Franklin named Texas best

Southern Living published its 2026 South’s Best winners as part of the magazine’s annual “South’s Best” awards on March 12, 2026. (lifestyle.kotaradio.com) The state-by-state barbecue picks were drawn from a reader survey fielded July 9–Sept. 9, 2025 and informed by more than 17,000 responses, according to reporting on the magazine’s polling process. (southernpartisan.com) Local and national outlets report that Franklin’s placement in the 2026 Southern Living roundup represents another consecutive top finish for the Austin smokehouse — its fifth straight year holding the state crown in the magazine’s list. (hoodline.com) Aaron and Stacy Franklin launched Franklin Barbecue from a trailer in 2009 before moving to the East 11th Street brick-and-mortar, a founding detail the restaurant cites on its site. (franklinbbq.com) Aaron Franklin received the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southwest award in 2015. (jamesbeard.org) Multiple profiles and national coverage note that Franklin’s brisket routinely sells out by mid-afternoon, a pattern that has become central to the restaurant’s reputation and coverage over the years. (today.com) To meet demand beyond the daily counter service, the Franklins have developed dedicated catering and events operations and launched a private-event venue called Franklin Backyard on Anchor Lane that the restaurant says can host up to 250 guests and is now taking reservations. (franklinbbq.com)