I had been so distracted by everything else going on in the city that I had lost sight of the things I love, one of which is pork. Sometimes, one literally has to go back to basics. Other times, you have to adapt to the basics of a different culture. Such is the case of this recent discovery – the Pork Belly Bun from Flying Pig Truck and Café.
The Pork Belly Bun can be ordered for $4 from the Flying Pig Truck and Flying Pig Café in Little Tokyo of Downtown Los Angeles. This tiny item of epic taste is a braised pork belly piece with red onion escabeche, pickled sesame cucumber, and “death sauce” on a steamed bao bun. Try to envision the flavors in your mind – slightly sweet from the bun, juicy & meaty from the pork belly, tart from the red onions and cucumbers, and spicy from their special sauce. These many flavors combining to create a perfect harmony in one perfectly portioned plate can truly be described as umami. Because of its size, the Pork Belly Bun can fit in as an appetizer or meal, but with so much going on in that little bun, it would be foolish to devour it so quick and not take time to savor every aspect of it.
Oh, and if the truck sounds and/or looks familiar, perhaps this should jog your memory:
