With a historic 3 Michelin stars, a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco defies stereotypes

After an eight-year wait, the historic third Michelin star that chef and co-owner Val Cantú and his team at San Francisco’s Californios craved is theirs. It’s the first for a Mexican restaurant anywhere in the world. So it’s understandable he and his 40-person staff have more swagger.

“It’s been just really rewarding to see the team kind of like, carry a little bit more confidence in their step,” Cantú told The Associated Press.

“Maybe I’ve got some new confidence too.”

The feat caps a trajectory that began with Cantú getting his first star right out of the gate when Californios opened in 2015. He got a second one in 2018.

At a June ceremony in San Diego, Cantú, with his wife Carolyn by his side, received his third star and a crisp white Michelin chef’s jacket.

The accolade feels like validation not just for Californios but for the notion that Mexican food in Mexico