Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

24312 Rockfield Blvd, Lake Forest, CA 92630, USA

Address:	24312 Rockfield Blvd, Lake Forest, CA 92630, USA
Phone:	+1 949-334-9292
Site:	caferio.com
Rating:	4.3
Working:	10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 18

Alex Shreeve

By far my favorite "Mexican" Food. Not authentic but presents a great environment with fresh food and delicious tortillas cooked by the minute. I am a steak fan and recommend the steak burrito or the steak salad. Both meals present a unique taste I have not been able to pinpoint at any other restaurant. Their dressing is to die for! I look forward to coming again again and again!!!!! If you are a big meat fan, make sure to get 2x the meat. Also those salad eaters out there, I recommend shredded lettuce, as the traditional lettuce can be hard to chew as some of the pieces are so big. Cafe Rio is hard to compare to other Mexican american Restaurants like chipotle because their tastes are so different. I love both restaurants, but I get more flavor at Cafe Rio. Chipotles burritos stay together though, at cafe rio, you need a fork!!! I Highly recommend this restaurant, and make sure you try everything!!!

Max R

Ive been going here for at least 2 months straight without issues for the first week and a half, until every time I would get my order it was all ways something they got wrong (e.g. wrong food, late, etc.) with these people including one of their cooks who would make such a big deal to have my meat cooked well done and make it take an extra 20min. The food is obviously fresh and all right but the service here sucks. I ran into customers on a couple of occasions who would also complain about the service and how their all ways late on making over-the-phone orders. Sucks that the bad apples ruin in it for the handful of hard workers I did notice there from time to time. Whatever, I just took my DAILY business elsewhere.

Denyce Fernando

Where do I begin? Staff extremely rude and unfriendly, asked for double Barbacoa, If I got double I can only imagine what they give you regularly. My salad was 98% lettuce. My sons salad was exactly the same way, he had grilled chicken which they gave maybe 8 strips of chicken. As for my other sons Burrito it was no better. For the price you get nothing. Chipotle is 1000 times BETTER. The only thing I enjoyed was my passion tea. The ONLY reason I gave 2 stars was because of the tea. Otherwise it would have been 1 star. Save your money and go to Chipotle.

Heather Reinhard

The sweet pork is to die for - no grissle like I always get at Chipotle. To me the fire grilled steak and chicken are a little dry so I order the regular shredded meats. They pile tons of food in every dish and the topping are fresh and fantastic! The green sauce is a little weird and the fresco sauce has quite a kick to it. I am stuck ordering tostadas because its just so much good all in one container I cant go back to the other menu items. The lime cilantro dressing is muy sabroso but the house is pretty good too if you prefer creamy dressing.

Anonymous User

WE LOVE THIS PLACE. These burritos are not meant to be eaten with your hands - they are too big.

The salad is great and if you get it make sure you get the creamy tomatillo dressing. Cafe Rio isnt going for the authentic taste - they are more of a Tex-Mex and an amazing one at that. Youll be happy you came here I promise. If you are looking to stay on the lighter side try the shredded chicken burrito.

Madeleine Frey

The food here is always good but not always hot or fresh. You better go during peak hours unless you want sad and old meat, rice, and beans. If the line is longer your food will most likely come out cold as it only makes a quick trip through a 500°F oven and you have to wait for people to checkout. Staff is very nice. The proportions are good but not constant. Clean and busy. Great drink and food selections.

Jessica York

Some of the best mexican food in the area. Its healthy and fresh, and they make the food right in front of you. They also have a very distinct flavor/taste to their food that is hard to find elsewhere. They do not taste like your typical gross (bad for you) mexican food, and they are definitely not chipotle either. The portions are huge, and their homemade tortillas are TO DIE FOR.

Hector Arreaza

This is the best no-Mexican-Mexican Food in the whole world! I have tried Costa Vida, Bajio, Chipotle and similar, and I am always satisfied by Cafe Rio, especially their cilantro rach sauce and grilled steak (make sure to order extra meat). The stevia strawbaery limade is my wifes favorite. My boys will not eat any other quesadillas but Cafe Rios... and they are free for kids!

Anonymous User

Great value. Great food. They make everything fresh at the restaurant, including the tortillas. Be sure to try the mahi mahi taco special on Sundays. The Carnitas is sweet and yummy! Kid’s quesadillas are free. Everything I have tried is excellent! The only drawback is the ordering system. You usually have to repeat your order several times. This place is A+++++

Francisco Castelo

Café Rio is average at best. Nothing special, but they have good quality. I will say their salsa is pretty good, as well as their freshly made tortillas. I know there are some other reviews that really knock the place but compared to Chipotle it is pretty much on par. There is really nothing special about either. For better Mexican try any of my higher rated places.

Anonymous User

If youre a fan of Chipotle, you have to try Cafe Rio. The food is fresher (hard to believe) and the staff are a ton of fun. Careful ordering extra anything if its your first time and youre shy - theyll start singing so be warned :-). Only thing I would avoid is the queso dip, its a bit on the runny side.

Michael Hatch

Let me start by saying that I LOVE Cafe Rio. Its my favorite food. However, this location is always soooo slow. And its not because its over crowded. Even if theres only one person in front you, you are going to wait a while. It the food is great. They did recently raise the prices though

Aaron Leal

Very nice food and drink selection. Wouldve been 4 stars, but the crew has been playing their own rap music for the past hour. Listening to the speaker above me play Coldplay and the phone in the kitchen play rap is annoying after awhile.

Bret Keller

I used to go here a lot when I worked in Utah. This location is just as good with everything made fresh in front of you. They actually run almost everything through an oven so it comes out hot and fresh (my one complaint about Chipotle).

juan v

Worst experience ever. The manager Milton Vega is so disrespectful and makes personal comments about customers . He cleans his sweat with his bare hands while serving the food. Very unprofessional caracter.

Heidi Shurtz

The food is great! The service can be very slow, even for call ahead orders. Parking can also be a pain. If you go at an off time, you can park and get your food quickly- any other time, dont count on it.

Anonymous User

The food is SO good! One entree is big enough for leftovers and I love enjoying it again the next day. Cafe Rio has a fun atmosphere and fresh food made right in front of you. Id drive MILES to eat here!

Daysi Romero

Muy buen sevicio y deliciosa comida muchas gracias a Cafe Rio Mexican Staff.