I've been a regular for a long time, and I've learned the best times to go, where to sit, and what to order or not to order, and it shouldn't be that way. Their margaritas are undoubtedly the best around, it's convenient, and I'm happy with some of the staff, but management needs to get it together!!! I just left there... arrived about 4:00 p.m. Wed. and left about 5:15...was told the bar area & everything to the left was closed and only the section on the right was open. Initially one staff for that area, but another started before we left. The chips were stale, they were out of the salsa we wanted, service was slow, the wrong food was brought to our table, then part of our food was less than lukewarm, none of the food was very good, the check was wrong. The food and service need a lot of improvement, and unfortunately, that seems to be the situation most of the time now. read more

We love Cafe Del Río. My kids always ask to go here. It's a favorite. I really like the enchiladas. My husband likes the portion sizes. He never finishes, which is surprising. read more

Food has been great the last few times we have been here. Look at the amount of meat in this taco. The shrimp brochette is not overly cooked anymore was great so upping my rating to 5 stars. Service was awesome. read more

Cafe Del Rio - Look at the meat in this taco. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

Wow! What a fun place to enjoy delicious Mexican cuisine. Filled with color, lighting, gifts, and metal art, one can very much enjoy this place in more ways than one. Before entering the doors, take a minute to observe and appreciate the hand metal characters as the awIt to greet you. Notice the incredible detail the metal artist put into the work. Upon entry one is immediately awestruck by the lighting and color. Aside from all the wonderful aesthetics, the food is very good. The tamales are topped with Mexican chili and they are abundant with flavor. The chicken and fajita beef quesadillas were excellent. Nothing to complain about here. The wait staff were friendly and attentive. Check this place out. read more

I've eaten at this place for years. It's always been great, but I thought I should just put this out there. If you've never been here you're missing out. I live an hour from Lufkin, but try to come here ever chance I get for lunch or dinner. If you've never had the brisket tacos...it's a must! Absolutely delicious!!! Also, service is great! read more

We attended a seminar at this restaurant, and the experience was great. Karina and Amber were great waitresses, and Lettie assisted with setting up the room for the seminar. The attendees loved the food. In fact, many of them told us that they were regulars at the restaurant. Great experience. read more

If I could I'd give this place no stars. Went I to dine in waiting for like 15 minutes and finally was approached by a server. I'm a truck driver and was looking forward to eating some food. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Ended up coming to eat across the street at the pilot truck stop. Thanks for sucking casa del rio or whatever this place is called read more

Excellent food and service every time we stop by here! Glad to have such a good place to eat!

One of many overrated Tex/Mex joints in Lufkin.. It's ok, not great. Nothing really just blows your socks off, and I've had a sample of just about everything on the menu. The fajitas are tolerable and the quesadillas are rather under-stuffed. What they do have is an excellent ala carte menu and they're not kidding around on portion sizes. The steak flameado, with a couple of tacos ala carte is more than anyone could reasonably eat. The prices are competitive with the competing Tex-Mex joints. I always leave stuffed but not overwhelmed. Not bad, but definitely over-rated. read more

I've been going here almost weekly for years. My parents took me here growing up and I still go to this day. Sometimes twice a week. Staff is always friendly and the Queso is really something else. read more

Retro warehouse looking restaurant. Great for families.. plenty of space. Good food, reasonable prices. The service is excellent from these kids. 1950 furniture is really fun with comfy booths. Frozen sangria margarita swirls. Creative as well as tasty. Definitely will return. read more

They get 10 stars. Wish I could have stayed and ate slower but I gotta go. The Hostess and waitress were the greatest. Talk about well mannered. read more

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Its good but definitely not 5 stars the service can be kind of wack sometimes and the food can be too but for the most part it is a great choice of food for lufkin Tx Tex-Mex try the tortilla soup! read more

Not for families. Manager named Tyler was totally cool with young lady wearing sweater that said "porn hub" in for dining. When I asked him to explain what the meant to my children he froze. Then said, I don't need to carry on this argument with you. Sir, this was not an argument. This was me helping you recognize that you are not running your business or staff correctly. For goodness sake, he and the rest of his male staff were doing everything possible to hover over her table. Worst of all, they were there celebrating, what looked like, a 2 year olds birthday. I am not judging anyone. We will all be judged by God. My complaint is that she and the manager have made poor decisions that are now impacting my children. I am happy to have these difficult conversations as a parent but this one could have been avoided. read more

Still the best in Lufkin. Love the fresh made fajitas and home made tortillas. This place has it all and has been in Lufkin fo over 30 years

Food is usually good. Wait staff is hit and miss. Last time we came, we had an excellent waitress. She was very prompt and courteous. Tonight, we had to tell our waitress every single thing we needed (napkins, silverware, plates, tea, etc.) We got our fajitas but not.our tortillas. After a while, we finally had to wave at our waitress from across the restaurant because she was talking with other wait ataff. We normally tip very well for great service, but not tonight... read more

My husband and I ate their Beef and Chicken Fajitas and it was delicious. The wait staff were so polite and they checked on us. Thank you Cafe Del Rio read more

Cafe Del Rio - The front of restaurant - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

This is apparently the staple Mexican food place in Lufkin. My friend used to live in the area and couldn't stop talking about it so when we visited his family, we stopped by before heading back to Houston. I wish there were places near me that had the concept of fresh tortillas with cinnamon and butter! It's pretty much like eating your desert before dinner and who doesn't love that? You essentially get two meals out of it if you chow down on chips, salsa, queso and tortillas before your dinner arrives. Then you can eat a little, sip on a margarita and take the rest to-go for a meal later! But in all, I don't have a negative thing to say. read more

The food was great and our waitress Callie was efficient and friendly. The portions were plentiful and the prices were great. Very impressed and restaurant was very clean. read more

Cafe Del Rio - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

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Tamales are terrible and overpriced. They're dry and just plain terrible. I've had better tamales at a parking lot at a gas station. Other options are ok. Rice tastes like school food. read more

This restaurant is very popular but fails to serve various guests. Every thing is cooked in lard (pork fat)! When my husband and I asked for veggie fajitas without the butter, we received lightly steamed unseasoned veggies on a cast iron skillet. I understand that we asked for some accommodations but we've been to other Mexican restaurants and they had no problem. I'm still flabbergasted by the fact that they cook everything in lard, from their beans to the darn flour tortillas. It was disappointing to hear honestly. Only thing that was satisfying were the drinks. The mango coronita was delicious and my husband had a nice size double shot of patron. This place is definitely NOT for people who don't eat pork. Before ordering make sure your food isn't cooked in lard. read more

Cafe Del Rio - Mango coronita - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

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Driving home to Houston we stopped in. Food was awesome. Waitress was so sweet and attentive. Place is huge inside with great atmosphere. Felt like a Disney theme restaurant. read more

Cafe Del Rio - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

The best Tex-Mex in Lufkin. That said, don't expect a true Mexican meal here. Fajitas are served in several varieties (beef, chicken, shrimp and combo) and are possibly the best in town on a consistent basis. All food portions are large, my wife loves both there charro and refrained beans, and they recently switched back to their older rice recipe that is absolutely excellent. The flour tortillas are made on site and you can even watch them being made as you enter the seating area. The atmosphere is patent Tex-Mex with Christmas lighting used for accent throughout and all kinds of different stuff hanging from the ceiling. Bare cement floors make it easy for the staff to keep the areas clean, but can add to the overall noise level when loud groups are around. read more

100% Tex-Mex. If that's your thing then I'm sure this place is adequate. If you've never had authentic Mexican or don't like it. This is the place for you. read more

Cafe Del Rio - Pineapples and mangos. Popcorn shrimp. Guacamole at the bottom like some kind of hybrid yogurt. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

Highly disappointed in the false advertising for St Patrick's day drink specials that the manager refused to honor. The 20z domestics were being advertised by the official Facebook page as $3. She said "someone" got overzealous with the pricing and that she could not honor it. I would understand if the post had already been taken down by that was not the case. That's poor customer service to not honor it while it's clearly still posted. read more

Cafe Del Rio - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

I needed a last minute delivery for 12 people. They really came through for me. I was able to get beef and chicken enchiladas w chips and queso and a gallon of tea for 12 people delivered in two hours. The food was really good and my customers liked it. I have not eaten at the restaurant but from a customer service and delivery point of view, I couldn't have been more pleased. Because of the customer service and pretty good enchiladas, I have them 5 stars. read more

I came here to celebrate my uncles 75th birthday. There were over 24 persons at this celebration having lunch. The room was spacious with a great open, well-lighted room (plenty of sunshine) and festive decor. Each of us at the table I was seated ordered different items. I ordered the tacos of 3 and was served with rice and beans. These tacos were extra large, so big I couldn't eat them all. Great taste and fresh lettuce that gave it that cool taste to boot. The lady next to me ordered the fajitas, they looked scrumptious. A large number of beef fajita strips, grilled onions and a side of pico. I almost reached over to her plate to get a bit. The prices were very good with the amount of food you received. When I am back in the area, I will come again. Thanks for a great experience and great tasting food. read more

I would rate the chips and salsa a 3 out of 5. The salsa is a nice light blend. Nothing really special about. Heaping pile of chips create a nice display. The Chimi comes standard with cheese, didn't want to risk the possibility of the standard can cheese coming on it so I asked for the chili sauce. Which I would recommend. Plenty of food, you won't go home hungry. The chimi was much like the salsa, nothing special, but very filling. Service was decent. My ticket says it was Emerald. She was nice and took pretty good care of me despite getting a huge party not long after I was seated. The atmosphere is what really makes this place. From the walk outside to the open clean festive feeling inside. Overall a good place, and one of the biggest Mexican restaurants you will ever eat at. Personally, would like to see the take a little risk with the salsa and add some cilantro or something to take it up a notch as well as put a little more love into the creativity of there food. A place this big and this busy should have food that is over the top. I would come again and recommend it, worth the stop if you're hungry! read more

Cafe Del Rio - Chips and salsa - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

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Best place in Lufkin to have mexican food. Lots of choices. Always consistent. Big portions. read more

You almost have to try a place yourself to know if it is good. I did not want to check this place out because there are so many really low reviews. I give this place 4 1/2 stars. This restaurant is huge and really nice. Food is excellent. I have tried many Tex-Mex places all over the country, and, I find this one to be among the best. We had a tamal covered with Texas chili, two cheese enchilada, crispy beef taco,all served with rice and beans. We also sampled the made-in-house tortillas, chips and salsa. All were excellent. We had been going to Los Jarritos, but it seems to be closed on Mondays now. Sorry, that closed Monday cost you our business. Oh, not because we do not like your food and not because we do not understand that we all need time off. No, it just made me try Cafe del Rio. I am glad I did because now it is my first choice. And, Cafe del Rio has a web site, online menu and free ice cream cones. The atmosphere is great and the whole experience was wonderful. We look forward to going back. read more

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Favorite local Tex-Mex!! Have been eating here at least once a week for over 15 years. About a year ago they added the big red margarita to the menu, and now we go there 2-3 times a week. read more

Cafe Del Rio - Big red Margarita - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

Didn't have a good experience at the lufkin cafe del rio, the margaritas was straight mix sent them back. The queso was too watery, the enchiladas tasted like cardboard, the flautas were burnt, the rice and beans were blah! Definitely not worth $80!!! read more

We were visiting from out of town and wanted to try this place out. Probably the largest Mexican restaurant I've ever been to. We were a large party but seated quickly. Our waiter was friendly and was great. Brought us plenty of chip and drink refills. Don't forget to order tortillas to eat with butter and honey. I ordered the "Three Amigos" enchiladas they were great. Great place for Tex Mex. Yellow queso is yummy too! read more

Cafe Del Rio - Tex-Mex Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

Tragically the new location does not have the vibe of the old. The happy hour selection was weak. No bar food specials like before and it just lost the family and closeness like before It's too big,too commercialized and sadly too stingy on happy hour appeal. It will not be a Regina place for me and I'll search for another locals type Mexican food local. Sorry, missed the mark on this one read more

This is our go to Mexican place since we've moved to Lufkin. The food is always great but the service could definitely use some work. First time we went, we had excellent service, every time (3) after its been slacking. It seems like most of the servers could care less about being there. Drinks go empty and tickets take forever to come out. Everything we have tried is great and they have the BEST queso I've ever had. read more

Food was good besides waiting on tortillas for 20 mins after our food was brought out seemed like the waiter was dodging our table and hitting up tables where there were just women and no familys had to stop another waiter to check us out while our waiter was shooting the bull with the table next to us read more

If you are in the mood for Tex mex this is your place. Food was great and service was excellent. Burrito plate and Juarez four our meal and habenero ranch/queso as an appetizer. All for under $40. read more

There was a small line waiting when we arrived but we we promptly seated within ten minutes. Masks and social distancing is enforced and our table was clean. My girlfriend ordered the tamales with a variety of sauces and I had the shrimp brochettes. Very tasty, great service and regular attention without interrupting conversation. I highly recommend. read more

The food is good, Really good chips and salsa. Tex mex at its finest. The reason why I will probably never go back is the atmosphere is not good for families. It is a drunken mess bar, party like place. I never plan to step foot in there.... I have been to tex mex places where it is plane Jane. And it is good. This place is over the top. This is a matter of opinion. read more

The food was great, restaurant nice & clean & service on point! I would definitely eat here again.