Bunami: The French Spin on Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is a staple of American BBQ, and admittedly a taste of home we miss living in France. So we were excited to discover Bunami, a “burger” restaurant that specializes in not only pulled pork – but also pulled beef, duck, chicken, lamb and even a pulled eggplant for the veggie lovers. And Bunami definitely hits the spot when we’re craving some American-style pulled pork.

Open since October 2022 right in the heart of Bordeaux on Rue des Trois Conils, Bunami is an original concept thought up by Manon Debarle and Audrey Claudin. Manon is from Martinique and Audrey is American. The two met while pursuing hospitality degrees, and several years later their paths landed them both in Bordeaux.

As Manon told me, pulled pork was her ex-husband’s favorite dish. Putting a new spin on the saying revenge is a dish best served cold, she teamed up with Audrey to turn her delicious 12 hour slow cooked pork into a full-blown restaurant.

Unlike American pulled pork and beef which is typically cooked in a smoker, Bunami’s pulled meats are slow cooked for 10 – 12 hours in the oven depending on the type of meat. The flavors and Bunami’s homemade barbecue sauce are inspired from Manon and Audrey’s travels around the world. The pulled pork is like an American classic topped with claw, pulled beef is cooked in red wine typical of Bordeaux or Burgundy, the lamb is complimented by ras el-hanout spice from Morocco, and the pulled duck is topped with melted Saint Nectaire cheese.

The name Bunami is a play on ami, the French word for friend. And the names of each of the pulled “burgers” is notably the name of a Friends character. The restaurant decor takes inspiration of a vintage American diner.

The formula is simple: pulled meat of your choice on a bun with a side of roasted potatoes or coleslaw or in a bowl with a base of rice and accompanied by roasted sweet potatoes, julienned carrots, cabbage and avocado.

For a sweet finish, cookies and ice cream are available.