Uncle Julio’s restaurant reopens in Fort Worth after $1M makeover
Uncle Julio’s is back.
But not all the way back.
The landmark Uncle Julio’s location in west Fort Worth is open again after a $1 million makeover at the 37-year-old building at 5301 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Once again, the parking lot is notably full of pickups and sedans from cities across Texas, in particular West Texas.
Visitors from cities such as Abilene or Stephenville have always used this Uncle Julio’s or Central Market nearby as a meeting spot, a place to connect with family and friends from across Fort Worth and Dallas.
So when Uncle Julio’s needed repairs Sept. 19 after a disastrous health inspection, customers loyally waited for it to reopen.
The crowds are back. The dining room now is decorated in natural woods and earth tones. Long gone are the pinks and pastels of the old Uncle Julio’s from when it was started by former Pappasito’s managers.
After a series of ownership changes and a foreclosure, Uncle Julio’s now belongs to Taco Bueno and Freebirds World Burrito.
The margarita swirls are still flowing.
But overall, Uncle Julio’s is no longer top shelf.
The menu still offers ambitious specialties such as bacon-wrapped shrimp, cochinita pibil, a quesabirria or “artisanal” (?) tacos.
But many customers in Fort Worth judge a Tex-Mex restaurant by its combination plate, and the Uncle Julio’s chain has relegated that to a corner of the menu.
The entire combination platter is served on a regular-size dinner plate about 10 inches or so across. The fillings in the beef and chicken enchiladas were flavorful, but the chipotle queso on one enchilada seemed barely more than a drizzle.
The meal begins with chips and a flavorless table salsa, but the server brought a habanero version.
Desserts included a coconut cake with pineapple compote, but it was dry.
Uncle Julio’s is a great legacy restaurant and it has an iconic location.
But it needs more than a new look.
Uncle Julio’s is open for lunch and dinner daily.
Other locations remain open at 9201 North Freeway in north Fort Worth, 150 E. Interstate 20 in Arlington and 1301 William D. Tate Ave. in Grapevine.
This story was originally published December 1, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
