Franklin Barbecue

The overview

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 2026 Centurion Award winner in Austin.

What they're known for

Brisket
Pork ribs
Smoked turkey & pulled pork

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

Google Maps
Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. Franklin Barbecue cleared every one.

✓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 2026 for brisket that redefined Texas barbecue and a morning line that became a city landmark of its own.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2026

Best Barbecue in Austin Austin, TX · Awarded under the 2026 evaluation

All awards for Franklin Barbecue →

Visit Franklin Barbecue

Websitefranklinbbq.com ↗

Location900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

In business since2009

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about Franklin Barbecue — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

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 — 2026
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 Franklin Barbecue cleared the 2026 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

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 2026 Centurion Award winner for Best Barbecue in Austin, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best barbecue in Austin for 2026 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.