My favorite place to grab breakfast tacos! Not because they're extravagant, they're simple, but they clearly have a lot of love put into it. The eggs are fluffy and the bacon is super thick. As for lunch and dinner, everything is clearly fresh. I've only had positive experiences! read more

I love Julio's Cafe! It's consistently good food. One of my favorite things to order is the beef fajita nachos plate with everything on it. It's a huge serving- enough for two people really, and is covered with jalapeños, guacamole and beans. The other dish I love is the pollo de caldo. Delicious chicken soup filled with vegetables. It hits the spot when you're in that kind of mood. The prices are reasonable, under $10 for the soup and $12 for the huge nacho platter. You won't be disappointed! read more

(Taste:3/Service:3/Experience:3/Dog Friendly Patio:Yes) Straight up, the fajita tacos weren't good. We bought the chicken and fajita taco plates to split, both were very greasy. But the rice and beans were very good. Inside was hot, outside they had misters. They have a great location nestled in Hyde Park, they need to step their game up! read more

Julio's Café - Chicken and Fajita Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

CASH ONLY. Best chicken soup in town other than some you would make for yourself. Staff is real friendly. If I had to knock them for anything, it would be the fact that they have a carne guisada plate on their menu, but said they couldn't make me a single taco by itself. Not a big deal, but it sure would be nice. Also, I saw Colt McCoy in here one day and he was telling the people he was with that they had his favorite enchiladas in town, so hey, that's a pretty good endorsement. read more

As good as it gets for chicken-based Mexican food in Austin. I've eaten at Julios a couple times a month for the past 3 years and it's really a special place. They rotisserie chicken all day long, which provides the core ingredient for all their best dishes. The chicken enchiladas are my favorite (green sauce is the way to go), but the chicken tacos are also incredible. If you are with a group you can get the chicken nachos which are insane! This place is all about the food (the chicken), the atmosphere is very basic and it's cash only. They have a good selection of beverages including margaritas, but it's not a "night on the town" type of place. On colder days their chicken soup is a great hearty dish. If you like Mexican food, love chicken, and have cash, Julio's is where you should go! Breakfast is good too, the fresh fruit side is a nice healthy touch after a heavy Mexican breakfast! read more

Julio's Café - Chicken Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food was good. I would of given it 5 stars but I lost a leg here. Curras is coming! Problem solved!!!!

I've been here on a couple occasions and each time I forget that this place is CASH ONLY!!!! C'mon man, this is 2018, people like myself don't carry cash anymore. I will not go out my way to get cash out of an ATM machine and pay fees just to eat at this establishment. I've took this place off of my collection list... Oh well :) read more

Cute gem!!! Best flan in town. Also the best chicken soup! Steak tacos are awesome. Tastes close to homemade (tip- they now accept credit cards they used to be cash only). read more

First thing that sets this place apart from the other restaurants in the duval plaza is that it's counter service. You have to order the chips and salsa, which is fine, and the salsa was really good. The food was very subpar though. I had the chicken enchiladas and they were not overly impressive. My partner had one overloaded steak taco and a quesadilla. Was really looking forward to this place due to high reviews and how good the surrounding restaurants are, but it did not live up to expectations. read more

Well, I have to say is this that the food is good, but for no reason look above your head to the vents... IT IS GROSS!!! And you are breathing all of it. The ceilings are just full of dust and dirt... honestly, if you are just a bit picky, just a bit... don't look at the ceiling!!!! read more

Excellent food with a welcoming atmosphere.. The chicken soup has restorative powers.

If you are going to eat at Julio's, you need to order something with chicken in it. Chicken nachos, chicken enchilada, chicken taco, chicken chalupa, chicken quesadilla, 1/2 chicken special, 1/4 chicken special, chicken fajita.... Need I go on? What is that? You ordered the beef and it was just ok and a little greasy. Well, I told you--get the chicken!! ...and like everyone else has already pointed out--cash only. read more

(First off, there was a pair of handcuffs attached to a fence/sign out front of Julio's. If that doesn't serve as a sign that a restaurant is going to be good, I don't know what will. Kidding.) Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Everything at Julio's tastes fresh. Monica O. and Jessica R. and I were out together and Monica suggested we hit up Julio's. They were closing in six minutes but when we asked if they would still serve us, they were kind and accommodating. In case you other restaurants are listening, this is the way to treat your customers! I had the chicken soft taco plate. It was the perfect amount of food - one taco on a fire toasted flour tortilla with delicious boracho beans and delicious Mexican rice and fresh salsa. I also had a sip of Monica's Mango Margarita, which, if they hadn't been closed, I would have totally ordered. It tasted fresh and not straight out of a machine with mango flavoring. All-in-all good company and good food. I'll be back, Julio. read more

We went for brunch. Good and freshly made food. I love their salsa. They accept cash only. Around this restaurant there are other eateries, bakery, and can stroll around read more

Julio's Café - Nachos and cheese - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

I came here to try out their chicken quesadillas based on Yelp reviews, and I was quite pleased with the result. Very meaty and cheesy, with fresh guacamole on the side. The place itself is fairly small, but I was still able to get a seat. After ordering and paying at the cash register (cash only), I sat down to wait for the food, but almost before I could check in on Yelp, the food arrived. I was like, Wow! is that really mine? But then afterward I saw in some other reviews that speed-serving is their specialty. So, if you're ever in the mood for some "quick-Mex," this is the place for you. Just don't forget to bring enough cash. read more

Julio's Café - Chicken Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

After years (literally, years) of reading about Julio's in Hyde Park, I finally was able to get here. Though I didn't get into the chicken soup, I did have some beef quesadillas. Not typically what I would order but they looked so intriguing. What I can say is that they came out with lightning speed. That was pretty impressive. The food overall was kind of mediocre. Meh on the salsa, the rice/beans were only okay and there was nothing really compelling about the quesadilla. I'll try it again for the chicken soup but overall, I'm just kind of sad it wasn't better. read more

This place is ridiculously good. I came here with a friend and she thought they forgot to charge us because it was so cheap. Amazing Mexican martinis, the best roasted chicken I've ever had, and a cute patio make this one of my favorite restaurants in town. A few notes: Julio's is CASH ONLY, which is quirky and kind of annoying if you decide to go for that third mex-mart (which is probably a bad idea anyway). They've been known to run out of chicken on super busy nights, which can be random. If you're taller than 5'6" or larger than a size 8, you could easily become lodged in the women's restroom, doomed to be extracted by a burly fireman. read more

It's really not hard to make me like a Mexican restaurant. Here's what I need: Green sauce chicken enchiladas Homemade feeling rice and beans (cause those, you have to feel with your heart) Great salsa (chips can even be tasteless or stale if the salsa is so good that I want to drink it. The chip then becomes a utensil). Also, don't charge me for chips and salsa. Seriously, that's a dick move Have a fantastic margarita. Julio's met 3 of those 5 requirements for me. I really liked the enchiladas and beans, but the rice didn't taste appealing. It seemed like it was cooked in a tomato sauce, but there was no tomato taste. It didn't seem worth the calories so I neglected those and gave them to my bf when I was done with the meal. Stale chips, good salsa. BUT they made us pay $2 for it. I know $2 isn't something to complain about, but I hate when restaurants do that. They know people associate that with a trip to a Mexican restaurant and will pay for it. They had a decent margarita. Mine was mango flavored, and I loved the taste, but it didn't warrant a $6.50 price tag. Also, the lady working the front counter was not friendly. She reminded me of my stuck up aunt who can't be bothered by anyone beneath her. It's okay, don't thank me when I put a tip in the jar despite the fact that this is counter service. HOWEVER, the guy that brought out my margarita was straight up Don Juan de Marco. Seriously, he was so sweet and so beautiful. Swoon city. I'm giving this place 4 stars even though I think they really deserve 3. My boyfriend got a chicken fajita taco and I had a bite. I want to come back to try the chicken alone, so I'm staying on the positive side for now. read more

The food is here is soooo good and fresh! I've loved everything I've tried. I especially recommend the chicken soup, the chicken platter, and the veggie nachos. I eat here at least once a week. The only downside is that it is cash-only, but it's worth the small trip to the ATM (there's one conveniently located just outside their door). read more

Amazing salsa. Very tasty beef fajita taco. But, when I got my change back the dollar bills were folded at the corners! I know, outrageous, right? For a restaurant that only accepts cash (and mine is always crisped prior to spending), you'd think they would have quality cash to return. When I tried to put them in my wallet they screamed at me, "Hey, don't put us in there like this. When you try and pull us out we'll all come out at once!" If the bills were flattened, then I'd add a fifth star. The salsa was amazing, though. Signed, "O.C.D. only about conditions of dollar bills" p.s. Please flatten your bills. I'm shaking. read more

Fantastic food! Came in on a whim, got the chicken tacos and was blown away. It was real chicken chunks, home made tortillas, and salsa was fantastic. Restaurant is small and cash only. So worth it. read more

Even though I found this place on Yelp, I missed one important detail, so I'll be loud and clear to save you from fumbling to find an ATM: CASH ONLY! CASH ONLY! CASH ONLY! CASH ONLY! Ok, now that's out of the way, let's talk about the goods. I got the Chicken Taco plate - one grilled chicken taco with cheese, tomato, and lettuce and sides of rice and beans. My friend got the Chicken Fajita Taco Plate that came with 2 tacos (chicken, tomato and lettuce), rice and beans that only cost 75 cents more. Julio's specialty is their grilled/roasted chicken, so although the second plate I mentioned had two tacos, the grilled chicken was more delicious. The chicken was a lot more tender and moist, and the Chicken Taco plate was a filling portion for lunch anyways, so the extra taco wasn't missed. The salsa is HOT, the beans are tasty, and the rice was a little mushy but still ok. I also loved the slight crispiness of the grilled taco, like a quesadilla. Also, who doesn't love eating his/her food on Fiestaware?! read more

Another in a series of reviews written in a des-prit attempt to save my eliteness. Julio's: Rockman needz his mescin foodz - so Julio's is one in a rotation of close-by eateries we patronize. The menu is simple and only cash is acceptable tender; however, each meal is fresh and is not loaded down with greasy cheese. And you know how many Tex-Mex restaurants have marginal tomatoey-rice? Yeah, not here. The rice is actually one of my favorite dishes. Of course, the chips and salsa are complimentary and wonderful (a must). My only complaint is that I have to see that Rick Perry glossy on the wall when I order. Other than that, I'm a huge fan. read more

I came here with a few friends on a Saturday morning, we were looking for brunch options before heading out to FFF. First thing we were warned about was that Julio's was Cash Only. Lucky me, I had cash so Julio's it was. I was really excited about the prospect of getting a taste of Austin's version of "Mexican". Just like other reviewers have noted, the set up of Julio's is off-putting and I can imagine gets cramped during busy times. You order right by the register, where you're herded like cattle through the door. I ended up deciding on the Migas. I do appreciate that when you ask for a glass of water, you are provided a cup of ice for the self-serve water station. It's a good thing I was in great company, otherwise the wait for our food would have been unbearably long. I'm pretty sure we waiting for over 30 minutes for our food and even my friends, the locals, commented on how unusually long they were taking to get the food out. Once I did receive my migas, I noticed that my "seasonal fruit" was mingling with my refried beans. I wasn't willing to test my fortitude with bean covered grapes so I put those aside. The beans themselves were underseasoned and really disappointing. The migas were subjected to the same blah seasoning. I was thoroughly underwhelmed by everything except for the ranchero sauce which was incredibly flavorful and the beautifully cooked bacon. The rest of my fruit was also really tasty and I wept for the pieces that were sacrificed to the bean gods. It made me wonder why they just stuck fruit on the plate next to beans instead of placing a small bowl on the plate to separate them. As I was walking out of the restaurant, around the back (which is really the side) to where our car was parked, I was hit by an incredibly foul stench. As I looked around, I realized that the stench was coming from the back door of Julio's kitchen. They had their food scraps and dirty water strewn across the asphalt surrounded by a small infestation of flies. I'm not usually put off by a nasty display, but when a large amount of your customers are walking past that filth on a daily basis, you should at least do your best to keep that area somewhat clean. Whether I'll return to Julio's is another question entirely, I may if someone else has the cash and is paying. read more

Scrambled Mexican goodness, oh my! (and I'm not talking about my boyfriend). I'm talkin' about Migas with plenty of salsa poured on top, refried beans that you might want to lick off the plate, and fresh fresh fruit. Julio's fills your belly with a hearty breakfast and friendly service. The perfect start to a lazy Sunday. read more

Julio's is a profoundly "ok" place. I'm not really sure why so many of my friends give it rave reviews. It's not bad but there's nothing amazing about it, plus it's cash only. The breakfast tacos are ok, sure, but Taco Joint is just a minute down the road and it's better, faster, and they take credit cards. Or go to Tyson's a minute up the road and get the Robinsonion (aka the best taco on the planet). Julio's seems like the sort of place that would be decent if you lived in Ohio but this is Austin and there's nothing impressive about it. Plus it's cash only. Did I mention the cash-only part? read more

Cash only, but they seem to pass the savings along to you, considering their primo location. Jon A. and I both got the frozen house rita at the HH rate ($4.50 each) and the grilled fajita (your choice of chicken or beef) taco + cheese quesadilla plate ($7.50 each). The margarita was not mind-blowing, but it did fit the standard bill of what you'd expect from a frozen margarita. The plate was the right amount of food (not too much and not too little: just right) and quite delicious, too. Parking in their small lot area is okay during off-peak hours, but I would imagine it would be difficult to pull out of the spots that back up to Duval when it's busy. Also, I double-checked with the hostess before wandering off two doors down to Antonelli's Cheese shop since there are signs that warn you that parking in Julio's spots is only allowed for customers while they are dining there. (They were nice enough to oblige.) The verdict: I'll be back to Julio's again. Its laid back atmosphere, relatively low prices and tasty food is the perfect storm for me. read more

Pretty darn good food. I agree with the other reviews, the chicken is great. I got the chicken fajita tacos, and dang, those things were really juicy. Good serving size as it comes with two fajitas, rice, and beans. Really flavorful, and the pico/salsa they serve with it has a nice kick. I'd probably get the 1/2 chicken next time though. More worth the money. Besides the food, it has a nice little cafe atmosphere. Good place to chat with a small group of friends or to enjoy a meal on your own and do your own thing. Would be four stars except for two things. 1. Cash only. I understand, but man..I hate cash only. My personal preference. 2. Staff could've been nicer. I wasn't really welcomed, thanked, or anything-- like what usually happens at other restaurants. It's not a deal breaker, but I think shows how much a restaurant cares about their customers. Maybe it was just the staff at the time we went.. I'd definitely come back though. If I'm not in the mood to drive down to Oltorf for Habanero Mexican Cafe, Julio's is a solid pick for my Mexican food craving. read more

Cash only and not crazy cheap as far as Mexican fare or drinks go, but it's reasonable. Come here for a DELICIOUS filling breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and bring your dog onto the patio! Also the drinks are rather good and the ritas come with the happy umbrellas, which for some reason makes a big difference to me enough to comment on it. It's the little things (shrug). I have to say, they serve a better breakfast than Las Manitas, hands down. The only thing that can get a bit crazy are the insanely obnoxious grackels that hover about as you try to enjoy your meal. read more

I had yet another delightful lunch at Julio's today.. Everything about it is fantastic. Julio's is located in Hyde Park, as a part of a stretch of colorful, aesthetically pleasing buildings. The outside is lovely, decorated with plants and painted blue. The tables on the patio also sport Corona logos, so you know they're doing it right already. Anyway, besides the aura, the food is delicious. Typically, I go with my boyfriend, and I get the chicken soup, and he orders enchiladas. Now that my boyfriend has moved out of Austin, I always face the dilemma of what to get since I want bites of everything. You'll probably want to order everything off of the menu as well. Even my friends who were born in Mexico and raised eating home-cooked, authentic Mexican food love Julio's. My very critical friend, Alfredo, said that the carne guisada was legit, and that's a huge compliment coming from him. The only weird thing about Julio's is that there's a signed photo of Rick Perry near the cash register... It's slightly disturbing, but whatever, the food is delicious, the people are friendly, and you'll have an overall great experience. read more

NOM. I would give more stars if there were more vegetarian options. The ones that are available are totally 5-star-delectable. Also, the owners are so very super friendly. I also love the sidewalk cafe feel. Afterwards, walk over to Dolce Vita for delicious gelatto! read more

Cash only. Lucky hubby likes to carry cash on hand. Not much of a selection of food. Hopefully everything's good. What my husband and I had was good and we got it fast. We ordered the food at the cash register, got our number, and got our table. I went tee tee, came back and my food was on the table. Talk about fast food! Good Margarita (they allow only 2). I can't imagine how the bar fits in that tiny kitchen; I guess they make it work somehow. read more

I love Julios. It helps that I love Hyde Park. Julios and Hyde Park go together- period. I have never loved that they are a cash-only establishment. I'm the type that RARELY (almost never) carries cash on me. Therefore, I have to make a special stop at the ATM before heading over. But that doesn't stop me. I would go there even more often if they accepted credit, but I frequent Julios for many reasons anyway including, but not limited to: - I LOVE Mexican food. I could eat it 3 times per day; sometimes I do. -Brunch is my favorite meal. Brunch here is great, and served late. - This is the kind of place that I can stumble into on weekend morning for a little hair of the dog or just as naturally meet a business associate on a weekday morning for a power meeting over coffee and a yummy breakfast taco. - Migas - Chicken Nachos - Stella - Patio - Transcendent atmosphere (no regard for socioeconomic status) I love living in Hyde Park for many reasons, but a huge part of it is all of the restaurants within walking distance of my house. Of all of those eateries- Julios is the one I value most. read more

I really do not understand how this place has so many amazing reviews. Maybe we caught them on a bad night, I really don't know. But our tacos were awful, there was absolutely no flavor to them. And my margarita was terrible. When we sat down I noticed our table was pretty dirty, but hey, little Mexican restaurant, that's fairly normal. But when we saw 3 giant cockroaches, that was it. Two on the floor and one on the wall. At one point one of them ran under our table. I'm extremely tolerant of dirty hole in the wall Mexican restaurants, in fact I generally love them. They're usually the best. II don't think I've ever disliked any Mexican food I've ever had. I've preferred some over others, but we are definitely never, ever, coming here again. I mean, really, how can you screw up tacos when you're a Mexican restaurant. read more

I'm sorry, but how do you screw up nachos? They managed to at Julio's Cafe! A heaping (and I mean heaping) plate of the world's driest nachos, with a little container of salsa and guac. Never seen such a thing. Shame. read more

I have passed by this place every day, year after year and never thought twice about it. It's just something that I took for granted in my neighborhood. (SHAME on me!) My sister was in town and wanted to go here, so after a busy Monday at work we went out to have dinner and Margaritas. (don't judge, ok?) Julio's was pretty packed for it being a Monday night, I thought. But obviously that means they are doing something amazing if they can pull a crowd on that day of the week. My sister had a mango/strawberry rita and I had the strawberry rita. They were both delicious! My sister ordered a vegetarian chalupa and I ordered the enchilada/fajita plate. All conversations ended when the plate hit the table until every thing was gone. All of it was excellent. The only drawback, if there is one, is that it's cash only. I'm just not a cash carrier. But if I ever think ahead I'll be prepared when I come here again. read more

I've lived in the Hyde Park area (on the south end) for over 6 months now, but am still discovering all the great places nearby to eat. After this evening, I can certainly say I will come back to Julio's often. The atmosphere is casual and cozy. I saw couples, friends and even families there with young children, and all seemed to be enjoying themselves. The staff was friendly and accommodating, and the food arrived in a timely manner. My friend and I went at about 8 pm on a Saturday, and there was one table left inside for us. I can see that at a more prime dinner hour it could be overly crowded. The food was more than satisfactory. We shared chips and queso (the queso is perfectly yellow, thick, and spicy), and I thought my house frozen margarita was well-balanced... not too sweet and watered down, but not too alcoholic either. I had the fajita chicken taco plate and was pleased with the savory (but not greasy) chicken and fresh veggies. The two tacos were more than enough, but the rice was so tender I had to eat all of it too. I'll have to go back and try more of their menu (perhaps during breakfast hours to try the migas--my great weakness) before I'll give it five stars, but it's definitely a new favorite for when I'm craving tacos! CAVEAT EMPTOR (buyer beware): Make sure you come with cash! They don't take anything other than cash as payment. read more

My absolute total favorite Mexican restaurant. Your chicken dishes are awesome because they cook their own fresh chicken which you can see into the kitchen walking through the restaurant. Definitely not canned or frozen. It's a small place, order at the counter and pay in cash. read more

So when the time comes that I need Mexican food I want a lot of it and I want it to be MEXICAN FOOD this is where I go. If you are a fine dinning black tie kinda guy this place is not for you. However if you are a down to earth nacho muncher like me, this is the place. Really pulling out all the stops (apetizer, drink and entre) will hit you for about $12.00. Please follow these rules for a great meal: 1. Bring cash! (no debit cards, CCs or checks accepted) 2. Order at the counter and wait to tip until someone can see you put it in the jar. 3. Sit inside, the service is better and you don't risk adding grackle crap as an unintended condiment or being serenaded by pan handlers. 4. Wave wildly or approach the counter if you need anything as they seldom check you at the table once your food is brought. 5. Do not have a Corona or Dos Equis on top of two Mexican Margaritas or you will not be able to walk / drive home. 6. Don't come in a group of more than 4 people and if you dine alone expect to take food home. I suggest the beef dishes and the Nachos. If you ask real nice they will hook you up with some serious Jalepenos if you love it hot. read more

Now--I am giving Julio's Cafe 5 stars only based off of their Chicken Soup, because it is the only thing I've ever gotten from them. And I LOVE it. I have been meaning to check out other items on their menu, but the soup is just so darn good. You can tell that the soup base is a homemade broth, filled with great veggies/flavours: zucchini, carrots, onion, celery, squash, avocado slices, lime, and just enough oil. Also--I add the mexican rice, it's a great touch. Comes with tortillas. Austin--if you're looking for a GREAT chicken soup, go here. Perfect soup for when you've got a cold, or not! And it is a great price! (Remember to bring cash! They are CASH ONLY, but oh so worth it.) Nice spot for a casual lunch/dinner date: home-y atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. Looked like they have margaritas, Mexican martinis and a selection of Mexican beers. read more