GARLAND, Texas — Texas restaurants continue to grapple with higher food, labor and supply costs, but many owners say they are doing everything they can to avoid passing those increases on to customers.
A new report from the Texas Restaurant Association shows that businesses across the state are still feeling the weight of inflation, which has driven up food and labor costs by about 35% since the start of the pandemic. Tariffs are also beginning to affect some restaurants, adding more strain on supplies such as packaging and kitchen essentials.
“We learned how to pivot, how to work closely with our suppliers,” said Cary Hodson, owner of Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery in downtown Garland. “Can lids, forks, pots, spoons — everything has gone up.”…