I posted this in another thread but thought I'd make my own post about my Franklin Barbecue experience:
I had a work trip in San Antonio. I live nowhere near Texas. I'm never in Texas. Probably won't be back for at least a decade. Maybe I'll never go back.
I told my wife I wanted to take my last day and Uber to Franklin's for brisket and then fly home from from Austin. Keep in mind this is after working at a grueling conference with several back to back 15+ hour days of entertaining clients.
She thought I was insane. She brought up the cost of the Uber and just the cost of the barbecue itself and reminded me that I'd essentially be adding on a whole day to my already taxing trip.
I explained that I kinda saw this as a once in a lifetime type deal. I also love the movie Chef, and was just a fan of Aaron Franklin in general so I just wanted the experience. With that, she seemed to understand a bit better, but was still understandably skeptical.
While in Texas I told people about my plan and heard about 7000 different "better" places I should go to instead. And you know what, I'm sure those places are incredible, some of them ARE probably even better. I don't care. I know what I came there for and why I wanted to go there. I'll probably get replies on this post about how "overrated" Franklin's is. Again, I don't care. This place, was basically my ENTIRE bucket list.
This most recent Sunday I woke up far earlier than I would have preferred at my San Antonio hotel after about 3ish hours of sleep (and hardly getting any at all during the whole conference), Ubered the 75 minutes to Austin, waited in line for nearly 3 hours in the 25-35 degree weather, made some truly amazing new friends in said line, and then finally ate some incredible barbecue!
I ordered WAYYYYYYYYYY too much, but again, once in a lifetime thing for me and I wanted to make sure that if I found something I loved, I had enough of it. When I was done I wasn't sure what to do with it. One of the employees said she could wrap it up for me and it was "TSA Approved". So I asked her to do that.
She wrapped it in brown butcher paper, threw it in a plastic bag, and I put it in one of my carry-ons. I Ubered to the airport and had to wait for 6ish hours there before my 4 hour flight home, then had to drive more than an hour home.
I got home and showed my wife the one souvenir I brought her from Texas, 12 hour old brisket (and turkey, ribs, etc.) that had been hastily shoved in a backpack, thrown under an airplane seat, and transported across the country. Again, she was understandably skeptical.
She took her first bite of brisket, smiled, rolled her eyes a bit, and said, "Ok…..I get it now."
by Hallwitzer
50 Comments
hell yeah brother, dudes rock
cheers
One of the best! Perfect representation of what good Texan barbecue is all about
Ignore the haters man. As long as you’re happy, the experience was worth it!
Had some Terry Blacks a few weeks ago and it’s probably the first BBQ spot I’d recommend in years.
I just feel like it would have been cheaper to rent a car
Hell yeah.
thank you for your service
I’m a big bbq fan and probably will never get the chance to visit Franklin so you’re experiment is very important for me
means a lot for a bbq person
My man 🥇
That was my experience too.
The brisket literally would fall apart when I picked it up. It was so fuckin good.
One of us, one of us, one of us!
Next time, also check out La Barbecue! Excellent ribs
DUUUUUDEEEEE!!!!! SHE LOVES YOU!!,!
The moments that make life worth living
That sounds like a cool adventure to me.
I’m from Michigan and Franklin BBQ is how I spent my 40th birthday.
This…. Is a great story/post. I enjoyed reading it and hope to do what you did one day before I get too old. Congrats!
This is a bucket list place for me as well! Happy to hear you enjoyed it!
I laughed when you put the one souvenir you brought her from Texas 🤣
I’ve had quite a few bbq places in Texas (franklins, terry’s, truth, pinkertons, killens, blood bros, to name a few) and I can say that franklins has been my favorite. You made a good decision.
If you’re ever craving franklins brisket again and don’t want to fly to Texas you can always order a precooked brisket from them on Goldbelly and it ships to your house. Reheating process is simple and it does taste similar to being there in person.
Hell yeah!!
Looks incredible, how much?
Nice job man. Sometimes you have to just go for it. I hope you enjoyed every bite of it. I live 15 minutes from the restaurant and don’t eat there nearly enough. It’s still indescribably good.
This is awesome. This right here is what life should be about. Experiences and living. I love it. Kudos man for enjoying life.
Every time I’ve gone to Austin, I’ve checked a box on the return flight with the Walgreens Styrofoam cooler and cold pack full up with as much BBQ as I can fit.
Right on! I am going down for a wedding in October and my wife asked what venues I wanted to go to hear some music and I said I don’t care as long as I get to stand in line at Franklins. I got the look.
Love this.
Love this other than eating 12 hour old meat lol. Definitely worth whatever the investment was to detour to Austin though. I flew from Canada primarily to eat there and it lived up to the hype.
I smelled this post before I even got to it. Love it dude, I would have done the same thing.
I’ve had Franklin’s a few times through Goldbelly and it’s easily the best brisket I’ve ever had in my life.
I can’t imagine how good it is to have it fresh down there. Awesome story. Thanks for sharing.
This reads like Penthouse Forum. But for meat.
Good for you, OP. I go to Austin for work occasionally and like to hit up Terry Black’s while I’m there. Yeah yeah yeah there’s a million better places blah blah blah but I know what I like.
Dude, I was there today! Was outstanding.
We’re headed to Texas next week and Franklin is absolutely on my list. But so isn’t KG, Terry Blacks, and Styles Switch. We’re only there for 3 days so unfortunately there’s going to have to be cuts lol.
I remember my 1st time at Franklin’s. An employee guy came down the line ,the bbq grim reaper, counting everybody. When he got to us he said “at this point in line you have 25% chance of having brisket. May have decent chance to get pork ribs and sausage we have plenty” they run out of meat due to the demand and online orders I guess. Waiting in line is part of the experience, if you havent done it, imagine you “meat” other folks that have similar interests such as bbq. Had beers with a guy that worked a the Univ. of Georgia and had travelled to Austin that weekend to try it. Good guy, had a good time drinking and talking with him for about 2.5hrs. Folks fell out of line,but we arrived before the brisket ran out. Got about $200+ worth(bbq sandwich,brisket,pork ribs,sausage,beans,potato salad,and coleslaw) I thought it was delicious, took some home for my sister in law to try. Done it again and only waited in line 1.5hr. And that was just bc we got there around 10-11am
If I was only 75 mins from Austin and I was on my own and had the time, there’s no way I’m not going to Franklin’s. Like you I’m hardly in Texas. Last time was over a decade ago. I did make it to Smitty’s and Black’s last time I was there.
I’ll be there in march for the MotoGp race and then to franklins, also on my bucket list.
What was your favorite meat besides the brisket?
I’m from / live in San Antonio and never bothered to make the trip myself. Hell, I’m 5 mins away from 2M and haven’t had them either. I’ve had enough practice over the years that I’m pretty confident in my own product.
Granted, if I was in the area and had people with me for the line I’d probably do it though.
I will say though, 12 hours…that is some serious food poisoning danger there. Hopefully everyone was okay!
My first time at Franklin’s we lined up at 5am and were 2nd in line. This was during an F1 weekend and we met so many cool people who were fans of bbq and F1. My 2nd time to Franklin’s was on a random Thursday and I literally got there at 2pm and they still had brisket and ribs left but no turkey. Got myself a plate and brought some left overs to my GF. She’s also not a fan of brisket but changed her mind quickly when she had some brisket and ribs from Franklin’s. Dont let anyone shit on your experience.
Buddy I did the same thing when I went to Texas. Totally worth it to me. The whole thing in itself is an experience and worth it. Lucky for me we have a guy close to where I live that does real TX brisket and it reminds me of Franklins. He sells out every day he’s open and has a long line of people waiting to get in.
You did it right. Don’t listen to the haters of bucket list things. If, for some reason, you do get to go back sooner than you expect, you can try any of the other incredible places, (in San Antonio too! Don’t sleep on that city!) but for now, you went there and had a great experience, and that’s what food is about. (Also, FWIW, I still rate Franklin’s as the best brisket I’ve ever had, even though I may never go back because of the line)
Love this write up… thank you. Looks like good eats and certainly great memory.
Gotta ask…. how much for an Uber from SA to Austin? and how much for that delicious platter (for 2)??
Sorta tried to go to Franklin’s once about 15 years ago, but had two little kids with me and the line was too long for them (and for their parents to put up with them), so instead drove out to Salt Lick, where there was no line (it was only like 11:00 a.m.), and it was FANTASTIC.
I’m guessing there are also lots of folks who will tell me that Salt Lick is overrated, etc., etc., but I thought it was terrific.
And yes, I’ve had a lot of BBQ from childhood (in Kansas City) on up, and frequently smoke my own briskets, pork butts, baby back ribs, sausage and tri-tip roasts. I’m not a novice.
Enjoyed reading this post. I also like Aaron Franklin and enjoyed watching him on BBQ Pitmasters and other shows. Seems like a good dude.
I went in 2013 and waited an hour and a half to get in. I told Aaron I flew from Philly to come here and he slapped a piece of fatty brisket down and asked “do they have that in Philly”? One of the greatest eating experiences of my life that brisket was unlike anything I’ve ever had.
Glad to hear you stuck to your guns, being a Texan, i annually drive 12hrs to eat at my fav New Mexican food place in Albq, then briskly turn around & drive back. The wife & i routinely drive 1.25 hrs up to Llano TX & have a ribeye steak at our fav place there. Welcome to the go way outve your way to eat a meal club👍
Congrats on crossing off something on your bucket list. Franklin’s is good stuff. If you’re ever in Texas again (maybe your wife wants to try it first hand?), I would recommend driving about 15-20 minutes south of Austin to Lockhart, the BBQ capital of Texas. Check out Black’s BBQ and Kruez Market, two of the oldest BBQ joints in Texas.
I visited Texas with my gf and just wanted to try Franklin’s to at least get to try it, same, wouldn’t be back soon or often. We’ll lemme tell you… I had bbq the night before at stupid Salt Lick and I woke up in thw middle of the night puking from both ends. No way in hell could I even physically go to Franklin’s 🥲
So now i have to go back to Texas ugh.
My cousin lives in Austin. When we visited, he laughed at us for wanting to wait in line at Franklin’s. Because, “there’s way better bbq around. It’s not worth the wait”. So I brought him a brisket sandwich when we left. He solemnly admitted he was wrong. And it was indeed the best brisket he’d ever had.
I’m a native Texan, but haven’t been yet. That said, when I smoke brisket at home, I watch the 3-part PBS special of Aaron showing how he does brisket.
Glad you enjoyed some good BBQ. Y’all come back now, ya hear!
Beautiful masterpiece 😋
I literally teared up reading this. That’s livin it up right there. What a beauty.