My husband had been craving authentic Colombian food for weeks, and since we've actually been to Colombia, we definitely know the flavors and what real Colombian cuisine should taste like. Somehow he came across a YouTube ad for this restaurant and convinced me to make the drive all the way to San Jose... and wow, it was absolutely worth it! From the moment we walked in, the service was welcoming and attentive. The food? Incredible. Everything was packed with authentic flavor, beautifully presented, and honestly brought back memories of our trip to Colombia. We ordered the house specials along with a few Colombian beers, and the entire experience was just perfect. It's not every day you find a place that's worth fighting Bay Area traffic for, but this spot definitely is. Great atmosphere, delicious food, amazing service -- we will absolutely be coming back again. Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic Colombian flavor and a fun dining experience. read more

This place is a hidden gem. It's a small shop tucked away in the middle of a tiny strip mall, but once you walk inside, it's beautifully painted and decorated. It has a super homey, welcoming vibe. Here is the breakdown of what we ordered: Bistec with Chorizo: The serving size was huge! Definitely big enough for two light eaters. It was really tasty overall, though I do wish the beef had been a bit more tender. Beef Empanadas: Hands down, some of the better ones I've ever had. The skin was thin and perfectly crispy, and the filling was packed with flavor. Pair them with their chili oil sauce... yumm! To top it off, our waitress was incredibly friendly and made us feel right at home. I'll definitely be returning to try some new dishes next time! read more

Amazing experience at Fonda Colombiana! The food was absolutely delicious!!! full of flavor and cooked perfectly. You can really tell everything is made with care. We order the bandeja paisa, la toxic, and side of empanadas Carlos was our server and he was outstanding. Super attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed the entire time. His service definitely made the experience even better. Great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

Fonda Colombiana - La Toxic - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

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The food tasted very authentic and they offer a great variety of options on the menu, so there's something for everyone. One thing I appreciated is that they have hot sauce available if you ask for it. I love spicy food, so that was a nice touch, even though I know traditional Colombian food isn't usually meant to be spicy. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated with traditional murals on the walls, which really adds to the atmosphere and makes the experience feel more authentic. Everything was also very clean. The staff is very kind and welcoming. Overall, it was a great experience with delicious food, and excellent service. I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone looking for authentic Colombian cuisine. read more

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The food is authentic, very tasty and the service was even better. Carlos was an incredible waiter providing the food in a professional and relaxed manner and helping us with whatever we needed. ¡Tambien ganó Colombia! VAMOS PAPAAAA read more

Fonda Colombiana is located in a residential neighborhood where there's a small shopping center with limited parking space though you can park along the side street. Came by on a Saturday morning greeted by a young lady as I was looking over the menu I chose three pieces of empanada Colombiana a mixed of beef or chicken with potato filling for a modest price of $13.51 portions were generous a crispy cornmeal shell packed with beef, potato fully cooked not dry very flavorful served with a side of fresh tangy spicy green sauce (aji verde) a mixed of chopped cilantro, scallion and lime juice. Pony Malta is what I had a non-alcoholic beverage at price of $5.19 has a creamy cola texture rich sweet caramelized taste refreshing energetic a popular alternative over soda drinks. The interior is so spacious with an eye-catching painted mural wallpaper so vibrant a cool place to dine-in lively Colombian music playing in the background. Would highly recommend serving home made Colombian meals at an affordable price. read more

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Surprisingly good! Food is fresh and the customer service was great. We ordered empanadas as appetizers and Picada as main dish. Everything cooked timely and served fresh on time. Carlos was kind and he suggested us some type of dishes for our first time here trying Colombian food. Prices are fair considering the amount of food in each dish. I recommend this friendly hidden gem in East San Jose. read more

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Excellent excellent food! This is my second time coming here . I got the Cazuelita La Toxic, Passionfruit juice & arepas appetizer... I like the vibes, the atmosphere and even though it was very busy, Carlos was very attentive server and service was great! Thank you , Carlos! read more

Fonda Colombiana - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Todo muy rico y muy buena atencion de Carlos! Everything was delicious and great service form Carlos! read more

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The food was delicious. You can tell a lot of care goes into every dish. The service also stood out. Carlos was amazing, attentive, friendly, and genuinely made us feel welcome. read more

Fonda Colombiana - Bandeja Paisa Sancocho de Cola - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

The service was terrible the dude needs to take customer service course or something there shouldn't be a reason to speak to the customer the way he does I don't care how good the food is read more

Fuimos a Fonda Colombiana y la experiencia estuvo increíble. Era nuestra primera vez probando comida colombiana y realmente nos encantó. Pedimos los chicharrones, que estaban súper crujientes y con muchísimo sabor. Las arepas estaban perfectas: doraditas y crujientes por fuera, pero suaves por dentro. También pedimos el churrasco, y la porción fue muy generosa, acompañado de un chimichurri delicioso que le dio un sabor espectacular. La comida y las bebidas estuvieron buenísimas. Además, Carlos, nuestro mesero, fue muy amable y atento; realmente hizo que nuestra primera experiencia con comida colombiana fuera aún más especial. El lugar es colorido, alegre y muy vibrante, transmite muy buena energía desde que entras. En general, definitivamente recomiendo este restaurante. Si quieren probar comida colombiana auténtica y deliciosa, este lugar vale totalmente la pena. read more

I honestly can't believe the quality of what I received. I ordered the "2 for 1 deal" on empanadas -- instead of getting 10, they only sent me 5. That makes it about $8 per empanada, which is outrageous. To make it worse, I specifically ordered beef empanadas. Maybe one had a shred of beef, but the rest were just filled with bland potato and hardly any meat. For the price I paid, this is unbelievable. The food looked sloppy, tasted cheap, and absolutely did not match the price tag. I expected authentic Colombian flavor and got something completely disappointing. Sinceramente, no puedo creer la calidad de lo que recibí. Pedí la promoción de "2x1" en empanadas -- en lugar de 10, solo me mandaron 5. Eso significa que cada empanada salió en casi $8, ¡una locura! Para colmo, pedí empanadas de carne. Tal vez una tenía un pedacito, pero las demás eran casi puras papas sin sabor y con casi nada de carne. Por el precio que pagué, es increíblemente decepcionante. La comida se veía descuidada, sabía barata y no tiene nada que ver con la auténtica comida colombiana que esperaba. read more

Fonda Colombiana - Receipt - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

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The environment is really pretty and colorful,there is music that is not loud ,the service was okay considering there were many tables and only two servers ,still they occasionally did check in on us , the food did take some time to come out but again that's because it was quite busy for the two servers The food was really tasty and hot when it came to our table ,very fresh ingredients and nice presentation ,the dishes were quite filling and pretty well packed ,you might take some home like I did ,I had agua maracuya which was real refreshing and just the right amount of sweet I'd recommend this place for a good casual eating date experience,since it's not ideal for More than four due to the crowded tables and tight set up I liked coming here hope to be back soon read more

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First time trying Columbian food with my family. All I can is we are absolutely a fan. We ordered. sancocho de galo , mondongo , plantanos Fritos , picada 2X Mandela, pollo bandeja. For drinks we've ordered 2 guayana and one maracuya . It was refreshing. We asked our server to have the food comes out all at the same time. When it came out it was fresh and is quite a feast. The food is very delicious , flavorful, not too salty and seasoned right . We have enjoyed out dining experience thoroughly and will be coming back again next time and try other dishes they offer. read more

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A great authentic Colombian restaurant. I had the Bandeja Paisa. A good amount of food. And every piece of the dish felt like home made. Great flavor! The natural juices are good. We will be back to taste more food for sure. read more

Comida auténtica colombiana y deliciosa. La atención de Carlos fue increíble, nos hizo sentir en casa. ¡Súper recomendado! read more

Fonda Colombiana - Cazuelita La Toxic, súper deliciosa y recomendada - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

Obsessed with the chicharrónes and the cheese arepa. Top tier. Real Colombian food. My Medellín-born boyfriend loved the Bandeja Paisa--hands down the Bay Area's best. The staff was so warm and welcoming. If you're nearby, go support them and treat yourself--totally worth the trip! They also opened up another location! read more

Fonda Colombiana - Bandeja Paisa - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

Fonda Colombiana is a cozy establishment nestled in ESSJ next to a laundromat and 7 Eleven. My boyfriend turned to me commenting, "This is about to hit!" It lowkey did. There's Colombian music playing, pops of vibrant colors all around the restaurant, and attentive staff. They were always moving on their feet! The only complaint service-wise is that it still took ~1 hour for food to be served. I ordered the bistek a caballo plato ($17.99) and my boyfriend ordered the mojarra frita ($24.99). According to him, the fried fish was excellent and he wanted to revisit this spot again. It was a massive portion, given they provide the entire fish all fried up. I found my plate pretty good, the meat was seasoned well. I could taste the grill flavor. However, the price is too steep for some meat, fried plantains, eggs, avocado, and rice. The plantains were difficult to eat because they were too dry. Overall, I'd definitely give it a shot again because my boyfriend enjoyed this place and I feel optimistic about their other dishes! read more

Fonda Colombiana - 14. Biste a Caballo Plato Especial - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

Loved the ambience and decor! Such lively and vibrant walls and interior! The food was great! Overall large portions. However the potato in the beef dish was a bit dry as was the chicarron. The blood sausage was great! The service was nice. read more

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Wife found this place as recommended by a friend. So we came to try it out. Definitely was not disappointed. The ambience was nice and cozy, servers were very friendly. And the food was phenomenal. Everything we ordered was great and came out nice and hot freshly made. We shared some empanadas and an arepa, she had a tóxica plate and I had a popular dish. The fresh juices were refreshing as well. If you want to try columbian food and don't want to be disappointed Ted give this place a try we will definite be coming back. read more

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I had the calentado paisa. Good blend of rice and beans. I think they also added a hint of butter to the cheese arepa. Was very filling. Also includes your choice of eggs and toppings. Good service! Definitely will come again read more

Fonda Colombiana - Calentado paisa - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

Great service from our waiter, Carlos. He personally greeted every person that walked in the door. The Bandeja Paisa was prepared excellently. Music set the mood and was pleasant. Only 4 stars due to the prices being a bit steep. Would return. read more

Me ha encantado tanto la comida como el ambiente. Me parece que pueden mejorar el servicio al cliente. Si bien es cierto que la comida habla por sí misma. También es cierto que el cliente tiene otras opciones de comidas deliciosas. read more

Great food and service! Ordered empanadas, platano con queso, and bistec a caballo. Everything was fresh and tasty

Toda la comida esta espectacular, el servicio es excelente, tiene buen ambiente, y tiene buenas instalaciones

La comida estaba deliciosa y el ambiente muy tranquilo, Carlos fue muy bacán como mesero y en general el servicio estuvo muy bueno

Delicious food, generous portions. Glad I tried them out and found them on Door Dash. Would come back again to try other menu items. read more

Fonda Colombiana - Picada - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

Carlos was amazing server. Good food and good attention, everything great. And I love the music

i had some amazing, comforting colombian food here, and the warm music and super friendly people made it feel like home.

As you enter this place, it reminds you of your own country Colombia. Then you're wonderfully greeted by host/ waitress and seizure in the area where you can enjoy hell I know it sports on television or music available also. The service is incredibly great and the food is delightful and delicious. It brings back memories of the home country. The portions are incredibly well given. Very worth the visit to this place. If you've ever been to Colombia, you will not regret visiting this place for everything that they can offer read more

Fonda Colombiana - Entrance - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Food and service was great! Had the Arroz con pollo and chicharrones. They were delicious.

This is my second time being here and it's never a disappointment. Authentic columbian food for sure. Love coming here. You get your food out quick but the service can be alittle slow. I got the arroz con pollo which was amazing along with empanadas de pollo. The portion sizes are pretty big so you'll have some to go. read more

Fonda Colombiana - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Food was pretty, although I did get a slightly weird look when I only spoke English and because I'm Asian. But otherwise they were pretty nice. It's pretty chill environment and they give you a lot of food for sure read more

Fonda Colombiana - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

Parking is plentiful and easy to find. The interior is festive and colorful. The music gives off very upbeat and energetic vibes. The ambiance is loud. My party was so lucky to have a Spanish speaker. It made communicating with the server much easier. I ordered the Bistek a caballo (1/5): the presentation was beautiful. The eggs looked too perfect to eat. The meat was tender but a bit dry and difficult to chew. The rice was good. The plantains were also really dry. Definitely dip the plantains and meat in the juice. Overall just really a dry plate. Food took a while to be served. Google/apple pay is accepted here. Overall Fonda Colombiana could use more work in terms of food quality and customer service. Unfortunately I won't be making my return. read more

Fonda Colombiana - 14. Biste a Caballo Plato Especial - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

They take card! Lots of old info here on yelp saying cash only but thats not the case anymore. But I'll have to do a +1 on the people saying the food does lack salt specifically the potatoes and the tostones. The food came out quick and the workers were nice. read more

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Beyond bistek, arepas, and empanadas, I haven't had much Colombian food, so I can't compare the quality of the food. I really liked the Arepa, had a lot of cheese, much more then I've had in pupussas. The empanadas were really hard, like a hard cracker, when I've had fried empanadas before, they were much softer. Gonna give it an OK rating on taste. I thought the Bistek Criolla had a good flavor and the steak was prepared good. Others weren't too happy with what they ordered. The little round potatoes had to have been the worst potatoes anyone at the table had ever tried though. It was $5 for a canned coke and $6 for a canned Colombian Soda. Price wise, it was expensive for what we got. read more

The food was superb from appetizer to main entree and dessert! The server was very nice and checked on me a few times. I super love the plaintain with cheese and the tangy passionfruit dessert. Decor is very vibrant. read more

So painful to say, but this is mediocre Colombian food. I wanted to find delicious South American food and decided to start with my country, at what seems like the only Colombian restaurant in San Jose. The restaurant is located in a strip mall. It's relatively small, but patriotically decorated with country colors, cultural items, and music. We ordered beef and chicken empanadas, a bandeja paisa, bistec a caballó, jugó de guanabana with milk, and a postobon manzana. Outside of what's mentioned here, everything lacked seasoning. The empanadas were drenched in oil, which completely overpowered the filling taste. The aji was watery and barely had chopped herbs. The jugo de guanabana tasted like milk and ice. The tostones lacked salt and crunch. The carne molida on the bandeja paisa literally looked and felt like saw dust. The chicharrón was sad and scrawny. The plátano Maduro was clearly not cooked when ripe. The morcillo and bistec tasted decent. Such a disappointment overall, and could definitely be made better at home. 1 star for decoration, 2 stars for supporting fellow Colombianos. This restaurant isn't the place to savor your homeland, or introduce people to our country's food. read more

Fonda Colombiana - Bistec 14. Biste a Caballo Plato Especial - Colombian Near Me - San Jose, California

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The dishes here are very authentic and presented well, decent value for the money, and accompanied by friendly service. The ambiance is a bit overwhelming. Loud music, televisions, permanent Christmas lights, and scenic painted walls make normal quiet dining conversations difficult. The flavors were spot on, but the bistec was very tough and chewy. A few tweaks and this place could be amazing! read more