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

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

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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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

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

4 star for the food but only 1 star for customer service. Uncle Julio, you should train your employees how to respect clients! Maybe we are not Caucasian White so when I chose my seat, she just replied, oh I don't know how long it will take for cleaning that table. read more

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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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

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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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

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

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

When they stopped taking American Express they essentially said we no longer want my business. Not to mention I had service issues on my last visit and the prices are high. The food is good but I'm willing to bet I can find as good or better at the taco truck at my local gas station. read more

We wanted to get takeout food for my sisters birthday and decided to get carne asada from Uncle Julio (I convinced them based on my experience at the Arlington/Ballston location). Sure enough, it was a hit. Probably their best item in my opinion, the steak was juicy, tender, and full of flavor. It comes with mini tortilla wraps, beans, rice, guacamole, and salsa. It's a lil pricey but definitely worth it in my opinion. read more

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

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

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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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

The guac was flavorless, we had to ask for lime and salt to try and fix it but even then it was just barely edible. The steak bowl had basically raw steak when we asked for medium rare, and the veggie quesadilla was just okay. Our waitress was really nice and the manager was very accommodating with fixing the issue but we won't be coming back 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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Reserved a table for a party of 8 online. Reservation was for 6:30. We showed up around 5:30 and checked in and got seated around 5:45. Service was quick. Food was great! Definitely recommend the mango passion lemonade and the birria taco appetizers. The appetizer was a bit small but FULL of flavor and very delicious! Ordered a piñata of course and that was amazing as well! read more

This will solely go to our waitress today Adela , front of the house terrible HOWEVER this woman is the queen of customer service ! Took care of us with a wonderful smile was super kind and attentive to my family . She made our experience amazing! . Thanks ! read more

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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I was very happy with Uncle Julios! Parking was no problem behind the restaurant. I had lunch with an aquaintence and the service was top notch. We ate outside on the patio , weather was amazing as was the overall vibe. Food was delicious. I thought it might be hard to get parking here but surprisingly it was not. Great location and a great experience. read more

My husband and I have been here 4 times now and the service is ALWAYS GREAT! Last night was no exception. The place was absolutely slammed. I have no idea how they manage that huge space with outdoor seating too. It's a well oiled machine apparently. We waited about 30 minutes for a table outside. No big deal, it was a gorgeous night with live music. The server Ally had about a bazillion tables in her section and she greeted us and every single guest with a huge smile. She was so pleasant and accommodating. She had excellent suggestions and truly went so far above and beyond to provide amazing service. Our food was piping hot and delicious. Not one single thing was brought out wrong and I loved my tortilla chicken bowl and my husband loved his fajitas. For such a busy night, it's pretty par for the course to dine at a restaurant and have something go wrong. Not in Ally's section. She was amazing. We left feeling really, really good about our experience on such a ridiculously busy Saturday night. Thanks Ally!!! read more

Racist to Mexicans it made me wait an hour serves other people instead of us but mostly racist because a whit person came before us and had no reservation and got attended when it was full. read more

Uncle Julio's - Waiters , unfeeded people. - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Great place excellent food totally different than other Mexican food I xtremely recommend

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

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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Came here with the family. My sister-in-law made reservations ahead of time and thank goodness she did. It was packed the Saturday after Christmas at 5:15pm! The place is huge and pretty freaking loud. Tortilla chips complementary - a bit oily but good. The sister-in-law said the fajitas are good here. They are fairly sized. My husband and I ate a couple hours earlier so we shared. Comes with a side of rice and beans. Tortillas to share. I thought it was good. I also ordered Strawberry Guava Lemonade - delicious! Overall, it was a good experience. Standard sit down place that is good for families. They had a special kid's menu for my nephew that he could draw on. read more

i was pleasantly surprised by the service . the waiter was very nice everything was good Iwould recommend this place. read more

Our waitress was great! She frequently checked on us, had a genuine smile, and offered to bring an extra plate when she found out I was ordering a kid's meal for twins. It's the little things folks! We had a large party but I felt like all the food arrived within a reasonable time. Then again I was busy munching on their complimentary chips and salsa practically the whole time. These are dangerous! Light and crispy so it doesnt feel like you're ruining your meal. I ordered my steak fajitas medium rare and they came out nicely minus a couple of thinner strips. It was quite a lot of food if you ask me. The entree came with flour tortillas and a side of rice and beans. There's also a side of fixings that included sour cream, guacamole, shredded cheese, and pico de gallo. The steak was well seasoned and overall I enjoyed my meal read more

Uncle Julio's - Fajita skirt steak cooked medium rare - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The chips and salsa and queso Blanco are the best ever. Salsa is smokey and flavorful. Hard to stop eating the queso. Taco platter for lunch today - all excellent. read more

Uncle Julio's - Chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Terrible reservation system. Maybe it was just the hostess that made the whole thing worse. I come in on a Saturday 7pm asked to put on the dining room waitlist. I get the confirmation text and go to the restaurant and they tell me my table is outside when I asked to be seated inside. Then they put me on the waitlist again and say "we have put you on priority waitlist" when I think they just put me at the end of waitlist. So many tables have been seated before me. And there's a lot of tables that are empty that would fit my party. I guess this is why people decide Guapos instead. read more

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

Salad was great for takeout. I think I ordered the taco salad + steak. The steak was phenomenal. read more

Uncle Julio's - Salad with side of steak - steak amazing - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

We came here to celebrate my sisters birthday tonight and my family were seated right away. It's highly recommended to make reservations beforehand. This place gets busy during happy hour/weekend and the wait can be long without calling ahead. When I arrived at the table I noticed some of the drinks were small. I asked her if the drink was new on the menu and she said no it's a swirl. Apparently they have changed the glass size of the swirls, I'm sad about this. Please bring back the regular sized mugs! Uncle Julio's is known for their tableside guacamole and queso, amazing I tell ya! The combination of both plus their signature salsa can make you rack up on the bowl of chips! Fish tacos and chicken enchiladas are my usual go-to but I went the fajita route. The chicken fajitas were so tender and juicy I enjoyed every bite. I can't forget about their cajeta (fried ice cream) so delicious! Too bad I didn't get to take a picture it was gone within minutes! Overall, decent service tonight. They have added new items on the menu, can't wait to try the shrimp tacos next time! read more

Uncle Julio's - Chicken Fajitas. - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

In one word "horrible". The food is tasteless, I ordered the carnitas tacos and the rice was hard, the beans taste awful. My son eats anything and he did not finish the beef enchiladas, that to me says a lot about the food. Never again! Server was nice! read more