Franklin BBQ Reviews

The brisket is without a doubt the best I ve had along pork ribs. It s a must to try when visiting Austin. FYI you better wake up early and get ready for the long line. Otherwise you will see the sold out sign.

Hands down... the best bbq I have ever had. The line was long but was worth the hour and a half wait.

Hands down THE best brisket i've had.... Sausage was amazing also. They were out of pulled pork or i'd probably be raving about that as well.

It's very likely you'll wait, but trust me, it's worth it. byob for the line or grab a can from the cashier for a few bucks.

If you make room for dessert, we had the Bourbon Banana Tart and even though i could barely fit it in, it was excellent.

All the hype is real. if you're in Austin, get in there and enjoy!

No explanation required. Simply the best BBQ you will ever find!

Always run out food... but great when we can get it

Great bbq but not worth the 2 plus hr wait. Bbq is basic salt pepper seasoned and slow cooked.

Best BBQ in Texas. And the wait is well worth it. It is tailgating for food. The owner is supper humble. Also try the pies OMG. I have driven 7 hours waited 4 ate then drove 7 hours to go home, so worth it

The wait kinda sucks, but the brisket... I have no words

Worth the drive and waited even if we had ordered online months ahead. Brisket is flavorful, tender and juicy. Ribs are incredible tasty and the bone came out perfectly. Sausage is very good as well. Honestly it s the first BBQ that I don t really need to sauce. I like their cream corn, beans and potatoes salad.

Hands down The BEST BBQ! You don t even need BBQ sauce. The meat was so tender...didn t even have to use a knife to cut. My absolutely favorites are the pork ribs & brisket! Can t wait to make a trip back to Austin for more Franklins!

Worth the wait, which was half the fun. Thanks for treating us so well.

Tried all the meats and they were all worth the wait!

The best Brisket I've eaten was worth the 2 hrs of waiting.

Awesome Barbecue, unlike anything we have ever had before!

They have an amazing Pick Up Service during this quarantine.

The sandwiches are pretty big, they seem like a good deal, take a look at one someone ordered.

Franklin's Barbecue is authentic Texas barbecue at its finest. The Brisket is world class and the sausage and ribs are outstanding!
Franklin's has adapted well to the new rules. Order ahead and follow the easy, friendly directions. They'll bring out awesome food and place it safely in your vehicle.
When visiting Austin, try to make Franklin's Barbecue a priority for a meal or few. If you live here, you already know.

Just be prepared to spend the morning in line if you want to eat this phenomenal brisket.

Nice restaurant and location. Good food and atmosphere.

This barbeque is so awesome and the taste is the best barbeque ever eaten

The meat is exactly how others saud it was. The ribs were on the tad spicy (if you like spicy meat) for my taste buds. However, I refuse to wait 3 hours in line to eat. Pre- order the food!

Great bbq. Not too long of a line (6 ish hrs). Had water and snacks and chairs for those in line

Long wait, but so worth it! Plus, we can say we've been there. Really outstanding Texas BBQ. I had the brisket. It as tender and perfect, just like I like it. The sauce is out of this world, too!

You can only order ahead online, have to get at least 3 lbs of meat, and they have a minimum 10% tip for your pick up order. Pro tip, order days in advance if you want ribs or brisket.

Brisket and pulled pork were delicious but I wouldn't go through the hassle again without a larger party. 3lbs of meat is way too much for two people.

Awesome service and quality. Will come back for sure.

Best brisket I've ever tasted! The wait in line was definitely well worth it and meeting new friends in line (along with the awesome staff!) made for a truly great experience

Even though I like La Barbecue better, it's still the second best bbq I've ever had. Luckily for me, I didn't have to wait in line for 3 hours as my work rented it out for a night during SXSW. So, do I think it is worth the wait? Probably if you have a day off and nothing to do and have already had La bbq.

I stayed at 7 streets of the place, I arrived at 5:30 am to stand in line, when I was walking towards the place I could perceive the aroma of smoked meat, while I lined up they offered me a chair to rest a little, the staff of the place is Very friendly, they give you suggestions as to the portions depending on the amount of people that are in the order, when you enter the place they serve you with a lot of courtesy, when tasting the food and tasting its DELICIOUS TASTE you know that it is worth every minute of waiting , also after lunch we asked to know the smokers area and they kindly allowed us access.

So good you just don't understand until you have it

Amazing brisket and bbq. Is it worth standing in line for 4-5 hours for? Nope! That being said, it is mighty delicious.

This is by far the best BBQ I have ever had. The brisket was so delicious I ate all of it (including fat). The inside is very small and worth the wait. I would have to say that every piece of meat you order is delicious. Make sure you get in line because the line a waaaaaaaay long. Also be sure to take chairs and some beverages while you wait. I would highly recommend this place and for sure will be going back. Also pick us some of their awesome swag!

The long wait is definitely worth it. Get there by 7am to be sure they don't sell out. The brisket and the sausage are the highlight.

B.E.S.T. B.R.I.S.K.E.T. E.V.E.R.......seriously, the best...

Hands down, the very best brisket. The staff manages to stay friendly despite the constant crowds. Waiting in line is part of the experience. If you don't like to talk to strangers, just go to Coopers.

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!

Really good barbecue! I got there around 8:45 and finally got served around 12:30 but that's to be expected. The brisket and pulled pork was amazing and so was the sauces. My only complaint is that the sides aren't that spectacular.

Their BBQ was amazing but I will never go back. Unfortunately the wait was too painfully long for me. I loved the experience and the "Austinite" vibe that I got from waiting in the line and hanging out with the cool people in it but I will never do it again. For a one-time experience it was great, though! Rumor has it you can to-go orders if you order up to a certain amount so maybe I will investigate this further and try getting some food on the go someday!!

It's everything you dreamed for in a brisket and more. Friendly staff, friendly folks in queue, and the most succulent and tasty bbq ever.

The best meat I've ever had. Their seasoning, juicyness, and consistency are off the charts. Only downside is that it can be a bit pricey. The brisket and ribs were my favourite. I came on a rainy day and the lineup was 50 min. It is still better than the 3 hours I've heard about. Definitely recommend for all the meat eaters out there

Ok!! After all the hype and all the waiting and yes I waited 5 hours! Showed up at 7:30 am and probably right around 75-100 ahead in line. Time passed quickly, we met new friends in line and people watched. Right around 10 am grabbed some beers and killed the rest of the time. Great little coffee shop next door for early morning. Really enjoyed my time surprisingly! Now the food....bark full of black pepper taste. Got a few end pieces that tasted like jerky and was impossible to chew but the fatty brisket was bomb! Best lean brisket in town! Absolutely juicy and moist beyond belief! They drape the fatty over the lean and by the time you get to it its basted in goodness and perfect!!!! You can actually taste the wood flavor on this meat, it was amazing! Ribs were OUT OF SIGHT! Tried the pork ribs but, I'm sure the beef ribs are bomb too! Sides could use some work although the slaw wasn't too bad. Didn't care for the potato salad but the sauces were delicious! The Texas sauce pretty basic but if I were to use sauce which I didn't, I would use that espresso sauce all day long!!! I got half way through my meal before I even remembered to try the sauce which shows you how good that meat was! But, in the end Franklin gets best sauce award w that espresso sauce, although u still don't need it at any point. Sad they didn't have turkey but, next time for sure! I would 100% wait again next time I go. They definitely are the king of BBQ in my book! It was also cool to watch Aaron pace back and forth in front of the window while we waited. Watching him grab wood and finish up what we're about to enjoy made it even cooler! It's a true craft and this man knows his BBQ! I came to Austin 100% just for this BBQ and just happened to love everything else I did here as well!

Yes it's really good bbq, worth the wait. Get there no later than 830am weekdays and they have limited chairs for the wait. Nuf said!

If you're a love a BBQ, then this could be your Mecca.

The line here is no joke and so the earlier you arrive, the better your chances are of getting this delicious food before it sells out. The BBQ here is just amazing. I can't even begin to describe the brisket, ribs, or sausage, but trust me when I say that the line is worth it.

Even the sides such as the pinto beans and potato salad are amazing.

They live up to the hype, very delicious BBQ. It was our first time here and the staff was nice enough to let us peek our heads into the pit room. Strongly advise ordering ahead because the line is absurd!

Got in line at 8am on Friday. Got our food at 12pm. Definitely the best BBQ I've ever had. But probably not worth the 4hr wait time for non-fans of bbq

Well, I doubt I have anything new to say about Franklin BBQ except I finally got a chance to go and not have to be in line since 6-7 in the morning. I was able to place my order Saturday for Sunday pickup. I ordered 3 pounds of brisket, 1 pound of ribs and 1 pound of turkey. This is all for myself so I feel like a savage eating so much but hey, I live in Houston so I don't always have access to Franklin's. When I went to pick up my order, I was already 20 minutes late to my window, meaning I got there at 12:20 for my 11:30-12pm order. There was a line of cars already. By the time I got to the check-in area, it was around 1pm so the line was almost 45 minutes. The food pickup went without a hitch and voila, I had the best BBQ in the world in my car trunk. I wish I was given utensils, but otherwise, the food was pretty glorious. Thick slabs of meat, glistening in some delicious grease. I ate some right out of the bag. I had to triple bag the bag the food came in because the grease was seeping through the butcher paper. I'm certainly grateful there's the curbside pickup option. I do wonder how East Austin residents in the area deal with the traffic during Franklin business hours, but Franklin is also an Austin institution we're talking about. I'm also glad to know they take their employees' safety into serious consideration by asking the customers to close our trunks and wear masks when talking to the check-in employee.

Probably the best bbq I have ever had. The brisket and ribs are absolutely amazing here

Very good and delicious was everything I will continue visiting.

Definitely lives up to the hype. Get the brisket and you won't be disappointed.
Pulled pork was ok, sausage was pretty good, but brisket is definitely the star, and Franklin BBQ had always been about the brisket.

The portions are huge. I sampled all the meat on the menu. Everything was absolutely outstanding. The flavor and tenderness of food was to die for. Words don't do this place justice. I now understand what the rave is all about and why people line up at 6 am to eat here.

If you like black pepper coated on all meats then you would love it wait in line 5 hours. Will not do it ever again

Got there at 10am on a rainy Tuesday morning and waited 3 hours to eat. During the wait we were updated by a very polite and friendly employee about the approximate wait time. Someone also handed out a rolled up (burrito style) piece of bread with chopped Bbq on it to everyone waiting in line. The place is really small inside, with limited seating. There are some benches outside, but the wait is the same if you eat there if if you just decide to take it TO-GO instead. Only way to skip the wait is order ahead (minimum 5 lb. order) and do a pick-up.

The brisket was very good (we ordered 1/2 lean and 1/2 fatty). The fatty wasn t very fatty at all, yet was so incredibly moist and tender. The ribs were good, but we only received 3 (and a few tiny pieces) in a pound. The ribs had a crust of seasoning on them. The pulled pork had a very smoky flavor and was incredibly moist. The sausage was good, not great, but good. Their potato salad wasn t anything to write home about.

The staff are super friendly, polite and helpful. They ask you about your trip, where you live and they really make you feel at home. Great experience overall!!

Went again in July 2019 with several coworkers. Food is just amazing...we each spent $170-250 and took a lot of food home. You just can t beat the quality. Waiting in line is long...but it s part of the experience. Highly recommend trying this establishment.

Sometimes people hype things and you get let down... That did not happen here. Amazing BBQ! You really won't taste anything better anywhere else.

Got here 9.30 on a Thursday and waited until 1 o'clock for my food. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely!!! Firstly I just wanna say... Brisket! Brisket! Brisket! If you don't have this you are mad. They gave me a fatty portion and a lean portion. The fatty portion was amazing and melted in my mouth it was epic. Then I had ribs that were amazing and the best ribs I ever had. Sausage was ok but would write home about it... Beans very nice and the slaw was good but missed abut of citrus for me. Believe the hype and if you are the time make sure you queue up for this place. You won't be disappointed!

Believe the hype - waited 1.5hrs in line, and the food made the wait so very worth it. Got the two meat (add sausage) to try a bit of a few meats. Sausage and brisket that are out of this world, and delicious ribs to boot. Sauce you'd be willing to lick off the picnic tables, and friendly staff.

Keep doin what you're doin, Franklin!

Get in line early to make sure you get the ribs. They are incredible. The brisket is great and save room for pecan pie.

This is a must for any bbq/brisket lover. The brisket is I daresay the best I've ever had, and I've had a lot of brisket. You need to get here by around 7 am, at this time the line is still short, and it will save you at least an hour or 2 when they open. Yes, the wait is long, but coming with friends and making new ones there, makes the time fly by. I can't recommend this more, especially if you're only in Austin for a few days.

I actually did not get to eat here. I arrived at 1pm and was told that there would be no more BBQ by the end of the long line of people already waiting. A nice gentleman who appears to work for the place kindly recommended us to another place nearby but they are just not up to my expectations. Hopefully, My next trip I will go extra early and be able to try this famous BBQ.

I was hesitant because of all of the hype. But it was worth the wait. Show up early, have a few beers while you wait, bring some chairs, and you're set.

It's definitely a small a adventure.

The sleeper hit is the turkey.

No way I'm waiting in a long line with a bunch of hipsters for mediocre bbq.

Great brisket. Well worth the 4 hour wait in line.

Excellent, awesome, get there early. You need to go.!

Don't get me wrong - the barbecue is excellent. One of the best. But due to its popularity, customer service has become ATROCIOUS! I would understand if this were a popular restaurant in some big city on a coast...but this is AUSTIN. No excuse for lack of good service.
The lines have become very, very long -- and you need to be prepared to get in line sometime between 6-8AM if you hope to get some brisket that day. But the staff offers one alternative...you can get a whole brisket - cooked, vacuum wrapped and chilled to take home and warm up. So my family and I made plans to have a Sunday afternoon barbecue meal of Franklins. On Saturday, I turn up at about 12:30PM, skip the line and find out the last 2 whole briskets have been sold to someone else in line. Not to worry, I was told by the staff - I can just pick one up on Sunday morning. I ask if I can leave my name (twice) to ensure one is reserved for me and my family. "No need" the staff told me - the "always" have some on hand. Just get there 9-10-ish.
So I arrive the next day, Sunday, at just past 10AM, walk past the line and to the counter - eager to pick up my whole brisket. "Sorry, sold out". I am told. "Oh, unless you reserved one." I turn red. I was told not to worry even though I offered twice to leave my name on one (I would have even paid on Saturday to pick up Sunday if that made things easier).
I understand, it's a popular place. They run out. But what irks me...and is unforgivable is the smirk on the staff's face and statements like "that's just how it goes".
A couple remarks like "Sorry, the staff should have taken your name" and "I will make sure the staff knows to take names rather than just telling people to come back." Or even, "We usually do not run out this early, this is not usual for us." And lacking was the all important "I am so sorry." I hope Aaron enjoys his 15 minutes. I will take my business elsewhere - there are plenty of craft barbecue of Franklin's calibre -- even with walking distance on 11th Street.
Not very Austin-like and not a good representation of our city. I will recommend my friends try elsewhere to get BOTH great food and Austin-style service.

I'd give it 5 star but too early to rate, meat choices slowly sold out I we got closer to the entrance. But what can you say when they're only open for lunch and there's a line

ROT RALLY ....MUST HAVE MR. FRANKLIN'S BBQ BRISKET ! I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO ENJOY A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS JUST GETTING GOING...

Arrived with my family at about 1:45 and warnings of food depletion were being levied. The line thinned and we stuck it out, hoping for just a taste or a sandwich. That wait was the best bbq decision - in fact, one of the best food decisions of my life. Excellent ribs, brisket, pulled pork and sausage. Sides were solid. Staff was overly friendly, supportive and accommodating. Now, here is my best advice to you...make sure that you add pecan pie to your order! An unbelievable finish to an incredible meal! I wish they delivered to Seattle...maybe uber eats?! Five stars for food, friendly staff, atmosphere, flavor and desire to return (oh, and pecan pie ).

The absolute best! The 4 hour wait is worth it. No lie. Best BBQ I have ever had in my life!

An experience you shouldn't miss. Anticipation builds as you wait hours in line (yes, hours) alongside passionate foodies, hungry tourists, and local devotees. You'll want to sample everything, but don't miss the brisket!