When it comes to Austin, Texas I think of 3 things: Willie Nelson, comedy, and barbecue. So when I moved to Austin for a travel assignment, I had to see what all the hype was about and try to find the best BBQ in Austin!
I decided to try the two biggest barbecue names in the city; Franklin Barbecue and Terry Black’s BBQ. Continue reading to see the pros and cons of each spot and the restaurant I would personally crown the best.
Traveling to Austin or Dallas? Located halfway between the two cities, Waco is home to the infamous Magnolia Silos! Check out my latest travel post ‘How to Spend a Day at Magnolia: Waco, TX‘ for details on where to eat and what to do!
Background
Franklin Barbecue
Aaron Franklin is the mastermind behind Franklin Barbecue. What started as a backyard hobby turned food truck has become a barbecue experience that draws tourists from all over, eager to stand in line for hours for a chance at this famous brisket.
**Note: Get there early. They ran out of brisket shortly after I was able to make it through the line!**
Terry Black’s BBQ
Founded in 2014 by twin BBQers Mark and Michael Black, Terry Black’s opened along Barton Springs Road. Since then, 3 additional locations have opened in Dallas, Lockhart, and Waco as well. This rapidly growing BBQ spot has made a name for themselves in the heart of downtown Austin.
Location
Franklin Barbecue
Located on East 11th street, Franklin Barbecue is a little further from the action. It is, however, about half a mile from the Texas State Capitol. If you aren’t coming or going from the Capitol, you’ll need to drive or Uber.
Terry Black’s BBQ
Located just south of Barton Springs Road, Terry Black’s is less than a mile from South Congress Bridge making it easily accessible by foot. It’s located just across the street from Town Lake Metropolitan Park making it an easy choice for lunch after exploring one of Austin’s beautiful parks along the Colorado River/Lady Bird Lake.
Parking
Franklin Barbecue
There is a small parking lot behind Franklin and a decent amount of free street parking. If you arrive early enough, parking shouldn’t be an issue!
Terry Black’s BBQ
While the parking lot here is larger than Franklin Barbecue’s, it was a slight claustrophobic nightmare. There isn’t much room for turning around or waiting for a spot to open. If you can’t find a spot, you may be better off parking in the Town Lake Metropolitan Park lot- it’s free!
**At both restaurants, the turnaround time is pretty quick, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t find a spot right off the bat!**
Wait Time/Efficiency
Terry Black’s BBQ
Despite the crowd that was present during my visit, the line moved very fast. The wait time wasn’t more than 20 minutes during lunch rush on a Sunday! They had multiple registers, multiple people slicing and weighing the meat, and were very quick with the entire process.
Franklin Barbecue
I arrived at Franklin at 10:45 on a Sunday morning thinking I’d have an early lunch consisting of the best barbecue in Austin- or so I’d read. With doors opening at 11 am, I thought I had secured a decent spot in line- albeit there were more than 60 people already ahead of me. Doors opened, and the line sluggishly moved along. 2.5 hours later, I learned why the line was so slow; there was only 1 person cutting meat and 1 person manning the register. The efficiency of service for such a popular spot was very disappointing. I’ve even heard stories of people waiting up to 5 hours for a chance to try the infamous barbecue!
Seating
Terry Black’s BBQ
There was no shortage of seating in this joint. There was an abundance of tables indoors and outdoors (if you can brave the summer heat!) in a seat yourself fashion.
Franklin Barbecue
There were approximately only 6 tables indoors and a handful of tables outdoors. The good news is, the line moved so slow that the table turnover was comparatively quick, and I didn’t struggle to find a place to sit!
**FYI, the line wraps around the perimeter of the dining area, allowing people to enviously stare as you enjoy your food. I, thankfully, sat with my back to the line, but just be aware that this could be quite awkward.**
The Food
Barbecue
To be honest, I’m no barbecue judge. I could reflect on the different categories and what I would rate each, however, I’m no expert. I got brisket and pork ribs at both restaurants, and I WILL say, both Franklin Barbecue’s and Terry Black’s were absolutely delicious. Appearance- mouthwatering, taste- phenomenal, tenderness- A+. You can’t go wrong with either spot. I definitely can’t choose a favorite based on barbecue alone.
Sauce
Franklin Barbecue
It was a “dispense your own sauce” situation at Franklin’s. There were 4 barbecue sauces: vinegar, espresso, mild, and hot. The vinegar and espresso sauces were interesting! I had never had either on barbecue before, and they were both delicious! My favorite sauce, however, was traditional mild barbecue sauce.
Terry Black’s BBQ
Each table had sauce in large bottles in the center which was nice- you never had to get up and refill! Sweet, mild, and hot were the barbecue sauce choices, and they were delicious!
Sides
Franklin Barbecue
Sides were kept very straightforward and traditional at Franklin’s. Potato salad, cole slaw, and pinto beans were the three sides that were offered. Everyone was also offered white bread on the side, free of charge.
Terry Black’s BBQ
I was surprised at the number of sides offered at Terry Black’s. There was something for everyone- even the picky eaters. Mac and cheese, pinto beans, green beans, mexican rice, cream corn, baked potato salad, cole slaw, and cornbread muffins were offered.
**Don’t skip out on the cornbread; trust me.**
Dessert
I didn’t get dessert at either restaurant, and I wish I would have! Here’s what was offered at both locations:
Franklin Barbecue
Bourbon banana pie, pecan pie, Ruby’s Dang pie, key lime pie, and a seasonal option!
Terry Black’s BBQ
Mini pecan pie, peach cobbler, and banana pudding!
Overall Thoughts
Based on overall experience, I have to say I preferred Terry Black’s. The atmosphere, the wait time, the menu options, AND you can see all of the smokers right outside of the restaurant- very cool!
If you’re only in town for a few days, I recommend skipping the line at Franklin’s and hitting Terry Black’s; you’ll save so much time and you’re not sacrificing quality. That’s not to say Franklin Barbecue’s didn’t hold up to the hype; I just don’t think I’ll be waiting in that line ever again.
Thanks for reading! If you’re ever in Austin, and you want to see for yourself which spot sells the best bbq in Austin, let me know who you think takes the crown! As always, don’t forget to sign up below to be notified when new posts go live!
