6 Must-Try Pulled Pork Sandwiches in Columbia
From Memphis-to Kansas City-style 'cue, these spots put their own spin on the classic sandwich.
It’s no secret that Missouri and Kansas are known for serving some of the country’s best ‘cue. Cities have their own specialties – burnt ends in Kansas City, pork steaks in St. Louis – but no matter your location, most barbecue joints have at least one menu item in common: pulled pork sandwiches. In this issue, which is dedicated to the best summer eats and drinks, we tracked down 55 of our favorites, ranging from a riff on a Cuban to Hawaiian-inspired to classics with just plain tender, smoky pulled pork piled high on a soft bun.
From spicy to smoky to sweet, dig into six of our favorite pulled pork sandwiches in Columbia.
Big Daddy’s BBQ
Served with two sides – including baked beans, potato salad or fries – Big Daddy’s BBQ’s pulled pork sandwich gets the house treatment from beginning to end. Whether you seek out the food truck or Columbia, Missouri, restaurant, the sandwich is made with the same special house rub and finished with a generous portion of Big Daddy’s signature sweet and spicy barbecue sauce. (Photo by Aaron Ottis)
Big Daddy’s BBQ, 1205 N. Garth Ave., Columbia, Missouri, 573.875.2227, facebook.com/bigdaddysbbqcomo
Buckingham Smokehouse Bar-B-Q
Like all of the ‘cue at Buckingham Smokehouse Bar-B-Q in Columbia, Missouri, pork shoulders are smoked for hours in the restaurant’s giant hickory wood-fueled, 5,000-pound smoker. The pork is then pulled apart and slapped on a local soft bun. Customers rave about the pickles – so be sure to ask for extra. (Photo by Aaron Ottis)
Buckingham Smokehouse Bar-B-Q, 3804 Buttonwood Dr., Columbia, Missouri, 573.499.1490, buckinghamsmokehouse.com
D. Rowe’s Restaurant and Bar
D. Rowe’s Restaurant and Bar
D. Rowe’s Restaurant and Bar in Columbia, Missouri, rests a hefty pork shoulder in a special house rub and marinade before transferring it to the smoker for 17 hours; the pork shoulder is then pulled to order to ensure the meat stays as juicy and tender as possible. The pulled pork sandwich stacks a half pound of meat on a brioche bun with barbecue sauce. (Photo by Aaron Ottis)
D. Rowe’s Restaurant and Bar, 1005 Club Village Dr., Columbia, Missouri, 573. 44.8004, drowesrestaurant.com
Lutz’s BBQ
With locations in Jefferson City and Columbia, Missouri, Lutz’s BBQ smokes its pork shoulder overnight before pulling the meat for the lunch rush. Piled on a Rotella bun, the pulled pork sandwich can be ordered with Lutz’s spicy, sweet mustard or Kansas City-style barbecue sauces. (Photo by Aaron Ottis)
Lutz’s BBQ, multiple locations, lutzbbq.com
Como Smoke & Fire
This pulled pork sandwich brings the heat. After spending half a day in the smoker, Como Smoke & Fire’s juicy pork is pulled and pressed between a jalapeño brioche bun. (And if it’s too spicy for you, no worries – the Kaiser roll makes a worthy substitute.) Finish the sandwich off with one of the Columbia, Missouri, restaurant’s five barbecue sauces; we especially like the Alabama white. (Photo by Aaron Ottis)
Como Smoke & Fire, 4600 Paris Road #102, Columbia, Missouri, 573.443.3473, comosmokeandfire.com
Smokin Chicks BBQ
Get a taste of Memphis-style pulled pork at Smokin Chicks BBQ in Columbia, Missouri, where pitmaster Chick Orscheln makes meat that pulls like butter after spending many hours in the smoker. The layers of tender pulled pork are topped with housemade horseradish slaw and served on a Kaiser roll. (Photo by Aaron Ottis)
Smokin Chicks BBQ, 3301 W. Broadway Business Park Ct. #A, Columbia, Missouri, 573.256.6450, smokinchicksbbq.com
Jessica Vaughn Martin
Jessica is a freelance writer based in Columbia, Missouri. She lives by the words of M.F.K. Fisher: "First we eat, then we do everything else."
