5 prime meat markets that make the cut

Arnold Fernandez says he’s hearing the jingle from the front door a little more often at his Arnold’s Butcher Shop on Thousand Oaks near Wetmore.

Some of that might have to do with COVID-19, he said, with customers less inclined to navigate the crowds at area grocery stores. But he is also being asked for select cuts from customers who want to know more about the meat they are consuming.

“I think the role of the local butcher has definitely increased,” Fernandez said. “It’s a more personal experience, and that makes me happy to accommodate anybody that has a special request. I just might need a heads-up in advance.”

Meat markets both small and large continue to open and flourish throughout the San Antonio area. In 2020, two newcomers, Alamo Farms and The Farmers Butcher, joined the scene.

For Mark and Kelley Escobedo, the opening of The Farmers Butcher on the East Side was the culmination of a years-long passion project, after spending years navigating the farmers market scene.

“We can take out a map and show you where every single thing we sell is sourced from,” Kelley Escobedo said. “We took the time to build these relationships, and we will only sell products that we truly believe in.”

In 2019, we spotlighted 10 area meat markets in the Food Shack. Here are five more that are new, or at least new to me:

Alamo Farms

Alamo Farms opened in June on the near South Side and is a different type of meat market experience. Live animals such as chickens, goats, quail, sheep and cattle are housed next to the market, so customers can pick which one they want to eat. Or Alamo will pick for you. Alamo co-owner Abo Mused said his business is all about being transparent.

The market has a licensed processing facility that practices halal methods. It does not carry pork products.

Best bites: This is the place to go for the freshest chicken you will find in the area, and Alamo

will cater to special requests, like cutting the whole bird into pieces or spatchcocking it free of charge.

200 Chihuahua St., 210-998-2800, alamofarms.com. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. MondaysSaturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Arnold’s Butcher Shop

Fernandez has been in the butcher game since 1975, when he started cutting meat at H-E-B. And he’s likely to be the person greeting you when you walk through the door. Arnold’s doesn’t have the traditional meat case loaded with precut steaks and other proteins. Instead, you tell him what you want, and he cuts it for you from his inventory.

Best bites: Not so much a bite, as it is a total meat makeover. Arnold’s sells bulk packages with a wide assortment of cuts guaranteed to pack your freezer, from 25-pound budget packs for $149 to three-month supplies for $469.

3965 Thousand Oaks Drive, 210-776-0000, Facebook: @Arnolds-Butcher-Shop.Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays.

Chick’s Prime Meat Market

Located in Spring Branch, head butcher Xavier Figueroa follows a simple principle: “If you want it, I can get it.”

He caters to special requests,

such as whole pigs, and processes deer and elk meat that he makes into burgers and sausage. Chick’s also gets plenty of traffic from the competition barbecue community, selling trimmed-out briskets and ribs.

Best bites: Figueroa makes three types of salsa that are big sellers and go up and down the Scoville scale. Grab a tub with a block of cheese and some jerky, and make it a party.

4400 U.S. 281 N., Spring Branch, 830-438-0331, Facebook: @chicksprimemeats.Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Choice Kutz Meat Market

Choice Kutz opened in 2019 on the far West Side and sources its beef from Colorado. Owner Pat Doñes said the cooler summer temperatures there put less stress on the animals, which results in better flavor. From pinwheels to ground brisket burgers and every steak cut, they’ve got you covered here.

You can also pick up “Kutz” or “Neighborhood” packs for $39 that come with an assortment of 15 pounds of meat, including pork and chicken.

Best bites: This is the place to go for beef ribs that look like they were carved off of a dinosaur. I acquired a rack of four bones,

weighing in at nearly 6 pounds, for about $40. Choice Kutz also has a large selection of dry rubs and seasonings.

15284 Potranco Road, 210-679-5889, choicekutzmeat marketllc.com. Hours: Noon to 7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

The Farmers Butcher

You can still smell the fresh paint at The Farmers Butcher, which opened in late October inside the Hackberry Market on the near East Side. The Escobedos sell their South Texas heritage pork in cuts from snout to tail. It’s a small space, but it offers a surprisingly large selection.

The Farmers Butcher also sells beef, a large assortment of housemade sausages and unique items such as beef bacon and head cheese. Every day there is at least one hot food item available.

Best bites: Any and all pork. The meat in the heritage breeds the Escobedos raise is dark in texture, almost to beeflike redness, and is more flavorful than any mass-produced pork.

1602 E. Houston St., 210-7573620, Facebook: @thefarmers butchertx. Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Chuck Blount / Staff Alamo Farms, a new meat market at 200 Chihuahua St., lets customers pick the animal they want butchered. Its processing facility follows halal methods.

Photos by Chuck Blount / Staff Chick’s Prime Meat Market in Spring Branch carries a large assortment of meats and specialty items, including smoked salmon and house-made salsa.

Choice Kutz Meat Market, 15284 Potranco Road, focuses on beef, seasonings and other supplies for the backyard warrior.