East Harlem - El Barrio - Spanish Harlem, New York, NY · $$
La Fonda NYC invites you to experience more than just Puerto Rican "food"—it's a culinary journey that blends centuries-old traditions onto a single plate. For the past three decades, despite changes in names and owners (just like Puerto Rico), we have passionately strived to bring El Barrio and food lovers everywhere the finest in Puerto Rican cuisine. We modernize some dishes while preserving the authenticity of traditional recipes. Enjoy classics inherited flavors by Jorge Ayala, such as our signature Pernil, various Mofongos (Shrimp being our most loved), Ensalada de Pulpo, Pollo Guisado, Bistec Encebollado, Chicharrón de Pollo, Flan, Tembleque and more. Each bite might transport you to a cherished memory or create a new one. Our food has even brought some to tears, reminiscent of their beloved family kitchens. Additionally, discover new favorites like our Chuleta Kan Kan, Vegan Lasagna, Cañoa (with both beef and vegan options), and the list goes on. Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning, we hope you'll savor the vibrant flavors, enjoy the lively music (Thursday nights having Live Salsa/Latin Jazz), and appreciate the rich original art always on display in our humble spot that has welcomed and fed guests from all over the world.
“Great service, great food and atmosphere. The best Puerto Rican cuisine in El Barrio. The pernil and rice are so good, the bacalaitos amazing and the best so far are the Mallorcas shipped weekly from Puerto Rico. Can’t get more authentic than that! Drinks are great as well. The staff is great and the owner is prime example of amazing customer service! Highly recommended 10/10”
“Food was really delicious! I have to say this is one of my favorite puertorican restaurants in the city as a puertorican raised my whole life in the island. I would say service could be a little better as the waitress wasn’t that friendly or helpful. Another waitress took care of us for a moment but one of the sauces got spilled while moving them to the other side of the table and idk if she didn’t notice but she left the table. We had to ask for napkins so we could clean it. The owner had came to us prior all of this to explain what events they had going on so that was nice to see service at its best. Would come back for service improvement and food with the same expectations!”
“Dios mio these guava desserts are next level 👌👌👌 10/10 would go again. Isaac is super friendly too, it was a great pleasure to learn about Puerto Rican culture while trying these amazing desserts. It was a bit of a shame that we arrived too late and the breakfast guava cheese pastries were sold out😭😭😭”
“La Fonda is an amazing place, full stop! First of all, the food is excellent! I'm very picky about Puerto Rican food because my grandmother was an excellent cook (and in many ways, noone can reproduce what she used to do), and she taught me how to cook. So my bar for excellence in Puerto Rican gastronomy is very high. La Fonda clears that high bar easily, and then adds complete authenticity! Then their drinks are crafted with care and creativity! Finally, their owner James treats you like family, while the staff does the same! La Fonda is also a great place to have an event, or get to do the catering for your event. And when they aren't feeding people, they are providing the community with a place to gather for all sorts of community based activities! The only drawback is that I don't live closer to go more often and be more supportive!”
“With reservations, no wait time. Friendly staff. The owner, James was extremely hospitable. The food was delicious. It was definitely a family vibe and a memorable spot to be celebrating my wife's birthday.”
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