Taquería El Califa (Roma)

I can define this restaurant as “Modern, Cheesy 🧀 & Fancy” but it’s so good, the waiting times are normal, don’t expect traditional tacos, my recommendations: ✅ Rib Eye Costra: it comes with tortilla but another grilled cheese tortilla, that’s soooo good! Highly recommended ✅ Gringa de Arrachera: it comes with tortilla, cheese and the beef is so tender ✅ Portobello Grilled Cheese: it comes with tortillas to make some tacos! It’s one of my favorite things here ✅ Orchata: it’s real orchata really tasty and refreshing The prices are high compared with traditional taco places but it’s compensated with service and all the sauces on the table, also the experience it’s something out of the ordinary.

At Taquería El Califa, the trompo carne asada taco showed up calm, confident, and wildly competent. No theatrics. No chaos. Just beautifully cooked meat doing exactly what it was born to do. Juicy, smoky, perfectly seasoned, the kind of taco that nods at you like, yeah, I know. This wasn’t a scream at the top of your lungs taco. This was a lean in, close your eyes, slow chew taco. Dangerous in its subtlety. Not trying to reinvent tacos. Just executing at a stupidly high level. 9/10. Quiet excellence. Deadly accuracy.

An absolutely fantastic taquería experience! Every bite was bursting with flavor and perfectly seasoned — the kind of food that makes you forget you were already full. The service was outstanding, friendly, and fast, which made the whole meal even better. I actually ended up ordering twice more because I just couldn’t get enough. One of those rare places where everything feels right — from the first taco to the very last bite.

Walked in here for dinner as it started raining. Had some good tacos. Not the most expensive but not the cheapest either. The server was friendly. We really liked the tacos but my partner wasn't a huge fan of his costra, said it felt too greasy.

Food is simple and tasty! The salsas really take elevate the flavors! For such a busy location, our server was quick + attentive - quite the operation. Just a bit loud during the dinner rush.

The food here is absolutely wonderful! I saw a YouTube video about this restaurant and decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did; it was a delightful experience! I had the rib eye taco with cheese and the chicken gringa pastor. I also had the pleasure of trying an IPA, which was delicious.

El Califa location was perfect. Its between two of the best bars in Mexico City. Walking distance from both of them. Tacos were tasty and huge. They provided four different sauces for them. It is known by many as one of the best taco spots in Mexico City.

3 am tacos for sure. Amazing flavors and experience. Perfect to eat after a night out of drinking.

A Polanco Taco House with Style and Shortfalls At Taquería El Califa in Polanco, the monochromatic, modern-industrial design evokes an upscale mall food court, sleek but a touch impersonal. Service moved as expected, and the sparkling water, served in a perfectly chilled pint glass, was a thoughtful detail. The flaws, however, accumulated. Our table wobbled distractingly, chips for the guacamole were limited to a paltry four, and the guacamole itself lacked creaminess--a surprising misstep in Mexico City. The bistec taco, thin and slightly cold, still delivered flavor, while the prime rib tacos, paired with a bright, spicy green sauce, stood as the highlight. Yet paper napkins dispensed from a box diminished the otherwise polished sit-down setting. At $36 USD for two, the check aligned with Polanco's reputation but underscored what was missing: the vibrancy, generosity, and satisfaction of Mexico's street food staples. We left full but unconvinced. El Califa impresses in moments, but the experience doesn't warrant a return. #MexicoCityEats #TacoReview #PolancoDining Una Taquería de Polanco con Estilo y Carencias En Taquería El Califa, la arquitectura moderna e industrial, en tonos monocromáticos, recuerda más a un centro comercial elegante que a una taquería con alma. El servicio fue correcto y el agua mineral, servida en un vaso pequeño perfectamente frío, resultó un detalle cuidado. Los fallos, sin embargo, pesaron. La mesa cojeaba, los totopos para el guacamole fueron apenas cuatro y el guacamole carecía de cremosidad, algo difícil de perdonar en Ciudad de México. El taco de bistec, delgado y algo frío, fue sabroso, mientras que el de prime rib, acompañado de una salsa verde picante, brilló con intensidad. Aun así, las servilletas de papel dispensadas rompieron con la intención de sofisticación del espacio. La cuenta, $36 USD por dos personas, estuvo en línea con Polanco, pero resaltó lo que faltaba: la abundancia y energía de la comida callejera mexicana. Salimos satisfechos, pero sin ganas de volver. El Califa ofrece destellos, pero no logra justificar la repetición. #MexicoCityEats #TacoReview #PolancoDining

I was recommended the chicharrón de queso here, so that's all I ordered as I was planning to go taco hop afterwards. The server that took my order wasn't happy about it and was very rude from the beginning. The food came out quick and all the other staff that stopped at my table were pleasant and helpful. It was my main server that was so unprofessional and unfriendly. The chicharrón was tasty but way overpriced for what it was.

Fun spot for tacos and especially great for late night cravings (the restaurant opens until 4AM!). The dining area is spacious, and our group of 8 had no issues walking in and getting a table in the evening. My favorite was the classic al pastor taco - it's a small taco but bold and flavorful. Out of curiosity, I also tried the cactus leaves dish and thought they were rather bland, and they tasted sort of like flavorless bell peppers. Not bad, but not really interesting either. Their menu is huge, and I'd happily come back to try their other snacks and dishes!

Had the pastor tacos and they were absolutely average. Dry. Probably could have found better ones around the corner on the street. But a decent first meal in Mexico as I was trying to get my stomach acclimated. Servers were kind and attentive

Late night grub. Amazing . Everything is so delicious , so much flavor . Great service . Couldn't complain .

Always doesn't go wrong - my go-to place. They are simple food with fresh ingredients. Tacos chain. I always like their watercress salad (very simple) and mushroom dishes.

It was very very good .. ambiance was great and service was fast and superior . It was all fresh and delicious

This place is absolutely for the gringas, but it was good. I came for a late lunch and had a chela preparada to start, which was decent. I ordered a taco al pastor and a Costra which I guess is like a cheese wrapped taco? I've never in my life seen that before but it was good, can't complain about melty cheese. I also got a side of the cebollas, which were soooo good. Probably some of the best I've had. Of the 4 salsas, I liked 2. One of them had a very distinct Smokey flavor that I don't think complemented the food well. Prices are high for Mexico City but it's also Roma Norte soooo...you should know to expect to pay a little extra for the location. Overall it was a good meal! Very cute place on the inside, they take cards, the bathrooms are spacious and clean.

the meat was so well grilled and smoky added with cheese is like the best thing to eat while drunk

We came here thinking it was a Michelin guide restaurant, but I think we may have mistaken this chain for Taqueria El Califa Leon. We got 2 types of tacos to try here, and they were pretty sad looking. I don't know if it was this specific location or if we just got a bad batch, but I didn't enjoy these tacos very much. They were also pretty expensive for what they were. In my opinion, you can get a way better taco for a better price elsewhere.

Quick and kind service, good food at a good price, the main items were good but not the most memorable, some unique desserts to try

Anyone not leaving if I star review is either taste blind or just had beef with the restaurant or complaining about something other than food. I'm a World Travel the foodie... Sorry had to drop the bona fides, but it's necessary... it's not that I'm never impressed with food, it's just that I don't ever seem to crave anything anymore. I'm going to crave this. It's hard to believe I'm only two hours from home in the states. But the flavors are so incredibly different. I had three tacos from the vegan menu and the cactus appetizer. Everything was superb. And the most important qualifier... I wasn't even hungry.

3.5 overall. I enjoyed my tacos Al pastor. My jamaica agua was tasty. The salsas were really good too. A bit pricey for Mexico but it's a bigger city not the pueblo or rancho. Im assuming rents are higher and they also need to pay more staff. Great customer. I liked how clean everything looked ! I'm a germaphobe and I'm always making sure spots clean. They accept credit cards. Walking distance from my hotel in Roma Norte.

We were on our way to a different restaurant (long line) so we went to El Califa. We had chicharrón de queso, queso fundido con champiñones, y unos tacos. Everything was great! Loved it so much we went to another location and it was also great.

El Califa is a popular staple and taqueria chain in Mexico City and was recommended by a local Mexican as my travel buddies and I were very interested in pastor tacos. The restaurant has an open concept with seating indoors and outdoors. We arrived at the establishment and was immediately greeted and sat. There were chicken and pork castor options. I chose the chicken castor with Oaxaca cheese. It was super tasty. I wish I had been a bit more hungry to try other options because this particular menu item was tasty. I would definitely recommend as a place to add to your itinerary to try out when you're in the area.

Our favourite taqueria in Mexico City for year! A sophisticated gem! Not only is there a wide variety of street food but the opportunity to have dinner with terrific French Grenache. The flan is absolutely sublime. Don't miss the rajas con crema.

Bottom line: friendly staff, spicy sauces, FLAMEY TACOS. Couldn't go wrong for a late night bite Vibes: okay it was 4am, does that taint the review? Impossible to say. We walked into Rihanna, waiter immediately suggested the Pastor Tacos. Group of 6, we got 12. Sauces and guacamole: flavors were strong, stood on their own as far as flavor. As a spicy fan 5/10 spice, 9/10 flavor. It was an instant spicy, didn't linger to long. Pastor taco: came out HOT. Was a grilled cheese and pastor taco. First hit was a salty cheesy flavor burst. You later get into the pastor, and it's a light pork taste. Tortilla was fresh.

Delicious taco- fast, efficient, and friendly service at the Condesa location. Mexican tacos are very different from American tacos.

One of the best taco spots in Mexico City gourmet tacos this place rivals some of the best places I've been in the world when it comes to tacos

Food was decent, the waitresses were really nice. I wish we had something fresh like onions salsa, etc. because the cheese was very heavy. The chorizo cheese was good but I am not sure where the chorizos were. I knocked another star off because there were beggars coming to us because we had outdoor seating...the waitresses just watched and let them come up to us.

Trash, tostada was incredibly stale. Guacamole was made with absolutely no seasoning. The salsas were flavorless just maybe the worst I have ever tried. I ordered 2 quesadillas one barely had any cheese. I ordered a Al pastor tostada that never came. Bill was paid for but the server never brought my change back lol so he missed out on a bigger tip. Look else where. Plenty to chose from.

tasty tacos. lots to choose from. friendly staff. pleasant outdoor seating. we'll be back.

The Califa chain is known for its excellent tacos, and this location is no exception. Here you can find a range of meat cuts, cheeses, and styles of preparation. The al pastor costras we're a highlight. For foreign tourists, definitely come here to try street style tacos. This location also boasted a nice selection of local Mexican craft beers.