Sixteen years ago, I left a one-star review because my order came with cheese after I specifically requested no cheese while pregnant. Looking back, I think it's time to give credit where credit is due. These days, I regularly order the Havasu Salad with salmon, and it's fantastic. The portion is enormous, the ingredients are fresh, and it's one of the few salads that actually feels like a complete meal. The salmon pairs perfectly with it, and I always leave full and happy. One order mistake from 16 years ago shouldn't outweigh years of consistently good food. If you're a salad lover, definitely give the Havasu Salad a try. read more

This was an unexpected lunch outing at Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe after a quick trip to Kaiser. My friend Will was craving Mexican, and we landed here. With over 900 reviews, I had high hopes--and I'm glad to say my meal delivered. Food (4.5 stars) + The two-taco combo (about $13) was a win for me. I chose carnitas and adobada (that saucy red mole-like one!). The adobada was rich, flavorful, and unique, while the carnitas, although a bit dry, had a nice smokiness. The sweet bite of the onions really balanced the tacos--maybe a touch more cilantro and onions next time. + Kat's carnitas burrito was bright red and juicy (I found it perfect, even if she thought it was a tad dry). I think they put some similar yummy sauce as the adobada. Generous portion, meaty, and delicious. + Will's carne asada quesadillas were cheesy and tender. He found them bland, but I thought they were fine. Plus, the generous guac portion (even if it needed a squeeze of lime) was a nice touch. + The salsa bar deserves a shout-out. Mixing the spicy corn-bean blend with hot salsa and pico de gallo? That's a flavor bomb right there. - Carne asada nachos, while generous, fell flat. There was also quite a generous portion of guacamole along with sour cream. My only complaint is the meat lacked that smokiness or char of most asadas. It felt bland--almost taste boiled. I took the meat home to doctor it up! Service/Ambiance (4 stars) + I put this under service because I'm a fan of the unexpected and getting chips with our meal was a nice touch. Bonus Star! ~ You order at the counter, grab your own drinks. Staff were minimal but efficient enough for what it was. It's casual--not full service, but they get the job done. ~ Ambiance is simple--nothing fancy. You've got a salsa bar, a drink station, and it's very much a "grab a table" kind of place. Overall, for a quick, affordable sit-down Mexican spot, it hit the spot for me. My friends rated it 3.5 stars, but I loved it. I'd come back for the carnitas burrito and salsa bar alone! read more

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Long overdue since I frequent the place: If you are craving a reliable, no-frills Mexican spot in Cupertino, this place delivers exactly what you hope for and then some. We grabbed three burritos to go, two with adobo chicken and one with the Del Mar fish. Each one was packed generously and full of flavor. The chicken had a nice depth of seasoning, and the fish option felt fresh and well balanced. Portions were more than satisfying. I made a small customization request to shift the cheese from one burrito into mine, and they handled it without hesitation. The staff was friendly and efficient, and the food came out quickly. For the quality and size, the pricing felt reasonable. The setting lands comfortably between casual and slightly elevated. It is a step up from a typical taco shop, but still laid back and easygoing. There is seating both inside and outside, which is a nice option, though the patio sits near a somewhat busy street. Parking can require a bit of patience since it shares a strip mall lot with other businesses. Aside from that minor inconvenience, it is a dependable choice for a satisfying burrito, and I would happily come back again. Did I mention the staff have great stories? read more

Hidden gem for sure. Nice quaint little taco spot I ran across in Cupertino thats really good. It was up the street from an event I was working since I always crave Mexican I had to give it a try. The people here very friendly and the place had an authentic feel and look to it. I ordered Nachos and a tacos. Comes with complimentary chips and there's a salsa bar with many different options. The nachos was really good. The cheese being melted over all the chips made it really good and the chips weren't soggy at all. The only thing I didn't like was how tender the asada was. Overall the place is a must try and I'll for sure be back for the nachos. read more

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Love all of the lizard decor throughout the restaurant. Super cute. It's as my boyfriend says, finding affordable, actually good food in the Bay Area, especially near here is like finding a need in a haystack. Too many cringe people preventing this from happening, but I'm glad that Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe is that needle. I was pretty exhausted when I visited so it felt a bit like a fever dream, but my boyfriend ordered first and I just snacked on his meal. They have a salsa bar which is pretty shocking since COVID eliminated this mostly and COVID just eliminated everything in Bay Area. Another W. I got to try their Enchilada Traditional, this comes with your choice of cheese, steak or chicken (we got the chicken which was doused beautifully in their sauce), we got a side of their red sauce (actually a strongly spicy initial kick and a slow burn throughout - delicious), baked with cheese and served with rice and beans. Rice and beans were just ok, but they're not the star of the show since they just get drenched in sauce. Super filling and easily shareable meal. The pain with enchiladas is that it gets soggy and being destroyed I couldn't devour fast enough and this is what ended up happening. We also had a side of tortilla chips which went great with the enchiladas (carbs on carbs) and everything we tried from the salsa bar. read more

I highly recommend Rio Adobe. Portions are generous and delicious. Service is fast and friendly. The restaurant is attractively appointed and sparkling clean. Parking is a breeze in the lot provided. It's a pleasure to give Rio Adobe 5 stars! read more

Unpretentious little cafeteria. Small menu, but - very unusually for these parts - they do have sopapillas for dessert, which is why I came here. Uniquely among the few places in this area I've tried that do have sopapillas, theirs are sometimes hollow so you can put the necessary honey (which comes with) inside. Sometimes. Some are hollow and some aren't. They come 8 to a plate, in the shape of pie slices, and they're quite crisp on the outside. It's pretty good, best of the breed locally, but I still miss the big pillowy ones from New Mexico. For the meal beforehand, I tried the special of corn chowder. This was very plain-tasting but reasonably hearty. Strange salsa bar. The salsas come with shallow wooden spoons with which it's impossible to get a decent quantity of any of the liquid salsas into the little paper cup. read more

Had a chance to try Rio Adobe today and enjoyed my experience. I went here for lunch with few friends and if you are looking for well priced Mexican food, this is a great spot. The service here is pretty fast and the ambiance is nice to sit down and chat. For food I got the chicken enchiladas christmas style which came with red and green sauce. There was also a side of rice and beans. Overall the food was yummy with great flavor and I would go back again! read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Chicken enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

Not a lot of options in Cupertino but this place was better than expected. Can call ahead and place your order and pick up within 10-15 minutes. Parking in the plaza can be a little tight. Service is friendly, ordered an Adobe Steak burrito which had good flavors + tender meat. Came with a free side of chips (good), and free salsa from the salsa bar. I tried the pico de gallo (too much lime juice) and the corn salsa (good amount of heat!). Overall I'd come back to eat if I was craving a burrito and didn't want to travel too far away read more

If you are looking for a good taqueria type Mexican restaurant in Cupertino, this should be one of the places to visit ! I ordered 3 burritos for take out. One for myself and two for my friends. Two burritos were Adobe Chicken and one was Del Mar Fish. My friends and I agreed all of them were very good and well portioned ! I even asked to not put cheese on one of the burritos but if they could put that cheese on my burrito instead ? It was not an issue ! Service was very good and I didn't have to wait too long. Considering everything, pricing to me was fair and reasonable. Ambiance is good. Nicer than a taqueria but just below a Mexican Restaurant. You have both indoor and outdoor dining options. Though, dining outside is next to a semi busy street. Only, negative is parking ! It is in a strip mall with other businesses so parking can be a challenge. Definitely, will be back ! read more

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Been back here a few times post-pandemic and they quality and quantity has improved a lot. It has become our go to quick Mexican dinner place again and we are enjoying it tremendously. Nachos are a favorite in our family and we order it every time. Will be back soon again. read more

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My son and I went there on Mother's Day since my wife was out of town. We got there about 1pm. It was very busy. The tables were full but no line to order. I saw only two people working there. The young man taking orders, delivering food to the tables and busing the tables. There was a cook also. To my surprise we ordered our food and within 10 minutes or so our food came out to our table. I had an enchilada platter and my son had a mojado burrito. We both enjoyed the food very much. Hats off to the staff for their hard work. read more

It's extremely flavorful food. I have been coming here for many years it always hit the spot. My favorite is the chicken enchiladas, but they also have another huge nacho plate. I highly recommend. read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Chicken enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

Jim is the winemaker and owner! great burritos! We have dined here many times and never disappointed!

I need to get back here. Had a great time. First, I think the record needs to be set straight here. Some people are calling this authentic Mexican food. It's not. It's authentic New Mexican food. And not like bougie Mexican food that just smears sriracha and garlic aioli on everything and maybe smears bone marrow on random things (aka, the way people use the term "New American"). Insert Montgomery Burns voice: "there's a /NEW/ Mexico???" And there is! The state of New Mexico. In the American Southwest! It's a real place! I met someone who drove through once and people wouldn't lie to you over the internet. And as far as I can tell, the food is excellent. New Mexican cuisine is sort of related to Tex-Mex, which I guess makes it a nicer cousin of Taco Bell. But there are many differences. It's as hearty and thick as Tex-Mex, also with lots of awesome fried things, but it's actually a lot more flavorful in many ways - with a heavy dependence on corn, chili, and hot sauces. Anyways, I ordered the pork adobo burrito. I should I actually gotten the enchiladas because they seem even larger. But it was still great. The burrito had everything I would want it. Good balance of cheese, vegetables, rice, etc. etc. The pork came in a nicely flavorful, smoky sauce. The pork was kind of dry but burrito pork kind of always is - that is why the Lady Guadalupe bestowed salsa onto us. And that moves me onto the next point. Finally, it has to stressed that the salsa bar is AWESOME. Many salsa bars have been tragically eliminated by COVID-19, possibly the greatest casualty of the pandemic besides the millions of dead people and aspects of my sense of smell, but the Rio Adobe salsa bar had a huge amount of salsas with very different flavors. Try out all of them! The corn salsa is my favorite! And very authentically New Mexican. The super hot New Mexican salsa is also great. I wouldn't call it super hot, but it's decently spicy. Definitely a good burn. Anyways, this place is highly recommended. Hugely excited about going back again. One of my favorite places in the South Bay! read more

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Very friendly, generous portions and cozy interior with outdoor patio seating. The big winner of this place is the salsa bar and free chips that come with your meal - they have a large variety of fresh all-you-can-eat salsas. They were so generous with refilling our chips and giving us to-go containers for salsa too. The Havasu salad is seriously large - no joke! I did see from reviews that it's a big portion but I wasn't expecting it to be THAT large. It can easily feed 2 people and possibly more. We got it with grilled shrimp which was absolutely delicious with the char-grilled flavor. The mahi mahi burrito was also massive, and it was crisp and refreshing with plenty of cabbage and grilled seasoned fish. Paired with their salsa and it was delicious. Service was so friendly, and they offered a generous amount of to-go containers. They were so accommodating! We'll definitely be back! read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Havasu Salad with grilled shrimp (massive) - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

Rio Adobe is a Cupertino gem. I've been going for the past 8 years and it has never failed me. I always get the burrito mojado with chicken. When you eat there, they give you complimentary chips and they have self serve salsas. I recommend the black bean corn salsa (if you're good with spice) and their verde salsa. Their chicken Pueblo nachos (not pictured) are also a must if you go in a group. It's a plate of chips with a ton of chicken, sour cream, guac, cheese, and pico. read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Burrito Mojado with chicken - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

Had a great experience here after a dentist appointment. The staff are friendly, the food is delicious, and they have a self serve salsa bar. read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

I had just finished watching my nephew's 5;30pm baseball game at Rainbow Park on a ccccold weeknight. It was now nearly 9pm and I was very hungry with a hankering for mexican food. I found Rio Adobe in a small strip mall not too far away. The dining area was small(ish) but clean. I opted for the Enchiladas Adobada platter (with rice/beans) to go. Upon getting home to eat, I was not disappointed. The portion was generous, and the food was great. There were big chunks of pork in a tasty adobo sauce. The rice and pinto beans were good as well. I was a happy customer. read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Carne Adobada Enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

The service was horrible they were not friendly. And the enchiladas were rolled up not flat the real new Mexico style of enchiladas are flat not rolled up the red sauce is not New Mexico chilies I have real red new Mexico chilies at my house. And the green enchiladas are not the right way at all. read more

One of the most authentic mexican restaurants I have tried in the bay so far. I got the chicken enchilada which was super yummy. The portions are generous for the price. Specially love the variety of self serve salsas they have. Also liked the ambiance of the restaurant which does justice to the type of cuisine served. Would recommend dining. read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Chicken Enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

Good and fast Mexican food, nice staff and pleasant environment. The chicken burrito was really good and they have a good selection of salsas. read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Adobe Chicken Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

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Adobado is super hot but so so good. Salsa option bar is amazing. Service is very good. Don't tell anyone else, lol. read more

Had this place bookmarked for a while and finally got a chance to try it. They serve New Mexico style cuisine. New Mexican cuisine has the great divide between fans of the red chile and green chile. They had some of the dishes unique to New Mexican cuisine , like the Chile Stew and Sopaipillas. I decided to have the Blue Hopi Enchiladas which are filled with some roasted corn . Asked them to omit any dairy, add some fajitas and go half and half on the sauce . Their beans and rice are vegan as well. They have a bunch of different salsa options on their salsa bar which were pretty nice. read more

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I was in the mood for some Fish Tacos. I Yelped the search criteria and came up with this place. Right next to Silicon Valley Optometry where I get my glasses. I was satisfied in trying 3 different tacos and a Salmon Fish burrito. I tried the Shrimp taco and Mahi Mahi taco and the Salmon Taco. All were excellent and tasted yummy. They were tiny except for the Salmon Taco they served that one to me in a flour tortilla and the piece of fish was bigger in that one than the Mahi Mahi and shrimp taco. The burrito I took home and having it for dinner. The place was medium size. Not too big and not too small. All my tacos and burrito were nice and hot. Well-cooked and taste was splendid. I will be back to try the rest of the plates they have on the menu. The Salsa bar was beautiful 7 different types of sauces to get you fired up for the day. This was a fish taco without the breaded type. The fish was grilled on the pan and put into the tortilla with some cabbage and hot sauce. This is what a fish taco should look like. They get five star because the menu says Mahi Mahi burrito. I didn't want Mahi Mahi. I wanted Salmon and they made it without any hesitation. They pleased the customer at my request. That is called Excellent Customer Serivice. Me gusto mucho los tacos y El burrito. Que Rico!! read more

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Rio Adobe is a reliable choice for Mexican food, offering friendly service, reasonable prices, and a relaxed atmosphere that's not too crowded--perfect for a workday lunch. The staff is great, and the food is made to order with fresh, high-quality ingredients you can taste. Best of all, you can get in and out within 45 minutes, making it a quick and satisfying option. If you're a vegetarian or just looking to eat a little healthier, the menu has plenty of options. My go-to is the Havasu salad. It's healthy, packed with flavor, and so generously sized that it could probably feed a small village. The citrus dressing ties it together snd is delicious. Portions are generous across the board. If you dine in, they serve chips and salsa--fresh, tasty, and perfect for snacking while your meal is prepared. For fresh, flavorful Mexican food that fits both your budget and your schedule, Rio Adobe is a solid choice. read more

Came by for lunch the other day and it was a decent experience. Parking is available in the private lot or on residential streets a block or so away. Ordering is done via the cashier next to the open kitchen. The menu is above the cashier and there is a 3.5% check out fee for paying by credit card. Started off with the guacamole and chips and it was tasty. Turns out that chips are complimentary along with the salsa bar by the soda machine and napkins. The guacamole bowl was huge and fresh with a side of salsa built in. The Hongos steak quesadilla was also huge. This was a quesadilla dipped in cheese with plenty of cheese and mushrooms inside along with some steak that was on the saltier side. The mariscos shrimp tacos were on the lackluster side with a couple of tiny shrimp for a $6 taco. Staff brought cooked items from the kitchen to the table and also bussed and cleaned tables by sweeping everything on the floor after the diners left. ~$20/head after tax and gratuity for lunch read more

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I always did take out during my college years when I worked at a newspaper company that would give us free food for ads. After 8 years, I dined in and I am surprised how great the food and atmosphere is here! Personally I would say this is better than LA cueva, even though that is my go to spot! There is an assortment of salsas to choose from and complimentary chips! We shared some nachos that were loaded and I got the cheese enchiladas which were hot and so flavorful. This is a great spot that I will be taking my mom to! read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Cheese Enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

Food is decent. Not terrible, but not amazing. We ordered the adobo steak burrito and the quesadilla hongos with chicken. Burrito was a pass but the quesadilla was very good-im a sucker for a Parmesan crust. "But David, such a high rating for food that you were whatever about?" Thank you for asking. The service here is OUTSTANDING. The gentleman who was working the register today (9/24) loves his job and loves his customers. Unbelievably friendly, attentive, and helpful. A true master of hospitality. read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Quesadilla Hongos - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

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We love this place, the tortilla soup is tasty, great grilled carnitas, burritos and chicken salad, I appreciate the different salsas!

Nachos and nachitos here are LEGENDARY. As is the Salsa Bar. Hands down - Best in the Bay! All the food here is great; though better for carnivores, as they don't have many dishes with a ton of fresh produce (most veggies are cooked across menu options). Also wish they offered a taco salad in crispy shell. These two reasons are why I docked a star. Service is always with a smile; and the ambience is fast-casual though authentic New Mexican vibe (much better than Chipotle down the street!). Highly recommend; just wish they'd cater more to vegetarians with the fresh veggies! read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Nachitos (veggie) - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

I have been coming to Rio Adobe for years and the food never disappoints. The service is so friendly, the ambiance is colorful, and free chips + salsa bar?? What more can you ask for? I am shocked at how amazing everything tastes here, in addition to how insanely big the portions are! It is almost guaranteed that i will have leftovers for the next day. My favorites here are the enchiladas plate with salsa verde. It comes with two enchiladas, generously stuffed with meat and topped with cheese, and rice and beans. I also love the salads- they are massive and have a nice variety of ingredients. I can also vouch for the taco plate (comes with two tacos of choice; rice, and beans) and the carnitas plate. Overall, rio Adobe checks the marks for price, ambiance, service, value, and taste! It is also a great spot to meet up with friends. read more

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It has a cozy authentic mexican joint vibe. Not one of those high end flashy places, if you love mexican food and a good salsa this is the place. Never been disppointed with quantity served. Service is quick but remember to ask for your nachos they rub out quickly. read more

3.5 stars but rounding up for a small business with good food and reasonable prices. I finally had the chance to check out Rio Adobe, and had a hard time deciding what to try. Luckily, it was only a 10 minute wait for my order placed at 5:30pm on a Friday once I finally decided what to get. I tried their Mariscos Shrimp Burrito (Rice, Cabbage, Pico de Gallo, Salsa, Salsa Blanca, Cheese, Guacamole, $11.95, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=eku6urcle_CNBNNQT1Jg2w&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg), which was solid! The shrimp were giant and plentiful, and cooked well. I thought the components in the burrito worked really well together, but it needed a little more rice and salsa/sauce. This burrito came with complimentary chips but no salsa, and the chips were slightly stale. I would return if in the area to give their enchiladas a try, and the blue corn crab tacos. All staff were wearing masks properly, and they had hand sanitizer. Parking was easy to find in this lot. read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Mariscos Shrimp Burrito (Rice, Cabbage, Pico de Gallo, Salsa, Salsa Blanca, Cheese, Guacamole, $11.95)- 3.5/5 stars - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

So my husband and I have been coming here since Jim open Rio ADobe in Sunnyvale. I have to say this is the worst experience ever. The chips were cold. My husband's tacos didn't have anything in it but meat and cilantro and nothing else and it was cold and we had to send it back and I'm just very discouraged and really don't wanna come back here again if this is away the service is. It was not a very pleasant experience.I drove all the way from Fremont to come here super disappointed. read more

The parking here was pretty easy when I came here around noon on a Saturday. Inside it wasn't too busy and the cashier was incredibly nice. There are tables inside and outside I ordered the Adobe chicken burrito with no rice/ sour cream. They provide complimentary chips and have a salsa bar with little to go cups so you can serve yourself. They also have a water station which is super convenient. The burrito came out relatively quickly and was wrapped super well. The chicken was juicy and tasted great with the tomato salsa. If you're ordering takeout grab a couple sauces for the road because theyre fresh and add so much flavor! read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Adobe Chicken Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

I was keen to try this place since I saw from the online menu that they have sopapillas. I have never seen them at a local restaurant, but I enjoyed them on a trip to New Mexico. You order at the counter and the food is brought to you. You get your own soft drinks and there is a salsa bar. It appears to be a popular place; we came in-between meal times, and there were a fair number of tables occupied. Unfortunately, the menu online was not the same as the one at the restaurant. The two food items I had intended to order, Heirloom tomato quesadillas and corn chowder, were not on the menu. It just so happened that the Heirloom tomato quesadilla was a special, so I was able to order it, and it was very good. My husband had a chicken burrito and he enjoyed it very much. But alas, they were out of sopapillas! read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Heirloom tomato quesadillas. I forget to take the photo before I started eating! - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

Food is tasty, staff is nice, salsa bar is fun! Plus you get free chips with your order!

The absolute kindest worker greeted us on a cold, rainy night and made us feel right at home. He offered us a sample of carne adobada which has a strong kick and can warm you right up for sure.  However, I was in the mood for something hearty so I went with Enchiladas Traditional. I got the Christmas version so it came with both red and green sauce. The chicken was tender and the entire meal was so fresh and warm. I loved all the flavors and the fact that they served us chips! They have a salsa bar so we had to sample all of them of course. We also ordered the Del Mar Fish Burrito and this was the complete opposite of the enchiladas. Despite it being a burrito, it was so refreshing and light. I highly recommend stopping by this hole-in-the-wall restaurant if you're looking for cheap but great quality Mexican food. read more

Rio Adobe Southwest Cafe - Enchilada Traditional (Christmas) | @airiseats - Mexican Near Me - Cupertino, California

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This is our go to Mexican restaurant in Cupertino. We love their green chili stew which we do not get anywhere else. They don't give you a hard time if you ask for more chips (unlike some other places) and we love their salsa. read more