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    La Fonda

    3.2 (381 reviews)
    Open 3:00 pm - 9:45 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Business Info

    LA FONDA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - La Fonda

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    Outside
    Alyssa D.

    It's been a while since I've had really good Puerto Rican food, and La Fonda did not disappoint. We started off with chicken pastellios and my bf got the red sangria while I went for the Puñeta drink(which was sweet, but not overally sweet. Sooooo good). I was craving Mofongo and the pernil Mofongo was definitely the best option. Mofongo can sometimes get dry so the fact that there was a lot of calldito (the soup/sauce) I was livingggggg. They had a really cool back area of the restaurant and it was fairly quiet so you could have a conversation and hear each other. I would bring bug spray in the summer though, I did get bit up a few times. Service was great. The servers were lovely and I will absolutely be coming back! I would check their Instagram, I had no idea when I made reservations that there was an event happening. It was a Friday night and they were teaching/having chess matches! So random, but a lot of people were there! The group is called @Chess_Place on Instagram if you wanna learn more.

    Salad, Steak & Onions, White Rice. Res Beans
    Yvette G.

    La Fonda, Puerto Rican Restaurant is located in East Spanish Harlem on East 106 St. between Lexington & 3rd Ave's., closer to 3rd Ave. La Fonda looks small but when you walk inside they have a nice big long bar, in the back there's a small stage where performers play & sing Spanish music on certain days. Then you have the long dining area with many tables along both walls. The place is well lit, clean & tastefully decorated with its PuertoRican theme. The staff is bilingual, friendly & quick. The traditional Puerto Rican food is delicious, especially the tender Pernil (Roast Sliced Pork) & Arroz con Gandules (Rice & Pigeon Peas). The Cocktails are good as well. They also cater to private events. So if you're visiting Spanish Harlem go in & enjoy. Good for an intimate dinner for 2, families & groups.

    The menu
    Raven Q.

    Alright. So this is my official review for La Fonda -- the restaurant I told y'all is connected to Abuelita's Desserts. Same location, same love, same culture. First of all, sometimes I don't even realize how Puerto Rican I am until it's time to eat. And then it hits me. Heavy. If you know, you know. My mom and I had been low-key grieving this old Chinito Spanish spot on 116th that we grew up on. That place was a staple. Birthdays, celebrations, random Sundays -- we were there. And the chuletas? Elite. The Spanish food was honestly better than the Chinese food, and it was that beautiful cultural fusion that only East Harlem really understands. Asian families who lived in Puerto Rico, speaking Spanish, cooking with that blend of spices -- it was magic. When it closed, it felt like we lost a piece of home. So ever since, we've been like... where are we getting our chuletas now? And let me explain something very clearly: when it comes to a Rican and her chuletas, we do not play games. Don't tell me you make a good pork chop and then serve me something dry or bland. No ma'am. I'm looking for: * That crisp but tender edge. * The smell that hits you before the plate even lands. * The cebolla on top. * The juices already doing what they need to do so I don't have to add a single thing. * That perfect bite when the rice and chuleta meet on the fork. So when we saw La Fonda attached to Abuelita's, we were curious. A guy inside was recommending dishes, saying he comes all the time for lunch. My mom spots "chuletas" on the menu and immediately says, "Let's try it." And I'm nervous. Because what if it's not right? What if it's breaded? I didn't want breaded. I just wanted it fried. Simple. Classic. Done correctly. Baby. When I tell you I was NOT disappointed? I have found my new chuleta spot. Perfectly fried. Flavorful. Juicy. That bite with the rice? Exactly what I've been missing. You can choose your rice. My mom got yellow rice with red beans. I asked for the rice of the day -- and listen, that rice of the day was a moment. Yellow rice mixed with little pieces of chicharrón, some plátano in there, beans -- just layered with flavor. That's the kind of rice you don't leave behind. My mom also ordered the corn fritters. Did I taste them? No. Because she tore them down before I could blink. And when my mom goes quiet and just wolfs her plate? I already know it's good. The ambiance? Beautiful. The bar area feels very Puerto Rican -- colorful, warm, nostalgic. On the other side, there's spacious seating if you want to dine in properly. It's quaint but roomy. Comfortable. It feels like somewhere you can celebrate something or just come in on a random Tuesday because you need good food. And the food? Delicious. Period. If you're looking for authentic Puerto Rican food in East Harlem that actually hits the way it's supposed to hit, go to La Fonda. Try it. Get the chuletas (trust me). And then come back and tell me what you think. Because these spots? They have my heart.

    Menu
    Daniel S.

    I've seen a lot of reviews for this place and some seemingly more negative than others. And while I understand some rare occasions can happen I've been here 3 times and have had amazing experience. Being a Puerto Rican in NYC and trying to connect with the island as much as possible La Fonda for me is my diamond in the rough. From the first day I walked in Isaac , Nancy and James have welcomed me with so much love , warmth and hospitality. Salsa is always playing , the decor feels like the interior of places in Viejo San Juan. The Tostones and Bacalaitos are amazing and the Chicharron de Pollo always slaps. Talking to the team about food and Puerto Rican culture makes this place feel like home and I will continue to come back

    Bernice N.

    I came to try the Coquito hot chocolate. Along with it a ham and cheese sandwich with powdered sugar on top and received a complimentary brownie with guava. When I tell you everything from the service to the food was five star, I mean I just felt like I knew the people in there for years. The restaurant had Christmas music playing and it was very early in the day so I got to see the whole space of the restaurant. This place feels like home. I would bring my family and friends here for a group gathering, breakfast, dinner, drinks whatever. It's was such a pleasure to visit a restaurant with that kind of atmosphere. I will say this, RUN! Don't walk to get that hot chocolate. It's gonna be around for a limited time and I ask the creator of the drink to keep it around all winter, but he wouldn't guaranteed it. I know for a fact I will have another before the new year arrives. It was so sweet and creamy and the chocolate goes so well with the coconut flavor and spices I'm drooling just writing about it. The sandwich was go to. Who knew powdered sugar would add a sweetness to go along with the salty taste of the ham and cheese. It also had a nice crunch to it that I personally loved because it added texture to it. Just go I can't explain anything further you have to check it out yourself! Two thumbs up and Happy Yelping!

    Aesthetics
    Leilani S.

    The food was so good me and my sisters visited on Sunday around lunch time and they served us their brunch service/menu. We were skeptical at first because it was brunch but it was some of the best Puertorican restaurant food I have ever had! The pernil tasted so good. The arroz con gandules was on point.The pollo Guisado, was very good. They also give you free fried chicken and that was really good. It tasted like Popeyes. The food was cooked to perfection and had flavor. The owner/chef was very nice came out to greet us and gave us a tester of some ice cream sweet that he was trying to work on for his menu. The place was also nice aesthetically. The waitress was also nice. We loved our experience not sure why some mixed yelp reviews.

    Pastellito de bacalao was good
    Esmeralda C.

    Came here since it is supposedly a popular Puerto Rican restaurant that's been around for 35 years but has changed owners twice. The wait on Sunday, the same day as the Puerto Rican parade was an hour long. I was ready to go elsewhere when finally my name was called. The owner of the restaurant had come out about 15 minutes earlier that the wait was worth it because they're not a "cuchifrito" and cooked fresh on the spot. Now hearing this I was excited to try the food. Everything was underwhelming and I was left totally disappointed!! I don't like being served in disposable plates, using plastic fork and knife and cups. It is so tacky and horrible for the environment. Imagine doing this all day and everyday? The food was not up to par and some were undercooked or overcooked, greasy and not exactly representing what the item should be. One of the pastellitos of bacalao had several pieces of bones!! The bacalao is supposed to be properly cleaned before it is prepared and put in a pastellito. The drinks served in plastic cups with a lot of ice is a rip off and spaces with tables not properly cleaned is also a huge problem! The bathrooms (2) were missing toilet paper, hand towels and floors were wet. Not properly maintained. It appears this place needs to hire more workers in every aspect for this place to run smoother. Cooks/chefs must be retrained to better prepare foods. I would not recommend this restaurant for so many reasons and don't understand why they're still in business. If I could give them a negative 1 star, I wouid!

    Geez where do I start. The music was ridiculously loud. We literally had to yell to have a conversation and make our order. Then, half of their dishes on their menu weren't available. It was a Friday soon after opening so what's wrong with their stock? Then, our appetizer took 1 hour (!!) to arrive our entrees took 2 hours one of which was just a simple salad... ugh... Oh man I came here once last year and it was fine, but this last time was awful. I don't see myself wanting to come here again. Food definitely positively not worth it...

    Maduros ( sweet plantains)

    Went here for Valentine's Day waited 15 minutes even though we had a reservation and there was a whole row of empty tables on the right side.They ran out of chicken wings, octopus salad,, fish fritters, stew chicken ( pollo guisado) no straws and no coffee. We were told an order of chicken never arrived. Waitresses did not ask us if everything was ok or if we wanted another drink.The sweet plantains were not ripe and they were hard.The alcapurrias were greasy. The pork chops were hard as a rock.The steak was thin and small The 3 chicharon de pollo were all batter. None of the food we ordered looked like the pictures on the website and the place is small. I gave them 2 stars because the atmosphere was nice. The 2 pastellijos were good (but not worth $14) the tostones were good, the rice and beans too. To top it off the food was not worth the expensive Not going back there again.

    Percy H.

    VLa Fonda is cute, but for me, it did not meet the mark--full disclosure: I picked La Fonda because of a deal I found on Pulsed. Honesty, I had high hopes for this dining experience, but alas, things did not go well. When I arrived at the restaurant, there were not many customers. I was directed to my seat. One of the first things I noticed was the beautiful art that decorates the walls and shelves. I would say it gave the restaurant a real, authentic feel. The waiter helping me seemed to be very enthusiastic and friendly. I ordered a margarita to pass the time as I waited for my bestie to arrive. Sadly, the drink was terribly watered down and missed the mark. My friend arrived, and it was all downhill from there. I explained to my friend the finer points of the dinner voucher that no burger would be served or items over twenty dollars would incur a surcharge. My friend wanted the burger, which had cost within the deal price, but our waiter and staff declined to make it. We went back and forth several times before they decided to go ahead and make the damn thing. Sadly, they served a hockey puck and not the medium rare burger he wanted. Adding to our disappointment, the voucher was for a bottomless option, but we had to keep asking to replenish our carafe. My meal was just ok. I had such hope for this experience, but as I said, it missed the mark.

    Pernil

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    29 days ago

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    James G.

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    26 days ago

    Food and service is amazing! Great place for authentic people and food. Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    James G.

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    4 days ago

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    2 months ago

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    18 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Service is slow but the food is excellent. It took too long to just get drinks. They had one waiter for all the tables.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 months ago

    SENCOND TIME THE CHARM! My 2nd visit was 5 star. Excellent food. First visit just fair.

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    1 year ago

    Good food good service. Casual restaurant came here for lunch with friends we all enjoyed our dishes.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

    Amazing food. A must have very professional and the service was excellent. You feel the family love.

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    10 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Sometimes is good and sometimes awful. They need to get their act together. They're not consistent with their hours either.

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    Page 1 of 10

    La Fonda Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - La Fonda

    Do they still have live music?

    While this answer is very late (almost four years), yes we do. We have live performances now. So not just music. Check us out on Instagram @fondaboricua to see Our food,… 

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    Inside

    La Fonda - latin - Updated September 2026

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