Californios, in San Francisco, has become the first Mexican restaurant in the world to earn three Michelin stars. They are among the highest awards a restaurant can win, and getting three is very rare. For chef and co-owner Val Cantú and his team of 40 people, the recognition came after a long, eight-year wait.

Cantú opened Californios in 2015 and won his first star that same year. He received a second star in 2018. Then, at a ceremony in June 2026, he was given the third star. "Maybe I've got some new confidence too," Cantú said.

The Michelin Guide, a famous rating system for restaurants, was started by two French brothers in 1889. To decide its ratings, it sends undercover inspectors who pretend to be ordinary customers. The inspectors praised Californios because it was never afraid to mix different cooking styles in its dishes.

Cantú blends Mexican cooking with California ingredients. Meals at Californios often begin with a sope, a small corn cake, topped with caviar. Many people believe that Mexican food should be cheap, and some have criticized restaurants like Californios for charging more. Now he plans to keep showing that Mexican food belongs in the world's best restaurants. He is also writing a cookbook.