For me, Uncle Julio's has always been a spot to enjoy Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine in a bit quieter and refined setting. This Uncle Julio's location met my needs with a beautifully decorated dining room, super friendly service, comfortable seating, and a casual dining experience that did not feel loud nor cramped. On this particular visit, my main aim was to introduce my friend to the amazing Chocolate Pinata dessert. The staff was quick to put the order in right away and celebrate in the fun dining process. I really appreciated this in addition to a delicious product with fresh fruit and plenty of chocolate. After this visit, I know I can return here for another special event to enjoy delicious food and quality service. read more

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There are nights when you go to a restaurant for dinner... This was not one of those nights. We went to Uncle Julio's with one mission and one mission only: destroy the fruit-filled chocolate piñata. Everything else was logistics. We walked through the door and were immediately greeted by Michael, the chef, which felt like a promising omen. I don't know if Michael greets everybody or if he simply sensed three men arriving with the grim determination of people about to commit violence against a dessert, but either way, I respected it. We weren't there for fajitas. We weren't there to debate margaritas. We weren't there because somebody on Instagram said the guacamole was "fire." We wanted the piñata... badly. Then it arrived. Good God. This thing is not dessert. It is an event. A massive hollow chocolate structure arrives at the table filled with fruit like Willy Wonka had suffered a psychotic break and gone into the Mexican restaurant business. Then... They hand you a weapon. Most desserts come with a spoon. That's for p****ies! This one comes with instructions to beat the crap out of it. Finally, a restaurant that understands men. You smash through the chocolate shell and suddenly the table looks like the aftermath of a confectionery home invasion. Chocolate everywhere. Strawberries rolling loose. Fruit scattered across the battlefield. People at neighboring tables staring because something magnificent and deeply in incredible is happening nearby. It was f*****g epic. There is something primal about paying a restaurant to bring you an elaborately constructed object and then immediately destroying it. This must be what rich people feel like when they demolish a perfectly good kitchen because the cabinets are three years old. And unlike many theatrical restaurant gimmicks, the damn thing actually tasted great. The chocolate was good. The fruit was good. The entire combination worked. We kept picking through the wreckage long after any reasonable adult would have stopped. At some point I realized we had basically become raccoons digging through the ruins of a chocolate building. No regrets. Now, ordinarily, I would be conducting the standard P.O.A. Index reconnaissance. And for the record, the Index was healthy. Plenty of attractive scenery. But for possibly the first time in recorded history, we didn't care. There could have been the Swedish bikini team doing jumping jacks at the next table and I still would have been staring at this chocolate piñata. Science should study it. Five stars. Michael greeted us like we were arriving dignitaries. The P.O.A. Index was strong. And the chocolate piñata was so spectacular that, for one glorious evening, we came for the dessert instead of the cooze. I'm as shocked as anyone. read more

Uncle Julio's Old Orchard - The aftermath of the chocolate piñata - Mexican Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Uncle Julio's never disappoints! I have to travel to Skokie since they closed my North Ave one in the city. The outdoor patio is a great way to chill and people watch on a weekend. And you can hit the mall after to walk off the food coma. Every time I go- we make sure to get the queso and chips. Thanks God they brought the tried and true queso back. Order a side of tortillas to dip with (in addition to the chips), trust me! Taco dinner is enough for tomorrow's lunch,too! Please don't close the Skokie one!!!! read more

We went for a late lunch, service was good but food was cold and not that tasty at all. Only good item was the salsa. Would not be going back. read more

Foods really good, drinks run on the sweeter side. The service here has always been really good, I've come here a few times and they seem pretty consistent. read more

First time trying Uncle Julio's. Complimentary chips and salsa to start were delicious. I had the frozen margarita and sangria swirl and it had a nice flavor. My partner did the beef tacos and I did Tex Mex Plate. We were both happy with our selections and portion sizes. Service was good with friendly staff. Interior was well decorated read more

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As someone who is hispanic I am deeply offended and disappointed at this restaurant I will never come back it was truly heartbreaking that as a real mexican I had to eat this food. Please don't come here if you enjoy authentic mexican food. Our server was amazing and very attentive but the food was just horrendous. read more

Uncle Julio's Old Orchard - fake tortillas - Mexican Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

When I first went on Yelp to make reservations, I noticed Uncle Julio's had only 3 stars. I honestly thought, "That's surprising!" because I've eaten there many times before and always had a great experience. Unfortunately, after going back last night, I can understand some of the reviews. Hear me out... First, the atmosphere was a little chaotic. Dishes kept being dropped and shattered throughout the restaurant. We were jumping every few minutes waiting for someone to yell "OPA!"... except this isn't a Greek restaurant. Not sure what was happening, but it definitely took away from the relaxing dinner vibe. As for the food and service, this is where I was most disappointed. I used to think the prices matched the quality, but this time the value just wasn't there. I ordered the steak and chicken fajitas, which used to come loaded with onions and peppers. This time, there were only onions, a few pieces of steak, and mostly chicken. Our waitress also forgot the flour tortillas and the toppings, and we had to repeatedly ask for things throughout the meal. Unfortunately, each item took quite a while to arrive, and by the time the toppings came out, I was pretty much finished eating. We never got pico either, and at that point I didn't even bother asking because dinner was basically over. We also asked for more chips and salsa, which took a while to arrive as well. The food itself still tastes good, and that's what makes this disappointing. But when a dinner out requires me to keep reminding the restaurant what needs to come to the table, my family might as well have stayed home. At least there would have been no interruptions--and I would have been the one bringing out the meal anyway! I really hope this was just an off night because I have enjoyed Uncle Julio's for years. But for now, I'm not sure we'll be rushing back. read more

Slightly better than the last trip, where we felt the prices weren't in line with the quality or quantity of our meals. This visit was good. They had the heat cranked up, and it wasn't crowded like you'd expect the day after Christmas. The waiter was courteous and attentive. The fajitas were delivered sizzling (hopefully a permanent thing), they served slightly more cheese, and we didn't have to beg for rice & bean sides like we did the past couple of visits. Their chips are still flavorless and break easily, and they didn't offer a lot of fajita veggies; mostly chopped onions and a tiny bit of a green bell pepper. I would've preferred more veggies served without the big poblano pepper. Want to earn another star, Uncle Julio's? Bring back the free birthday chocolate piñata. read more

Uncle Julio's Old Orchard - Fajitas - lunch special, approx. $19 (drink not included) - Mexican Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Plenty of parking and shopping. Excellent food, hard-working staff, and a very beautiful ambience

I went to Old Orchard today, Sept 7, 2026. It was past 12 noon, so I decided to get something to eat. I stopped at 2 other restaurants but decided to go to Uncle Julio's. I was shocked at their food. I ordered 2 green enchiladas that come with beans, rice and some tomatoes with onions on the side. It took a long time to get the food. When I got it the food the rice was COOD AND HARD. I've gone to plenty of Mexican restaurants. None have served me cool HARD rice. Just wondering, "Was the rice OLD?" The enchiladas' tortillas were actually hard. How can you serve HARD enchilada tortillas? Were the tortillas OLD? The only good part of the order I made were the beans. I should have asked the waitress for BEANS only. There went my money on HARD rice and hard tortillas. No plans to return. When I went home, I had to stop at a little shop to buy a candy just to get the bad taste out of my mouth. read more

Went again and was disappointed. Same beautiful and festive decor. Same good service. But the menu has changed for the worse. They have 6 taco options but none of them are chicken? Two beef, two pork, zero chicken? Zero vegetarian. They have half a dozen enchilada options but some of them you can't get chicken with. And they don't describe which are spicy. They don't say that the beans are pinto and have pork in them. It's possible to order off menu. But it seems all the options should be on the menu. I ordered chicken tacos off menu. I would honestly rather have Taco Bell, by a landslide. And it's not that I think fast food is amazing. But it's easy to customize, I know what I'm getting, and while the ingredients did seem decent quality at uncle Julio's, the tacos were "meh" in the words of my husband. Far better food at the little family owned Mexican restaurants such as 4 hermanos too in Niles. read more

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I've eaten here before, but its been awhile. I have also have eaten at their chicago location. I really used to like it, but its not how it was years ago. It was okay this time and could have been better. This location is in Old Orchard, which is a mall. Parking can be hit or miss depending on when you go and what day it is. It is a very big space and was not crowded at all when we got there. We had a party of 7 that arrived at different times. I was there first and it took the waiter about 15 min plus to come bring water etc. We also asked about splitting or separate checks, which they don't do. He seemed a bit annoyed. I started with some queso, salsa and chips. The chips were good and crispy but the oil seemed old. The queso was pretty good but tasted a bit like velveta and cooled down pretty quickly. That stuff needs to be piping out when it comes out- ours had like a layer of film on top so it had been sitting. I got the TexMex Combo for my dinner which is 2 enchiladas- one green sauce chicken, one red sauce ground beef and a crispy ground beef taco plus rice and beans. My favorite was the chicken enchilada. The ground beef wasnt seasoned that well so it was kind of bland in the taco and second enchilada. The rice was extremely dry and the beans were too smoky for my taste. I should have asked for refried beans. Everyone else got a random assortment of dishes- nachos, chicken quesadilla, tacos, pablos combo. Everyone liked their items well enough. I would go back but not out of my way. Overall experience 3/5. read more

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Food 2/5 Service 2/5 Ambiance 3/5 This place has changed everything, from appetizers to main course. First of sadly I went to celebrate my son's birthday and everything from choice of vegetarian food to service was mediocre. The food was not hot but warm and vegetarian entrees was all removed, we are Never going back again, don't recommend for any vegetarian or vegan customers read more

The protein was not that tasty at all. It was smothered in butter and the steak was chewy. The presentation couldve been a little better as well. The guac was salty and so were the chips so it didn't go well together. There's definitely better fajitas else where! read more

Uncle Julio's Old Orchard - Mexican Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

I just wanted to leave a review on how amazing Alejandra is and how friendly, thoughtful, caring, loving, supportive she is towards her tables/guest 100/10 experience and would go all the time . read more

Good service and thankful they went back to the old queso recipe. With that in mind, I would love to see more of the older recipes returning to the menu as options for those of us who may want something other than the fajitas are starting to vanish. read more

Love this place all staff are friendly and helpful. Great place for a couple or a group.

Can't believe the quality this restaurant offers Dry rice Skirt steak need to chew until jaw hurts I strongly suggest that uncle Julio should retire It's a no no for me ever again! read more

I don't know what was worse here - the food or slow service. The chips came out warm and thin, but the salsa was horrible. Everything that we ordered tasted of smoky Chipotle pepper. The queso, the carnitas, the beans - all tasted the same. The portions were not generous. The service at 5:45 was so slow - about an hour before we got our food. The drinks took so long, we went to the bar to get a second round rather than wait 30 minutes. Dismal. For 4 people, 4 drinks, 2 appetizera and 3 meals, it was over $150. Not worth it. read more

I am very sad, I used to LOVE this place.. they keep changing things, and not for the better. My husband and I always get the queso, and LOVED IT, they got a new queso and it was awful!! It was gritty and just gross. I ordered a classic patron margarita that was supposed to have Cointreau in it, my first one the bartender made it with the cheap triple sec, I let it slide, my second one I mentioned the Cointreau and she still made it with the cheap swill. My husband mentioned that it should be Cointreau and she said we should have said we wanted it, I said it's in the menu that it's Cointreau. She seemed mad that she had to make another drink. I should not have been charged for the first one, but whatever. Oh and the chips were not the yummy thin and crispy ones, they were thicker and not as good. Not sure I will ever be back, and that makes me sad. read more

Wow did this place fall off! I'm so bummed. Soft fluffy rice, cheesy Tex-Mex enchiladas, and spicy seasoned charro beans have been replaced with rock-hard rice, cold enchiladas sprinkled with a light dusting of cotija, and flavorless beans. The cockroach on the bathroom wall was the kicker though. I guess Fat Rosies is the only Tex Mex option in the area now read more

Great food as I remember, ordered the steak and chicken fajitas , pricey as is everything, service was ok but slower than I'd expect especially while waiting for the bill, food quality makes up for that small issue though ! read more

Uncle Julio's is a chips-and-dips pyramid scheme pretending to be a Mexican restaurant. The chips are above average, the queso is stupid good, and the tortillas are dangerously fluffy - basically the only reason this place still has electricity. The tortillas are fresh out of the oven, which makes it even more insulting when the actual food sullies them. The ground beef (might be repurposed circus animals) tastes like it was introduced to seasoning through a conjugal viait. Drinks are a full scam: one night they're amazing, the next night you're paying $14 for a glass of confused lime water. If you don't fill up on chips, queso, and guac, that's on you - the rest of the menu clearly gave up. read more

the service was absolutely amazing 10/10 recommen! Adil provided such great service!! Will be coming back!!

Good food. Good service. Protein portions weren't as much as I expected for the price, but we left full. The meat was seasoned well and cooked properly so no big complaints. The margarita did look pretty and tasted nice read more

Uncle Julio's Old Orchard - Fajitas dinners and a triple berry margarita - Mexican Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

We used to love coming here, but since our last visit uncle Julio's has hit bottom. Food was under par. Server was...was... well let's say "special" didn't refill drinks more than once, and was about as pleasant as a hemorrhoid. 1/5 Food: Wife had a taco salad, inside was ok, under seasoned beef (are you guys using McCormick taco seasoning?) and ranch dressing(seriously)?! The shell was old and stale, and still partially uncooked. 0/5 I got a carne asada. Asked for medium but got rare, which I can deal with, but I was shocked at the kids menu. One of our kids got the kids burrito. Are you F*cking kidding me... the burrito was 2" long by 1/2 think and 1/2" wide. It's a 4.5" tortilla folded. I get times are tough but with other restaurants in the area why would we come back here? We walked away from the dessert afraid it would be just as bad Seriously uncle Julio, what have you been drinkin'. Or maybe you haven't had enough. for anybody reading this review, who thought about going to uncle Julio's? I would highly suggest you go somewhere else. There's many other Mexican restaurants in the area within a five minute drive that would be 1000 times better. This includes Taco Bell and that's sad to say. I think even Burger King does tacos once in a while. . read more

Uncle Julio's....when are you going to get your act together? I thought the last time I was there you had finally turned things around. The food is almost back up to its original level and the service was stellar but once again consistency is still an issue. Our waitress was abysmal. After we received our food she disappeared. I tried flagging down the hostess who heard me calling, turned around looked at me and then just kept walking. I finally flagged down another waitress to get our waitress. At the same time another couple had just been seated close to us who I'm not sure was in her area since another waiter also seemed to be attending to them but when she finally came out of hiding she went to that table first and I had to ask her again to help us. By the time we got our drinks FINALLY refreshed, our meal was completed. I've been going to this chain for 33 years. It has been a go to staple with friends and family in Dallas and Chicago. While the food quality is still not at the level it was 33 years ago, I've come to accept that but I will not continue to accept bad service. read more

It's a favorite for our family and the kids always find some yummy food too! We have come here for years and the food and drinks have been pretty good. The waiting staff has been friendly and welcoming too. read more

Meh x100. I was a big fan of the original Uncle Julio's and have sadly watched the closure and decline of the remaining restaurants. Disinterested staff, very overpriced food, moderate food quality - raw/wet corn tortillas with no remedy offered (waitress: "yeah, they changed the recipe and they're not very good now" and then walks away). No idea how they're still so busy. The carne asada was prepared well, but that was the only highlight. Better options elsewhere. read more

love coming here. great table side guac, tacos, fajitas. and love the chocolate piñata for celebrating

I used to go to Uncle Julio's fairly often pre-pandemic. I haven't been since, obviously, until today, trying to find a place to eat that wouldn't be ridiculously expensive and a ridiculously picky 12-year-old would find something to eat. It's been literal years since I've been to their Tuesday taco bar and they'd also sent me a coupon for a free tableside guacamole. I was disappointed today. The taco bar didn't taste the same--they've definitely changed the way they cook at least the beef, because it used to taste much better. And the lettuce looked like it was starting to brown... odd. The server seemed almost put out to have to help us. We saw her maybe four times total. There was hardly anyone else there, maybe is tables total. Overall it was just a disappointing visit. The chips, salsa, and guacamole shouldn't be the highlight of the meal. I had looked forward to going back to Uncle Julio's after two and a half years away, but tonight's visit showed me that I didn't miss out on much at all. read more

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I always wanted to go here just to get the piñata. We stopped by uncle Julio's after an event. I ordered the shrimp fatijas and I honestly didn't think the shrimp could be any smaller. A few of us ordered dishes that needed tortillas and we only got one container. The waitress was nice but so not nice? It was a mix vibes. And honestly we weren't even being rude or anything to her. Alssoooooo, at some point during the meal, the table behind us screamed in terror because there was a rat INSIDE the restaurant. The waitress said it was because the door was open...but it was running OUT to the door. Let's just say we won't be going to uncle Julio's for awhile as my fiancé is still traumatized by the rat hahaha read more

Uncle Julio's Old Orchard - Mexican Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

The beef barbacoa tacos were absolutely horrid, it was 18 dollars for 3 tacos, about 3 tablespoons of rice, and watery beans that tasted like mold. the tacos had barely any meat on them and they were loaded with disgusting onions and radishes, and the meat wasnt even well seasoned it tasted like store bought taco seasoning. read more

The food here is decent. Not great, and not bad. Good for large groups because they have a wide variety. Outside of the guacamole (which is EXCELLENT) and the cocktails, everything is just ok. But here's what I don't like and why I won't go back. When the meal is done and you ask for the check, the waitress drops off a small computer at the table, and we're supposed to figure it out. How to split it, use the credit cards, etc. When I go out to eat, I don't want a job. Why do the guests have to do this part? We had had a good, if not special, meal. But it was good and we had a good time. I would have happily returned because the appetizers and drinks are always excellent. But it ended on a sour note and I don't want to return after that. read more

I find Uncle Julios, especially the Old Orchard location, to be incredibly dependable, consistent, and excellent. They hooked me a few years ago with an invite to try their Chocolate Piñata, but everything I've tried has been incredible. One thing to keep in mind is their 'basics' like salsa and guacamole are incredible and unique. I never leave without getting some to go. Last week I was there and served by Quinn and he was equally amazing. Another reason to go there is they have a robust frequent eater program and never hassle you when you redeem a deal. read more

Energetic atmosphere, both inside and out, though note the music and acoustics is pretty loud indoors, and they do pump the A/C. It was about a 15 min wait for a table around 6:15 on a Friday night. There were handfuls of open tables, and I assume those weren't taken due to staff limitations. Complimentary chips and salsa are served at each table. I was feeling porky, so I tried the carnitas tacos. The meat was quite dry, but flavorful, and the tacos could have used more sauce. It came with black beans and bland rice. My husband inhaled his enchiladas, and the girls enjoyed their kids' meals of quesadillas (I had a taste and approved!) and chicken tenders. You can sub fries for rice and beans. Extensive margarita list. A couple of the drinks are half off for happy hour M-F 3-6pm. I tried the Paloma (grapefruit, tequila), and it was refreshing. I was aghast (haven't used this word in decades) at the $33 chocolate filled "bomb" dessert, which my husband said "doesn't even look that good!" Hah. Might be back with a group if everyone was feeling Mexican food, but the food is average at best. read more

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Haven't had good experiences in the past, quality of food and service was mediocre, but went again this past weekend. Man, have they upped their game! 1. The presentation is so much nicer on the board 2. Ordered a skirt steak grill combo., medium rare, and let me say that the temperature was to perfection. 3. Our server's name was Cecilia - top notch! Very attentive and catered to all of our requests. If this is their new standard for $5-$7 increase per plate, I'll take it! A great experience and looking forward to the next time. read more

Uncle Julio's Old Orchard - Skirt steak - Mexican Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

I just don't get it. Why does Uncle Julio's (UJ) in Old Orchard have such bad reviews? Don't pay any attention to them. I've been to UJ multiple times and on every visit the food is delicious, the service is friendly and efficient, and always on point. I love their skirt steak, fajitas and their guacamole is one of the best. Their homemade flour tortillas are so good. On my last visit we took some chicken enchiladas to go and they were amazing. Our servers, Josephine and Belita (in training), gave us excellent service. The space is large and comfortable with a nice outside patio. It a fabulous place for large groups. I always look forward to going to Uncle Julio's and you should too. read more

Celebrated my Bday with a group of coworkers and Chloe was our waitress. She was amazing for 9 ladies at the table. Attentive, answered all questions, polite, fun and engaging. Uncle Julio's is my favorite spot and I'm so glad I live close enough to this one to indulge when I can. Food was hot, fresh and delicious too read more

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