Franklin Barbecue
Best Barbecue in Austin · TX
The brisket people camp out for, since 2009.
Franklin Barbecue turned a trailer into a national phenomenon. Since 2009, Aaron and Stacy Franklin's East Austin smokehouse has drawn hours-long lines for brisket so tender it has become the modern benchmark for Texas barbecue — it sells out most days, and the wait is part of the legend.
Aaron Franklin won a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest — rare for a pitmaster — and the smokehouse on East 11th is a genuine pilgrimage. It's the 2025 Centurion Award winner in Austin.
What they're known for
- Brisket
- Pork ribs
- Smoked turkey & pulled pork
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Founding cohort: evaluated in 2026 on public evidence available then, labeled 2025. Selection follows the published criteria; Franklin Barbecue met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Austin since 2009 — 17 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Austin.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Austin has kept Franklin Barbecue busy for 17 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Austin regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best barbecue in Austin for 2025 for brisket that redefined Texas barbecue and a morning line that became a city landmark of its own.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
Award record
2025 Centurion Award
Best Barbecue in Austin Austin, TX · Awarded under the 2025 evaluationVisit Franklin Barbecue
The details, verified.
Clean, checkable facts about Franklin Barbecue.
- Legal / trading name
- Franklin Barbecue
- Category
- Restaurant
- Founded
- 2009, Austin, TX
- Founders
- Aaron & Stacy Franklin
- Location
- 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
- Centurion Award
- Best Barbecue in Austin — 2025
- Other recognition
- James Beard Award — Best Chef: Southwest (2015)
- Record last verified
- July 2026
A signal you can check.
This is a dated award record published by The Centurion Awards after reviewing public evidence for Franklin Barbecue against the 2025 criteria for its market and category. The business did not have to apply for this page to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. The criteria are public. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. If an award stops holding up, we may revoke it. For anything current, like hours or bookings, go straight to the business itself.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Franklin Barbecue?
East Austin barbecue restaurant founded by Aaron and Stacy Franklin in 2009, whose brisket earned a James Beard Award and daily sellouts.
Is Franklin Barbecue award-winning?
Yes — Franklin Barbecue is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Barbecue in Austin, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best barbecue in Austin for 2025 for brisket that redefined Texas barbecue and a morning line that became a city landmark of its own.
Where is Franklin Barbecue?
Franklin Barbecue is in Austin, TX.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.