Franklin BBQ Reviews

This place is extremely over hyped! Got their 2hours before it opened then waited another 1.5 hours to get to the front of the line being attacked by flying ants... now I was starving and they were already out of food and the BBQ was just so so. Will not be going back here

When we decided that Austin would be a stop on our winter RV trip, I knew we had to get BBQ from Franklin's. I've been dreaming of trying Franklin's ribs and brisket for years... after seeing them in movies (i.e. Chef) and watching all of his smoking videos on YouTube, to say that my expectations were high is an understatement. Fortunately the ribs, brisket, pulled pork and sausage were all FREAKING AWESOME!!! While we didn't get to experience Franklin's due to COVID, we truly enjoyed our BBQ. When we're back near Austin again, we will absolutely be ordering again... and hopefully eating in once dine-in is available again.

We lucked out when we came here. We came at 12:30 and only waited 90 minutes. The brisket and ribs are great here. Their cole slaw is one of the best I've ever had. The banana bourbon pie is a must. I recommend buying extra, leftover bbq is awesome.

Great BBQ, but overrated. I've had better bbq elsewhere without the long wait. Maybe the quality was much better 5-10 years ago?

Brisket lived up to the hype, amazing central Texas style bbq. Long 4+ he wait though. They do a good job with the line providing chairs and an umbrella. BYOB for the line!

Franklin Barbecue is one of the best Barbecue joints I've been in for a very long time. Really yummy briskets, pretty much everything is yummy at Franklin Barbecue.

It's worth all the hype. Everything was cooked to perfection. It was pricey, but I have no regrets. It would've been nice and nostalgic if the dining room was open. All in all, all these years of wanting to go, was not disappointed.

What can I say? Simply the best brisket I've ever had in my life and I'll likely not want to eat brisket again unless it comes from here (with the obvious exception for kc burnt ends...). The other meats were also quite enjoyable. The line experience was easy especially with the provided chairs. This is definitely worth the time investment and ordering way too much so you can sample a bit of everything on offer (but dear God that brisket...).

One star only because their website still says serving lunch 6 days a week , but they aren t at the moment. They re only doing bulk/very large sized orders for curbside pickup, but no lunch orders

Best bbq I have ever had, but not worth waiting in line for on a regular basis.

I tell myself that the wait isn't worth it every time I go. I went over 10 times. It was worth it 10 times. I don't lie. This is one of the only barbequeuueueue places that you don't need any sauce for. THATS HOW GOOD IT IZ

The best BBQ ever! I've had some brisket almost as good down the road, but after my Franklins experience, I'm hooked. 3 diff bbq sauces. Legit.

I'm a TX girl living in MD - miss my BBQ ! My daughter shipped me a Franklin Brisket ! Found out the price and thought she was nuts - but after having it for dinner last night I think she is nuts to have only sent me one. The absolute best brisket I have ever tasted and made me believe all of the things I have heard. Now in the process of convincing her to ship me 3 or 4 so I can freeze them and enjoy the rest of the year. Thanks Franklins BBQ for being more that I expected. Delicious and well worth the price.

I so wanted to hate this place. The first two times I tried to go they were already sold out and closed. What the hell? The third time I went they were gone, out of town for a competition. This was becoming the most elusive barbecue in the world.

I finally got there early, 11:15, got in the already-long line and waited for an hour and a half. I couldn't wait to be snooty and anti-hipster and hate them and their stupid trailer cachet. I couldn't wait to tell my friends "well, it's OKAY...." But I couldn't. First off, Aaron Franklin is so nice. He hand carves your brisket or ribs for you to order, and he's wicked generous. No wonder they run out so quickly for the amounts they give you. My plate was a small mountain of food, and he listened to my requests for fatty brisket and extra burnt ends. His friendliness and generosity immediately took a lot of the sting off of the long wait.

How about the food itself? The ribs, frankly, are overcooked and too fall-off-the-bone. I think good ribs should have some chew in them. People complain that they're the first things to go but honestly you're not missing much. However the pulled pork is lovely, especially with the vinegar sauce that most Texans won't eat because it's really a Carolina thing. If you know your BBQ you'll put the pork on a slice of bread and add some vinegar sauce and go to town.

But the star here is the brisket. The brisket is absolutely EPIC. It is perfectly smoked, perfectly flavored, perfectly rendered. I have never had anything that good. I so wanted to hate this place for being average, but the brisket alone makes the long wait worthwhile. It is without a doubt the best barbecue in Austin, which puts it in the running for best worldwide. You never get old, dry brisket, it's always freshly sliced from the whole - the leftovers are used for chopped beef sandwiches - and it's also well-priced, and Aaron is more than happy to gild the lily and add a little extra, especially if it's from his trimmings.

I wouldn't go here all the time, the wait is too long and with the generous portions I feel like a whale when I'm done, but when you want the best barbecue in Texas and you're willing to spend some time to get it, this is a no brainer. There are other places in town where the wait is nonexistent and the food is almost as good, but when you want perfection, this is the place to go.

Everything you heard about this place is true. This is the best f*%#ing BBQ ever. Period.

I don't thing Franklin really cares about serving the public. They've got one person cutting the meat, one packing and one for paying. Average time to complete a transaction was 3 1/2 - 4minutes. If one feels like standing in a line for 2 hours, go ahead and enjoy the food. Otherwise, other places serve as good of bar-b-q as Franklin's without the 1 hour plus wait.

Best food I have ever had, religious level experience

My wife and I were only in Austin for 2 days and we spent 2.5 hours of that time in line for what we were told would be the best barbecue ever. When we arrived an employee told us that she could only guarantee that there would be brisket and sausage left by the time we'ld be served. We decided to stay. Franklin's provided water and chairs for the wait. Also, they would come around selling sodas, water and beer at a reasonable price. When we finally got to the counter, we were fortunate enough to get brisket, ribs, pulled pork and sausage. From the first bite I was filled with a mix of emotions. First, I was pleased with how good this food actually is. People told me it was the best and they totally undersold it. This barbecue was life altering. The second emotion was sadnesses. I was sad that at age 32 I feel that I've peeked as far as barbecue goes. Everything else from here on out will be second best. Also, I live near Philadelphia, which is nowhere near Austin, Tx. So, I don't know if I will ever have this experience again. But If I'm ever anywhere near Austin, I will do everything I can to get back here.

Amazing BBQ! Get there about an hour and a half early, trust me.. when they re out, they re out!

Best brisket and ribs I've ever had. The smoked turkey is really great too. The downfall is the sausage, its downright terrible. I would rather grab prepackaged supermarket sausage and eat that. Franklin's really need's to step up their sausage game.

The brisket is insanely good! It's unbelievably tender.

An AMAZING experience!!!!! From the friendly people working there to the BEYOND INCREDIBLE food, it's worth the 3+ hour wait!!!! Absolutely the BEST brisket ever!!!! The flavor is throughout the entire slice of meat, is very juicy, and can be cut with a fork!!! The smoked spare ribs are SO DELICIOUS, and the meat falls off the bone!!!! Their sausage is the BEST that there is!!!! Eating this food is like a slice of heaven!!!! I recommend this restaurant to everyone looking for BBQ to eat...it's a 10+ all the way!!!!!!!

I didn't mind the line thanks to the lawn chairs and beers! A cool way to socialize before you indulge. The food is delicious.

We waited in line for 2.5 hours on a Thursday. We got there at 1045. There were already 50 people in line ahead of us who waited since 7am! The time passed by easily because we got to know the couple in front of us. It was definitely worth the wait. We got the ribs and brisket. The brisket was to die for. It was moist, and flavorful on it's own(with just the dry rub). Ribs were ok. There were 3different kinds of BBQ sauce at the tables. One was their original, which we liked the best. One was a vinegar based spicy, tangy sauce. And the other was more a smoky, chocolate flavor. I would definitely return and wait in line again for the brisket. The atmosphere was casual. Seating of course is first come first serve. So you may sit at a table with people you don't know (limited inside and outside seating).

Met Aaron today. Ate Franklin's BBQ today. I can die in peace.

Excellent staff service! The Meat is really good, but I don t think it worths 2 hours of wait, because it isn t that crazy or original!

The most delicious typical food in Austin. A great place to eat, not expensive, excellent service, near downtown... Definitely I 'll come back

Eating at Franklin's was my main motivation in visiting Austin. Franklin's was on my restaurant bucket list, the Mecca of BBQ if you will. What better time to visit then when you don't have to make the line due to the COVID(though that may have been fun too). Truth be told, I had placed my order before I bought my plane tickets. When ordering proteins it would have been nice to have just a "yes" button instead of clicking each one. I ordered the brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausage, smoked turkey, and the chopped beef which, just in case you missed it, is all the proteins they offer. Mind you this was for 2 people. My excitement builded as we neared and smoky scents started to become noticeable. When the staff approached the car I was down right giddy exclaiming "I will be the most excited guest you have today". Such a nerd. Alright enough already, on to the food. The brisket is life changing, if there is better, I have yet to have it. Definitely worth the plane ticket. More moist and buttery than I have ever had before, the end piece was earth shattering. The ribs are fabulous. The chopped beef and sausages are definitely worth ordering. I could have done without the turkey but it was great to dip in their espresso bbq sauce, something I wouldn't dare do with the ribs or brisket. The pulled pork was good but I've had better in NC and TN. The potato salad and coleslaw were mediocre and really only necessary to break up the richness of the meats. The service was great albeit brief and curbside. Hope to return someday soon. Thank you Franklins for delivering on the hype and my lofty expectations. I'll never forget the experience and haunting flavors.

This is a must if you are in the area! Fresh and tasty - always!

Waited 2 and a half hours but it was worth it!! The ribs are fire.

Hype is part of the experience. If you go for the line and commardary of the wait, it's worth it. The bbq is tasty, the potatoe salad is mild, beans are beans, and the tarts are tangy. Overall, it's the experience of waiting in line and talking with others as part of the enjoyment. If it's just wanting a tasty bbq and fix'ens then, others are about as good.

(This review is based on enjoying Franklin BBQ from the old trailer spot)

What can I say that hasn't already been said? The brisket is the reason to go. The pulled pork and the chopped beef are reasons to stay. Don't mess around with the sides like baked beans.

We went with first-timers, and upon hearing that it was their first time, Mr. Franklin himself took a grapefruit-size double-handful of pulled pork, humorously placed it on top of the bottom bun, and then more humorously placed the top bun on the pork like a little hat. He then passed it over to the cashier and said "One regular, first-timer pulled pork sandwich". It was a pound of meat for 6 bucks! We ordered a ton of other food, all impressively amazing and amazingly impressive.

You don't need me to tell you this place is good. Just go wait in the hour+ long line. Either get there at 10am and be first, leaving you to wait an hour for them to open, or get there after they open and wait an hour to get to the front of the line. In any case, it's worth it.

Awesome Brisket- yes, with a capitol B, but getting tired of waiting so much. I'm probably gonna find another joint for my BBQ fix pretty soon 'cause I hate wasting my morning/early afternoon waiting so long for some food...

Truly great meats, and super friendly staff.
Even had a chance to meet briefly with Aaron himself, who was also very friendly.
Great experience, would definitely recommend!

Worth the wait at least once. The moist brisket blew my mind. Make sure to get there at 9 or earlier and bring chairs and snacks. Some people bring beer as well. The staff gets a tally of what people will be ordering after a line forms. That way they can let people know if they'll run out of a meat by the time they'll be served. So if you show up too late you'll know and can leave.

The ribs and brisket are awesome! The other food is good too, but the brisket and ribs are definitely the best. The staff is super friendly and fun. If you don't want to wait in the line you can pre-order online and just walk right in to pick it up. It tastes equally as delicious!

They ran out of BBQ when we just got there, but you could smell the food from about 2 blocks away. They referred us to another BBQ Joint about mile away. They were extremely polite and customer friendly.

Maybe it was all the build up of how great Franklin BBQ is that got me, but found it to be a bit of a disappointment. The pulled pork was probably the best meat we had. The brisket was ok mostly because it was moist, but the flavor was not anything to stand up about, so I would not say the brisket is best in the area and definitely not for the price of $29 a lb. Sausage and turkey were so so and the ribs were edible, but definitely can do better at home.

Now for the sauces. Again disappointed. Worked well with the pulled pork for the most part, but didn't go well with anything else. From what I could tell apple cider vinegar base. Sure some love it, just wasn't for the group that shared our bounty.

Service was good given the new curbside delivery option comes with a minimum of 10% gratuity. Glad we went and got it off the bucket list, but I am hard pressed to recommend it when there are so many other worth options in the area for BBQ just outside of Austin and even food trucks.

I will add in closing, if I had to wait the way that other folks had to for hours, this review would probably be 1 star, because the food is not worth the wait times. Also hardly worth the 3 lb minimum order, but I get they want to stay in business, which I respect through these tough times.

The line is part of the experience so embrace it, some of the best barbeque I've ever had

Some of the best BBQ around! Be sure to come early and be ready to wait with friends.

AMAZING but go early. We arrived at 12 and had a 90 minute wait. By the time we got our food they were out of ribs and we barely got brisket.

The best barbecue, their spicy sauce is so good. Baked beans are my favorite, I d recommend them with anything.

Not sure about the bbq yet, still need to eat it. So happy to have preordered online due to the long line for the restaurant.

Long wait but completely worth it. Mountains of good food and super friendly staff. Bring some chairs and cards for the line and the wait will be over before you know it. The line is all apart of the experience.

He is a judge on barbecue pit masters TV show. This ranks as one of the best barbecues in the country!

High expectations for this place but it was ok. We pre-ordered 2 weeks before and ate back at our hotel. Our favorite for brisket is still Miss Little BBQ in Phoenix.

Great flavor but get there early, they run out! Staff was wonderful

Got there at 8:50am. Line wasn't too long. When it started moving at 1130ish people started cutting due to others saving a spot for them. Waited 4 1/2 hours optimistically for the Best Bbq. I wasnt impressed but i wasnt let down either i suppose.... There was only Potatoe salad and kidney beans as sides which kinda killed my whole meal. No lettuce or tomatoes or good bread to make a sandwich with. Turkey was good, the brisket was great but ive definitely had better. My opinion go to La Bbq, shorter wait and better brisket. This place just seems like a tourist trap that uses the line as a gimmick.

Amazing food, went as a send off before college. One of the best memories I've made at home during this pandemic.

Planning on visiting here when the family come from New Jersey

Best barbecue in Austin hands down. Brisket is in its own class and literally everything else on the menu is great, even the desserts. Get there early on weekends and bring a cooler, chair, and something to drink and maybe even eat. It's a long line but its worth every minute.
10/10

Incredible food!! I'm always satisfied whenever I go!

We just traveled from California to a memorial here in Texas. On my bucket list was to try Franklin BBQ, so I made the trip to see ya'll. To my disappointment due to COVID (I am assuming) 3 lb minimum was in play at 29 dollars a pound. We have a small family 3lbs was too much, I was so discouraged to know that they would not sell us a smaller amount, so we ended up going to Salt Lick another name on my bucket list. Covid or not it was sad to know that you all would not make an exception.

The wait is well worth it. Regardless of the wait, when you finally taste it, you forget about the wait. His beef ribs are amazing, the brisket melts in your mouth, the turkey breast is succulent, and his pork ribs are divine. My recommendation, bring your own chair and a cooler full of your favorite drinks (alcoholic, if that's your style) and get ready to bond with like minded individuals who want to enjoy great bbq.

Franklin is a staple in Austin. I was here for a private event, so my experience was a little different than the typical. No waiting! The BBQ is really good, but honestly, the ambiance is what makes this place so great. Get there early if you plan on eating, you don't want to be in line when they run out.

Came to town from Colorado just to see if it was as good as everyone says. IT IS!!! Will be going back. Oh, and the staff was fantastic. Thank you

Amazing smoked meat
Friendly staff
Great music

Best brisket on the planet. Period. Also great is the turkey, ribs, and sausage.

Best Brisket in Texas...make that the world. You would have to travel to another galaxy to find better brisket. It's that good.

Definitely worth the wait and the hype. Just a tip your eyes will be bigger than your appetite, but worth it to get a taste of everything. I waited in line for 5.5 hours on a Saturday. I met new friends and had great conversation with people all over the US. Aaron Franklin came right by us and was super friendly. Still kicking myself for not asking to take a pic with a legend.

The wait was totally worth it! We got there at 8am & they told us we would be inside by 1:30 but we made it to our table by about 1:03! The Tipsy Texan was a massive sandwich & the Blueberry Pie was paradise Also, the sauces were the perfect compliment!

Curbside pickup super easy. Staff is awesome. Food is amazing!

Smooth and seamless curbside service. Of course best BBQ in Austin!

One of the best, if not, the best brisket I've ever had (and I've had a LOT)

Let me tell you a little story about a place called Franklin Barbecue! I ve heard the legends for some time now having lived just up the road in Dallas. Recently, I relocated to Austin and had to go immediately. First taste was the ribs. As I picked that baby up, the meat already started to slide right off the bone. Something I ve rarely seen. From there, the flavor was out of this world! I couldn t believe it. No sauce needed to be added to enjoy it fully. The brisket was on par with some of the other places I ve been but the seasoning was awesome. You won t be disappointed!

The rib meat falls right off the bone and brisket is so tender and flavorful.

Good food! Go Sunday... at 8am the line was only to the parking lot...

Brisket was ridiculous. Went to Kreuz, Blacks and Smittys same week, and it wasn't even close. Franklin is worth the wait.

Excellent place for quality BBQ. Food was so delish. Fast, efficient, and courteous service. I see why this place has a lot of great reviews.

Got a 4 star as my husband thought the bark on the brisket was slightly flat in flavor. As for myself I love it all..spice sausage is an improvement! Love love love!!! Pure Austin!

Always great bbq...just have to get there early enough to get in. Hate the line.

burboun banana pie was awesomeeeeeeeee. but i dont think it is worthwhile to wait 1hour and 40more mins. there is a foodtruck nearby here. i recommend that place better :-)

If you have a problem waiting three hours for the best barbecue around, there's something wrong with you. Bring a lawn chair and get there about 8 AM to eat at 1 PM. Don't show up at 12 and expect to sit right down. To be first in line, get there around 7 AM. Lawn chair rentals are available and Franklin staff provide drinks for a cost. Make sure to ask for samples when ordering. They will give you a handful of meat to try. YUM!!! Bring a water bottle.

Everyone knows about this iconic barbecue joint. Absolutely worth the wait. The rib meat falls right off the bone and brisket is so tender and flavorful. Their meat doesn't need any of the three delicious sauces they make. Aaron Franklin truly has magic going on in his smoke.

The food was great. Not sure if it was worth the wait.

I hope you are just reading this in line, getting ready for the bliss that awaits you!

I thought this would just be marginally better than some of the other great BBQ joints in Austin, but man it was a solid head and shoulders above. That brisket is unrivaled in my own experience. We arrived at 9:30 on a Thursday and had our food by 12. Was certainly worth the 2.5 hour wait!

I don't think my review here will be a surprise to anyone. It's amazing. Yes, you have to wait for hours in line just for some BBQ, but this is not regular BBQ. Aaron Franklin puts his soul into this food and you can taste it. The brisket is amazing. The sausage and pork are so damn tasty. I love everything on the menu. Even the potato salad is amazing.

My suggestion is that you get their early. They open the doors at 11am, be there at 7. Bring a chair. Some coffee and breakfast tacos and make a day of it. Totally worth the experience and fun. If you come to Austin or live here and haven't tried it, you have to do it at least once.

Who can rate this place less than 5 stars? The only issue I could ever see would be the wait, but I enjoyed that almost as much as the food. You meet people in line and all understand what you're getting in to before you even make the journey to this iconic restaurant.