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Name: Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
Address: 3140 Olney Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD, 20832
Telephone: (301) 232-5500
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.51

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

3140 Olney Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD, 20832

(301) 232-5500
Store is closed

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill Menu

Main Menu

Burrito

Salads

Enchiladas

Taco Meal

Quesadilla

3 Tacos

Nachos

Tostada

Burrito

Salads

Enchiladas

Taco Meal

Quesadilla

3 Tacos

Nachos

Tostada
What Goes Inside

Sweet Pork Barbacoa

Pulled Chicken Breast

Chile Roast Beef

Fire Grilled Chicken

Fire Grilled Steak

Vegetarian

Sweet Pork Barbacoa

Pulled Chicken Breast

Chile Roast Beef

Fire Grilled Chicken

Fire Grilled Steak

Vegetarian
Single Items

Taco

Tortilla Soup

Guacamole

Chips & Salsa

Chips, Salsa & Guacamole

Chips, Salsa & Queso

Taco

Tortilla Soup

Guacamole

Chips & Salsa

Chips, Salsa & Guacamole

Chips, Salsa & Queso
Kid's Menu

Cheese Quesadilla

Meat Cheese Quesadilla

Nino Cheese Quesadilla

Cheese Quesadilla

Meat Cheese Quesadilla

Nino Cheese Quesadilla
Desserts

Famous Tres Leches

Fresh Lime Pie

Famous Tres Leches

Fresh Lime Pie
Drink

Coca-Cola

China Mist

Dr Pepper

Dasani

Bottled Water

Coca-Cola

China Mist

Dr Pepper

Dasani

Bottled Water

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

Main Menu

Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salads [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Enchiladas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taco Meal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

3 Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nachos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tostada [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salads [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Enchiladas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taco Meal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

3 Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nachos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tostada [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
What Goes Inside

Sweet Pork Barbacoa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pulled Chicken Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chile Roast Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fire Grilled Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fire Grilled Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Pork Barbacoa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pulled Chicken Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chile Roast Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fire Grilled Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fire Grilled Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Single Items

Taco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortilla Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips & Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips, Salsa & Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips, Salsa & Queso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortilla Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips & Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips, Salsa & Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips, Salsa & Queso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Kid's Menu

Cheese Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Cheese Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nino Cheese Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Cheese Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nino Cheese Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Famous Tres Leches [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Lime Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Famous Tres Leches [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Lime Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Drink

Coca-Cola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

China Mist [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dr Pepper [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dasani [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bottled Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coca-Cola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

China Mist [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dr Pepper [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dasani [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bottled Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Olney for healthy meals suggestion.

Olney Grille ( 3464 Olney Laytonsville Rd )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Steven A.

A very hidden gem that many don't know about but should. The burritos are the main attraction here. Very fresh ingredients, assorted meats, chicken, pork etc, and the best part are the made to order flour tortillas. To die for!! (Don't literally go die... Just get a tortilla) Burritos are made Enchilada style, smothered with your choice of mild, medium or hot sauce, and covered in cheese. Try one and you'll never go to Chipotle again. The same in house tortillas are also used for the tacos, and while a different pull from the traditional tacos, these hit the spot everytime. Drizzled with their in Josue tomatillo sauce which is an amalgamation of some kinda ranch sauce... Delectable to say the least. They also boast salads, enchiladas, quesadillas (which are magnificent) and a few other Mexican specialties. Definitely recommended for a welcome change to the usual Mexican fast food.
(4)
Sammy A.

First timer! When I went I was really excited! I had a free coupon for buy one get one free on burritos so I was ready for war! I trusted the employees who were charming and personable to make me two of the best burritos possible. Everything going in sounds great! In the end though, it's all about how it comes together. It was nothing special, the sauce poured on top kinda overpowered the flavors. Flavors of the individual ingredients weren't distinct, and everything tasted kinda the same. No textural contrast, no differing flavors. Disappointed, but will come back and try again. Food 1/5 NOMS
(2)
Paola G.

Not Chipotle, but I really like it here. Their drinks are soo good, I love the basil lemonade and I think their 3 leches is the best I have ever had and believe me I have had plenty! The one thing I will complain about is their employees lack of enthusiasm. As a new client, taking a few friends with me we all were a little confused as to how the items came, how to order etc and the employees really didnt say much except look at us with "resting B* faces" which we all were about to leave if it weren't for my persistence on eating here. I also didnt appreciate that we bought drinks and were not able to refill 15 minutes before closing because they decided they were ready to leave early. Im glad we ate here, will be back and hope the employees have a better day next time.
(4)
Gail R.

Came to this place to pass some time and decided to get something to eat. Checked out their menu and it seemed a bit confusing, so it took me a while to figure out what to order. The beginning of the menu shows: Step 3 - Choose your add-ons (taco, guacamole, etc.); The middle of the menu shows: Step 1 - Choose Your Meal (burrito, salad, enchiladas, taco meal, quesadilla or tostada); The end of the menu shows: Step 2 - Choose your Fillings (chicken, steak, beef, etc.). There were other items below the menu as well. I thought Step 1 would be first, then Step 2 and Step 3 (hence why I was a bit confused of the order in front of me). I decided to get the two tacos meal with sweet pork barbacoa and pinto beans and rice (you can get black beans if you want). They take the meat and warm it up on the stove with the tacos, then place it on 2 pieces of foil, add it to a circular foil container and then add your beans and rice in that same container. You also have the option of adding toppings to your tacos, so I added lettuce which they put on and tomatoes which they put in a separate container (not sure why). You can add appetizers with your email or a drink as well. They have drink machines so you can choose what you would like. I do not know where the foil came from, that they put my tacos in, so knowing that the outside of this foil was touching my beans and rice that I was about to eat, I quickly removed that from the pan as I sat down - something I will remember to ask them to keep separate on my next visit. The sweet pork barbacoa was delicious but messy at the same time. You will need plenty of napkins when eating this as you will end up with lots of juices from the meat, in the foil afterwards. The rice was okay...the pinto beans, not so much. This was just a quick pick me up meal on this visit. I will check them out again. Parking is free and there is more than enough spots for folks to sit. As it got later in the evening (on a weekday), the place got more folks coming in. Something to note.
(3)
Danny S.

Worst place ever, waited in line for 20 minutes and then find out they are out of the grilled chicken, their main food , what type of places runs out of main food, and employees were rude about it, please don't waste your time here, go across the street to california tortilla, better service and customer relationship,
(1)
Kristi D.

Great fresh Mexican fast food. The pork is sweet not like standard Mexican pork, but it is so delicious. The shredded beef is the closest to what you would get in CA and pretty amazing for MD. The shredded chicken is quite good. I Haven't really tried any of the grill meats because it doesn't make sense to pay extra when the three above meats are great. The tacos with corn tortillas are my favorite. The salads are a close second. My kids like the nachos, flour tacos & salad-all pork, I can't get then to try a different meat. Give this place a try, it is a fresh take on Mexican food made fast.
(4)
Bridget R.

Best Mexican food in the area and incredible service. The employees are always great and especially nice to our kids - even giving them little bits of tortilla dough to play with. The homemade tortillas are they key to this place - they are amazing. And they do fantastic catering. We've used them for multiple events and everyone raves about the food. The employees have gone above and beyond for us, with the manager even driving out to our house to bring us an item we forgot. This is our family's favorite local place and we are there at least once a week.
(5)
M M.

First time giving this place a try (friend I was with said she likes it a lot and prefers it over California Tortilla (where I'd wanted to go) and it was meh. I requested a burrito bowl and the guy said, "What's that?" Hmmm, I explained it and they accommodated (thank you). The guy serving didn't drain the beans, chicken, or salsas; it was like a bowl of lukewarm burrito soup with lettuce. Flavorwise this place just doesn't do it for me. I'll take California Tortilla, Chipotle, or Baja Fresh over this place any day.
(2)
Sally T.

one word: BARBACOA . Order the Barbacoa tacos or burrito you will not be disappointed. The unique sweet and tangy combination of spices of this dish makes this place worthwhile and very addictive. One of my favorite places to eat by far. Bring your student ID for a discount!
(5)
Joy B.

I did not expect to like Rio Mexicano as much as I did. I went with a group of seven co-workers for a quick workshop lunch. I ordered the tostada with chicken. It was huge and made to order. The tostada was made to order on the grill and it was delicious. The chicken was shredded and tender. I got beans, guacamole, cheese, and peppers in mine. It was a treasure trove of Mexican goodness. One friend ordered the quesadillas with chicken and cheese. She really liked her meal too. Another ordered the Mexican soup and she was happy. I liked the soda bar that had no limits on how many times you went back. The chips and guacamole were yummy as well. I was told this place is similar to Guapo's, but I thought it was much better. I would go back in a heartbeat. The service was great. The prices are reasonable. So ole, let Rio make your day too.
(4)
Lucy B.

The Cafe Rio in Germantown is a work favorite of ours. We go for lunch often. The staff is friendly, quick and just all together pleasant and helpful. I decided to try the Cafe Rio in Olney the other night for taco Tuesday. I was extremely disappointed. The tortillas were dry on the edges like they were old. The ones in Germantown are always hot fresh and soft. The man making our tacos was like an extra charge maniac. I asked for sour cream on my tacos, he said that would be an extra charge. I asked for cheese on my taco, he said that would be an extra charge. Then I argued with him and he said oh no, sour cream is included but cheese is an upcharge. Whoever heard of cheese being an upcharge on a taco? Never had that happen in Germantown. The only thing we get upcharged for is the dressing if you don't have a salad. Anyway, the food was OK but I was very irritated with the guy making the tacos. When I asked the lady at the register she was very pleasant and said I wasn't the first person to say that I don't get upcharged at other Cafe Rios for cheese. Then I think a manager came over and sort of waved me off and said yea you should write in about that. Pleasant. I think I will stick to Germantown where the people are friendly and the tortillas are hot and fresh!
(2)
Elizabeth W.

This place is still a solid 3 stars. I do enjoy the tostada here, but really since everything is made to order, everything is pretty good eats. I still say the barbacoa shouldn't be sweet and will not get it, but I do enjoy the beef and I love the taste of freshness in their ingredients! I had to laugh because the girl at the register looked so thrilled when she had to sing because someone ordered nachos. She did smile and laugh with me, so at least she has a sense of humor. It's always good to have a worker who can laugh at themselves.
(3)
Steven J.

The reviews were all pretty good and many made mention of the fresh tortillas, which I have to take is part of Cafe Rio's claims to fame. The decor is different from most of the other places because it is more crowded and 'themed'. Chipoltle is clean with a modern look but this place seemed a bit more 'stereotypical'. That seems to be the better word with the wooden posts and look of a faux hometown mexican eatery. The menu board is simple and easy to read and it looks like a little bit more than at a Chipoltle and definitely more than Qdoba. I ended up getting the basic three taco plate, the price wasn't bad at all. I chose the Shredded chicken, fire grilled chicken, and the chilean roast beef. They also have pulled pork and marinated steak. The service is decent, they were kind of busy and when some one orders nachos or extra meat the staff says a little jingle. That could be annoying after a while. The meat is scooped out and out into the foil container and then placed on tortillas and heated. They have a comprehensive set of toppings for you to choose from. The food tastes good and the reviews were right, the tortillas are flavorful and fresh. They are way better than any other Quick service tex-mex restaurant. Now the roast beef wasn't that good to me. It was roast beef but it was a bit mushy and didn't have enough flavor for me. It was also wet and made the tortilla soggy. The fire grilled chicken was decent and had some flavor and tasted good and fresh. My favorite however was the pulled chicken. It was moist, had a very good flavor, and wasn't covered up in flavors and spices that were extra. It was a great balance. In totality I wasn't all of that wowed by the service, they were a bit overwhelmed at first by the crowd and you could tell that the jingles were annoying to them, but the food was fresh tasting and good, especially the pulled chicken and tortillas.
(3)
Savvy S.

Update: Received a friendly response from a biz manager. I appreciate that they are listening and will try the Germantown restaurant again. ---- I loved my first experience at the Olney location. The food was tasty. But the service was scatter brained. I had to repeatedly tell the staff what I wanted- no-one was on the same page. I thought it was a fluke, but it happened again on a return Olney visit. And then it happened at the Seneca Meadows location in Germantown. The staff seems stressed, and I even witnessed some yelling at each other in anger. What's worse is they are very sloppy with the meat. I ordered veggie burritos, but each time they let the meat juices splash into the bean or rice containers as they served other customers, who also had to repeat their orders. This grossed me out. I'm wondering if both locations have the same owner -- providing sub par training and management -- or whether this is systemic to Rio Mexican Grill. I left nauseated and with a headache borne of frustration and stress -- three times in a row...
(2)
T M.

This is a good place to take kids. Not expensive and pretty loud. Taco Tuesday rocks. We usually stick to tacos or salads and neither have disappointed. I would highly recommend to families.
(4)
Bridgette L.

Awesome Taco Tuesday deal, if you're getting it to take home, make sure to ask for the salsa on the side! Their fire-grilled chicken salad and tostadas are also amazing!
(4)
Susan D.

Briefly, food is very good, fresh and tasty, when they don't run out of it. Service, with the rare exception, stinks. Poor training, apathetic staff and little organization. Once you get past the first guy behind the counter its a crapshoot. Walked out tonight after ordering over the phone and after 20 minutes the ticket wasn't printed and the food hadn't been started. If the food wasn't so good I'd give it a single star.
(2)
Carol M.

Best Tex Mex ever! The food there is fresh and very tasty. Their food is also reasonably priced. The creamy green dressing is very addicting but I've even had my food without it and it was still delicious. I like their tostadas because they're almost a smaller version of their salads and the juices they have(strawberry lemonade and horchata) are so good and are included in the fountain drinks. I'm happy this location is a drive because I would be there multiple times a week but I wish it was closer too. I don't think the food is comparable to Chipotle even though they are both Tex Mex but I love both of them(ok maybe Cafe Rio a little more).
(5)
Eunice K.

really cheap for students! :) make sure you bring your id.. only cheap when you get tacos.. they're 1.50 yay! got the sweet pork and it is really sweet but also very good and flavorful. would give more stars but the service while getting food was horrible. the girl at the cash register was really friendly but the first girl that helped us was really rude.. very bad attitude for no reason. found out they currently do not charge for sour cream but will start charging soon.. :( they have a really cool drink area. soda, mexican drinks (horchata and more) and syrups to make your own drinks. they use ice that is small (i think its for the custom drinks..) pretty cool and cheap for students! make sure you get the taco cus it's good! :)
(3)
Jack A.

It's always hard to decide whether to go to Chipotle or Cafe Rio but I must say we probably go to Cafe Rio more. The burritos just taste better. I don't care for California tortilla, but they are ok. They are very friendly and if you are new they will welcome you and help you out. If you go there a lot you should get the frequent diner card, one free meal every 10! I always get the pork burrito with hot sauce and really like it. It would be nice if the guacamole and sour cream wasn't extra.
(5)
Alan C.

Olney may host Chipotle and California Tortilla, but I have to say that I prefer Cafe Rio to the other two. The food is reasonably priced, but not at the expense of taste or quality. I've tried nearly everything on the menu and there's nothing I don't enjoy. For parent's of small children, this is a great option for the free kid's cheese quesadilla. It may not come with veggies, but I've found my meal has always had more than enough to share. Some of the reviews complain about the lines, but it's a Mexican fast food restaurant. I've waited more at Chipotle nearly every time and often for much longer. As far as I'm concerned it's goes hand in hand... I would rate it higher but the food ordering process can some times be chaotic.
(4)
Susan L G.

Yum! Can't wait to try the fish tacos. This trip I sampled the sweet barbecued pork quesadilla and strawberry lemonade. Fresh ingredients and handmade tortillas
(5)
H. S.

The food here in my opinion rivals Chipotle. Their steak is better, their barbacoa is better and it shows in their food. However, the guacamole leaves much to be desired. It is extremely salty and many times inconsistent. I would give this place a higher rating, but the service personnel at this particular store leaves much to be desired. Most times I go, there is barely any customer service. The people behind the counter will insult you in spanish and put your food together in the most lazy way like they didn't want to be there. When task to do something for an order, they complain loudly about it.
(2)
Della O.

Ooooooh yum!!!! This place was really good! The food tasted really great! The only thing is the waiting lines as well as the break in language. Kept telling them what to add to the meal and they kept messing it up and putting the wrong thing! Totally annoying when you starving lol. But when they finally got it right yum yum it was good lol...
(4)
Tu-van L.

More like 4-6 bite tacos they were so hearty. This location has $1.50/taco on Tuesdays (select from beef, chicken, pork). Of all the tacos you can select from on Taco Tuesdays, the beef is the way to go. Chicken was tender but mild in flavor and the sweet pork carnitas was a little too sweet for my liking. And honestly, it doesn't really matter. The hand-made tortillas set this place apart from the other fast casual Tex-Mex eatery. The tortillas were perfectly kneaded by hand, cooked on the flat-top tortilla cooker machine, and embodies the savoriness that makes tacos perfect. The tortillas were so good I'd definitely come back here on non-taco night to try the other tacos. Tacos come with beans and rice. Both satisfying but meh - I like the cilantro lime rice at Chipotle better. Tried the other tacos. The coconut shrimp were meh - over-fried and more batter than shrimp. The steak tacos were good to but not enough to draw me to this place just for that. Overall and alright taco place that's on the pricy side for what meh-ness you get. I'd just stick to getting their fresh tortillas and whatever tacos you prefer on Taco Tuesdays.
(3)
Ashley A.

I was really excited to try this place when it opened right by my house. However, when I went inside the people working there were kind of rude. I wasn't quite sure what to order and I felt like all they wanted to do was hurry me out. The food was good, but the service wasn't worth it.
(3)
Cynthia A.

I'm happy I decided to try this place out one day. Lunch where I work at gets kind of boring and wanted something different. There fire grilled chicken salad and salmon salad (on Fridays only) is amazing. I end up paying about $10 and I get twice as much food as the chipotle in Olney. This food has more of a home flavor and the chicken is always cooked well. The items whether it be sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, rice and beans are always fresh. The flour tortilla is put on the bottom with a sprinkle of cheese and is handmade every few minutes. The food is delish and the steak nachos I have heard are good as well. Staff here are a lot friendlier than others. The horchata is amazing and I'm Spanish so we know the true flavor of it. It's a little pricer than chipotle but it's really worth it for the taste.
(5)
Kathy B.

My favorite part about this place is the fresh made tortillas. They taste phenomenal. I like to order a plain one and eat it by itself. It doesn't taste like it came out of a grocery store bag. The meat is alright. I'd say Chipotle has better meat and all around toppings and rice. They also have a good variety of beverages. If it were up to me: Cafe Rio tortilla plus Chipotle stuffed inside. That would be a game changer but until then, I like Cafe Rio's tortillas without a doubt.
(3)
Kevin T.

Don't expect to get the type of meat you want because they are always out. Also, its on the expensive side, and everything is extra. They don't give you much of any side you pay extra for either. Its very overrated.
(1)
Sheilah L.

I really like the pork. Great in the salad and the quesadillas.
(4)
Jack W.

Taco Tuesdays is the best. It's great deal for lunch and I really like the salsa fresca they put on the tacos. I've also gotten the enchiladas and burrito style enchilada and they were delicious. The portions were so big!
(5)
Willis N.

So if your a fan of chipotle you are going to like this place it has a more variety choices. tThe sauces and dressing are soooo good! Come here for taco tuesday (discount). I can eat here all day on tuesdays thats how good it is!
(4)
Cristi D.

Great food, and prices. The chicken tostada which is very filling and a great "burrito bowl." Best is the array of drinks including traditional horchata along with strawberry limonade, mint limonade, teas and soft-drinks.
(4)
Michael M.

Pretty darn good. Never seemed to make it on fish taco day...bummer. I've only had the taco's but they were great. They soft taco shell, and throw it on the griddle with some cheese before putting your really flavorful meats on - great trick! The guy that i'm pretty sure is the manager on weeknights though? Too much, tone him down a bit. When they were out of Guacamole, they attempted to make the salad without it and A.) not mention it, and B.) charge full price. When I asked for a discount he asked "What kind of discount bro, why?"....I don't know bro, you tell me.
(4)
Lilian Y.

My coworkers and I come here every now and then for Taco Tuesday's. $1.50 for each taco, better than the other days where its $5 for a taco. It's not that great that I would spend more than $1.50 for. You can get chicken, beef, or pork. You can also get a burrito or a couple tacos with beans or rice. It's not too bad and very cheap for lunch when you come on a Tuesday.
(3)
Ali G.

We drove an hour and a half one way from where we were staying in WV to get here. It was totally worth it. I ate my chicken salad (with black beans and cilantro dressing) so fast that I gave myself hiccups. I love Cafe Rio.
(5)
Deborah N.

Delicious Amer-Mexican food in the theme park restaurant decor. NOT a Chipotle clone. Food tastes more down homey and the decor is definitely more, uh, decorated than Chipotle. I won't say it's cute, but it is decorated. Tuesday is $1.50 taco day. Tacos are huge and very filling. You could do well with $5.00 at Cafe Rio on a Tuesday. Food is REALLY good. They have both beef and pork barbacoa, but the pork is more like real barbecued pork, with a sweet tang. The chicken is way better than Chipotle's, fresher and bigger pieces. Tortillas are homemade. Hello! Hello! Hello! And they are custom grilled with toppings in when you place your order. Makes food taste really yummy, but thus does not arrive with the fast efficiency of Chipotle's. You will need to wait a minute or five. One word of warning, especially if you don't eat dairy. There I was eating my taco thinking these tortillas were the most delicious I had ever eaten. They tasted so rich, almost tasted like they had cheese in them. But naaaah, who puts cheese in a tortilla? Okay not Cafe Rio, but they do automatically put it on tacos (and probably burritos) without telling you or showing you that this is being done. They surreptitiously melt the cheese into the tortilla then cover it up with your meat so it's like a sneak attack of dairy if you don't know enough to order your meal with no cheese. It's not like they ask and it's not like you can see the cheese being applied. I didn't realize until I got to my second taco. Now you have the knowledge. Go forth and be dairy free.
(5)
Eric W.

Why does the line at Cafe Rio seem like it moves slow as molasses? When it isnt busy, its ok but if it is slightly busy at all, the line crawls! I had to give up tonight because the line barely moved in 5 min and I was in a hurry. Will have to come back next Sat at a different time to try the cancun shrimp!
(2)
Angie C.

The tacos are a bit too watery sometimes and the service is hit or miss. One star for the awesome tortillas!
(3)
Jb B.

I've always been a Chipotle lover. Since before it was cool to be a chipotle fan. Since before they got gobbled up by McD's and subsequently went public. Since before their owner/creator got his own TV show. Since they actually served yellow corn... Anyway...It was with this deep seeded love for Chipotle, that I decided to give Cafe Rio a shot. And in the end, despite my loyalties, I have to admit that Cafe Rio was great. It's not like comparing apples to apples. Cafe Rio provides more choices and seems to be more of a sit down occasion. The meals aren't so neatly packaged like Chipotle...they are messy adventures that require a fork and knife.
(4)
Holly M.

All I can say is YUM-O! This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant.
(4)
Mike M.

This is my favorite place to eat in the world. If i was on that show "Best thing I ever ate" it would be this. But you have to order the burrito this way. Pay attention yelpers and you will be amazed: Burrito Enchilada style, HALF PORK and HALF STEAK, light on the pinto beans with mild sauce and lettuce and pico on the side. I promise it's the best thing ever. I've been out to Olney 3 times now from DC for this and it is perfect every time.
(5)
Sylvia C.

I went on taco Tuesday. I had a pork, chicken, and barbacoa taco, one of each. First, I was impressed that all of their taco tortillas are made by hand. They grill them in front of you. Second, very impressive drink bar. They ran out of mint lemonade, which i was thoroughly disappointed in! I had the strawberry lemonade, with pureed strawberries and it was delicious. They have a good selection of real iced teas and syrups to mix with your soda. The food: Chicken was too salty and had no other flavor. It was tender, though, so I'll give it that. Pork, also tender, but the sauce was too sweet for me. That ruined it for me. If it had been not so sweet, it would've been perfect. The barbacoa was my favorite. It was salty, but had some other flavors that I could distinguish. I will probably only go on taco Tuesdays. I did notice that they had a great variety and everything is fresh as can be.
(3)
Greg O.

Same concept as Chipotle in terms of the fast food Mexican- you order at the counter and pick your ingredients. They have a bigger selection of options though, which is nice, but its still not replacing Chipotle for me. Its situated where the Chicken Out in Olney used to be. The decoration feels like any typical Mexican restaurant, but it was clean and had plenty of seating. There was along line when we went in, but it moved quickly. Overall, the food wasn't bad, but just not to rave about.
(3)
Andres A.

Best mexican food I've ever had and best way to get a quick big meal that will deff satisfy you. Lemonades rock and the desserts are way better than a lot of sit down restaurants.
(4)
Eric E.

I would give this place five stars but the excessive use of aluminum foil really bothers me. I am no tree-hugger but this just seems irresponsible for such a busy restaurant to go through so much aluminum. If someone in the back is pulling it all out of the trash then I will take back this comment.. That said, the food is amazing!! My wife's coworkers are all from Utah, where this chain apparently originated, and they were raving about this place. They joke that it is "Mormon crack" (no offense intended). I personally am a huge fan of the sweetened pork burritos made "Cafe Rio Style" with hot sauce. This is one of the few restaurants that I make a point to come back to on a regular basis, even though it is a half-hour drive from us.
(4)
Anthony M.

They catered our staff picnic last night which wasn't easy due to the 90 plus degree evening, but it was fantastic. Very tasty enchiladas, extremely fresh salad with outstanding dressing, cheese quesadillas for the kids, huge portions. They also were fantastic sponsors of a recent fundraiser. We will definitely use them again!
(5)
Linda L.

This place does remind me of Chipotle but with a lot more choices to choose from. I tried their Cancun Shrimp Taco Special for Saturday and it was great. The ingredients were fresh and the shrimp was lightly battered which made it crispy and delicious. I also had the strawberry lemonade which I found pretty good too. Overall, I would come back for more.
(4)
Jorge Y.

Simply the best. Really enjoy the pork, tortillas, sour cream, pico de gallo, and more. One of my favorite places now.
(5)
Joseph D.

I have many friends from Utah who claim this is the best chain ever. Not so. I was not a fan. I tried both the steak and the pork with hot and medium sauces. I thought the burritos were quite bland in both flavor and substance. There was a distinct salty aftertaste with the steak with hot sauce dish. PRO: The thick homemade tortillas. Interesting drinks at no additional cost. CONS: Pork was sweet to the point of tasting like BBQ. Both the hot and medium sauces were incredibly mild. The lack of deep flavors and ingredients in the burrito make it quite boring. Please throw some salsa or vegetables or something in there for me! They do not strain the liquid from the beans enough (I understand that this may be specific to my burrito-artist) which made the pork burrito more soggy than it needed to be. The food was not bad, but nothing to write home about. I live about 20 minutes from Rio and I doubt that I will ever make the trip again. If I am going to go for the quick-tex-mex route, it has to be the benchmark, Chipotle.
(3)
Ashira M.

Love the enchiladas! ('veggie,' of course) It's bright, colourful, can get noisy, there's horchata and lemonade, and I think it just might remind me more than just about anywhere else of what it was like to be a student studying Spanish in that City of Eternal Spring, Cuernavaca -- which means that even the downsides can be upsides sometimes. Some people, I see, have complained about the location -- well, what's 'up' with that, I think, is that Olney is a nice place and personally I enjoy the drive out. Not everything has to be where everyone (meaning you) and everything else is. My mom and aunt, who used to live in Tucson as children, also both really enjoy this place. And being near a toy store sure doesn't hurt, as far as I'm concerned! Other things to do in the area to make it worthwhile to make a trip, if you need that kind of thing, are the Sandy Spring Museum just down the road, the farmers and artists market on Sundays, and Yin Yang Yoga Center.
(5)
J. B.

By far the WORST customer service I have ever experienced at a Cafe Rio. I gave them 3 tries and I am officially DONE with this location. I always give people the benefit of the doubt and second (and third...) chances, but they failed miserably. In a nutshell: incredibly slow service, always out of some sort of food like beans, cheese, salsa, etc, and do not acknowledge you for a long period of time when you are standing right in front of them. Truly disappointing for a great mexican food chain. Somehow this location just can't get it right, when all other locations that are MUCH busier know how to get the job done.
(1)
Kathleen K.

We love it! Tuesday tacos is always a hit - and the lines show that it's a hit for other households as well! They make the tortillas in front of you (YUMMM) an their soup is delicious!! I must confess that I like the carnitas at Chipotle (don't hate me yelpers) better, but it's just a different flavor. The staff is always friendly - ALWAYS. Daughter gets the chicken tacos every time - can't get enough of them. Another daughter wolfs down the burritos and raves. They even have a free nina quesadilla for kids under 6 - did I mention it was free? Who does that anymore? Really awesome, Cafe Rio! Thanks! We'll see you on Tuesday. PS: Their mint limeade is DELISH!!
(5)
Courtlani M.

i love this place - everything is super fresh veggies/guac/cilantro i pretty much stick to barbacoa anything - and the coconut shrimp night is amazing. the prices are a little high for the proportions. i love how much they appreciated teachers - a week of free food....hmmmm maybe that's why i love this place...did i mention the key lime pie - so good, and i am kinda a key lime pie snob. one suggestion if they want to complete with chipotle - brown rice
(5)
Lola J.

The hot sauce, though not hot to me, is very authentic tasting. This is not a low calorie restaurant by any stretch but has very good salad dressing and freshly made tortillas. They make the soup right in front of you and it is very good. My only complaint is that sometimes the service is very slow. The first person to take your order is good, then after that it usually falls apart. Once I was overcharged by a couple dollars and got a free meal plus my money back. There are a few very nice people who work there who make the whole experience better. I wish they had hard corn shells.
(4)
John W.

Wonderful fresh mex grill! Fantastic fresh tortillas. Great flavors. A bit out of the way, this is a great place for modern mexican type food - super fresh, made while you watch. I had the Fire Grilled Steak Salad with pinto beans. Big portions. Very tender steak strips. A nice amount of good guacamole on the side. Yummy cilantro - lime dressing (on the side). My wife had the Chicken Tacos. Again, good sized portions. She commented on the good fresh flavors. Chips are not included. Salsa is good - the "hot" isn't overly hot. I will be back!
(5)
Geoff O.

What in the devil is up with the location? I know a lot about Cafe Rio. It's a Utah chain. I went to college in Utah. Cafe Rio attracts Mormons (I'm one of them) like it's no one's business. But why is the first location in the DC market in OLNEY??? It's in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure they got a deal on rent or something along those lines, because putting it in Rockville or Bethesda might have made just a LITTLE bit more sense. The food is classic Cafe Rio. If you've never been, get anything with the pork. The pork is what makes them famous. Cafe Rio is basically a much better quality Chipotle in terms of food, selection, and customer service. I wasn't even nuts about the place when I lived in Utah, but I will always admit that they have pretty dang good food. Terrific soda and drink bar, too. Mint lemonade? It's awesome! I would probably become a more regular patron of Cafe Rio, but since it is - beyond all human understanding - in Olney, it ain't gonna happen. Build one in Alexandria and we'll talk.
(4)
Melbourne B.

Nope. Tried it once and compared to the other Mexican food joints (Why does Olney have like eight Mexican places?) it didn't warrant repeat business.
(2)
Eric G.

Love this place
(5)
Ed Q.

This restaurant is part of a chain that's very popular out west. I first tried this years ago someplace in Utah and was delighted to hear that one had opened so close to home. Everything about this place is fantastic, from the fresh tortillas (made right in front of you as you place your order), to the fresh ingredients used to make everything from scratch. Today's special were the fried shrimp tacos. The flavor was unique and extraordinary -- enough zing to wake up your palate but not too much to have you reaching for your drink every time you take a bite. The drink bar at Cafe Rio is likewise very impressive. There are three juice choices including sugar-free strawberry lemonade and (my favorite) mint limeade. There is also the typical fountain drinks adjacent to a variety of flavored syrups to add to your drink. I have been here 3 - 4 times since it opened this past spring and can't say that I've had the same "salty food" experience that others have described. To sum it up, I have to drive about 25 minutes one-way to get to this place, and I assure you, I will do it as often as I can.
(5)
Melanie K.

Cafe Rio is really great. As almost every other reviewer has mentioned, it's a lot like Chipotle, where you order at the counter and move down the line picking and choosing what you want. I like that there are more options besides burritos. The food is delicious, fresh and cheap. The salad I got was very generously proportioned and I'm pretty sure the tortilla shell in the bottom was the best I've ever had.
(4)
N S.

Ok - well they must have taken those salt complaints and did a 180 because what I found was BLAND, bland as Olney, Maryland where it's located... Happy the beans are vegetarian, and the tortillas while seemingly not traditional are tasty and fresh which definitely reflects in the burrito and probably was its only saving grace. The problem was the lack of flavor - the spicy sauce wasn't spicy, the spicy pico wasn't spicy, and I personally would have liked a lot more raw onion and cilantro on my burrito. The burrito was also swimming in this flavorless "hot" sauce. What we have a is very workable product that needs to be super jazzed up ("tortillas" exempt). I also did not see any guac. I know they have it, but it would have been nice to have that offered. Out of sight, out of mind. The space was cute, the staff was friendly, the process was confusing, and take my advice when they ask if you are a first timer upon seeing the look of confusion on your face. JUST SAY NO... it's just been a while... or you were drunk the last time.
(3)
Ryan K.

Best Tex Mex in the area for the price. And their tres leches is amazing!
(5)
R S.

The food here is too salty. Had the steak burrito and was very dissappointed. Wife had a salad which was nothing to write home about. Not too mention they nickle and dime you on everything. 95 cents for a tiny scoop of guacamole??? Hate to say this. Chipotle is better
(1)
Billie Ray V.

Today was Taco Tuesday, and what better way to try a place out for $3 instead of $10 Only TWO (2) good things about the place, the napkins and the tortillas. Had a chicken taco. Overly shredded, almost inedibly salty 1.5 ounces of meat. Had the pork. Has NO resemblance to anything I ever ate. Candy bar sweet (like how much sugar or honey did they use?) They throw the food on the tortilla on the grill. Let's see, why does hot meat on a hot tortilla take 7 minutes too grill? Then they start screaming very loudly. Then I ask for salsa so they take a LADLE and dish out salsa with LOTS of liquid. I drained off 2 ounces of liquid and wound up with soggy wet tacos. The napkins and tortillas are awesome though.
(1)
Tracy O.

The good: fresh, thick homemade tortillas- including wheat ones.Mint limeade. Lots if fresh toppings including cilantro. Taco Tuesday--dollar fifty tacos. Coconut flan. Oh, and they do curbside service. Nice touch. The meh: meat options range from underseasoned to overly sweet or salty to wet...just ok there. Salmon is ok. No vegetarian filling option. Beans, rice, guac all serviceable. The downright nasty: THE LINE ON TACO TUESDAY. Overall, I still like it better than Cal Tort, but not as much as Chipotle or Baja Fresh.
(3)
Nhu P.

Went on a tuesday, which is their 1.50/taco special and it was ok. Good for the price but unless you like your tacos DRIPPING WET, like, my container at the end looked like I just had ordered a soup, then you wont be too fond of it. Alright on taste, but messy as hell, mushy, and SOGGY!!! Qdoba/Chipotle is much better.
(2)
Kevin P.

Great food and awesome portions! If chipotle is getting too boring for you, then cafe rio is a nice change, if not a small step-up, to the mexican dishes you're used to
(4)
Brian S.

went with a friend and we both got chicken. I got the hottest sauce and we both had it cafe rio style...It was so incredibly salty I could barely finish it...maybe i'll go back and try a different meat but the chicken was absolutely terrible.
(1)
Consuela S.

I just enjoyed a delicious salad at Cafe Rio. The best part was that the salad and fresh squeezed limeaid drink was that it cost me nothing. That's right free!!!. When you have 10 trips in the 11th meal is free. Just get the free card and order away.The staff are another reason that brings me back. Excellent price point and a super staff. Amanda gets my vote for employee of the month. Refreshing excellent work ethic even while she is there as a guest. Team work makes the dream work.
(5)
J J.

Have to agree with everyone else and say salty, salty, SALTY! If you want flavorful Mexican food without all the salt, I'm going to have to say stick with Chipotle. I was NOT a fan of the "Cafe Rio style" where they slather on even MORE nasty sauce on top of your burrito. Now I know why they serve your meal in a circular aluminum container! You end up with a sloppy wet mess at the end. There are definitely some redeeming qualities about this place, though unfortunately NONE of them have to do with the food. First off, the staff are super duper friendly and nice. It was a pleasure talking to the employee who was making my meal and explaining everything to me with a smile. Secondly, the environment is very family-orientated with wonderful decor and ample seating. Downside is a single bathroom for each gender.
(2)
Dan C.

Loved Cafe Rio. Really good food if you like a more American infused Mexican food experience. The pork salads are to die for.
(5)
Pete J.

Hmmmm. I like the idea of this place. Quick Mexican food off a Chipotleesque assembly line. I like the idea but in the end it feels like all the food is the same, it just might be wrapped differently. I ordered the chicken enchiladas and enjoyed them. The Southwestern limeade was great too. I'd come here again but I would like to see something a little more intense on the menu. Get some cow tongue or something. No More Chipotles.
(3)
KC U.

The tacos are a real deal, three tacos each with nice helpings of chicken, beef, or pork BBQ.
(4)
Omid A.

the steaks are tasty and grilled nicely
(4)
Bill M.

I first learned about Cafe Rio from my brother in law in Salt Lake City. Every time we visited there, we'd beeline to the place. Burrito, pork, medium sauce, enchilada style. Heaven in a round foil tray. Then they opened in Las Vegas, Phoenix, southern Idaho (all places I had the opportunity to visit) ... and I would go there as well, for my Cafe Rio fix. And what luck! The first place on the east is less than 20 miles from me? It must be fate. It must be the culinary deities looking out for me, a faithful Cupid shooting not an arrow at my heart, but a burrito. I love this place. I'd eat here every day if I could. Can you please open one in Frederick? Preferably near Urbana. Thanks!
(5)
Autumn N.

Want to love this place but I just can't. The food just doesn't taste that great. I far prefer Chipotle and Qdoba. The decor is awesome and the ambiance is nice but the food it just meh.
(2)
Rick S.

I have eaten here at least 10 times and each time I am impressed how good the food is. Each time I have ordered the salad (fire grilled chicken, chicken, posada, steak) they were all good. The nachos and chili con queso is also very good. For a nice touch they have flavored syrups for your fountain drinks and they support the wounded warrior program...this place rules.
(4)
Faith F.

I really wish there was a 3.5 (DO YOU HEAR ME YELP, ADD A 1/2 POINT OPTION). Ok, moving on: the only thing that is like chipotle is they make your fresh mex in a bar in front of you. Thats it. Their food is different. I like Chipotle. I like Cafe Rio. So, "fast casual" you order at the counter, pay and then can sit down. The tortillas at Rio are a million times better. They taste like the dough ones you can buy from California Costcos. The ones you have to cook over stovetop yourself. SO GOOD. Their dressings are also stars. The creamy tomatillo is spicy and cool and addicting. Now, there are some things that I don't love about this place. First of all their vegetarian dishes are only like $1 less then their other meals, which offer a ton of meat. Yet, veg options dont offer anything more (like extra veggies). However, there are also a lot of options, which I like. Easy to get a meal under $10.
(4)
Andrew B.

Before I begin this review, I will admit to being a longtime fan of Chipotle Mexican Grill. I would not have mentioned this, or offered the comparison, were it not for a loud Cafe Rio employee standing out in front of Olney's new Cafe Rio location, proudly encouraging the comparison with Chipotle and California Tortilla Kitchen, both located nearby. My brother owns a home near Salt Lake City, Utah, home of Cafe Rio. So, I've been hearing about Cafe Rio for a few years now. Then, lo and behold, they open their first east coast location just a mile from my home in Olney, Maryland. This caused excitement among the members of my family, who had eaten at a Cafe Rio out west. Honestly, I wasn't looking for "another" burrito (I've been a Chipotle burrito-holic for over ten years), but word was that Cafe Rio is different and worthy of my consideration. Unfortunately for them, the loud employee at the door of our Cafe Rio made sure this review would be a comparison with Chipotle. Let's start with the experience at the door, sans the loud employee. A long line at a new restaurant is to be expected, and the new Cafe Rio was no exception. However, from outside the front door on, Cafe Rio's environment is very loud, waaaay over-cheerful and forced. Our local Chipotle has long lines frequently (the reason for which, we will explore later) and loud music can make the crowd noisy, but employees yelling on cue, and forced funny-ness, like an over-amped, children's ice cream parlor (along the lines of the old Farrell's) is something that doesn't impress or entertain me, and which will not distract me from the matter-at-hand, food. What did distract me, momentarily, from the menu boards and food prep watching, once I was close enough to see it, was the clock on the wall of the kitchen. Thanks to the loud, over-boisterous employee at the door, I thought to take note of the time, to compare the time, through the line to the cashier, with that of the incredibly quick and efficient Chipotle restaurant system. In that regard, I noticed that Cafe Rio's menu selections and food customization options are much more varied than Chipotle Mexican Grill's, which, at first blush, would seem to be a favorable thing. Perhaps for some, it will be. For me, however, I noticed that it makes the ordering process much more complex, and directed by employees yelling at you, over all the other noise, much harder to understand and accomplish. The line did not move quickly, and there seemed to be several delays, at the serving point itself. My father, advocating heavily for Cafe Rio, pointed out that it must be a result of the customers at the serving point having no idea how to order. It could've been that, or it could've been something like what it was when I got to the serving point. I ordered a fire-grilled steak burrito, and there was no prepared steak on the serving line. I stood for several minutes, wondering whether people waiting behind me in line were thinking I was clueless, while nobody behind the counter seemed to be doing anything about getting more steak. Of course, more steak was on the way, but impressions are important. Finally, someone appeared from an un-seen grilling area, with a small container of freshly grilled, but, somehow, artificially juicy steak; enough for my burrito and, perhaps, one more. Finally, I ordered my burrito "Cafe Rio-style", which means they ladle an "enchilada sauce" over the whole thing, sprinkle some cheese over that, and run the whole thing through a warmer. I ordered this way accepting that, if one of the attributes of Cafe Rio was that it was different from Chipotle, then I should embrace that difference. For comparison's sake, I'm glad I did. All in all, it took me 25 minutes to get from the point at which I noticed the clock, to when I was past the cashier. For the size of the line, this is VERY slow, when compared to Chipotle. So, let's get to the food... NOT as good as Chipotle. It's decent, it's different, and there's a wider variety, but it is not better. Chipotle's burritos, despite their simplicity, are just more tasty, and the different components in a Chipotle burrito seem much more distinct and discern-able, when compared with Cafe Rio's sauced and warmed burrito. Speaking of sauces, I found the "medium" sauce to have little taste at all, and was surprised when I found it was also the "enchilada" sauce that would be ladled over my Cafe Rio-style preparation. I'm not claiming to be a culinary expert, but I really do like and eat a lot of Mexican food, and Cafe Rio's "enchilada" sauce was unlike any enchilada sauce I've ever had, and was disappointing. If all Cafe Rio had to offer was burritos, they'd never see me again. It was going to take something VERY special to knock me off my Chipotle habit anyway. Their variety WILL bring me back, but they're no threat to Chipotle. However, in Olney, I think it's safe to say the bell is tolling for the California Tortilla Kitchen.
(3)
Carolyn K.

I only ever get the pulled chicken tacos or the salad with pulled chicken and I enjoy the taste, even though it's salty, very much. My problem is the service. I have never seen a worse system for assembling your meals than the Cafe Rio in Olney. It is very slow and inaccurate and confusing for everyone involved. The last time I was there, the woman at the end of the assembly line didn't make eye contact with me when asking what toppings I wanted. I said "just lettuce." She proceeded to pour salsa and guacamole all over my food, two things I'm highly allergic to (guac) or unable to digest well (salsa). Right away I said "No!" and she just scooped it off my food and started to move it down the line. I told her I needed a whole new meal because of my allergies and she was annoyed. It had taken almost 20 minutes to get to the point of this meal in the first place, even with only four people ahead of me. I waited another 15 minutes before walking out with my food (it was takeout for me). I was so angry that I forgot my salad dressing and my drink! If I ever return it will be at night when that horrible woman isn't there.
(2)
Ricky M.

The staff is very nice. The place has a nice look but the food can't compare to chipotle. Cafe rio definitely has a much wider variety in different foods. The servings are nice in size thohgh
(3)
Tarra F.

They salad was good I especially like the dressing but meat wasn't marinaded and kind of bland and chewy.
(3)
Leslie R.

The first time I ate here I was kind of impressed. The last few times....not so much. The food is salty and wet. The black bean were not cooked long enough. To me, it tastes like leftovers thrown into tortilla's. Hate to admit that I prefer California Tortilla and the other Tex-Mex places around town. Not sure it will survive as there was only one table occupied on a Monday at 6pm....
(2)
Kimberly J.

This is the best fast food Mexican place in the DC area. It is new, and the employees are learning how everything works, so although they are not super fast yet, they will be. The food is fantastic, and the service is great. Disregard the bad reviews! Amazing food is amazing food.
(4)
Stacey W.

I love Mexican food. This is my new favorite casual place (sorry CalTort, but you've been demoted!). The pork barbacoa is amazing. Get tacos--fewer distractions from the pork, with the rice and beans on the side. They actually make the tortillas in front of you, and they are served slightly crispy from the grill. Cool drink bar--love the Southwestern Lemonade--but it's the pork tacos that will keep me coming back!
(5)
Joanna R.

Very disappointed with my lunch yesterday. Was considering going to chipotles but decided since I haven't been to cafe rio to give it a try. It was such a let down. I ordered a steak burrito. Its nice they make their own wraps for the burrito but it was so thick it tasted like a pita. they loaded it with probably about 3/4 a cup of rice and at least 1/2 cup of beans and maybe 1/4 cup steak... it was a very starch filled burrito... threw on some shredded cheese then they asked if i wanted mild, med, or hot salsa and that was it. They rolled it closed and put it thru a heating conveyor velt and that was it. They didn't even offer any sour cream or guacamole or lettuce or anything! At that point i thought they would be unwrapping it after it was hot and putting some of the "cold" ingredients in... but nope. They threw some lettuce and tomato/onion pico de gallo on the side and that was it... i was like hmm okay i'll spare myself the calories and not get sour cream and guac... but when i started to eat it .. it was so disappointing and dry and just filled with rice...it was like eating rice and beans on a pita. So i broke down and went back and got a side of sour cream and guac... which they put into a condiment container with a scoop slightly bigger thana melon ball scoop and charged me 1.50. Fine i get it...it's extra but really?! 50 cents for a dallop of sour cream and 95 cents for the dallop of guac. i know times are tough and avocadoes are getting more expensive... but that sounded over priced to me. The one thing the place had going for it was the interesting beverage bar. there was so much stuff to pick from i enjoyed the mint lemonade that i mixed with iced tea. anyway... i hope some of their other stuff is better... but i think i'll just stick with an old fave-- chipotle. oh and i agree with the other yelp reviews that say they must have reduced the salt, because it was not salty at all...maybe that would have made it better.
(1)
Sarah A.

I came in once when they first opened with a friend, and some guy who worked there started yelling "NEWBIES" after we responded to his question with no we hadn't been there before. He then completely left when he could have been useful, which was when we were trying to decipher the big standing menu. We decided to skip it, and they yelled "Awww, see you next time!" as we left. We skipped it because we're both vegetarians, and there weren't many options for us. It was more expensive that California Tortilla and the menu wasn't as nearly attractive. Chipotle is also better than this place.
(2)
Chris P.

The food is good and the actual staff is good, but I just saw both the owners finger blasting the food on the line with no gloves. Poor example to set, gentleman. Also, nasty as hell. Go back to the office.
(2)
Mike J.

came here on taco tuesday. the lines were long. had guacamole and 4 or 5 tacos of different meat. Had beef, steak, chicken and their special pork. All of the meats were pretty dry and flavorless, except the pork was juicy and seasoned with some kind of sugary sauce. I love anything with sugar so i give the pork tacos 5 stars. but since the rest of the meal failed to satisfy, i have to give it less stars. The guacamole lacked flavor, and was a bit overpriced for the little amount you get.
(2)
Kyle L.

I went here with the family several times when they opened but now I try to avoid them. The burrito I get is actually pretty good (pork), and they have a good selection of drinks, but there are several things that irritate me about this place: 1) It is crazy and SLOW ordering. Every time I go through the line I feel like I need a vacation. 2) The staff, while very friendly, offers all sorts of things to add to your food that cost extra money (but they don't tell you it is additional). If you agree to everything they ask you about, you could easily add $2-4 to your burrito. 3) The food is pretty greasy so I always end up with a stomach ache after eating it. One time my 3 year old son had a kids quesadilla and ended up getting sick on the way home. The food is good, but it is very heavy... much heavier that CT or Chipotle. There are a lot of fast food mexican restaurants in the Olney area, so I do not feel like I am missing out by not going to Cafe Rio any more.
(3)
Rebecca C.

This place has excellent food, a nice laid back atmosphere for a great price
(5)
John Y.

This place is horrible on so many levels. First, and most importantly, the food stinks. The chicken is so laden with salt it's almost inedible. I thought maybe I caught them on a bad day so I came back a week later to give them a second chance. Nope...same salt heavy food. Secondly, they have close to a dozen employees working the food line yet it still takes 30 minutes on "Taco Tuesday" to get to the register. There are very few restaurants worth waiting for in the equivalent of a Disney World line and this certainly is not one of them--not even close. The employees are all tripping over themselves in the back partially because one person is in charge of the flour tortillas, one puts the meat into an aluminum tin, another cooks meat on the grill, another puts lettuce/tomato/cheese on the tortilla, and YET another puts salsa/sour cream, etc. on the final product. No lie...you have to interact with at least 8 people from the time you order to the time you get to the register. It's a model of inefficiency that I can't recall being topped at any other place. Setting the inefficiency aside, it all still comes back to the food which is not good. I would love for someone like Robert Irvine from Food Network to come here and show them how to make real food. Fact is, he wouldn't set foot in this place and neither will I again.
(1)
paul g.

same as chipotle but alot slower service. i ordered the steak burrito and it took about 28 mins fome start to finish.Kind of expensive . too many people on serving line. nice atmosphere new and clean. california tortilla is in trouble for sure. the tortillas r homemade in front of u. The best feauture of this place easily. Ill go back in a month when they refine their process on time!
(3)
Michael K.

I wish I could review the food, but after waiting more than 30 minutes for our online order, imagine our disappointment when I arrived home with the wrong dishes. We tried to eat them, but the pork (?) was so sickly sweet and gloopey we couldn't eat it. Barf.
(1)
Connie L.

I went once long time ago to a different location and was disappointed with the burrito bowl.. but I went again recently and got the sweet shredded pork tacos and they were SO delicious! i know that i would totally crave it if hungover and craving something heavy and greasy... lots of flavor! and the tortilla is also perfectly soft+crunchy
(4)
Brandon M.

Love this place. Great catering too.
(5)
Susan D.

Briefly, food is very good, fresh and tasty, when they don't run out of it. Service, with the rare exception, stinks. Poor training, apathetic staff and little organization. Once you get past the first guy behind the counter its a crapshoot. Walked out tonight after ordering over the phone and after 20 minutes the ticket wasn't printed and the food hadn't been started. If the food wasn't so good I'd give it a single star.
(2)
Carol M.

Best Tex Mex ever! The food there is fresh and very tasty. Their food is also reasonably priced. The creamy green dressing is very addicting but I've even had my food without it and it was still delicious. I like their tostadas because they're almost a smaller version of their salads and the juices they have(strawberry lemonade and horchata) are so good and are included in the fountain drinks. I'm happy this location is a drive because I would be there multiple times a week but I wish it was closer too. I don't think the food is comparable to Chipotle even though they are both Tex Mex but I love both of them(ok maybe Cafe Rio a little more).
(5)
Christopher W.

Cafe Rio is pretty awesome! The food is great and the service is normally good. There is one scatter brained food preparer, she's horrible and doesn't know what she's doing. She messes my order up every time, I hate being the guy that holds up the line but I'll make everyone wait in line till my food is done right. I don't give a darn. Overall, my family visits here quite often the food his the spot. I really like the salad and on Fridays the salmon is awesome. Different meats go with different styles, so I suggest trying the different combos. Oh! The tres leches is flipping awesome, I normally split it because it's really rich.
(4)
Jessica F.

Who knew that Olney, MD had so much that I would like? I rarely ventured there prior to this past summer even though it is really only like 10 miles down the road. I know that CafÃ© Rio is a chain but they have cheap tacos on Tuesdays. Go and get full for incredibly cheap. The drink offerings are great too with an assortment of syrups for your soda or tea and even horchata. Yummy!
(4)
Bryan S.

I've eaten here quite a few times since my last review. Its not your typical greasy/cheesy mexican food. If you are looking for something more fresh and wholesome, this place makes it. The standard chicken and beef is ok. I would recommend upgrading to the steak and grilled chicken its worth the extra 1.50. I highly recommend the Tacos.
(5)
Roberto N.

Nice people, really. It's a great, fun, environment. The food on the other hand isn't very authentic. The pork's too sweet, the steak doesn't really have much, if any, seasoning, and the enchiladas I got were cold inside( they run the meats over the grill, but cheese and onion just can't get warm enough). I asked for a microwave- none. The redo was still just lukewarm. The guacamole is fine, the chips fine. The rice- not close to authentic. No refried beans. And if you're green, you'll run screaming from here- no recycling, and they toss more aluminum than anywhere I've been. In fact, Cessna should buy the place. They could make a 172 out of the thrown out aluminum every month! To sum it up? If you like the taste, fine- just don't call it Mexican food.
(2)
Ieesha J.

I'm happy I stumbled across Cafe Rio out in Waldorf. Was excited that there was a closer location to me. I've been here twice in the last two weeks. I've only had the Salad so my review will be based on that dish. I enjoy the fact that the flour tortilla is made from scratch. Very delish. The fire grilled chicken is much better than chipotle's chicken. Seasoned very well. I like the the options of toppings, but I'm not a huge fan of the additional prices just for sauces. Or the fact that they're so skimpy on them either. Some of the workers here are a lot friendlier than others. The lemonade mint is amazing. I'm not much on juices but I was told this was the best. It truly is. It's a little pricer than chipotle but it's really worth it for the taste.
(4)
Annie H.

SOOOOO GOOOD!! I come here at least once a week. The line is really long sometimes but they keep everyone moving. The food is so amazing. The dont hold by the food so you dont have to ask for more of something. By far my favorite food in olney.
(5)
Tim K.

Best fast tex mex. hands down. The tortillas alone are worth the price of any dish. seriously! High quality food, flavorful dishes. And who doesn't love limeade with real mint or hibiscus in it????? (Don't pass by the desserts. Either the tres leches or lime pie are well worth it. But they are large so you might consider ordering to share.)
(5)
Bob O.

Great place to eat. A lot of food for your money. Good always fresh and hot. Best con queso dip on the east coast. Beverage bar fantastic. You can get a card have it stamped 10th meal get a free meal. Great deal. Give it a try. You won't regret it.
(5)
Raenell R.

Amazingly fresh Mexican food with AMAZING homemade tortillas! It takes some time but is well worth the wait! They have a great staff and many choices! They even do military Mondays for the armed forces! Great place!
(5)
Josh W.

The food is very fresh, and the portions are large. It's also overpriced when compared with Chipotle. I had a traditional Mexican drink that tasted like rice pudding, and that was new to me and pretty good. Overall, though, it simply wasn't outstanding.
(3)
Steven J.

The reviews were all pretty good and many made mention of the fresh tortillas, which I have to take is part of Cafe Rio's claims to fame. The decor is different from most of the other places because it is more crowded and 'themed'. Chipoltle is clean with a modern look but this place seemed a bit more 'stereotypical'. That seems to be the better word with the wooden posts and look of a faux hometown mexican eatery. The menu board is simple and easy to read and it looks like a little bit more than at a Chipoltle and definitely more than Qdoba. I ended up getting the basic three taco plate, the price wasn't bad at all. I chose the Shredded chicken, fire grilled chicken, and the chilean roast beef. They also have pulled pork and marinated steak. The service is decent, they were kind of busy and when some one orders nachos or extra meat the staff says a little jingle. That could be annoying after a while. The meat is scooped out and out into the foil container and then placed on tortillas and heated. They have a comprehensive set of toppings for you to choose from. The food tastes good and the reviews were right, the tortillas are flavorful and fresh. They are way better than any other Quick service tex-mex restaurant. Now the roast beef wasn't that good to me. It was roast beef but it was a bit mushy and didn't have enough flavor for me. It was also wet and made the tortilla soggy. The fire grilled chicken was decent and had some flavor and tasted good and fresh. My favorite however was the pulled chicken. It was moist, had a very good flavor, and wasn't covered up in flavors and spices that were extra. It was a great balance. In totality I wasn't all of that wowed by the service, they were a bit overwhelmed at first by the crowd and you could tell that the jingles were annoying to them, but the food was fresh tasting and good, especially the pulled chicken and tortillas.
(3)
Savvy S.

Update: Received a friendly response from a biz manager. I appreciate that they are listening and will try the Germantown restaurant again. ---- I loved my first experience at the Olney location. The food was tasty. But the service was scatter brained. I had to repeatedly tell the staff what I wanted- no-one was on the same page. I thought it was a fluke, but it happened again on a return Olney visit. And then it happened at the Seneca Meadows location in Germantown. The staff seems stressed, and I even witnessed some yelling at each other in anger. What's worse is they are very sloppy with the meat. I ordered veggie burritos, but each time they let the meat juices splash into the bean or rice containers as they served other customers, who also had to repeat their orders. This grossed me out. I'm wondering if both locations have the same owner -- providing sub par training and management -- or whether this is systemic to Rio Mexican Grill. I left nauseated and with a headache borne of frustration and stress -- three times in a row...
(2)
T M.

This is a good place to take kids. Not expensive and pretty loud. Taco Tuesday rocks. We usually stick to tacos or salads and neither have disappointed. I would highly recommend to families.
(4)
Bridgette L.

Awesome Taco Tuesday deal, if you're getting it to take home, make sure to ask for the salsa on the side! Their fire-grilled chicken salad and tostadas are also amazing!
(4)
Eunice K.

really cheap for students! :) make sure you bring your id.. only cheap when you get tacos.. they're 1.50 yay! got the sweet pork and it is really sweet but also very good and flavorful. would give more stars but the service while getting food was horrible. the girl at the cash register was really friendly but the first girl that helped us was really rude.. very bad attitude for no reason. found out they currently do not charge for sour cream but will start charging soon.. :( they have a really cool drink area. soda, mexican drinks (horchata and more) and syrups to make your own drinks. they use ice that is small (i think its for the custom drinks..) pretty cool and cheap for students! make sure you get the taco cus it's good! :)
(3)
Jack A.

It's always hard to decide whether to go to Chipotle or Cafe Rio but I must say we probably go to Cafe Rio more. The burritos just taste better. I don't care for California tortilla, but they are ok. They are very friendly and if you are new they will welcome you and help you out. If you go there a lot you should get the frequent diner card, one free meal every 10! I always get the pork burrito with hot sauce and really like it. It would be nice if the guacamole and sour cream wasn't extra.
(5)
Alan C.

Olney may host Chipotle and California Tortilla, but I have to say that I prefer Cafe Rio to the other two. The food is reasonably priced, but not at the expense of taste or quality. I've tried nearly everything on the menu and there's nothing I don't enjoy. For parent's of small children, this is a great option for the free kid's cheese quesadilla. It may not come with veggies, but I've found my meal has always had more than enough to share. Some of the reviews complain about the lines, but it's a Mexican fast food restaurant. I've waited more at Chipotle nearly every time and often for much longer. As far as I'm concerned it's goes hand in hand... I would rate it higher but the food ordering process can some times be chaotic.
(4)
Susan L G.

Yum! Can't wait to try the fish tacos. This trip I sampled the sweet barbecued pork quesadilla and strawberry lemonade. Fresh ingredients and handmade tortillas
(5)
H. S.

The food here in my opinion rivals Chipotle. Their steak is better, their barbacoa is better and it shows in their food. However, the guacamole leaves much to be desired. It is extremely salty and many times inconsistent. I would give this place a higher rating, but the service personnel at this particular store leaves much to be desired. Most times I go, there is barely any customer service. The people behind the counter will insult you in spanish and put your food together in the most lazy way like they didn't want to be there. When task to do something for an order, they complain loudly about it.
(2)
Della O.

Ooooooh yum!!!! This place was really good! The food tasted really great! The only thing is the waiting lines as well as the break in language. Kept telling them what to add to the meal and they kept messing it up and putting the wrong thing! Totally annoying when you starving lol. But when they finally got it right yum yum it was good lol...
(4)
Tu-van L.

More like 4-6 bite tacos they were so hearty. This location has $1.50/taco on Tuesdays (select from beef, chicken, pork). Of all the tacos you can select from on Taco Tuesdays, the beef is the way to go. Chicken was tender but mild in flavor and the sweet pork carnitas was a little too sweet for my liking. And honestly, it doesn't really matter. The hand-made tortillas set this place apart from the other fast casual Tex-Mex eatery. The tortillas were perfectly kneaded by hand, cooked on the flat-top tortilla cooker machine, and embodies the savoriness that makes tacos perfect. The tortillas were so good I'd definitely come back here on non-taco night to try the other tacos. Tacos come with beans and rice. Both satisfying but meh - I like the cilantro lime rice at Chipotle better. Tried the other tacos. The coconut shrimp were meh - over-fried and more batter than shrimp. The steak tacos were good to but not enough to draw me to this place just for that. Overall and alright taco place that's on the pricy side for what meh-ness you get. I'd just stick to getting their fresh tortillas and whatever tacos you prefer on Taco Tuesdays.
(3)
Ashley A.

I was really excited to try this place when it opened right by my house. However, when I went inside the people working there were kind of rude. I wasn't quite sure what to order and I felt like all they wanted to do was hurry me out. The food was good, but the service wasn't worth it.
(3)
Cynthia A.

I'm happy I decided to try this place out one day. Lunch where I work at gets kind of boring and wanted something different. There fire grilled chicken salad and salmon salad (on Fridays only) is amazing. I end up paying about $10 and I get twice as much food as the chipotle in Olney. This food has more of a home flavor and the chicken is always cooked well. The items whether it be sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, rice and beans are always fresh. The flour tortilla is put on the bottom with a sprinkle of cheese and is handmade every few minutes. The food is delish and the steak nachos I have heard are good as well. Staff here are a lot friendlier than others. The horchata is amazing and I'm Spanish so we know the true flavor of it. It's a little pricer than chipotle but it's really worth it for the taste.
(5)
Kathy B.

My favorite part about this place is the fresh made tortillas. They taste phenomenal. I like to order a plain one and eat it by itself. It doesn't taste like it came out of a grocery store bag. The meat is alright. I'd say Chipotle has better meat and all around toppings and rice. They also have a good variety of beverages. If it were up to me: Cafe Rio tortilla plus Chipotle stuffed inside. That would be a game changer but until then, I like Cafe Rio's tortillas without a doubt.
(3)
Kevin T.

Don't expect to get the type of meat you want because they are always out. Also, its on the expensive side, and everything is extra. They don't give you much of any side you pay extra for either. Its very overrated.
(1)
Sheilah L.

I really like the pork. Great in the salad and the quesadillas.
(4)
Jack W.

Taco Tuesdays is the best. It's great deal for lunch and I really like the salsa fresca they put on the tacos. I've also gotten the enchiladas and burrito style enchilada and they were delicious. The portions were so big!
(5)
Willis N.

So if your a fan of chipotle you are going to like this place it has a more variety choices. tThe sauces and dressing are soooo good! Come here for taco tuesday (discount). I can eat here all day on tuesdays thats how good it is!
(4)
Cristi D.

Great food, and prices. The chicken tostada which is very filling and a great "burrito bowl." Best is the array of drinks including traditional horchata along with strawberry limonade, mint limonade, teas and soft-drinks.
(4)
Michael M.

Pretty darn good. Never seemed to make it on fish taco day...bummer. I've only had the taco's but they were great. They soft taco shell, and throw it on the griddle with some cheese before putting your really flavorful meats on - great trick! The guy that i'm pretty sure is the manager on weeknights though? Too much, tone him down a bit. When they were out of Guacamole, they attempted to make the salad without it and A.) not mention it, and B.) charge full price. When I asked for a discount he asked "What kind of discount bro, why?"....I don't know bro, you tell me.
(4)
Deborah N.

Delicious Amer-Mexican food in the theme park restaurant decor. NOT a Chipotle clone. Food tastes more down homey and the decor is definitely more, uh, decorated than Chipotle. I won't say it's cute, but it is decorated. Tuesday is $1.50 taco day. Tacos are huge and very filling. You could do well with $5.00 at Cafe Rio on a Tuesday. Food is REALLY good. They have both beef and pork barbacoa, but the pork is more like real barbecued pork, with a sweet tang. The chicken is way better than Chipotle's, fresher and bigger pieces. Tortillas are homemade. Hello! Hello! Hello! And they are custom grilled with toppings in when you place your order. Makes food taste really yummy, but thus does not arrive with the fast efficiency of Chipotle's. You will need to wait a minute or five. One word of warning, especially if you don't eat dairy. There I was eating my taco thinking these tortillas were the most delicious I had ever eaten. They tasted so rich, almost tasted like they had cheese in them. But naaaah, who puts cheese in a tortilla? Okay not Cafe Rio, but they do automatically put it on tacos (and probably burritos) without telling you or showing you that this is being done. They surreptitiously melt the cheese into the tortilla then cover it up with your meat so it's like a sneak attack of dairy if you don't know enough to order your meal with no cheese. It's not like they ask and it's not like you can see the cheese being applied. I didn't realize until I got to my second taco. Now you have the knowledge. Go forth and be dairy free.
(5)
Eric W.

Why does the line at Cafe Rio seem like it moves slow as molasses? When it isnt busy, its ok but if it is slightly busy at all, the line crawls! I had to give up tonight because the line barely moved in 5 min and I was in a hurry. Will have to come back next Sat at a different time to try the cancun shrimp!
(2)
Angie C.

The tacos are a bit too watery sometimes and the service is hit or miss. One star for the awesome tortillas!
(3)
Jb B.

I've always been a Chipotle lover. Since before it was cool to be a chipotle fan. Since before they got gobbled up by McD's and subsequently went public. Since before their owner/creator got his own TV show. Since they actually served yellow corn... Anyway...It was with this deep seeded love for Chipotle, that I decided to give Cafe Rio a shot. And in the end, despite my loyalties, I have to admit that Cafe Rio was great. It's not like comparing apples to apples. Cafe Rio provides more choices and seems to be more of a sit down occasion. The meals aren't so neatly packaged like Chipotle...they are messy adventures that require a fork and knife.
(4)
Holly M.

All I can say is YUM-O! This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant.
(4)
Mike M.

This is my favorite place to eat in the world. If i was on that show "Best thing I ever ate" it would be this. But you have to order the burrito this way. Pay attention yelpers and you will be amazed: Burrito Enchilada style, HALF PORK and HALF STEAK, light on the pinto beans with mild sauce and lettuce and pico on the side. I promise it's the best thing ever. I've been out to Olney 3 times now from DC for this and it is perfect every time.
(5)
Sylvia C.

I went on taco Tuesday. I had a pork, chicken, and barbacoa taco, one of each. First, I was impressed that all of their taco tortillas are made by hand. They grill them in front of you. Second, very impressive drink bar. They ran out of mint lemonade, which i was thoroughly disappointed in! I had the strawberry lemonade, with pureed strawberries and it was delicious. They have a good selection of real iced teas and syrups to mix with your soda. The food: Chicken was too salty and had no other flavor. It was tender, though, so I'll give it that. Pork, also tender, but the sauce was too sweet for me. That ruined it for me. If it had been not so sweet, it would've been perfect. The barbacoa was my favorite. It was salty, but had some other flavors that I could distinguish. I will probably only go on taco Tuesdays. I did notice that they had a great variety and everything is fresh as can be.
(3)
Greg O.

Same concept as Chipotle in terms of the fast food Mexican- you order at the counter and pick your ingredients. They have a bigger selection of options though, which is nice, but its still not replacing Chipotle for me. Its situated where the Chicken Out in Olney used to be. The decoration feels like any typical Mexican restaurant, but it was clean and had plenty of seating. There was along line when we went in, but it moved quickly. Overall, the food wasn't bad, but just not to rave about.
(3)
Andres A.

Best mexican food I've ever had and best way to get a quick big meal that will deff satisfy you. Lemonades rock and the desserts are way better than a lot of sit down restaurants.
(4)
Eric E.

I would give this place five stars but the excessive use of aluminum foil really bothers me. I am no tree-hugger but this just seems irresponsible for such a busy restaurant to go through so much aluminum. If someone in the back is pulling it all out of the trash then I will take back this comment.. That said, the food is amazing!! My wife's coworkers are all from Utah, where this chain apparently originated, and they were raving about this place. They joke that it is "Mormon crack" (no offense intended). I personally am a huge fan of the sweetened pork burritos made "Cafe Rio Style" with hot sauce. This is one of the few restaurants that I make a point to come back to on a regular basis, even though it is a half-hour drive from us.
(4)
Anthony M.

They catered our staff picnic last night which wasn't easy due to the 90 plus degree evening, but it was fantastic. Very tasty enchiladas, extremely fresh salad with outstanding dressing, cheese quesadillas for the kids, huge portions. They also were fantastic sponsors of a recent fundraiser. We will definitely use them again!
(5)
Linda L.

This place does remind me of Chipotle but with a lot more choices to choose from. I tried their Cancun Shrimp Taco Special for Saturday and it was great. The ingredients were fresh and the shrimp was lightly battered which made it crispy and delicious. I also had the strawberry lemonade which I found pretty good too. Overall, I would come back for more.
(4)
Jorge Y.

Simply the best. Really enjoy the pork, tortillas, sour cream, pico de gallo, and more. One of my favorite places now.
(5)
Joseph D.

I have many friends from Utah who claim this is the best chain ever. Not so. I was not a fan. I tried both the steak and the pork with hot and medium sauces. I thought the burritos were quite bland in both flavor and substance. There was a distinct salty aftertaste with the steak with hot sauce dish. PRO: The thick homemade tortillas. Interesting drinks at no additional cost. CONS: Pork was sweet to the point of tasting like BBQ. Both the hot and medium sauces were incredibly mild. The lack of deep flavors and ingredients in the burrito make it quite boring. Please throw some salsa or vegetables or something in there for me! They do not strain the liquid from the beans enough (I understand that this may be specific to my burrito-artist) which made the pork burrito more soggy than it needed to be. The food was not bad, but nothing to write home about. I live about 20 minutes from Rio and I doubt that I will ever make the trip again. If I am going to go for the quick-tex-mex route, it has to be the benchmark, Chipotle.
(3)
Courtlani M.

i love this place - everything is super fresh veggies/guac/cilantro i pretty much stick to barbacoa anything - and the coconut shrimp night is amazing. the prices are a little high for the proportions. i love how much they appreciated teachers - a week of free food....hmmmm maybe that's why i love this place...did i mention the key lime pie - so good, and i am kinda a key lime pie snob. one suggestion if they want to complete with chipotle - brown rice
(5)
Ashira M.

Love the enchiladas! ('veggie,' of course) It's bright, colourful, can get noisy, there's horchata and lemonade, and I think it just might remind me more than just about anywhere else of what it was like to be a student studying Spanish in that City of Eternal Spring, Cuernavaca -- which means that even the downsides can be upsides sometimes. Some people, I see, have complained about the location -- well, what's 'up' with that, I think, is that Olney is a nice place and personally I enjoy the drive out. Not everything has to be where everyone (meaning you) and everything else is. My mom and aunt, who used to live in Tucson as children, also both really enjoy this place. And being near a toy store sure doesn't hurt, as far as I'm concerned! Other things to do in the area to make it worthwhile to make a trip, if you need that kind of thing, are the Sandy Spring Museum just down the road, the farmers and artists market on Sundays, and Yin Yang Yoga Center.
(5)
J. B.

By far the WORST customer service I have ever experienced at a Cafe Rio. I gave them 3 tries and I am officially DONE with this location. I always give people the benefit of the doubt and second (and third...) chances, but they failed miserably. In a nutshell: incredibly slow service, always out of some sort of food like beans, cheese, salsa, etc, and do not acknowledge you for a long period of time when you are standing right in front of them. Truly disappointing for a great mexican food chain. Somehow this location just can't get it right, when all other locations that are MUCH busier know how to get the job done.
(1)
Kathleen K.

We love it! Tuesday tacos is always a hit - and the lines show that it's a hit for other households as well! They make the tortillas in front of you (YUMMM) an their soup is delicious!! I must confess that I like the carnitas at Chipotle (don't hate me yelpers) better, but it's just a different flavor. The staff is always friendly - ALWAYS. Daughter gets the chicken tacos every time - can't get enough of them. Another daughter wolfs down the burritos and raves. They even have a free nina quesadilla for kids under 6 - did I mention it was free? Who does that anymore? Really awesome, Cafe Rio! Thanks! We'll see you on Tuesday. PS: Their mint limeade is DELISH!!
(5)
Lilian Y.

My coworkers and I come here every now and then for Taco Tuesday's. $1.50 for each taco, better than the other days where its $5 for a taco. It's not that great that I would spend more than $1.50 for. You can get chicken, beef, or pork. You can also get a burrito or a couple tacos with beans or rice. It's not too bad and very cheap for lunch when you come on a Tuesday.
(3)
Ali G.

We drove an hour and a half one way from where we were staying in WV to get here. It was totally worth it. I ate my chicken salad (with black beans and cilantro dressing) so fast that I gave myself hiccups. I love Cafe Rio.
(5)
Lola J.

The hot sauce, though not hot to me, is very authentic tasting. This is not a low calorie restaurant by any stretch but has very good salad dressing and freshly made tortillas. They make the soup right in front of you and it is very good. My only complaint is that sometimes the service is very slow. The first person to take your order is good, then after that it usually falls apart. Once I was overcharged by a couple dollars and got a free meal plus my money back. There are a few very nice people who work there who make the whole experience better. I wish they had hard corn shells.
(4)
John W.

Wonderful fresh mex grill! Fantastic fresh tortillas. Great flavors. A bit out of the way, this is a great place for modern mexican type food - super fresh, made while you watch. I had the Fire Grilled Steak Salad with pinto beans. Big portions. Very tender steak strips. A nice amount of good guacamole on the side. Yummy cilantro - lime dressing (on the side). My wife had the Chicken Tacos. Again, good sized portions. She commented on the good fresh flavors. Chips are not included. Salsa is good - the "hot" isn't overly hot. I will be back!
(5)
Geoff O.

What in the devil is up with the location? I know a lot about Cafe Rio. It's a Utah chain. I went to college in Utah. Cafe Rio attracts Mormons (I'm one of them) like it's no one's business. But why is the first location in the DC market in OLNEY??? It's in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure they got a deal on rent or something along those lines, because putting it in Rockville or Bethesda might have made just a LITTLE bit more sense. The food is classic Cafe Rio. If you've never been, get anything with the pork. The pork is what makes them famous. Cafe Rio is basically a much better quality Chipotle in terms of food, selection, and customer service. I wasn't even nuts about the place when I lived in Utah, but I will always admit that they have pretty dang good food. Terrific soda and drink bar, too. Mint lemonade? It's awesome! I would probably become a more regular patron of Cafe Rio, but since it is - beyond all human understanding - in Olney, it ain't gonna happen. Build one in Alexandria and we'll talk.
(4)
Ed Q.

This restaurant is part of a chain that's very popular out west. I first tried this years ago someplace in Utah and was delighted to hear that one had opened so close to home. Everything about this place is fantastic, from the fresh tortillas (made right in front of you as you place your order), to the fresh ingredients used to make everything from scratch. Today's special were the fried shrimp tacos. The flavor was unique and extraordinary -- enough zing to wake up your palate but not too much to have you reaching for your drink every time you take a bite. The drink bar at Cafe Rio is likewise very impressive. There are three juice choices including sugar-free strawberry lemonade and (my favorite) mint limeade. There is also the typical fountain drinks adjacent to a variety of flavored syrups to add to your drink. I have been here 3 - 4 times since it opened this past spring and can't say that I've had the same "salty food" experience that others have described. To sum it up, I have to drive about 25 minutes one-way to get to this place, and I assure you, I will do it as often as I can.
(5)
Melanie K.

Cafe Rio is really great. As almost every other reviewer has mentioned, it's a lot like Chipotle, where you order at the counter and move down the line picking and choosing what you want. I like that there are more options besides burritos. The food is delicious, fresh and cheap. The salad I got was very generously proportioned and I'm pretty sure the tortilla shell in the bottom was the best I've ever had.
(4)
N S.

Ok - well they must have taken those salt complaints and did a 180 because what I found was BLAND, bland as Olney, Maryland where it's located... Happy the beans are vegetarian, and the tortillas while seemingly not traditional are tasty and fresh which definitely reflects in the burrito and probably was its only saving grace. The problem was the lack of flavor - the spicy sauce wasn't spicy, the spicy pico wasn't spicy, and I personally would have liked a lot more raw onion and cilantro on my burrito. The burrito was also swimming in this flavorless "hot" sauce. What we have a is very workable product that needs to be super jazzed up ("tortillas" exempt). I also did not see any guac. I know they have it, but it would have been nice to have that offered. Out of sight, out of mind. The space was cute, the staff was friendly, the process was confusing, and take my advice when they ask if you are a first timer upon seeing the look of confusion on your face. JUST SAY NO... it's just been a while... or you were drunk the last time.
(3)
Ryan K.

Best Tex Mex in the area for the price. And their tres leches is amazing!
(5)
R S.

The food here is too salty. Had the steak burrito and was very dissappointed. Wife had a salad which was nothing to write home about. Not too mention they nickle and dime you on everything. 95 cents for a tiny scoop of guacamole??? Hate to say this. Chipotle is better
(1)
Billie Ray V.

Today was Taco Tuesday, and what better way to try a place out for $3 instead of $10 Only TWO (2) good things about the place, the napkins and the tortillas. Had a chicken taco. Overly shredded, almost inedibly salty 1.5 ounces of meat. Had the pork. Has NO resemblance to anything I ever ate. Candy bar sweet (like how much sugar or honey did they use?) They throw the food on the tortilla on the grill. Let's see, why does hot meat on a hot tortilla take 7 minutes too grill? Then they start screaming very loudly. Then I ask for salsa so they take a LADLE and dish out salsa with LOTS of liquid. I drained off 2 ounces of liquid and wound up with soggy wet tacos. The napkins and tortillas are awesome though.
(1)
Tracy O.

The good: fresh, thick homemade tortillas- including wheat ones.Mint limeade. Lots if fresh toppings including cilantro. Taco Tuesday--dollar fifty tacos. Coconut flan. Oh, and they do curbside service. Nice touch. The meh: meat options range from underseasoned to overly sweet or salty to wet...just ok there. Salmon is ok. No vegetarian filling option. Beans, rice, guac all serviceable. The downright nasty: THE LINE ON TACO TUESDAY. Overall, I still like it better than Cal Tort, but not as much as Chipotle or Baja Fresh.
(3)
Nhu P.

Went on a tuesday, which is their 1.50/taco special and it was ok. Good for the price but unless you like your tacos DRIPPING WET, like, my container at the end looked like I just had ordered a soup, then you wont be too fond of it. Alright on taste, but messy as hell, mushy, and SOGGY!!! Qdoba/Chipotle is much better.
(2)
Kevin P.

Great food and awesome portions! If chipotle is getting too boring for you, then cafe rio is a nice change, if not a small step-up, to the mexican dishes you're used to
(4)
Brian S.

went with a friend and we both got chicken. I got the hottest sauce and we both had it cafe rio style...It was so incredibly salty I could barely finish it...maybe i'll go back and try a different meat but the chicken was absolutely terrible.
(1)
Consuela S.

I just enjoyed a delicious salad at Cafe Rio. The best part was that the salad and fresh squeezed limeaid drink was that it cost me nothing. That's right free!!!. When you have 10 trips in the 11th meal is free. Just get the free card and order away.The staff are another reason that brings me back. Excellent price point and a super staff. Amanda gets my vote for employee of the month. Refreshing excellent work ethic even while she is there as a guest. Team work makes the dream work.
(5)
J J.

Have to agree with everyone else and say salty, salty, SALTY! If you want flavorful Mexican food without all the salt, I'm going to have to say stick with Chipotle. I was NOT a fan of the "Cafe Rio style" where they slather on even MORE nasty sauce on top of your burrito. Now I know why they serve your meal in a circular aluminum container! You end up with a sloppy wet mess at the end. There are definitely some redeeming qualities about this place, though unfortunately NONE of them have to do with the food. First off, the staff are super duper friendly and nice. It was a pleasure talking to the employee who was making my meal and explaining everything to me with a smile. Secondly, the environment is very family-orientated with wonderful decor and ample seating. Downside is a single bathroom for each gender.
(2)
Dan C.

Loved Cafe Rio. Really good food if you like a more American infused Mexican food experience. The pork salads are to die for.
(5)
Pete J.

Hmmmm. I like the idea of this place. Quick Mexican food off a Chipotleesque assembly line. I like the idea but in the end it feels like all the food is the same, it just might be wrapped differently. I ordered the chicken enchiladas and enjoyed them. The Southwestern limeade was great too. I'd come here again but I would like to see something a little more intense on the menu. Get some cow tongue or something. No More Chipotles.
(3)
KC U.

The tacos are a real deal, three tacos each with nice helpings of chicken, beef, or pork BBQ.
(4)
Omid A.

the steaks are tasty and grilled nicely
(4)
Bill M.

I first learned about Cafe Rio from my brother in law in Salt Lake City. Every time we visited there, we'd beeline to the place. Burrito, pork, medium sauce, enchilada style. Heaven in a round foil tray. Then they opened in Las Vegas, Phoenix, southern Idaho (all places I had the opportunity to visit) ... and I would go there as well, for my Cafe Rio fix. And what luck! The first place on the east is less than 20 miles from me? It must be fate. It must be the culinary deities looking out for me, a faithful Cupid shooting not an arrow at my heart, but a burrito. I love this place. I'd eat here every day if I could. Can you please open one in Frederick? Preferably near Urbana. Thanks!
(5)
Autumn N.

Want to love this place but I just can't. The food just doesn't taste that great. I far prefer Chipotle and Qdoba. The decor is awesome and the ambiance is nice but the food it just meh.
(2)
Rick S.

I have eaten here at least 10 times and each time I am impressed how good the food is. Each time I have ordered the salad (fire grilled chicken, chicken, posada, steak) they were all good. The nachos and chili con queso is also very good. For a nice touch they have flavored syrups for your fountain drinks and they support the wounded warrior program...this place rules.
(4)
Melbourne B.

Nope. Tried it once and compared to the other Mexican food joints (Why does Olney have like eight Mexican places?) it didn't warrant repeat business.
(2)
Eric G.

Love this place
(5)
Faith F.

I really wish there was a 3.5 (DO YOU HEAR ME YELP, ADD A 1/2 POINT OPTION). Ok, moving on: the only thing that is like chipotle is they make your fresh mex in a bar in front of you. Thats it. Their food is different. I like Chipotle. I like Cafe Rio. So, "fast casual" you order at the counter, pay and then can sit down. The tortillas at Rio are a million times better. They taste like the dough ones you can buy from California Costcos. The ones you have to cook over stovetop yourself. SO GOOD. Their dressings are also stars. The creamy tomatillo is spicy and cool and addicting. Now, there are some things that I don't love about this place. First of all their vegetarian dishes are only like $1 less then their other meals, which offer a ton of meat. Yet, veg options dont offer anything more (like extra veggies). However, there are also a lot of options, which I like. Easy to get a meal under $10.
(4)
Andrew B.

Before I begin this review, I will admit to being a longtime fan of Chipotle Mexican Grill. I would not have mentioned this, or offered the comparison, were it not for a loud Cafe Rio employee standing out in front of Olney's new Cafe Rio location, proudly encouraging the comparison with Chipotle and California Tortilla Kitchen, both located nearby. My brother owns a home near Salt Lake City, Utah, home of Cafe Rio. So, I've been hearing about Cafe Rio for a few years now. Then, lo and behold, they open their first east coast location just a mile from my home in Olney, Maryland. This caused excitement among the members of my family, who had eaten at a Cafe Rio out west. Honestly, I wasn't looking for "another" burrito (I've been a Chipotle burrito-holic for over ten years), but word was that Cafe Rio is different and worthy of my consideration. Unfortunately for them, the loud employee at the door of our Cafe Rio made sure this review would be a comparison with Chipotle. Let's start with the experience at the door, sans the loud employee. A long line at a new restaurant is to be expected, and the new Cafe Rio was no exception. However, from outside the front door on, Cafe Rio's environment is very loud, waaaay over-cheerful and forced. Our local Chipotle has long lines frequently (the reason for which, we will explore later) and loud music can make the crowd noisy, but employees yelling on cue, and forced funny-ness, like an over-amped, children's ice cream parlor (along the lines of the old Farrell's) is something that doesn't impress or entertain me, and which will not distract me from the matter-at-hand, food. What did distract me, momentarily, from the menu boards and food prep watching, once I was close enough to see it, was the clock on the wall of the kitchen. Thanks to the loud, over-boisterous employee at the door, I thought to take note of the time, to compare the time, through the line to the cashier, with that of the incredibly quick and efficient Chipotle restaurant system. In that regard, I noticed that Cafe Rio's menu selections and food customization options are much more varied than Chipotle Mexican Grill's, which, at first blush, would seem to be a favorable thing. Perhaps for some, it will be. For me, however, I noticed that it makes the ordering process much more complex, and directed by employees yelling at you, over all the other noise, much harder to understand and accomplish. The line did not move quickly, and there seemed to be several delays, at the serving point itself. My father, advocating heavily for Cafe Rio, pointed out that it must be a result of the customers at the serving point having no idea how to order. It could've been that, or it could've been something like what it was when I got to the serving point. I ordered a fire-grilled steak burrito, and there was no prepared steak on the serving line. I stood for several minutes, wondering whether people waiting behind me in line were thinking I was clueless, while nobody behind the counter seemed to be doing anything about getting more steak. Of course, more steak was on the way, but impressions are important. Finally, someone appeared from an un-seen grilling area, with a small container of freshly grilled, but, somehow, artificially juicy steak; enough for my burrito and, perhaps, one more. Finally, I ordered my burrito "Cafe Rio-style", which means they ladle an "enchilada sauce" over the whole thing, sprinkle some cheese over that, and run the whole thing through a warmer. I ordered this way accepting that, if one of the attributes of Cafe Rio was that it was different from Chipotle, then I should embrace that difference. For comparison's sake, I'm glad I did. All in all, it took me 25 minutes to get from the point at which I noticed the clock, to when I was past the cashier. For the size of the line, this is VERY slow, when compared to Chipotle. So, let's get to the food... NOT as good as Chipotle. It's decent, it's different, and there's a wider variety, but it is not better. Chipotle's burritos, despite their simplicity, are just more tasty, and the different components in a Chipotle burrito seem much more distinct and discern-able, when compared with Cafe Rio's sauced and warmed burrito. Speaking of sauces, I found the "medium" sauce to have little taste at all, and was surprised when I found it was also the "enchilada" sauce that would be ladled over my Cafe Rio-style preparation. I'm not claiming to be a culinary expert, but I really do like and eat a lot of Mexican food, and Cafe Rio's "enchilada" sauce was unlike any enchilada sauce I've ever had, and was disappointing. If all Cafe Rio had to offer was burritos, they'd never see me again. It was going to take something VERY special to knock me off my Chipotle habit anyway. Their variety WILL bring me back, but they're no threat to Chipotle. However, in Olney, I think it's safe to say the bell is tolling for the California Tortilla Kitchen.
(3)
Carolyn K.

I only ever get the pulled chicken tacos or the salad with pulled chicken and I enjoy the taste, even though it's salty, very much. My problem is the service. I have never seen a worse system for assembling your meals than the Cafe Rio in Olney. It is very slow and inaccurate and confusing for everyone involved. The last time I was there, the woman at the end of the assembly line didn't make eye contact with me when asking what toppings I wanted. I said "just lettuce." She proceeded to pour salsa and guacamole all over my food, two things I'm highly allergic to (guac) or unable to digest well (salsa). Right away I said "No!" and she just scooped it off my food and started to move it down the line. I told her I needed a whole new meal because of my allergies and she was annoyed. It had taken almost 20 minutes to get to the point of this meal in the first place, even with only four people ahead of me. I waited another 15 minutes before walking out with my food (it was takeout for me). I was so angry that I forgot my salad dressing and my drink! If I ever return it will be at night when that horrible woman isn't there.
(2)
Ricky M.

The staff is very nice. The place has a nice look but the food can't compare to chipotle. Cafe rio definitely has a much wider variety in different foods. The servings are nice in size thohgh
(3)
Tarra F.

They salad was good I especially like the dressing but meat wasn't marinaded and kind of bland and chewy.
(3)
Leslie R.

The first time I ate here I was kind of impressed. The last few times....not so much. The food is salty and wet. The black bean were not cooked long enough. To me, it tastes like leftovers thrown into tortilla's. Hate to admit that I prefer California Tortilla and the other Tex-Mex places around town. Not sure it will survive as there was only one table occupied on a Monday at 6pm....
(2)
Kimberly J.

This is the best fast food Mexican place in the DC area. It is new, and the employees are learning how everything works, so although they are not super fast yet, they will be. The food is fantastic, and the service is great. Disregard the bad reviews! Amazing food is amazing food.
(4)
Stacey W.

I love Mexican food. This is my new favorite casual place (sorry CalTort, but you've been demoted!). The pork barbacoa is amazing. Get tacos--fewer distractions from the pork, with the rice and beans on the side. They actually make the tortillas in front of you, and they are served slightly crispy from the grill. Cool drink bar--love the Southwestern Lemonade--but it's the pork tacos that will keep me coming back!
(5)
Joanna R.

Very disappointed with my lunch yesterday. Was considering going to chipotles but decided since I haven't been to cafe rio to give it a try. It was such a let down. I ordered a steak burrito. Its nice they make their own wraps for the burrito but it was so thick it tasted like a pita. they loaded it with probably about 3/4 a cup of rice and at least 1/2 cup of beans and maybe 1/4 cup steak... it was a very starch filled burrito... threw on some shredded cheese then they asked if i wanted mild, med, or hot salsa and that was it. They rolled it closed and put it thru a heating conveyor velt and that was it. They didn't even offer any sour cream or guacamole or lettuce or anything! At that point i thought they would be unwrapping it after it was hot and putting some of the "cold" ingredients in... but nope. They threw some lettuce and tomato/onion pico de gallo on the side and that was it... i was like hmm okay i'll spare myself the calories and not get sour cream and guac... but when i started to eat it .. it was so disappointing and dry and just filled with rice...it was like eating rice and beans on a pita. So i broke down and went back and got a side of sour cream and guac... which they put into a condiment container with a scoop slightly bigger thana melon ball scoop and charged me 1.50. Fine i get it...it's extra but really?! 50 cents for a dallop of sour cream and 95 cents for the dallop of guac. i know times are tough and avocadoes are getting more expensive... but that sounded over priced to me. The one thing the place had going for it was the interesting beverage bar. there was so much stuff to pick from i enjoyed the mint lemonade that i mixed with iced tea. anyway... i hope some of their other stuff is better... but i think i'll just stick with an old fave-- chipotle. oh and i agree with the other yelp reviews that say they must have reduced the salt, because it was not salty at all...maybe that would have made it better.
(1)
Sarah A.

I came in once when they first opened with a friend, and some guy who worked there started yelling "NEWBIES" after we responded to his question with no we hadn't been there before. He then completely left when he could have been useful, which was when we were trying to decipher the big standing menu. We decided to skip it, and they yelled "Awww, see you next time!" as we left. We skipped it because we're both vegetarians, and there weren't many options for us. It was more expensive that California Tortilla and the menu wasn't as nearly attractive. Chipotle is also better than this place.
(2)
Chris P.

The food is good and the actual staff is good, but I just saw both the owners finger blasting the food on the line with no gloves. Poor example to set, gentleman. Also, nasty as hell. Go back to the office.
(2)
Mike J.

came here on taco tuesday. the lines were long. had guacamole and 4 or 5 tacos of different meat. Had beef, steak, chicken and their special pork. All of the meats were pretty dry and flavorless, except the pork was juicy and seasoned with some kind of sugary sauce. I love anything with sugar so i give the pork tacos 5 stars. but since the rest of the meal failed to satisfy, i have to give it less stars. The guacamole lacked flavor, and was a bit overpriced for the little amount you get.
(2)
Kyle L.

I went here with the family several times when they opened but now I try to avoid them. The burrito I get is actually pretty good (pork), and they have a good selection of drinks, but there are several things that irritate me about this place: 1) It is crazy and SLOW ordering. Every time I go through the line I feel like I need a vacation. 2) The staff, while very friendly, offers all sorts of things to add to your food that cost extra money (but they don't tell you it is additional). If you agree to everything they ask you about, you could easily add $2-4 to your burrito. 3) The food is pretty greasy so I always end up with a stomach ache after eating it. One time my 3 year old son had a kids quesadilla and ended up getting sick on the way home. The food is good, but it is very heavy... much heavier that CT or Chipotle. There are a lot of fast food mexican restaurants in the Olney area, so I do not feel like I am missing out by not going to Cafe Rio any more.
(3)
Rebecca C.

This place has excellent food, a nice laid back atmosphere for a great price
(5)
John Y.

This place is horrible on so many levels. First, and most importantly, the food stinks. The chicken is so laden with salt it's almost inedible. I thought maybe I caught them on a bad day so I came back a week later to give them a second chance. Nope...same salt heavy food. Secondly, they have close to a dozen employees working the food line yet it still takes 30 minutes on "Taco Tuesday" to get to the register. There are very few restaurants worth waiting for in the equivalent of a Disney World line and this certainly is not one of them--not even close. The employees are all tripping over themselves in the back partially because one person is in charge of the flour tortillas, one puts the meat into an aluminum tin, another cooks meat on the grill, another puts lettuce/tomato/cheese on the tortilla, and YET another puts salsa/sour cream, etc. on the final product. No lie...you have to interact with at least 8 people from the time you order to the time you get to the register. It's a model of inefficiency that I can't recall being topped at any other place. Setting the inefficiency aside, it all still comes back to the food which is not good. I would love for someone like Robert Irvine from Food Network to come here and show them how to make real food. Fact is, he wouldn't set foot in this place and neither will I again.
(1)
paul g.

same as chipotle but alot slower service. i ordered the steak burrito and it took about 28 mins fome start to finish.Kind of expensive . too many people on serving line. nice atmosphere new and clean. california tortilla is in trouble for sure. the tortillas r homemade in front of u. The best feauture of this place easily. Ill go back in a month when they refine their process on time!
(3)
Kristi D.

Great fresh Mexican fast food. The pork is sweet not like standard Mexican pork, but it is so delicious. The shredded beef is the closest to what you would get in CA and pretty amazing for MD. The shredded chicken is quite good. I Haven't really tried any of the grill meats because it doesn't make sense to pay extra when the three above meats are great. The tacos with corn tortillas are my favorite. The salads are a close second. My kids like the nachos, flour tacos & salad-all pork, I can't get then to try a different meat. Give this place a try, it is a fresh take on Mexican food made fast.
(4)
Steven A.

A very hidden gem that many don't know about but should. The burritos are the main attraction here. Very fresh ingredients, assorted meats, chicken, pork etc, and the best part are the made to order flour tortillas. To die for!! (Don't literally go die... Just get a tortilla) Burritos are made Enchilada style, smothered with your choice of mild, medium or hot sauce, and covered in cheese. Try one and you'll never go to Chipotle again. The same in house tortillas are also used for the tacos, and while a different pull from the traditional tacos, these hit the spot everytime. Drizzled with their in Josue tomatillo sauce which is an amalgamation of some kinda ranch sauce... Delectable to say the least. They also boast salads, enchiladas, quesadillas (which are magnificent) and a few other Mexican specialties. Definitely recommended for a welcome change to the usual Mexican fast food.
(4)
Sammy A.

First timer! When I went I was really excited! I had a free coupon for buy one get one free on burritos so I was ready for war! I trusted the employees who were charming and personable to make me two of the best burritos possible. Everything going in sounds great! In the end though, it's all about how it comes together. It was nothing special, the sauce poured on top kinda overpowered the flavors. Flavors of the individual ingredients weren't distinct, and everything tasted kinda the same. No textural contrast, no differing flavors. Disappointed, but will come back and try again. Food 1/5 NOMS
(2)
Paola G.

Not Chipotle, but I really like it here. Their drinks are soo good, I love the basil lemonade and I think their 3 leches is the best I have ever had and believe me I have had plenty! The one thing I will complain about is their employees lack of enthusiasm. As a new client, taking a few friends with me we all were a little confused as to how the items came, how to order etc and the employees really didnt say much except look at us with "resting B* faces" which we all were about to leave if it weren't for my persistence on eating here. I also didnt appreciate that we bought drinks and were not able to refill 15 minutes before closing because they decided they were ready to leave early. Im glad we ate here, will be back and hope the employees have a better day next time.
(4)
Gail R.

Came to this place to pass some time and decided to get something to eat. Checked out their menu and it seemed a bit confusing, so it took me a while to figure out what to order. The beginning of the menu shows: Step 3 - Choose your add-ons (taco, guacamole, etc.); The middle of the menu shows: Step 1 - Choose Your Meal (burrito, salad, enchiladas, taco meal, quesadilla or tostada); The end of the menu shows: Step 2 - Choose your Fillings (chicken, steak, beef, etc.). There were other items below the menu as well. I thought Step 1 would be first, then Step 2 and Step 3 (hence why I was a bit confused of the order in front of me). I decided to get the two tacos meal with sweet pork barbacoa and pinto beans and rice (you can get black beans if you want). They take the meat and warm it up on the stove with the tacos, then place it on 2 pieces of foil, add it to a circular foil container and then add your beans and rice in that same container. You also have the option of adding toppings to your tacos, so I added lettuce which they put on and tomatoes which they put in a separate container (not sure why). You can add appetizers with your email or a drink as well. They have drink machines so you can choose what you would like. I do not know where the foil came from, that they put my tacos in, so knowing that the outside of this foil was touching my beans and rice that I was about to eat, I quickly removed that from the pan as I sat down - something I will remember to ask them to keep separate on my next visit. The sweet pork barbacoa was delicious but messy at the same time. You will need plenty of napkins when eating this as you will end up with lots of juices from the meat, in the foil afterwards. The rice was okay...the pinto beans, not so much. This was just a quick pick me up meal on this visit. I will check them out again. Parking is free and there is more than enough spots for folks to sit. As it got later in the evening (on a weekday), the place got more folks coming in. Something to note.
(3)
Danny S.

Worst place ever, waited in line for 20 minutes and then find out they are out of the grilled chicken, their main food , what type of places runs out of main food, and employees were rude about it, please don't waste your time here, go across the street to california tortilla, better service and customer relationship,
(1)
Bridget R.

Best Mexican food in the area and incredible service. The employees are always great and especially nice to our kids - even giving them little bits of tortilla dough to play with. The homemade tortillas are they key to this place - they are amazing. And they do fantastic catering. We've used them for multiple events and everyone raves about the food. The employees have gone above and beyond for us, with the manager even driving out to our house to bring us an item we forgot. This is our family's favorite local place and we are there at least once a week.
(5)
M M.

First time giving this place a try (friend I was with said she likes it a lot and prefers it over California Tortilla (where I'd wanted to go) and it was meh. I requested a burrito bowl and the guy said, "What's that?" Hmmm, I explained it and they accommodated (thank you). The guy serving didn't drain the beans, chicken, or salsas; it was like a bowl of lukewarm burrito soup with lettuce. Flavorwise this place just doesn't do it for me. I'll take California Tortilla, Chipotle, or Baja Fresh over this place any day.
(2)
Sally T.

one word: BARBACOA . Order the Barbacoa tacos or burrito you will not be disappointed. The unique sweet and tangy combination of spices of this dish makes this place worthwhile and very addictive. One of my favorite places to eat by far. Bring your student ID for a discount!
(5)
Joy B.

I did not expect to like Rio Mexicano as much as I did. I went with a group of seven co-workers for a quick workshop lunch. I ordered the tostada with chicken. It was huge and made to order. The tostada was made to order on the grill and it was delicious. The chicken was shredded and tender. I got beans, guacamole, cheese, and peppers in mine. It was a treasure trove of Mexican goodness. One friend ordered the quesadillas with chicken and cheese. She really liked her meal too. Another ordered the Mexican soup and she was happy. I liked the soda bar that had no limits on how many times you went back. The chips and guacamole were yummy as well. I was told this place is similar to Guapo's, but I thought it was much better. I would go back in a heartbeat. The service was great. The prices are reasonable. So ole, let Rio make your day too.
(4)
Michael K.

I wish I could review the food, but after waiting more than 30 minutes for our online order, imagine our disappointment when I arrived home with the wrong dishes. We tried to eat them, but the pork (?) was so sickly sweet and gloopey we couldn't eat it. Barf.
(1)
Connie L.

I went once long time ago to a different location and was disappointed with the burrito bowl.. but I went again recently and got the sweet shredded pork tacos and they were SO delicious! i know that i would totally crave it if hungover and craving something heavy and greasy... lots of flavor! and the tortilla is also perfectly soft+crunchy
(4)
Brandon M.

Love this place. Great catering too.
(5)
Lucy B.

The Cafe Rio in Germantown is a work favorite of ours. We go for lunch often. The staff is friendly, quick and just all together pleasant and helpful. I decided to try the Cafe Rio in Olney the other night for taco Tuesday. I was extremely disappointed. The tortillas were dry on the edges like they were old. The ones in Germantown are always hot fresh and soft. The man making our tacos was like an extra charge maniac. I asked for sour cream on my tacos, he said that would be an extra charge. I asked for cheese on my taco, he said that would be an extra charge. Then I argued with him and he said oh no, sour cream is included but cheese is an upcharge. Whoever heard of cheese being an upcharge on a taco? Never had that happen in Germantown. The only thing we get upcharged for is the dressing if you don't have a salad. Anyway, the food was OK but I was very irritated with the guy making the tacos. When I asked the lady at the register she was very pleasant and said I wasn't the first person to say that I don't get upcharged at other Cafe Rios for cheese. Then I think a manager came over and sort of waved me off and said yea you should write in about that. Pleasant. I think I will stick to Germantown where the people are friendly and the tortillas are hot and fresh!
(2)
Elizabeth W.

This place is still a solid 3 stars. I do enjoy the tostada here, but really since everything is made to order, everything is pretty good eats. I still say the barbacoa shouldn't be sweet and will not get it, but I do enjoy the beef and I love the taste of freshness in their ingredients! I had to laugh because the girl at the register looked so thrilled when she had to sing because someone ordered nachos. She did smile and laugh with me, so at least she has a sense of humor. It's always good to have a worker who can laugh at themselves.
(3)
Christopher W.

Cafe Rio is pretty awesome! The food is great and the service is normally good. There is one scatter brained food preparer, she's horrible and doesn't know what she's doing. She messes my order up every time, I hate being the guy that holds up the line but I'll make everyone wait in line till my food is done right. I don't give a darn. Overall, my family visits here quite often the food his the spot. I really like the salad and on Fridays the salmon is awesome. Different meats go with different styles, so I suggest trying the different combos. Oh! The tres leches is flipping awesome, I normally split it because it's really rich.
(4)
Jessica F.

Who knew that Olney, MD had so much that I would like? I rarely ventured there prior to this past summer even though it is really only like 10 miles down the road. I know that CafÃ© Rio is a chain but they have cheap tacos on Tuesdays. Go and get full for incredibly cheap. The drink offerings are great too with an assortment of syrups for your soda or tea and even horchata. Yummy!
(4)
Bryan S.

I've eaten here quite a few times since my last review. Its not your typical greasy/cheesy mexican food. If you are looking for something more fresh and wholesome, this place makes it. The standard chicken and beef is ok. I would recommend upgrading to the steak and grilled chicken its worth the extra 1.50. I highly recommend the Tacos.
(5)
Roberto N.

Nice people, really. It's a great, fun, environment. The food on the other hand isn't very authentic. The pork's too sweet, the steak doesn't really have much, if any, seasoning, and the enchiladas I got were cold inside( they run the meats over the grill, but cheese and onion just can't get warm enough). I asked for a microwave- none. The redo was still just lukewarm. The guacamole is fine, the chips fine. The rice- not close to authentic. No refried beans. And if you're green, you'll run screaming from here- no recycling, and they toss more aluminum than anywhere I've been. In fact, Cessna should buy the place. They could make a 172 out of the thrown out aluminum every month! To sum it up? If you like the taste, fine- just don't call it Mexican food.
(2)
Ieesha J.

I'm happy I stumbled across Cafe Rio out in Waldorf. Was excited that there was a closer location to me. I've been here twice in the last two weeks. I've only had the Salad so my review will be based on that dish. I enjoy the fact that the flour tortilla is made from scratch. Very delish. The fire grilled chicken is much better than chipotle's chicken. Seasoned very well. I like the the options of toppings, but I'm not a huge fan of the additional prices just for sauces. Or the fact that they're so skimpy on them either. Some of the workers here are a lot friendlier than others. The lemonade mint is amazing. I'm not much on juices but I was told this was the best. It truly is. It's a little pricer than chipotle but it's really worth it for the taste.
(4)
Annie H.

SOOOOO GOOOD!! I come here at least once a week. The line is really long sometimes but they keep everyone moving. The food is so amazing. The dont hold by the food so you dont have to ask for more of something. By far my favorite food in olney.
(5)
Tim K.

Best fast tex mex. hands down. The tortillas alone are worth the price of any dish. seriously! High quality food, flavorful dishes. And who doesn't love limeade with real mint or hibiscus in it????? (Don't pass by the desserts. Either the tres leches or lime pie are well worth it. But they are large so you might consider ordering to share.)
(5)
Bob O.

Great place to eat. A lot of food for your money. Good always fresh and hot. Best con queso dip on the east coast. Beverage bar fantastic. You can get a card have it stamped 10th meal get a free meal. Great deal. Give it a try. You won't regret it.
(5)
Raenell R.

Amazingly fresh Mexican food with AMAZING homemade tortillas! It takes some time but is well worth the wait! They have a great staff and many choices! They even do military Mondays for the armed forces! Great place!
(5)
Josh W.

The food is very fresh, and the portions are large. It's also overpriced when compared with Chipotle. I had a traditional Mexican drink that tasted like rice pudding, and that was new to me and pretty good. Overall, though, it simply wasn't outstanding.
(3)

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Address : 3140 Olney Sandy Spring Rd
Olney, MD, 20832
Phone (301) 232-5500
Website https://www.caferio.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

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Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

3140 Olney Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD, 20832

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill Menu

Main Menu

What Goes Inside

Single Items

Kid's Menu

Desserts

Drink

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

Main Menu

What Goes Inside

Single Items

Kid's Menu

Desserts

Drink

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Bridget R.

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