Stopped in for an early dinner at Uncle Julio’s, conveniently located on the upper level of The Mall in Columbia, where parking is plentiful and free.
The space is expansive, with a variety of seating options that can accommodate everything from casual meetups to larger groups. The décor leans into dark wood tones accented by vibrant, colorful artwork, giving it a warm yet lively atmosphere.
Service was a standout—our server was upbeat, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful when it came to navigating the menu. The kitchen emphasizes fresh ingredients, with house-made tortillas and many items prepared from scratch, which is always a plus.
We started with their complimentary house-made tortilla chips and salsa, a solid way to kick things off while waiting for our entrées.
Our table ordered a mix: taco salad, seasoned ground beef tacos (kept simple by request), Baja fish tacos, and chicken quesadillas. Portions were generous across the board, and everything arrived well-prepared and satisfying—definitely enough for leftovers.
If you’re in the mood for approachable, comfort-style Mexican fare in a lively setting, Uncle Julio’s delivers a dependable and enjoyable dining experience.
Jim Miller
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July 26, 2026
My wife and I came here on a Friday night at 5:15 before a concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion. They start you with really delicious cups and salsa. I had a pork dish and it was really great! The beans and rice were flavorful. Service was great, and there was no wait! Definitely good food served quickly!
Adam Reviews
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April 15, 2026
Came for taco Tuesday and sat on the patio for a nice evening. Build your own tacos were great and so filling with super tender steak and fresh veggies. Margarita flights were also a win. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area and looking for Tex Mexm
Akaninyene-MD Business Review
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December 24, 2025
Stopped by Uncle Julio’s in Columbia and went with the chicken quesadilla. Simple choice, but they executed it right. The chicken was seasoned well, tender, and not dry which already puts them ahead of a lot of places pretending to be Mexican-inspired. The cheese was melted perfectly, not greasy, and the tortilla had a nice crisp without falling apart halfway through.
Portion size was solid, filling without being ridiculous. Everything came out hot and fresh, and the flavors were balanced instead of salty for no reason. Service was attentive and smooth, and the atmosphere was lively without being overwhelming.
Overall, a reliable spot when you want something familiar done properly. I’d definitely come back to work my way through more of the menu.
Kaliyah Jones
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May 01, 2026
I went here for a birthday dinner and I have a few things to say about this location
1. For this to be a more upscale mexican restaurant the food lacked a bit of flavor in my opinion. I understand they want to cater to the general population around this area but don’t sacrifice flavor. I would have appreciated some corn salsa or pico de gallo with the taco bar not just corn and tomato.
2. We were a large party but the kitchen didn’t really move with urgency for our order. Our food came out just a couple minutes later than it should have considering when we actually placed order. We ordered two taco bars and around 4-5 other entrees.
3. The drinks could have easily been mocktails and I wouldn’t have known. Considering the price of the drinks…there’s no reason I didn’t feel anything from my drinks until the 3rd one I ordered. And that’s not my preference or anything but the drinks were very light and other people at my table agreed. We also ordered the shareable and we thought it was huge! But for $44 dollars I was very disappointed that it was majority ice! We were able to share a couple of drinks but for $44 dollars I expected a little more drink than ice.
4. The server was nice and very friendly. She gave us a refill on the chips and salsa as well as water. She had blonde hair but I can’t remember her name.
I’m not sure if because it was a Tuesday they were a little more lax but the issue that I have with this place overall is that their prices don’t match their quality in product. I would tell anyone that Banditos in Merriweather is a better bang for your buck with better quality food and drinks!
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10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy St 2530, Columbia, MD 21044, USA
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Stopped in for an early dinner at Uncle Julio’s, conveniently located on the upper level of The Mall in Columbia, where parking is plentiful and free. The space is expansive, with a variety of seating options that can accommodate everything from casual meetups to larger groups. The décor leans into dark wood tones accented by vibrant, colorful artwork, giving it a warm yet lively atmosphere. Service was a standout—our server was upbeat, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful when it came to navigating the menu. The kitchen emphasizes fresh ingredients, with house-made tortillas and many items prepared from scratch, which is always a plus. We started with their complimentary house-made tortilla chips and salsa, a solid way to kick things off while waiting for our entrées. Our table ordered a mix: taco salad, seasoned ground beef tacos (kept simple by request), Baja fish tacos, and chicken quesadillas. Portions were generous across the board, and everything arrived well-prepared and satisfying—definitely enough for leftovers. If you’re in the mood for approachable, comfort-style Mexican fare in a lively setting, Uncle Julio’s delivers a dependable and enjoyable dining experience.
My wife and I came here on a Friday night at 5:15 before a concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion. They start you with really delicious cups and salsa. I had a pork dish and it was really great! The beans and rice were flavorful. Service was great, and there was no wait! Definitely good food served quickly!
Came for taco Tuesday and sat on the patio for a nice evening. Build your own tacos were great and so filling with super tender steak and fresh veggies. Margarita flights were also a win. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area and looking for Tex Mexm
Stopped by Uncle Julio’s in Columbia and went with the chicken quesadilla. Simple choice, but they executed it right. The chicken was seasoned well, tender, and not dry which already puts them ahead of a lot of places pretending to be Mexican-inspired. The cheese was melted perfectly, not greasy, and the tortilla had a nice crisp without falling apart halfway through. Portion size was solid, filling without being ridiculous. Everything came out hot and fresh, and the flavors were balanced instead of salty for no reason. Service was attentive and smooth, and the atmosphere was lively without being overwhelming. Overall, a reliable spot when you want something familiar done properly. I’d definitely come back to work my way through more of the menu.
I went here for a birthday dinner and I have a few things to say about this location 1. For this to be a more upscale mexican restaurant the food lacked a bit of flavor in my opinion. I understand they want to cater to the general population around this area but don’t sacrifice flavor. I would have appreciated some corn salsa or pico de gallo with the taco bar not just corn and tomato. 2. We were a large party but the kitchen didn’t really move with urgency for our order. Our food came out just a couple minutes later than it should have considering when we actually placed order. We ordered two taco bars and around 4-5 other entrees. 3. The drinks could have easily been mocktails and I wouldn’t have known. Considering the price of the drinks…there’s no reason I didn’t feel anything from my drinks until the 3rd one I ordered. And that’s not my preference or anything but the drinks were very light and other people at my table agreed. We also ordered the shareable and we thought it was huge! But for $44 dollars I was very disappointed that it was majority ice! We were able to share a couple of drinks but for $44 dollars I expected a little more drink than ice. 4. The server was nice and very friendly. She gave us a refill on the chips and salsa as well as water. She had blonde hair but I can’t remember her name. I’m not sure if because it was a Tuesday they were a little more lax but the issue that I have with this place overall is that their prices don’t match their quality in product. I would tell anyone that Banditos in Merriweather is a better bang for your buck with better quality food and drinks!