Bantam King

Bantam King is a great weeknight spot for groups looking for a casual night out. Inside, the Penn Quarter shop is a colorful, wonderful mess with lanterns in different sizes and colors and a long table that stretches the entire length of the restaurant. Seats are packed close to one another, so be prepared to sit snugly next to people you don’t know. Most importantly, the food here is bussin’. It's all halal and there are also vegetarian options. The menu has chicken and vegetable-based ramen alongside Japanese-style fried chicken. The steamed chicken dumplings are soaked in a sesame seed and chili oil broth that will have you sponging every last drop and the Nashville fried chicken plate, served with rice and a spicy salsa verde sauce on the side, feels like one of those elevated international KFCs (IYKYK).