One of the worst meals I've had in a while and I genuinely hope I never have the misfortune of eating here again. Check my yelp history. I typically am very generous with my ratings, but this place is god awful and has no redeeming factors. Fair warning for those who order a "burrito" here. If you want lettuce and pico de gallo, they'll only put it on the SIDE of your burrito after it's entirely wrapped. No explanation and when I asked "oh, do you not put it in the burrito?" She just says no, with no elaboration. I'm sorry, what am I going to do with lettuce outside my burrito...? Also, the pico de gallo is just put right next to the burrito on the plate and therefore got the burrito all soggy before we even sat down at our (dirty btw) table. So I tried to put the lettuce in the soggy burrito and the picture is the result of my awesome meal. Oh, their meat food portions are also very stingy. This place is like a Temu Chipotle, with terrible food and service. Let's just say I'm not surprised by their overall Yelp score when I came on to leave this review. read more

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Menifee, California

I recently visited Café Rio while I was in town with my little one and we really loved it. Honestly, we usually go to one of its top competitors, but decided to give it a try and I'm really glad we did. The prices were great and I even had a sweet coupon for being a new customer. The staff was really friendly and outgoing and attentive inside the restaurant. Everything was super organized and clean and we were super excited to see that they had drink syrups so you could flavor your soda and make it dirty like how they do in Utah.lol I ordered a bowl and it seriously fed me for both lunch and dinner. The portion was massive!! Definitely got my moneys worth. read more

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Honest & Balanced Review We used to love this place because it reminded us of Cafe Rio back when we lived in Utah. Unfortunately, our recent visit was really disappointing. The food quality has gone downhill (the meat tasted old and even made us feel sick). The restaurant itself looked unclean and had an unpleasant smell, which is concerning. The service didn't help either; the woman at the front was rude and seemed bothered by simple questions. This isn't our first bad experience here, so sadly we won't be coming back. I hope management takes action and improves both cleanliness and quality. read more

Sigh. This is a fast food mexican place that tastes like glop in an old folks retirement nursing home. They have meats out with lettuce and pico and cheese just like they do in subway. I went on taco tuesday. It's only the beef and pork for the tacos. They have the meats in a broth. The meat is dry, and it's really runny. The workers cook it there as you tell them what you'd like in it. The salsa/sauce that is there is just so gross tasting. It's a bit sweet and bitter and has 0 spice. I just did not really enjoy the food here. 2 stars bc the workers were really nice. read more

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Menifee, California

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One of the worst quick service restaurant experience I repeatedly make the mistake of trying. Food is consistently missing from order, frequently prepared wrong, never ready on time. Like, 20 minutes after pick up time still not ready. When you try and bring up missing entire entrees the associates laugh. Unreal. Never again, I've given them an honest shot at least three times in the last couple years and it's horrible every time. Super not shocked the Temecula location closed. read more

I decided to grab something after my class today (April 6, 2026 at around 7:40 pm). When ordering my bowl, I had asked for the shredded chicken option, and the girl that "helped" me out told me it'll take about 5 minutes for it to come out. She told me to sit down and she'll call me up when it's done. After about 10-15 mins, I see her taking the shredded chicken out and replace it. I waited for her to call me up, but instead she decides to go near the back and check her phone. She stayed on it for quite a bit, and she eventually just left. I had to go up to the other worker, and pointed out that my unfinished bowl was behind her and that I was told they would call me when it was ready. She finished up my bowl with no problem, but the first girl that had "helped" me out was just not helpful at all. read more

Since my last review not even a month ago I've ordered from here at least 6 more times. I make sure that wherever my family is ordering from it has the option to order from Cafe Rio without extra fees. It is officially my go to and everything I've gotten has been incredible. Happy and loyal customer for as long as they're around. read more

First time trying cafe rio and I was pleasantly surprised, really good portions for the price and the food was fire

I went to Cafe Rio yesterday, March 14. 2026. The quality has gone down, and it's very expensive for what you get. Sweet pork was more like a sauce, hardly any pork. Tortilla was stale and dry and they put very little food, so it gets rally dry and stale. If you want fresh and tasty food, stay away from this place and go to Chipotle. From now on I will only go to Cafe Rio in Utah, Menifee location, never again. read more

This is my go to spot every single Tuesday. My boyfriend and I have to get it, we feel incomplete if we don't get taco Tuesday at cafe rio for dinner. I will walk in and Sahara has been there for years and you can see why she's so nice and so good with customers, once I walk in she's already getting my plates started because she knows what I want and always makes sure to get the order right every time. It's always very clean and they always have everything in stock even close to closing. I was an avid customer of the Temecula location until they closed and I stopped going for a year and a half. I'm so so happy to be able to come back and for the food to always be so good and fresh and tacos and juicy omg I'm hungry thinking about them. Aria and Sahara are so good and my favorite. read more

Don't order the salad. So flavorless. Chicken, tomatoes, vegetables & stale tortilla chips, have NO flavor & the flour tortilla base is Soggy & blah. So disappointing. The bowls with pork Barbados is good. read more

Great food and ample servings!! Great buy any day but especially on Tuesdays for their Tacos.

2 star review solely for Menifee location. I walked in here right @ 10:30am so excited to consume this tasty food..... Errrrrr no. I walked in, 3 employees only one said hello. The other 2 had earbuds/headphones on (super unprofessional) No ice, all sodas carbonation was off, out of 10 hot sauce bottles only 2 had enough hot sauce...I was the first customer yet the trash was full? My bowl had so much juice.... Pretty terrible. If I were management/corporate I would be extremely concerned over this location. read more

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican - Soup bowl - Mexican Near Me - Menifee, California

Shoutout to Grady at Cafe Rio for going truly above and beyond. Once he found out my mom has a lime allergy, he was incredibly attentive and took the time to walk her through which items contained lime. He even caught that the rice had lime in it before she ordered, something we had no idea about. That could have ended very badly, and his awareness and care honestly made all the difference. Exceptional service and genuine concern like that doesn't go unnoticed. Thank you, Grady! read more

Was not thrilled with the grilled chicken today, it was more like minced. Bring back the slices and white chicken lightly seasoned. read more

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican - Grilled chicken on the side - Mexican Near Me - Menifee, California

We hadn't been at a Cafe Rio in awhile . We were craving the Barbacoa nachos and ordered on the website. We also got a grilled chicken taco and a kids quesadilla. The staff was so prompt , friendly , and efficient. They made getting the food enjoyable and us appreciated. The place was clean and cheery!! We will be back real soon read more

this place sucks. dirty and always mess up my order and charge $19 per. don't go here.

I worked here back in 2018-2019 and I loved working here. The food was amazing, sweet pork barb is my favorite & the carne asada when they have it as a LTO option. Salads are fresh, quesadillas are sooo cheesy. Baby nino's are great for on the go. The vinaigrette is amazing. Tortillas are made fresh DAILY. read more

We went to Cafe Rio last night 3/26/26 after 7 pm. We dine at cafe rio frequently. However, last night we had the worst experience it was busy and they had ran out of meats it would've taken 20 minutes for them to make the grilled chicken but by this time we had already waited a long time. So my husband got the steak which they said would only take 5 minutes. Once we got home we realized my husband's meat was literally raw. My husband decided to drive back and when he got there he asked to speak to the manager. The cashier went to grab the manager but she would not come talk to my husband instead she had the cashier going back and forth and telling my husband that's normally how that meat is cooked. My husband asked for a refund she could have handled that situation differently. He had taken the food back so she could look at it but didn't even give him the time of day. A manger should be able to handle these situations in a professional way and make things right for the customer. read more

I'm not sure why there was so much hatred out there but this location is now permanently closed. It doesn't make any sense despite the fact that I believe Cafe Rio is in every way superior to Chipotle. There is nothing south of San Clemente or Menifee and I'm not sure how long those locations will remain open. Cafe Rio corporate, if you are listening, please return to San Diego. read more

Cafe Rio? How about Cafe Does Anyone Work Here? We stopped off on our way to LV and there were two workers, both wandering around, neither seeming to notice customers, or the state of the place. We stood around in line for about ten minutes without acknowledgement, not a nod, not a "we'll be with you shortly," nothing. Whoever is managing this place might want to consider addressing their staff and operations protocols. Additionally, perhaps think about addressing the dirty food making station, old-looking rice, beans, lettuce, shredded cheese, salsas all splattered and scattered all over. The grill, gross, all this charred, old bits of meat just sitting out, and what looked like raw meat over on the side. The bathroom, out of paper towels and soap. Gross ... The Health Department would definitely not be impressed. We left. Not that the two workers noticed. read more

Went there 50 minutes before close and they already put away almost everything and had nothing worth while left. I've been there multiple other times and it's usually slow as well. They should not be packing up all the food so early before close. Totally sucked :/ read more

Everyone was nice. But I predict I will be vomiting into the bathtub while pooping liquid and crying in about 4-6 hours wish me luck. Not going to be worth it cause it taste like prison food. Goodbye. Never again. read more

I get to cafe rio about once or twice a month and it's definitely in my food Rotation. I'm a big fan of the sweet pork barbacoa smothered in their green sauce with the pinto beans and rice. The burritos are big enough where they usually last me a few meals and it reheats well for next day lunch. I took off a star because they have signs about masks before entering but the compliance is still barely 50%. At least the employees are masked up. read more

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican - Say my name say my name! - Mexican Near Me - Menifee, California

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We ordered our food to go. The restaurant was clean. We were welcomed as we entered. Our food was good and ready when promised. Not sure why this location has so many bad reviews. Give them a try. They did good for us! read more

We show up to get our food and as we are ordering the sweet pork a worker starts poring the pork from a plastic bag into the tin that it is served in right in front of us. She started apologizing saying "sorry this is so ghetto". What kind of service is this? We were so grossed out we couldn't even eat our food. Do better. read more

Absolutely love this Cafe Rio, best one my husband and I have been to. 99% of the time food is top tier, we are here frequently & their team is always wonderful & accommodating. Restaurant is always clean, definitely reccomend!! read more

I wanted to give 5 stars because I really liked this place but it wasn't perfect. If you think Chipotle but nothing like that except Chipotle has better guacamole. Cafe Rio stands out in almost all other areas. Stand in line, and it doesn't move fast, then choose your item - Salad, tostada, Burrito etc then a protein choice and add your toppings as you go down the line. Right at the beginning of the line is a tortilla maker nice and fresh and hot off the griddle. I opted for a whole wheat and thankful it was an option. At the beverage station is when I noticed maybe this unit could use some love, they have 4 fresco machines that circulate the beverage but 3 were broken and the plastic looked dingy and cloudy the 4th had some sort of mint tea that looked rancid. these machines probably were a nice offering back when The Cafe Rio Home Office guys were hanging out. I ordered a salad with chicken and whole wheat tortilla and I must say it was fantastic! the best salad I have had in many years and I will return again and again for this $11.00 salad, it was that good. No employee touched the dining room, except 2 employees took separate tables to sit and have a lunch break at 12 noon while the line almost hit the door and the last open table was next to me, and dirty since I arrived. All these little service and aesthetic things must be a managerial issue that will probably work themselves out down the road and we can give them that 5th Star. 4 stars for great food and solid concept but, poor execution. read more

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Menifee, California

Good food more selections than chipotle so this is my place to go for now on. They were clean and kind and the service was great.

The Menifee Cafe Rio is always great food and customer service never disappoints. I always get the salad with all the toppings and it's always tastes great and loaded up. The customer service never disappoints the servers are always really nice and friendly and greet you upon entry and make sure everything is in my order. My most recent visit I had ordered to go for lunch that same night I got a call from Cafe Rio Menifee to check and see how I liked my order and if everything was all good. The Menifee location definitely goes above and beyond! read more

Extremely poor customer service. No-one said anything when we arrived. The order was 10 minutes past the estimated completion time provided. When I asked one of the employees how the order was coming her response was " I don't know, I'm not the one working on it". They also left out almost $20 worth of items for on my order. Don't eat here! read more

ONE employee works the line AND the register - so expect a wait (especially at " lunch time"). Consider getting one of the daily promotional specials, but pay close attention to the pricing. For instance, on Tuesday a single taco is $2.49. To "make it a meal" by adding beans, rice, and a beverage is $3 MORE - NOT $3 total (as I had interpreted it). Also be sure to sample all drink options before fully filling your cup; you might find that the one you like best is not what you originally assumed and planned on. read more

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Menifee, California

Went to get a chicken bowl. Asked for double chicken and she gives me very small amount. It seemed almost intentional and very off putting. Will never be back. They charged me extra for the double chicken and it felt disturbing. read more

I went to Cafe Rio on 12/19/24 for a Tres Leches cake. I was very disappointed in the quality of the cake. The girl that made it put runny whip cream on top. It's obvious that she doesn't value the customers or her job. I don't recommend this location read more

Visited this place for the first time, very good food and service at very good value, I built my own tostada my wife her own burrito, we enjoyed every bite. We definitely be back. read more

This location is an absolute joke and a complete disgrace to the Cafe Rio franchise. Whoever is "managing" this location is letting their employees run this location straight into the ground. We made the unfortunate mistake of stopping at this location on our way up to Big Bear Lake. We were starving and really wanted a hearty quick meal, so we figured we'd stop in and grab a bite before we continued on our drive. Never again will I stop at this location. 30 minutes in line just to even get my order taken. Every employee working has zero sense of urgency even though there's a line of people waiting to get food. Four employees were genuinely just standing around twiddling their thumbs by the register why two employees worked the assembly line to try and get food out. There was no communication between employees, no restocking of items such as chicken, sour cream, lettuce, or pico de Gallo. It was absolute chaos. Seriously, don't ever go to this location. You'll waste 30 minutes of your life just to have a mediocre quality food and you'll regret it. The night manager at this location needs to be fired. Immediately. read more

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Dont come here. Just dont. Waste of time and money. Very unprofessional workers, their phone number goes straight to corporate which gives misleading information as well. To the short guy that works at the front monday night- 9pm/closing time- please help everyone by not working ANYWHERE. You dont deserve a paycheck. And also, dont be taking pills and rolling your eyes while assisting customers. read more

This will be the last time we order from here. We keep giving them a chance. -Ordered this evening and the rice in both meals was hard and undercooked. -The guacamole ordered for the burrito was not included. Their food has flavor but if you can't cook rice....that's a problem. -Guac on the salad was brown. -I ordered no cheese and it still had cotija on it. Oh and if you try to call the store, you get a corporate call center. read more

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican - Brown guac - Mexican Near Me - Menifee, California

Why why didn't I listen to the reviews. Because I used to love this place. But the way they just slap the food together is so gross. And the grilll. I just threw the food away. read more

Super unprofessional and the portion size for the bowl was so small. A girl and a guy were working and they both had airpods in while taking our order. The girl giving portions in the bowl were extremely small with almost half a scoop of rice. When we are leaving there was a door that was broken and only had a sign on the outside saying not to open but no sign inside the establishment. When I opened it there was metal that fell on my foot and the only thing the employees did was give me a dirty look. Maybe lock the door or put another warning sign for other customers so they dont get hurt. Super dissapointed... read more