The food was amazing and service was great. Quite a bit better than most Mexican restaurants! I highly recommend it. Ambiance was conducive to conversation even tho the place was quite busy. read more

Love this place it has delicious food and the fastest service ever so if you're looking to go somewhere that you will get served immediately definitely hit up this spot. Also has the best queso and Mexican rice ever for super cheap. read more

Great lunch specials and a huge menu with so many options. The speedy Gonzalez is excellent for a quick bite. The sangria margarita is refreshing. Great salsa and chips too! read more

Food was AMAZING! We will be back. #11 and #14 in the picture. Fabulous meal. The service was superb in this restaurant. read more

Don Julio's Mexican Restaurant - Fat plate 11 combination 14 is the other - Mexican Near Me - Forest Lake, Minnesota

cheese on the nachos and quesadillas tasted like cheeze wiz from the can? Wont order that again. Margaritas were decent.

We eat at Don's about 2x a month. The food is excellent and the service has a good. My wife loves this place along with my two sons. They would give it a 5 , me it's a 3 at best. read more

The amount of salt on my dish and the amount of salt on my lady friend's dish.... Could have salted the parking lot in the winter. Just not a great day for taste. Service was good though. read more

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Grand daughters love the food aged 8 to 16 and so do I. Quick to fast service good bar daily Specials. All good, lots of parking in front. Go no reservations needed, read more

Don Julio's wasn't the worst Mexican restaurant I've been to but it was lacking in some areas. Chicken Flautas - soggy on the outside, dry on the inside. I dipped them in my refried beans the help. Chips and Salsa - Chips were stale. Salsa had a off taste to it. I added salt and pepper to it but it didn't do much. Cheesecake - Great wasn't dry or hard. I personally don't like chocolate sauce on the top but to each there own. Spanish rice - no flavor Refried beans - pretty good The service was great. Got out drink orders right when we sat down. The waiter kept checking up on us and was inviting. read more

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We have been here several times. The food is always good. The lunch specials are very reasonable. The only problem we had this last time was "cash only ". The host admitted that the internet wasn't working properly for the card reader due to the strain of streaming the World Cup. It seems to me that they could have a better system. read more

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Great Mexican food, excellent service and a fun community spot! It's a perfect lunch spot. read more

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zero chicken on the quesadillas everything soggy you might as well be selling soup on top of that there was tacos that should've been chicken that were not. They were disgusting beef raw gross pink. They might as well put a mowing cow on a piece of bread. taco Bell has better meat than you do. read more

Fresh and hot always, great service personnel atmosphere is great environment is pleasing

Food was fine but waiter didn't speak English, he didn't understand what a tap beer was.

Glad to have this restaurant not too far from home, although I wish it was closer. The food is always excellent, service is great. I love the fact that they have Menudo, my favorite Mexican soup. Wish Other locations, like in Chisago, had Menudo as well. Food is very good and reasonable priced. read more

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My family and I have been coming to this location since it first opened. I will say the food is still great and I will miss it greatly, but the staff went out of their way to ensure we had an UNCOMFORTABLE experience on our last trip. This has been the location of our "family reunions" for well over 10 years every time I come to Minnesota, but that is now over. We may visit Julio at his location, but I will never step foot in here again. read more

My family and I stopped in for dinner this week. We were seated right away in a great sized booth for a large family of 5 or more. Our drink order was taken very quickly and delivered fast for our kids and ourselves. The Food came out hot and fresh for us and we maybe waited 10 minutes after we ordered. The Fajita Nacho's had a great taste and where seasoned just right. My wife had a bunch of items to try on her plate and all where very tasty and warm. Our kids wanted the pizza on the kids menu and this was warm but the dough was not the best tasting... We are at Mexican restaurant so I didn't expect the pizza to be the highlight of our meal experience :). We will be back as the restaurant was very clean and the service was top notch. read more

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So yummy! Fast service! Fun family atmosphere! Will definitely be stopping by again soon. Reasonable prices. Recommend the fish tacos to all my friends!!! read more

Don Julio's has the best lunch specials! Great for a group and quick service for a large group! Lunch chimichangas are our favorite.

Authentic? Not this place. Immediately after walking in I knew this wasn't going to be a pleasant experience, but I decided to try it because it's the only Mexican food in the area (that I'm aware of, new here). My girls and I walked in and nobody was at the front entrance. We waited a few minutes before I had to walk and make contact with someone that we needed a place to seat. As we walked up to the steps to be seated, We were greeted with the entire restaurant staring at us. I know Forest lake isn't used to people of different ethnicities so no surprise there, not the fault of restaurant of course. However the patrons made us feel incredibly uncomfortable. Even while seated we had people turn to repeatedly look at us. One couple wouldn't stop staring I had to say something to them. Anyways the waiter was a douche. Hardly understood English. I had to repeat my order 3x and he still go it wrong. After explaining to him what I originally wanted he proceeded to argue with me about it. A younger male approached and I explained to him what I had ordered. He tried to explain to the older man, but the older man brushed him off and made a hand gesture at his face to quiet him. The older male refused to take responsibility for his error. He did take the food off the bill though. Bottom line, this isn't authentic Mexican, it's been made to cater to the folk of forest lake and the man who took care of the bill agreed to this. (He was a manager I believe). He stated if you know true Mexican food, you'd need to go to the cities for better quality. This place isn't it. read more

Haven't been here in couple years Was really surprised way over salted and mushy hamburger. Also ordered couple tacos ‍. Sorry but probably won't be back read more

Stumbled accross this little find. Really glad that I did. Don't let the fact that it's in a strip mall deter you. It's worth a visit. Really good food. I love their steak tampiqueno. It's really flavorful and smells like heaven. The only downfall is that it comes out sizzling and tends to splatter. I leave smelling like grease. Generous amounts of chips and salsa. Very reasonably priced, excellent service and quaint atmosphere. read more

Good food at a reasonable price! Margs we're 10 bucks a piece but had a nice kick to 'em. Probably will return at some point! Good portion size for yo money read more

Don't like it. Seems like it is all pre-prepared food. There was a very nice "authentic" Mexican Restaurant in Chisago City and when Don Julio's moved in a couple blocks away it closed. What a shame!! read more

Hidden little lunch gem here tucked into an inconspicuously location in an old strip mall. The atmosphere is a nice casual clean environment that allows for great conversation with your lunch group. The service is excellent and staff is very attentive and polite. The menu is full of choices with excellent pricing for lunch, with large portion sizes and free chips and salsa you will not leave hungry. I would definitely eat here again when in the area as the food was delicious, served quickly and service delightful , a perfect fit for a quick lunch that does not feel rushed. read more

Don Julio's Mexican Restaurant - Fajita Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Forest Lake, Minnesota

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Good, not great. Great staff, and the food is pretty good, but it is located in a little dying strip mall. Patio life is a real thing here, but their patio overlooks the dumpsters. read more

We decided to try this Mexican food one evening. We know Mexican food very well and love it. We waited to be seated, even though there were no others waiting at the time. We got seated in the far back right area and it was extremely loud. 4 different employees/servers walked right by. Then a new table was seated in the same area. Apparently the employees new them and were very attentive to the group. They ordered drinks and got them and were ordering food and we still had no service. We got up and left. Even one star is too many for this restaurant. Try Rancho Loco at the traffic circle, it is wonderful! read more

Love love love their a la carte burritos and rice! I go here often for the same thing and the salsa and queso are also very good!! Employees are always happy and welcoming. I often hear them singing and in high spirits! I love this place! Muy bueno!!! read more

Always a good meal at a reasonable price. Margaritas are quite good. Friendly, fast service

I LOVE Don Julio's! I have never had a bad meal here. My favorite items are the enchiladas verde, chicken quesadillas, beans and rice, cheese dip, not to mention the delicious salsa. This is a place I genuinely crave when I don't have it for awhile. This place is awesome and I definitely recommend it. read more

Good service, great salsa, and solid Mexican food. I had the California Burrito and the family had a various combo plates. Everything we had was good although none of it was particularly remarkable. I would come again. read more

I'd give a better review if my food were not alwaus. Half frozen when it comes to my table . Im.sorry but This can't be authentic Mexican food if it's frozen when it comes to my table. Just saying . Ypu need to make. It fresh. And. Why you are byt already doin g this is. Not clear. As. Taco bell is doing it . Tes they make their food. And cook they cook Own meats.make the. Refried beans on site. So what's your issue. Taco bell is a fast food. Your not. Can you see my Point if taco bell can make my food fresh Then I guess that my choice. You need to. Make it real. ITS NOT hard to do. .so iF You LIKE FROZEN. FOOD YOU"LL LOVE THIS PLACE IF If you want fresh authentic Mexican food choose another place. read more

I come her for the margs! They are fantastic. And their food is usually amazing! Ive only had a problem once with it. The workers are awsome and so attentive! read more

Don Julio burritos is what I usually get. Cheese dip too. Kids love the free chips and salsa. That keeps them occupied while we wait for the food. Which is always 10 mins or less even when it's busy. read more

Very generous portions. We always leave with food for a second meal at home. Every meal we've had here has been delicious.

Take out was super fast, friendly and epically delicious. One of our local favorites.

Ordered food through door dash. It was an hour wait, the food we got showed up when it was supposed to. Opened up my food we were missing several items. The food we received was ok but we didn't get the shells for the fajitas, the drink for the kids meal was missing and we didn't even get our churros. We tried to contact the restaurant numerous times and got no answer. We had to contact door dash and they couldn't even put in to have our food resent because the restaurant stopped taking orders. Door dash was much more helpful than the restaurant was. Door dash did refund part of the money but we Had to go to wal mart to get fajita shells just to eat the meal we ordered and the kids were disappointed they didn't get their dessert. We definitely blame the restaurant on this one....poor service tonight read more

I have been going to this restaurant with family and friends for years, including their North Branch location. This Mexican restaurant is a bundle of everything good. The food is reasonably prices and the portions are extremely large. It comes out fresh and so does the chips and salsa. On that note I must talk about the salsa. The salsa is absolutely the best salsa I've ever had! It's not necessarily hot or spicy but its flavorful and I find it absolutely amazing! The workers are great too! They provide excellent service and most of them would remember what I order. They handle large groups well and have plenty of space for them. read more

I don't know how I managed to not know about this place for so long.. Discovered it last night, and all I can say is WOW! YUM! Ok, it's in a strip mall, and the decor leaves something to be desired, but really that's not why we go to a place like this -- we go there for the food, and Don Julio's does NOT disappoint! The food is amazing. Service is pretty good too. Two thumbs way up. If you live near Forest Lake, stop in, you'll be glad you did. If you live farther away, make the drive -- I promise the food is worth the drive. Oh, and bonus, what you spend on gas you'll save on the meal, not only is it incredibly tasty, but it's also very inexepensive! read more

After last night's visit, I feel compelled to bring the high ratings down a notch. Between us we had the chorizo queso dip, carnitas, tamales, chile rellenos, enchiladas, and chalupas. The chorizo queso dip is extremely greasy - there was an oil slick radiating out from the chorizo, floating on the cheese. Good flavors but the resulting texture was a bit wonky. The tamale, enchilada, and rellenos were nicely prepared but coated in the same relatively tasteless, thin, orange sauce. The corn tortilla used for the chalupa was soggy. Carnitas, however, received rave reviews and my small sample was delicious. Considering the price it was alright, and the service was prompt and friendly. I can see it as reasonable choice if you are in the area, but tastier, more authentic Mexican can be found in the big, scary cities to the south. read more