The Pig & The Lady

Coming to KCC Farmers Market? Two things… get here early, and Make sure you go to Pig And The Lady. Haven’t been to their brick and mortar location (yet) but dined here twice.
First visit, we chose one of Mama Le’s Specials, and that was devoured in no time. Don’t remember the name, but it was almost like a Chicken Phở. Second time we dined here, it was a different special with a darker broth, but unfortunately the broth was scorched and had a burnt aftertaste.
This is one of the hot spots in the KCC Farmers Market that is always packed, so if you plan to dine here, plan accordingly or endure a pretty lengthy wait. Looking forward to dining at the restaurant on my next visit home. ALOHA!!!
Shaka Meter: \uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​4

I finally had the opportunity to try their famous phở french dip bahn mi. People, there’s a reason why it’s so popular! The bread was perfectly baked, the meat was tender and juicy, the veggies were fresh, and the phở dip was amazingly delicious. There is something magical in the dip! When a took a bit of the sandwich without dip it tasted plain and when I tasted it with dip it tasted like rainbows: D

I’ve been curious about the phở flavored banh mi. So when I read about the Phở French Dip. I had to go the the farmers market to try. I am so glad I did. The meat was very moist and I loved the option of having a mini phở on the side.

Coming from OC, I was very pleasantly surprised by how good the Ox Tail Phở was at this outdoor market. It simply blew me away! Try it people and you won’t be disappointed. My wife also liked the Banh Mi.

If the Vietnamese hipsters wanted to open up a restaurant, it would probably look a lot like the Pig and the Lady.
Going into this place, I had read the favorable reviews so that’s what certainly influenced my decision to eat here. But the hype is true — the meal was delicious and downright inventive, establishing TPTL as one of the many foodie destinations that continue to pop up around Honolulu.
We had:
* Laotian fried chicken wings — a perfect balance of flavors and crispy skin (which is how fried chicken wings should be).
* French dip bahn mi — tender meat, excellent French bread, and a great chimmichurri sauce make this the perfect sandwich.
On a next visit, I’m curious to try the oysters and French onion soup.
The place was pretty packed right before the midday close between lunch and dinner services, so I’d expect to wait even a little bit no matter when you go. As they say, good things come to those who wait, and that’s definitely true at TPTL!

I have heard soo many people rave about the pig and the lady. It is Vietnamese food at its best. It’s main location is in Chinatown, but I heard that they have their own booth down at the farmers market at KCC. On Saturdays, the restaurant opens at 10:30am-3pm. But, at the farmers market they open at 7:30−11am. So which one am I going to? The one that opens first!!! ;)
Once I arrived at the farmers market, I sped walked all around until I saw the signage of «the pig and the lady.» There was so many choices of banh mi sandwiches and phở at such reasonable prices. I must add that they make everything to order and it’s fresh. The food is not sitting there for hours pre-​made to be sold.
I ordered a «Le banh mi ga» sandwich which consisted of marinated chicken, cabbage salad, mint, Thai basil, rau ram, shallots, dressed upon a warm fresh French baguette.
There was a long line at this particular booth, and that did not surprise me. I also believe it was word of mouth as well. I would hear people passing by mention that a friend told them to check out this place. Yea support local business! It makes me feel good when I see them thriving and being successful.
I heard my name being called and went up to pick up my order. I grabbed a seat and sat down at a table that they put aside next to their booth.
Oh it was beautiful. I took a bite and it was nirvana. The warm crunchy baguette was the foundation of making it a concrete sandwich. The tender chicken was excellently marinated and flavorful. The mint, Thai basil, cabbage salad, shallots, and rau ram complimented each other wonderfully. I tasted a little spice and sweetness with each bite. To add more heat they had siracha available. There was no leftovers as I consumed it in a matter of minutes. They had utilized quality ingredients!
Needless to say I will be back! Everything was excellent!

Good, solid Asian comfort food, at gourmet food prices. I think taking into account price and value, there are other places I would prefer to eat. I realize this place is hot and trendy now, and again, the food is reasonably good. We had a three sausage meal, and a fish dish that was quite popular, according to our (very nice) server. I have to say that the sausage was better than the fish. While the fish dish had some nice flavor, there was nothing distinctive or memorable, and if I had to characterize it, I would say it leaned a little towards the less flavorful than the more. I came out of the restaurant saying, «glad we tried it, but I’m over it.» I will keep my eye out for these guys at the Farmer’s Market, where they made their name. At Farmer’s Market prices, the food is a cut above. At their restaurant prices, they have a different level of competition and value to meet, and IMHO, they just don’t distinguish themselves in that category. Hope this review doesn’t sound negative, as 3 stars on Unilocal means «A-​OK,» and in fact, that’s exactly what this restaurant is.

I had been wanting to eat at The Pig & the Lady for so long. My parents had been there and raved about it, and I had only heard positive reviews from others. My husband and I took a walk to the KCC FM with our pup, and I finally got to try their food.
There were so many delicious looking plates and bowls to choose from. Curry, phở, sandwiches, etc. Each dishes were conveniently displayed with the names and the prices right by them. I didn’t know what to get, so I asked for their best selling item, and I was told to get a sandwich with a side of mini phở. (Can’t remember the name of it, and I was so hungry I forgot to take a pic…)
Let me just say, I could eat that everyday. The sandwich had pork, egg, pickled daikon and carrots, cilantro and other meats. It could have been the bottom of a slipper in that sandwich and I would have ate it because the sauce was so good! The sandwich was crunchy, sweet sour from the pickled veg, salty from the meats, it was so satisfying after a long walk.
The mini side of phở was just as great, and believe it or not, it was a great compliment to the sandwich. Broth was not too salty, and just right. It was piping hot, with lots of crunchy bean sprouts and chunks of chicken. Oh it was SO GOOD!
We washed it all down with a cold cup of Vietnamese iced coffee. Mmm!!! I’m definitely hooked. I’m definitely going back there again!!!

Awesome little gem in the middle of chinatown/​downtown area! On the outside, it looked almost sketchy and not-​very-​impressive, but the décor on the inside was nice and contemporary! It was extremely busy when we arrived (about 30 minutes before they closed), so we ordered the food to-​go. Boyfriend got some sort of Phở banh mi dish, which was alright (would’ve tasted better warmer), and I got the fried rice and some chicken. Chicken was delicious, but the fried rice was unimpressive… (my mom asked what the «clay» leftovers were when I brought it home!!)
Pretty good and a nice addition to the area, but I may have to eat in the restaurant next time to appreciate it more!

Only had the Original Phở. This was really good. This was a stand at Kapuolani Community College Farmer’s Market. Only complaint: not enough restrooms.

When I tried their Tofu Sandwich Dip, I said, «Oh my God.» It was that good. Heavenly and bursts of various rich flavors commingling in my mouth. I am so impressed with the chef’s sauces and soups. I couldn’t put my finger on the exact ingredients as I was wanting to replicate the recipe. However, it left me in a serious comatose for the rest of my afternoon. I want more! I will be making another appearance at their town location very soon!

KCC Farmers Market location. Food had interesting flavors but overcooked pork in the sandwich. Not sure the wait is worth it. Many other vendors to choose from at KCC.

I was happy to be able to kill two birds with one stone with the KCC farmers market and the Pig & The Lady. Too bad because i had soup i really needed a place to sit down, and with only two picnic benches we had to wait it out until we found enough space for 3 people to sit down.
I got the breakfast phở with some good fatty pork, and a really good broth.

We came down for the guest Bartender Justin, it had been a while since we were here. We got there early so we could sit at the bar and as usual had an incredible night of food and special cocktails! Kyle, Nick and Justin were Fantastic! Their recommendations of food and drink were spot on! I can’t even begin to explain how much we love coming here! By far the best place to eat in Chinatown! Thanks again guys for a spectacular night of fun!

It was just me and the husband. We tried everything on the menu (only few items avail) in one sitting. This is legit home-​cook meal! The oxtail phở was generous with the oxtail. The broth was clear and hearty. The french phở dip was cool. You dip the well-​seasoned beef and the bun in the phở dip! The beef (brisket or short rib?) with gravy and tomatoe sauce was delicious.

i visited them at the KCC Farmers Market. They make «The One French Dip Sandwich To Rule Them All». The thick cut well seasoned beef melts in your mouth and when you dip it into the phở broth… taste bud explosion. WARNING this sandwich causes extreme food coma!

I came here to the KCC market just to try this place. There is a little booth, with lots of lovely delicious looking displays of what to get. They range from bowls of phở, to vermicelli type dishes to sandwiches. I couldnt decide what to get cus everything looked super yummy. I was convinced of the new years dish that they had special and my mom got the chicken phở. Both were super tasty, with a very yummy broth. The phở had lots of flavor and you could tell the chicken was fresh, not frozen. The new years dish was also very good, with pickled cabbage, eggs and pork. I want to try the restaurant now!

I just love the creative Vietnamese dishes is the Pig &the Lady, which I have frequented often. In fact, when my daughter + fiancé are here from Maui, it’s standard routine to be at the Farmer’s Market at Kapiolani Community College by 7a to put in our orders for breakfast at P&L (to avoid the long lines) and eating at 7:30a; it’s their favorite too.
The P&L is the mastermind of Chef Andrew Le, whose cooking is inspired by his mother, aka «Mama Le.» The unusual name has meaning — the «pig» is named for Chef Le, who has a tattoo of a pig on his upper arm, & the «lady» refers to his mom; pig memorabilia are placed at his venues. Chef Le was born/​raised in Honolulu by his immigrant parents from Vietnam. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, he worked his way up to sous chef under Chef Mavro; opened his pop-​up restaurant, P&L, at Hank’s Haute Dogs in the evenings & then at Taste; & continued his exposure via the local farmers’ markets.

In a matter of days, Chef Le will have his own restaurant under the same name, while continuing the farmers’ markets. P&L will be partnering w/​the non-​profit Pacific Gateway Center, which supports immigrants & low income residents by employing them in work training programs. In addition to their regular menu items, P&L will offer catering for small meetings to large events, such as weddings & graduations.
We love Chef Le’s creations, whether they are salads, appetizers, phở, rice plates, banh mi, or desserts. His creations are so pleasing to the palate, as they are essentially Vietnamese cuisine plus subtle additions that result in his delicious dishes not found elsewhere. He even continues to make changes even on his own dishes which become similar variations at each farmer’s market. His dishes are all flavorful, delicious, & superb; his ingredients are locally grown from local farmers.
The P&L booth at the KCC Farmer’s Market is an amazing operation! Menu descriptions are clearly displayed & accompanied w/​actual dishes; a full «kitchen» is in place just like a regular brick & mortar restaurant. There are several dining tables if you want to eat there. Awesome operation considering the varied number of items offered!

Some of the dishes we’ve tried are:
— Canh Bi Suon Heo Non (Kabocha Sparerib Soup) — kabocha, huge chunks of spare rib, clear broth. Very tasty, w/​lots of kabocha and a huge chunk of spare rib.

— French Dip Banh Mi — 12-​hour roasted brisket, sautéed bean sprouts/​onions, Thai basil chimichurri w/​phở au jus on the side. It is so good that I don’t need to dip it in the phở, as it is delicious by itself. Voted as top of the 100 things to eat in Hawaii by Honolulu Magazine.

— Breakfast Phở — smoked applewood bacon, poached egg, Thai basil, cilantro, spicy bean sprouts, onions, fresh hand-​cut rice noodles.

— Canh Chua Chay — taro stems, okra, pineapple, celery, bean sprouts, fresh rice noodles, lemongrass, tomato-​tamarind broth.

— Le Banh Mi Sunrise — breakfast sandwich of char siu pork belly, Vietnamese ham, headcheese, chicken liver pâté, house pickles & cucumbers, fried poached egg.

— Phở Ga — poached chicken, fresh herbs, Thai chili vinaigrette, fresh hand-​cut noodles topped w/​a soft cooked egg.
— Oxtail Phở — large chunks of slow-​cooked oxtail, Thai basil, cilantro, bean sprouts, onions, fresh hand-​cut rice noodles in Mama Le’s famous phở broth. We also got additional huge bones to pick on — so delicious!


— Com Ga Hoi An (fresh Vietnamese Chicken Salad) — marinated poached chicken, fried shallots, Thai basil, green/​red cabbage, rau ram (Vietnamese coriander), fish sauce vinaigrette, jasmine turmeric rice.

— Jajyangmyun — smoked pork shoulder, spicy bean sprouts, fried shallots, house-​made black garlic, fresh hand cut rice noodles.
— Lemon Cookie Parfait — yogurt-​based parfait w/​lemon flavoring topped w/​crumbled cookie bits.

Looking forward to Chef Le’s grand opening of his new restaurant!

Great fusion street food. Perhaps I should have used quotation marks around all of those words…
FOOD is pretty much Vietnamese with a flare!
My favorite so far is the ribeye banh mi dish… I forget the official name but it is some amazing marinated ribeye chunks, wich onions and I think garlic. WOW. I think it was supposed to be a ribeye sandwich, but I requested on rice. Best dish I’ve had here, and maybe one of the best rib eye preparations I’ve had in a long time!
The chicken banh mi, done on rice is pretty good and they do it on a roll as well (the rice is a really nice sticky-​ish saffron rice). Grilled chicken with some marinated veggies, a small salad and. They also do a breakfast banh mi with pâté and egg.
I was not a fan of the vegetarian curry dish. I think it’s more a personal preference thing. It is served on tasty rice and has a richness to it, but it also has a real dark flavor and because it’s full of root vegetables it tasted sort of like I was eating a root garden.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee: really tasty drink and I think it had a fair amount of caffeine in it. But at $ 3.50, it’s definitely a high end caffeinated drink.
LOCATION: it’s in a middle row, towards the parking area. Just look for the line; it usually has a long line. And if you’re in a hurry, then you might have to take a rain check… if the line is long, it really is quite slow. Just the reality of them cooking the food close to when you order it. They also run out of food as the morning goes on, so if you are dying for something, go early!
DINING AREA: you can do takeout (like other KCC vendors) or they have a dining area, where they even serve some food in real dishes! No styrofoam. Woot.
Accepts CASH or CREDIT CARD (via Square)
31 Unilocal Review #1

Chef Andrew Le definitely works some culinary magic! I first experienced the magic when The Pig & The Lady did a pop-​up at Hanks Haute Dogs way back when. Since then I’ve become a huge fan.
After a morning workout that took us around Diamondhead, and Kapiolani Park my friend and I decided to stop by the KCC Farmers Market since we were hungry, and in the area. I wasn’t too sure exactly what I wanted to eat, but I did know that I wanted something from The Pig & The Lady.
PROS:
+ Spectacular tasting food
+ Very friendly service
+ Tables and chairs to eat in
+ Fresh food
CONS:
— Still no permanent location
— A bit on the pricey side
When I walked up to the Pig & Lady tent and saw the display items on the table I knew immediately that I wanted the La Lot Meatloaf Bahn Mi. I would have gotten the phở if the sun hadn’t come out and start blazing just before we got there. But I have to say that I am still not disappointed one bit that I got what I did.
The Display La Lot Bahn Mi:
I ordered my sandwich, and saw my order starting to be made immediately. Nothing was pre-​assembled, and getting soggy on the side. They didn’t make it until I ordered it!
The Making of My Bahn Mi:
When I got my Bahn Mi, and took a bite into it I was in heaven. Everything about it was wonderful. The bread was crispy on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside. It didn’t produce any rough edges that cut up the roof of your mouth like some Bale sandwiches sometimes do. The La Lot Meatloaf was soft and full of delicious juicy flavor. Even though this bahn mi was $ 9.50, which is a bit pricey for a sandwich, it was definitely well worth every penny. You really get what you pay for here. I almost turned around and got another when my sandwich somehow quickly disappeared from my hands, but I was actually too full to seriously do it. If you ever have a chance to get one of these bahn mi, then I highly recommend you do so. You won’t be disappointed!
We took our food to go, but we did notice that there is a small seating area that they set up under a tent next to their food area. There are a couple of tables and about 1 – 2 dozen chairs for you to enjoy your meal in the shade. A wonderful touch that I’m going to have to make use of one of these days.
Until Andrew is able to find a permanent location for his culinary masterpieces I’m just going to have to hit the road and find him at whatever Farmers Market he happens to be at. Luckily the KCC Farmers Market is pretty near to where I live, and they’ve recently opened it up on Tuesday evenings as well (for now).