The 100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America by Johnny Fugitt

Author:Johnny Fugitt [Fugitt, Johnny]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Renew Press
Published: 2015-06-03T22:00:00+00:00

#7. Franklin Barbecue

Austin, Texas

www.franklinbarbecue.com

Established: 2009

Style: Central Texas. Lunch only with a huge line. Retro interior.

Wood: Post oak.

What to try: Brisket and…brisket.

What to Avoid: Sides. Just eat brisket.

A million places have been dubbed the “Mecca” of something. I will not refer to a dozen restaurants as Meccas of barbecue, but just as there is one Mecca, I will use the analogy once. Franklin Barbecue is today’s Mecca of barbecue.

Franklin Barbecue was crowned best in the Lone Star State by Texas Monthly and has been featured in everything from the New York Times to Bon Appetite to Men’s Fitness. It’s Anthony Bourdain’s favorite barbecue spot and Aaron Franklin is on TV. When Franklin Barbecue is brought up in conversations around Austin, the only thing discussed more than the brisket is the wait. I met one Texas restaurant owner who waited in line on multiple occasions, but had yet to try the brisket since it was sold-out when he made it to the butcher block.

I braved the line early one morning and found that nearly everyone in line was a visitor to Austin. Most locals will have a hard time investing four hours of their day to lunch on a regular basis. While it isn’t something you want to do often, the line itself is an experience. Meeting people is part of the fun. Tailgating helps the time pass and makes the barbecue even better. The anticipation makes you incredibly hungry which only heightens the experience.

I visited on a “slow” day. It was a Wednesday in January, but when I arrived at 9:15, there were 20 people already in line. By opening at 11AM, there were an estimated 125 people in line. Even if your neighbors in line are grumpy and the weather is terrible, one bite of brisket will make you forget about all your troubles. People often rave about the ribs, sandwiches and sauce at Franklin, but for me it’s all about the brisket. It’s absolutely incredible.

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