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    Uncle Julio's

    3.0 (447 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Tex-Mex

    Order Uncle Julio's Takeout or Delivery

    Uncle Julio's Photos

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    UNCLE JULIO'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Chocolate pinnata
    Amit M.

    Uncle Julio's INTRO: Mexican restaurant located in the Southpoint mall in Durham. Combination Enchiladas ($14.90)- Got the pulled chicken and cheese and onion enchilada. Came with side of rice and beans. Very flavorful and enjoyed the pulled chicken best. Chocolate Pinata ($33)- Not sure what to expect from reading the menu but it was an absolute surprise when it arrived. A Chocolate shell that you hit with a dowel, this dessert was filled with churros, Strawberries and Pineapple. Best for a group of people, such as a small family. Parking/location- Located in the outside portion of the Southpoint mall. It was easy to access without having to go into the mall itself. However, located at a mall, depending on the day, or weekends this would definitely be a busier time and harder to find parking. Ambience and Service- Service was good and food arrived in a timely manner. Very large and open dining area.

    Sour cream on menus
    Ava R.

    This was so bad chat! We were told we would have a 10 minute wait but ended up waiting 45! We asked the hostess about and she just told us to be patient. The chips were unsalted, covered in hair, and the salsa looked like diarrhea. The menus were COVERED in sour cream and we never got silverware and my little cousin had to get it off of other tables in the restaurant. My sister, uncle, and I ordered chicken enchiladas. There was no beans, which were promised, and no chicken!! We asked to get beans and it took them so long to the point we didn't even want beans anymore. We both received onion enchiladas. The food tasted bad and the service was extremely bad. We have been waiting for the check, and then we FINALLY got the rest of my food. My 5 year old cousin was absolutely starving, he got the food by the time everyone else was already finished and we were ready for the check. DO NOT RECCOMEND. The food court was 2037462920x bett

    Guacamole
    Mark W. S.

    In Durham and decided to stop for an early dinner. I don't understand some of the negative reviews. Made from scratch means it takes a while to get your food. Regardless we love it. The steak and chicken they use is so tender. Their bacon wrapped shrimp is awesome. We really like the food, service, and ambiance of this place. Wish they were closer.

    Mission brand tortilla instead of their fresh made tortillas.

    Service = slow, inattentive, scattered (we were told by three different servers that they would be with us in "just a second") Food= I ordered the chicken fajitas for one. They market their fresh tortillas but the past two times I've been they have served Mission brand tortillas from the grocery store. If I wanted those I would eat in the comfort of my own home. Paid $23.50 for one grilled chicken breast slapped in a bed of onions on a skillet. Experience = patio garage doors were closed by a staff member and made several people in the restaurant scream because of the loud noise from slamming the garage doors shut. - normally, I love this restaurant. When it first opened it was phenomenal and had a line out of the door. However, now they have upped their prices, cut their portions, and skewed from their "made from scratch" motto. I am not one to criticize the servers for a restaurants issues, but I have been here several times and over the past two years the staff has been consistently declining in kindness and speed. I do not think that I will return to this restaurant unless changes are made.

    Courtney W.

    Plenty of selections to choose from. Chips and salsa on the table immediately upon seating. DELICIOUS and fresh! I had the shrimp and crabmeat tortilla. You have to ask for beans of you want them (read the fine print). Unfortunately, it had bacon in it. I wish places would have full transparency. Nonetheless, my meal was luke warm however, I attribute that to being with a large party. I also had the watermelon margarita. DELICIOUS! Bathrooms are clean as well. Acoustics are good as well as the temperature control. One thing that was funny during our dinner, no joke, at least 6 occasions of people dropping and breaking glasses/dishes. Doesn't affect anything, it was just funny. I will definitely be going back. My bill with tip $47.00. That hurt a little bit. However, the waiter sent me home with fresh chips and salsa. He's a gem!

    Aleksandr S.

    It was not a pleasant experience. The service was awful, the quality of food was below expectations, the space between the table and the couch sitting is so small that a 12 year old kid had a hard time sitting down without being uncomfortable. When the receipt was brought to us for 2 kids, 2 adults the waiter waited and watched until we gave the payment with the tip she was getting instead of putting the tablet down for us and walking away. Very disappointed and dissatisfied.

    Taco salad (no cheese or ranch)
    Alexandra H.

    Service: Amazing! We (party of 3) stopped by on a Thursday around 5pm, and there was no wait! Our server (forgot his name but was male with curly brown hair) was professional, constantly checking in, and represented the restaurant with a friendly manner. He was great! I felt bad just because it seemed to be very understaffed. Not their fault, but I hope that they're (and other restaurants) are able to bounce back soon. Food: My 2 friends had the enchiladas (chicken) and both said it was good. Not the most amazing mexican food ever had, but it was good! I had the classic taco salad without dairy (cheese & ranch), which was presented very well! The tortilla bowl on the side was awesome. Conclusion for the establishment: Food was good! Nothing too special about it honestly, but the service was great. I won't be rushing back, but I wouldn't complain if I had to go back!

    Raw and old steak fajitas

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    1 year ago

    Food would come out faster and hot at a Chipotle. Spend $25 on an entree somewhere else that actually is trying to serve a meal

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    1 year ago

    Absolutely mouth watering I wish to go there again and again. Serving was excellent and perfect with amazing people!

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    1 year ago

    Javier was my server and he was amazing. He was quick with everything and super nice.

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    Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas - Pollo a La Brasa / Crispy Yuca Frites / Maduro

    Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas

    4.3(690 reviews)
    6.7 mi
    $$

    Came here after the Durham Farmers Market with a friend and wow this place was a surprise. …read more I went with the grain bowl and honestly it is one of the best I have had in downtown Durham. It is built on quinoa and rice with black beans and kale, then layered with corn salsa, tomato cortido, guacamole, and a creamy acevichado style sauce that pulls everything together. It is finished with a crunchy mix of pepitas, nuts, and grains. The balance is quite ideal in my view. My friend had the rotisserie chicken with two sides, kale and slaw, and it was just as impressive. Crispy skin, juicy inside, and really clean flavors. Simple food done right and GF friendly. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared. Prices land right where you would expect for the quality, roughly 16 to 21 dollars depending on what you order, and it feels worth it. My bowl plus side of dark chicken was plenty. A few notes. Parking is what you would expect for downtown, so plan accordingly. Service was solid and friendly, but nothing that stood out. The vibe inside is festive and relaxed, bright and open, and just a fun place to hang out for lunch. Porbably not a special occasion. I also suspect it could get loud when full. This is definitely going into my regular rotation. That grain bowl is going to be hard to pass up next time, so instead of replacing it I will probably just add a side or an empanada and start working my way through the rest of the menu.

    The empanadas, arepas and Luna Grain Bowl were awesome. We had their generous portions and…read moreperfectly seasoned chicken, pork and brisket with these. Their cocktails were also very good. Nice decor and vibe. Service was also good.

    Photos
    Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas - The main area

    The main area

    Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas - Patacón

    Patacón

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    Sangria

    Uncle Julio's - mexican - Updated May 2026

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