Tokyo Fried Chicken Co. Soft Opening

Tokyo Fried Chicken Company is the successor to The Open Door. The restaurant still has the same owner and staff, but they decided to do a complete 180 on their previous food and theme. The restaurant is currently still in its soft opening stage.

 The chicken is similar to chicken karaage. It is marinated in soy sauce, ginger and garlic and fried in rice bran oil. Diners each receive a plastic glove for the chicken so that your hands don’t get dirty.

The fried chicken dinner set for two which comes with two legs, two wings, two thighs, steamed chicken rice,  pickled cabbage, and your choice of two sides. They offer regular sides and “premium” sides for an additional charge.

For my sides, I ordered curried creamed corn and mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was pretty tasty. There are also other unique items such as collard greens, truffle tater tots, truffle-butter edamame, and shisito peppers. 

 Each table has several different sauces to complement the chicken. There is the standard  ponzu and  spicy ponzu as well as the sauces they are testing out before their grand opening. I was given a yuzu sauce and a sweet and sour sauce. 

Although the chicken was succulent, I didn’t think it lived up to the hype. For me, the chicken had to be dipped in massive amounts of sauce to have flavor. The chicken alone was bland. Sauces should complement the chicken, not require them.  

For a two person set, it is approximately $25 without alcohol before tax and tip. Overall my impression of the restaurant was so-so. I was such a big fan of The Open Door, that maybe I would give them another chance. Plus, they have fried chicken skin, which sounds amazing. Also, TFC has imported popsicles from Japan. 

Happy Eatings!

R.I.P. The Open Door

122 S Atlantic Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754