Restaurant Review #7: The Chicken Box

 This is part two in a continuing series on Fried Chicken.   Collect them all!
In my humble opinion, the best way to cook fried chicken is broasting.   Broasting is actually a trademarked name, referring to a method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer, usually with seasonings and breading.  Broasting was invented in 1950 by L.A.M. Phelm and marketed by the Broaster Company of Beliot, Wisconsin.   Restaurants that boast they serve broasted chicken have bought equipment from the Wisconsin company and are obligated to following certain procedures and are certified regularly.   Broasting chicken seals in the natural juices, resulting in chicken that is crisp on the outside, but tender and moist on the inside.  It also cooks must faster than regular deep fried chicken.

Today, we'll cover two places that serve great broasted chicken, one in La Habra and one in West Covina.  They both have the same name:  The Chicken Box.  The were originally owned by the same person, but in subsequent years they were sold off.  However, the menus are still very similar, enough that I can cover them both in the same review.

Let's start with the most burning question:   is there a giant chicken on the roof?   Well, no, but the La Habra location has a picture of a cartoon chicken, dressed nattily in a top hat, cane and monocle, on the top of the sign.   That's something.   You might say the chicken is all dressed for dinner.   Well, OK, you might not say that, but there is a very good chance I would say that.  That's why I have to go out to eat by myself.

Both locations are very small, with only a couple of tables for eating in.   They both also have patio dining, which is nice on a warm evening.  Most of the business here is take-out, hence the name "box."
The locations offer a varied menu of chicken strips, ribs, fish and shrimp.   Yeah, right.  We're not going to talk about those, because you're here for CHICKEN, darn it.  

Let's just get to it:  the chicken is fabulous.   Just as it should be, crisp and flavorful on the outside, moist and tender on the inside.   Not as greasy as you would expect.   No unexpected flavors - just good, old fashioned chicken.   Mmmmm.

The side dishes are a treat here as well.  The broasted potatoes are cooked in the same fryer as the chicken and have the same crisp / tender adjectives that the chicken is assigned.  The mashed potatoes are the real thing - deliciously good, and not a taste of potato flakes among them.  Corn on the cob is extra, but is good as well.  The only disappointment was the cole slaw...   not recommended.  Say what you will about KFC, but they still produce a darn good cole slaw.

The locations used to offer boysenberry punch, but West Covina has recently discontinued it.   I am hoping the La Habra location still serves it. 

Overall, I give this fried chicken my heartiest endorsement.
Here is how the Chicken Box makes out on my scale (1-10, with 10 as the best):

Giant Chicken on Roof:  Sort of...
Ambiance of restaurant:    7
Taste of Chicken:    9
Side Dishes:     8
Something besides Coke to drink: 8
Mashed Potatoes:   10
Gravy:   7
Overall rating:   8.5