With the NFL Draft making its home in Chicago this year, we couldn’t help but get in on the pigskin action. Here’s a list of our top 10 pork dishes from around Chicagoland, hand-picked by you! Did we miss something? Let us know by hitting us up on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or the Chicago’s Best app! And don’t forget to tune in every Sunday at 10pm to Chicago’s Best on WGN-TV.
1. The Piggery: What better place to start our list than this Lakeview spot with pig in the title? The Piggery makes everything from scratch, including their signature Cuban sandwich. Topped with ham, chorizo, pulled pork, AND bacon you won’t find a sandwich more deserving of the number-one overall pick! Location: 1625 W. Irving Park Rd. in Lakeview.
2. South Moon BBQ: “Low and slow” might not help you on the football field, but when you’re smoking pork, it’s just right! A dash of Chef Pork Chop’s dry rub and 12 to 15 hours in the smoker are the secrets to this Hinckley institution’s pulled pork sandwich. Location: 100 E. Lincoln Ave. in Hinckley.
3. Paddy Longs: This ain’t your grandma’s quilt! Paddy Longs’ “Bacon Explosion” starts with a weave of bacon topped with beef and pork sausage and even more crumbled bacon. Roll, squeeze and voila: a savory bacon delight in the shape of a football. Location: 1028 W. Diversey Pkwy. in Lakeview.
4. Ruby’s: You’d better call ahead if you want the fried pork leg from Ruby’s on Montrose. A Filipino classic, this porky paradise takes six hours to prepare but when it’s done, it’s enough to feed the entire Bears defense! Location: 3740 W. Montrose Ave. in Albany Park.
5. Pork Shoppe: Tender pork belly takes time. And the Pork Shoppe on Belmont marinates theirs for 10 whole days. Chalk on another five hours in the smoker and the end result is a pork belly pastrami sandwich that could stop a linebacker in his tracks. Location: 2755 W. Belmont Ave. in Avondale.
6. 6978 Soul Food: Hailing from the same state as Sweetness himself, the owners of Galewood’s 6978 Soul are cooking up southern-style smothered pork chops. Take a seat at the kitchen table and get it just like mama used to make! Location: 6978 W. North Ave. in Galewood.
7. Rub’s Backcountry Smokehouse: You’re in for an education at this Rogers Park smokehouse. Like any good coach, owner Jared schools you on the x’s-and-o’s of both the pig and the process. Grab a rack of smoked ribs and leave the BBQ sauce at home. Location: 6954 N. Western Ave. in Rogers Park.
8. Hog Wild: Tailgating is an art. Why not leave it to the pros? Pit Master Walter serves up 300 pork chops a day from his Midlothian roadside stop, Hog Wild. Take some to-go and be the envy of the Soldier Field parking lot. Location: 14933 Pulaski Rd. in Midlothian.
9. Carnitas Uruapan: Our neighbors to the south may play a different kind of futbol, but their pork is just as good! A staple in Mexico, the pork carnitas at Carnitas Uruapan in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood command a line down the block! Location: 1725 W. 18th St. in Pilsen.
10. Blackwood BBQ: Whether you’re the starting QB or more of the armchair variety, the pulled pork breakfast croissant from Blackwood BBQ is the best way to start your day. Try one of the five regional sauces on top and strap in for your day on the gridiron … or the couch. Location: 305 W. Lake St. in the Loop.
List based on highest viewed YouTube videos in pork category.
