Texas Monthly has officially spoken, naming the best new restaurants in the Lone Star State, and a San Antonio bistro earned one of the top 10 spots. The annual list, dubbed Texas’s Best New Restaurants in 2026, named Petit Coquin as the sole San Antonio restaurant to make the cut.
Texas Monthly’s new food critic, Paula Forbes, curated the rankings and gave the San Antonio eatery high praise for its “streamlined prix fixe menu and laissez-faire atmosphere.” One of three French restaurants on the list, Forbes wrote that Petit Coquin was her favorite of the trio, saying that one can enjoy French food at a leisurely pace at the Southtown bistro.
New York chef Max Mackinnon teamed up with Empty Stomach leader Chad Carey to bring Petit Coquin to life in the Southtown neighborhood. The French restaurant, which kicked off its soft opening in February, offers a $65 three-course dinner service Thursday through Saturday, with dishes like country pâté and poulet à la crème. On Sunday, Petit Coquin has steak frites for $25 per person. The restaurant also boasts a large wine collection of more than 200 bottles.
Texas Monthly also named an East Austin restaurant, Fish Shop, as one of the best new restaurants in 2026. The West Coast-inspired eatery is said to balance cold and hot foods that center around seafood, like the Dungeness crab cocktail and the Pacific rockfish and chips.
Find it: Petit Coquin, 1012 S. Presa St., San Antonio, TX 78210
Dining and Cooking