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    Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant

    3.8 (121 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Cocktail Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant Takeout

    Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant Photos

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    RIO CHICO MEXICAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos - Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant

    Chicken Tacos
    Kristi W.

    My friends said that they have never had such slow service at this restaurant. We got here at 6:26 and weren't served our food for an hour. There wasn't enough people working tonight for the Fourth of July weekend. I ordered a shrimp taco and a fish taco. No sauce came with the fish tacos and it took another ten minutes to get a waiter to bring me something so that they weren't so dry. I've never had a whole piece of tilapia put inside my taco before, the fish tacos I'm used to have the fish all diced up inside. The tacos were mot very flavorful. I ordered flour tortillas, and I was served corn tortillas. There's no way I was going to ask for something else because we already waited an hour. Inside was pleasantly decorated. There is a really nice outside patio. I like the star metal light fixtures inside. The workers were running frantic trying to keep up with the amount of people that decided to come here and eat tonight. So I would give this place a try just because my friend recommended it, and we were here on a busy Fourth of July weekend. It might be better if you came during the week. They did have some huge margaritas that they were serving, and if you're not driving, you might want to try one of those.

    Ceviche - fish & shrimp
    Frida G.

    Food was delicious and generous portions. It was a bit chilly in the restaurant with a few fans going. I mentioned up on arrival that we were celebrating a birthday. I love that they automatically came out with a birthday song and shot at the end of our dinner without requesting. I took one star off because the waitress spilled 1/3 of the salsa container on my son's pants and didn't apologize.

    Bill M.

    Haven't had mexican food in a while. Decided to give Rio Chico a try. I visited the location over on Folly road. When we arrived, we were welcomed in and were seated immediately. The restaurant was about half full, but it was early on a Friday. Collage football was playing on the big screen TVs. The staff was friendly and the service was great. The restaurant was clean and inviting. There's a full bar with amazing magaritas. For the main course, I decided on the chicken fajitas. Service was fast and the chicken fajitas were cooked to perfection. The chicken serving size was exceptionally large with 4 corn or flower tortillas. The meal also came with beans, rice and toppings for the fajitas. Everything was very tasty. Another bright spot about this place is that the prices are extremely reasonable. I'll definitely be back for a second visit. I would recommend this place.

    Benjamin B.

    I was craving Mexican and wanted to check out a new spot. Neighbors suggested Rio Chico. This place was very mediocre with American Mexican cuisine, not the traditional, authentic Mexican i was looking for. Basic burritos with a big higher than average prices. The service was good, the restaurant packed and bright,, but the guacamole, sauces and veggies were something I could make better at home.

    Queso
    Kara W.

    We have enjoyed the food every time we have been here. The service is quick and average price. The queso is really good. The fajitas are a good size, but id love a little more favoring. We have never had a poor waiter or waitress. They have always been helpful and prompt. The food also comes out very fast. We love the outdoor seating.

    Inside eating space
    Lorene M.

    It is Friday night date night, and we are trying Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant on James Island. They have outdoor and indoor seating and plenty of room to park because they are in a plaza with other businesses. When you enter, you will see twinkling lights on the ceiling and hear festive mariachi music. We were seated quickly by a friendly host, and our server stopped by just a few minutes later to take drink orders while we looked at the menu. The restaurant was starting to fill up, and there was a varied crowd of couples, friends, and families. The atmosphere was casual and festive. I ordered the Fiesta Taco Salad with chicken. It was a fried tortilla bowl, and I side was chicken, fried onions and peppers and mushrooms with lettuce, cheese, beans, tomatoes, onions and guacamole. The food was incredibly fresh and delicious. The prices were very reasonable and the quantity of food was just right. Our server was friendly and checked back several times to make sure everything was right and for drink refills. All orders come with a basket of freshly made tortilla chips and the most delicious, Spicy salsa I have ever tasted. Y'all- I loved it so much I could have just ate the salsa. So good! This was such a nice evening with the food and the ambiance. We will be back to explore more of this delicious menu.

    Margarita
    James W.

    This is our favorite Mexican restaurant on James Island. The food and drinks are great, especially the fajitas and margaritas. Our servers have always been kind and there is a good amount of outside seating if you want to be outdoors.

    Vegeterian Plate
    Audrey N.

    I love it here. Food is delicious and a great value, staff is always so friendly and polite. I usually sit outside and bring my dog, definitely love the vibe out there compared to inside but seems fun indoors at the bar and great for groups!

    Large queso and guac

    Great food, fast service, amazing portion sizes and everything came out correctly. Server made sure drinks were full and was very welcoming and nice! Salsa came out immediately and everyone got their own salsa bowl!

    Rio Chico Burrito.
    Brandon R.

    Get the rio burrito it is huge and bomb as f !! Service is great! All the other food is very good as well, carnitas, shrimp amazing! Fast service, chips and salsa free as well

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    Page 1 of 4

    Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

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    AZUR

    AZUR

    4.7
    (124 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    We had the pleasure of dining here 2 separate times over an extended weekend trip…read more Host very welcoming and nurturing. Finds your table, if you arrive early for a reservation we had luck with them seating us and he says a kind goodbye as we left each time. Nice list of 3 mocktails so even if not consuming alcohol one can look to play the part at the table and enjoy the flavor notes of a well made cocktail. The first meal we had was a bit of a work/get together meal. We ordered an assortment of items off of the menu and created a more tapas menu. The charcuterie board we picked the cheeses for and it was lovely. All as expected and quite surprised to find a cheddar I enjoyed. Came with some grapes, figs, nuts, honey and I think mustard. Glazed carrots were phenomenal. Heartily enjoyed the beet salad and thought the presentation was quite pretty. Lamb lettuce wraps are alright. Not my favorite of all the dishes served but delivered as promised, nicely cooked and presented. Spouse really liked the lamb wraps and were a stand out dish to them. Meatballs are excellent truly great texture and flavor. Escargot was a fun take on a classic dish. Finished with a unique strudel in its presentation it was quite pleasant. Spouse liked the peanut butter chocolate dessert. For brunch, I had the carrot ginger soup. Which I must say was a total delight. The soup had the hallmark texture and base flavor of the carrot ginger but it had a beautiful breath of savory and some heat seasoning wise to it. It was quite an elevated soup and heartily enjoyed! I followed the carrot soup with a French toast. I am all for softly scrambled eggs but the French toast was a touch undercooked. (I did not let the restaurant know or give them the chance to make right. I regularly eat soft boiled eggs and soft scrambled so I felt comfortable with consuming them.) Strawberries were ripe and tasty. The whipped cream was gorgeous in thickness and flavor. One in law had the caesar salad with croutons and grilled chicken. Their bowl was left clean so while they are not the talkative of sorts they did seem to enjoy it. Ordered a baguette with butter. Unfortunately the butter never made it to the table but the baguette was enjoyed. Spouse had the Azur burger with the side of tapas style potatoes. All was cooked properly to temperature and texture. Flavor and taste as promised. Wasn't their favorite dish at Azur as we had tried so many lovely dishes a few evenings before. But it did deliver on what was represented in the menu. Other in law had the quiche and a side salad. They liked the quiche and would order it again.

    Azur Burger was terrible very dry. no flavor. The beef burgundy was no good…read more The waiters had a terrible attitude from jump Street. The owner and whoever he was stayed on his phone the entire time and spoke to none of the clients. Possibly the manager. We've been traveling around here for four days, This was the bottom of the barrel. Furthermore, I believe most of these reviews came from family and friends not honest customers..

    Photos
    Atmosphere, view from a window seat
    Atmosphere, view from a window seat
    Ratatouille: delicious
    Ratatouille: delicious
    Mocktail

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    Mocktail
    The James

    The James

    4.4
    (179 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Great service, food, and atmosphere that is not overpriced. The James was able to accommodate our…read moreparty of 6 on short notice on a weekend night. Menu has a great variety of options and fair prices. Atmosphere was beautiful. All around 5 stars.

    Better late than never. My salon girls and I finally celebrated our Christmas party and Galentine's…read moreDay here, and it could not have been a better choice. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted so warmly. We accidentally forgot to update our reservation from 6 to 7, and the staff was incredibly patient and kind while waiting for a table that could accommodate our group. They made us feel so comfortable and even let us enjoy a drink in the waiting area while everything was sorted out. No stress at all. Once seated, our server was fantastic. Every single person we interacted with was friendly, attentive, and more than happy to give recommendations, which was much needed because everything sounded amazing. They even played along with our Christmas party raffle games, which made the night extra fun. Such a cool, welcoming vibe. For appetizers, we shared the lemon ricotta dip, the Dippin' Shrimp, the spinach artichoke dip, and a spicy Caesar salad. Everything was absolutely delicious. For my main course, I ordered the pecan-crusted chicken with a side of Brussels sprouts, and wow. Phenomenal. Huge portions, incredible flavor, and we were all stuffed by the end. Amazing service, amazing food, and an overall great experience. I cannot wait to come back again. This is officially a go-to spot for celebrations.

    Photos
    Front Reception
    Front Reception
    Cheeseburger and fries
    Cheeseburger and fries
    Crab cake sandwich

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    Crab cake sandwich
    Last Saint

    Last Saint

    4.5
    (65 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    One of our bartenders at dinner recommended Last Saint for a cocktail, so we stopped by after our…read moremeal. The space was super vibey--dark, moody, and filled with candlelight. It felt cozy without being stuffy and was a great spot for people-watching. The cocktails were well made and balanced, and we got lucky enough to snag a table. The space is pretty small though, so by the time we arrived the bar was full and a lot of people were standing with drinks. Even so, the atmosphere was fun and energetic. Definitely a great spot for a nightcap if you're in the area.

    My first time visiting a speakeasy since living in Charleston, and the Annex absolutely blew me…read moreaway. From the moment I walked in, the vibe was intimate, beautiful, and the perfect setting for a relaxed Saturday night cap. What made the experience truly special was the bartender. There's no traditional menu, instead, he takes the time to learn what you like and crafts drinks based on your taste. I've never experienced anything like that before. The level of knowledge and creativity behind the bar was incredible. Every drink he made was stunning and tasted even better than it looked. I was honestly so impressed that I couldn't even remember all the ingredients he mentioned because I was too busy being amazed at how good everything was. It was one of those moments where you realize there are real levels to this craft. I walked in thinking I knew a thing or two about mixing drinks at home, and left with a whole new respect for the art of it. The atmosphere, the personal attention, and the quality of the cocktails made this place feel truly top tier. Huge shoutout to the bartender, easily a 15 out of 10. Cool, knowledgeable, and passionate about what he does. If you're looking for an intimate spot for date night or just want to experience thoughtfully crafted cocktails in a beautiful setting, the Annex is the place. I will absolutely be back as soon as possible.

    Photos
    Last Saint
    Last Saint
    Bar seating looking toward the front door

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    Bar seating looking toward the front door

    Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated July 2026

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