A Texas barbecue restaurant in the small town of Sinton, about a 30-minute drive from Corpus Christi, has made a drastic decision: it has removed brisket from its standard menu. The owner, Andrew Soto, told Fox News Digital that the choice was not made overnight. It came after years of watching beef prices climb, and one final straw last week sealed the deal.
The Long Road to This Decision
Soto said Butter’s BBQ has been dealing with rising beef prices, particularly in brisket, for about five years. Prices have fluctuated over that period, sometimes appearing to head in the right direction. But over the last eight months to a year, beef prices climbed rapidly, and the restaurant could no longer keep up.
He tried adjusting prices and cooking less brisket. That move hit sales. “When we tried adjusting our prices and cooking less brisket, our foot traffic and sales took a hit,” Soto said.
The final push came last week. Soto was talking to one of his food reps when he learned brisket had once again gone up in price, by almost $1 per pound. “I guess the straw that broke the camel’s back was last week,” he said.
The Numbers Behind the Price Hike
According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, beef and veal prices were 5.9% higher in August 2026 than in August 2025. Overall, prices are expected to increase 9.4% in 2026, with a forecast interval of 7.4% to 11.6%.
Soto acknowledged that a dollar-per-pound increase might not sound like much. But buying hundreds of pounds of beef at once means the cost adds up fast. In a small town, it is hard to predict how much people will buy.
“It was a hard one, but I made the decision to pull our brisket from the menu completely,” Soto said. He added that the restaurant would still sell brisket, but not in the way or quantity it had been.
The Menu Shift and What Comes Next
Butter’s BBQ is experimenting with alternatives like beef cheek as a brisket substitute. Pork is the priority, and the restaurant is encouraging guests to reach for ribs and sausage. Soto said the restaurant would implement an online pre-order system where customers can order brisket in advance and pay for it ahead of time.
Guests who want brisket can still get it, but it will not be part of the everyday menu. “We’re in Texas. It’s a big deal,” Soto said about brisket’s popularity in the Lone Star State.
The Community Reaction
A Facebook post sharing the news said the restaurant had done everything it could to fight the constant price hikes. “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 post read. “We’re just trying to protect our business and our livelihood.”
Some people were shocked, commenting that brisket was an essential at any Texas barbecue joint. One commenter wrote: “In my opinion, not selling brisket will hurt your business.” They suggested raising prices to match the rising cost of beef. “If your brisket is good then people will pay whatever price you set.”
Another agreed, saying: “Just raise your prices, I’ve seen brisket sandwiches go from $10 to $12 up to $20.”
Not everyone was upset. Some commenters were more understanding. One said: “Bring on the pork!!!” Another offered a suggestion: “I’d love to see some smoked pork steaks. That could be an affordable alternative to add to the menu.”
Why the Owner Made This Call
Soto wants people to understand that the decision was not personal. He said the restaurant is trying to protect its business and its livelihood. “Please come and support us. We still have some really good barbecue, despite not having the brisket on our menu,” he said.
The problem was uncertainty. Soto said it became too much of a “gamble” to pay the steep prices for brisket and not be sure if the quantity he purchased would sell. The online pre-order system is meant to address that risk by letting customers commit to a purchase in advance.
The Timeline of the Price Hike
| Period | Price Movement |
|---|---|
| Five years | Prices fluctuated, sometimes headed down |
| Last eight months to a year | Beef prices climbed rapidly |
| August 2025 to August 2026 | Beef and veal prices 5.9% higher |
| 2026 forecast | Expected 9.4% increase, 7.4% to 11.6% interval |
| Last week | Brisket price increased by almost $1 per pound |
The forecast for 2026 puts prices on track for a significant jump.
This is a hard call for a barbecue joint in Texas. Brisket is the centerpiece of the genre, and removing it from the everyday menu is a statement. But Soto’s position is clear: the restaurant can no longer afford to offer brisket at a price that sustains the business.
The online pre-order system is a practical solution to a structural problem. It lets customers lock in a purchase before the restaurant buys the meat, which reduces the risk of overspending on inventory that may not sell.
The Facebook comments show the tension clearly. Some customers want brisket back no matter the price. Others are willing to pay more if the food is good. Still others are looking for cheaper options, like pork steaks, that could fill the gap.
Soto’s message to the community is simple: the restaurant is still around, the barbecue is still good, and brisket is still available — just not on the standard menu. That is a reasonable compromise in a difficult market.
For now, the restaurant has found a way to keep brisket on the menu while managing the risk. The gamble remains on the table, but it is now a calculated one.
Source material: “Texas BBQ joint takes drastic step as soaring beef prices devour restaurant,” Fox News.
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