First Look: PORCmobile

Photo courtesy of
‘PORC Mobile’
courtesy of ‘bonappetitfoodie’

I can’t yet claim to be a BBQ expert. But I do know good food, and I have tried many a food truck. For your next lunch stop at the food trucks, I suggest you briskly head out for some brisket and try the PORC Mobile.

Back in the summer, We Love DC reported on the Purveyors of Rolling Cuisine (aka PORC Mobile) and their gradual start to get rolling in an environmentally friendly manner. At long last, they’re out on the streets purveying what I would call one of the tastiest pulled pork sandwiches I’ve had.

Photo courtesy of
‘PORC Mobile pulled pork sandwich’
courtesy of ‘bonappetitfoodie’

Would you just look at that mound of pulled pork dabbed with scrumptious barbecue sauce? In an effort to try what seemed like their “signature” item, I went with the pulled pork sandwich with PORC sauce. If you’re not in the mood for BBQ flavor, they also have mild, hot and spectacularly hot sauces.

There was not a single chewy or fatty piece of pork on my sandwich–just tender, melt-in-your-mouth strips of shredded pork on a soft bun. The pulled pork is slow-smoked for 12 hours over hickory and apple. Every now and then I caught a piece of the browned, caramelized pork–you know, the seared meat from the edge of the roast? The kind that you pick off the roast in the kitchen and pop into your mouth when no one is looking and before it’s served to your dinner guests. Please wipe the drool off your face and keyboard.

I had the PORC sauce on my sandwich, made from the drippings of that slow-roasted pork “…and love,” according to the menu. The sauce was tangy, slightly sweet and completely savory. There was a subtle smokey flavor in the sauce, but it wasn’t overpowering like some other barbecue sauces I’ve had.

Sandwiches come with a little serving of cole slaw, which was crunchy and light. The slaw had a slightly acidic tang to it, but I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted it to have a stronger flavor. Still, the slaw was a nice addition to my lunch on a Spring-like day in February.

To round out my meal and my curiosity about the PORC Mobile, I tried one of the chocolate truffles on a stick. Just as it sounds, it’s a truffle on a toothpick. The thick and gooey center reminded me of brownie batter, maybe half-baked brownies. They’re worth the extra dollar if you’ve got an afternoon hankering for something sweet.

So all you southern transplants in the District, let me know what you think of PORC Mobile and if it lives up to the BBQ of the south. I’m eyeing the sloppy joe on their menu for next time. PORC Mobile even has a vegan sloppy joe, and although vegan is like a four-letter word to me, I’m curious to know how a this classic sandwich turned vegan measures up.

Note that they are cash only as of now. You can track the PORC Mobile’s location on Twitter, @PORCmobile.

Marissa was born and bred in New Jersey, but moved to DC for undergrad at GWU (Go Colonials, go!), fell in love with the District and learned that there was life and civilization beyond New York City. She loves eating at white-tablecloth-three-forks-at-your-place-setting restaurants, but she’ll also be the first to suggest we scarf down some chili dogs at 2 am. Simply put, she loves all things food. You can also read about why she loves DC. Follow her on Twitter and email her at mbialecki (at) welovedc.com.

4 thoughts on “First Look: PORCmobile

  1. Why not just try the vegan sandwich and form an opinion? It’s not full of “weird” ingredients or anything, just sauce, black beans, peppers, onions, etc. You don’t have to be vegan to eat that. I’ve had it a few times, and with the spectacularly hot sauce, it’s spectacular. I wouldn’t say it tastes like the sloppy joes of yesteryear, but I don’t think that’s what they’re going for anyway. It IS a solid, tasty, healthy, filling sandwich for a very fair price.

  2. LisaT, I never said the vegan sandwich had any “weird” ingredients in it and I’ve heard several positive reviews of their veggie sloppy joe. I do plan to try it in the future. I just happened to be in the mood for pulled pork when I got to try them, so that’s the sandwich I wrote about. Only so many sandwiches I can eat in one sitting!

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