Sinton barbecue joint removes brisket from regular menu as beef prices rise

Butter’s BBQ in Sinton has removed brisket from its everyday menu and will sell it only by online pre-order, owner Andrew Soto told Fox News Digital on Oct. 1, 2026.

Soto told Fox News Digital the restaurant has faced rising beef and brisket costs for about five years and that prices jumped again in the past eight months to a year. He said a recent increase of nearly $1 per pound made continuing to carry brisket on the regular menu “a gamble,” given the difficulty of predicting how much would sell.

When the restaurant tried raising prices and cooking less brisket, Soto said foot traffic and sales dropped. He said Butter’s is experimenting with beef cheek as a brisket substitute but is prioritizing pork — encouraging customers to choose ribs and sausage — while offering brisket only through an online pre-order system where customers will pay in advance.

The USDA Economic Research Service reported that beef and veal prices were 5.9% higher in August 2026 than in August 2025 and that prices are expected to increase 9.4% in 2026, with a forecast interval of 7.4% to 11.6%, Fox News Digital noted.

A Facebook post from Butter’s about the menu change said the restaurant could no longer sustain its current business model, arguing brisket accounted for more than 70% of its grocery costs, according to Fox News Digital. The article also reported a range of public reactions to the decision.

Fox News Digital reported it contacted the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association for comment. Soto said the move was made to protect the business. “We’re just trying to protect our business and our livelihood,” he told Fox News Digital.

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