We had heard of Fonda but haven't been in until last week. It's a great gourmet Mexican spot with a seafood focus and everything is served family style. Most importantly, they have free validated parking behind the restaurant which is a rarity in 12 South! We highly recommend the swordfish sashimi and the guac (add crickets for a fun crunch!). Everything we tried though was something we agreed we'd both get again. They also have taco boards that a table beside us got that looked awesome! The strawberry colada mocktail was our favorite mocktail we tried. Sadly we went during a sober week so didn't try their margs.... But they have a "famous" frozen pomegranate marg that I want to try next time! read more

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First impression of this restaurant was the parking was kinda weird but a quick phone call cleared everything up. It was a quick walk through an apartment hallway and leads you out right to the front door. Once walking in the door everyone was so nice and inviting. This was a late lunch hour so it wasn't busy and basically got sat immediately. But I would think lunch hour and weekends can get pretty busy. I knew what I was craving so we ordered pretty much as soon as we sat down. Omg the food was soo good and the perfect size for what I wanted. The taquitos were soooo good! The perfect flavors and texture. I would definitely get these again! The birria tacos were just as equally good! Next time you're in the area make sure you check them out! read more

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First off, I need to start getting my servers names (and remembering them) because ours was great! He heard us talking about my lactose intollerant, so when the three of us were deciding between the Pollo Tinga or Carnitas Taco Board he warned us that the Pollo had cheese on it. Thanks good sir! We got the Carnitas to share and Guacamole - it was the perfect amount of food for the three of us and everything was so good. I loved building my own tacos with all the fun toppings. They even brought us more shells when we still had meat & toppings leftover. And more chips when we still had guac in the pestal & mortar (which was super cute). I loved the vibe of the place - chic but not so chic I felt out of place (because no one would call me chic for good reason). I loved the glow of the pink neon - created a fun vibe. read more

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Guacamole was the best I've ever had. The chips were the best I've ever had. Unfortunately, didn't have time for dinner, but I'm going back as soon as possible. The staff is very professional very nice and that's a great location. read more

Really good, small plates, Mexican food with very good service, a full bar, and validated parking in the rear; reservations are recommended. The Tacos de Pescado, only served after 3:00 pm, are a delight, with very lightly breaded and fried fish, but were inconsistent, some with chewy tortillas. The Queso is a great second, with the best tortilla chips! read more

Fonda 12 South - Tacos De Pescado - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We loved Fonda! The food, the ambiance, the staff... it was all great! We were a table of 5 adults and 2 kids and everything we ordered was suitable for everyone! To start we had the guacamole en molcajete with a side of chicharrones and the salsa trio! For dinner we ordered the carnitas taco board, the carne asada taco board, tlayuda, birria quesadilla, and tostada de atún. The table also had a traditional marg, the frozen pomegranate marg, playa colada, and draft pacifico! The drinks were all very yummy! It was a fun night. When all the food arrived we were overwhelmed but we ended up eating most of it! To end the night they brought churros to celebrate my birthday! Delish! read more

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Celebrated my friends birthday dinner here! It was the best meal full of laughs and good times! The food was to die for! Guacamole is a must, made to order and plenty for everyone. Birthday shots for the group included a dried grasshopper which I was skeptical about but didn't actually taste like anything. We all shared a taco board where we picked 2 proteins and then made our own mini tacos. The whole meal was fantastic! The restaurant is super cute, pink lighting on the outside and a fun ambiance inside. Cannot wait to go back! read more

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Came here around the holidays and they had beautiful Christmas decorations. Delicious Mexican food with a burst of flavor. The guacamole and chips is a must here! They make it fresh and the seasoning and ingredients together was really good. The chips were deep fried perfectly. I got the carne asada and although it was just a little pricey for the portion, it was worth it since it was so good. It tasted really authentic. I saw that the had taco boards which looked like they had a big spread, so I'll be back to try those. Their drinks were good too. I got the margarita and I loved it. read more

Fonda 12 South - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Located on the 12th S main strip, Fonda is a yummy Mexican restaurant. For starters, we tried the guacamole, which was freshly made and you can tell it's good avocados instead of the paste. Reallly good and highly recommend this! They also gave us salsa on the side which was yummy too. For entrees, I got the birria enchilada and if you like birria, I highly recommend this. Great portions and sauce and cheese ratios. It was so good and flavorful from the birria and enchiladas. It came out hottt. I tried the nonalcoholic drink called strawberry colada and it was a delicious strawberry piña colada without alcohol. They validate parking but be careful, it's not the lot directly next to it since that's taproom's lot. So it's the other lot and they will validate it inside. read more

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Christmas decorations welcomed you as you walk into restaurant. So pretty! No reservations and they seated as quickly. Tacos were fantastic, and the value couldn't be beat. Guacamole was so good! Great service & great vibe. read more

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This is an elevated Mexican restaurant in a trendy neighborhood. I'm a Nashville native, so I'm a lil sad to see the area developed so heavily but our town needs it. I felt like we stepped into the set of COCO, very colorful. We got an array of different foods and drinks. Our party had both children and adults. Kids get free ice cream with their meal, precious. I can't say the service was super fast but the waitress was patient with us. Parking is free behind the building if you get validated inside the restaurant. The chips are unique - fried and almost pita like. Thanks for the queso! read more

One of the great Mexican restaurant you can find in Nashville. They have warm and inviting atmosphere along with friendly service. Their food is pretty authentic and so fresh. I loved the guacamole. I consider the presentation of food to be important and they were spot on with that. Try their unique cocktails. read more

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This is a beautiful Mexican restaurant that is located in the 12 south area. This was my first time being here and I was invited by a friend for a special dining event. The inside is decorated really well and cozy. We were greeted quickly and advised where to sit. This was a fixed menu, so we had hosts walking around with food and drinks before the main course. Everything was more than excellent! The margarita was yummy, the food options were an amazing balance of flavors and presentation. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu! Do yourself a favor and get there soon. read more

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This place is hopping! We had to get reservations at 8pm and it was still really busy. It was way to loud for conversation unless we yelled, so not a quiet dinner experience at all. Our server was nice, and also busy but got all our orders in quickly. The food was pretty good, my favorite was the fish tacos. The beet salad had an undisclosed other stuff in it (our guess was ither beets?) And definitely for those who like beets. The enchiladas lost a lot of the chicken flavor though the cheese. I give it three stars partially die to ambiance, and the other for being pretty decent food, but I don't know if I would go back for it. It's a decent place for a meal on 12 south, just know you probably won't be able to talk to your companion(s). read more

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I would say I am confused by the high ratings, but then again it's Nashville. People are satisfied with mediocrity as long as the decor is nice enough for an Instagram post. I say this because the food at Fonda just isn't good. The chips were so greasy, I've made better tortilla chips at home. My bf loves the guacamole. The fish tacos were also, greasy, and underwhelming. I didn't even finish the two I had although I was starving. I ordered the Vesper Martini and it was also underwhelming, lots of sweet and sour mix. With delicious local spots like Maiz, I'm not sure why I even chose to come here and definitely see no reason to return. read more

Unbelievable from the minute you enter to the time you leave. Service is exceptional. Food is fantastic. Probably the best I've ever had and the frozen pomegranate margaritas are wow!!! Get the taco board. Good for 2 catne asada all day read more

Fonda 12 South - Taco board - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Fonda is really great in many ways. I've been there a couple of times. I love the drinks, but give us a happy hour! Food is solid. Some of my favorites are the guacamole, the birria quesadillas, and the taquitos (spicy). Service is always good. But! They have a gnat problem. The beautiful space is compromised by this. I thought maybe just a fluke the first time, but no, it happened again months later. I just don't like swatting bugs away when I'm eating indoors. I hope they can get this resolved soon. read more

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Customers were able to socialize comfortably while dining. Indoor and outdoor seating were options. The flavor of the food was average. Nothing stood out other than my Playa Colada (alcoholic beverage). read more

Fonda 12 South - Playa Colada - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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We went for the Thanksgiving Buffet. A mexican style buffet sounded like a great alternative to the traditional meals served that day. Parking was simple. You park in the back of the building (signs are there to guide you), you scan the QR code and complete that process by entering in your license plate and paying, then when you go inside they will be able to instantly refund you the entire amount. The servers here are great - they always came back around when we needed stuff. Their tortilla chips and salsa was awesome, loved the fresh made chips! The buffet was a good value for our money - plenty to choose from and it was all delicious. I recommend! read more

Fonda 12 South - Thanksgiving buffet plate full of everything - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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The food was really really good!! Our waitress was super sweet and attentive. Place looks so good!! Will definitely come back.

Holy cow. Go hungry because it's a lot of amazing food. The carne asada taco board and pollo tinga enchiladas and guacamole were all great. Service was fantastic. Restaurant validates parking for 2 hours, making it a great option for a date night. read more

Fonda 12 South - Carne Asada taco board - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This place has such a vibrant and social atmosphere with comfy seating, fresh air, lots of food, drink and apps to choose from. The staff was friendly and our server, Evan T, was fantastic!! The guac is a must served with fresh, warm chips! Four of us loved every dish and cocktail and wish we could have gone back. After your meal, stroll down the street and check out the sidewalk shopping! read more

Fonda 12 South - Guacamole en Molcajete - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This is such a cute spot with really great food and good vibes. The birria enchilada and birria quesadilla were both super flavorful--tender, cheesy, and just delicious. The queso with their fresh-baked tortilla chips was a perfect start. But the standout for me? The strawberry colada. It's honestly the best non-alcoholic drink I've ever had. So creamy and refreshing--I'd go back daily just for that. I'll definitely be visiting again and highly recommend checking it out! read more

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Decent mexican food in Nashville Tennessee whaaat? Great for brunch on a weekend. Love the decor through out and seating area is nicer(comfier) on the left side of the restaurant. Latte hit the spot with the chilaquiles. The burrito was not bad but not what I was expecting. Parking interest rear of ghe restaurant (take a picture of your license plates) service is variable sometimes is with a smile and sometimes its not lol read more

Fonda 12 South - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Food , service , Ambiance and a random conversation with one of the owners regarding his migration to Tennessee and his food journey . We sampled the Taco Board with Asada ,the Mushroom quesadilla and the salsa trio, the house made chips are excellent. A great place for lunch or dinner. Reasonable prices . If you're looking for a local trip to Mexico * Fonda 12th South . Only issue was at departure we where given our tab , but after giving pymnt realized they charged us for someone else's tab ' Not ours ! Brought it to management attention and it seemed to cause an issue On who didn't pay and how do they recharge us ? 20 minutes later ' I was told they adjusted the amount billed to our card .. read more

Was excited to check out this place after seeing it across the street when visiting The Salty. I would classify this more as a modern Mexican American restaurant. Went withy family for brunch and we got a Diet Coke, hibiscus agua Fresca, and the strawberry coconut cream mocktail. The Diet Coke came in a bottle and tasted better than regular Diet Coke, the agua Fresca was too sweet but was delicious once I doubled the water, and the mocktail was delicious. For brunch, my dad and I split the chicken taco board and my mom got the huevos rancheros and we got guac for the table. While waiting for the guac, they gave us table chips and salsa. The chips were delicious but the salsa was bland. It could have used more of everything. They did forget about our guac injtially, but it came out with the rest of our food. The guac was fresh and delicious but we did ask for spicy and I none of us tasted the spice. The huevos rancheros was okay and the everything about the taco board was delicious (fresh tortillas, yummy salsas, a delicious roasted onion) except the chicken, which had no flavor. They gave us a habanero salsa that definitely helped and made the meal more palatable. Overall, it was fine. read more

I really enjoyed Fonda! It was a last minute reservation, and it did not disappoint. The service was alright, I do wish the drink service had been quicker. Loved the guacamole and the steak taco tray! Very trendy vibes, overall pretty good. read more

Context: This was my first time dining here for brunch. Love: tortilla chips, salsa verde, drinks, kind service, colorful decor, reserved parking for guests Like: chilaquiles (not the best I've had) read more

Fonda 12 South - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

-Food was a solid 3. A lot of it seems to be lacking flavor especially the guacamole. It needed a generous amount of salttttt! Same with the carne asada! -Now, the Arrachera was my favorite! Generous portion& very flavorful! -Mocktails were never sweet, honestly could have did without them but it was nice to see the 'Dry January' participation. -ambiance was very cute! read more

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This restaurant is pretty mid. We have come a couple times and I just don't like the vibe here for multiple reasons. I'm getting pretty tired of these soulless restaurants they keep opening on 12south & this is in that category. They barely changed anything inside since taking it over from Josephine, it doesn't really have its own identity. I find, like others have mentioned, that the service is not good here. Not only do their servers seem to hate it there, they never check on you. The first time we had the carne asada taco plate we thought it was great. When we ordered it the next time, it was nearly inedible and tough with a questionable freshness level. We didn't touch most of it but we weren't asked if something was wrong. We've also tried 2 kinds of the enchiladas and I just find them not to be good. The carnitas is better than the pollo but bland and pretty mushy. You pay for chips and salsa here (which I don't mind if they are good) and they are good. Last time we went though, when our entrees came they took our chips but left the salsas because of the giant size of their taco plates. Kinda crazy to take chips the patron paid for without asking. I didn't feel like chasing someone to bring them back. Every time we come I have to flag someone down to get the check. Over $115 for lunch for the service and food they provide isn't worth it. Probably won't return. read more

Fonda 12 South - Interior - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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They have ironed things out here. I'm a big fan of the bar and the frozen pomegranate margaritas. It's a great neighborhood spot. read more

This place is a whole vibe! It's beautifully decorated and their drinks are aesthetically pleasing. We were greeted by the host as soon as we walked in, and taken to our table without even waiting. The service is excellent and the food comes out quickly. Their margaritas are delicious and the frozen one is strong. And I even enjoyed their non alcoholic drinks. The hibiscus and grapefruit one was my favorite. Their food is tapas style, which makes it easy to share. Most of the food was very flavorful. The fish tacos had to be my favorite. They used to have a refreshing watermelon salad. But that is sadly no longer on the menu. The only reason I gave it 4 starts was because I felt like the prices were pretty high. $14 for a regular small margarita just isn't worth it for me. read more

Came with a group of 10 Latinas/Mexicanas from California, in town for our friend's bachelorette. We decided to try this place for brunch on a Saturday. VIBE: + Trendy, vibrant spot, full of Mexican flair. + They had an outdoor patio, but we chose to sit inside for the air-conditioning. SERVICE: + Our server was attentive and came to our table multiple times to bring us more chips, refill our waters, and ask if we needed anything. + I asked for one of my drinks to be remade as it tasted and looked different than my friend's who had ordered the same drink, and our server obliged. DRINKS: + I ordered the "Spicy Margarita" and it was really good! Don't let the green color fool you, it's delicious and had a nice kick. + They had an extensive selection of tequilas, which I appreciated. We took some Centenario shots after our meal. FOOD: + Complimentary house chips were a bit on the greasy side and needed salt. + We ordered guacamole for the table, and while I appreciate it was freshly made, it lacked flavor. + I ordered the "Migas" and boy, was I disappointed. It was not like how migas are supposed to be, crispy chips with eggs. It was more of the consistency of a quiche. Seriously, google "migas" then look at the picture I uploaded and see the difference. The flavor was lacking as well. I asked if they could bring me a spicy salsa to try to save this dish, but it wasn't spicy and pretty bland. I couldn't finish it. Overall the food was more like a 3, but the drinks and vibe pushed my review to a 4. I would return to this spot only for the drinks and decor! read more

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what a lovely place! super cute and super yummy! the guac was amazing and i absolutely loved my ensalada cobb read more

Fonda 12 South - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The food was great for our large group of 11. The chips were excellent. Our service was a bit slow and ended up having one of our guests walk up to grab their drink that we saw sitting at the bar for a bit and they were not too busy yet. Overall a good experience. read more

Best Mexican food we've had since we moved to Nashville. Carne Asada board was delicious

Stopped by before the lunch crowd. Do not leave without ordering the crab and mango habanero empanadas; they are delicious. Not like any other empanadas I've ever had. Shared a short rib enchilada, which was also good and quite filling. Owners stopped by to say hello. Too bad it was lunch and a workday or I would have definitely tried a margarita. read more

Fonda 12 South - Empanadas de Jaiba - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

This was my first visit to Fonda, and I'll definitely be returning. I loved the ambiance of the restaurant. They have a great selection of tapas, and I decided to try the empanada and queso--both were delicious! read more

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All in all, 3.5 stars got the round up for the impeccable service. A new place, as I understand. Found it on Eater Nashville, a solid website for finds when venturing out of town. Located in, as seemingly everywhere else in Nashville is, a trendy part of town, I guess this joint is designed to cater to the Californians who now compose the majority of Middle Tennessee. So authentic-ish Mexican cuisine designed for experienced palates. Was a tourist on this one, so the usual 'order too much' playbook was in effect. When looking just at the dishes offered, the star of the show was, honestly, the tortilla chips. I don't know what controlled substance they sprinkle on to make them that addictive, but these are the crème de la creme of corn chips. Seriously. Buttery, salty, more of a pop than a crunch, if you get my drift, it's layers of thin crisp into a satisfying thick chip. Damned good. The guacamole was good. Made by the twenty year old at a station immediately next to our table, it was done as though he'd won this garde manger position by accumulation of demerits. Nonetheless, the Guac guy turned out fresh Guac with a methodical rhythm, if not panache. The queso fundido was also good. Not sure what the cheese matrix was, but not as light and neutral driven as I've had elsewhere. A satisfying layer of chorizo rendered fat was lurking on the rims of the bowl. The tortillas, flour, were well done. The mains were a bit underwhelming. The octopus tostada, depthy and with latent muted spice of the mole, was interesting. The octopus was cooked exceptionally well- the texture of the meat was spot on. But the semi-chalky after taste (though it may have been exactly what they were going for) wasn't as much to my liking. This is probably more my misunderstanding of traditional mole than it is their variation. The birria quesadilla was the best of the mains, though not particularly different than those I had elsewhere and the portion was a bit on the short side. The consume was wonderful; this saved the dish and made it the best of the mains. The crab empanadas fell flat. This is a dense, doughy empanadas without much lamination of the shell. The density also muted the filling, which I had a hard time getting to the season in order to assess the taste. So what else was good? The parking was directly behind the store and reserved for those dining; this was hugely appreciated. The service and coordination between front and back of the house was fantastic. Our server was incredible attentive, helpful with perspective on the menu, and a delight in table side small talk. The decor presents a wonderful backdrop for enjoying a meal. A lively crowd and fast paced (attributable to the laudable efficiency of operations) environment could be mistaken for hectic, but not crowded. My take is that this is because the management is too notch and brought in from other successful ventures. And it's to their credit that they've brought about this feel. All in all, a wonderful meal. read more

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We were greeted by the hot pink building and upon entering the ambiance immediately removed us from the "Nashville vibe." Our server was very attentive and made sure to check in on us and provide suggestions. I enjoyed the tapas because you could easily share. I'd come back for sure read more

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