I came to Rio with a friend to pickup an item from a nearby store. We were both hungry and Mexican seemed liked the way to go. It appeared to be bustling, but as a party of two we were able to secure a table outside under the covered patio. Perfect for the not to hot summer twilight hour. The chips and salsa are great here, even though the chips were mostly smashed pieces underneath. Our waiter was prompt and did attend to us. Food took a while to come out, but I'm sure staffing is an issue these days. I got the cheese and onion enchiladas. I ordered three because it was just $2 more, and I could take one home for lunch the next day. My bad for not reading the word carne in the description of the sauce. I just assumed it was a red sauce. Ive never seen a meat sauce on a vegetarian enchilada in a restaurant before. I was hungry and I am not a fanatical vegetarian. I picked most of the meat out. These enchiladas are cheese covered in cheese. I love cheese, but it was very cheesy. I didn't see onions sticking out, nor did I taste them. Ordered a side of guacamole ($1.75) just to add some flavor. Most restaurants include this and sour cream. Overall, not my favorite, but I ate them. The rice was good too. I hope the refried beans were made without lard; I didn't care for them and only ate a few mouthfuls. Maybe next time I'll be back for drinks. I love a good frozen margarita. read more

I ordered a steak and chicken fajita quesadilla over the phone on Tuesday during my break at 4pm. I received the order and was satisfied with my food, but was not satisfied with what happened the next day. I woke up gagging and I ended up throwing up. I was nauseous the whole day and had to work my shift like that. I ended up with my food poisoning and still to this day on Saturday, I am having stomach problems. I don't typically get food poisoning and that's all I ate on Tuesday as I was doing a double. I wouldn't order here unless you want food poisoning!!!!!! read more

I popped in for lunch after a walk on the boardwalk and I couldn't have made a better decision. I ordered the Blood Orange Margarita and the Bacon wrapped Jumbo Shrimp, Chicken and Skirt Steak fajitas. When I say I was thoroughly impressed. The steak was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The chicken was tender and juicy. I wasn't over the moon about the shrimp but the rest of the protein selections made up for that disappointment. The Blood Orange Margarita was extremely delicious. It was made with Casamigos with an extra shot of tequila. They did not let me down. I'd give this meal a 9/10. because it was certainly worth every Penny. Service was amazing. And they also had a new way of checking out. They had electronic checks which I loved. Super quick and easy. Will def be coming back to this location. read more

Uncle Julio's - Blood orange Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Colorful decor and fun vibe, makes for a great group outing or family-friendly meal. A plus for having plenty of outdoor dining. Complimentary tortilla chips and salsa arrived at the table several minutes after being seated. The chips were warm and tasted freshly made. I ordered a chicken tortilla bowl, which looked like a relatively new item. The bowl had a heaping pile of cilantro rice, topped with pulled chicken, avocado slices, jalapeños, guacamole, beans, tomatoes, tortilla strips, and white cheese. Wasn't too heavy or salty; a good choice. Server was very nice; kept refilling our waters without us asking. read more

Uncle Julio's - Chicken tortilla bowl - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Used to be amazing high-quality food. Now's it sub-par food. :-( Fajitas were gristle - couldn't even chew the first bite. Had to spit it out and send it back. Pinata dessert ($35) was large, but low-quality chocolate, low-quality fruit, and greasy churros. Obviously just an expensive gimmick. read more

I wish I could give 0 stars. The last thing they made that me and my family actually enjoyed were the tortillas. They were not fresh and felt store bought and the taste made store bought taste better. We are done with this place. Oh and my dog won't even eat them. read more

The service was absolutely awful. The waiter was extremely rude, the food was nasty and undercooked, and they double charged us and when trying to call them back, they ignored us, were rude, and left us on hold for an hour. The atmosphere was ok but overall I do not recommend going to this place because of the horrible staff and the food. If I could give this place 0 stars I would! read more

I really loved this place, it would be my go to restaurant but recently--especially after they removed everyone's favorite red salsa--it just feels worse overall. read more

I've been here many times, and they never disappoint! Service is prompt and attentive, even when it's pretty busy. The food is so delicious, and you can never go wrong with their ~free~ chips and salsa. The only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is that it can run a bit pricey. The portion sizes are still decently sized, but for some reason, the total price for one person seems to much for my taste. One of reasons why I don't come here too often, but again, great food and atmosphere so if money isn't an issue, I do recommend. read more

Overly overrated! Nothing special, they don't bring Salsa with your tortillas. Expensive for no quality. read more

Just average at best. I thought the enchiladas were better a few years ago. The standards appear to have dropped a little. The service was good, but the food was just alright. read more

This popular chain always delivers big on food and service. I have been here more times than I can counter and it is a favorite for family night. They're known for their fajitas but venture out on their menu. read more

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The service was so slow, me and my friends made a reservation for 4 people and it took them 30-60 minutes to seat us after our constant nagging. They kept saying that they needed to clean seats but we saw other people get seated immediately after. The food was alright but definitely not worth the wait and hype. read more

Honestly, I see the experiences at Uncle Julio's can be hit or miss. Ours was great! Our server (I wish I remembered her name!) was awesome! She was sweet and attentive. I came here on a date on a random Monday afternoon. We decided to get a drink to start. I of course got my go to silver margarita. It was big and plentiful. One was enough for me. For dinner, I got the chicken quesadillas. It was good. Nothing too phenomenal. I didn't expect anything spectacular when ordering the quesadillas lol I will say the restaurant wasn't very crowded when we first got there and we were seated right away. By the time we were ready to leave, it was packed! I guess if you can make a reservation then definitely do so no matter the day. I always like to opt for a booth no matter where I am. I think it gives for a better vibe. I will most definitely be returning to Uncle Julio's because it's a classic Tex Mex that I can't get enough of! read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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This was such an amazing dinner that left everyone absolutely stuffed and satisfied. I came here with my partner and his parents and upon arriving, we were told that it would be a 45 minute wait on a Wednesday evening. However, less than 15 minutes after putting our name down, we got the text saying we had a table ready. The service was incredible and we got our food so fast! The margaritas are a MUST try, it was incredibly refreshing and so delicious it was hard not to drink it too fast. The food was so incredibly good- I definitely overate, but have absolutely no regrets. I highly recommend checking out their fajitas- they come with a full set of sides and more than enough tortillas. We loved our time and would definitely be returning! read more

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Chips, perfect. Meat, perfect. Vibe, perfect. Have I ever had a bad time here? Never, ever. I love this place and theres not much more to say. Service is awesome too. read more

Visited on Cinco De Mayo so I knew it would be super busy but I made reservations ahead of time. Our waiter was very nice and let us know that things may come out slower due to the kitchen being so busy which we understood. We got fajitas, quesadillas, and margaritas - all great. I would return to this location read more

Uncle Julio's - Chicken & Steak fajitas for two - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

This was just okay overall. There were some good parts and some not so good parts. The Good: 1) You can get a reservation through their website, via Resy. We were able to get a reservation for within the hour and were seated within 5 minutes of our reservation time. 2) The server was attentive and took our orders pretty quickly. 3) The chicken on the steak and chicken fajitas was excellent. Super moist and had that wonderful char-grilled flavor. 4) The chips and salsa were delicious. Nice thin chips and a warm fresh salsa. The Not So Great: 1) The place was super crowded and LOUD. We ate inside and we could barely hear ourselves talking to one another. If you want an outdoor seat, you have to put in your name and wait. The reservations are for the dining room only. There were 2 large parties going on and it was chaotic. 2) Our booth seats were both torn with big holes. Not comfortable at all. They didn't offer to reseat us. 3) They do not have the nutritional information on the menu. Montgomery County has required that calories are on menus for over 10 years. I don't understand why they don't follow this county protocol. I asked the server and he just shrugged. The other Rio restaurants do have this information clearly on their menus on each item. 4) My fish tacos were SUPER spicy. The menu did not indicate that these were spicy. They were also really dry (the fish was overcooked). Not my favorite. 5) The churros were just okay - ours were kind of doughy, but they do give you a nice portion. 6) The service was really slow that day. Our meals took around 30 minutes or so to come out. While there were some good things, the not so great won out this visit. Not sure we'll be back too soon. We just ate at another Mexican restaurant earlier in the week and had a much better experience all around (Senior Tequila Germantown). If you do go do Uncle Julios - ask for an outside table and try the chicken fajitas. read more

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Had a fabulous experience at Uncle Julio's!! On a Saturday night, the wait was 45 minutes for 2 people. I definitely recommend joining the waitlist on your phone before leaving your home! While I ended up joining the waitlist, we sat at the bar and got to know our bartender, Ulises, who KNEW how to make a margarita!!! King. He helped us so much, and made the whole dinner so fun. We also got the table side Guac and got to customize what we wanted in it (tomatoes, onion, cilantro, or jalepeno)-- it was delish and so fun! Will be back! read more

Uncle Julio's - Tableside Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Went for lunch today, they had just opened. Got seated right away. Sat for 20 minutes then my server showed up. Gave my order right away. Waited another 10 minutes, got my food, but still waiting for my diet soda. Finally got my drink. My chicken was a little burnt, but I ate it. It's now time to leave, ask for to go containers. Server came back with two boxes and a bag. I was bringing home beans, rice and chicken. Still don't have check. Server came back with check and I asked for two small containers, because I wasn't dumping the beans and rice in the box. She just stared at me and said she'd have to check with manager. I paid the bill and left the not so great food on the table. This place used to be great with excellent food and prices. Now it's poor service, mediocre food with outrageous pricing. I will never be returning. read more

$150 bill for family if 4 and it was a total waste of time and money. The service took almost an 1.5 hours to get our meals to us. I think the kitchen or server lost our order. The entree's were way below average. Two orders of steak fajita's both ordered medium. One of the two was served RARE. Sent it back and it came back wrecked and Well Done. Enchiladas were dry and boring - zero sauce. Requested a side of beans with enchiladas (it never showed up). After waiting over almost an 1.5 hours for our meals and then having to send the Fajitas back only to have the kitchen render it inedible by over-cooking the meat; maybe just maybe the waiter could have acknowledged the epic disaster of a meal and offered us a free desert, or maybe a 10% discount, or perhaps even an apology for the long wait. We got nothing - and I must admit - we won't ever be back. I travel 50% of the month for work and eat in restaurants breakfast lunch and dinner for 50% of the month. I know a poor restaurant when I see one. There are much better Mexican restaurant options in the area. El Guapos is within walking distance and is significantly higher quality. Mi Rancho in Germantown or Rockville is also much better and much less expensive. Uncle Julio's is not the place to go. read more

I am glad that I made a reservation for dinner at Uncle Julio's on a Friday. Even with a reservation, we waited about 15 minutes for our table to be cleaned and set. When we were seated, we noticed that they didn't give us a drink menu. We asked our server Roberto for a drink menu, but it never came. While waiting for our drinks (Classic Margarita and Watermelon Margarita), we snacked on crispy tortilla chips served with warm and cold salsa. An hour later, our server informed us that he couldn't find our food and asked us to remind him of our order. By the time the food (Carnitas tacos and Quesa Birria) arrived at our table, it was luke warm as if it sat out on the food counter for a while before it was brought to our table. read more

Our group of four stopped by for a late night happy hour last weekend. All of the other restaurants in the Rio had an hour wait but surprisingly enough, we were able to get a seat outside on the patio within 10 minutes. We were pleased to see multiple servers on the patio. One thing to note is our tables were definitely not 6 feet apart, we were very close to both tables. Most of us ended up getting frozen mango margaritas. I was a little disappointed to see that they only had a couple options when it came to frozen. Most people know guapos down the boardwalk has multiple frozen choices. The mango margaritas weren't bad, but I personally didn't like it enough to order more than one. We also got a couple of appetizers. A chicken quesadilla and a cheese quesadilla. I found both to be extremely underwhelming. The chicken was very hard and we left over half of the quesadilla. The cheese was pretty thin, I don't think it was worth the $11. For dessert we had the churro bites which we're good and probably the only part of the meal that I would consider ordering again. Despite the food being so so I really did appreciate our server. We ended up playing a card game on the patio and at no point did he rush us out. He came back throughout the evening and continuously brought us our drinks and more chips as requested. His service alone earns this restaurant a star. read more

Went in on a Saturday afternoon place was packed 1 hour plus wait. I sat in the bar area no wait . I ordered carne Asade it was excellent,service was extremely exceptional and the price was excellent I would recommend to try for yourself. The staff was plentiful and helpful read more

They close at 10:30 pm, but if you show up at 9:30pm, they will promptly tell you that you have to order fast because the kitchen is closing. The ordering staff is nice. But the staff bringing out the food needs a bit more experience in the customer service arena. If you asked them for something, they don't know how to help you. The food is ok. The steak fajita's are really tough so you will be chewing for a while. It is a decent experience, but if you don't want to be chewing on your food longer than usual and having a hard time digesting it, maybe go elsewhere. read more

I had an engagement party this weekend for 42 of my new family friends from the other family and my own family and I brought in food from your restaurant and it was spectacular. We ordered steak and onion and green pepper, chicken with the same vegetables and people made fajitas with the salsa and all the avocado,tomato it was absolutely delicious. We still have some and we will freeze some of it and eat it on another occasion. I highly recommend if you're having a party and you want authentic Mexican food this is the place. read more

Yes the 21-day aged carne asada is phenomenal and I get a quarterly craving for it, but for Pete's sake what kind of self-respecting Tex-Mex restaurant doesn't serve rice & beans with all entrees by default! Also $32.50 is excessive for the carne asada, which is more or less a ~$20 steak fajita entree at similar joints in the area. Disappointed with recent menu changes that seem to have reduced offerings read more

My first time at Uncle Julio's and my first time at Rio Washingtonian Center. We came here around 2:45pm on a Sunday and it was still packed with people! It's located near the waterfront, and it was HUGE. The restaurant wasn't as clean as I had wanted it to be, but it was ok. They give you complimentary chips and salsa ( it seemed like a fire roasted salsa). Furthermore, they gave an individual salsa to each person-so no need to worry about double dipping. The service was mediocre at best--but I think it was because the place was packed and they had so many tables to wait. The food was decent. My friend got the cheese and onion enchilada and got queso and black beans. She is vegetarian, and most of there salsa and sauces have chicken broth in it (FYI for vegetarians). I got the chicken enchiladas with rice and pinto beans. read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

ordered the crab and shrimp pablano. $22.50. Came with 1 shrimp cut in half, and the crab must be hidding somewhere in the pablano, rice and refried beans, ordered 2 beef tacos and it came with less ground beef and lettuce than Taco Bell's. no host up front to greet guests, we waited and seat ourselves at the bar read more

Pros: we were seated quickly and service was seamless -- friendly, prompt, but not overbearing. Chicken enchiladas were a hit with my husband; chicken was flavorful as were the sauces. Great chips and salsa; love the smokiness of the salsa especially! Cocktails (we both got margaritas) were potent and didn't taste like it came from a bottle of mixer. Cons: rather limited vegetarian options (only two entrees are veg that I could see). The side beans that come with enchiladas were super-bland. A bit on the pricier side overall (I got a taco salad and it was almost $16 and I didn't order any meat on it). Conclusion: good food and drinks but for those prices I do expect my food to have something "extra" (even a salad) and this was tasty, but still standard, Tex-Mex fare. Will have to try Guapos next and compare. read more

Ate here for dinner around 6pm. Starting to get really busy. The chips are very light and the salsa is not too hot and has a little sweetness to it. There is outdoor seating that overlooks a small lake, very nice but limited seating outside. The pulled chicken bowl had such a fresh taste. I would definitely recommend it. Staff has been friendly and attentive. Restaurant is clean and tables are being bussed quickly. Everything is comfortable and inviting The bowl was very very good and very fresh ingredients. Waiter has a lot of tables and has been working g hard. Prices are fair for quality and portions. I recommend this spot and hope to return soon. read more

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We had such a good experience here despite being short staffed. We sat in the bar area selecting one of the high tables. Our server Susanna was excellent (friendly and knew the menu along with providing recommendations) and the food tasted freshly prepared and well-seasoned. After we were sat at our table, the complimentary chips were brought out still warm and crispy along with the accompanying salsa that was hearty with bold flavors. We ordered the mesquite chicken fajitas, grilled salmon, grilled veggies fajitas, and the steak bowl. The food came out at the same time. came For dessert we shared the chocolate piñata which is always my favorite part of the meal. The restaurant was clean and tidy, spacious with different table sizes available, and the music wasn't too loud. read more

This was my first time at Uncle Julio's, and I must admit that I was impressed. My taste buds were in for a treat with the delectable food, and the blend of spices was nothing short of spectacular. I selected the fajitas as my main course, and they arrived warm and flavorful. A wonderfully exquisite supper was created by the juicy, tender meats and the crunchy veggies. Excellent service was also provided. Our waitress was kind and helpful, and they were able to offer suggestions and respond to any queries we had. Our beverages were quickly refilled, no compilates here. Overall it was a nice experience read more

A rainy Friday night getting there at 8:30 PM who would've thought over an hour for wait. The service staff did the best they could as they were very busy and understaffed. The complementary chips and salsa were nowhere as good as they usually are we sit at the bar. Not one but two baskets of greasy tortilla chips were served. When I ordered my entrée if he is I asked for the sauce to be put on the side yet when the fajitas arrived it seemed like they had double sauced everything. My husbands ribs were extremely hot and very dry. There was no check back after two bites which is customary for food servers. read more

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Was really in the mood for a margarita and wanted to try something different. Although Uncle Julio's is close by, I personally have never been. I generally go to Guapos when in at Rio. However, I wanted to try their to go margarita and chips and queso. I placed my order online. With the current covid crisis, their options are limited. So I ordered chips and queso, which was $10, it included a pint of queso and a large bag of chips. It lasted us about three days to snack on. I decided to go with a strawberry margarita. It wasn't my favorite, but it was ok for $5. I may try the spicy one next time, but not sure. You have to order food in order to get a margarita; luckily the chips and queso qualified because I wasn't super hungry. The expected time was about 20 mins. When I drove up they had a curbside pick up area. A gentleman took your name and they brought your food to your car...very simple and convenient. The queso was really good and I something I would go back for. The whole family loved it. Some may say "how can you go wrong with queso?"....trust me, it happens. read more

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Food was amazing! Our server (Sam) was great and so kind! She helped us out with our order and we ended up LOVING our meals. Great vibes all around! read more

Crappy wait process, but hey, they are in demand, so it is what it is. Menu says 18% tip automatically added on for party of 7 or more, but our waitress added it on for our party of 6. Read your bill so you don't double tip. read more

You know how your credit card or bank card will give you those cash back rebates? I saw Uncle Julio's added into my rebates. Uncle Julios really isn't on my radar as a restaurant I go to, but I went to their website to look at their menu. Then I saw they had a $5 off your first purchase. I love a deal, so with my $5 off and my 10% back, I decided to go on my way through Gaithersburg. Got the steak bowl (for me) and the cheese quesadilla for mom. Both were really salty. Like, really really salty. The steak bowl was also a little dry. I should have put some of the salsa that came with the chips and salsa on it, because the salsa was really the best part about the takeout. Not really inspired to make a return trip. read more

So disappointed! I have been coming here for 30+ years. Back when it was Rio Grande. First time I have been here in a year. Sat at the bar to watch football. My guy, who is a bartender, ordered a Margarita on the rocks with extra limes. The limes were brown and dried out. Tried to get TWO bartender's attention with no luck until I yelled HEY! I ordered a small queso and it came out cold and coagulated. I ordered nachos with sour cream on the side and no sour cream. This pic is of my BF's glass that sat like that until we left 20 minutes later. Not once was he asked if he wanted another. I left ZERO tip!! The menu is 100% different. I am so disappointed. Guapo's it is from here on out. read more

Uncle Julio's - My sorry ass straw for my swirl that I had to ask for a "real" straw - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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This was the busiest I've ever seen Uncle Julios. With an hour and a half wait list, I was so thrilled to have pre existing reservations. We checked in at 7:15 for a 7:45 reservation and were told they'd call us as soon as they were ready. I got a phone call at 7:44 PM. We were seated within minutes. The place was loud and there were plenty of huge parties. We ordered guacamole to start and a chicken and beef fajita for two. It was PLENTY of food but of course we ate it all since it was so good. Each person gets their own plate of salsa, cheese, guacamole, and beans/rice. The flour tortillas are so fresh and you'll feel super full after just two of them. Their margaritas are delicious as well. Love this place. read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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