Franklin BBQ Reviews

Best brisket in the country. The only thing that comes close is Matt s BBQ in Portland. Well above Terri Blacks, Lockhart, Joes KC, Salt Lick, and the list goes on. I didn t care much for their BBQ sauce but the meat didn t need any. Be prepared for a very long line and pricy BBQ. They said that they start running out of food between 2:00 and 3:00 so keep that in mind if you come late. I would also highly recommend the key lime pie.

What can I say that hasn't been said.

Well nothing, but that's never stopped me. The brisket is really the best, but their ribs are just as good, honestly. The line is a show stopper, but if the weather's good and you pack right, it's just like tailgating.

If Aaron Franklin's there, and he usually is, he'll treat you like one of his own. He's absolutely tireless in reaching out and engaging with everyone that comes up to the counter. Impressive when you realize how many people that is.

Yes LA Barbecue is a better bang for the line waiting buck, but Franklin is still the best. Not just in Austin but Central Texas. And shouldn't you try the best at least once in your life?

The wait itself is an experience. Prepare with umbrellas, games, books, etc and you should be fine. Well worth the hype!

Drove 29 hours from cali just to find out you have to order in advance smh driving back empty handed

It almost killed me with delight. Amazing sausage. Really nice brisket . Very crunchy black edge. Franklin was moister but I like this one a bit better. German potato salad was really German! Shiner is also a German beer! Crazy Germans all over central Texas. After a link of sausage, 1/2 lb if brisket, 4 slices of white bread, beer, and no plates or forks, I'm done with BBQ for a while. Burp. No sauce at all! Franklin offers three interesting sauces so I like that better than Kreuzs.

I have yet to eat here, but it makes the whole neighboorhood smell good.

This has been one of the best bbq place I have ever eaten at. Brisket is tender and the best. There is a long line and get there early as we were among the lucky last to get brisket. Do yourself a favor and eat there. Bring your own beer to drink while in line. You can thank me later

Glad the line is less crazy. Pre-orders now pickup at a trailer in the back with an unfortunate aroma of garbage...

It simply sets the standard. Expect a 3+ hour wait.

It's been about 2 years of trying to get into this bbq join and I have to say the bbq was excellent. The complaint I have which is I'm sure the same one over and over is the wait time to get in. We waited over 2 hours on a Sunday morning and it was hot out. Definitely, recommend, but would do it during cooler weather.

Everything they say is true. Go for the experience.

Arrived at 9:00am on a Tuesday, ordered at about 12:30pm. The first people in line said that they'd arrived at 5:00am! That's too much for me, but I would recommend arriving closer to the 8:00am so that you can grab a seat in the shade, or 10:00am for shortest wait time as the line moves pretty quickly once they officially open.

Franklins was great, long wait I didn t care for the wait time. I think this was a one time visit for me but glad I could say I went to Franklin s

The lines are huge but the brisket totally worth it!

Best BBQ experience in Austin. The wait does add to the experience, but the meat itself is unbeatable, and definitely a cut above the rest.. Terry's is great too, but honestly the first bite of brisket or beef rib left me contemplating life as I knew it. I haven't looked at any other non-texan bbq the same since.. it was surreal!

Brought my beer, a chair and was served free appetizers in line from Franklin. A band walked up and played all morning. People shot off fireworks. Met some Aussies visiting the US here as well. Great experience. Tried Salt Lick, it was very good. Franklin's BBQ is the best. 4 hour wait time doesn't sound appeasing but that's 4 hours enjoying good people and good beer. That is what BBQ is really about.

The best Brisket and ribs in the world. 100% recommendable

The only good thing about COVID is no wait for Franklin.

Seriously and honestly the best barbecue in the whole world. I just got back from a visit and the meat was the most flavorful meat I've ever ingested. This place is so amazing. Great place to come on a lazy Sunday morning.

Iconic bbq joint. I first saw this place on TV and i always wanted to eat here. It was great smoky meat with little variety but they don't need it.The lines move fast and they are really accommodating to COVID they put the meat straight on your trunk. Kinda expensive with most meats at 25 a pound even turkey. The brisket was good with great ratio of meat to fat. Ribs were fall of the bone with good seasoning. It's not worth the hype but great bbq.

This place has excellent service and even better BBQ.

A unique meat experience. A long wait but worth it. An ice bucket of beers while waiting in line followed by a mountain of brisket, ribs and sausages on a piece of paper!

Long wait. About 2 hours. But when its named best in Texas or even the country that's expected. Worth the wait

It was a bit pricey but very good. The brisket and pork ribs were delicious. They also had turkey; guess I'll try it the next time

Absolutely incredible barbecue. I am forever ruined on other barbecue because of this place. As someone who is not a local, that s honestly kind of rude but it s still worth it because of how amazing the brisket and ribs taste.

Food is on point and consistent every time. Well worth the wait. It lives up to the hype.

The best brisket you will ever eat!! Be prepared for a wait when you get here.

Worth the wait for sure. I got in line at 7 am. Just to make sure that I got some brisket. Plus there sides are great too.

Amazing. The trick, PREORDER! pick up your food, head to a nearby park and your done! Lines are crazy and can take 3-6 hours! It s crazy to think that your eating breakfast while your waiting in the lunch line.

But if you preorder, be prepared to have some of the best bbq there is. Stick to the meats as they are epic. The rest is not bad, just not as life changing.

Best brisket I've ever had period!!! The long line and wait is more than we'll work it

Absolutely the Best bbq you can get!! Weve had bbq all over and we are from Deteoit and nothing i mean nothing even comes close to how amazing Franklin is!! This guy knows what hes doing!! The wait is WELL worth it and part of the whole experience!! It was a true blast and the beat food ever!! Go go go you need to try this so you know what real bbq is supposed to taste like!!

Went on a Thursday. Got there at 9:30 in the morning, and didn't get in to order till 12:30. But, it was worth wait! The folks were friendly. The brisket was outstanding. Moist, tender, and flavorful! The best brisket I've had to date. The ribs were just as tender and flavorful. The "Tipsee Texan" sandwich was quite a treat. Shredded brisket, sausage, coleslaw and pickles. Quite good. It might seem like a bit of a wait, I can't fathom what weekends would be like, but, get there early and be rewarded with some kind the best mouth watering brisket and ribs.

I understand complaints about long lines, but some of these people say Rudy's is better? LMAO!! that's hilarious!

One of the only ways I will eat meat is bbq. This is by far the best bbq I have every had. They serve it to you on a tray with butcher paper. Plates and silverware are not really an issue, as each person gets their own square of paper and you have your hands of course. The brisket wasn't chewy, the turkey was smoked to perfection and had the PERFECT juicy smoked flavor. When I reached across the table for a rib, I made it back to my napkin with the bone. All of the meat literally fell off the bone and remained on the butcher paper in the center of the table. Their sauces are to die for!
GET THERE EARLY. stand in line with some friends and some beer and anticipate the best hunk of meat you've ever put in your mouth.

Do yourself a favor and preorder ahead of time!! The minimum order is 5 pounds but get a group together and skip the line! It s delicious and juicy 10/10!

I was a little skeptical to stand in line for what seemed an eternity for food, but let me tell you people, it is WORTH IT! Their rib and pulled pork smoke the competition *no pun intended*. If you live in Austin or travel there, you have to try this place. Delicious!

Good barbeque, great experience. At first 4 hours in line seems like a deal killer. After all, barbeque in Texas is not rare, so waiting 4 hours for it seems odd. Might as well cook it yourself. At Franklin's, though, the line is part of the experience, a social event in itself. So it's not just about the good barbeque, it's about how one gets there.

Truly amazing. Just amazing... And not just the food. The customer service and atmosphere was great too!

Ordered a variety of the meats and three of the sides and of course a maple pecan pie. After eating the food, my life changed. I adopted a more positive outlook on life and began to plan out my life wisely.
A LIFE CHANGING BRISKET PEOPLE!!! Come and get some before they're sold out.

It was bananas, the line is truly worth the wait! Get there and hour or hour and a half before they open.

Delicious! Went on a Wednesday and arrived at about 9AM. There were about 20 people ahead of us in line. The doors opened promptly at 11AM and the line moved fairly quickly. We were seated with our food by about 11:20AM. We ordered a little of everything and weren't at all disappointed! Everything was moist, tender, and flavorful. No one can match them (except possibly my father-in-law). It is no wonder they are known world-wide!

Worst BBQ
Not worth the hype or time.

Came around 8:30 a.m. on a weekday morning. It was nice of them accommodate chairs outside for us to sit while we wait. That was really nice. The restroom was open for the customers to use. You can also purchase coffee and breakfast tacos from their foodtrucks behind the restaurants. You can also purchase alcohol and non alcohol drinks inside or bring your own in an ice box. All the staffs were helpful and very nice although there were many people lined up. They checked up on us even though it was packed. Greeted us with a smile everytime. Very accommodating.

But, let s get to the food... We ordered bit of every cut of the meat.. brisket, ribs, turkey, sausage, & pulled pork. The ribs were really good. You can easily tear off the meat without having to try. All the meat had good texture. The brisket that everyone s hyped about definitely has a soft texture to it but all I could taste was the black peppercorn and salt. Everything was way too over seasoned, imo. WAY TOO SALTY. I think I had one piece of each because I couldn t handle the saltiness. It doesn t need any bbq sauce because of it. But, you can definitely tell that they ve done a lot to make the meat soft and juicy. It is different from any other bbq I had in Texas.

We all agreed that this place is overhyped and we would rather go to terry black s bbq, instead of going through this trouble of having to park, sitting and waiting for 2-3 hours. It was definitely a good experience but I don t think I ll be going back unless they open up a bigger location and makes it easier for the customers. I would not wait more than an hour for this ever again.

Didn't sit in the line , but did enjoy the result! Great BBQ and the sauce pairings were amazing!

Visited Austin for a few days and had to try the best BBQ s out there. Franklin s is probably the most talked about because of the long lines and being on multiple food/news outlets. I read all the reviews and showed up at 8:30am on a Wednesday to make sure I got a decent spot in line(about 25 people in front of me and it opens at 11am). Once it opened we ordered a little of everything since we were comparing it to the $25 all you can eat at Salt Lick BBQ we had two days before.

Long story short I prefer Salt Lick BBQ. I will give it to Franklins for having the best Brisket of the two places but all other options, including the potato salad and cole slaw was better at Salt Lick, and it was only $25 each compared to the $50 at Franklins.

Try Franklins for the experience and the brisket but next time I m in Austin, Salt Lick it is.

Genuinely some of the best BBQ around, which, as a native Austinite, is not a compliment I give lightly. Some people will say it's overhyped or not worth the wait, but Franklin truly deserves its reputation. Yes, on an average day you will have to get there very early and wait in line a few hours, which is why you bring friends and make an experience of it. Bring some lawn chairs and a cooler of drinks to keep yourselves comfortable while you wait for your food. If you've had great BBQ before, then Franklin may not necessarily blow your mind, but that doesn't mean it's still not some of the best BBQ in the city and state. Beware that food can run out fast sometimes, but generally the staff does a good job of gauging how much food each party will order and will let you know as soon as they can if they won't have enough food for you. It's a bummer when that happens, but it's of no fault of the restaurant.

Get in line early, bring some drinks and friends, and then enjoy some of the best BBQ you'll ever eat.

Came here on a trip from the UK to experience real Texan barbecue. I was not dissapointed. It was outstanding and unlike anything else I have ever eaten.

Unbelievable! Worth every second in waiting line [3 hours). The and the Brisket was worth every bit of the hype!

Best brisket I've ever had in my life. It's worth the wait. Get there early.

Was really good, meat is alittle salty but still really good. BE PREPARED TO WAIT A WHILE but its worth it and the staff are nice

The brisket here is divine. Folks are friendly, beer is cold. Love it.

Great bbq, get there early. Once it's out, they're out for the day.

Waited in line 2 hours in the rain so that they can tel me they ran out of everything besides the brisket, very disappoint. However that brisket was to die for! Try and come before they open so you can try ribs and pulled pork.

Expect a long line. Need to arrive before nine expect a 2.5 hour line. Incredible TX BBQ brisket worth the wait. An Austin must visit at least once

It lives up to the hype, what more can be said? This is the best barbeque I've ever had, even better than my previous favorites Kreuz's and Snow's. The beef brisket is the popular favorite for a reason, but make sure to also try the smoked turkey. My only disappointment was with the pinto beans, which were just OK, lacking much heat or flavor.

Was as good as I was hoping. Line took a while but this was to be expected

I'm going to have to rate by wait... If it was a normal restaurant wait then it would be five stars, but man I waited hours like everyone else and to me it was really good food... but not the the "best in America" stuff I've heard. Darn good yes, I'm not taking away from that but if I think a lot of the wait is perpetuated by the cult status and all. I don't think anyone here will be disappointed by the food but for the amount of time I stood outside it wasn't clearly the best BBQ in the states or even Texas for that matter. 4 stars. But yeah, do it, it's one of those things ya' gotta do. :-)

It's franklin bbq, can't say anything people already don't know. It is top rated and top quality for a reason. Day I went was raining and I got lucky. Around 1pm, waited 20 min and I got all the food I wanted. This is what bbq is all about!

Great barbecue great time with friends wasn t really worth the wait to me but it was a great way to spend time with my guests.

A religious experience. The best bbq I've had. Ever.

That said, visiting is an all day adventure. Bring a camp chair, grab a breakfast taco on the way, and bring enough booze to make you stop caring that you are waiting 3 to 4 hours for brisket.

Hahaha! This place is a joke, isn't it? I wasted 1 hour of my life waiting in some line for this?! If someone is sooo desperate for good Texan style BBQ you can easily find tastier food at Salt Lick (not the airport one) or Stiles Switch. Why I wasn't impressed? Well, mediocre food and service and the brisket, that is supposed to be the "Oh my god!" dish of the house just tasted like a bunch of lard with little meat and some smoked flavoring going on on the outside. I pitty people that continue to line up for this. They prob don't know any better. Well, there is that saying: ignorance is bliss

Best barbecue. Great brisket and great people I will definitely be back regardless the waiting

Absolutely the best barbecue in central Texas. Lines are quite long (show up before 11 if you want food), but it's worth it if you have the time. Hell, it's worth it even if you don't. MAKE THE TIME. QUIT YOUR JOB. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

I arrived 8:30 already 50 people deep.
There are some umbrellas for shade. But highly recommend bringing umbrella, something to sit on.

Bring water.

Long wait

Staff provide accommodations like umbrella and chairs for customers in line. They also provided water.

Fans with mist turns on at 11am

Got food around 12:45pm

Ordered
pork ribs - 3ribs falls off bone so tender
Brisket - 3 fatty pieces
Pork sausage - 1 excellent flavors
Turkey - 2 slices quarter lb. Moist and juicy

Food was hot and packaged nice. We got the brisket and the ribs. The ribs were very meaty and the brisket was juicy.

When you get to Franklin BBQ, and panic that your wait is 3.5 hours like mine was.. please remember it is completely worth it. I am an absolute foodie, and I would give this place 5 stars over and over again. The food was impeccable. Best barbeque of my life. Hands down.

I can't say anything that hasn't been said before. The brisket and pork ribs were out of the world. The sausage was unique but I didnt care for it much.

LPT: Go on a weekday when it's cold and rainy. I waited for less than an hour and was soon eating the best barbecue in Austin

Tried several bbq spots in Austin and Dallas and Franklin's is the winner by far! We pre-ordered, bypassing the lineups.

All the hype was well earned. The brisket was the star of course but everything else would be good on its own.

I give it 5 because I can't get it. That G.B site is always sold out. I wish I could get a virtual spot to place an order no matter what the wait time would be. I plan to make a road trip there once the pandemic is done.

Fantastic bbq. Pre-ordering is a great option to cater for small events, and their website is very easy to use.

over rated

smoky fatty brisket

We joined the line at 6am on a Saturday, waited 5 hours for the best BBQ ever ! Beef ribs wowza

Gordon Ramsay Loves This Restaurant...approved by Gordon means it is the best...

Well... this is my 3rd day in a row to hit a Que spot here in the Austin area. I arrived at 7:45 am and was about #20 in line. It is a weekday and there is snow and ice on the cars in the lot... and still at 11:00 the line was down the street. After the freezing wait, I paid almost 100.00 for lunch.

And I would do it again everyday and twice on the weekends. The hype is real and its worth every penny. EVERYTHING was better than perfect. Visit when it snows, visit when it rains, visit when its hot or cold... Just Visit!

The staff is very kind during the wait with bathrooms, chairs, and drinks, etc. The crowd is very nice if not festive. There was champagne, cases of beer and frisbees. I was in TX from CA, ahead of me from Canada, and behind me from Chicago. Then shared a table with a couple from El Paso. This is a pilgrimage all Que fans should make. I don't want to mention my other stops this week as they are world class in their own rights but this, Franklin's, this is on another plane. I arrived thinking my cooking was pretty good and now leaving with a happy palate and very humbled ego.

Even if my stomach is torn, I still have to do more

Best BBQ restaurant I've been to. Meat very tender but sides are not the best

While it is true that the lines start forming early (around 6AM) and that you might have to wait a while to get your food, let me asure you that it is ABSOLUTELY worth it!
Best day to go, in terms of food, is Saturday - it is the only day they have Beef Ribs! And man, are they worth it. It is funny to hear Aaron say that his smoked Turkey is "meh", but when you try it, you seriously wonder about his judgment.
I have literally tried everything they offer and (in terms of meat) can not find ANYTHING "Meh"!
The service is great, the people are friendly, the place is simple and the food let's you forget about the rest of the world, at least for the duration of your plate. I live in San Diego, but will make it a point, to visit this place again.

Its a great place if you are a tourist, willing to stand in line for 4-6 hours, and not knowing if you will even get food at all. I would recommend other spots in Austin, since the BBQ technique is really good elsewhere, trust me

It truly is the best brisket I've ever had; it melted in my mouth. Both fatty and lean was perfect (fatty is my preference). I got in line at 7:45am on a Tuesday and managed to have a seat in the shade and received my food by 11:40. Bring a book, write a novel, edit photos, listen to music, and talk to the people next to you and that 3-4 hour wait will go by quicker than you'd think.

My only tip is to try not to over order. A half pound of brisket with a couple ribs, fixings, and sweet tea will fill you up and keep the tab at $20. If you want to get small portions of everything, just ask. They can and will do it with no issues and it prevents you from ordering excessive amounts of meat which allows more people to enjoy it later in the day! Eat friendly, the Texas way!

I can t believe it took me 7 years to figure out that you can do a pre-order. Life changing pulled pork. And true Texas barbecue beef brisket unparalleled. This is worth waiting for, though you should wait a little less and DO the PRE ORDER. I totally get it now.