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Burnside recently revamped its menu with hits from barbecue champ Todd Johnson.
Burnside recently revamped its menu with hits from barbecue champ Todd Johnson.

Find a Bomb Pulled Pork Sandwich at These Atypical Places

Here are top spots--some unlikely--where you can find pulled pork goodness

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Burnside recently revamped its menu with hits from barbecue champ Todd Johnson.

The pulled pork sandwich is an all-American barbecue classic, so it's no surprise that many San Diego restaurants — from fast-casual to fine dining — put some version of pulled pork between two buns on their menu. Here are some of our favorites around town, from an Asian-inspired take at Twist to one topped with mac-n-cheese at Cali Comfort BBQ.

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Dirty Bird's

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San Diegans flock to this beachside haven for its wings, ranked among the 10 best in America by Yahoo Sports. But also popular on the menu is its IPA BBQ pulled pork sliders, which come doused in one of the 33 house wing sauces.

These American sandwiches with a twist don't disappoint. Its Asian Swine pulled pork option is loaded with smoked gouda, fried shallots, hoisin syrup, tomatoes, cilantro and spicy aioli.

Carnitas' Snack Shack -Del Mar

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These rapidly expanding meat kings of San Diego, which just opened an Embarcadero locale, don't stop at just piling pulled pork on a sandwich. Its Triple Threat Pork Sandwich is also stacked with pork loin schnitzel, bacon, pepperoncini relish and shack aioli.

Nate's Garden Grill

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Go for a healthy spin on the classic at this eatery, appropriately located in the same lot as City Farmers Nursery. Their pulled pork comes smoked and topped with vegan organic kale slaw on a pretzel bun.

Legacy Brewing Tap and Kitchen

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A pulled pork pairing with a homemade beer is what dreams are made of. Their consistent pulled pork belly sandwich has serrano jelly, brie and arugula, and taps are constantly rotating.

Salt & Cleaver

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Leave it to this Hillcrest meat mecca, versed in the ancient art of sausage making, to deliver a killer pulled pork sandwich. It's served up in a burrito for brunch with caramelizedonions, pico de gallo and sweet peppers.

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station

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Stop by this brewpub for the Stone Pale Ale 2.0-braised wild boar and pork sandwich, served on a warm Kaiser roll with lime aioli, cilantro slaw and pickled jalapeños and accompanied by a wild baby arugula salad tossed in lemon thyme vinaigrette. Best paired with a cold Stone Smoked Porter.

Big Front Door

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San Diego's savory deli serves up a hot hoisin-ginger pulled porksandwich, stuffed with carrot, cabbage, cilantro, scallion and hoisin-ginger sauce on a torpedo.

Phil's BBQ

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Since swinging open doors in 1998, Phil's has served over one million gallons of Phil’s signature BBQ sauce at its four locations (that's enough to fill Shamu's tank). They's known for their signature BBQ Broham sandwich but the pulled pork possibilities are endless, as you have the ability to add it to any meal.

Cali Comfort BBQ

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Chris Ello's pulled pork sandwich, named after the eatery's favorite local sports radio host, was recently named a Top 5 Sandwich in San Diego by the Union Tribune. BBQ fans also love The County Fair, with slow smoked pulled pork, mac-n-cheese and melted cheddar cheese on grilled sourdough.

Hanna's Gourmet

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This longtime local caterer did locals a favor by opening doors five days a week for on-site dining. One of her hits is a simple but effective pork BBQ sandwich with a cole slaw side.

Burnside

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This Normal Heights hot spot gives the classic an edge, slathering award-winning slow smoked pork shoulder with its famous zesty honey-pineapple BBQ sauce then topping it off with cole slaw.

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Dirty Bird's

San Diegans flock to this beachside haven for its wings, ranked among the 10 best in America by Yahoo Sports. But also popular on the menu is its IPA BBQ pulled pork sliders, which come doused in one of the 33 house wing sauces.

Twist

These American sandwiches with a twist don't disappoint. Its Asian Swine pulled pork option is loaded with smoked gouda, fried shallots, hoisin syrup, tomatoes, cilantro and spicy aioli.

Carnitas' Snack Shack -Del Mar

These rapidly expanding meat kings of San Diego, which just opened an Embarcadero locale, don't stop at just piling pulled pork on a sandwich. Its Triple Threat Pork Sandwich is also stacked with pork loin schnitzel, bacon, pepperoncini relish and shack aioli.

Nate's Garden Grill

Go for a healthy spin on the classic at this eatery, appropriately located in the same lot as City Farmers Nursery. Their pulled pork comes smoked and topped with vegan organic kale slaw on a pretzel bun.

Legacy Brewing Tap and Kitchen

A pulled pork pairing with a homemade beer is what dreams are made of. Their consistent pulled pork belly sandwich has serrano jelly, brie and arugula, and taps are constantly rotating.

Salt & Cleaver

Leave it to this Hillcrest meat mecca, versed in the ancient art of sausage making, to deliver a killer pulled pork sandwich. It's served up in a burrito for brunch with caramelizedonions, pico de gallo and sweet peppers.

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station

Stop by this brewpub for the Stone Pale Ale 2.0-braised wild boar and pork sandwich, served on a warm Kaiser roll with lime aioli, cilantro slaw and pickled jalapeños and accompanied by a wild baby arugula salad tossed in lemon thyme vinaigrette. Best paired with a cold Stone Smoked Porter.

Big Front Door

San Diego's savory deli serves up a hot hoisin-ginger pulled porksandwich, stuffed with carrot, cabbage, cilantro, scallion and hoisin-ginger sauce on a torpedo.

Phil's BBQ

Since swinging open doors in 1998, Phil's has served over one million gallons of Phil’s signature BBQ sauce at its four locations (that's enough to fill Shamu's tank). They's known for their signature BBQ Broham sandwich but the pulled pork possibilities are endless, as you have the ability to add it to any meal.

Cali Comfort BBQ

Chris Ello's pulled pork sandwich, named after the eatery's favorite local sports radio host, was recently named a Top 5 Sandwich in San Diego by the Union Tribune. BBQ fans also love The County Fair, with slow smoked pulled pork, mac-n-cheese and melted cheddar cheese on grilled sourdough.

Hanna's Gourmet

This longtime local caterer did locals a favor by opening doors five days a week for on-site dining. One of her hits is a simple but effective pork BBQ sandwich with a cole slaw side.

Burnside

This Normal Heights hot spot gives the classic an edge, slathering award-winning slow smoked pork shoulder with its famous zesty honey-pineapple BBQ sauce then topping it off with cole slaw.

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