I read some other reviews that compared this place to Howlin Rays and said it was even better... so of course I had to try and see for myself. EATS: Nashville Hot chicken sandwich (mild) - juicy, moist, and pretty flavorful... would I say it's better than Howlin? No, I don't think so.. Although it was super tasty it is missing the depth of flavor that Howlin has mastered. Fried pickles - very good and lightly battered $5 and you get a whole box.. to me that's a good deal, other places similar to this charge the same price for half the size. Fries - curly , crispy and yummy! This is also a full box size that is definitely shareable. Slaw - eh nothing special but it's nice to help balance all the fried heaviness of the other dishes Overall, good food and price! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Fried pickles - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

After a quick shopping trip at Costa Mesa we decided to come here to Cluck Kitchen (craving crispy chicken that we haven't already tried) and I'm not disappointed with my choice of Cluck Kitchen. The service was good, the guy taking my order warned me that Medium was pretty hot, so I went with mild. My order was Nashville chicken tenders (mild), side fries, corn fritters, and a drink. Came out to under $25 so pricing wasn't bad, the food was ready pretty quick honestly. Now on to what you're here for (food review) The Nashville chicken tenders (mild) were pretty hot even though they were just mild... like for a comparison, I'd say they were hotter than Dave's hot chicken medium... but anyways, they were nice and crispy with a lack of that greasy feeling that I'm sure no one really likes. I'd give the tenders a solid 4/5 but next time I'd for sure go with no spice. The fries weren't over cooked but rather maybe undercooked, they were really floppy and soft, and lightly salted, 3/5. The corn fritters were interesting, it was kinda like a ball of bread with Parmesan on top? Probably wouldn't order those again, kinda just ordered them because I thought they had potato in them (based on a picture I saw on here from someone else). I'd give them a 2/5. Overall I'd say 3/5 in total. The prices of the food individual is $13- Nashville hot chicken tenders $3- fries $3- corn fritters $2-$3- drink I'd come back but only get fries and no spice chicken tenders. read more

See all

MUST VISIT IF YOU ARE A LOVER OF FRIED CHICKEN!! It was a day where I was craving some comfort food for lunch. The line was short and I waited less than 10 minutes! I ordered the Nashville Hot Tenders that came with 3 Jumbo Tenders and it was served with bread, pickles, and 1 house sauce. The cluck sauce was amazing, trust me. They have five different heat levels to choose from (mild, medium, hot, extra hot, and get clucked). I wanted to order medium for the heat level, but the server warned me with caution that it may be a bit too spicy if I've never tried them before. So I opted for the mild. Next time, I will challenge myself to try their medium heat level. Not only was the food great, but the service was wonderful as well. I will definitely be back soon and can't wait to come back to try their Nashville Hot Sandwich and other items! Although this place is located in a plaza where there are many other restaurants and businesses, parking is not an issue. If you're in Irvine, definitely check this place out! read more

See all

The chicken was so juicy and surprisingly not greasy. It is fried chicken but I wasn't left with extremely greasy fingers nor did feel the oil on the chicken as I bit into it. My brother even said this was "THE BEST" chicken sandwich he has ever had! I got the chicken tenders and it was delicious! The mac and cheese was super cheesy but I do think it lacked a bit of flavor and the waffle fries were just like any other waffle fries, nothing special. I would suggest sticking to the chicken. read more

See all

i didn't have high expectations as that other well-known L.A. hot chicken place holds a special place in my heart. i was pleasantly surprised and can say Cluck Kitchen is a strong contender and can hold its own. this place is OC's answer to nashville hot chicken! i opted for the two piece tender meal which comes with perfectly crispy waffle fries, pickles, slice of bread, and your choice of sauce. i went with my favourite honey mustard. hubs got the chicken and waffles. it was neat to see the chicken airlined. for the size of the thigh and sake of presentation, it works. waffle was crispy and fluffy and not dry at all. bil got the loaded fries and my sil got the sandwich and corn fritters. the sandwich looked super hefty. corn fritters were delicious (super crispy exterior and fluffy interior with corn throughout) but i didn't think the flavours of the parmesan that was dusted on top went with the rest of the meal. most of us opted for mild and it was the perfect spice level for us. i liked that it tasted sweet (brown sugar) at first before the spices hit. i enjoy this flavour profile more as i'm a sweet tooth. i got a chance to try the tiniest bit of my friend's "get clucked" carolina reaper spice level. like my own chicken, the sugar hit my taste buds first and then i tasted nothing. the spiciness slowly built until the part of my tongue that the piece was touching was on fire. it was a good burn and worth a try. highly recommend if you are a lover of having your insides feel like they're burning (: will definitely be back to this fantastic gem! read more

I have been coming here for a little over a year and I really like the Nashville chicken sandwich. The slaw is vinegar based which I love and the chicken breast is a decent size. But I have always thought the price is a bit high considering it's around 15 bucks for just the sandwich with no fries. I returned today 2/1/24 to see the price has gone up to almost 17 bucks! I know inflation is happening to almost anything we consume now but there's a point where the price is just too high for what you're getting. This is just a sandwich and not to throw in fries which aren't a expensive side is crazy for the price! I like the food but I'm going to have to cut this out of my lunch options at work. I just can't justify this price and I don't like feeling like I was ripped off for my hard earned money. I will miss the sandwich but not the steep price! read more

Good chicken but a word of caution. When they say hot, they mean really hot. Ghost chili hot, not habanero. I grow ghost, habanero, and even Carolina reaper. I know what's hot. These are hot, but tasty. I'll probably order the medium next time. read more

Competes for the best chicken sandwich in the world. I'm surprised it's not more busy here. They serve food quick and we're not very busy during the time we went. They use a large tender chicken breast with a little bit of slaw. The buns soaked up the juices from the spice and chicken. If it's your first time having Nashville chicken, get the mild spice or less. If you love spices, get medium. But if you want it to burn, get the highest level of spice...you'll probably regret it We also ordered waffle fries and fried pickles, which were excellent compliments to the sandwich, but were not the star of the show. read more

Been coming here almost 3 years and their service is still awesome, only reason for 2 stars instead of 1. Really upset because they forgot 2 of my items when they told me everything I ordered was in the bag. There were at least 3 short, black, straight hairs in my loaded fries, and the chicken was overcooked and extremely dry. I'll likely not come back for a while, hopefully it was just a one off bc they used to be awesome read more

Their chicken sandwich is really delicious! I had a Nashville one and it had a right amount of heat and taste. Chicken was juicy and tender, and I love their buns too. Wait time can be a bit longer for a weekday lunch time but totally worth a wait! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Chicken tenders basket. Spice level: hot - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

Been wanting to try this place for a while now and finally got to check it out tonight. I was surprised this is a really small establishment with few tables inside, but there were plenty of seats outside. I ordered the cluck classic chicken sandwich, the kids shared chicken tenders, and hubby got the buffalo sandwich. We also got the waffle fries and vinegar slaw. The food was all really fresh and perfectly cooked. The chicken was hot and juicy, and everything was seasoned well. Hubby loved the flavor of his buffalo one and thought mine was plain in comparison but I liked it anyway. The slaw was refreshing and not mayo-y like other places. The food was also not overly salty like some other places. Overall, this is probably one of the best chicken sandwiches we've had in a while and wish it were closer to us. We enjoyed our meals and will be back. read more

Been in this plaza several times and noticed Cluck Kitchen so one day we came to try it out for lunch. Fortunately, lines were short and food didn't take longer than 10 minutes! Cluck Classic ($9): Juicy fried chicken breast with mayo and shredded iceberg lettuce. I'd definitely recommend asking for less mayo if you're not a fan as I felt it was pretty heavy. Decent sized sandwich, very filling! Nashville Hot ($12): This is the sandwich! The spiciness in the coating of the chicken adds a little bit more of a dimension to the entirety of the sandwich. The chicken is paired with pickles, comeback sauce, and a vinegar slaw. Five different heat levels to select from (mild, medium, hot, extra hot, get clucked). Mama's Mac ($5): The mac n cheese was good but nothing extraordinary. Personally felt the size is a bit small for the price. Located in a shared plaza with other eateries and shops. No issues finding parking on a weekend! Lots of tables available outside to enjoy your meal fresh. read more

See all

Ordered the Louisiana. Meh. That's pretty much it. The only thing I liked was the texture. I think Dave's hot chicken was notably better in taste. read more

I love spice, and I love chicken so whenever I see a place that has spicy chicken I'm going to try it. I ordered the chicken sandwich and fried pickles. Since I was headed to work I only got the extra hot. For sure next time I'll order Get Clucked. The sandwich was juicy and delicious. For me extra hot was mild, but I have a high tolerance for heat. I think the sauce would be great on fries. I can't wait to try Get Clucked. The portion of fried pickles was enough to satisfy two people. They are definitely worth the money. This place is on my list of favorites for spicy chicken. Dine in still isn't allowed yet, but there's plenty of tables outside. The place is clean, and all COVID protocols are followed. I think some spicy chicken would be perfect to take on a flight. It would drive the other passengers nuts. read more

See all

I'm happy to report that I had a positive couple experiences after my first one! Therefore my review should reflect how I feel now. Ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich at the hot heat level. The sandwich is absolutely massive! For the price, I'd say it's worth it. Thick chicken breast that is moist, nicely battered, seasoned, and remains crunchy. Crunchy and acidic slaw is a nice contrast of temperature and flavor. The spice powder they use is spicy and smoky but surprisingly I didn't find the "hot" level spicy today. It was spicy but the spice didn't linger too long and I never found myself suffering. I'm glad to be able to enjoy the spice and flavor but if you have a high spice tolerance, the hot may not be enough for you. I got an order of fries and were surprised to find that they were curly fries. Their curly fries were decent and seemed to be hand made rather than freezer section fries. It was a bit over salted which made me reach for my drink in between bites. As for sauces, I originally ordered some just in case the sandwich was too spicy. Since it wasn't, I used it for the fries. 50 cents gets you a decent sized portion of sauce but I feel like it's too much sauce that I had to throw away. Unless you're dousing your sandwich or fries in the sauce, you'll have a lot leftover. The Cluck Sauce is basically a honey mustard which wasn't bad. Sweet with a subtle mustard flavor. Comeback sauce was slightly smoky but was a bit salty for me to enjoy. I'm glad to have had a better experience and wouldn't mind coming back again! read more

See all

Atmosphere - Clean, 10 minute wait on a Thursday afternoon. Customer service - helpful Price - Above Average Taste - Chicken Strips were crispy and tasty read more

We go the wings, loaded fries, and beignets. Wings - colossal, where do they get these wings? Very juicy and flavorful Loaded fries - just okay Beignets - so so soooooo good! Get these! Their mild is already pretty spicy so be careful when ordering. No plates for sharing so that wasn't a very easy meal. Lots of parking in this plaza read more

This chicken place is legit!! Space is clean, food comes quickly and staff is also very friendly. Now about the food. We ordered the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, chicken wings (3 pcs), bacon potato salad, and fries. The chickens were fried to perfection, crispy on the outside, but not oily, and juicy and tender on the inside. It tasted fresh. When it came to their spicy level, they not playing around. We got the Nashville hot, which is the 3rd level of spiciness out of 5, and it was pretty SPICY. As for the sides, both were great, and the portions were plentiful. There were a lot of outdoor sitting space for you to enjoy your food right away, which I highly recommend. I willl definitely come back for more chicken and other side dishes. read more

See all

Wow what a great hot chicken shack! Definitely recommend the Nashville Hot, the toasted buns, slaw, pickles and fried chicken were all top notch As someone who's eaten a fair share of hot chicken sandos, the flavor and seasonings at Cluck were bomb! Also ordered a side of fries and fried pickles - both came in huge boxes!! They were very shareable. Lastly I had the Naugh-tea bird, what I thought was a just sweet tea but turns out it had a like bourbon. This place stood out amongst all the new hot chicken spots for the flavor and seasonings, shareable sides, and alcohol offerings! Will definitely come back when I'm in the area again. read more

See all

Lunch Party of 1 A friend of mine who seemingly has a diet that consists of Nashville chicken sandwiches 90% of all his meals told me this place is one of the best around. I'd have to agree. They're simple, they're great, nothing to complain about. It appeared that they have a new menu, Chicken & Waffles, so I decided to give it a shot. You have a choice on what kind of chicken it's gonna be, and of course, I picked it to be the spicy one. I forget what they called it, something along the lines of Tomahawk... Toma-chicken? Anyway, it was great. I'd even say it was better than the sandwiches, my friends who ordered sandwiches all looked at mine and wished they ordered the same. Shell is crispy, chicken is juicy, plenty of spice for you according to the level you can handle. Plenty of shared outdoor seating at the food court. read more

Cluck Kitchen - Chicken & Waffles - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

I am a huge chicken sandwich fan; specifically a Howlin Ray's fan, and I'm always looking for a place that comes close to them. Well, this is the closest thing to Howlin Ray's I've ever tried, (except for the long ass line). It's a small space in a food court that has plenty of options. The menu is more extensive than Howlin Rays. Hot chicken sandwich - I got the medium, which is probably the mild plus for Howlin. It was really good. I appreciate a chicken sandwich that uses white meat. My only slight complaint was the cole slaw was a bit too wet, otherwise it was fantastic. Mac N Cheese - Good, I would recommend. Wings - I got the Hot variety. Once again, another home run. Very good. Just like Howlin, it comes with a slice of white bread and some pickles. Havarti Hen sandwich - This was my least favorite item. Normally, I love sun dried tomatoes, but for some reason I didn't feel like it worked in the sandwich. Corn Fritters - These were ok, much better with the accompanying sauce. Fries - The curly variety. They give you a TON. I wish mine were cooked a little longer. chicken tenders - are perfect for the kids. Any Howlin Ray's fans should definitely give this place a try! read more

See all

The medium spice isn't super overwhelming. Chicken is super crispy and not too greasy. The fries are delicious and not soggy at all! I have this photo of the food saved in my phone because the food is just so good, I have to reminisce about it. read more

Cluck Kitchen - 2 tender, medium cluck sauce - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

What can I say i'm a sucker for chicken sandwiches. When my daughter came home from school telling us about her chemistry teacher, who was talking about the best chicken sandwich in Orange County,we had to find out if his hype was real. When we pulled up to Cluck Chicken in the OC it was pouring rain. Even with rain and wind the line was still long and we knew this place must be good. I ordered the classics chk sandwich and added cheese. The wife got the 2 piece tender (FYI, the mild still has a bite), which came with macaroni & cheese, and criss-cut fries. Food was out quick and hot with nothing but smiles from the staff. Vivian was rocking that cash register with a smile also and made are first time painless. My sandwich was absolutely amazing. From the bun the chk it was scrumdiddlyumptious. Totally will be back to Cluck Chicken. read more

See all

Whoever does the photos for their Instagram feed deserves a raise! Those pictures got me to jump a train north from Oceanside to OC and try this chicken. I ordered a sandwich and selected not the hottest level but one down. It was hot enough! I would try the one lower than that next time just to see if the flavor is better. This one was pretty spicy and I normally order an eight when I go to a Thai restaurant so I like some heat. my friend ordered fries. I'm glad I didn't because the box was packed and plenty for two people. I did take fried pickles home for my daughter. That was a generous portion also. Tasty sauces as well. I also tried the bourbon tea. It was pretty good! I would love to go back but wish they had a closer location to me! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Not the HOTTEST level but one down. Plenty hot. I would try one lower next time. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

When my buddy said that there was a good fried chicken spot near our workplace, I didn't believe him at first. He then introduced me to Cluck Kitchen! Ordered chicken tenders, side of fries, and a drink. Chicken tenders order came with 3 jumbo tenders, white bread, dill pickles, and a choice of sauce. Since the chicken tender was already going to be spicy, I selected ranch, which paired well. Like the cashier promised, the chicken tender portion was large. It wasn't dry and was good quality chicken. Fries were cooked well and not burnt. Tried some of my coworker's fried pickles and those were solid. Would order those over the fries next time, since those go well with the spicy chicken. Fountain drink machine is one of the newer; touch screen models. It's nice that it's refillable too. The staff here are professional and helpful with recommendations (menu items or spice levels). Overall, Cluck is a nice option if you are craving some fried chicken. read more

Cluck Kitchen - Crinkle cut fries (old style) They now have waffle fries! - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Covid 19 - TaKE OUT I've been here a few times already during the pandemic. Yes, its that good. My favorites are the Cluck Classic - The tenders - fries and the fried pickles. The Cluck Classic is huge - a nicely fried chicken breast that is moist and juicy. The Tenders come with 3 pieces. - on top of white bread and dill pickles. The fried pickles are my favorite side at Clucks. Has a tiny kick to it, I've also tried the vinegar slaw, mamas Mac, the corn fritters and the potato salad. They were ok - nothing special to write home about. But the fritters were a little disappointing and I would skip em going forward. I try to make it out to this place every time I head out to OC. The sandwich is great! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Inside - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

This is the only craft chicken sandwich place nearby in the Irvine business center. Chicken was good but nothing special really compared to average chicken spots.. it doesn't get near the flavor of those legit craft chicken spots like howling rays. Fries were fries. Value was as pricey as howling rays. 3 stars read more

The chicken is delicious, their honey mustard sauce is a great dupe for that other chicken place with the cow ads. I'm a wimp and dont eat spicy but the regular chicken was crispy and flavorful. Everything is fresh so there is a little bit of a wait but it makes all the difference in the taste. read more

Good lord the chicken sandwich here is remarkable. I've been on a fried chicken tear as of late and have eaten way too many fried chicken sandwiches (and fried chicken in general) but this place takes the cake. No comparison to any other fried chicken spot. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich is gigantic, the bun is perfect, the slaw is well balanced, the pickles are just right and the sauce isn't overpowering and gives just the right amount of balance to the heat of the chicken. The chicken itself is a juicy, top notch, high quality breast fried to perfection. Stellar. The waffle fries are solid as well, the ranch dressing is fresh, homemade and has a hint of dill, well balanced, refreshing. A+ spot, winner in my book. Don't miss it. read more

Cluck Kitchen - Nashville - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

So I find myself daydreaming of this place. Following safety guidelines. Service was good but geez the food was delicious. I will be back. The only issue is they use peanut oil and one of my kids is allergic so we're gonna have to ditch him to visit. read more

See all

This spot is in a quaint little business plaza, and there is a ton of outdoor seating and a relaxed vibe. The chicken. This place absolutely knows how to make their chicken nice and juicy with the perfect crisp. Their nashvilles? Fire. Appetizers like the jalapeno poppers? Fire. Best nashvilles in South OC for sure. read more

One bite and my life changed forever... I did not expect their spicy chicken sandwich to be this good! It's better than Howlin rays in my opinion because the chicken is more juicy and omg the sauce... the spicy sauce the chicken is drenched in really made this the best chicken sandwich I've ever had/ First of all, their Nashville hot chicken sandwich is huge. It's way bigger in person than in pictures. ;) the cashier warned me that their spice level runs on the spicier side, so I chose mild, which turned our to be the perfect amount of spiciness for me (friends said it was too spicy tho). After they fry the chicken, they drench it in the most glorious, flavorful, addicting, spicy sauce that really made this chicken sandwich stand out from all other chicken sandwiches. Definitely will return to try the other items on the menu read more

Cluck Kitchen - Nashville hot chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

I've gotten food from Cluck Kitchen about 10 times in the last two years. Their chicken is consistently juicy and tender. I also love that they have dark meat (Toma-Cluck, semi deboned leg and thigh). Most places (like Dave's Famous) don't have any dark meat (boo). So besides having good hot fried chicken, because they have dark meat which keeps me going back. The only reason I'm taking off a star is that their spice level is very inconsistent. I always get extra hot. Sometimes I burn so much that I run around the room and sometimes it's so mild that I add hot sauce to it. The one thing I liked about Howlin' Ray's (who started it all) when I was back in LA was that they were very consistent with their heat. Maybe the owners would read this and fix the spice inconsistency levels. read more

The chicken is mouth watering!! I love the option of spice levels and how big their side portions are. I tried the Nashville hot sandwich, which was highly recommended and definitely was not disappointed:) The side of fries can feed up to 3 people and the Mac and cheese is so fluffy and doesn't have that fake starchy taste, like other fried chicken spots. The staff was so friendly and informative about recommendations and the food was prepared in a timely manner. This will def be a weekly spot for me! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Been here twice now and both times did not disappoint! Located in a plaza filled with other food options, I definitely think this place is a better choice when craving fried chicken. Its a small place with limited indoor seating but there is plenty of outdoor seating. Ive gotten their nashville hot chicken sandwich and the nashville hot chicken tenders. Their chicken sandwich is super good and for $14, its not too bad! The buns lightly toasted and has a sweet taste to it. The fried chicken is fried in peanut oil so it was definitely tasty and juicy. The chicken is thick and has bery good flavor to it. The tenders were a bit too salty for my liking but still really flavorful and good. The sandwich comes with vinegar slaw and pickles which balances the flavors of the chicken. Definitely a great combination. I particularly love the vinegar slaw and not the traditional cole slaw. They also serve crinkle fries and other sides as well. Overall, this place is pretty good for the oc. I definitely think its better than a lot of other fried chicken places nearby. The chicken is juicy and the seasoning is great. Ive also tried their extra hot and that burns so if you like spicy, I'd recommend that or even the cluckin spice level. I typically just get medium though so i can enjoy the food. read more

My boo and I frequently visit this place now and then. I love its location because there are plenty of seats available at the back, inside, in front, and on the side of the building. Regarding the food, my go-to items are the loaded fries and the biscuit sandwich. The first time I tried the loaded fries, I chose the hot flavor and it was so spicy that I couldn't handle it. The spice level here is nothing compared to Dave's Hot Chicken. The second time I visited, I ordered mild, but it was still too spicy for me. So, on my third visit, I ordered light, and it had a mild spice that I could handle. I highly recommend the loaded fries as it comes with everything - slaw, chicken, fries, pickles, and their sauce. However, the ratio of chicken and fries is always different. Sometimes you get more chicken than fries, or vice versa, but it still tastes great. Every bite is a burst of different flavors in your mouth. Overall, I highly recommend visiting this place, but keep in mind the spice level depending on your tolerance. The service here is quick, and the people working there are always the best! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Loaded Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

Seeing that most of the disappointment comes from the sandwiches, I decided to get wings instead. Turns out, that's definitely the better and less expensive option. Extra hot if you love spicy food until your nose cries. In Orange County, there aren't many options for Nashville Hot Chicken so the sandwich definitely seemed pricey for just one sandwich. There's another Nashville hot chicken place just 2 miles from here called Spice-C, and they offer a sandwich as well as extra food like fries and a large chicken tender for the same price here at $12. I think it's just personal preference, as I think the two in town are quite similar. A quick comparison: Cluck Kitchen offers the following over Spice-C (the other Nashville hot chicken place in town) -Has Bone in Wings -Curly fries seasoned with salt More side options -3 tenders instead of 2 in a la carte -Slightly less hot at the same spice level imo -Crunchier chicken While Spice-C offers: -Cheaper Sandwich (They call it a slider but imo it's a sandwich) -Straight McDonald's style fries -Combo comes with fries and or tender -Less oily chicken -No a la carte for any chicken items though Cluck Kitchen offered wings and Spice-C does not and I was craving some juicy wings today. So I ordered $10 wings, $4.50 for curly fries. About $16 after tax. Honestly, I could skip the fries. The wings came on the classic Nashville white bread with pickle slices and comeback sauce, aka some Thousand Island dressing included. I got EXTRA HOT and it was just right for a person who loves spicy food daily but also I don't want to die. The habeneros inside the spices had a tinge of sweetness in it, and complimented the crunchiness of the chicken at a decent level. If I had to compare the spice level between Cluck and Howling Ray's and Spice-C would say it is a little MORE HOT than Howling Ray's AND a little LESS HOT than Spice-C at the same level. I felt the very hot here was only a hot at Spice-C, interestingly enough. The chicken was crunchier and oilier though. I feel like it's dried out longer here, but that's not a problem if you love crunchier fried chicken like me. Inside the chicken was plenty of juice, since it was wings. Personally, I don't like curly fries. I think it's too salty and goes bad way too fast. By the time I was done eating the fries were borderline inedible. I prefer the McDonald's straight cut style fries at Spice-C instead. As for the service experience, it definitely was quick. I was a little surprised at how loud the music was when ordering, but other than that ordering is just like a standard walk in for a fast food place. Overall, the wings carried the review here. Without it I dunno what it'll be. I did enjoy the crunchiness of the chicken here, and for an above average place, it's a decent albeit pricier option. read more

See all

I wanted to check out Cluck Kitchen since it's down the street from my office and I love Nashville Hot Chicken. It's getting compared to Howlin' Rays which is a good thing. I ordered the Nashville Hot chicken tenders in Extra Hot with Comeback sauce, corn fritters, and Mama's Mac. Then I took everything home instead of enjoying it on their patio. It took my about 24 minutes to get home so in that time, everything steamed inside the boxes. The batter could definitely be crispier on the chicken. The spice level is comparable to Howlin'. I normally get Hot at Howlin' and Cluck's Extra Hot is comparable to Howlin's X-Hot. I've also tried the Howlin' level at Howlin' so I know what I'm talking about regarding spice levels. Is it better than Howlin'? No, because Howlin's batter stays crispy all the way home from LA to OC. If it can't make it 24 minutes without getting soggy, then it definitely could be improved. The corn fritters are basically balls of corn meal batter, what you'd find on the exterior of a corn dog. It was okay because it wasn't as crispy as I'd hoped. The sour cream it's served with was an interesting accompaniment. The Mama's Mac and cheese was DRY. I ate about half of it and saved it the leftoevers. Pro tip: when reheating mac & cheese, pour a splash of milk in before microwaving to give it some moisture. PROS: I liked the spice level of the chicken. I'd go back just for the chicken. Sauces are made in-house. Closer than trekking to LA. CONS: Gets soggy unless eaten immediately. Sides are so-so. I'd be willing to give it another try and maybe get the wings or sandwich next time. read more

See all

Cluck Chicken offers Nashville style fried chicken. I stopped by for a weekday lunch and there were already 7 people out the door waiting. The line did move rather quickly and once the order was placed, it was ready in 5 minutes. They have chicken sandwiches (breast meat), tenders, and wings. No sides are provided, everything is a la carte here. Sides included mac and cheese, corn fritters, fries, vinegar slaw and fried pickles. I went with the Nashville Chicken Sandwich and an order of Corn Fritters. Nashville Fried Chicken ($12) - For my spicy level I went with HOT, which provided a nice bit of kick. I was so underwhelmed, the seasoning was just ok and the chicken lacked crispiness. At first I thought the sandwich was on the smaller size, but by the time I finished I was stuffed. It turns out that the chicken breast they use in the sandwich is really thick. After getting through that initial later of batter and seasoning there is a whole bunch of white meat to go through. I thought the bun was ok, it seemed like the type used in some of these cheap fast food places. The chicken comes with a vinegar slaw and some comeback sauce, all of which were lost because I was distracted by the amount of meat I had to get through to finish the sandwich. Corn Fritters ($5) - This came with 8 pieces of fried corn meal balls. The balls were soft and not crispy at all. They reminded me of the ones I had as a kid at Red Lobster. Another name one may know them by is hush puppies. Taste wise they weren't bad and went well with the mayo sauce that accompanied the fritters. Overall, I was not impressed with the food here. It is EXTREMELY pricey for a chicken sandwich and a side (about $19 with tax). There are better Nashville places out there. My suggestion to the management would be to make the chicken crispy, look for a better bun, reduce the size of the chicken by half and make it not as thick, work on your seasoning, and offer a combo meal for $10 (which includes a side). read more

See all

Finally! Hot Chicken is back in the OC! Located near the SNA airport, this place serves bomb hot chicken and amazing sides. Most fried chicken joints do not have notable sides but Cluck takes their sides to the next level, I think I would even go here for the sides alone. Warning for avid food lovers. Portion sizes are huge! I wanted to order a variety off the menu but it was a huge struggle to finish everything. Sauce portions are also huge. I would always run out of sauce when I get fried chicken but I had ample left after my meal. I got the wings, tenders, sandwich, and fritters and pickle sides. All the chicken was super juicy and full of flavor. The skin is crispy and not overly bready. I'm also not sure what kind of chicken this place uses but the wings here are huge! They're about 2x the size of other chicken wings and I thought it might have been a turkey-chicken hybrid. Still tastes like bomb chicken though. But the sides are what really make this place. The corn fritters are almost like corn bread puffs and they are full of southern spices and bits of corn. This was bomb. I can imagine people coming here just to eat the fritters. Normally I don't like fried pickles but the frying took away some of the sourness of normal pickles. They taste almost like fried chicken coins with a bit of tang. Everything here was good! There are five levels of spiciness and you can get mild or medium if you can't handle the heat. I went with Hot for all my orders and although I could taste the spice, I wasn't dieing or drenched in sweat. Would definitely go for the next level of Extra Hot next time. Tip: I would recommend eating the chicken fresh or as soon as you can after you pick up your order. I took it home afterwards and let it sit for a while. Some of the chicken got soggy, especially the Tenders. Still good, but prolly would have been better if I didn't let it sit. read more

See all