RAFAEL RIOS
Owner/Executive Chef, Yeyo’s El Alma de México
Rafael Rios was born in Tulare, California, raised in Mexico, and now proudly calls Northwest Arkansas home. After serving in the U.S. Army, Rafael retired in 2012 and planted roots in NWA with his family. His family created the Rios Family Farm in 2007, and in 2012, they launched Yeyo’s — the first farm-to-table Mexican food truck on the Bentonville Square. Named after his father, Don Yeyo, Yeyo’s is now in multiple locations: Yeyo’s El Alma de México in Bentonville, Mezcalería Y Taqueria in Rogers, and seasonally open food trucks in Bentonville and Springdale. Rafael also is a five-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: South.
Education:
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Did you always know what you wanted to do?
Not always. My first calling was the Army, but even then, I dreamed of opening a farm-to-table Mexican restaurant. I didn’t know I would become a chef, but I always knew I wanted to serve.
Best part of your job:
I mentor my team like family and watch them grow. I also love connecting with guests — those conversations make Yeyo’s feel like one big family kitchen.
One thing you’d love to master in business:
Building a legacy that creates opportunities for my children and uplifts the community for generations to come.
If you won the lottery, what cause/organization would you support?
Food security programs that ensure children and families always have healthy meals. This includes ALL people regardless of immigration status!
What do you do for fun? Any hobbies?
I enjoy cooking with my family, tending to the farm, going on nature walks and gravel riding on the trails of Arkansas. I also enjoy hearing people’s stories.
Biggest inspiration:
My father, Don Yeyo, inspires everything I do. His journey from migrant farm worker to provider and community farmer inspires me.
Personal Mantra:
“Family first, always. Serve others with love, and everything else will follow.”
Thing you’re most proud of:
That Yeyo’s has become more than a restaurant — it’s a family legacy, a celebration of culture and a community table.
What superpower would you want?
The ability to heal — to bring comfort and strength to others.
Sweet or savory?
Savory.