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

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

There are plenty of outdoor seating. Ordered the corn fritters ($5) and Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwhich ($12) (Came with pickles, slaw, and their special sauce). Got the sandwhich with the spice level at Extra Hot (1 level before their spiciest-Get Clucked). The corn fritters, basically hushpuppies, were delicious! Very soft and fluffy with real corn inside. It also came with a type of mayo sour cream sauce which was complimented it well. The Extra Hot chicken sandwhich (Tossed in ghost peppers) was super spicy! Yet still enjoyable. My mouth was tingling but it was still manageable. The chicken was super juicy and delicious. I think I will try their spiciest level next time!! For those who do not usually eat spicy or like eating spicy, get anything below "extra hot." read more

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My first time trying out cluck. I was super excited to try this place but it was a huge let down. The chicken is huge but honestly lacked flavor. I took it home (9min drive) the buns were soggy. The Mac and cheese was very bland... not worth the $5 bucks. Chick-fil-A Mac and cheese is definitely way better. My meal was $25 and honestly don't think I will be coming back. read more

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Great location and good food. Indoor seating is limited but there is plenty outdoor seating. This plaza gets busy around lunch time so if you are on a time crunch order ahead. The chicken sandwiches are big but in my opinion priced a little high. Sauces are extra and make sure you read the spice levels as some of them are really spicy. We also ordered the chicken and waffles and I would not recommend it. For the price point it's not worth it and you are better off ordering what they are known for which is the chicken sandwich. Fries and sides are extra. They come in one size and is definitely shareable. read more

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Pretty CLUCKIN' good! I was in the mood for some Nashville hot chicken and Cluck Kitchen popped up on Doordash. Based on the good reviews, I wanted to try it! And I was not disappointed. Look, Howlin Rays will always be my Hot Chicken standard. Was it as good as Howlin? No, but I appreciate Cluck for what it is... which is a really good hot chicken place. Their chicken tastes different than Howlin's. In terms of spice, I'd say they are relatively similar. Lastly, both Howlin and Cluck get bonus points for NOT using their tenders in their chicken sandwiches. I always secretly judge hot chicken places when I order a sandwich and they put two buns on the tenders and tell me it's a sandwich and I'm like NOOOO!!!! hahaha My boyfriend and I tried their Hot Nashville Hot Sandwich, Hot and Medium Tenders, Macaroni and Cheese, Cluck Sauce (Honey Mustard), and Comeback Sauce First off, their chicken is CRUNCHYYYY. Like it kind of hurts the roof of your mouth crunchy, but you do it anyway because it's worth it. In addition to the crunch, the chicken is also spicy, moist, salty, and slightly sweet. Pretty good chicken! Their slaw, pickles, bread, and fries were standard. All in all, good tenders, a good sandwich, and good fries. Their comeback sauce was also good! It tasted different than Howlin's in which it didn't seem as thick and was more zesty/less sweet. What surprised me was how much I liked the Cluck Sauce and the macaroni and cheese! The honey mustard cluck sauce tasted great with my fries and tenders when I wanted to contrast the comeback sauce. Also, the macaroni and cheese tasted like KRAFT MAC AND CHEESE, but ~elevated~. THAT IS A COMPLIMENT because I love Kraft Mac and Cheese haha It was quite tasty and I couldn't stop eating it. But make sure to eat it warm because it is not as good cold. Overall, one of my favorite hot chicken places available in the OC! P.S. The roof of my mouth is still healing but I REGRET NOTHING haha read more

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Nashville Hot Sandwich - Spice level Medium Medium was a good spicy level for me and I like spicy. I don't any spicier would be enjoyable. Sandwich itself is filling. Coleslaw filling was good. It's a bit hard to eat, definitely a messy meal. They would cut the sandwich in half for you but will offer plastic knives. Tenders - Spice level mild with Spicy Q sauce Comes with 3 tenders, pickles and slice of toast. Definitely tender and juicy. Mac & Cheese ($5) was toddler approved. There's Cajun topped so I ate that part but would opt without next time. We went on a Saturday around 1:00 pm and there was no wait. Food was ready in about 10 minutes. Ample outdoor dining available. Day porter was visible so good to know the area is being cleaned. read more

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

4 stars because the space & staff are great, and the food is good but could be better. I would still go back to this place but it's not necessarily my first choice. Tried this spot about a week ago and it's a trendy looking fried chicken shop! Very clean with a cheeky neon sign for your Instagram posts. The staff was very friendly and good about answering any questions about the menu. I ordered the classic chicken sandwich with a side of potato salad. Both items were good but I felt that, especially in this current renaissance of fried chicken sandwiches, there are more flavorful options out there. Definitely not a bad meal but it didn't exactly hit 5-star review quality. read more

Cluck Kitchen - Classic fried chicken sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

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

I LOOOOVE hot chicken sandwiches with a deep passion. I've tried probably close to a dozen different places during the past year, and I have to say this my favorite down here in OC. I got the Nashville Hot sandwich, medium hot, and some crinkle cut fries on a weekday lunch with my coworkers. It was ready on time when we went to go pick it up, and we had a big order. It was so delicious--the chicken was juicy and tender and the spice was complemented nicely with the slaw and comeback sauce. The fries were pretty crispy. The only thing I needed was a beer to wash it all down lol, but maybe next time. The spice was adequate, but I think next time I'll step it up to hot. The medium was pleasant to eat but not as hot as I expected. If I were to compare this to Howlin Rays, I still like Howlin Rays a little better, but this is definitely 2nd place in socal in my eyes. I will be coming back!! FYI - there is about a $1 upcharge on each of the items if you order on doordash vs in person. read more

Cluck Kitchen - took a bite already ‍ - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

This place did not disappoint. Probably the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. The original country fried tenders tasted better than the Nashville hot tenders, but both were still delicious. The Nashville Hot sandwich was so good, I honestly preferred the "hot" over the "medium", lots of heat but not too much where it wasn't enjoyable read more

Cluck Kitchen - Medium Nashville Hot Tenders - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food is amazing! Super fresh, and hot!!!! If you could choose between this and Chick-fil-A CHOOSE THIS!

Worker recommended chicken nuggets and it did not disappoint. I thought it was delicious! I would recommend over the tenders since he was right and it was juicier. read more

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

The chicken here is pretty good. Tender, juicy, and sizeable meat. Where they fall a little short was the breading was a bit too burnt beyond crispy. The seasoning is definitely spicier than other hot chicken spots, which is refreshing since at some places "hot" equates more to a medium heat. For those that are scared, the cashier did warn that their spices are above average so +1 for that advice. read more

Cluck Kitchen - Large pieces. Extra hot spice level. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

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Cluck has been buzzing lately so I had to give it shot for lunch. I do love me some fried chicken and I know that the southern-style fried chicken sandwich market has kind of been hot (hah!) lately. When I came here, I opted for the chicken sandwich at the "hot" level (basically medium +1) and it was a good mix of flavor and heat for me. The chicken sandwich was pretty huge--there was a ton of cole slaw and the chicken breast they used was a good size. I admit that it was juicy but little bit bland and lacking on the flavor (if that makes sense). Something I should have considered when I was getting the upsell on the sauces there. I also went with a side of the street corn fritters which were a little disappointing if I'm honest. I think they were going for a corn bread kind of feel but I didn't see any corn in any of my pieces. For a few of then, the middles of the fritters were a little cold. It was all corn meal and they were surprisingly very salty for what they were. I don't think that I would go for the sides again. The chicken sandwich is one of the better ones I've had in a while. Its just a bit pricey and I'm not entirely sure if its worth it given the other choices in the square. read more

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Cluck's fried chicken may have the best "Nashville" fried chicken in OC. I understand the weight of this statement. Here's the thing. We went to several fried chicken places to compare and Cluck's is juicy, crispy, flavorful from the inside and outside, and the heat - regardless of how hot you like it, taste good and doesn't just leave a sting. Other pros: The employees are always great. Plenty of parking. Food doesn't take too long. The only con is their hours. For a fried chicken place to close at 7pm...everyday of the week, what's up with that? The only other con (okay, okay, this one is from my end) is we haven't uploaded pics of the delicious fried chicken. We keep eating it all before we get the pics :( But, go. They are worth it. read more

It's a good place customer service is good Flavor on the chicken also very good depending on your tolerance go for the medium for a good spicy after that is just not recommended. My stomach hurt for a whole day after eating their spiciest recipe read more

So Howlin Rays started the Nashville hot chicken craze back in 2015. Many have jumped on the bandwagon since then, hoping to capture the same magic I can honestly say that cluck Kitchen is the closest thing to the OG in quality, flavor and crispiness Highly recommended when you have the itch!! read more

I really love this spot. I have been multiple times in the past year or so, and I'm always happy with my order! The hot chicken is hot, but they have just battered chicken as well if you're not a spice fan. I love love love the fried pickles and the corn fritters, and of course love the classic fries too. I usually go for the Nashville hot chicken sandwich in a medium if I want the spice, or a mild if I'm not looking to sweat. If you want to go when it's not as busy, try a weekend evening. Because of it's location, it's usually pretty busy during the week at lunch. 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

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

Owners: why in the world can you not order just an individual tender? Came in wanting a single tender and some Mama's Mac but was told I need to get an entree in order to add on a single tender. That would defeat the purpose of getting just one tender? When the tenders are as big as they are, some people can only eat one... so why make it difficult to do so? They suggested the kids meal which has one tender, but they wouldn't let me swap the fries for Mama's Mac. What's up with these weird mandatory rules that make getting lunch strange and inconvenient? On top of the very, very slow service today, it doesn't want to make me come back. The only thing they have going for them at this point is the good food but you can get much better service and equally as good food at Spice-C not too far away at The District. Highly recommend anyone reading this checking them out instead! read more

Dear Matt, My wife and I came in on a Friday evening. Hungry, ambitious, adventurous, we were starving and eyed the Get Clucked level tendies. When we told you what our rumbling tummies desired, you fell silent for a brief moment. But it wasn't just you, it seemed as though everything and everyone in the room came to a standstill. Your compadres ceased all their conversations and small talk and turned their heads to stare at us. We were a bit confused. Why the stares? Were they peering at us in awe? Was it out of respect and admiration for what we were about to attempt? No, no, no. Later that evening we would come to learn it was none of the above. Rather, it was a look of pure pity. It was a look of, "these fools don't really know what they were getting themselves in to, they were about to Get Clucked!" You warned us Matt, and while we appreciate the heads up, we were still glad we went with the highest level of spiciness for our tendies. The chicken was moist and beautifully breaded. Spiciness aside, the flavor and quality was amazing. Don't get me wrong, shit was hot man, there was so much hissing in between our bites you could've mistaken us for a couple serpents. We had to take baby bites, take a break, question our life decisions, call our loved ones to tell them we loved them and say our farewells just incase this was the end, let it burn some more, and then do it all over again with a new nibble. For our chicken sammy, we opted for the Extra Hot level. That mess was spicy af too, but after the Get Clucked, it was child's play. That is, if child's play was a fiery field of ghost peppers, habanero and reapers. We figured you didn't bother warning us about that level seeing as how we were trying to be gangsta with the Get Clucked. Matt, we appreciate the wonderful service, great food and great first time experience. We'll definitely be back soon hungry but maybe not as adventurous, maybe. ‍ read more

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SO crispy and juicy and flavorful. THIS is a 10/10 chicken sandwich. I HIGHLY recommend getting the mild because it's just SO much better with a spicy kick. The mild is not too spicy since you'll have the buns if you're worried about not being able to handle the spice. And of course if you love spicy and have a high spice tolerance then you can go up the spice level. One sandwich alone is VERY filling for a meal. read more

Cluck Kitchen - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

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I got the nashville hot sandwich with mild spicy. I loved everything - the bun, the chicken and the sauce. I'm glad I got mild because it was just the right amount of kick. That being said, unless you have a really high spice tolerance, a mild is definitely good enough. There's also an option for extra mild if you'd like. There are plenty of parking in the plaza. p.s. the side of fries is a shareable size for the table, not a personal side. read more

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

What the cluck! With hot chicken sandwich shops opening up here and there its not easy to stand out. But this chicken is clucking out its competition! I got the Hot Chicken with mild sauce. When you first open the box you will find a pristine burger expertly packed into the paper. Its amazing how they fit in all the content perfectly. With every bite I was amazed by how they put in just the right amount of pickles an slaw. The pickles especially stood out with its crisp texture and refreshing brine. The hot sauce had a real nice kick to it with a hint of sweetness. Just perfect. The crispy exterior reminded me of really good korean fried chicken. Loved it. I also got the Mamas Mac and it was super cheesy, creamy and delicious! I wish my mama could make mac and cheese like this lol. This place simply amazing. Looking forward to coming back! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Hot chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

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Fresh chicken, excellent flavors. All made in-house Chicken tenders- country fried no spice Corn fritters All of there sauces are incredible. Highly recommend this place for great fried chicken! The Cut (sister restaurant) is also very tasty! read more

So so so good Crispy chicken 10/10 ranch Cheese curds and waffle fries are delicious as well Can't wait to go back read more

The sandwich was really big and super filling but I don't know if I'd come again because it's pretty pricy! It was $13 for a sandwich which is on the more expensive side for a spicy chicken sandwich. The plaza is not busy though, which is a plus for parking. The service and workers were all great and friendly. I believe it's more new so everything looks nice! Overall the sandwich was good though, just messy. Their spice levels are higher than usual places though, so I'd keep that in mind! read more

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

Cluck Kitchen is a solid Nashville Hot Chicken place in the area! Highly recommended! We've had it a few times during the pandemic and they consistently provide high-quality food! We've had: - Nashville Tenders (Medium): Huge, super flavorful spice mix with a slight sweetness. Great crunch on the outside but still juicy inside. - Nashville Sandwich (Medium): Also gigantic, this is a meal of its own. Packed with chicken, fresh slaw, pickles and a fresh buttery bun! Highly recommended but be prepared to be full! - Mac & Cheese: Surprisingly really good! Made much like a southern style baked version with the hints of black pepper. - Corn Fritters: Exactly what it's supposed to be. Lol. Deep fried, doughy and delicious. - Sauces Galore: All of the sauces are made fresh and are great! Try them all! The only negatives are that this plaza is always busy and they don't have online or phone orders available so it's always a mystery to know how long you'll have to wait. But, as they say, good things come to those who wait. Check them out for some amazing Nashville Hot Chicken! read more

I noticed Cluck Kitchen the last time I visited this plaza for Paderia, and it's been on my mind to try it ever since! During my visit, I got the Cluck Classic, which came loaded with a pretty thick fried chicken breast, shredded iceberg lettuce, and mayo. The fried chicken breast was super juicy and tender and the brioche bun they used added a nice touch to the sandwich. In hindsight, I would've asked for less mayo and added pickles (sandwich did not include pickles). Overall, the customer service was great and my sandwich came out in about 5 minutes! I loved the packaging of the sandwich. It was wrapped and placed inside one of their boxes as opposed to a paper bag. Indoor dining was closed off, but there were plenty of shaded tables available outdoors. I left feeling full and satisfied. I'm looking forward to trying their Nashville Hot sandwich next time! read more

Cluck Kitchen - To-go Box - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food is really good and is spicier than you think. I don't have a really strong spice tolerance.

Oh man are the chicken wars intense in OC! Finally made my way to Cluck's and it didn't disappoint! It's in a super busy strip mall, but luckily the line wasn't too long. The line moved quickly and my sandwich was ready in less than 10 minutes -- an advantage over other chicken shops that take 20 minutes for the same order. Their Nashville chicken sandwich is really good! I like that it's a huge fried chicken breast, not some tenders slapped on a bun. Their breading was nice and crunchy. Pickles had a nice sweetness. There's so much going on, it was tough to comment on the coleslaw, but it seemed to work well. They gave me a side of honey mustard and I threw some on for fun. I followed the advice of other Yelpers and ordered my level of spice below my usual. I like "hot" and medium sad just right. I can't imagine "get clucked," their spiciest option. I had the Mexican corn fritters. Not sure how hot they were when I walked out of Cluck, but they were lukewarm when I started eating them 10 minutes after pick up. They pretty good, but I don't think I'd order them again. To date, I've tried 4 of the most popular Nashville hot chicken sandwiches in Orange County and I struggle to rate one better than another. Maybe a side by side comparison would help differentiate the competitors, but I think at this point it comes down to which sides you like and which place is closest to you. I'm still pretty partial to Hotties, but that's because the pancake biscuits are so good. Check them out and I look forward to a more discerning reviewer to provide a better breakdown. read more

I'm not usually a fan of fried chicken but this one was a winner winner winner! Not greasy. Not salty. Not dry. It was just right. Service was quick. We ate outside and enjoyed every bite. Yum! read more

Cluck Kitchen has the best Nashville Hot Chicken! Their customer service is excellent every single time I go their restaurant their food is so so good and their sides are just as good their chicken sandwiches. Their Nashville Hot Cheese Curds are wonderfully delicious and if you can handle spice on their Fried Pickles they are bomb, as they are not too salty but just right the amount of salt. Their Mac & Cheese is just as good, not too cheesy and not too creamy -absolutely on point! if you want to try Nashville Hot Chicken this is the place I would highly recommend. Go there and you'll absolutely love it! Thank you Cluck Kitchen for making the best Chicken Sandwich I've ever had in my entire life. read more

I've been to click a couple of times now. Love their chicken and the amount of fries that they give you. I haven't branched out yet and tried different spice levels. But i eventually will! Last couple of times that I've been the employees were so sweet. Definitely a great business! read more

Cluck Kitchen - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

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Easily the best chicken around. Not only are their Nashville sandwiches amazingly flavorful and amped up with the right amount of spice, but the other "regular" chicken sandwiches are extremely flavorful and juicy. All the sides deliver as well. We've been here multiple times as an office ordering a wide variety of sides to share and there's never been a complaint. Easily the best chicken sandwich in the area. read more

This is one of the best local hot or not chicken sandwich shops in OC. The layers of flavors brings a certain depth that's pure delight and magical. I went with mild because I'm a wuss when it comes to heat. The portions can be described as gluttony. Now a sandwich, fries and drink can set you back $20 but it's a feast for 2 in my opinion and beats any fast food chain for overall quality and value. Until there's a better place, I'm sticking with this shop to satisfy my chicken cravings. read more

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

Wow. What an amazing place amongst the hustle and bustle of Irvine. It's nestled into the corner of a lunchtime oasis for the grab and go customer. Yes, you have to exit your car, but there's plenty of parking and plenty of outdoor seats, as well. My sons have been in competition to find the best chicken sandwich... and to date, Clucks has taken #1. A bit pricey for everyday lunching... but so worth it, if you want to splurge. read more

Cluck Kitchen - He's in utter anticipation of that first bite - Chicken Shop Near Me - Irvine, California

If you are craving a chicken sandwich, then stop on by here. It can get busy during lunch but their service is quick. I got their Nashville Hot Sandwich and Harvarti Hen. If you are craving something spicy then go for their Nashville. There are different levels you can choose for spiciness. If you don't want something spicy, then chose their Harvarti- which is fresh and flavorful w/ their sun dried tomato and butter lettuce. The sandwiches are big so best to share it with a friend! read more