Uncle Julio's

10 ratings
$$ • Mexican Restaurant
Reported NOT to have a gluten-free menu
Safety Rating
4 ratings

As rated by the community

850 N. Milwaukee
Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Most Recent Reviews


Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


There is not a lot safe about the food here, the chips are made in a shared fryer, the marinades are not gluten free. But My waiter and the kitchen staff were great at accommodating me with almost an off menu meal. They made me the steak fajita bowl but subbed lettuce for the not safe rice, cooked me a not marinated steak, removed all the dairy from the dish. In the in it was like a steak fajita salad it was actually delicious! I felt fine after and it was a good experience.

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Updated 2 years ago read full review

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


When it was time to order, I asked the waiter about celiac disease friendly options and he hadn't even heard of the disease. When I asked about gluten free options, he suggested plain steak but added that it would have no seasoning. I asked to speak with the kitchen manager who said the same thing: no seasoned meats, plus no rice, no chips. The staff were very nice, but the restaurant as a whole was not gluten-free friendly. Won't be going there again.

Celiac friendly?

No

Updated 4 years ago read full review

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Staff was somewhat knowledgeable as I reminded them to take precautions to prevent cross-contamination. The GF menu was almost nothing, but the chicken fajitas were GF, just make sure to tell them that the chicken must be without marinade. My waiter told me that the un-marinated chicken was safe. Must have corn tortillas as well. These were the best GF tortillas I’ve ever had! Chips aren’t safe, however queso is. They were very busy but managed to keep my meal safe!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Updated 4 years ago read full review

This establishment is NOT a dedicated gluten-free facility and may not be safe for those with celiac disease. Please contact the establishment directly to inquire about safety precautions.

Gluten-Free Features

  • None Listed

Categories

  • Dinner
  • Late Night
  • Lunch
  • Mexican
  • Restaurant
  • Tex-Mex

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More Reviews


Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Warning!!!!!! You will be glutened!!! My girlfriend met width the chef and told him she had bad food allergies and got very sick!!!!!!

Updated 6 years ago read full review

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


The corn chips are not gluten free. Not many options on the menu. Anything marinated has gluten

Updated 6 years ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


Every single time my husband and I have eaten here, he has had a gluten reaction and become sick. Each time we have told the manager and the waitress about our restrictions. Plan on getting glutened here.

Updated 6 years ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


Honestly, your experience getting gluten free here depends on whose in charge and whose cooking that particular day. At minimum, the kitchen manager or any manager should be able to assist customers with allergies but again, that depends on the day. This resaurant has options for gluten free but is not a gluten free facility and does not have a gluten free menu.

Celiac friendly?

No

Updated 6 years ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


went with friends who love this place but are not gluten sensitive. I am, and it was very difficult for me. the waitress tried to be helpful but told me that almost every salsa had gluten, and even the chips and anything fried were fried in the same fryer with wheat products. so basically you risked gluten contamination with almost anything. I ordered the carnitas tacos with pico de Gallo and took the filling out of the shell. the waitress substituted white rice for the usual brown rice because she said the brown rice had gluten. really, you will have minimal choices here, so if you go with friends, be prepared. don't order the chocolate pinatas. messy and filled with wheat churros contaminating what little fruit was in there

Updated 6 years ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


Unfortunately, Uncle Julio's is probably the worst place I've been to in regards to gluten. The waitress informed me that they're a "gluten friendly" restaurant. The manager came over and explained that "gluten friendly" means there's "only a little bit of gluten" in most of the menu items. For somebody who has optionally cut Gluten out of their diets for the purported health benefits, this would probably be ok. For somebody who CANNOT under any circumstances have gluten or risk being extremely sick, this is not acceptable. I was told I could have plain fajitas with no seasoning whatsoever, or carnitas tacos. I opted for the carnitas tacos with the corn tortillas because if I am going to eat a plain unseasoned chicken breast, I'm not going to pay an outrageous amount of money to do so. Within minutes of starting to eat lunch, I knew that there was either gluten in the food initially, or there were serious cross contamination issues. If you are avoiding gluten (like the plague as my doctor instructed me), absolutely do not eat here.

Celiac friendly?

No

Updated 7 years ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


We just had the best meal there! The manager was very nice and when I asked for cheese enchiladas, she said they would be happy to make them with GF corn tortillas and they were delicious! We will be going back soon, fun atmosphere also!

Updated 7 years ago read full review

Reviews of this Chain

Symptomatic Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


this place is fine if you avoid the chips but there are limited offerings - you can email them for the list of limited gf menu offerings. These seem to change fairly often (they have updated their menu a few times in the last few years) but usually it’s ceviche, fajitas without marinades,salads without the taco shell etc. I posted a screenshot of their email from November 2023 with the gf offerings at the time and what could be modified to be gf. I do not get sick here but I’m not adventurous when I order here.

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Below Average

Symptomatic Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Every time I go they have a different answer about what I can and can’t have

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Quality & Quantity


How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


As a big uncle Julio’s fan prior to celiac diagnosis, it was disheartening to find out they have zero gluten free options. Everything is marinated in soy sauce and no dedicated fryer for chips.

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Poor

Gluten Intolerant

Overall Rating

Review


I used to eat here all the time before going gluten free. They don’t have a gluten free menu but gluten “friendly.”

This is what my server gave me:

- Queso Blanco/ Chile con Queso - Honey chipotle salmon, no honey glaze - Guacamole/TSG - Veggie Dilla, sub corn tortilla - Taco Salad, no tortilla, fajita chicken no marinade, ranch dressing only - Bacon wrapped, no butter & no mexican rice sub cilantro rice - Pechuga de pollo, no butter, fajita chicken no marinade, no mexican rice sub cilantro rice - Filet mignon fajitas, no agave queso, no mexican rice sub cilantro rice, no marinade - Camarones diablos, no butter, no mexican rice sun cilantro rice - Guadalajara, no butter, fajita chicken no marinade, no mexican rice sub cilantro rice - Jalisco, no butter, fajita chicken no marinade, no mexican rice sub cilantro rice - Cheese enchiladas, depending on sensitivity (tortilla is dipped in fryer) there is cross contamination. No salsa carne, sub queso and no mexican rice

I also ordered the quesa- birria as there is no soy/gluten used in it!

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


TL/DR not a great GF place. There are much better options in Tulsa at half the price.

I ended up here for a family event with a party of 9. They do not have a gluten free menu. The waiter talked to the kitchen and said everything is marinated in soy sauce so they didn’t have any options. A few minutes later, the waiter came back and said they could do beef or chicken fajitas without the marinade. Great, I ordered beef. All of the meals arrive except mine. I’m told they pre-marinated everything. A few minutes later the manager comes by and says he is making the kitchen prep fresh fajita meat without marinade. I got my meal as everyone else was finishing up. It wasn’t that great. On the plus side I didn’t get sick. They did comp my meal for the trouble.

Safety


Safety Feature Ratings
  • Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

More Info