I should probably start this off by stating that this was my first time eating Filipino food – indicating that perhaps my opinion doesn’t hold much weight in the Filipino cuisine world. But, I have eaten a lot of food. So, basically, it balances out. Regardless of my experience in the cuisine, I’ve now been to NY’s Lower East Side Pig & Khao twice (nearly double ever other restaurant in this city!), and the quality and taste of the food here is first rate.

Before I get started I want to say that after asking the waiters opinion and eating here twice, there’s a disconnect between what the waiters recommend and what I recommend. Maybe that’s where the cuisine experience part of the situation comes into play, but without further adobo (get it, get it?), let’s get started.

Order the Pork Belly Adobo. Don’t ask questions, just do it because I’ve been dreaming about this dish ever since I first tasted that sweet soy sauce, garlic, and runny poached egg. Tender meat, sweet and salty sauce. Verdict: definitely the best dish of the night and so worth it. (Goes great with coconut rice – also a must!)

Next up is the Khao Soi, a Filipino red curry with coconut milk, chicken, egg, and noodles. Delicious and spicy, this dish could have had more curry sauce (maybe it was my expectation for a Thai curry where the sauce drenches the ingredients that led me astray, but I wanted my coconut rice to drown in the curry instead of the other way around), but was nonetheless satisfying. The Sizzling Sisig, a small plate consisting of pork, chili, and egg, might be recommended to you by your waiter. It’s fun to mix it all together on the sizzling hot plate and cook your own egg, but I tend to like my eggs runny and found that it quickly overcooked when it stayed on the hot plate too long. I also found the pork not as tender or tasty as in the adobo.

In terms of the larger plates I’ve tried both the Half Chicken Inasal and the BBQ ribs. Both are yummy – the ribs were tender and tasty, the chicken perhaps a little dry, but with good dipping sauces. Curious about what classified as Filipino mussels, I have also ordered this dish. Probably my least favourite, the mussels were lacking in sauce, and nothing special. What made the dish not a total bust were the salty, doughy Mantao Buns that came on the side.

All in all this place gives a damn good name to Filipino food. One tip is to go here with a group as the food is mainly suitable for sharing. Another tip is that this place is constantly busy even on weeknights, but making a reservation just one day in advance (offered handily on their website, or by calling) will get you in. Finally, if I haven’t convinced you to go here yet they also give out free lighters and stickers at the door! (And if you say you don’t love freebies, then we can’t be friends). Cheers!

4/5 stars.