Fonda Don Chon is an authentic Mexican restaurant located in Shopper Ln. In Covina near the downtown. Parking lot across the restaurant. You can park in the additional parking spots all around Shopper Ln. I have been a customer for many years and tried many delicious dishes. They serve a traditional Mexican open buffet at certain times. The waiting line is expected, but don't feel discouraged because it moves fast. The decor is vibrant enriched with colorful murals. The staff are very welcoming and genuinely warm. The restaurant has cozy and inviting ambience. Outdoor and indoor seating are available. I placed an online order for pickup. It was fast and convenient since I had friends coming for dinner. I ordered the following: - Burrito Panchon 5/5 Stuffed with carnita, beans and rice, served with cream, beans and guacamole. Huge portion! You can choose your protein. - Fajitas Cielo Mar Y Tierra 5/5 Marinated beef, shrimp, chicken. It served with sauteed bell peppers tomatoes and onions, rice, guacamole, beans and pico de gallo. It was smoky, savory and flavorful. - Vegetarian Enchiladas 5/5 Corn tortillas stuffed with bell pepper, corn, onion, carrot, cilantro, squash, and topped with a combination of cream and jack cheese. The portion was enormous. It was a very flavorful and savory. - Carna Asada 5/5 Flap meat marinated with homemade adobo. It served with pico de gallo, rice & guacamole. The meat was juicy and tender. It was such a delicious dish. - Empanadas 5/5 I chose chicken empanadas. It served with salad. The empanadas was crispy from outside and very flavorful. - Ensalada de Nopales 5/5 Diced cactus mixed with tomatoes, onion, lime, and cilantro. - Taquitos 5/5 It was crispy from outside with savory and juicy filling. - Taco de Cameron , taco de Pescado & taco de Birria 5/5 They were savory, juicy and delicious. - Beans 5/5 Topped with melted cheese, really delicious - Large Bionico Bowl 5/5 Fresh fruits like topped strawberries, mango, cantaloupe, banana, papaya, blueberries, apples, pineapple topped with granola and shaved coconut. It was rich, creamy. The fruits were fresh and sweet. It was heavenly! Every box was wrapped with layers of plastic wrap perfectly. I got a bag full of different types of salsa with my order and another bag with tortilla chips. The food portions were very generous. Every dish reflected authenticity and deliciousness. Fonda Don Chon has high quality, flavorful and delicious food. It is my FAVORITE MEXICAN RESTAURANT. read more

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Went for a Sunday buffet. Be prepared to wait. We bought some fruit juice prepared next door at their Togo section. I had the watermelon which was refreshing considering the hot afternoon. The inside was cozy with painted walls. Their selection were varied but limited seafood. Their shrimp dishes were okay verging on the chewy side as they were sitting there. The carnitas was very flavorful and so was the beef stew. You could get as much guacamole as you want. Their cake was awful, very grainy. I replenished my watermelon drink with more watermelon. The servers were very friendly and attentive. read more

Fonda Don Chon - Beef stew with garlic shrimp - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

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I'm sorry, but I wanted to like this place. Let's start with the drink. -Cafe De Olla. I don't know, I've had it at quite a few places. Even made it myself. Just wasn't a fan of theirs. Now the food.... I had the Chon's Breakfast Comal. The chorizo was ok. Lacked quite a bit of flavor. Potatoes tasted kinda like they were boiled and then finished in a sauce, then plated. The bell peppers and onions were fantastic. A lot. But they were cooked well. Over easy eggs were decent, despite one of them being cooked all the way through. Comal was perfect temperature. But insanely greasy (which is expected from chorizo). Rice. Eh... Rice is rice. Wasn't bad. But wasn't all "Oh my goodness this is amazing." Beans tasted like the refried Rosarita's can. Just topped with cheese. The salsa. It was pretty good. The 1st time. Until I found a hair. Then I was given a 2nd one. And when I decided to eat it, it was no good. It was starting to spoil. I realized this once I put it on a bite I was about to take and immediately put my food I was about to chew in my napkin. After about 15 minutes when my server finally came by, I told her of the situation. She said "I'll go check." Then disappeared. Someone else gave me the check, and then someone else brought the receipt. The initial server didn't pop up until I was getting up to walk out. So no manager interaction. No "we'll comp your coffee." Just a "Sorry you didn't like it." As I walked out. Ambiance is cool, but some table placement doesn't make sense. That needs to be addressed. Will I come back here? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. But I'm talking like 80 no /20 yea. So I guess we'll see.. So I'm giving this place 1 star. I'm sorry, but this is my opinion based on my 1st experience here. Maybe it'll be better. We'll see.... read more

Fonda Don Chon - Chon's Breakfast Comal - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

I recently visited Fonda Don Chon Mexican Buffet and unfortunately left feeling very disappointed, especially regarding their policy for young children. The service was just okay, but what really bothered me was being charged $17 for my daughter, who is only 2 years old. She barely ate anything, just about two pieces of watermelon and a small bite of concha bread. For that amount of food, I found the $17 charge completely unreasonable. When I questioned the charge, the waiter explained that because the food was put on her plate rather than being fed to her directly by us, they considered her to have eaten from the buffet and charged the full $17. He also mentioned that management is watching the cameras to determine whether children are eating from the buffet. Honestly, I find this policy excessive. I understand that buffets need rules to prevent people from sharing food or taking advantage of the system, but charging $17 for a 2 year old who ate practically nothing seems unreasonable. There should be some sort of reduced price or reasonable policy for toddlers, especially when they consume such a small amount of food. The food may be worth trying, but because of this experience and the way the situation was handled, I would think twice before returning. A $17 charge for what my 2-year-old actually ate felt ridiculous and left a very negative impression read more

Food is good! The waiters very attentive! The menu they show on line is an old menu! The prices are much higher now! It's a family restaurant! I like they use oil to cook not pork lard! I don't to get obese. read more

Only our second visit to this very popular restaurant. Went to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday and had nice time. The staff were friendly and helpful with menu questions/suggestions, and the food is decent. Primarily indoor seating but covered front patio seating is also available. There is plenty of parking available on the street, or in a city lot, but there are several restaurants/bars and other businesses in the immediate area. DRINK and FOOD: We started with a couple of Mango Margaritas ($13.50/ea.), a bottle of Pacifico ($6.50), and a coffee ($4.50). For our entrees, we tried the Beef Sope ($9.99), Enchiladas Poblanos ($17.49), Shrimp & Scallop Fajitas ($26.49), and the Carnitas Plate ($17.49). The food came out quickly, hot, and was pretty good. I won't say it's the best Mexican food, but it's decent. Overall, nice atmosphere, good service and food make for delicious experiences. We would return. read more

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This restaurant was amazing! Great quality food and the waiters are nice and can help with food suggestions. The food comes out fast and they have great service. I had their flautas - half chicken and half beef and they were so light and fluffy and not overly oily. Their guacamole is AMAZING!!! I usually don't like guacamole with onions - cause of the crunch (it's a texture thing) but they chopped the onions small enough to not get all the crunch and enough to have great flavor. I am definitley coming back and I already ordered Uber Eats from here for work and introduced my coworker to it and she loved it too! read more

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This restaurant is a favorite of mined.If you know you know!lol!Not only is it delicious but you feel at home.Ive been coming here for who knows how long..I practically know everyone there!The associates are so kind and funny!The customer service is out of the roof!The decor is very pleasant.But the food!Everything is good!!!!!From the soups,enchiladas,ceviche,empanadas...there's not one thing that isn't good.They even have a buffet in the morning!With a variety of different foods to choose from.I highly recommend this establishment.Of course I will come back!lol! read more

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The service was fast and very friendly. We loved the horchata and the buffet, especially the salsa verde, chilaquiles, and tasty treats. Our kids enjoyed their chilaquiles plate too--great taste and portion! It's always busy, but we went on a Friday as walk-ins and were seated without a problem. Definitely a great family spot! read more

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One of my all time favorite go to Mexican restaurant for great food and service! Always feel like you are always welcome here like family! The quality and quantity of dishes are tasty and well worth it. I love their styles and Mexican culture designs all around the restaurant! Everyone loves their dishes and chomping on them! Well, ok, I was chomping like a piggie!!!! read more

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I ordered the chicken fajitas, it came with a plate of rice and beans. The fajitas came with a mound of food. See pictures. Not only was there a lot of food. It was very, very tasty. I enjoyed my meal. Also, had lunch for the next day. Service was amazing, it was a busy night and they had plenty of servers. Drinks were never left empty and all employees were very content on helping all of us. In the way of ambience, this place has lots of seating indoors and a few tables outdoors. Be prepared for a little bit of a wait, depending on the time of day but well worth it. While we were there, they had several birthdays celebrated. With a little song and a little dessert. read more

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Fantastic service! They are all on top of service from making sure you have refills to needing anything. You can't find service like that anymore but here, you get full service! Food comes quickly and is delicious! Great atmosphere as well! Enjoyed our food and service! read more

Fonda Don Chon - Cheese Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

We heard a lady order Grilled fish tacos, not fried and the waiter repeated it twice GRILLED Fish Tacos NOT FRIED? Lady said yes, grilled not fried. Her fish tacos came Fried when she asked for grilled he said he never heard that, you had to if you repeated her order twice. Then the manager came over was rude and made weird facial expressions and he asked her to pay for a second plate to have her order made right are you kidding me? Her order was made wrong. Why should she have to pay for a second plate to be re-fired because the first plate should've been correct.! I will never come here again because the lack of common courtesy and respect was not given to this lady by your server and the manager shame on you..! You need to wake-up and take care of your customers, and serve the food as ordered. Shame on you. I will NOT return.! read more

Excellent! We arrived around 1 pm and it was busy. We put our name on the list and were seated in a reasonable amount of time. The buffet was great! I would definitely visit again. The service is prompt even for a fast paced environment. read more

Fonda Don Chon - My buffet plate - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

I've always heard of Fonda Don Chon, but hadn't had a chance to visit. Came on a Friday evening for dinner. Overall, the restaurant is decent sized with both patio and indoor seating. We waited less than 10 minutes for a table of 5 around 5:30. The highlights, the service was quick and straight forward, no frills and to the point. The food was good, in particular the enchilada plate had different styles with different meats. I definitely enjoyed the cheese enchilada most, as it had tons of cheese. The shrimp el dorado tacos were good with lots of shrimp, but didn't have a huge flavor punch that we were expecting. We also tried a mango margarita which was mostly sugar, not a lot of tequila- which means it likely came from a machine vs. hand-mixed. Overall, glad we made a visit. We are interested to try their buffet option next time. read more

Fonda Don Chon - Tacos Dorados de Camarn - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

Be prepared to pay alot for a regular buffet, nothing out of the ordinary. Not bad food but not worth the price. For me it is a once thing, in this economy I am not willing to pay 144 plus tip for a standard breakfast. 2 adults 3 kids.. (Drinks are not included in the buffet price) We went without knowing the weekends only offers buffet but we were there already so we went with it. read more

Visited this restaurant with family and friends. As always, the restaurant was PACKED! A sign of a popular restaurant, which is a good thing. The food here is just good. I ate from the buffet, and the chicken fajitas, beans, and chilaquiles were salty. I had one serving of the items mentioned above, and my blood pressure (I have hypertension, which requires medication) went through the roof within five minutes. My friends said their prepared meals were a little too runny with the sauce for their liking. Service is good as employees are attentive and hardworking. Prices here are a tad on the higher side. The one thing that I love about this restaurant is the decor. It is very colorful, fun, and inviting. Parking is free, but it can be a challenge, as this and other restaurants are very popular and within walking distance of one another. read more

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I go for the Molcajete supreme!!! Love it great flavor loaded with Shrimp, Steak,Chicken and Nopales. The service is always good. They also have a buffet. Anything on the menu is great. I love their salsa. I would say this is the most authentic place in Covina with fair pricing! read more

We were off to a good start with complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were dense and full of corn goodness. My one friend got her meal first. I had a few bites of her humble smothered green chile burrito. It was excellent. I hadn't yet gotten my food and I already wondered if I should have gotten that burrito for my dinner. I hate orderer's remorse. My other friend's steak picado came out next. A generous amount of tri tip in a bowl of broth and all the fixin's on the side. He made a taco for me and I was both surprised and excited to see the homemade corn tortilla. It was juicy, meaty deliciousness. My patriotic meal of enchiladas patrias with a side Schwarzenegger taco finally arrived. I tasted each of the three different enchiladas separately. All good but the green was the best. This was not surprising considering I fell hard for my friend's green chile burrito earlier. At first bite, my taco was thick with a lot of cheese and a bit too salty shrimp. Not real impressed. I decided to fill my taco with pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream. This little taco turned into a little monstrosity that I could barely stuff into my mouth. All the flavors and textures melded very nicely. I better understood why Arnold traveled 40 miles down The 10 from the Westside to get these cheesy shrimp tacos. Lastly, the rice and beans get their own place in this review. The cheese covered lardy refried beans were smooth with some whole beans in the mix and had very good flavor. The rice was perfectly done with each individual grain keeping separate (but together) from it fellow grains. You could make a meal of the rice, beans and chips. I'll be baaack to try more from their extensive menu. read more

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Came here over the weekend to celebrate my brothers birthday with my family! They do not take reservations so first come first serve! Expect to wait cause this place is pretty popular in Covina. We waited around 35 mins which is fair being the weekend & brunch hour! They had the food buffet going on so my brothers got that (they didn't have many dessert options), my mom got the cocido soup which she enjoyed! I got the albondigas (meatballs were ground chicken) I actually liked my every much being a different kinda than what I am use too. Even warmed it up the next day for lunch at work! Still so yummy! My grandma got the cheese enchiladas which she loved. They also sang happy birthday & had the whole restaurant singing haha so that was cute & enjoyable. Recommend this spot if you're looking for delicious Mexican food! read more

Canceled our order 20 minutes after ordering. So rude! They said they didn't have time? They should've given us the option to wait.

Love Fonda Don Chon takeout. Best Mexican food in the area. Haven't been inside the restaurant in more than two years because I feel the ambiance is not the same when they started to nickel &dime everything from minor substitutions to the use of credit cards. Also I find it's too noisy when busy. The service also not as good as I remember before Covid when we went weekly with friends. We still meet up with friends at another Mexican restaurant in Walnut with a more comfortable experience and food pretty good. But as far as Fonda Don Chon I have to emphasize the food, quality and selection is exceptional and will continue to go for takeout. read more

We got there very early before 9am I didn't know it was buffet? We wanted a reg. menu but on the weekend it's buffet. $35 person Our server was strange he only spoke to the guys. At our table. Food was abundances, they had everything you could want. So watched how people were using the proper spoons & tongs It was okay they have ladies cleaning stand to help Caldos & main dishes chile Colorado & Verde, mundo too Carnitas and fresh made tortilla's on our table too. Salas of every color and desserts and fresh fruit it was beautiful The colorful arrangement of style of comida Decor was gorgeous all lot of beautiful Mexican art read more

came here on a weekday and was quite busy! we waited around 20 minutes for a table but service was great. i believe the owner kept checking on us to inform us of the wait and that they were prepping a table. there were so many birthdays here and made the vibe happy. inside has a lot of seating and is decorated well. their food was delicious!! never had a sizzling bowl which was yummy. i got to try cactus for the first time as well. they had complimentary chips and salsa but when we asked for more, it was an extra dollar. all their meats were seasoned well and juicy. our server was also great, great hospitality read more

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This place had been on my list of places to try since my niece and nephew always posted about this place. I was in the area on February 23rd (I know, I'm catching up on reviews) so I told my nephew let's go. Neither of us knew that on Sundays it's a buffet menu until later in the afternoon. But, we were already there so it had to be done. The buffet is broken up into a "finger food"/dessert area, seafood area, and main entree/salad area. None of the selections have names so if you have food allergies, beware. I did not try any of the seafood selections being that this was a buffet and they had imitation crab. Salads also aren't my thing so I passed. The taquitos also weren't homemade, they were definitely frozen (similar to Delimex yuck!). As you can see from my plate, I stuck to the main entrees and had some churros to end my meal. I knew what most dishes were from looking at them and turns out the majority of my selections were pork based. My nephew didn't have any pork dishes. While I found the food to be tasty, I did become ill that evening ()I know, I know - that should be expected at a buffet. My nephew also became ill but he just had an upset stomach. I wish I had tried this place on a non-buffet day but like I said, we were already there so it had to be done as I'm not from the area. While the taste of the food was enjoyable (hence the 3 ), since both my nephew and I became sick. I won't be returning (he's never been since when he visited on prior occasions). There is ample parking in this plaza. If you go for the buffet, it was about an hour wait. There is indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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Good as it gets for a $19 weekday Mex lunch buffet. 3 types of braised meat on bone, plus beef vegetable soup. Good variety, good quality, good service. Lastly, excellent ambiance and decor. read more

We had a great time, the service is great. From the moment they seat you , you feel like you're at a family members home. We tried a bunch of different items and they were all very good. The salsas taste homemade and the beans taste homemade. Can't wait to get back read more

Fonda Don Chon isn't just a restaurant; it's a family tradition. My family has been loyal customers since they first opened their doors 15 years ago, and for good reason! It truly is the place to go for authentic Mexican food in Covina. The food is consistently delicious. Everything we've tried is fresh, flavorful, and tasty. We enjoy their breakfast menu, the chilaquiles are a definite favorite here as well as their brunch/lunch buffet. Be prepared: this place is popular, and it can definitely get busy. However, the brief wait is worth it. The staff is consistently welcoming snd attentive. If you're looking for high-quality, authentic Mexican food with a long history in the community, Fonda Don Chon is the place to go! read more

This place is soooo good! The food is authentically Mexican and everything I ate there was so good. The prices are great because they give you huge portions! My favorite was the wet burrito - it has rice, beans, grilled chicken, pico de gallo, and cheese if you want it. I couldn't finish it it was so huge! We had my sister's birthday there and the staff sang to her and gave her a little tres leches cake. The waiter was very attentive to our needs. The ambiance is joyful with decorations of Day of the Dead everywhere. Also, we had their fresh juices, and they were so tasty. Please, please eat at this place. It doesn't look like much from the outside but I promise you that you're going to have a delicious Mexican food experience! read more

Fonda Don Chon - Chicken burrito and chicken and cheese mole enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

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This is the first time ever at a Mexican buffet and it was such a great experience! It can get quite packed especially on the weekends. We waited for about an hour to get in on a Saturday. I went for my Mother's birthday and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their time here. There were a lot of food selections. The shrimp was my favorite part. Their chicken soup was also outstanding. The food is pretty heavy and I got full quickly. They have a lot of fresh veggies to cut all the fried and oily foods so it was a good balance. The employees made my mother feel special on her bday. They sang to her and gave her a little dessert. I would definitely come back for the food and vibes! read more

Fonda Don Chon - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

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I've always wanted to try this place but there's always a line out the door. This morning there was no line and I was quickly greeted. The inside was hopping! Just about all the tables were full. The atmosphere was joyfully and alive!. There was a Birthday song being sung amongst the chatter. I requested to sit outside on this cool morning. Service was excellent! I didn't wait long at all for coffee or my chorizo breakfast. I was disappointed that the beans were bland. I requested flour tortillas but I guess they wanted me to have corn instead. I look forward to trying a burrito soon. read more

Fonda Don Chon - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

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4.5 but rounded up to 5. They we're open promptly at 9 AM with a great looking buffet Monday through Friday and a different one for Saturday and Sunday sat down staff very professional very attentive. Coffee was great. The Huevos Ranchos were fantastic with steamed potatoes what a concept not that heavy fried taste at breakfast everything was just fine. We'll definitely come back. read more

I just came here for the first time and this is the most amazing restaurant I've ever been to, I highly recommend the the cheese enchiladas with a Coke, Thank you for this wonderful meal read more

Fonda Don Chon - Cheese Enchilades - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

Great tasting food and excellent service. Everything tasted, the way it's supposed to taste like, Real Mexican Cooking. Will be back again and again. Don't forget the Cafe De Olla . A DRIVE WORTH IT, read more

While house hunting, we stopped by this Mexican restaurant that did not disappoint. The food was yummy and the amount they gave for food portion was spectacular. Four people only ordered two meals and that was good enough for everyone and even brought over leftovers. The food was cooked well and yummy. I think though the chicken could've been more thinner so it wouldn't be as tough, but still flavors were spectacular. This was my first time at a Mexican restaurant in the US and i'm impressed. Usually I get Mexican food at a truck, but having this experience was even better. Like we had free chips with salsa and each portion came with avocado, pico, rice, and beans. Service was great. The people were so kind and welcoming and wow so many people came in after us. It was packed after and everyone looked so happy while enjoying their food! read more

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I have been a patron of this restaurant since it opened many years ago. The food is always great and the wait staff has always been super friendly. Especially Victor! He always treats us like family. I am sad to see the bad reviews about the staff because the MANY times I have been here the service is ALWAYS great! The restaurant can get very busy and have seen it expand and grow through the years which makes me happy. The decor is nice and the restrooms are always clean! If you want a good meal and great service I highly recommend. read more

Treated my neighbor to celebrate Mother's Day 2026 at Fonda Don Chon. It was her first time, and we enjoyed the cafe de la olla and the buffet. The food wasn't greasy. It was home cooked meals that your grandma would make. Family oriented and very clean. Affordable. Waiters are very attentive to requests and speedy. I would come back here again. read more

Fonda Don Chon - Fonda Don Chon Daily Buffet menu - Mexican Near Me - Covina, California

Fonda Don Chon's hype is genuine and well-earned. The buffet ($17.99 - 9am to 3pm) is hot and fresh. The food selection is good-quality and delicious. I arrived Thursday (2:30PM). Shockingly, no wait. The buffet selection is delicious. I selected fish, shrimp ceviche, carnitas (shredded pork), chile verde (pork in green sauce), enchilada, beef soup, rice, and beans. The fish is thick, hot, and hearty. The pork is juicy and tender. The enchilada's cheese stretched across whenever pulled. And the beans are cooked perfectly; it's extremely satisfying. I happily devoured everything. Service is extremely quick, welcoming, and professional. Our server (Francisco) charmed the entire table. Francisco is extremely helpful! Francisco regularly checked-in on our table. Francisco earnestly answered all our questions. And Francisco helpfully, kindly updated us about the buffet's status. [Quick Note: I noticed the buffet lamps turning off around 2:50PM. That's when staff members on break began to also eat the remaining selection. If interested in the buffet, definitely arrive before then.] In addition, Fonda Don Chon is beautiful! The location's ambiance is welcoming and festive. The location is very clean; latin music plays brightly on the speaker; and the wall art is gorgeous. Overall, Fonda Don Chon is a unique and memorable experience. The buffet is an extremely good value. The food is fresh, hot, and generous. I sincerely recommend. Fantastico!!! read more

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Great buffet! Great waiters, homemade flour or corn tortillas. I'd go there once a week if I could but I only go if I happen to be in the neighborhood. read more

Desafortunadamente mi estomago no es suficiente grande para comer todo lo del buffet. Todo se antoja y todo lo que he probado es delicioso. Claro que sí recomiendo a "Fonda Don Chon!!!" read more

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