There are certain restaurants you visit just for the food and others you visit just for the experience. Californios is a restaurant that excels in both. Chef Val Cantu and his team brought forth amazingly unique dishes and impeccable service in a trendy yet relaxing environment. Each dish presented was a delight for both the stomach and the eyes. Everything was beautifully plated and the flavor combinations were amazingly balanced. There were so many dishes that it's difficult to pinpoint a single favorite, but honestly thats a testament on how good the food actually is - very rarely can I say that I enjoyed every dish at a restaurant. As for the service, it was top notch. The service staff were attentive without being overbearing and the read our family's needs very well. It's easy to tell that the people working there really enjoy their jobs. Overall, the meal was an absolute delight and the restaurant would be an excellent option if you're looking for an impressive date night or special night out.

Truly amazing. The outdoor patio doesn’t feel like a compromise at all. The wine pairing was phenomenal and we loved our second experience at Californios. We will keep going back!

Magical experience! We came to californios to celebrate a birthday, and had the best time! The vibe is fancy but not stuffy, they give the adequate amount of spacing between tables to be able to socially distance, relax and enjoy a private meal. The meal itself is seasonal and lovely and the whole experience just feels high-end yet enjoyable. We would gladly take home pint of the wonderful salsa verde (wish we could!), and couldn't get enough of the duck, the lobster or the octopus. Wonderful experience! We will absolutely be back!

Great service. Despite not finishing their indoor preparation, Our server helps us get an indoor table to avoid the cool wind in sf. Food was quite interesting, reforming My understanding of Mexican cuisine. Btw, their vegetable dishes are so tasty~

Being from Texas, Tex-Mex can be found on almost every street corner. A traditional or authentic Mexican meal is normally prepared in the cheapest manor possible. I have visited many Mexican restaurants that called themselves "Fine Mexican Dining" but still had all the normal Mexican dishes that you find in every other restaurant. Not at Californios. The chef took the Mexican cuisines and infused it with so much style and flavor that you will want to experience as often as you can. Not only is the chef from Texas, but he and the other chefs made our night out in San Francisco a memorable one. The food was excellent. For someone who does not like seafood, I ate every bit. The service was on point, explaining every detail of the meal, from the pairing of the wine to how each dish was prepared and suggested how to eat it for the full experience. At the end of our meal, we had the opportunity to meet the chefs and the wine vault. I will recommend this place.

Quite possibly the best meal I've ever had. Everyone we interacted with were amazing. Wine pairings worked extremely well and each course built on the last. Highly highly recommend if you can get a reservation.

An amazing dinner! Great staff ( shout out to Jonathan and Naomi!). Fish al pastor taco was phenomenal.

As I prep for yet another upcoming apartment move, I’ve been trying to visit local restaurants within easy walking distance of my current place. This is of course subjective, but let’s say somewhere reachable in a leisurely 15 minute stroll. Luckily for me, there is an abundance of excellent dining options including Californios, a contemporary fine-dining interpretation of Chef Val Cantu’s Mexican heritage. I tried Californios a few years back when they were in a smaller space in the Mission. My dining experience then was pretty mixed. I really liked the menu on paper, but there were too many execution errors and the service was cold. Since they relocated last year to the former Bar Agricole space, many of my friends have visited and every single one loved their experience. With so many rave reviews, I was eager to give Californios another try. The new SoMa space is airy and grand, with a sizable courtyard for outdoor dine, a spacious kitchen, an impressive wine cellar, and a full bar area. I appreciated the friendly and approachable service, and my dining experience also matched the initial impressions. On seating, we were presented with a very detailed and thoughtful menu which also featured the names of the entire staff. The tasting menu was about 14 courses, portioned appropriately so that I was comfortably full afterwards, but not overly so. There were many standouts, but I especially loved the middle courses of tlacoyo and tacos, with the DIY accompaniments. The alfonsino fish taco in particular was my favorite, perfectly cooked with incredibly crispy scales. The very different, but equally standout lamb barbacoa taco on a sourdough tortilla was a close second. I would be very happy if Californios offered a taco tasting menu someday! The queso and bean filled tlacoyo was also treat with the addictive huitlacoche crema. Other highlights included the ceviches, the uni caviar sope, and the rack of lamb served with mole amarillo and morels. My sweet tooth loved the numerous, yet light desserts, especially the chocolate cornmeal tart with savory cacao nib salsa macha. In lieu of wine, my table chose to enjoy a few cocktails with the tasting menu. The cocktails were fine, but not notable. I had a great prior experience with their wine pairing, and given their extensive selection by co-owner and Michelin sommelier of the year Charlotte Randolph, I would opt for wine on my next visit.

Very good 2* Michelin Mexican, Contemporary. Modern art, music. Welcomed with “Obichaite se ptichenca”.

The 16-course dinner experience was amazing. Do not let the small portion presentation fool you. By halfway, you'll be quite full already. The service was great. The drinks were good. The lighting inside was a little too hush and bright for us. Overall, we would recommend people trying out this place if you're looking for Latin cuisine with a modern twist. Give this place a try 🦄👍🌞🎉🤩

Incredible meal. Mexican small bites, with a twist. 20ish courses. It shows why this place has two Michelin stars... well deserved and earned.

Service was excellent as was the tasting menu. Classic flavors elevated. Take the time to enjoy the subtle differences in the masa from different corn varietals and growing regions. Bartender was very enjoyable and working on building out the mescal list. If it's your first time at this location on 11th, the entrance is subtle and easier to spot walking, just trust the map and park.

I have visited Californios twice. Both times were consistently excellent. My first visit was in 2021 just after the restaurant reopened after lockdown. The meal was extravagant, decadent but it was a little too large. The waiter did warn us that the chef was still experimenting after the long shutdown from COVID, and as such they needed to do some editing. We counted over 20 unique dishes across the 8 courses. Most memorable was the tacos. Not just because you rarely get tacos at a Michelin star restaurant, but because there were five different masterfully executed flavors. The ingenuity to deliver something comfortingly familiar and yet surprisingly unique in flavors is the chef's true calling. In 2022 I returned and had another excellent experience. Unlike the year before the meal was mercifully smaller and more targeted. The staff is attentive and you will never want for anything, but they are young so they’re still learning grace. The wine pairing was well executed but there was nothing outstanding in vintage or rarity. We dined outside in the courtyard both times. It is well protected from the elements and is fine even on a chilly San Francisco evening. You aren’t isolated from other guests, but not on top of one another either. Intimate enough for date night. If you are visiting San Francisco this is my top recommendation for tasting menus in the city. Sure Benu still has its 3-stars, but it’s honestly playing it safe and too similar to other Michelin restaurants. Californios is uniquely California and worth the visit.

Well deserve the 2 Michelin Star. Probably the best meal i had in my whole west coast America trip. The way they present Mexican food was something worth to be proud of.

Visited in Aug 2023 Only if I could give a rating of 6 out of 5, I would have done so. I have visited fine dining places across Asia, Europe & US , and Californios is probably the 2nd best place I’ve ever dined at (a place in Bangkok called Gaggan Anand being my #1). Californios has everything - excellent service, a supremely well thought-out & mouth watering menu, beautiful food presentation, and amazing drinks/cocktails. It is very difficult to choose a few dishes as my favourites as I can’t recall any dish where I didn’t say ‘wow’. One of the most exciting parts of the menu were the tortilla dishes. The meat preparations were also so perfectly done/made. And to round off the desserts were exquisite too. Service was top notch and they even accommodated a last minute reservation change for me (of course that is subject to availability). A 1000% recommendation for any person visiting San Francisco. This place needs to be on your bucket list of F&B establishments to visit.

Mexican food taken to the next level, and definitely worthy of 2 Michelin stars. The quail & pineapple taco in particular was striking, but really every single savoury dish was fabulous. Stellar locally-sourced ingredients, bold flavour combinations, outstanding craftsmanship. The veggie replacements I got in lieu of the seafood dishes were lovely (that mushroom taco!!). We were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary and enjoyed the lovely touches, from the complementary glasses of bubbly to the card and chocolates - thank you! 3 (small) things need fixing: - I don’t like to read about a yummy sounding dessert item in the paper menu I’m given at the start of the meal, and not getting it on my table. The explanations I got for its absence were confused and confusing. - The floating island had a very, very eggy flavour. I’m very aware it’s made of egg whites, but it shouldn’t taste so eggy. - The music isn’t right. Hip-hop / trap is the last thing I want to hear while I’m having a Michelin star dinner, no matter how on trend it is.

Each dish was a bite of heaven. They thought about the flavor of each bite. Service was incredible. The climate and environment was very relaxing and perfectly paced. A great experience if you are looking for a spot that every single course is unique and nothing like you expect.

It is an experience. Such a grand atmosphere inside, kind staff, surprisingly filling for a Michelin tasting menu. Food, of course, was beautifully garnished and creative. We had a great time. (So many flavors! There was a banana/caramel/caviar dish that sounded strange, but was actually a treat.)

Going to a fine dining restaurant can sometimes be a risk. Will the food be good? How will you be treated? Will it be worth the price? Californios is worth every penny. Food is packed with flavor, the menu seems thoughtfully planned, service is great, atmosphere is great, and the drink pairing really showcases the sommeliers knowledge. If you’re considering celebrating a milestone in your life and want to go to of the many Michelin star establishments in San Francisco, I would highly recommend Californios. A great demonstration of Mexican gastronomy!

Way beyond my expectations. The service staff were incredibly kind - knowledgeable and were able to answer every question. The food and presentation were spectacular. We're so spoiled here in the Bay Area with the culinary arts that we are surrounded by. We sometimes take for granted what we have at our fingertips. Then we visit a place like this with it's simple decor and unassuming address, and we're smacked in the face with an experience that is absolutely unforgettable.

Truly elevates Mexican cuisine to another level. The food was not only creative but also delicious. I came here with my significant other for my birthday and it was an incredible experience. Definitely a must try! Both of us loved it and will be coming back :)

A meal? YES A glorious experience? YES A celebratory, playful, creative, tactile immersion in love & fine dining? ABSOLUTELY! It’s hard to describe the 3.5-hour extravaganza that was dinner last night. It was so much more. It was a vacation all by itself. Without a doubt, it was the greatest restaurant experience I’ve ever had. What a joy it was to meet several of the inventive chefs, who personally delivered food to our table. And, what made it even more special was the loving care provided by our table captain, Naomi Smith. We will remember this night forever.

I cannot explain the wonderful experience we had at the restaurant. We discovered them online when we looked up restaurants in the area. It is the only 2 Michelin star Mexican restaurant so we had to try out their tasting menu. They had amazing drinks as well! We couldn’t make it through all the dishes and it had nothing to do with the beautiful and tasty food they delivered. We travelled from NC to there and it was 10pm in SF while 1am in NC so we were just tired. I admired every dish they bought out. They were carefully constructed and conscientious of my gluten-intolerance. You need to give this place a chance! It’s definitely high end and yet if you are adventurous in your food, you will enjoy it.

We are Michelin star hunters! We experienced a lot of what San Francisco had to offer and had three Michelin restaurants in three days. With no hesitation, Californios was the best out of the three we experienced. The staff, the food, and the environment are exactly what you should get with a Michelin restaurant. We did not feel rushed and they even allowed us into the kitchen and spoke with the chef. Every person you spoke to was knowledgeable on every dish, to include the fabulous mixologist, Rodnei! He added a lot of extra fun with not just the drinks, but his personality. My husband loves Mexican food, but I’m a little more hesitant. I would eat here any day; the food was delicious and they brought many different flavors (not just cilantro, chips, and beans). Bring friends, bring family, it’s worth it!

Truly celebrates Mexican cuisine and elevate it to the next level. Everything was sooooo delicious (those 🌮! I can just eat them for the rest of my life 😍) They also can adjust the ingredients a bit to adapt your dietary which I am always very thankful and excited when a Michelin star restaurant is willing to do so - it shows not just they are considerate to their guests, and also confident that their cuisines will still be amazing. Not too many places offer non-alcoholic beverage pairing , and when seeing one I definitely need to try - most of them are super creative and 😋 Californios is no exception! You can totally tasted that the beverage team put a lot of effort and thoughts to come up with this pairing, and it suited so well with the dishes (don’t always need alcohol to make you like the food 😉) A must-come-back place for me!