Franklin’s Smokin’ Barnyard

One of the best hidden gems in the Winchester area is definitely Franklin’s Smokin’ Barnyard.  As a food truck, his location changes, but for the most part, he is either posted up at Weber’s Nursery on 11 by Rutherford Plaza, or at Solenberger’s Hardware off of I-81 Exit 315 in Winchester.  For our stop this past weekend, Franklin was conveniently located right by our house off 11, so we had to stop for lunch.  I am so happy we did!

Price 💲💲out of 5

The prices at Franklin’s are more than reasonable.  BBQ can get a bit expensive, but that is because of the high quality of the meat being used.  Franklin does a great job of marrying affordable prices with high quality food.  Most of his platters are in the $13 – $16 range depending on the protein choice, and it also comes with two sides.  Robbie and I both got a meal (she got brisket and I got oxtail – more on that later) and it only cost about $30.  With the amount and quality of food, this was an excellent deal.

Ambience 🧑‍🍳 🧑‍🍳 🧑‍🍳 out of 5

This is more of an N/A to be honest, but in the spirit of consistency, will provide a standard grade.  Franklin’s is purely a food truck with no other physical location.  Everything is extremely clean and organized, which is all you can ask for from a food truck.  The only downside to a traveling food truck is that you have to take the food to go, but the food was still fresh and hot when we got home.

Food 🥩🥩🥩🥩🥩 out of 5

Let’s dig into the food!  In all my years of being a foodie, one food I have never tried before is oxtail.  I FINALLY got a chance to try Franklin’s smoked oxtail, and it was everything I had hoped it would be.  I got a massive portion of oxtails with so much meat on the bone.  It was succulent, tender, and extremely rich.  Definitely a food that it is hard to eat a lot of because it is so indulgent, but Franklin cooked it to perfection and I savored every bite.  I also got the mac and cheese, which isn’t quite as creamy as I typically would like, but honestly the mac and cheese being much lighter and less rich than usual paired nicely with how rich the oxtail was.  I also got collard greens, which are by far my favorite BBQ side, and they were tender and had the right flavor.

Robbie also got a platter, which included their smoked brisket, mac and cheese, and the country baked beans. The brisket is insanely tender and has an impressive smoke ring.  It falls apart in your mouth.  The baked beans were also so good, with a tangy BBQ flavor.  All in all, an incredible lunch.

Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  out of 5

Franklin’s Smokin’ Barnyard gets my second ever perfect five out of five stars.  There is a reason that he has built such a strong following in the Winchester area.  If you are in the area, check out his Facebook to see where he is going to be, and do yourself a favor and stop by for some mouthwatering BBQ with reasonable prices.  Food Truck culture may not be huge in this area, but if you want one of the best dining experiences in the local area, stop by Franklin’s Smokin’ Barnyard today!