Best chicken sandwich around! Great location, great staff and good vibes!!l Will definitely be visiting regularly!

We enjoyed our lunch at Chick & Hawk in Encinitas, CA. The restaurant is co-owned by skateboarder Tony Hawk. We were told he was at the restaurant yesterday hanging out so we missed him The restaurant opened in November of 2025. We recommend trying the Birdman Chicken Sandwich with a side of Spicy Duck Fat Fries. They have a happy hour menu from 2pm-5pm. That's probably the best time to be there before it gets busy. The restaurant is small with limited indoor and outdoor seating. They do take reservations on Open Table. The restaurant also has limited parking with about 10 spaces. When driving on Leucadia Blvd, make a right at the light on Vulcan Ave because you'll find street parking on the left side. We had very good friendly service. The restaurant is walking distance to Leucadia State Beach (Beacon's). May the Force be with you on Star Wars Day! Check it out! Happy Yelping :) read more

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Excellent service, good food, cool vibe. Sat inside- love that the table had a ledge underneath to put your purse or your phone. Nice touch. Fries were perfection- crisp and tasty. Shroom Nugs using maitake mushrooms were nicely crunchy- they definitely have their fryer skills down. Fresh tasting- not greasy at all- that goes for everything. For sandwiches we had the Birdman and the Seabird. Both were huge and satisfying. Spice level Chill was flavorful with a nice tang. Go hungry and share the sides for variety. We'll be back! read more

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Chick and Hawk in Encinitas is a cool spot. Tony Hawk's restaurant lives up to the hype. The chicken sandwich was really good. Well seasoned, great texture, and has just the right kick of spice. The vibe fits Encinitas perfectly. Casual, fun, and easy to enjoy! read more

Chick & Hawk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Apparently I'm on a San Diego legends owned restaurant vibe at the moment. Visited Chick & Hawk on a Saturday for lunch. The space is cool, with a 90s skating theme. Neon lights, black and white skating videos on small TV's. We got seated on the "rail" which is an outdoor covered patio. They have a good selection of beers. And, a small but mighty menu. I ordered the Birdman and it was simply delicious. It was big and somehow I managed to eat most of it. You can order fries on the side. We also had some pickled veggies which were fun. The service was amazing. Kind, professional, and on it! Great job. So happy we got to check out Chick & Hawk. I failed at photos this time around with the exception of the drinks menu. read more

Chick & Hawk - Beers March 2026 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Hot chicken sandwiches are springing up everywhere and this place serves up a good one. The chicken is juicy and there is a lot of flavor in this creation. It is messy but I'm good with it. You can pick your spice level. I was told the highest level was a 10 out of 10 on the spice chart. I would suggest it is more of an 8. I was also told that there is a spicier level which you can order off the menu but that one might be a bridge too far even for a spice nut like me. I absolutely loved the duck fries (or "frites"). They are very crispy and delicious. The regular fries are terrific, too. If you like, you can order half portions of each. Other than ketchup, you have to pay extra for sauces. The house ranch sauce is very nice and I recommend it. The beer and cocktail menu is very strong. A lot of the cocktails sounded very interesting but I passed on the booze during this visit. The inside is very funky and very, very loud. I'm not sure if they were angling for an edgy atmosphere but the music was simply a tad too loud. There is plenty of patio seating. As everyone has noted, parking is really rough but that is the case for a lot of restaurants in this area. We parked on the dirt west of the train tracks near PCH and hoofed it. A lot of people seem to think the fish sandwich is even better than the chicken sandwich. But for the price (over $20), I probably would give the fish sandwich a try. Good sandwiches, excellent fries, and the music is too damn loud. Give them a try. read more

Chick & Hawk - The Birdman was very nice. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Had to stop by and try their chicken sandwich, and let me tell you -- this place did not disappoint. By far one of the best chicken sandwiches I've had here in San Diego. If you're in the area, definitely stop by and treat yourself to a great chicken sandwich. The service was really good, the staff was very attentive, and the food came out fast. Overall, it was a great experience. Hopefully next time I can meet Tony Hawk -- one of my favorite skateboarders from back in the day! read more

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It's been a minute since Chick & Hawk has been in development but now that it's wide open, we dropped in from some grub at a lunch sesh. My Birdman chicken sammie was premium, but the cost was pretty steep ($18 each). The fried chicken thigh was massive and the combo of slaw and hand-made kimchi Comeback sauce was rad. You pick how spicy you want your Birdman based on board rotations: 180, 360, 720 or 900. My 180 came in a flashy brioche bun, without pickles (as requested), in a tight paper wrapper. Tip: keep the wrapper on. If you don't, the Birdman has the potential to get all over the place and gnarly. The spicy duckfat fries were steezy and def my fave; wide-shaped with a little kick and powdery flavoring that made your hands mango-ish. In addition to ketchup, the hand-made Cool Ranch was alright and the Comeback was super sick (aka great). The server blanked on mentioning that each sauce was an extra $2.50, but it came up on the bill. Also, they have a solid combo of table-side napkins and wetnaps. The parking is super sketchy. There are only a handful of spots and I didn't eye any street parking. Our server was super nice, friendly and helpful. Huge props for having street art on and around the building. The one on the back wall is by @ObeyGiant. read more

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Tony Hawk's new restaurant. I grew up skating during Hawk's rise in dominance , my brother was a pro (still is actually), we had a huge half pipe in our backyard and we idolized Tony Hawk and Powell Peralta skateboards. So when I heard Tony was opening a skate themed chicken sandwich place, I had to try...(There's a pizza place a block away called Johnny Radz which is also inter-related with Mike McGill - Powell Peralta and The Search for Animal Chin skate movie... If you know what I'm talking about, you absolutely cannot pass up these two spots). I ordered the chicken sandwich with the heat level of 720... There is a 900 level but the server said it is "ghost pepper hot" and I opted to go down 180 of a spin to the 720. It was plenty hot and I loved it. If you dont like it HOT maybe go down another notch. The heat levels are degrees of a turn on a skateboard 180,360,720,900. (no 540?) We also got the duck fat cajun fries.... These were great... Crispy and perfect... My only gripe is that it is a bit pricey. I think the sandwich should come with a side (fries,salad,etc) instead of being a la carte. I will go back and try to 900 heat level just to see but I hope they either expand the menu a little or offer a little more value for the price. read more

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Finally made it over here... First thing to consider is parking. Come early or be prepared to park offsite. The lot is micro and if you have anything bigger than a 4 door car it can be tough. Walking in though...greeted with a smile and seated right away. The service was great and attentive. We both got the birdman (really a must on the first visit) 720 heat. The heat was perfect for me but I could definitely see it being a bit much for someone. Also orders the duck fat fries. Also, super good. Technically this food is a far cry from my normal diet (I knew this going in) but it was still pretty good. Definitely worth a stop to check it out! read more

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Got dinner here tonight after spending the day in Encinitas! This restaurant has a quirky, fun skate park design. There is a bar with extensive cocktail options. Indoor space is tiny but they have closed and open patios for additional seating. Seating in general feels a little crowded. My friends and I all ordered their signature "Birdman" fried chicken sandwich at a 720 spice level. I didn't find it very spicy at all; it had a pleasant flavor and the chicken was cooked to perfection! Perfectly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. The slaw and sauce complimented it very well. Yum. We also got a large order of duck fat fries to share, which was a little too fatty for my taste. read more

Chick & Hawk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Have been waitin and wantin to try Chick and Hawk for at least half a year now so was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon it after taking a wrong turn last week. We pulled into the lot on a Saturday afternoon and snagged the last spot in the small lot. They do advise parking in other spots for the restaurant which is nice because a quick look around doesn't show any parking. My mom ordered the kids chicken meal that came with tasty fries, and a salad with a side of chicken. The prices are def eye opening but the food is tasty! It didn't take long to get out to-go order either. The chicken for the salad isn't what I'd imagine fried chicken to be but a thinner, crispier layer. The seasonings were great and the chicken also tasted fantastic. I'd be curious to try the rest of the menu, but def on the more fine dining side of fast food! read more

Encinitas North county Fried chicken sandwich Retro skating vibe Indoor and outdoor seating Restrooms outside Small parking lot Small waiting line Order through a server Amex accepted Minimal vegan option Alcohol is served read more

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A Beautiful overcast Saturday afternoon at the beach. I was actually able to park in the lot that was nice since it was our first time here and we were able to be seated on the covered patio for a late lunch and it was perfect. The servers were polite, prompt, attentive and the food was really really good. The seabird crispy was very tasty, perfect ratio of fish avocado and sauce! And the duck fat frites are amazing we only needed a few the sandwich was so good. My son got the birdman and loved it! read more

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Chick & Hawk was one of those long-rumored businesses (see Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles) that finally opened its doors recently in SD County. The structure was rather small and felt like a cross between a diner and a taqueria. The location was in the middle of a block on Leucadia Blvd and didn't have the greatest visibility compared to businesses along N Coast Hwy 101 just a block further west. The on-site lot was limited to less than ten spaces, but there was signage that indicated where else you could find nearby parking. The main dining room had only three tables that could hold less than 20 customers. There was an outdoor patio on the westward facing side of the building and a small wing along the north perimeter with countertop seating which was where I ended up. A tri-fold paper menu was handed to me after I was seated. Beverages were listed on three of the pages, and the food offerings were printed on two pages. For a collaboration that had been years in the making, I expected more chicken items than what I saw which was one chicken sandwich and tenders for kids. There was a potpourri of non-chicken choices including a crispy/blackened market fish sandwich, poke, sunomono pickles, and fries. The signature Birdman with 180 spiciness (half flame) and a half order of the Spicy Duck Fat Frites (also with 180 heat) were my selections. Both items came out simultaneously after about ten minutes. The thick cut frites were served with a cup of barbeque sauce for dipping. The spiciness was minimal which was how I wanted it. The Birdman was wrapped in wax paper and had a fried dark meat thigh in between the potato brioche buns. Tangy slaw, kimchi comeback sauce, and sweet & spicy pickles were the toppings. I think it was a good crispy product but not for $18. I actually enjoyed the duck fat fries more than the sandwich. I gave a 3.5 star rating for my visit to Chick & Hawk. read more

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The service was incredible and the food is really good. My only issue is the price - $80 for two nonalcoholic beverages, two sandwiches and two orders of fries is a little pricey, but then again so is everything these days ... we really liked the 80s 90s ambiance too. read more

Today I tried the birdman sandwich on the menu it was really good it's a hot chicken sandwich with tangy slaw & a kimchi sauce and I ordered it perfectly spicy level which honestly was mildly spicy and tasty! The duck fat fries were amazing they had a seasoning on them that I loved and dipped in the same kimchi sauce they make was a perfect meal overall can't wait to try the seabird blackened fish sandwich next yum! Also parking is terrible sadly! read more

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Amazing service from Brian and the team. Got the Birdman 900 Chicken sandwich and a West Coast IPA beer. Beautiful place to visit and enjoy the great food. Also ordered the spicy duck fat fries were so delicious. Highly recommend coming here, it's so worth it and the whole family will love it. read more

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I was super interested in trying Chick & Hawk because of their approach of no seed oils and high quality ingredients, and I believe that they really delivered! We tried their Birdman, Eyrie Fries, Kona Bowl, and Maitake Bo Ssam and I could really feel the freshness of the ingredients and I really enjoyed the fusion of flavors. A highlight for me was actually the Maitake Bo Ssam. It's a really great addition for non-meat eaters and the combination of the perilla leaf, deep fried maitake, and sauce were really delicious. I also really enjoyed the variety of fruits and veggies in the Kona bowl as the tangerines were a really nice pairing with the avocado, greens, and the pink chicory (my personal favorite). It is really great to see a restaurant honor fresh and diverse ingredients! However, the parking is very tight (expect to park elsewhere and walk) and the tables themselves are quite close together which was the only downside to my experience. read more

Chick & Hawk - The Birdman (360) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Decided to visit the Tony Hawk restaurant this weekend. Pros: -friendly staff! -I'm not a chicken sandwich person but I enjoyed it. It had a great crunch. I ordered the 720 spice, which had a little spice to it. I'm used to spicy foods so I could have gotten the spiciest option. Cons: -not a lot of parking stalls in their lot. You may need to park further away like I did. Be mindful of parking in residential that have signs that say no parking. read more

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Tony you got a good thing going here! First time here. I got the Birdman 720 with the spicy duck fat frites. Wifey got the chips and dip. Bro the food is so good. The workers are so nice, they brought us water while we waited for our to go order. The vibe and the music playing was awesome. Wish I had time to dine in to enjoy the atmosphere. The decor is perfect read more

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This has been our list since my husband first heard about it. We made a same day reservation and asked some friends to join us so we could try more of the menu. The hostess was able to accommodate the change and was very friendly. It's a fairly small restaurant so I'd recommend reservations. So much to look at inside. The bar it awesome. It's like the edge of a pool. Also beware that parking is also limited. Once we were seated we were given ice water in these cool old school plastic cups. Our waiter was super friendly and answered all of our questions about the menu. He even offered some milder spice levels not mentioned in the menu which we all appreciated. We ended up ordering the following: Sunomomo Pickles - so good! Just try them. Maitake Bo Ssam - I love maitake mushrooms so I had to try this. I'm not usually a huge fan of shiso leaves but I had to give it a shot. It was absolutely delicious! This combo just works. My hubby who hates mushrooms had to give it a try because it is so out of his wheel house but he loves the concept of the restaurant and he ended up loving it so much that he wanted to order another. Everyone at the table loved it. You gotta make sure to load your shiso leaf with all the toppings and a little squeeze of lime and eat it like a taco. The Birdman with zero spice. Yes it's an option. You can also go 180 spice. The lowest spice on the menu is 360 which we were told was like a 5 out of 10. It was served piping hot which I totally appreciate. You can tell the expediting team is on point here. The chicken was so juicy! Perfectly dressed and the combo just worked so well together. The Seabird (Blackened) was such a gourmet fish sandwich. The fish was so buttery and worked well with the avocado and crispy shallots. Kinda bummed I didn't order this for myself. Next time for sure. Spicy Duck Fat Frites Level 180 spice. Served hot from the fryer. Perfectly crisp outside and tender inside. Larger than shoestring but not steak fries. Maybe like a fat shoestring? LOL Mildly spiced and went great with their ranch. Spicy Duck Fat Frites Level 0 spice. I think I slightly preferred this version better. Served hot from the fryer. Love the crispness of the exterior with the tender interior. They stayed crisp through the whole meal. Virgin Bones Brigade - Our server mentioned we could get virgin mocktails so I had to try one. Bones Brigade was great. It was tart and sweet and served with the good crunchy ice. We will for sure be back! Oh and make sure to check out the restrooms. Mirrored ceiling and the raddest sink you'll ever see. read more

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Yum. Haters gon' hate on Chick & Hawk. I was second guessing whether to come here bc of those single star reviews but y'all are trippin! Parking in Leucadia in general is whack. We opted for the 7-11 across the street. No reservation but was greeted and seated immediately on a weekend for lunch. You can make reservations online or there is a walk up order window in the back. Sit inside, outside out on an open patio or in a front enclosed patio. We sat out in the open. 2 unisex bathrooms in the back and like 5 parking spots. Every employee who walked by smiled and asked us if we needed anything, bussed dirty plates, etc. Collaborative environment. I ordered this delish cocktail called Animal Chin. We also ordered and shared fries, a crispy fish sandwich and a 180 (mild spice) chicken sandwich. Everything was great. The chicken was like a dark thigh meat - juicy and HUGE! Anyway, will be back. Loved everything. Thank you for the great service. read more

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Does to the chicken sandwich what 5 guys did to the burger all those years ago but more so. It's a great concept and pretty scalable if they decide to go that route. read more

Hot off the press Chick and Hawk flew out of the coop! Great vibe and great energy! Downside is soft opening long lines for seating and long wait times for the food. Total seating is limited and patio is small, very windy and cold during the fall and winter. Dog friendly but seating is tight so leave your pupper at home! Food is good! Obviously, pricing is out of the park but I would come back on a special occasion. We tried a bit of everything. Super chicken, fish burger, fries and Bo Ssam! The fish burger needed more tartar sauce so asked for an extra sauce on the side! The fish itself was dry. My favorite is the vegetarian mushroom Bo Ssam! I could eat that everyday! Must order! So refreshing with the green leaf dipped in sauce. read more

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Loved this place!! The duck fat fries were soo delicious! The mountain of shaved parmesean is beautiful to look at. I love the interior decoration . The service is also great! Must try read more

Chick & Hawk - Indoor seating - cool vibe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

I can't pretend to be a chicken sandwich connoisseur but I thought it was pretty good, at least a 7/10. Really crunchy, sauce does unfortunately pool to one side of the sandwich because it's served vertically BUT it was indeed saucy once flipped around lol. I had heard people complain about the first spice level (360) being too spicy which is hilarious. Definitely not spicy at all, the 360 is a fine place to start. The next spice level up (720) would have been perfect I think. Cons are definitely the parking situation but overall I thought the food was good, and everyone who works here is really sweet. read more

Chick & Hawk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

My wife and I have been looking forward to checking this place out since we first heard about it. We finally got a chance last week, and it was....."interesting". We arrived after 2pm on a Friday. NO parking - they are nice enough to put up a sign detailing where to go look for a spot - but I cannot imagine hitting this place up at lunch or dinner - you'd be in for a very long walk. We were seated quickly by a very bubbly waitress, and checked out the menu - as you can see from the photos posted, there's not a lot to it. We both ordered the Birdman - her's was the "360", mine was the "720" heat level. I was warned (heavily) that this is a REALLY hot level, and was a sure? (I was). We also ordered the spicy fries, and then I did the inconceivable - I asked for a diet soft drink. Turns out I must be the only person in SD County that doesn't like sugar in my soft drinks - because it's not an option here. So we both stuck with water. Ok - that's the set up - let's take a look at the actual review: The good: The fries are simply amazing. Truly. Top ten level, IMHO. The bad: While EVERY "Birdman" competitor out there within a 50 mile radius of this place uses white meat, Chick & Hawk uses dark meat. To each his own on this - but it DEFINITELY should state this clearly on the menu. I personally despise dark meat, and wouldn't have ordered it had I known. A good example is Main Chick Hot Chick - the clearly state they have a white meat sandwich and a dark meat sandwich. The ugly: $18 for a chicken sandwich? Yes, we went in knowing this - but had assumed that for that price we'd get bowled over by the sandwich. We weren't - and given that the above mentioned Main Chick is less than 1/2 the price, and (IMHO) WAY better, this is just ludicrous. I'll finish with an FYI - that "720" spice level? It's not. I'd equate it to the heat level of a moderate jalapeno (for those who know the Scoville scale, about 5000). DEFINITELY not worth the intense warning. Bottom line, even with the truly amazing fries - no sugar free soft drinks, a mediocre chicken sandwich that is over double the competition, and no parking - it's worth checking out, but I honestly doubt we'd hit it up again. read more

Chick & Hawk - Two Birdmans and spicy fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Chick and Hawk has been in the works for well before the pandemic and finally it has opened. We made reservations fearing that the walk-in line would be too crazy. We were seated in the side section as opposed to the main dining area. The main area has a lot of retro neon skateboard vibes which was really cool. The side section wasn't too special, however the window looking out was extremely disorienting as it makes looking out very blurry. Our server was friendly and walked us through the menu. The Duck Fat Fries are a must get! I really enjoyed the seasoning they put on it. They were very addicting. Not a fan of having an upcharge on the two additional sauces $1.50 each (Comeback & Yogurt Cool Ranch). Out of the 2, the ranch was the better one. The server told us that you can actually get the Birdman sandwich as a 180 version (which is even less spicy than the 360). Not sure why it's not listed on the menu, but our group got both the 360 and the 180. I got the 360 and to me it was the perfect amount of spice. The server did warn that the 360 is already good for most people so she was spot on. As far as the spice and seasoning, that was by far the best parts of the sandwich. The chicken, which should be the highlight of the meal, was the most underwhelming part of the whole meal. I struggle to define the texture of the meat, but it was almost "too" tender and pulled away to easily. If I were blindfolded, and someone told me this was "Fake/Impossible" chicken, I honestly would have believed them. Fairly disappointing experience, but we did get catch a glimpse of Tony Hawk while we were there. read more

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Surprised my husband with Valentine's Day lunch here after the skatepark. He was stoked!! Parking lot as stated is small, so definitely recommend coming early. We got there right at 11:30, was seated right away (we were maybe 4th in line to get in). If you come later, I definitely recommend making a reservation because it fills up very quickly. LOVE that there is a fire vegan option. I really appreciate that! The staff was super friendly, decor was like.. retro skater kinda vibe. Really good alcohol menu! I'll be back after my dry February lol shoutout Tony for the sick spot!! read more

Chick & Hawk - Chicken sandwich and pickle beer for my husband.. delicious vegan option and some tea for me! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Love this concept and name so much. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall when they first came up with the idea. Vibes on point. Food outstanding. Service was top notch. Let's break it down: That spicy chicken sando and the mushrooms were outstanding. Got super lucky to get a table straight away during opening weekend while I'm visiting. What a cool spot. I was sweating the entire time eating that sandwich but in the best sort of way. Lowkey sad there wasn't a half pipe the parking lot, but hey, maybe that's in the works. Glad I got my hands on some merch. read more

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Food: juicy fat chicken sandwich was delicious and so were the fries. We ordered cocktails as well, they were refreshing! Service: Excellent Service Ambiance: Vibe is chill and fun Noteworthy:Limited parking, we parked in the neighboring street and easy walk. read more

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Excellent service. Outstanding food. Fish sandwich might be the best I've ever had. Cool place. read more

It's a pretty fun thing for any locals to see the famed Tony Hawk open a local place with good vibes and great food so I was hopeful but cautious. The man can grind and ride but can he do beachy vibed fusion lunch food? Well indeed he can with some sweet kicks and fancy flare and fusion. Now that said - I went for the chicken sandwich but I stayed and will go back for the fries. Drooling commences. The chicken Sammie was big and they coach you on spice level - don't overdo it to prove a point friends! It's hot as is but baby spice level (aka my speed) is available. Buuuut the fries - duck fat people. Fresh. Fabulous. read more

Chick & Hawk - Chicken sandwich baby spice level - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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mmm super delish chicken sandwiches!! the duck fat fries were so good: tasted fresh but perfectly crispy with seasoning, our server recommended half order of fries since they are pretty large, but we felt like we could eat some more lol the ranch was made from yogurt so it was not traditional but I prefer this anyway since I love yogurt based sauces... read more

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Only gets 2* because the mushroom nugs were amazing. But its a chicken sandwich place, and the chicken was absolutely disgusting. When we told our server they said "its thigh meat, people either love it or hate it" It was basically all cartilage and gristle and the texture was stringy and gross like when you leave chicken in the freezer too long (they claim non-frozen meats) and im not doubting they don't freeze but i eat at least 3 chicken sandwiches a week on average and this is the only chicken sandwich restaurant i will never return to. Hands down worst chicken sandwich of my life. Flavor was okayish, but was a textural nightmare. How tf you gunna charge $18 for a chicken sandwich and not have breast meat on the damn menu either. Thats insane. You are taking these rich white people for fools, Tony. Even if i hate the sandwich, i guess thats kinda punk or something. read more

What the hell? Why did I just have the best chicken sandwich of my life? Went just because it's Tony hawks new place but was surprise to have one of the best meals I've had in a long time! Sandwich was insane, fries were insane, pickle appetizer was surprisingly so good. Highly recommend read more

Chick & Hawk - Birdman - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

I must say , I cheated and read other reviews before going to this restaurant. I will start by saying I prefer dark meat chicken to white meat chicken so that is not an issue for me. This is a small restaurant, significantly smaller than I expected it to be.And even though there is a renowned chef behind the recipes , don't forget , this is a chicken sandwich shop. All of that being said I thought the Chicken Sandwich was delicious.I had the 360, which was a nice amount of spice.The duck fat fries were thick cut , delicious , crispy and perfectly seasoned. The waitstaff was helpful and kind. But I do agree with other reviews that the parking is minimal.So you may need to park and walk back to the restaurant. All things together.I definitely recommend train this new restaurant.If you are in the neighborhood and hungry for a good , crispy , spicy chicken sandwich. read more

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I first heard about "Chicken Hawk" back in early 2022, so after years and years of delays I kind of lost some hope of it actually opening, and to what fanfare? What base was lost in promises? That hope was kept alive by semi regular pop ups showcasing bits and pieces of their menu. Those were so well R&D'd and executed anything close to that would rally any doubter. Fast-forward 2025 and having known it's former digs I knew it was small, but it's even smaller than I imagined. Space is lost and saved in what they both built and didn't demo/reno. Birdman is as good as I remember, soft brioche potato bun, think Martin's if you know burgers. Duality of sweet from the pickles and bun, and the tang of the slaw and kim chi sauce (comeback is just fry sauce on steriods, and it already has a chili sauce in it). The bird is fried well and crispy, the thighs are portioned, marinated and seasoned. 360 is just below a Nashville hot and the 720 is just above one. The fries are excellent, but if your going to say duck fat fries, fry it in duck fat, don't just finish it with it. The $2 upsell is a marginal gain in flavor/experience. I'd have preferred a buttermilk ranch over yogurt, what are we counting calories here? Get the chips and dip and use the comeback sauce on the potatos and use the french onion creme fraiche to dip the sandwich. I found it lacking a little umami. While poke is a staple in many places, the Bluefin is a bit much, considering there wasn't any masago or variety of toppings, mostly sauces. We have become very used to the chipoke style poke bowls. At that price I'd expect otoro, but it's akami, but at least it's local. I'd pay $18 for alabacore instead of bluefin. no shiso like on the bo ssam? Sunomono pickles was the only low spot imo. It wasn't so much the flavor, ingredients or presentation. Just the price. Easily the most marked up item on the menu. Umeboshi and the vinegar cut heavy flavors, cucumbers a decently crunchy, but I gotta know how the price is almost much as the Birdman? Eyefries and Kona bowl seem to be all sauces and garnish, but no substance. I'm glad I'm not a vegetarian, but if I were I'd have to eat the bo ssam with each salad to scratch someones hunger. Come here for the drinks by the reknowned bartender Nick. His palate is refined and creative, even having diet cocktails (sans alcohol for those of us now in recovery). Japan Air and Bones Brigade are worth it, even without. As someone with decades of professional experience I can generall know what works without the booze. Service is great, very on par with Chef Bach's lineage. Ambiance is definitely daytime or early dinner, as we get into longer cold nights it's not a place I"d bring a date I'm trying to impress, just a place I'd bring my gf or a foodie. To those that think Tony Hawk is actively involved in things, he's not. Staff is amazing and a treat for the area. Decor is bright and whimsical albeit kitchy. Bathroom sinks are modelled after swimming pools. Parking is what you might call "exclusive" seeing as there are more area for seats at the bar than there are parking spots. Please ditch some of the tables and make bar seating. I promise returning people will have 3-5 drinks and make way more money for you than a first and only time families at tables. It seemed odd to open in Encinitas seeing as Crack Shack is nearby and is well established at a lower price point. I think this place would be great for just drinks if it had the capcity or was less food focused. It's a solid sandwich and fantastic most everything else, but some odd items that are also out of touch in pricing. They will figure out what doesn't work just like similar nearby places did after they opened. read more

Went with my family, had the spicy duck fat fries, the Birdman and Seabird sandwiches as well as some cocktails and a beer. The fries were very good; the chicken sandwich (did 2/4 heat which was spicy but not too much) was juicy inside and crunchy outside, and I liked the flavor and the dusted seasoning. The fish sandwich was a surprising stand out and honestly one of the best like it I've had in a while (did the blackened seasoned version). Cocktails were good too. Overall was a great ambiance, awesome decorations and we all had a great time! read more