Top Three: Pulled Pork Sandwiches0

While American Southern comfort food, like BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, may not be one of the first things to come to mind when thinking about the Shanghai dining scene, there are actually a handful of places to get your fix.  There are enough eateries boasting pulled pork sandwiches, in fact, to make a list of the best ones offered in this city.

So on this quest, I bring to you one of my favorite southern comforts – Shanghai’s best BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.  These are my Top Three:

Photo courtesy of CITY WEEKEND MAGAZINE

1. Bubba’s Texas-style Bar-B0Que and Saloon : ¥¥ 2262 Hongqiao Lu 电话 +86 6242 2612, Hongqiao

With their barbecue pit proudly on display out front, Bubba’s out in Hongqiao slow smokes some mean pig, and their pulled pork sandwich (¥75) is one of the most authentic in town. The meat is so tender that it’s easily pulled apart with a fork, and the vinegar and pepper flakes in their house sauce help bring out its smokiness. If the accompanying bread and ’slaw are getting in the way of enjoying your pork, order a straight pound of the stuff for ¥120 and enjoy.

2. Boxing Cat Brewery : ¥¥ 82 Fuxing Lu 电话 +86 6431 2091 ext. 801, Former French Concession

Served on “fresh calzone bread”, Boxing Cat’s southern-style barbecue pulled pork sandwich (¥75) is succulent and hearty. The tender meat, smothered in the Brewery’s house-made spicy barbecue beer sauce, is best enjoyed with their tangy cabbage ’slaw. Served with thickly cut fries or a salad, one of the best parts of this sandwich is that it can be enjoyed with one of the brewery’s many beers.

3. City Deli : ¥ www.citydeli.cn 电话 +86 6288 3912, Jing’an

Moist, slow-roasted pork sits atop the requisite ’slaw on a roll slathered with barbecue sauce at City Deli on Nanjing Xi Lu. Although it’s not the most traditional–the sauce is a bit thick–their pulled pork sandwich (¥48) is both delicious and available via delivery. Served on a baguette instead of the usual kaiser roll, the bread offers a little crunch to go with the savory meat that most barbecue sandwiches don’t have.

Note: the ¥ rating here refers to the price of the sandwich

This article was featured in the latest issue of CITY WEEKEND MAGAZINE