What it is: A vintage-style brasserie serving French comfort food at The Pearl. Why we love it: Enjoy French classics like crisp duck confit and tender braised rabbit, as well as a mouthwatering selection of cheeses. Don’t sleep on the raclette and baguette; the server scrapes melted cheese from a giant wheel of fromage onto a crisp baguette tableside.

Already one of the city’s best French restaurants with steak frites, lobster bisque, housemade pâté and a tableside raclette sandwich, Mon Chou Chou recently fortified its French menu with foie gras, a leek salad with mussels and a skate wing entree determined to introduce San Antonians to one of the sea’s best-kept secrets. But a French-led team that already includes Philippe Placé and Jérôme Sérot up front and chef Laurent Réa in the kitchen did something equally invigorating: They added fellow Frenchman Fabien Jacob as Mon Chou Chou’s general manager. Jacob, a veteran of Bohanan’s and more recently the student-run restaurant Savor at the Culinary Institiute of America, is one of San Antonio’s best sommeliers and hospitality pros.

When the Express-News reintroduced star ratings in 2021, the French newcomer Brasserie Mon Chou Chou at the Pearl charged out with all five stars, earning the No. 1 spot in the first post-pandemic Top 10 list, a tough spot to keep among such strong competitors. It’s as charming and congenial as ever, from the confident European decor to the hospitality of a veteran staff led by Philippe Placé to the perfectly tuned kitchen of chef Laurent Réa. Dinner might include classic steak frites, a strong Vieux Carre cocktail and scallops with lobster served on half-shells like a Renaissance Birth of Venus.

This darling of an eatery at the Pearl showcases French food that highlights simple, earthy flavors and pays tribute to the three founding Frenchmen’s homeland cuisine. Featuring plenty of long-held family recipes, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou serves up a menu of rich, decadent, and perfectly enticing fare so good that you’ll be thrilled to forgo your diet in favor of dishes like the broiled double lamb chops with red wine sauce, crispy duck confit, and just about every cut of steak imaginable. Check out the Sunday brunch for classic escargot in garlic butter for a full French culinary emersion.

The Pearl’s recent culinary acquisition has taken over the space once operated by the CIA’s Nao and erased every trace of its existence. Gone are the open training kitchen and the woodsy dropped ceiling, now replaced by brassy light fixtures, black chairs and tabletops, comfortable brown banquettes and a new mosaic floor. The young waitstaff is black-aproned — though they might call you “boss” instead of studiously ignoring you in the French manner — and the serving pieces are emblazoned with Chou Chou’s name in the manner of the classic Brasserie Lipp.

The best place to begin your culinary journey is at the aforementioned Pearl District, home to the San Antonio campus of The Culinary Institute of America and more than 20 restaurants helmed by award-winning chefs. Kick things off with pre-dinner drinks at High Street Wine Co., a cozy bar with an outstanding lineup of wines by the glass, beer, and cider. Then, choose between La Gloria for tacos, tortas, and the best prickly pear margarita in town, or Southerleigh for their take on Southern staples (the snapper throats alone are worth a trip).

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou is a lively place, swarming with energy and celebrated food prepared in a French style, with free-flowing drinks and people connecting over every day and the special. They feature classic French comfort food that exhibits simple, earthy, flavorful dishes from regions throughout France. Brasserie Mon Chou Chou is situated in the Pearl district near the access of the hotel Emma at 312 Pearl Parkway Building 2, Suite 2104, in the space formerly occupied by The Culinary Institute of America’s Nao.

In a city where barbecue and tacos reign supreme, the classic French dishes have found a home among local diners who appreciate the classics and more creative dishes with a Southern flair. Located at Pearl in the heart of San Antonio, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou is known for serving laid-back French comfort fare in an unexpectedly beautiful setting. The menu includes classics such as crisp duck confit and steak tartare, as well as a mouthwatering selection of cheeses and desserts.

Back in 2001, three Frenchmen — Laurent Rea, Philippe Placé, and Jérôme Sérot — met in San Antonio, which would eventually become home to their brasserie: Mon Chou Chou. Located in the historic Pearl District, this Paris-inspired spot is outfitted with black-and-white mosaic floors, a stunning bar, sleek leather banquettes, and velvet chairs. The all-day menu brings traditional French fare to the table, including recipes from the founders' families.

Continuing with the theme of comfort food, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou hits it hard on the French side of this particular food spectrum. The menu has both time-honored French classics like Cordon Bleu and Croque Monsieur as well as more elaborate options like the Filet de Beef. Our personal favorite though is the ooey-gooey, oh-so-cheesy Sandwich Au Fromage Raclette – just one bite and you will find yourself floating in fancy-cheese heaven.

Mon Chou Chou gives San Antonians a chance to romance in Paris from the comfort of their own city. The quaint brasserie is beautifully decked in mosaic floors and brass fixtures, and the plates are just as pretty. (Both the dishware and the food that's been expertly plated on it.) Try the escargots and the rotisserie chicken, and save space for the creme brûlée, and you may start feeling like you're in Emily in Paris… in San Antonio.

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou is the newest restaurant to grace The Pearl. It looks like a classic French brasserie, and the menu does include some classic dishes such as mussels in white wine and salade lyonnaise. In fact, most of the dishes are fairly simple expressions of French cuisine, which is no accident, as the three owners have taken some inspiration from the home-cooked meals of their youth around various regions of France.

Southerleigh's new restaurant is renowned for its high-quality food, including dishes such as lobster bisque, steak frite, veal, and the popular raclette sandwich. The culinary team's expertise is evident in every dish, making this a must-visit destination for food lovers. The restaurant's atmosphere is exceptional, featuring a back street Parisian neighborhood setting that transports guests to another place.

Even if you’ve heard that Brasserie Mon Chou Chou took over the space of the former student-run restaurant Nao at the Pearl, it’s likely you’ll walk right past it. Because there’s no way this bright, open salon of patinaed brass, glass and wood is the same building. But it is, opened in early December by the Southerleigh Hospitality Group, with Frenchman Philippe Place at the vanguard.

Opened in 2020, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou is a French-inspired brasserie with a chic vibe known for its elegant decor and delightful pastries. Their menu offers a variety of classic French dishes such as Escargots, Pain Perdu, and cordon bleu de poulet. The brasserie also offers an assortment of freshly baked French pastries, including croissants, pain au chocolat, and crème brûlée.

Located at the Pearl, this authentic French bistro has already attracted some serious hype. Looking back to a golden age of Parisian brasseries, buzzing with chatter and good food, its menu celebrates well-prepared, tasty French comfort food. The brainchild of three Frenchmen, Mon Chou Chou is a restaurant that is as beautiful to be in as the food you’re eating.

The phrase Mon Chou Chou is an affectionate French nickname that you give someone who you consider special. After one bite of the delicious French cuisines at this restaurant, you’ll consider this place very special to you. There are so many tasty treats on the menu that you’ll be asking your server for a few more minutes multiple times.

Brasserie Mon Chou is a lively French restaurant in the Pearl. This lively French restaurant in the Pearl is Dobbertin’s spot to celebrate a special occasion or “when I have a really hard service and want to validate myself.” Her favorite seat in the house is at the bar, where she treats herself to lobster tails and oysters.

This stylish French restaurant in the Pearl district practically transforms you to Paris, if it weren't for the Southern twang of the staff. At Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, expect French favorites such as steak tartare, beef bourguignon, and duck confit. For sharing, grab a baguette and cheese plate.

Somehow, perhaps by pure magic, Brassiere Mon Chou Chou managed to capture the essence of a Parisian bistro in the heart of South Texas, and it's utterly delightful!. This new restaurant succeeds on every level, from the cuisine to the service, environment and vibe. Let's start with the food.

Francophiles will appreciate the Parisian-inspired Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, founded by three Frenchmen who all met after each moved to the city. “Mon Chou Chou” is a French term of endearment for someone you care about. And at this brasserie, it’s clear the founders care about you.

Inspired by their homeland, three Frenchman opened up Brasserie Mon Chou Chou to bring their passion for French food to life. They are located at The Historic Pearl and offer a delectable French brunch every Sunday.

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou specializes in French comfort food, offering a cozy and romantic setting that feels like a quick trip to Paris. It’s perfect for couples looking for a touch of international flair.

While most French restaurants are upscale, Mon Chou Chou offers an elegant yet comfortable atmosphere with full dinner options as well as simple hors d'oeuvres such as oysters, cheese plates and wine.

The bustling energy of historic French brasseries in the heart of San Antonio. Classic regional dishes inspired by home-cooked memories of the restaurant’s three Frenchmen founders.

I imagined Parisians seeing me tear off pieces of baguette at Brasserie Mon Chou Chou until one gasps in horror, “This stuff’s made in San Antonio!.