Owned and operated by Doug Funke (no relation to Tobias of "Arrested Development" fame) and Jason Lee (no relation to Jason Lee of "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" fame), this Korean/American fusion restaurant and its fantastic fried food was built, honed and perfected for more than a year before opening. Meticulous planning and preparation (developing the batter alone took six months), not to mention taste test after taste test after taste test, brought Doug and Jason to their endpoint: Crisp. Is. Awesome.

Their calling card is fried chicken with your choice of sauce. Varieties include Crispy BBQ (spicy, sweet and smoky), Seoul Sassy (slightly sweet with ginger, soy and garlic), Bud's Buffalo (with sauce from Budacki's Drive-In) and Plain Jane (no sauce) at $9 for half a basket and $12 for a whole. There are other options here as well, including Korean burritos, Buddha bowls, specialty sandwiches and savory salads (all $5-$10), but the fried chicken is clearly the star.

Perhaps paying homage to its cross-cultural food, Crisp looks like a cross between an American diner and a Korean sit-down restaurant. Its walls are half lime-green and half wood trim, with long, sturdy tables for big parties (atop which are the never-ending paper towel rolls; you'll need them) and mirrors for gazing longingly at yourself when no one's looking.

But easily the best part about Crisp, better than the concept, the quickness or even the delicious fried chicken, is the excellent customer service, some of the best in the entire city of Chicago. It is, to repeat, awesome.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Benjamin Andrew Moore