Houston Astros Debut Outrageous Brisket Donut at Daikin Park

The new over-the-top ballpark food item features smoked brisket, BBQ sauce, and mac and cheese, all fried into a donut shape.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:14pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print depicting a single brisket donut item repeated in a tight grid pattern, utilizing vibrant neon color palettes and heavy black outlines to transform this unique ballpark food into modern pop art.The Houston Astros' new brisket donut, a savory and indulgent ballpark food creation that captures the bold spirit of Texas cuisine.Houston Today

The Houston Astros have unveiled a new and completely wild ballpark food item for the 2026 season - the brisket donut. This creation features savory smoked brisket that is deep-fried into the shape of a donut, then coated in BBQ sauce and topped with creamy mac and cheese. The $18.49 menu item is just one of several outrageous new food offerings at Daikin Park this year, as the Astros aim to push the boundaries of what's possible in ballpark concessions.

Why it matters

The brisket donut exemplifies the trend of ballparks across the country elevating their food offerings to become destinations for unique and indulgent culinary experiences, rather than just quick snacks. Texas in particular is known for its bold, over-the-top food culture, and the Astros are leaning into that reputation with this and other wild new menu items.

The details

The brisket donut was created by Daikin Park concessions chef James Hackl, who said the goal was to combine two beloved comfort foods - brisket and mac and cheese - into one decadent fried treat. The donut is made by deep-frying the smoked brisket into the ring shape, then coating it in BBQ sauce and topping it with the mac and cheese. Hackl said the result is a 'full-on, messy, bring-extra-napkins kind of situation' that captures the spirit of indulgent Texas cuisine.

  • The brisket donut and other new menu items debuted at the start of the 2026 Houston Astros baseball season.

The players

James Hackl

The concessions chef at Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros, who created the brisket donut and other new over-the-top ballpark food items.

Houston Astros

The Major League Baseball team that plays its home games at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas and has debuted a lineup of bold and creative new concession offerings for the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“Why not both?!”

— James Hackl, Concessions Chef, Daikin Park

What’s next

The Astros plan to continue expanding their lineup of unique and indulgent ballpark food items throughout the 2026 season, aiming to make Daikin Park a destination for food-loving fans.

The takeaway

The brisket donut and other new menu items at Daikin Park showcase the growing trend of ballparks elevating their food offerings to become destinations for creative, over-the-top culinary experiences that capture the bold, indulgent spirit of regional food cultures like Texas.