Uncle Julio's Hacienda

In Short – The bright, spacious room is all greens, reds and yellows, with painted terra-cotta walls covered with an assortment of tchotchkes. The menu features plates of chicken tamales, enchiladas with sour cream sauce, and jumbo shrimp stuffed with Jack cheese and jalapenos, wrapped in bacon and grilled. Desserts include the cajeta: a large ball of vanilla ice cream rolled in toasted coconut and pecans.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:: Margarita lovers can pick one of the nearly 20 tequilas and get a hand-mixed cocktail. Or try the Sangria Swirl, a potent frozen concoction that mixes fruity sangria with golden margarita.

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User Reviews (49)

ambiance	80.0% positive	“This place is great for a romantic dinner, or a place to go with friends!” “Quite honestly, the service is not great, the food is average, and there is rarely ever any parking.” “Pretty good food, good drinks, good service and a lot of fun.” “The atmosphere is playful and relaxed and the Tex-Mex is tasty: moist tamales, savory beans (served in a bowl on the side), oven-warm corn chips and zesty salsa.” “You can enjoy the most interesting ambience, food, and service.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“This business casual restaurant is great starting with the unique grilled salsa all the way to the freshly made desserts!”
drinks	100.0% positive	“The chips and tortillas are always fresh and the drinks are wonderful.” “Both the frozen sangria & the margaritas are incredible, but their signature drink, The Swirl, combines the two.” “aside form the long wait on weekends, the drinks are great and the food is very tasty.” “Pretty good food, good drinks, good service and a lot of fun.” “This is a very creative and tasty drink.”
food quality	79.54999923706055% positive	“With authentic Mexcian places close by (Lalo's, El Cid, La Canasta) at far better prices, it's surprising that this is rated so high.” “(a little pricey, but good) Don't be expecting authentic mexican, it's more tex-mex than anything.” “Everything tastes very fresh and the few times I've had a problem it was handled right away without a problem.” “don't particularly like tex-mex food which to me is a slight downgrade of Mexican food if compared due to the replacement of some mexican ingredients with american ingredients some of wich I wouldn't even use on mexican food like cheddar or monterey jac” “The mexican food they do have is good though.” “The food is awful.” “like the fajitas, bacon-wrapped shrimp and the ribs.” “When in Chicago, one is never far from good Mexican food.” “Plus the margaritas are yummy.” “The margaritas are tasty, but a little pricy compared to Texas standards.” “love mexican food, but I absolutely can't stand this place.” “love this place and actually order extra chicken enchiladas to bring home with me for later.” “This is a very creative and tasty drink.” “This place is waaay overpriced for the excuse for food that they are serving.” “Pretty good food, good drinks, good service and a lot of fun.” “Stay away if you actually know good Mexican food.” “When you first walk in, you are quicky decieved in believing the food is great because of the amount of people standing in line waiting for a table.” “The food is moderately priced and more along the lines of Tex-Mex versus authentic Mexican cuisine, but the strawberry margarita is packed with lots of flavor and fresh fruit.” “Grilled shrimp, steak and chicken fajitas, awesome ribs.” “This business casual restaurant is great starting with the unique grilled salsa all the way to the freshly made desserts!” “Try the tamales, pochogo do pollo, and the crispy tacos.” “You can enjoy the most interesting ambience, food, and service.” “Quite honestly, the service is not great, the food is average, and there is rarely ever any parking.” “The salsa is also good, and fresh.” “Just a quick trip through Clark St., Broadway, or Western (to name a few), will bring you to a number of delicious, authentic Mexican restaurants, ranging from inexpensive to top dollar Mexican cuisine.” “aside form the long wait on weekends, the drinks are great and the food is very tasty.” “Sure it's not the most authentic place, but it's clean, the food is GREAT, and it's served surprisingly fast even when it's busy (which is all the time).” “ive waited to be seated for an hour, for overly expensive nasty food.” “It is not authentic mexican food it is more mexican american food.” “The chips and tortillas are always fresh and the drinks are wonderful.” “It's good, hearty Texas-style Mexican food.” “This is the best place to bring an out-of-towner or just to get a great mexican meal” “The fresh chips are also great, they are usually still warm!” “fresh homemade chips and tortillas.” “The food is quite good, and the service is always great!” “The atmosphere is playful and relaxed and the Tex-Mex is tasty: moist tamales, savory beans (served in a bowl on the side), oven-warm corn chips and zesty salsa.” “The queso is wonderful and so is the salsa.” “Fast great food (but def.” “can I say two words fresh fruit.” “The salsa is the best I have ever had and the food is served perfectly and so quickly you won't beleive it.” “Great food!” “The service was poor at best and the food was expensive and terrible.” “The food is awesome, if a bit pricey, but you get a ton.” “The food was very very good.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“The server was helpful answering our menu questions and made suggestions and informed us of the day's specials.” “Lunch specials are a good value, but if you're ordering off the regular menu, it can get pretty pricey.”
overall	100.0% positive	“This place is great for a romantic dinner, or a place to go with friends!” “Uncle Julio's Hacienda is the best place in Chicago to get a margarita on the rocks or any margarita for that matter.” “This is the best place to bring an out-of-towner or just to get a great mexican meal”
return potential	100.0% positive	“can't wait to go back and would recommend Uncle Julio's to all.”
service	72.7299976348877% positive	“Our waitress was awesome as well!” “The fact is, the service is so slow that the tables are occupied for so much longer than is customary!” “Pretty good food, good drinks, good service and a lot of fun.” “Quite honestly, the service is not great, the food is average, and there is rarely ever any parking.” “The server was attentive with beverage refills and checking our status to see if there was anything else we needed.” “When you first walk in, you are quicky decieved in believing the food is great because of the amount of people standing in line waiting for a table.” “Wonderful margarita's and fast, accomodating service.” “The server was helpful answering our menu questions and made suggestions and informed us of the day's specials.” “You can enjoy the most interesting ambience, food, and service.” “The food is quite good, and the service is always great!” “The service was poor at best and the food was expensive and terrible.”
value	54.54999923706055% positive	“ive waited to be seated for an hour, for overly expensive nasty food.” “Taco's dinner price is outrageous @ $16.00-$17.00 without tax for only two (2) Taco's and if you like Sour Cream it will cost you an extra $2.00.” “Big portions, ample seating, and special plates that involve creative uses of frog legs, help make this Lincoln Park restaurant a big draw amidst the other shops and restaurants on this strip of North Avenue.” “(a little pricey, but good) Don't be expecting authentic mexican, it's more tex-mex than anything.” “This place is waaay overpriced for the excuse for food that they are serving.” “Lunch specials are a good value, but if you're ordering off the regular menu, it can get pretty pricey.” “Skip the average, over priced margharitas and get a cold corona.” “The service was poor at best and the food was expensive and terrible.” “The food is awesome, if a bit pricey, but you get a ton.” “Just a quick trip through Clark St., Broadway, or Western (to name a few), will bring you to a number of delicious, authentic Mexican restaurants, ranging from inexpensive to top dollar Mexican cuisine.” “With authentic Mexcian places close by (Lalo's, El Cid, La Canasta) at far better prices, it's surprising that this is rated so high.”
wait time	75.0% positive	“The fact is, the service is so slow that the tables are occupied for so much longer than is customary!” “Just a quick trip through Clark St., Broadway, or Western (to name a few), will bring you to a number of delicious, authentic Mexican restaurants, ranging from inexpensive to top dollar Mexican cuisine.” “aside form the long wait on weekends, the drinks are great and the food is very tasty.” “Their margaritas are the best i've had in a long time(try the swirl one), and they have endless combos of foods to try.”

07/14/11

Best Frozen Margarita's Ever

by CSMobileUser6

The food was pretty good but the Margarita's were to die for. Very clean and fun place. Loved it...

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03/21/11

Great Mexican in Lincoln Park

by oprahrocks1

I would give 5 stars, but the wait is long on the weekends and a mess at the counter, people will walk in front of you and give their name. Kinda unfair, huh? But the food rocks! Homemade tortillas right there being made while you eat. Never had a bad meal. Went with friends and they loved it as well. Try to go during the week, much better, dining room is loud and you will have a better time when not so crowded.

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05/14/10

Favoriate mexican!

by MaryLo

I have been frequenting this palce for years in the lombard area and love it. aside form the long wait on weekends, the drinks are great and the food is very tasty. I reccomend the soup and carne asada. The fresh chips are also great, they are usually still warm! Great place for a famiy or a friends gathering.

Pros: Swirls!
Cons: Long wait

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09/30/09

Amazing

by iamjacksshrink

I don't see why people are complaining about the authenticity. If you take the five seconds to click on the link to their website it clearly states "Border-style Mexican Food" aka Tex-mex. This business casual restaurant is great starting with the unique grilled salsa all the way to the freshly made desserts! Everything tastes very fresh and the few times I've had a problem it was handled right away without a problem. Obviously this place wouldn't be so packed after being open for 17 years if it was so horrible.

Pros: Best carne asada and grilled shrimp period!
Cons: Can get loud

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09/17/09

Authentic Mexican???

by lolo711

Food not Authentic Mexican as advertised, Pepe's would have been a better choice. Taco's dinner price is outrageous @ $16.00-$17.00 without tax for only two (2) Taco's and if you like Sour Cream it will cost you an extra $2.00. The Sauce for the Enchiladas had a Funky taste which left an extremely bad after taste.

Chips were light and crispy but Salsa had been processed to a liquid form. No wonder it was free!

I do not understand how this establishment received high reviews. I would not recommend Uncle Julio's to anyone!

Uncle Julio's Hacienda

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What People Are Saying About Uncle Julio's Hacienda

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Editor's Tips

07/14/11

Best Frozen Margarita's Ever

by CSMobileUser6

03/21/11

Great Mexican in Lincoln Park

by oprahrocks1

05/14/10

Favoriate mexican!

by MaryLo

09/30/09

Amazing

by iamjacksshrink

09/17/09

Authentic Mexican???

by lolo711

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