After months of planning and balancing my trip needs vs barbecue-only focus, I ended up going to four barbecue spots in five days: Franklin, Micklethwait, KG BBQ, and La Barbecue. Thank you to this sub for your insights and opinions. I can only say this was my experience as a tourist and food enthusiast and I post my opinion with the intention of helping others and hearing your thoughts. Thanks for reading!
*edit* It looks like my diatribe is beyond the word limit for comments so I will break it up.
**Franklin**
My order: brisket, brisket sandwich, pork ribs, pulled pork, each of the three sides.
I got there around 8am and was around the twelfth in line. In the future, I’d be okay with getting there as late as 9am.
The brisket lived up to the hype. Easily the best brisket I’ve ever had. That bark is the result of some dark magic, some alchemy that wasn’t replicated anywhere else. I’m going to think about that brisket for a long time. The brisket sandwich was far larger than I was expecting, absolutely stacked.
I was also kind of blown away by the customer service. The staff were super friendly and, by happen stance while I was waiting for the restroom before service began, I overheard someone who is I assume a supervisor tell one of the servers her approach to customers, which is basically we’re all human so treat each other with respect and try to brighten their day. I mean, who can be against that? Clear instructions were given and the complimentary chairs while you wait were much appreciated. The ability to use the restroom and buy merch before opening was also clutch.
I was shocked and underwhelmed by everything else, unfortunately. The pork spare ribs were so salty as to make them inedible. I understand meat needs to be seasoned, and I understand bbq is salty, but can we agree even barbecue can be too salty? I usually don’t like pulled pork but I got a little because why not, and surprise surprise I was underwhelmed.
The sides were a complete letdown. I understand sides should complement the meat, but complimenting does not mean lack of flavor. The slaw had no flavor or kick, the brisket in the beans were dried out and did nothing. The potato salad was very mustard-forward which isn’t to my taste but I could see how people would enjoy that. My favorite side were the raw onions. With such a high from the brisket, I was (and still am) absolutely floored at the quality gap with the sides.
My future order: Brisket sandwich. I will be willing to wait in line again for this item.
jindard
**Micklethwait**
My order: brisket and pork rib meat plate, jalapeno cheese grits, lemon poppy slaw, potato salad.
I felt like I was out in the country with the tents. I understand they’re moving to a permanent location but for what it’s worth, I really enjoyed the setting. Pretty much no line when I showed up at 11am when they opened. Everyone was friendly.
The two meat plate has got to be the best value in Austin, no? I don’t know the weights, but the amount of food that came with it was phenomenal. The portions of the sides was also far bigger than I was expecting. The grits I got separately, hence the extra-large portion. I again appreciated the separate area to buy merch, use the restroom, and get a beer.
The brisket and pork ribs tasted like the best version of what I could make at home. They were both salt-forward without being overly salty (*ahem*), but to be honest I was expecting a little extra. It just didn’t stand out to me. The brisket was also cut a bit thicker than I am used to, affecting the tenderness and overall chewing experience. The unexpected hero were the slaw and grits. I could eat the grits almost like a hummus or queso, just shovel that down with pita or tortilla. It was very addicting. But that slaw – that is going to visit me in my dreams. It’s just a perfectly executed slaw. Refreshing, crunchy, a slight bite, colorful, perfect in just about every way. I’m a meat guy, but the slaw could be a meal in itself.
My future order: As much slaw and grits as I can handle.
jindard
**KG BBQ**
My order: brisket, lamb shoulder (should have gotten a chop or bacon), pomegranate ribs, baladi salad, Egyptian mac n’cheese.
I went here just a few hours after Micklethwait, so my taste buds were probably the most non-neutral out of the four spots, and I was not particularly hungry, but eager to try.
The brisket was very good, and something I would be happy to enjoy again if given the chance. The ribs were great, a unique sweetness that I haven’t had before. Shoulder was good, better than what I had at Franklin, but again I’m not a shoulder guy. Why did I get it, then? *shrug* The chaos of a food journey.
For me, I almost wouldn’t put KG in the same category of the other places – it’s just so different, with such bold flavors which I’m unfamiliar with, which was a little overwhelming. I respect the game, and it’s probably why their brisket rice bowl is listed as their signature item, to condense those flavors into a more manageable product.
I hope they up their merch game. I was ready to buy a shirt, but I was turned off by the thick material and inconvenience of it. The counter person said they had limited options but I could order a shirt online. But come on, who is going to do that? I’m there in the moment ready to buy a keepsake, but it’s not going to be important enough for me to order when I’m back home.
My future order: I’d probably get the brisket rice bowl and the lamb chop. But the ribs were the best stand-alone item I tried.
jindard
**La Barbecue**
I had an interesting experience with this one. I had a decent-sized non-barbecue lunch so the decision was made to get La Barbecue to go, along with a pizza from Palm, for an early dinner. I got the sliced brisket sandwich, ribs, beans, and shells and cheese at 3pm.
The ribs were immediately, clearly the best ribs I ever had, even from spending twenty minutes in the bag. But the brisket sandwich was one of the saddest items I had on the whole trip. From the pic, there were maybe two slices of brisket. But the brisket also had zero flavor. I had a piece on its own, and tasted nothing. I understand “brisket dies a quick death”, but damn, that fast, really? It had gotten a little smashed on the journey, which I didn’t hold against them. The vibe also just felt weird when I ordered – they weren’t rude, but it just felt off.
One could argue “well, you went at the wrong time”, “you don’t understand barbecue”, “your order was weird” or all sorts of things. I could only be honest with my experience. I had heard so much about La Barbecue, I was genuinely a little sad at the letdown.
So the next day I went at opening and had an amazing meal, the best overall meal of the trip when focusing on the food alone. Got there at 11:05am and waited fifteen minutes. The brisket was stacked and full, the ribs were just as good as the previous day, and the customer service was in top form. If Franklin brisket is 100, La Barbecue brisket is 93. Not as good, but pretty damn close. When you factor in the lack of line, that’s quite a compelling argument to choose La Barbecue over Franklin if you care about your time.
With such a variance in experience I’m a little puzzled. Maybe my lesson is don’t get barbecue to go or don’t go at off times. But for real life, you do things that are not always optimal – as great as the brisket sandwich was the second time, I can’t not think about that sad to-go order I had. Still, I’m very glad I went a second time, and La Barbecue is probably the most likely place if I would return to due to the combination of quality, value, and wait time.
My future order: sliced brisket sandwich and pork ribs. Twice.
jindard
**Ranking**
Brisket
1. Franklin 2. La Barbecue 3. KG BBQ 4. Micklethwait
Pork Ribs
1. La Barbecue 2. KG BBQ 3. Micklethwait 4. Franklin
Sides
1. Micklethwait 2. KG BBQ 3. La Barbecue 4. Franklin
WelcomeToBrooklandia
Very thorough writeup! It’s great that you got the chance to try so much BBQ and so much variety.
I 1000% disagree with your estimation of Micklethwait’s brisket, but to each their own!
Four-Triangles
r/bbq
bitcoin_moon_wsb
Pastrami at mums foods is up there. Interstellar is worth a trip too
pastro50
I haven’t tried kg or la barbecue. My normal go to downtown is terry blacks. Franklin is really good, but unless you preorder a bunch, it’s just too much of a commitment to wait that long. Thanks for all the info in your post.
icesa
That Micklethwait brisket looks dry as shit. Good sausage though.
Vast_Sweet_1221
I have often said the worst bbq in Texas is better than the best bbq anywhere else. Hyperbolic but defendable.
ThePart_Timer
If you haven’t, you should watch BBQ Showdown Season 3 on Netflix. KG is in it, and it’s fascinating to get to learn more about him.
jjazznola
I’ve hit Franklin on a Tues at 2:30 and walked right in. One time they even gave me a bunch of free sides. I am not into waiting in long lines for food. I usually just order the night before at LA BBQ, You walk right past the line and pick up your food.
EbagI
Awesome post, awesome pics!
I appreciate it! 🙂
QuietRedditorATX
Great detailed review
kattpee
As someone who isn’t a huge fan of bbq, your reviews made me hungry for bbq 🤣
Yum!
30ftFALL
Go North next time. Good details.
SharpAd7548
Controversial opinions of a lifelong Texan BBQ aficionado
It it needs sauce, it’s trash. ( This does not mean all sauce is bad! ) If there is a line, go somewhere else.
Artistic_Courage_851
Either we have VERY different taste buds, or you just happened to go on a bad day, but Micklethwait is easily my favorite BBQ place in Austin.
20 Comments
Nice! Did you get a chance to try Pok e Jo’s?
**Intro**
After months of planning and balancing my trip needs vs barbecue-only focus, I ended up going to four barbecue spots in five days: Franklin, Micklethwait, KG BBQ, and La Barbecue. Thank you to this sub for your insights and opinions. I can only say this was my experience as a tourist and food enthusiast and I post my opinion with the intention of helping others and hearing your thoughts. Thanks for reading!
*edit* It looks like my diatribe is beyond the word limit for comments so I will break it up.
**Franklin**
My order: brisket, brisket sandwich, pork ribs, pulled pork, each of the three sides.
I got there around 8am and was around the twelfth in line. In the future, I’d be okay with getting there as late as 9am.
The brisket lived up to the hype. Easily the best brisket I’ve ever had. That bark is the result of some dark magic, some alchemy that wasn’t replicated anywhere else. I’m going to think about that brisket for a long time. The brisket sandwich was far larger than I was expecting, absolutely stacked.
I was also kind of blown away by the customer service. The staff were super friendly and, by happen stance while I was waiting for the restroom before service began, I overheard someone who is I assume a supervisor tell one of the servers her approach to customers, which is basically we’re all human so treat each other with respect and try to brighten their day. I mean, who can be against that? Clear instructions were given and the complimentary chairs while you wait were much appreciated. The ability to use the restroom and buy merch before opening was also clutch.
I was shocked and underwhelmed by everything else, unfortunately. The pork spare ribs were so salty as to make them inedible. I understand meat needs to be seasoned, and I understand bbq is salty, but can we agree even barbecue can be too salty? I usually don’t like pulled pork but I got a little because why not, and surprise surprise I was underwhelmed.
The sides were a complete letdown. I understand sides should complement the meat, but complimenting does not mean lack of flavor. The slaw had no flavor or kick, the brisket in the beans were dried out and did nothing. The potato salad was very mustard-forward which isn’t to my taste but I could see how people would enjoy that. My favorite side were the raw onions. With such a high from the brisket, I was (and still am) absolutely floored at the quality gap with the sides.
My future order: Brisket sandwich. I will be willing to wait in line again for this item.
**Micklethwait**
My order: brisket and pork rib meat plate, jalapeno cheese grits, lemon poppy slaw, potato salad.
I felt like I was out in the country with the tents. I understand they’re moving to a permanent location but for what it’s worth, I really enjoyed the setting. Pretty much no line when I showed up at 11am when they opened. Everyone was friendly.
The two meat plate has got to be the best value in Austin, no? I don’t know the weights, but the amount of food that came with it was phenomenal. The portions of the sides was also far bigger than I was expecting. The grits I got separately, hence the extra-large portion. I again appreciated the separate area to buy merch, use the restroom, and get a beer.
The brisket and pork ribs tasted like the best version of what I could make at home. They were both salt-forward without being overly salty (*ahem*), but to be honest I was expecting a little extra. It just didn’t stand out to me. The brisket was also cut a bit thicker than I am used to, affecting the tenderness and overall chewing experience. The unexpected hero were the slaw and grits. I could eat the grits almost like a hummus or queso, just shovel that down with pita or tortilla. It was very addicting. But that slaw – that is going to visit me in my dreams. It’s just a perfectly executed slaw. Refreshing, crunchy, a slight bite, colorful, perfect in just about every way. I’m a meat guy, but the slaw could be a meal in itself.
My future order: As much slaw and grits as I can handle.
**KG BBQ**
My order: brisket, lamb shoulder (should have gotten a chop or bacon), pomegranate ribs, baladi salad, Egyptian mac n’cheese.
I went here just a few hours after Micklethwait, so my taste buds were probably the most non-neutral out of the four spots, and I was not particularly hungry, but eager to try.
The brisket was very good, and something I would be happy to enjoy again if given the chance. The ribs were great, a unique sweetness that I haven’t had before. Shoulder was good, better than what I had at Franklin, but again I’m not a shoulder guy. Why did I get it, then? *shrug* The chaos of a food journey.
For me, I almost wouldn’t put KG in the same category of the other places – it’s just so different, with such bold flavors which I’m unfamiliar with, which was a little overwhelming. I respect the game, and it’s probably why their brisket rice bowl is listed as their signature item, to condense those flavors into a more manageable product.
I hope they up their merch game. I was ready to buy a shirt, but I was turned off by the thick material and inconvenience of it. The counter person said they had limited options but I could order a shirt online. But come on, who is going to do that? I’m there in the moment ready to buy a keepsake, but it’s not going to be important enough for me to order when I’m back home.
My future order: I’d probably get the brisket rice bowl and the lamb chop. But the ribs were the best stand-alone item I tried.
**La Barbecue**
I had an interesting experience with this one. I had a decent-sized non-barbecue lunch so the decision was made to get La Barbecue to go, along with a pizza from Palm, for an early dinner. I got the sliced brisket sandwich, ribs, beans, and shells and cheese at 3pm.
The ribs were immediately, clearly the best ribs I ever had, even from spending twenty minutes in the bag. But the brisket sandwich was one of the saddest items I had on the whole trip. From the pic, there were maybe two slices of brisket. But the brisket also had zero flavor. I had a piece on its own, and tasted nothing. I understand “brisket dies a quick death”, but damn, that fast, really? It had gotten a little smashed on the journey, which I didn’t hold against them. The vibe also just felt weird when I ordered – they weren’t rude, but it just felt off.
One could argue “well, you went at the wrong time”, “you don’t understand barbecue”, “your order was weird” or all sorts of things. I could only be honest with my experience. I had heard so much about La Barbecue, I was genuinely a little sad at the letdown.
So the next day I went at opening and had an amazing meal, the best overall meal of the trip when focusing on the food alone. Got there at 11:05am and waited fifteen minutes. The brisket was stacked and full, the ribs were just as good as the previous day, and the customer service was in top form. If Franklin brisket is 100, La Barbecue brisket is 93. Not as good, but pretty damn close. When you factor in the lack of line, that’s quite a compelling argument to choose La Barbecue over Franklin if you care about your time.
With such a variance in experience I’m a little puzzled. Maybe my lesson is don’t get barbecue to go or don’t go at off times. But for real life, you do things that are not always optimal – as great as the brisket sandwich was the second time, I can’t not think about that sad to-go order I had. Still, I’m very glad I went a second time, and La Barbecue is probably the most likely place if I would return to due to the combination of quality, value, and wait time.
My future order: sliced brisket sandwich and pork ribs. Twice.
**Ranking**
Brisket
1. Franklin
2. La Barbecue
3. KG BBQ
4. Micklethwait
Pork Ribs
1. La Barbecue
2. KG BBQ
3. Micklethwait
4. Franklin
Sides
1. Micklethwait
2. KG BBQ
3. La Barbecue
4. Franklin
Very thorough writeup! It’s great that you got the chance to try so much BBQ and so much variety.
I 1000% disagree with your estimation of Micklethwait’s brisket, but to each their own!
r/bbq
Pastrami at mums foods is up there. Interstellar is worth a trip too
I haven’t tried kg or la barbecue. My normal go to downtown is terry blacks. Franklin is really good, but unless you preorder a bunch, it’s just too much of a commitment to wait that long. Thanks for all the info in your post.
That Micklethwait brisket looks dry as shit. Good sausage though.
I have often said the worst bbq in Texas is better than the best bbq anywhere else. Hyperbolic but defendable.
If you haven’t, you should watch BBQ Showdown Season 3 on Netflix. KG is in it, and it’s fascinating to get to learn more about him.
I’ve hit Franklin on a Tues at 2:30 and walked right in. One time they even gave me a bunch of free sides. I am not into waiting in long lines for food. I usually just order the night before at LA BBQ, You walk right past the line and pick up your food.
Awesome post, awesome pics!
I appreciate it! 🙂
Great detailed review
As someone who isn’t a huge fan of bbq, your reviews made me hungry for bbq 🤣
Yum!
Go North next time. Good details.
Controversial opinions of a lifelong Texan BBQ aficionado
It it needs sauce, it’s trash.
( This does not mean all sauce is bad! )
If there is a line, go somewhere else.
Either we have VERY different taste buds, or you just happened to go on a bad day, but Micklethwait is easily my favorite BBQ place in Austin.