After a brief closure, this two-Michelin-starred fine dining Mexican restaurant reopened last spring in a much larger space in SoMa with indoor and outdoor seating. The tasting menu continues to be ambitious and unlike anything you imagine of when you think of “Mexican food” though it is very much just that—chef Cantu takes Mexican ingredients and techniques to new levels while also highlighting the Bay Area’s seasonal bounty. You never know what you’re going to get as the tasting menu changes nightly, but you can expect a meal with exquisite presentation, service, and food.

This Californian-Mexican tasting-menu concept by chef Val M. Cantu continues to be one of the hottest tickets in the entire Bay Area. Cantu and his team's creations, along with Charlotte Randolph's acclaimed wine program, remain as special as ever (the restaurant had a great run in smaller Mission District digs before moving to SoMa), crafting what is possibly the country's leading Mexican-influenced fine dining experience. As wonderful as what's on the table is, the posh black-walled setting with contemporary art and dramatic chandeliers is just as notable.

When you step into the cavernous space with the all-black walls, you’ll feel like you’re at a chic art gallery about to experience a full-blown production. It’ll start with tiny bites, like a masa tart topped with rich sturgeon mousse and caviar and a chicharrón buried in truffle shavings, and head into an entire course dedicated to some of the best tacos we’ve ever had. It ends with a trio of bonbons, a buñuelo you’ll dream about for weeks, and chocolate cotton candy.

What Our Inspectors Say: “Set in a bohemian area known for its street tacos and bare bones eateries, Californios aims to elevate the Mission district’s south-of-the-border fare to contemporary Mexican cuisine and it more than succeeds. A complex, layered mole here isn’t just likely to please—it’s bound to turn your entire understanding of this nation’s cuisine on its head. The luxurious space only ups the appeal.

Chef Val M. Cantú's Californios elevates Mexican heritage cuisine with ingenuity and complex ingredients, while colorful artwork on dark walls and a pleasing patio create great ambience. Michelin mentions standouts like lime cured cold-smoked hamachi with a sweet lime aguachile with pickled buddha’s hand and cold pressed cilantro. Michelin rating: 2 stars

With the highly creative Chef Val Cantu at the helm, Californios has become one of the best Mexican restaurants in San Francisco, albeit with a pretty steep price tag ($267 per person). Californios shines with beautifully composed, complex dishes using only the highest-quality, sustainable ingredients sourced from small California farms. The SoMa-based, fine-dining establishment features an ever-changing 16-course tasting menu, which has included caviar-topped tostadas de plantain, chilapita filled with creamy, smoked sturgeon mousse, and lamb barbacoa with sourdough tortilla, pea puree, and pea greens.

San Francisco's list of best restaurants would not be complete without an option for an upscale Mexican meal — especially one at Californios, an eatery that boasts family roots, two Michelin stars, and a spot among the best Mexican restaurants in America. Tucked inside the cozy but clean interior of Californios — or outdoors in the lushly grown garden patio — diners can relax in comfort. The cuisine is unlike anything you've seen, offering reconceptualized takes on classic flavors as they please the palate and challenge any preconceptions you may have had about Michelin star Mexican food.

A trailblazer for Mexican fine dining in San Francisco, Californios presents an elegant rendition of the cuisine informed by chef Val Cantu’s upbringing, working in his father’s tortilleria and restaurant in Texas. The lengthy tasting menu ($287) — which can last up to four hours — is his performance of nostalgia, ratcheted-up with technique and affectionate flair. Highlights include a pocket-size sope topped with finely ground Iberico pork; flame-licked white fish served with accoutrements for taco-making; and a show-stealing dessert exhibition.

This fine-dining Mexican restaurant not only serves an inventive menu but also some of the tastiest cuisines around. The food here is consistently delicious that Michelin Guide saw it fit to award the establishment two stars – the first and only Mexican restaurant to receive the prestige. The dishes revolve around the reimagining of familiar flavors: an empanada that tastes like it was infused with lime and pumpkin, a chicharron topped by thin slices of Wagyu, as well as seasonings like habanero aioli.

355 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103Phone: 415-757-0994 Visit Website. It used to be that Mexican food was seen as a cheap weeknight meal, but Californios changed all of that with their “California Mexican” fine dining restaurant. They have two Michelin stars, the “Best New Chef” award from Food & Wine Magazine, and four stars from the San Francisco Chronicle, making it not only one of the best Mexican restaurants in San Francisco but one of the best restaurants in the world.

California may just have some of the best Mexican food outside of Mexico, and San Francisco spot “Californios” has taken the much-loved cuisine to new heights. This is Mexican food and flavours like you’ve never experienced before, served in a suave dining room decorated with an elegant tropical flair. The starting menu features a succession of small plates– which is interesting to see for those who are used to the bold flavours of Mexico being served in generous portions.

In his tiny, handsome restaurant, with just 24 seats and a single tasting menu, chef Val Cantu conjures up his own idiosyncratic world: Meso-American cuisine, both precolonial and postmodern. Cantu, who is originally from Texas and grew up in his family’s traditional Mexican restaurant, is like many who migrate to San Francisco: a free spirit. This is a restaurant where I’d take anyone from anywhere else, to have them taste what can only be tasted here, now.

Californios completed its move from the Mission to 11th Street in SoMa (the former Bar Agricole space) earlier this year, and quietly opened for outdoor dining in late March. Chef Val Cantu continues to wow diners with his refined and subtle takes on Mexican-Californian cuisine — which earned him two stars from Michelin in 2019. The space has gotten a nice remodel, and the enclosed, partly covered front patio is a lovely experience as well.

If you really want to impress your date, Californios is the place to go. A small Mexican restaurant that prides itself on its use of high-quality ingredients that offer flavorful cuisine, you are promised an “ever evolving” menu that offers 12 to 16 courses. You may not be able to run into the banana ice cream I have recommended, but chances are, you will have a dessert you’ll love.

This restaurant is located in an area known for street tacos and bare-bones restaurants, but the Mission district staple offers atmosphere and top-notch cuisine. The eatery has caramel-hued banquettes that pop against dark-lacquered walls, while chandeliers and shelves of cookbooks further punctuate the upscale mien of the intimate room. The restaurant boasts an innovative style.

When you step into the cavernous space with the all-black walls, you’ll feel like you’re at a chic art gallery about to experience a full-blown production. It’ll start with tiny bites, like a masa tart topped with rich sturgeon mousse and caviar and a chicharrón buried in truffle shavings, and head into an entire course dedicated to some of the best tacos we’ve ever had.

San Francisco has countless delicious Mexican restaurants, but if you’re looking for an elevated, contemporary take on the cuisine, the family-owned Californios should be on your list. The restaurant offers a lavish nightly tasting menu that highlights seasonal and local ingredients. Indulge in the vibrant indoor dining room or on the new, lush garden patio.

Californios is a special spot in the heart of San Francisco, on 11th St. It's not just a restaurant; it's a place where friends gather for fun meals and couples enjoy cozy dinners. It's a favorite for people who love food. Why we love it: Californios brings a fresh twist to dining with its Mexican-inspired meals, stylish look, and excellent service.

Favorite taco spot: Loló, 974 Valencia St., MissionWhile Cantu’s favorite place is La Taqueria — he often opts for lengua — his favorite taco is Loló’s Taco Tropical. He’s been ordering it for more than a decade and raves about the thinly sliced jicama “tortilla” topped with crispy shrimp and mango salsa. “It is just so light and fresh.

Address: 355 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103Phone:+1 (415) 757-0994Website:californiossf.comDetails: $$$$, Mexican restaurant. Californios is an extraordinary Mexican restaurant located in San Francisco, offering a remarkable dining experience. The staff provides impeccable service, ensuring a warm and welcoming atmosphere for guests.

Why You Need To Dine Here: The nightly tasting menu at this two Michelin-star establishment keeps fans coming back to see what's next. Family-owned and operated, it offers an elevated and modern take on traditional Mexican favorites. Pro Tip: Eat al fresco at Californio’s new and enclosed garden patio, complete with heating lamps.

Californios is a Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco that offers a modern take on Mexican cuisine, highlighting local ingredients. The setting strikes a balance between relaxed and refined, making it a welcoming place for a memorable meal. Diners can expect a thoughtful, creative menu without any stuffy formality.

Californios is the only restaurant on my list of San Francisco fine dining options to serve up Mexican dishes. In fact, it's the first Mexican restaurant in the US to earn two Michelin stars!. This warm, family-owned and operated space offers classic Mexican dishes with a special touch.

Enjoy a contemporary take on Mexican cuisine at Californios. This elegant Mexican eatery combines traditional flavors with innovative techniques. After winning a Michelin star this restaurant in San Francisco exploded in popularity and is a must-visit for serious food lovers.

Californios offers Mexican fare along with an extensive list of small-batch wines. Their ingredients come from local markets and innovatively uses them to create masterpieces. They formed an inventive and great tasting menu for diners to choose from.

The decoration in the store gives a very retro feeling, and the Michelin Star Restaurant is different. And from the moment we entered the restaurant to the whole service after we finished the meal, the quality of their service was really impeccable.

Californios is a 2 Michelin Star restaurant with a remarkable tasting menu. The dishes here are Mexican inspired and exceptionally creative. Unlike some upscale restaurants that come off as stuffy, the atmosphere here is best described as festive.

This Michelin Star restaurant takes California Mexican food to the next level. Enjoy fresh local ingredients and inventive menu items make this restaurant unique. There is no better place in the Mission district for fine dining.

For yet another unique Mexican experience, you should look into Californios for dinner one day. You’ll likely go back again that very week, and we wouldn’t blame you. Californios will give you a completely urban Mexican vibe.

Chef Val M. Cantu prepares contemporary expressions of Californian Mexican cuisine at his 2-Michelin starred restaurant. Enlighten your senses with a nightly tasting menu in the enclosed garden patio behind the restaurant.

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (51 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (5.0/5), Value (4.0/5)- Price: $$$$- Address: 3115 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110-3218- Read more on Tripadvisor

355 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103Phone: 415-757-0994 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by San Francisco Foodie (tina y) (@tinastastytravels)