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Name: Cafe Rio
Address: 532 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT, 84102
Telephone: (801) 924-3800
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.05

Cafe Rio

532 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT, 84102

(801) 924-3800
Store is closed

Cafe Rio Menu

Appetizers

Chips And Salsa

Fresh Guacamole

Chile Con Queso
Soup

Cafe Rio`s Famous Tortila Soup
Salads

Cafe Rio Salad

Cafe Rio Salad With Chile Roasted Beef

Cafe Rio Salad With Chicken Breast

Cafe Rio Salad With Pork Barbacoa

Cafe Rio Salad With Fire Grilled Steak

Cafe Rio Salad With Fire Grilled Chicken Breast
Tostadas

Chile Roasted Beef Chicken Breast Or Pork Barbacoa

Fire Grilled Steak Or Fire Grilled Chicken Breast
Quesadillas

Quesadillas

Quesadillas (fire Grilled)
Burritos

Bean Rice And Cheese

Chile Roasted Beef

Chicken Breast

Pork Barbacoa

Fire Grilled Steak

Fire Grilled Chicken
Enchiladas

One Cheese Enchiladas

Two Cheese Enchiladas

One Enchiladas (fire Grilled)

Two Enchiladas (fire Grilled)
Tacos

One Taco

Two Tacos

One Taco (fire Grilled)

Two Tacos (fire Grilled)
Sides

Extra Meat

Side Of Tortillas

Guacamole

Sour Cream

Beans

Dressing
Desserts

Coconut Caramel Flan

Cafe Rio's Famous Tres Leches

Fresh Lime Pie

Chocolate Cheese Flan

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe Rio

Appetizers

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

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

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

Cafe Rio`s Famous Tortila Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Cafe Rio Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cafe Rio Salad With Chile Roasted Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cafe Rio Salad With Chicken Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cafe Rio Salad With Pork Barbacoa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Cafe Rio Salad With Fire Grilled Chicken Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tostadas

Chile Roasted Beef Chicken Breast Or Pork Barbacoa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Quesadillas (fire Grilled) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Burritos

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

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

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

Pork Barbacoa [ 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 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two Tacos (fire Grilled) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

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

Side Of Tortillas [ 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 ]

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

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

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

Coconut Caramel Flan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cafe Rio's 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 ]

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

Visit below restaurant in Salt Lake City for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 2424 Fort Union Blvd )

Visit below restaurant in Salt Lake City for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 2424 Fort Union Blvd )

Write An Anonymous Review

Johnny L.

Some people have a restaurant they always fall back on when they're hungry. For me, that's cafe rio. As a college student looking for meals that are high in value, a sweet pork barbacoa salad is my choice on almost any given day. I always get extra everything (minus extra guac and sauce because they'll charge you a $1 more each) and the salad is always piled to the brim. For just under $10, you get a meal comprised of almost all your essential macros that could feed you for lunch and dinner. Not only that, but it's hard for me to get sick of eating a cafe rio salad. The combination of all the unique flavors from the lettuce, the sweet pork, the pico de gallo, the tortilla strips, the beans (even though I don't like beans), and the tortilla itself is nothing short of fantastic. I've been a regular my whole life and will continue to have my loyalty card stamped. If you have leftovers, try rolling the rest of your salad into a burrito. It tastes just as good.
(4)
Monica V.

This Cafe Rio is always busy, but the workers are efficient and friendly. They aren't skimpy with portion sizes of meat or toppings which I appreciate. I'm obsessed with their Pork Barbacoa any way it's offered. Whether it be a quesadilla, burrito, or salad, I love it all. The tomatillo dressing is delicious and so are their lemonade drinks!
(4)
Angela L.

The food is decent but it's no Red Iguana. Based on the line for it each day you'd think otherwise. Whatever you do, DON'T try ordering online! We've done it three times now and it's never accurate. Not that you should attempt to stand in that line either. Seriously, it gives me Disney World flashbacks.
(2)
Angie F.

Hands down the worst Cafe Rio I have ever been to! My husband and I love Cafe Rio it's one of our go to places. We stopped at this location for dinner tonight and it was terrible! I always get a chicken salad because they are so addictive. There was nothing good about this one! The rice was so hard I don't think they cooked it at all! The chicken had was tough and was in huge gigantic pieces when it's supposed to be shredded. The few beans they gave me seemed over cooked and were mushy. They usually give you a good size scoop of guacamole there was barely a teaspoon worth! But the worst of it was the salad dressing. For me that's what really makes the salad. It had no flavor whatsoever! Worst salad I have ever gotten! My husband always get the pork burrito and he said it was terrible! Same issues with the rice and beans. He said the pork tasted like it had been sitting out for hours. Also their drink station was out of Coke and Co2. When I told one of the workers she said they'd fix it I waited 20 minutes and they never replaced the syrup or adjusted the Co2, I checked twice. It was altogether a horrible experience and we will NEVER return to this location! We would have had better food at Taco Bell.
(1)
Rebecca W.

Consistently perfect every time. Great food, fast service, always reliable flavors. And now the drinks they've been adding to the line up are the perfect pairing with their entrees.
(5)
Ellen W.

Too fast and too generous. Wow!! I applaud the workers behind the counter who handle the long hungry lines of the dinner rush like it is no one else's business. Their Sweet Pork is so sweet, sour, and tasty. I would get it alone wrapped in a plain tortilla and cilantro. It's way too tangy to mix with all the other flavors of the salsas, sauces, etc etc. The Fire Grilled Chicken Burrito enchilada style is amazing!! Try it. So good!! Portions are HUGE here -- unlimited garnishes and fixings (cilantro, salsa, lettuce, sauces) and GUACAMOLE is included!! Yes, guacamole comes with your meal, but Cafe Rio meals come out to be $9-10, whereas Chipotle is $7 (+$2.50 for guac) so it all balances out. Chipotle is probably the cleaner, healthier version of Cafe Rio. The menu choices are different too, so whatever floats your boat. I prefer Chipotle's grilled chicken and fixings more but Cafe Rio's Sweet Pork is definitely on point!
(4)
Emily H.

Cafe rio's food is always fantastic. The pork salad is to die for. The only problem with this location is that it has terrible service. Don't order to go or your food will be wrong every time. I used to order the kids meal because it was a perfect size. It come with the quesadilla, rice or beans, pico and chips. They forgot my chips and I asked for them and they argued that it doesn't come with chips. I told them yes it does and they finally were like we will give you chips just this once so I asked the worker to come look at the menu sign with me and they did and right there on the menu it says with chips. The chips dont really matter, but this shows the level of customer service at this location.
(1)
Meagan B.

I can't believe I've never done a review of Cafe Rio...although, I'm not sure there is much left to say. They're wicked awesome. Their tortillas are amazing, both texture and flavor. The Tomatillo dressing is ridiculous, and I wish I could freeze it, so I could load up on that stuff. I always get a salad, which is two meals in one. First the greens, then I roll up the rice and beans with the tortilla, and I have myself a burrito the next day ;) I can only hope I never have to live in a state without a Cafe Rio. No other place compares. I will say, 4th South in Utah is the absolute best. The one on 33rd South seems to screw it up sometimes, so we don't enjoy going to that one. But 4th South knows what they're doing, and it's always delicious.
(5)
Eva C.

Terrible service. We were the only ones in line and multiple employees stood around ignoring us. I order a taco plate and the guy proceeded to fill it with pork without asking me what meat I wanted. When I told him he threw the meat and acted like I was an inconvenience to them. The lady then reluctantly added toppings to the tacos with her own agenda and determined to put pico. The lady at the cashier was the worst. So upset that we were there. We were such an inconvenience to everyone for wanting to eat there. Such terrible attitudes. It didn't help that my taco was then very sad and basically slapped together.
(1)
Kay P.

I like this location bc they aren't stingy about their add ons unlike the location at the valley fair mall in west valley. This place is always busiest during 12-2 pm. I always order the sweet pork salad without rice and extra pork and they don't charge me and are generous with their portions. If I want extra house dressing, salsa or meat- they never charge. The west valley location charges 25-1.50 for anything extra. The staff here seems friendlier than the other locations I've visited which is a nice change. I do not recommend calling in your order bc every time I called in, my order was wrong. I don't mind waiting in line bc I at least get to see how my meal is being prepared.
(3)
Shaun L.

This place is solid. Huge portions, line goes fast as fuuuuq n the homie in charge of the meat n beans was real nice w a good attitude in a place where the grumpy person would normally be! I'll be back!
(5)
Saravana K.

Absolutely horrible service and unacceptable behavior. There were probably 20 people standing behind me and everyone who were working were ignoring and standing idle. When they speak, they start speak spanish. I ordered Nachos and even though it is a big bowl of chips, there are not enough other stuff that goes into it. They rush through it as though they want you out as soon as possible. Not a worthy place to go.
(1)
Brian B.

Food ordering and checkout system is painful. From the start to the end of your order there will be three or four people involved with your food, all of whom are rushed and aggressive, trying to push you through the line as fast as possible. I only ordered for two, yet I failed to keep track of the food as it zipped here and there behind the counter and through various stations like a frenzied ball through a Rube Goldberg contraption. They will slop things on your dish AS they ask you if you want it, then you have to shout "no no please!" and then they will get an attitude because you're slowing down the machine. Ordering food should not be this stressful, I felt like a raw recruit at boot camp being hazed at the mess hall. This loud, hectic, confused ordering system led to a couple serious errors beyond a mild case of PTSD. First, though I had to shout to stop the man from piling rice on my salad, a different salad ended up being bagged for me so I got the stupid rice after all. It is impossible to track your food from one end to the other when it's busy. Second, I ordered a steak burrito, but the steak was clearly running on empty. Instead of apologizing and offering me something else, the employee just dug around the bottom of the pan and served me up a half portion of charred, oily steak leavings like the shake at the bottom of a jerky bag. I had to pipe up again and call foul, "just throw some chicken in there for me please." Finally, the beans were plainly a watery mess, yet they ladled it up anyway, maybe 1/5 beans to 4/5 soupy runoff. In the end, I was just happy to get out alive. The food is good, really, so that's why I gave 2 stars instead of the 1 they would get based on their insane ordering line. My advice, go when it's not busy or you're going to come out feeling like a wad of dough flattened and mashed, pulled in a million directions at once by an uncaring machine.
(2)
Deb N.

Just came home from the most mindblowingly horrible experience at Cafe Rio. Went for a quick bite on the way home on a Sunday evening. Here's a summary of the horrors that ensued: 1. I ordered a burrito. The line server quickly put a huge scoop of rice on the heated tortilla. 2. I told him I didn't want rice and he threw the tortilla and rice away and hostilly asked me what I wanted 3. I asked for pinto beans which he threw on the tortilla. 4. New server (the last one moved on) started the burrito again and asked me what kind of meat I wanted, and I told him. 5. He then briskly threw various and sundry things on the tortilla, rolled it up, doused it with enchilada sauce and put it in the warmer. 6. I protested and said I wanted different ingredients and not enchilada sauce. 7. Server gave up, ignored my wife who was next to me and asked for the next customer's order. 8. Another server asked me what I wanted and explained that I wanted beans, meat, and the veggies inside of the burrito. 9. The server repeated exactly what the last server did, including smothering everything in enchilada sauce. 10. Server 1 ignored my wife who was next to me completely and skipped to the next customer. 11. We both threw up our hands in complete surrender and left. Conclusion If you want your food served to you like slop in a trough and don't particularly care what food the mind-numbingly absent teenagers feel compelled to throw into said trough, this is the place for you. If not, go anywhere... absolutely ANYWHERE else to eat.
(1)
Alana K.

Cafe rio is popular for a good reason but this location is horrible. The guy who made my burrito acted like the food cost was coming directly out of his paycheck (though admittedly he was quite friendly). Then the woman working the end of the line proceeded to make me yell the rest of my order at her from around eight people away. When I asked for dressing, apparently the man in front of me couldn't help me because I didn't order a salad (I didn't want to yell my request) and then the woman at the end of the line ignored me. When I finally got to the cashier, I had to ask again. Twice. The lack of courtesy is appalling. When I asked if the GM had a business card I was told he/she doesn't have business cards. So here I am leaving my first ever review. This location is an embarrassment to the efficient and professional service I've received from other locations. If I wasn't stuck in line being herded like cattle I would have just left. Do yourself a favor and go to the Taylorsville location instead.
(1)
Adam C.

Same song different verse. The line employees do NOT care what you ordered, they do NOT care how your meal comes together, they do NOT do anything to actually serve the customer. They will look you straight in the face and tell you they are out of something (no grilled chicken at 7:30pm? seriously?) when you can see there is a stack of it by the grill. They get SUPER pissed, I've even had a line employee tell me 'no, they can't do it' when asked to use shredded lettuce instead of the larger lettuce pieces. If you're bugged because so many peopke are asking for it, try preparing more of it. Last night the line basically assembled my salad with their eyes closed, scooping ingredients out and throwing them in the direction of my salad. It looked like something a game show contestant assemled while under pressure wearing goggles covered in whip cream. Apparently, they were having a contest amongst themselves to see how fast they could go, that makes sense because there weren't any patrons (that means customers for you common core graduates) behind me. They weren't shy about thier contest either because they kept making fun of how bad the person assembling my salad was. The store manager for this location needs to be "relocated." You would think a store located in a downtown area would be more important to the brand than this one is.
(1)
Scott K.

Yeah.... it's a chain. Yeah.... it's chain-store Mexican food. But it's not half-bad! The menu has just about anything on it that I might want to order... sure - you have to stand in line and bus your own trays.... but it's a centrally-located restaurant and the food is decent...what's not to love. Even their salsa passes my discriminating taste-test. BIG salads....BIG burritos....awesome tacos. I want to try their pork carnitas next time I go by there. They are open until 10:00 P.M. which is better than most of the Mexican eateries around SLC.
(3)
Hoa T.

The line tends to be ridiculously long at lunch but the food is decently priced and taste pretty good. Nothing too exciting but will definitely hit the spot for a quick Mexican craving.
(4)
Maddie D.

Everything here tastes like it has been marinating in a giant tub of sugar for days. If you're into that kind of thing (shout out to my white sorority girls and Mormon youth groups!) you may enjoy Cafe Rio. If you crave the spicy, complex flavors of authentic Mexican food, I recommend you stay far, far away. While the portions are huge the bland beans and watery "hot" sauce is enough for me to skip the take home box. If I smother my salad in their house ranch, it almost makes me want to finish the entire thing. Unfortunately the price for a dinner has been increasing yearly and the quality of food has seemed to conversely correlate. That being said, whenever I visit, the staff keeps an upbeat, friendly demeanor and likes to joke around while keeping it professional. Complaints about them "messing up orders" seem silly, as the food is made right in front of your face (online orders exempt, but even then, how much of a difference is there between your two choices of canned beans?) All in all, a little pricey for the quality, but if you're waiting in line, you knew what you were getting yourself into.
(3)
Whitney S.

I love cafe rio. But, I don't understand why it's so hard to cook the rice completely. Every time I order a burrito the rice is hard and crunchy.
(3)
Jt H.

It's basically just ridiculous how good the food is. It's insanely delicious. There's nothing special about the service or atmosphere, but the food is so good.
(4)
Jake S.

The management here is the worst I've ever seen in an state at any establishment. I'd never go back here. 1 star is far too generous...
(1)
Matthew H.

Honestly this is far and away the worst cafe rio location. Horrible management, the worst customer service I've seen in a long time, and incredibly rude employees who just cannot seem to listen. About 90% of the phone orders are completely wrong and about half of the in person orders, because they honestly don't care to listen to your requests. Terrible, terrible service. I would drive all the way to millcreek just for a salad, at least I would know it's made right. Most of the time I leave angry.
(1)
Drew H.

I have been a HUGE fan of Cafe Rio, but lately the quality of the food is decreasing, portion sizes are decreasing, prices are going up, and the last 4 times I've eaten here, they have messed up my order. They don't listen or acknowledge me when I am ordering, which is why they can't get the orders rights. I've been standing in a completely maxed out line que at 7:30pm and the staff is too busy futzing around instead of making the orders. The guy at station one is too busy using tossing unused aluminum tins like a frizzy, while the guy by the lettuce swats them down to the ground. It's with great amusement that we wait for them to play first before we can get dinner?
(1)
Victoria H.

I decided I wanted to eat some Mexican vittles, so I head on over to Cafe Rio. For $12.00 a plate it better be worth the cost. I get in line, and it's not busy. I start talking to one of the line preps, and her attitude was less than desirable. I began to feel unwelcome, but I was still needing my fix, so I order and hope it's untainted. The next individual was very pleasant, and he made my food to order. I approached the cashier, $12.00+ was the cost, and I requested a Rio card, no card was given. I was a little disappointed, but ate my comida and got out. I enjoyed the food. It's not the best, and definitely not worth the cost, but what can I do?
(2)
Rosanna K.

I looooove Cafe Rio! It's better than another chain that I will not name (starts with 'chip'). Seriously, Utah citizens are so lucky to have Cafe Rio. Their tomatillo dressing is bomb.com . I usually get their chicken salad, which comes with guac, salsa, rice, beans, lettuce, and tortilla chips all in a freshly made soft tortilla bowl. Speaking of, that tortilla is also something else. They are made fresh on the spinning skillet thing, and have really great texture and subtle flavor. I seriously feel almost ashamed that I am reviewing a chain restaurant on Yelp but I can't help it, I love this place.
(5)
Daniel C.

Cafe rio has perfected everything on their menu. Their pork is in a sweet sauce and it's just incredible. No restaurant can match it. Also, their sugar free strawberry lemonade is incredible. The only downside to this place is that it's not healthy...so you kind of have to eat there for just one meal a day, instead of all three ;)
(5)
Nigel L.

I hate admitting to myself how often I go here.
(5)
Ahmad K.

They put a good twist on eating Mexican food. They offer a salad with a pretty good dressing to pair with it and it's a good eat. The price is fair and the environment is good for lunch or for bigger groups. The food was tasty and can definitely be portioned into 2 smaller meals, for us students and others on a budget. So don't be worried about the price, because it is a little pricey for Mexican food
(4)
Penny H.

Terrible! I ordered some food, the employees pushed us through the line. They never asked what kind of sides or sauces we wanted. Then at the end of the line, a cleaning lady touched my food with cleaning gloves and contaminated my food with cleaning liquid. So we walked out and left the food and we won't be back.
(1)
Nick S.

Yuck. I ordered chicken enchiladas. I'm not sure what I just ate, but that was most definitely not what I was expecting. The sauce was slimey, pale green in color and disgustingly sweet. I managed to gag my way through one and I couldn't bring myself to choke down the other. Also, by the time I finished the first one, the second was almost floating in a gooey combination of green nastiness and what I hope was condensation that resulted from steam settling at the bottom of the tin cooking/serving container. This was in no way worth the $8.22 they charged me for it.
(1)
Erika S.

Shared the fire grilled steak salad and tortilla soup with my husband, cafe rio never disappoints. We love the house dressing, it's the best and we can't find any quite like it. If you want quick Americanized Mexican food, this is the place.
(4)
Chris W.

Thus ends Cafe Rio-ism! Years ago, this was a great place. It has gone downhill very much as they have expanded. It used to be a very impressive restaurant and now it's nothing special. There has been a huge drop in the quality of the staff and their enthusiasm. It's now on par with the DMV. Nobody cares about customers here and some people seem to truly hate life and be on the verge of committing suicide while working there. I encountered a young Mexican teen boy who was the most horrendously awful cashier I can remember in recent history. He was horrible on the phone, rude and unhelpful. And then in person, he had zero enthusiasm or courtesy. Everyone was very non-attentive, more interested in hiding in the kitchen to talk to each other than take care of customers at the counter or answer the phone. ------ FOOD: Enchiladas are gross. The green sauce is bitter. Burritos are very subpar when compared to other Mexican restaurants of comparable price. The "smothered" option is gross. That green sauce they use is disgustingly bitter. Salads are the ONLY thing to get here. The pork barbacoa salad is not bad. It used to be great and now it seems just ok. The house creamy dressing is good. ------- Do NOT come here for Mexican food, as it is not good at all. Come here for a salad and nothing more. Get the pork barbacoa salad or the steak salad, but save yourself from considering any other Mexican entree.
(1)
Tim K.

I appreciate Chipotle's sustainability practices, but they need to take a lesson from Cafe Rio. Cafe Rio does it right - from their freshly made tortillas to their killer salsas to their sooo delicious pork barbacoa. The wait at lunch time rush was unbelievable. We were about 12 people back and waited close to 20 minutes to order. So just a little heads up... This place is very popular. I've been to Cafe Rio in Las Vegas, Denver and Grand Junction and this SLC location by far makes the largest salads. PORK BARBACOA SALAD, DO IT!
(4)
Steven L.

The food was sloppily thrown together, their mint limeade was crusting at the top, one of the employees were chewing gum, and I found a small rubber band in my enchilada. So gross, I like cafe rio, but i will never go to this location again. The health department should close this location down.
(1)
Brett B.

The food was good. Out of salsa fresca but whatever. It happens. The 2 stars are for the panhandler pestering all the patrons and management doing nothing about it. Even when he lit up a joint. The whole restaurant smelled like weed. Hey management. Get on this.
(2)
Adam H.

Do yourself a favor and never order food for pick up. This is now my second experience of waiting a half hour for my food. I even came 15 minutes late and am surrounded by a mob of angry fellow suckers!
(1)
Rustin O.

Normally I am a huge cafe rio fan but the one at this location is pretty terrible. The service is soooo slow and the employees have no sense of urgency (even when it is extremely busy). The place is always filthy and the good never tastes fresh. They have messed up my order numerous times and every time I go in it seems like they mix someone's order up. Poor management I guess... Sadly it is the closest location to me. I would eat here a lot more if it was a bit more like the other Utah locations I have been to!
(2)
Victoria M.

Pork barbocoa salad ~ oh how I have missed you so! You were deinitely on my "to eat" list while in SLC & I must say, craving fulfilled! =)
(4)
Ryan B.

Well I can officially say I'm cured of my cafe rio addiction that started 10 years ago. The WORST service paired with the worst salad I've ever had ensures I will not be spending another dollar at cafe rio; at least the 4th south location. It took me 30 minutes to get my salad with only roughly 12 people ahead of me in line. The zit faced kid who took my order spent the time he should have been making food - belittling and berating his coworkers to the point that everyone in line felt super awkward. A level of unprofessionalism I didn't know existed. If you have a problem kid, talk to them by pulling them aside, not yelling at them for the world to hear. Your salad sucked. It was super soggy. I couldn't even eat a small portion of it. Never. Again.
(1)
Allison N.

I don't live in Utah, so I don't get to come to Cafe Rio that often. Cafe Rio is awesome and a step above Chipotle, which is still pretty darn good. One thing that's really impressive about Cafe Rio is that they hand make their tortillas every day. They are AWESOME, but massive. Just be aware. Their meat is really tasty and the pork barbacoa is sweet and juicy. The ingredients are all fresh and delicious. The only issue I really see with Cafe Rio is that it's insanely busy ALL THE TIME. I guess it's either a testament to the food options around but I've never not seen a Cafe Rio without a lot of people in it. Still, it's not totally detrimental to the experience. Now I'm going to go weep because we don't have Cafe Rio in my area. I'll be back soon, Cafe Rio!
(5)
James P.

As long as you can admit to yourself that eating at Cafe Rio isn't really eating at a Mexican restaurant, you should be happy with the food. Be prepared, at virtually any hour of the day, for legions of screaming, unattended children and LDS Business School co-eds inexplicably wearing matching polos on their lunch date. Five stars for the tortilla soup. Four stars for the salad dressing. One star for making me listen to the Eagles while I drown my burrito in Bufalo chipotle sauce.
(3)
Stephanie Q.

Everyone in Utah seems to call Cafe Rio the better version of Chipotle. It was really good, I can't decide which one I like better. I had the sweet BBQ roast pork burrito. HMMm amazing. I love the green sauce that they give you. I have no idea of what the sauce is made of but its delicious. I also had pinto beans, which is delicious. This place put me in a food coma but it was totally worth it.
(4)
Neal P.

I've had multiple good experiences at Cafe Rio but today was an utter disaster. I got food for me and my two young kids. Just after sitting down (of course) one child needed to go to the bathroom, so we left all our stuff and all went to accompany her. When we got back, half of our food (the kids' food) had been thrown out. Oddly, not my food. So I explained the situation and asked at the register for new food for the kids. They said okay. 5 minutes later, nothing had happened, so I asked again. They said that the order was in and they'd bring it to me. 15 minutes later nothing had happened. In the mean time, I discovered an eight-inch long hair embedded in my food. With my appetite gone and my kids bored out of their minds, we had to leave with no food having arrived for them.
(1)
Blake D.

Alright, I've been coming to Rio for probably 10+ years... And eaten there over 100 times... The bottom line, Rio is dank. Yes they aren't as good as 7 years ago but come on, some people are being pretty damn critical of a place that is.... Cafe rio I mean shit. Burritos are smaller these days, and sauces are little more watery but it's still a damn good, fresh meal that will satisfy even my biggest hungers... I've never in my 100+ times been treated with disrespect the way some people are describing in here... Yes it's no Zupas where you're greeted with an insanely huge smile and someone saying "WELCOME TO ZUPAS!!!!" Lol... (I hate that shit). And yes if you don't pay attention when you get to the glass window the employees will passive aggressively insult you haha... But that's just the cafe rio experience!
(4)
Cynthia B.

They were very friendly.... But they got both my orders wrong. I said no pico and they gave me pico. I said no cheese and they gave me cheese.
(3)
Tyler N.

I will never say a bad word about cafe rio. All the employees at this location are friendly and fast. Pork everything.
(5)
Mai H.

Love this place for a quick bite! I'm hooked! I had an amateur first time experience and didn't know what I was ordering or doing but I'll be going back and hopefully know what I'm ordering the second time around, still delicious!
(4)
Jill J.

Had a very bad experience trying to order gluten free here. They dont seem very sensitive to gluten intolerance. Food is good, but pricey. Costa vida is way better.
(2)
Carly T.

I like Cafe Rio, but I will NEVER go to this location again. Almost every time I go here there's this one employee (didn't get his name but he's white, has short brown hair, wears glasses) who seems to go out of his way to be rude to customers...even other friends have known exactly what guy I was talking about when I complained about this place! Tonight it was just that he chastised me for requesting vinaigrette dressing even though he'd already poured me house dressing (without asking what I wanted) but in the past he's implied that I'm too fat to be eating what I ordered, and even told my boyfriend he was being too controlling of me (maybe these were supposed to be jokes but they WERE NOT funny). I've tried ordering online to avoid this jerk, but every time I do that the order is wrong. It's honestly just not worth giving this location another chance
(1)
Wendy H.

It's dirty in here and seriously understaffed. I put in an online order an hour ago and they're too busy taking more phone orders to help the huge line of people picking up previous orders. I'm now late for the lunch meeting I'm bringing lunch to.
(1)
Katelyn B.

The bad reviews are making me so sad!!!! Cafe rio is one of my long time favorites. Salad, burrito, nachos... you cant go wrong with anything sweet pork!!! The tortilla soup is good and cheap too. I love the homemade mint limade as well!! You seriously cant go wrong. The portions are huge so the prices are fair. Sure its a little busy and the line is long during the lunch and dinner rush but it is worth the wait. Plus they are pretty darn fast for the quality of food they are making. The service is top notch, thr other day the line was pretty long so they gave everyone free drinks!!! Call ahead if you dont want to wait and dont forget to get a punch card for free meals, you will want to eat there lots and earn a free meal in no time, trust me!!!
(5)
Rachel M.

Food is so delicious. Definitely the best restaurant Utah has to offer. Chipotle-style, fresh fast food restaurant. A little more expensive than I'd like to see it, but oh so worth it! It's all about the sweet pork salad. All locations are always busy during mealtimes, but the line moves fast.
(5)
H Y.

I can normally over look the service if the food was spectacular. The food here was good but probably not good enough for me to over look the service. We came at 530pm and there was a long line, which is expected for a popular place. However, we did not expect to get sloppy food. They didn't even offer us drinks or desserts. They just wanted to move us along as fast as possible. We probably won't be back or if we do, we will try to order online first. It seems less chaotic.
(2)
Scott R.

Ahhhh CafÃ© Rio how I want to dislike you since you expanded into a chain. But I just can't do it. Your salads always hit the spot when I need that fix. The burrito always come out full of flavor. And tortillas to die for. I will even sometimes just get a tortilla as a side. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Keep making the food I crave and I will be back.
(4)
Colleen T.

Cafe Rio is Utah Mexican---and I dream about it when I'm back on the east coast! Sigh. I'm from out of town, and I agree with other reviewers: Cafe Rio isn't Tex Mex, nor is it actual Mexican food. It's delicious Utah Mexican, which means slightly gringo-style Mexican food made with heavier sauces and great seasoning, like their mayo-based home dressing. You cannot go wrong with salad-anything here. Think fresh lettuce, pico de gallo, tortilla strips, and an awesome cilantro dressing. MMM. I also love that there is lots of seating, and it seems fairly kid friendly. I always get the Tostada--it's delicious and filling! Try it with pulled pork and the house dressing! It's sweet and refreshing!
(5)
Jared L.

Steer clear of Cafe Rio and go to Chipotle. Came here on a recommendation that it was fantastic, heaping portions of Mexican food but I could not have been more disappointed. I should have known when I pulled up that it was going to be a poor experience. It's sloppy, quick "Mexican" thrown into a bowl. I had some flavorless enchiladas with steak and will hopefully never go again.
(1)
D. W.

This particular location, despite it being relatively inoffensive, as much as this chain can be, will get to bear the brunt of the other stores, many of whom can't be bothered to train their staff to understand what the phrase "no onions" is intended to mean, since evidently it's something incredibly vague somehow. The only thing tolerable I've had have been mostly salad related, but the idea of digging out a bunch of stuff from hot trays is about as appealing here as it is at Panda Express, which is to say not at all, not even remotely, though the cuts of meat here are worlds better than Panda Express. This is basically below standard food for higher than warranted prices. I've understood this is a play similar to Chipotle (where I also don't typically go) for this style of restaurant, where a handful of basic ingredients are used to "create" several "different" menu items, but it's impossible to get away from the idea that no matter how nice the pens and gates are, it's still sort of an adventure in cattle-herding to go through this restaurant and harder still to get away from the idea that eating there at all, even at the higher price level, is still slumming it on a culinary level.
(2)
Kyle K.

Huh. So lots of my coworkers really love Cafe Rio, and I thought we'd check it off our list when the wife and I were out looking for something fairly fast and delicious. We came away disappointed. Cafe Rio is a burrito assembly place along the lines of Chipotle, Barbacoa, etc. You can get burritos, or a salad, or a taco, with essentially the same ingredients. I ordered the Flamed Chicken ($1.00 extra) burrito, enchilada style ($1.00 extra -- with enchilada sauce and cheese and re-cooked through the high heat oven). The wife got a veggie burrito (which just meant extra beans and rice) enchilada style. For some reason, they didn't put cheese on top of hers before they sent it through the oven. We shared chips and salsa. My burrito was OK. The flame grilled chicken was tasty, and the enchilada sauce went well with it. The wife's however was pretty bad. There were no veggies to be had; the rice was actually undercooked (who wants crunchy rice in a Mexican burrito); and the sauce that went well with my chicken was bland with just beans. She tried to revive it with green chili sauce, but to no avail. The chips were way undersalted; the salsa uneventfully OK. You can get very similar burritos at Springmobile Ballpark for Salt Lake Bees games. There, everything it hot and fresh; the sauces are really flavorful; veggie burritos are full of ingredients; every item gets the hot oven treatment; and they're even CHEAPER than the 'ritos at Cafe Rio. Yes, I'm comparing food from a baseball game to Cafe Rio, and saying that the baseball food comes out on top, for less money. That's not a good thing for a restaurant with a pretty good reputation, at least among some SLC natives. Two stars.
(2)
Yingwai Y.

Oh Cafe Rio....how I've missed you! It's been 2 years since I last visited...and you lived up to my expectations! My friends and I were snowboarding in SLC for a few days, and stopped by for dinner our last night in the area. The pork salad never disappoints. Looking forward to going back next time we are back...unless they decide to expand to the east coast!
(5)
Benjamin B.

Great food but employees on two separate occasions forgot to start my order when I called ahead. Am currently waiting here on an order I called in a half hour ago while people who just came in are getting their food first.
(2)
Katherine P.

This was my first time at Cafe RÃo and it was great! I had an enchilada-style pork barbacoa burrito and it was huge. It was absolutely delicious, but maybe not the best idea to eat it all in one sitting!
(5)
Johnathan M.

This place is a must when craving a burrito. Make sure to get your burrito smothered (I prefer half pork half steak). The line can get outrageously long durning the lunch and dinner rush but you can always call your order in ahead. The house sauce is amazing and is usually given with salads (which are also delicious) but I like to drench on burrito. Defiantly can not go wrong with this place.
(5)
Cris A.

Don't get me wrong about the food, it's delicious. My main issue with this location is that they have messed up my call-in order three times in a row during rush hour when I do not have the luxury to wait in line for them to make my meal correctly. Whenever I call them to order I say that I want both types of beans and NO RICE. They in turn tell me that when one orders NO RICE it already means both types of beans. Well, not only do I NEVER receive both beans, but my burrito is stuffed with rice. I don't understand how it could be so difficult for them to NOT put something in my meal. It saves them an extra step. I have given them many chances to redeem themselves, but after the third time I'm done and over it. I'll go elsewhere.
(2)
Alex G.

Before you start knocking chain restaurants, know that Cafe Rio is actually a Utah business, and a good one at that. Fresh salads, satisfying burritos all made fresh to order in front of you. It's not the Red Iguana or Frida's Bistro. But it's not trying to be. I would recommend this to anyone, though it may be a bit more pricy then your average Assembly line restaurant.
(4)
Felipe Z.

I love Cafe Rio. Im not too big in their burritos or tacos, but their salads are the best. Their seasoning used for their meats, is incredible, and every salad can be so different because of that. Grilled chicken, Grilled steak, and the pulled pork are definitely some must gets when you try cafe rio. If you are feeling like eating a bit healthier you can ask for a wheat tortilla, and its still DELISH. no joke. go get foodiez 10 times, and you can fill up their punch card and get a free meal and hear the brown brothers and sisters scream "Freee Meaaaal" so that everyone know you are a cheap mofo that eats out too much at cafe rio, and are getting your next meal for free. SO LEGIT.
(4)
Ed Q.

I wouldn't classify it as Mexican, Tex-Mex, or Cal-Mex. I think it must be Ute-Mex. The delicious mayonnaise based creamy tomatillo dressing kind of falls in line with Utah's fry sauce, the state condiment. When I first moved here I thought "fry-sauce" meant ketchup but I was wrong. The food is good. I always get the fire-grilled chicken salad. I have also tried the Sopa de fideo and really liked it too but I keep coming back for the salads. They also have FRESH BREWED ice tea. Thank you Cafe Rio. For you sugary drink people, they also have a huge selection of flavored fountain drinks and Mexican style beverages. For the best fast Ute-Mex in the world, go to Cafe Rio.
(4)
Grace S.

Very crowded on a Saturday night before Christmas. Tried the cajun shrimp tacos. They were quite tasty as were the rice and beans. My complaint was for the drink options. The limeade was TOO sweet and the various tea options were all weird tasting (like the jasmine black tea or the blueberry green tea). Also, perhaps they were short-staffed but the dining room as quite messy--people left dirty napkins on the tables after they left and children were crawling all over the food-stained floors. Best to do takeout I guess.
(3)
Tom J.

Worst "Mexican" food I've had in memory. Though I try to write a review only after visiting a place more than once, I know I won't be going back. Reasons: 1. Ordered the pork barbecoa enchiladas. They came drenched in a disgustingly sweet, syrupy sauce that completely ruined the meal. Skimpy on the meat, and their whole wheat tortillas had an off flavor. Seriously, this is "award winning"? 2. They were out of corn tortillas. That's like an Italian restaurant being out of pasta. 3. The staff were not happy or especially friendly, except for the cashier. 4. My dining companion ordered a salad, which she thought was uninteresting and not worth the almost $10. 5. Tacky, touristy dÃ©cor. 6. Use of big disposable foil dishes even for dine-in customers, and styrofoam cups for water. Environmentally ridiculous. Only bonus was their water tap (under the Sprite tap) was messed up and was dispensing free seltzer water, haha. My advice: You want high quality Ameri-Mex, go to Chipotle, where you'll get a real burrito/salad at a great price. More environmentally conscious meat and packaging. You want authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price, go to Red Iguana.
(1)
Jessica K.

Cafe Rio is really tasty but the 400 s location has the worst service ever!!!! The worker making your food does not even speak to you . He looks off somewhere else and just yells words at you! Then just throws your choice of meat and salsa on your food! He never asked if we wanted lettuce on our burrito before throwing into the oven. Then the line lady asking if we want lettuce after the burrito comes out of the oven is appalled that we ask for it INSIDE the burrito!!! Then proceeded to half ass roll it back together! All the workers seem lazy and could care less to be there doing their job! Which is sad because they have great food but I guess I will drive across town if I ever crave it again.
(1)
Catherine F.

Cafe Rio is fantastic...when you are on 3300 S. This location (400 s) is so bad. Poorly managed. So disorganized. Food does not taste the same. We live so close to this location but we go to 3300 s every time. I am sorry, 400 s. But what happened to you?!
(2)
Josh T.

I moved to Seattle over 8 years ago and we don't have very good Mexican food in general, so every time I'm in Salt Lake I'm sure to stop by Cafe Rio. I managed to hit it up once for dinner and again at the airport on my way home! Go for the salads! Yum yum yum and so fresh! They're huge, but here's the real tip, if you want a half sized salad, get a tostada, its' basically a half-sized salad, the only downside is they put sour cream in lieu of guac which is a crime!
(5)
A N.

First off the food is fantastic! Can't go wrong with Cafe Rio. BUT this particular location really struggles. This is perhaps the slowest moving cafe rio staff I have witnessed (and I've visited many a cafe rio). The queso dip is amazing (a must try) but the chips were cold and soggy which stole another star from this place. Hopefully they improve but in the mean time check a different location for a better experience.
(3)
Nick W.

Extremely good, but they are not open on Sunday which sucks.
(5)
Kevin R.

This location used to be one of my favorites. The last 3 times over 6 months I have encountered poor food serving (dirty towel in the food by a server who wanted to throw the food away, but was chastised by the rest of the staff who encouraged the server to not throw away the food), bickering among the staff including cursing in English and Spanish, poor team work and finally... poor quality of food. The place now smells dirty and looks unclean. Where is the Salt Lake City Food Inspector?? When we asked for a manager, we were told there was no manager available. The place was understaffed with 3 people on the line. There was a huge order of 15 different items but the expeditor continued to take orders from other guests so the food continued to back up and stack up....and get cold. #Yuck. After waiting for more than 15 minutes in line and observing terrible team work, we broke out of the line and left the restaurant. I will go to other Cafe Rios because I generally like the food....but this location is now in my "Three Strikes and you're out!" status. I will not return....ever. The attitude of the staff seems to be a reflection of the management who have not responded to my Facebook posts or Tweets. So clearly.....they do not care at this location.
(1)
Nate S.

I've eaten a considerable number of Cafe Rio burritos, but I've never considered reviewing the joint because, well, it's freaking Cafe Rio. It's simplicity would seem to make reviewing unnecessary. Alas, after reading the primary criticisms of this "overpriced Mexican restaurant" I will say two things: 1. $8-9 for a burrito IS pretty steep if you eat the whole thing in one sitting. Of course, if you eat the whole thing in one sitting your real concern should be having to pay for two airplane or movie theater tickets for your soon-to-be diabetic self. A Cafe Rio burrito (or salad) should feed a normal human at least twice. 2. If at any point in the thinking about, driving to, ordering, or chewing process you believe that you are eating Mexican food (which, more broadly, is as useless a concept as "American food") then your next meal should include some "authentic" Navajo tacos (these will also work well with your dogged pursuit of crippling obesity). Cafe Rio is a thoroughly norte affair. It's fresher than most quick food, it has a range of options (no, you are not required to eat super sweet pork), and it's downright tasty. They do have an annoying practice of shouting at you over free food, but maybe they're just trying to keep you on your soon-to-be amputated toes.
(4)
Jen D.

Expensive for fast food Mexican. I see no difference than chipotle or others but the cost. Not impressed.
(2)
Janice C.

Wow - had the opportunity to eat at 2 different locations a few weeks ago. The food was great and the service was even better! The Staff was having fun working there! SO refreshing! The Taco Salad was really good - couldn't get enough of it. Thank you for the fun experience!
(5)
Candice S.

At first glance, the price tag seems ok. The tablespoon of sour cream and enchilada style sauce on my burrito was an extra $2, but it was evened out by the fact that they gave me 2 kids quesadillas for free for my ankle-biters. For a vegetarian, this place kinda sucks. Limited choices. The medium heat green sauce has pork in it (found out the hard way.) The hot sauce is WIMPY! I've had hotter and more flavorful sauce at Taco Bell. Pros: Their specials are a good deal, drink included. The tortillas are fresh. They have the awesome new touch screen Coke machines. Cons: Rice is bland and seriously undercooked and they only have one rice choice. Doesn't quite hit the spot if you are in the mood for a burrito.
(3)
Andrew D.

Quality fast-made "Mexican" food. Great taste, and fair price. The wait can be unacceptable during the lunch rush, so don't expect any guarantee that you will have time to sit and eat after getting your meal (assuming you can find an open table anyway). Not a complaint, just an FYI, as any good restaurant naturally draws a big crowd.
(4)
Frank M.

Really this place is good because of the tortillas. Even though I don't know if I consider this "authentic" Mexican food...whatever that means, the tortillas really rock. The are all thick and delicious. I sewed a bunch together and use them as a blanket for my child. The other stuff is good too. A little overpriced in my opinion though. Yeah Beto's may not be as good but it's literally half the price. This place seems very Mormon to me. Like a dude served his mission in Mexico and fell in love with a Mexican and opened this place up.
(4)
K R.

We are huge fans of Cafe Rio, and this location is our home Rio, so we are there at least a couple of times a month. My favorite is the veggie burrito, which has beans, rice and your choice of sauce (mild, medium or hot). It's around $7 and is a whole lot of food. My second favorite is the veggie salad, which has a giant tortilla, beans, rice, lettuce (ask for shredded), guacamole, pico de gallo, and your choice of dressing (my favorite is the cilantro lime vinaigrette). Again, this is a lot of food, probably more than one person should eat in an entire day, but it is so delicious that it's hard to resist. I've also tried the quesadilla which disappointingly is fried. It's too greasy. The tostada is pretty good too, kind of like the salad but smaller and with a corn tortilla. The problem with this meal is that by the time you get to the corn tortilla, it's soggy from all the pico and dressing and stuff. The enchiladas are good. The tamales (a daily special on Thursdays I think) are pretty good too. But the burrito and salad are by far my favorites. A note about this location is that it is typically hopping. To order there is chaotic and loud. So, we like to order by phone and come in to pick it up. It's a bit too loud there to have any sort of conversation, and it can be difficult to find an open table if there are more than 4 people in your party. Besides, the To Go staff are friendly and we love them. You can also order online and come in to pick it up. That works well because you can also pay online. So we often have had friends order their meals all for the same pick up time, go pick up all the meals, and bring them back to enjoy together.
(5)
Adam H.

Sure, Cafe Rio's a huge Salt Lake clichÃ© by now. But it's clichÃ© for a reason. The food's damn good. And damn consistent. I moved away from Salt Lake about 5 years ago, and I still dream of Rio's pork barbecoa in all its forms. Burritos, quesadillas, tacos, even salads. I think it's so good, I made it a point to stop at Cafe Rio for my first and last meal in Salt Lake last time I visited. Sure it's a chain. Sure it can be annoying to eat here sometimes. The food is always worth it. Cafe Rio does its own thing, though there are a few imitators by now. Their Salt Lake staying-power shows it. This place is STILL a winner.
(4)
Lisa P.

the salads here are PHENOMENAL. The pork salad was highly recommended, but it was wayyy to sweet for me. Now i get the steak salad at least once a week. portions are absolutely huge.. so i usually get two meals out of one salad. stick with the creamy house dressing. the soup is also really really good. sounded strange at first bc its kind of a chicken tortilla soup, but out of this world. then, one must end the meal with a chocolate cheese flan with sliced strawberries. perfection. Took off one star because there is always a hugeee line, both during lunch and dinner. def call and order ahead. parking is pain bc the lots usually full. wish they would deliver. oh... and they're not open sundays. major boooo Bonus - when you buy 10 meals, the next one's free :)
(4)
Ryan K.

Don't expect authentic Mexican when you go to CafÃ© Rio, but do expect quality, fresh food in generous portions. I only eat two things here: the pork burrito and the pork salad, both of which are quite tasty. Their tomatillo salad dressing is very good, and the tortillas are great. It's cafeteria-style dining and it can get busy at times.
(4)
Joshua S.

barbacoa pork salad. enough said. HOWEVER, it would really help if they had a half size salad selection.
(3)
Maria B.

I've struggled a little bit with this one... Yes, the place is kitschy but so what? The more important part is that I love their food. Delicious enchiladas with fire grilled chicken breast, fire grilled chicken burrito, fire grilled chicken salad... A lot of chicken, I know... The servings should be half the size though unless you have someone to share with or like eating leftovers the next day.
(4)
Michael M.

Outstanding food. Very good quality and very high volume ... That is a tough combination that they handle perfectly!
(5)
John S.

I love this place. The employees are very friendly. I have been here so many times they know me by name! I work for a law firm down town so I end up doing lunch runs almost daily. I think for the quality and price, fast service your going to have a hard time beating the value of Cafe Rio. Granted its not the Mexican food you'll find while walking the streets of Ensenada but that's not what they claim to be. They have a great menu, great food and great staff. It started in St. George Utah, Ive been going here since their first restaurant was opened!
(5)
Shon H.

I was in the mood for Mexican one day and I asked a co-worker for an opinion. I should have known better since this particular co-worker sports a faux hawk, and is quite trendy, but he said "Cafe Rio" and so I went. If you feel the need to order anything with the word "Barbicoa" in it, stay away. Because it tastes like it is cooked in Diet Coke with extra artificial sweetener, with the same horrible after taste. However, the Shrimp Taco special on tuesdays is decent. The Pico is awesome. However, I am not a Rabbit so they could hold back on the lettuce on the tacos. However this place is expensive, and I always feel like I was just violated when I come out of there. And they pile on the fillers like the beans and rice, which isn't bad, but I would rather have more shrimp as opposed to a ton of filler items. I would say go, but it isn't cheap. And leave your pre-conceptions of real mexican or even tex/mex at home because this place will ruin them.
(2)
Christopher W.

Cafe Rio is a Utah original. Please don't expect authentic Mexican cuisine while visiting Cafe Rio because you will be very disappointed. Cafe Rio is famous for their salads and dressing. People literally lose their minds over the salad dressing. (I really have found lost minds at CR, I swear to God) I must admit that last night was the first time I ordered the salad and it was pretty good, but nothing about it seemed Mexican other than it was made in a tortilla. I typically order the burrito or cheese enchiladas and have both smothered in their sweet, yet not spicy "medium" green sauce. I also always ask for a whole wheat tortilla because they are "healthy" and tasty. I have never left CR hungry because the serving sizes are mammoth. The prices are fair and the service is quick, unless there is a long line of hungry families with 4 kids each, then it seems to take FOREVER! I have never tried the meat here, but word is the pork will knock your socks off. Cafe Rio is what it is and people love it, I personally think it is A-OK.
(3)
Chris J.

Not quite its typical fresh finish, but I *did* catch 'em at closing time. Still, though, the pork barbacoa burrito is a classic that's hard to beat.
(4)
Tony C.

No chicken at 5pm? That's half the menu! They need to look into better management. The servers are usually very surly at this location. Parking is almost always a gigantic mess because of the location.
(1)
Kris B.

Grilled chicken salad. Not bad, but nothing special.
(3)
Mandy S.

The food is always good. Their system of taking your order and making your food is rather chaotic. My husband is a picky eater and he has a hard time getting them to make his food right. I would suggest they slow down a bit and actually listen to what people are ordering. Despite this annoyance we keep going back because we like their food so much.
(4)
Chelsea D.

As far as fake mexican cuisine goes its great! Pork Barbacoa Salad with the house creamy tomatillo dressing. HEAVEN in my mouth :-)
(4)
MC Free W.

Cafe Rio would fit in well at the Mexican Pavilion at Disney World's Epcot Center.
(2)
Johnny O.

my aunt raved about this place all day while we did some corny tourist sight seeing, so the foodie in me had to experience what all the fuss was about. well all i have to say is the pork barbacoa salad was delishious. also tasted some of my uncle's quesadillas with the fire grilled steak which was yummy too. next time i visit utah, i will definitely come back here. my only gripe about this place is the long lunch line you wait in before you order. but they make your food right infront of you, anyway you want it... well, i guess i can live with the line. deff recommend this place.. don't forget, pork salad is a must.....
(3)
Russ A.

I like the food but ridiculously slow line!!!
(2)
shane b.

Its definitely the American version of tex-mex because this is no where close to real Mexican food. I do enjoy a fat burrito done enchilada style but I don't go often because I just feel violated walking out of the place having dropped $12 for a burro and drink, that just ain't right ya know?
(3)
Jason F.

Despite the long lines, its rapid expansion, quality has remained. The food here is always good. They have a good selection of burritos, tacos, salads, and other Mexican foods. Be sure you try the pork, it is what put them on the map to be sure. As good as this place is the lines can be long and a table hard to find. Other locations I have rated the other locations at four stars and I really want to give this place five stars but I reserve five stars for only the best places. Service is excellent and the long line move quickly. Plus you have a chance to talk to your lunch companions while you wait. Yummy and consistent.
(4)
Jessica D.

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. Addicted to the Barbacoa pork specifically. other menu items sound really good but I got the barbacoa first, well over a year ago and cant NOT get it every time since, at least once a week. enchilada, burrito, salad, quesadilla, so long as the barbacoa is in it. have to bring a friend and talk them into the fideo or shrimp so I can try it, lol cause I cant not get the barbacoa. always leave pregnant with a little barbacoa food baby! hehe cant wait to go again. only complaint is not open sunday to get my fix!
(5)
Harshil P.

Very Nice Maxican Food. I'm new in Salt Lake City and my friend took me to this restaurant. I have tried first time Cafe Rio Salad with Fire Grilled Chicken Breast and it's so delicious.
(5)
Richard S.

The food is fresh, but all of the slow roasted meat seems to have a lot of sugar added to it. The main draw back is that I always feel like a pig waiting in line for the trough or a cow because of the Disney style line that twists up to the food counter and checkout. It is always so crowded with a lot of overweight people chomping down. The smell is not pretty.....think musty sweaty mexican food mixed with body odors. So, my issue isnt with price or the food so much, but the setting. Squeal or moo!
(2)
Anh V.

This is not the place to go if you're on a diet. Let me repeat, stay away from this place if you're on a diet (unless this is the only meal you're eating for the day). The burrito here is huge. This is no where close to an authentic Mexican burrito, but if you put the authenticity aside, it's not as bad. I've only tried the Fire Grilled Steak and the Pork Carnitas here and IMO, the Pork Carnitas here is not as good as Chipotle. Try a Fire Griled Steak burrito, or better yet, try a Fire Grilled Steak salad. What they call a Salad here is not what a normal western looks like. It's more like an unwrapper burrito!
(3)
Sandeep P.

I am a vegetarian. I ordered a cheese + beans + rice burrito at the Cafe Rio (532E, 400S). I got one and started eating only to realize midway that it contained steak. I took it to the guys serving there and asked about it. They were very unapologetic and said, "It happens when we are busy". The fact is that they were completely free when I went with only 2 people behind us and 2 in front. I asked them to refund my money and they did, after verifying the receipt. Frustrated with it, they asked for the remains of my burrito and threw it into dustbin. Not that I cared for it, I'd have done the same too. But, they just didn't look like saying a sorry to me.
(1)
T P.

I LOVE Cafe Rio! You can't go wrong with the pork salad, it's so yummy! Make sure to go before the lunch rush or after or you'll be waiting in line for awhile. The food is good and the price is reasonable. The portions are huge so you could probably split with someone. I like to order my own so I can take the rest home for lunch the next day. It's a busy place but worth the wait. I would definitely recommend anything with the pork.
(5)
Jamie W.

Great Mexican food w/ Fast Service.
(4)
Flannery S.

totally awesome burritos and salads. getting pulled pork (either burrito or salad) is absolutely to die for. i almost feel like a fat kid for wanting to eat the whole thing at once, but that's what cafe rio does to you. i must warne you, though, the line at lunch is pretty outrageous.
(4)
Glenna A.

I've been hearing that I needed to try Cafe Rio for the past year, and so my friend and I decided to try eating there tonight. You order at a counter behind which are trays of open food, different meats, beans, rice and the other fixings. While we were placing our order, an employee started sweeping the floor really hard right beside the open trays of food, and the person taking our order was extremely rude. Although we were eating in, our food came served in disposable, aluminum pans, which is extremely annoying, but can be tolerated if the food is extremely good. I ordered chicken enchiladas with black beans and rice. The enchiladas came topped with about a half pound of melted cheese on top. I was able to scrape the cheese off quite easily, but the chicken was so salty I could barely swallow it. The rice had an unusually strange taste and was not to our liking at all. My friend ordered a steak enchilada which was also so salty he couldn't eat it. After eating about one fourth of our meals and leaving, all we could think of was getting some gum or something to get the horrible aftertaste out of our mouths. We will definitely not be eating here again, nor will we be recommending this place to anyone.
(1)
Katelyn B.

The bad reviews are making me so sad!!!! Cafe rio is one of my long time favorites. Salad, burrito, nachos... you cant go wrong with anything sweet pork!!! The tortilla soup is good and cheap too. I love the homemade mint limade as well!! You seriously cant go wrong. The portions are huge so the prices are fair. Sure its a little busy and the line is long during the lunch and dinner rush but it is worth the wait. Plus they are pretty darn fast for the quality of food they are making. The service is top notch, thr other day the line was pretty long so they gave everyone free drinks!!! Call ahead if you dont want to wait and dont forget to get a punch card for free meals, you will want to eat there lots and earn a free meal in no time, trust me!!!
(5)
Rachel M.

Food is so delicious. Definitely the best restaurant Utah has to offer. Chipotle-style, fresh fast food restaurant. A little more expensive than I'd like to see it, but oh so worth it! It's all about the sweet pork salad. All locations are always busy during mealtimes, but the line moves fast.
(5)
H Y.

I can normally over look the service if the food was spectacular. The food here was good but probably not good enough for me to over look the service. We came at 530pm and there was a long line, which is expected for a popular place. However, we did not expect to get sloppy food. They didn't even offer us drinks or desserts. They just wanted to move us along as fast as possible. We probably won't be back or if we do, we will try to order online first. It seems less chaotic.
(2)
Scott R.

Ahhhh CafÃ© Rio how I want to dislike you since you expanded into a chain. But I just can't do it. Your salads always hit the spot when I need that fix. The burrito always come out full of flavor. And tortillas to die for. I will even sometimes just get a tortilla as a side. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Keep making the food I crave and I will be back.
(4)
Colleen T.

Cafe Rio is Utah Mexican---and I dream about it when I'm back on the east coast! Sigh. I'm from out of town, and I agree with other reviewers: Cafe Rio isn't Tex Mex, nor is it actual Mexican food. It's delicious Utah Mexican, which means slightly gringo-style Mexican food made with heavier sauces and great seasoning, like their mayo-based home dressing. You cannot go wrong with salad-anything here. Think fresh lettuce, pico de gallo, tortilla strips, and an awesome cilantro dressing. MMM. I also love that there is lots of seating, and it seems fairly kid friendly. I always get the Tostada--it's delicious and filling! Try it with pulled pork and the house dressing! It's sweet and refreshing!
(5)
Jared L.

Steer clear of Cafe Rio and go to Chipotle. Came here on a recommendation that it was fantastic, heaping portions of Mexican food but I could not have been more disappointed. I should have known when I pulled up that it was going to be a poor experience. It's sloppy, quick "Mexican" thrown into a bowl. I had some flavorless enchiladas with steak and will hopefully never go again.
(1)
D. W.

This particular location, despite it being relatively inoffensive, as much as this chain can be, will get to bear the brunt of the other stores, many of whom can't be bothered to train their staff to understand what the phrase "no onions" is intended to mean, since evidently it's something incredibly vague somehow. The only thing tolerable I've had have been mostly salad related, but the idea of digging out a bunch of stuff from hot trays is about as appealing here as it is at Panda Express, which is to say not at all, not even remotely, though the cuts of meat here are worlds better than Panda Express. This is basically below standard food for higher than warranted prices. I've understood this is a play similar to Chipotle (where I also don't typically go) for this style of restaurant, where a handful of basic ingredients are used to "create" several "different" menu items, but it's impossible to get away from the idea that no matter how nice the pens and gates are, it's still sort of an adventure in cattle-herding to go through this restaurant and harder still to get away from the idea that eating there at all, even at the higher price level, is still slumming it on a culinary level.
(2)
Johnny O.

my aunt raved about this place all day while we did some corny tourist sight seeing, so the foodie in me had to experience what all the fuss was about. well all i have to say is the pork barbacoa salad was delishious. also tasted some of my uncle's quesadillas with the fire grilled steak which was yummy too. next time i visit utah, i will definitely come back here. my only gripe about this place is the long lunch line you wait in before you order. but they make your food right infront of you, anyway you want it... well, i guess i can live with the line. deff recommend this place.. don't forget, pork salad is a must.....
(3)
Russ A.

I like the food but ridiculously slow line!!!
(2)
Kyle K.

Huh. So lots of my coworkers really love Cafe Rio, and I thought we'd check it off our list when the wife and I were out looking for something fairly fast and delicious. We came away disappointed. Cafe Rio is a burrito assembly place along the lines of Chipotle, Barbacoa, etc. You can get burritos, or a salad, or a taco, with essentially the same ingredients. I ordered the Flamed Chicken ($1.00 extra) burrito, enchilada style ($1.00 extra -- with enchilada sauce and cheese and re-cooked through the high heat oven). The wife got a veggie burrito (which just meant extra beans and rice) enchilada style. For some reason, they didn't put cheese on top of hers before they sent it through the oven. We shared chips and salsa. My burrito was OK. The flame grilled chicken was tasty, and the enchilada sauce went well with it. The wife's however was pretty bad. There were no veggies to be had; the rice was actually undercooked (who wants crunchy rice in a Mexican burrito); and the sauce that went well with my chicken was bland with just beans. She tried to revive it with green chili sauce, but to no avail. The chips were way undersalted; the salsa uneventfully OK. You can get very similar burritos at Springmobile Ballpark for Salt Lake Bees games. There, everything it hot and fresh; the sauces are really flavorful; veggie burritos are full of ingredients; every item gets the hot oven treatment; and they're even CHEAPER than the 'ritos at Cafe Rio. Yes, I'm comparing food from a baseball game to Cafe Rio, and saying that the baseball food comes out on top, for less money. That's not a good thing for a restaurant with a pretty good reputation, at least among some SLC natives. Two stars.
(2)
Yingwai Y.

Oh Cafe Rio....how I've missed you! It's been 2 years since I last visited...and you lived up to my expectations! My friends and I were snowboarding in SLC for a few days, and stopped by for dinner our last night in the area. The pork salad never disappoints. Looking forward to going back next time we are back...unless they decide to expand to the east coast!
(5)
Benjamin B.

Great food but employees on two separate occasions forgot to start my order when I called ahead. Am currently waiting here on an order I called in a half hour ago while people who just came in are getting their food first.
(2)
Katherine P.

This was my first time at Cafe RÃo and it was great! I had an enchilada-style pork barbacoa burrito and it was huge. It was absolutely delicious, but maybe not the best idea to eat it all in one sitting!
(5)
Johnathan M.

This place is a must when craving a burrito. Make sure to get your burrito smothered (I prefer half pork half steak). The line can get outrageously long durning the lunch and dinner rush but you can always call your order in ahead. The house sauce is amazing and is usually given with salads (which are also delicious) but I like to drench on burrito. Defiantly can not go wrong with this place.
(5)
Cris A.

Don't get me wrong about the food, it's delicious. My main issue with this location is that they have messed up my call-in order three times in a row during rush hour when I do not have the luxury to wait in line for them to make my meal correctly. Whenever I call them to order I say that I want both types of beans and NO RICE. They in turn tell me that when one orders NO RICE it already means both types of beans. Well, not only do I NEVER receive both beans, but my burrito is stuffed with rice. I don't understand how it could be so difficult for them to NOT put something in my meal. It saves them an extra step. I have given them many chances to redeem themselves, but after the third time I'm done and over it. I'll go elsewhere.
(2)
Alex G.

Before you start knocking chain restaurants, know that Cafe Rio is actually a Utah business, and a good one at that. Fresh salads, satisfying burritos all made fresh to order in front of you. It's not the Red Iguana or Frida's Bistro. But it's not trying to be. I would recommend this to anyone, though it may be a bit more pricy then your average Assembly line restaurant.
(4)
Felipe Z.

I love Cafe Rio. Im not too big in their burritos or tacos, but their salads are the best. Their seasoning used for their meats, is incredible, and every salad can be so different because of that. Grilled chicken, Grilled steak, and the pulled pork are definitely some must gets when you try cafe rio. If you are feeling like eating a bit healthier you can ask for a wheat tortilla, and its still DELISH. no joke. go get foodiez 10 times, and you can fill up their punch card and get a free meal and hear the brown brothers and sisters scream "Freee Meaaaal" so that everyone know you are a cheap mofo that eats out too much at cafe rio, and are getting your next meal for free. SO LEGIT.
(4)
Ed Q.

I wouldn't classify it as Mexican, Tex-Mex, or Cal-Mex. I think it must be Ute-Mex. The delicious mayonnaise based creamy tomatillo dressing kind of falls in line with Utah's fry sauce, the state condiment. When I first moved here I thought "fry-sauce" meant ketchup but I was wrong. The food is good. I always get the fire-grilled chicken salad. I have also tried the Sopa de fideo and really liked it too but I keep coming back for the salads. They also have FRESH BREWED ice tea. Thank you Cafe Rio. For you sugary drink people, they also have a huge selection of flavored fountain drinks and Mexican style beverages. For the best fast Ute-Mex in the world, go to Cafe Rio.
(4)
Grace S.

Very crowded on a Saturday night before Christmas. Tried the cajun shrimp tacos. They were quite tasty as were the rice and beans. My complaint was for the drink options. The limeade was TOO sweet and the various tea options were all weird tasting (like the jasmine black tea or the blueberry green tea). Also, perhaps they were short-staffed but the dining room as quite messy--people left dirty napkins on the tables after they left and children were crawling all over the food-stained floors. Best to do takeout I guess.
(3)
Tom J.

Worst "Mexican" food I've had in memory. Though I try to write a review only after visiting a place more than once, I know I won't be going back. Reasons: 1. Ordered the pork barbecoa enchiladas. They came drenched in a disgustingly sweet, syrupy sauce that completely ruined the meal. Skimpy on the meat, and their whole wheat tortillas had an off flavor. Seriously, this is "award winning"? 2. They were out of corn tortillas. That's like an Italian restaurant being out of pasta. 3. The staff were not happy or especially friendly, except for the cashier. 4. My dining companion ordered a salad, which she thought was uninteresting and not worth the almost $10. 5. Tacky, touristy dÃ©cor. 6. Use of big disposable foil dishes even for dine-in customers, and styrofoam cups for water. Environmentally ridiculous. Only bonus was their water tap (under the Sprite tap) was messed up and was dispensing free seltzer water, haha. My advice: You want high quality Ameri-Mex, go to Chipotle, where you'll get a real burrito/salad at a great price. More environmentally conscious meat and packaging. You want authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price, go to Red Iguana.
(1)
Jessica K.

Cafe Rio is really tasty but the 400 s location has the worst service ever!!!! The worker making your food does not even speak to you . He looks off somewhere else and just yells words at you! Then just throws your choice of meat and salsa on your food! He never asked if we wanted lettuce on our burrito before throwing into the oven. Then the line lady asking if we want lettuce after the burrito comes out of the oven is appalled that we ask for it INSIDE the burrito!!! Then proceeded to half ass roll it back together! All the workers seem lazy and could care less to be there doing their job! Which is sad because they have great food but I guess I will drive across town if I ever crave it again.
(1)
Catherine F.

Cafe Rio is fantastic...when you are on 3300 S. This location (400 s) is so bad. Poorly managed. So disorganized. Food does not taste the same. We live so close to this location but we go to 3300 s every time. I am sorry, 400 s. But what happened to you?!
(2)
Josh T.

I moved to Seattle over 8 years ago and we don't have very good Mexican food in general, so every time I'm in Salt Lake I'm sure to stop by Cafe Rio. I managed to hit it up once for dinner and again at the airport on my way home! Go for the salads! Yum yum yum and so fresh! They're huge, but here's the real tip, if you want a half sized salad, get a tostada, its' basically a half-sized salad, the only downside is they put sour cream in lieu of guac which is a crime!
(5)
A N.

First off the food is fantastic! Can't go wrong with Cafe Rio. BUT this particular location really struggles. This is perhaps the slowest moving cafe rio staff I have witnessed (and I've visited many a cafe rio). The queso dip is amazing (a must try) but the chips were cold and soggy which stole another star from this place. Hopefully they improve but in the mean time check a different location for a better experience.
(3)
Kevin R.

This location used to be one of my favorites. The last 3 times over 6 months I have encountered poor food serving (dirty towel in the food by a server who wanted to throw the food away, but was chastised by the rest of the staff who encouraged the server to not throw away the food), bickering among the staff including cursing in English and Spanish, poor team work and finally... poor quality of food. The place now smells dirty and looks unclean. Where is the Salt Lake City Food Inspector?? When we asked for a manager, we were told there was no manager available. The place was understaffed with 3 people on the line. There was a huge order of 15 different items but the expeditor continued to take orders from other guests so the food continued to back up and stack up....and get cold. #Yuck. After waiting for more than 15 minutes in line and observing terrible team work, we broke out of the line and left the restaurant. I will go to other Cafe Rios because I generally like the food....but this location is now in my "Three Strikes and you're out!" status. I will not return....ever. The attitude of the staff seems to be a reflection of the management who have not responded to my Facebook posts or Tweets. So clearly.....they do not care at this location.
(1)
Nate S.

I've eaten a considerable number of Cafe Rio burritos, but I've never considered reviewing the joint because, well, it's freaking Cafe Rio. It's simplicity would seem to make reviewing unnecessary. Alas, after reading the primary criticisms of this "overpriced Mexican restaurant" I will say two things: 1. $8-9 for a burrito IS pretty steep if you eat the whole thing in one sitting. Of course, if you eat the whole thing in one sitting your real concern should be having to pay for two airplane or movie theater tickets for your soon-to-be diabetic self. A Cafe Rio burrito (or salad) should feed a normal human at least twice. 2. If at any point in the thinking about, driving to, ordering, or chewing process you believe that you are eating Mexican food (which, more broadly, is as useless a concept as "American food") then your next meal should include some "authentic" Navajo tacos (these will also work well with your dogged pursuit of crippling obesity). Cafe Rio is a thoroughly norte affair. It's fresher than most quick food, it has a range of options (no, you are not required to eat super sweet pork), and it's downright tasty. They do have an annoying practice of shouting at you over free food, but maybe they're just trying to keep you on your soon-to-be amputated toes.
(4)
Jen D.

Expensive for fast food Mexican. I see no difference than chipotle or others but the cost. Not impressed.
(2)
Janice C.

Wow - had the opportunity to eat at 2 different locations a few weeks ago. The food was great and the service was even better! The Staff was having fun working there! SO refreshing! The Taco Salad was really good - couldn't get enough of it. Thank you for the fun experience!
(5)
Candice S.

At first glance, the price tag seems ok. The tablespoon of sour cream and enchilada style sauce on my burrito was an extra $2, but it was evened out by the fact that they gave me 2 kids quesadillas for free for my ankle-biters. For a vegetarian, this place kinda sucks. Limited choices. The medium heat green sauce has pork in it (found out the hard way.) The hot sauce is WIMPY! I've had hotter and more flavorful sauce at Taco Bell. Pros: Their specials are a good deal, drink included. The tortillas are fresh. They have the awesome new touch screen Coke machines. Cons: Rice is bland and seriously undercooked and they only have one rice choice. Doesn't quite hit the spot if you are in the mood for a burrito.
(3)
Andrew D.

Quality fast-made "Mexican" food. Great taste, and fair price. The wait can be unacceptable during the lunch rush, so don't expect any guarantee that you will have time to sit and eat after getting your meal (assuming you can find an open table anyway). Not a complaint, just an FYI, as any good restaurant naturally draws a big crowd.
(4)
Frank M.

Really this place is good because of the tortillas. Even though I don't know if I consider this "authentic" Mexican food...whatever that means, the tortillas really rock. The are all thick and delicious. I sewed a bunch together and use them as a blanket for my child. The other stuff is good too. A little overpriced in my opinion though. Yeah Beto's may not be as good but it's literally half the price. This place seems very Mormon to me. Like a dude served his mission in Mexico and fell in love with a Mexican and opened this place up.
(4)
K R.

We are huge fans of Cafe Rio, and this location is our home Rio, so we are there at least a couple of times a month. My favorite is the veggie burrito, which has beans, rice and your choice of sauce (mild, medium or hot). It's around $7 and is a whole lot of food. My second favorite is the veggie salad, which has a giant tortilla, beans, rice, lettuce (ask for shredded), guacamole, pico de gallo, and your choice of dressing (my favorite is the cilantro lime vinaigrette). Again, this is a lot of food, probably more than one person should eat in an entire day, but it is so delicious that it's hard to resist. I've also tried the quesadilla which disappointingly is fried. It's too greasy. The tostada is pretty good too, kind of like the salad but smaller and with a corn tortilla. The problem with this meal is that by the time you get to the corn tortilla, it's soggy from all the pico and dressing and stuff. The enchiladas are good. The tamales (a daily special on Thursdays I think) are pretty good too. But the burrito and salad are by far my favorites. A note about this location is that it is typically hopping. To order there is chaotic and loud. So, we like to order by phone and come in to pick it up. It's a bit too loud there to have any sort of conversation, and it can be difficult to find an open table if there are more than 4 people in your party. Besides, the To Go staff are friendly and we love them. You can also order online and come in to pick it up. That works well because you can also pay online. So we often have had friends order their meals all for the same pick up time, go pick up all the meals, and bring them back to enjoy together.
(5)
Lisa P.

the salads here are PHENOMENAL. The pork salad was highly recommended, but it was wayyy to sweet for me. Now i get the steak salad at least once a week. portions are absolutely huge.. so i usually get two meals out of one salad. stick with the creamy house dressing. the soup is also really really good. sounded strange at first bc its kind of a chicken tortilla soup, but out of this world. then, one must end the meal with a chocolate cheese flan with sliced strawberries. perfection. Took off one star because there is always a hugeee line, both during lunch and dinner. def call and order ahead. parking is pain bc the lots usually full. wish they would deliver. oh... and they're not open sundays. major boooo Bonus - when you buy 10 meals, the next one's free :)
(4)
Ryan K.

Don't expect authentic Mexican when you go to CafÃ© Rio, but do expect quality, fresh food in generous portions. I only eat two things here: the pork burrito and the pork salad, both of which are quite tasty. Their tomatillo salad dressing is very good, and the tortillas are great. It's cafeteria-style dining and it can get busy at times.
(4)
Joshua S.

barbacoa pork salad. enough said. HOWEVER, it would really help if they had a half size salad selection.
(3)
Maria B.

I've struggled a little bit with this one... Yes, the place is kitschy but so what? The more important part is that I love their food. Delicious enchiladas with fire grilled chicken breast, fire grilled chicken burrito, fire grilled chicken salad... A lot of chicken, I know... The servings should be half the size though unless you have someone to share with or like eating leftovers the next day.
(4)
Michael M.

Outstanding food. Very good quality and very high volume ... That is a tough combination that they handle perfectly!
(5)
Shon H.

I was in the mood for Mexican one day and I asked a co-worker for an opinion. I should have known better since this particular co-worker sports a faux hawk, and is quite trendy, but he said "Cafe Rio" and so I went. If you feel the need to order anything with the word "Barbicoa" in it, stay away. Because it tastes like it is cooked in Diet Coke with extra artificial sweetener, with the same horrible after taste. However, the Shrimp Taco special on tuesdays is decent. The Pico is awesome. However, I am not a Rabbit so they could hold back on the lettuce on the tacos. However this place is expensive, and I always feel like I was just violated when I come out of there. And they pile on the fillers like the beans and rice, which isn't bad, but I would rather have more shrimp as opposed to a ton of filler items. I would say go, but it isn't cheap. And leave your pre-conceptions of real mexican or even tex/mex at home because this place will ruin them.
(2)
Johnny L.

Some people have a restaurant they always fall back on when they're hungry. For me, that's cafe rio. As a college student looking for meals that are high in value, a sweet pork barbacoa salad is my choice on almost any given day. I always get extra everything (minus extra guac and sauce because they'll charge you a $1 more each) and the salad is always piled to the brim. For just under $10, you get a meal comprised of almost all your essential macros that could feed you for lunch and dinner. Not only that, but it's hard for me to get sick of eating a cafe rio salad. The combination of all the unique flavors from the lettuce, the sweet pork, the pico de gallo, the tortilla strips, the beans (even though I don't like beans), and the tortilla itself is nothing short of fantastic. I've been a regular my whole life and will continue to have my loyalty card stamped. If you have leftovers, try rolling the rest of your salad into a burrito. It tastes just as good.
(4)
Monica V.

This Cafe Rio is always busy, but the workers are efficient and friendly. They aren't skimpy with portion sizes of meat or toppings which I appreciate. I'm obsessed with their Pork Barbacoa any way it's offered. Whether it be a quesadilla, burrito, or salad, I love it all. The tomatillo dressing is delicious and so are their lemonade drinks!
(4)
Angela L.

The food is decent but it's no Red Iguana. Based on the line for it each day you'd think otherwise. Whatever you do, DON'T try ordering online! We've done it three times now and it's never accurate. Not that you should attempt to stand in that line either. Seriously, it gives me Disney World flashbacks.
(2)
Angie F.

Hands down the worst Cafe Rio I have ever been to! My husband and I love Cafe Rio it's one of our go to places. We stopped at this location for dinner tonight and it was terrible! I always get a chicken salad because they are so addictive. There was nothing good about this one! The rice was so hard I don't think they cooked it at all! The chicken had was tough and was in huge gigantic pieces when it's supposed to be shredded. The few beans they gave me seemed over cooked and were mushy. They usually give you a good size scoop of guacamole there was barely a teaspoon worth! But the worst of it was the salad dressing. For me that's what really makes the salad. It had no flavor whatsoever! Worst salad I have ever gotten! My husband always get the pork burrito and he said it was terrible! Same issues with the rice and beans. He said the pork tasted like it had been sitting out for hours. Also their drink station was out of Coke and Co2. When I told one of the workers she said they'd fix it I waited 20 minutes and they never replaced the syrup or adjusted the Co2, I checked twice. It was altogether a horrible experience and we will NEVER return to this location! We would have had better food at Taco Bell.
(1)
Rebecca W.

Consistently perfect every time. Great food, fast service, always reliable flavors. And now the drinks they've been adding to the line up are the perfect pairing with their entrees.
(5)
Ellen W.

Too fast and too generous. Wow!! I applaud the workers behind the counter who handle the long hungry lines of the dinner rush like it is no one else's business. Their Sweet Pork is so sweet, sour, and tasty. I would get it alone wrapped in a plain tortilla and cilantro. It's way too tangy to mix with all the other flavors of the salsas, sauces, etc etc. The Fire Grilled Chicken Burrito enchilada style is amazing!! Try it. So good!! Portions are HUGE here -- unlimited garnishes and fixings (cilantro, salsa, lettuce, sauces) and GUACAMOLE is included!! Yes, guacamole comes with your meal, but Cafe Rio meals come out to be $9-10, whereas Chipotle is $7 (+$2.50 for guac) so it all balances out. Chipotle is probably the cleaner, healthier version of Cafe Rio. The menu choices are different too, so whatever floats your boat. I prefer Chipotle's grilled chicken and fixings more but Cafe Rio's Sweet Pork is definitely on point!
(4)
Emily H.

Cafe rio's food is always fantastic. The pork salad is to die for. The only problem with this location is that it has terrible service. Don't order to go or your food will be wrong every time. I used to order the kids meal because it was a perfect size. It come with the quesadilla, rice or beans, pico and chips. They forgot my chips and I asked for them and they argued that it doesn't come with chips. I told them yes it does and they finally were like we will give you chips just this once so I asked the worker to come look at the menu sign with me and they did and right there on the menu it says with chips. The chips dont really matter, but this shows the level of customer service at this location.
(1)
Meagan B.

I can't believe I've never done a review of Cafe Rio...although, I'm not sure there is much left to say. They're wicked awesome. Their tortillas are amazing, both texture and flavor. The Tomatillo dressing is ridiculous, and I wish I could freeze it, so I could load up on that stuff. I always get a salad, which is two meals in one. First the greens, then I roll up the rice and beans with the tortilla, and I have myself a burrito the next day ;) I can only hope I never have to live in a state without a Cafe Rio. No other place compares. I will say, 4th South in Utah is the absolute best. The one on 33rd South seems to screw it up sometimes, so we don't enjoy going to that one. But 4th South knows what they're doing, and it's always delicious.
(5)
Eva C.

Terrible service. We were the only ones in line and multiple employees stood around ignoring us. I order a taco plate and the guy proceeded to fill it with pork without asking me what meat I wanted. When I told him he threw the meat and acted like I was an inconvenience to them. The lady then reluctantly added toppings to the tacos with her own agenda and determined to put pico. The lady at the cashier was the worst. So upset that we were there. We were such an inconvenience to everyone for wanting to eat there. Such terrible attitudes. It didn't help that my taco was then very sad and basically slapped together.
(1)
Kay P.

I like this location bc they aren't stingy about their add ons unlike the location at the valley fair mall in west valley. This place is always busiest during 12-2 pm. I always order the sweet pork salad without rice and extra pork and they don't charge me and are generous with their portions. If I want extra house dressing, salsa or meat- they never charge. The west valley location charges 25-1.50 for anything extra. The staff here seems friendlier than the other locations I've visited which is a nice change. I do not recommend calling in your order bc every time I called in, my order was wrong. I don't mind waiting in line bc I at least get to see how my meal is being prepared.
(3)
Shaun L.

This place is solid. Huge portions, line goes fast as fuuuuq n the homie in charge of the meat n beans was real nice w a good attitude in a place where the grumpy person would normally be! I'll be back!
(5)
Saravana K.

Absolutely horrible service and unacceptable behavior. There were probably 20 people standing behind me and everyone who were working were ignoring and standing idle. When they speak, they start speak spanish. I ordered Nachos and even though it is a big bowl of chips, there are not enough other stuff that goes into it. They rush through it as though they want you out as soon as possible. Not a worthy place to go.
(1)
Brian B.

Food ordering and checkout system is painful. From the start to the end of your order there will be three or four people involved with your food, all of whom are rushed and aggressive, trying to push you through the line as fast as possible. I only ordered for two, yet I failed to keep track of the food as it zipped here and there behind the counter and through various stations like a frenzied ball through a Rube Goldberg contraption. They will slop things on your dish AS they ask you if you want it, then you have to shout "no no please!" and then they will get an attitude because you're slowing down the machine. Ordering food should not be this stressful, I felt like a raw recruit at boot camp being hazed at the mess hall. This loud, hectic, confused ordering system led to a couple serious errors beyond a mild case of PTSD. First, though I had to shout to stop the man from piling rice on my salad, a different salad ended up being bagged for me so I got the stupid rice after all. It is impossible to track your food from one end to the other when it's busy. Second, I ordered a steak burrito, but the steak was clearly running on empty. Instead of apologizing and offering me something else, the employee just dug around the bottom of the pan and served me up a half portion of charred, oily steak leavings like the shake at the bottom of a jerky bag. I had to pipe up again and call foul, "just throw some chicken in there for me please." Finally, the beans were plainly a watery mess, yet they ladled it up anyway, maybe 1/5 beans to 4/5 soupy runoff. In the end, I was just happy to get out alive. The food is good, really, so that's why I gave 2 stars instead of the 1 they would get based on their insane ordering line. My advice, go when it's not busy or you're going to come out feeling like a wad of dough flattened and mashed, pulled in a million directions at once by an uncaring machine.
(2)
Deb N.

Just came home from the most mindblowingly horrible experience at Cafe Rio. Went for a quick bite on the way home on a Sunday evening. Here's a summary of the horrors that ensued: 1. I ordered a burrito. The line server quickly put a huge scoop of rice on the heated tortilla. 2. I told him I didn't want rice and he threw the tortilla and rice away and hostilly asked me what I wanted 3. I asked for pinto beans which he threw on the tortilla. 4. New server (the last one moved on) started the burrito again and asked me what kind of meat I wanted, and I told him. 5. He then briskly threw various and sundry things on the tortilla, rolled it up, doused it with enchilada sauce and put it in the warmer. 6. I protested and said I wanted different ingredients and not enchilada sauce. 7. Server gave up, ignored my wife who was next to me and asked for the next customer's order. 8. Another server asked me what I wanted and explained that I wanted beans, meat, and the veggies inside of the burrito. 9. The server repeated exactly what the last server did, including smothering everything in enchilada sauce. 10. Server 1 ignored my wife who was next to me completely and skipped to the next customer. 11. We both threw up our hands in complete surrender and left. Conclusion If you want your food served to you like slop in a trough and don't particularly care what food the mind-numbingly absent teenagers feel compelled to throw into said trough, this is the place for you. If not, go anywhere... absolutely ANYWHERE else to eat.
(1)
Alana K.

Cafe rio is popular for a good reason but this location is horrible. The guy who made my burrito acted like the food cost was coming directly out of his paycheck (though admittedly he was quite friendly). Then the woman working the end of the line proceeded to make me yell the rest of my order at her from around eight people away. When I asked for dressing, apparently the man in front of me couldn't help me because I didn't order a salad (I didn't want to yell my request) and then the woman at the end of the line ignored me. When I finally got to the cashier, I had to ask again. Twice. The lack of courtesy is appalling. When I asked if the GM had a business card I was told he/she doesn't have business cards. So here I am leaving my first ever review. This location is an embarrassment to the efficient and professional service I've received from other locations. If I wasn't stuck in line being herded like cattle I would have just left. Do yourself a favor and go to the Taylorsville location instead.
(1)
Adam C.

Same song different verse. The line employees do NOT care what you ordered, they do NOT care how your meal comes together, they do NOT do anything to actually serve the customer. They will look you straight in the face and tell you they are out of something (no grilled chicken at 7:30pm? seriously?) when you can see there is a stack of it by the grill. They get SUPER pissed, I've even had a line employee tell me 'no, they can't do it' when asked to use shredded lettuce instead of the larger lettuce pieces. If you're bugged because so many peopke are asking for it, try preparing more of it. Last night the line basically assembled my salad with their eyes closed, scooping ingredients out and throwing them in the direction of my salad. It looked like something a game show contestant assemled while under pressure wearing goggles covered in whip cream. Apparently, they were having a contest amongst themselves to see how fast they could go, that makes sense because there weren't any patrons (that means customers for you common core graduates) behind me. They weren't shy about thier contest either because they kept making fun of how bad the person assembling my salad was. The store manager for this location needs to be "relocated." You would think a store located in a downtown area would be more important to the brand than this one is.
(1)
Scott K.

Yeah.... it's a chain. Yeah.... it's chain-store Mexican food. But it's not half-bad! The menu has just about anything on it that I might want to order... sure - you have to stand in line and bus your own trays.... but it's a centrally-located restaurant and the food is decent...what's not to love. Even their salsa passes my discriminating taste-test. BIG salads....BIG burritos....awesome tacos. I want to try their pork carnitas next time I go by there. They are open until 10:00 P.M. which is better than most of the Mexican eateries around SLC.
(3)
Hoa T.

The line tends to be ridiculously long at lunch but the food is decently priced and taste pretty good. Nothing too exciting but will definitely hit the spot for a quick Mexican craving.
(4)
Maddie D.

Everything here tastes like it has been marinating in a giant tub of sugar for days. If you're into that kind of thing (shout out to my white sorority girls and Mormon youth groups!) you may enjoy Cafe Rio. If you crave the spicy, complex flavors of authentic Mexican food, I recommend you stay far, far away. While the portions are huge the bland beans and watery "hot" sauce is enough for me to skip the take home box. If I smother my salad in their house ranch, it almost makes me want to finish the entire thing. Unfortunately the price for a dinner has been increasing yearly and the quality of food has seemed to conversely correlate. That being said, whenever I visit, the staff keeps an upbeat, friendly demeanor and likes to joke around while keeping it professional. Complaints about them "messing up orders" seem silly, as the food is made right in front of your face (online orders exempt, but even then, how much of a difference is there between your two choices of canned beans?) All in all, a little pricey for the quality, but if you're waiting in line, you knew what you were getting yourself into.
(3)
Whitney S.

I love cafe rio. But, I don't understand why it's so hard to cook the rice completely. Every time I order a burrito the rice is hard and crunchy.
(3)
Jt H.

It's basically just ridiculous how good the food is. It's insanely delicious. There's nothing special about the service or atmosphere, but the food is so good.
(4)
Jake S.

The management here is the worst I've ever seen in an state at any establishment. I'd never go back here. 1 star is far too generous...
(1)
Matthew H.

Honestly this is far and away the worst cafe rio location. Horrible management, the worst customer service I've seen in a long time, and incredibly rude employees who just cannot seem to listen. About 90% of the phone orders are completely wrong and about half of the in person orders, because they honestly don't care to listen to your requests. Terrible, terrible service. I would drive all the way to millcreek just for a salad, at least I would know it's made right. Most of the time I leave angry.
(1)
Drew H.

I have been a HUGE fan of Cafe Rio, but lately the quality of the food is decreasing, portion sizes are decreasing, prices are going up, and the last 4 times I've eaten here, they have messed up my order. They don't listen or acknowledge me when I am ordering, which is why they can't get the orders rights. I've been standing in a completely maxed out line que at 7:30pm and the staff is too busy futzing around instead of making the orders. The guy at station one is too busy using tossing unused aluminum tins like a frizzy, while the guy by the lettuce swats them down to the ground. It's with great amusement that we wait for them to play first before we can get dinner?
(1)
Victoria H.

I decided I wanted to eat some Mexican vittles, so I head on over to Cafe Rio. For $12.00 a plate it better be worth the cost. I get in line, and it's not busy. I start talking to one of the line preps, and her attitude was less than desirable. I began to feel unwelcome, but I was still needing my fix, so I order and hope it's untainted. The next individual was very pleasant, and he made my food to order. I approached the cashier, $12.00+ was the cost, and I requested a Rio card, no card was given. I was a little disappointed, but ate my comida and got out. I enjoyed the food. It's not the best, and definitely not worth the cost, but what can I do?
(2)
Rosanna K.

I looooove Cafe Rio! It's better than another chain that I will not name (starts with 'chip'). Seriously, Utah citizens are so lucky to have Cafe Rio. Their tomatillo dressing is bomb.com . I usually get their chicken salad, which comes with guac, salsa, rice, beans, lettuce, and tortilla chips all in a freshly made soft tortilla bowl. Speaking of, that tortilla is also something else. They are made fresh on the spinning skillet thing, and have really great texture and subtle flavor. I seriously feel almost ashamed that I am reviewing a chain restaurant on Yelp but I can't help it, I love this place.
(5)
Daniel C.

Cafe rio has perfected everything on their menu. Their pork is in a sweet sauce and it's just incredible. No restaurant can match it. Also, their sugar free strawberry lemonade is incredible. The only downside to this place is that it's not healthy...so you kind of have to eat there for just one meal a day, instead of all three ;)
(5)
Nigel L.

I hate admitting to myself how often I go here.
(5)
Ahmad K.

They put a good twist on eating Mexican food. They offer a salad with a pretty good dressing to pair with it and it's a good eat. The price is fair and the environment is good for lunch or for bigger groups. The food was tasty and can definitely be portioned into 2 smaller meals, for us students and others on a budget. So don't be worried about the price, because it is a little pricey for Mexican food
(4)
Penny H.

Terrible! I ordered some food, the employees pushed us through the line. They never asked what kind of sides or sauces we wanted. Then at the end of the line, a cleaning lady touched my food with cleaning gloves and contaminated my food with cleaning liquid. So we walked out and left the food and we won't be back.
(1)
Nick S.

Yuck. I ordered chicken enchiladas. I'm not sure what I just ate, but that was most definitely not what I was expecting. The sauce was slimey, pale green in color and disgustingly sweet. I managed to gag my way through one and I couldn't bring myself to choke down the other. Also, by the time I finished the first one, the second was almost floating in a gooey combination of green nastiness and what I hope was condensation that resulted from steam settling at the bottom of the tin cooking/serving container. This was in no way worth the $8.22 they charged me for it.
(1)
Erika S.

Shared the fire grilled steak salad and tortilla soup with my husband, cafe rio never disappoints. We love the house dressing, it's the best and we can't find any quite like it. If you want quick Americanized Mexican food, this is the place.
(4)
Chris W.

Thus ends Cafe Rio-ism! Years ago, this was a great place. It has gone downhill very much as they have expanded. It used to be a very impressive restaurant and now it's nothing special. There has been a huge drop in the quality of the staff and their enthusiasm. It's now on par with the DMV. Nobody cares about customers here and some people seem to truly hate life and be on the verge of committing suicide while working there. I encountered a young Mexican teen boy who was the most horrendously awful cashier I can remember in recent history. He was horrible on the phone, rude and unhelpful. And then in person, he had zero enthusiasm or courtesy. Everyone was very non-attentive, more interested in hiding in the kitchen to talk to each other than take care of customers at the counter or answer the phone. ------ FOOD: Enchiladas are gross. The green sauce is bitter. Burritos are very subpar when compared to other Mexican restaurants of comparable price. The "smothered" option is gross. That green sauce they use is disgustingly bitter. Salads are the ONLY thing to get here. The pork barbacoa salad is not bad. It used to be great and now it seems just ok. The house creamy dressing is good. ------- Do NOT come here for Mexican food, as it is not good at all. Come here for a salad and nothing more. Get the pork barbacoa salad or the steak salad, but save yourself from considering any other Mexican entree.
(1)
Tim K.

I appreciate Chipotle's sustainability practices, but they need to take a lesson from Cafe Rio. Cafe Rio does it right - from their freshly made tortillas to their killer salsas to their sooo delicious pork barbacoa. The wait at lunch time rush was unbelievable. We were about 12 people back and waited close to 20 minutes to order. So just a little heads up... This place is very popular. I've been to Cafe Rio in Las Vegas, Denver and Grand Junction and this SLC location by far makes the largest salads. PORK BARBACOA SALAD, DO IT!
(4)
Steven L.

The food was sloppily thrown together, their mint limeade was crusting at the top, one of the employees were chewing gum, and I found a small rubber band in my enchilada. So gross, I like cafe rio, but i will never go to this location again. The health department should close this location down.
(1)
Brett B.

The food was good. Out of salsa fresca but whatever. It happens. The 2 stars are for the panhandler pestering all the patrons and management doing nothing about it. Even when he lit up a joint. The whole restaurant smelled like weed. Hey management. Get on this.
(2)
Adam H.

Do yourself a favor and never order food for pick up. This is now my second experience of waiting a half hour for my food. I even came 15 minutes late and am surrounded by a mob of angry fellow suckers!
(1)
Rustin O.

Normally I am a huge cafe rio fan but the one at this location is pretty terrible. The service is soooo slow and the employees have no sense of urgency (even when it is extremely busy). The place is always filthy and the good never tastes fresh. They have messed up my order numerous times and every time I go in it seems like they mix someone's order up. Poor management I guess... Sadly it is the closest location to me. I would eat here a lot more if it was a bit more like the other Utah locations I have been to!
(2)
Victoria M.

Pork barbocoa salad ~ oh how I have missed you so! You were deinitely on my "to eat" list while in SLC & I must say, craving fulfilled! =)
(4)
Ryan B.

Well I can officially say I'm cured of my cafe rio addiction that started 10 years ago. The WORST service paired with the worst salad I've ever had ensures I will not be spending another dollar at cafe rio; at least the 4th south location. It took me 30 minutes to get my salad with only roughly 12 people ahead of me in line. The zit faced kid who took my order spent the time he should have been making food - belittling and berating his coworkers to the point that everyone in line felt super awkward. A level of unprofessionalism I didn't know existed. If you have a problem kid, talk to them by pulling them aside, not yelling at them for the world to hear. Your salad sucked. It was super soggy. I couldn't even eat a small portion of it. Never. Again.
(1)
Allison N.

I don't live in Utah, so I don't get to come to Cafe Rio that often. Cafe Rio is awesome and a step above Chipotle, which is still pretty darn good. One thing that's really impressive about Cafe Rio is that they hand make their tortillas every day. They are AWESOME, but massive. Just be aware. Their meat is really tasty and the pork barbacoa is sweet and juicy. The ingredients are all fresh and delicious. The only issue I really see with Cafe Rio is that it's insanely busy ALL THE TIME. I guess it's either a testament to the food options around but I've never not seen a Cafe Rio without a lot of people in it. Still, it's not totally detrimental to the experience. Now I'm going to go weep because we don't have Cafe Rio in my area. I'll be back soon, Cafe Rio!
(5)
James P.

As long as you can admit to yourself that eating at Cafe Rio isn't really eating at a Mexican restaurant, you should be happy with the food. Be prepared, at virtually any hour of the day, for legions of screaming, unattended children and LDS Business School co-eds inexplicably wearing matching polos on their lunch date. Five stars for the tortilla soup. Four stars for the salad dressing. One star for making me listen to the Eagles while I drown my burrito in Bufalo chipotle sauce.
(3)
Stephanie Q.

Everyone in Utah seems to call Cafe Rio the better version of Chipotle. It was really good, I can't decide which one I like better. I had the sweet BBQ roast pork burrito. HMMm amazing. I love the green sauce that they give you. I have no idea of what the sauce is made of but its delicious. I also had pinto beans, which is delicious. This place put me in a food coma but it was totally worth it.
(4)
Neal P.

I've had multiple good experiences at Cafe Rio but today was an utter disaster. I got food for me and my two young kids. Just after sitting down (of course) one child needed to go to the bathroom, so we left all our stuff and all went to accompany her. When we got back, half of our food (the kids' food) had been thrown out. Oddly, not my food. So I explained the situation and asked at the register for new food for the kids. They said okay. 5 minutes later, nothing had happened, so I asked again. They said that the order was in and they'd bring it to me. 15 minutes later nothing had happened. In the mean time, I discovered an eight-inch long hair embedded in my food. With my appetite gone and my kids bored out of their minds, we had to leave with no food having arrived for them.
(1)
Blake D.

Alright, I've been coming to Rio for probably 10+ years... And eaten there over 100 times... The bottom line, Rio is dank. Yes they aren't as good as 7 years ago but come on, some people are being pretty damn critical of a place that is.... Cafe rio I mean shit. Burritos are smaller these days, and sauces are little more watery but it's still a damn good, fresh meal that will satisfy even my biggest hungers... I've never in my 100+ times been treated with disrespect the way some people are describing in here... Yes it's no Zupas where you're greeted with an insanely huge smile and someone saying "WELCOME TO ZUPAS!!!!" Lol... (I hate that shit). And yes if you don't pay attention when you get to the glass window the employees will passive aggressively insult you haha... But that's just the cafe rio experience!
(4)
Cynthia B.

They were very friendly.... But they got both my orders wrong. I said no pico and they gave me pico. I said no cheese and they gave me cheese.
(3)
Tyler N.

I will never say a bad word about cafe rio. All the employees at this location are friendly and fast. Pork everything.
(5)
Mai H.

Love this place for a quick bite! I'm hooked! I had an amateur first time experience and didn't know what I was ordering or doing but I'll be going back and hopefully know what I'm ordering the second time around, still delicious!
(4)
Jill J.

Had a very bad experience trying to order gluten free here. They dont seem very sensitive to gluten intolerance. Food is good, but pricey. Costa vida is way better.
(2)
Adam H.

Sure, Cafe Rio's a huge Salt Lake clichÃ© by now. But it's clichÃ© for a reason. The food's damn good. And damn consistent. I moved away from Salt Lake about 5 years ago, and I still dream of Rio's pork barbecoa in all its forms. Burritos, quesadillas, tacos, even salads. I think it's so good, I made it a point to stop at Cafe Rio for my first and last meal in Salt Lake last time I visited. Sure it's a chain. Sure it can be annoying to eat here sometimes. The food is always worth it. Cafe Rio does its own thing, though there are a few imitators by now. Their Salt Lake staying-power shows it. This place is STILL a winner.
(4)
Carly T.

I like Cafe Rio, but I will NEVER go to this location again. Almost every time I go here there's this one employee (didn't get his name but he's white, has short brown hair, wears glasses) who seems to go out of his way to be rude to customers...even other friends have known exactly what guy I was talking about when I complained about this place! Tonight it was just that he chastised me for requesting vinaigrette dressing even though he'd already poured me house dressing (without asking what I wanted) but in the past he's implied that I'm too fat to be eating what I ordered, and even told my boyfriend he was being too controlling of me (maybe these were supposed to be jokes but they WERE NOT funny). I've tried ordering online to avoid this jerk, but every time I do that the order is wrong. It's honestly just not worth giving this location another chance
(1)
Wendy H.

It's dirty in here and seriously understaffed. I put in an online order an hour ago and they're too busy taking more phone orders to help the huge line of people picking up previous orders. I'm now late for the lunch meeting I'm bringing lunch to.
(1)
Christopher W.

Cafe Rio is a Utah original. Please don't expect authentic Mexican cuisine while visiting Cafe Rio because you will be very disappointed. Cafe Rio is famous for their salads and dressing. People literally lose their minds over the salad dressing. (I really have found lost minds at CR, I swear to God) I must admit that last night was the first time I ordered the salad and it was pretty good, but nothing about it seemed Mexican other than it was made in a tortilla. I typically order the burrito or cheese enchiladas and have both smothered in their sweet, yet not spicy "medium" green sauce. I also always ask for a whole wheat tortilla because they are "healthy" and tasty. I have never left CR hungry because the serving sizes are mammoth. The prices are fair and the service is quick, unless there is a long line of hungry families with 4 kids each, then it seems to take FOREVER! I have never tried the meat here, but word is the pork will knock your socks off. Cafe Rio is what it is and people love it, I personally think it is A-OK.
(3)
Chris J.

Not quite its typical fresh finish, but I *did* catch 'em at closing time. Still, though, the pork barbacoa burrito is a classic that's hard to beat.
(4)
Tony C.

No chicken at 5pm? That's half the menu! They need to look into better management. The servers are usually very surly at this location. Parking is almost always a gigantic mess because of the location.
(1)
Kris B.

Grilled chicken salad. Not bad, but nothing special.
(3)
Mandy S.

The food is always good. Their system of taking your order and making your food is rather chaotic. My husband is a picky eater and he has a hard time getting them to make his food right. I would suggest they slow down a bit and actually listen to what people are ordering. Despite this annoyance we keep going back because we like their food so much.
(4)
Chelsea D.

As far as fake mexican cuisine goes its great! Pork Barbacoa Salad with the house creamy tomatillo dressing. HEAVEN in my mouth :-)
(4)
John S.

I love this place. The employees are very friendly. I have been here so many times they know me by name! I work for a law firm down town so I end up doing lunch runs almost daily. I think for the quality and price, fast service your going to have a hard time beating the value of Cafe Rio. Granted its not the Mexican food you'll find while walking the streets of Ensenada but that's not what they claim to be. They have a great menu, great food and great staff. It started in St. George Utah, Ive been going here since their first restaurant was opened!
(5)
MC Free W.

Cafe Rio would fit in well at the Mexican Pavilion at Disney World's Epcot Center.
(2)
shane b.

Its definitely the American version of tex-mex because this is no where close to real Mexican food. I do enjoy a fat burrito done enchilada style but I don't go often because I just feel violated walking out of the place having dropped $12 for a burro and drink, that just ain't right ya know?
(3)
Jason F.

Despite the long lines, its rapid expansion, quality has remained. The food here is always good. They have a good selection of burritos, tacos, salads, and other Mexican foods. Be sure you try the pork, it is what put them on the map to be sure. As good as this place is the lines can be long and a table hard to find. Other locations I have rated the other locations at four stars and I really want to give this place five stars but I reserve five stars for only the best places. Service is excellent and the long line move quickly. Plus you have a chance to talk to your lunch companions while you wait. Yummy and consistent.
(4)
Jessica D.

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. Addicted to the Barbacoa pork specifically. other menu items sound really good but I got the barbacoa first, well over a year ago and cant NOT get it every time since, at least once a week. enchilada, burrito, salad, quesadilla, so long as the barbacoa is in it. have to bring a friend and talk them into the fideo or shrimp so I can try it, lol cause I cant not get the barbacoa. always leave pregnant with a little barbacoa food baby! hehe cant wait to go again. only complaint is not open sunday to get my fix!
(5)
Harshil P.

Very Nice Maxican Food. I'm new in Salt Lake City and my friend took me to this restaurant. I have tried first time Cafe Rio Salad with Fire Grilled Chicken Breast and it's so delicious.
(5)
Richard S.

The food is fresh, but all of the slow roasted meat seems to have a lot of sugar added to it. The main draw back is that I always feel like a pig waiting in line for the trough or a cow because of the Disney style line that twists up to the food counter and checkout. It is always so crowded with a lot of overweight people chomping down. The smell is not pretty.....think musty sweaty mexican food mixed with body odors. So, my issue isnt with price or the food so much, but the setting. Squeal or moo!
(2)
Nick W.

Extremely good, but they are not open on Sunday which sucks.
(5)
Anh V.

This is not the place to go if you're on a diet. Let me repeat, stay away from this place if you're on a diet (unless this is the only meal you're eating for the day). The burrito here is huge. This is no where close to an authentic Mexican burrito, but if you put the authenticity aside, it's not as bad. I've only tried the Fire Grilled Steak and the Pork Carnitas here and IMO, the Pork Carnitas here is not as good as Chipotle. Try a Fire Griled Steak burrito, or better yet, try a Fire Grilled Steak salad. What they call a Salad here is not what a normal western looks like. It's more like an unwrapper burrito!
(3)
Sandeep P.

I am a vegetarian. I ordered a cheese + beans + rice burrito at the Cafe Rio (532E, 400S). I got one and started eating only to realize midway that it contained steak. I took it to the guys serving there and asked about it. They were very unapologetic and said, "It happens when we are busy". The fact is that they were completely free when I went with only 2 people behind us and 2 in front. I asked them to refund my money and they did, after verifying the receipt. Frustrated with it, they asked for the remains of my burrito and threw it into dustbin. Not that I cared for it, I'd have done the same too. But, they just didn't look like saying a sorry to me.
(1)
T P.

I LOVE Cafe Rio! You can't go wrong with the pork salad, it's so yummy! Make sure to go before the lunch rush or after or you'll be waiting in line for awhile. The food is good and the price is reasonable. The portions are huge so you could probably split with someone. I like to order my own so I can take the rest home for lunch the next day. It's a busy place but worth the wait. I would definitely recommend anything with the pork.
(5)
Jamie W.

Great Mexican food w/ Fast Service.
(4)
Flannery S.

totally awesome burritos and salads. getting pulled pork (either burrito or salad) is absolutely to die for. i almost feel like a fat kid for wanting to eat the whole thing at once, but that's what cafe rio does to you. i must warne you, though, the line at lunch is pretty outrageous.
(4)
Glenna A.

I've been hearing that I needed to try Cafe Rio for the past year, and so my friend and I decided to try eating there tonight. You order at a counter behind which are trays of open food, different meats, beans, rice and the other fixings. While we were placing our order, an employee started sweeping the floor really hard right beside the open trays of food, and the person taking our order was extremely rude. Although we were eating in, our food came served in disposable, aluminum pans, which is extremely annoying, but can be tolerated if the food is extremely good. I ordered chicken enchiladas with black beans and rice. The enchiladas came topped with about a half pound of melted cheese on top. I was able to scrape the cheese off quite easily, but the chicken was so salty I could barely swallow it. The rice had an unusually strange taste and was not to our liking at all. My friend ordered a steak enchilada which was also so salty he couldn't eat it. After eating about one fourth of our meals and leaving, all we could think of was getting some gum or something to get the horrible aftertaste out of our mouths. We will definitely not be eating here again, nor will we be recommending this place to anyone.
(1)

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Address : 532 E 400 S
Salt Lake City, UT, 84102
Phone (801) 924-3800
Website https://www.caferio.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :10:30 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
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

532 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT, 84102

Cafe Rio Menu

Appetizers

Soup

Salads

Tostadas

Quesadillas

Burritos

Enchiladas

Tacos

Sides

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe Rio

Appetizers

Soup

Salads

Tostadas

Quesadillas

Burritos

Enchiladas

Tacos

Sides

Desserts

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