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Casa Rio is one of the better choices for TexMex along the Riverwalk. It has a little bit more history next to the Commerce street bridge and has abundant riverside seating with multi-colored umbrellas festooning the tables.
The service was quick and friendly; a beer (Alamo Golden Ale) was in my hand within two minutes of sitting down. A very promising start. The prices are also reasonable for a touristy area and I went with the chicken quesidilla here. The cheeses are flavorful, thick and melt in your mouth; a treat compared to several other TexMex places that I'd tried. The salsa is also of the thicker variety: if you try the chip test (and I did), the chip stays upright at Casa Rio.
The chips also led me to solving the Mystery of the Ducks. On my first tour through the Riverwalk, I wondered why there were armies of ducks bobbing next to certain establishments. A few moments at Casa Rio gave me the answer. After a table was cleared, the waitress tossed the extra chips into the water which led to a frenzied full-scale assault by nearly one hundred ducks at the waters' edge. Just like humans, ducks also like getting free stuff.
I am a frequent visitor of the River Walk in SA, and my husband and I both equally love Mexican food. So in TX it is very hard to find good authentic Mexican, most is just Tex-Mex.
Well to my surprise I am a bigger fan of Tex-Mex then I originally thought. This place is great! We love the atmosphere, we were seated in a timely manner considering it was Valentines day and the food arrived fast!
I have to say that the only bad about it, is that it is not stroller accessible and the tables are a little too close together. Other then that all was good!
I have brothers in the Air Force and one now lives in SA permanently. Casa Rio has become a tradition when the family descends on the Riverwalk (a beautiful attraction in itself).
Casa Rio has traditional Tex Mex dishes and fantastic beverages filled with tequila. Even though they are right smack on the Riverwalk, the prices are much more reasonable than some of the other restaurants down the strip.
With the real estate they have along the river itself, you are bound to get a nice view of the passersby while enjoying the outdoors. I've never actually been in the restaurant itself as we have always been able to sit outside. The service is fast and friendly as well.
The only word of warning: be aware you still have to walk down narrow paths and after a few libations at Casa Rio, it may prove tough. :)
I do admit that in the past I have mocked Tex-Mex food. The all pervading frijoles de olla taste, the insane doll sized tamales, the brisket tacos with BARBECUE SAUCE AND PICKLES!!! And of course, the never ending obsession with chili con carne. However, at Casa Rio I've discovered a newfound respect for that particular icon of Tex-Mex cuisine. Smoky, subtly spicy with meaty chunks of tender beef, a bowl of this stuff makes a great lunch, especially as the weather gets cooler. Served simply with chopped onion and shredded cheddar cheese, I wasn't even tempted to add my louisiana hot sauce, it was that well seasoned. I've tried other things on the menu (tamales, enchiladas, nachos) which are ok, but the chili con carne is what keeps me coming back. The service is passable and the views on the riverwalk are great (especially if you like duckys).
This icon on the San Antonio Riverwalk was excellent Mexican food (Americanzed, of course). The chips and salsa were fresh and spicy, and the guacamole and queso flowed freely. The service for our 10-person group kept our drinks filled and brought our food out fast. I had the green chicken enchiladas, and these were very good. There was a bit of tang from the green sauce that contrasted nicely with the rest of the savory dish. Nothing felt too greasy, and the beans and rice were a nice compliment to the meal (instead of an afterthought).
As mentioned before, the service was fast and friendly, and the location of this restaurant, and the heart of the Riverwalk, cannot be beat. We sat inside due to the size of our group, but there is plentiful seating inside and out. A real treat, and from what I hear, one of the better Mexican places on the Riverwalk!
This is a Riverwalk institution - it's been serving tourists since 1946. It doesn't serve Tex Mex or Fresh Mex, it serves the kind of Mexican food you grew up eating.
We had the Regular plate, which they have been serving since 1946. The price has gone up from the orginial 59 cents, but it is still a bargain at $6.65!
The Regular plate is a combo with guacomole, tamale, cheese enchilada, chile con carne, rice and beans. The guacomole is fresh and citrusy, the tamale is served in its corn husk (no cheese as indicated in a previous post), the cheese enchilada is surprisingly tasty, but what makes this place special is the chile con carne.
According to the menu this is the same chile con carne served by San Antonio's chile queens on the plaza in days gone by. No way to verify this, but I have never had anything like it. Large, tender pieces of beef simmered in a spicy sauce until they are falling apart tender. No beans. Wrap it up in the soft corn tortilla with a little rice and you have a treat unlike any other on the riverwalk.
Topped it off with a top shelf margarita, which cost almost as much as the meal. Don't know why I got a margarita, because they are usually way too sweet for me, but this one was perfect!
The only down side was the pigeons and and the ducks, but that is just part of eating outside on the river.
I typically don't go for the typical tourist traps when I venture into a city, but I must honestly say that Casa Rio is definitely the exception to that rule.
And of course, getting a seat next to San Antonio's river walk does add to the ambiance and experience (one warning on that...the exhaust from the boats swooshing by can be overwhelming during the summer! And try not to feed the ducks!)
The top shelf margaritas...awesome...
The dinners...excellent. I would suggest one of the combo plates that provides a sampling of their dishes.
And at night, they even have a mariachi band to serenade you into the night...just overall an excellent time.
So I make it a point to go to Casa Rio whenever I go to San Antonio!
Biased review:
My husband proposed to me on a quiet January night outside Casa Rio after we ate a fantastic dinner. In the background, you could hear the bagpiper playing on top of the street. It was a glorious night in January.
The service has continued to stay very good since then, except when it gets too overwhelming. The Riverwalk is overwhelming some weekends and people are human. I think the servers at Casa Rio work their little bums off to make the Riverwalk a pleasant experience for everyone.
We had a group of ten recently sit out and enjoy the hot night. My husband and I decided to treat the group and we spent $125. How else can you get a good meal, good atmosphere, and acceptable service for that tab?
Casa Rio is forever in my heart. It is the heart of the Riverwalk.
Casa Rio is an excellent deal along the Riverwalk! After walking the Riverwalk from the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel to the Alamo and back, we noticed the Casa Rio seemed a little more crowded than the other Riverwalk restaurants. So we decided to have dinner there and we were suprised when the most expensive dish on the menu was the Special combo plate for $8.65! that included a tasty chili con carne, cheese enchilada, tamale, refried beans, rice, large taco, small side plate of cheese nachos, a small side plate of salad topped with a scoop of guacamole, and a covered bowl of warm tortillas. And we started with a super large basket of chips and spicy salsa! The food was Excellent. OK, I'm not a Mexican food connoisseur even though I've eaten Mexican food when I lived in Riverside, CA and Albuquerque, NM, but I liked Casa Rio's food. The service was friendly and attentive. Considering most Riverwalk restaurant meal prices ranged between $15-$20, Casa Rio is a bargain! As you might expect, I left full and satisfied.
Terrible.
Here are my problems with my meal:
1) half ot the tortilla chips were stale (I assume leftovers from the night before)
2) I ordered tamales, but couldn't taste them under the slathering of cheese. I wish they took the Tex out of the Tex-Mex. I really think the tamales tasted pretty good, but I can only guess because there was so much cheese everywhere
3) pre-made tortillas
To be fair, I think my expectations are too high. Eating in San Antonio for the first time, I assumed that authentic Mexican food would be more prevalent than the stuff dressed up for tourists. Also, I had a hard time with Riverwalk prices in general--thought the food was about 25% more expensive than it should have been.
The one positive was that it was a huge portion and I could have gone the whole day on the single meal.
I've been going to Casa Rio for years, and it remains my go-to place for eating on the Riverwalk.
The distinctive colored umbrellas make the family-owned restaurant easy to spot, and the location along one of the busier sections of the Riverwalk can be a plus or a minus, depending on when you go and whether you like crowds. Their vegetarian options are pretty slim, but the last time we visited, my daughter got a grilled vegetable quesadilla that was outstanding. The prices remain very reasonable, and it makes a great place to bring out-of-town guests to drink in the sights and sounds of the Riverwalk.
Location and price are nice, food is OK. This is not a place I'd go back to for anything other than margaritas and chips.
Not so good Mexican food even worse service.
Sorry cafe Rio I really wanted to like the food but it was just bleh. The service was probably one of the worse experiences I have ever had. We were seated then we waited tick tock...and waited...and waited. Finally almost 30 minutes later we were given chips ans salsa and asked for our drink order. Before he could run off I said we want to order our food now too. Our waiter was very polite and I'm sure he was just having an off day but good gracious it was just a very long wait and he only had 3 tables.
I don't have much to say about the food it just wasn't anything to write home about. No pun intended. I wanted to like it but It wasn't good enough for us to go back again.
I actually had so much Tex-Mex during my week in San Antonio that I got sick of the stuff; I've never been so happy to get back to Chinese take-out in my life...
No fault of Casa Rio, though. I'm not a connoisseur of Tex-Mex food, but this place impressed me -- fresh food, quick service, and the food had a pleasant kick to it. Nothing too spicy, so sensitive taste buds should be fine here.
And the location is ideal -- a long stretch of Riverwalk. The tour boats passing by every few minutes can get a bit annoying, but then I'm a New Yorker who tends to roll his eyes at tour groups in general.
Oh, and you can stuff yourself for under $10. Always a plus in my book.
By far, one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever been to!
They have the biggest patio seating on the Riverwalk and their inside seating is cool and comfy. Their beans, rice and tortillas are vegetarian friendly and if you're not careful you'll get full on their delicious chips and salsa!
Their fajitas were well cooked and seasoned, their tortilla soup was highly delectable and the enchiladas were ooey gooey heaven.
You MUST come here and come hungry!
This place is okay. My boo was starving and was really pressuring me to find some place to eat.
We walked around the whole riverwalk hoping to find some cheap eats, and every single joint was really pricey or too crowded.
We asked some random security guard on where to get good cheap food, and he points out this place. I was actually hoping to find a taco cabana, but there was none to be found.
We put our names on the list at 930 or so, and the wait would be a 40 min. It was a really balmy evening, so we walk around and wait inside of the Hilton hotel instead of melting outside.
The food itself seemed standard. We had fajitas. It seemed okay, not good, and not terrible. The margarita was okay, but a little pricey.
Beware of the mariachi band. They came in and eyed me and my boo, and thought I was a sucker. This is a good way to determine what kind of girl you're dating. Does she bat her eyelashes and want you to pay for a song or buy her roses? or does she tell them no thanks?
Mah boo tells me it's not necessary and its a waste of money. Score!
Anyway, this place is a good option for a restaurant on the riverwalk. Prices were pretty fair and more affordable than the other restaurants we passed on.
Very good and authentic. Definitely worth a stop for lunch or dinner. Perhaps a little touristy but so are all the restaurants along the riverwalk. A San Antonio institution
Ahhhhhh, solace from the heat.
My friend and I came in here for some food 'n drank and we got some good stuff. We started off with a pitcher of sangria (which didn't really affect us because of how hot it was outside) and we got typical Mexican fare.
Good food, and the place looks pretty on the river.
I barfed after eating this crap. Seriously.
Disgusting.
I'm glad I had other opportunities to taste San Antonio tex mex because I would have thought all the Texans I know are crazy. I should have figured that a tourist trap like this would fail to deliver, but when you're hungover and melting in the sun one is prone to making bad decisions.
Good One. Their margaritas, Quesadilla, and enchilladas were good - not spicy but very different. But there was an overdose of cheese in the enchilladas and nachos, but were good(calorie burning in the offing). For those who prefer lesser cheese, you could request them to make it with lesser cheese. This place is also supposed to be one of the oldest restaurants along the river walk.
The chips and salsa do not taste good though.
I gotta admit that I didn't experience Casa Rio under normal circumstances. I was here for a private Fiesta parade-watching party, where we had the front room reserved for a huge (and delicious) buffet. That said, if a restaurant's buffet food (which is fairly mass-produced and sits out in heating containers for long periods of time) is tasty, then it's a good bet the restaurant's regular food is tasty as well.
With a great location on the corner of Commerce and the Riverwalk, it's worth a stop. I wouldn't say it's the best Tex-Mex I've ever had -- the fajitas certainly could have used more seasoning -- but it's decent.
Right on the river walk is this nice mexican restaurant . Great thing is there is plenty of outside seating right on the edge of the river. On a great warm night like the one we had that night makes outdoor seating comfortable and romantic.
Food is typical Tex-Mex, waiters are very nice and friendly, and the prices are cheap. Weekends are really popular here, we had a 20min wait. Nice thing was they had a outdoor bar where you can sip margaritas or a beer.
Had a nice long layover here at work and with my company finally moving us "closer" to the Riverwalk area, which I'd never been too, I was jazzed to venture out and stroll along the beautiful Riverwalk. For lunch I wanted Mexican food on the water and this place with its colorful umbrellas in many photos I've seen caught my eye. Location is 4 stars, but food, well, meh!
Scored a table next to the riverfront and was greeted by an excellent server, Carlitos! He quickly obliged all my high-maintenance requests. He promptly set down chips & salsa. Though not as awesome as Casa Pulido's chips in beautiful Redondo Beach, these chips are pretty good and I'm fussy about both and this duo was good. Salsa is a bit spicy but not too hot.
Wanted to try a variety of foods, so I opted for the Casa Rio Deluxe. Very mediocre, but then you do come here for the view of the river folks NOT the food! Tamale was just okay, a bit dry; the taco; so,so; the rocks of meat (Chili Con Carne without the chili...) could be used in a slingshot aimed at that bully in class; rice, yeck; refried beans, bland but oddly, I liked them. A lowly 1 star for the food, but I did not expect any higher. I wanted good chips/salsa and I got it, so I was happy.
Fun to throw chips & corn tortillas out to the begging ducks and you would think they'd tire of the constant pelting of tortilla chips, but nope! You throw 'em and they eat 'em. They have finicky palates and will gobble only plain chips and won't eat spicy cheese-whiz laden chips!
I shelled out the dinero to have the wandering Mariachi's play for me. Beautiful and the man had the most resonating voice! I loved it.
I agree with other Yelpers, this place is best for chips & salsa and a cold libation only. I had to run sober this trip cuz I worked later that evening. .....next time.
PROS: Location, Riverfront, feeding the ducks, cheap!
CONS: Food. Pigeons you must constantly shoo away.
This one is hard to rate fairly as it has personal significance to us, more so than just the food. This was one of the first places my wife ate Mexican food in the United States, as the Riverwalk was one of our first dates.
Being in an enamored bliss, I think I liked the food. We had some enchiladas and sipped drinks until quite late at night sitting right on the edge of the Riverwalk, talking, laughing, watching people, boats, the ducks.
This is a fantastic place to take a date for dinner, and get one of the patio seats right on the water. While the company was of my paramount interest, this Mexican food must have been good as well, as being picky about Mexican food, had it not been at least as good as you should expect in San Antonio, I would have noticed something....
The plates were filling, the drinks were large and generous, they brought as much chips and salsa (free) as we wanted with drinks after dinner, the atmosphere is ~~~ 5 stars ~~~ and we will most certainly go back there again, while on the Riverwalk.
Great place to people-watch. But what restaurant on the Riverwalk isn't?
I would say that they have one of the best locations on the Riverwalk... especially if you get a table right by the river.
The waiter was really polite and helpful..
The food, well..left a lot to be desired.
The margarita was strong, the salsa was ok.
The entrees were not even 2 stars worth. I had the chalupa and my wife had the taco...both were less than average!
If it's good food u r after...I'd stay away!
Been eating at this place since I was a kid. Always seems to be pretty consistent. Its not the best Mexican food you have eatin' but it is good and not very pricey. The best thing about this place is the location. Great to take visitors and guests. Great place to people watch. I recommend the enchiladas or chalupas. Another tip is to avoid this place on the weekends during the summer. Place is a mad house with tourists walking the river and the wait is very long.
Warning: Melodious Mariachis. Proceed with caution. Go on a first date in this restaurant at your own risk.
I live in Houston. Nature has not been kind to houston when it comes to tourism. Anyone who lives in houston knows that if someone is visiting you from out of state, there are not a lot of options for them to go sight seeing. Thus, you have no choice but to take them to san antonio so that the over enthusiastic aunt can go to the river walk, and their ritalin prescribed kids can go to sea world. Having done this routine several times, it was quite refreshing for me when I got to go there with a pretty girl with an even prettier name. Poopy doo (Poop for short). I showed her arond the river walk where she was amazed by the beauty of the place. La villita, river center mall, the boat ride, and the pan flute band (they apparently never leave the riverside even if there's no water in the river) all fascinated her as she previously held the belief that the only things worth seeing in texas are cows and tumbleweed. (Screw you non texans, we've got nasa.) At the end of the pleasant saturday we decided to go dine at Casa Rio. This restaurant has been a feature at the riverwalk since 1946.
After waiting about 30 minutes we got our seats and we ordered some apetizers. After another 30 minutes our food showed up. For the amount of time we had to wait and the amount of hype that had been built up by the host on the boat ride ,I would say that I was a little disappointed. I had some of their chile relleno and I was not too impressed. Although the atmosphere was really nice. Which brings us to the Mariachis.
Three guys armed with Guitars and violins approached our table and asked me with a warm smile and in the dos equis style 'most-interesting-man-in-the-world' accent, "Would you like for us to sing to your friend?" At this juncture, I went into panic mode. On the one hand I didnt want to come accross as a cheap-ass. On the other hand, I was very conscious of the fact that anyone who will serenade the girl who you hope will be your future girlfriend will probably cost an arm, a leg, and an oesophagus. Plus, the violin guy might end up stealing the girl from you anyways. I had already spent quite some dough for the boat ride, shopping, and an oil painting of the stage where they shot miss congeniality. Seriously, the picture in my 10.2 mega pixel digital camera could have done the job. Anyhoo, I went into politely-decline mode and was able to pull of a subtle rejection. It's not you, it's my chilli relleno.
Over all, I had a lot of fun there. Just the fact that I was super tired from walking around and having to wait for so long to be seated and served kinda bummed me out. But hey, it is the riverwalk and it is beautiful.
Gross! I live in South Austin, so I eat at hole-in-the-wall type Mexican restaurants all the time, but this place is just gross.
The margaritas were terrible, the waiter rude, and the restaurant itself was just plain ugly and dirty.
Please don't waste your time or money.
Okay, guys. For all the reviewers who gave low marks to Casa Rio for being "touristy," all I have to say is WHAT DO YOU EXPECT??!?!
If you want to find a non-touristy restaurant in San Antonio, stay away from the Riverwalk! If you don't like roving mariachis and riverboats cruising past your table, stay away from the Riverwalk! If you're not in the mood to be on the Riverwalk, WHY ARE YOU AT THE RIVERWALK?!
I love Mexican food and I've tried it all over the U.S. and even in Mexico. Some places do a pretty crappy job and some places rock. Some places are more Santa Fe style and some are more Cali style. Everyone has their preference. But when you want bona fide Tex-Mex, you can't go wrong with Casa Rio.
It's not the absolute best I've ever had, but it's right up there. And the fact that it's half the price of a lot of other mainstream or touristy Mexican restaurants, you gotta give respect. Not to mention this restaurant practically birthed tourism along the Riverwalk when no one else believed in it.
The food is really pretty good. I typically order the deluxe mexican dinner so you can have a little of everything. The enchilada was not my favorite style but it was very tasty. The tamale was a little underspiced but still a good effort. The beans, rice, and tortillas tasted like they came right out of a Mexican grandmother's kitchen. The queso had a lot of flavor, but the guacamole could have used a little help. The chips and salsa were awesome. We also ordered a carafe of sangria that hit the spot. Just a good, solid Tex-Mex meal in a unique setting. Seriously, who could complain about good, inexpensive food and a unique view of the Riverwalk?
Casa Rio is a classic Tex-Mex joint that might just be a little too popular with the tourists for its own good. But if you took the place and hid it on some back street on the other side of town, the locals would probably be raving about the authentic little dive they found.
Anytime I'm in San Antonio, Casa Rio is on the top of my list. Touristy or not. Muy beuno.
I give them 4*'s not because it's authentic mexican food, or because i didn't have to wait to get a table, or because the service was outstanding. I give them 4 *'s because their food is reasonably priced and they don't overcharge for the fact they're on the Riverwalk. They charge normal prices and happen to have one of the best locations around. So good for them.
We got their large combo platter which featured a taquito, flauta, taco, rice, beans and something else, and it was really good! Not only that, but I couldn't finish it all either.
Much better than the other tex-mex places in San Antonio. The enchiladas were good with an above average verde sauce. Great location on the water in the middle of the strip on the river walk. Always crowded, I think it is the safe place to go for good, standard tex mex.
For those who can't tell from my ravishing pictures, I'm half Hispanic. In my mind, there is no cooking that can beat the Mexican fare that comes from Mom's kitchen. I've sampled Mexican food from all over San Antonio and all parts of Texas many times over, so you know the weight that this upcoming endorsement carries. Casa Rio is the best authentic Tex-Mex that money can buy.
San Antonio's Riverwalk can tend to be a bit on the touristy side, but there is nothing touristy about Casa Rio beyond the conventioneers who may come in for a meal with their name tags still on. For those who are aren't walking from their downtown hotels and are scared of the parking situation downtown, Casa Rio has their own parking lot on the street level. A Mexican tile staircase winds down to the river level where the restaurant sits.
Patio seating along the river is enjoyable, but save yourself the wait and grab a table inside. The traditional mission-style decor will still give you the feel of destination San Antonio, and you will have plenty of time to walk the river after your meal. The servers wear embroidered Mexican Puebla dresses and shirts, and mariachis move from table to table to play your choice of song for tips. **Insider tip - if you don't know any mariachi songs, request "Volver, Volver". It's one of my personal favorites.**
The chips and salsa are to die for, and it's an incredible way to start the meal. Each person has their personal preference on what they want served on their plate, and I highly recommend any combination menu choice. The chili con carne is particularly exceptional here. The highlight of the menu is the PRICE. This place could easily charge twice as much for any menu item, but the quality and price have made this location a favorite for both visitors and locals. Even my mother used to make trips here with her mom to dine as a kid.
Casa Rio does not offer to-go orders, and for good reason. On busy nights where there is a wait, it is not fair for people who have waited 35 minutes for a table to have a to-go order rushed through the cue, and no one placing a to-go order would be happy with waiting around for 45 minutes for their one carryout plate. This quality meal does not deserve to be rushed, so grab a table and enjoy the atmosphere.
**Insider tip #2 - If you absolutely must have to carry your food out, order your food in and ask for a to-go box a bite or two in. It's a bit of a process, but that is the price you pay if you can't dine in and still want to taste Tex-Mex magic.**
If you have San Antonio on your bucket list, you cannot officially check it off until you have made a visit to Casa Rio.
Casa Rio was where my friend and I started and ended the night recently. Started with a few beers and a basket of chips and queso, walked around the Riverwalk for awhile, and ended up back at Casa Rio when we realized it was the cheapest sit-down restaurant around.
The food was pretty decent here: I had Green Chicken enchiladas, which came with rice, beans, tortillas, and a salad for around $8.50. My friend had the Combo meal, which had an enchilada, a tamale, a taco, chili con carne, more chips with queso, and a salad for about the same price. Good way to try a few different things, really big portions so we were pretty stuffed by the time we were done.
The location is great, right along the river, and the service was good. No complaints, Casa Rio was better than we expected.
I had the misfortune of eating at the restaurant right next door to this one on the first night of our "mini" vacation to San Antonio. That place sucked. Casa Rio rules.
The wait wasn't bad (about 15 minutes) at all and gave me the chance to pound back a really good margarita.
I had the deluxe combo plate...it WAS deluxe and it was delish (god I hate you Rachel Ray).
I'm no light weight (obvious from my girthy profile pic), but I got a slight buzz off of two of the premium margaritas. The 2nd one was a 20oz'er (both would have been if I had known they could upsize those bitches when I was at the bar).
My daughter entertained herself by feeding tortillas to the birds...that is, until they came closer than three feet away. Then she yanked her feet up into the seat and started screaming for me to make them go away.
Good times....
I find it odd that people claim to be sick after eating at a restaurant, as if an eatery's business model includes opportunities to purposefully make food that causes others to be ill. What's more than likely - assuming that someone was indeed sick and not just making a poor exaggeration - is that an illness was contracted from the hundreds of noisy tourists and snotty kids that are brushing past you as you work your way through the crowded walkways. I ate at Casa Rio and I felt perfectly fine afterwards. You will probably make it through unscathed, too.
This place does indeed have quite a lot of tourists. My heart sunk when I saw the line waiting to put their name into the reservation queue on this particular Friday night, but after only twenty minutes and the decision to eat inside (who wants crowds of people walking through their meal, anyway?), my buddy and I got a table.
The chips and salsa were free and homemade, with the latter offering just a little capsaicin-induced bite on the tip of the tongue. For my meal, I went with the Casa Rio Deluxe Dinner, which I chose because it provided me with a sampling of much of what the place had to offer, as well as it was the restaurant's #1 seller (even says so in the menu). Before the main course, I was given chili con queso and a guacamole salad. Having experienced mostly straight Mexican cuisine, these dishes were both new to me, and neither were without their charm. Once the meal came, I was faced with a smorgasbord of a cheese enchilada, chili con carne, a tamale, a crispy taco, rice, and beans. The tamale was well-made and non-greasy, and I like the red tortilla used for the enchilada. I was impressed with the chile con carne, as the chunks of meat were tender and had their connective tissues gelatinized in such a way that could only be achieved through hours of low stewing or a quick trip through a pressure cooker (probably the latter). Either way, it took some culinary knowledge to make. The rest of the meal was satisfying but unremarkable.
The idea that one would venture to the busiest part of the Riverwalk and expect to find top-notch Tex-Mex is laughable. Just the facts that I didn't have to wait too long to sit, received my meal in a surprisingly short amount of time, and managed to spend only about $10 make Casa Rio a fine enough entry into the Riverwalk restaurant scene to appease those who are looking for something to eat after a long day of sightseeing in downtown San Antonio.
Inexpensive? Yes.
Great Location? Yes.
Good Food? No. Basically, your standard, nothing special, Mexican tourist trap selection, quality, and quantity.
Good Service? No. I'm from New York, and this was the only restaurant in Texas where I felt "at home:" aka subject to the complete control of an inattentive and uncaring waitress.
Maybe I just had a bad day based on the other reviews... but next time I'm in Texas, I'll try somewhere else...
Oh my god.
Que deliciosa. . . que CHEAP!
I expected EVERY restaurant on the River Walk to be at least $15 a plate, and I was SHOCKED that you could get a decent meal for under $7. As the 8 year old sitting behind me said to his parents, "$6.79 for all THIS? Now THAT'S a good deal." See? So awesome, a child can recognize it.
My boyfriend and I showed up at 6 PM on Saturday night when there was a boat-parade going on, so obviously we expected to have to wait until midnight for a table. Surprisingly, it was only a 45 minute wait! We just got a buzzer and went sight-seeing for an hour. Our table was actually beside the river (not against the wall or under a bridge), so it was very romantic with the lanterns. :) The food was also AMAZING. I'm born and raised Texan, meaning I have a very sensitive palate for Mexican food, and this was top notch. The chicken in the chicken enchiladas wasn't chunky, the cheese was gratuitous, and the verde sauce over my boyfriend's green chile enchiladas was REALLY good. I also liked their tortillas - obviously made in the kitchen, they're smaller, but very thick, fluffy, and fresh. And they came free with our meals! We also got free guac for our chips! WOOT!
We also had margaritas. Mmm. Not all that strong, but not syrupy-sweet. Just the perfect balance for sitting beside the river and drinking multiple margaritas for an hour or two without getting so drunk you can't find your way home.
BEST place to eat on the river. :)
This place has some really good things going for it. First, the patio dining on the river is probably the best in the city, and there is a ton of it so you can always get a seat. The salsa was very fresh and not the typical stuff I have had lately in Dallas. It reminded me of the stuff my family makes with the whole tomatoes and cilantro and all. Not very spicy, but good. The enchiladas were smokin good though. I am a sucker for enchi's though, and these were LOADED with cheese. I mean over the top, which I dug. The picadillo was tasty. The shredded chicken was bland. The rice and beans were average. But seriously, the place is great when you take into account everything. I also have a lot of respect for a place like this who could easily jack up thier prices to squeeze hungry tourists. They are dirt cheap man, and thats how mexican should be. We had a great time.
Not worth it. It's a tourist trap. Only looks good from the outside. The prices aren't the best and neither is the food. If there is anything else on the River Walk that you can find, try that place before going to this one.
Chips and Salsa - free and good! Casa Rio deluxe dish $8 something...pretty decently cheap but totally bland. Now, I'm from LA where the mexican influence is substantial so I've had my fair share of authentic mexican food. Casa Rio is supposedly authentic mexican or tex-mex food but it wasn't really that good. It could have been because I was slightly drunk but that should have just made everything so much better right? WRONG! My taco had ground beef in it - where's the carne asada ? The enchilada was just full of cheese and a sauce that wasn't flavorful. The tamale on the plate was pretty horrible , some pork on the side was okay but dry. I'd probably give Casa Rio another try just because the servers were good and our party of 20 something was served quickly. I'll try something else next time and when I'm in Texas.
San Antonio, TX
Category: Mexican
San Antonio, TX
Category: American (New)
San Antonio, TX
Category: Mexican
San Antonio, TX
Category: Latin American
San Antonio, TX
Category: Mexican
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