Corpus Christi dining prices have jumped 21% since 2019. Despite the increase, some local restaurants say they are doing everything possible to keep prices steady.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Eating out while on vacation is supposed to feel like a reward, not a financial regret.
But new data shows tourists are paying significantly more to dine in Corpus Christi, and the increase is enough to make some visitors pause before ordering dessert.
According to an analysis by the online travel company Luxury Link, restaurant prices in Corpus Christi jumped 21 percent between 2019 and 2025. That rise is putting pressure on both travelers and the restaurants serving them.
Despite the increase, some local restaurants say they are doing everything possible to keep prices steady.
At Water Street Oyster Bar, crowds are still packing the dining room. The longtime Corpus Christi staple remains popular with both locals and visitors, offering a menu filled with seafood and coastal favorites.
Owner Richard Lomax says the restaurant has committed to holding the line on prices this year.
“We’re committed to no price changing,” Lomax said. “We’re working hard to negotiate costs down, consolidate purchasing power, and pass that value on to the guest.”
The report also found that nationwide, the overall cost of a vacation for a family of four has increased 14.5 percent since 2019. In Corpus Christi, that increase is lower at seven percent.
Visit Corpus Christi CEO Brook Kaufman says affordability remains a selling point for the region, especially for families looking to stretch their travel dollars.
“We are constantly pivoting to the traveler and saying we are a value-driven market,” Kaufman said. “You can bring a family of four here for a reasonable cost.”
Still, restaurants across the city say rising food prices, labor costs, and supply expenses are squeezing margins.
At BBQ Man off I-37, a family-owned restaurant that has served the Coastal Bend for nearly 50 years, the pressure is familiar.
Matt DeShields, president of BBQ Man and chairman of the Coastal Bend Restaurant Association, says many restaurant owners are feeling the strain.
“A lot of them joke about finding another business to get into,” DeShields said. “But their families have been in this for generations. They’re not going anywhere, even though they’re struggling.”
DeShields says restaurant owners are trimming costs wherever possible by negotiating with suppliers, adjusting menus, and finding creative efficiencies, all while trying to maintain quality and service.
For many, it has become a careful balancing act between keeping prices reasonable and keeping the doors open.