I just tried this place out for the 1st time Saturday and I will be honest from the time I got there I was told it was a 2 hour wait. I almost walked away but I am glad that I stayed because the food was superbe. All of the hype that I heard about this place Is for real. I know the wait time is extensive but you can also skip the line by pre ordering. I think you have to order about 5 pounds of meat to pre order but it's worth it I promise you. And what all you don't eat you could always freeze. I am now planning my trip back to Austin just for the food at Franklyn's but I will pre order this time.
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Worth the wait. Absolutely the best brisket EVER. Bring chairs and activities and get the little pecan pies. Super tasty. They take CC and let you use bathrooms inside while you wait for the most amazing BBQ experience of your life!
This is how I'd describe Franklin's. Was it worth it? Yes. The brisket was amazing, the pulled pork was okay (very juicy/wet, prefer a little more dry), the sausage was great, and the BBQ sauce was awesome (the espresso BBQ sauce was very interesting, and I grew to like it more and more). Would I wait in that line again to get it a second time? No. I think it's something you should definitely try once, though. For reference we arrived at 9:30 and the line was into the back of the parking lot. I think arriving earlier than we did would have been better (maybe even 9, not sure).
I have been here several times. everyone are very nice and friendly today I come around 2pm after very hard work. I wait in the bottom of line around 5-10 minutes. The line is moving we come inside the room one gentleman came to yell to me very rude I was on the phone I move out and still on the phone he was so mad and bearly let me stand outside he keep yelling to me we sold we sold we sold we don't have anything left I was so scared and tell him I m on the phone let me finish my call from work first.I come here to consum not for free food. why he is so unpolite and unfriendly today I know this is his property he has rights to kick anyone he dislike out. But I just so sad.and I have rights to keep sad. I feel like he is racism but I m not sure.It is aloha friday I was so happy to drive to here today.
Best BBQ I've ever had in my life! Barely made it in time to snag some brisket. Waited about an hour but we were able to drink beer whilst waiting so that was cool.
Absolutely the BEST BBQ I have ever eaten! I have never eaten BBQ without sauce, UNTIL NOW! In my option the brisket and ribs were perfectly seasoned and tender from the first bit to the last!!! Now I understand why people get in line at 6am to make sure that they get all that they want. AMEN...Aaron Franklin...AMEN
Yes there are long lines. Yes it is worth it. Yes you should do it. Yes the brisket is on another level. Yes the employees here actually care and seem to be excited to serve you food. So just go and enjoy it.
Drove in the middle of a winter weather advisory period to get some brisket. The staff was courteous, and quick, and the socially distanced food pick up system is greatly appreciated. The food was lukewarm when I got home but it was STILL delicious as I was too impatient to reheat it. Worth the hype
Brisket and Turkey was super greasy and the brisket slightly over salted. The worst part of my experience was the guy dropped the food in the wet bed of my pickup. My butchers wrapping paper was soaked. He refused to set it in the backseat. Not everyone has a car with a trunk when its raining. Super Disappointed! 3lb order minimum so there goes a Benjamin.
Got there 20 minutes before opening (10:40am). Was told 1:45 to 2 to get in. Incorrectly assumed she meant 1hr45min to 2 hours. Got our food and sat down at 1:45pm, 3 HOURS waiting in line outside (spouse actually held my place while I walked to state capitol and back).
Brisket was mediocre, turkey was pretty good, they were out of pulled pork (and ran out of ribs 10 min later), but thankfully ribs were excellent. The sausage was fair. (I was able to try a half sausage on white bread when one of the servers brought out a box full to people who were waiting in line.) Side dishes (pinto beans, potato salad) seemed unusually spicy--a nice change. Expect to pay around $20 per person, maybe a little more. Fountain drinks and various alcoholic beverages available.
Building is run down. Limited seating, elbow to elbow, but sheltered outside seating is available. Bathroom is single occupancy, old or innovative fixtures (paper towel holder is made of heavy wall pipe and fittings). Next to no restaurant parking, but parking is available on adjacent streets. About 15 min walk from capital building.
Overall, I can't imagine why this place rates so high. It seemed like a complete waste of time and we won't be returning. I'm sure there are other BBQ places in the city with equal or better food and definitely faster service. If anyone wants good BBQ and mentioned this place, I'll be sure to pass on the tip of bringing folding chairs and umbrellas for the 2+ hour wait outside.
No wonder it's rated the #1 BBQ spot in the country. The brisket truly melts in your mouth and the pork ribs fall off the bone with an incredible rub. I went Thursday morning at 8 AM and we were 18th in line. The temperature was 42 degrees so I'm sure it's busier on a nicer day.
Quite simply, at his young age he already creates some of the best barbecue you will taste. Perhaps the most perfectly chosen and rendered brisket I have ever tried. Sausage was killer. Ribs were sold out and didn't have time for the turkey or pulled.pork. He even nails three different sauces included a Kansas City and Carolina. Sides are absolutely worth adding. Atmosphere is authentic central/west Texas with good energy old school country playing and festive consumers lined up. An absolute must stop and worth a 1.5 to 2 hour wait.
Top tier BBQ place. We all know it, and it's worth a wait. Try showing up 2 hours after they open, especially if the weather is what austinites would consider poor. There is usually only a short line and it's totally worth it.
This is serious Barbecue. I got there at 6:35am on a Thursday and I was first in line. By 8am, there were about 30 people there. By 9am there were about 100. Sausage was good...7/10. "Lean" brisket, 10/10. "Wet" brisket, 1000/10!!
Oh, my, goodness. Barely got brisket before they sold out. WORTH THE WAIT! Was worth the risk of them running out before getting to the front of the line for only a chance at the brisket. I was almost finished with the brisket when I realized I hadn't tried the sauce yet. 3 kinds on the table, all great, especially the espresso based sauce, but completely unnecessary. I will never look at a brisket the same way again.
Bottom line? It's worth the hype. Yes, it's a tourist trap and the line is huge...but for me, food is about an experience and this can't be beat. You are sold beer in line, people bring their own coolers full of Bloody Mary mixes and you go here for the social atmosphere and meet people from all over the world.
But the food? Amazing. I get the sandwich (Tipsy Texan?) with a fresh bun, a heap of meat and coleslaw. The BBQ is amazing and the staff is some of the best in the city.
So yes, it's a 1/2 day spent standing in line and eating but it's a fun Austin experience.
I traveled here from out of state hoping to check out this legendary place. For one, the staff at the pickup was not friendly at all. In addition, they had a 3 lb min order for meat!!!! Obviously, my friends and I didn't need that much so we left. This experience left a bad taste in my mouth and will not be coming back to support no matter how great it is.
They could easily ignore the line outside until they open, but they were more than accomodating with trash/recycling bins, spare chairs, and an accurate estimate to when we would get our food. On top of that, the food itself is amazing. This is a definite treat myself on occasion outing, but it was totally worth it.
Best BBQ I have ever tasted. Can t wait to visit again. But unfortunately, the line is very long. If you are willing to wait in the long line, then I would absolutely recommend this place.
The brisket is my favorite! Ribs are also amazing! If you don't want to wait in line for hours make sure you place your pre-order in time, in Dec of 2017 they were booked three weeks out. I think thats a little longer than usual though.
This review and corresponding 5 stars is for the brisket. Franklin's is known the world over for his brisket and I see why. We did the preorder (which is totally worth it and highly recommended) to bypass the lines. You have to get a minimum of 5 pounds of meat to preorder. Now for the reviews.
The sides ( pinto beans and coleslaw ) and BBQ sauces weren't good at all to us. They don't affect the rating though because the brisket is the star here. Being from Mississippi we tend to put a pound of sugar in everything and the beans just didn't do anything for us and neither did the slaw but I'm not holding that against them. The BBQ sauces were not to our liking either but like I stated earlier we're used to a much sweeter tomato based sauce.
THE MEATS!!
The sausage is just ok. It tastes more like salami because of all the black pepper in it.
The ribs were an unexpected surprise. They are a St Louis cut so they are meaty and juicy. The rub is a perfect blend of spices and seasonings that compliments the pork very well. They fall right off the bone but are not mushy at all.
Now for the star of the show....THE BRISKET!
Just like the Stonehenge in England, the Grand Canyon in Arizona or the Niagara Falls in New York the brisket at Franklin's in Austin, TX is a must see/have. Yes there are countless other establishments in the area that do brisket and probably do it well but Franklin's brisket is on another planet. This is no automated smoker oven brisket that any child can be taught to prepare. Franklin's is cooked on an actual smoker using only wood for heat. This is the hardest yet purest form of barbecue to master. No two days or pieces of wood are the same so you are constantly having to adjust to ever changing variables to achieve the perfect brisket day in and day out. It is moist and just melts in your mouth. You don't need any sauce because it will only mask the wonderful beefy flavor of the meat.
In closing, get the brisket. If you preorder, get the brisket. Try out some sides because they may fit your taste but get the brisket. The sausage is worth a try but get the brisket. The ribs are good but get the brisket. GET THE BRISKET!!! I promise you won't be disappointed.
[Disclaimer] I'm not from the Southwest area so maybe I'm just a scrub
Got the precooked chilled brisket and brought it on a five hour flight back to NJ. Followed instructions and reheated it, still the best brisket I've ever had. Therefore, I can't even imagine what it is like eating it fresh. Really expensive, but I don't care.
The BEST in Texas! The brisket and ribs are unmatched. Franklin is a must for Texas-style barbecue. It's worth the wait in line (especially with a cooler of beer) or you can pre-order for pick-up. There's a lot of great barbecue in Texas, but Franklin sets the bar high!
Almost 3 hours to eat !! I could stick 4 or 5 to live the delicious experience I had today at Franklin !! All congratulations. All very polite and happy with the work. Peru surprised me very much, already the very moist brisket. Deliciousooooooo the best of all. Congratulations.
I have had a lot of BBQ and Franklin s ranks high. This place is quirky. You have to wait in line and if you are too late they will run out of BBQ. The wait can be long (one and a half hours). Is it worth it? Yes if you are a BBQ connoisseur and want the experience.
Not really worth the wait in line. Great employees and service, but side orders need to be left to the side and not eaten. Heavy mustard in potato salad, beans were bland, did not try coleslaw. The meat, very tender for and good smoke flavor but then the taste is overpowering pepper! Something about Austin bbq and their love of pepper! Salt Lick spinoff!!
Definitely worth the wait!! We ve had Franklin on our list for years, and we were so happy we waited in line. We ordered everything and recommend you to do the same.
I was so keen to try this place. It's a 2 hour wait !! They don't take your name so you can come back, you have to wait in the heat. Huge disappointment!!
Before I moved to Austin I had placed Franklin BBQ at the top of my to do list. I coincidentally moved into the apartment across the street, which has its perks because you can regularly check the line when coming or going into the building. In my first week my boyfriend had to stay home while the furniture was delivered and jumped at the opportunity to get Franklin BBQ when he saw the line die down to a 20 min wait. I told him to order EVERYTHING off the menu. He ordered samples of everything they had left and when I came home from work we had a BBQ feast. We had two kinds of brisket, (the fattier one was heavenly), pulled pork, ribs, and sausage. The meats and BBQ sauces truly were amazing. I was excited to try Franklin's, but a part of me is sad that I didn't get the whole experience. We've decided to get the full experience by tail gating in the 2 hour line at some point.
Vacationed from Virginia just for Franklin's BBQ. He and his staff delivered, the meat was as advertised and his staff were super polite and friendly. 10/10 Would do it all again!
Not sure how anyone can rate this less than 5 stars. It's a life changing experience, and the best brisket you'll ever have. Be prepared to make a morning of waiting in line, but you can "tailgate" on the sidewalk, so that helps. I sampled a few BBQ while in Austin area, and this stood out above and beyond for flavor. The smoked sausage and brisket were out of this world. The feeling you get when you finally get to the counter to place your order, while you watch the guys behind the counter slicing the succulent, oozing with juice brisket, makes you feel as if you just won the lotto. Man I can't wait to go back to Austin, with this being the number one reason to visit.
There's a concept in business where you tighten supply so demand rises and Franklin's is very good at that. Crowded, small dining room, long waits in the hot sun, great brisket, mediocre sides, all overpriced. Can you say tourist trap?
Got there about 8 am on a Thursday and got our food about 1 pm. We had the Tipsy Texan sandwiches, brisket, and pork ribs. Awesome food. Be sure to take an umbrella for shade and plenty of beverages. They do sell beer and water, but do allow BYOB for the ones in line. Be patient.
This is the fourth time I had Franklin's and I have to say I'm slightly disappointed.
TL:DR - Get brisket and sausage. Skip the ribs - very over seasoned and mid-low quality meat. The increased price makes the great food much less worth it. There are other amazing BBQ joints in Austin (Interstellar, Terry Blacks, & more) that have on par quality minus the hassle and high price.
Pros: The brisket is world class and some of the best you can get anywhere. Fat content is perfect and there was a good spread of lean, moist, and burnt end pieces. Sausage is very well balanced in its spicing and fat content.
Cons: it seems like post-covid, they raised their prices. It is now the most expensive bbq in town (I get it, but there are now other options that are more reasonably priced with pretty much the same quality).
The ribs were not made very well this time around. The meat was thin and very over seasoned. I give the ribs 1/5 stars. Very sad and honestly worse than budget bbq options. I'd expect better from Franklins. Franklin's ribs won't live up to the amazing ones I had in Kansas City, but they used to be some of the best in town when I last had it 10 months ago.
The sides were ok and nothing too special. Potato salad was as good as Rudy's. If you're interested in some amazing sides, I definitely recommend Interstellar BBQ.
Summary: If its your first time, I definitely recommend the brisket and the sausage. You won't be disappointed. I get that Franklins is hyped up so they are able to charge any price they want, but their increased price makes their great bbq SIGNIFICANTLY less worth it especially when there are many other amazing options like Interstellar BBQ that have caught up and in some areas, surpassed, Franklin's quality but do not charge the exorbitant prices.
Amazing barbecue! Definitely worth the 4+ hour wait. Get there early and bring some chairs and a cooler full of beer and hunker down. The fatty brisket is the best I ve ever had. The smoked sausage, ribs, and turkey are phenomenal as well. Total time waiting and eating was around 5 hours but it s all part of the experience. Staff was great and we got to meet people from all over the country. Check it out!
Worth the hype! Mouth-watering, perfected Texas BBQ. Aaron Franklin and team have mastered the craft in every way and now you can avoid the lines with pre-order. The whole menu is good, but the brisket is all you need.
My favorite BBQ in Austin. Once there was a couple from Santa Barbara who was questioning whether they should continue to stand in line as it was announced only chopped beef was left. I encouraged them to do so. They were so glad they did, and said it was the best BBQ they have ever tasted. Top choices Beef Ribs and Brisket - but that chopped beef is something to write home about as well. Bring a chair, a book, cards, a cooler, friends, and enjoy the wait. It's worth it.
The best BBQ I have ever had, and I worked in a BBQ restaurant for years. The rub was so flavorful, the meat was so tender and juicy. The sides of beans and potato salad were delicious. Price wise, it is completely fair! Good BBQ costs money, and this place does not disappoint. I eaten here 4 times and I tried everything and it's all 100% top notch BBQ on a level you have to try for yourself
franklinbbq.com
