most part), so I decided to skip my Fellini's pizza and give La Fonda a try. I ordered some guacamole (which I had to try to doctor up myself with salt and lime) I was less than impressed. For the main entree I order the chicken, rice and beans. The chicken was well seasoned and flavorful. The breast was a little dry, but over all it my meal was decent.

What a super mediocre meal !The service was good , although not particularly friendly and the little patio is perfect ...but the food was really not good -the Madurai were burnt and shriveled. The rice and beans were bland bland bland , there was a tiny sliver of beef in my flavorless burrito. I won't be returning .such a shame because it's such a great spot on McClendon Ave , go to Gigis instead !

This place is top notch! The food was great--I had the grilled chicken and my girlfriend had the shrimp tacos, but what really got our attention was the service. It was outstanding! The wait staff was attentive, quick, and friendly. I will definitely be coming back.

I really like the food at La Fonda. But today. I'm giving a mediocre score. I'm just disappointed that I ordered online and asked for queso w/ jalapeños and got no jalapeños. It just ruined my meal. Please do better.

My husband and I really enjoy grabbing lunch at La Fonda! We usually golf or walk at Candler Park and then come here for a bite. These are our favs- the Grilled Veggie Kabob could make veggie skeptics change their mind. Never overcooked or overly seasoned, the are perfect every. single. time! The smoke on the grilled shrimp tacos sets them apart from your typical tacos, and I LOVE that they keep their sauce simple, no crappy aioli drenching the shrimp and veggie and overpowering the taste of everything. To the chefs at La Fonda - thank you for having taste buds and not just following trends!! And ... ... the Paella Del Mar ... AaaaaMazing!! It could use a little more crust on the rice, but the flavors are on point. They stay true to the flavors of the rice and seafood and don't over-season. Add a little salsa or hot sauce, or cut up some grilled tomatoes and onions from the grilled veggie kabob and mix them in! So GOOD! We really do appreciate food that allows the flavor of the ingredients to shine through, and La Fonda does it well!

Great restaurant. Good food and great service! We will definitley be back. Parking can be a problem, but food and service is worthit.

The food was very good. I ordered the Cuban sandwich and my friend ordered the paella. We both were impressed by the flavor.

The paella is amazing here! I also enjoy the fresh guacamole. Parking is very limited and this location is usually pretty busy so you will likely have to park on the street. The rooftop is perfect for dinning summertime

Great food. Quick service (I had carry-out). Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Shrimp tacos. They can't be beat.

The service provided at the establishment was commendable, characterized by efficiency and promptness. However, I must express my disappointment with the portion size of the food served, as it was notably small. It is important to note that I am not a particularly voracious eater, yet even for someone with a moderate appetite, the quantity of food provided was insufficient. Additionally, the pricing of the dishes was very high, surpassing what would be considered reasonable for the quality and quantity offered. Consequently, based on these factors, I would not be inclined to revisit this establishment.

La fonda was ehh. It wasnt bad but didnt live up to the hype. The Candler Park location is really cute and quaint. Its nestled in the candler park so it was awesome to sit om a saturday and watch the hustlw and bustle of candler park. My party of three ordered sangritas (sangria with frozen margarita). This is delicious!! Its tart, tangy, and sweet. I ordered the Mexican iceberg (dos equis with frozen margarita). This was interesting. It tasted more like a really cold margarita with tidbits of margarita. The real test of a Mexican or Texmex resturant is its ability to have good chips and great salsa. La fondas chips are served warm and the salsa was rhe perfect balance of chunky and resturant style salsa. The arroz con pollo was amzing!!! It was rich and flavorful and so so so much food. The posole was the soup special for the day. Ive never had a white posole before. In the past, ive had posole that was tomatoe based with a flavorful soup with marinated chunks of tender pork, hominy, veggies, sliced radish, cilantro, and cabbage...the posole at La Fonda wasnt good at all. It was bland and the flavor was so light it seemed to simmer for just moments prior to being served. Quick service. Likely to not be a repeat visit for me. I will try to visit another location before I completely write La Fonda off

one of my favorite places. ambiance is always great and they have fast service for how busy it is. their salsa is some of the best in the city! my favorite is the steak tacos and steak quesadillas. the cuban is a close second! definitely give this place a try and enjoy the patio!

So the food is excellent and the service was great but let me tell you about the salsa. The salsa is the first reason you should come here. And the second. And the third. Cannot wait to come back.

Can't go wrong here. Paella and Quesadilla Con Pollo were our choices this time, and both were great. Possibly the best salsa in Atlanta.

The flan looked like they turned it upside down prior to putting it in the bowl. Usually the top of flan is a caramelized, golden brown. This did not look appetizing at all. And the Apple empanada isn't praise worthy either. Although the top and sides are a beautiful golden brown, the bottom was barely toasted. It was stuffed with fresh, well seasoned apples but the pastry was cool on the outside and cold on the inside - I thought it would be piping hot or at the least warm, none of it was, once again, disappointed.

Had to try some Cuban food while in Atlanta & all in all it was pretty good. This place was more of a mix of Mexican & Cuban food which I don't mind. The food automatically came with chips and salsa which was pretty good, the salsa was nice and chunky. I ordered tostones, however I must admit I was not very impressed with them. They did not have the right crispy outer texture. The Paella for one, I personally felt was just the right size & I loved it. The shrimp, calamari, chorizo & chicken were all tasty. My nephew had the sandwich that was called something other than a Cuban sandwich, irregardless he really enjoyed it. My younger son had a steak quesadilla & he also was pleased with that. Unfortunately we ate too much to be able to try dessert.

I have been eating at La Fonda for years and the food was always fresh, satisfying and affordable. I stopped in the new location on Hosea Williams Drive tonight and was shocked with what I was served. I sometimes would get the burrito with the pork, and it was delicious. First I noticed they have upped the price from $9 to $13 which seems a big jump, but I understand food costs have increased for a number of reasons. When the waiter put my plate down I was surprised to see the burrito is now 2/3's the size it once was. It was cut in half, and looking inside the burrito, I saw this unfamiliar mess. The mess was a goopy mixed-up combination of a tiny bit of pork, refried beans and sour cream, surrounded by lettuce. This wet mixture tried to hide the fact that there was hardly any meat in the burrito at all - just this dollop of slop. It tasted like bland crap. I cannot imagine what the paella has been reduced to... I will never eat there again... Double disappointment and yuck!

I ate 2 beef soft tacos, which comes with black beans and yellow rice. I wanted a second plate. My son who is a picky eater ordered the chicken tacos and loved it! Great place!!

This is what I had and the food was pretty amazing . I'd def go again. It's really small in the inside however and not much space, so if that's a problem for you I'd probably try the one in ponce de Leon instead. Would def come back and try their food again .

I have two words that best describe La Fonda Latina ... Reuben Cubano! Grilled chicken, swiss cheese, Cuban coleslaw, pickles, and dressing on pressed Cuban bread. I don't know that you can find a better Cuban sandwich in the ATL. Sandwiches not your thing? Try the Paella del Mar - yellow rice, shrimp, calamari, salmon, sea scallops, peppers, onions and a bunch of other goodness. Enjoy it with a Dos Equis Ambar!

I love the food here but they won't let us eat on the patio which is basically a parking lot with a dog. Unfortunately we will never go back.

Great food, chips & salsa, tacos, Cuban grub done very well. Ask if they have Ropa Vieja as a special when you go, it's fabulous!! The black beans and yellow rice rock!

This is always where I go when I can't think of anything else to eat. The salsa is always pretty good, but my latest menu selection was the shrimp/spinach quesadilla. It was a joke. A rolled up tortilla with a couple small shrimps and spinach and cheese. I made better quesadillas in in college. I also don't care for their rice and beans either. Just too simple. Add in some jalapeño or something to give the sides more flavor! I like the place but there's more inspired culinary options.

This place is subpar at best. Wouldn't come back- salsa from a jar, margarita too sweet, enchiladas no bueno burrito looks like fast food

A friend and I met up for lunch here on a Saturday. This La Fonda is located directly across from Felini's pizza. It looks like there's a parking lot right by the restaurant, but there are also street parking available by the neighborhoods. You seat yourself and the servers will bring you the menu. We ordered the paella del mar for two which had salmon, shrimp, calamari, scallops, and mussels. For the amount of food you get, $24 is not a bad deal. The server we had was also really nice and greeted us with a big smile and made sure we were happy with our food.

Very good food. The WORST customer service!! Each time I needed service, I literally had to holler out at server ignoring me. REPEATEDLY!!! The 2 is only for food.

La Fonda on McLendon is amazing. The staff are so sweet. During COVID they've shortened their daily staff, which makes the service a little slower if they're slammed, but they always do a great job. Right now they're doing take out and some dine-in inside and out.

I like Mexican (from time to time). I like cheap food (most of the time). I like chips and salsa (most of the time). I like frozen margaritas (all the time). The server brought out two servings of complimentary chips and salsa. Since we were starving, we easily finished the chips and asked for additional refills, which the server gave us. We ordered a couple of paellas to share all around. We ordered both the paella and and paella del mar. Both were moist, flavorful and filling. Oh, and don't forget the frozen strawberry margaritas. We ordered a pitcher that easily served all six of us for cheap! This is easily a place I NEED to come back to again ASAP. I might try some of the other locations closer to home next time. This location was farther out and a little small, I'm surprised we were able to get seating.

Amazing. The food was perfect. The service was perfect. I dropped my chicken soup on the way home, and went to get another. I offered to pay again like 5 times. They still gave it to me for three.

This was my first time at La Fonda. My wife called in an order for me to pick up on my way home from work. The staff were not particularly friendly, but not at all rude. We ordered the paella and a beef burrito. It smelled delicious and I was excited to try everything. Unfortunately I got home and had two bites of the burrito and a long hair came out along with my bite. Seriously, this hair was still inside the burrito and about 5 inches were sticking out. It was so imbedded that I couldn't even pull it out without fear of it breaking off in there. Needless to say, I lost my appetite. I gave them a second star because my wife said the paella was ok. But just ok, not great. Seriously, just use a hairnet people.

Delicious, fresh, authentic Mexican food! Always a good option at affordable prices. Fast service and delicious salsa while you wait. You can't go wrong with the enchiladas, paella, or tacos (though I'm sure everything else is delicious too)! Try it out - it will surely become one of your favorite restaurants in town!

Cons: Deeply disappointing experience. Got the paella del mar and a mimosa. The service was really fast, but it made me wish it hadn't been so quick when I realized how tepid my food was... They should have let it at least warm up first. The food was bland and there was way too much rice, skimpy portions of everything else, and only about three or four mussels. One of the mussels had a severely broken shell so I just kind of avoided it. The salmon was way overcooked, tough, and fishy tasting... the whole dish just seemed like they had microwaved it from frozen. The mimosa was surprisingly bad. I mean I was kind of shocked that they even served it to me, as it was obviously completely flat and tasted like they had forgotten to put any alcohol in it at all. (I was hoping it wasn't carbonated because maybe they ran out of champagne and just put liquor in it but nope). Pros: The chips and salsa are always pretty solid. Historically they've had pretty good mojitos, too, though I haven't tried them in the past couple years.

Every time I've wound up here, it's a direct result of some poor nostalgic bastard's hankering for the crappy, affordable food that sustained him through college. I usually oblige so I can make him feel like a herb for taking a Latina to partake of the most inauthentic and bland vittles imaginable. I am in the minority [a-ha!] with my preference for the canned Coke they provide over the fountain version. I like keeping my carbonation tight, papi. But as for the mediocre food and lackadaisical service, no gracias. Somehow, they can't manage to properly make staples of the Latin American diet: rice and beans. I don't even bother trying to sate my hunger with the free chips and runny salsa. Basically, when someone informs me we're going to La Fonda Latina, I eat beforehand.

Great spot for some Mexican/Cuban food. Stopped in for lunch and was seated immediately. They have a vast menu. I chose to get the paella and it was super flavorful. The service was fast and great. When you are done you just pay at the counter. Prices were reasonable. I'll be going back.

I think the food is good and different in terms of having paella and Spanish cuisine at affordable prices to my knowledge. I do believe that this place is over hyped and it's not generally my first choice and I enjoy this type of cuisine.