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

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

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

Service.....just not a good vibe. Rather spend my money elsewhere. They didn't give me sauce that I paid for and when I asked they said they gave it to me, which I told them they didn't. Then he slowly walks and gets the sauces I ordered and then just tosses them on the counter as I have my hand out. Never again read more

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

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

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

I love this place and this is easily the best Nashville chicken sandwich I've had, ever. (I've tried quite a few places). sometimes there is a wait, and there is absolutely no room to sit inside - so be aware of that before you come, but as long you are willing so sit outside or take it to go - 100% worth it. Take it easy on the spice, it runs on the hotter side. read more

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

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

Saw this place on Yelp so I thought I'd give it a try. At first glance, I was excited. The sandwich was huge and it looked very promising, but after a few bites it just didn't really satisfy my chicken sandwich craving. Although the sandwich was pretty big and looked visually appealing - there wasn't much flavor to the chicken. 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

Great place to stop and have wonderful fried chicken. Side options are good. Seating is all outside.

보통 시켰는데, 핫을 주셨음니다. 사스도 안주셨어요. 온라인 오더. 너무 매워서 못먹었어요. 다음에는 잘챙겨주세요. 감사합니다.....자주가는데 오늘은.

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

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

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

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

This place is great! The location is right across the street from my office. My friend and I ordered the Nashville Tennessee sandwich and the original chicken sandwich. We also shared fries and dipping sauces. For the Nashville Tennessee chicken sandwich you got to choose the level of spice you wanted. It was perfect because I like a little spice but nothing too crazy. I chose medium and it had the right amount of kick to it. The sandwich is huge! I honestly didn't know how I was going to eat it. The chicken itself was juice and had lots of flavors. I was dying trying to eat the whole sandwich and fries. This plaza has plenty of our door seating if you want to eat right away. Also, they do not accept cash payments, only card. They also make sure to sanitize after every person pays. I'll definitely be back. read more

See all

I'm so happy that there is now a Nashville hot chicken spot in Irvine and it's really good! I try to always find a great Nashville hot chicken spot and I must try it out when I can so seeing that Cluck Kitchen opened up means that I must try it. I was really impressed with their Nashville hot chicken. They do not skimp out of the chicken. The chicken meat from the tenders and sandwich I got were not lacking in size. I'm glad they give such a generous amount. I got a medium level spicy and it was definitely spicy, but nothing I couldn't handle. The chicken itself was tender, juicy and I also liked their breading. Cluck Kitchen is located within a plaza with plenty of parking and is surrounded with plenty of other food spots as well. There were plenty of seating outside. If you're looking for a good fried chicken spot in Irvine and feeling a bit spicy, this is a great spot to try! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Nashville Hot Chicken Tender with Comeback Sauce (IG: @foodwithbros) - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

This joint is hoppin' and their carry out operation is strong, especially as The Square already has a robust outdoor seating section and lots of parking both within the food court circle and behind Starbucks. I read the menu beforehand and was like seriously, 3 measly pickles come with the chicken strips? BYO pickles and banana peppers elevated the box for sure! Their fries are insanely large portions perfect for sharing. I got the mild sauce, which didn't have much heat. They take your order and you listen for your name to be called out. Expect the line to be out the door from 11-1pm when the office and service provider crowds break for lunch. I'll try their sandwiches next time! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Chicken strips and fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

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

I had the Nashville Hot with Get Clucked (Level 5/5 spicy) sandwich. I've never had Howlin' Ray's, so I'll just say: it was easily the spiciest chicken sandwich I've ever had. The flavor was really good! There's a nice rich (and mildly sweet) sauce that they add that pairs well with the chicken breast and I loved the coleslaw and pickles. The sandwich was very well balanced. Well, until we got to the spice... It has a slow burn, so the first few seconds are mild, but don't let that fool you. I'm alright with spicy food, but this was a 10/10 in spicy level. To be honest, I'd consider this more of a 9.7, since I've tried a dash of pure Carolina Reaper, and that's definitely stronger than this. I've also had Reaper infused soup, and that was stronger than this. For context, to me, Taco Bell Diablo is a 5/10, Hot Cheetos is a 3/10, and spicy Korean ramen (Shin Ramyun) is a 7/10. The heat dissipates pretty quickly (within 5-10 minutes) and again, there's actual flavor variety, so it's a good sandwich, with just some spicy elements. The pork fritters tasted like really good corn bread and the mac and cheese was all kinds of creamy. My roommate commented it was "CLOSE to the best mac and cheese of my life". The sauces are extra, but they taste pretty good. It's like $0.50 each sauce. Service was also very fast. It was pretty expensive here, since for a sandwich and a side, you're looking at $15-$20, but the sandwiches are pretty big and it's well made. Next time, I'll probably just go mild because I loved the flavor. Chicken sandwiches are my jam! My roommate loved the chicken tenders, so we're excited to return here. If you really want to get the burning chicken, come here! It'll satisfy both flavor and spicy cravings. read more

Cluck Kitchen - Good luck to me indeed. Spoiler: It was extremely spicy! - 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

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

Just opened! It's in the Square sort of business lunch plaza that can get crazy during prime weekday lunch hours but it wasn't too bad, probably because of company wfh lyfe. The line was out the door (sorry Jersey Mike's) around into the hall way. They have stickers on the floor to help people keep distance and they require a face mask to enter inside. They're super fast at getting your food done so you won't be waiting too long inside. No seating inside but plenty of outdoor seating at the Square with shade spots. We ordered the Nashville mild and medium, regular tenders, corn fritters, mac n cheese, and sauces wise ranch, clutch, and comeback. The Nashville was great! On the same level playing field as Howlin Rays which we just ate a few weeks ago. Mild isn't too bad at all so even with a bad spice tolerance you'll be fine because I have a Chipotle medium salsa sweat tolerance and I ate the Medium here. They accidentally swapped the mild and mediums in the boxes but no biggie. The chicken filet stayed crisp and wasn't over-battered. Just the right amount of batter where you're getting that crunch but also actually eating chicken and not 90% batter. It didn't leave me feeling super heavy or greasy and had a good balance of slaw and pickles with it. Maybe could use a tad more slaw and sauce but it's personal preference. Regular tenders were just regular tenders. You probably should get some heat added to make them something. I've heard really good things about the wings but just didn't want to get down and dirty this time around. Corn fritters were like a fried piece of cornbread, super good and tastes better with ranch imo than the white sauce it came with. We thought it was supposed to come with ranch but it was more of a sour cream type of sauce. I like the concept of mac n cheese but I'm usually done after a couple bites so I'm not the best to comment on it other than it was good and does come with some spice so if you don't want that make sure to ask for it without. Sauces: ranch was nice. More of a light herb ranch than buttermilk. Cluck sauce tasted honey mustardish and the comeback more of a thousand island? I know Howlin has comeback sauce too and it tastes great with the actual chicken sandwich. Ketchup packets are included though, don't have to pay extra for those. They also have soft serve which definitely looking forward to trying that next time. Vanilla and a rotating flavor which today looked like chocolate. PSA: They've already sold out of chicken about 2-3 hours before closing the two days that they've been open so far so I'd check their IG before heading over for dinner. Or just go earlier for lunch, don't want to be Clucking out! read more

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

4.5 This review is waaaaaay overdue. I love the Cut and when Steve told me he was opening Cluck kitchen I was excited as hell! I'll keep this short. Everything I've had here is solid. I mainly come for the full size wings!! So hard to find places that give you full size. I looooooove the tip ;) His chicken is fried perfectly and they are great size. No pigeon wings here! My ex tried their spiciest sauce for the chicken sandwich and he couldn't eat more than 3 bites . So if you're a spice King , this level of heat will be no problem. The tenders are even good and I hate chicken tenders LOL. The batter is nice and crispy. The dipping sauces are nice and thick. No watery mess. The sides are delicious as well. Overall, a very satisfying meal and I need to reunite with them , it's been far tooooooo long . 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

Solid 4 Line outside before restaurant opened but things moved pretty quickly Only took maybe 5-10min after we ordered to get our food Sandwiches are huge! Shared 2 sandos, fries and corn fritters between 3 people and it was plenty. The corn fritters are great!! We all preferred the Nashville hot (medium) to the Harvarti hen Chicken wasn't dry at all but could've used more flavor imo They do charge for sauces, but one was plenty Howlin rays still has my heart, but this'll do if you don't want to trek out to LA read more

One of the best fried chicken sandwiches I have ever had! I went with the Nashville Hot, extra hot level, which was just below my threshold of hotness. Although it was extremely hot, I was still able to taste the flavors in the crispy chicken. Along with my sandwich, I ordered a side of fried pickles. BOMB! They give you a baby shoe box full of them! I couldn't finish them, definitely something to share among a group. I am glad this place is so close to my work, because I'm definitely coming back. But, I think this time I'll go with the hot level of spiciness on my Nashville Hot sandwich. Huge portions, a little on the pricier side (worth it), friendly staff, definitely a place to try. read more

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

Wow. Came here without any expectations after reading Cluck Kitchen in the LA Times. Had a brilliant, memorable meal and will 100% be back. Order: 2x chicken tenders Nashville hot; Mac and cheese; cole slaw Pros: tasty food, massive portions, food quality Unlike other fried chicken joints, Cluck Kitchen eats like a meal and not QSR. The restaurant is stereotypical QSR but the food is something entirely different. Intensely flavorful in the most complimentary way. The Nashville spice rub is like a healthy Doritos dust rubbed on chicken. So freaking tasty without being over powering or sloppy in its application. The 3 chicken tenders are yuuge - enough to feed a hungry man whole One thing to note: spice levels are real. I like spicy food and thought they were giving me the "overconfident white person discount" on spice levels. I ordered a hot (3/5) spice and it was very, very spicy. The bread and slaw evened out the heat but I think a 2/5 would've been perfect. I'll absolutely be back! read more

See all

Nashville Hot $12 Cluck Classic $9 This is probably one of the closest comparison to Howlin' Rays! Chicken was juicy and still crispy. The bun was buttery too. You can get the Nashville Hot at multiple spice levels and it comes with slaw and pickles. Their pickles are super tasty. The classic cluck has no spice and comes with lettuce. Plain yet still full of flavors. We got mild spice and for someone who can handle spicy food, it was just enough heat. I wished they made this their medium spice level instead and toned down a bit for the mild! The sandwiches were huge and very filling! No need to drive all the way to LA if you're in the OC read more

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

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

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

If you like Nashville hot chicken this is the place for you! I appreciate how close they were to my apartment and the last Nashville hot chicken place i enjoyed closed down :(. The chicken sandwiches have a huge piece of chicken breast, bigger than the bun! It wasn't super juicy but wasn't super dry either. The coleslaw and pickles really help out. We ordered the level 1, 3, and 5 in the sand which and got level 4 for the tenders. Level 1 has a good spice to it and it's not super hot very enjoyable. Level 3 definitely has a kick and to me it's still edible. Level 4... woah...that was my reaction when i took a bite. The difference between level 1 and 3 isn't that much but the difference between level 4 and 3 is definitely more noticeable! Level was super spicy as advertised, but the con to me was it tasted burnt or bitter. I double checked my sandwhich and saw it was fried beautifully, so it might've just been so much spicy powder that it tasted bitter. The only con besides level 5 tasting bitter was the price was about $13 per sandwich. I'm definitely biased, but i would rather pay that much for two spicy chicken sandwiches at Popeyes. Also the sides to me personally were meh. Wasn't a fan of the Mac n cheese or corn fritters. This would be a 4 or 5 star if i only got the level 3 sandwich and level 4 tenders. read more

Cluck Kitchen - Nashville hot chicken (level 1, 3, 5) Tenders level 4 Corn fritters Mac n cheese - 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