Julio's Restaurant Reviews

Ate here at the recommendation of a local resident. Enjoyed salsa, guac, and chips to warm up. Tasty chicken enchiladas with salsa verde with the usual sides. Seemed like a lot of use of the microwave in the kitchen which always makes me a bit apprehensive. Overall the food was decent and reasonably priced. This is a neighborhood restaurant and there wasn't much atmosphere (perhaps an outdoor seat would have been better). A good pick for basic food but don't arrive looking for anything fancy or trendy.

An unsuspecting quiet seeming, cash only place with perfectly cooked huevos rancheros; the sauce did it for me. Wow.

In the 21st century, more people carry around plastic (i.e., debit/credit cards) for safety and convenience. It's not always eco-friendly, but if you're robbed, you can still protect your assets. Unfortunately, not all places of business have adapted to this new-fangled way of transaction. I give you Julio's Restaurant. The food is tasty, however, to call in your order only to leave it at the restaurant because you have no cash is ANNOYING! I have done it twice. The first time, I didn't know it was cash only, so I vowed to never go there again. Because I'm pregnant, I tend to forget boycott vows when I'm hungry, and over a year later, I called again to place an order for pick up. The woman on the other end of the call was friendly, but had not yet mastered the English language. After an awkward exchange, my order is made, and I'm on my way to pick up my yummy rotisserie chicken with rice and beans (only pinto because they don't carry black beans--wah, wah). I get there, and I see the "CASH ONLY" sign--AAAAARGH! Foiled again! This time I will document my boycott vow to never darken the doorstep of Julio's Restaurant again! They will have to do without my $11.95.

This is the place for Mexican comfort food. The chicken tacos, 1/2 chicken dinner special, and chicken enchiladas with verde sauce are my favorites

We stopped here as the patio was always packed with locals and I can see why. Its a very casual place, cheap tables and chairs, cash-only, you order at the counter before you sit down, and the food is simple tex-Mex. When we looked at our plates, we thought that the food looked merely ok. Nothing fancy. And it's not, but I was impressed that the chicken was excellent (roasted and moist instead of the usual boiled), the guacamole was fresh with huge chunks of avocado, the lettuce was green leaf instead of the usual tasteless iceberg, and so on. Nothing fancy at all, but the ingredients were all a notch better than the nicer TexMex restaurants we usually go to. If I lived here, I suspect we'd become real regulars. I will definitely come back the next time we are in town. Particularly if it's a nice day and I can linger on the patio with a beer!

Bring a book and hang out. The baked good are delicious, but the coffee is only average.

Read great reviews and they are right. Simple and tasty Mexican food. Well prepared and quickly delivered to your table after ordering. Lots of Vegetarian options and great chicken and steak fajitas and tacos. We’ll be back.

Native Texan here- in Austin just one night & I picked the SPOT ON best place in Austin for a FABULOUS Tex Mex meal. I've searched for a place like this near my house but haven't found it. I'll gladly drive 3 hours south to Julio's. Excellent friendly service & BEST EVER chicken enchiladas with green tomatillo sauce. Presentation was on fleek with a huge plate full of fresh tasty food. The sauce was perfect- EXCELLENT FLAVOR. Delicious chicken & tortillas. Amazing refried beans. Enjoyed the queso & fantastic salsa with chips. We ordered guacamole and it was TOP NOTCH & a generous sized serving. Everything was fresh and lovingly prepared. Super casual charming atmosphere. We sat inside in a small booth for two. My husband ran across the street to get cash from the grocery store as Julio's is cash only. Hubby loved his beef fajita tacos too. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Can't wait to come again next time I'm in Austin.

Friendly neighborhood restaurant. Excellent food, great prices, friendly staff, try the Mexican martini. You won't be disappointed.

I go to Mexico often and love the grilled chicken. My favorite place on Earth is a little place in Playa Del Carmen. Julio's is as close as you can come to that little slice of heaven for Pollo Asadero. great flavor and tender, accompanied with a great salsa and hot corn tortillas. Try the Mexican martini Margarita....you definitely get your monies worth! Don't miss it!

A great spot with a lot of character. The chicken and vegetable soup is highly recommended. Certainly more than filling and at a great price. The place is cash only.

Although we've lived in Austin for many years before this place opened, today was our first time there because one of our adult kids wanted to go there. I think it's the only TexMex place in this Hyde Park neighborhood. Clearly the locals like it as they were crammed in there by noon today waiting for a table. We got there at 11:30 and were able to get a table quickly. I didn't count seats, but there are probably places for about 40 people to eat inside, but lots of tables outside. But when it's 100 degrees outside, almost everybody wanted inside and stood watching you eat so they could grab a table when you got up. They serve breakfast, but stop breakfast at 11:30 AM. Bring cash, although is an ATM outside. The only place we've ever used an ATM was in Dubrovnik to get foreign currency when my wife wanted to keep on shopping. We don't use ATM's in the US and don't understand why this place is still back in the dark ages requiring cash. That alone would be enough of a reason to not go back as I don't normally carry cash, but today, fortunately I had some. The reason of course, is that this small restaurant has all the business they want and can handle in their small place, so their focus is on making the most money with the customers they can handle. That said, the prices were reasonable, which they would probably want to raise 3 to 5% if they took credit cards. This place seems to specialize in roasted chicken and you can even order a whole roasted chicken and that is something that is not seen often in local Tex Mex Restaurants. I had a chicken enchilada with verde sauce and think they used some of their roasted chicken in the enchilada. The chicken was good and the sauce was good. I also had a beef fajita taco in a flour tortilla. The beef was overcooked and very bland. With both the enchilada and the taco, the tortillas were tough and were either not fresh or perhaps heated up in a microwave as that toughens the tortilla. I couldn't cut the flour tortilla with my fork and had to use my knife to cut off the first bites. (It was full of lettuce and beef so I didn't just pick it up and try to eat it.) My wife ordered a chalupa with grilled chicken and they brought her a quesadilla instead. My wife told the waitress that wasn't what she ordered, but the woman sat it down anyway. My wife really did not want a quesadilla, so I called her back, and asked to please get the chalupa she had ordered. She took away the quesadilla and in about 5 minutes brought the chalupa. Although there were 6 other people in our group, they all got their food long before we got ours and left before we got through as they couldn't sit there with so many people hovering for tables and they certainly couldn't stand out in the sun. There was no other place to wait. My wife had to add salt and pepper and salsa to the chalupa as she said it was bland and needed salt. We think that's the first time we've ever had to salt TexMex food. Finally, this restaurant offers something that is in most Tex Mex restaurants in San Antonio, but not often in Austin - Caldo de pollo. This is a San Antonio favorite and Julios is very good. They brought a large bowl, as in San Antonio, almost like a small serving bowl instead of a soup bowl. The bowl had a piece of corn-on-the-cob, potatoes, an avocado slice garnish, and was full of large chunks of vegetables. It reminded us of the Caldo we've had in San Antonio. The caldo almost pushed the rating to a four, but the other food that was bland and tough tortillas kept the rating to a three. While the caldo was authentic Tex Mex, the rest of the food was bland, but again, it's what the locals like and it's in the middle of their neighborhood. And if you live in the neighborhood, you're not going to be reading TripAdvisor on Julio's anyway because you've already been going there for years.

We were looking to try someplace new for Mexican food last night. Having lived in Austin for 20 yrs. one would think we had tried every possible place by now, but we were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon Julio's! I have been to every other restaurant on their block but somehow managed to miss Julio's by some odd chance. Just as the other restaurants that surround them, this was a great little spot! Food and drinks all delish. The kids felt extra fancy enjoying a bottled Jarritos with their meals. We loved sitting out on the patio and enjoying our meal. Overall a good experience. My only slight observation was a bit of shock at paying $65 for dinner ordered at the counter prior to even being seated. For some reason that just seems more palatable at a full-service restaurant. And, they only take cash which is fine since there is an ATM outside. But, the cashier who took our order simply told my husband "sorry we don't take plastic" and did not offer that there was an ATM outside if we needed cash. I had seen it on the way in and I had cash so all was good, but there was a more polite way to handle that. So, come with cash, take a look at the menu beforehand to get familiarize yourself with their offerings, and just take it with a grain of salt if the cashier is slightly less than warm and bubbly. All in all good and recommended!

I planned on eating at the restaurant across the street but one of locals on the film crew I was working with said I just HAD to eat at Julio's. She's Mexican-American. She's a vegetarian. She's totally awesome. So I ditched my earlier plan and had dinner at Julio's. Here's the thing - you order at the tiny register. You don't sit down. There are menus on the counter. Not above the register. They ONLY take cash. The chips and salsa automatically come to the table so don't order them because they aren't on the menu. Once you're over the whole "why isn't anyone seating me" confusion and you've handed over the money before you've seen your food, you find yourself a table and put your number (they'll hand you a number) on the table. Maybe you'll have received a glass of water. If you want some ask at the counter. Some nice person will bring you some chips and you'll fall in love with the fresh salsa. I swear. Then out will come the food. And it will be so worth it. The rice is perfect. The green tomatillo sauce excellent. The chicken... if you eat chicken get some chicken. These folks can do chicken. I sat there after cleaning my plate wondering if I should order more food. Something for later. Or for the morning. And even as I write this I'm still experiencing a bit of buzz from that margarita. A rocks class of margarita that stays with you long after the meal is a heck of a margarita.

Had a great meal for not much money. Good local spot with friendly staff. Food was served quickly but you might have to wait for a table. Cash only.

The only reason I am giving this a very good instead of excellent is because we never actually ate here! We did however come here 3 days in a row for happy hour because they had the best margaritas I have ever had. I really wish we had tried the food as it did look wonderful, but we had other dinner plans each night.

Our son suggested Julio’s for an anniversary lunch for my husband and I. Loved the food and service. My son has been eating there for 20 years . I’m only sorry we didn’t know about this place before. We will definitely go back. Their martinis are wonderful! So, all in all, great food and drink plus the owner, Stella, is a sweet lady.

Locally owned by a couple of hard working ladies. They had autographed pictures of Mack Brown and Rick Perry so I was surprised that this place had only one review on tripadvisor. We ate there for lunch and was very busy. It is a cash only joint and you order and pay up at up front. I had chicken enchiladas and they were great. I would definitely go there again.

I had the bacon wrapped prawns and hey were really good. the prawns were a touch over but in order to cook the bacon fully that cannot be avoided. the prawns were stuffed with fresh Jalapeno and pepperjack chees which really notched up the flavor of them. the Quacomole was feesh but could have used a little zing to it. Pico De Gallo was average. Their beans and rice were typical fare. All in all, I would recommend this as a goto if you want a good meal .

Julio's is the neighborhood spot -- at lunch and dinner, it is about delicious roast chicken and perfectly prepared beans. But at breakfast it really shines -- the huevos rancheros are simply the best. Best ranchero sauce, freshest ingredients.

Was walking down South Congress Street I stopped into Croft's to shop, was talking about food that locals eat and Julio's was recommended, it was a bit of a drive but totally worth it. The Mexican Margarita comes in a martini shaker and fills the glass several times. The chicken is so tinder and flavorful, order it any way you want, you simply cannot go wrong. its a cash only place but an ATM is on site.

Great little neighborhood place in the Hyde Park area of Austin. We had dinner here, walking from our AirBnb lodgings nearby. We ordered the 1/4 Roasted Chicken special, Chicken Soup, Chicken Taco Plate, and the Chicken Quesadilla. All of us enjoyed our meals. Well prepared roasted chicken is the theme here. They only deal in cash, but if you don't have enough in your wallet there's an ATM just outside the door.

We made a quick trip to the grocery across the street and needed some rotisserie chicken, the cashier suggested Julio's and I'm so glad she did! We got 2 chickens for a family of 5 and we were able to get 2 meals out of it! It was a little salty BUT SO GOOD. Falling off the bone delicious. Although we didn't dine in, everyone that worked there was so extremely helpful and kind. Exactly what you expect from a small family establishment that you would want to keep coming back to!

I have been a Julio's customer for over 30 years! They make the absolute best breakfast tacos I've ever had. Every element is perfect. This little Hyde Park hole in the wall keeps it's standards high after all these years. And don't forget about the chalupas! They use green leaf lettuce, not iceberg. It's that commitment to quality ingredients that separates them from all the rest. The rotisserie chicken is one of the best deals for miles around, and so flavorful too. I cannot say enough good thing about Julio's!

Certainly among the best places in Austin for roast chicken. For a light lunch, try the chicken fajita tacos on corn tortillas. Ask for extra ranchero sauce. Good cold beer -- no frills. Friendly and helpful service.

My husband and I are regulars at Julio's. We eat there at least once per week. The food is consistently fresh and flavorful and the atmosphere is friendly and family oriented. Very affordable but definitely NOT a "greasy spoon" type restaurant. It is a CASH only establishment with an ATM nearby. My three favorite menu items are the delicious chicken and vegetable soup (Caldo de pollo), Chicken Chalupa and the Chicken and house salad plate. Great Mexican martinis!

Absolutely great little neighborhood place. Very simple - order and pay at the register when you come in. Food is simple, authentic, and great. Kind of out of the way, but in a fantastic eclectic neighborhood with a real diversity in restaurants.

Julio's is a good little neighborhood spot with really big breakfast tacos and rotisserie chickens that are delicious. THere are no ground beef items on their menu so don't expect it to me very tex-mex.

This is a great place that is way away from the big chains. The menu is simple but the chicken enchiladas with the green sauce is fantastic. There is nothing fancy here and you will probably need to sit outside. Well worth the effort to find it.

Just came here for breakfast tacos to go, so I can't comment on the rest of the menu, but based on those, we definitely will return. The tacos were very full of meat and quite tasty. The hot sauce was just the right amount of spicy. Be sure to bring cash as this is a cash only restaurant.

Austin friends took me to this awesome restaurant and recommended the chicken enchiladas (which I had with the red sauce) and I loved it. A great test of any Mexican restaurant is the salsa, and this was another winner. Busy place, be willing to eat outside at peak periods.

Have liked this Mexican restaurant for years! Featuring grilled chicken of all sorts. Chicken enchiladas verdes (grreen sauce) simply marvelous. Go there!

Unfortunately (or fortunately) the cooks were visible from dining room. No one was wearing gloves grabbing food out of various containers in a filthy kitchen. They do not take credit cards but "conveniently" have an ATM which of course they are receiving the fees for that. People this CHEAP and filthy should not be able to run a restaurant.

Very good Tex-Mex food that was freshly prepared. Everything was made fresh - even the refries. On street parking in the area was minimal. Happy hour drinks were a little smaller than expected but overall it was a great experience. Staff was great.

This small restaurant in Austin's Hyde Park neighborhood has been making the most tasty, moist, and fully flavorful for nearly 30 years. Also, it has great breakfast tacos. Returning to Austin after some time away, it was wonderful to find Julio's still going strong.

This little cash-only restaurant has surprisingly good Tex-Mex food. Like most places in Hyde Park, the parking is a challenge during peak hours, so come prepared to park on the street and hike in. Quesadillas and enchiladas on our visit were delicious and very reasonably priced. The place is small so you may have to wait for a table unless you eat early or late, or take out. Order and pay at the counter, and they bring your food to you. Chips and salsa are not complimentary, but buy them anyway - they're good.

Small "hole in the wall" place, that seems popular with locals. Service was quick and the food authentic and good Just a note they only take cash, but the prices are very reasonable

Cash only, nothing fancy but Tex Mex food and family running the place are top notch. Whether you sit outside and watch the neighborhood walk by or sit inside, you'll be glad you found Julio's. I hope they never ever change anything! After dinner, if you are smart you'll walk next door to Quack's bakery. Its another Austin institution and always has delicious treats.

Loved this place! We found this place on our way out of Austin and wish we had discovered it earlier! We both had breakfast and loved the eggs, tacos, beans, etc. Very good!

Julios is our neighborhood go-to. We can sit out, munch succulent grilled chicken tacos, drink huge Mexican margaritas, enjoy the music, and meet n greet. Excellent for breakfast; you must try the special migas. Warning: cash only (they are small and can't afford the silly card fees). The owner, Stella, is always there, and her kids help serve. Confession: we hit the joint twice a week.

Great service, atmosphere, and excellent food. Like everything, but love their roast chicken . . . and those nachos!

We frequently walked Julio's all the time when we lived in Hyde Park, and we still make a special trip whenever we are back in town. The chicken enchiladas verdes are my favorite. The nachos are huge. The chicken is amazing. The soup works miracles. Great family run restaurant! Reasonably priced, but cash only.

I live in MD and grew up an Okie... I LOVE Mexican food. Getting it in the DC area is hard. This was outstanding. The enchiladas verde were suburb!

The food was average....nothing extra special. We had Enchiladas and there were decent. The Margarita's were good....but you expect any Mex place to have good drinks. We thought Maudies was better by far! Give it a try and post your thoughts!

At this cash-only restaurant, things move quick. As far as I can tell, you order at the register, have a seat, and you'll have some nice tacos done in good time. When I'm in Austin, I'm having breakfast tacos. pick three items off the list and from that point on, it's all good.

Julios began on my street then moved some years ago to the present location. It is a success because it has a simple menu and consistently good Mexican food. It features chicken rotisserie prepared in several ways. I had a chicken tostada this time around. It was the best I have ever eaten! The tostada was crisp and delicious. The greens, avocado and tomato fresh. My friend and I ate outside among our fellow diners in very pleasant weather while watching the neghborhood go by. Parking. Bring cash.

Julio's was one of my stops on a recent soup crawl through Austin. The chicken and vegetable soup is delicious! Hearty and full of great chunks of chicken and vegetables. The trick is to squeeze the like in it. The line gives it an amazing flavor! Julio himself served us and he was so personable and accommodating. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here. A great gem in Hyde Park.

Good quality food in a friendly atmosphere. We eat here about 3 times a month. Mexican Martinis are killer!

Used to live in this neighborhood and loved their chicken, beans (not refried) and spanish rice.

Not a fancy place but don"t let that fool you. The food was excellent. We enjoyed a pitcher of margaritas and great food.

This is a Hyde Park neighborhood cafe with delicious inexpensive Mexican food. Atmosphere is minimal, and the seating is not wonderful -- but, the food is.

Hands Down the best chicken in Austin. This family recipe was handed down through family generations. Wether you order the Caldo, Enchiladas, or Roasted plates, the hearty flavors come through!! Great prices for large portions of home cooking at its finest!! We will definitely be regulars!!

Julio's is the kind of place that Austin used to be full of! Low key, great food, inexpensive. Maybe a little shabby but that's part of the fun. Julio's is always crowded and there's a good reason for that. It's casual, it's fun, the food is good and the drinks are awesome. I usually get the chicken chalupa and it's a meal in itself. Add a Mexican Martini and some guacamole and you have a feast. Everything here is delicious and tastes home-made. The soup is a huge bowl of chicken and vegetable soup and is the perfect meal on a cold day. Come to Julio's unless you don't enjoy the shabby chic kind of atmosphere (some don't) - you can go elsewhere and pay a lot more for a lot less.

This is a good choice in a neighborhood of good choices. An excellent area to go if you are not sure what you want. I love Julio’s chicken dishes and eetyrn for that when I come. Give it a try!

Jim Buechler plays acoustic guitar on Thursday nights on the patio. Zen out while enjoying a topotini, enchiladas verdes and our favorite guacamole in Austin. Estella, Julio and the lovely Francisco have created the warmest neighborhood vibe in Hyde Park. I’ve been a customer from day one at their original location on West Lynn, and the quality hasn’t changed since the late 80’s. This is a landmark, a constant and a reminder of the “Old Austin” that exists only in fragments today. I still miss Las Manitas on Congress Avenue, and I pray Julio’s survives as long as I live.

This is unique serving huge bowls of chicken vegetable soup and roasted chicken. Order at the register but they bring the food to you. It is a mexican restaurant but the menu is not just tacos and burritos. Very loud but interesting.

Great, cheap place for fast, delicious Mexican. The Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas are my favorite, and the quesadillas are also really really good.