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Cafe Rio

Cafe Rio Cafe Rio, located on East 17th Street, is a caterer, family style and Tex-Mex restaurant famous for their Original Sweet Pork Barbacoa. Known for scratch-made dishes with fresh ingredients and bold flavors, guests rave about the queso and tomatillo dressing. Come experience Cafe Rio's chef-inspired masterpieces today!

Recent social media posts

Your third @ owes you a double meal deal tonight.
05/29/2026

Your third @ owes you a double meal deal tonight.

Salad + Small Salad = a perfect match
05/27/2026

Salad + Small Salad = a perfect match

Taco Tuesday is just better at Rio.
05/26/2026

Taco Tuesday is just better at Rio.

05/25/2026

Our Sweet Pork Salads always look this good.

05/24/2026

Lunch break with Rio just hits different.

Don’t forget to try our new small saalad, perfect for those on the go lunch moments!

05/22/2026

Literally our dream date.

05/21/2026

Dirty Dr Pepper the Rio way 😎

05/21/2026

literally our dream date.

05/20/2026

That is a lotta horchata, and we are SO here for it

Have you tried our churro cookie yet?!
05/19/2026

Have you tried our churro cookie yet?!

05/15/2026

Family Meal Deal, straight from the kitchen 👀 🔥

05/14/2026

Literally all a girl needs.

05/13/2026

Our queso is high tier Chad level, lol

Graduated with a MTA - Masters in Tortilla Assembly 🎓
05/12/2026

Graduated with a MTA - Masters in Tortilla Assembly 🎓

05/10/2026

Give Mom Rio, get $10 back.

Spend $50 on eGift Cards and we’ll hook you up with a $10 bonus card. Moms win. You win. Everyone’s happy.

05/08/2026

Horchata on repeat. IYKYK… and if you don’t, it’s time.

05/07/2026

We’re obsessed with our chips and queso too

05/07/2026

Queso, the Rio way 🧀🔥

Made fresh in our kitchen every day. Real ingredients, done right.

You can taste the difference.

05/05/2026

Cinco de Mayo. On a Tuesday. Yeah… we’re doing this 🌮🔥

The biggest Taco Tuesday of the year is here.

Fresh tortillas off the comal. Sweet pork braised for hours. Fresh pico on top. Tacos starting under $3.

That’s how Rio does Cinco.

05/04/2026

Never say never... to a Churro Cookie.

05/04/2026

LAST CALL 🚨 Cinco is tomorrow… aka the most legendary Taco Tuesday of the year 🌮🔥

Don’t be the one who shows up empty handed. Pull up with Rio.

Handmade tortillas off the comal. Fire-grilled chicken. Sweet pork that hits every time.

Lock it in. Feed the crew.

05/01/2026

Double Meal Deal Hallelujah, $25 hallelujah.

04/30/2026

Yes, it’s really THAT good.

Classic churro. Cookie energy. Baked fresh daily in-restaurant. New to Rio. Completely unnecessary to explain further.
04/29/2026

Classic churro. Cookie energy. Baked fresh daily in-restaurant. New to Rio. Completely unnecessary to explain further.

Address

253 East 17th Street
Costa Mesa, CA
92627

To get to East 17th Street in Costa Mesa by public transport, you can take the OCTA bus line 50 or 83 and get off at the stop near 17th Street and Santa Ana Ave. From there, it's a short walk to the caterer, family style restaurant, and Tex-Mex restaurant.

If you're driving, you can take the CA-55 south towards Costa Mesa and exit at Victoria St. Turn right onto Victoria St and continue onto E 17th St. Parking options may vary depending on the specific location of each restaurant.

Opening Hours

Monday 10:30am - 10pm
Tuesday 10:30am - 10pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 10pm
Thursday 10:30am - 10pm
Friday 10:30am - 10pm
Saturday 10:30am - 10pm
Sunday 11am - 10pm

Telephone

+19493356800

Alerts

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What people say

Cafe Rio on East 17th Street in Costa Mesa is a must-visit for anyone who loves Mexican food. This family-style restaurant and caterer offers delicious Tex-Mex cuisine that is made from scratch using fresh ingredients. The star of the show at Cafe Rio is their Original Sweet Pork Barbacoa, which guests rave about and would drive miles to taste. The pork is tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned, making it a standout dish on the menu. But that's not all - Cafe Rio also serves up mouthwatering queso and tomatillo dressing that are sure to please any palate. What sets this restaurant apart is their commitment to crafting chef-inspired dishes with fresh ingredients every day. Whether you're looking for a quick lunch or a family dinner, Cafe Rio has something for everyone. So head over to East 17th Street and experience the deliciousness of Cafe Rio for yourself!

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