If you’re planning an event or just dreaming of your next feast, you’ve probably come across both pulled pork and hog roasts on the menu. They both sound delicious—and they are—but despite being pork-based and slow-cooked, they’re actually quite different in how they’re made and served.
Quite simply, it’s the cut of meat.
Pulled pork is usually made from the pork shoulder. It’s a fatty, flavour-packed part of the pig that breaks down beautifully when cooked low and slow. After several hours, it becomes so tender you can shred it apart with a couple of forks—hence the name.
A hog roast, though, is something else entirely. It involves roasting a whole pig, on our state-of-the art professional roasting machine. That means you’re not just getting one cut—you’re getting a mix of textures and flavours, from juicy shoulder to tender leg, all in one roll. And let’s not forget the star of the show: crackling. The golden crispy cracking is always a crowd-pleaser with Hog Roast Ballybrack customers and tends to be the most favourite part of the meal, according to our reviews!
Where pulled pork is cooked low and slow in the oven and rubbed with spices or even a BBQ-style sauce, hog roasts is a form of entertainment (Well, we like to think so anyway!) We always notice how guests swarm towards the hog roast machine while the pig is rotating on the spit, and it really adds an extra element to any event.
Now, how they are served is what makes all the difference. Pulled pork is perfect as a filling for sandwiches and wraps, and could even be added to loaded fries or tacos. Not forgetting an extra helping of tangy sauce for that extra kick. A hog roast served by Hog Roast Ballybrack? Think soft rolls piled high with hand-carved pork, crispy crackling, sage and onion stuffing, and a dollop of apple sauce. It’s more traditional, yes, but still relaxed—and it works beautifully for weddings, birthdays, festivals and so much more.
Here at Hog Roast Ballybrack, we serve both – so just let us know which style you’d prefer at the time of booking!