Hits Only: The 5 Best Dishes I’ve Had This Week
It’s been a chicken-heavy week and I’m not mad at it. From fried to roasted to poached, my favorite bird treated me right. Taking nothing away from the lone beef representative of the list this week, though, as the Bo Ne at Chateau Tien Tao in Pasadena had my tastebuds singing praises as loud as the sizzle from the cast iron it was served in.
Roasted Lechon Manok
Lola’s / Pacita’s by MFK — Anaheim, California
Hands down the best lechon manok that I’ve ever had. Talk about juicy, its flesh was supple, almost silken in nature, with a crispy skin that had all the moisture locked in like it was quarantining.
Mumbai Hot Chicken
Detention 2.0 — Santa Ana, California
The passion and intensity that Chef Jason Quinn wields in the kitchen has always translated to stellar food. So when he harnesses all the flavors of Indian cuisine like the Green Ranger summoning the Dragonzord and unleashes it on a perfectly fried chicken thigh, the result is the Mumbai Hot Chicken at Detention. Boasting a gallery of textures and flavors, this dish is a must-have for anyone looking for a bouquet of excellence delivered straight to their palate.
Bò Né
Chateau Tien Tao — Pasadena, California
This Pasadena gem serves up a paragon of sizzling skillet dishes. Bò Né is essentially Vietnamese steak & eggs, but vaults over its Western counterparts by inviting paté, cherry tomatoes, and onions to your brunch soirée. Let them all mingle over a sliced baguette and you’ve got yourself a celebratory function.
Hainan Chicken & Fried Chicken
Maxwell Chicken Rice — La Palma, California
Hainan Chicken is the epitome of comfort food. The supporting cast of fragrant rice, rich broth, light soy sauce, and an addicting ginger scallion sauce makes this Southeast Asian essential a lock for one of my favorite chicken dishes of all time. At Maxwell, they’re doing that right along with a fried chicken that’s juicier than the gossip passed within a crowd of aunties. That’s like the perfect two-way hooper getting a scoring title while also being the Defensive Player of the Year.
Bacon-Wrapped Fried Chicken Legs
Chicken Charlie’s
Chicken Charlie is the patron saint of fried fair food, let’s be clear. So when I had the chance to toast a fried chicken drumstick wrapped in bacon with the man himself like I was clinking glasses with royalty, best believe I seized that deep-fried moment with an overeager fist.
