Tailgating for Meat: How to Get Austin’s Franklin Barbecue

“No meat is worth a multi-hour wait,” someone who has never visited Franklin Barbecue may think. But on a recent visit, I waited five hours at the famed brisket spot, and the food was truly worth the wait.

While the tiny meat purveyor doesn’t open its doors to hungry guests until 11 a.m., brisket enthusiasts start gathering at the entrance as early as 6 a.m. and the line snakes around the street usually before 9 a.m. Since opening in 2009 as a trailer off Interstate 35, Franklin Barbecue has sold out of its delicious meat items, like brisket, beef-and-pork sausage and pulled pork, every day.

Franklin’s current location, a cozy brick building in Austin, has a consistent two-hour wait daily, even with pouring rain, chilly weather and scorching hot temperatures. So how does one pass the time while waiting to enjoy the place Texas Monthly dubbed the best barbecue joint in Texas?

Come hours early. On a recent visit, my group of friends and I arrived at 7:30 a.m. and discovered a line with more than 50 people had already formed. Employees took customer orders early, around 9 a.m., and handed out their famous “Last Man Standing” sign to indicate the last group to be served around 10 a.m.

Prepare for the wait with proper attire. Check the weather to figure out whether you should layer up, bring a raincoat or tout an umbrella to keep away rain or relentless sun.

© A Vandalay | Flickr

Bring along usual tailgating gear, like chairs and coolers of food and drinks. We discovered a number of chairs under the venue’s steps to borrow free of charge while we waited as well as umbrellas when it poured. But don’t rely on these complimentary amenities, as the supply ran out quickly.

Nearly everyone in line enjoys a brew or two. My group packed a color with Texas beers we picked up the day before from a nearby H-E-B grocery store, as well as local Bloody Mary mix. Most of us fasted before the big meal, too full from all the Tex-Mex cuisine we feasted on the day before, but some picked up baked goods and coffee at the on-site coffee trailer run by Legend Coffee Co.

Enjoy the wait and socialize. We chatted with happy locals and visitors around us, played fetch with a local friend’s dog who waited in line with us, drank many cans of local beers from Hops & Grain and Austin Beerworks and laughed when it started to pour. We almost lamented the wait was over by time we stepped up to the counter around 12:30 p.m. to pick up our order of brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausage, potato salad, slaw, pinto beans and pecan pie.

If you find yourself in Austin and want a quintessential Texas experience, tailgate for meat at Franklin Barbecue; it’s worth the wait.

Be advised Franklin Barbecue is closed Mondays.