Fonda Rosa

They have the best Shrimp Tacos here at Fonda Rosa. I usually order the chicken shrimp tacos, and love it with extra sour cream and avocado. Can not forget about those 2.

Last night, our Sunday excursion took us to Fonda Rosa. They have no stand alone website, but you can use the Google and find them… they are just up the street from where we ate last week, Tapalaya.
I don’t have a lot on this restaurant… when we got there, a huge group was just finishing up with their pre-​concert dinner and the place was trying to recover… so, it took a little time for us to get drinks, apps, and order. But, the waiter was gracious and apologized… and he took as much time with us as he could, while still helping out the other waitstaff get the restaurant back in order.
As I said, there was nothing outstanding… nor wrong… with this restaurant. I had a pomegranate margarita… it was good. I had the beet and avocado salad… it was good. I had the chile rellano… it was fair. I’ve had better, and far worse of all of those things.
The chips and salsa/​guac was very good… so, that all averages out to average.

Love this place! Fantastic food, spectacular service, and a really great atmosphere. We eat here several times a month and have never been disappointed.
Note that if Taco Bell is your idea of real Mexican food, though, you’ll be disappointed. This is not your typical cheese-​and-​sauce-​drowned slop where every dish tastes the same.
If you can, save room for the Crème Brûlée! Some of the best I’ve had anywhere.

Thank you so much for an excellent dining experience. Not only was the food great, the drinks and desert were also amazing. Very nice people! I woukd definitely recommend coming. There is a nice variety of food and great selection of deserts. It is a nice warm atmosphere with friendly staff.

I was REALLY hoping to echo all of the wonderful reviews on here. But between the suuuuuuper slow service (45 min before we even got any chips) and the high priced food that wasn’t good enough to justify a $ 50 for two, dinner. I just can’t. I’d rather eat at Cha Cha Cha’s than this place. I was really disappointed. I would not recommend this place to anyone when pdx is full of such wonderful places to dine.

We keep coming back. Even cross town for the chips, empanadas and chili rellenos. Love it and them. Great service, good fresh chips and authentic fresh ingredients.

Not exactly the best Mexican food especially for the price. My husband really loves Mexican food so we went here for his birthday. I think a family of four was over $ 70. The chips were good but of the greasy sort. My flank steak tacos was ok but for $ 17, I would expect them to be superb. The kidling’s chicken taco looked dry and un-​tasty which is what she said. And to charge $ 8 bucks for a kids plate, seems extreme since the sides probably cost about 50 cents. I guess if you get just their two tacos ala cart, the place is priced ok but if you add a third with their rice and beans, you’re looking at over $ 14. Their beans were salty and red rice was just average. I’m sorry I priced everything out but that’s how un-​satifying it was. For that much, I would much rather be going to a different restaurant in that area and get really great food. I really wanted to like this place because the restaurant is cute and I liked the atmosphere but overall wouldn’t come back. Their margaritas are good and their service was pretty good. Maybe I’m missing something? I don’t think so though.

This is the second time I have tried to go here on a Sunday only to find it closed. Hours on Unilocal say it’s opened Sunday. PISSED!

Fantastic atmosphere, food and service. Highly recommended. Adorable and homey restaurant.

We’ve now been back close to a dozen times (after moving to the neighborhood last year). Why? Margaritas are solid. Food is interesting & solid. Can often get in when the other 28^th St hot-​spots are packed. It’s just solidly solid and it’s turned into one of our spots!

We ordered the chips and guac which was a whopping 6 dollars. The chips were obviously homemade and very good, so was the guacamole, but the SALSA! I’ve never seen such an insulting amount of salsa, wtf? It was barely deep enough to dip a chip in! We are in America, sweet baby Jesus, I want a 32 oz big gulp size of salsa and unlimited chips– especially if I’m paying 6 dollars for them! We also ordered plates of tacos, which were small, but pretty good. The carne asada was cooked just right, but lacked in flavor a bit. The carnitas were pretty good though. The waitress was exceedingly nice, maybe she recognized that it was a ridiculous amount of salsa and was embarrassed by this fact. Definitely overpriced for what you get, but the quality of food is good for the most part, and the waitstaff was pleasant. Don’t know if I’ll go here again.

Excellent authentic mexican food. Homemade tortillas. Guava and blood orange margaritas.

Love this place! Food is fresh with lots of flavor. I’ve been away from Portland for four years and Fonda Rosa was one of my first stops since my return on February 1^st.
This time we had the red snapper ceviche. The flavor popped in my mouth. Fish was fresh, had a hint of Serrano. Once the fish was gone I spooned the remainder as if it were soup.
The Calabasitas Enchilada was like a party in my mouth. The roasted pepitas were a pleasant surprise of crunch. I asked if the chef would mind roasting some Serrano chiles for me; they were the perfect added bit of spice.
Two margaritas, coconut flan and some of the best red velvet cake I’d ever had (moist and smooth). We had to drag ourselves out o there.
My nephew had the crab enchiladas and a carne asada taco. I had bites of his enchilada. It was light and flavorful and very fresh.
Service is always great here. Thanks Emily — home girl!

I’m from central CA so if it’s one thing I know it’s Mexican… With that said, let’s begin.
Who charges for chips and salsa…
Also not to many people around here know what true carne asada is… With that said that tacos were still pretty decent.
They need a better zesty hot salsa. The one I got was more water than anything.
Over all it’s like a fresh mex kinda place.
Still searching for that real authentic Mexican taste in Portland.

Fonda Rosa is really, really overpriced for what it is. I also did not enjoy my food either time I’ve been there, even though it was nicely plated. This time, the snapper (for my tacos) was overcooked and underseasoned and the rice was flavorless. The food was plentiful, but it didn’t taste good, and I felt mixed: I didn’t want to waste it, but I didn’t want to eat it later either. Not a good sign!
For the very casual ambiance, sticky tabletop, super casual flatware and dishes, the prices don’t fit!
As others pointed out, we, too, ordered a basket of homemade chips with small servings of guac and salsa, and though the chips were very good, they were $ 6!
Service is very warm and attentive.
Chips are good.
But, honestly, given the quality of the food, the lack of ambiance, and the high prices (compared to the other two factors: food, no ambiance), I wouldn’t return or recommend it to others.

This place is a hidden gem. Great food. All fresh and made with passion and thought. This is hands down the best Mexican Restaurant not just in town but the best I have been to anywhere.
Been going here for several years now. It’s our regular spot now for a treat when we want good fresh Mexican food. It’s a little higher priced than the typical place but it’s well worth it. You have to give this place a try and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Our favorite place.

Mixed feelings about the place. It’s a place that looks like it was just thrown together. The margaritas are tasty. Taco bar is pretty good. Nothing compared to Esparza or Por que no. Chips are way overpriced with very small salsa an guac servings.
Might pop back in again to give it another shot since our favorite place in the world, Esparza is closed.:/

3.5 is what they could have gotten… only if huh?
When I think authentic, I have to say, I will not say Fonda Rosa, but I will say okay mexican food.
The drinks were the highlight and they are the reason for the .5. I tried both their regular margaritas. To be honest, go with the house, its just as good. They were both pretty good. I dont mind paying a bit for a good drink, but I do want my moneys worth.
The chips were homeade and good, but I like my salsa to be… present. I love salsa. I want some for my chips, my food, just enough to go around the table and them some. I feel, and I may be partial as I am from Texas and used to this, chips and salsa should just come with the water. That is that. They should be free. Corn Tortilla Chips are not hard to make and they are not expensive. if you make your salsa just right, your patrons will buy more of your expensive coctails to wash it all down. Its just good business.
My chile relleno was not what I wanted from a chile relleno. Maybe I expected too much. I hadnt had one for soooo long and I just wanted it to be better. It was just okay. It just lacked texture and flavor really. If I had more salsa, I would have thrown it on there. It was stuffed with a decent cheese, but too watery, or liquidy. It didnt hold. Granted I have had them battered and then plain. You can master either recipe, but I feel if this were battered and fried, it still would get a 3.5.
I would come back, but lower my expectations, try something simple, not something like a chile relleno, which are hard to make and enjoy my paid for chips and salsa and pretty decent margarita.

So three stars, if I could do half a star it might get 3.5 just cause I enjoyed my mojito.
It was like each item had a con to the pro:
Chips and salsa — chips are homemade but you are charged and it’s the tiniest bowl of salsa!
Cocktails– they sounded great and were tasty but for as much as they cost I would like a little bite.
Food– it was Mexican food done ok. The rice is more like fideo. The beans lack that little extra, maybe cool them with pork salt.
I had the crab enchiladas and they were decent. I mean they are filled with crab meat but actually lack a little flavor.
Service– kind of iffy… the waitress informed us when we arrived at 520 that we could at the table but there was a reservation at 7. Which isn’t an issue except it’s really not my problem. Our table felt rushed the whole time and somewhat forgotten about. Almost like we couldn’t ask for too much because it might put us over the time limit.
In the end with so many other options in portland I would probably choose another especially for around $ 30 per person with a drink.

Candlelight beckoned us in. Cavelike and warm.
They handed us a couple of menus. We gravitated to the taco menu. There are lots of taco choices at very reasonable prices. They have dungeness crab tacos! Crab and taco. 2 of my favorite things. Tacos were the crispy kind and the crab was flavorful. Also ordered guacamole/​salsa and chips. Guacamole was of the chunky persuasion, decent. Salsa was fresh. The beans are creamy and they use goat cheese on top. Had me a couple of sangria cocktails as well. This place is not «authentic» but what does that mean in Portland with tons of mexican restaurants and their own style? It’s also not a chain either. Portions were just right too. Did not feel overly stuffed but satisfied. I have absolutely no complaints.