While on our River Walk Cruise, we noticed a colorful little Mexican style restaurant and once we docked, headed over to have a drink, a bit to eat and decide our next move. We had a seat at a nice little outdoor table and checked out the menu. Once we got the attention of the wait staff we ordered a flight of multi-flavored Frozen Margaritas and a Botanas Platter consisting of Pollo Poppers, Mini Beef Quesadillas and stuffed Jalapenos along with guacamole and sour cream. The Botanas Platter was light but a bit unexciting/bland so we chose not to have an entrée and continued to sip our Frozen Margaritas on this warm day. All the flavors were delicious and refreshing. I do understand that they were a bit busy, but trying to get the attention of our server was a definite chore and the wait staff did not seem to be terribly interested in assisting anyone or getting the orders out to their customers in a timely manner. This was also the first Mexican Restaurant that did not offer complimentary chips and salsa/queso to their customers. We did find that rather odd. Overall Casa Rio was ok, but the lack of service and disinterest in their customers really put us off but we really did enjoy the flight of frozen Margaritas. read more

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Yup Nope NOT IT!!! Such low star reviews tells you just the truth here! Sometimes I give them the benefit of the doubt and try it out and the food is amazing but NOPE! NOT HERE!!! Service isn't good, they lag in paying attention you walking around looking for someone to help you, and DON'T speak Spanish? Yeah right, that's straight out embarrassment because your showing your are embarrassed of your heritage! The food is nasty !! The only good thing was the salsa, and my drink but the rest!? Bland, greasy, couldn't figure out what was inside flautas, and what should have been chicken poppers. Jalapeño poppers were super sour, you know why? Because it's the jalapeño in a can "vinegar" that's not how you make the poppers!!! I saw the pics of foods and I was just not into them! Not appetizing at all!!!!! But let's try it out right? Regrets!!! All the way Oh and the menus are nasty! Dirty, greasy and I don't even wanna know what that was read more

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Casa Rio is a San Antonio staple (est. 1946). I've been there few times over the years because it's 'the place' to eat along the river walk growing up. Umbrellas & outdoor seating, indoor seating, upstairs (street level) bar with small seating areas, and rooms that can be rented for private events. Mariachi band roaming. We went for a work event and did buffet for 40 people. The food was better than I remember it being which was a welcomed surplrise!! The spread had chicken enchiladas, cheese enchiladas, rice, beans, fajita meat, & tex mex fixings. There was also appetizer plate with poppers, taquitos, & delicious bacon wrapped chicken. There was a dessert assortment that was passed but I didn't indulge. Everyone was happy & stuffed though! Excellent service from Chris. Good skinny margarita from the bar! Would recommend you go to Casa Rio when on the River Walk to enjoy casual a tex mex vibe! read more

We dined in Saturday evening just before 6PM. We were seated immediately. Our server took several minutes to greet us--we had to ask another server to help us. Once our server arrived, she was attentive and responsive. The food was served hot and was flavorful. This is a good Tex-Mex restaurant. The servers are dressed in Mexican style tops and skirts, they look cute! They played Spanish music on the speakers and there was a trio of mariachis that came around asking if we wanted them to sing for us. We kindly declined. read more

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The restaurant didn't not live up to the hype. The food was bland and not authentic. Great customer service was rendered ; however, I wouldn't recommend. I didn't enjoy my meal; however the restaurant has great guacamole and offer a complimentary souvenir picture. read more

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This Mexican restaurant, one of the oldest eateries in San Antonio, is huge and located at the Riverwalk. We came on a weeknight and scored a table right along the river; you can't beat the ambience. The chips and salsa were good and the additional guacamole we ordered was excellent. I ordered crispy tacos (2) which had flavorfully seasoned ground beef as well as cheese, lettuce, and pieces of tomato. Basic but good. The rice and beans on the plate were standard fare. I also got a horchata, which was superbly made. Service was efficient and professional. While they do have indoor seating, it's best experienced on a warm night sitting outdoors by the river, surrounded by lights and boats floating by. read more

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Came to San Antonio from California and almost skipped this spot because of the reviews... but honestly, I'm glad we didn't We just wanted a place close to the River Walk with a nice view and some good Mexican food, and this ended up being a solid surprise. The chips and dip trio were sooo good, the food was actually pretty decent, and the river view made the whole experience even better. Definitely don't think it deserves all the bad reviews, sometimes you just gotta try places for yourself! (lots of birds so if you're scared dw they're not real) read more

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Delicious! We walked by and decided to have lunch. Sat outside on the riverwalk. Service was friendly and quick. I got the street taco trio and it was so flavorful! I'd get it again. I also got a Paloma, it was good but a little weak. Is it worth the drive?...yes read more

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A must when you have friends in town! This spot has the iconic colorful umbrellas that are key to the San Antonio Riverwalk. The outside area was well kept and our server was wonderful in coordinating our dessert arriving at the right time. Horchata was just ok, and the food was nothing extraordinary, but nothing to be upset about. It's a wonderful spot to have a meal. read more

Casa Rio - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

A great option to peoplewatch, dine or enjoy a happy hour sitting by the riverwalk. They have mariachi offering to play at your request - pay per song. The place is large with private dining halls, Riverwalk sitting both indoor and outdoor and a couple floors/levels. The food is your typical Mexican (americanised) food but it's good and the staff are nice. Most people uber/lyft to the area due to limited parking but they do have a small back parking lot if you're driving. Being by the riverwalk, the spaces are narrow and there are a lot of stairs to go up or down so be prepared to walk. I did notice an elevator nearby which would make certain levels handicap accessible. Something to note, we had a large party in a private catered room and had a lot of food leftover. But after we were done we weren't allowed to take leftovers home, we were told to-go containers were not available for us. Also once we exited the private dining room, we lost access to the restroom. read more

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Came here without of town guests. They never had Mexican food or been to the Riverwalk. After hours of walking we got hungry so we came to Casa Rio because it was close to where we were. They gave us chips and salsa as we arrived and I suspected after tasting the very thick and hard and super salty chips that the rest of the food wouldn't taste well either. I was right. I got the street tacos. The beans and rice were fairly good but there wasn't enough on the plate. The tacos however were bland and boring. My husband got the burger and he said that wasn't very good either. Our nephew got the chicken quesadilla and he said the cheese tasted weird. We definitely won't be coming back here. The bill was $98 and definitely wasn't worth half of that! read more

Had a catered lunch on a riverwalk "cruise". Guacamole salad with chips n salsa for starter (very good) followed by 3 enchiladas, served alongside rice and beans. Both the beef and cheese enchiladas were much too salty to eat so tried the chicken. After just one bite opened and decided to eat just the chicken that included a rather large bone! (I guess the good news was I didn't swallow it and it was proof they used real chicken) read more

We came here for a quick lunch before a work event, and it did not disappoint! The waitstaff were very friendly and attentive, and there is a mariachi band that plays for you in front of your table, if that's the vibe you are going for. We started with some chips and salsa, guacamole, and queso for the table. The spicy salsa was pretty good and the regular salsa was very fresh. The guacamole comes with this vinaigrette on top of it, which at first, we were skeptical of, but it turned out to really enhance the flavor of the guac and was very tasty. The queso was the largest queso I've ever seen in my life, served in a soup bowl, and it was addicting! For the entree, I ordered the chili con carne, which came with refried beans and rice. The sauce was pretty good and the cheese and raw onion on top was a nice touch. This is a good spot for large parties or if you are looking for some good Tex mex on the river walk. read more

Casa Rio - Chili Con Carne - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This is a riverwalk staple! I can't remember coming to San Antonio and not eating here. The ambiance is fun and lively and always welcoming! Their food is so good. The guacamole is fresh. I love their crispy chicken taco plate. Their service is swift, especially considering how busy they are from open to close. The best part is you can literally take a few steps from there afterwards and get on a river tour boat. Super convenient considering how long the riverwalk is too. read more

This place advertises as oldest restaurant on the Riverwalk. Easy to find with the bright umbrellas. Now for the food. Very basic. I had two regular tacos with beans and rice. Nothing special. Saving grace, was a decent Margarita. Sat outside, the service was good. read more

Casa Rio - Drinks menu - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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We're visiting San Antonio for the 1st time and walking the Riverwalk. As dinner time approached we started scouting out places to eat. There are dozens of restaurants around the water, all with menus that looked good. However we were looking for a place right on the river. Casa Rio fit the bill and we chose well. We ordered the Nachos appetizer and an order of 2 beef tacos with rice and beans. Both choices were excellent and the prices reasonable. If you're looking to eat overlooking the river, this is your place. read more

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This is a landmark restaurant in San Antonio Riverwalk, so we had to patio dine here (again)... This time, I had Chalupa Combo, and my husband had Chile Relleno. I think I just tried a mocktail, but can't remember the name. Despite the colorful patio with a scenic view of the bridge, the foods were mediocre. I did not like my Chalupa at all...barely ate it. Luckily, my husband really enjoyed his Chile Relleno...thought it was really good. I also thought my mocktail was mediocre...just kinda blahhh and watery? Still, thanks to the gorgeous views, it was well worth it! If based strictly on foods, I'd rate it about 2, but the views bumped it up to 3 stars! read more

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It's great to be able to stay on the river walk, but there is better tex mex in the area. Al pastor tacos were a bit dry. Churros were under baked. Agua fresca was good. Kiddos like the cheese quesadilla. read more

Great spot to eat at the Riverwalk. It's our go to whenever we are at the Riverwalk. Best bang for your buck. Although the now charge for chips and salsa.  Our meals came out fast and as good as always. We lucked out this Friday and got seated right away. It varies what time of year you go and what time of day. They didn't take our pic like the usually do this time tho. Maybe it was because it was a little bit of a slow time of day. Anyway- like I said- with all the crazy expensive places to eat at at the Riverwalk- this place is reasonably priced and has good food. read more

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If you're on the hunt for great Tex mex in San Antonio, this is not your spot. Ambiance feels like an authentic Mexican restaurant. We sat outside right on the riverwalk, which was very pretty at night. They had a mariachi band, but they were going table by table asking if you wanted a song (for a price) which I felt was tacky and the restaurant should just hire them to play as free entertainment for patrons. Service: our server was good and food came out fairly quickly. Drinks: My husband and I got frozen flavored margaritas. They were a bit small and didn't really taste any alcohol, but they were also pretty cheap ($11). Food: Food was majorly disappointing. We started with chips and queso and it was nothing to write home about. I ordered Al pastor street tacos that came with beans and rice. The Al pastor was just not flavorful, a bit dry, and could have used some other toppings / sauce. Beans and rice were ok. My husband got the el rio with a beef enchilada, chicken taquito, and tamale. The tamale was ok, but the taquito was bland, and enchilada missing something. We ordered my son the kids grilled chicken with rice and refried beans and he loved it though. read more

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My fam just newly moved back to SA so we had to go to The a Riverwalk , especially since our son had not remembered it. It's had become a tradition to eat at Casa Rio everytime we go there. So of course we went. Now it heads been a few years since our last time in SA, but they now charge for Chips and Salsa. The salsa is still very good. don't know if their menu got smaller? But we were able to find something different for each of us to try so no duplicate plates on our table of 3. We are seated indoors quickly, service was quite fast in general. Food was still good- the prices were very reasonable - esp for being in the tourist zone. We will continue to go here whenever family and friends come to visit and we take them to the Riverwalk! PS- extra half star for offering a military discount too- thank you! read more

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Born and raised in Texas, been to hundreds of restaurants. This has got to be the worst mexican food ever. Everyone's food looked and tasted like it was microwaved. read more

Casa Rio is beautifully situated right on the San Antonio River Walk, creating a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere. The outdoor seating and river views were the real stars of the show. The food was okay, but the avocado dish was particularly delicious. Overall, it's a great place to enjoy the experience and scenery, especially for first-time visitors to San Antonio. We had plenty of food left over, but they don't offer takeaway boxes! Service is okay. read more

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Let's start with atmosphere sitting on the river with colorful umbrellas with a cool breeze and mariachis singers playing is epic. The servers are happy helpful and present. They bring you chips and Not salsa just sauce, which was different and interesting but grew to like it. I'm originally from California so chips are always served with salsa and move to Florida and chips are always served with salsa. I ordered the soft corn tortilla chicken tacos meal. The meat was juicy and extremely flavorful. The beans were like they have been cooking for days in a salsa sauce and pork and I don't know what else types of herbs, but they were the best beans I've had in a long time and the rice mixed with a little bit of beans were delicious too. Trying to get my fix of real Mexican food and I think I'm doing pretty good. This restaurant has been here for over 80 years. I can't imagine all of the people and the changes that's downtown. San Antonio has gone gone through in this restaurant has survived and is still a local favorite and now an hour town's favorite. read more

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We came here for lunch over the weekend and really enjoyed our experience! Upon arriving we had a very short wait time and got a table right on the water!! Our server was very kind and was able to answer any questions we had! Overall service was prompt!! We all enjoyed our meals, and felt that the portions were very generous. All of the food arrived made to order and was super tasty! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience here! It was such a pleasant experience to have lunch right on the water. I would definitely recommend trying Casa Rio if you are in the area!! read more

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The food is amazing, the staff is incredibly nice, the ambiance is the river walk. The price is very good. Two thumbs way up. Would highly recommend. We heard mariachi music and got a photo while we were here. read more

This place is meh. Went with a group of people for lunch. Whirl thru have a robust menu, the food was just so so. Had the quesadilla and chicken fajita with vegetables. Meat was tough. Flavors were unremarkable. Was hoping for so much better. Service was fine tho a couple of orders came out not as placed. Best part was the ambiance and vibe which has so much promise but the food didn't meet expectations. Maybe it was an off day. read more

My wife and I needed a little something to get us to dinner so we stopped at Casa Rio. I had the Chili Con Carne (small), and my wife had a small chicken meal. I also ordered the chips and salsa. Our waiter was average at best. Our chips arrived after our food (and we had to ask for it). My chili was pretty good, my wife enjoyed her food. There is definitely room for improvement with service. Food was still decent and I'd stop again if I was in San Antonio. read more

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Absolutely fantastic experience. We sat along the water outside. The service was fantastic! Very polite and engaging. The food was delicious!! The portions were also very large. Will recommend this to everyone who wants an authentic Tex-Mex experience with very stiff drinks! read more

Dinner at Casa Rio is a total must! It's a right of passage to eat at a cheesy Tex Mex spot right on the water! It's basically the Riverwalk's grandparent. I played chef and ordered a shrimp bowl with rice and cheese (highly recommend) and, because this is San Antonio, we hired a mariachi band to serenade us right at the table. And absolutely, it made the meal taste even better. Service was almost too fast! I was enjoying my time! read more

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We were kind of expecting something better than average, but were disappointed. Food is bland, chips seem out of a bag, salsa, avocado dip- lame Service was pretty good It is a pretty place, nice seating along the river. It was hot, and we sat inside. read more

Casa Rio is the oldest restaurant on the River Walk, or that's what the boat tours kept saying as they motored by our outside table. We swung through SA and wanted to show our daughter the River Walk. Casa Rio was the restaurant we both remembered eating at with our parents, so we opted to keep the tradition going. It was a weekday and a little past lunch rush, so we had no issue immediately getting a table on the water. I've been told the wait can get lengthy at peak hours, especially during high season for tourists. FYI The food isn't exceptional but it'll scratch that itch. Most of the dishes we ordered were a little bland on seasoning, but if you're just looking for a pile of fajitas and a margarita, you should be fine. Their outside seating is dog friendly to boot. They brought out water bowls for tableside dogs which I thought was a nice touch. Service was meh. Our waiter forgot a couple things from our initial order, corrected the mistakes, but left us waiting for half our lunch after already eating the other half. He would also ask if we needed anything, we'd ask for something, then he'd disappear for 10+ minutes doing his rounds before circling back remembering what we asked for, then finally running to grab it. Just seemed like he was going through the motions and not really present. Long story short, this is not the greatest Tex-Mex/Mexican food in San Antonio, but if you're looking for a true tourist checkbox to tick off, eating at Casa Rio on the river is most likely high up on the list. read more

Casa Rio - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This was the best meal I have had in San Antonio! I was very hesitant to eat here because it looked like another tourist trap. I was very wrong. Not only was the food fresh but the customer service was the best I experienced on my entire vacation. Angel, the host, greeted me with a welcoming smile and Claudia, my server, was friendly & attentive. Casa Rio is a must do on your visit to San Antonio. read more

Casa Rio - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Going to the Riverwalk in San Antonio is a very 'tourist-y' thing to do when one visits the city. So, expect to see plenty of tourists. However, a lot of locals are there, too. I think the difference is the locals know what to expect because we've experienced the disappointment of Riverwalk dining before. I'm traveling on business and Wonder Wife decided to come spend the weekend with me, which is a lot like having an angel appear in your presence. She'd never been to the Riverwalk, so that was an obvious choice. When it comes to dining on the river, there are basically two choices - mediocre food one can afford, or pretty good food one can't. The nice thing about Casa Rio is there's a ton of seating, and we got to sit next to the water without a wait (at about 7PM). We tossed chips to the ducks and got our picture taken by wandering photographer who gave us a so-so free print and sold us a couple of higher quality/larger prints. Again, typical tourist thing, but we enjoyed it. The bad thing about Casa Rio is the food. The chips were surprisingly good and the salsa is not bad, either (but, they're not complimentary). But, you can make MUCH better queso at home using Velveeta and Ro-tel, so skip it here. The tamale was thick and dry, the enchilada was barely warm and the rice/beans were forgettable. The taco meat was good, but the shell was too thick and not very crunchy. The guacamole was okay, but if you want guac, go up to street level, cross over and hit Chipotle. It's far superior. If you want a nice time enjoying the ambiance of the river, then this is not a bad place to hang out. Maybe just have some margaritas (I don't know if they're any good; we both had iced tea) and kick back. I'd eat somewhere else, though. One great thing about Casa Rio is the price point. It was very inexpensive. Having said that, I'd have gladly paid more for better food. read more

Casa Rio - My gorgeous Wonder Wife at Casa Rio. - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Our party of 10 was seated quickly under a bridge next to the river. I ordered the Regular plate, a combo of chili con carne, a pork tamale and cheese enchilada, along with/rice and beans. The food was meh, nothing extraordinary. I think our food had been sitting awhile in order to bring out all 10 plates at once. My cheese enchilada was solid, not melted. Our server Ricardo was nice. read more

Casa Rio - Regular Plate, pork tamale, Chili Con Carne and Cheese Enchilada. - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Came to Casa Rio on the recommendation of my girl's brother, who came here in the past. It's pretty easy to spot on the river walk and there's just a ton of seating. Even with that, you may still need to wait 20 or so mins, but at least they'll text you when the table is ready. We opted for the outdoor seating instead of indoors, which is definitely the preferred choice if you can. Casa Rio is a long time staple of San Antonio and I think I can get why that is. The food is fairly solid. Not the best, but also not the absolute worst. With that said, one oddity is knowing that chips and salsa did not come free of charge. That was weird. Even when we got them, they were kinda okay. Wasn't anything special, but it's chips & salsa. There are a few vegetarian options here. I ordered one of the few... the veggie enchiladas. I opted for the plate and it was a generous portion. It looks like the enchilada was made with a little bit of Santa Anna sauce.... I wish there was an option for verde. I also think it's a bit too cheesy, but I'm also being picky. I got the spicy margarita, which was a good choice to wash out the food. I don't think this is the best option in town, but it can be a decent one to satisfy any immediate cravings. It's also a slight tourist trap, but unavoidable too. read more

Casa Rio - Spicy Margarita - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Let's be honest: you eat at Casa Rio partly for the food and mostly for the Riverwalk cred. And it delivers on that. We sat right on the river (people-watching included) and ordered the chicken soft tacos, which were surprisingly flavorful. The enchilada trio was pretty good, but the real stars were the hot salsa and queso--hands down the best part of the meal. That salsa should absolutely be complimentary. The chips and fresh tortillas were perfectly crisp and addictive. We washed it all down with a strawberry margarita, because Riverwalk rules. Is it the best Tex-Mex in town? Not really. Is it a classic, iconic spot with a great location and solid food? Absolutely. Worth it at least once. read more

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Came for dinner to meet a friend and as they were from out of town, they wanted some tex mex in the Riverwalk and choose this place. We ordered the chips with queso/guac/salsa, beef and chicken "fajita" and some other dishes. The queso/guac/salsa was pretty good, large portions and good price, especially for being on the riverwalk. But the fajitas were hands down the worst I've ever had. The menu says it comes sizzling, yet it came on a plate and not even hot. Lettuce/pico/guac/cream portions were tiny and the tortillas tasted store bought. The beef was tough and chicken cold. The server was friendly and attentive, and location on the Riverwalk is great, but the food was a major disappointment for us. read more

Casa Rio - Supposed to be a chicken fajita... - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Wonderful lunch on the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk with my daughter. We started with the Street Corn, which is served as an appetizer which comes with tortilla chips. Putting a spoon full of the corn onto the chip made for a delicious bite. The seasonings, cheese, fresh herbs, and jalapeños mixed with the roasted corn was full of flavors and textures that simply worked well together. Highly recommend! For entrees, my daughter got the chicken flautas plate and I got the Rio plate which came with a chicken flauta, a beef enchilada and a pork tamale. The tamale was the top item on my plate- the flavor of the masa was unlike any I've had anywhere else- absolutely delicious and perfectly complimented the well seasoned pork filling. I could have eaten a whole dozen of them myself. The beef enchilada was very good- the beef filling had a very good flavor and the sauce and perfectly melted cheese made for a damn tasty enchilada. Finally the flautas...while they were not bad, they did not meet the same level of flavoring as the fillings of the enchilada and the tamale, the flavor was slightly bland and a little on the dry side. Of course, the obligatory rice and beans were good and are always a solid compliment to Mexican fare. read more

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This was the oldest restaurant at the riverwalk. Amazing outside seating area by the riverwalk and a waitlist suggested we chose right. The service was pretty quick as well, as there was a regular trickling of customers in and out as you would expect in a tourist hot spot. But the food was so underwhelming that it left us very disappointed. My fajitas were cold and bland and so were the other food items we ordered (El Rio, Al pastor). I would not recommend this place for food, but only if you want to just sit by the riverwalk for a drink or two as its ambiance is pretty lit. read more

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