Barton Creek Square is getting a splashy new crowd magnet: Chubby Cattle, the immersive all-you-can-eat Wagyu yakiniku chain, is on its way to Austin. The concept mixes tabletop Japanese barbecue, sushi and a self-serve buffet, and will market tiered packages that climb all the way up to rare A5 Wagyu. For the mall, it is a big, high-end swing in the communal dining category.
Project filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation place the future restaurant at 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy, Unit J01B, and note a 6,095-square-foot interior build-out completed on Jan. 30, 2026. The chain's "Coming Soon" listing also confirms the Barton Creek Square location on the mall's upper level near Nordstrom, according to Chubby Cattle.
Menu and pricing
Chubby Cattle splits its all-you-can-eat meat service into three tiers: Silver ($58), Gold ($78) and Diamond ($88). Higher tiers unlock Japanese A5 cuts and other premium options, while every diner, no matter the tier, gets access to a buffet of vegetables, fruits, sides, milk tea and Japanese desserts, according to CultureMap Austin.
Brand background
The Chubby Group started with hot pot and has since sprinted into multiple U.S. markets, leaning hard into membership perks and over-the-top presentation, Eater Austin reports. At other locations, tabletop grills are paired with conveyor-belt delivery, robot attendants and time-limited seatings, turning dinner into something closer to a theater piece than a standard night out.
Where the Wagyu comes from
Chubby Cattle says it serves certified Japanese A5 Wagyu alongside American and Australian cuts that are sourced through partner ranches. The company lays out its sourcing practices and Wagyu certification process on its Wagyu certification page, framing that vertical setup as the backbone of its promise to offer premium beef in an all-you-can-eat format.
Membership and theater
The brand runs a free rewards program plus paid upgrades. Local reporting notes that a "supercharge" membership starts at $28 a year and unlocks discounts and reservation perks, according to Community Impact. On top of that, Chubby Group's expansion playbook leans on immersive touches like dramatic lighting, projections and automated service, details highlighted in coverage of its openings.
What it means for Austin
Austin has seen a steady wave of pan-Asian all-you-can-eat concepts in recent years, and observers say Chubby Cattle's Wagyu-first angle will slide right into that increasingly competitive lane, Eater Austin noted. For groups and celebrations, the chain's time-limited, tabletop-focused format offers a different kind of night out than many of the city's other new-wave AYCE spots.
When it might open
A press release confirming the Austin arrival did not include a firm opening date, according to CultureMap Austin. Earlier local coverage teased an "opening this summer," and state permit records show the build-out was completed on Jan. 30, 2026, indicating that only final operational steps remain before a public debut, per the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Expect menus, membership fine print and a concrete opening date to land on the brand's site. In the meantime, Barton Creek Square diners can count on an all-you-can-eat Wagyu option waiting on the mall's upper level.
