Franklin Barbecue

Franklin Barbecue, an Austin, Texas restaurant, opened in 2009 when Aaron Franklin started it from a trailer. A permanent brick-and-mortar location followed in 2011, painted to match the original trailer. Since its first day, the restaurant has never had leftover brisket at closing time, and it has built a reputation that draws customers from across the country.

The restaurant got a boost in September 2012 when it appeared on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. In July 2014, President Barack Obama stopped by and bought lunch for everyone waiting in line behind him. Jon Favreau’s 2014 film Chef also featured the restaurant in a key scene, with Franklin and general manager Benji Jacob making speaking cameos.

A fire broke out in the smokehouse early on August 26, 2017, causing serious damage to parts of the outer building. The main dining area only had smoke damage. The restaurant shut down for three months and reopened in November 2017 as a smaller operation. By March 2018, the smokehouse had been redesigned and rebuilt.

Franklin Barbecue is often credited with leading the new-traditionalist barbecue movement. Its menu includes pulled pork, pork ribs, sausages, turkey, and brisket. For his Texas-style brisket, Franklin uses post oak wood and Meyer Angus beef, seasoned only with salt and pepper.

In July 2011, Bon Appétit editor Andrew Knowlton called Franklin Barbecue “the best BBQ in the country.” Owner Aaron Franklin won a James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southwest in May 2015, becoming the first barbecue specialist to be nominated for or receive that award. Texas Monthly ranked Franklin Barbecue first on its “The 50 Best BBQ Joints” list in 2013 and again in 2017. In 2020, Aaron Franklin was inducted into the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame.

Notable patrons have included Barack Obama, David Chang, Anthony Bourdain, Gordon Ramsay, Jon Favreau, and Jimmy Kimmel.

In 2013, Austin PBS station KLRU teamed up with Aaron Franklin to produce a web series called BBQ with Franklin, which later aired on the Create TV network, part of the PBS family.