My brother-in-law Spencer mentioned the fried chicken at Top Restaurant many times, but I never had a reason to visit this east Pasadena strip mall. Somehow the stars aligned for a family dinner at Ju K Tan’s Indonesian/Hawaiian establishment. The minuscule space features blue walls lined with food photos and far too few tables given the high demand.

Crispy Fried Chicken ($8.19) is fairly straight-forward, but so satisfying. Top Restaurant simply seasons each bird with salt, expertly fries to keep every piece juicy, and coats with chunks of lacy batter that would be a great bar snack on its own.