The ORIGIN of Califas
The concept of Califas started in mid 2020 as a pop-up shop in Simpsonville, SC. The owner Erika Dila, saw the need and opportunity to bring authentic Cali-Mex cuisine to the Upstate. With the dedicated love of home cooking, the spark was quickly ignited by the help of her immediate family, all of which have over 40 years of combined experience in the Food and Beverage industry. Introducing the famous Birria Tacos to Greenville, SC, Califas is proud to be the original masters that brought the popularity of the dish to the Upstate.
WHY CALIFAS?
The establishment of Califas spiraled from Erika's passion of learning how to craft not just Mexican & Honduran dishes from scratch, but also learning dishes from other cultures. What greatly influenced Erika's passion was being able to learn from executive chefs within her family, all of which have had the unique experience of preparing dishes for famous celebrities and world leaders like Christian Slater, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone and Bill Clinton.
While in the earlier stages of her life, Erika spent over 20 years in the corporate world. From property management in California to various Human Resource roles in South Carolina, Erika always knew that none of it was what she considered her true passion. It did, however, prepare her and allow her to build hands-on experience she would later apply when opening her restaurant.
A TASTE OF INSPIRATION
Growing up in Culver City and living in West Los Angeles for almost 30 years, Erika was able to have a unique perspective and appreciation for Latin Cuisine. Being involved in the kitchen during friend and family gatherings became a norm for Erika at a young age. However, it was not until learning from her Grandmother and Mother, that she truly understood that when it comes to cooking, you cook with love, passion and always strive to outdo your last dish.
FOLLOWING A LEGACY
For Erika, Califas symbolizes home. It is a dream to come true not only for her, but also her family. Even though her greatest mentor is no longer with us, Erika believes she can showcase her Grandmother's legacy and what she embodied by sharing what she has learned through her cooking. Sharing her family dishes is a way for everyone to experience the love and comfort that Erika personally experienced growing up.
OUR MISSION AND VALUES
Our mission is to make each guest feel like family, as if we are welcoming them home. We focus on offering a memorable Latin dining experience that is rich in heritage by consistently providing fresh, high quality dishes that are prepared to order and served in a clean, hospitable, and festive environment. Califas’ values consist of Operational Excellence, Consistency, Customer Centricity and Innovation.