Buc-ee’s Big Buckin’ Brisket Sandwich XXL Chopped Beef vs. H-E-B True Texas BBQ TX Size Prime Brisket Sandwich.
Peter L. Scamardo II/MySA
Last week, H-E-B caught some heat after a Reddit post called out the $15 Prime brisket sandwich at True Texas BBQ as overpriced. H-E-B officials stood behind the price of the sandwich, praising the half pound of meat and superior cuts smoked in-house, but it also brought back memories of another brisket sandwich: The Big Buckin’ Brisket Sandwich XXL Chopped Beef from Buc-ee’s. That sandwich caused a stir when it debuted with a $13 price tag. So, MySA took a trip up to New Braunfels to see which Texas icon has the superior breakfast sandwich.
If you ever want to complete this taste test yourself, it won’t take much driving. The Buc-ee’s at 2760 I-35, New Braunfels, TX 78130, is right on the other side of I-35 from the True Texas BBQ at 2965 I-35 N. Frontage Road, New Braunfels, TX 78130, barely a five-minute drive.
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Buc-ee’s Big Buckin’ Brisket Sandwich XXL Chopped Beef at the Buc-ee’s in New Braunfels.
Peter L. Scamardo II/MySA
Buc-ee’s Big Buckin’ Brisket Sandwich XXL Chopped Beef: $13.99
Buc-ee’s had fans questioning the price of the massive sandwich when it arrived in 2023. The New Braunfels location had a smaller quantity of Big Buckin’ sandwiches compared to the rest of the offerings when MySA visited on Wednesday, April 8, but plenty of folks grabbed their hunks of beef, showing its strong place in the Buc-ee’s family.
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Sidebar, the ability to grab a sandwich and rush toward the cash registers is a benefit hard to beat. Getting your food quickly and avoiding a busload of teenagers is a major plus.
$13.99 Buc-ee’s Big Buckin’ Brisket Sandwich XXL Chopped Beef.
Peter L. Scamardo II/MySA
As for the sandwich itself, the chopped brisket has that classic Buc-ee’s sauce and sweet flavor that have made its brisket sandwiches a go-to staple for road trippers. The amount of meat is also admirable, but it made the sandwich harder to eat. I had multiple chunks fall out of the wrapper before I could make it to my mouth.
The sandwich has good flavor, but the massive amount of beef makes it unsuitable for drivers on a road trip. Given Buc-ee’s doesn’t have any seating areas, that’s a point against. Ultimately, I wouldn’t pay $13 for it, given that you can get the regular Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich with the same flavor for almost half the price.
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$15.49 H-E-B True Texas BBQ TX Size Prime Brisket Sandwich.
Peter L. Scamardo II/MySA
H-E-B True Texas BBQ TX Size Prime Brisket Sandwich: $15.49
The True Texas BBQ we visited was on the outside of the H-E-B Plus! in New Braunfels, and honestly, I preferred it. Yes, the two-story location was just down the street, but being able to grab my food without dealing with H-E-B crowds is a big deal (can you tell I use curbside?).
Anyway, True Texas BBQ gets points for providing a freshly made sandwich in a safely packaged container; no spills to be seen. This differs from the plastic-wrapped sandwich featured in the Reddit post, but I wasn’t going to go inside searching for it when I got a fresh meal in minutes, just feet from my car.
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The sandwich itself might be the best brisket sandwich I’ve eaten to date. Maybe I need to try more places, but the sliced brisket was a cut above the Buc-ee’s chopped beef. The buns held together, and the sauce added extra flavor to go along with the pickles and onions. Yes, you can gripe about the $15 price tag, but you’re also getting a half pound of meat. By the end, I was sated, my hunger gone, and I appreciated every bite. I even took one last bite from the Buc-ee’s sandwich to double-check, and there was no comparison.
The verdict: H-E-B has the superior brisket sandwich over Buc-ee’s
For just $2 more, barbecue fans can get a much superior meal that will leave them more than satisfied. The Prime beef is clear from the first bite, and the sauce/onion/pickle combo adds a nice crunch and flavor. You do have to eat it with both hands, so it’s definitely not a pit-stop sandwich, but it also won’t collapse on you while you’re trying to eat it. No doubt, if you’re craving a brisket sandwich, go to True Texas BBQ at your nearest H-E-B.