My Franklin BBQ Experience

TexasRebel

We headed down from Mansfield Friday after my wife and I both got off work.  Had to make the normal stop at Slovaceks on the way.  Procured myself some beef sticks and a couple of chicken salad sandwiches for the remainder of the drive.  We stayed at the Sheraton downtown which is just on the other side of 35 from Franklin.  I would definitely stay somewhere else next time but we've never really stayed in Austin before.  Woke up early and were in line at 6:50 or so.  We were 80 deep at this point I'm assuming partly due to the holiday weekend.  We set up shop and began our wait.  The people around us were all really great which adds so much to this experience.  The guy next to us was a BBQ coach for a High School competition team in Georgia (shout out to BBQ Pit Vipers) who was with his buddies on a tour of America's greatest bbq joints.  Anyway, I'm not going to do a big write up as I know a lot of you have already been there and have written and read about it numerous times.  But it's truly a great experience.  Aaron himself was super cool and very willing to take pictures or sign whatever you wanted.  The same can be said for his entire staff.  Is this something I'm going to do every weekend?  Probably not.  But a couple of times a year at least I would really enjoy it.  The first bite of brisket that the guy cut for us was the best piece of meat I've ever put in my mouth and it's not particularly close.  Overall, I give this experience a 10 out of 10 and would recommend to anyone that enjoys barbecue and just food in general.  Also, make sure to check out the smoker room!

lousubcap

Great write-up.  You captured my experiences every time I have been there.  I would make it a bucket list item for any serious BBQ enthusiast. 

Great trip and even better eats.  Congrats.

EagleIII

Adding it to the Bucket List right now...

MaskedMarvel

Awesome!

johnkitchens

It is on my bucket list as well. Hopefully one day I will make it out! 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Awesome. Glad you enjoyed our fine town in your visit. Aaron is such a generous guy. Always a fun day when you can take 4-5 hours to luxuriate over bbq. 

TexasRebel

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Awesome. Glad you enjoyed our fine town in your visit. Aaron is such a generous guy. Always a fun day when you can take 4-5 hours to luxuriate over bbq. 

He was so genuine and so willing to sit and talk about bbq.  Some people you meet just don't live up to their on-screen or on-whatever persona but that's not the case with Aaron.  Just a super nice person.

JethroVA

thanks for the write up

JohnInCarolina

Love it!

Thatgrimguy

I've been to Austin so many times and still haven't done it. My buddy lives like 2 miles or less from Valentina's trailer and there is no more than 30 minute wait there.  

I gotta just do it. My friends that live in Austin have never done it. But convincing them is hard. I may just go alone next time I go visit.

SciAggie

Thatgrimguy said:

I've been to Austin so many times and still haven't done it. My buddy lives like 2 miles or less from Valentina's trailer and there is no more than 30 minute wait there.  

I gotta just do it. My friends that live in Austin have never done it. But convincing them is hard. I may just go alone next time I go visit.

Give me shout and I’ll do it with you if I can. I’ve never done it either and I’m in Austin frequently. 

saluki2007

Great write up and thanks for sharing.  Love that shirt Aaron is wearing.  What's the green stuff that looks like waxed jalapenos?

aem

Thatgrimguy said:

I've been to Austin so many times and still haven't done it. My buddy lives like 2 miles or less from Valentina's trailer and there is no more than 30 minute wait there.  

I gotta just do it. My friends that live in Austin have never done it. But convincing them is hard. I may just go alone next time I go visit.

There are so many good BBQ places in Austin, I don't have the patience to wait in line 4 hours. 

TexasRebel

saluki2007 said:

Great write up and thanks for sharing.  Love that shirt Aaron is wearing.  What's the green stuff that looks like waxed jalapenos?

Pickled Jalapenos.  May just be my phone's camera that made them look weird. 

TexasRebel

aem said:

Thatgrimguy said:

I've been to Austin so many times and still haven't done it. My buddy lives like 2 miles or less from Valentina's trailer and there is no more than 30 minute wait there.  

I gotta just do it. My friends that live in Austin have never done it. But convincing them is hard. I may just go alone next time I go visit.

There are so many good BBQ places in Austin, I don't have the patience to wait in line 4 hours. 

I've eaten at several of the other joints in and around Austin and Franklin's brisket is just flat out better.  Not to knock any of the other spots but IMHO it's the truth.  Yes, waiting in that crazy line is a deterrence for most sane people.  Me included.  But it was honest to God a good time sitting there with like-minded people and just talking about BBQ for a few hours.  It's kinda like if everyone in this forum was sitting in a parking lot with you. 

Eggcelsior

TexasRebel said:

aem said:

Thatgrimguy said:

I've been to Austin so many times and still haven't done it. My buddy lives like 2 miles or less from Valentina's trailer and there is no more than 30 minute wait there.  

I gotta just do it. My friends that live in Austin have never done it. But convincing them is hard. I may just go alone next time I go visit.

There are so many good BBQ places in Austin, I don't have the patience to wait in line 4 hours. 

I've eaten at several of the other joints in and around Austin and Franklin's brisket is just flat out better.  Not to knock any of the other spots but IMHO it's the truth.  Yes, waiting in that crazy line is a deterrence for most sane people.  Me included.  But it was honest to God a good time sitting there with like-minded people and just talking about BBQ for a few hours.  It's kinda like if everyone in this forum was sitting in a parking lot with you. 

In the times I’ve been, Valentina’s was #2 followed by Rudy’s, of all places. Wish I had the opportunity to try places more often.

smbishop

Thank you for sharing!  I have a place 1.5 hours from Austin, no excuse not to do this.  I have driven by and taken pictures, though.  I just returned his "Steak" book to the library, interesting read, learned a lot about beef.  His 'sides' recipes from both books are spot on.

thetrim

That tray looks amazing!  Thanks for the write up!

The Cen-Tex Smoker

SciAggie said:

Thatgrimguy said:

I've been to Austin so many times and still haven't done it. My buddy lives like 2 miles or less from Valentina's trailer and there is no more than 30 minute wait there.  

I gotta just do it. My friends that live in Austin have never done it. But convincing them is hard. I may just go alone next time I go visit.

Give me shout and I’ll do it with you if I can. I’ve never done it either and I’m in Austin frequently. 

me too! I'm always game to do dumb stuff in the name of bbq. I guarantee that if you put up the bat signal on here when you go, you won't be in line alone

JohnInCarolina

For anyone who hasn’t been, I strongly recommend going the day after an ice storm, when nobody except Uber drivers are willing to brave the streets.  The line tends to be short!

lousubcap

For those in the Austin area, in the colder weather (not necessarily ice storm) season the line is definitely a crap-shoot.  I was there in early Dec '16 rolling into town around noon after visiting friends that lived north of Houston.  Goal was Valentina's and since I was staying just up the street from Franklin's my route went right by his place. 

Suffice to say after enjoying Valentina's I saw a very short line at Franklin's.  Parked the car and walked down to spend around 30 minutes in line and then finish the brisket meat coma overload.  Oh yes, back the next day for more meat coma and the line experience.  Definitely worth it if you want great brisket and a chance to talk with the pope. 

thetrim

Better than Arby‘s

20stone

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

SciAggie said:

Thatgrimguy said:

I've been to Austin so many times and still haven't done it. My buddy lives like 2 miles or less from Valentina's trailer and there is no more than 30 minute wait there.  

I gotta just do it. My friends that live in Austin have never done it. But convincing them is hard. I may just go alone next time I go visit.

Give me shout and I’ll do it with you if I can. I’ve never done it either and I’m in Austin frequently. 

me too! I'm always game to do dumb stuff in the name of bbq. I guarantee that if you put up the bat signal on here when you go, you won't be in line alone

+1

JohnnyTarheel

Awesome... thanks for sharing 

SmokeyLopey

I have a sister in Austin I need to visit...this may convince me to visit sooner rather than later--although they like Valentinas!

lousubcap

@SmokeyLopey Valentina's is great, especially whatever they call that breakfast tortilla loaded with stuff and fresh brisket.  You can easily do both in any day as Valentina's opens at 7:30 AM (closed Tues) and Franklin's not til 11.

Go big or go home.  That is a great double-header right there! 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

lousubcap said:

@SmokeyLopey Valentina's is great, especially whatever they call that breakfast tortilla loaded with stuff and fresh brisket.  You can easily do both in any day as Valentina's opens at 7:30 AM (closed Tues) and Franklin's not til 11.

Go big or go home.  That is a great double-header right there! 

That would be the "Real Deal Holyfield" taco.

stever1888

Not to hijack a Franklin BBQ thread, but it cannot be stressed enough that the Real Deal Holyfield is THE REAL DEAL.  Holy moly.

TexasRebel

I actually used leftover Franklin brisket for some breakfast tacos the following morning.  Aged cheddar, scrambled egg, and homemade hot sauce.  No potatoes though but that looks freaking amazing.

SmokeyLopey

@The Cen-Tex Smoker @lousubcap : Looks good--although it sounds like I would be 4pm getting through Franklin's line if I got such a late start by having breakfast at Valentina's. To amend my comment...it looks great!

lousubcap

@SmokeyLopey Mid-week no issue.  Valentina's upon opening.  You can be in line at Franklin's by 9:30 AM at the latest.  Likely no more than 60-70 people ahead of you.  Best daily double food-wise I have ever experienced.  Worth the run to savor the best in brisket.  Go for it!  FWIW-