35gprotein499calOption 1
- 1 ×Bowl - Chile Roasted Beef with Cilantro Lime Rice, Light Black Beans, Sour Cream, Tomatillo Sauce, Pico de Gallo, Cabbage, Cilantro35g · 499
Cafe Rio Mexican Grill Nutrition Facts & Menu
Real Cafe Rio Mexican Grill meal ideas that hit your macros, the chain's nutrition highlights, and everything you need to order with your calorie and protein targets in mind.
Macro-friendly Cafe Rio Mexican Grill meal ideas
Every order below is built from real Cafe Rio Mexican Grill menu items to land near a common calorie and protein target. Want combos for your own numbers? The Simple Macros app generates them instantly.
Lower-calorie, high-protein
Lean Cafe Rio Mexican Grill orders that stay light on calories without skimping on protein.
38gprotein500calOption 2
- 1 ×Bowl - Shredded Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice, Light Black Beans, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Lettuce, Cabbage38g · 500
Balanced meals
Everyday Cafe Rio Mexican Grill orders around a moderate calorie and protein target.
50gprotein700calOption 1
- 1 ×Bowl - Shredded Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice, Light Black Beans, Cheddar Jack Cheese, Tomatillo Sauce, Pico de Gallo, Cabbage, Cilantro50g · 700
50gprotein699calOption 2
- 1 ×Bowl - Fire Grilled Steak with Cilantro Lime Rice, Black Beans, Cilantro Lime Dressing, Tomatillo Sauce, Cabbage, Cilantro50g · 699
Bigger, high-protein meals
Heartier Cafe Rio Mexican Grill orders for a big appetite or a training day.
65gprotein999calOption 1
- 1 ×Bowl - Fire Grilled Steak with Cilantro Lime Rice, Black Beans, Cheddar Jack Cheese, Creamy Tomatillo Dressing, Sour Cream, Tomatillo Sauce, Cabbage65g · 999
64gprotein1002calOption 2
- 1 ×Bowl - Fire Grilled Salmon with Cilantro Lime Rice, Black Beans, Cheddar Jack Cheese, Creamy Tomatillo Dressing, Sour Cream, Green Chile Sauce, Tomatillo Sauce64g · 1002
Cafe Rio Mexican Grill nutrition highlights
A quick look at where the protein and the lighter options are on the Cafe Rio Mexican Grill menu. See calories and protein for all 72 items in the app.
Highest-protein picks
- Quesadilla - Fire Grilled Chicken87g protein · 1000 cal
- Burrito - Fire Grilled Chicken74g protein · 780 cal
- Bowl - Fire Grilled Chicken65g protein · 360 cal
- Nachos - Fire Grilled Chicken63g protein · 703 cal
- Quesadilla - Fire Grilled Steak59g protein · 889 cal
- Quesadilla - Fire Grilled Salmon57g protein · 857 cal
Lightest options
- Bowl - Chile Roasted Beef199 cal · 26g protein
- Bowl - Fire Grilled Salmon217 cal · 35g protein
- Bowl - Shredded Chicken240 cal · 29g protein
- Bowl - Fire Grilled Steak249 cal · 37g protein
- Bowl - Baja Citrus Shrimp260 cal · 17g protein
- Bowl - Spicy Green Chile Pork288 cal · 13g protein
Ordering Cafe Rio Mexican Grill with macros in mind
Cafe Rio is a Utah-founded fresh Mexican chain with a build-your-own format similar to Chipotle. The menu is extensive, and the calorie range on most items is wide because customization dramatically changes the final count.
The key insight at Cafe Rio: the bowl and salad formats are significantly lighter than the Quesadillas and loaded Nachos, even with the same proteins. A Quesadilla with Fire Grilled Chicken can run 720 to 1,735 calories depending on extras. A bowl with the same protein and moderate toppings runs 650 to 900 calories.
For a 700-calorie meal with 35g protein: build a bowl with Fire Grilled Chicken, Black Beans (180 cal, 10g protein), Cilantro Lime Rice (110 cal, 3g protein), and fresh salsa. Skip sour cream and guacamole. Total calories land around 650 to 750, and protein comes from the combination of chicken and beans.
The Tortilla Soup (380 cal, 24g protein) is a strong standalone option or a protein-adding side. It's filling and delivers more protein than most soups at fast casual chains.
The Side of Black Beans (180 cal, 10g protein) and Pinto Beans (190 cal, 10g protein) are worth noting as additions. Either adds meaningful protein without excessive calories, making them one of the better ways to boost protein in a bowl or salad build.
Fire Grilled Chicken and Fire Grilled Steak consistently deliver the highest protein in Cafe Rio's protein lineup. Pollo Asado is similar. Sweet Pork Barbacoa is lower protein at higher calorie cost, reflecting the sweet, slow-braised preparation.
The main traps are the loaded formats: Nachos and Quesadillas can exceed 2,000 calories in their full versions. Knowing your format before ordering makes Cafe Rio much easier to navigate for macro tracking.
Frequently asked questions
Build your own Cafe Rio Mexican Grill order in the app
Simple Macros builds your daily calorie and protein targets around your body and goals, then generates Cafe Rio Mexican Grill meals that fit them and lets you log them in seconds, at home or on the go.