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    Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican

    2.1 (122 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 10:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican Takeout or Delivery

    Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE RIO FRESH MODERN MEXICAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Very loud
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican

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    This salad is from 7 months ago.  So much better and fuller than today.

    Im never one to leave reviews but i feel i have to today. First of all I LOVED cafe Rio. We used to eat there at least once a week... sometimes twice. We always get the same thing... 2 salads with double steak....one with black and the other with refried beans. Guac... sour cream... the 9. I had no problem paying 30 plus dollars. I havent eaten there in a couple of months but today I was in the mood for a yummy salad. I got there at about 2pm. It wasn't busy at all. I ordered the same 2 double steak salad. Barely any steak in the warmer and instead of getting more she basically made "double steak for 2 plates when whatever was in there should've been for 1 plate. Beans were half a scoop. Now we get to the lettuce... both containers were just about empty. She gave us scraps... didnt even cover the plate.... like why even put cheese if youre gonna put a little ass sprinkle. Why is the sour cream and Guacamole empty EVERYTIME I go there so when its time to put some on the plate... youre scraping the sides to give us a quarter scoop. MY DOUBLE STEAK HAD 13 SKINNY SHREDDED PIECES OF STEAK! Cafe Rio you guys cant be serious. I got charged for double steak and paid $47.00 and it was not worth it AT ALL. It was 43.00 with a 4 dollar tip which I shouldn't even have tipped but your staff make it kind of uncomfortable when they ring me up and tell me there's a question for me to answer. Believe me when I say that we can CLEARLY see that its asking for a tip we dont need it pointed out. I see quite a bit of negative reviews here and you respond with thank you for feedback blah blah blah but obviously there isnt any improvements bc people are still complaining about the same stuff. What im realizing is you guys are more about the profit then your customers and that is very shameful. I will not be returning or recommending.

    Dirty
    Tony H.

    I've eaten at Cafe Rio's all over the west and I have to say, this Cafe Rio (at least the times we've been here) has been so dirty. It's one thing when you eat in a restaurant where you can't see the kitchen but to walk down a buffet line where all you see is the kitchen, you would think that cleanliness would be the #1priority. This was our last visit at this Cafe Rio unfortunately. Can't eat at restaurants where the employees obviously aren't held to an acceptable standard for cleanliness.

    Food scattered under tables.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican

    Review Highlights - Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican

    Their sweet pork is one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten, and just recently I've begun ordering the pork barbacoa salad because I love how light and tasty it is!

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Morenita's Mexican Restaurant & Bakery - Chicken Quesadillas

    Morenita's Mexican Restaurant & Bakery

    4.4(428 reviews)
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    I love the diner ambience...comfortable and relaxed. The woman taking my order was very friendly…read moreand helpful. She likes Chili Relleno and affirmed my choice. It didn't take long for my food to come out and they called my number so I went to the pickup place for my food. It was very good. Tasty, not covered with cheese, and plenty of rice and beans to compliment the Chili Relleno with fresh tortillas on the side. The only reason for taking off a star was I expected it to be spicier... but maybe that is me and not the food. I like highly seasoned food. I hope to return and bring my partner for a taste of another dish they make!

    We've eaten here for years now. It's our fave for Mexican food in I.F.!…read more Morenita's is a small & simple place -- but don't let that deter you. They ROCK IT for authentic Mexican food! And they have the Mexican ladies in the kitchen to prove it IS the real deal. (Be sure to tell them "¡Gracias!" when you pick up your food at the high-counter pickup window. Even tho' you can't see them, they can usually hear you! Makes their day. Better still, drop 'em a tip when you pay - they really appreciate it.) Morenita's TACOS are the best in town! They have the house-cooked meat of your choice. Be ready to state your meat pref. at the register. They will ask for your choice. (See my attached MENU PICS for Meat Options.) Most TACOS are made with a larger-sized, white corn tortilla - that oddly but wonderfully tastes like a mix of corn and flour! SO good! (Their "STREET TACO is smaller.) TYPES OF TACOS: Not sure what kind of taco to get? * CHUCHE: Opt for the CHUCHE TACO if you don't need a lot of fanfare (extra toppings), and you like a crisp cabbage crunch in every bite, + some melted cheesy goodness. * RANCHERO: If you DO like all the fixin's - including (a few/not too much) WHOLE beans, pico, onion, tomato, cilantro, avocado, sour cream + a little kick of jalapeño - the TACO RANCHERO is my first-choice fave! * SUPREME: If you like all that same stuff (w/ your choice of meat) - but prefer REFRIED beans and NO jalapeños - go for the TACO SUPREME. OTHER ITEMS: PIZOPE: If you're really hungry, the PIZOPE has similar toppings as a taco, but is a LOT more food! (And cheese.) The PIZOPE is super filling, and great for 2 to share if you don't have big appetites. NACHOS: The SUPER NACHOS are a big win for a family or group 'cuz they're so easily shared - and are just a HUGE pile of delish! (While I HAVE seen a hungry teenage boy or two eat them ALL before, it's rare for most people to finish a plate alone!) About their MEAT CHOICES: * You can never go wrong with their tender BARBACOA (shredded BEEF). There is a 50c or $1 upcharge for that on most dishes. * CARNITAS (shredded PORK) is a popular, delish meat choice, with no upcharge. * I personally find the grilled steak, CARNE ASADA, to be rather dry and gristly for my own pref. But others seem to like it. No upcharge. * If you're feeling adventurous, you must try the BEEF CHEEK as a meat choice! It is super tender & full of flavor! Upcharge applies (50c for tacos, $1 for burritos, as examples.) * FISH (Tilapia) currently (Jan. 2026) has a high cost for substituting as a meat choice. But there is no upcharge for a FISH TACO, as far as I know. HOW THE PLACE ROLLS: * At Morenita's you pay upon ordering, so no tip is required. (But I personally think the sweet older ladies who bus the tables as fast as they can keep up - and work SO hard to keep the restaurant clean, even when the line goes out the door at times - are very deserving of even a minimal or modest tip.) * After you order you will seat yourself at a booth or a table. Be aware that it's a very small place, so seating is "cozy" - so if it's a busy time, you will sit quite close to others. (At the busiest times you may need to take your meal To Go.) * You will listen for your ticket #, found in a black box near top of the receipt. That # will be called out in English and Spanish from the cash register area. TIP: Ask your phone how to say that number in Spanish. (As a Spanish teacher/translator, I hear it better in Spanish than I do in English now, haha!) * When done eating, you clear your own table. Use the trash cans at the back, or at the front by the main door. (Don't throw away their plates or silverware!) If you do not bus it, then please, kindly leave a cash tip for the ladies who bus it for you. * SAUCES IN THE MINI-FRIDGE! Stop at the fridge in the back to grab a couple bottles of SAUCE! Just be sure to put them back when you're done with 'em! And if it's really busy, sauce up at your table and run them back, asap. Our faves: * CHIPOTLE SAUCE (light orange) = mild & creamy * GREEN SAUCE w/ SEEDS = medium PARTING WORDS OF WISDOM: Common courtesy prevails at a cozy, often busy little place like Morenita's! From the parking lot to table clean-up, we can make the dining experience of others better by being helpful, patient, kind, and friendly. We can make someone's day better. This is America, and it's Idaho! May we each be the good example of civility and kindness we ought to be. Let's treat others who may be strangers to us, like friends and family. 'Strangers' are friends we just don't know yet. And we can also show appreciation for the hard workers in our great town who provide a clean place to eat, and a warm, delicious meal when we want it. A little kindness ALWAYS goes a long way.

    Photos
    Morenita's Mexican Restaurant & Bakery
    Morenita's Mexican Restaurant & Bakery - Three enchilada plate dinner.

    Three enchilada plate dinner.

    Morenita's Mexican Restaurant & Bakery - Menu

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    Menu

    Tacos Las Peñitas - Buche and Cabaza Tacos, really good!!!

    Tacos Las Peñitas

    4.5(22 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    It was very authentic food especially when considering that the menu is only in Spanish and just…read moreone person working there spoke English. The food was a bit hit or miss. The Quessabirria looked amazing but only tasted of grease which dripped freely all over everything. The carne asada burrito was ok. The meat didn't really stand out and it only tasted of beans, lettuce and sour cream. The two things that were good were the two pork taco options. The pork carnitas had the most amazing texture I've ever been lucky to try. It was moist and crunchy from the flat top. It is definitely worth giving this meat choice a try in anything they have. The true star though was the Adobada tacos. They were amazing. There was tons of meat with so much flavor. These were the best Adobada I've ever had anywhere. I think the highs were very high but the lows were just as low. They have decent salsas but if you can't take a good bit of heat you won't be able to handle even the weakest one. Definitely worth checking out.

    This Mexican place is 100% authentic! The tacos were so simple yet so flavorful. My favorite was…read morethe chorizo which has a nice char to the meat. They also have three salsa to enjoy. The habanero was nice but my favorite was the red salsa that was Smokey and hot. The menu was very simple and it was quick to order. If you do come around lunch time expect to wait a bit as it gets very busy around then.

    Photos
    Tacos Las Peñitas - Street Sign

    Street Sign

    Tacos Las Peñitas - Pork, steak, & chorizo tacos

    Pork, steak, & chorizo tacos

    Tacos Las Peñitas

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    Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican - mexican - Updated May 2026

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