If there was a local Food Hall of Fame, Surti would be among the first inductees. Years ago, Surti pioneered the Muslim fast food market by serving halal fare from his Kentucky Fried Chicken in Cerritos – yes, it was so long ago that it was not yet known by its modern text message-friendly name, KFC. To add to his stature, he later added a Taco Bell from the same location.

Attempting to fill the void he left more than three years ago with the sale of his franchise, Surti has opened Crave Restaurant, adding to his food hero status.

Crave is all you would expect from Surti, and more. The restaurant is inviting with its modern décor and open styling, the kitchen area visible to anyone wishing to see their food being prepared.

The booths are large, and the atmosphere is friendly.

Customers are greeted by a welcoming staff, with Surti often visiting each diner personally once they receive their meals.

As you might guess, a large portion of the menu is dedicated to fried chicken – tender and juicy chicken – that should not be overlooked. The colonel himself would be impressed.

But it doesn’t stop there. Fried chicken is good, but for us, it always comes down to the quality of the hamburger. And there, Crave Restaurant doesn’t miss a beat. We recommend the A to Zia Everything Burger and the Asim Swiss Mushroom Burger, which also happen to be the restaurant’s two most popular. Cooked to perfection and nicely complemented by the potato wedges, we were impressed. For the health-conscious, Crave also serves the popular RayFlex Grilled Chicken Burger.

Sacrificing for our readers, we pushed ahead, this time ordering the Nacho Grande. Served with the standard fixings – ground beef, melted cheese, and diced tomatoes, plus the optional sour cream, jalapenos and guacamole, this could be a meal in itself. While we normally prefer a bit more spiciness, the nachos were otherwise well-seasoned and tasted freshly-prepared.

The youngest in our group, a 6-year-old with a discerning palate, thoroughly enjoyed the Macaroni and Cheese. A second helping was even requested.

While we were not in the mood for brinner (eating breakfast foods at dinner) this night, we did notice something we are not accustomed to seeing – a full halal breakfast menu.

Offerings include eggs, sausage, halal bacon, beef patties, hash browns and pancakes. It looks like Surti is trying to solidify his Hall of Fame status.

Our cravings satisfied, we decided to ask some other patrons what they thought of Crave. We met Rubina Umarji and Rabia Qazi.

For their dinner, they and their friends had selected the Two Crunch Sandwich, Quesadilla, Nacho Grande, Crave Rolls and Tacos. First time visitors, they could only rave about Crave. Their expectations were "far exceeded," and they said the food was "authentic American."

All orders are made fresh, and the prices are reasonable. So go visit Surti. There’s a good chance he’s got what you’ve been craving.