A legendary taqueria from Mexico City that was in the middle of a two-week pop-up for Dallas has shut 'er down: El Califa de León, which had plans to do a culinary pop-up from October 15-28, has closed down immediately.

According to a statement, El Califa de León / Authentic Taco Holdings, LLC, terminated their stint because their partner, GrinGO, LLC in Dallas was unable to execute the pop-up properly.

"The decision follows multiple instances in which the agreed-upon conditions, particularly around space, quality, and raw materials, were not met. As stewards of one of Mexico’s most recognized culinary brands, we felt it necessary to take this step to uphold our standards and reputation," their statement said.

"We remain deeply appreciative of the support shown by the Dallas community and look forward to welcoming guests soon at our upcoming U.S. locations."

Honored by the Michelin Guide as the world’s first and only Michelin-starred taquería, El Califa de León is famous for its Mexico City authentic flavors, including its signature Taco Gaonera, featuring marinated grilled tenderloin served on tortillas with onions, cilantro, lime, and salsa.

The activation in Dallas celebrated a new partnership between GringoApp.com and Mexico City, highlighting the promotion of Mexico City tourism through gastronomy — where taco tours rank among the city’s most popular cultural experiences.

The pop-up primarily offered a to-go, eat-on-the-spot format, with a limited number of Michelin Star Chef’s Tables available for reservation for those who wanted to dine on site with no wait.

Reservations were available only in groups of 4, 5, or 6, with $80 per diner for four tacos, appetizer, dessert, and beverages; and diners were required to pay the full amount up front in order to reserve.

One customer, Amanda J of Cowgirls Eat, who signed up for the chef's table, says she had a "horrible experience," which she shared on Instagram.

Her group paid $340 for the Chef's Table Experience, with a reservation at 4 pm. She says that the dinner was running late because of a gas leak. When 4 pm came and went, she called a Gringo rep, but it went straight to voicemail. Her party didn't get seated until 7:45 pm, and were told repeatedly that it would be "another 5 minutes." They were eventually given chips & guacamole and then two tacos (not four): the short rib and the Gaonera; both arrived only "warm." After the tacos, her table was ignored.

The pop-up was set in the former Red Stix space, one block south of Snider Plaza. When the pop-up was announced, Gringo founder Brian Krupski called El Califa de León "a coveted local secret."

In a statement, Authentic Taco Holdings CEO José Andrés Hernández said, "Our brand is built on authenticity, quality, and respect for Mexican culinary heritage . Unfortunately, the execution of this program did not meet the conditions we were guaranteed. To protect the reputation and integrity of El Califa de León, we have chosen to discontinue our participation.”

The company clarified that GrinGO acted as an independent collaborator and that El Califa de León had no operational control over the Dallas event setup, supply chain, or customer experience once the collaboration began. As a result, the decision to terminate was made to prevent further brand misrepresentation.

El Califa de León reaffirmed that it is no longer associated with any ongoing activities, menu items, or promotions being offered under its name at the Dallas location or through GrinGO.