Pigs have never been more popular. They’re appearing on menus and fueling concepts at a record pace, entrepreneurs are hosting pig-focused events like Cochon 555, and a cottage industry has sprouted up to portray the prized animal in an often artistic light, not only to help market the meat, but also to celebrate this glorious animal. I’ll add to this gallery as I encounter more inspiring porcine imagery.

Amidst all the retro bric-a-brac on Chego‘s shelves, we found a single well-behaved pig.

Elite Restaurant is often rated near the top for L.A. dim sum, and they also have a pair of lucky golden pigs near the entrance.

Starry Kitchen has a number of convincing ways of encouraging consumption, including blackboard diagrams. Pork belly in mouth? Don’t mind if I do.

Beachwood BBQ introduced a number of beer innovations to the SoCal beer scene, including the “flux capacitor,” and in their Long Beach location, a pig bobble head.

Of course All-Star Cochon, the Super Bowl of pork, featured plenty of pig imagery, including Stephanie Izard’s sponge, which allowed attendees to apply temporary tattoos.

All-Star Cochon also set up a miniature barnyard beside their merch booth.

The Curious Palate featured some intricate blackboard art at their Santa Monica Plate spinoff, including a menacing pig chef, who was carrying a cleaver.

Chang’s Garden clearly doesn’t skimp when it comes to filling the trough. Their wooden piggy bank near the register sported some fat cheeks.

At their new Sunset Strip location, Rosa Mexicano‘s molcajete, used for tableside guac prep, is shaped like a pig.

In the courtyard across from Ray’s and Stark Bar, LACMA features about a dozen sculptures of animal heads on spits, including an eerily life-like pig baring its tusks.

Beachwood BBQ featured Portland’s Cascade Brewing for their most recent Sour Fest, and near the entrance, a blackboard hinted at the arrival of P2, Porkment Day. After all, Beachwood isn’t just a craft beer haven, it’s also “where the fork meets the pork.”
Blog Comments
Lorraine
September 6, 2011 at 6:33 PM
As usual, Josh, you bring a fun awareness to food.
Thanks for the input! Lorraine
Stan
September 6, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Haha! Every restaurant I go to now, I would check to see if they have pork first before I order …
Stan
September 6, 2011 at 3:00 PM
OINK!
Joshua Lurie
September 6, 2011 at 3:04 PM
Like I said, Stan, pork isn’t just a type of meat, it’s a lifestyle.
TreasureLA
September 6, 2011 at 9:34 AM
What a fun gallery. Well done, sir.
Joshua Lurie
September 6, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Thanks, TreasureLA. Once I started paying more attention to pigs, it became clear that they’re everywhere.