Taqueria El CALIFA De LEON
MEXICO CITY
TACOS El CALIFA De LEON
- Tacos El Califa de León, a taco stand in Mexico City, won a Michelin star
- Its famous tortillas cost nearly $5 and go best with a Coke, according to the chef
- Michelin-star chef Arturo Rivera MartÃnez said the honor was ‘neat’ and ‘cool’
Mexico City’s Tacos El Califa de León has received a Michelin star, making it the only taco stand in the world to receive the coveted award from the French dining guide.
Not making a big fuss of the incredible honor, the tiny restaurant’s main chef, Arturo Rivera MartÃnez, stood over his grill Wednesday searing meat for a horde of hungry customers as he’s done for 20 years.
Asked how he felt about receiving the Michelin star Rivera MartÃnez said ‘está chido … está padre,’ meaning:’It’s neat, it’s cool.’
Although Michelin representatives came Wednesday to present him with his well-deserved full-sleeved white chef’s jacket, he didn’t put it on. Not out of disrespect, but simply because his cooking area is tiny – 10 feet by 10 feet – and extremely hot.
Diners at the stand can only order tacos, and the meat inside comes from either a cow’s rib, loin or fore shank.
The prices at the taco stand, however, are a lot more affordable with a huge taco costing nearly $5. Customers say the tacos there are the best, if not the cheapest, in the city.
El Califa de León has been around since 1968 and has been doing the same things that’s made it so successful since the beginning.
Thousands of times a day, Rivera MartÃnez grabs a fresh, thinly sliced fillet of beef from a stack and slaps it on the 680 degree steel grill.
He then dashes a pinch of salt over the meat and squeezes half a lime on top before grabbing a soft piece of freshly rolled tortilla dough to heat it up on the grill.
Less than a minute later – he didn’t share exactly how long because ‘that’s a secret’ – he flips the beef, flips the tortilla and assembles it on the plate for the waiting customer.
theDannyReport 