Rio Burritos opening in new location

CEDAR RAPIDS — From food truck to ghost kitchen to brick-and-mortar, Rio Burritos is reopening once again — this time in a space of its own.

The restaurant, previously in the Rapid Foods cloud kitchen at 4444 First Ave. NE, is moving up the street to 5001 First Ave. SE, Suite 104 — the short-lived home of La Chamba.

Owner Phoebe Rios hopes to have the new location opened by March 15.

Rios opened her first brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2002 with Rios in Marion and later owned Salsa del Rio in downtown Cedar Rapids from 2010 to 2012. Rio Burritos, the current restaurant’s name, operated out of a food truck from 2015 until 2020, when the derecho damaged the truck.

With tacos, burritos and quesadillas, Rio Burritos focuses on a street-style preparation to stand out in a crowded Mexican food scene in Cedar Rapids.

Rio Burritos moved out of its cloud kitchen on Jan. 29, following a string of other departures from the building.

La Chamba closed suddenly in July 2022 after only four months in business.

Comments: (319) 398-8340; elijah.decious@thegazette.com