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CHOW Tour Austin: Best Barbecue

Published on Monday, February 14, 2011, by Roxanne Webber and Blake Smith / Edit Post

If you go to Texas to document food, you'd better get your hands on as much barbecued brisket as possible. That was our guiding principle at least. We scoped out two versions of barbecue in and around Austin: Franklin Barbecue, which is manned by barbecue whiz kids who currently smoke and serve naturally raised meats out of three trailers in a parking lot, and the deeply historical Louie Mueller, just outside of Austin in Taylor, Texas, where they've been doing stuff the same way at this location since 1959. Here's a look at Texas beef, dry rub, and lots of smoke.

Franklin Barbecue
3421 N. I-35, Austin
512-653-1187

Louie Mueller Barbecue
206 W. Second Street, Taylor
512-352-6206

ALLAustin
POST A COMMENT |11 Comments

COMMENT

  • Franklin' BBQs has now moved into a real building. I have yet to eat there, but I have heard from others saying the food is just as good as before. Please call them or check on-line before you make the drive to the wrong address.

  • I have found Rudy's BBQ to be consistently excellent especially their briskit.

  • New address for the Finest Franklin BBQ is 900 E 11th. Congratulations!

  • Well, I went to Franklin's BBQ in Austin and it is good. We got there at about 12:25 and the "closed" sign went up at 12:30. Rule number 1, don't arrive late. By the time we got to the front of the line 45 minutes later, they had very little of anything left. There were still about 5 people in line after us.

    The slices of brisket was from the lean end, but they were still tender and moist. Nice...+READ

    Well, I went to Franklin's BBQ in Austin and it is good. We got there at about 12:25 and the "closed" sign went up at 12:30. Rule number 1, don't arrive late. By the time we got to the front of the line 45 minutes later, they had very little of anything left. There were still about 5 people in line after us.

    The slices of brisket was from the lean end, but they were still tender and moist. Nice smoke ring, good flavor. The sausage and pulled pork was also great. I'll be back, but earlier next time.-COLLAPSE

  • I've eaten barbecue all over the country, having lived in most of the BBQ "Meccas."

    Other places have their ribs, their tritips, their pulled pork. All great.

    But for me, brisket is the thing. And you can take my word for it. The best of the Central Texas barbecue shrines are in a completely different league.

    Nobody, and I mean nobody, does brisket as well.

  • GREAT! Now I have to drive to Austin and check out Franklin's. I've been to Louie Mueller's and I love it, so I'll need to go to Franklin's next weekend and give it a try.

    LOL, I never would have thought that someone would refer to Taylor as a "big city". I have to disagree with mgwerks regarding Taylor, Lockhart and Luling.

  • I had brisket at some joint in San Marcos and it was terrible. I'll have to find Aaron & Stacy next time I'm in town. But, KC BBQ is the best!

    Scott
    All Sizes BBQ

  • I have tried BBQ many places and I must agree that Texas has the corner on the market. There are many BBQ places in Texas but the small Mom & Pop shops have the best when it comes to Texas BBQ.

  • As someone who has been cooking and eating BBQ for a long time, I have to concur that at present, Aaron & Stacy have the consistently best brisket in the state. Forget Lockhart, certainly forget Taylor and any of the large cities - Franklin's is tops. My runner-up nod goes to Cooper's in Llano, but for the "Big Chop".

  • What about Canada, check out website Smokin' Jake's BBQ Shack

  • YES! I've never been to Franklin BBQ but only salt and pepper is how it should be. I also agree with Mueller that sauce it more of a compliment.