Cafe Rio

Reviews

• Stephanie S.

  star star star star star 28 June 2026

  Cafe Rio over Chipotle
  
  Honestly once you go to Cafe Rio you won't go to Chipotle! Cafe Rio has so much more flavor!!
  
  I love the sweet barbacoa either in my tacos or salad. I enjoy getting the salad on top of the whole wheat tortilla. Once I'm finished with the salad topped with the house dressing. I dip my tortilla in a side of their queso!! Bam! 2 meals in one. And by no means is the salad healthy but it does fill me up way more than the tacos. There is also refreshing teas that are swapped out.
  
  Cafe Rio is basically like chipotle but better IMO. You start at the line and work your way down like a typical QSR.

• Megan O.

  star star star star star 22 June 2026

  So good!  If you want something very fresh and amazingly good then stop here.  I keep forgetting this place is here and don't know why, as each time it is great food.  For some reason, I keep getting the same meal, a chicken salad with the vinaigrette however one of the employees this time recommended their tomatillo ranch dressing.  I wasn't sure so I asked for both, and so glad I did!
  
  My husband loves his food as well, and we are never disappointed.  In fact, this last time when I was talking to my parents I mentioned if they are around a Cafe Rio to definitely check it out.

• J P.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 11 June 2026

  Been hesitant to come here. Never heard of them, but apparently, they're pretty big though from what i know now but for whatever reason when they came to town, there wasn't any big announcement or excitement about it. walked by it a couple of times and for those couple of times, it's been packed. Finally pulled the trigger today and sadly my hesitation was proven right. Just odd and disappointing. If i was Chipotle, as bad as their rep has become and as desperate as they are now, i'd be very glad for this place... It had me craving Chipotle. And i'm so over Chipotle... used to go ALL the time but i'll have it maybe once every 3 months if that.
  
  first off, the flow of the restaurant is weird. I never like it when the line has to go through the seating area or if it's at least not adequately sectioned or walled off. You're in line and you can look down and see exactly what someone is having.  Or when you're seated, you can hear the people in line go "ugh... i'm not getting THAT!" as they've got their finger in your food only cause they're just right there up in your personal space.
  
  Menu is kind of odd too. reminded me of Chipotle but not... but again made me crave or wish i was at Chipotle only because the menu didn't make sense or wasn't clear on what to expect. That's the thing too. I don't want to sound like a moron like i didn't read or couldn't read the menu, not like there's a right or wrong way to do a menu but there are smart ways and stupid ways to do a menu. Honestly i'm just really surprised it's just rice, beans, sauce, cheese, and meat in the burrito. Of course this doesn't hit me until the guy starts wrapping up my burrito. i'm not sure if the guy is supposed to ask or i'm supposed to jump in and speak up but that was it. i just wish there could be some vegetables or guac, or sour cream, or just some color in it too. the sides as well which is just lettuce and pico de gallo (on the burrito at least). And the way they ask too is really odd, "is lettuce and pico de gallo fine?" I mean what else could i have? are you out of something and i have to settle on that? i was expecting chips and maybe salsa or gauc. i guess lettuce and pico de gallo is fine, sure, if you're out of everything else.
  
  right after that is the cashier. As i'm looking over at the sodas and SPECIALTY drinks that not every place has, that's obviously just special (hence SPECIALTY drinks) to Cafe Rio, the cashier didn't bother to offer a soda or any sides, just rung me up and that was it. Last thought as i was leaving there was "damn that was expensive!!"
  Not "Man this looks great! can't wait to tear into!"
  Instead, i'm thinking "i definitely didn't expect this" and "this is definitely not worth it"
  Cashier looked tired and like she definitely didn't want to be working today on Memorial Day.
  
  Worst thing about a burrito... is if it falls apart. This burrito, it fell apart and i knew it would right when the guy poorly wrapped it. do they always wrap it IN the foil bowl??? I don't know if this is obvious to anyone else but the burrito ceases to be a burrito when it all falls apart. when you have to struggle to eat, that's when you know it sucks.
  
  nothing spectacular about the flavors, pork was a little sweet, too sweet for my liking. lettuce and pico de gallo.... that's equivalent to the parsley sprig you put onto of things just to add some color and decorations. it's like a take on the downtown mom-n-pop mexican shop that adds the store bought ready-made salad on the side.... as their "parsley sprig." it's otherwise useless other than filler.
  
  lacking in training, technique, and protocol, everything is odd and you feel it. No idea why it's busy all the time other than this is just Fresno.

• Michelle B.

  star star star star star 8 June 2026

  Their sweet pork barbacoa tacos are the best!! They also have fresh, warm tortillas made right in front of you. Prices are great, and the service is always friendly. Very casual atmosphere.

• Sona K.

  star star star star star 2 June 2026

  Interestingly, I have seen this res a lot in UT, but never tried it before until a friend suggested a lunch here during our visit to Fresno.
  This is like Chipotle.  I had tostada salad and tortilla salad in two different visits and liked them both.
  Very fresh ingredients and love their selection of drinks that include mint lemonade and the pinkish drink (I can't remember the name) in addition to the other typical mexican drinks.