Please do not confuse Don Julio Cafe with Don Julio in Old Orchard! The family owned business is the best....I love every employee there. They treat us Royally and they deserve a WOOHOO! Keep on being kind Victoria..Beautrice.and all... We love the way you present your food and your whole attitude. PS We moved from Skokie to Hoffman Estates, but whenever we go to this lovely, clean, delish food establishment, the Julius Meinle designer coffee is the best, and like I said WE LOVE IT. (Location across from the Skokie Theatre) Kathy & Chris read more

Situated in downtown Skokie, you wlll find Don Julio Cafe. Authentic recipes drawn from their Guatamalan roots, the food is delicious, comforting and authentic. Family run, you can feel the care in the service. You feel like you are invited to join the Julio family in the kitchen of their home. I ordered the Cowboy, a delicious blend of chorizo, bacon, and scrambled eggs, seasoned to perfection. They are accompanied with homemade guacamole and corn torillas, with a ranchera sauce on the side. The homemade tortillas are a perfect base for the dish, warm and rich with flavor. I've never had Chorizo with bacon but what a perfect addition. So latino with a touch of americano. Perfect. The Ranchero sauce had good flavor but really no heat, which was fine. Special requests are no problem at Don Julio. My brother-in-law asked for his favorite dish, Juevos Americano's. The Chef was happy to accomodate. A mix of scrambled eggs, the dish was served with black beans and white rice. It must have been good because before you know it, it was all gone!! My sister-in-law ordered what looked like a Steak dish. It was served with a Chimichurri sauce that was the perfect addtion the the steak. Her plate included a small salad, which balanced the steak nicely. My wife had a yogurt plate. Not exactly latino, but the yogurt was good and the fruit was fresh, firm and sweet. Delicious. If you are looking for latino cuisine with a Guatamalan twist, Don Julio is your place. read more

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This place always makes me sad I'm on a GLP-1. Service is friendly and efficient. The indoor space is bright, relaxed and colorful. The outdoor space is breezy and very comfortable. The En Cartagena dish is a true winner. Beautiful and deeply delicious. Stewed black beans with cotija cheese surround fresh gallo pinto on a crispy corn tortilla. Two eggs on top of that. Comes with their potatoes and two dipping sauces for those. The Ay! Way comes with plenty of spicy chorizo, fluffy eggs and pillowy flour tortillas. La Boricua omelet sandwich has ham on it that you will never, ever forget. We can't wait to go back and try the steak mushroom bowl, the Cowboy and a number of other things that caught our eye. This is a great stop before or after the Skokie Farmer's Market, or when you just need a great, low key place to take visitors from out of town or treat yourself to a high quality brunch without driving all the way downtown. read more

I truly enjoyed this Mexican restaurant that I discovered in downtown Skokie. It's conveniently located near a Pace bus stop, which made it especially easy to get to right after leaving O'Hare Airport. It's also within walking distance from the library. The restaurant is so cute both inside and out, with a welcoming atmosphere. I ordered the ropa vieja plate, and it was exactly the balanced meal I was looking for--protein from the beef, vegetables, rice for starch, and plantains on the side. Everything tasted savory and delicious. What made the experience even better was how accommodating the staff were. They seated me in a spot where I could keep my large luggage out of the way without disturbing others, and there was also an outlet nearby so I could charge my phone. This is definitely a traveler-friendly restaurant! Overall, it was a pleasant experience from beginning to end! read more

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My husband and I stopped at Don Julio for breakfast and had a mixed experience. First the good - the interior is very cute, and the service is excellent. Staff were all very attentive and friendly. Truly a lovely neighborhood vibe in here that I love. The coffee was also great. My latte was perfectly done and the coffee was great. My husband ordered the cowboy breakfast and thoroughly enjoyed it. The guacamole in particular was great. Now the bad. The chilaquiles I ordered were pretty bad. The fried tortillas were cold and stale; I am guessing they were leftover from another day. I had the same issue with the plantains as well. The pork was warm but so unbelievably dry that it was actually difficult to chew. I asked for poached eggs, but both yolks were fully cooked through. The whole dish tasted like it had been reheated after sitting in the fridge overnight. Breakfast for two came to $78 (two entrees, a plain coffee and a latte). For the price and the quality of the chilaquiles, I was pretty disappointed with the experience. read more

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Absolutely loved this cute cafe in downtown Skokie! Thry have a very spacious area with an open kitchen where I could smell all the delicious smell when they cooked. The restaurant is decorated with different type of lighting and it's very cute and vibrant. The service was fast and friendly. We got the egg bowl- it was light, hearty, delicious and perfect size for a satisfying breakfast option. Also tried the el poblano which is pork with delicious sauce! It's topped with tostada and egg of your choice. I had it with their home made hot sauce it was so delicious I enjoyed every bite of it. The side of potatoes was amazing as well with the garlic sauce. We loved everything we ordered and can't wait to come back for more! read more

Don Julio Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

The summer-like weather made the patio a perfect place to catch up with friends. The menu is unique enough to set itself apart from other brunch spots but not too unique that it would alienate brunchers. We had some food sensitivities in the group and the server was extremely knowledgeable and worked with my friend to make sure there were no surprises. The server was attentive and not annoying, and when it was time to leave and she heard my friend wish me a happy birthday, the server ran to the kitchen and had them whip up a small stack of pancakes. We will definitely be back for a lunch date! read more

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tl;dr cute brunch spot with huge selection and huge portions but mixed opinion on the food Came here for brunch, ordered 4 items to share family style: el poblano, VIP Rancheros Chilaquiles, Guajiro Cubano, and the Cheesecake & Strawberry Brioche. Service was great, we were able to order quickly and food came out shortly after. Was able to help provide some recommendations too. The food itself was mixed. El Poblano and Rancheros were very flavorful while the Guajiro Cubano was very dry and lacked flavor. Out of the items we ordered, the El Poblano would probably be the one item I really recommend from a taste and value standpoint. The brioche and Rancheros not bad but nothing to write home about. I wasn't also not the one who ordered and was a bit surprised when I saw the price for both. That said, they did have live guitar playing! A nice soothing touch to a weekend brunch. read more

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Very pleasant staff was great so was food . The restaurant itself was loud couldn't hear yourself think otherwise the food came quickly & was very good . read more

I had a wonderful experience. I came for breakfast and ordered the ay wei entree. It's scrambled eggs with chorizo, tomatoes, and jalapeños. It comes with a side of potatoes, tortillas, and two delicious sauces. I like my food spicy and they have a tasty house hot sauce. The eggs were good but it felt like it missed something and so I ordered bacon and I felt it paired well with the meal. The service was really great. They also had wifi so I was able to get some work done while I ate breakfast. I hope to go back to try their lunch items! read more

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Amazing breakfast and brunch spot with fun-filled Latin flavors. They have indoor seating along with a patio complete with colorful umbrellas overhead. The food is outstanding and the staff is super friendly and helpful. Fun vibes all around. read more

As soon as we walked in we were greeted and shortly afterwards we were seated. Cute little place for brunch! The food was good. Will definitely recommend and will be back when I'm visiting again. read more

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So Good! Fantastic service and great decor. We sat outside on the patio in the middle of the summer but there was shade. The food and drinks were incredible! I highly recommend this place and we will be back! read more

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I FINALLY found it. You know the kind of place that of course serves amazing food but the people too are not pretentious, take care of you and genuinely want to try to make sure you like what you order, how you are treated and actually give a damn. Typically, you need a few minutes to kind of 'feel' the place you know. No exaggeration; it took a half second to just 'know' we are going to love this place. The staff are just so kind, helpful, sincere and are proud to be working here. Very accommodating. I'm running out of words here. Honestly, I already feel like I've just 'connected' to this joint and can't wait to come back again. The coffee was just right (not too acidic like a lot of 'modern' places). We ordered 3 things. I ordered the cowboy. Mama mia. Hmmm hmmm hmmm. The scrambled eggs had some flavorful spices (not heat but flavor) which were subtle but made the eggs way different than the traditional scrambled eggs you get just about anywhere. The addition of the chorizo and bacon IN the eggs was such a delight. The egg part of this scrambled too, it was not like what you typically find where the eggs have kind of lost their air and become flat. There was something about these that held their rightful space in the universe (which happened to be my plate for them right now). The guac that came with it was actually one of the better ones outside that I have had recently (my wife's still is the best ever but this one here was different enough that I liked it). The 'hot sauce' they gave us upon request was EPIC. It is exactly that; HOT sauce but with flavor. We also ordered an egg bowl with a little modification. My wife likes the eggs sunny side up. The veggies here were as one would expect. I wonder though if the dish would have tasted better if we had not messed with the eggs. We really really wanted to try their nutella pancake (we are leaving for about 3 months so really wanted to try it during this trip) so we ordered a smaller portion of that. YUM YUM YUMMMMYYY. We typically don't have a sweet tooth but of course, nutella pancake? You gotta have that. The bananas and strawberries topped with the whip cream and powdered sugar (which next time, we might do without). This hit THE SPOT. The sweetness was so good, we did not touch the syrup. Wasn't needed. All in all, this is an EXCELLENT place and I am SO GLAD we found it. I think this is going to become our 'regular' place once we get back. read more

Honestly I passed by this area hundreds of times but all it took was some music playing outside to grab my attention. I'm glad I stopped in today and will in the future. The service, food and atmosphere were all great! Big shout out to Beatriz who made me feel welcome. I did the Cowboy breakfast which had bacon in the chorizo. Who knew it would be good. I think next time I'd get the guac on the side because after a while the tortilla got a little soggy. Parking is available in the lot next door. read more

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Great service. Great food. Delightful ambience. Friendly atmosphere . Varied menu. Will return fir sure read more

Stopped by for a quick lunch bite. The interior is super cute and clean, and the employees were attentive and welcoming. I got some orange juice and some eggs and steak. Anytime I get plantains is a good time, but I was a little put off because some of the steak was actually cold. The eggs and the plantains, on the other hand, were piping hot, so I guess the steak was made and plated first. Otherwise, the taste was good and Don Julio remains a pretty solid breakfast/brunch/lunch place in downtown Skokie! read more

Don Julio Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Awful service and ridiculous prices . I had a "Denver omelet " as my build your own omelet selection at a total price of $27.00. In what world would 3 cracked eggs, with a few chopped ingredients cost that much? Everything is crazy expensive and they are understaffed so the service was very slow. That will be the last time I stop by. read more

One of my favorite places to go for breakfast/brunch. The staff is always super friendly and welcoming. I love their space. It's bright, open and just over all inviting. I got their steak and eggs with a salad and coffee. I can't remember the dressings and sauces but they were delicious and flavorful lol. The steak I believe was cooked with rosemary and that added a nice flavor profile to the steak. If you're ever in Skokie, stop by this place! read more

Don Julio Cafe - Steak and eggs with salad and coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

From the moment we walked in we felt so welcomed! The big smiles was such a great start to the day. A great amount of seating, and such cute lights and decoration up! I started with hot chocolate with a shot of espresso and my husband started with an arnold palmer (lemonade and iced tea). Neither of those were on the menu but they accommodated our requests which is a huge plus! I loved the just right amount of caffeine with sweetness and my husbands drink was delicious, the lemonade tasted freshly made. Food wise, I got the steak and eggs and came with an amazing chimichurri sauce. The steak was perfect. My husband got a Cuban sandwich which he wished had a little bit more flavor. But overall this place felt so cozy and we'll definitely be back to try other dishes. read more

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This hidden gem in Skokie commands a brunch or lunch. Menu options and food superb. I have frequented many times and the service is exceptional and "fun." The garden area is great for a warm day. Trust me. This is a must! read more

Don Julio Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

i want to start off by saying the service was wonderful and the food was delicious!! I definitely recommend trying this place, we tried The Boricua sandwich and the mango mimosas and it was so so good! 10/10you would not be disappointed. I will absolutely be returning to try more of their drinks! read more

Don Julio Cafe - Boricua sandwich & mango mimosa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Came here on a Saturday morning for the first time with a friend. I do not believe they take reservations for brunch is perfectly fine as we were seated immediately. I was very lucky to find street parking out front. However there is a nearby parking lot as well, all the parking is free which is a bonus As soon as I walked in, I was greeted three different times three different ways by three different people and let me tell you what a great way to be greeted as soon as you walk in to a brand new place Service was incredible and we found out that our server is the sister of the owner so we got a great backstory about the restaurant. Its founding as well as its name and the food and recipes and inspiration. I am so glad that another breakfast brunch place opened in the Skokie downtown area as this area needs more restaurants and definitely needs more food and breakfast options in general. We dined inside and it was such great decor and for those of you who want to take the perfect IG photo this is the place. They also have an outdoor space for dining with the famous umbrellas hanging across as a faux ceiling that will also make for great IG photos. This is a definite must try must come back very fair pricing and I hope this place sticks around for the long haul read more

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"When the sun shines, we'll shine together Told you I'll be here forever Said I'll always be your friend Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end..,," - Umbrella It was the perfect morning/afternoon to try Don Julio in downtown Skokie. The weather was quite mild though breezy and I sat outside under the umbrella sky on the patio. I ordered a mojito (non-alcoholic) and chilaquiles. I heard the wait staff tell other tables that they also had watermelon water and papaya water. I think I would have tried it if I had known. The chilaquiles were crispy fried with a nice verde y roja sauce, tasty but not spicy. It came with two eggs and they were cooked perfectly over medium. There is the option to add steak, chicken or chorizo. This was a nice casual place, and the perfect outdoor patio in the nice weather. It did get a little breezy and the umbrellas overhead bounced around, but otherwise everything hung together. Service was friendly although a bit leisurely although I chalk that up to being new and there was definitely an influx of people. There are tables inside but if it's nice you will want to be outside. "Know that we'll still have each other You can stand under my umbrella, Ella, Ella, eh, eh, eh..,," read more

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Have been to this establishment several times. It seems to be going down in terms of the taste and quality of the food. I am Hispanic and this place seems Hispanic , so I expect it be of high quality and authentic. Once before I noticed it seemed off . This time the food from two plates came out completely cold . They didn't seem to care . The rice was dry and clumpy. The steak was cut into strips to maybe to mask the bad taste . The tortillas were dry and seemed old. The coffee was sometimes so strong and others just fine. Very disappointing! read more

What went well? EVERYTHING! Food was great, the place is clean and the ambience warm and family-friendly, the service was excellent! Beatriz, Nora, Andres, Liz and Anna welcomed us with warm smiles and made sure that our cups of coffee were always refilled. They made sure that our food arrived at our tables (there were 8 of us seated at two tables) promptly and piping hot. It was our first time at the restaurant and we had plenty of questions and asked for recommendations: The crew, Andres and Liz in particular, were very knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered cheesecake and strawberry crepes, which they split between two plates without us having to ask when they heard that my sister and niece were sharing. Hubby ordered banana and Nutella crepes and I had the original Cubano sandwich which was amazing! My daughter had the Churrasquito which she gave us bites of. Our party also ordered strawberry Nutella crepes and chocolate chip pancakes. Chef Michael found out that it was our first time there and gave us a plate of Egg Rellenito and we passed it around the table to try. We loved the contrast of the sweet plantains and the savory beans and luscious eggs. Five star food with five star service at a very affordable price point can sometimes be hard to come by and all these we found at Don Julio! We will definitely spread the word and come back! read more

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Victoria is owner and chef, and a true restaurateur. A gem of authentic family style Mexican cuisine, located in heart of quaint downtown Skokie. A crossroads of humanity for thousands of years, this area represents and you can still feel early Americana around you. Small shops restaurants, movie theaters, places of worship, library and museums. Don Julio maximizes its connection to the town around it and provides an easy going, relatable dining experience that has a mad focus on cuisine, quality food and service. The outdoor seating area is between buildings yet with wonderful colored umbrellas suspended high above and a big pine tree at the end creating shade, conversations flow easily as does the laughter of diners as the vibe is unmistakably "you are welcomed here and our food is out of this world." Our golden was welcomed and instantly relaxed in the family atmosphere. The food tastes like it was made with love from a Mexican grandmother who'll make sure you have what you want how you want it. In a place filled with smaller niche restaurants, Julio's delivers. Smiles, laughter, ambiance, awesome food. Well done! read more

Stopped in here for breakfast on my birthday with my wife and was immediately greeted by the super friendly staff. There was no wait as it was a week day but I'm sure weekends it gets busy. They have a cool outdoor dining section with floating umbrellas but is was to cold on December here to try that this time lol. The food was very good and the server was very attentive and friendly even offered several menu suggestions since it was my first time. I will definitely be back to checkout the outdoor area when the weather warms up. read more

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I would give Don Julio Cafe 10 stars if I could! We loved the food and atmosphere so much the first time we went so we decided to reach out to them to host our brunch after celebrating our marriage! The Manager was so helpful the day of making sure we had tables ready for our group when we arrived. All of our guest loved the food and service we received!! One of my favorite places. Definitely give them a try if you're in the area! You won't be disappointed!!! read more

Excellent service, vibes, food, and drinks!!! My friend and I got to enjoy the patio outside which was beautiful! The mimosas were great! We both got burgers which tasted good but were large in portion too! The workers were seriously so nice!! read more

Amazing FOOD and Service. Andres saw me as I walked out the bathroom and I was looking for something to wipe my hands. He, laser focused, came straight to me and asked me what I need and got for me towels to wipe off my hands. ( bc I didn't want to use when dryer in the bathroom). Andres was exceptional with ANTICIPATING my needs as a guest. Ana was our waitress. She was so personable and made us feel like home. She was sweet and caring and knew the menu very well. The coffee was so good. The food absolutely amazing! And what top it off was the great hospitality provided both by Andres and Ana! Oh, and the ambience! Top notch! Great job for training your team so well in caring for your guests. We will be back soon! read more

Don Julio Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Food excellent. Service phenomenal. Ambience amazing. First time visiting Chicago and I will be back before leaving. We came on a Saturday and were seated immediately. The staff greeted us, explained the menu thoroughly and continued to check on us throughout the meal. We loved it here. Shoutout to Beatrice and Victoria! read more

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Great service, even better food! Pictured: Ropa Vieja. Great take on a traditional dish, I recommend asking for their house special cilantro salsa. read more

Don Julio Cafe - Ropa Vieja - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

My husband and I visited Don Julio on Thanksgiving Day for a cozy breakfast, and we had a wonderful experience! We were seated promptly, which was a pleasant start to our meal. We ordered a cappuccino, green tea, Mama Lili's Breakfast, and plain pancakes. First off, the pancakes were good. I loved that they weren't overly sweet--just a light, fluffy texture that didn't taste like it was overloaded with sugar. The syrup was also great--sweet, but not too much. The Mama Lili's Breakfast was great. It came with a garlic cream aioli and a cilantro sauce on the side. Both sauces were so tasty and complemented the dish perfectly. The location is super convenient for us--right across the street! We'll definitely be back for more. Good food, great service, and a relaxed atmosphere. read more

Don Julio Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Build your own pancakes. 3 cakes with 2 toppings = $28! This place will never get my business. I know the economy/tariffs are hard but no way you can justify that. read more

Don Julio Café in Skokie is an absolute gem! From the moment we walked in, we were struck by how beautiful the space is--charming, cozy, and full of thoughtful aesthetic touches that make it feel both welcoming and special. The decor strikes a perfect balance between modern and authentic, with warm lighting, colorful accents, and a relaxed atmosphere that invites you to stay a while. The staff here are incredible--every single person we interacted with was kind, attentive, and genuinely friendly. You can really tell they enjoy working together and making customers feel at home. It felt like we were being cared for by friends. One of the highlights of our visit was when the chef came out personally to greet us at our table. It's such a small gesture but it made a huge impact--it showed how much pride they take in their food and how much they value their guests. You don't get that kind of personal touch at many places! The food? Absolutely delicious I ordered the Nutella strawberry French toast with scrambled eggs, steak and eggs, Bahama mama and the ice chocolate milk with whip cream. Every dish was full of flavor and beautifully plated. You can tell everything is made with love and care. Highly recommend Don Julio Café for anyone looking for not just great food, but a full, heartwarming dining experience. Can't wait to come back! read more

Don Julio Cafe - Strawberry Nutella French toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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My favorite breakfast spot in the Chicago burbs (and all of Chicago if I'm being honest). They are dedicated to quality and fantastic flavors. Portion sizes are HUGE! and everything I have gotten has been stellar, with no exceptions. I highly recommend trying the mañanero bowl! It's also run by the nicest people!! Support this local business--you won't regret it! read more

It's a wonderful family restaurant with a fantastic and warm servers. I was pleasantly surprised with spirit of outstanding greetings by everyone. It's a place to bring your family for breakfast or brunch. There is street parking although you may need to driving around once more time. Thanks for the wonderful and fresh dishes you have to offer. We will return and try other main dishes. read more

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The decor is special and the food was delicious. Service was excellent and I felt like i was on vacation

I was quite surprised with the outcome of this cafe. First time walking in here for breakfast. Ordered the American breakfast, chilaquiles, and Nutella pancakes. The food was tasty and fresh, everything was delicious. The outdoor atmosphere, good Latin music and the umbrellas hanging give it a unique style. The customer service was beyond on point. Everyone was friendly and kind. The waiter had a great sense of humor. I truly enjoyed this place and recommend it. read more