San Francisco’s Californios makes history as first Mexican restaurant with three Michelin stars

Now to a San Francisco restaurant that is making culinary history. Californios is now the first Mexican restaurant in the world to earn three Michelin stars, one of the rarest achievements in the culinary world. KTVU's Betty Yu joins us live from the city. And Betty, you spoke with the chef behind the milestone. That's right, Greg. Chef Val Cantu moved from Texas to San Francisco because of the Bay Area's famous food scene. And now his restaurant, Californios, is helping to redefine how Mexican cuisine is viewed around the world. These are Molino stones. This is what the first course is presented on. Behind every plate at San Francisco's Californios are years of refinement. Chef Val Cantu and his team chase perfection every single night, one meticulously plated dish at a time. Three star eyes. Yeah. You manifested it. Exactly. That pursuit has paid off. Californios is now the first Mexican restaurant in the world to earn three Michelin stars. What does that award mean, not just Californios, but to Mexican cuisine? I think it means that, you know, we deserve a seat at the table, that we, you know, should be recognized in the same realm as French cuisine, as Japanese cuisine. But, you know, a simple tortilla can be a delicacy if it's made with love. This press is designed just for flour tortillas. And when I was growing up, we had a similar one in our restaurant. Cantu showed us how he perfects one of the restaurant's simplest and most meaningful items. The flour tortilla is an homage to his grandmother. Californios started as a pop-up before opening its first permanent space in the mission in 2015. It earned one Michelin star in its first year and later moved to its current 11th street location in Soma. The $375 tasting menu is rooted in his story. I grew up in a small town called Brownwood, Texas. And we moved there so that my dad and my uncle could open a Mexican restaurant and tortilla. We were always around my grandmother's table. For Cantu, the honor isn't just a personal achievement. It represents a milestone for Mexican fine dining on the world's biggest culinary stage. I wasn't sure if, you know, Mexico City needed to be a three-star before we could get it or not. And, you know, truthfully, like, you know, I told the staff, like, I thought we would toil away for forever. Cantu believes refining every detail in the dining experience made the difference, including using locally sourced ingredients. Food's been delicious. Really, everything's been super tasty. It's an incredible compliment to the chef and staff. Really thin, really light, really crispy. You know, all those things that you want from a platter. Absolutely. Thank you. Californios joins an elite group. There are six other three-star Michelin restaurants here in the Bay Area. And chef says that he hopes he helps open more doors for other Mexican restaurants around the world. Greg. What an incredible story there, Betty. I imagine with news of this achievement, they have seen a spike in reservations for Californios. You bet. Chef said they did see a surge in reservations for Californios. In fact, they are booked solid through the month of August. Okay, maybe have some patience if you can't get in right away. Betty, you live for us tonight. Betty, thank you.