By Karen McBride
Award-Winning Mexican Restaurant
In the past, Don Julio’s has won the Best Mexican Restaurant and Best Taco in Tampa Bay award presented by 92.5 Maxima for four years in a row! Each year the Latin radio station honors a fan favorite restaurant for their quality food, atmosphere, and family-friendly service.
This year they also won more significant “Best of the Best” awards by the Tampa Bay Times for Best Mexican Restaurant, Best Taco, Best Margarita, Best Happy Hour and Best Brunch.
The family-owned restaurant has been serving the community since 2018. The community has been so supportive that it not only allowed the restaurant to double its staff at the first location, but also to open a second location in 2022 which is thriving!
The family-friendly atmosphere drew patrons in, while the fresh ingredients and authentic Mexican cuisine keep them coming back for more!
Variety of Fresh Menu Items
The restaurant serves a delectable variety of menu items inspired by Julio’s mother, Dona Esther, who loves cooking for her family.
Their cuisine has authentic specialties like Bistec Ranchero (sauteed steak cooked with tomatoes, onions, and serrano peppers), Carne Asada, Carnitas (seasoned slowly cooked pork) and Chiles Rellenos (Poblano peppers with Oaxaca Cheese inside) that melt in your mouth and which are hard to find in other Mexican restaurants.
Taco lovers can choose from a variety of the award-winning delights, including their #1 Best Seller – Quesabirria Tacos with Consome (Birria Broth) to dip your taco into. Others include Carne Asada (grilled steak), Chorizo (Mexican Sausage), Campechano (combination of Carne Asada & Chorizo, Pastor (Pork), Grilled Chicken, Picadillo (Ground Beef) and more.
Vegetarians can enjoy the authentic Mexican flavor, too, as veggie tacos are also available. Party platters in quantities of 10 or more may be ordered in advance for family or business gatherings.
Brunch Menu is also a “Best of the Best” in Tampa Bay.
Don Julio’s is serving brunch daily now based on customer’s request at its authentic Mexican-`style restaurants from 10-3pm. Guests can choose from chilaquiles, eggs and chorizo tacos, huevos rancheros, guacamole toast meal served with eggs and cooked to customers liking, Huevos a La Mexicana, or breakfast burrito. Chilaquiles are tortillas filled with eggs, beans, and topped with cheese. Eggs and chorizo tacos takes the traditional taco and puts a breakfast spin on it with eggs and Mexican sausage for a delicious meal. Huevos rancheros is a popular Mexican dish consisting of two sunny side up eggs on top of a hard-shell tortilla with Don Julio’s homemade ranchero sauce. Huevos a La Mexicana is prepared with tomato, onions, and serrano peppers. The breakfast burrito is filled with your favorite ingredients for a hearty meal.
“Our customers have loved the authentic Mexican brunch items that are very hard to find elsewhere, we will continue to add more items that have been asked by our customers” said Julio Rodriquez, owner of Don Julio’s.
Two Convenient Locations
Tampa location: 2808 E Bearss Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613
Tampa Palms location: 16023 Tampa Palms Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33647
The restaurants are open every day, Sunday through Thursday 10am – 9pm and Friday, Saturday 10am-10pm.
For more information, call 813-898-2860 (Bearss location) or (813) 644-7899 (Tampa Palms location) or visit http://www.donjuliosmexican.com to order online for curbside pickup, takeout and delivery. Reservations can also be made at this website for dine-in.