In the San Rafael district of Mexico City, a popular Mexican taqueria called El Califa de Leon has recently been awarded a Michelin star, attracting long queues of people eager to taste just how delicious their food really is.
At 300 degrees on the grill, the beef sizzles as it’s placed on a fresh corn tortilla (taco), topped with a squeeze of lime juice, a sprinkle of salt, and a few drops of hot sauce, creating a flavorful and crispy sensation that fills the mouth instantly.
José Luis Rodríguez Ávila, the owner of El Califa de Leon, solemnly accepted an interview with “Voice of America”, stating, “To be honest, I haven’t quite gotten used to this. It’s an unexpected surprise. We never thought about winning awards or receiving honors.”
This taqueria is the first and only street taco shop in Mexico to earn a Michelin star, a piece of news that has instantly sparked a surge in demand.
The Michelin star is renowned for its recognition of “high-quality cuisine”. There are 157 restaurants in Mexico that have been acknowledged by the Michelin Guide. The highest honor from Michelin is three stars.
In the “budget-friendly” category, this street taco shop has been awarded one star. The shop only accepts cash, with prices ranging from 53 to 82 Mexican pesos, approximately 3 to 5 U.S. dollars.
Ávila has been working at this restaurant for the past 32 years. He told The Washington Post that the Michelin star award also proves that even the simplest food can become extraordinary when made with love and quality ingredients.
He emphasized that food doesn’t necessarily have to be fancy to stand out, especially tacos, which don’t require a luxurious restaurant setting.
Ávila explained that this small shop has been selling tacos on Avenida Ribera de San Cosme since 1968, consistently at the same spot for many years.
The shop is only 10×10 feet in size, with minimal decoration consisting of white tiles and a large griddle. Due to limited space inside, customers can only stand at the counter to eat their tacos. Sometimes, when it’s busy, customers even have to eat outside while standing. However, none of this has deterred customers from all walks of life from flocking to this unassuming snack shop, as their food has maintained the same great taste for 60 years.
A German tourist interviewed by “Voice of America” mentioned that his friends shared a link to this shop, insisting that they must try it. They visited yesterday, finding a longer line than today, prompting them to plan to arrive earlier today, only to still encounter a lengthy queue.