Julio’s Mexican Restaurant

I was hesitant to stop here at first, given the not-so-great reviews. But since we were on the road…read moreand this was the only option besides fast food, we decided to give it a try. The place is large, inviting, and very clean--almost too clean, like they'd just scrubbed everything down with Pine-Sol and Febreze. Drinks came out right away, and the tea was excellent. It did sit empty a few times, but that wasn't a huge issue. Service was on the slower side, and our server came across a bit stuck-up, which took away from the experience. Food arrived hot and in a timely manner. We ordered the #37 Carib tacos, which were very tasty. The charro beans were a pleasant surprise--flavorful and delicious. Queso was just okay, chips were disappointing, and while the red sauce was good, the green sauce was all heat with little flavor. The biggest downside was waiting about 25 minutes for the check. Eventually, we had to go up to the front before someone brought the bill. Overall, I'd say the food was good, and with a few improvements in service and sides, this place could be really great.

I order a Catalina margarita when I go to El Charro it always comes the same way in the large…read moremargarita glass today it came in a glass that was about half the size when I asked about this. They told me this is how it always comes, which is not true. I asked to speak to a supervisor and the girl I asked forgot to get a supervisor, so I asked to speak to a supervisor again, and the girl that said she was a supervisor said that this was the correct glass. This glass is about half the size.

Catalina, margarita in the glass usually comes in

Catalina Margarita

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Paper chips

Taqueria El Crucero

4.8(172 reviews)

12.6 mi

Menu as of January 15, 2026…read more Love this place best breakfast burritos in Waco. The tortillas are the best.

Worried about the waiting line? Call the phone number that's up on the sign on the building as soon…read moreas you drive up your order will be ready to go and you'll be the owner of delicious food. It's a drive-through only business, but that really makes it easy.

Taco shown next to a burrito for size comparison

Smothered crucero burrito

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Menu

La Cocina Tex-Mex Grill

4.8(16 reviews)

11.9 mi

Food is always fresh, tender and well seasoned. I have yet to have a bad experience here since 22'…read moreon their opening day. I frequent this restaurant every time I am in the area it is the locals hidden gem. Service is always great and well mannered, plus a very clean environment and clean restrooms makes this your one stop shop for food and drink. Beer is ice cold.

Solid Tex Mex. The food is good and reasonably priced…read more Really enjoyed the Carnitas and Carne Guisada. Both were well seasoned and tender. Flavor was very good. Tortillas and accompanying salsa were excellent. Service was friendly and fast.

Counter

Crispy tacos/ Taco Tuesday

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Very clean. Nice staff. Great menu and prices...

Refresqueria Tropical

4.8(4 reviews)

11.8 mi

sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo fire! even has a drive thru pull up for sure!!!!!!!read more

This place is great and has fantastic prices as well as wonderful food! I highly recommend this to…read moreanyone in Falls County or just passing through.

Amazing tacos because abuela hand made those tortillas!

Refresqueria Tropical - Worth the detour to visit. Mostly everything is made from scratch, from their mangonadas, aguas frescas, tortillas, liquados!

Worth the detour to visit. Mostly everything is made from scratch, from their mangonadas, aguas frescas, tortillas, liquados!

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They have a drive thru! no reason not to pay them a visit. even if you're in a rush

Ninfa's Mexican Restaurant

3.4(641 reviews)

13.3 mi

I love Ninfa's!…read more Service here is always friendly and upbeat. There's a decent size parking lot in front. I like the plants and Mexican decor. They have a taco salad that is absolutely delicious! Their margaritas are also on point. The Waco restaurant is a little more homey and not quite as luxe feeling as the Houston locations, but it can be solidly relied upon for good, filling Tex-Mex, so I love to stop by when I'm in town.

we miss the old Nifas. Sat night, place empty. Carnitas: a…read morelarge dry chunk of pork served in a scalding hot plate that burned skin. Don Quixote chili rellenos , waitstaff " I needed to pay an extra $3+ to have anything but cheese". It was embarrassing in front of our guests. and it was wrong, their menu still states ground beef and chicken are still an option with the cheese. Very expensive small plate of guacamole. Spicy salsa also very small portion and neither worth price charged. We end the night by the waitress announcing we need to pay a 3% +fee if we use a visa. I stated " that's new" she snapped I need to read the policy on the receipt. After decades, we will not return.

Interior

Pechugas Alfonso

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It's all real fancy up in here!

Frida’s Cafe

5.0(1 review)

6.7 mi

THE BEST Mexican food since California. Every meal started from scratch and it tastes it. It's a…read morehole in the wall you'd never realize was there but beyond excellent food. Too bad it's not closer to where I live.

Los Magueyitos Restaurant

3.0(2 reviews)

13.1 mi

Looks closed! Sign is gone, looks empty and like no on has been there for a while. Website says…read moreit's still open! Confused?

So delicious and a breath of fresh air in Mexican cuisine. Never heard of this place til recently…read moreand it did not disappoint. Staff were so kind and patient while we ordered. Since the dishes are mainly from state of Hidalgo located in the pre-Hispanic region of Mesoamerica, the food was new to my family. Portions were plenty and affordable for all the food my family ordered. While the food was new to me, it was a delish experience and I can't wait to try more items on their menu. The restaurant had plenty of seating and the ambiance was nice. I recommend trying this place at least once (and hopefully more!)

Inside of restaurants, very clean

Chicken Tamale Qaxaqueños

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Dining area

Huaco Eatery

4.6(144 reviews)

13.5 mi

The gentleman who runs it and is the Chef makes everything from scratch. I knew it was gonna be…read moregood when I got the Agua Fresca, with mango, it was so fresh and amazing. Also, I got the yucca chips which came with three different sauces. That were just a perfect compliment. Then I had the beef empanada that came with a spiced cheese sauce, refried beans and some amazing rice. Normally when I get stuff like that, I'll just skip the rice and beans... But these were amazing. The rice cooked perfectly it wasn't overcooked or mushy. And the refried beans was smooth yet tasty. Not bland. The empanadas were handmade tortillas that were created and the deep-fried and came on a bed of shredded cabbage, which kept it from getting mushy on the bottom and allowed for the empanada to cool without becoming soggy. And the sauce is the cheese pickled onions on top were just an amazing combination. And then I had gotten the tacos and I thought it was like one taco each, but each taco was like huge. I got a chicken mole taco, and I got al paster pork taco, and finally I got a shrimp taco. Thinking they would be small, but they came on lettuce and we're all amazing and fresh. He asked me if I thought I was gonna eat all this by myself and I was laughing and think one empanada ...no, it came with three. And the tacos came with came with an amazing fresh piece of watermelon seasoned with spices. It was an amazing feast. He is such a gifted Chef. The seating is in the union so it's like a big hub where you can try different kinds of restaurants. And I walked around for a while before I pick this one, but his food just looks so fresh and tasty and it was. I am so glad I picked him. Definitely gonna have to come back and try the rest of his food and I suggest that you give him a try to cause this place is amazing and needs to be experienced. And don't miss dessert... The churros and ice cream are amazing

Great food and service! Authentic Mexican food, fresh, artfully designed. Very quick and efficient!…read moreThe quesadillas were so delicious!

The stores location in the union

Grilled Chicken Lettuce Wrap and Yuca Fries

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Bright design- can you spot the chef? Stop in and say hello!!

Sagrado

3.6(51 reviews)

13.3 mi

Food was excellent Service was great!…read moreAmbiance was very welcoming Definitely recommend

It's a very cute ambiance, I do like how it looks. Very picture worthy haha…read more Food was decently good! The chimichanga was made well. The service however was pretty awful! Our waitress was very very slow with everything. Waited long for water, for our food, for our check. When we looked over she was just sitting at a booth with another waitress. Was not a great experience!

Interior and Bar Area

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Grilled Mexican Street Corn

La Familia Restaurant

4.6(36 reviews)

12.2 mi

Awesome breakfast burritos!! Quick service, friendly staff, very accessible. Highly recommendread more

Was drawn in by great comments and stars. Had one of the…read morebest Menudo! Will definitely return to try other menu items

Menu 2023

Burrito Supreme Plate

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Daniel G.

1

76

35

2 years ago

I recently ordered to go at Julio's, a homestyle family-owned Mexican restaurant, and I was thoroughly impressed. The service was incredibly quick, which is always a plus when you're hungry. The food was absolutely delicious, bursting with authentic flavors that made me feel right at home. I highly recommend Julio's to anyone looking for a genuine and tasty Mexican dining experience! read more

Aaron F.

14

7

1

4 years ago

Don't let the hole in the wall appearance fool you. This place is great. The Food is amazing, the people are nice and I always have a great experience. The green sauce is a must try you have to ask for it but its great. read more

Howard Y.

0

1

0

11 years ago

The food is fantastic some of the best around, but the service is awful. The lady who works their during the day is terrible if you go on a weekend or in the afternoon the service is fine. read more

Matthew J.

0

38

13

3 years ago

Everything was amazing!! Super small but don't let it fool you. Highly recommended.

Julio’s Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated October 2026

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My second time here great service. Very polite servers. Great Mexican/latino food. Very authentic…read moredishes w a great atmosphere. Very good value and great food. Am very happy to have found this restaurant. I will be back. A no frills great value place w great service.

Dropped into Waco from Houston without a clue where to eat, but Yelp led us to a hidden…read moregem--Taquería Las Tapatías--and it did not disappoint. My brother-in-law and I went for the Steak a La Mexicana (flavorful, and cooked just right), my niece had the Camarones Veracruzana (light and full of flavor), and my sister tried the Plato Jalisco. I never finish the rice and beans on my plate. But theirs? I cleaned it up. Even the charro beans got a shoutout from my sister. Only downside? No margaritas--no alcohol here. But honestly, the food makes up for it. Definitely recommend if you're in the area!

Tacos Jalisco

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This place is quite possibly the worst Mexican restaurant I have ever been to, I went here with me…read moreand my coworkers. Ordered the chicken enchiladas and the chicken was raw. My rice had a long black hair from one of the lady's that served it, I'm bald for reference. Asked if I could get a new one or a refund I was immediately declined since they manager said I didn't bring it up till after my coworkers were done eating even thought I was willing to show her the untouched food in person.

the food is like SO AMAZING! 10/10 service was good too! they were so nice! music was really nice…read morefollowing culture so clean and the decor 100% matched the theme! i'm SO coming back! i recommend getting the flautas with sour cream lettuce and queso fresco! MWAH!

Wako Taco

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The food was great! We visited from Houston for a graduation and the staff were wonderful and…read moreoffered options for us to try. The seating and views were cozy and quaint.

We really wanted to like Wako Taco, but our experience was just okay. We ordered tacos that were…read moresupposed to come with pico, but they had Baja sauce instead. Unfortunately, the sauce made them super spicy, and we could barely eat them. Since we picked up our order, we didn't realize the mix-up until it was too late to fix it. On the bright side, the guacamole was the best part--super fresh and delicious! Overall, the flavors had potential, but the order mistake really took away from the experience.

Ninfa's Mexican Restaurant

3.4

(641 reviews)

I love Ninfa's!…read more Service here is always friendly and upbeat. There's a decent size parking lot in front. I like the plants and Mexican decor. They have a taco salad that is absolutely delicious! Their margaritas are also on point. The Waco restaurant is a little more homey and not quite as luxe feeling as the Houston locations, but it can be solidly relied upon for good, filling Tex-Mex, so I love to stop by when I'm in town.

we miss the old Nifas. Sat night, place empty. Carnitas: a…read morelarge dry chunk of pork served in a scalding hot plate that burned skin. Don Quixote chili rellenos , waitstaff " I needed to pay an extra $3+ to have anything but cheese". It was embarrassing in front of our guests. and it was wrong, their menu still states ground beef and chicken are still an option with the cheese. Very expensive small plate of guacamole. Spicy salsa also very small portion and neither worth price charged. We end the night by the waitress announcing we need to pay a 3% +fee if we use a visa. I stated " that's new" she snapped I need to read the policy on the receipt. After decades, we will not return.

Huaco Eatery

4.6

(144 reviews)

The gentleman who runs it and is the Chef makes everything from scratch. I knew it was gonna be…read moregood when I got the Agua Fresca, with mango, it was so fresh and amazing. Also, I got the yucca chips which came with three different sauces. That were just a perfect compliment. Then I had the beef empanada that came with a spiced cheese sauce, refried beans and some amazing rice. Normally when I get stuff like that, I'll just skip the rice and beans... But these were amazing. The rice cooked perfectly it wasn't overcooked or mushy. And the refried beans was smooth yet tasty. Not bland. The empanadas were handmade tortillas that were created and the deep-fried and came on a bed of shredded cabbage, which kept it from getting mushy on the bottom and allowed for the empanada to cool without becoming soggy. And the sauce is the cheese pickled onions on top were just an amazing combination. And then I had gotten the tacos and I thought it was like one taco each, but each taco was like huge. I got a chicken mole taco, and I got al paster pork taco, and finally I got a shrimp taco. Thinking they would be small, but they came on lettuce and we're all amazing and fresh. He asked me if I thought I was gonna eat all this by myself and I was laughing and think one empanada ...no, it came with three. And the tacos came with came with an amazing fresh piece of watermelon seasoned with spices. It was an amazing feast. He is such a gifted Chef. The seating is in the union so it's like a big hub where you can try different kinds of restaurants. And I walked around for a while before I pick this one, but his food just looks so fresh and tasty and it was. I am so glad I picked him. Definitely gonna have to come back and try the rest of his food and I suggest that you give him a try to cause this place is amazing and needs to be experienced. And don't miss dessert... The churros and ice cream are amazing

Great food and service! Authentic Mexican food, fresh, artfully designed. Very quick and efficient!…read moreThe quesadillas were so delicious!

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The last 3 times I've been here I just wasn't happy with what I got. The potatoes taste boiled with…read moreno flavour, the meat was salty and the hot sauce was even saltier. The price is great for what you get but they just need to do better.

Best breakfast burritos anywhere. Burritos big enough to share or eat on for couple of days…read more Tortillas & salsa homemade. Nachos are piled high.

Taqueria El Crucero

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(172 reviews)

Menu as of January 15, 2026…read more Love this place best breakfast burritos in Waco. The tortillas are the best.

Worried about the waiting line? Call the phone number that's up on the sign on the building as soon…read moreas you drive up your order will be ready to go and you'll be the owner of delicious food. It's a drive-through only business, but that really makes it easy.

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Amazing. We were going to chuys for dinner but they were…read morepacked to the brim so we came across 6 to go to Don Carlos but we were behind a convoy that had left chuys as well. We decided to try this place out instead. Man I'm glad we did. Hidden gem! Will be returning. Soon!

We went here because of the reviews and proximity to our hotel being across the street from…read moreTownPlace Marriott. This place is amazing! Our server Christopher was awesome, he was very courteous and recommend great dishes. He checked on us multiple times and was very friendly. With the complimentary chips you get 3 sauces: salsa, warm salsa, and queso! All very good. We ordered the special and super molcajete fajitas (beef, chicken, shrimp fajitas with grilled onions, cactus, and peppers. Both dishes were FANTASTIC, both juicy and savory. The margaritas were very good as well. GO HERE!!!

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