Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican

Kyle was the best Café Rio employee we’ve experienced in a long time. He overheard my wife giving me instructions for dressing up her taco. Then remembered those instructions a couple of minutes later when another employee asked me and I hesitated. Really friendly guy as well. That’s the most important trait to us.

The restaurant itself is the nicest Café Rio around, because it’s cheery (brightly lit) and clean.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My favorite restaurant.

This place was STRUGGLING for a few years. Always messing up orders. Terrible. I held on bc the food was so good.

Last couple years (July 2023?) they started to get better and now they’ve really turned it around. Props cafe Rio!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Freshly made flour tortillas are the best you can find anywhere. Sweet shredded pork yummy 😋

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Burrito

The food is amazing!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

If I go there one more time after 8pm and they're out of grilled chicken again I'm done with this place. It's 2 hours before closing, make more chicken, ridiculous

Biriidiana got my special order 100%. Delish’

Staff always accommodates my special order.

Thank you team

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Tortillas

Good food and great helpful people.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Waited 10 minutes, placed my order. Several people in front of me. Got to the register, wouldn’t take a $100 bill which was all I had. Had to leave, assume the food was thrown out.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Worst Cafe Rio I have ever been to. Queso tasted burnt, house dressing was salty, cilantro was brought out from a sack under the counter and it was chewy and tough, and the Baja Taco was over the top spicy. We were the last people to leave, and as I got in the car, I saw the guy who was sweeping the floor, use the broom he was using on the floor on the bench where people sit. Disgusting!

I have no idea why it has taken me so long to go to Cafe Rio. This place was great! Flavors were on point, service was helpful and the price was reasonable. Will for sure return!

Great selection of mexican from quesadilla, burritos, tacos and enchalada

Nice job!

The people were friendly and attentive but this place was very dirty. As we ordered, I noticed that the sauces and some of the meats had film on them from sitting out for so long and the avocado/guac was brown (not slightly). While we were eating, I looked around and the floor was quite dirty in multiple places. Under the beverage section, there were spills and garbage that seemed like they had been there a while. I thought to myself 'I really hope this food is safe'. Well, I should have listened to my gut - my 7 year old came down with serious food poisoning that evening. There are many great Mexican places in Newport Mesa area - we won't be going back here.

Had a chicken quesadilla. This quesadilla was great tasting with chicken. The homemade flower tortilla was good. Chips and queso. The queso was awful tasting. Switched it to guacamole 🥑 perfect flavor. Chips were lite. Salsa was fresh. They looked like they were short staffed and tables were not being cleaned up. Restrooms are not clean.

Never had a bad experience and I feel like I never will. Food is always great, service is always amazing.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Burrito, Sweet Pork Barbacoa, Enchilada Style Burrito