Cafe Rio: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Cafe Rio builds every order from scratch at the counter, and the vegetarian and vegan calls come down to which base, filling, and sauce you pick. The chain’s own allergen chart marks each ingredient item by item, so this isn’t guesswork on the guide’s part either.

What to order at Cafe Rio

Black beans, pinto beans, and the corn tortilla are all vegan as served. Build a bowl or burrito around guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa fresca, mango salsa, and tomatillo sauce, all marked vegan on the chart. The cilantro lime dressing is vegan too, with zero cholesterol on the nutrition sheet, so it’s a safe pick if you want dressing on a salad instead of a bowl. Roasted seasonal veggies or grilled fajita veggies work as the bowl protein if you want something more substantial than beans alone.

What to watch out for at Cafe Rio

Flour and wheat tortillas contain milk, so stick with corn if you’re vegan. The cilantro lime rice is made with a whey-based margarine, which rules it out too. Cheddar Jack, Cotija, and shredded Jack cheese may use an animal-based enzyme according to Cafe Rio’s own chart, and the Green Chile, Red Chile, and Habanero sauces aren’t marked vegetarian on the official chart for reasons the chain hasn’t disclosed, so ask before adding any of them. Sour cream, horchata, and Tres Leches are all vegetarian but not vegan, since dairy runs through each one.