Julio’s Story

Julio Margalli grew up in Mexico City with his mom and grandma, in a small house where you didn't have much choice but to be in the kitchen. Though never a formal restaurant, his grandma would cook lunch every day for the local manufacturing workers, teaching her daughter and grandson how to cook traditional Mexican food with fresh ingredients. When she grew too old to keep up the pace, she passed the reigns to her daughter. Julio remembers seeing the pride his mom took in being her own boss and cooking the food that kept the local workers going each day.

Julio arrived in the U.S. in 1996 and, with the help of his uncle, moved in with some cousins in Richfield, Minnesota. Like his cousins and many immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America, Julio got a job in the service industry, as a dishwasher at a restaurant. He soon began working as a waiter, and saved enough money to start taking courses at a community college before transferring to culinary school to continue studying his passion for food. With a culinary degree in hand, he continued developing and honing his craft, cooking for a caterer and food truck.

When a frozen yogurt shop just a few blocks from his family's home in St. Louis Park closed, Julio saw the chance to achieve the dream his mother and grandmother never had the chance to, and open his very own restaurant. His vision was to serve the food he learned to cook from his grandma and his mom: traditional Mexican meals with fresh ingredients, and no microwaves. And with the support and guidance of his wife, Sharon, and his two kids, Andrew and Alicia, México City Café was born.

On Julio's menu you'll find traditional Mexico City street tacos, classics like burritos and enchiladas, and specials like chile rellenos (stuffed peppers). The sauces made from scratch, the flavor combinations, how everything is put together—it's fresh and it's authentic, just how grandma taught him.