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Holy Jesus Christ.
The Mormons must have been right.
Only you're to thank.
I've read so much about Cafe Rio, that when I recently headed to SLC for a TOOL concert, I told my brother that we had to try it.
I ordered a pork quesadilla & my brother ordered a pork burrito. I was quite pleased with my pork quesadilla. It was quite large, and I was able to make three meals out of it. It came with sour cream, guacamole & pico de gallo. The pork is really good, a bit on the sweet side. It was my brother's first time there (he lives there in SLC), and he thought his was pretty good too.
I also got chips & salsa. The only thing I didn't like was their salsa was a bit on the runny side. It was also quite spicy, but spice is always good. If you can't handle hot, I wouldn't get their salsa.
P.S. Even though their food is good, you _will_ be hitting the bathroom pretty quickly. But, isn't that what Mexican food typically does to the gut?
If you are from Utah and have never been to Cafe Rio you must have been living in a cave or something for the last 10 years. If you are visiting Utah and you want to try a burrito that will make you cry it is so good, don't miss Cafe Rio. It almost doesn't even need a review for locals, because pretty much everyone know that this is THE place for killer burritos and slammin' salads. This is the only place on earth that I could actually be convinced to choose a salad over something else more hearty. All other salads pale in comparison to the huge mountain of fresh ingredients stuffed into the house-made tortillas, and smothered in their signature tomatillo dressing. Words cannot describe the greatness of the salads. Just get one and you will see. The burritos are the size of your face, and the flavor is even bigger. You must get it enchilada style, or just go home. The pork is legendary and pairs best with the medium sauce. But I love the marinated chicken with the spicy sauce best.
Recently I have discovered their amazing quesadillas. I mean, really the only way to make those tortillas any better is to slather them with butter and fry them on the stove-top. Seriously good stuff. The tortilla soup is also some of the best I have ever had.
Listen- If you are visiting Utah, this is one of the few places that makes me miss the food in the Beehive state. There is no other place like it that I have found in the entire world. Don't go expecting authentic Mexican or anything, it's not supposed to be. This is truly a Utah landmark not to be missed.
Everything here is awesome. It truly is as good as it gets for this type of meal and it's a pretty good deal. Try the chips with queso or salsa; both awesome. The guacamole is good to but they add too much filler to it when you get it with the chips.
If you go here when they ask you want type of meat you want GET THE PORK. All the meats are good but the pork is the real stand out. My favorite is the pork salad but the pork burrito enchilada style is awesome too.
All the desserts are excellent too. Chocolate cheese flan is my favorite but the key lime pie and tres leches are regulars in my rotation as well.
Basically everything I have had here is A-MAZ-ING! I usually stick with the chicken salad, but also really enjoy the tortilla soup. They make their tortillas fresh every day....all day and you can tell. I want to just order a bunch of them and take them back to San Francisco with me!!
The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because there is NO alcohol - not even 3.2% beer! I want a corona with my mexican food people!
Let me start off by saying im Latin and I despise most mexican food. That being said this place was freaking amazing !! The pork was out of this world, its good and very freshly prepared. I went in and over ordered for a group of 8 with just 4 dinners and some nacho's. Definetly going back my next trip to park city.
Never been disappointed. The burritos are fantastic. I've also had several salads, the tacos, and a quesadilla. The best meat by far is the pork which has a sweet taste to it although the chick and beef are tasty as well.
The food's pretty decent (although I don't really care for the type of lettuce they use for the salads)... but GOOD GOD it's so loud in there and there are so many people that after a while, I started to go a little nuts. I think Cafe Rio would be ideal for call-ahead take-out... but yeah those long lines? Feh.
FEH, I say!
Loved it at first, now i'm just tired of it. meh already.
1 star for the tres leches cake. 1 star for the pork salad. once a year is more than enough now, i've overdosed on it.
Do you remember that old Pepto Bismol commercial where someone is sitting up from the bed, not able to sleep and the word "INDIGESTION" is stated loudly? Well, if you don't, that's ok - it was a commericial from the early to mid eighties. I was quickly thrown back to that era after eating here. I heard that the place is packed, but there were not too many people the night I dined in. And how embarrasing for the staff, when I asked for my "chicken burrito smothered" they all started yelling something. I think the purpose was for ambiance??? Who knows, but a message to their executive staff - don't have them yell anything unless the restaurant is more than half full. I asked what was in the sauce - and they looked at me like they were going to kill my first born. Sorry! I didn't mean to offend anyone. I wish they would have told me because I think it was Ex-Lax!
While I love the food at Cafe Rio I can't justifiably give them 5 stars because the service is lousy.
The food here is wonderful and I have never had anything I would send back or not eat. However, they give you far too much and while you can take it home in the nifty pan they serve you in, America needs to stop eating so much and demanding so much. It would be a wonderful value at half the size.
As for the two star deduction, THE LINES. I am tired of the Disneyland style turnstiles at places like this, Barbacoa, Pei Wei and Paradise Bakery. It is just ridiculous. The wait is the same or longer than a sit down restaurant and lining up outside the door is just not my thing on a sunny 90 degree day. Even lining up inside is not my thing. This concept has got to stop everywhere before I will go back to any of the above mentioned restaurants. It isn't worth it! No meal is worth it!
Everytime I've been to Cafe Rio, I've loved what I ordered! Granted there's not much "service" persay, the atmosphere is always bustling and full of energy. Lines are always long, but I never minded waiting. Portions are great for the price (2 meals), and the food is good even with take-out.
The only thing I've noticed is that whenever the people I go with orders a cold dish (ie. salad), they always end up with severe stomachache and diarrhea. (I've always ordered the hot food.) Hmm...
I'm a regular here! I will admit though, I haven't tried everything on the menu... but I am a huge fan of the grilled steak salad and the sweet pork burrito (my two favorites). If you aren't that hungry, just get the chips and some of their ranch/cilantro dressing (that stuff is to die for).
I'd give them 4 stars because sometimes service is an issue and the people behind the counter don't always get everything right. This could be a direct result of them rushing to move people through the line, or they because they don't understand what you are saying (ESL).
If they give you a survey to fill out... do it. It only takes a minutes and you'll get free chips and salsa with your next visit!
Great portions. Tried their Chicken Enchiladas and Steak Burrito last night(and leftovers today).
The line is a bit intense, but seems great for the lunch crowd. We ate at the location in Draper.
A client recommended this restaurant for lunch and we ordered the Pork Barbacoa (salad). It's shredded, sweet pork on top of a grilled tortilla with romaine lettuce, cotija cheese, cilantro, guacamole and pico de gallo. The dressing was a creamy, tomatillo. Not bad at all. I'd sure like to come back and try their burritos.
WARNING! Either call your order in, to pick up (online available) or expect to wait 45 - 60 mins for your food. I saw the lines at 12:30 pm on a Thursday afternoon and they were long. Parking is tough but you can go around the back. There's a convenient back door as well.
They have a great web site. Check it out!
Great burritos (enchilada style grilled chicken burrito for me with whole beans and medium salsa), great chips & salsa. The burritos are too big to finish, but come in a sweet aluminum pan that is easy to bring home and bake the leftovers. All you can drink Dr. Pepper. Decent prices.
The lows? They don't have crispy tacos if that's what you're into. Also that sometimes the line is long, but it's only because it's such a great find. And parking is often lousy. But overall it's worth it. Enjoy.
Pork salad! Cocain
Pork nachos! Heroin
Yummy, even thinking about their food makes my mouth watery now. Food is great, their horchau is great, I can't complain anything about it other than the long line I usually have to face before I get to order my food. But I am not complaining, I love what I eat there. Service is great and people are friendly too, but it's a bit pricy for Mexican food I thought. Anyways overall, I am not complaining.
My wife loves this place but I've never been super impressed. Typical Utah any place that serves portions big enough for 3 people at cheap price does really well. I will say though that I like the barbacoa. It gets points too for being able to order TO-GO orders on line.
Look-this is an automated, assembly line with ok ingredients. I think Barbacoa is so much better. Save your money and head down there for a burrito or salad. Or even better yet go and hit the Red Iguana for the real deal.
Not for the weak-willed: Cafe Rio is really addictive. The popular rumor is that the addicting nature of the pork results from its marination in Coke, utilizing the caffine in the soda to get its nasty little fingers under your skin, but it's actually marinated in caffine-free Coke, so, it's not to be. For a guaranteed wonderful meal, order a pork burrito, enchilada style, medium spicy sauce, with a Coke (you're going to want the Coke! It's addicting, remember?). Great seats in the resteraunt. Every time someone fills up a free meal card, the staff announces it to everyone in the dining area. "Free meal!"
It use to be worthwhile to wait in line for a Cafe Rio smothered burrito. But this was before Bajio and Chipotle came to town. I haven't been back since.
i LOVE their homemade tortillas! you can see them weighing the dough, then making them on a giant tortilla maker (whatever it's called) right in front of you. i also love how you can customize your order, since it's sort of assembly line style. i tried the pork enchilada and the chicken tortilla soup and both were excellent. they don't have a fresh salsa bar, but they do offer a varied selection of hot sauces. if i lived in slc, i'd go here all the time!
Provo, UT
Category: Mexican
Salt Lake City, UT
Category: Mexican
Salt Lake City, UT
Category: Mexican
Salt Lake City, UT
Category: Mexican
Salt Lake City, UT
Category: Italian
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