little piggys

Little Piggy's

5 Glen Cameron Rd #27,
Thornhill, ON L3T 5W2

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About the Restaurant

There are many Korean BBQ options across Bloor West, but few are located east of Bathurst, a move that Little Piggyโ€™s owner Joeun Kim says was strategic.

โ€œWe didnโ€™t want to be in Koreatown. We wanted a more mainstream area,โ€ she explains.

Of course, itโ€™s only a few blocks east, but the name Little Piggyโ€™s might still ring a bell to the K-BBQ connoisseur. The sister restaurant to Piggyโ€™s in Markham, a 5-year old staple thatโ€™s oft featured on the best of lists (especially for their naeng myeon โ€œbuckwheat noodlesโ€), has made its way to the Annex and brought the same brand of traditional Korean food for a โ€œyounger generationโ€.

Kim moved to Toronto nine years ago from Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, a district in southern Seoul. Her mother operated Korean restaurants back home and she wanted to bring the traditional flavours and dining customs of her country to Toronto.

 

A lesson in ssam (IMAGE: JASON FINESTONE)

โ€œBe sure to realize that a Korean dinner is a group affair. It's likely that you won't find the server willing to give a dinner menu when you come in alone,โ€ a fact that took some getting used to when I moved to South Korea back in 2010. โ€œEven though we're busy and eat on the run, you'll find that Korean dining means for two or more people. And I do think it's still preferable for many reasons to eat a meal together.โ€

 

Little Piggyโ€™s
Grapefruit soju packs a seriously sweet punch, spiked with the quintessential Korean spirit (IMAGE: JASON FINESTONE)

Soju is also one of those beverages thatโ€™s best enjoyed with company, especially since thereโ€™s serious superstition surrounding pouring yourself a shot. Thereโ€™s comes straight by the bottle, of course, or mixed in one of their super sweet signature refreshments โ€“ blue lemon soju or grapefruit soju ($7.95/glass, $19.95/bottle).

 

UFO rice is a distinctive specialty at Little Piggy's that includes various types of fried rice surrounded by steamed egg (IMAGE: JASON FINESTONE)

When it comes to dining solo, Little Piggyโ€™s has a few options, like bibimbap ($9.95) (spelled โ€œbibimbobโ€ on their menu), the classic mixed rice dish served in a hot stone bowl, various soups and stews like the iconic gamja tang โ€œpork bone soupโ€ ($8.95) and duejeon jjigae โ€œsoybean paste stewโ€ ($7.95). For their unique UFO rice ($12.95), your choice of fried rice comes with various proteins and veggies served on a sizzling pan, surrounded by steamed egg.

Geared towards the neighbourhood students, they also have a takeout window serving โ€œbob-to-goโ€ ($7 tax in) rice bowls and affordable lunch specials ($7.95-$9.95) on weekdays.

 

Little Piggyโ€™s
Pajeon is a type of Korean pancake typically stuffed with veggies, kimchi or seafood. Seafood pancake pictured ($9.95) (IMAGE: JASON FINESTONE)

For groups of two or more you can indulge in their remarkable induction grill system used for their table cooking. Various cuts of beef or pork ($17.95-$22.95 per order) are on offer, and require a minimum of two servings purchased per order, as is standard back in the ROK (Republic of Korea). They come with a cute lunchroom style metal tray with raw garlic, housemade samjang (soybean paste) and wasabi marinated onions, lettuce wraps, as well as a plentiful array of banchan (side dishes). If youโ€™d like rice or a soup on the side, toss an extra toonie onto the bill.

Table cooking combos will mix several types of proteins and cuts, and are priced per couple. The mix BBQ combo ($41.95 for two) includes pork belly, garlic pork and korean style beef. Hungry diners will likely want to add a side order of tteok bokki โ€œspicy rice cakesโ€ ($7.95) which can be pimped out with proteins like chicken, fishcakes and seafood, various types of noodles, or cheese for an added $2.95.

Soft serve ice cream, or more soju are always available for dessert at Little Piggyโ€™s.

Published : Jun 20, 2016