Uncle Julio's really has their act together for a brand new establishment. The service was streamlined and the food was very good. Mr. D and I ordered the chicken and steak fajitas to share. They came out LIGHTENING FAST. So quick and huge that we ended up canceling our tableside guac. Left fat and happy for under 50 bucks. Pro-tip: before you go, sign up for their email club and receive a free tableside guacamole from your favorite uncle. read more

Liked Uncle Julio's if you don't go during the week days like Monday -Wednesday. It is a very popular place from Thursday -Sunday. Everything is made fresh to order. Very large nice Mexican style seating. Make some great margaritas of different favors. Very pleasant greeters and outstanding bartenders. I will try to get back there again. read more

Uncle Julio's - Pretty view from the bar.. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

First time at Uncle Julio's and I have to say that the experience was awesome. The ambience and decor gave it a true Tex Mex coziness and feel to it. Friendly service and great food, what else can you ask for. Ordered the three soft tacos (chicken, beef, and steak) were delicious and seasoned perfectly. Will definitely be back when I'm in the mood for a good Mexican meal. read more

We had lunch here with my family. We sat outside and really enjoyed ourselves. Our server, Lena, was excellent. Al of our food was delicious, especially the fresh chips and guacamole. read more

It's a typical American Mexican restaurant but I like the food and set up of this place. The drinks are good too but I always replace the house tequila with casamigos since they have it available at this restaurant. Pretty cool place to try. Some days are better than others. read more

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

See all

We've been going to Uncle Julio's for years at other locations, so when it finally opened in Columbia, we were super excited. The food is always very good. We love the fajitas. Love really isn't a strong enough word. Guacamole,salsa, tortillas. - so good. However, the service is generally lacking. Specifically when you request something different, like a different type of beans or no beans, etc. I don't think the kitchen looks at what is there, especially when it is carry out. I've yet to have an accurate carry out order. But I'm sure they'll eventually get it right and I'll keep going because the food is worth it! read more

NICE WAITER but wow Great guacamole But why but why they forget about us and we had to ask for water twice this is sad ;( read more

Love this place. The chips and salsa is bomb. If you're ever in downtown Columbia please try these. read more

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

Google reviews are more accurate than Yelp reviews. This was my first time at the Columbia Uncle Julio's, but I have been to other locations. Overall great experience! We made a reservation and were running a bit behind so we called and they gave us a 15 minute grace period. We were immediately seated when we got there. Ty was a wonderful waiter! The restaurant was obviously busy and the kitchen was a bit behind, but there is nothing the wait staff can do about that. Our food was great. When we asked for to go box, Ty basically gave us an entire extra meal and two Izze drinks for free in the to go bag. read more

This place has recently opened and in perfect timing! Who doesnt love Mexican food? Great atmosphere, food and service! Complimentary chips and salsa is non stop! We even had the table side Guacomole made right in front of us which was delicious--im not even a guac person but i loved it! I had the shrimp tacos which were tasty and we all ended with a chocolate pinata which was such an amazing experience! Defintely plan to be back! read more

See all

should've went to chevys. it's not busy & they can't keep up. went to the bar to get myself a drink. queso came out wrong 2x when there is only 3 options. hopefully fajitas come out right. update: we left after still not receiving out queso or anything else, except what i ordered from the bar read more

REALLY LOUD. Even on a lunch break this place is ear splitting. We got seated in probably worst table in the restaurant and watched the cleaning supplies. Everyone around us ordered the chocolate piñata and we got the full experience without the $30 expense. The food is ok, the chips and entrees are done properly. Entrees seem about 10-20% overpriced thanks to the brand name. The server was lovely. Maybe for a weekday lunch I'll go back but my tender ears may argue with me. read more

I just had lunch here. I'm eating my way through the new restaurants as they open. Uncle Julio's was a good experience, and is what you would expect at a Mexican/TexMex restaurant... But better. I ordered a mojito even though margaritas and tequila are the specialty here. Um that mojito was the best mojito I've had in a very, very long time. The bartender today at lunch is on point. No weak drinks here! You get complimentary tortilla chips and salsa. The salsa is on the thin side so it will actively run down your hand if you're not careful. But it was really flavorful and spicy. Apparently there is a spicier one which the server offered, but that one was spicy enough for me. I had tortilla soup and a mexican salad. The soup was good, but I was a little thrown by the avocado in it. It wasn't bad just weird. I think I like it? The avocado was kind of cool and refreshing compared to the hot soup. The salad présentation was amazing. Instead of putting the salad in the tortilla bowl, it's presented kind of like a Thanksgiving cornucopia, with salad spilling out of the bowl onto a massive plate. This is the best use of a tortilla bowl because if you put all the salad in these, the bottom just gets soggy and kind of gross. This presentation allows the bowl to remain crisp and is also just cool. Whoever prepared the salad did a great job preparing it also. Well tossed, balanced flavors, dressing on the side (!), everything is nicely chopped although you will still need a knife. And an entire avocado (or close to it) on top. Really if you're eating an entire avocado on your salad, you really don't need dressing. But it's nice to have the option. I was facing the kitchen and a massive prep station. The kitchen was busy but very organized chaos. The server emphasized that they make everything in house, and I could taste it in the food and could see it from where I was seated. This is a step above On the Border for sure. Service was excellent. The server was nice, checked on me a bunch of times, got my order correct the first time, and even offered me chips and salsa to go. But I was so, so stuffed. I would return here for sure. I took home leftovers and will be eating them! This would be a cool place to go after a long week and have margaritas with friends or the co-workers you actually like. read more

Went with a few friends last week and will be back soon! The service was slow on a busy night, but our waiter was awesome and we made it clear that we weren't in a hurry. The restaurant and music is pretty loud, so I imagine it's a good spot to take kids. Margaritas were a bit pricey (since they were chock full of ice), but they were delicious. I preferred the Patron Classic to the seasonal raspberry because it was definitely boozier. The tableside guacamole was the highlight of the meal, and everyone really enjoyed their entrees, too. I had the honey salmon and will definitely order it again next time. The chocolate piñata was also really fun. It was full of churros, chocolate donuts (YUM), and really delicious strawberries. Our group of five couldn't finish it all. I'd order it again on a special night out. read more

The Hosts here are so rude :( tacos were good though! So was the queso..but the drinks were really really bad! Bad as in I felt like I was drinking lime juice with no alcohol. I was actually shocked at how bad they were. It was my first time here, I don't think it was good enough to go back, but maybe it was just an off day for them. read more

Rustic Mexican vibe. I like the cocktails and the curb side guacamole the most. You can really taste the fresh ingredients, especially in the Ceviche. Fish tacos were pretty good too. read more

See all

This was my first of many trips here! My sister expressed an interest in going, so I thought it would be an excellent idea to treat her. On a short notice I called and made reservations for the family. What a treat it was everything we expected. The food was fresh and tasty. The wait staff and managers were very attentive. read more

Uncle Julio's - Honey Chipotle Salmon with pineapple mango chutney and cilantro rice! It was awesome. And guacamole made at table side was awesome as well! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Ambiance: As a past "frequent flyer" at the Gaithersburg location of this restaurant, I walked into this location already holding high expectations for this restaurant. Uncle Julio's in Columbia holds pleasant ambiance which stimulates comfortable conversation as it is a medium sized location that isn't too loud, making it easy to hear what your friends and family are saying. The restaurant keeps their lights low which may bother some people but I personally didn't mind it. Customer Service: The staff were courteous, attentive, and made me feel "right at home." However, our waitress forgot to put in our appetizer but she removed that charge from our bill to make up for it. She was very apologetic over the matter which was nice and made the mistake easy to forgive. Food: Our food was a hit all around; it was flavorful, served warm, and of bountiful proportions. If you are feeling very hungry and looking for either a family, friend, or date-dinner location, I would recommend this place. However, be mindful that he prices are a little higher when compared to other Mexican restaurants in the area but I believe the quality of their fresh and tasty ingredients makes it worthwhile (this being the reasoning as well as the mistake made by our waitress for giving 4 instead of 5 stars). read more

The food is great but the service is very hit or miss. When it's bad, it's really bad. I've been here 5 times since they opened and the food is consistently good. Servers bring out chips and salsa immediately but not water... so I guess I'm expected to eat spicy salsa with no drink? Ok. They also have trouble understanding their own rewards system and come off unprofessional at times (this includes the hostesses). I'll likely be back but will request specific servers. read more

Uncle Julio's - Fresh raspberry margarita, delicious! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

This place is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the area. The fresh ingredients, seasonings and portion sizes are great! It is a bit on the pricey end so we usually go on special occasions. read more

Shout out to Jason our server because he made our party a real party by being funny and keeping the happy vibes going. Definitely coming again! read more

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

I'm so bummed out because I went to Uncle Julio today and found out they no longer sell the Chile relleno platter. That was my most favorite dish ever and they got rid of it. I'm so sad about it. Where am I going to eat these now?! Anyways, the rest of the food is still quite tasty and fresh. I probably won't be going back but it's a great restaurant for those looking for authentic Tex-Mex food in the DC area. read more

I just dined here a couple of weeks ago and I must say I was impressed. The fresh guacamole was probably my favorite thing there, a staff member comes to your table and makes it right in front of you- kind of similar to Rosa Mexicano. The drinks are also pretty good and the ambiance of the restaurant is fun. You can tell the staff is still somewhat new and could probably use a bit more training but other than that I don't have many complaints. read more

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

Second time here. Food is good, service is excellent. The first time I was here, they accidentally gave my order to another table. The manager came out and offered to take care of the bill for me because of the inconvenience. I honestly wouldn't have minded waiting, I understand that new restaurants take time to get the gears turning smoothly. But no complaints here! I just finished my meal here today and it was excellent once again. Prices are a bit higher than other Mexican restaurants around the area, but they make up for that with their portions. You won't be leaving hungry. Pro tip: Order the tableside Guac. It's worth it. read more

Pretty pretty decor. Things to order: If you like spicy ask for the extra spicy salsa! It's good with everything ;) Fajitas. You just can't go wrong. Big crowd? Must order the GUADALAJARA (I've ordered this to go a few times from the Gaithersburg location and it's always a crowd pleaser! Bacon wrapped shrimp. Omg I cannot remember what's it's called but it's like the BEST THING! It has cheese and peppers and it's wrapped in bacon what more could you want?? For big crowds the chocolate piñata for dessert. It's so much fun but it's large! With 8 girls we could barely finish the churro, strawberry, and chocolate donut filling! Food is great, but I couldn't give 5 . I had to deduct a due to the service. Granted the location is still pretty new but it was difficult to get drinks ordered and brought out, even though we were right next to the bar. The food didn't come out together, which I kind of understand. We did have a large party, but we received only one tray of tortillas for all of us to share? We had to ask for more since we all ordered fajitas. Bottom line go eat here. You'll just have to be patient with the service until they get in the groove of things. read more

Delicious, everything we got, but more importantly our server was phenomenal. I believe her name was Payton, and she handled our large group with ease and fantastic attitude. I was beyond grateful and impressed. read more

This location just opened, so decided to try it with a group of friends. The food was mediocre at best. The chips and salsa were fresh, drinks were okay, salmon was questionable, the steaks ordered were supposed to be medium-rare and came out rare. The chicken was probably the only thing worth eating. There was no beer on draft, and the smokey margaritas were not available at this location. The queso tasted and looked like Velveta cheese, unlike some of the other homemade queso's I've had (e.x. Torchy's and Chipotle). Has a great atmosphere and the servers were friendly and attentive, but foodwise, I'd probably wouldn't go back. read more

Had a great time during happy hour with some girlfriends. Only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because the drinks are pricey (even during happy hour) compared to other restaurants in the area. The food was delicious and the chocolate lovers piñata is to die for (Plus being stared at is pretty hilarious)! read more

See all

I came here for dinner visiting my boyfriend and the food and service were both very good. I had the beef enchiladas, which are amazing! He got the honey chipotle chicken fajitas and he seemed to enjoy it. We started with the small guacamole appetizer, which was pretty disappointing overall. It was flavorless, so I would recommend getting the table side guac w/ jalapeños since others seemed to be enjoying that. Otherwise service was excellent-- food came fast and waiter checked in often enough. Definitely recommend if you're looking for Mexican food in the area! read more

Only eat here if your dining in never order they put no emphasize on the food. I ordered take out from one of the delivery services. The food was terrible, I ordered Jalisco. The shrimp tasted undercooked the chicken was raw as well as the beef. The black beans were soup and the rice was hard with about 2 scoops. I was upset and could not consume. Whomever, cook the food just hurl it in to dish without any concerns about the customer. I did a before and after picture. You can be the judge. This was a favorite of mine. Also, I received no butter sauce for my shrimp. Uncle Julio should be embarrassed for this. read more

See all

If you're expecting true authentic Mexican cuisine, this place might not be exactly that. I would consider this place to be more of an upscale Chevy's or any other type of sit-down Mexican restaurant that is priced moderately high. As the waiter mentioned, everything here is prepared fresh for the day which is a major plus and adds to its appeal. Table chips were thin, crispy and fresh and the salsa is typical / tasty. Here are the things we ordered, all of which were delicious. I didn't pay for dinner but based on prices on the menu, I would not consider this place to be inexpensive by any means. - table side guacamole: fresh, right amount of salt and lemon juice - ceviche: excellent with the benefit of olive oil and fresh, thick tortilla chips - skirt steak fajitas: everything is well-flavored and there is plenty of tortillas and condiments - quesadillas: very cheesy and packed with meat - chocolate pinata: very fun and tasty, but pricey Everything tasted great and I got the sense that the food was slightly tailored to the American pallet but what do you expect. The food here is good in my opinion and lends itself to crowds that probably havent tried authentic Mexican food or want to just have a meal in a nice atmosphere. I would definitey comeback. read more

The food is okay here, nothing to write home about. The atmosphere is very modern and well designed. Great margaritas and tableside guacamole. read more

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

See all

Came in town for a quick visit and was recommended this place by my uncle. I ordered of their limited menu. We got the fajitas for 2. It could serve a family of four! Everything was great and you could tell it was made purposefully. I HIGHLY recomend this restaurant and suggest you give it a try. read more

If you like fajitas, then Uncle Julio's is the place for you. Bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with cheese, chicken and steak are freshly prepared and delicious. I really like that theirs chips are thin and crispy and not greasy at all. It is pretty crazy here and both times I have had to wait in the bar for a table, but it's a new place so it is understandable. I've had good service, but you have to be respectful and realize since it's so new that things may take a little longer. It is worth the wait! read more

Love this place!! I haven't tried anything that I don't like. El jefe and the guava Rita are my favorite drinks. Steak fajitas are amazing, and we always get queso and table side guacamole. Hand down, one of my favorite spots. read more

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

What a great place! The food is fresh and I'm impressed that it is all from scratch! We went in for lunch. The service was great, the food delicious and we are always made to feel welcome. Each time we have been there, the staff and service is always right on top of things and take the time to make sure all of your food and drinks are to your liking. If you're looking for some great, fresh Mexican food, the Uncle Julio's in Colum is should be on your list of stops. read more

Good fajitas. We eat in the Bethesda location often, but found ourselves in Columbia tonight and felt like some Tex mex. The service was a bit slow, and we had to send one plate back because it was wrong, but the food was as delicious as always read more

Came with co-workers for lunch. Drinks came out quickly and the chips/salsa were good. Had the lunch chicken/steak fajitas which was really tasty, seasoned well, and cooked perfectly. Came with guac, cheese, lettuce, pico, and 4 tortillas. Beans and rice was a little bland, but decent. Service was fast and efficient. read more

The food there is AMAZING! It's good for bringing friends and family... but the only thing I don't like is the wait or how you have to make a reservation. I would recommend this restaurant 100%, just know you should probably get a reservation or you may have to wait a while. read more

We dined at Uncle Julio's this past Saturday evening - our dinner was fantastic and the staff was very understanding when our 1 year old became the master of destruction and threw food all over the floor. I truly appreciated the bussers coming over and sweeping around him. But one person really made an impact on our experience - please forgive my spelling but i believe her name was Maybac... the hostess that sat us was concerned about the baby getting too warm outside and pulled an audible as we were getting sat and moved us inside. She was so kind and considerate! We will be back soon! read more