You know you've finally jumped the shark when you're not gazing into Melissa's dreamy green eyes, but thinking about how to take taco pictures for a Yelp review. Oy vey. It's time to seriously consider a little break and maybe a Yelpcation. I'm not sure why I've never been to Julio's before, and I wasn't surprised that it was jammed on a Tuesday at 11:30am, but the crowd itself did surprise me: I was expecting everyone here to be exactly like Melissa and Ashley - you know, the hip, the cool, and the urbane - but this was one diverse, eclectic, and pretty mature crowd. Not in that "Early-bird Special" kind of way, but more like a "We've been coming here a long time and ain't gonna change for a bunch of hipsters" kind of thing. Cool by me. You probably know by now you order at the cash register, it's cash only, and they bring the food to your table. And when Julio's is packed, you're going to standing in line for something, whether to order or get your beverages, so just go with flow. Think of it as a Tex-Mex Disneyland. Incidentally, either the seats are lower or the tables are higher, but I felt like I needed a booster seat the entire time I was eating here. I've mentioned before that Tex-Mex cuisine is more alike to me than different, kind of like variations on a tortilla theme. I thought my veggie taco plate was pretty decent, I doused everything in their killer salsa, and Melissa's beef fajita taco plate looked pretty filling. My first instinct was to give this place a hearty three-star rating, just based on the food and ambiance. But once again, it's all about the people I'm with that makes the difference: When you finally do become hypnotized by dreamy green eyes, you just can't help being a fan. read more

Julio's Café - Veggie taco plate @ $8. You know, just bring two more tortillas for those grilled veggies... - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This restaurant is a one note wonder - which really is a wonder. It does Mexican chicken dishes. The chicken is wonderful. Moist and fragrant and full of flavor. Everything else is ho hum. So the basic guide to how good your plate is going to be is: What is the ratio of chicken to other ingredients? The chicken tacos are super stuffed with chicken and the garnishes take a back seat. Thumbs up. Beef fajita chalupas? What are you thinking? Chicken enchiladas? Has chicken but the chicken is buried in other stuff. Chicken fajitas? The moist chicken is better. So your three choices are the chicken taco, the chicken taco and the chicken taco. If you get their prime dish, life is sunshine and roses. Get anything else and you will be telling Yelp that Julio's is overrated. read more

What to order: Anything with their chicken. Also should mention that you order at the register, take a number, then the food is brought to you, i.e. no waiter service. read more

I haven't done a review for Julio's yet? What the,,,what ? !! ? I've been coming here for so long I guess I figured it would just happen by osmosis . Bring cash..no credit or debit here. I've always wondered why-all I know is that once upon a time they accepted personal checks & the owners generosity was taken advantage of :( Another thought is that this place could be a front for chicken bingo or toma todo (?) Estella? Inquiring minds want to know , lol! Love the breakfast tacos & chicken chalupas ! i could live on the tostada shells alone :) The Mexican Martini's used to be amazing when Gloria was here, might still be but haven't had one since she left. Try the green enchiladas and chicken vegetable soup, yumminessssss!! Sit on the lovely patio when the weather is good - and feed the birds if you wish to get bum-rushed by them. I don't say as I blame them, they love the food too! read more

Julio's Cafe is DELICIOUS! The staff is very friendly, and the prices aren't too high. Julio's also has the only "real" patio in Hyde Park. All of the other places and you have to sit inside. Some may think that $8 for a plate is expensive, but it's not too bad in 2008. Everywhere else I go, prices are way higher, especially when you bring the dinner menu into the picture. A beer at Julio's is cheap as hell too. During happy hour I can and get anything for about $2. The Enchilada Plate (green) is my favorite along with the Chalupas. Do not underestimate the Chalupa or even affiliate it with any other Chalupa you have heard of. This Chalupa is majestic in EVERY sense. The martini's are super good too. I occasionally come out here with my friends to get tipsy. The portion is pretty big I think. You get a full shaker cup with about 2.5 fills in the martini glass. Two of these guys and you're floatin around. It's true Julio's doesn't provide free chips or accept credit cards/checks... I order the chips anyway because the salsa is really good. If you're lucky you can catch the owner taking orders. She is a really sweet lady with a big smile and a super optimistic attitude. Enjoy! read more

Julio's Café - Julio's Patio - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Here's the thing about Austin: the average Mexican place here would be the best in a couple thousand towns nationwide. So I'm not gonna hate on Julio's: the chicken is fresh and free from grocery-store rotisserie grease, the staff/owners are kinder than a toy-filled chocolate egg (get it?) and downtown Hyde Park at sunset is a top-10 Austin vibe. But the salsa runs a bit thin and mild, the drinks run a bit pricey and tepid, and a three dollar side of beans may fetch you a skimpy ladle of charros that won't last in accordance with your chicken. The tables can be a bit wobbly, the gang of grad students next to you a lot loud and drunk, and the cash-only factor has sent many a Julio-newbie to the nearby ATM grumbling. Perhaps most notably, their famed chicken, while good, just didn't send my socks off to join their banished brethren in the Narnia behind the dryer. But my rotisserie chicken standards are very high, and only a jerk would blame Julio's pollo for being merely bueno. So before I come across as an antagonist toward what seems to otherwise be a lovely family-run neighborhood institution, I'll close by saying that I understand the charm, but I'm not falling in love on 43rd street any time soon. read more

Geez, I feel like a hater but I didn't love this place like apparently everyone else does. Two friends and I went and were just not impressed. One of them got something other than what they ordered, so naturally she was a little annoyed but that, but ate it anyway. I got chicken nachos which just consisted of a little bit of beans slapped on a chip with cheese and chicken. I will say that the chicken was really tender and moist, but it didn't really taste like much. I appreciated the fact that it is a small, local place, and it had a really cute patio, but I'm not sure I'd rush back. read more

I really wanted to like this spot since its in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, the food left little desire to return. You order inside at the counter and get a number tent like at Whataburger. The food at Whataburger is much better though. The carne guisada I has was ok. Good flavor, but I didn't enjoy the fatty cuts of meat. Everything else was bland. The rice was starchy and flavorless. The tortillas were definitely not homemade. The coffee was ok, but in a self serve station. My friend had some breakfast and it eas just ok. Potatoes were nicely cooked, but no flavor. It is cash only. On the plus side, they do have a patio and you can take the pooch, but I think I'd prefer to do that at the bakery next door. It's basically a fast food spot with bland mexican trying to appear like a hipster spot. read more

The food is solid, but it didn't knock my socks off. They only take cash, and this is a huge problem for me because I don't usually carry any. The 4 of us were scrambling to put together enough cash to eat... and that isn't the best way to start the morning. I also don't really like the order and pay, then sit system. The place is small, and so we were sitting right there by the line the whole time. Pretty disruptive way to eat your breakfast. Additionally, when I wanted more coffee it was like a maze to get a refill. Not because it's not placed well, but because there just isn't enough room in the joint to have so many people all doing their own thing. The decor is cute, and the staff friendly enough. The prices are reasonable... but more likely than not, next time I go out for breakfast I will go to a place that has sit-down service and that takes at least 1 of 100 plastic thingies I have swimming around my wallet. read more

Picture an early Spring evening with a nice weather. You want to just sit outside, with your sunglasses on, drinking wine or margaritas, watching people, hanging out with your great friends or lover or SO and taking your time. When your wine or margaritas glasses are emptied, big plates of yummy food follow. I can totally picture myself doing all that at Julio's Cafe. They do have outdoor seating that we make use whenever weather is nice. Some tables faces Duval St, which tends to be busy with cars and buses. But sitting at those tables gives you the closest feeling to sitting at some cafe in Europe. If you need something more intimate, there are some tables tucked in their patio, hidden behind the bushes, a pretty area with plenty of shades from the trees. If it's not too hot, I usually go for the Caldo de Pollo with a side of rice. That big bowl of soup is quite plenty for me. My second choice is usually the fajita and enchilada combo plate. Their green sauce is one of my favorite. I usually come home from Julio's, feeling.... happy. read more

Best Mexican restaurant. Come at least once a week for lunch, sometimes more. You have to get the roasted chicken. I usually get the quarter chicken plate with dark meat and refried beans. Fajita tacos great too but roasted is the specialty. Salty crunchy skin, fall off the bone meat. Shred up and taco to your heart's content. Tortilla soup is also awesome, heavy on the veggies and get it with rice. Cash only, order at the front. It's awesome because you pay first and they leave you be which is how I like it. read more

VEGETARIAN REVIEW: The beans they have no lard. And that already gets you a few stars in my book. I can't seem to get away from the tostada. It sounds simple but it's executed so well. The base is a fresh and crispy flour tortilla, the beans are tasty and not greasy, lettuce and cheese, and their homemade salsa and I'm in heaven. Paired it with a half mango half strawberry heavy handed margarita on a night out with my sister (see Lora T.'s review) and a great night was had to be sure. Even though I'm a vegetarian, I can't deny the accolades of the rotisserie chicken thanks to long time friend Jennifer F. (check out her spirited reviews) so next time I'm in Austin, I'll be taking the meaty BF to try that alongside me, and my bean tostada. Note: bring the dolla dolla bills yall, no cards here. read more

Julio's Café - La tostada con frijoles, saborosa! - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was looking for some yummy Mexican food lunch and tried Julio's based on all the good yelper comments. I would agree with many. This place had fresh fresh fresh de-lish food. I ordered the vegetarian taco plate and chips and salsa. All was very tasty, maybe not the bestest ever but very good. I was on my own so I liked the casualness of the place. You order at the counter, get a number, and they bring you your food. I sat outside, they had plenty of nice seating. Very peaceful but I was there in the afternoon. Before I left I was already planning what to order next time... read more

Julio's Café - Julio's Vegetarian Taco Plate - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

So... The food was OK. But I felt like for a place that excepted cash only they would provide a little more. The ambience wasn't much to brag about, the soft drinks were served by the can, the portion size was small compared to other Mexican restaurants, and no complementary chips and salsa. I gave Julio's an average rating because it is just that, average. read more

Now accepts credit cards. This was a recent change. Love all the food and friendly service.

Literally some of the best Mexican food I've ever had! The flavors in the food is something you want in all your dishes. The refried beans were creamy with just the right amount of seasoning. The rice was light and fluffy. All the grains were intact and had none of the "mush." It's something that you want in your Spanish rice. I sampled the chicken enchiladas with the tomatillo and ranchero sauce. The tomatillo sauce had a fresh flavor with a tangy twist. The queso fresco set off the the dish by tying in the chicken, tortillas, and the sauce. The ranchero sauce was the best "red" I've ever had. It had a hearty flavor that fell in line with the slices of carrots and pieces of beef. It was versatile enough to enjoy on a cold day or even on a warm day on the patio. Last tid bit: Get a marg! Done right in a low ball glass with some OG mix that's not filled with sugar. Gracias Julio's! read more

Julio's Café - Carne Guisado - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Pros: Amazing neighborhood. Great breakfast (my favorite is the migas plate which includes beans, fruit, bacon, and tortillas). Decent coffee. Next to Quacks :) Cons: Cash only. Can be busy. read more

Julio's Café - Migas Plate - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Fresh Mexican!!! Vegetables in all dishes are fresh and tasty. A Go To cozy spot for the neighborhood and people from all over town. Veggie quesadillas and chicken quesadillas are excellent. Green enchiladas are hearty and delicious. Popular roasted chicken looks to be a common favorite though I've not had it. The kitchen makes everything to order except likely not the top- level chicken soup which is truly a homemade tasting and deeply flavored soup. read more

Cash only. It's really good! Chips & Salsa aren't gratis but the salsa is sooo good that I wouldn't give it away either. I had the chicken enchiladas with green sauce & the bf had the carne guisada. Both were fantastic examples of what Tex-Mex should be. He also had a chalupa and he was in crispy tortilla heaven. It's only 4 stars because it's small, a little pricey and the cash only thing is a bummer. Also, we had his 16 year old and it's not kid friendly for picky eating guys like him. : ) Overall, we would definitely eat here again when we are Austin. read more

Julio's Café - Chicken enchiladas with green sauce! - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Good food! Would definitely go again. Only down side is limited parking up front and cash only. But they have an ATM outside read more

Julio's Café - Beef fajita tacos - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The food was Excellent! All of the food. Chicken enchiladas, beef fajita tacos, beef quesadillas, rice, beans. Everything! I'm over the moon! The service was great. My food was hot and ready. The ingredients are fresh. They are putting out the bomb food. Go there. Support this business. read more

Cash only - fantastic Mexican food. The "Mexican martinis" are very strong, but they sure don't taste like it, they're so good but watch out! Very casual, good neighborhood, cute shops around, and great food. I love this place. read more

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I've been going to Julio's since 1985 (when it was on West Lynn). It's high quality has remained the same ever since then! My family and I get dinner from there almost every single week. The chicken enchiladas verdes, the rotisserie chicken is, in my experience, the best in Austin, the chicken soup - it's all excellent and the people who run it are always friendly. Oh and the Margaritas and Mexican martini's - just great. read more

I eat here at least once a week...faithfully. My girlfriend and I have been coming here since I moved to Austin almost two years ago and at first I always got the green chicken enchilada plate (which is to die for and I still eat regularly...we both do). Recently, however, because I'm such a fan of this place I've been trying new things and I'm so happy to say I haven't been disappointed! The Chicken soup is fantastic, comes with with lots of veggies and fills me up before I even finish the bowl. The migas breakfast could come with fresher fruit but is also great (and I could be biased being from portland - none of the fruit here is fresh enough for me ha) On the other hand, I feel the need to mention that they always have fresh, perfectly ripened avocados to add to any meal which gets two thumbs up in my book. Sure, it's kind of annoying that they only accept cash but the service is amazing, the staff is amazing, and most importantly the food is amazing so just make sure you grab some cash on the way if you don't wanna get hit with the $3.50 ATM fee. It's worth it. read more

Julio's Café - green chicken enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

I was slightly disappointed with this place. First, it's cash only. Second, there are only like 10 tables in this place- so if you have a group with 4+ people you're screwed. Third, since this place is so small, you're almost always waiting for a table to get up. And though it's a bummer to wait, it really sucks for the folks who are eating.. How is anyone supposed to enjoy their meal when theres a group of people waiting for you to hurry up and get out so they can sit down? Fourth, the food wasn't great. It's not terrible, but certainly not the best. I'd avoid the hassle of this place. read more

I love coming here. One of my favourite places to eat outside. Good TexMex food. It is a cash only establishment. Good news they dco have an ATM right close to the entrance. Family owned and operated. Very good people here. read more

Julio's Café - Breakfast tacos are delicious. - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great chicken soup. I love the cash only option. Try to bring exact cash. It's still closed for dine only. No problem. Everyone should be staying home & safe. Nice staff. I've only had the soup. It's out of this world! read more

Food Very Good Decor Good Service Very Good Great food. Had the 1/2 chicken with rice and pinto beans. The chicken was very tender and flavorful but overcooked and a bit dry. The rice was the best I had ever had. A great little neighborhood gem! read more

Julio's holds a special place in my heart. Their food is delicious & they're Mexican martinis are strong! I recommend Julio's to all of my friends coming through town. It's small and quaint, with good people and a good atmosphere. If you're feeling soup, their chicken & veggie soup is really something special. read more

I was craving a chalupa in the middle of the afternoon for no good reason, and nothing else would do. After googling "Austin chalupas", Julio's popped up. Yay! I love their salsa. A very nice woman took my order over the phone, and 10 minutes later, it was ready along with a flan I got for good measure. Some reviews state cash only, but they had a card reader and took my debit card. They had some tables on their patio where people were dining, but the inside looks like it's for to go orders only. I got home and was delighted to find the lettuce on my chalupa was super fresh and crisp, and the avocado I asked for was chunky and plentiful. My favorite salsa was there, too. My only disappointment was that they assembled the whole thing on a fried flour tortilla instead of corn. Kudos for the homemade part, but a chalupa on anything but a corn shell is just weird to me. I would've given them a solid 5 stars otherwise. It made me wonder why I forget this place when I'm craving Mexican food. Maybe it's because in pre-pandemic times, you couldn't find parking or get a table. That's not an issue right now. I'm going to enjoy Julio's takeout more often and support this local business while I can. read more

I had an unusual craving for enchiladas with green sauce and those that I ordered were pretty much exactly what I wanted. Really good. Straightforward, no frills, good flavor, good service, prompt service. Be mindful that it's a cash-only establishment. I want to go back and try their nachos, chalupas, etc. I loved the flavor of the beans. And the tomatillo sauce was so good used it to make little tacos with my leftover beans, rice and tortillas. I will go back. read more

Legit place to eat. I also now have a salsa addiction which they're happy to cater too. Literally it's the best place in town to buy salsa if you're in the neighborhood. Besides their salsa, and really that should be enough to get you in, their food is fantastic. Great for dinner, eating in or takeout. You just have to be careful with some of the portions/prices. Some meals will provide plenty of food for the money, others will leave you a little hungry, but it's ok because it's all delicious. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because they aren't open more often. read more

This place is great! I can't believe I didn't check them out until now. The person at the cash register (Frank) was super friendly, the food came out fast, and everything tasted fresh and healthy. It wasn't quite TexMex (waaay better) and it wasn't quite Mexican (which I was ok with), but rather a slightly different style. I got the chicken tostada, and it seemed like it was maybe rotisserie chicken they shredded up. Whatever they did, it was great! I also got the lemonade, which tasted like they made it fresh. Overall, Id definitely recommend. read more

Julio's Café - Casual outdoor seating - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Best neighborhood spot for fajita tacos and a Modelo. Bomb!

If you're looking for authentic Mexican then this is NOT the place. Came here with my wife and sister and we all agreed that the food was mediocre. Wife ordered some enchiladas that we all tried and couldn't even eat half the plate because of the taste. They only except cash, which is very inconvenient for many people. Only good thing about our trip was the friendly staff at the front. read more

My favorite breakfast spot in Austin. I live in Houston, but I travel to the Austin area frequently. Although I love to try new places, I never want to miss out on the Migas at Julio's! read more

This was the first stop on our tour for National Margarita Day. We had the Top Shelf Rita and it was a three star drink. Also sampled their menu by trying a chicken quesadilla. The guacamole was the best thing on the plate. The quesadilla was skimpy and the partial enjoyment of eating it was squashed by the piece of chicken gristle and then the 1 1/2 inch chicken bone. The Spanish Rice that accompanied the quesadilla was way overcooked and puffy with water. read more

This restaurant will forever be my go to for Mexican food in Austin. So consistently good. I've been going here for the last 10 years and it always shocks me when I talk to other Austinites who have never been to Julio's. read more

Snooze. The beef was tough and sour. The help was uninterested. My wife and I had the same impression of the food. The tortillas were weirdly rubbery - as if they'd been overcooked, stored, and then reheated. They had no taste and I just didn't like them. The place lacks charm. Forget it. read more

Nom. Nom. Nom. Went for Sunday lunch. Cheap. Friendly. Delicious. My mexican-restaurant-rate-o-meter (the refried beans), rates high at a 8/10. Home-made chips too. Or maybe they bought some Santitas and sprinkled some deep-fried crack on it. Cost-wise similar to Chuy's ($8-12 plates generally). More food than anyone in this country needs for a single meal. Chicken tacos, huevos rancheros, all fantastic. Actually, rewind. Chicken tacos were phenomenal. Real good chef and grill guy/girl in the back for sure. Quiero Julio's Cafe!!! read more

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