President Barack Obama learned his lesson the hard way on Thursday when he pushed to the front of the line at Franklin’s, a famed barbecue joint in Texas.

“I know this is a long line. I feel real bad, but – I’m gonna cut,” said Obama.

The restaurant owner Aaron Franklin said the move was unheard of.

“That’s our thing, no one skips the line… except Obama,” said Mr Franklin.

The line at the meat-lovers paradise in Austin can sometimes lead to a wait of 2 or 3 hours. But the president apologetically jumped the queue and then offered to stump up for lunch for the family next to him at the counter.

The lucky free lunchers were Bruce Finstad of Houston and his daughter Faith, from Austin, who ordered three pounds of beef, two pounds of ribs, a half pound of sausage and a half pound of turkey for their already seated family.

When Obama heard their order, he quipped: “Hold on now. How many folks are you guys feeding? Just kidding.”

Then, smiling, he paid the bill that came to more than $300, and included lunch for Obama’s staff.

He first pulled out a wad of $20 bills and then, after asking his trip director if his credit card was good, offered his JP Morgan card.

The restaurant began running a poll by Thursday afternoon asking devotees whether Obama should have cut the line.

Obama later headed back to Air Force One to end a two-day trip through Colorado and Texas.

The president left Texas without giving in to demands from Texas lawmakers from around the state to visit the border, where a child migrant crisis is unfolding. He said that his critics should get behind his request for $3.7 billion immigration reform plan if they want to solve the problem.