Unpopular opinion: Aaron Franklin's brisket is overrated and I'll tell you why

I drove 4 hours to Austin last month with my buddy Ray to try the famous brisket everyone worships. We waited 2 hours in line and paid $38 for a pound and a half. Honestly, the bark was decent but the fat wasn't rendered like I expected, and the salt level was all over the place. Back in 2019, I had brisket from a guy named Big Joe outside a gas station in Waco that beat it for $12 a pound. I get it, he's the king and all, but I think the hype trains people to overlook inconsistencies. Has anyone else had a better random roadside brisket than a big name joint? I'm curious if I just caught a bad day or if the legend is mostly marketing.

2 comments

2 Comments

blair_dixon25d ago

Wait, $38 for a pound and a half? That's insane. I thought prices were high here in Dallas but that's another level entirely. Two hours in line plus that kind of money should buy you perfection, not patchy salt. Big Joe out of a gas station beating Franklin's brisket sounds like the most Texas thing ever though. You might have caught an off day, but that price tag makes it hard to be forgiving.

zara57225d ago

Ugh, that really sucks! I totally get why you'd be annoyed, waiting that long and paying that much only to get a salt bomb. Makes you wonder if the hype is worth it sometimes.