Fonda Chadstone

1003/1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone

When it comes to Mexican restaurants, Fonda is one that I speak of a lot. Other than being one of the larger chains of Mexican restaurants in Melbourne, they also serve good quality food at a decent price in a relaxed atmosphere. Which is why I find myself visiting their one many restaurants whenever I need a Mexican fix.

Tortilla crisps

Char-grilled corn

Char-grilled corn is a must-try dish whenever visiting any Mexican restaurant, as nobody can resist the temptation of some juicy char-grilled corn, as well as slight kick from the chipotle aioli and queso. As usual, the dish did not disappoint us, and after finishing it up quickly, it made me want to order more.

Pork quesadilla

Fish tacos

Fish tacos are usually something I avoid ordering when I dine out, as I usually have sub-par experiences with them, however I decided to give it a go as I haven't really been disappointed by any of the other dishes from Fonda. Luckily this would remain true, as the fish taco was anything but a disappointment. The fish itself was quite delicate, which paired well with the slight acidity from the lime and pickled vegetables. 

As usual I was not disappointed by my visit to Fonda in Chadstone. The staff were efficient in finding us a table even during a busy hour and the food came out quickly. The consistent good quality of the food and the service which I receive no matter which branch of the restaurant I visit, are just some of the reasons that I consistently visit Fonda.

Food Rating 8/10

Overall Rating 8/10

Marae Izakaya

1003/1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone

Along with the expansion of Chadstone shopping centre almost 2 years ago came the addition of the Dining Terrace, an area which houses many big names in dining, such as Fonda Mexican, New Shanghai and Burger Project, as well as Marae Izakaya. Marae Izakaya is a Japanese style restaurant which boasts a diverse range of dining styles, from bentos, to al a carte dishes, as well as an impressive omakase sushi train.

The prices are a bit higher than other sushi trains that I have been to, but that is most likely attributed to the premium that comes with being located in the heavy traffic of Chadstone shopping centre. The dishes are definitely of a higher quality than other cheaper sushi trains that I have frequented, so the higher price you pay for the dishes has definitely not gone to waste. 

However, due to the high volume of people that were dining there when I visited, I found the range of items on the train was quite lacking. I'm not sure if this was because their menu simply had less items than I expected, or if they were adjusting to the high amount of customers they had. Either way I would definitely have enjoyed it more if there were more choices for me on the train, instead of having to order separate dishes.

Food Rating 8/10

Overall Rating 7.5/10