Where can I find the best BBQ Pork?

I have been having a major BBQ Pork craving. I love BBQ pork but living downtown, find very very little good Asian food and even less edible BBQ pork.

After some web sleuthing, I found out that I can safely, with little-to-no ill effect, freeze BBQ pork. So, now I am thinking about going and buying a couple of pounds of BBQ pork and freezing it to use in all my fried rices, Asian noodle soups, etc.. Yum!

Of course, I want to buy the most tasty BBQ pork, which brought me here. Where is the best BBQ pork in Chicago (or land)? As I said, I live downtown, but for this adventure, am willing to travel anywhere within the county. I've been to Sun Wah, and liked their BBQ the few times I went and with no other research, am leaning towards going there, but... can be persuaded. The cheaper the better... but at this point, I am all about taste.

Thanks!

You're on the right track. Go to Sun Wah.

maybe honky tonk on 18th st.
they took 3rd in memphis bbq contest 2 years back?

stevez wrote:You're on the right track. Go to Sun Wah.

Thanks for affirming what I was thinking.. If I go to Sun Wah, I would sort of make it a destination/day. Can you recommend anything else I should purchase (food wise)/eat in that area?

Really cheap is Seven Treasures, 2312 South Wentworth Avenue. Much less refined pork (and operation) than Sun Wah, big yellow fatty pockets in the pork, delightful unevenness of texture, nice funk. Their 554 platter (pork and egg over rice) is a study, especially with the table chili oil.

They sell the pork by the pound at the front counter as well, make sure you let them know you want "the whole thing" or "all parts" if you're a gringo, since in my experience they tend to serve the leaner bits to go, and for me the interest is in the ends and belly bits.

If you are going to be in the vicinity of Sun Wah and you like BBQ pork there's no reason not to stop by Ba Le and pick up a BBQ pork banh mi for something ridiculously cheap like $3.50.


Whoa, Ba Le now has a website with awesome, sexy French vocal jazz. WTF?


Ba Le
5016 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
http://www.balesandwich.com/

Habibi wrote:If you are going to be in the vicinity of Sun Wah and you like BBQ pork there's no reason not to stop by Ba Le and pick up a BBQ pork banh mi for something ridiculously cheap like $3.50.
Whoa, Ba Le now has a website with awesome, sexy French vocal jazz. WTF?

The website caught me by surprise too. Must be part of the whole new makeover for Ba le. I actually like the new place a lot. You can watch everything being made close-up while you wait, which (if my experience today is typical) won't be long. The new design seems to lend itself to greater efficiency. Anyhow, the sandwiches are still cheap and they still kick butt. They now have a cooler from which they sell many of the sandwich ingredients in bulk. I did not notice if they were offering BBQ pork, but I'll bet they do.

Habibi wrote:If you are going to be in the vicinity of Sun Wah and you like BBQ pork there's no reason not to stop by Ba Le and pick up a BBQ pork banh mi for something ridiculously cheap like $3.50.

I think that the BBQ pork in the Ba Le banh mi is mushy and unpleasant. I'd recommend picking up some baguettes from Ba Le and making your own banh mi with the Sun Wah pork.

As far as other spots to hit along Argyle, don't miss the curry beef bun at Patisserie P, fresh rice noodle sheets wrapped up with dried shrimp and scallion at Sun Sun Snack Shop, and a variety of tasty bits at Hong Xuong Bakery.

Grocery shopping at Viet Hoa or Tai Nam (which don't seem to have dedicated threads) would be worthwhile.

Tai Nam
4925 N Broadway
773-275-5666

Viet Hoa
1051 W Argyle St
773-334-1028

And if you crave sit-down Vietnamese food, Pho Xua is my current favorite (just don't bother with their Pho).

-Dan