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 record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. 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.
The details, verified.
- 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
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.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Barbecue in Austin Austin, TX · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Franklin Barbecue
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for Franklin Barbecue (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
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 for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
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.