Pig And Khao And Jeepney - Filipino Cuisine In NYC

Filipino-minded restaurants seem to sprout in this city in double debuts. Bar Kada and Maharlika already share a First Avenue address; now the new Pig and Khao and Jeepney are doing their delicious darnedest to colonize the East Side with mouth-quaking flavor.

Pig and Khao: Ironically, Top Chef-alum Leah Cohen was none too fond of her Filipina mother's cooking growing up. Let's count our lucky stars for maturity's wisdom as the dishes on Cohen's jet-setting Asian menu are standouts. For the sisig ($12), a hash heaven of crisp porcine head, chewy ears, red onion, garlic and ginger is served sizzling with a broken egg on top for extra good measure. 68 Clinton St. (at Rivington St.); 212-920-4485 or pigandkhao.com

Jeepney: The closure of Sa Aming Nayon, a home-style Filipino restaurant, has ushered in this spot in the same space from the owners of Maharlika. That lovely funk doesn't merely permeate the décor, what with its flamboyant paint job and cheeky girlie photos. It also cuts through the food. It's there in a cucumber and snow pea salad ($14) with a double whammy of dried and salted fish and pork shoulder, garlicky sausage and pickled chiles drowned happily in coconut milk ($12 half-serving, $22 whole). 201 First Ave. (between E. 12th and E. 13th sts.); 212-533-4121 or jeepneynyc.com