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Some barbecue restaurants are pulling brisket and ribs from their menus due to high beef prices
Texas barbecue owners say brisket now takes up more than 70% of grocery costs at one shop as beef prices climb 40% in two years.
- On September 20, Butter's BBQ in Sinton, Texas, removed brisket from its menu after the cut consumed over 70% of the restaurant's total grocery costs.
- A national cattle herd shrinkage to a 75-year low caused by drought, along with tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump, pushed average U.S. retail beef prices to a record $9.64 a pound in April.
- Texas Restaurant Association data showed 43% of operators reported significant cost increases in 2026; Silverado Smokehouse owner Bill Sissamis temporarily paused beef ribs because prices "skyrocketed."
- Several Texas barbecue joints closed permanently as meals reached $70 to $100, forcing operators like Andrew Soto to remove brisket rather than raise prices from $37 to $51.
- Family businesses like Howard's BBQ struggle to balance keeping traditions alive with affordability as operators remain in survival mode since the pandemic, facing constant risk of closure.
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11 Articles
11 Articles
Popular barbecue spot pulls brisket off menu due to rising costs
·Corpus Christi, United States
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Some Texas BBQ Joints Are Being Forced To Do The Unthinkable As Brisket Prices Skyrocket
Texas BBQ brisket Texas has a reputation for its brand of BBQ, one that’s built on a foundation of the brisket that serves as the signature offering in the region. However, some restaurants have opted to stop serving it and other types of beef as rising prices make it an increasingly tough sell. Americans may not have dreamed up the low-and-slow strategy of smoking meat, but they’ve arguably perfected the art of barbecue while cementing it as on…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution78% Center
Bias Distribution
- 78% of the sources are Center
78% Center
L 22%
C 78%
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