A barbecue restaurant in Sinton, a small town about 30 minutes from Corpus Christi in San Patricio County, has removed brisket from its everyday menu after years of rising beef costs made the dish unworkable for the business.
Andrew Soto, owner and operator of Butter’s BBQ, told Fox News Digital that the decision had been building for a long time. “We’ve been dealing with the price hikes, specifically in beef and briskets, for the better part of, I would say, five years,” Soto said.
Soto said prices had fluctuated over that stretch, occasionally seeming to improve, but that the last eight months to a year brought a sharp and sustained climb that his restaurant could no longer absorb. Earlier attempts to raise menu prices and cook smaller batches of brisket led to declines in foot traffic and sales.
“I guess the straw that broke the camel’s back was last week. I was talking to one of my food reps, and he informed me that brisket had once again gone up in price,” Soto said, noting an increase of almost $1 per pound. He said that figure sounds small on its own but adds up quickly when a restaurant buys hundreds of pounds at a time, and that demand in a small town is difficult to predict.
Government data backs up what Soto is seeing at the counter. According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, beef and veal prices were 5.9% higher in August 2026 than in August 2025, and total prices are forecast to rise 9.4% in 2026, within a range of 7.4% to 11.6%. Fox News Digital reached out to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association for comment.
Soto described the math as a “gamble” he could no longer justify — paying steep prices for brisket with no guarantee the quantity purchased would actually sell. “It was a hard one, but I made the decision to pull our brisket from the menu completely,” he said.
Butter’s BBQ is now testing beef cheek as a possible substitute, while steering customers toward pork options such as ribs and sausage. Soto said brisket will still be available, just not as a standing menu item. “We’re going to implement an online pre-order system where you’ll be able to order it in advance, pay for it in advance,” he said.
He acknowledged the cultural weight of the decision in a state where the dish is practically an institution. “We’re in Texas. It’s a big deal,” Soto said.
In a Facebook post announcing the change, Butter’s BBQ told customers: “We apologize tremendously, we’ve done all we can to combat the constant price hikes, but we can no longer sustain our current business model with brisket eating up over 70% of our total grocery costs.”
The reaction from the community was mixed. Some commenters argued the restaurant should simply raise prices rather than cut the item. “In my opinion, not selling brisket will hurt your business,” one wrote. “Best move is to raise your prices to match the rising cost of beef. If your brisket is good then people will pay whatever price you set.” Another added, “Just raise your prices, I’ve seen brisket sandwiches go from $10 to $12 up to $20.”
Others were more supportive, with one writing, “Bring on the pork!!!” and another suggesting, “I’d love to see some smoked pork steaks. That could be an affordable alternative to add to the menu.”
Soto said he wants customers to understand the move wasn’t made lightly. “We’re just trying to protect our business and our livelihood,” he said. “Please come and support us. We still have some really good barbecue, despite not having the brisket on our menu.”
