Fonda Tobalá Restaurant & Catering

So I'm cheating and posting a review for a restaurant that's currently closed, but that I just tried last weekend, haha. Funny enough, when I saw they'd be one of the vendors selling food for the official "grand opening" event at Port City (which has been open for several months, but you know, covid), I was excited to be able to give them another try, specifically because I'd tried them once right when they opened and was fairly disappointed, a disappointment I'd blame mainly on it being delivery (I don't think tortas ahogadas are really designed for it - they packaged the sauce separately, but it just wasn't the same, it was super dry, and didn't really mesh. That and doordash messed up my order slightly.) So I never wrote a review, cause I hate writing less than stellar reviews for brand new businesses... then they shut down again. Anyway, last weekend I finally got to correct my mistake, so I can finally properly review them and get this out of my queue, haha. I can now say, as expected, getting to eat one of their tortas ahogadas served the way it was intended, sauce poured immediately on top and served hot and fresh, is a very different, far more enjoyable experience. Great bread, great meat, great sauce, and thankfully, since I wasn't at home and they only gave me a fork and spoon but no knife, this time I absolutely *could* cut the bread with just a fork. The torta was $10, and I was absolutely happy with that price for the size and quality. Went especially well with Port City's great mezcal margarita, too! I would absolutely order their food again if I ever saw them at a brewery or bar serving tortas in the future, or when they reopen, for eating there - just probably wouldn't get it for delivery!p.s. I had to ask for hot sauce. You definitely want to ask for hot sauce, if you like spice - it was pretty spicy, but equally excellent. You definitely want that hot sauce all over your torta, if you're into that sort of thing.

Fonda Tobala is an eatery within Rosemallows Bar. I order the King Oyster Mushroom: a very tasty Vegan option; King Oyster Mushrooms fill the bread and tomato sauce, all of which I slice then eat spoonful after spoonful. The pickled onions are good alone though taste good with every spoonful. I like having the spicy sauce on the side because I only use about 4/5 of the spicy sauce serving in the meal which I taste as enough additional flavor. I find the lime smooths the spikiness (points of flavors that might be a bit stronger) of the meal with a very mild sweetness and bitterness. In addition, Rosemallows Bar has a chill-retro-island-vibes interior and a good pool table (with good equipment too). In my experience, the employees provide good customer service.

Went on a a Friday night. Located inside, at the time, a noisey bar, this place is not really good for a sit down dinner & was kinda expensive.....but I have to say the food was really good. I had the Tacos (Shrimp) & Torta Ahogadas (Shrimp) for a total of $30.00. Both items were very fresh with great depth of complex flavors. The sauces were amazing. A little sweet, hickory, & just the right amount of heat. Just wish they were geared a little more towards dining food instead of bar food as I don't not drink.

Coming back from vacation in Guadalajara I was craving a torta ahogadas. Luckily, I heard about Tobalá and that they were offering Postmates and Grubhub delivery of their delicious looking tortas. I had no choice but to try them out and see how they faired compared to the ones I had in Guadalajara.I went ahead and played it safe by ordering a carnitas torta. This is similar to the one I had in Guadalajara and I knew if done right would taste amazing and would take me back to Mexico. Tobalá nailed it. It wasn't just done right it was perfect. The bread, the sauce, the onion, the carnitas, it was perfect. The bread after being smothered in the sauce kept its structure yet was full of the sauce it observed keeping a beautiful balance of crunchy bread on the outside with a nice layer of sauce and the soft moist rich sauce enriched inside. The onions and lime give it a nice spike of acidity. The carnitas, which would hold up on their own as a plate, invade your mouth with fireworks show made of flavors. There was no pause between bites as much as I tried the lingering hot sauce burning my mouth simply wanted more and more. Needless to say, I devoured the carnitas torta in no time.Tobalá also offers tortas I have never heard of or tried so I went ahead and decided to try their aguachiles torta. Aguachiles is a common Mexican seafood dish that I love and now there's a torta ahogada version? I had to try it. I was hesitant at first but you can't know for sure unless you try it. Again I was amazed at what Tobalá was able to deliver. You can't compare the two tortas since they are completely different but what they do have in common is how delicious and well crafted they are.Currently, Tobalá only offers delivery and pickup so there's some assembly required. Tortas ahogadas are smothered in a tomato sauce and would be messy if prepared before delivery. Instead, the sauce is delivered in a container so that you can smother the torta yourself and top it off with the onion and lime. This also allows you to prepare however you want. Want light salsa, go ahead. Want it swimming in salsa, go right ahead. They also give you a nice little Mexican tamarindo candy to snack on after your meal.I wanted to eat the incredible delicious tortas ahogadas found in Guadalajara here in the Los Angeles area and it turns out I didn't have to go far. Tobalá has brought Guadalajara to Long Beach and with it their amazing tortas ahogadas. Thank you.

Wish I had taken a photo of my food.This is a 2 part review for separate 2 visits. 4/11Ordered Carnitas torta ahogada (mild saice), 1 papa taco de canasta and 1 papa taco Dorado. So good. I received 2 tacos Dorados instead but I contacted Tobala through IG and they responded QUICKLY. They apologized profusely and sent me a code for a future order. I was not mad at all but just wanted to give them a heads up. The taco Dorados were GOOOOOOD. Businesses who care for their customers always deserve a 2nd chance. Besides, I had NO COMPLAINTS over the food. 4/18I love PANELA cheese and I had a hankering for barbacoa and panela. I contacted Tobala through IG to ask if anyone ever orders them on the same torta and they responded IMMEDIATELY with a resounding YES. Placed an order for barbacoa/panela torta with medium spicy sauce, 1 taco Dorado de frijole and 1 taco de canasta de papa. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! ALL OF IT! I'm currently in a food coma! The best barbaco I've had since my gramps stopped cooking in the early 2000s. Thank you Tobala! Can't wait for next week!!!

Holy shit! This place is bomb. I ordered bean tacos dorados and the eloté. The tacos were not overly greasy and came with delicious curtado and cabbage/lime. The Takis-covered eloté was a super fun treat. Both came with their own salsas, all of which were unique and spicy. My order came with a bonus 8oz Michi bottle. Good god, it was a great dinner! Thanks guys!

Tacos de canasta were amazing. As good as the ones from Nayarit Very authentic. Torta ahogada was delicious. Highly recommended.

Their food is so good! I am not vegan but I love that they have so many vegan options too!!