Wow what can be said about this place.. we left Houston from 9, made it to Austin around 1 and we stayed at a Walmart which woke us up at 6 am just to make a space in line ! That s how amazing this food was. The wait was were worth it and you get your network going to. It s a well and great BBQ restaurant.
Oh boy. If you're willing to wait 2 hours, it's absolutely worth it. The brisket and ribs were the most tender meat I've ever eaten, and they didn't need the sauce (although the espresso bbq sauce is excellent, highly recommended). Come here before 12 because they will sell out!
Turkey was moist and full of flavor. Brisket was a little dry. Potato salad was good but for sure strong on the mustard side. Curbside was organized and efficient, good experience all around.
The curbside process was very fast, efficient and easy to use. The worst part was our drive home smelling amazing bbq from the trunk! Fantastic Franklin's, thank you!
You guys is what's right about this country: we can all come together and eat. Love your food.
crazy good, my vegan cousin ate a pound and half of the great fatty brisket.
Took a detour driving from San Antonio to Houston to try Franklin Barbeque. I didn't know about pre-order system and came when everything was sold out. Great people of Franklin found an order of brisket for me. OMG! It was delicious!!! If not for Covid, I would lick my fingers! Now I will use any excuse I can find to come to TX again and visit Franklin!
Franklin's is one-of-a-kind and a major tourist destination for visitors to Austin, Texas! As a local, I just recently made the day trip to the restaurant and was not disappointed! The hype is 100% justified. The employees are very friendly and inform you of what meats are available and the wait time throughout the day. We arrived at 8am on a weekday and were able to order all of the meats. I recommend arriving on a weekday at this time with lawn chairs and umbrellas for the sun because you'll be waiting outside until the restaurant opens at 11am and people begin getting served (also-- bring a book and a fully-charged phone). We got our food around 1pm and devoured it! I ordered lean brisket with a rib, and the brisket was the juiciest meat I've ever had! I recommend it, but the rib wasn't that amazing. Order the brisket and skip on the barbecue sauce-- you just don't need it! Going to Franklin's is a whole experience in itself, and my friends and I were very satisfied!
Very good bbq and fun place, but not up to the hype. Standing in line for an hour (on a good day) is stupid, especially when you may not get your choice of food. Liked the fact that someone greeted folks in line and warned them that certain items may be exhausted by their turn. Also, liked the dude who comes around and offers to beer run for those in line. Sauces were good but Salt Lick is better. In my opinion Opies and It s All Good in Spicewood has way better ribs and brisket. Don t get me wrong... Franklin BBQ has really good food, but there is better at least by my standards.
Going to Franklin's BBQ is an experience. You have to show up usually at least 2 hours early and wait in line to guarantee some heavenly bbq goodness. The proprietors wake up very early evening/,morning to bbq their super moist brisket, turkey, etc. Bring a chair and some beverages and make it a relaxing morning with friends. Last time I tried the Tipsy Texan and paired with a tea it was around $10. The Tipsy Texan is a monstrosity of a sandwich..piled with brisket, sausage, pickles and coleslaw. Aaron Franklin is usually behind the counter ready to hand you a sample if needed. Also, the espresso bbq sauce is to die for.
At first I didn't want to believe this place's bbq is that good. But it is. It is just that amazing. Worth the wait. This will ruin Barbeque anywhere else for you.
Best place for food. Great Sausage and Barbecue. Great brisket and sausage. Franklin's Barbecue is a must when visiting Austin.
I round the turkey and the ribs better than the brisket, but worth the wait for a one-time experience.
After two years of talking about going to Franklin's we finally made the trip to Austin from Michigan. We were well prepared for the long wait and arrived at 7:30am on a Friday with snacks and fluids. The wait flew by as we got to know the people around us and learned of things to do and see while we were in town. After 5 hours of waiting we made it to a table with our food - our first bites of the brisket had us melting - the perfect balance of smoke, tenderness and rub (an absolute must at Franklin's). The ribs were next - oh man - smokey, perfectly cooked, haha wow. We had the sausage - also very good. From what we heard the beef rib is only available on Saturday's - we'll certainly be back in town to enjoy. There's certainly a lot of talk about Franklin's being amazing and we definitely agree! So worth our trip to Austin - we can't wait to visit again!
Rarely does a place with this much hype deliver but Franklin bbq really does. Ask for moist brisket not lean because the moist cut melts in your mouth. Best pork ribs I ve ever had in my life. Worth the wait. Worth the price.
Sausages and sides were good but not worth bragging about, but to be fair they only brag about the brisket, which is amazing.
If you ve got room for it the (banana bourbon) pie they serve is great too.
Second time having Franklin's barbecue. Just as good as I remembered, this time we pre-ordered so it was a lot quicker. Highly recommend you preorder in advance
Excellent bbq, but not as great as some say or worth the wait.
Aaron, took your Masterclass. Learned a lot but apparently I took my game to the next level. Last week (maybe the week before) I ordered your ribs, brisket, sausage, and t-shirt just to see how well I was doing with my learning. My wife brought it home (while visiting her daughter at the University) and... Strike One: ribs over-the-top SALTY! I like salt but NOT that much salt and my wife only has one kidney bro. Nobody in my party liked it. Strike Two: brisket, although flavorful and juicy, was a tad salty for me too. My party all said my brisket and ribs was way better. I gave you 3 stars because of strike one and two but you saved the 3rd star because the sausage was amazing for me and everybody in my party. FYI, my wife thinks I shouldn't wear the t-shirt now (but I will cuz I think you're a cool guy and I'm only Strike One of millions of satisfied customers; I call a duck a duck).
Great food, little expensive, just know you will wait a long time before eating here. Showed up 2 hours before opening to wait in line, didn't sit down to eat until 1 hour after they eat. They will run out of food if your late
Must eat here! Words can't define the amazing taste!
I got there at 11:38am and the line was already an hour long. You can go inside and grab drinks while you wait in line. I had serious high expectations of this place but they fell short The Brisket is wicked salty as were the ribs. The sausage links are good but also salty and very fatty. They offer 3 BBQ sauces, i tried all 3 and liked them all but preferred the dark sauce above the rest.
Good local craft beer and cider available. Plenty of Merch too, I bought a Tee shirt but lots of other stuff available like Onesies, Hats and Franklin logoed gear.
Try the Potatoe salad, it was the best thing I ate!
Got in line 8:45am. 9:30 told they're out of everything. Memorial weekend... will try again.
The brisket is definitely the best I have ever had and the ribs and pulled pork are exceptional. The sausage are very good but the turkey is just average at best. The bourbon banana tart was awesome as well. Definitely worth the wait in line, stick with the brisket and ribs
Yes, there's a long wait and yes, there are limited hours. They only had brisket, sausage, and a little bit of pulled pork by the time we got to the counter around 1:30pm. The brisket was amazing! The potato salad was a bit heavier on the mustard for my liking but it was good. I also enjoyed the Texas pecan pie- it had a generous amount of pecans. Get there early if you want to have more variety!
Lined up at 6:30am. Was in the try group in line. Well worth the wait. This BBQ was absolutely incredible!!
Tastiest brisket ever. Awesome sides. Awesome beer. Excellent attention to customer!
Crazy wait, but crazy good! I highly recommend doing this at least once in your life as it's the best BBQ I've ever had.
Absolutely meat candy. Fantastically delicious. Well worth the wait (over 3 hours on a weekday starting in the am for us) only thing not on point was the turkey but still pretty good. BRISKET BRISKET BRISKET
Some of the best BBQ I've had. My brother-in-law and I got here at 8:15. We were within the first 100 in line. Waited till around 1 to get our food.
It was definitely worth it. The brisket was super moist and melted in your mouth. The pork ribs were amazing. The pulled pork sandwich and the sausage were super tasty.
I would highly recommend the BBQ to anyone who's willing to wait for some of the best in Texas.
Pre-ordered and got brisket, turkey, slaw, and some little pies. Staff was very friendly as they confirmed my order and rang me up. The brisket is as good as people say (also fair to say it's better than you imagine). Smoky, salty, rich, melts in your mouth, etc. It really is a kind of magic to make something so delicious. The sauces were all tasty, but you will certainly be happy eating the brisket straight up. Turkey was delicious, moist, peppery, really good, but you certainly shouldn't have it INSTEAD of the brisket. Slaw was tasty, and the pies were a nice end to an amazing meal. Side note, Aaron, was walking by and stopped to chat. Incredibly friendly guy, thanked me for stopping by, and gave me some tips on transporting the chilled turkey breast I ordered.very happy for the tremendous success they are enjoying, very well deserved!
Delicious meat! Legendary place! Highly recommended!
Worth the wait.we got there at 8am on a Tuesday and were #30 in line. The restaurant opens its doors at 9am for you to use the bathroom and buy merchandise. They also offer free water while waiting. The brisket was fork tender and pulled pork and ribs were great. Definitely an experience not to be missed. Bring your lawn chairs and ice chest-it's like tailgating in line!
Got there at 2 and food was sold out, wish I could have tried it while I was in Texas.
Absolutely the most tender of all the brisket we have eaten to date.
I drove from Salina KS, 9 and a half hours...stood in line for 6 hours just to go to Franklins, and every minute was worth it, best brisket ive ever had and best ribs ive ever had, got to meet the owner Aaron, really cool guy, would do it all over again.
The best BBQ I've ever had in my life, hands down. We had to wait in 110 degree heat for an hour, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. The brisket is so flavorful and tender, that it's hard to stop. The only bad thing is that I'm not from Austin, so I can't stuff my face everyday.
I wish I could give this place more than 5 stars.
Best tips in south bend. Make sure to get sauce on the fries
-Inaccurate information
- Harrased by Police Officers
So my first time here. I'm visiting from Baltimore and was told to come early. I was told that the line starts at 400 or 430am, which was incorrect. I was also told that everything is sold out by 11am which was odd to me since it they close by 3pm. 4am comes and I arrive with no one in sight. I asked a smoker about if they take orders early or do you keep everyone in line until 11am (in not waiting 5 to 6 hours for food) An the smoker nicely told me that yes, that is how it works. As I'm walking to my car, im then approached by Austin Police Officers after asking about the time and information, which I then got harrassed. I did not enjoy my experience here and was very disappointed in the outcome.
Recommended on a youtube show, had to wait a long time but greatest bbq!
I'll come again for sure.
Take a cooler with you and tailgate while you wait for this bbq. The line is long but the wait is . . . well it's worth it once every while.
Best brisket I've had in my life. Sides were ok. Come early because they run out of certain meats. Be prepared to wait in line. Totally recommended.
Totally worth the hype. The brisket melts in your mouth. The sides were alright but you're here for the meat, not the sides. Prices are kind of ridiculous though. $25/pound of brisket. Strangle me and my wallet. Totally worth it though.
Good barbecue, but if I had not attended a private event, there is NO way I would wait in lInerror for hours.
For me, food taste good but it wasn't worth the wait. It's a fun experience. Staffs are friendly but definitely not coming back.
Great Barbecue but be prepared to wait. I lucked out and had a company sponsored event so we got all of the food and drinks we wanted for free without the line. The staff was really cool and gave us a ton of food and even showed us how the smoke all the BBQ. Cool experience.
Everything good that you have heard about Franklin BBQ is absolutely true. This place has the most amazing brisket I have ever tasted in my life. The lines are long every day of the week, there is no getting around that, but the line is also an experience like no other. You can bring your own cooler of beer or mimosa ingredients, your lawn chairs and some card games and have a great time. Pretty much everyone in line is friendly and patient because they know what to expect. The staff will come out and give you sausage samples, take your order and let you know when you will be eating. It's all a very streamlined process. The food is incredible and a bit pricier than other BBQ places, but high quality food is usually a little more expensive. If you have a few hours to kill and want the best brisket of your life, head over to Franklin. You won't regret it.
Yes there is a line, but it's worth it. If you don't mind getting 'leftovers' come after 1 pm and there will be no line...but be warned, they may be sold out of the best things (most likely brisket and ribs)
In my opinion, I believe everyone knows that name: Franklin BBQ, in Austin, TX !! And it really is the best BBQ in Texas if you can try it before "Sold Out"!!
It's all delicious, and a lot of fun, the waiting line, everyone anxious not to sold out everything because the quality and presentation of the dishes and all the super kind crew and sweets, is just perfect !!
It is very worthwhile to get to know and enjoy the delicious BBQ !!
And unexpectedly you can meet someone incredibly impossible to imagine .. like President of the USA Barack Obama !!
It was one of the times that my family and I really had a great time !!
Ah ... secret ... he was the only one who "skipped the line" !!
By the way my family, friends and me, we are 100% +, with our loved ones Camila and Matthew McConaughey to help our Home Sweet home Texas !!
The place sells out by 3pm, so I'd suggest getting up early and waiting in line or getting there around 2pm to get the last of their chopped barbq and sides. It was delicious!!! Great amount of food and it was only $25 for 5 people to eat with what they had left (since they sell out by 2:30-3pm) so it was a steal. They gave us sausages, 3 sides, chopped beef, and bread enough for us to take back home. Great place!
Legendary wait for legendary brisket. Arrived at 9:30 AM on a Thursday, got served right around 1PM. Wednesdays or Thursdays are definitely the best days to go for the smallest line. Fatty brisket was incredible with the burnt end the highlight of the meal. Sausage and turkey were also excellent. I'd pass on the ribs the second time. Don't forget a 6-pack and some sunscreen for the wait in line!
First off, I ve gone to many BBQ places & I ve always loved Texas BBQ and I m just not sure why this was cause considered the best place to get BBQ in Texas. I waited in line for around 5 hours on a Saturday (7:30am-12:30pm) and was disappointed that I waited that long for mediocre BBQ. I tried the marbled brisket, sausage (mushy center), pork ribs (no beef ribs cause they ran out..), pulled pork (dry, lacking flavor), potato salad & cole slaw (but were not good). I m a strong believer that good BBQ should not need any/much extra sauce that wasn t already added, so I ate my meats with little to no extra BBQ sauce. The group that I went with (we re huge foodies!) shared the same opinion, and we were beyond disappointed. After this experience, I don t believe that any food is worth this long of a wait. Staff was great, but other than that, I wouldn t recommend wasting your time waiting for this. I don t understand what people mean by this is more about the experience? Why someone would want to experience waiting in line for 5 hours is just....... well you know what, you do you.
I've waited in line for Franklins 3x's and went to a Texas Monthly dinner their with Aaron Franklin. He's one of the most genuine and humble people you'll ever meet and his bbq is art. If you're going to blind taste test bbq and judge it based on flavor, texture, quality then this is king. The first time I sat down to eat it I forgot to grab a knife but it didn't matter because a plastic fork could slice through the meat. It melts in your mouth like communion. Yes, the wait is long, but if you know what you're getting into then it shouldn't be disappointing. You'll probably be waiting from 8am-2pm so bring chairs/beer/cards and make friends in line. The staff is great about communicating with the crowd and letting you know when to expect to eat.
Simply the best BBQ I've ever had. Be sure to arrive at least four hours early and bring a camping chair. They also allow you to BYOB for the long wait in line.
So on April 10th we placed an order for takeout. Let me begin by saying I wouldn't wait 3 hours for food :) Takeout is an excellent option to try the food out over here. The people were prompt, and super sweet and friendly. Now I'm comparing this place to Salt Lick. Franklins brisket is INCREDIBLE! However, I preferred the ribs and sausage in Salt Lick.
Delicious Texas BBQ! I ordered a mix of their meat: lean and moist brisket, turkey breast, pulled pork, and a sausage. The lean brisket and turkey breast were the ones I liked the best, but it was generally phenomenal! The first one in our party arrived at 7:30 am to secure us a good spot in the line. We could sit down with our meat just before noon. The waiting time was spent chatting and drinking beer it was a cool experience.
Yes!!! Great brisket! We went on a Texas BBQ tour, and Franklin's definitely makes one the top spots. They have moist, tender, melt in your mouth brisket, succulent sausages, fall off the bone ribs. Some BBQ joints over salt their food, but Franklin's was perfect. Wow!
We were met by strangers in the parking lot who gave up their food for us since Franklin's had sold out for the day. Yes, we took food from strangers, if you're reading this, thank you! Your kindness made our trip!
Franklin Barbecue is supposed to be the best barbecue in Austin and I can be one of the many that can attest to their amazingness in making great barbecue. I shed a tear when I took my first bite of the moist brisket. Seriously, I shed a tear of joy, it was that good. The lean brisket has never been a favorite of mine but it is the best one I've had.
The pulled pork was damn good and so were the ribs. I'm a bit a purist regarding pulled pork so I don't like adding sauces. In my opinion, the pulled pork didn't need any sauce but I had to try all three sauces to confirm my suspicions and I liked it without the sauce but if I had to go with a sauce I liked the coffee based sauce. Very good and not vinegary at all; it had a very slight dark coffee flavor that did go well with the pork.
Ribs fell off the bone and were delish and the sausage was very flavorful. We just needed more onions and pickles. Overall, a great experience of what barbecue should be. Thank you Franklin's for keeping the barbecue going in Austin!
I like to tell myself it's overrated, simply because I hate waiting in line forever. But, it's not. It really, truly is *that good.* This time I enjoyed the brisket so much, I ordered a 6-pound cooked/cooled/vacuum-sealed one to take home with me (complimentary bottle of the Espresso sauce included!)! I cooked it sous vide at home about 5 days later and had some friends over. It was phenomenal!!! The woman in line who chats with the guests waiting to order told me "Aaron's secret" to warming it back back up--whether sous vide or in the oven--is to set it on the counter (still vacuum sealed) and bring it up to room temperature first. It's certainly expensive, but it really did taste as good as it does at the restaurant, and now friends in Houston who've never had Franklin Barbecue before can now tell people they have!
Well what to say,
I travel for work and came 3 times from France to Texas and had to drive hours to find that they are out. Nevertheless just the smell coming out of that place is worth coming and worth the 5 stars.
One day I will make it and I already know it will be the best brisket ever.
Best of luck
The food was very tasty . I really enjoyed myself and will recommend it to others. Totally satisfied with my visit.
Is it the best BBQ? I do not know, I am not an expert, but after 3 hours in line (you can sit and talk with everybody, like waiting for the new iphone) and 30 minutes eating and a little tour I am very satisfied and had a great experience all worth it, just do it and you will not regret. Staff there is special, so interested and helpfull. The place is just worth the visit.
Who am I to disagree with thousands of rave reviews? Buy a t-shirt, before they ban them. Ask them why they don't have banana pudding dessert. Talk to the person next to you. Good luck with what they have to say back.
The food here is amazing but the lines are long. I went here twice and only successfully got food once. The saving grace is the fact that you can grab a drink or two while you wait in line. The staff are friendly and helpful but just be early because lots of people get lots to-go and they may run out of food by the time you make just make it into the building.
Best BBQ I've ever had. You will not be disappointed. I have eaten here a few times now, expect at least a 3 hour wait. So worth it though
bbq at this spot - very good. came here on a friday i think. service is consistently great. it has a nice interior. they have a lot of great reviews for a reason.
Forget the best in Austin or best in Texas.. Franklin had the best brisket in the world, no contest.
This is probably the best barbecue restaurant in the US.
Although you have to wait, at least, 2 hours to dine, it is worth the wait. (you should bring a chair).
The brisket is just the right amount of moist and fat, and their pork ribs are amazing.
Their bbq sauce is great, as well. I recommend you try all of them.
Real talk: I literally almost cried when I took my first bite of the fatty brisket. The entire world just stopped for a brief moment while it melted in my mouth. Just thinking about it now I well up a bit. It s beyond comparison. (Don t bother with the lean brisket. Not even close or worth your time, unless you are just the type to drown it in bbq sauce anyway.)
I hate ribs, or eating meat off the bone. And these ribs were flat out amazing. Almost didn t get the turkey because why turkey at a BBQ? Best turkey I have ever had, even better than the deep fried ones.
I also got to do the pit tour! I learned A TON about wood, smoke and heat. It s way harder than it looks.
By now you should know to show up at 7 or 8am to guarantee a place in line. 9am is pushing your luck. When I was there there were about 20 camping chairs available under the stairs for public use. I showed up at 7:30 and grabbed the last one.
The food is worth the wait. Eat it there. I have to say that it is amazing, but doesn t hold up nearly that well when it has sat for a bit. To go orders are nowhere near as good as onsite.
Delicious food but to eat you need to figure yourself in the queue best from morning but they only open at 10 when you come at 10 you can not get anything because the restaurant closes at 15 unless before everything is eaten
A trip to Franklin Barbecue isn't just a meal, it's an experience. Waiting in line, talking to the people in front and behind you, it's all part of it. The brisket is simply amazing. Like butter, it just melts in your mouth.
Best brisket ever. Standing in line for hours and getting hungry is part of the experience. Would recommend once. But you can avoid the lines by pre-ordering online with some guidelines:
-Order must be between 5 and 25 pounds of meat
-Pre-orders slots open 6 weeks in advance and are limited
franklinbbq.com
