Best Pork Dishes

[LTL]

My SO recently started eating pork again after over a decade and I would like to re-introduce him through the best pork dishes that Toronto offers. As you will see from the list I've begun to compile below, we're not selective in cuisine. I would love others' recommendations. Thanks!

Holy Chuck's brined, roasted and glazed pork belly sandwich (as per TorontoJo's recommendation)
Northern Dumpling House's pork with garlic chili sauce and xiao long bao
John's BBQ's King of Char Sui
Owl of Minerva's gamjatang
pulled pork at ? (suggestions welcome)

[junkie]

grilled pork/assorted banh mi @ que huong weston/finch, nhu lan jane/finch
jerk pork @ mr jerk don mills/finch (peanut plaza) make sure to squeeze their hot pepper sauce
roasted pork/ bbq pork @ kum hong bbq valleymede/hwy 7
pork bone soup @ cho sun ok or kyochon bbq

[LTL]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions so far. Please know that I am reading them all and compiling a massive list (don't want to clog the thread with individual "thank yous"). Hopefully we can try a few of these this weekend. The few pork items the SO has had so far have not been "impressive" enough so I'm hoping to show him the best of the best :) I will report back once we've made some dents in this list.

[Splendid Wine Snob]

Pork gyro at Folia Grill
Pork bahn mi at Rose's Cafe
The pork Pad Gra Prao at KSR (Thai spicy)
The grilled pork bahn mi at Bahn Mi Boys

[Googs]

I'll add the bbq pork at Jade BBQ House on Birchmount north of Finch. That little hit of ginger is damn tasty with 'cue. Take-out only.
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/jade-bbq-house...

[Davwud]

Pork belly souvlaki or pork gyros from Folia Grill on Pape.

Jo is right about the Bifana at SLM. Awesome. Slightly less so is the version at Portugril.

Love the porchetta at Stockyards.

And for the home version of this game, ham kolbassa from Kingsway Meats on Bloor E of Jane. The pork hocks are amazing too.

DT

[Googs]

The Portugril version is far more than "slightly less so". Churrasco of St Lawrence's piri piri sauce is vastly superior. I also feel the use of sliced tomatoes at SLM works much better than the chopped ones at Portugril. The slices work better for both flavour integration and mouth feel. Naw, if I were to recommend something porky at Portugril, it'd have to be the Pork & Cheese. Well balanced and surprisingly delectable.

Novocuisine, if you're still out there, a hearty thanks for the original bifana recommendation.

[Davwud]

At Portugril I prefer the bifana. I think the bottom line is Portugril is good stuff though.

I find it a bit difficult to compare the two piri piri sauces since Portugril doesn't do a typical version. It's much different. For me anyway, not better, not worse, just different.

DT

[Googs]

True, they do a good job at a reasonable price. I so prefer the SLM version of the bifana that I would rather order anything else at Portugril. That still leaves plenty.

Try taking the piri piri sauces home with you. You'll immediately know the difference once you've used them as a dip or marinade. Marinated chicken cooked on the grill is a little slice of heaven.

[Davwud]

I have a bottle of Portugril sauce in my fridge as we speak.

DT

[Googs]

I always have two (one in-use, one back-up) of the SLM piri piri. I feel naked without it.

[Davwud]

It's easily the best piri piri in the city.

DT

[Googs]

Don't get me wrong. I like the Portugril piri piri. I greatly prefer the SLM Churrasco piri piri. Take a bottle (or two) home next time you're at the SLM and do a comparison. You may feel the same, you may not.

[Davwud]

No. I agree. I just don't think they're comparable. It's like comparing ketchup with BBQ sauce. and asking which is better.

DT

[Googs]

Ah. I see the problem. While there is creative headroom in making the sauce, the variations aren't quite as radical as the difference between ketchup and BBQ sauce.

As in using ketchup to make bbq sauce, I use piri piri sauce as a component of my marinades and dips. I find the SLM sauce sparkles more and needs less tweaking.

As always, this being an opinion board YMMV. T'is worth a shot since I think you like to 'cue at home. The worst that can happen is you'll end up with an enjoyable, yet different, dinner.

[Herne]

Where in the SLM do you buy the piri piri sauce you speak of?

[Googs]

Churrasco of St Lawrence on street level next to Paddington's.

Hey Davwud, when you said easily the best piri piri sauce in Toronto, were you referring to SLM's? That seems to be the case according to this.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/131073...

[Herne]

Thanks. I have eaten in Paddinton's about every 6 months for the last 5-6 years and did not realize they sold "groceries" through the window.

[AMarshall]

No. When Googs meant that Churrasco was "next" to Paddington, she meant across the aisle. If you walk in the door from Front St where Paddington's is on the right, Churrasco is on the left, just past the coffee place but before you get to the aisle that crosses.

[Herne]

I think we agree. Churrasco has a window across from Paddington Pump through which they sell their hot food. I have never seen bottles of Piri Piri or anything similar pass through it.

But I'll check it all out in mid September.

[Davwud]

Absolutely I was. I've tried lots of them and none are better.

DT

[downtownfoodie]

i can happily drink that stuff with a straw.

[Googs]

Ah ha. The blonde finally gets it. Happy comparison 'cueing. Let me know if you require an additional impartial judge. LOL

[num nums]

In addition to all of the above:
pork belly souvlaki at Folia Grill
jerk pork at Pat's Homestyle (formerly Albert's)

And, not a dish, but definitely a treat for any pork lover:
bacon & butterscotch chip cookie at Miss Cora's Kitchen

[bytepusher]

I'm actually not all that impressed by the pork belly souvlaki at Folia, if it's pork you want go for the Pork Gyro, now that's something (understanding that we're talking about a casual joint here)

I can't believe nobody's suggested the peameal bacon sandwich at SLM

See if you can find someone who has real Spanish Jamon di Bellota, I know it was one the menu at one point at Salt Wine Bar and I think Jose has some now at Pimenton. It. will. change. your. life.

[Splendid Wine Snob]

I'm not really a fan of the pork belly souvlaki at Folia either. It's not cooked long enough for the fat to be properly rendered, and so the texture is too "chewy" for me. I've always preferred the pork gyro as well.

[Davwud]

Both times I've had it, it was beautiful. Pushed to the point of charred on the outside and lucious and tender inside. Seems it's either hit and miss or a polarizing dish. No middle ground.

DT

[Splendid Wine Snob]

When the old owners were there, I would ask them to cook it a little longer, and it was better. But there were always occasions where the fat wasn't trimmed enough, and my husband and I would get globs of it (even when cooked a little longer). So now I just go for the gyro, which I love.

[Davwud]

That gyro is some kinda good I'll agree with that.

DT

[Charles Yu]

Add Dragon Dynasty or Peaktop's Roast suckling Piglet!

[justsayn]

Pulled Pork and/or ribs - Hadley's on College

Jerk Pork - Mr. Jerk on Wellesley (take-out)

Chinese BBQ pork - Kom Jug Yuen on Spadina

Roast Pork - Goldstone Noodle on Spadina

Pork Souvlaki - Astoria still does an authentic pork souv with awesome tzatziki - Danforth

Awesome bacon - L'Ouvrier - Dundas W

Pork Roast Sundays at Marben and great peameal at brunch - Wellington

Pork Belly Bahn Mi / Bao - Bahn Mi Boys - Dundas W

[Truenorthdman]

The best pulled pork sandwich I've had in TO is at the Painted Lady on Ossington. Jess takes real pride in her pork and has just the right balance of sweet and heat for my liking. Goes very well with the cold local beer on hand.

I recently had a pork belly dish at The Grove that was spectacular.

[LJS2]

porchetta sandwich at Sausage King at SLM

[TorontoJo]

Also in SLM, the bifana sandwich at the churrasco place, ordered with everything. Freshly grilled pork cutlet topped with peppers and piri-piri. I think it has lettuce and tomatoes, too. Super tasty.

And just for the record, I haven't actually tried the pork belly burger at HC, I've only been seeing them tweet about it and thinking "damn, that looks good". :)