Franklin Barbecue

Featured reviews

• A

  Alejandro Hernandez

  ·3 weeks ago

  “The brisket was moist, tender, and flavorful same as the pork ribs. The sides were mediocre but the flavor of the meats make up for it. The service was incredible and we were given a huge cup of their expreso BBQ sauce to go along with 1 extra rib left over.”

• H

  Hye Na Lee

  ·4 weeks ago

  “I waited for over 3 hours to try the barbecue, which is said to be the most famous in Austin... The weather was so humid that it was hard to endure while waiting, but I endured it because I didn't think I would get another chance. In my personal opinion, it was too salty for my taste, so the restaurant I ate at elsewhere a few days ago tasted more delicious. Especially the pork ribs were so salty that it was hard to eat without water throughout. I think the reason it's popular among Americans is because it's stimulating. Of course, the quality and cooking of the meat were truly perfect. It was worth coming and experiencing at least once, but if I have to wait the same next time, I think I'll go somewhere else. For your information, the sausage was wonderful for me.”

• D

  Danny DeBruine

  ·1 month ago

  “Brother and I came to Austin to eat and Franklin was our first stop. Didn’t have time to wait so we pre ordered the minimum five pounds of meat. Ended up finding some people to share with and none of the food was wasted. Can’t imagine brisket getting any better than this. Moist, tender, melt in your mouth perfection. Ribs may have been the best I’ve had as well. Pulled pork was nothing special until we put their vinegar bbq sauce on it and it was delicious. Sausage was good, but not great. Turkey was tender and very flavorful. Key lime tart was decent. The only side we tried was the potato salad which was refreshing as it had a nice mustard flavor. If you like bbq this is a must try. I can only assume that the people who talk bad about this place either don’t know bbq or just like to be mean.”

• S

  Stacy Horton

  ·1 month ago

  “Excellent! The BBQ does have a heavy vinegar taste compared to a sweeter style like stubbs. We were able to try the Tipsy Texan all the way - it was perfect! Brisket was great and sausage was really good. They only have 3 sides potato salad was was a good southern yellow kind.”

• S

  S E

  ·3 months ago

  “Brisket was good. Cheddar Jalapeno sausage was good. Pork ribs were the best I've ever had in my entire 50yrs of being alive!! Pulled pork was just okay. The beans were really good, but the other sides were just okay.”

• D

  Dan Bob

  ·3 months ago

  “Have wanted to experience Franklins BBQ for years. Set out on a Tuesday ready to stand in line at 10:20. Opened promptly at 11 and we were ordering by noon. Well worth the wait as the brisket melted in our mouths, can only be described as …”

• S

  Samantha Jogoleff

  ·3 months ago

  “We've experienced Franklin a couple times before -- once during COVID for a to go order and once when we won a private dinner experience through a blood donation (still one of the coolest wins ever, unfortunately we didn't win this year, lol). This time, we were actually on our way to try a different BBQ spot when we noticed there was no line?? It was only 30 minutes before opening. This was right before the big freeze at the end of January, so everyone was huddled inside the patio trying to stay warm, but the vibes were still laid back and friendly. One thing we absolutely LOVE about Franklin is how they handle the wait. Doors are open before service starts, you can use the restroom, even grab drinks while you wait. That alone is elite level hospitality in the BBQ world. They also had someone walking around asking what people were thinking of ordering so they could gauge inventory, which is genius and helps manage expectations before you even get to the counter. Service was super friendly across the board. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there and wanted to make sure guests were taken care of. What we ordered: * Turkey - Moist and lightly seasoned, letting the meat shine. Simple and done right. * Beef Rib - Massive, tender, incredible smoke and bark. Surprisingly needed a little extra salt (yes, I said it ), but once we added it? WOW. * Brisket - We didn't think it would taste that different from the beef rib, but texturally it absolutely was. Melt-in-your-mouth tender with beautiful bark and the perfect level of seasoning. * Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage - Great snap, LOVED the gouda flavor * Pork Ribs - Fall-off-the-bone tender, smoky, and honestly some of the best we've had. We grabbed some bubbles (basically prosecco) while waiting and a Roadhouse beer. Alcohol prices are on the higher side, but the convenience of being able to sip while you wait, especially since we stopped in last minute, makes it worth it. We did forget to order the sausage initially, but it was super easy to walk over to the drink counter and add it without standing in the full line again. Also appreciate the free bread, pickles, onions, and sauce setup. It's the little things. Only slight hiccup: when it was time to line up for opening, they ask guests to honor the order of arrival. Unfortunately, people are people and not everyone follows the honor system. But that's not on the staff, they can only do so much. Overall, incredible food, thoughtful hospitality, and a super smooth experience even on a cold morning right before a freeze. Franklin continues to live up to the hype, and we'd absolutely go back.”

• M

  Mark Richter

  ·3 months ago

  “Arrived Friday am around 9:45. Brought our chairs and started waiting. A staff member was selling local beer so I tried the large which was very tasty. Around 11 the line started to move and then another staff member came out to the line and informed how long the wait is based on your approximate position, ours was 2 hours. She also took a soft order prepping your expectations like how much 2 ribs weigh, how much brisket you might like etc. The wait is long but ultimately worth it. The BBQ is awesome so juicy and flavorful. All in all a must try.”

• K

  Kevin Swieda

  ·4 months ago

  “THIS is why I picked Austin for this leg of my trip! While there can be up to a 3 hr wait, only about a dozen people were in line …”

• D

  Dan Kubasak

  ·4 months ago

  “Been on my bucket list for a while. Everything it is cracked up to be. Brisket was fantastic. The beef rib was amazing. I was pleasantly surprised by the pork rib! Maybe not what they are known for, but it was delicious! …”