Welcome to Uncle Julio's Durham
Uncle Julio's Durham, located at 8030 Renaissance Pkwy, is a vibrant Mexican restaurant known for its commitment to quality and flavorful dishes. Guests are greeted with complimentary warm chips and tantalizing salsa that have received rave reviews for their freshness and zest. Highlights on the menu include succulent Fajitas and delicious Pulled Chicken Rice Bowls, which leave patrons raving about their generous portions and delightful flavors. The welcoming ambiance, complemented by attentive staff, enhances the dining experience. While service can be busy, the overall atmosphere and delectable offerings make Uncle Julio's a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Mexican cuisine.
- 8030 Renaissance Pkwy, Durham, NC 27713, United States Hotline: +1 984-329-2900
Welcome to Uncle Julio's Durham, an exciting destination at 8030 Renaissance Pkwy in the heart of Durham, NC. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and commitment to quality, this restaurant is a beloved spot for both locals and visitors alike. Upon entering, you're greeted by warm, subdued lighting and decor that creates an intimate yet inviting ambiance.
Uncle Julio's impresses right from the start with complimentary chips and their standout salsa—a true favorite among patrons. As John Kroetch remarked, this salsa is among the best he has tasted, accompanied by warm, fresh chips that are crunchy and addictive. It's a delightful way to kick off your meal, setting the tone for the delicious experiences to come.
The menu features a delectable array of Tex-Mex dishes, including the famed fajitas, enchiladas, and their signature rice bowls. Customers like Carly Kjelstrom rave about the presentation and flavors, particularly noting the skirt steak and pulled chicken as highlights of their meals. Despite some minor critiques—like the need for a bit more seasoning in the guacamole—the overall feedback speaks to the freshness and quality of the ingredients used, making your culinary journey here worth every penny.
Service at Uncle Julio's also receives significant acknowledgment. Although some patrons have noted that during busy times, servers can be overworked, the kindness and willingness to assist remain high. As experienced by David Blumberg, attentive staff like Esteban and manager Stephanie ensure a welcoming dining experience, further enhancing the restaurant's charm.
The atmosphere is complemented by large seating arrangements that maintain a cozy feel, which Karen Kunert eloquently described during her lunch visit, appreciating not only the quick service but also the ambiance echoing warmth throughout the space. Whether you're coming for a family dinner or a casual night out, Uncle Julio's Durham strives to create lasting memories through exceptional food and friendly service.
So, if you're looking to indulge in quality Mexican cuisine with generous portions, head over to Uncle Julio's Durham. Be sure to start with the salsa and chips to get the full experience, and you might just find yourself, like many before you, planning your next visit before you even leave.
Contact Details:
Phone: +1 984-329-2900

I was taken to a seat very quickly, and a big bowl of chips and salsa were brought. This was probably some of the best salsa I've tasted. The chips were warm, fresh, and crunchy. I emptied the salsa bowl! I ordered the tex-mex combination dinner. When it arrived, the plate was very full. The beef taco was okay, and the chicken enchilada was good, but the chicken was a bit dry for my taste. The beef enchilada was very good. It would have been easier to eat if I had a knife, but the servers were so busy I couldn't get their attention. 5 stars for food, due to the salsa and generous portions. 4 stars for service - they were very nice but overworked.

We LOVED eating at Uncle Julio's at Southpoint in Durham The service was fast, the food hot and very fresh, and the waitress was super nice! Started with some complimentary chips and (spicy) salsa. Jason ordered the Guacamole for an appetizer, and Guadalara-ed Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and Chicken Fajitas as the meal, and I got the Pulled Chicken Rice Bowl. Cost: 28 each, because Jason's meal was 28 Kid-friendly: possibly, but it's expensive The Guacamole looked pretty, but according to Jason is wasn't great. The veggie chunks were too chunky, and he thinks it needed salt. Plus, an avocado only costs 1 but this guac was 8.50. Not awesome. Jason ordered the bacon wrapped shrimp and chicken fajitas, and ordered Guadalajara style, which means he got 4 (beautiful and delicious) pieces of strip steak for only 1 more. Oh man, I could have about the skirt steak as a whole review! The overall presentation of the meal was beautiful and it sizzled exactly as it should. The only downside was the bacon was undercooked so it was chewy. Jason says it was better as leftovers because it may have cooked more when reheated. My rice bowl was beautiful as well and absolutely YUMMY! The pulled chicken was probably some of the best I've ever had, all the parts in the bowl tasted amazing individually, and when mixed together is was SO DELICIOUS. Overall... Price per meal was high. However the proportions you get are pretty big. We probably should have split a bowl and saved room for a churro! You could bring the kids but it's probably best for just adults based on the price. My highlight: the perfect pulled chicken Husband's highlight: skirt steak for sure

Uncle Julio’s located at 8030 Renaissance Pkwy, Durham, NC 27713 is a phenomenal Mexican food chain. Server Esteban was great!! Uncle Julio’s is a top top Mexican Restaurant chain that stresses quality as its feature. Tremendous food here - love their Fajitas! Manager Stephanie was fantastic too. Very welcoming. This is a large Uncle Julio’s but still has an intimate feeling with the subdued lighting and sections in an open environment. Gorgeous!

We had a wonderful lunch here last Friday. We were greeted and seated promptly. Javier was our server and he was the best! He was very gracious and friendly. We got our food quickly and it was very tasty. Kyla (the manager on duty) came by our table also, and she was very cordial as well. We have eaten at this location several times, and at the Raleigh location (which they sadly closed last year). We recommend this restaurant, especially if you are lucky enough to get Javier as your server.

First time here and I must say I loved it. The decor and ambiance is absolutely beautiful. They offer you free chips and salsa when you arrive and the salsa is damn good! I ordered the beef enchiladas and they were a smash. I will say everything has a kick to it the beans the cheese sauce the salsa so ask your server what’s hot and what’s not before ordering. I love spicy so everything was great to me. I will return and recommend!

Although on this visit I had to educate one of the new managers on how Uncle Julio's Gold Card holder works. Which is when one arrives with a Gold Card they do not have to wait to be seated. They get to be seated at the next available table. She tried to tell me it did not work like that. I told her it did, and I had a 25.00 credit to my account with an email address to corporate if we need to call to verify what I am telling her is correct. She went and questioned another manager, and she was told I was correct and shortly after that I was seated. I did not take what she told me personally. It was her not understanding how Uncle Julio's loyal program worked. I was able to educate her. I love this Uncle Julio's. My daughter and I was on our dinner date since she was home on spring break from college. We enjoyed our Tacos dinner and everything else that evening.

The food was great. Service was polite but very delayed. Prices were higher than I'd like, but the food quality was high enough to justify it. I won't eat there all the time, but I'll definitely be back.

Thank you for your prompt service, great staff and delicious food! This was my first visit to an uncle Julio's and I can definitely say that I'll be back. I ordered the salmon and it was perfectly cooked. It paired nicely with the Mexican rice and pinto beans. Typing up this review already has me thinking about planning my next visit.