Where to Buy Pork Belly

Have you wanted to make your own bacon at home but weren’t sure where to find pork belly?

Or maybe you wanted to make a delicious batch of pork belly burnt ends.

Getting your hands on a nice slab of uncured pork belly can be tricky. Let’s look at a few common places where you can find pork belly close to where you live, plus a couple of online butchers that we’ve ordered from before with good results.

Our top picks

• Best Overall – Porter Road Uncured Pork Belly
• Best Large – Snake River Farms Kurobuta Pork Belly
• Best Budget – Crowd Cow Heritage Pork Belly

Things to consider when buying pork belly

Before you decide where to buy pork belly, let’s consider a few things before you dive right in and make a purchase. 

For most people, buying pork belly is the first step to making your own bacon at home (unless you want to try one of these craft bacon delivery companies).

You’ll find it cheaper, slightly healthier, and much tastier than the store-bought kind.

1. Source

Consider where the hogs come from. Were they organically fed without hormones or antibiotics? Were they raised humanely and in a pasture? 

This is where buying from a website like Crowd Cow or Porter Road is handy, as you can see all the details about how the animal was raised.

For example, their Heritage Pork Belly has been pasture-raised, and is antibiotic, hormone and GMO free.

Where you source your pork belly can enhance the health benefits of bacon.

2. Quality of meat

Certain breeds of hogs are known to have different tastes. Heritage breeds, such as Berkshire, Duroc, and Kurobuta, are described as having bolder and meatier flavors. 

You can see the quality of the meat in the photo below of a pork belly we bought from Porter Road

3. Cost and size

Decide how much you are willing to spend. Per pound, making bacon at home tends to be cheaper than store-bought.

However, some places may require you to buy the full pork belly, ranging from 10 – 12 lbs. Do you have enough freezer space for that?

Where to buy pork belly

Let’s take a look at some of your options when sourcing pork belly. 

Locally

Finding pork belly locally should be your first place to try.

It’s nice to be able to inspect each belly, to make sure you are buying one with plenty of meat.

Depending on where you live, you might have a few options. Many local supermarkets don’t carry it, but if you ask the butcher there, they might be able to order it. If not, here are a few other places to try:

• Costco – They sell whole and sliced bellies
• Local Butcher Shop 
• Whole Foods 
• Local Ethnic Stores or Asian Markets

(Tip: If you have freezer space, ask to buy by the case. It’s usually less expensive.)

Where to buy pork belly online

Several reputable companies will deliver pork belly anywhere in the continental United States.

The online options tend to be a little more expensive, but you know you are getting good quality. Compare the quality, size, and prices of the two below:

1. Porter Road

Porter Road source their animals from small farms in Tennessee and Kentucky. Their pork belly is on the small side, coming in at between 2.75-3.25 LBS.

Pasture-raised and hormone-free, their pork belly has a wonderful color and taste.

2. Crowd Cow

• Heritage Pork Belly
• 3 lbs.
• Skinless
• Limited Quantity
• Check the Price

3. Snake River Farms

• 100% Purebred Berkshire (Kurobuta) Pork Belly
• 5 – 6 lbs.
• Skinless
• Check the Price

Pork belly recipes

We hope you found this article helpful on places to buy pork belly. Start by looking at your local stores and markets, and if you don’t have any luck, online is a good option. 

Now you know where to get your pork belly, here are some fantastic recipes to make on your grill or smoker.

• BBQ pork belly
• Porchetta-style Pork Belly
• Pork Belly Burnt Ends
• Hot Honey Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Just remember to consider the source, quality of meat, cost and size, and how you want to prepare it before making your purchase. That way your bacon will be cheaper, healthier, and hopefully tastier than the store-bought variety.