Fat Buddies Ribs & BBQ
311 Westgate Plaza (off Highlands Rd) · BBQ
Westgate Plaza BBQ joint open since 1999. Ribs are the headliner. Reportedly has one of the more extensive gluten-free menus in town.
Kid-friendlyWine
Local-only · no chains · not ranked
BBQ in Franklin, NC
Franklin's barbecue is a short list: a ribs joint in Westgate Plaza that has been at it since 1999, a live-fire food trailer on Highlands Road, a BBQ-and-breakfast café on South Patton Avenue, and a pizza place on Depot Street that smokes its own every day. The trailer opens Thursday to Saturday only and the café closes on weekends, so check the day before you drive. Listed A to Z, not ranked.
4local spots
4kid-friendly
Jaxon's Downtown
381 Depot St · Hand-tossed pizza
Pizza-and-BBQ spot on Depot St — hand-tossed stone-cooked pizzas (10" / 14" / 18"), wings, and BBQ smoked in-house daily. Hand-breaded mushroom bites and onion rings are sleeper favorites. Dine-in, takeout, delivery.
Kid-friendly
Smokestack Cafe & Catering
61 S Patton Ave · Southern BBQ
Southern BBQ joint with breakfast service. Catering-focused. Free in-town lunch delivery to local businesses. Closed weekends.
Kid-friendly
The Wood Fired Grill
206 Highlands Rd · Live-fire smoked BBQ
Family-owned BBQ food trailer using live fire only — slow-and-low smoke. Scratch-made sides and sweets. Open Thu–Sat 11 AM–2 PM; closed Sun–Wed.
Kid-friendlyBeer
About this list
Every entry was cross-checked against at least two public sources (Yelp, the Franklin Chamber, Experience Franklin, the venue's own site). Restaurants are categorised, not ranked. Kid-friendly and alcohol notes reflect what reviewers and venues themselves say — if your experience differs, let us know and we'll fix it.
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