Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
2816 King Ave W, Billings, MT, 59102
Cafe Rio Mexican Grill Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Billings for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Billings for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2816 King Ave W
Billings, MT, 59102 - Phone (406) 373-7000
- Website https://www.caferio.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 10:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Very Loud
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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April G.
We were pleasantly surprised by the food and pricing of this great little joint! My mom had the tortilla soup, which was excellent (wish I had ordered that), while I had a chicken enchilada (still very tasty). If you're looking for authentic Mexican, go elsewhere. However, homemade tortillas, fresh ingredients, and a huge beverage selection - 4 different lemonades, 3 different "real" iced teas, and pop - all at once price with bottomless refills make this a place I'll definitely return to.
(4)Benjamin C.
I want to like this place and their food. But I can't. The food is lousy. Service is slow and disorganized and seldom friendly. The menu is overpriced and tasteless in addition to being greasy and served sloppily. I would be very surprised if any of their ingredients (except the Hatch chili's from New Mexico) are sourced locally in Montana or even within the U.S., yet their prices are higher than those restaurants that do, like Chipotle. That's unfair. In my view, Rio's presence only limits similar/better/smarter restaurants from coming to Billings.
(1)Suzanne S.
I have been going to this place since they first opened. Food has almost always been above good. My favorite is the Pasta special but the last time I went they didn't even know what the special was when I asked for it. I had to tell them and they didn't know how to make it. I tried telling them how it was usually done and it was like talking to Zombiea. The line was light when I got there and thought I'd have a fast pick-up. Maybe 8 people ahead of me but it took 38 min. The special turned out awful, nothing like it has been in the past. I don't know if I will try it again or not.
(2)Bob M.
My excuse for eating somewhere 2 days in a row is that I'm making sure it was good as I thought and not by luck of the night. Reason for a 4 and not a 5, personal choice I personally like old school carnitas, [for our taco bell lovers grilled pulled pork] Im not a fan of sweet pork. The chili beef they hit out of the park, and for me I bounce back and forth from wet and dry burrito. Their hot Red Sauce was 2 below medium but plenty of really hot bottled heat to add. But it was very flavorful. The green mild was real mild. The Taco was totally opposite to what I like, and they pulled the flavors together and was best I had in a long time. What brings what they make above the run of the mill taco joints beside far above average flavor is that they have fresh hand made tortillas made in front of you. Reminded me of dining at the old town cafe in San Diego,Ca. Now I'm ready to try the rest of the Mexican dining in town, here is my pre Yelp rating warning, if you can't match or better then Cafe Rio you wont like my reviews. Now to be fair to our readers, my Mexican food tastes come from years southern Calif. and I can tell you right now what we all get isnt close to what you get in Mexico, totally different. And to my sister yelper from Texas, I have read your reviews, your a great food judge, except your flavor buds are from texas and you have tex-mex. I personally like tex mex, but I still feel if I want chili con carne on top of something it will be a hot dog or Macaroni lol. But after reading all your reviews I would take your recommendations on places. Now here is one thing that takes away a star beside the carnitas, when things are extra don't be afraid to let that be known a little better. All and all yelp fans, give it a try first time went at 6pm long lines but worth the wait, second time went a 11am and you still had people just not as long of a line.
(4)Sandy A.
The food is really good but it was pretty dirty. U can see them making the food and the equipment did not look like it was cleaned very often. The bathroom was not very clean either and had no toilet paper. A little pricey but again, the food tastes good!
(3)Donald C.
Sad was highly disappointed the service was terrible do yourself a favor go to Qdoba!!! Way better!!!!!
(1)Jodi W.
I went there today,wanting to be blown away! We were not! Service was slow...the food was only medium warmish by the time we actually got it to a table. The soda pop machine was frozen up, and you were only told this as you went to pay for your meal. My son's meal and mine both came with a drink..so we had tasetless mexican limeade..the meal for three people ..was 28.32 and my son and I ordered the "special" at 6.95 each...we will NOT go back!
(1)Carrie E.
Cafe rio is the closest restaurant to Chipotles in Billings, MT so we love it. Always a friendly staff and they give out generous coupons to the schools and even have a bday club. Buy 10 meals get one free! Still waiting for Chipotles however...
(4)Bryan G.
My food was good today even though I had to wAit over 20 minutes to get a take out order. When I ordered my tostada the guy asked if I wanted flour or corn and when I told him corn he put a tortilla in instead if a tostada shell. They were out of tostadas and took quite some time to make new ones even though the tostada was the special of the day. They seemed to be severely understaffed. Two people preparing tortillas, two working the food counter, one guy cooking in the back, a cashier and a short girl that would pop in and out but I did not see her doing much. The cashier seemed very new because she did not know her login number and it took about 5 minutes to pay for my order. I was glad the line was short when I got there because it was almost to the door when I left. My food was good though. I have eaten at this location multiple times since moving to Montana and it does not seem to be up to par with the Utah stores that I have been to.
(2)Buzz M.
This is an unusual restaurant for Billings. When you walk through the door, you enter a queue like at security of an airport. You wind back and forth until it's your turn. It's very busy here and there's always a line unless you show up at opening. In the queue they have their simple menu posted up so it makes it easy to figure out what you want. Still, the first time you go, it's a little unnerving as you're not sure what to do and when to do it. I was in line to order for myself and my father while he grabbed and held a table. It was Taco Tuesday so for $1.50 you get a chicken, beef, or pork taco that's enough to fill a normal sized person. A tremendous deal to be sure. I ordered two chicken tacos and two pork tacos and made it clear to put them in separate "tins". As far as I could tell, all orders were put into these tins about the size of a frizbee and if it were a take out order, they added a lid to the top. The tacos are loaded with meat and cheese and then you have a few options you can add at the end of the line. If you want hot sauce, ask for it right away. They'll put it in a separate 2oz container w/lid for you. I never did figure out if you have a choice of what type of shell to order but the standard ones are soft, and have a slight crispiness to them as they bake or fry them before they add the toppings. All the toppings are fresh and delicious. By the time you exit the line, you have your tray with tins of food and a couple of empty soda fountain cups that you fill around the corner. The soft drink dispensing machine is in an awkward area that is jammed with people and not convenient at all to the restaurant patrons. Napkins and forks are here as well. The seating indoors is typical fast food restaurant with a Mexican flair that is not unpleasant. Even with the long wait in the queue, we were in and out in less than 30 minutes. Outdoors is very desirable when it's nice out and is usually full by 11:30 on a good day. This is a lunch spot. Go early to avoid waiting outside. Good quality tacos with great pricing on Tuesdays.
(3)Jeff B.
I have to eaten at this place three different times. It's set up as a "comida a la vista", as to watch them prepare your food. The staff is friendly, but I am giving this place two stars because the food is far from authentic Mexican, the portions are too big, it's a bit high priced and the location does nothing to enhance urban qualities.
(2)Jennifer K.
I came to Cafe Rio with my two young children, and we all enjoyed our lunch there. The prices are reasonable, portions are decently large, the service was friendly, and the food was delicious. The burrito with the pork barbacoa was large enough that I could not finish the entire thing. I ended up tapping out about 90% of the way through, and my older son polished the rest of it off. The food tasted very fresh, and the boys enjoyed watching the staff making tortillas through the glass. The only draw backs for me were as follows: *The placement of the menu boards made any sort of perusal longer than a minute or two fairly impossible without holding up the line. I had to wave quite a few people around me because as you could imagine coordinating two children's orders with options, plus your own order, takes a few minutes. *People seemed to be entirely oblivious to the "bus yourself" concept. It seemed ridiculous to me as this is essentially a fast food restaurant and you do that at other fast food establishments. If you bring your own food to the table, it would stand to reason that you take your trash away from the table...but I digress. It might be worth it to send an employee through the dining room a bit more frequently to make sure that empty tables are ready for people to sit at. *The tables are very close together. They were all in use as it was a very busy afternoon, and it felt very cramped while trying to eat. All in all, my family will definitely return when we are in Billings.
(4)John G.
This is your typical fast casual Mexican place that is a notch above places like q'doba simply because they make their tortillas fresh right there on the spot. The wifey and I go for the lunch deals which are normally pretty decent. It is crowded at lunch but they herd you through pretty quick. If I remember right they do a free quesadilla for the little guy. It's always tasty not nothing stands out.
(3)Francisco M.
Rockin' Mexican fast food. The set up for the line is a little strange and not remarkably efficient, but I thought it was worth the weight. My kids and I tried all of the tacos between three of us and were very happy and full. My mom had the taco salad with chicken and love it. Their tortillas are pressed and cooked right in front of you and the end product is awesome. The four of us ate for a total of $32, which is quite reasonable for dinner. The menu is a limited to the common Mexican fare found throughout the U.S. (tacos, burritos, tostadas, taco salad), but it is super delicious.
(4)Lesli B.
While this place is clearly still working out the bugs of a new restaurant (too many people in the kitchen and not enough cleaning up the dining room, service not quite up to par,etc.) it has a ton of potential. You're greeted by the most delicious smell of fresh tortillas made right in front of you while you order. The ordering line is bait rushed and frantic but again, just opening. I had a steak salad that was overflowing with good stuff and the tastiest tomatillo dressing! But I have to say that the drinks were also my favorite. 4 kinds of lemonade (interesting special kinds, no country time here) and 3 kinds of the most delicious fresh brewed iced tea, I had jasmine hibiscus or something like that. Yum! Will definitely return!
(4)Gordon E.
Stopped in for dinner - Was not that busy but service was slow. Prepared food early and by the time we got the food it was medium warm, cold tortilla soup is not good. We asked specifically not to have our burrito "Enchilada Style" and we got it "Enchilada Style". With the burrito ordered medium salsa, and got a sweet tasting salsa. Ordered "chips and Salsa" the salsa was not that good tasting. The server did not ask if I wanted hot, mild or medium salsa, I got hot. Not sure if we have a choice with Salsa. Chips were unsalted and cold. Food taste was ok not extraordinary, The Drinks were the best part of the meal, they do have large choice of different drinks. The restaurant was very dirty and the help was cleaning tables but ignoring large spills on floor and trash laying around. - Will probably not go back.
(2)Elizabeth S.
Food was okay on my first visit...not quite as good as Qdoba down the street. When I drove in for a second visit, staff was outside smoking. Drove away and won't return, don't like the taste of nicotine in my food.
(2)Dione R.
My only small complaint is difficult parking. I've always found the people serving the food to be happy and attentive. I like the pork bbq tacos. Very good.
(4)Jason B.
First time visiting the Cafe Rio. The menu was easy to understand and gave a good choice of foods. I had a steak burrito enchilada style with all the fixings so I could see what they had to offer. It was very good, prepared quickly and I am now anxious to try a few of the other items on the menu. The seating is ok, but there is not a lot of room especially during rush hours. I also thought the drink section was very tight and too close to other people eating and made me uncomfortable holding my tray so close to others trying to eat. I would recommend the Cafe Rio to others and will visit again.
(4)Holly B.
No stars!!! They used to soo good. Now their service is horrendous and no one that works their cares about the place. Bad service has happened to me twice within the past week. Let's just say...they lost me forever.
(1)Corey W.
Terrible experience. Placed an order online (45 mins before scheduled time) to be picked up and on arrival was told the chicken was cooking and it would be at least 15 mins.
(1)Lynn S.
GREAT GREAT FOOD!!! I highly recommend it if you want a good meal!!!! The staff could try a smile instead of looking annoyed with my multiple item order!!! They seem to have lost touch with the fact that customers are why they have employment and pay their bills!! If the employ people they definitely need to be people FRIENDLY And SERVICE oriented!!! I WISH THEY HAD A DRIVE THROUGH SO I DONT HAVE TO FEEL LIKE CRAP FOR DOING BUSINESS THERE!!! The last 2 visits I have ordered a steak entre only to find out they are out of steak. Perplexing as it is a core menu ingredient!!!
(2)Tiffany M.
We have been here a few times when. Visiting family in billings. I enjoy the tender beef and fresh veggies. The prep line was a bit too messy. A smoother salsa would be nice.
(3)Pat R.
When I went in, this place was packed. There were groups of people wandering around with armfuls of food, looking for somewhere to sit, and groups of 4 and 5 people shoe-horned onto tables designed for 2 or 3. This place is similar to Chipotle, if Chipotle didn't absolutely suck. The menu is more extensive and the food was much better, but the idea is the same. If you don't know what Chipotle is, the perhaps "Mexican Subway" will do the trick. You order in line, choose what you want (nachos, tacos, burritos, salads, etc,) then choose your meat and toppings and so on, as you walk down the line (like cattle too slaughter). When I ordered Nachos, the guy yelled "NACHOS!" and the entire kitchen started singing "NACHO, NACHO MAN! I WANT TO BE, YOUR NACHO MAN!" which was pretty funny. The kitchen was loud and fast paced, and the guy at the end serving the salsa and guacamole was the loudest. So loud he was bordering on obnoxious, but I only had to deal with him for a moment (his ponytail was sweet too). The nachos were tasty and huge, but as soon as I started eating them, I wished I had ordered something else. They were 85% chips, and kind of a pain in the ass to eat. I think a salad would have been a better choice, seeing as how that would have replaced the chips with lettuce, and would have just suited me better on this particular day. The steak was very tender and tasty, the veggies were fresh and the cheese was melty and high quality. I managed to snag a table, and that's when I noticed the special of the day was tamales with rice and beans, and double regreted my ordering decision. Next time, I will take more time to review my options. I recommend you do the same if it is your first time visiting. Scope out the menu before getting in line, cause once you're there, you're kinda rushed along, and you could miss something that might be a real treat.
(3)James H.
Cafe Rio is one of those places that if you want to get filled up, you really need to try. The first time I ever went there, I had one of their enchilada-style burritos with beef barbacoa - DELICIOUS! I'm not a fan of spicy food, but their green chili sauce makes it really tasty - put the sour cream and hand-smashed guacamole on there, and you have a winner. One of the other things I really like are the tacos! If you go on Tuesdays, you get them for $2 a pop, which is a steal! I always get the steak tacos with pico, lettuce, and tomatillo sauce (yes, this is really good this way). The nachos are also a must-have, because they will FILL YOU UP. My recommendation? Get the barbacoa on it - it's that tasty. The staff are always very friendly, and there is one gentleman who I believe is native Mexican, and is VERY friendly and a joy to order food from. The rest of the staff is very nice, and make the experience fun to be around. Overall, I have no complaints about this place, and always enjoy going here for a good fill-up!
(5)Cipriana M.
This is one of my favorite places to grab a quick yummy meal! Homemade tortillas and delicious guacamole! Staff is always so friendly and the environment is clean! Prices are great as well! My man loves the Barbados burrito and I love the chicken quesadilla!
(5)Gerry F.
The service has really become poor, especially on take out orders. The wait times for take out now often exceed 1 hour, and when you get your food, it's cold, go figure. I would not recommend this for take out.
(1)Aaron I.
It was ok. Very over priced, and everything seemed to be a la carte. Can't believe slur cream is extra. Also, we ordered a "free" quesadilla for our 2 year old- what they don't tell you is that if you order to go, the quesadilla costs $1, even tho our daughter wad there with us. Can't wait for Chipotle to open up
(2)Britt N.
Wow... I am really impressed with this place. I havnt been there yet to eat, however my work did higher them to cater. Seriously what I have been looking for since I moved here to Billings. I cannot wait to actually check out their menu and try other foods. I had a pulled chicken taco. And their cheese! absolutely delicious!!
(5)Jozie M.
So far Cafe Rio has been the best mexican food ive had in Montana. ATMOSPHERE: Bright colorful paint splattered chairs and tables. Kid friendly. Windows all around so very bright in general. SERVICE: I haven't actually seen a long line there just a couple people ahead of us but yet the place seems always packed. if you come during there busy hours you'll even see them make the tortillas right there in front of you. If it's not quite lunch or dinner time probably don't expect this. FOOD & DRINK: our food has always been served hot. Tacos: though not the best I've had, they're still very good! Your choices are shredded pork, beef, or chicken. (To be edited) REWARDS AND SUCH: Kids below age 6 can get a Ninio quesdilla for free! Buy 10 meals get the 11th free stamp card Specials everyday! Tacos Tuesdays, where each taco is ($1.95 I believe)! (Will add on to this later)
(4)