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Recommended Reviews - El Califa de León
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The only taco stand in the world with a Michelin star. 2024 and 2025. This spot wasn't near anything else on our itinerary- we came specifically for these tacos. And they did not disappoint. They're SO simple. A big slab of meat, marinated in salt and lime juice. No onion. No cilantro. Salsa is optional. That's it. Just really good meat on a tortilla. I ordered two tacos and somehow ended up with three. I'm pretty sure if the meat hangs over the tortilla, they slice it in half and give you an extra one? Not mad about it. I've never had a taco served like this. The meat isn't chopped; it's one full piece. And I loved it. It's probably the simplest taco stand I've ever been to- yet wildly popular. There was a line, but it moved quickly. Cash only. There's something about this place that feels pure and untouched, even with the low-key tourist attention. They earned the hype without ever trying to.
I really wanted to love this place despite all the negative press it gets around if it deserves a Michelin star or not. I thought the meat was cooked well and had minimal seasoning on them (salt and lime) and there's 2 basic salsas (the green one is incredibly hot and the brown one is alright). The tortilla is fresh and cooked right in front of you. I will say it's not a bad taco though but def not a great one either but certainly worth a try.
We came. We ate. We stayed for some more. This was dynamite! My first tacos here in the city, Mexico City. I have nothing to compare it to, but if you're looking for tacos, this is your spot! Made to perfection, you'll find that they prepare the food in front of you. Service was fast, no lines. It's literally made to order. The red salsa that they provide was unlike any red sauce I had before. Just delicious!
Only Michelin star taco stand in the world. If you like fancy tacos with lots of stuff in it then this isn't the place for you. They focus on quality food, cooked fresh and bringing out the natural flavors. We were there for shift change at 6PM which was frustrating to wait BUT we were able to see a full cleaning being conducted between shifts so it was good to see that the hygiene level of a simple taco stand was so high.
Michelin Star Taco joint? yes!! Line wasn't as crazy but food was super delicious. Small shop in between other clothing and toy store. You can spot the Michelin logo from the wall. You order and pay first and find a place to stand and eat. Food comes out fairly quick and their green salsa is delicious and has a really good kick to it. We ordered everything on the menu and everything was good. Meat comes out in one big pieces but its so soft you could bite it off no problem. Definitely worth the visit.
Tidbit!!! They slice the meat for you, so one order may actually mean 2 tacos! Now for the review -- OMG I did not have this spot on my to-eat list when visiting CDMX but I am so glad that we stopped. We lucked out with a very short line, since people had been gathering for the Day of the Dead parade; prepare yourselves! The menu is very simple. There are various cuts of beef plus a cactus (vegetarian) option. Sodas are also available. It's impossible to go wrong here, as the meat is seared simply with salt and lime and laid atop street-sized corn tortillas. The spot is also a stall, so bring enough cash for food and a seat at the store next door.
Bob Dylan once sang, "We live in a political world Love don't have any place We're living in times Where men commit crimes And crime don't have any face" Was he thinking about El Califa de Leon? I don't think so, but those lyrics might have been churning in my head as I stood in line on the afternoon of June 21, 2025, awaiting the wonderful bistek tacos. Unfortunately, since receiving a Michelin star, everyone has extra opinions about this taqueria that have nothing to do with the delicious tacos. I leave it to you, dear reader, to decide the merits of the case before us. I will say this: the line was long, the tacos were delicious, and there was seating at the next door clothing shop for a small donation. The condiments, the mole & salsa, were on point. The crowd, mostly Mexican, were all happy and in the moment. Mexico City has an amazing food. This taqueria is a great option and very representative of the riches that CDMX food has to offer. Go and seek tacos!
We heard about this 1 Michelin star taco spot and had to come by and try a taco. The stand was surprisingly empty when we came early evening on a Tuesday and while we didn't plan to have dinner here we were excited to try it. They specialize in steak tacos so we each got a bistec taco. The steak is thinly sliced and really tender and flavorful. While I wouldn't say the busted taco is what I crave in Mexico City it's pretty good for what you're getting and at 53 mxn per taco not bad for a popular spot.
I knew to adjust my expectations of this taqueria holding a single Michelin star as many have described how underwhelming it would be. At over twice the price of a taco at a normal taco stand, El Califa is really milking that Michelin star, much to the animosity of the locals who actually very much despise this establishment. We had the Bistek (50 grams at 53 MXN) and Costilla/ Ribs (100 grams at 82 MXN). The menu is clear that the detailed weights are tabulated prior to grilling/ "antes de asar". The costilla actually comes on 2 tortillas so I guess it was 41 MXN per taco. They sat us in this covered area next door serving primarily as a T-shirt shop. Someone told us via a translation on his phone to tip generously. It felt like a scam to be led in there, honestly. Meat was tasty enough, but with its simple preparation, its quite laughable and makes you question why you are paying this much. "Preparation" involves the guy cutting the meat and randomly (and unevenly) sprinkling these SUPER thick salt crystals on top while grilling. I chomped down on said ginormous salt crystal and nearly chipped my tooth. They give you guacamole, 2 salsa types, and some onions on the side at your table, but they didn't look the best kept so I didn't touch it. Tortilla, which they prep fresh -- much to everyone's fascination!? -- was bland and boring. The plus was that we had no wait whatsoever. Said line can be confusing though and knowing when to proceed to the window and around the worker making the handmade tortillas can be a little awkward. Big fat 'MEH' for this underwhelming Michelin-starred taqueria. We happened to be walking around this part of CDMX and it was along the way, however, I would NOT -- I repeat, WOULD NOT -- go out of your way to try these tacos. Opt for more authentic, reasonably priced tacos at a stand that isn't contributing to price gouging and driving up the prices for the locals.
First order of business was to try these Michelin Tacos and it didn't disappoint. Came on a Tuesday around 5:30 PM and there was just one group ahead of us. Soon after we finished ordering, more people came and the line formed. We ordered everything except for the Prickly Pear. Our food came out pretty quick. Love watching the freshly made corn tortillas by an abuela and another person grilling the protein of your choice. Meat was tender and tasty, least fave might be the rib that had some rubbery parts to it but not a big deal. They had 2 kinds of salsa, red not spicy and green very spicy for us. No seating area, definitely a quick bite kind of deal. They sell drinks from bottled water to sodas, can't remember if there's any beers.
My lowest score in a long time . Michelin mention ? I would like to ask google why but I can only say the expert from Michelin Stars was drunk or very hungry that day . Yes , tortilla was good fresh made but nothing out of the ordinary, tacos were plain , meat was over salted and just a chunk of stake , salsas were spicy but again not the best . Price was excessive compared to other local restaurants . One taco $85 pesos compared to $25 pesos in other places where you can sit and relax and even in a better location . The star . Will I come back definitely NO. Now I can say that not all Michelin Star rated or mentioned mean good . And yes that picture is the taco .
We arrived just after 11am to a line up outside. They didn't start taking orders until 11:25am. When we got the tacos, they lacked flavour/weren't even tasty. We also had to eat our tacos on the street because there isn't any seating. The experience and the food were not worth the "Michelin" star, in my opinion.
This Michelin-starred taco stand was at the top of my wishlist when I visited CDMX. We went midday and there was a line, it moves fairly quickly so don't let it scare you. The line is fast since this is not a sit down spot. There is seating next door to the taco stand, but they are not affiliated with the restaurant and you need cash to pay for a table. We opted to stand at the counter. Overall, the tacos are really well cooked and so tasty. We got an order of each meat taco. My favorites were the steak and filet. I would love to go again, it was a good taco. read more
Taqueria El Califa de Leon is a taco spot in Mexico City that garnered notoriety for being the first taco stand to get a Michelin star. For its notoriety I expected a more grand storefront but it was just a standard food stall. You line up to order and pay and then they give you your food. You can take your food to go or grab one of the few tables next to the shop. The unique thing about this taqueria is that they cook their meats in slabs and place them on the tortillas as-is. They don't chop up your meat into dices and they don't have the typical taco proteins you'd expect either. We ordered most of the meats: steak ($58 MXN), rib ($88), filet ($77), and chop ($88). My favorites were the steak and chop. The rib was a little tough. All the meats tasted better with salt and I liked the green salsa on top. These weren't the best tacos I've ever had but they were good. While its Michelin star meant that I had to try it, I probably wouldn't go back. read more
I couldn't resist trying out a Michelin-starred taco stand, especially since El Califa de León is famous for its beef options. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and found almost no line to order, which was surprising. The space itself was tiny, with an equally tiny seating room next door. The vibe was casual and service was exceptionally quick. I ordered one Gaonera Taco and one Bistec Taco. The Gaonera Taco was very tasty with lime juice and their smokey salsa. However, the Bistec was way chewier, to the point where it was challenging to eat. Overall, this was a solid meal but I feel like I expected more from a Michelin star establishment. For example, I thought Tacos del Valle in Roma Norte was far more memorable. Glad we stopped by though! read more
9 days ago
The only taco stand in the world with a Michelin star. 2024 and 2025. This spot wasn't near anything else on our itinerary- we came specifically for these tacos. And they did not disappoint. They're SO simple. A big slab of meat, marinated in salt and lime juice. No onion. No cilantro. Salsa is optional. That's it. Just really good meat on a tortilla. I ordered two tacos and somehow ended up with three. I'm pretty sure if the meat hangs over the tortilla, they slice it in half and give you an extra one? Not mad about it. I've never had a taco served like this. The meat isn't chopped; it's one full piece. And I loved it. It's probably the simplest taco stand I've ever been to- yet wildly popular. There was a line, but it moved quickly. Cash only. There's something about this place that feels pure and untouched, even with the low-key tourist attention. They earned the hype without ever trying to. read more
2 months ago
I really wanted to love this place despite all the negative press it gets around if it deserves a Michelin star or not. I thought the meat was cooked well and had minimal seasoning on them (salt and lime) and there's 2 basic salsas (the green one is incredibly hot and the brown one is alright). The tortilla is fresh and cooked right in front of you. I will say it's not a bad taco though but def not a great one either but certainly worth a try. read more
We came. We ate. We stayed for some more. This was dynamite! My first tacos here in the city, Mexico City. I have nothing to compare it to, but if you're looking for tacos, this is your spot! Made to perfection, you'll find that they prepare the food in front of you. Service was fast, no lines. It's literally made to order. The red salsa that they provide was unlike any red sauce I had before. Just delicious! read more
Only Michelin star taco stand in the world. If you like fancy tacos with lots of stuff in it then this isn't the place for you. They focus on quality food, cooked fresh and bringing out the natural flavors. We were there for shift change at 6PM which was frustrating to wait BUT we were able to see a full cleaning being conducted between shifts so it was good to see that the hygiene level of a simple taco stand was so high. read more
Michelin Star Taco joint? yes!! Line wasn't as crazy but food was super delicious. Small shop in between other clothing and toy store. You can spot the Michelin logo from the wall. You order and pay first and find a place to stand and eat. Food comes out fairly quick and their green salsa is delicious and has a really good kick to it. We ordered everything on the menu and everything was good. Meat comes out in one big pieces but its so soft you could bite it off no problem. Definitely worth the visit. read more
6 months ago
Tidbit!!! They slice the meat for you, so one order may actually mean 2 tacos! Now for the review -- OMG I did not have this spot on my to-eat list when visiting CDMX but I am so glad that we stopped. We lucked out with a very short line, since people had been gathering for the Day of the Dead parade; prepare yourselves! The menu is very simple. There are various cuts of beef plus a cactus (vegetarian) option. Sodas are also available. It's impossible to go wrong here, as the meat is seared simply with salt and lime and laid atop street-sized corn tortillas. The spot is also a stall, so bring enough cash for food and a seat at the store next door. read more
Bob Dylan once sang, "We live in a political world Love don't have any place We're living in times Where men commit crimes And crime don't have any face" Was he thinking about El Califa de Leon? I don't think so, but those lyrics might have been churning in my head as I stood in line on the afternoon of June 21, 2025, awaiting the wonderful bistek tacos. Unfortunately, since receiving a Michelin star, everyone has extra opinions about this taqueria that have nothing to do with the delicious tacos. I leave it to you, dear reader, to decide the merits of the case before us. I will say this: the line was long, the tacos were delicious, and there was seating at the next door clothing shop for a small donation. The condiments, the mole & salsa, were on point. The crowd, mostly Mexican, were all happy and in the moment. Mexico City has an amazing food. This taqueria is a great option and very representative of the riches that CDMX food has to offer. Go and seek tacos! read more
We heard about this 1 Michelin star taco spot and had to come by and try a taco. The stand was surprisingly empty when we came early evening on a Tuesday and while we didn't plan to have dinner here we were excited to try it. They specialize in steak tacos so we each got a bistec taco. The steak is thinly sliced and really tender and flavorful. While I wouldn't say the busted taco is what I crave in Mexico City it's pretty good for what you're getting and at 53 mxn per taco not bad for a popular spot. read more
10 months ago
I knew to adjust my expectations of this taqueria holding a single Michelin star as many have described how underwhelming it would be. At over twice the price of a taco at a normal taco stand, El Califa is really milking that Michelin star, much to the animosity of the locals who actually very much despise this establishment. We had the Bistek (50 grams at 53 MXN) and Costilla/ Ribs (100 grams at 82 MXN). The menu is clear that the detailed weights are tabulated prior to grilling/ "antes de asar". The costilla actually comes on 2 tortillas so I guess it was 41 MXN per taco. They sat us in this covered area next door serving primarily as a T-shirt shop. Someone told us via a translation on his phone to tip generously. It felt like a scam to be led in there, honestly. Meat was tasty enough, but with its simple preparation, its quite laughable and makes you question why you are paying this much. "Preparation" involves the guy cutting the meat and randomly (and unevenly) sprinkling these SUPER thick salt crystals on top while grilling. I chomped down on said ginormous salt crystal and nearly chipped my tooth. They give you guacamole, 2 salsa types, and some onions on the side at your table, but they didn't look the best kept so I didn't touch it. Tortilla, which they prep fresh -- much to everyone's fascination!? -- was bland and boring. The plus was that we had no wait whatsoever. Said line can be confusing though and knowing when to proceed to the window and around the worker making the handmade tortillas can be a little awkward. Big fat 'MEH' for this underwhelming Michelin-starred taqueria. We happened to be walking around this part of CDMX and it was along the way, however, I would NOT -- I repeat, WOULD NOT -- go out of your way to try these tacos. Opt for more authentic, reasonably priced tacos at a stand that isn't contributing to price gouging and driving up the prices for the locals. read more
4 months ago
First order of business was to try these Michelin Tacos and it didn't disappoint. Came on a Tuesday around 5:30 PM and there was just one group ahead of us. Soon after we finished ordering, more people came and the line formed. We ordered everything except for the Prickly Pear. Our food came out pretty quick. Love watching the freshly made corn tortillas by an abuela and another person grilling the protein of your choice. Meat was tender and tasty, least fave might be the rib that had some rubbery parts to it but not a big deal. They had 2 kinds of salsa, red not spicy and green very spicy for us. No seating area, definitely a quick bite kind of deal. They sell drinks from bottled water to sodas, can't remember if there's any beers. read more
My lowest score in a long time . Michelin mention ? I would like to ask google why but I can only say the expert from Michelin Stars was drunk or very hungry that day . Yes , tortilla was good fresh made but nothing out of the ordinary, tacos were plain , meat was over salted and just a chunk of stake , salsas were spicy but again not the best . Price was excessive compared to other local restaurants . One taco $85 pesos compared to $25 pesos in other places where you can sit and relax and even in a better location . The star . Will I come back definitely NO. Now I can say that not all Michelin Star rated or mentioned mean good . And yes that picture is the taco . read more
5 months ago
We arrived just after 11am to a line up outside. They didn't start taking orders until 11:25am. When we got the tacos, they lacked flavour/weren't even tasty. We also had to eat our tacos on the street because there isn't any seating. The experience and the food were not worth the "Michelin" star, in my opinion. read more
Was NOT worth the wait! We tried a little bit of everything and was not impressed, I'm not too sure why they were given the michelin star. the tacos are given bland just meat and tortilla and then they offer a green chile sauce or a red chile sauce. the food was not it. i would rate it like 4/10 read more
1 year ago
THE BIG: Michelin starred taco stand in the San Rafael neighborhood of CDMX! Very small shop but loaded with flavors. Public transportation is advised THE BLACK AND WHITE: Getting up here wasn't too bad as we hopped on the bus from Condesa and walked a few minutes from the stop. There are alot of street vendors sharing the sidewalk. When we got the spot, it was a very inconspicuous spot but it had the michelin sign. Fortunately there wasn't alot of people and we got to order pretty quickly. We got the Bistek, gaonera, and chuluta tacos. The chuluta came in 2 pieces while the bistek and gaonera came in one. These were slabs of meat cooked to order and freshly pressed corn tortillas. Very delicious! THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall damage done was 200 MXN for the three (technically 4) tacos. I'd say it's definitely worth a visit to try these tacos. read more
a michelin star street food taco shop in Mex Ciy?? Yes please. The experience is very authentic. The whole feel is very Mexican. The spot is tiny with no seating and a small pop up tent outside selling merch. Ther service is great, although not ideal if you dont speak Spanish. You can get by, but it is a bit if a struggle. The food itself was basic but perfect. I loved very bite. Will definitely be back. read more
7 months ago
You can smell the goodness as you're approaching the shop, you can't miss it! Be sure to go to the far left back corner to place your order then head out front to wait for your food. There is seating next door FYI. It was very busy so I waited about 10 mins for my bistek taco, but it was fun to watch the lady make the tortillas and the cook to season the meat on the grill. They give you a huge portion of meat that almost covers the tortilla, and it was so tender and nicely seasoned! Don't forget the sauces as they add a nice kick to the taco. read more
This Michelin star taco shop is really good. We got one of everything on the menu. Bistec, costilla, gaonera and chuleta. The bistec and the costilla were probably my favorite. It was simple, thick slices with lime and salt. It was very savory and delicious. It is a fairly pricey for tacos around cdmx (around $3-$4 USD) but the quality is very good. The staff is very nice and communicative. There's very little seating and the salsa is very good. They are both not super spicy. read more
Delicious and memorable tacos! I have to admit I was skeptical about how good a taco could be that earns a Michelin star. The space is tiny, probably about 6 ft x 9 ft at most and that includes everything- the grill, cashier, and a couple of seats. The menu is also tiny, only 4 items and all tacos. The tacos, though, are impressive. The quality of the meat is high, the cook of each piece is consistently tender, and the tortillas are made fresh to order. The addition of flaky salt on the meat brings out the natural flavors even more, although it can get a tad salty. The toppings are simple but pack a punch- watch out for the spice if you don't have a high tolerance. We tried all the items and went back for a 2nd round after discovering how good these were. Absolutely worth a visit! read more
This was a great restaurant for a quick dinner. Actually, it wasn't that quick, because I ended-up staying for more than a half hour. They were busy, and understandably so. This reataurant is popular for a reason, and their food is top notch. It took a little longer than average for me to get someone's attention so I could place my order. It seemed like there were too few employees to handle a lot of customers. I ordered some fish filets with a side order of beans. To drink I ordered a Jamaica drink and it was super great. The fish filets were also made right after I ordered, and they were also good. I wouldn't mind returning to try-out some of their other specialties from the menu. read more
Michelin star street tacos? Say no more! Made to order, the tortilla too! They are known for the Gaonera (filet) taco. We ordered all three beef tacos (filet, rib and steak) and they all tasted similar with the Gaonera being slightly more tender. Simplicity is their claim to fame here: served with a slice of lime and two salsas on the side. Our first two (filet and rib) came out super fast and with two tacos each. After 15 minutes, we inquired about the steak (they didn't understand, but after several Google translate attempts got the message) and we finally got it with one taco. Not sure if there's supposed to be two and they only gave us one? If there's no room at their small standing only table that probably fits no more than 2, they will offer you seating at the retail shop next door for a tip. This was out of the way, and I would not come here specifically for the tacos again. read more
If they're coming to your town go. If you're in CDMX go. It's simple tacos done well. There 3 different meat options beef, pork, and beef rib. All of them were delicious with two kinds of salsa on corn tortillas. The space was tight and we weren't seating as quickly as we would have preferred, but once seated, it became a great experience. We had a reservation. This is a cool pop up that is fundraising for a Mexico Travel Safe organization. We should have safe travel for us and our southern neighbor. We got to meet chef Mario and he was gracious. Our host person was awesome too. The support for back of the house were excellent. Definitely eat their food if you have a chance. I can see why they earned a Michelin star two years in a row. read more
1 year ago
I really wanted to like this place as I'm always hyped when I find out that Michelin has added an affordable street food place to its list. We came here at around 6pm on a weekday but for some reason they didn't start serving food until 6:15. Thank goodness the line wasn't very long and we only waited around 10 minutes before getting out food. - Chuleta - I thought it was interesting how they didn't dice the meat before serving it, and I think it definitely helped emphasize the flavors of the dish. The pork chop was flavorful although I felt that it was slightly overcooked. The corn tortillas I know were made fresh but I thought they were okay. - Bistek - This was okay as well as the meat was flavorful as it had been salted although not particularly tender. Like most tacos in the city you need salsa to add moisture. Now for thoughts about everything else other than food. - We had ordered 2 servings of Gaonera and they hadn't given it to us the first time around. We let the lady know on 2 separate occasions after we had notified them the first time around, even with a translator, and she said that she'd serve it to us as we were sitting in the clothing store next door. We waited 20 minutes to no avail and even when we were standing there she still didn't give us the order. Unfortunately we had to leave to our next event but we never recieved the Gaonera at the end. - I did think in general that it was interesting that each order came with two tacos which is different from other places as usually one order means one serving. Unfortunately because we never recieved the Gaonera I cannot give this place a high rating. read more
I had to try this locations. Especially that is a Michelin award 2 years in a roll. The tacos where so so. The flavor was good and added the mole to it and the where okay. The tortilla was good. Will I go out of my way to try them again no. But they are so so tacos. read more
9 months ago
I figured if I am in Mexico City I need to try this place. Note it is cash only, they accept both dollars and pesos, and one of the cheapest Michelin starred restaurants in the world that I know of. For about $20 you get 5 steak tacos. They are decent but I certainly would not go out of my way to come here. This is a perfect example of an establishment that overhyped by both the Michelin guide as well as social media. I'm glad I was able to check this place off my bucket list and confirm that it is just a simple taco place and nothing that noteworthy. Their tacos are rather simplistic; and while the meat is fresh and the tortillas are hand pressed - I think there are a lot of places in cdmx where you can have a similar experience. read more
4 months ago
This place was well worth it. We went to the San Rafael location. Take tip money for the musicians that show up. The tacos were excellent they have an area where you can llace your plate and eat. If you like nopalitos my husband loved the tacos de Nopal. read more
I had heard about this taco spot with a Michelin star, so we had to find it. We ended up taking an Uber to this spot and found it with a bit of difficulty--mostly because it is a small taco stand. The name, menu, and signage helped us find the spot. At first we didn't realize that there was a small section where you could stand and eat since at least 4 of us were stuck in a small section. The menu featured 4 items: steak, rib, fillet, nd chop. These were all served on hand rolled tacos. The wait for the line was minimal (less than 5 min), but the staff was ready to ring and grab drinks as needed. We paid with Mexican pesos, as I doubt they ran any credit cards in the area. There was even a handwash area close to the check out area. Our orders were prepared pretty quickly and looked like they were lightly salted for preparation. We ended up scrambling to find an eating spot and eventually just settled on the area by the kitchen. If you weren't searching for the spot you could easily walk by it since it was kinda hidden. The decor is minimal and you mostly hear people cooking or talking when it comes to the spot, but they definitely crank the food out rather quickly! The items were all pretty flavorful and delicious. All in all, a great time! I would definitely return in the future to try out some other stuff! read more
So this place has been all over social media and I was able to visit on a trip to Mexico City. First taco shop to earn a Michelin Star. Very small shop and waited in line for about 20 minutes but when I finally paid, I got a front row seat. Only serves 4 types of tacos and I prefer the Bisteck as it was tender. Only grilled with coarse salt and lime juice. The "flash" grilling makes the pork a little tough for me because there isn't a lot of fat, but still good. No bathroom onsite. Ambiance 10/10 Cleanliness 8.5-10 Value 8/10 Service 10/10 Bathroom N/A Food 9/10 Will I Return? Sure... read more
10 months ago
4 months ago
Went to Taquería El Califa de León because it's on the Michelin list and I've always wanted to try a taco shop with a Michelin star. After years of hearing about it, I finally went. The tacos were good, but not mind blowing. I've honestly had tacos just as good elsewhere. The place gets packed, seating is a bit chaotic, and if you sit down you're expected to tip, which makes it feel more expensive overall. Prices seemed a little high, probably because of the Michelin status. Cool experience to check off the list, but not somewhere I'd go out of my way for again. read more
4 months ago
When you first hear about a Michelin starred taqueria most people will assume that it's all hype and overblown for clout etc. and that the food can't be that good. Would I wait 2 hours in line for these tacos? Absolutely hell no. But El Califa de Leon does demonstrate how far a commitment to good ingredients and warm hospitality can go toward making tacos more than the sum of their parts. We arrived around 11 am on a Thursday, there was zero wait. We were immediately greeted with a loud ¡Bienvenidos! coupled with a free tortilla dipped in that lavish tangy spicy salsa. The first free bites were so appetizing we decided to order 8 tacos (there were some freebies doled out as well) between the two of us. We watched the masa transform from dough to tacos in real time, cranked and flittered gracefully across the plancha as La Jefa slapped and seared meat alongside. Everything came out super hot and super fast. Paired with the absolutely volcanic salsa verde (which we heaped on) each bite begot the next in rapid succession. Fatty, salty, beefy, tangy, spicy wrapped in a sheet of corny luxury. It was one of those situations where each fresh bite of salsa provided temporary relief from the scorching heat. By the end of it my wife and I were hyperventilating (she said 我缺氧 which means lightheadedness/hypoxia lmao). The heat beckoned us on as if we were eating in a competition. Delicious. Overall, if you can get in and out fast El Califa de León is absolutely worth it. We will definitely be back next time! read more
Im sure most of you have already watched a million tik toks and read so many reviews so I'll keep it short. Tortilla quality was amazing and did not fall apart. The quality of the meat was impeccable and literally melted in your mouth. Salsas were good but could've been spicier. The ONLY reason I knocked it down a star is because I'm a classic street taco girly and that is my preference. Con todo! BUT I will say if you come in without that expectation you will still think bout the quality of the meat like I do. Well worth the Michelin star for that alone! read more
Great simple tacos. The beef is well seasoned and the sauces are simple. They might have messed up my order but the beef tacos all taste great. Service is provided by a shop next door. One of the better taco spots I had in the city. A bit out of the way. I ordered the steak and rib tacos and both were great. Ambience is busy with limited seats. read more
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More info about El Califa de León
Ribera de San Cosme 56
Col. San Rafael
06400 México, D.F.
Mexico
San Rafael
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55 5566 7859
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El Califa de León - tacos - Updated July 2026
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