Little Coyote Earns a Second MICHELIN Bib Gourmand

For the second consecutive year, Little Coyote has earned a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, recognizing the St. Elmo restaurant’s quality cooking at a good value.

The 2026 MICHELIN Guide American South once again includes the Chattanooga smokehouse, where slow-smoked meats, fresh tortillas, and Texas-border flavors are the draw. Little Coyote opened in November 2023 with a straightforward idea: do a few things with care and make people feel right at home.

What Makes a Bib Gourmand Special?

The MICHELIN Guide’s Bib Gourmand distinction recognizes restaurants that serve good-quality cooking at a good value. It is different from a MICHELIN Star or a general Guide recommendation.

For Little Coyote, the second Bib Gourmand puts the focus back on the work behind each plate: time at the smoker, tortillas made in-house, and flavors built to be shared.

Smoke, Tortillas, and Patience

The meat here cooks low and slow over hardwood. The tortillas are made in-house, corn tortillas included. Put those together and you get brisket tacos that taste like they had all day to get there, because they did.

Chef Erik Niel built the menu around that pairing, and the flavors lean Texas and Southwest, with house-made moles and sides like black beans and rice. Order a few things for the table and pass them around.

A Good Place to Stay Awhile

The bar pours more than 100 agave spirits, so mezcal and tequila fans have plenty to work through, along with agave cocktails that hold up next to the smoke.

Outside, the covered patio is where you want to be on a good evening, and the Sunporch adds more room for friends and groups. Come by after a hike, meet people for dinner, or stay for one more cocktail.

Three Restaurants, Two Years in the Guide

Little Coyote is one of five Chattanooga restaurants in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide American South, up from four last year. Its sister restaurants, Easy Bistro & Bar and Main Street Meats, each earned another MICHELIN recommendation. All three Niel family restaurants are back in the guide, each with its own menu and its own kind of night out.

Come Hungry

Find Little Coyote at 3950 Tennessee Avenue in St. Elmo. There are no reservations, so join the waitlist or order online, then claim a spot on the patio. Browse the menus before you go, or see the restaurant's MICHELIN Guide listing.