The service was great, the fish and hottest chicken sandwiches were some of the best I've had in a long time and the cocktails were awesome. Definitely looking forward to coming back soon. read more

Food was/ is excellent I got a take-out order that was served quickly even though all the seats, inside and out, were full of patrons. This Kona Bowl with 'birdseed' furikake, sliced radishes, big & lively chunks of citrus and fresh avocado, topped with lemon parm dressing tastes fantasticThe place was packed with people of all ages when I went at 8:30pm and it's nice to see such an iconic place & legend taking roots here read more

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We'd been wanting to try Chick & Hawk since it opened up recently. Our host and server were excellent and knew the menu very well. I was not a big fan of the bar seating with the odd privacy style window that overlooked Leucadia Blvd. I'd much prefer a window there. If they could completely remove or somehow open them in nice weather that would be much better. The rest of the seating inside and outside on the patio looked nice. The restrooms were absolutely sparkling clean. Let's talk about the food. All three of us ordered the signature "Birdman" sandwich. My son ordered level three spicy, plain. He likes spice and thought it would have been spicier. He'll order the hottest choice next time. My wife and I both ordered the level two spice with everything. We enjoyed our sandwiches very much. I was a little surprised that the level two was actually pretty spicy, in a good way, but if you don't want mild spice, I'd go level one. The sandwiches were generously sized, and wrapped nicely. That didn't prevent them from falling apart after a few bites. If you've had a Hodad's burger, you'll know what I'm talking about. We finished with our forks. The chicken was good, but the breading was very thick and crunchy. If that's what you're looking for, you'll love it. Spicy duck fat fries were fantastic and not overly spicy. The regular fries were good too. I tried the Winged Ripper cocktail. I probably wouldn't order that again although I might order one without the smoked oil next time. It was very smokey. Mezcal, grapefruit, cinnamon, smoked oil, and salt. Seemed like a good idea at the time. . . I also thought it was rather small for $16. Let's get to the prices. Hey, it's expensive to eat almost anywhere now but I do think Chick & Hawk is a little overpriced. Three sandwiches, one small fry, one large fry, one Coke, one cocktail and $120 out the door including tip. I'm not sure when we'll be back. I'd like to try the Seabird sandwich, probably with a beer. Overall, the food was good, but not mind blowing. There are a lot of really good chicken sandwiches out there. This is one of them, but it's certainly not the only one. read more

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Any time I see a spicy chicken sandwich, I'm ordering it, so if you're like me, this is the perfect spot. This would get 5* if the price wasn't so steep, but it's definitely worth it as a treat yourself spot. I ordered the 720 chicken sandwich which is the perfect amount of spice for me; they have a lesser spice level 360 which I'm sure is just a small kick, and anyone who complains should stay home and bake their plain unseasoned chicken breast. You can tell the quality of the ingredients is top notch, the bird is fantastic. I wish the fries came at two levels; I wouldn't call them spicy fries, just seasoned fries, so I wish they offered these as regulars and then kicked it up a notch with actual spicy fries. Service was so chill. I'll definitely be back. read more

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

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Great food, lots of flavor. Super quick service and friendly servers. The vibe in here is cool and the food is totally worth the money!!

5 stars all day. It would have been enough if just the food was amazing, but the atmosphere and service were way more than expected! We took our son for his 16th birthday (the only thing he wanted for his birthday because he's a huge Tony Hawk fan!) and the girls working were so sweet and kind and made SURE he had a special day. The duck fat fries are a must! read more

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This place recently opened and they have amazing arrive already. Tried the Birdman on a level 360 and 720 and would definitely go for the 720 again if you love that tolerable spice. The sunonomo pickles were also to die for. Super crunchy with a sweet and zesty touch to them! Pictured with the spicy duck fat fries! Drink is the dying to live. Also 10/10! Would definitely come back! read more

Chick & Hawk - Birdman, suomono pickles, spicy duck fat fries and dying to live drink! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Love this place! Very unique, fun vibe with amazing food & service! I had a delicious salad with fish, as I don't eat chicken, but everyone who had the chicken loved it as well. The fries and drinks were great as well! I'll definitely go here time and time again! read more

I wanted to love this spot! But sadly the birdman sandwich did not meet expectations. I feel so sad writing this as I was so hopeful about this spot! The chicken sandwich had an odd fishy taste, i couldn't get over that. The fries were good, and so was the beer. The sandwich, unfortunately no. :( ambiance and service was great, just not the sando. read more

Delicious. Small space...indoor and outdoor options though. Parking spots limited. Worth the effort.

Delicious chicken sandwich! Such a cool atmosphere and creative cocktails. Service was also exceptional! read more

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

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This is a 5 Star chicken sandwich. On a busy Sunday afternoon we were still able to snag parking and despite the line to get in we only waited 2 minutes to be seated. Service is very friendly and efficient. We tried the signature Super Bird sandwich. Amazing tender chicken thighs and great layers of flavor. We also tried the Sea Bird Sandwich and the catch of the day was a seared Ahi Tuna. Super tender and flavorful. The duck fat fries with the Come Back sauce is a must. We also loved the house made lemonade. The attention to detail is pretty impressive. read more

Chick & Hawk - Super Bird sandwich and duck fat fries with Come Back sauce. This is a 5 star chicken sandwich. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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FANTASTIC all around! Worth the wait! Food, staff so damn good! The portions are generous so come hungry. read more

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

Went to soft opening so didn't expect perfect in the way of organization and service. They did do a decent job and will only get better. The Birdman 360 was good as always. Will have to try there fish sandwich version of this next. read more

Chick & Hawk - Perfect pairing with this sandwich. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Best chicken sandwich I've ever had! Love this new local spot! I will definitely be back. Great atmosphere and great service. It was worth the wait! read more

Chick & Hawk - Front of the restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Amazing service. Fresh beautiful salads and crispy delicious chicken and duck fat option fries. Ambience is so cool and the videos are fun to watch. read more

Possibly the best fried chicken sandwich I've ever had. Yes, it was $18 but I'd say it was well worth it. Not sure how they get the chicken to say crazy crispy the whole way through the meal with the slaw and sauce in there, but they did. Duck fat fries were silly. Casual and they serve cocktails. I'll be back when we visit next time. read more

For something that was so hyped up for such a long time and with the pedigree of other top-notch restaurants, we were completely underwhelmed and disappointed. The signature chicken sandwich was tasteless. The fish sandwich was for lack of a better description fishy. We were so hoping that this would blow us away and for us the experience was total thumbs down. read more

Sup yall it's G, Im a big fan of the hawk so you know i had to try the spot. I was very excited but.. The G left disappointed, this place is doing too much for what it is. In terms of the food, some of the fries i ate had oil spew out when i took a bite which ruined my appetite for them. The sandwiches are $18 or $23 (fish) for à la carte which is atrocious, especially for one tha is mediocre at best. The thigh meat had a weird texture and the flavors were way more sweet than spicy. Safe to say the G won't return here Signing off, Righteous G. read more

The staff was very warm and friendly! I was excited to try this new place in my town. Sadly, the food was mediocre at best...the fish was dry, tartar sauce had a weird metallic taste, the salads were super small for the price and the fries which I was really looking forward to eating were not very crispy and way too spicy. read more

I went here the other night with my family. I enjoyed the fish burger/sandwich and the spicy fries. I also had an amazing mezcal cocktail. I loved the 80's atmosphere with old videos of skateboarders and 80's commercials was very fun to watch and great 80's tunes. I'll be back. So much fun! read more

We really wanted to like this restaurant. We had to park across the street which was fine. When we got there, the waiter seem more interested in spending tons of time talking to each table then service. We waited a long time to order. Once we ordered, we waited for a while. When I got my food, the waiter had put in the wrong order. No big deal mistakes happen. The problem was that after I put the new order in as he made a mistake they forgot to bring me the food. 30 minutes later we still hadn't had my meal although my husband had his! So now we didn't get to eat together. The worst part is the waitress came over and said that I would still have to pay for the meal that was ordered and not even brought to the table. By the time I got the food. I was so upset that I didn't even want the food anymore. Also the salad had way too much dressing and weird tastes together. My husband did not like his chicken sandwich. The only reason I gave it two stars is because it's cute inside. You need to try better. This is more like a fast food restaurant and was hoping for some healthier options. I am very disappointed. I don't think it's going to make it unless something changes. read more

Food was good, not excellent But, $75 for 2 chicken sandwich's and 2 fries, no drinks, way too expensive . Went once, won't go again. Good luck attracting repeat customers with those prices. read more

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

The soft opening happened a while ago and my partner and I stumbled in. The hostess was very nice and welcoming but it was sort of downhill after that. We ordered the $6 pickles, $6 duck fat fries and the $18 chicken sandwich. The pickles, although nice and unique idea, served as a underwhelming starter as it was a small portion size and felt out of place on the menu. It would be perfect as an included side to the sandwich as many traditional Japanese places may serve daikon as a free side traditionally already. The fries were okay, the duck fat takes too much flavor away from the potato which makes you feel like you're eating crunchy oil at this point. The spicy ketchup provided was a highlight to mask that flavor of the fries. The sandwich suffered the most. I know why they use dark meat to enhance the flavor but the tang of the seasoning with the combination of Asian slaw makes the flavors drown each other out. Overall the food just lacked the right amount of balance in terms of taste and texture. This place is probably better to sit down and enjoy a drink than a meal. Look was clean and trendy but at times almost seemed like you're stepping into a private hospital. Hopefully they choose to introduce different options and consider simplicity over experimental elevation. read more

I ate here January 2026 for the first and last time. Ordered the recommended favorite - chicken sandwich. The quality of the chicken was horrible and it was not cooked thoroughly. read more

We thought this place was going to be more casual so we just showed up, but it turns out it's more of a sit down place. Took us 20min to be seated, but you can make a reservation if you plan ahead. Several of their cocktails can be made into mocktails if you want an interesting drink with no alcohol. Loved the Japanese pickles and the fried mushrooms. Best fried chicken sandwich I've ever had. The lowest spice level was perfect for me. read more

Happy I finally got a chance to eat here. Food was delicious and service was great! We'll be back

I dined here for dinner. I waited a few weeks after they opened, for the restaurant to work out the little problems. I think they are on track to being a very successful restaurant. My date and I ordered the chicken sandwich (360 - he said it was quite spicy), the Japan Air cocktail (I loved the cocktail but the overall cocktail menu was all over the place - I wanted to order a 10/10 cocktail but Japan Air was a 7.5 overall). Since I'm gluten free, I ordered the Kona Bowl vegetarian style (no chicken and no fish). I'm not a big seafood person but the addition of albacore is also gluten free for those reading. The Kona Bowl vegetarian style was outstanding! I would come back to order this dish again. Great flavors and freshness. Lastly, we ordered the duck fat fries with ranch sauce. The sauce was very nice, but the fries felt like an overindulgence of greasy fries. I think I should have gone with a half order of fries because the full order was too large for the two of us. My two complaints are that the restaurant feels greasy: the patio windows had greasy fingerprints, the dining counters were greasy, and the bathroom floors are a little greasy too. I realize this is a bit pedantic. My other complaint is that the restaurant is cold at night, and the food and atmosphere feels cold due to the ocean air drafts. Perhaps they could offer a nice soup or other warm dishes for winter (maybe even a gluten free beef burger?). I'd love to feel a bit of heat while I'm dining too. I think the restaurant sits in a bit of a microclimate where cold wet air can gather. Service was a 10/10 so that says a lot about a new busy, buzzy place. read more

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

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My first time at Chick & Hawk. Honestly, I was underwhelmed. Here's why: 1. Price - $18 for a chicken sandwich that was Ok but not incredible. 2. Quality - They use much cheaper chicken thigh meat rather than chicken breast. Also, it's not organic chicken nor it it even marinated. It is has a slight rubbery taste. 3. Value - I took my sandwich to go and for $18 they didn't even have a to go cup for water. It's only a sandwich for $18, no chips, no fries nothing else. read more

Food : I ordered the chicken sandwich to go as I live a minute away. The sandwich was filled to capacity with a large amount of chicken, slaw, and pickles. My first & second bite was great. The trouble started when I took the third bite. The soft bun started to disintegrate under the weight of the wet slaw, pickles and chicken. It then fell apart and landed in a soggy mess on my plate. I tried to re-arrange it and found a piece of rubbery chicken with no breading underneath the breaded one. I took one more bite before I stopped eating it. I would suggest that they use a larger and denser bun to help eliminate it from falling apart and also bread all of the chicken . I will go back at some later date to try the fish sandwich, but at this point I'll bypass the chicken. Staff: The person who took my order was very helpful with explaining the menu. Kudos! read more

The food's insane - tried the Birdman sandwich and it's a game-changer. The vibe's rad, with skate culture all around. If you're in Encinitas, DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE! read more

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I wanted to take time to review this spot because I was wowed.. I'm a hot chicken sandwich fanatic so I go out of my way to try all the spots. THIS WAS MY ABSOLUTE FAVE. Its Nashville style meets culinary masterpiece. The sandwich had so many layers of flavor, heard myself "mmm" as I was taking bites. Also had to mention the duck fat fries. Blast of flavor. Absolute must try! Also the ambiance was epic, felt like a blast from the past. Great / unique cocktails, pickle beer. It's a whole experience! read more

The best chicken sandwich in North County. The spices and seasoning were absolutely tasty. The menu is sourced from local farms, made with high quality ingredients, and without seed oils, which justifies the cost of the Birdman sandwich and everything else. Try finding a chicken sandwich spot that is as transparent as this place. They also have happy hour in the mid-afternoon on weekdays where you get the birdman, fries, and a michelada for under $20! What a deal! Most of the reviews say the chicken is undercooked. It's actually not! It's cooked perfectly and juicy partnered with a crunchy crisp. You should also get the eyrie fries and the maitake bo saam to accompany your meal. We were seated right away and the service was great. The chef was walking around saying hello to all of the tables ensuring everything is up to standards. Also, the ambiance is very nostalgic. A great tribute to the skateboard scene in the 90's. You should try going in the evening to get the full feel of this place. Finally, parking can be tough but honestly, I don't understand why people think it's that cumbersome. Leucadia, in general, doesn't have parking anyway. Only a few spots have few spaces similar to Chick & Hawk. It's most likely a bunch of lazy people who don't want to take a nice walk just off the coast. Don't be deterred by these reviews. Yelp was made for people to complain about every single thing and they don't know what a good chicken sandwich is supposed to be. 5/5 will keep coming back!!! read more

The chicken was weird, fires had no salt. We had to stop at McDonald's on the way home.

Awesome service! Beware, their food is really spicy. Took a Sammie home and cut it in half and that spice stained our cutting board

I wanted to like Chick & Hawk so much, the ingredients in every dish sound amazing and it has a great vibe. But ugh, I don't think I want to go back. The Bad: - Kona bowl salad with chicken thigh: The salad was so overdressed, each piece of lettuce was heavy and physically dripping with cream sauce. It felt like eating a bowl of salad dressing with a few pieces of lettuce mixed it. The furikake topping was nice crunch though. - Duck fat fries: Sounds so amazing! But the fries weren't crispy, they were soggy with duck fat. Pick up one fry and your fingers are coated in orange grease. The Good: - The Birdman: It's a fried chicken sandwich and a really good one. Yes it is super rich, but you know what you're getting into when you order it. Great slaw, pickles, and sauce. - Sunomono pickles: A nice fresh tasty acidic side dish to counter the richness of the fried chicken. Overall I just found the food way too greasy and rich. Maybe I will go back and try the fish sandwich or the poke and see if they are better. read more

The service and cocktails are great, but the sandwiches are mediocre and overpriced. The chicken sandwich is too salty and the fish sandwich is something I can make better at home. read more

Came in for my son's birthday lunch. At first glance, it doesn't look like much, but the place has plenty of seating. I'd suggest just going to park elsewhere because the parking is rather small. We underestimated the menu when we looked it up on Yelp. They offer two main sandwiches but a variety of add ons, etc. The flavors were nothing short of amazing! The way they blended together was just (coming from a chef) *chefs kiss*! The fries were perfectly seasoned and went very well with the comeback sauce and yogurt ranch! The staff was super attentive and literally picked up as we finished to avoid our space from becoming crowded while we finished the rest of our meal. It was busy but the noise level wasn't over the top. The decor and music was very nostalgic. Overall, the first experience was very impressive! I will gladly drive the 35 minutes to enjoy another 360 chicken sandwich with comeback sauce any day! read more

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

Shocked the overall rating isn't better here. We had a great experience. Parking is tough so don't expect to get in the lot but street parking is very walkable. There was a line but it moved fast (get reservations or waitlist yourself on the way!), and even though the place was quite busy the whole time we were there the service was ON IT. No notes. I LOVE a good highbrow/lowbrow experience and this place delivered. Walking in feels like you're headed to a fast food joint after high school in the 80s/90s. The menu makes you feel like you're doing it with adult money. No frills but not uncomfortable. Surprisingly great value for the money as the portions are huge; more like a pterodactyl sandwich TBH. The bar program is approachable enough and also developed enough for everyday and cocktail snob outings. The fries are perfect. The pickle app is no ordinary affair - just get them. The chicken sando is what I'd describe as an elevated Nashville style with THIGH not breast (so disappointed when it's other way round), and your NON-standard slaw and pickles that have a unique twist. It's a fresh and refreshing take on what could otherwise be a saturated hot chicken market. Protip: don't take her out of the wrapper, folks; she's a messy girl. Maddie helped us navigate the menu options, gave great advice, and was generally just a blast during our visit. The other thing that gives me life about this place is that we have a local celebrity chef and a local celebrity turned restaurateur investing in this community who (as far as I can tell) are pretty unproblematic in the way they conduct themselves in the world and expand their businesses, which seems to be getting rarer and rarer around here. read more

Okay, so we waited a long time for this to open! A really long time. Critics say they are late to the game for a chicken restaurant. Others bash prices. I had been to a pop-up prior, but today we officially dined at Chick & Hawk. Please understand, this is not fast food. This is a dining experience with full service and a full bar with a fantastic craft cocktail menu. Ash, our server, was fantastic. I had the Shorebird fish sandwich (blackened) and it was really great. I also had the Maitake Bo Ssam mushrooms. Heather went for chicken strips and fries as she was avoiding spicy food. So the atmosphere is really cool. I love the coping and Del Mar Skatepark inspired tile and coping. Be sure to check out the bathroom sinks!! When you put the entire experience into perspective, the pricing works. Not cheap, but premium. Chef Andrew even visited us. Do note: The parking is a disaster! We watched people block the driveway and have to back onto Leucadia Blvd to let people out of the small lot. We will be back. read more

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