Barbecue Legend Aaron Franklin Comes to Portland for a Pop-Up

Aaron Franklin is one of the biggest names in barbecue. Since opening his eponymous Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas, in 2009, he’s fed the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama—and daily hordes of hungry Austinites. He’s a New York Times best-selling author and the first barbecue chef to win a James Beard Award. He’s even become something of a household name here in Portland thanks to his annual appearances at the bygone food and drink extravaganza Feast. 

While Franklin has been largely absent from Portland since Feast ended in 2022, he’s returning in early June and bringing his cooking to the Northwest Portland taphouse and event space Function for a two-day pop-up on June 7 and 8.

Though he’s best known for his namesake barbecue spot, Franklin won’t be slinging much in the way of ribs or brisket on this trip. Instead, he’s promoting his Austin po’boy spot, Uptown Sports Club, a former sports club that Franklin helped revive as a New Orleans–style restaurant. The pop-up, which will run noon until sold out both days, is a partnership with the Austin-based brewery Meanwhile Beer. Known for lagers and West Coast–style IPAs, the brewery has its own Portland connections, too: Started in 2020, Meanwhile is the brainchild of former Breakside Brewery development brewers Will Jaquiss and Nao Ohdera. Outside of the po’boy pop-up, Meanwhile will stick around as Function’s featured brewery for the month of June alongside fellow Texan brewery Celestial Beerworks.

What exactly does an Aaron Franklin po’boy look like? BBQ fiends need not despair: The small menu includes a roast beef sandwich with “brisket debris gravy” and horseradish, as well as a shrimp po’boy. Both are served on New Orleans Leidenheimer rolls—which many argue to be the essential po’ boy bread—and come “dressed,” which means slicked with mayo and stacked with sliced tomatoes, pickles, and shredded lettuce. Also on the menu are a pimento cheese dip with Ritz Crackers and a caramelized onion dip with housemade chips.

Refreshingly, these sandwiches and beers do not require a ticket or Resy reservation. It’s all first-come, first-served, which means diners should expect some Feast-style lines.