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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 one of the few culinary realms the United States can lay claim to.
American BBQ can be broken down into a number of subcategories that are largely defined by the specific meats and sauces that dominate certain regions across the country, including the ones that comprise what is known as the “Big Four”: the Carolinas, Kansas City, Memphis, and Texas.
Beef has long reigned supreme in the Lone Star State due to its thriving cattle industry, and its BBQ places are primarily judged on their ability to cook one cut that rises above all of the rest: brisket.
However, some restaurants are facing an almost existential crisis due to skyrocketing prices.
Some BBQ restaurants in Texas are axing brisket from the menu in response to steep prices
Rising beef prices were cited as one of the top culprits after a number of BBQ restaurants in Texas closed their doors for good earlier this year, but those that have managed to power through are still facing issues stemming from that increase.
The average price of a pound of ground beef has nearly doubled over the past five years, and the cost at the end of August had risen around 10% compared to the same time in 2025.
It’s been outpaced by the price of brisket, which had experienced a year-over-year rise of close to 30% back in May due to factors including inflation and a cattle supply that’s at its lowest number in 75 years.
According to KIII, that reality has forced BBQ joints in Texas to make some tough decisions, including Butter’s BBQ in Sinton, which recently announced it was removing brisket from its menu after realizing it was responsible for “70% of our total grocery costs.”
William Paul Sissamis, who owns Silverado Smokehouse in Corpus Christi, also spoke with the outlet and said he encountered an issue after the company that supplies his beef ribs gave his order to a buyer who offered $8 more per pound (they’ve been temporarily removed from the menu).
This seems like a bit of a Canary In The Coalmine Moment for Texas BBQ, but here’s to hoping it’s able to weather the storm.