By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-07 10:40:37 | Updated at 2025-01-10 12:15:54
3 days ago
A tiny street food taco stand in Mexico has become an online sensation after picking up a Michelin star.
Taquería El Califa de León, located in the San Rafael neighbourhood of Mexico City, was awarded the star by the coveted Michelin Guide in May 2024.
It now attracts fans from around the world - who travel to the city to try the tacos - which include beef and pork options.
Among them is Travel TV presenter Alex Outhwaite, from London, who took to her Instagram to showcase the foodie hotspot, which opened in 1968 and is only about 10 feet wide.
She said: 'I arrived at 11am when it opens and there was already a small queue. There are only four taco options including three beef and one pork, seasoned with salt and lime.'
Sampling the famous tacos Alex revealed the pork option was her favourite but added that they weren’t the best tacos she has tried in Mexico. She also made note of the fact that, if you don't time your visit appropriately, you may be stuck in a very long queue.
She said: 'Were they the best tacos I have had in Mexico City, probably not, but I enjoyed the visit and if you time your visit to avoid the queues then its a fun experience.'
The presenter also revealed they are around 'three times' the price of typical street-style tacos in the capital-saying they are between £2 and £3 per taco.
However she did mention that the 'quality and cut of the meat' was very high.
A tiny street food taco stand in Mexico has earned a Michelin star and travel TV presenter Alex Outhwaite took to her Instagram to showcase the foodie hotspot, which opened in 1968 and is only about 10 feet wide
In the clip, which racked up more than 42,000 views, she wrote: 'Chef Arturo Rivera Martínez has been serving customers for two decades.
'The setup is straightforward—you order at the kiosk, and the menu is limited to four taco options: three beef and one pork, all simply seasoned with salt and lime.
'I arrived right at 11am when they opened, and there was already a small queue forming, although I only had to wait a few minutes. I've heard that some people queue for over an hour in the mid afternoon.
'You have the option to serve yourself with salsa verde, salsa roja, and lime on the side. There are no seats, but on some days, nearby vendors rent out stools if you prefer to sit while eating.
'While I enjoyed all the tacos, the pork stood out as my favourite. Were they the best tacos I had in Mexico City? Probably not, but the high-quality ingredients and the Michelin-starred novelty make it worth a visit—especially if you can time it to avoid long queues'.
Speaking to Femail Alex said: 'I really enjoy eating at local places when I travel and it's great to see a street food stand getting international recognition.
Thinly sliced beef fillet is expertly cooked to order, seasoned with only salt and a squeeze of lime
A cook prepares the freshly made corn tortillas as the meat is frying nearby
Sampling the famous tacos Alex revealed the pork option was her favourite but added that they weren’t the best tacos she has tried in Mexico
'I've been to Michelin starred restaurants before but they are usually much more expensive and fine dining style.
'These tacos were expensive for street food but relatively more affordable so a greater number of people can try Michelin recognised food.'
Many were impressed with the clip and rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts.
One person wrote: 'Had no idea street vendors could get Michelin stars, that’s really cool!'
Another said: 'I totally agree. I really enjoyed these tacos but I didn’t think they were the best I had in the city. Worth trying though! The chef has just opened a taqueria in Oaxaca too.'
Someone else added: 'Looks delicious! Love street tacos in MEX! Thanks for sharing.'
El Califa de León’s trademark taco is the Gaonera, which was created in honour of the bullfighter Rodolfo Gaona, and churned out without pause since the place opened in 1968.
The essence of this taco is tender beef fillet simply seasoned with salt and cooked with a squeeze of lime on a sizzling grill, before being wrapped in a fresh corn tortilla and served with green or red salsa.
Many were impressed with the clip and rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts
In its report Michelin explained awarding the hotspot the star, saying: 'This taqueria may be bare bones with just enough room for a handful of diners to stand at the counter but its creation, the Gaonera taco, is exceptional.
'Thinly sliced beef fillet is expertly cooked to order, seasoned with only salt and a squeeze of lime.
'At the same time, a second cook prepares the excellent corn tortillas alongside. The resulting combination is elemental and pure.
'Other options are few but excellent, and include bistec (beef steak), chuleta (pork chop), and costilla (beef rib).
'With meat and tortillas of this caliber, the duo of house-made salsas is hardly even necessary.'
El Califa de León is the only taco stand among the 16 restaurants in Mexico given one star, as well as two eateries that got two stars. Most of them are fine dining restaurants serving expensive seafood.
The prices at the taco stand, however, are a lot more affordable with a huge taco costing nearly $5.
