8.2.26 The queso was flavorful, though a bit spicier than I prefer. I loved the outside skirt steak fajitas--they were fragrant, tender, and arrived piping hot. The fajitas can be ordered for one or two people, and my husband and I opted for the serving for two. The steak, sautéed onions, rice, and beans were generous portions. However, there were very few sautéed bell peppers and not enough tortillas for the amount of filling. I could have asked for more tortillas but chose not to. Our friends also enjoyed their entrées. Our consensus was that our server, Daniel, could have been more attentive. He didn't check on us as often as we would have liked when we needed refills or additional items, and our used plates accumulated on the table before being cleared. Better table maintenance and more frequent check-ins would have made the dining experience even more enjoyable. read more

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I've tried their Honey Habanero shrimp, chips w/ salsa, and their Mexpresso Martini! The food tastes good, is cooked decent, and overall flavorful. I especially enjoyed the interior design and the habanero shrimp. The space is large and customer service is great. It's somewhat dim in there so it's hard to tell exactly how clean everything is. Parking is easy. Overall, I'd recommend! read more

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Stopped in for an early dinner at Uncle Julio's, conveniently located on the upper level of The Mall in Columbia, where parking is plentiful and free. The space is expansive, with a variety of seating options that can accommodate everything from casual meetups to larger groups. The décor leans into dark wood tones accented by vibrant, colorful artwork, giving it a warm yet lively atmosphere. Service was a standout--our server was upbeat, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful when it came to navigating the menu. The kitchen emphasizes fresh ingredients, with house-made tortillas and many items prepared from scratch, which is always a plus. We started with their complimentary house-made tortilla chips and salsa, a solid way to kick things off while waiting for our entrées. Our table ordered a mix: taco salad, seasoned ground beef tacos (kept simple by request), Baja fish tacos, and chicken quesadillas. Portions were generous across the board, and everything arrived well-prepared and satisfying--definitely enough for leftovers. If you're in the mood for approachable, comfort-style Mexican fare, Uncle Julio's delivers a dependable and enjoyable dining experience. read more

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I always have an amazing time when I go here! I loved the service, our waitress was Valeria and she was the sweetest person ever. Will always go back when I can! The bacon wrapped shrimp were tasty. read more

Came for our granddaughter's pre-K graduation. She chose this place because of the chocolate piñata. She was not disappointed. Inside it were pineapple, churros, and strawberries. On the tray were whipped cream, chocolate dip and some piping of strawberry sauce and chocolate and white icing. We had a wonderful server, Jade, sho was attentive, fun but professional. Drinks apps and meals were spot on. The cocktails had ample liquor and my mocktail mojito was very tasty. I had pulled chicken burrito Chili Rojo. Loved it! We also got the table-side guacamole but it was a tad salty for me. I absolutely love the decor and music. It completes the whole Mexican theme. Location and parking were also very good. Overall experience was great! read more

Uncle Julio's Columbia - Chocolate piñata - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

This dinner was magical! The moment you walk in the door you are transported to Mexico. While it doesn't seem like it would be a family place, it was very kid friendly. I'm not sure if we were sat in the unofficial kid section but we were surrounded by other kids and my children had a blast making friends. For the food. I was completely unimpressed until I took a bite. My tamales were skinny and odd looking. There are a lot of bad tamales out there so I mentally braced for it, but these blew my mind. The taste reminded me of my Hispanic friends mothers where I grew up, making them homemade. My kids meals were also fantastic. The bean and cheese burrito tasted like something I wanted to order. Not to mention most Mexican restaurants don't know how to heat up chicken tenders. These were made to perfection for kids! Now to the show stopper. The chocolate piñata. Was so much fun! It seemed gimmicky, but it was interactive and actually tasted great! The churros, fruit, and dark chocolate all blended in one were magically balanced and creative. It felt like something from Disney. I couldn't get it every time because it's a lot, but it's definitely a must do for any celebration. read more

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Food excellently seasoned to provide flavor in every bite. And their plates pair well with the restaurants' well crafted cocktails.

Service was great, especially for a party of 8! I had Chicken taco salad . Everything was delicious. Everybody at my table loved their food. Nobody life a crumb. Drinks were cool. Frozen flight was a little too syrupy for my liking. I did wish they sold their shrimp w/o the pork bacon wrapped around it . read more

We hadn't eaten here in quite a while. The food is always pretty good. I wouldn't say it's the most flavorful fajitas but they are pretty good. The servers all appear to be very courteous and efficient, which is always appreciated. It's located in a very nice place, outside of the Columbia Mall. We were lucky not to have to wait for a table although it was a Saturday evening. You can't go wrong eating here. read more

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Went here for a work event and had a pretty good experience overall. Loved the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant. The service was good as well. The food itself was just ok. The best thing we had was the chips and queso dip. It had a lot of flavor and was pretty tasty. I didn't care for the rice and the steak fajitas had a strange taste and were not good at all. read more

Came here with my daughter for lunch and I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by their staff and the food. Table side guacamole is amazing . The chips and salsa were on point. The tortillas were homemade style and were amazing. I ordered the fajitas and loved it. My only mistake was having too much chips, salsa and guacamole before my meal arrived. The margarita flight was awesome and tasted great! read more

Uncle Julio's Columbia - Guacamole and margarita flight - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Located on the outskirts of Columbia Mall, my niece and I decided to eat here when the place we were originally going to go to had closed without warning. We were sat right away, and the hostess was very sweet. I appreciate that they put us in a less busy area since we had a toddler with us. Our server flew by our booth a couple of times with an "I'll be with you in a minute". After what seemed to be about 10 minutes, she finally came by to take our order. Food came out in a timely manner. We both had the make your own tacos, which I thought meant they would come out de-constructed, but no, there were two ready-made soft tacos. Which was fine - I just ate the meat and it was very flavorful. I love that they give you the option to have beans or not with your rice. I also really enjoyed their chips and salsa - the salsa was delicious. Once we finished, we had to wait an extra 10 minutes to get our server to bring our check. She seemed capable of handling only one table at a time, because I heard her say to another table near us "I'll be with you in a minute" multiple times. Long story short: food was good, service was just okay. read more

Uncle Julio's Columbia - Inside view from our table. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

There was glass served in my drink twice, they clearly didn't burn the ice after a cup shattered. However, the service was good and accommodating and the environment was overall pretty chill. read more

Perfect 10/10 food. Place nice size. Service is attentive. The chips and salsa are great as well. Drinks are good especially non alcoholic.

I was searching for happy hour spots in Columbia and stumbled upon Uncle Julio's. While I'm usually not a fan of chain Mexican restaurants because I prefer authentic Mexican cuisine, the Margarita special they were running all week definitely caught my eye. I decided to go with a Mezcalero since it was a one-drink type of happy hour, and paired it with a quesadilla filled with pulled chicken. The quesadilla was small, but decent. The bartenders were friendly and engaged in great conversation. I especially loved them placing a clean cloth napkin down as a placemat--it's the little things that make a difference. I took my time checking out the happy hour menu and regular offerings, and after a bit of browsing, I was excited to try something that reminded me of Mexico. The Mezcalero didn't disappoint--it was the smoky flavor I was craving. The guacamole tasted fresh, and I appreciated the perfect balance of lime, which added just the right touch. I can definitely see myself coming back, especially for drinks. P.S. They use tongs at the bar for the fruit! Lol--just another fun detail that shows they care! read more

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We went to Uncle Julio's last night for my cousin's birthday celebration last night. We were a large group with two kids. Our server Brian was very nice, patient and helpful. I haven't been to Uncle Julio's since they opened back in 2018. I had the shrimp fajitas and was pretty good. I enjoyed the Mexican buffets that it came with. The shrimp fajitas were enough for me. We also ordered a chocolate piñata for my cousin. It was nice to see a restaurant filled with people. read more

Uncle Julio's Columbia - Shrimp fajitas - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Great service! Excellent drinks! Food was good too. We went for happy hour. Our waiter/bartender was fantastic. Very attentive and provided great recommendations. The watermelon margarita was delicious!! Will be back for sure. read more

Uncle Julio's Columbia - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

My first time and had a really pleasant time. Plenty of parking in the open mall lot. Customer service was friendly. The food tasted good, and fresh. The drinks weren't too strong read more

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Great service - not the best flavor. The food is very bland compared to other Mexican restaurants

Since this restaurant is located at the Columbia mall, it's always packed. I observed people are having a good time; Therefore, The restaurant is noisy. It doesn't bother me at all. The food was delicious. My food was delicious specially the shrimp. The shrimp cooked to perfection with the right amount of seasoning and bacon. My humble opinion is that Uncle Julio has one of the best margaritas in the DMV. The only complaint I have about this location is parking. It's difficult to find parking if you come on Friday or Saturday night. read more

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I came in for Father's Day yesterday and had THE BEST tacos I've ever had in a long time! As a vegetarian, my options are limited here so I usually get the grilled vegetable fajitas, but since they had a specific scaled-down menu for Father's Day, I had even fewer options. I picked this one and was not disappointed. Every bite was bursting with flavor and the mushrooms were cooked to perfection. I loved the subtle cheese layering the bottom of the tortillas. The sauce on the side was a little too spicy for me, so I opted not to eat too much of it. The only downside is I feel that the tacos should be slightly bigger for the price or served with beans as well as the rice. That being said, the next time I go back I will definitely order this dish again! read more

Uncle Julio's Columbia - Roasted Mushroom Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

We came to Uncle Julio's and did t quite get what we expected. The restaurant was busy when we arrived but we were still able to be seated since it is a large location. I ordered the steak fajitas and we waited over an hour for the food to come out. Upon arrival the fajita plate wasn't hot or sizzling the way it usually does so I was a bit disappointed to have received a cold meal. I'm not sure if it was an off day so I'll give them one more try, but I kept the review at 3 stars since the drinks that came out did come out fast and were made pretty well. read more

Uncle Julio's Columbia - Cranberry apple margarita - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Came here with my boyfriend, even from outside the building smelled amazing! Our server was a bundle of joy, she was so sweet and made sure we were good. I had the Tex-Mex and he had tacos, we recommend flour tortillas over the corn or crunchy ones. Overall a great experience! read more

We came to celebrate our daughter's 6th birthday, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from the start. Since we didn't have a reservation, we were seated outside on a very hot day at a table with no shade. We noticed an available shaded table and had to move ourselves. When I asked the server assisting us if it was okay to switch, she kindly said yes. However, another server--wearing a red outfit rushed over and spoke to the other staff member in an annoyed tone, saying we couldn't move tables. What made the situation worse was that she didn't even attempt to find an alternative solution for us, despite there being clearly available spots where we could have been seated more comfortably. I also work in customer service, and this is not how situations like this should be handled. Even during busy times, there should be some effort to accommodate guests or communicate more respectfully. If accommodations truly weren't possible, it would have been better to let us know upfront rather than seating us in uncomfortable conditions and addressing us in a dismissive manner. We decided to leave the restaurant. read more

Craving some authentic Mexican flavors? Look no further than Uncle Julio's! From sizzling fajitas to mouthwatering tacos, every bite is a fiesta for your taste buds! Trust me, once you try their fresh guac and margaritas, you'll be hooked! My favorite items are the carne asada taco and the chocolate pinata read more

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Another excellent visit to Uncle Julio's Columbia. Was greeted immediately at the hostess station. Went to the bar, which I don't usually do - I usually prefer a booth. But I was meeting a coworker for drinks and we opted for the bar. The bar area got very busy, but the two bartenders didn't miss a beat. The young men who served us were friendly and attentive. Great teamwork. I decided to order dinner and ordered a meal that is not usually on my go-to list. It was delicious and did not disappoint. It's something I would order again. I never have a problem or complaint at this location. Kudos to the staff. read more

Uncle Julio's was fantastic, the food and service were excellent. This is one of regular go to restaurants for dinner. We love eating here.

Customer Service was great. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and escorted to our table. We immediately received fresh chips and salsa. Our server was prompt checked on us and even the manager walked around to check on tables. Rating 5 Food-Rating 3 and that's generous Strawberry Margarita-Absolutely no flavor, no taste. Just crushed up strawberries and pure alcohol. Queso-Super Runny Chicken Quesadilla-Very thick breading, Chicken Fajitas-Seasoned and Juicy!! Very thick wraps also Ambiance- Beautiful aesthetics Parking lot with plenty of free parking read more

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Our server Jade was amazing! I would request her table next time I go. She took very good care of us! She was very attentive and took good care of us. Thanks Jade read more

Uncle Julio's is my spot. I've only been to the one at Columbia Mall and the one in Orlando. The chips and salsa are top tier. None of that red tomatoey salsa. This stuff is homemade rockstar style salsa. We go through at least 2-3 bowls on each visit. I can only do one when I'm by myself. The Guadalajara is the only entree I've ever had. My cousin turned me on to Uncle Julio's year ago and told me that I need to try the Guadalajara if I ever go. To this day, that is all I've had. I don't even ask for a menu. This place is 5 Star! Get here and get it! That's it. read more

Uncle Julio's Columbia - The Guadalajara! The only entree you ever have to order. PERIOD! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Came to try some of the seasonal drinks and dishes, watermelon margarita and watermelon soda drink , and the best table side fresh made guacamole, which is something we always have to get every time. Delicious pork and chicken tamales. The crab meat stuffed shrimps were OK. I prefer their regular fajitas over the seasonal item. Service was efficient and attentive as always. The Columbia location is definitely one of our two go spots. read more

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Excellent excellent excellent. And the drinks were amazing. Portions are very generous. 10 outta 10!

This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants so of course while I was in the mall with my family I always suggest this Mexican restaurant. The restaurant was busy on a late Saturday night however, they are always very accommodating to our family with a short wait time. The staff is always attentive and friendly. I absolutely LOVE the made to order homemade guacamole which is super delicious. The food is great and this time we tried the yummy churros as a dessert. I will absolutely return and return again. read more

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Every bite was 10 stars. I got the Guadalajara fajitas- bacon wrapped shrimp, steak, chicken- sub corn tortillas it was so so good. We also got the table side guac- fresh and delicious just the way I like it with extra cilantro and lime. Service was great- we were quoted 45 minutes for a party of 7 but seated no more than 15 minutes later. read more

Came here on a Friday night, they were busy with a 30min wait. Lucky I Found a table (high chairs) in the bar area. Service was slow and not the best. Got chips after the food was ordered, had to ask for chips. Margarita is decent but pricey. Food is good for "Tex Mex" food standards Found it to be smaller portions than most places. Enchiladas w no beans ? read more

Uncle Julio's Columbia - Margarita - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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the queso birria tacos were nasty and there was hair in my food and the tortillas were burnt and the beef was raw

Horrible place. It seems like they got all new staff that is a bunch of young people with bad attitude and no desire to do work. It is obvious that most of them do not enjoy their job which affect the customers in the most negative way. Had a reservation made two weeks in advance but on arrival they made us wait for almost half an four. Their excuse was that all the guests should arrive at the same time. When we finally got to the table, there was no waiter for a long time. No water was offered to our table though all others had it. There were three different waiters taking turns. As a result they missed a drink on the order. Service was super slow. In the middle one of the waiters removed his uniform and left. The drinks were not bad but the food was very mediocre at the best. Getting food took almost an hour. The blond girl at the reception seemed upset with something and certainly not up to greeting and welcoming customers. So was the manager wearing a blue shirt. This restaurant is a terrible place to have a party. I would not recommend it. It has a bad vibe, super slow service and unprofessional management. read more

Made a reservation for Cinco de Mayo. We were seated quickly and then it was all downhill from there. Our reservation was at 6. When we FINALLY got around to ordering our drinks, one of the specials for Cinco de Mayo was the margaritas in the take home Shaker- they apparently had just sold out! Now, they knew that it was Cinco de Mayo - not sure why they didn't plan better! My friend ordered fish tacos and they brought her shrimp tacos - she is allergic to shrimp and THANKFULLY one of the women in our party had benadryl. We had to flag someone down to let them know and he said he was getting a manager but the manager NEVER SHOWED. I ordered the fajitas and asked for pico instead of guac and of course I got guacamole and no pico! I wish I had taken a picture of my fajita. ALL the meat was fatty and could not be eaten and the portion size was half of what it normally is. I am HIGHLY disappointed and will probably never return. I definitely expected better. read more

The food was good, but not the service. Two orders were incorrect and another was forgotten, delivered after everyone else was finished eating. Coffee order never arrived. It was also very loud. On the positive, our meal was partially comped. And the manager apologized for the bad service. read more

We went for my birthday. Service was amazing! Very attentive and such a nice guy. The food was delicious. We got the guacamole, habanero shrimp, chicken/steak fajitas (with refried beans instead of black beans), and some of the pork tacos(not pictured). For dessert we got the chocolate piñata. SO GOOD! read more

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