Fonda Fora

Name: Fonda Fora
Address: 630 4 Ave SW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2P 0J9
Telephone: (403) 764-6260
Price range: CAN$31 to CAN$50
Rating: 4.4

4.4

433 Reviews

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Mexican

Top tags:

Located inside the Westley Hotel in the heart of Downtown Calgary, Fonda Fora is an exciting new contemporary Mexican restaurant brought to you by the folks at Thank You Hospitality.

Food and Beverage Magazine 30 under 30 winner, Chef Emilio Montenegro has crafted a menu based on his upbringing in Northern Mexico and his journey in kitchens across the world. Much of our concept is based around the heirloom corn of Mexico. We import four types of corn from a collective of heirloom farms in Mexico in order to provide the best product we can. We process this corn from raw and turn it into masa for dishes all across our menu, like our Sope, Tamal, and of course, Tortillas. There is a saying in Mexico that we live by at Fonda Fora: "Sin maiz no hay pais," meaning without corn, there is no country. Maiz is the lifeblood of Mexican cuisine, and we are excited to present it to you as it should be.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Nov 28, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Booked 31 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Contemporary Mexican, Mexican, Latin American
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 6:30 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 6:30 am–12:00 am Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 6:30 am–2:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 2:00 pm–5:00 pm
Phone number
(403) 764-6260
Website
http://www.fondafora.com/
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Chef Emilio Montenegro
Private party facilities
Located inside the Westley Hotel in the heart of Downtown Calgary, Fonda Fora is an exciting contemporary dining concept brought to you by the folks at Thank You Hospitality. We offer a wide range of options for all event sizes - big or small. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.
Private party contact
Tyson Duben: (403) 764-6260

Location
630 4 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0J9
Neighbourhood
Calgary
Cross Street
4th Ave and 6th Street SW
Parking Details
Public Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Cafe, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access

Pescado Frito$4.50
Atlantic salmon, spiced masa batter, heirloom corn tortilla, chipotle aioli
Panza$4.50
Confit pork belly, heirloom corn tortilla, xnipec, white onion, cilantro
Hongos$4.50
Pan-seared shiitake and oyster mushrooms, heirloom corn tortilla, queso fresco, avocado puree
Bean$4.50
Refritos, panela, cruda
Tinga$4.50
Chicken tinga, lettuce, pickled onion

Drinks

Fonda Fora Heirloom Corn Lager$6.00
Field & Forge (4%)
Belgium Pale Ale$6.00
Two Pillars (6%)
New England Pale Ale$6.00
Blindman (5.5%)
Melody West Coast IPA $6.00
Ol'Beautiful (6.5%)
Wild Sour$6.00
Dandy (7%)
Rotating Tap$6.00
Caipirinha $12.00
Cachaça, muddled lime (2oz)
A la Pimienta $12.00
lemon and lime infused gin, orange, grapefruit, peppercorn, tonic (2oz)
Cosmo on the Rocks $12.00
vodka, orange liquor, cranberry, lime (2oz)
Jarritos Paloma $12.00
tequila, lime, agave. Choice of: pineapple, mango, mandarin, guava (1.5oz)
House White | Spain | 12%$10.00
House Red | Spain | 13.5%$10.00
House Sparkling | Spain | 11.5%$7.50

What 433 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.3Service
4.6Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

433 Reviews

PY
PacoY
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great spot. 100% recommended. Food quality (for Sunday brunch) is great.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, amazing cocktails, a bit pricey but a fun night out. Our servers Vanessa and Miriam are the best!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
All around fantastic experience tonight. First time at Fonda Fora, came in with a friend, Jack took excellent care of us, and made sure everything was perfect. Highly recommend the guac and chips, and the fried chicken with mole sauce. Will be back😀
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SH
ShayH
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely fabulous! The food, service and ambiance were perfect. We went for a team work dinner and it was perfect. However, it was easy to see that it was a great venue for all kinds of events. My husband and I will be going back for a date night. Just amazing!
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J
Jess
Calgary
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience5
Overall it was a 50/50 experience. If you want to go, dont let my review get in your way, but maybe as a heads up. It was my birthday dinner - 41 years old! Ordered a $35 tequila, asked what that notes are for it and asked for it neat. Someone (not our regular server) served it to me by saying 'tequlia?' I asked what kind, server said 'i dont know' and proceeded to smell it, sticking her nose in my drink. Oh ya. It was served in a cheap plastic shot glass. Not in a glass that you would get for a neat drink. Sooooo. I got a $35 drink served like i was doing a shot of jose cuervo at a bar for $5, getting bar well tequlia. Can you understand my confusion with this whole situation of a drink. Yes Ill never go back. Just based on that. I will not go any further about the food itself and the rest of the service.
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G
Griff
Calgary
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Mariam was a fantastic server. Thank you for a wonderful evening.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a fantastic dinner with Friends. The food was delicious and unique. The service was friendly. The cocktails were exceptional. We will return.
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ER
EmilyR
Calgary
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2023
overall3food2service2ambience2
Had brunch. Food was subpar and super plain, I had sourdough toast but you could tell is was store bought and not “real” sourdough. Server was very forgetful, had to keep reminding him of things, a nice place but I think brunch is new for them, I have heard good things about dinner.
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MS
MichaelS
Exclusive
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
Good overall although large group came in after us and took far too long to get Bill. Food was forward thinking and tasty.
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SP
SweetP
Calgary
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience4
We went to Fonda Fora for my friend's birthday and it was okay. The guacamole was great but the chips were hard and thick (cut up tortillas that are baked or fried to make them crispy) so it wasn't very enjoyable. I ordered a margarita that was delicious, but $25.00. Even though I knew the price when I ordered it, I thought it was overpriced for what you got. My next drink was a red sangria and it wasn't great. I had the brisket with mole for dinner because the small plate options weren't anything I felt like eating. I wish they had beef options in the smaller plates like beef tostadas or something. It was also, okay. Nothing spectacular but not bad either. The brisket was a bit fatty so that felt like a waste of money. Our server, Jack, was terrific and attentive. He gave some great recommendations and overall made the experience a good one. Overall, I wouldn't recommend Fonda Fora to anyone looking for authentic Mexican food, but not a bad place for some small plates and drinks.
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NR
NatasiaR
Calgary
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Finally a place that knows how to do mole in Calgary!!
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TK
TimK
San Diego
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 9, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience4
This is our second time to Fonda fora, and enjoyed it immensely We will be back, and we will be bringing friends Our table was located close to the lobby of the hotel, which was not great felt like we were sitting in the lobby
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MC
MichaelC
Calgary
27 reviews
vip
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
Great experience. A reliable go to restaurant downtown.
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J
Janice
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was delicious, with fabulous presentation. The service was excellent and the server explained what each dish was made of.
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N
Nikakins
Calgary
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fonda Fora is such a great spot for a casual business meal. There is a subtle bustle around the restaurant but it is quiet enough for chatting/meeting. And of course, excellent food and drinks.
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TG
TiffG
Calgary
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I've eaten at Fonda 3 times now and it's been an amazing experience every time. The server was friendly and knowledgable. We ordered a starter and 3 dishes and when she came to the table asking if she could take anything away, we told her we didn't love the veg dish. We ate half of it and just didn't love it. Nothing particularly wrong with it, just didn't like it. She took it away and when she came back, said they had removed it from the bill. THAT IS AMAZING SERVICE! We were not expecting that level of service. The rest of the dishes we ordered were SO good and SO flavourful. I love how chill and quiet it is there. This place is turning into one of my favourites. We will definitely be back. 10/10 recommend.
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M
Mimaso
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on October 30, 2023
overall2food1service2ambience3
My recent visit to a local Mexican restaurant was a major letdown. The food was tasteless, the prices were unreasonably high, and the service was lackluster. It felt like a complete rip-off, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone seeking authentic Mexican cuisine. There are better options out there for a more satisfying and affordable dining experience.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Calgary
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
In my opinion best Mexican restaurant in Calgary. Family style dishes that are delicious.
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JG
JanethG
Calgary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great as always! The baked to order corn dessert is delicious!
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WS
WesleyS
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 22, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Took the lady down for a night out and picked this spot because ive never heard of it before. when we got there we were seated immediately and given menus and water. they took our drink orders and then meal orders. it was a little loud and the music was quite loud as well but overall we had a nice night and enjoyed it alot. definitely recommend fonda for an ecstatic night out in the heart of calgary:)
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EK
ElizabethK
Edmonton
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Would definitely return, both food and drinks were great!
1 person found this helpful
S
Spoon
Calgary
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience3
Delicious food, wonderful service. Ambiance a bit bland but fine.
1 person found this helpful
JA
JamesAB
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 15, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Our first time here. Our hostess was fantastic. The drinks were great. The appetizers and dessert were absolutely delicious! The mains were only ok, but we'll be back to try out some of the others.
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MZ
MontserratZ
Calgary
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I love fonda fora, I'm a regular and I will continue going but everytime I order a taco the tortilla is cold. This is the second time I post a review saying the same thing. I told the waitress that my tortilla was cold and I got a new taco but was the same. I don't think you are warming the tortilla before serving the topings! As a mexican I can't eat a cold taco 😔
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Calgary
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience3
Great food, amazing service. A bit loud for a lunch conversation but overall a great spot.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Calgary
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent experience delicious food amazing drinks and good service recommended 100%
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AM
AlexM
Edmonton
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent gourmet Mexican cuisine. Great service. Nice room.
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J
Jenn
Calgary
5 reviews
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience3
It was disappointing. I had been there previously over a year ago and it was great. Not this time. The restaurant wasn’t busy as it was early and we still had mediocre service. The salads we had were drenched in overly strong dressing and only one out of four of us enjoyed our main dishes. I wouldn’t recommend it or go back again.
Fonda ForaResponded on October 11, 2023
Dear Jenn, We are sorry to hear about your negative experience at our restaurant. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. We take all feedback seriously and use it to improve our services. Thank you very much for bringing this to our attention, we want to understand how we can fix this situation so that it never happens again. Please feel free to continue providing feedback about our services. We look forward to giving you the best service possible. Thank you for your invaluable support, Andrea Hernández Marketing Director Fonda Fora
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l
lavender
Palm Springs
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on October 6, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
The severs were warm, personable and knowledgeable. The food is delicious, unlike anything else in Calgary.
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MV
MelV
Toronto
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
group of us came to calgary to visit a friend. I’ve been here once before in the past so I decided to make a reso for the 5 of us. So glad I did! We came on a Sunday to get brunch but they were also offering the ALC all day menu so opted for that. Our server, cannot remember his name but wore glasses and had dark brown or black hair, took such great care of us. One of the people from our party has a nut, dairy and egg allergy. He was able to guide us through the menu on what the kitchen could accommodate and it was greatly appreciated.
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KC
KrisC
Calgary
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on September 30, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
The Breakfast and lunch memo was excellent on the weekend to sample many great food options! Great Brunch experience!
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AL
ArlissL
Calgary
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 28, 2023
overall3food5service5ambience3
Amazing tasting food. Too small size. Dishes for the cost. Parking options aren't great. $40 to park underground is ridiculous.
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KA
KelleyA
Calgary
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always amazing! Food, service and ambience 10/10. Love this restaurant every time I go
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D
Djk3
Calgary
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 22, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
great service, went on a thursday night wasn't overly busy
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T
Tithi
San Francisco
12 reviews
4.0
12 reviews
Dined on September 16, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
Great food and service but surprisingly all the foods were served at the same time appetizers and entrees. By the time we got to the entree after finishing the appetizers, it got cold.
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R
Rachel
Calgary
26 reviews
vip
4.0
26 reviews
Dined on September 15, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience4
This is a great hidden gem! Unique and delicious Mexican fusion dishes. Amazing cocktails, especially the margaritas. This was my second time to visit Fonda Fora and I took some friends that had not been. They loved it too. My only two criticism were the drink service was very slow and the outdoor patio string lights were still not working so it lack a little on the ambience side. Otherwise, the food was absolutely outstanding. I can't wait to get back for more of that Guacamole...perhaps one of the best I have ever had!! And to try some more of the delicious margaritas.
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v
visitor
Calgary
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 14, 2023
overall4food2service3ambience5
Chic new Mexican restaurant. Nice margaritas. Didn't have a chance to try their flight of tequilas and mezcals. Guac and chips was A-mazing. Didn't like my main course at all, and they kindly removed it from the bill. My guest's meal looked slightly better. Prices are steep- margaritas from $16-$50- likely because they use higher quality tequilas. Lots of craft cocktails. Service was good but the server wasn't pleasant. Don't think I'll go back.
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AU
AmakaU
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The meal was delicious. The team enjoyed it very much
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S
Sandman404
Calgary
30 reviews
vip
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food has a great amount of flavour (the flavour profiles on the dishes I had were complex). I appreciated the taste, preparation, and presentation. The staff are friendly and helpful. Dishes: Guacamole, Pork Belly, Lamb (note: on the lamb, this serving was very fatty, more than my companion would enjoy normally with lamb. I suggest cutting it back or ask at least). Thanks!
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MF
MountainFoodie
Toronto
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on September 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food and stunning ambience! Highly recommend.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising
- Surfaces sanitised between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily

FAQs

Fonda Fora offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (403) 764-6260.

Fonda Fora is rated 4.4 stars by 433 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Nov 28, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Booked 31 times today

Order delivery or takeout

630 4 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0J9

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
4th Ave and 6th Street SW
Neighbourhood
Calgary
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 6:30 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 6:30 am–12:00 am Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 6:30 am–2:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 2:00 pm–5:00 pm
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Contemporary Mexican, Mexican, Latin American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Parking Details
Public Lot
Executive Chef
Chef Emilio Montenegro
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Cafe, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access

Website
http://www.fondafora.com/
Phone number
(403) 764-6260
Private party facilities
Located inside the Westley Hotel in the heart of Downtown Calgary, Fonda Fora is an exciting contemporary dining concept brought to you by the folks at Thank You Hospitality. We offer a wide range of options for all event sizes - big or small. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.
Private party contact
Tyson Duben: (403) 764-6260

Fonda Fora

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

Tacos

Pescado Frito$4.50

Panza$4.50

Hongos$4.50

Bean$4.50

Tinga$4.50

Drinks

Fonda Fora Heirloom Corn Lager$6.00

Belgium Pale Ale$6.00

New England Pale Ale$6.00

Melody West Coast IPA $6.00

Wild Sour$6.00

Rotating Tap$6.00

Caipirinha $12.00

A la Pimienta $12.00

Cosmo on the Rocks $12.00

Jarritos Paloma $12.00

House White | Spain | 12%$10.00

House Red | Spain | 13.5%$10.00

House Sparkling | Spain | 11.5%$7.50

What 433 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising

FAQs

Does Fonda Fora offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Fonda Fora restaurant rated?

Is Fonda Fora currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information