Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
Few things can make your mouth water faster than a sweet pork barbacoa burrito or a grilled chicken salad topped with creamy tomatillo cilantro dressing from Cafe Rio Mexican Grill. These signature dishes, along with many others on the menu, have helped the restaurant gain a large and loyal following through the years.
In 2011, Cafe Rio was even voted the number one quick service restaurant in the nation, beating out tough competitors such as Chipotle, In-N-Out Burger and Chick-fil-A, according to PR Newswire.
The fresh, made-from-scratch meals are now available in 163 locations across the U.S. — and it all started right here in Utah.
Fresh Mexican food with Utah roots
In 1997, Steve and Patricia Stanley started their restaurant, Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, in St. George. They served dishes inspired by flavors from Northern Mexico's Rio Grande region, Southern Texas and New Mexico.
"Central to every bite was the belief that every ingredient must be fresh and made fresh to order," Cafe Rio's website states. "And you know what? People loved it. They couldn't get enough of it."
The Stanleys opened up five additional restaurants and then, in 2004, a man named Bob Nilsen bought Cafe Rio from the couple and decided to spread the idea across Utah and beyond. Under Nilsen, everything on the Cafe Rio menu maintained the standard of "fresh food, made fresh." Nothing was ever frozen, premade or microwaved.
Today, Cafe Rio's Chief Executive Officer is Steve Vaughan, who brings over 25 years of restaurant industry experience to the chain. Vaughan spent 23 years at Sonic, helping the brand grow from $500 million to over $4 billion in system sales. He tried Cafe Rio for the first time in 2015 — and that was all it took to convince him to join the executive team.
Vaughn and the other leaders are still just as obsessed with providing the same fresh, high-quality ingredients that the restaurant has always been known for.
"To this day, our staff still begins each day, bright and early, hand-squeezing limes, hand-scooping avocados, chopping fresh vegetables, simmering sauces, and preparing the chef-inspired recipes our fans have come to love," the website proudly states.
An ever-evolving menu will keep you coming back for more
While you can count on your old favorite stand-bys maintaining their spot on Cafe Rio's menu, the restaurant isn't afraid to mix it up and try new things. The most recent addition to its flavorful lineup are the new Cafe Rio Bowls, which include eight new, fresh ingredients that you can mix and match to your heart's delight.
These include:
- Grilled fajita veggies — Charred and hand-cut to perfect, these seasoned peppers and onions add the perfect savory crunch to every bite of your Cafe Rio bowl.
- Elotes (Mexican street corn) — This roasted, creamy corn is topped with chile and queso for that authentic street-food flavor.
- Avocado corn salsa — Fresh avocados combined with charred sweet corn and peppers come dressed in a honey chipotle dressing to make for a delightfully sweet and spicy topping.
- Salsa Roja — For those who like a little heat in their bowls, the roasted morita chiles and tomatoes in Cafe Rio's Salsa Roja will satisfy your need for something with a little kick.
- Roasted seasonal veggies — Sweet potatoes, butternut squash and peppers all drizzled with a smoky chipotle sauce adds savory goodness to your bowl.
- Chipotle ranch dressing — It's like ranch dressing but with a bold, smoky kick that's delicious and versatile.
- Pollo Asado — Take your chicken to the next level with a blend of citrus, habanero and honey flavors that will leave you drooling for more.
- Chile lime tortilla strips — If you liked the regular handmade chip strips, you'll love the tangy seasoning of chiles limes and salt on these ones.
You can build your own bowl (BYOB) starting with a base of cilantro lime rice, black or pinto beans, enchilada sauces, hand-shredded cheese, your choice of protein and any of these new ingredients. Can't make up your mind? Try the online-exclusive Chef Curated Bowls. These are only available on caferio.com or the Cafe Rio app.
What combinations will you try?
Some things never change
Since its humble St. George beginnings in 1997, a lot of things have changed for Cafe Rio through the years. One thing that will always remain the same, however, is their commitment to providing fresh, flavorful meals every day.
Feeling hungry yet? Download the Cafe Rio app today! First-time users will get $5 in loyalty credit.
