Franklin BBQ Reviews

Franklin BBQ is the best BBQ in Austin. Long wait was well worth it. I recommend getting the brisket!

This is literally the best food I've ever had in my life. I'm picky, especially about BBQ and come to Texas every year to eat it. The two hour wait in line in the rain this morning was 125% worth it.

Fun experience. Franklin's was one of the last places that I had yet to try after visiting the classics in Lockhart, Taylor, Elgin, and others in the Austin area. Not a place I will visit often due to the crowds, but overall excellent barbecue. If you like tailgating and the thrill of waiting your turn in line at theme parks....you will enjoy the ride on this meat roller coaster.

The brisket was so tender you literally could cut it with a plastic fork. We got there a little late, based on the line formed in the parking area, but the wait was well worth it. The staff kept us informed on when we would likely be served and came out with free samples as we were waiting. If you have the time to spare, well worth the wait. We drove from San Antonio for the food and met people in line who were there from Dallas and Houston. They must be doing something Right !

Even with the Covid-19 restrictions, Franklin still delivers on excellent BBQ

I didn't do the experience and camp out all day and I'm not sure I would have enjoyed my food if I had. Kudos to you all though! The brisket, ribs, and sausage were all delightful but again, nothing I would be motivated to queue all day for.

Worth the wait. Pro tip: use their website to order takeout and avoid the line. Just do it a few weeks in advance.

Great bbq. Probably the most famous in Austin but be prepared to wait at least 3 hours and they might even sell out of some food. Always get the brisket. That's what Texas is famous for and Franklin's is one of the best. Definitely a bucket list place if you live in Austin but if you only have a couple days here there are other bbq places that are really great that won't take a half a day.

Overall good barbeque, but I'm not sure if it is really worth the wait. Food was a bit salty overall to me.

Ridiculous wait to get in, and not worth the wait at all. The brisket left a lot to be desired, and needs lots of sauce. But don't use their sauce it isn't that good. Hard Eights BBQ in Stephenville Texas has this beat.

Best brisket I've ever had. Stupid delicious. Line is long. Get here early (like 3 or so hours before it opens to guarantee food). Worth it....

Dont get me wrong the three stars are not for the food. This place has some of the best BBQ around. But the line and the rushing around when you are in to find a place to sit doesnt sit well with me. Either be a food cart or be a restaurant when you are something in the middle ... well its not too pleasant. Better alternatives are Salt Lick and La Barbeque

Waited an hour in line, nothing left. They ran out of food two groups before me.

Amazing BBQ! Mr. Aaron Franklin is super awesome! Super awesome experience! Love the food and the place!

A meat lovers dream be prepared to wait as it's very busy

If you want to make sure you can get a large selection go early, like an hour before they open. However, if you just want a sandwich or enough for one or two you can a little after opening. The pulled pork is amazing and best when paired with the coleslaw. The brisket is the best thing on the menu. It is so good I don't put any bbq sauce on it. If you are a bbq sauce lover the expresso sauce is like none I have ever tried before.

Here putting a new floor in wish I could have try the BBQ all work no taste!

Franklin's barbeque is some of the best brisket that I've ever had. Definitely going to go back for more. Lines are really long, but kind of worth the experience.

If there were a BBQ heaven, this is it. All of the meats they have are better than any other BBQ joint we have tried. The sides are just average, so don't over order them. The pies were awesome too. We went on a Thursday and arrived at 6:40AM, and were 8th in line. By the time you eat, you have several new friends and know most the people eating and you hang out with them while you eat. Such a great experience. They will give you a smokehouse tour if you ask when you finish eating as well.

I have to start by saying that this was not a standard visit to Franklin. Tonight was a private event with Houston chef Chris Shepherd and Aaron. Franklin did the meats and Chris did the sides. Not only did they provide the normal barbecue meats they also provided tomahawk ribeye as an appetizer. The food was as expected. The best brisket going without question. Ribs and pulled pork also great. This was the first time I had steak from Franklin and it was also amazing. It was good to hear Chris and Aaron speak but the highlight was the food. Franklin never disappoints.

If you have a bucket list be sure to add this to it. I was impressed with everything once I got in there lol. No but seriously be prepared to wait we got there at 5ish for the door opening at 11am and yes it's was worth it. Being our first time we tried everything and you should to. But the start attraction for me was the beef ribs and brisket.

I was expecting the best brisket... but is not the best brisket i ever had. Is just ok.

I ate here the last time I was in Austin. I got in line at 6:45 am and there were already 22 people in front of me. No joke you want to get here as early as possible because the line grows very fast and the doors don't open until 11:00 am.

They do provide lots of folding chairs and umbrellas if you're waiting in the sun. If you arrive early like I did you can stay under the awning and out of the hot sun. They do allow you to use the bathrooms while you wait.

Now to the food. Yes it's worth the wait, the BBQ is really awesome. The ribs are very different than what you get on the east coast. They're dry rubbed and not slathered in BBQ sauce. They're delicious and fall off the bike. The brisket is tender and melts in your mouth, not too fatty but just right. The pulled pork is tangy and excellent. The saugages are real crisp with a great snap when you bite into them. I did not try the smoked turkey so I can't comment on it.

I did do their mini pie dessert. I had the key lime pie which was fantastic and their sides of slaw and potatoe salad were excellent. There are benches inside to sit on and beer, soda and water to drink. They give you plenty of free bread and extra sauce for dipping.

I did get a souvenir T-shirt and bought a bottle of BBQ sauce to take back to NYC with me. All in all a great experience. Nothing is cheap from $22 - $25 a pound but you can definitely eat for two or three days in what you order.

The brisket and turkey are marvelous! Their attention to detail is what sets this establishment apart from others.

Good spot for quality bbq. service is typically good. this place has a good design.

While visiting my Mother to assist in her remodeling horror show, I was unsure about a BBQ place and my nervous stomach. No problems here! In fact I have eaten here for lunch more often than anywhere else. BTW, my Mother recommended it! Thanks mom!

Simply amazing. And the pick up system during Covid19 was incredibly easy. Brisket lived up to the hype and the Bourbon Banana tart was heavenly. All hail the folks at Franklin BBQ!

It is all worth the wait! Amazing flavor, great service and staff.

Believe the hype Franklin Barbecue is amazing!!! The brisket melts in your mouth, the smoked turkey is unlike any thanksgiving meal you would ever have, and their sauces have a gourmet twist to them.

I've been very lucky to have Franklin's multiple times and I haven't had to wait in the crazy line. How you may ask? If you have an order well over $100 you can usually order it a month ahead of time and pick it up right as the store opens.

Food was amazing! Pie was amazing! The location is unique, interesting and eclectic. If you have the patience to wait it's worth it.

Voted no. 1 BBQ joint by foodies and voted the most unfriendly service by me!

Visiting Texas from Australia and was told by friends I needed to come! Well worth the wait in line for the beautiful ribs and brisket! Just be warned you'll need a nap after you conquer the BBQ. Great food would definitely recommend!

I love to eat Barbecue, and I think this place has the BEST Barbecue in Austin. It is worth the wait. Be sure you get there early if there is a certain meat you want to get. I really like the sauces too. Really the only down side it the wait. I wish they had more seating too.

I came out at 6 am to come here, but I do not regret it. It's really the best, but the brisket is a bit saltier than anywhere else. I'll have you one pound more ...

Outstanding. Worth the wait. Possibly the best meal I've ever had.

If you come to Austin this should be on your to-do list. The brisket was tender, juicy, and delicious. The turkey was incredible. Maybe the best I have ever had. The pulled pork was tender and flavorful. All of this and I didn't even put barbeque sauce on it. When I did finally get to some sauce it was a perfect compliment. Finally, the bourbon banana pie topped it all off. Get here early. Bring a folding chair and some beer. Be prepared to wait.

Have to get there before 1030 if you want ur choice of meat. But well worth the wait

Best Brisket.... possibly ever. Clearly there is some sort of witchcraft at work to create these flavors.

Super brisket ever. Even waiting in line is a pleasure, just don't forget to take a beer from a bar there

Good efficient pick up system and the bbq is still great!

Yes i had my birthday part dinner here awhile back. Loved it.

When I got home I realized part of my online-curbside pickup order was missing. I called to let them know and unbelievably they delivered the missing items to my house. Franklin BBQ takes friendliness and customer service to a whole new level, something we need right now. Not to mention the best BBQ I have ever eaten.

One of the great times of my life. Always dreaded the wait; now I know the four hours in line are an integral part of the Franklin experience. We met folks from Queensland and Blue Mountains, Australia; Michigan; Wisconsin; Houston; Folsom, CA; and more. It's just like tailgating, but with even greater anticipation of what's to come. Aussie got there at 6:30am and claimed the #1 spot in line. We were second.

Brisket: As advertised, I must say it's the best. The quality of the meat is undeniable. All brisket has a fat cap, but the marbling on this brisket made it truly melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Rating: 10/10.

Ribs: Juicy, succulent, perfectly seasoned. So delicious. However, I felt they were slightly overdone as the meat was falling off the bone. Rating: 8.5/10.

Turkey breast: Slightly pink tint to the middle--just as it should be. Pleasant smoke, not too salty, perfectly moist. I love smoked turkey, and this is the best I've ever tasted. Rating: 10/10.

Sausage: Beautifully seasoned, rich fattiness. Casing was a bit tough, but very tasty. Rating: 8.25/10.

Pulled pork: Moist and tender. Didn t get any bark or fat in mine, which detracted from the complexity of flavor. But on a piece of bread with that espresso BBQ sauce, it makes a great sandwich. Rating: 8/10.

Sauces: Their vinegar and Texas sauces are both tangy and tasty. I rate both 8/10. But the espresso BBQ sauce is rich, slightly sweet, with a subtle espresso finish. Rating: 10/10.

Service: I didn't think I'd be reviewing service given it's a stand in line, order at the counter kind of place. But once we sat down, people came by multiple times to see if everything was OK or if we needed anything. One young man in particular (Troy I think) was amazingly helpful and friendly, but all of the staff deserves great admiration, respect, and thanks. Tip well, they deserve it! Rating: 11/10 (no typo).

Before going, I thought to myself that, no matter how good the food, I would only go once due to the wait in line. The food lived up to the highest expectations. But it was the overall experience that makes me yearn to return. Rating: 100/10.

Barbeque was pretty good, but other places in Austin are just as good with a much shorter wait. However no other barbeque place has allure of waiting outside, drinking beer and hanging out.

We debated whether a 2 hour wait for "the
best brisket in Austin" was worth it, and decided that tasting it was the best way to find out. We were not disappointed!

On top of the excellent food, the staff was incredibly friendly. They accurately estimated our wait time, took orders in line, and gave everyone reasonable expectations of whether there would be enough brisket, ribs etc.

We showed up at 10:45am on a rainy Wednesday and were among the last to get brisket and ribs. They were sold out of everything by 1pm.

You say four hours is too long to wait for BBQ, I say you are wrong. The brisket is a thing of legend, insanely tender and yet still moist. If you ever go to Austin, sacrifice a day and go get THE BRISKET. That is where the four stars come from, one for every hour we waited. I didn't give the fifth star because for a wait like that I would hope everything would be that delicious and is isn't. I can't speak for the beef ribs as that is a one day a week thing, but the pork ribs, salty. The coleslaw, meh. The potato salad, ho-hum. The pies, homemade but not four hours wait homemade. I would gladly go back and wait another four hours for the brisket though.... sooo good.

Wanted to love this place, but it ended up messing my stomach up. Staff was friendly.

I wish I could live inside this restaurant so I could eat here every day. Best EVERYTHING! Food, drink selection, staff, atmosphere, even the customers are freakin awesome!

The most famous BBQ in Austin. Lines are hours long even getting there early

Luckily, I was able to experience Franklin BBQ without waiting in the legendary lines. I attended a corporate event that FBB catered. Everything served was really excellent. Everyone raves about the brisket and they are right. It was delicious! The pulled pork & sausage was also fabulous.

Many people I know from the North East that I mentioned having food from FBB had heard of it! So its reputation for serving an excellent BBQ is not just from those living in Austin.

Highly recommended!

Get here by 8am and bring a chair to wait 'til they open. First in line usually shows up at 5, and they often run out by the time those that got there by 9 or 10 get through the line.
The beef ribs (only available Saturdays) are from the 'short' rib cut, with the perfectly marbled monsterous mass of meat on top of the bones rather than between them. Franklin has perfected gelatinizing all that fat and making a dark nearly crunchy (but rather salty) bark to hold it together.
One thing's for sure, you won't regret the wait.

Best BBQ ever! Understand the wait is part of the experience, and everything is delicious but was extremely surprised by how good the turkey was

Honestly, I didn t taste the hype. Maybe the whole thought of waiting in a line at 5am for this place to open and if I want to pick up food you have to order pounds worth takes the excitement away for me. My husband loves his tv shows and thought it was great. I myself still prefer Stiles Switch and Salt Lick.

They ran out before I got there, but I guess it's good based on the line that was outside.

Great BBQ, but doesn't care about the customer. Lack of awareness to add additional cashier's or drink station. One cashier and one drink station shows no interest in the customer experience..... If you know you're successful then reinvest in the customers the improved the experience. Waiting 2+ hrs is unnecessary in 2019.

Yeah you have to wait in line, yeah you have to get there early, yeah some people in line smell, but hey it is the best BBQ in Texas if not the USA. I challenge you to find more tender meat with as much flavor. This place cannot be rivaled in the BBQ world.

To the people who are complaining about the line, duh. It s a long wait, but that s a known thing so it s not shocking. We went on a Saturday morning, arriving at 7AM and at at around 12:45PM. I ll just start with the brisket; you won t eat better brisket, ever. The beef rib was a little salty, but just melted in my mouth. Everything was delicious, down to the beans and potato salad. The only downside is that I know I ll never have better brisket than this, it s all downhill from here!

So funny that after having 50 Q places in the greater Austin area, Franklin comes to town with some good marketing skills and sells their poduct through travel mags and journals to all the Austin-destination Wannabees. Suddently New Yorkers and Wisconsintes, reading the journals, know that there is one reason they want to get to the Live-Music Capitol of the U.S.: Franklin BBQ. Sure it's good, but c'mon folks Unless you tasted them all, and aver 23 years in Austin we tasted very many, the thought that one place now has them all topped is just silly. But go on, tell the world that you stood in line and made it to Franklin's, and for some it will be like you saw the Taj Mahal. Savier folks will discovered that the history, the ambinace and the flavors at many other spots is just as good or better. Don't be a lemming.

OMG!!! This place is so soooo good! I was visiting Austin and heard from multiple people that this was the place to go. However, they always added that I could just go to the next best because the line would be long. Well they were absolutely right about the long line.

Incredible beef brisket best I have tried. Worth the 2 hour wait

Heavenly BBQ. People are amazing. Covid-19 protocol for delivery is amazing.

Loved their brisket! You're going to have to wait in line, and arrive early if you want a taste, but it's so worth it, especially if you're visiting Austin.

This is by far the best BBQ you will have anywhere, and that is saying a lot in Texas. The brisket is melt in your mouth good, and the sausage and pulled pork are close behind. Definitely a destination place to eat.

A 3 hour wait for food wouldn't be acceptable anywhere else, but take some beers and make friends in the line, then the time flies and makes the anticipation of the best BBQ in Austin all the more memorable! Just be careful as your eyes will be bigger than your stomach!

Amazing brisket, ribs, potato salad, sausage and coleslaw!

Going by the long waiting line , especially on a chilly Sunday morning, this place seems to be sought after.

Unfortunately, I Dint get a chance to taste the famous Brisket even after braving cold for 30 mins as they ran out of stock.

May be next time!! In my to do list !

Worth the wait. Bring your friends. Bring some lawnchairs. Bring a cooler and some snacks. Soft melt in your mouth brisket. Ribs and pulled pork also fantastic. Sausage was just okay for my own taste however.

Ribs run out first, but everything they BBQ is incredible.

The brisket made the 1.25 hour wait well worth it. Incredible Barbecue!!

Love there's sauces! They pair very well with all their meats. The pies are awesome too!

I have stood in line twice, but ordered ahead many times (that's the way to do it if you can plan a few weeks in advanced - skip the line!)

Simply put, I have never had brisket as consistently perfect as at Franklin. I have indeed had brisket at other local places that is as good, but not as consistently good. Franklin never has bad days. That is what sets them apart from the rest, and that is why the line is so long.

If you want the full experience, bring a camp chair, a cooler full of beer, and show up around 8 am. It's a lot of fun and you'll get to know the people around you. Or, as I mentioned at the top, find a group of friends to pitch in and order ahead (there is a minimum order when you do that). Note, ordering ahead is takeout only.

I LOVED my meal from Franklin's! Definitely the best American barbecue I've ever had.

I am an extremely picky eater and barbecue sauce is one of the things that I really don't like. I've lived in the south for many years and despite all my efforts to get into pulled pork and ribs, I was just never a fan. That is, until I had the barbecue from Franklin's.

Their barbecue relies on a dry spice rub (I've heard that their famous brisket is seasoned only with salt and pepper), which is amazing for people like me who dislike barbecue style. It was my first experience with this style of barbecue, but one bite and I was a believer!! I seriously can't recommend their food enough.

So as far as logistics go, I read a lot on yelp about long waits going up to 3-4 hours, even on a weekday. My friend and I were planning to hit up Franklin's on the day we were flying out from Austin, and since our flight was in the afternoon, we didn't want to risk waiting in line.

Luckily, as we were browsing their website, we noticed an option to order in advance online for takeout. SCORE! Sure, you have to order a minimum of 5 pounds and the prices per pound are a little bit higher than the sit-down prices, but to me, it was absolutely worth the convenience and lack of a wait.

If you want to go with this option, I would recommend placing your order online well in advance to be safe. They have different time slots you can pick up the meat, and we opted for the earliest time slot of 10:30 am (which is actually before they open!). You have to pay a $75 deposit when you order and then pay the rest when you pick up.

On the day of, everything went super smoothly. We got there around 10:40 and they started slicing our meat fresh in front of us. Everything came in well wrapped packages so that the grease from the meat did not leak through, and in addition to the meat we ordered, they gave us a couple containers of barbecue sauce and bread.

We ate as much as we could back at our Airbnb, and then packed the leftovers up to bring back to SF. The meat survived our 5 hour flight very well and I was still happily munching on leftover brisket for the next couple days at work. Definitely consider this option if you're in Austin for a quick trip and want to bring home some delicious barbecue to share (or not)!

We ordered:
2 pound brisket
1 pound pork ribs
1 pound pulled pork
1 pound sausage

My favorites were the ribs, followed closely by the brisket. I can't do the food here enough justice with anything I could possibly write, it was that good. Everything was very well flavored with the simple spices they use, and the ribs were the most tender fall-off-the-bone ribs I've ever had.

If you have a smaller stomach and only want to try a small selection, definitely go for the brisket and ribs. The pulled pork and sausage were both delicious but not as mindblowingly good as the other two.

Parking is kind of a pain, as they only have a small lot. We were able to park in their quick 20 minute takeout spot (they have two) but otherwise we might have had to circle around a bit to find parking.

Best BBQ in central Texas... and the Key Lime pie is legit too.

If I'm ever on death row, my last meal would be catered from here.

Go there! It's worth waiting for. Got there at 930 ate by 1130. It's a must if you're in Austin!!?

DANG!!! Everything they say is true. Worth the wait. Espresso BBQ sauce is a mind-blower.

We have always been huge Franklin s fans for their incredible food, however they recently went above and beyond for us. We ordered a curb side order and one of our meats was accidentally forgotten. We called, and the GM personally drove the meat to our home nearly 15 minutes away. That is incredible service! We are also so thankful for all they are doing during the pandemic to keep everyone safe, while still allowing us to enjoy one of our favorite places!

I've been to Franklin's over a dozen times. The food is awesome! You can't go wrong with any of the meats. The sides are great too. Potatoes salad is my favorite. I hope they make money and put it towards either a new location or a larger location so us loyal customers are able to get any day we visit. I went there today, in the rain but line was too long! I figured 4 hours wait when I arrived at 9:15.

We did a 2 hour wait line to get in, were previously told about the long wait lines. ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT! They are BYOB friendly while you wait. Also you can go inside and purchase drinks while you wait. All the food was extremely good. For the sides the coleslaw was the best.