Food - YUM! We started off with ceviche and crackers. The ceviche was covered in a flavorful sauce. I ordered the Sobrebarriga En Salsa Criolla - steak with yucca in a sauce that came with a side of rice and avocado slices. It was delicious, had a nice presentation, and I definitely had leftovers at the end of the meal. For my drink, I ordered Maracuya with a milk base. It's basically a passionfruit smoothie. I liked how it wasn't overly sweet. Service - our server was friendly, did well with clearing our table. Ambiance - colorful, giving off a nice Latin flare. There were references to Columbia on the walls, and Latin music playing. We have come here previously for the empanadas, and those were delightful as well. We'll definitely be back. :-) read more

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Friendly service. Good food. Would like to return and try more items on the menu. Bar is available with indoor seating. This restaurant is located in a small plaza with minimal parking. read more

Fonda Colombiana #2 - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

The service was absolutely fabulous. The two young ladies at the counter were so kind gave great suggestions on the food. The fruit drinks papaya and mango were both outstanding. Chicken empanadas I can't wait to visit again to get more read more

Fonda Colombiana #2 - Chicken Empanadas x3 - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

This is the place to be anyway but especially today. #ColombiavsPort #DialosAmarillos! Their bandeja paisa is the best and my wife had sancocho de gallina. Bandeja in photo. read more

Fonda Colombiana #2 - Bandeja Paisa y Colombiana con cerveza Águila - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

FOOD: was yummy! I'm a fan of plantains and when this special had plantains I was sold! INSIDE is super cute with bright colors. There's a mural toward the back hallway that's a good photo opportunity spot. SERVICE was good and no complaints there. I was able to pay separately from the group because I had to leave early. PARKING was kind of hard as it's a shared shopping plaza parking lot that's small. read more

Fonda Colombiana #2 - Plantains were so good - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

We came here on a Friday night. The place was pretty empty. Saw the good reviews and wanted to try Columbian food for the second time, this time a new restaurant. The server was really nice. He gave us 4 different menus but only 1 had updated prices. All but one menu was in Spanish so we had to pull up the Yelp reviews to see what was good to order. After a little while, the server came to check on us. We ordered 2 beef and 1 chicken empanadas. I liked the beef over the chicken. They were tasty. They were really crispy on the outside, hot and filling on the inside. Served with a yummy citrus-y like pico de gallo. We ordered the Arepa Rellena De Queso. It's like a cheese stuffed corn pita. The cheese was not as flavorful/salty as we had wished, so it lacked that flavor we were expecting to ooze. The Bandeja Paisa dish we ordered came with rice, beans, chorizo sausage, thin piece of chicharron, a thin piece of unseasoned carne asada, a fried egg, a fried plantain, guacamole and what seemed like a round, flattened piece of overcooked rice? I'm starting to notice that unless the meat is sausage, the steaks are not very well seasoned. The plantain was the most flavorful part of that dish, since it had the natural sweetness. The chicharron lacked that crunch we were used to. I got the end piece, so I got luckier than the rest of the family. I realized just now that we didn't get the blood sausage that everyone else got, and I had to look at my receipt again to make sure that we in fact did order the Bandeja Paisa, and we did. That's disappointing. Also I just noticed on the receipt I was charged a "Kitchen Appreciation" charge. Ummm... excuse me???!! I would have appreciated it if you hadn't forgotten my blood sausage from my $27 dish! The Arroz con Pollo had sausage and chicken in the rice with ketchup on top, served with a small salad with guacamole and french fries. I'm starting to see a pattern and that the meat aren't really seasoned. A lot of sauces and dips are used to substitute, and the drinks are a lot more on the carbonated sour/bitter side, with a bit of an aftertaste. The customer service is great, but I don't know if this unseasoned food is my kind of taste. read more

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The food great. The service great. But... not once but twice people brought their dogs inside the establishment. First, 2 small dogs kept on the floor which I didn't mind. Second, small dog chihuahua mix was on top of the table, four paws on top of the table. The waitress brought a plate with water. The dog drank water on top of the table. The waitress did not say anything about the dog being on top of the table. I am in shock! Even though the food is great, I wouldn't come back by choice to an establishment that allows dogs to eat off of their tables. No one intervened or said anything to the group of 3 women. This is a health code violation. I wouldn't mind if the dog was on the ground because I understand people want to dine out and can't always leave the dogs inside their cars but not on top of the table! read more

Found this little hole in the wall while looking for lunch. Walked in to this small restaurant brimming with a lot of character. The worker was super friendly and quick to help assist us. I ordered their Bandeja Paisa which was packed with tons of food and flavor! The pork belly was nicely fried with the blood sausage and chorizo having their own unique flavors to complement the beans and rice. I'd recommend going a bit early during lunch due to the small parking lot to ensure you have a parking spot! read more

Fonda Colombiana #2 - Bandeja paisa - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

The food was really good. I liked the very vibrant and colorful decorations and paintings on the wall. Service was nice and easy even though I didn't speak Spanish. read more

ERA un buen restaurante Colombiano, desafortunadamente ya no lo es, al calidad en la cocina bajó un montón! A diferencia de los precios q subieron un montón también. La sobrebarriga en salsa la convirtieron en un plato lleno de carne gorda, y pretenden cobrar el mismo precio justificando q se vende por gramo de carne. Triste, era el único lugar bueno para comer comida Colombiana. read more

Food was amazing! My family of 5 went for the 1st time and we all enjoyed it! The empanadas are fresh, crunchy outside with a moist inside filling. It's served with a green vinegar type sauce, perfect for cutting the friedness. The arepa is simple but delish. The chimichurry sauce served with the churrasco grilled beef steak was bomb! I believe it's homemade. The rice lentil served with the meat was tasty, but a bit heavy. I liked the sweet plantains. It's a great balance to the plate. All the meet was perfectly cooked. The chicharron was cooked crispy to perfection. The blood sausage and chorizo was great. They also serve a spicy oil sauce as requested. On top of all the delicious food and condiments, the restaurant is clean and the customer service is great! We will definitely be back to try the other dishes. read more

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We went as a family of 3 on a Saturday late afternoon. The ambiance was wonderful and we enjoyed the food thoroughly! I ordered the arroz con pollo. My daughter had the chicken soup and my husband ordered the tamal. It was all yummy! The service was great, but it also wasn't busy since we went late in the afternoon. We will definitely go back!! read more

My friend and I were excited to try this place! We both have never had Columbian food before and were eager to try it. We came on a weeknight. The small parking lot is shared with the other businesses in this strip mall. Parking is challenging and could be a nightmare during peak hours. The ambiance of the restaurant is bright, festive, vibrant colors. Loud house music is playing in the restaurant. So, kinda hard to hear your conversations. I arrived a bit earlier than my friend and was warmly greeted. I'm not sure if the server was the owner, but he was super friendly, helpful, and happy we were first-time diners. He said they are known for their soups. Again, super friendly and gave us some samples of their fresh juices churning in their cooling dispenser. *Passionfruit: My friend got this prepared with water, which he liked. *Blackberry: I got this prepared with milk, which turned it into a creamy fruity drink. *Lulo: "Taste tart and tropical. Their most prominent flavor notes are citrus, with a strong similarity to lime, and a resemblance to kiwi. There are also hints of pineapple, underlaid with a complexity that some say is akin to the astringency of rhubarb." He was nice even to give us a sample. Colombian Ceviche: Shrimp with onion on a base sauce made with ketchup and mayo. I should have read the description because this dish was not what we were expecting in a ceviche (onions, cilantro, and citrus to cook the shrimp). But, when it came, it was a good-sized bowl of shrimp (size Medium 21-25). Sorta reminded us of a good chilled shrimp salad. Ajiaco Soup: Chicken, brown and yellow potato, arracacha. Served with rice, fried plantain, and avocado. Very hearty, comforting thick soup. The rice, fried plantains round out this meal. Picada For 2: Yellow potato, Arepa, pork ribs, pork belly, Morcilla (blood sausage), chorizo, sweet plantains, tomatoes, and lime wedges. This was a good sample of their meats. Nicely cooked, the pork belly and the pork riblets were deep fried and crispy. Everything was tasty. He even brought some house-made hot sauce, which looked like it had cilantro, onions, vinegar, and chili. It wasn't too spicy, but it had a nice mild kick. We had a lot of leftovers. Very fun experience! Give them a try. read more

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La comida estuvo buena , lo queNo fue el servicio , mi primera vez en un restaurant colombiano y no fue buena experiencia El mesero no fue muy agradable , ni sugirió al saber que era mi primera vez en el lugar , estaba distraído , o simplemente no quería atender mi mesa , Realmente lo que sentí es que si no eres de Colombia , no eres bien recibido . Pero el lugar y la comida estuvo bien read more

Fonda Colombiana #2 - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

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primera vez probando comida colombiana,el personal muy amable y atentos,el lugar muy limpio y el jugo de guanábana con leche exquisito. Comida típica y con sabor casero read more

Fonda Colombiana #2 - Jugó de guanábana con leche - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

Arepa Tight Grip Newly opened second location for this locally-owned South Bay restaurant that specializes in primarily (duh) Colombian cuisine. Colombian food is seeing a bit of an emergence here in the South Bay, as there are now nearly a dozen restaurants specializing in its tasty amalgamation of Spanish, African, and indigenous Colombian fare. The Good: *Service was exceptional. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel right at home and were very personable. *Nice selection of bottled Colombian beers on-hand; I sampled a couple and really liked the Poker Lager for its bold flavor. *Their Empanadas were different than any I'd tried in the past, as the outer shell was comprised of a savory corn dough, as opposed to the ubiquitous flour dough. It did catch me a bit off-guard at first, but once I got used to it, I have to say I really liked the crunch it delivered. The concomitant salsa the provide with it was also quite tasty and well-balanced. *The Plantain with Cheese came highly recommended by the server, and we had to give it a try. One can easily see why this is a favorite with a sweet, fried plantain ensconced in melty cheese--honestly, what's not to like?! *Carissa really enjoyed the Arroz con Pollo (Rice w/ chicken), which was savory and delicious. The ketchup typing seemed a bit odd at first, but it leant a really nice sweetness to the dish. The crinkle-cut fries didn't hurt either. *For my meal, I had to try the National dish of Colombia, which is the Bandeja Paisa: a meat-filled feast of rice, beans, blood sausage, chorizo, ground beef, fried egg, arepa, and a slab of fried pork belly to round it out. This was easily enough food for two people, as even I had a hard time finishing it. Big meat sweat action. *Friendly vibes and nice décor The Meh: *I'm not sure if the egg was supposed to be over-hard or not, but I really would've enjoyed it over-easy instead, but comme ci, comme ça. *They literally have no hot sauce on hand. I guess it's not a Colombian thing? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I guess it's BYOHS or just ask for some of the aforementioned salsa. The Ugly: *Parking lot is a bit small and only holds maybe a dozen cars, so it could be hard to find parking at busier times. There's no street parking, but the lot across the way (by Dollar Tree and Red Wing Shoes) is plentiful. TLDR: Delicious Colombian food in a nice location. They also have quite a bit of stews and soups on the menu, so I'll definitely be back this winter to try those out. read more

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After coming back from our trip to Colombia, we have been looking for a Colombian restaurant to taste the wonderful flavors of Colombia again. Glad to have found this spot. Took us back to this beautiful county. The menu has a variety of traditional dishes and all have great portions. Pandeja Paisa: Shareable plate and authentic flavors. If you want some spice to add a kick, ask for the spicy sauce. They gave us one made out of chile de árbol. Empanadas: Three come in an order. We ordered 2 beef and 1 chicken. It also comes with a side of aji. Very filling and delicious. Not greasy. I love the decore, it really gives you a taste of Colombia and they also have snacks you can purchase. The details and the art gives it a homey feel. Family friendly. read more

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This restaurant has a colorful and inviting atmosphere with dining tables as well as bar seating. I ordered to go, and the sole employee I saw serving customers out front was friendly and helpful. It was a Monday and not busy in the evening, so the wait wasn't long for my food to be ready. Got the arepa con queso, and chorizos with creole potatoes. The arepa was delicious, slightly buttery on the outside and filled with gooey melted cheese, but the cornbread texture resembled burnt rice and was a bit unappealing to me. The sausages were also a bit tough on the outside, but I know they deep fry some of their meats, so it was fine, the flavor definitely good. The yellow potatoes were decent, looked baked or roasted on the outside, but the consistency was more like mashed potatoes inside, very interesting. Overall, a nice experience of colombian cuisine, even if just a taste. read more

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Food was so good! I had the chicken tamale and the plantains and queso were so good. Our server was very attentive and gave great food recommendations. Will definitely be back when we're in the area read more

The best Colombian food in San Jose bandeja paisa is my go to all the time the service is great the owner is awesome great service all the time you can never go wrong with there place read more

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Great food , amazing service ..., everything was hot , flavorful, wait time was very short . I definitely recommend this place. read more

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10/10, would eat here again! I had takeout and the food, service, and ambiance was amazing! Big portions, staff is friendly, and food came out quickly. Tastes like a little slice of home. I would recommend getting extra arepas on the side with the Cazuelita La Toxic. Fantastic to see more Colombian restaurants in the Bay Area. read more

Fonda Colombiana #2 - Cazuelita La Toxic with Chocolitos (lime flavored corn chips) - chicharron (fried pork belly), avocado, sweet plantains - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

I really wanted empanadas and stopped in here to scratch the itch. Of course, saw the mango juice so wanted that too....then my son ordered the bisitek since he was hungry and I ordered the arroz con pollo. The empanadas were really good. We ordered one basket of chicken and one basket of beef. The mango juice was really good. I was really fully after inhaling the empanadas and took the arroz con pollo home for another day. My son loved the bisitek and we'll be back again for another meal. read more

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This was my first time trying Colombian food and I wasn't disappointed. The appetizers were delicious and my main entree was super tasty. The service was quick and attentive. There is no complaints at all. The vibe was fun, and lively too which was great. I will definitely be back again. read more

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- Amazing service, staff was extremely friendly and attentive. - Food quality was great, wish I could fit more in my stomach - Lovely environment that exemplifies Colombian culture! read more

Loved the colorful ambiance and the decor. The bathrooms were spanking new ! The service was prompt ! The food arrived quickly too. Overall delicious food with great portions . Pork skins were all round favorite! Would come again to try other dishes . read more

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We ate here on 7/23 and absolutely loved it! We've been to the first location on the east side but this one was closer to home and just the colors/setup were more eye appealing. The service was great and fast so it didn't take long for us to get our food after ordering. As a Colombian living in San Jose sometimes it can be hard finding good/authentic food and this place definitely did not disappoint! They just opened about a month or 2 ago so I'm hoping the food quality stays the same because it was delicious! read more

Fonda Colombiana #2 - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

El hijo pródigo vuelve a casa. Un delicioso arroz con pollo fue una delicia al paladar y ese sabor dulce de las tajadas maduras. Servicio 11 sobre 10. El ambiente auténtico colombiano .... Volvería una y otra vez a este lugar, es sentirse como en Casa: Colombia read more

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Saw this new place pop up nearby so we tried it out. The empanadas were very stuffed and delicious. We will probably try the bread thing next time. The picada for two was pretty large and could feed two people. The meat was generally pretty delicious. We found the chicharone to be a bit tough and dry, so will probably avoid that. We also got the rib soup and found it a little bland for our taste. The portion could've been a bit larger for the price. The interior design is great -- it had a nice vibe. The owner was very kind as well, took his time to explain the menu and smiled a lot. Will go back to try out a couple of other items next time! read more

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When I heard that Fonda Colombiana opened a location in my neighborhood I moved it to the top of my list. The short review is I WAS BLOWN AWAY WITH THE DELICIOUSNESS. While we were familiar with Arepas and Empanadas the rest of the menu was, generally, unfamiliar to us. Fortunately we were provided an excellent introduction to the flavors represented on their menu by the host who greeted us, Cruz. After a brief discussion of the typical ingredients used in Colombian cuisine my wife and I decided to construct our first meal with a variety of small plates. We ordered the Empanadas, Patacones with Hogado, Arepa with Cheese and an appetizer serving of Chiccarones. I was also curious about their juice beverages so, again, at Cruz's suggestion I tried the Soursop preparation with milk. The kitchen was quick to respond. Our food was hot and obviously prepared fresh. The arepas with cheese had a crisp white corn masa exterior and the melted cheese pulled nicely with each bite. The empanadas were crisp yellow hand pies. While they offer chicken or beef empanadas Cruz offered to let us try a combination. We chose one chicken and two beef. Patacones are green plantains pressed flat and fried crisp. The Chiccarones were crisp bits of pork belly. Crisp skin and meat with soft bits of unctuous fat attached. It reminded me of the Lechon Kawali served at my Filipino family table. The Soursop beverage was a completely new experience for us. I was expecting a milky tasting sour drink. It was actually surprisingly sweet and the addition of milk made it closer to a milk tea like beverage. Thanks to Cruz and the Chefs we are anxious to visit again. This is a small business worth supporting. read more

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Lamentablemente, mi experiencia no fue satisfactoria. Hubo varios aspectos que no cumplieron con mis expectativas, como un ajico que me tome no tenía nada de ajiaco estaba frío era solo agua pollo y papa blanca la verdad quedé como aburrida]. Puedo resaltar las cosas buenas la atención es buena Espero que puedan tomarlo en cuenta como una oportunidad de mejora para ofrecer un mejor servicio en el futuro. read more

Food is good but way overpriced. I walked out with one plate of Chicharrones for almost $40 which included a $5 tip. That's crazy. The portion of food wasn't appropriate for the price we paid. We usually get $25 for a 1lb of Chicharrones from street vendors. I remember why I don't come here often read more

Great place! Beautiful ambiance and very friendly staff.! We were a table of 8 people and everyone finish their food. The taste was very good and the food portions super big! We order 2 appetizers and 8 dishes. The appetizers were: empanadas and Picada por two. Really good flavor and portions. For the main plates we got fried fish, ajiacaco, bistec, etc. Overall I strongly recommend this place! read more

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bandeja paisa was massive, so much food and everything was seasoned perfectly. the lady working was super sweet, made us feel like family

We are a fan of Fonda Colombiana #1 and since we were closer to this location than the other one, we decided to check this one out. It is located in a little strip mall, like the other one, but this one is more roomy and has better parking. This is a lot newer. The space is more open and roomier. The food was excellent, just as expected. There was only one server and she was doing her best to keep up with people coming and going. read more

I came to this restaurant with my brother, we arrived at opening time, the place was empty, and clean. The staff was not very welcoming, the lady in the front look more annoyed to see customers arriving. We waited several minutes for someone to take our order. When the food was dispatched, the waiter let the food sit at the kitchen window getting cold The steak was savory and well condimented, however, it was "thin", and was not cook to order. The plate was luke warm by the time the waitress decided to bring it to our table, we had to call her out for letting our dishes get cold while sitting at the kitchen serving window, note the place was not busy. On average the dishes range between the low to mid 20s. While the food was savory, there is no excuse for serving cold steak dishes, especially considering the price. In short, the food was savory, however, the service is disappointing. I like Colombian food, but, will not return to this location. read more

Recently this place opened up near by and was a little cautious about trying since the traffic in front of the strip mall can be fun when trying to exit out. So glad we took the chance. Clean, well lit, nice decore and friendly, approachable staff. The food was excellent! Chicharrones were perfect. Eggs perfectly cooked. Nice and custardy can't wait to try their other items read more

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we ordered Bandeja paisa and pechuga a la plancha. Not as fresh as i expected especially for the price point.

Had some Colombian friends over for dinner tonight to specifically try this place and OMG it was delicious!!! We ordered the Picada (for 4), the arroz con pollo, 1 order of the chicken empanadas and 1 order of the beef empanadas, a side of arroz and frijoles. I wish I took pictures of all the delicious food but we were hungry and excited to try! I first saw that they were opening a few months ago and told our friends we should have a dinner date. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming and very colorful. I loved the music and wanted to dance. The person who helped was (I wish I caught his name) was wonderful and super helpful with helping us get the right amount of food and best choices for "family dinner" style!! **Definitely recommended**: Picada, Arroz con pollo, chicken empanadas and the frijoles!!!! (enter Homer Simpson drooling meme lol). My husband and I will definitely be back to keep trying the menu!! It's a nice change in the area from the regular food options around. 10/10!!! Thank you, thank you for all the delicious food!!! read more

Rustic Colombian food at its finest. Appetizers: I preferred the chicken empanada over the beef. You get more beef, but the beef is a little on the dry side. The chicken empanada is more tender and you get a more balanced flavor with the ratio of chicken and potato. Tamal Huilense was probably the biggest tamale I've ever had in my life; probably the size of 3 tamales combined. (No wonder it was $16!) however, they put a whole chicken drumstick, a pork rib, and half a boiled egg in the tamal and the masa is super soft and flavorful. The seafood stew and oxtail stew both were very generous portions with lots of meat, bursting with flavor. Two people can share one soup. Beef tongue in salsa was a little gamey for me but super tender and the sauce was super good. For drinks, try the mango with milk and blackberry with milk. Overall, no complaints about any of the dishes we ordered. Would definitely come back again to try different dishes. read more

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