Franklin Barbecue

Wow! All I can say. 3 ½ hours in line but so worth it. How do they get that brisket so perfect?

Went on a Saturday. Got in line at 7:15am and got food around noon. Was it worth the wait? Heck yeah!
The wait is just part of the experience. We ate breakfast, chatted with our line neighbors, played checkers on my iPad and just enjoyed hanging out with nothing to do except think about what we were going to order. Sometimes it’s nice to just chill out for a while. I was glad we were able to be close to the building and in the shade. Waiting in the parking lot — in the direct sun — would be tough.
When we finally got in to order we got the fatty brisket, a couple pork ribs and a sausage. Oh, and a banana bourbon pie, too. The brisket was as good as we hoped it would be. But this stuff was dense! Delicious but very filling. Not that meat is really every light but this is some solid meat happening here. I really enjoyed the pork ribs too. The sausage was just okay for me but I’m not a big sausage person. (insert sausage joke here). And the pie was an awesome way to end the meal. Even though we were full, we polished that thing off no problem.
Overall it was a fun experience, I’m glad we did it and the food was as good as everyone says it is. If you have the time, do it at least once!

First off, I’ve been looking forward to going to Franklin BBQ since I moved to Texas 3 years ago. I finally got to go on a Saturday.
Got in line at 7:45. About 150 people were in front of me. I was dreading the wait in line but actually it was fun and go to talk to some nice people. They have restrooms open and a coffee truck near by. The staff came out every hour or so to talk to the people in line and they came through with drinks for sale a couple of times.
Ended up getting food around 12:30.
Brisket ⁵⁄₅: Holy crap. Had Brisket at a lot of places, but Franklin destroys them. Had ½ from the point and half from the flat. Only complaint was I wish I had ordered more. Juicy with the perfect amount of smoke, salt, and pepper. Nice smoke ring and no need for BBQ sauce.
Beef ribs ⁵⁄₅: Exceptional, tender, and only sold on Saturday.
Pork ribs ⁵⁄₅: Very tender, nice amount of smoke, and love the gloss on the top of them
Sausage 4.5÷5: One of the best I’ve had. Not very smoky. Good casing that pops.
Pulled pork ⁴⁄₅: I’m from N Carolina, so I’m picky with pork BBQ. Although very different from what I grew up with, I did enjoy the black pepper of the rub.
Turkey ³⁄₅: Not a big fan. Thought it was pretty dry.
Overall, awesome experience. Didn’t think it would live up to my high expectations and in fact it far exceeded them. The customer service was exceptional. Everyone was really nice.
Looking forwards to my next visit.

It is difficult to go here if there is a large event or festival in Austin because this is the must-​try place for visitors. Low traffic times are weekdays and rainy days. Otherwise, you must get there early and be prepared to wait for up to 5 hours.
I recommend trying Franklin’s if you have the time. It is absolutely delicious.

Everything you need to know about Franklin BBQ in one awesome review. Franklin is the Mecca for brisket and there’s a reason why — it’s friggin incredible. But you’ll need to come armed with some knowledge so you can maximize your time there. Here was how we did it on a Saturday in June w/​nice weather. Got there at 6:50 AM — street parking was easy. The first guy in line got there at 4:30. The second guy at 5:15. There were about 30 people or so ahead of us. I think our arrival time was perfect (if not nearly too late) as it got us the last space under the pavilion which will afford you some much wanted shade.
Yes they have chairs for you to sit in, but why leave it to chance? Bring your own. Me and my group of 2 dudes brought chairs, a large ice chest full of brew, a foldout camp table, Bluetooth speaker, dominoes, cards, mosquito spray and a football. Why so much stuff you ask? Because Franklin’s in not just about eating great bbq, it’s about having a great time «tailgating» in the parking lot with your friends — and the new friends that you will most certainly meet in line around you (we liked our neighbors so much we all ate lunch together once inside!). But I digress.
Franklin’s has their process down to a science. They told us around 9 AM that our spot in line would eat around 12:15 to 12:30. We were chowing down at 12:20. Bingo. If you find yourself short on beer, ice, mosquito spray or whatever, don’t worry there’s a CVS right around the corner from you that has your back. Beer sales start at 9 AM on a Saturday — the wait staff will also go through the line with a nice selection of canned brews. The staff also makes the rounds taking down your orders so they know how much meat will be left as they get to the back of the line. You place your actual order once inside at the counter, but the «pre-​orders» give them a good idea when to cut off the line. Bathrooms — there’s port-​o-​potties on site before 8 AM, then you can use the restaurant’s bathrooms after.
At about 10:45 they get you ready to come inside. This is when you break down all of the crap you set up 4 hours prior and throw it in the back of your car. We condensed our giant Yeti down to a portable roller ice chest for the rest of the wait which you will now be standing instead of sitting as you slowly move along. It’s very important that you don’t bail on your beer after they start letting everyone in, because you still are going to have awhile before you eat (unless you’re closer to the front). Like I said, our spot at the end of the pavilion still had another hour + in line once it goes into a more mobile formation.
Once you make it into the restaurant you’ll have about 30 minutes left until you’re eating all of that goodness. Don’t worry about finding a table, by the time they give you your food people are getting up that ate before you. The space is small and there’s some tables outside, but somehow everything seems to be timed perfectly. I guess after you’ve waited 5 hours, you’re not really wanting to sit and linger after you finish eating.
Lastly — the bbq. There’s nothing I can say that hasn’t already been said before. I’m from Texas and I’ve eaten a ton of bbq. This is the best I’ve ever had. It really is that incredible. And for anyone who says otherwise, they truly have no idea what they’re talking about. The spice on the brisket is on point. It’s moist and perfect in every way. The beef rib is huge and not overly «stewy» like Louie Mueller (sorry Mueller fans). The pork ribs are fall-​off-​the bone and seasoned w/​sweet and spice. I didn’t think you could beat Salt Lick’s, but yes, the pork ribs here are nails too.
All together, we had a blast here. From the staff to the customers to the food — a 5 star great time and one my buddies and I will be making an annual trip out of. Bravo Franklin…

Just a bite from our full review —
«This meal instantly awoke the carnivores inside us. When else do you get a pound of meat slapped on paper — not pretentious, just mouth-​watering quality. »

OH MY GOODNESS. You have not tasted amazing bbq until you have ate at Franklin.
Sunday morning, arrived at 6:30am. Doors open at 11; got my food at 12. FYI: You HAVE to come early and wait in line if you want to be get your food ASAP once doors open.
The staff was super friendly and always willing to help. Bathrooms are clean! They provide a limited number of chairs so if anything bring your own to be safe (especially if you are not coming super early). Close to when the doors open, there will be someone that goes around and asks for an estimate of what you are going to order. But once you get to the cutting station, there is where you order.
Make sure you bring some items (book, sunglasses, snacks) to make yourself comfortable because you will be waiting a while.
You must get the brisket! The ribs are delicious as well; fall off the bone type meat. The cole slaw is perfect for someone who doesn’t much of the dressing. They coat the mix well but it is not over done. Also get the potato salad! I got their burbon banana pie; definitely taste and smell the burbon, just the right amount, fresh bananas in the mix. They have sauces at the table for your meat.
Your money is going to be well spent here, I promise you that!

Is it really worth the hype? Is it?! YES. IT. IS!!!
I love me some good brisket and I’ve never had a brisket like Franklin’s before. It’s really beefy, melts in your mouth and just beyond this world!
We got to Franklin’s at 8:30am on a Tuesday and it was already about 20 people deep. There are chairs you can use while waiting however if you get there late, you’ll probably just have to stand or bring your own for good measure.
Someone from Franklin’s will check the line about 9am and will get your order. He/​she will gauge if they have enough meat to serve for the day. There’s no pressure on what/​how much to order.
By 11am, they will start letting people in. where we were in the line, we ordered at about 12:30. The anticipation will just kill you. You will see other people eating their bbqs and you will salivate.
Anyways, we ended up ordering pretty much all of the meats to try. When in Rome, right??!
BRISKET WILL JUST MELT IN YOUR MOUTH! I kid you not! I bow down to the master — Aaron Franklin…
Don’t forget to try the desserts (individual pies) they source from a small mom and pop shop. It was awesome too!
We took home couple pounds of both fatty and leaner brisket. My suggestion is go fatty all way, it will sure hold up on the drive/​flight home ;)

What to bring to be in line on a sunny day: sunblock, water, sunglasses, portable cell phone charger, a book, bug repellant, umbrella to block the sun, and entertainment (book, ear phones, a hand held gaming device, iPad, or anything else that keep you entertained for 2+ hours)
0915 — Arrival on a June Wednesday and the line is half way through the parking lot (at the red post) and they estimated a 12:45−1pm arrival.
0930 — someone came by to take a tally of what my group wanted. For a party of 2 people, they recommended ½lb pork spare ribs, ½ brisket, and 1 sausage.
0945 — someone came by with cold beers and water for sale
1100 — glad to see I’m not the only one who’s using an umbrella. Definitely would have crispy shoulders by lunch.
1110 — we’re moving! And the chairs are returned
1150 — standing right in front of the door!
1210 — standing in front of the onesies and SnapBack caps!
1235 — ordering!
For 2 average eaters — $ 70 for 1 cap, 3 bottles of sauce (1-​espressos and 2 classic), 1lb of pork ribs, 1lb of fatty brisket, ½lb sausages, ¼lb pulled pork
1250 — home eating!
The brisket is tender and falls apart when you use a fork, so just dig in with hour fingers!
The meat falls off the pork ribs and is full of flavor!
Sausage is to my preference since it isn’t giving me that kick of spice
Pulled pork falls apart even faster than brisket.
Beef ribs — Saturday only):
Essentially this is a 4 hour process just for BBQ! Crazy. Next time if I dare to wait in line this is enough food for 3 people without leftovers.

WOW is all I can say. This BBQ truly is the best BBQ I’ve ever had. I did read from one of the reviewers on Unilocal that although it was great BBQ, she would not come back due to having to wait in line for so long and I would have to agree with that. Seriously, my hubby and I waited in line for like 5 hours to get our food! Regardless, it was definitely worth the experience.
My hubby told me that he was told that they smoke their brisket for up to 18 hours! The beef brisket seriously just falls apart as you fork it. It was super duper tasty and tender! The whole time we were eating it, we kept saying, «Wow, this is good.» We ordered a pound of the brisket and half was fatty and the other half, lean. Normally, I don’t eat the fat on meat but man oh man was that fatty brisket delicious! We also got the sausage and that was good, not great. We also ordered the beans and that compliments the BBQ perfectly!
All that said, their beef brisket is the BEST BBQ I’ve ever had, but I wouldn’t go back just because of the long wait. However, I do believe you can preorder, so if that is the case, I would totally do that!

It’s one of the musts to do while you are in Austin. Franklin Barbecue is perhaps the most famous Texas BBQ spot and rightly so.
Here’s what I learned/​tips
1) If you think you are getting there somewhat early, that’s not early enough. Most people start lining up at 6am-​7am. Highly recommend coming super early on a hot day so you can avoid the sun. Or if you enjoy a slight suntan, tan away.
2) Depend on the day, the wait is anywhere between 3 – 6 hours so mean as well enjoy it. I had a blast hanging out with people on the line. Met people from Austin, Portland and Miami. Drink some beer, relax and enjoy each other’s company. CVS is a block away and sells alcohol. Woohoo. Share some with friends.
3)The food that really stood out to me was the brisket and the ribs. So I can recommend ordering a lot. If you order too much, It’s still going to be good BBQ when you get hungry later. Food is delicious. I encourage people to try all of the food on the menu.
If you are new to BBQ, I recommend watching BBQ with Franklin. Youtube it, Google it, and etc. Greater appreciation of Texas BBQ.

Best BBQ in town. No, I haven’t tried the others but I’ve been to the future and I’ve heard myself saying, «this isn’t as good as Franklin’s».
Part of the Franklin experience is the famous line out front before the place opens. We got there at 7:45am (opens at 11) and there was already a line forming of nearly 30 people — a line just long enough to have remaining chairs to borrow and take advantage of for our 3hr 15m wait.
While you wait, there’s plenty to do: get coffee next door at Legend, grab a cold beer from the employee walking up the line, buy a t-​shirt or other Franklin souvenirs, groove to the bumpin’ county music, or even make friends with those around you — they may come in handy because once you’re in and meat has been achieved, the seating is scarce and it would be only natural to want to save space for each other.
After taking in the phenomenal protein, check out the smokers where all the magic happens.

There is no reason to give this famous bbq joint less than 5 stars, but I will say that I could care less to go again. Franklin’s is definitely an experience– one that you must have in your stay at Austin– but not worth the trouble to go through it again. Our party arrived by 7:30am on a Tuesday and was able to eat by 12:30pm, with nothing having ran out yet. Drinks and lawn chairs are a must during this long morning ordeal, and good company will also help make the time go by.
I had heard that the brisket and turkey were the best meats to get here, so I ordered a quarter pound of brisket with a single potato salad and single Cole slaw, and I shared another quarter pound of turkey with a friend. Sharing is great for this joint, because then you can try a much bigger variety without having to stuff yourself or have too much leftovers. I was sufficiently full and ready to pass out from a food coma after this big portion. The brisket was very fatty and juicy and thus lived up to the hype. The turkey, however was disappointing solely because of my pre existing expectations.
The people working at franklins are truly dedicated and great Austinites– be sure to get to know some of them while you wait! It was a fun day full of way too much good food. I’m glad I got to do this before leaving Austin, but I can live without going again!

We preordered our food two months in advance for a 10am pick up. Skipping the line, we waltzed into the main restaurant area to pick up food. I added an extra two sides and left.
At home, we discovered that the two sides we added were not in the bag. Called for a refund. I recommend anyone doing an order to double check the bag. They are rushing to fill orders and it’s best if you check so you don’t endure heartache like us. Otherwise, service was friendly and fast.
The BBQ is just as delicious as hyped. The brisket was the top choice with a mix of creaminess from the fat and tender meat, great BBQ flavor, and perfect flavoring that was not overly salty or overpowering. I added the sauce that was more orange in color. The BBQ literally falls off your fork in tenderness.
The pulled pork is pretty delicious as well. Soft and chewy, but also flavorful and moist. Sometimes pulled pork turns out too dry, but not this one.
The sausage was not the most amazing, but it was flavorful and tasty. Not overly fatty or salty. I would try it again.
The ribs were fall off the bone with great smoked flavor and also perfectly salted. The quality of the meat was top notch and I could almost eat all of the tendons on the ribs.
The beans were made with brisket. It was ok, very heavy for a side. I probably wouldn’t order it again.
We also received a bag of Mrs. Baird’s bread.
About five days later, the BBQ still tastes great. No complaints. Would absolutely eat here again after I recover from meat coma.

Definitely the best barbeque I’ve had ever! We were quite lucky because the day we came it was rainy and so the line wasn’t as long as it usually would be. We came around 11am, the line was already out the door and down the parking lot with the coffee truck. The wait from there was actually only 1.5 hours (compared to the estimated time of 2.5).
The staff that comes out to take your estimated order also told us that they would only have sausage and brisket left so quite a few people left and decided not to wait. I’m so glad we stayed! We ended up getting a little bit of everything.
My favorite was the fattier brisket, pulled pork and sausage. The turkey was also surpringly moist and I usually don’t like turkey because the meat is so dry. The pork ribs were the meat that I liked least, still really good just too salty for my taste.
Definitely worth the wait, come here if you’re in Austin!

After all these years, I succumbed to the hype of Franklin Barbecue. I’ve had Frankin’s before. It was at the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival a couple of years back and it was good. I thought to myself, «Well I’ve had Franklin’s and I don’t line up for a long time just to have BBQ.»
Then my staycation came and I thought, «Okay let me line up and try Franklin. I have all the time.» The reason why I refused to go to Franklin’s is because I didn’t believe in lining up for BBQ and the risk of it being sold out. It would be a waste of time for me. But I was smart enough to wake up early and line up. You meet people when you are in line as I met this lovely couple from Houston.
So eventually, I finally had BBQ. It’s been a long time since I’ve had BBQ. I wasn’t too disappointed with Franklin. I’ve had BBQ which was on equal footing as Franklin. I had the brisket and sausage with coleslaw and potato salad. The brisket I had was good. I think I had the lean part of the brisket and not the fatty portion of it. Potato salad had a hint of mustard. Coleslaw wasn’t too watery. Since I’m a sucker for desert, I had the banana bourbon pie, which is an individual slice from Cake/​Spoon.
I ordered a lot for just one person. I actually had to take it home which the provide a paper roll and paper bag. Be prepared to share your space with others since it is a small dining area and there’s limited seating on the patio. Would I go again? Yes I would but I’m not in a huge rush to do it.

My husband got up and got in line at 7am. By the time we sat down with food it was 12:20.
Worth. The. Wait. (Says him, cause I showed up at 11 to join him HA! What?! It’s our vacation; I wanted to sleep in!)
Best BBQ in the world.
Admittedly, if we lived in Austin, we’d probably never come here again, cause let’s be real: who the f waits 5 fckn hours for food — especially when you can wait 80 minutes at La Barbeque for SLIGHTLY less awesome brisket.
We had the brisket, the beef ribs, sausage, pork ribs, potato salad and banana bourbon pie. All AH-​mazing. Three people ate. Spent $ 150.
Let me just say, there is a REASON people wait 8 hours, and there’s a reason this guy got the James Beard Best SW Chef award. The dude is like BBQ Jesus. Miracles were happening in my mouth.
There isn’t much I can say here that hasn’t been said already. The place is not really a dump, but it’s not outside (so that’s a plus). It’s crowded, it’s loud, the staff was nice, bathrooms were clean… the only complaint is the wait, and if the food didn’t taste like magic, I’d’ve deducted a star. If you’re into food, go here. It’s a bucket list experience for sure. xoxo

It was a gloomy Sunday morning with impending thunderstorms according to the weather report so that means the chances of a long line at Frankin’s was slim. I was right! Got there at 8am and the line was short. My friend and I were able to hang out under the patio for 3 hours. Franklin’s opens at 11am.
They also provide folding chairs and umbrellas for those not so fortunate enough to wait under the covered area. (That’s really nice of them!) And it did rain for only about 10 minutes so everyone was lucky that day! I saw people bring books but if you’re in good company, why???
Some things to keep in mind if this is your first visit: Bring stretchy pants and BYOB if you like. =) Also, the owner/​guy in charge/​manager mentioned that Wed & Thurs are the best days to go for shorter lines. The day before at 8am, the line was ridiculously long and they had to cut it off. Yikes!
When it gets close to opening time, someone comes around asking what you’re going to order so that they get a good idea of the people at the end will be able to eat (I’m assuming). And the guy in charge also comes through every once in a while to ask how everyone’s doing. I’m pleasantly surprised at the customer service here. You can tell that this restaurant really cares for their customers and wants to make sure their experience is a good one. There’s a lot of love here for sure which is why my rating is high.
The experience was a lot of fun but personally, the food was just okay for me. It wasn’t horrible but it also wasn’t exceptionally amazing. It could be that I had breakfast that morning so I wasn’t super hungry but the flavor wasn’t for me. However I still believe that everyone should come here at least once. It’s fun hanging out and seeing what the hype’s about.
Pet peeve of the experience: LINE CUTTERS! The guy in front of us was a one man party when we first arrived and grew to a party of 7 by the time we got to the front of the door. Seriously. wtf. How rude can you be? If it was just one or two people. fine, whatever… but adding six more? You suck!

For years Franklin’s had been at the top of my bucket list for foods to experience in Austin. Aaron Franklin (the owner) actually won a James Beard award and has been the only chef ever nominated who specialized in barbecue. That’s how unique this brisket is and why there is always a crazy long line to try it. He’s also quite foxy (what? I love a man in glasses) but that’s besides the point.
When we were still residents of Austin, we got up super early one Saturday morning to get in line but lived so far out that by the time we got there it was already around the block. We knew we didn’t stand a chance so we decided we would take a random weekday off eventually and try again then. Low and behold a much better opportunity would come knocking later.
A few weeks ago, a friend of a friend won a private dinner at a silent auction for charity and was looking for anyone who had an interest in attending. She was only asking the amount she paid per person and it included all you can eat meat, sides, dessert, wine, and beer. But the best part? No waiting in line and oh yeah, getting the place all to ourselves!!! (and yes of course that the money went to charity).
We were so excited to be invited to this once in a lifetime opportunity that we barely sat still waiting for the day to arrive. As people who were always on the outside looking in, it was trippy to be on the other side for once. We even got to take a special behind the scenes tour and see the room full of smokers where all the magic happens. It was unbelievably warm in there and most of them were shut off, so lets take a second to applaud the wonderful people of Franklin’s who stand in the meat sauna for hours on end to produce such delectable food for us to enjoy. You guys are the best.
As for the brisket? As advertised you guys. Simply seasoned as it is, it was the best damn piece of meat I have ever put in my mouth. I know how that sounds but it’s true! He deserves all the medals, awards, and bragging rights because now all other brisket has been ruined for me.
The other meats we tried (smoked turkey, pulled pork, sausage, and bbq ribs) were wonderful as well but all paled in comparison to the brisket. They only have 3 sides (beans, slaw, potato salad) plus the given pickles, onions, and white bread slices. They also have a few different bbq sauces, but I would never dare put a sauce on that perfection.
Cake and spoon provide the pies here and they too are incredible. I highly recommend trying the banana bourbon and pecan. You can also skip the line by ordering a fully cooked brisket to go in advance, but be prepared to sit on a waiting list for a few months to do so.
They have merch including tops, shirts, and even onesies that we made sure to stock up on also before leaving.
It was a phenomenal experience with both dynamite food and company. I can’t wait to get more of that brisket. Totally worth braving the line for next time.

To fully enjoy Franklin Barbecue, you cannot just isolate it as a regular meal — you have to treat it as an «experience». :D
What does that mean? Waiting 4+ hours for some brisket sounds disappointing, leaving many to believe that it is not worth the wait. But if bring some friends to camp out early in the morning and play games for a few hours, you get spend some quality time with your friends and reward yourself at the end with mind-​blowing BBQ & bourbon banana pie.
Seriously, after Franklin, I have not been able to fully enjoy brisket at any other Texas BBQ joint. The brisket here is so tender and perfectly seasoned. And their beef rib just falls off the bone. Everything was so beautiful that I could cry. After stuffing myself, I did not think I had room for dessert until I had a bite of the bourbon banana pie. Definitely get this even if you are full. At the end, I was so full, but happy, and all was right with the world.
Notes if you are considering camping out: they have a pile of lawn chairs available to those waiting (although they are first come first serve). Also, there is a trailer around the corner that serves great coffee — just a couple little things that help make the wait a bit easier.

Fuimos a comer un jueves al mediodía, llegamos 10:30am (abren a las 11am) y ya había muchisima fila! Sin embargo la gente del lugar es muy amable. Nos avisaron que el horario estimado hasta entrar era a la 1:30 pm y efectivamente estábamos pidiendo a esa hora. Ofrecen sillas y sándwich de regalo, venden cerveza para la espera y todo el tiempo venían a chequear como estábamos (incluso ofrecían tizas para que los mas niños dibujen en la acera!).
Al llegar al mostrador nos atendieron de maravilla. La comida estaba fantástica, hay que tener en cuenta las proporciones ya que es fácil estimar de mas! Dato de color, preguntan si prefieres la carne líné o moist, esto es sin o con grasa, para mi line es lo mejor.
Genial lugar valió la pena la visita!