It had been about 4 years since I came here. We visited on Christmas Eve because it was all we could find open. We were not disappointed. This was the freshest and tastiest Mexican food we have experienced in the past few years. It has taken first place as our new favorite. Queso and even the chips and salsa were delectable. The beef taquitos were amazing. But the star of the show was the churros. Their crisp outer shell combined with the creamy middle and coated in cinnamon sugar made these churros the clear winner. Their pricing was also lower than most. We visited again two days later and still phenomenal service and food. read more

Authentic Mexican dishes! Friendly staff with short wait times! Conveniently located! read more

Food is always good. Service is good. Plenty of choices New items being added from time to time. read more

The service here is the fastest I've ever seen! I swear they are mind readers and know what you are going to order when you walk in the door! I'm actually surprised they just don't hand it to you as you walk in the door! Fast service, great food, friendly staff! read more

We ordered takeout and it was prepared quickly. The food was "just okay". Not great, not horrible.

Food is good & comes out fast. The margs are strong & the service is good. Our fav place for a quick lunch.

I ordered the burrito superior, chicken was dry outdated at best, tasted rubbery. Mexican coke was on point, rice was dry but had potential with queso. Service was friendly and nice though. Seemed a bit outdated more then authentic . Might try again on a busier day to see if anything changes read more

Not authentic Mexican food. It's alright. Enchiladas were made with ground beef. I've never seen that before.

my family & i ate their this past sunday afternoon after church ( 4/ 23) and our waiter walked over to my mom and asked her " what do you want " didnt even give her time to even look at the menu. she said i dont know what i want yet. when our food did come he didnt even say who got this or that he just laid them in front of us. never had a smile on his face or even say hello ... the young lady who was cleaning tables that day was the one who came to our table to ask if we needed any refills . she was a sweet girl. when we were leaving my little niece even noticed that our waiter was not polite because she said he didnt even say have a good day or anything . i told her a lot of people arent nice anymore...... read more

Like other reviews say its very americanized and get the lunch portion unless you want lots of leftovers. Food: Okay. I've had the chicken enchiladas which were decent enough and the chile rellenos. I'm a chile rellenos fanatic so these were sub-par compared to the best I've had but for the location decent. The cheese and chile were actually very good but the fried outside a little to soggy. Service was fairly friendly but the decor and exterior look....West Virginian. It has a drive through, enough said. Overall, if your craving mexican food, can't cook, and want above frozen dinner status then give it a try. It's just nothing to write home to your madre about. read more

These reviews are weird, and I can't help but wonder if it's because the reviewers haven't had a lot of Mexican food. I've traveled the world and I've had Mexican food at a lot of places, and to describe the food here as "Americanized" is so off-base that it's confounding. This is authentic Mexican food, and it's delicious. My partner and I have kind of made this "our place" because it's constantly empty. We've been perhaps 6 times in 3 months, and with the exception of one time we were the only people there at dinner time. He enjoys the fajitas, whereas I am a big fan of their tacos a'la carte. 3 for $5 isn't bad, you'd pay the same at taco bell but these are authentic street tacos. So delicious. The reason for the 3 stars is because the decor, atmosphere and staff are really kind of a bummer. The place is done up in dollar store crepe paper decorations that look like they're leftover from a ghetto quinceañera. The outside (as you will see from the photo I've uploaded) looks almost like a desolate warehouse. It reminds me of the place the women went to in Bridesmaids. The worst part unfortunately is that the staff is ALWAYS unwelcoming and unfriendly. They're aren't mean or openly hostile, but they NEVER smile and always seem put off or irritated that we're even there. If the food wasn't so damned good we probably would stop going. I honestly don't know why they are ALWAYS so unpleasant! read more

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No, no, no. I've lived here for 23 years and this is the only restaurant I absolutely refuse to eat at, no matter who I'm with. The food is terrible--it tastes like canned meat with far too much sauce poured on it. Bland canned meat with an acrid stench. The menu looks like it was drawn up in wordpad without any bother for order or punctuation. The only time this place is halfway acceptable to visit is Margarita night, when they have cheap pitchers of Margaritas--but even then I wouldn't recommend them. The food isn't good and their recorded health code violations are insane. Terrible food. Terrible restaurant. Be sure to say hi to the dude that sits under a photo of himself and does nothing. read more

Hate seeing these poor reviews because we LOVE this place. We go here usually every Saturday. Never crowded, but I think that's only because there's another one a few blocks over. Lightening fast service. Like literally in less than 5 minutes of ordering your foods there. And the reviewer saying the servers are unfriendly is Insane! Sweetest bunch you'll ever meet. Jose is amazing, and they remember you. EVERYTIME we come in just the two of us, they say Pitcher on the rocks no salt? Lol. And if the kids are with us, Jose or one of the others brings out my one margarita and a soft drink for my fiancé. They even remember what meals you typically order. And it's surprisingly one of the cleanest places in town. Margaritas are awesome and Great price. I'll take their margaritas over Any other restaurant in town. Is it an upscale place with fancy decor? Of course not, they're a low priced Casual Mexican restaurant down the street from a college. The more you visit, the more enjoyable the experience. read more

Whoo hoo! Another first! This was my first experience with Mexican food and it was delicious. My college roommate and I still reminisce about the wonderfulness that is Rio Grande! It's a local chain (not the big national chain) with a few locations in Huntington and Charleston. It's not the most authentic...though management and the staff is for certain. It's a little tex-mex, but yummy (I'm ruined since eating authentic Mexican food, including cactus salsa, in San Antonio!). Free chips and salsa with every meal, but be sure to order the cheese dip. I haven't had anything like it since leaving Huntington. It's fantastic. The chips are great too, mostly because they're warmed before brought to your table. The portions are HUGE! I could never finish them. My favorite was the chicken taquitos, though this is an appetizer it was extremely filling and delicious. Again, I haven't had taquitos like those since leaving Huntington. You can get them filled with steak or even a combination. If you order from the menu you get rice and beans with the meal. Fantastic! And, of course, the margaritas are to die for. They're made with a special kind of sweet and sour mix, I think. Get them by the pitcher and share with friends. You'll thank me. For you out of towners--just hop off the interstate and take the local highway east. You'll run by the place on the main drag and be happy you did. I miss Rio Grande!!! read more

My grandson comes to this restaurant with his mother and insisted on it tonight. Against my better judgment we went. I have been to the one on Fourth Avenue twice and it was terrible both times. The one on Fifth Avenue is equally as bad but I will say it is not dirty, nor does it smell as the one on Fourth. I got the number 7 combo which comes with a Chile Rellano . The Chile rellano was NOT a Chile rellano. I said something to the waitress and she said, oh you have to order the authentic Chile rellano. So, the restaurant has two different versions with the same name and apparently you are supposed to know that! So I did ask her to bring me the "authentic" one which was good except the majority of the cheese was apparently lost in the fryer. Rice tasted like it was out of a box and chips out of a bag. Waitress was nice though. read more

Excellent little place for lunch! Try the seafood quesadilla, it's one of my favorites. The food at Rio is good, the service is super fast, and the prices are cheap. Not sure about dinner time, but the joke among my co-workers is that the food is delivered to your table at lunchtime almost before you order it. If I remember correctly, there are margarita specials on Tuesdays. Note; A couple of the waiters appear not to be very personable but I think it's only because they may not speak a lot of English. read more

Best Mexican food in the area, for sure. The Tres Pollo is insanely delicious. For you folks who enjoy cervasas, try to throw back a couple of their large 32 oz. mugs! Also, the owner has the best mustache around here. read more

Have ate here twice. Both times have sucked. First time we tried was about 4 years ago and didn't like it. We went yesterday and it was just as bad. Was gonna give it another try but that won't happen again. The service has been bad both times. The food taste bland, and the cut of steak we got was nothing but fat. They barely Gabe's us any salsa and never refilled our chips or brought us out cheese dip. This place is never busy with lots of empty tables and empty parking lot. If you want good food got to margaritas on fourth ave or the el ranchero because they blow this place out of the park. The only good thing here is the margaritas which where food but if all your gonna do is drink then you might be fine read more

First time patron to Rio Grande on 5th Ave., next to Kroger. I ordered a braised pork green chili burrito for my daughter, what I paid for ($8.95) was a cut up pork chop, including the bone, no rice, no beans, no onions, just a few measly pieces of meat with mostly fat, wrapped in a flour tortilla smothered with green goo. The 2 tamales I paid for, at $1.99 each consisted of undercooked masa (cornmeal) with a thin sliver of meat, AND I got 1 and a 1/2 of another. I ordered steak nachos ($10.50) they were missing the black beans, lettuce, tomatoes and jalapeños. What I took home were onion nachos, garnished with shredded steak (a very small amount at that). Lastly, the dish our salivary juices were looking forward to, the carnitas (shredded pork) was, yet again, a cut up pork chop including THE BONE. The WORST Mexican food in that part of town. read more

Favorite restaurant to eat at in Huntington. Family owned and operated. Food is always excellent. Service is fast and friendly. Not a bad price at all for good Mexican cuisine! read more

Hands down my favorite In Town, consistently great, service is spot on as well and with fantastic margaritas specials you can't go wrong!

If you're wanting the taste of Mexican food, this place is okay. Really, it's been very Americanized. Compared to other Mexican restaurants in town, it's pretty bland--but I know that some folks like that. If anything, this place is a good baby step for those seeking only to dabble in Mexican food. The portions are pretty epic though, no joke. I always get lunch portions because you're dreaming if you think you can nail a regular entree by yourself--though it can be accomplished if you work with someone else! The service isn't anything spectacular, in fact on things like getting more chips or drink refills it can be downright slow. But you can always get a table here, I've never seen the place packed. read more

Food was decent, it was not the best Mexican food I have had, but the price was not bad. Service was pretty good, I would recommend this place if your looking for cheap, fair Mexican food. read more

My husband and I stopped in for dinner on a Thursday evening. We noticed right away that it smelled musty inside. One of the walls looked as if it had a water leak. The menus were very ragged and worn. We noticed after we ordered that there were no lids in the hot sauces on the table! . We both got a combo dinner with a burrito, taco and chili relleno. The burrito was just overcooked hamburger rolled up in a flour shell, the taco was the same dried out meat with a tiny amount of cheese. The chili relleno was a chili pepper with the same meat and a tiny amount of cheese. It was supposed to be battered in an egg batter. When asked about that, the waitress said it was not an authentic chili relleno. The salsa, guacamole and quesso were pretty good. But we couldn't eat the meal. The sauce in the burrito tasted like pizza sauce. I have to say it's the worse meal we've ever had.There are lots a great Mexican restaurants in Huntington. Don't see how this one is still open. read more

Love their chips/salsa but that's it. Had a friend who used her debit card at this particular establishment and someone working there took her info and used it to purchase stuff for themselves. I try to pay only with cash for local eateries. It could happen anywhere, not just at this location. Go to Chili Willi's for more authentic Mexican food. read more

Our favorite place to eat! Our family of 5 eats here almost every week. The salsa is great. Service is super fast. Almost as fast and cheap as fast food but tastes much better. My boys love the fajitas and fajita nachos. Lunch special 2: burrito, rice and beans is my usual. The chimichangas are great also. I would recommend if you want a quick, hot lunch or dinner. read more

It's okay if you are starving, but it's not quality Mexican cuisine. I've had much better, even in West Virginia.

Probably one of the WORST Mexican restaurants I've ever been too. The salsa tasted like canned tomatoes with chopped up onion a little cilantro. The chips were not good at all. I even had them bring me a side of Pico de Gallo and it didn't help any at all! I ordered a side of guacamole and never received it but they tried to charge me for it when I left. The service was horribly slow even though there were only about 4 people in the entire place. Would not waste your time or money on this place if you are looking for real Mexican food. Taco Bell would have been better!!! read more

Favorite mexican restaurant in the whole Estados Unidos! Fast, fun, and friendly, the fajitas are served with a sizzle like no where else. Delicious! read more

They used to be good. I ate lunch there for the last fifteen years or so. The staff has changed radically, just not the same people as the original. Food quality is still pretty good, but the service is terrible. I've sworn off, I don't go there any more. read more

This is our favorite restaurant! The soft chicken chimichangas are the best and the queso blanco is to die for. The waiters are attentive and the food comes out faster than fast food! Head to Rio Grande if you like great food. read more

Typical Mexican restaurant for the area. Food is pretty good and prices are as cheap. Always quick service. You will not be blown away by anything but you won't be overly disappointed either. If you have been to a standard Mexican restaurant, you have essentially been here. read more

I don't know what restaurant the person with the negative rating visited, but I have always found Rio Grande's food to be wonderful and inexpensive. It's the only Mexican restaurant in town, besides the other, separately-owned Rio Grande in Downtown Huntington, that has free, unlimited chips and salsa. You can fill up on those by themselves. I have heard of some health code violations, but if you take the time to read the report for all of the area restaurants, you will see that many of the most popular also have violations. Most of them are non-critical and minor. It's Mexican food people. Would you expect a restaurant in Mexico to be perfectly sanitary? To summarize, this is one of the best values (and our first choice for Mexican) in the Huntington area. read more

We've been going to this restaurant for over a decade. It is our favorite. We travel all over the USA and we try Mexican just about everywhere, and always come back to this being the BEST. It is authentic -- not sure where the reviewers have eaten that makes this "Americanized"-- the staff are literally from Mexico! The owner travels there often to tend to his horse farm. The staff are like family -- they are funny, friendly, love to joke and laugh. Sometimes that happens without a smile, but it is still warm and friendly. Some people need to just try to understand others! It is part of their charm!! We absolutely love them all. And the décor is a lot of fun. I wonder if some of the sour reviews on here aren't the competition? Or maybe, sour people have a sour outlook on everything? Because my family and my friends and I absolutely LOVE this restaurant and the staff as the Best in the US. Generous portions, delicious offerings, fantastic salsa, served with a bit of fun on the side -- and a salty margarita to top it off doesn't hurt a bit. Lunch is served so fast we wonder if they know what we want before we order... I think we will go there for lunch right now! YUM. read more