Some restaurants you choose for the food. This one I chose for someone else, and that made all the difference. I'd been planning this birthday dinner for weeks. Not just a reservation, but an experience: coordinating with the team ahead of time, arranging for a signed menu as a keepsake, taking care of everything so the night could just unfold without a single logistical thought. I wanted the person I was bringing to feel completely seen, and I wanted the restaurant to be part of that. Part of that care was being intentional about the choice itself. Taking someone with Mexican roots to a Mexican restaurant isn't a decision I made lightly. It had to be the right place, one where I knew the cuisine would be treated with genuine respect, not as an aesthetic or a trend. Californios earned that trust before we even arrived. And it delivered beyond anything I could have scripted. It started before we even sat down. Drinks in hand at the host stand, watching the quiet energy of the room come together while we waited for our table to be ready in the lobby. That anticipation was part of the experience, and it set the tone perfectly. Unlike a lot of fine dining I've been to, nothing here felt stiff or unwelcoming. The attentiveness was real, not rehearsed. Authentic without being performative, warm without being casual. The food itself is unlike anything I've had. Mexican cuisine elevated not by distancing itself from its roots, but by honoring them with extraordinary precision and care. Every dish had history in it. You could taste the respect. What stayed with me most wasn't any single course. It was watching someone I care about experience their culture reflected back at them at the highest possible level. That's a rare thing for a restaurant to make possible. Californios isn't just a great meal. It's a place that understands what dining can mean when it's done with intention. read more

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The food at Californios was very good - however, at this price point, I was expecting a bit more from the overall experience. When we walked in, we were not greeted at the door. When someone did come over to seat us, they tried to seat us at the bar, despite having several open tables (we asked for a table, which they did accommodate after some grumbling). The ambiance inside was nice, if a little boring (my partner had a view of a blank black wall for the meal). The food was, of course, delicious. I was incredibly excited that they were able to accommodate me as a vegetarian. The first few courses didn't blow us away, but the plantain flan, tacos, and desserts were outstanding. As far as drinks go, we asked the sommelier for help choosing a bottle of wine. At other fine dining establishments, the somm will often often pour you a sample from a few bottles of interest before you order, to help you choose what you want. Here, they did not do that - which is fair enough, but it would have been a nice touch. The bottle of white wine that we ordered wasn't chilled prior to serving, so our first glass was warm (unacceptable given the price of the bottle). For $325/person (before the required 20% service charge), we expected more than just a good meal - we expected outstanding service, which I don't necessarily feel we got. If you're going to shell out for fine dining in SF, I believe there are better options at a more reasonable cost. read more

Californios holds such a deep respect and love for the heritage of Mexican Cuisine, my absolute favorite part of this restaurant is the journey that elevating that takes you on. I recognized all the flavors and ingredients, but the attention to detail in honoring that is so clear. Tucked away in a popular nightlife corner, Californios has such a dark and emotional atmosphere, I love the black walls and skylights. The service was amazing throughout the entire night, the whole staff is so charismatic and kind! The food itself was absolutely impeccable. To see tostadas that thin and strong, and tortillas made of sourdough was incredible. Honestly amusing at some extent because of how this food is honoring my home country through the lens of locally available foods where I grew up. My favorite dish without a doubt was the rockfish taco. The fish alongside that bed of tomatillo was so beautiful and delicious!! Thank you to the team for bringing out their super spicy salsas! I loved the entire experience! At the end of our dining, we were able to go into the kitchen and see how it's all made. Shoutout to the Californios team for pushing forward such an amazing menu that I'll never forget. read more

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Loved their take on Mexican fine dining. Everyone was friendly. Loved their first few small bites with caviar, the tacos, and their mole dish. Their cocktails were just okay and tasted watered down - would recommend getting wine. read more

Came here to celebrate my 25th birthday and honestly, it turned into one of the most meaningful dining experiences I've ever had. As someone who is Mexican, being in a space like Californios and seeing my culture, flavors and traditions not only represented but elevated and respected at such a high level meant everything to me. From the moment we walked in, the experience felt intentional. The staff welcomed us with warmth and genuine care and throughout the night they made me feel truly celebrated. Nothing felt forced, it was natural, attentive and personal. What really stood out was the storytelling behind each course. Every dish came with purpose, whether it was rooted in history, regional ingredients or traditional techniques with a modern twist. You can tell there's a deep respect for Mexican culture here, not just in flavor, but in the way everything is presented and explained. It didn't feel like "fine dining trying to be Mexican" it felt authentic, thoughtful and proud. Each course was beautifully executed, with layers of flavor that kept building throughout the meal. The wine pairings were absolutely on point, each one enhancing the dish in a way that made you appreciate both even more. You could tell a lot of care went into creating that balance. Beyond the food, what made this experience unforgettable was how it made me feel. Being able to celebrate a milestone birthday while seeing my culture honored in such a powerful and elevated way is something I won't forget. read more

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Wow! There arent enough words to describe how amazing this meal was! Refined, balanced, visually stunning, an absolute homage to mexico but most importantly 10/10 delicious. Truly one of the best meals I've ever had and this is compared to fine dining in Mexico City. The staff was welcoming from the start, giving us some refreshing frescas and a lovely champagne to start. They very easy to talk to and got me more hyped as each course passed. Loved the decor as well. Overall: no notes. Executed perfectly and would love to go back once my wallet recovers read more

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Wonderful! This was by far one of the best dining experiences I've had. The service was phenomenal -- it didn't feel stiff or too formal like some fine dining experiences are. Everyone was so friendly and chatty! The artwork and sky lights in the dining room also add so much to the charm of the place. We opted for the beverage pairing with our meal which I totally recommend! The Californios Martini was also delicious with chili oil and habanero-stuffed olives. Every course was clearly perfected and it was such an unforgettable experience that you will not regret! read more

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Absolutely a 5 star experience and well worth the money. Firstly, the food was amazing- so many types of tacos and unique tortillas. Majority of the dishes were heavy on the fish, which was very enjoyable. The wine pairing was definitely the way to go with the meal, highly recommend adding that. The service was exquisite, our waitress was fun and helpful. She made our experience very enjoyable. I love how sometimes the chef would come out and top your dish off with a sauce! And every time you get up they change your napkin instantly- and they have coat check! The inside was simple and warm, good lighting on the food. Highly reccomend read more

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Definitely on the top of my Michelin restaurant list. Went here for my birthday and it didn't disappoint (They brought a sparkler with the dessert eheh :D ) 1. We did the juice pairing and yes, it is a lot of liquid, BUT it was very good and interesting. Not a lot of sweet "juices" - a lot of infusions/teas and many were quite refreshing, light, and had quite complex flavor profiles. 2. Some of the best tacos I've had. 3. It is A LOT of food. I was totally stuffed at the end. The abalone might have been my favorite course but everything was very good with just the right amount of experimentation IMO. I will let the photos do the talking here :) The Mexican hot chocolate is also extremely rich and will send you to chocolate heaven. (They also give you some to take home at the end so you can make your own which i thought was cute) read more

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The food was so pretty and tasty and there wasn't anything I disliked. Each dish had creative and unique flavors that you wouldn't immediately expect to complement each other so well while also using local ingredients. Everything was so intentional. Truly a unique experience, especially since I don't see very many high end restaurants focusing on mexican cuisine. Dinner was about 3 hours. Service was amazing, the waiters were all so knowledgeable and excited to tell you about the dishes. the highlights were the tacos. Ok and then the 3 tacos were the highlight The Battered Cod had the most perfectly even coating of batter and the fish itself was so fresh and buttery Sauces complimented the fish so well. The Rockfish had the most flavorful char or however they cooked it gave it so much flavor. The chayote and the salsas complimented the taco so well. AND THEN THE SHORT RIB TACO. The beef was so tender my teeth glided thru each bite and it melted in my mouth SO GOOD THE TOTRILLAS WERE SO SOFT AND FLUFFY WITHOUT BEING TOO FLUFFY FOR A TACO AND WERE WARM AND SOFT N PILLOWY AND THEN THE MOLE WITH THE QUAIL It just couldn't get any better. The quail was cooked so tender and moist and juicy holy shiiii. And the mole had so many different spices and was so chocolatey even though no cjoclate was used. It was so fragrant from all the spices and For the desserts, the champurrado was so rich but not too rich either. MMM it was so luxurious. And then the cotton candy with the ice cream and wafer was mind blowing n not overly sweet as you would expect Each dish was delish and so memorable read more

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Californios is fine dining with a Mexican twist. I thought we started off strong with complimentary bubbly and our choice of a refreshing aqua fresca. I picked the passionfruit, but I actually liked the satsuma better! The next bite of masa sope topped with caviar was delightful, as was the tostada (had a bit of a kick but it was so beautifully plated!). The bocol was also amazing - uni AND truffle? All it needed was a bit of caviar to take it over the top. The sashimi dish was light and the focus was definitely on the aguachile verde. Abalone was also enjoyable and bursting with an explosion of flavor. Final dish prior to the mains was a banana flan topped with plantain chips and caviar. It was salty and sweet, I could have kept eating this happily all night. The mains were hit or miss. We were served a succession of three tacos that came with accompanying pickled veggies and a habanero salsa (the dish that it comes in is SO cute). Tacos were good, but I got kind of bored of eating tacos by the third one. I also thought my mole was a bit sad (I requested a pescetarian accommodation and was served a sweet potato and a plantain in lieu of the actual protein). By the time the desserts rolled around, I was insanely stuffed. I tried to get some items boxed up to enjoy later, but a lot of the small bites are made with ice cream. We also got to take home some housemade vanilla extract. Other tables also got it, in additional to a candle and some sparklers. Not sure what the criteria was as we had also said we were celebrating a milestone event. Dinner overall was a 3.5 hour event, and the time between courses was a bit on the slower side. I think they really want you to take the time to enjoy each bite. Service was good, as expected. I liked the staff that took the time to converse with us. We spent $1000 between 2 for the meal and drinks. A good experience, and we're glad to have tried, but moving on to the next! read more

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Incredible dinner at Californios to celebrate our five year wedding anniversary. Almost every bite was the best bite I had ever had. From the moment we were welcomed into their beautiful patio with a delicious agua fresca to the moment we left, the service was top notch. From the general manager to the waiters, everyone was personable and accommodating. They were very tolerant of our not-very Michelin star level antics and indulged us with patience and humor. We had the beverage pairing, and several of the wines served were immediately my new favorites. But we also ordered cocktails because their bar program looked so good. You simply must pace yourself through the 13 courses because the last tacos and the mole are out of this world, and the dessert is so beautiful and delicious you will want to be able to appreciate it. This is a fairly stripped down Michelin experience but that leaves more space to appreciate the incredible food. We both had such a fantastic meal and wonderful time with the whole crew. read more

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This is such a beautiful restaurant which is hilariously and discretely tucked away across the street from BUTTER LOL but I love it, out of all the Michelins I've been to this is by far my favorite restaurant ever. Delicious and well orchestrated dishes, carefully plated and there is truly so much care every step of the way. They should be very proud of what they have done for highlighting the best qualities of Mexican food, and taking it from a cuisine that can be presented/perceived as quite humble to something as elevated as any other fine dining cuisine. Great and attentive service. read more

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Celebrated a birthday here and the inside is a modern, moody ambiance. We booked reservations about a week in advance. I had broken my heel upon arriving to the restaurant and Olivia was an absolute doll helping me glue my shoe back together. Thankful for her! Moving to the actual experience, the food is good and it was definitely interesting tasting traditionally inspired Mexican dishes. Unfortunately, I did not have a highlight since nothing stood out to me. When dining at a 2 star Michelin restaurant, I want to leave thinking about at least one dish. My biggest issue with the dining experience was the timing -- there was way too much time in between courses. This caused us to get bored and even tired. We were eager to finish the meal and leave. Additionally, my partner left still hungry so that was a bummer. Definitely an experience but I question the price point. read more

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Californios is quintessential San Francisco fine dining. With two Michelin stars and a reputation as one of the country's most innovative Mexican restaurants, I arrived with expectations sky-high. The restaurant announces its ambitions before you even step inside. Tucked away in a SOMA alleyway, the approach feels almost foreboding--dark walls closing in as you make your way to the entrance. Inside, the moody black continues, but the space comes alive with vibrant pop art and paintings that punctuate the elegance with playful bursts of color. Our entire dinner took a little over four hours to be served. While I did not mind the wait considering the quality and inventiveness of each course, my dining compatriots were less pleased. Nevertheless, the service was exceptional. Since it was my friend's birthday, we were all given complimentary champagne, and he received an additional treat of a drinking chocolate mix. Agua Fresca: A refreshing opening note. Pleasant, though not revelatory. Comparable to good coconut water anywhere. Sope: Visually striking against its black molcajete, this made for a beautiful opening course. The flavors, however, felt surprisingly pedestrian. Even the caviar failed to elevate the dish beyond the ordinary. Tostada: The colors and presentation once again astound, with serrano peppers and roe arranged like a delicate flower. The flavors of this dish were out of this world. Incredibly rich and slightly sweet Dungeness crab, the enticing heat of the serrano peppers, and the bursts of umami from the roe were magnificent. Bocol: An almost alien-looking dish. This tasted wholly unique. Intensely earthy with a depth provided by the chocolate in the mole and sea urchin. Aguachile Verde: Perhaps the finest raw fish preparation I've ever had. Bright and summery, it coaxed out the kampachi's inherent sweetness while celebrating its dry-aged funk. Abulon: I'm generally not a fan of abalone, but this dish changed that. The carrot juice and kombu imbued an addictive vegetal freshness. The abalone was also perfectly cooked and paired beautifully with the flavors. Flan de Jamón Ibérico: The most corn-centric dish by far. While I found this dish to be delicious, I think that's mostly due to the heap of caviar. Bacalao Negro: This is one of the three taco dishes for the night, and one I was looking forward to. This course looks like it belongs in a museum. The attention to detail and plating is just gorgeous. The fish itself is the best fried fish I've ever had. The crust has the perfect amount of crunch and give. The cod is perfectly tender. And the sourdough tortilla is the pièce de résistance. Pescado Tatemado en Estilo Matsukasa: The second taco dish of the night. I was wondering if they could top the last taco dish, but I was immediately proven wrong. The grilled rockfish with the assortment of tomatoes may be one of the best bites of my life. Mole Californios: Succulent quail bathed in a mole so profoundly complex I'd drink it straight if given the chance. The symphony of flavors within defies description. The accompanying tortillas were also the evening's best. Carne Guisada: The final taco of the night, short rib with white truffle. The wasabi crema steals the show here, adding layers of complexity that transform the dish from excellent to extraordinary. Frutas: The first dessert course. Concord grape takes center stage in this delectable finish to the savory portion of the meal. Empanada: Competent, but unexceptional. While tasty enough, nothing distinguished it from what a good bakery might produce. However, the ice cream was divine. read more

I've raved about Californios for years - and every visit has been amazing. So this most recent visit was a massive disappointment, and I reached out privately via the reservation system prior to posting this but didn't get a response for more than a week. Food: excellent. The mole, the tacos (that rockfish taco is a stunner), and some of those early bites are life-changing. The "new" location (they've been there for years, but it still feels new) is beautiful, and it's the rare restaurant that benefits from its art and design. Spacing between tables needs work; there are two tables in the middle of the counter that are on top of each other, so expect to see the dishes you'll be getting before you end up getting them (not fun). This review is about the pacing, and some major service misses. There were interminable (upwards of 30 minute) waits between some courses, and if you're doing pairings, you'll either let drinks sit there for long stretches because the food isn't there, or you're just not doing pairings at all. Other courses (notably desserts) come in such quick succession, it's like they're trying to kick you out. More frustrating was delivering a dish, describing that there's (pricy) white truffles on it, and realizing your dish doesn't have any truffles at all. We asked what happened, and we were told there were truffles (they told us they checked the camera). Someone else told us there weren't truffles (because of a dairy intolerance). And a few minutes later, they realized they were wrong and we got a second one (this time with truffles). Did they actually check the camera? Do truffles now contain milk? Or did they lie? Those aren't questions you should be asking at a restaurant with this stellar a reputation. There was also one awkward moment where the servers forgot which person at the table had dietary restrictions. At the high price point, you're not just paying for food. You're paying for the experience, and for the opportunity to let go and trust one of the best restaurants in the country do their thing. But I lost trust, and that's a huge disappointment. I've championed this place for years, but I'm not sure I can suggest people go until they work out the pacing. No new pictures (been too many times and I can't post anymore). read more

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We celebrated my 30th birthday at this amazing restaurant. It's Mexican & elevated. It's located near a Costco & that's where we parked. I love the ambiance, cool decor & soft seats. The restaurant is not crowded, so there was a lot of open space. The mannerism & politeness of the staff went above & beyond to make my birthday feel special :) Food 5/5: -Set course menu & a lot of the ingredients I wouldn't regularly think to pair them together, which I thought was outstanding once I ate it. -A lot of seafood, which I adored! -I loved the cavier, hamachi, and fish tacos. -There were other items that I can't really remember, but all the dishes were fantastic! Dessert 5/5: -They serve plenty of desserts: chocolate, serbet, & cotton candy It was definitely an expensive & fine dining experience, but worth it! I loved learning about where they source their food & Mexican cultures + their food. Thank you for an amazing dinner & experience! Also, they have 2 Michelin stars read more

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A very unique fine dining experience with Mexican touches and modern techniques. I enjoyed most of my meal at Californios. The restaurant has a story about corn to tell, and you will have corn in almost every dish, in many different forms. Some dishes I enjoyed a lot were the roe on thinly sliced serrano peppers on crab on a chip, the peas with caviar, and the sweet potato. The dessert was also excellent. The sashimi dish was very strange to me -- while there was a slight mexican element to it, in the "not soy sauce" (it was basically soy sauce but made with Mexican ingredients instead, and smokier), the dish didn't really fit in with the others. In general I felt that there were not enough meat dishes, or dishes that were pure veg that could have benefitted from some meat. The few times that you have meat, I felt like there should have been more. E.g. the rockfish at the end, for 2 people to share, is a bit disappointing. And I wish I got more mole sauce, since it was so tasty, and there was a lot of effort put into making it. Service was good all around except we had a random 15 minute break between the tacos, which was strange, since most of the meal was very on time. We also felt that the somm was pretty checked out. 9:30PM is late so I get it, but there lacked some enthusiasm and attentiveness on the wine recs and service, whereas the rest of the staff had it. The wine list itself is a bit lacking as well, especially for the cuisine offered, I felt that more Tempranillo and more spice like wines would work well. Ended up balling out with Dujac anyway, which was fun. But with costs in mind, would not recommend the average person do that. In general the wine list is very friendly in terms of markup, hovering in the 1.5-2x range rather than 3x+ that you find at most 2 star establishments. read more

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I have absolutely nothing constructive to say about Californios. This is a restaurant that are so completely deservant of their 2 Michelin stars. Having never eaten at a Mexican inspired high end establishment I wasn't sure what to expect and quite honestly, I didn't go in with any expectations either way. It was relaxed but the service was 5 stars. The decor was comfortable and a little quirky. The food was... epiphanous. Everything was beautifully plated, creative and paced out to perfection. We opted for the beverage pairing which was spot on. My significant other was the photog for the evening but I'll post some pics when available. My favorite part of an evening with so many highlights was the dessert. So much fun! read more

This was my absolute favorite michelin star and fine dining experience ever. I was excited about the food and ingredients especially after the servers would explain the context and tradition before the dishes came out. This helped me understand the value of the ingredients and reason for the flavors. I can't even begin for list my favorite dishes because that would be all of them. Every single dish knocked it out of the park! From the first few small bites to the last dessert, every dish had exquisite and complex flavors while also making it a very simple and humble experience. You really felt the beautiful mexican origins in each dish. You can taste how genuinely fresh all of the ingredients are, especially since they're locally sourced and according to seasons, as per servers knowledge. Also they were very helpful for any dietary restrictions or preferences as well as allergies! And they didn't make the dishes any less flavorful or exciting with these requirements, they were creative and made them equally as delicious! The ambience was also great! Some fine dining places have extremely dark moody atmospheres where you can't even see your company while dining and chatting; however this place has beautiful colorful paintings on the walls and great lighting to be able to actually see your company (and the food!). The music was also great and I enjoyed the vibe with some spanish music - fusion and also some traditional. Every server was amazing, they were so kind and helpful and soo informative! It was my husband and I's anniversary and they treated us so special even with a full dining room. Incase it wasn't apparent already, I cannot wait to come back! :) read more

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By far, my favorite two star Michelin in the Bay Area. Everything here is so delicious beginning to end and it's so good that I've been here three times. read more

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My fiancé and I recently visited Californios on our Valentine's Day trip to San Francisco . And I have to say it was like no other place I have ever been too. Starting out with the staff , the service, the food, the presentation just to make a few. We also had the pleasure of meeting the chefs before our dinner and that really made our whole experience a little more memorable. You can tell that everything from the menu to the presentation of the food , the ingredients, the silverware everything was delicately thought-out . We had a lovely evening. And we often find ourselves craving their unique dishes. Thank you to everyone who made our dinner such a read more

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Californios has flashes of brilliance, but the experience isn't consistently polished. Service was hit and miss, while some staff were attentive and knowledgeable, others felt undertrained, which showed in the pacing and flow of the evening. Timing was the biggest issue: courses took too long to arrive, and the kitchen didn't adjust to our dining pace, which made the meal feel drawn out. On the positive side, when the food landed, flavors were very good and showcased creativity. Still, the execution wasn't seamless, with a couple of dishes missing the mark. The space itself is stunning, almost like dining inside a modern museum, which I really appreciated. read more

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Californios is definitely one of those places that highlights their mastery of combining multiple ingredients to create a unique and fun experience. However while good, the taste lacked the wow factor of most Michelin restaurants. In terms of location, the restaurant is not in the best place and may be difficult to find parking. We opted to use ride share, also because we were heading to the nightclub next door after so if you have the same plans, that's a plus. There's a nice long walkway that sets the mood as you enter the restaurant. Service is friendly and they do a great job at describing everything. The starting courses were small bites and tasted great. The next courses were some variations of tacos and aquachile. Not the best but all were solid. Finally, dessert was overall okay. Overall, I would say this place is worth a visit. read more

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I reserved a 5p dinner on a weekday and just a heads up that traffic is still terrible around that time so leave lots of time to find parking. We were lucky and found street parking in front, free after 6p. The restaurant is kind of hidden but look for the address sign. There's a lovely walkway up to the front door. Service was wonderful throughout, well deserving of the 2 stars. The dishes included many local ingredients including rock fish, uni, squab. Everything was delicious but my highlights were the rock fish taco, mole, paleta for dessert. We also got the beverage pairing which came with some delicious wines and beers that paired perfectly with the dishes. The music was eclectic and made the place seem very fun. The layout is interesting, with stairs that go down into kitchen and other service areas somewhat like the ones in New York so watch your step going to the restaurant. My only wish is the lighting be a bit brighter as it was hard to take good food pics but that's the only thing. The service never felt rushed and we really enjoyed our date night here. Beautiful experience, highly recommend. read more

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A beautiful atmosphere, very good service, and an excellent wine and cocktail program. I have a fish allergy and they did an excellent job accommodating it, even though the menu was fish-heavy. Some highlights of my dinner included the short rib taco, a beet salad (given in place of fish course - was delicious!) and some tiny amazing peppers arranged in a circle with some perfect tomatoes (and you lucky fish eating folks get some excellent looking caviar). I was really impressed with the wine selection and I had the duo of red wines, one Mexican and one Italian, that are served together in 5 oz pours. The Californios martini was also a highlight with its excellent spicy additions and earthy Mexican gin. My dining companion got the beverage pairing which had a lot of nice choices and a couple puzzlers (a small and unremarkable beer and a too-sweet dessert wine). The mole was very good. I really enjoyed this meal but would say it's not quite as good gastronomically overall as SingleThread or even Commis out in Oakland and for Mexican fine dining I prefer Alma Fonda Fina in Denver (which only has one star). Still, a great meal in a beautiful atmosphere and I'd happily come back again. Side note, they also have a lovely but small bar where you can also reserve a full meal or stop in for drinks. read more

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I went there for my graduation and it was a dream! Being from Mexico means I have high expectations when it comes to Mexican food and Californios did not disappoint one bit. The lobby/bar area is immaculate and features elegant decorative pieces that capture the essence of the country. Guests are greeted with a glass of champagne and soft latin music plays throughout your meal. The tasting menu will take you through a world of flavors and textures that include ingredients mostly sourced in California. Their dishes are mainly a unique recreation of Mexican classics with a history of their own. Their staff are friendly and very knowledgeable. You will get thorough descriptions of each course and the ingredients used in your food. You will also be given a small surprise to take home at the end of your meal! Overall, it was an amazing experience and wouldn't hesitate to go back. read more

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4.5 stars A creative and unique fine dining experience that pays homage to Mexican & Texan roots. Overall, this was an enjoyable and memorable meal. Worth a visit. Plenty of street parking, but I did have one of the first dinner reservations of the day. The interior was dark and cozy with comfortable seating. The service is attentive, though perhaps not quite as consistent as I'd expect. The food was creative and flavorful. I had a $95 non-alcoholic pairing, which I wasn't too impressed by. Although the NAP complemented the plates, their approach to the NAP was to lean into non-alcoholic substitutions of traditional alcoholic pairings (ex: nonalcoholic beer, nonalcoholic white wine) rather than to explore naturally non-alcoholic beverages. This is not my preference, so I would skip the NAP next time. Some standouts: - Aqua fresca starter beverage- Concord grapes fermented for three days. Light and a refreshing starter to the meal. - Black cod taco. Fried to perfection and the corn crema decoration charming. The tortilla was luxurious and my favorite of the night. - Sweet potato with two different types of mole (mole negro and mole blanco). The mole blanco's sweetness was memorable, thanks to the white chocolate. - Entree was a family-style meal, which was an enjoyable experience. Smoky rockfish with tortillas and an assortment of salsas. The habanero salsa was very spicy but tasty enough to keep going back for more. read more

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I had my birthday dinner here and wow was I disappointed. Most definitely not worth the price to food quality/service/presentation. My sister who went with me laughs at me for choosing the "worst fine dining experience" she has ever had. We love Michelin star restaurants! We have been to at least 30 all over the world. This one does not meet the quality or presentation mark. The food profiles were underwhelming. None of the ingredients were particularly memorable. The only thing I liked was the sour dough tortillas. We asked for extra tortillas at the end because we were still hungry. The servers were also not well educated on the menu when asked basic follow up questions to their ingredient showcase. The wine suggested did not pair well with the meal. I am still so embarrassed that I was the one to the suggest this restaurant If you want a more wow worthy culinary experience with Latin twists - I recommend El Cielo (Colombian not Mexican) in DC for craftsmanship, high quality food, cultural story telling, and outstanding beverages. I know there are not many Mexican Michelin restaurants in the world but there is definitely so much potential. Please skip this restaurant and go elsewhere! read more

Californios - Sourdough tortilla - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ambiance was impeccable - we loved the overhead lighting with the somewhat dim room, and the room had a ton of cool artwork on the walls. Service was amazing as well - the servers and hosts were definitely passionate about the restaurant and ingredients but also knowledgeable and friendly. We also got to chat with Chef Cantú for a bit and that was really cool - he's super approachable. Food was also on another level - this was definitely our favorite meal in 2024 (and ever!). The first two bites were decadent with caviar but still had a ton of mexican influence. We ate a ton of "elevated" tacos throughout the meal and enjoyed all of them a ton. The smoked flavors of the meats and corn flavor of the tortillas really shone throughout the meal. The desserts were also super delicious and unique - i especially loved the oaxacan rum ice cream and cotton candy tamarind pelotas. I'm definitely coming back again sometime in the future! read more

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At over 400 after tax, Californians are by no means cheap, but in the Bay Area, with its rapidly inflated prices, the presentation is considered conscientious. The first few bite-sized dishes were quite large and solid. The tostada tortillas were thin, generously topped with tuna and thinly sliced ​​serrano. The spice was just right. The aquachili was hot and fresh, with a scoop of citrus sorbet. Everything that followed was delicious, except for the sope, which was a bit salty... but that outweighed the benefits. Between courses, the server even displayed the ingredients on individual plates, and each plate was quite attractive. The dessert was a pleasant surprise. The fruit sorbet had an orange creamsicle feel, very refreshing and layered. I always thought pre-dessert sorbets were a rip-off, but I really enjoyed this. Then there was dessert, rum ice cream, which I even made into a flambe, paired with an apple empanada. The ice cream was delicious, but I couldn't finish the empanada, haha. The meal took a little over three hours, but it was a satisfying one. read more

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this place set the bar pretty high as my first michelin star restaurant highlights: caviar potato soup, fried halibut, rock fish everything was prepared super fresh and meticulously, all the flavors blended rly well together we even got to tour the kitchen afterwards and take a pic with the chef!! only downside was that the whole experience took 3.5 hours definitely would come again !! read more

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We loved our experience at Californios, an excellent example of elevated Mexican cuisine done right. Dishes were simple but tasty. We liked that they did not shy away from spice when spice enhanced the flavor profile, and overall felt the dishes were well balanced both in texture and flavor. We especially loved the quail taco. The desserts were more of a miss for us - the petit fours were overly sweet - but all in all a good experience. read more

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Outstanding place. Quality of the food and service is to be distinguished. Michelin rated but well deserved. We will go back. It's expensive but measured to what they serve. read more

One of the best food and dining experiences of my life! The food is mind blowing, the drinks both non alcoholic and alcoholic are amazing- Patrick is a magician of a mixologist, the service was perfection, the vibe was unpretentious and beautiful! Everything you could ever want from a Michelin star experience!! Can't wait to come back!! read more

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Ngl this is a big step up from my usual taco truck experience so I had big expectations coming in. The flavors were very unique (in a good way) and they actually give you a lot of food, so at least you won't be leaving hungry read more

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Date of Visit: 8/8/2024 We visited Californios on my husband's birthday for celebration! Californios is on my list for a long time, and finally got a chance to visit. I was not a big fan of Mexican cuisine, but Californios was exceptional in making all tacos with amazing ingredients! Californios is one of the 9 Michelin two stars restaurants in Northern California in 2024, and is under the lead of head chef Val M. Cantu, who is one of the restaurant's co-owner. Californios earned its first Michelin star in 2015 and second star in 2017, becoming the first restaurant serving Mexican cuisine to earn two Michelin stars in United States. Chef Val M. Cantú is passionate on focusing on mexican foods with his heritage. His family ran a Mexican restaurant in Brownwood, Texas, and his recipes blended Mexican and northern Californian cuisines. We got the Californios Tasting Menu at the price of $307 per person, and we also got one Beverage Pairing $197 to share, and also ordered another 2 cocktails during the meal. The dining room is like a art gallery with colorful paintings and lively decorations. We were welcomed by the server and was led to the dining room after we checked in with the host. Chilapita The first course was the tart filled with cranberry bean mousse, chive and serrano salsa, topped with Californios Golden Reserve Caviar. It was placed on the top of a volcano stone mill filled with corn. Tostada The second course was the Tostada topped with blue fin tuna from Baja, on top of avocado mousse and fermeneted yellow serrano. Sope Third finger bite was the sope filled with dungeness crab, red bean mousse with iberico machaca. Aguachile Fourth course is the soup with sungold tomato, saffron and kanpachi and white fish roe. Finished with Sunburst Squash and Summer Herbs. Esquites This one was one of my favorites! The sweet white corn esquites from Brentwood in California. Corn custard topped with smoked Cojita Espuma and Smoked Kaluga Hybrid Caviar. Bacalao Negro This one is my favorite of the night! Sourdough tortilla with a Mezcal Battered Local Black Cod, on top of the grilled Poblano and Anaheim pepper salsa, and topped with a beautiful presentation of Huitlacoche & Corn Crema. On the side to pair with all taco courses were the Escabeches: Lacto Fermented Star Route Farms Baby Carrots, Lemon Pickled Sperpent Cucumbers, and Fresh Limes. Tlacoyo The seventh course was the Spring Tlacoyo filled with Buffalo Stracciatella from Ramini Dairy in Tomales, California. Mixed with snap peas and Pecan Xikil Pak. Codorniz This is a special taco made with Quail Al Pastor Negro with Grilled Hawaiian Pineapple on a Hickory Gold Masa Tortilla. With a smoked quail broth on the side. Camote Y Mole Server brought a full plate of different ingredients to introduce the next course. The nixtamilized camote with Mole Blanco and Mole Negro. Served with Poppy and Sesame Tortilla. Pescado Zarandeado This one was the final main course of the night. In the middle there was Rock Fish Zarandeado Verde with Fresh Tortillas, Salsa, Black Turtle Beans from Tierra Vegetables, and Herbs from The Garden at Meadowood. Frutas For the first course of desserts, server brought a basket of different types of strawberries, Chandler, Mara de Bois, and Seascape. Chandler strawberries were made as a strawberry mint tea. Mara de bois strawberries were mixed with Crescenza cheese and vanilla crema, and the Seascape Strawberries was made as a sherbet with green strawberry raspado. Empanada For the next course of dessert, in the middle was the yellow peaches Empanada, served with a Californios Oaxacan Rum ice cream with buttered pecans. Momento Mori, Chocolatl The last course was the cotton candy with raspberry sorbet, chocolate tacos, and chocolate desserts in a wooden box. For birthday celebration, there was a brilliant candle stick that was lighted from the kitchen and brought to the birthday boy. And with a birthday chocolate gift box decorated with "Happy Birthday" and the name of the birthday boy too! read more

Absolutely wonderful and whimsical experience. Well deserving of its two michelin stars and in my opinion, only a few steps away from three. The meal was an array of Mexican classics with innovations done up with the best ingredients and best preparation. Dishes were creative, complex, and delicious. Service was on point. It's also a unique experience. If you like fine dining, this experience can't be missed. read more

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I'm not even sure how to write this review because nothing I write will tell you how exceptional this meal was. Easily top two of all Michelin star places I have been and a month later I still think about some of the dishes. Let me start by saying this place it's absolutely beautiful and the decor is fantastic. The staff are funny, friendly and incredibly attentive. The vibe here is casual while you don't on one of the finest meals in the world. This meal was special in so many ways and really opened my eyes (and watered my mouth) to truly fine dining mexican. Whomever cooked my scallop ruined me for life. This was like flying in a private jet and then trying to go commercial again, it'll never be the same. I have never had a Scallop that was so tender and flavorful in all of my life. The tostada was fresh and flavorful, the tuna in the shark tooth formation was great and the abalone was just... unexplainable. Wish there were more tacos (channel my inner Fluffy) but that quail and pineapple was ridiculous. How do I go back to eating normal tacos after this? The desserts I'm not even sure I can explain but that ice cream cake pop with the cotton candy broke my brain and that chocolate tort thing was probably the best dessert I've had in my life. To sum it all up, if you don't go here you are missing out on an experience that you can have nowhere else. This food will rewire your brain and have you thinking about moving to Mexico. read more

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Let the tour of Michelin starred restaurants continue... Californios located in San Francisco, has a very interesting take on cuisine. Like most Michelin starred restaurants, diners will be asked for their allergies, etc. prior to the meal so that the restaurant is prepared to make adjustments as needed to the tasting menu. The restaurant is touted as elevated Mexican food, and some of the tasting courses left me wondering how. Let's start from the beginning... Parking is nonexistent, so be prepared. You might be lucky enough to find a spot on the street but they're few and far between. The restaurant itself does not really have proper signage, if any at all, and the exterior is not lit, making it difficult to locate at night. Once inside, the small host station is located next to their rather small bar area, neither of which is overly inviting. The art on the wall is what initially became confusing because in the bar area, there's a beautiful sugar skull painting, and in the dining area the rest of the art is abstract. Ironically it works. We both found service to be rather clumsy, and the wait staff seemed confused as to what they were serving us. The initial item on the tasting menu was almost immediately presented to us when we were seated, not allowing us to become comfortable. I will say that the first bite was tasty, and we were both excited about the impending experience. Different staff members will come out and serve the next item on the menu. It wasn't clear if this was something that they had prepared, or if they were simply delivering to the table. It would've been nice to have been able to offer compliments for those dishes that we enjoyed , we had known if that was the chef or simply someone dropping the item off. We both found the food for the most part to be delicious, but in many regards, the food was not seasoned properly. It either was far too citrusy, which drowned out the actual bite, or with some items it just lacked the level of flavor that one would expect at a Michelin starred restaurant. With all the dishes that were presented, the Wagyu threw us off the most. Wagyu is not an item found with this type of cuisine, and it left us both wondering if this was presented to justify the cost of the meal. The crispy duck served with a mole sauce was interesting, but the server that presented it to us, shared that the mole sauce was made with only a few ingredients. As a lover of mole sauce, and an accomplished home cook, this left me confused since most mole sauces have at least 20+ ingredients in it. It was still enjoyable nonetheless. The palate cleanser, which is a cilantro ice of sorts, is absolutely horrible. There are no other words to describe it. No one wants to cleanse their mouth with ice and cilantro. I don't know who came up with this, but for the love of all that's holy, please remove it from the menu. The other item is sadly the cotton candy portion of the dessert tasting menu. The cotton candy itself doesn't have a lot of flavor to it which is interesting since it's spun sugar. We were told when it was served, to take a full bite to the core of the cotton candy. Upon doing so, there is some sort of hard white chocolate that is filled with this harsh tasting citrusy stuff that will make you cringe. It definitely is not a way to end a meal. Neither of us were able to finish it because it was so bitter, and quite frankly horrible. The gelato/churro portion of the dessert tasting menu was also interesting. Again the gelato portion was fairly bland, and we've been instructed to dip our churros into the chocolate sauce that had been poured over the creamed dessert. We personally would've liked to have had the option to add more of the chocolate sauce to our bowls, but the wait staff removed the chocolate before we even started that portion of the dessert service. The best part of the dessert tasting menu, were the little tiny buttons of chocolate. Three different flavors, all of which were exceptional. The salted caramel being, both of our favorites. It's rare to find a balanced, salted caramel, and the chef that prepared this, hit it out of the ballpark. Diner tip: we had ordered the non-alcoholic pairing for both of our meals, and we were both disappointed. The flavors were all over the place, and none of them were drinkable. The wait staff would remove our drinks, and yet did not question why the glasses were still full. The pairings were fairly pricey, for what was offered, and there was not one time that we were told what food would be matched with the pairings or vice versa. The ambience was interesting, because seating is ironically, fairly close to other diners, and the expected din, was a variety of music that was not indigenous to the cuisine or anything else that made sense. I've never had a dining experience where the music ranged from 60s to rap, and went from rather loud, to something closer to a more enjoyable listening tone. read more

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