31+ Cafe Rio KETO Friendly & Low-Carb Options for 2023

written by

Husein Gradasevic

research-based

If you are in a hurry, simply follow these tips to minimize your carbs at Café Rio:

Ditch the tortillas and have your meals served in a bowl.
Swap your dressings with guacamole, sour cream, or Pico De Gallo.
Low carb protein options include shredded chicken, grilled steak, roast beef, & carne asada.
No rice, beans or tortilla strips!
Fill up your bowl with fresh greens, Cheddar Jack Cheese, and some peppers!

In this article, we’ll look at some of the best keto options at Cafe Rio! And I’ll also share with you my 3 recommended keto orders at this Mexican grill.

Table of Contents

How to Eat Keto at Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

Ordering keto at Cafe Rio is quite similar to ordering at Chipotle Mexican Grill. In fact, they both serve enchiladas, tostadas, wet burritos, nachos, quesadillas, and desserts.

All you have to do is pick a protein source and add your favorite toppings to the bowl! Fill it up with some cheese and greens for a satisfying keto-friendly meal.

If you really want to add sauces, the Tomatillo sauce and the Creamy Tomatillo have the least amount of carbs (3g per serving). But wait! How can we forget the amazing Pico De Gallo?

Your bowl of Mexican goodness is incomplete without pico de gallo! The Pico De Gallo at Cafe Rio is the most keto-friendly dressing with just 1g net carbs per serve. It has a mild taste and adds a splash of freshness to your Mexican bowls!

Some of the high-fat toppings include sour cream and Guacamole. You just can’t go wrong with avocadoes on the keto diet!

Related: Yard house Low-Carb Options

Keto-Friendly Ingredients at Cafe Rio

The beauty of Café Rio is that you can build your own bowl from scratch! There’s no need to be awkward while making special requests for your diet meals. Simply dictate your items and the server would be happy to fix you a bowl!

Tortilla

1. 6 inch Corn Tortilla

Nutrition (1 each): 60 Calories, 0.5g Fat, 13g Total carbs, 1g Fiber, 0g Sugar, 1g Protein, 12g Net carbs

2. Tortilla Strips

Nutrition (1 oz): 100 Calories, 3.5g Fat, 15g Total carbs, 2g Fiber, 0g Sugar, 2g Protein, 13g Net carbs

3. Tostada Shell

Nutrition (1 each): 90 Calories, 3.5g Fat, 15g Total carbs, 2g Fiber, 0g Sugar, 2g Protein, 13g Net Carbs

Meats

1. Carne Asada

Nutrition (2 oz): 120 Calories, 6g Fat, 1g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 2g Sugar, 12g Protein, 1g Net carb

2. Chile Roast Beef

Nutrition (2 oz): 90 Calories, 6g Fat, 1g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 1g Sugar, 7g Protein, 1g Net carbs

3. Fire-Grilled Chicken

Nutrition (2 oz): 80 Calories, 2g Fat, 0g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 0g Sugar, 14g Protein, 0g Net carbs

4. Fire-Grilled Steak

Nutrition (2 oz): 120 Calories, 6g Fat, 1g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 0g Sugar, 14g Protein, 1g Net carbs

5. Pollo Asado

Nutrition (2 oz): 110 Calories, 4.5g Fat, 2g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 2g Sugar, 12g Protein, 2g Net carbs

6. Shredded Chicken Breast

Nutrition (2 oz): 80 Calories, 4.5g Fat, 1g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 1g Sugar, 8g Protein, 1g Net carbs

7. Sweet Pork Barbacoa

Nutrition (2 oz): 70 Calories, 2g Fat, 10g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 9g Sugar, 4g Protein, 10g Net carbs

Sauces & Dressings

1. Cilantro Lime Dressing:

Nutrition (1.5 fl oz): 130 Calories, 2g Fat, 11g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 9g Sugar, 0g Protein, 11g Net carbs

2. Creamy Tomatillo Dressing:

Nutrition (1.5 fl oz): 150 Calories, 15g Fat, 3g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 2g Sugar, 1g Protein, 3g Net carbs

3. Green Chile Sauce (Med):

Nutrition (2 fl oz): 40 Calories, 0.5g Fat, 9g Total carbs, 1g Fiber, 5g Sugar, 1g Protein, 8g Net carbs

4. Mango Salsa:

Nutrition (2 fl oz): 35 Calories, 0g Fat, 6 Total carbs, 1g Fiber, 4g Sugar, 1g Protein, 5g Net carbs

5. Red Chile Sauce (Hot):

Nutrition (2 fl oz): 45 Calories, 2.5g Fat, 5g Total carbs, 0g Fiber, 2g Sugar, 1g Protein, 5g Net carbs

6. Habanero (Hottest):

Nutrition (2 fl oz): 30 Calories, 2g Fat, 5g Total carbs, 1g Fiber, 2g Sugar, 1g Protein, 5g Net carbs

7. Tomatillo Sauce (Mild):

Nutrition (2 fl oz): 25 Calories, 1g Fat, 3g Total carbs, 1g Fiber, 1g Sugar, 0g Protein, 2g Net carbs

Toppings & Specials

Cabbage: 1g
Cheddar Jack Blend: 1g
Cilantro: 0g
Cotija Cheese: 0g
Guacamole: 0g
Lettuce: 0g
Lime Wedge: 1g
Pico de Gallo: 1g
Queso: 5g
Salsa Fresca: 2g
Shredded Jack Cheese: 0g
Sour Cream: 1g

Desserts & Drinks

Horchata: 15g
Mint Limeade: 12g

Top 3 Keto Meal Recommendations for Cafe Rio

As promised in the intro of this article, here are our top 3 meal recommendations for Cafe Rio. We have kept in mind the macros split (i.e. the ratio of carbs, fats, and proteins) for a wholesome keto meal.