The popular Flying Pig food truck now has a brick and mortar estabilshment in Little Tokyo - and it was packed with customers opening weekend. (photo by Jill Weinlein)

As we walked along Central Ave. towards the Japanese American National Museum and The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, we noticed a group of people hovering around a pink food truck parked half a block away. People were drinking glasses of cold beer and gobbling down braised pork belly buns on the outside patio. One of LA’s famous gourmet trucks, Flying Pig, was parked in front of Flying Pig Café  which opened last weekend in charming Little Tokyo to a crowd of food truck enthusiasts.

Le Cordon Bleu-trained Joe Kim has made a name for himself with his pork belly bun. Imagine a pure white steamed bao bun filled with red onion escabeche (softened red onions marinated in a vinegar), crunchy pickled sesame cucumber and a slowly braised pork belly nestled in the middle with Kim’s unique Flying Pig sauce. Fortunately, the sauce is not too spicy, yet does offer a punch with every bite.

Since Kim’s appearance last year on Oprah and the Food Network’s – The Great Food Truck Race, he has developed a following of avid fans. The night we experienced the café, some guests were wearing pig hats and pig noses.

Owning a restaurant has been a dream for Kim. I asked him how he came up with the name. “You know the old saying, ‘When pigs fly?’ My pig has wings and does fly all over Los Angeles,” Kim said with a smile.

Kicky peanut butter carnitas with red onion escabeche, cilantro and a red curry peanut butter satay are tantalizing tacos at Flying Pig. (photo by Jill Weinlein)

We ordered some of the signature dishes on the menu and a few of Kim’s new items. Our server, Justine, recommended the crunchy tofu bun. It arrived with a generous piece of tofu marinated in a kimshi sauce with Korean chile powder, Korean pepper paste, garlic, ginger and sesame oil. It’s served with honey roasted peanuts and the famous Flying Pig sauce on a steamed bao. This was a tad spicier than the pork belly bun.

My favorite was the peanut butter carnitas with red onion escabeche, cilantro and a red curry peanut butter satay. These weren’t served on a bao bun, but on soft corn tortillas.

Another unique small plate is the lightly battered and deep fried avocado with a Flying Pig chipotle vinaigrette. It’s crunchy on the outside and filled with creamy avocado on the inside.

The shrimp fajitas appear more as a shrimp stew with large tiger shrimp, bell pepper, onions and spicy peppers swimming in a sweet chili sauce.

Last, we ordered a nice piece of halibut with an edamame purée, crunchy pineapple salsa and a miniscule amount of spicy chocolate sauce. I wished for more of the delightful chocolate sauce.

It’s a casual café, filled with trendy downtown hipsters. Draft and bottled beers, red and white wines and a variety of sakes are served.

The designer of the cafe, Laura Burkhalter, strolled by our table and shared her concept with us. “Joe’s food is a wonderful union of Asian meets French with a modern twist. The café is urban, modern and simple with lots of texture.” White subway tiles adorn the walls with a simple pattern offering a rich texture. A sandblasted window of Kim’s flying pig offers patrons a peek into the kitchen. White woven fabric banquettes offer a cool look with darker table tops. The color palate is black, white and gray with a hint of pink in the LED backlights. Hanging from the ceiling is a steel frame of clouds wrapped in starched white fabric.

Burkhalter and graffiti artist, Stuart Stark created a living wall painted with chalkboard paint near the kitchen leading guests to the restrooms. Patrons can chalk their own artwork next to Stark’s and tag a favorite saying to leave a piece of their creativity behind.

I appreciated the mural to the right of the front door created by Burkhalter and Stark. A very happy pig with angel wings is flying next to a brightly colored rainbow and over the Capitol Records building in Hollywood. The whimsical pig is headed towards the Disney Concert Hall, City Hall, the Library Tower and a sign for Little Tokyo.

Not only does Little Tokyo offer some great museums, but also some interesting dining options. Kim’s Pig has arrived with a warm welcome. Will he fly back to Hollywood to open another café? Only time will tell, but I predict we will see more “Flying Pigs” in Los Angeles. Open for lunch and dinner. $

141 S. Central Ave. (213)621-0300.