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    Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

    3.3 (684 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Tex-Mex
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant Photos

    RIO GRANDE MEXICAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Grilled Chicken Fajitas for 1
    Jami B.

    This place was packed on a Friday night by 5:30, so I was happy we had reservations. It's a big place and pretty loud inside, but I can see why it draws the crowds with great chips and salsa, picture perfect guacamole, and solid standard dishes like enchiladas, fajitas, and tacos. I don't think you could go wrong with anything on the menu. Also, the skinny margarita was really tasty! There was easy and free parking in the ramp across the street, and after dinner we walked a block over for a scoop of gelato and had fun wandering into the fun shops and bookstores in the neighborhood.

    Skirt Steak Fajitas with Rice and Black Beans
    Jeremy S.

    Food was delicious, steak was tender veggies had just the right crisp to them. The Chili Con Queso wasn't anything special, wouldn't waste my money on it. However we really enjoyed the chips and fresh salsa. My wife ordered a frozen house margarita and it was not very good, horrible tequila. It's a neat place with outdoor seat along the road and also seating on the rooftop, rooftop seating was closed for a party which was a bummer. Our waitress was extremely busy so the service wasn't all that great.

    Fish Tacos
    Cathrine S.

    Returned to Rio Grande a few years later and was disappointed in the quality of the food and slow service. We stopped in on a Saturday early afternoon, service was noticeably slow (I feel bad because they must have been short staffed) but we waited an especially long time to be waited on, checked in on, and served. It took away from our experience overall. The food was also lacking in flavor, it was not how we remember from our last visit. This is a huge restaurant, with a big bar area, two-story dining rooms as well as a rooftop seating area. I imagine it gets very busy during the summer, or for special events. We may have just been dining during a downtime.

    Guacamole and Strawberry Margarita Mocktail
    Lauren D.

    Visited Rio Grande on a quick stop in Boulder to meet friends in town for the game. The rooftop seemed busy and inviting, so we put our name in for a 4 top. We grabbed a seat at the bar to grab a quick drink while we waited and were not even looked at in the few minutes we sat waiting. Luckily enough, our table was ready quickly and we went upstairs to be seated. The service was okay, as expected for a busy restaurant on gameday. The drinks were decent (and had mocktail options that were superb!), ordered a Strawberry Margarita Mocktail, Frozen Mango Margarita, a few different beers, and some High Noons. The mocktail was fantastic, and the mango Margarita was pretty basic. We ordered the Guacamole, Rice and Beans, and a Steak Quesadilla. Guac was pretty basic with no seasoning, but chips and salsa were good (not enough chips to finish the huge plate of guac so it was a waste), Rice and Beans were pretty good, and the Quesadilla was like eating gummy cold cheese with a few pieces of Steak. Mentioned the Quesadilla to the waiter and he said "well that's what a quesadilla is like". Would recommend for drinks and starters, but not for the rest of the menu.

    Watermelon Margarita
    Tiyenne G.

    Tonight's dinner was another one for the books! Came to Rio Grande because it was recommended by the locals and it didn't disappoint. Started with a watermelon margarita, which was on their Specials menu. For food, I had the shrimp empanadas and they were soooo good. Our server recommended them. For dinner, I had the crab and shrimp enchiladas and it was a great meal. It was the perfect setting for our group. Can't wait to go back!

    Bar
    Kristi M.

    Sadly having to update this review - overall the experience wasn't great. The service was subpar, the food was mediocre at best, and I'm not feeling so well post meal. The tacos were awful, the tortillas were wet and soggy? It was very bizarre. The steak was gray, the shrimp were chewy. The rice wasn't flavorful. Majority of my food was left on the plate. I don't see us coming back anytime soon. It was nothing like our first experience here.

    Tortillas
    Susan G.

    Service: sweet and attentive. Accommodating and friendly. (We sat at the bar) Ambiance: excellent bar seating and fantastic bar stools. Music is solid and the patronage is great (lots of locals) Food: my husband and I always split the chicken and veggies fajitas and it doesn't disappoint. I would love to see humanely raised beef/poultry and milk products here (like Snooze)-- so that is why I have only four stars

    Steak Fajitas
    John H.

    Putting aside for a moment that everyone knows "The Rio" has the best darn old-school margaritas in Colorado, it seems all my local peeps think the food is a second-class citizen to those yummy margs. I'm here to definitively say the Grilled Steak Fajitas are the absolutely unequivocal best steak fajitas I have ever tasted in my life! Oh yeah, I said it... and it just so happens to be true. First off, there are no gimmicks here. The plate does not come out sizzling to wow guests with its fresh-off-the-grill theatrics, but incredible fajita ingredients you shall certainly have. The marinated skirt steak is always cooked perfectly with a beautiful char on the outside and juicy on the inside. The meat is so delicious all by its lonesome, I generally eat the second half of my steak with none of the fajitas fixings like it's a premium chop at Peter Lugers in NYC. It comes with a vibrant medley of grilled onions, green & red peppers, simple Mexican rice and black beans, plus wonderfully detailed additions like fresh house-made flour tortillas & guacamole make the dish. I also love the perfectly thin chips & house-made salsa. So if you're near one of the various Rio locations in Colorado, come for the margaritas, but stay for the fajitas!

    Food swept but not cleaned up. Dirty floor.
    Colleen G.

    This place has been a favorite for decades, so when we come into town we love to eat at old favorites. Wow have things changed in a remodel. The service, however, was incredibly terrible. The floor was dirty as someone swept, but didn't have a dust pan. The server didn't come by for 15 minutes after we sat down and she never came back after the food was brought to the table until we went to the bar to order another round of drinks. The food and drinks were as we remembered, but the service was the worst.

    Dustin, here is a screenshot of the email I sent you.

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    Litteraly worst restaurant experience I've ever had. Do better. Food was exetremly average, service was horrible, and rude staff.

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    Dustin H.

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    Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

    What time do you have to go on a Thursday to get $4 margaritas ? Also is it any flavor?

    Hi Ellie! $4 margs starts at 9pm on Thursday! it is all Classic Rio Margs - on the rocks or frozen - and includes the classic flavor, strawberry, or manberry. hope to see you soon!!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Cozobi Fonda Fina

    Cozobi Fonda Fina

    4.7
    (85 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    My husband and I live in southern California and initially wasn't excited to eat at what our local…read morefriend classified as an "upscale Mexican" restaurant. I'm quite the foodie and cook for multiple friend groups so I was skeptical. When we walked in on a Tuesday evening near closing time, I noticed the Bib Gourmand plaque on the wall, mention of Michelin star sister restaurant, Alma and at least 6 parties still seated. Let's talk about the food now. Our party of 3 ordered alot which included: -camote (that ricotta and fennel pairing-oh my!), -caesar salad (huge portion and the BEST I've ever had; even better than any tableside caesar) -yellowtail carpaccio (many renditions of this in LA, but this made me want to eat the whole plate and slurp the sauce!) -tostada (incredible. I wanted more) -carne asada taco (divine cut of meat, hands down the best I've had), --- -pork taco (my husband ordered it and said it was the best he's had) -red snapper (I've had this all over Baja Mexico w very fond memories, but THIS one was a tip the bowl kind of dish) cooked to perfection w abeautiful flavors in the sauce. - mushroom entree. (ordered by our friend, and had a few bites. This dish was way larger than I expected! it looked like a garden box of shrooms. Flavors were delightful. We finished every crumb on our plate. I was extremely surprised with every dish we had, as I found myself swooning into another dimension of pleasure and slight jealousy with every bite. I haven't been WOWED by Mexican flavors at all (in LA or OC ), but only since my trip to Tulúm. I can taste the intention of each flavor combination, freshness of the corn, I really can go on and on. I can still remember being impressed beyond belief, and saying out loud, "THIS is what I want Mexican food to taste like". Prices were so reasonable. Entree portions were hefty and fullfilling. Staff was friendly and knowledgable about the menu and brand story. Hoping and wishing that one day they'll open up a location? chef's kiss to this place. Will try Alma and others when back in CO.

    Went to Cozobi Fonda Fina and honestly... I'm still thinking about it…read more First of all, the space? Cute. Like "casually taking pics of my drink like I'm a food critic now" cute. The staff? Absolute angels. Kind, attentive, and somehow keeping up with our we'll just try one more thing energy. Now let's talk about the food... WOW. We basically ordered the menu like we were in a competitive sport, and not a single miss. Every dish came out like it had something to prove... and succeeded. Delicious doesn't even feel like a strong enough word. 10/10 would go back and pretend I have self-control next time.

    Photos
    Cozobi Fonda Fina
    Costra de NY strip - Steak taco with a layer of crispy cheese
    Costra de NY strip - Steak taco with a layer of crispy cheese
    Cozobi Fonda Fina

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    Centro Mexican Kitchen

    Centro Mexican Kitchen

    3.8
    (836 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegetarian friendly

    Nice spot in Boulder and perfect for what we needed! Lively enough, good drinks (pitcher of spicy…read moremargs for the table), and bright, colorful vibes. It was a Friday night so we were happy to get in at all and be seated quickly. While we dined inside, their patio looked awesome too. Service was friendly, a tiny bit slow, exacerbated by how hungry I was. But nothing to worry about there as we got chips and queso and their salsa trio to start which were all delicious. If you're between those two, get the salsas. The green one in particular was delicious. The spicy margs were pretty good, not that spicy, but good. The tajin rim option was a nice touch. I got the chicken enchiladas and they were fine. I was hoping for a little more flavor with the 'Christmas style' red and green chiles.. it was more like a mole sauce and green chiles? I would go green chiles only next time. Actually the best part of the whole plate was their pinto beans that were very flavorful and spicy as well. I got all the spicy things, I'm realizing. All told, nice spot in Boulder that I enjoyed!

    My friends and I were in town and after a long day of travel we decided to explore and find…read moresomewhere to eat and damn did this place hit the spot! Very vibey in terms of its location, decor, and lively atmosphere. The four of us were sat inside at a big booth (though the patio looked delightful so maybe next time). We were all starving to put an immediate order in for the salsa flight and queso. Loved all of the above. We also put in a big pitcher of their house marg, spicy version. I thought those to be good too - not overly sweet. As for entres, the steak tacos were incredible. I was really impressed with the cut and cook of the steak. Prepared so well. And let me tell you they don't short you one portions. The taco orders come with griddled tortillas, long grain rice, cabbage escabeche, and salsa. I left full and very satisfied.

    Photos
    Large Group Friendly
    Large Group Friendly
    Crispy Baja Fish Taco Board
    Crispy Baja Fish Taco Board
    Bloody Mary

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    Bloody Mary
    Tierra y Fuego Taqueria

    Tierra y Fuego Taqueria

    4.6
    (79 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    Sadly can't recommend this place. The night I went the whole restaurant was being ran by teen boys,…read morewhich is fine. They were working really hard and trying their best, but there was no adult to assist them in the front and it was a super busy night. They were very young and there were issues that were arising that needed adult guidance. I can't even comment if the food was good or not because I left before I got it. The first time my tacos came out it was only half of the order and there was a large, super moldy lime on my taco. I told the young boy and he was very polite about it took it back to the kitchen, but then a few seconds later just brought the same tacos out. I told him I didn't want the same food and wanted it fresh, that might be dramatic for most but for me with an immune disorder i can't risk it. I waited for a while, but I was turned off enough by the whole situation that I didn't wanna eat there anymore so I just left no refund or anything. Sad, I wanted to like this place.

    This is the best food in North Boulder. Everything is extremely fresh and made to order, very…read moreauthentic and seasoned perfectly. All of the tortillas, chips, sauces and salsas are handmade. Honestly the chips are addicting! I had the burrito bowl, my son had the street tacos and my husband had the burrito. All were awesome. Don't forget to try the churros too! I would eat here every day if I could.

    Photos
    Aftermath of chilaquiles
    Aftermath of chilaquiles
    Chips, rice & beans and huarache  & taco.
    Chips, rice & beans and huarache & taco.
    Brisket Huarache

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    Brisket Huarache
    Santo

    Santo

    4.0
    (301 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    Another fun evening at Santo for Happy Hour. We were there early enough to get our favorite seats…read morein the roomy big area along the east wall. Plenty of table space to lay out all of our food and drink choices at once to browse. My husband chose a dark lager and I had my fave Jamaica Agua Fresca, house made. We chose newer items we love though our old faves are still around too. Tonight we had the media lunas, the bbq wings and the pork adovada nachos which has quite a kick. Turns out, this was a huge portion for happy hour but we know these items travel well so we brought them home to finish tomorrow. It's always so much fun here, the staff is friendly and more than competent. The other diners tend to be friendly and those wanting to avoid the children in this family friendly spot in north Boulder can get their seats at the cool bar with so many options to drink and a staff of knowledgeable bartenders.

    Wanted a new experience, so we checked out the menu for this new restaurant and it looked tasty…read moreenough to give it a shot on a Sunday afternoon. We walked in and at first it seemed like it had a decent vibe. I had actually been to this location before when it was a different restaurant. Seems like this spot changes ownership pretty frequently, which in hindsight probably says something. Right away we noticed a bunch of tables, especially the booths, still hadn't been bussed. We were told to "sit anywhere," but the only clean tables available were high tops and we wanted a booth, so we waited for the busser, who moved at a pace that honestly felt unbelievable. He seemed to be clearing tables one cup and one plate at a time, walking each item individually back to the kitchen. It was painfully inefficient. It was obvious both he and the girl at the bar saw us standing there waiting for a booth to be cleared, but nobody seemed concerned about it. Eventually the table was finally cleared, but then it sat there dirty for a long time without being wiped down. At that point we just sat anyway, assuming someone would quickly come over and clean it once they saw guests sitting there. In most restaurants, that's standard. Not here. After waiting even longer, I finally asked for a rag so I could wipe the table down myself. The response I got back was rude: "Why don't you just sit at one of the tables that's already clear?" That pretty much sealed it for us. The vibe was off from the second we walked in, and you could feel the lack of care throughout the whole place. At that point we didn't even want to order food because it already felt like the experience was headed downhill. We got up and left. Honestly, I'm glad we did. Service and atmosphere usually reflect what's happening behind the scenes, and I had zero confidence the food experience would've been any different. After leaving, we went to El Centro instead and had a much better experience. I'd recommend choosing that over this place any day of the week. Giving people a good dining experience really isn't that complicated. Sometimes it honestly feels like restaurant staff have never gone out to eat themselves and experienced what good hospitality actually feels like. Unfortunately this place completely missed the mark. We won't be back, and I wouldn't recommend it.

    Photos
    Ambience
    Ambience
    Sopapillas
    Sopapillas
    Our lunch drinks

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    Our lunch drinks
    Efrain's of Boulder Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

    Efrain's of Boulder Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

    3.9
    (515 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I had been to the Lafayette location more than a decade ago and never returned. It simply did not…read moresuit me at all. I recently saw that a different family group operated this one in a very convenient part of Boulder so I decided to give it a try. A favorite classic family run restaurant with a similar menu had closed in 2014 after being in operation for 20 years. We missed that sort of menu. This is it, all the way to type of sopapillas and the classic plates with rice and beans , sauce and melted cheese. The family appeal carries through from hosts to servers to clearing staff. The menu is large though it appears that most only vary by central item. The entrees all come with the same sides and a sauce. Next time I will ask for light sauce as it pretty much buried my tamales. They need to stand out and shine and I love the taste of masa. The server was right on the spot with our drinks and we had a comfortable and clean booth. Chips and salsa were at the table as we were seated. They are plainer than some in town but still fresh and classic and free, just like Casa Alvarez, our old classic. The place was buzzing with customers young and old a perfect place for a comfortable and swiftly served meal. The space filled up quickly and though they have an enclosed patio and an open patio, not a soul for takers including us, on a 30° degree evening with a "breeze" so there was a line for tables as we left. We'll be back in a warmer weather and customize our plates a bit. It's friendly and filling and for anyone. And easy on the wallet too. Nice to have a family friendly spot like this in an easy to park shopping center with McGuckins in the lead.

    Efrain's in Boulder shines with great service and very good cocktails but the food is decent at…read more3/5--solid but not standout. It reminded me of Mexican food I could get at any chain restaurant. I ordered Efrain's burrito which was basically pork chile verde, rice, beans with a tortilla and cheese. It was big and filling but nothing special. Their extra spicy salsa had an intense flavor of cumin and possibly chicken stock, it was okay. We were looking for a lively place with good food and a nice patio and were directed here. It wasn't lively and the patio was more relaxed than anything else. If you are looking for a family meal of very toned down Mexican food, this is your place.

    Photos
    Bar at Efrain's
    Bar at Efrain's
    Street Street Style Tacos (3)
    Street Street Style Tacos (3)
    Enclosed patio was pleasant.

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    Enclosed patio was pleasant.
    Wapos

    Wapos

    4.1
    (142 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Jean today was the best! First time at this North Boulder restaurant and it was tasty! Location is…read moreright off Broadway in a cool Boho art district thing. Other shops around too and they have a nice big patio, and a cool bar window table thing! Interior is best described as beach house which is a cool vibe on a sunny day. Lots of beer and drink options and happy hour, I just got a Tecate after my hike but I'll try a Marg next! They have a lot of options food wise but I went conservative with a chicken smothered burrito and enjoyed it! I'd recommend getting the sour cream and guac, and I got some rice on the side too. Free chips & salsa which is awesome! Everything tasted homemade and filling, and the sauces were flavorful with a zing but not overly spicy. Jean was very nice and service was great, very fast and attentive. Can't wait to go again and try something new!

    What an awesome spot. Authentic food, kind staff and great service. The patio has heat lamps and is…read moredog friendly which is awesome. It's so cute. Tucked away right by the mountains. Overall the food was great. The chili verde burrito was the perfect amount of spice and the carnitas were awesome. Fajitas were great, incredible flavor and the shrimp was delicious. The only thing that wasn't great was the queso. It was practically flavorless so we mixed it with salsa which helped a ton. Overall great experience and we will definitely be back.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Chips and salsa
    Chips and salsa
    Side window

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    Side window

    Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated June 2026

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