Kaylin Lloyd
Californios | San Francisco, CA
September 2026
Kaylin Lloyd grew up learning to cook from her father, mother, and grandmothers, who shaped her early understanding of food. After attending the Culinary Institute of America, she got a job at Rising Stars alum Bryce Shuman's Betony in New York City. At the modern American fine dining restaurant, Lloyd met Chef Stephan Ilnyckyj, whose exacting standards but gentle leadership became a model for Lloyd's own management style. After the restaurant closed in 2016, Lloyd won a prestigious Ment'or BKB Grant to work at Chef Ben Shewry's Attica in Australia for two months. Upon returning to the States, she joined the team at New York's acclaimed Eleven Madison Park, where she worked on the line for two years and committed herself to pursue fine dining at its highest level.
In 2019, Lloyd moved west to California looking for the next step in her career. She took on a front-of-house role at Rising Stars alum Val Cantú's Californios in July 2019, and patiently waited for a position to open in the kitchen, which it did in October 2019. Over the next three years, Lloyd was promoted to sous chef and eventually chef de cuisine. At Californios, her style of cooking grew within the intensely collaborative environment, particularly under the guidance of Cantú and Rising Stars alum Emilie Van Dyke. She led her team with a steady, thoughtful approach with the goal of raising up the next generation of cooks until her departure in September 2026. In addition to helping the restaurant secure its third Michelin star, Lloyd was proud to contribute to Californios' work with organizations like La Cocina, Sprouts, and Meals on Wheels.
2026 StarChefs San Francisco-Oakland Rising Stars Award Winner
