If you're looking for the best wings in North County, Don's Chicken in Encinitas is the spot. The wings here are next level--big, meaty, and packed with flavor. Our go-to flavors are the soy sauce, garlic, and Don's special, which never disappoint. The sides are just as good--crispy French fries and fresh, tasty coleslaw round out the meal perfectly. The portions are generous, so you always leave full and happy. On top of that, the service is as good as the food. Don, the owner, is super friendly, and the guy at the register always makes you feel welcome. Highly recommend this place if you're craving wings--you won't find better in the area! Also it's super clean read more

Don Chicken - Don's Special, Garlic and Soy - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

A banger!!! Korean approved!! Definitely the best Korean fried chicken I've had in the whole SD area recently. Our family of 3 had leftovers after 2 half chicken orders. They don't give much 무 but that's fine because I always make my own at home. The flavor was 100% authentic Korean style and it was so juicy and soft yet perfectly crispy on the outside. I've had Korean fried chicken in LA and in Korea and this definitely ranks among them! Highly recommend :) read more

Don Chicken - Half fried yangnyeom half 9. Fried Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

Ordered the boneless chicken with garlic sauce and it was so yum! Super crispy and tender, a must try! Lots of seating and spacious. Very clean and bright. The gentleman was super nice and friendly as usual. I always forget about this place because it's not on the main streets but I'm definitely adding into our monthly eats because that boneless chicken was delicious! read more

See all

Soooo good! When looking for a chicken wing place, Yelp led me to Don Chicken, and it did not disappoint. We tried three different flavors, Don's special sauce, spicy honey, and garlic. All three were delicious. The garlic could have had a little more garlic but it was good. The portion size is big and the wings were full of meat!!! We will definitely be back for more!!! read more

See all

Great place for K-fried chicken! I was nearby in the shopping center, so my friend and I had lunch at Don Chicken. He hadn't had Korean food before, so split wings and tteok-bokki so he could try them. We ordered fried wings with Don sauce, and they were delicious! It was a great crunch, and lots of sauce. We killed them all off, and we also enjoyed the tteok-bokki. It came with a side of pickled daikon, and it was plenty of food for 2 people to split for lunch. They have quite a bit of seating to eat there, or they package it well if you're doing to go.I'll stop by when I'm in the area again, and take some home for dinner. read more

See all

If you are looking for Korean style wings this place has you covered. The chicken is prepared well and the flavors are good. The service is decent and the food is made on the spot. The pickled radish appetizer is quite tasty. The portions are pretty good for the price. However, the menu is quite limited. The ambiance is fair and most people get take out. read more

See all

We are visiting the area and the spot we normally hit is no longer open. Perusing Yelp, we came across a nifty hamburger spot, but when we arrived, found it was takeout only. Using the Yelp gurus ago, we saw Korean Chicken and made our way there! The spot was nestled inside a strip mall and the gentleman at the counter welcomed us warmly. I told her we had not been there before and he pointed to the menu above him and told us what was popular. My husband ordered fried legs, and I ordered fried legs. The man said these are full sized legs, so two orders would be A LOT. We settled on one order of Don Saice legs and my son got a sandwich. We added a basket of fed and picked radish. The wait was not too long and our fries and radishes came out first. The man told my teenage son that his sandwich came with fries, so "share these with mom." Our meals came and he was not lying. The 6 chicken legs were of a size that my grandma used to buy for fried chicken 30 years ago! They were steaming hot. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy within. The chicken sandwich was a huge creation which my son loved. My husband had 3 legs, I had 2, and the teen had 1. The taste was great! Putting this in my Yelp reviews so the Yelpers of California support this business and so I remember what it was next time I'm in the area to be sure to return! read more

Don Chicken - Korean fried chicken with Don Sauce. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

Amazing Korean Fried Chicken in Encinitas! Don Chicken is hands down one of the best Korean fried chicken spots I've ever been to -- and definitely a hidden gem in Encinitas! The fried chicken is incredibly crispy without being greasy at all, which is such a rare find. Their glazed chicken is just as impressive: perfectly crispy on the outside while maintaining a great texture, never soggy. You can tell everything is made fresh and with care. The owner is super friendly and really makes you feel welcome. You can tell there's passion behind the food and the service. I highly recommend this place if you're craving top-quality Korean fried chicken. Definitely worth the visit (or ten)! read more

Been here a handful of times over the last 6 months and absolutely loved the chicken. I am so sad to see they have closed. Really hope they reopen somewhere else. Please share if someone knows any details. read more

This was the best Korean chicken! Does anyone know if they moved to another location or re open under another name somewhere? Us and all our friends are so bummed. read more

Fried chicken is addictively good! I get the half and half so I can have 2 flavors. Service is super friendly and helpful, especially for newbies. Gotta go get that chicken!! read more

This place is legit. Great ratings are 100% valid. Here is why: I ordered 10. Fried chicken with special don sauce (wings) Chicken: The chicken was perfectly fried. Nice crunch, not too greasy, hot, juicy. Perfect - exactly how fried chicken should taste Sauce: The special don sauce was perfectly balanced in sweetness. Not too overwhelmingly sweet and heavy but perfectly balance with no spicy taste. Skip the soy garlic, that wasn't that good. Absolutely perfect. I would order the same dish again. Definitely worth the visit. read more

Don Chicken - 10. Fried Special Don Sauce Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

I came here for my birthday dinner I just love the food and atmosphere so much. The owner Kim makes you feel so welcomed and apart of the family. It's really rare to find a place in San Diego with such good food and with a chef that cares about you on a personal level. The chicken has unreal crisp and the flavor of the chicken sauces is so bomb you can't find them anywhere else. I used to only get wings at a spot in Vegas but this outweighs them so this is now my go to! read more

PEANUT ALLERGY WARNING Owner said all dishes contain peanuts, even though there is no mention of peanuts on their menu or website. I advised the owner he should put some type of peanut warning on his menu, but I don't think he understood me. read more

I thought I had already left them a 5 star review but here I go I guess. Don Chicken makes the best chicken in San Diego county hands down. The owner is the one who makes the chicken and he is a beast. Sometimes he is taking the orders and then making them by himself. I live in San Diego and every time I am up this direction I have to get their chicken. I am a foodie and have tried a bunch of other Korean chicken places looking for something as good down by me and none of them are even close. I usually order dons special sauce but spicy. It is amazing. Highly recommend the baked+fried. Worth the extra $1-2 to get it cooked this way. Can't go wrong at this place. read more

Don Chicken - 13. Oven Baked & Fried Special Don Sauce Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

I saw a lot of good reviews on this place so I thought I'd check them out. I will say it was pretty delicious. The texture was there and it was quality for a fair price. But, I did order it to go so I don't feel like I got the FULL experience. Owner "Kim" was knowledgeable and helpful in choosing something to order for my first time. Check em out. read more

What a hidden gem! Korean fried chicken! Came here for quick rub one night, and the food did not disappoint. Looks like this restaurant just opened recently and we wanted to try it out. The place is super clean and is a nice fast casual place. You can do takeout or sit down to eat. We ordered two different kind of chicken to share. The Don fried chicken wings was really good, very tender. The oven baked and then fried chicken with no batter was interesting, although I definitely prefer the regular fried chicken better. Very nice friendly service, very cute mom and pops restaurant. Definitely support your local small business! read more

Don Chicken - Oven baked and fried - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

If you're in the Encinitas area check this place out! Came here for the first time for lunch, the tteok-bokki is so good and spicy. The fish cakes and rice cakes are the perfect consistency. The Spicy Honey wings were cooked to perfection. The perfect amount of stickiness, crunch, and juicy meat. There was nothing left on our plates when we left. The macaroon ice creams for dessert were the perfect touch too. The restaurant was nice and clean, they even provide a little trash can at the tables for the chicken bones. The owner was super nice and accommodating, we definitely will be coming back here soon. read more

See all

New place, so decided to stop by. It was good to see a new eatery with some Korean influence. We don't have any Kyochun chicken around here, so it's nice to know a similar place exists. I was standing outside and the owner came out and gave us a menu. It wasn't too busy, but it seems like they were receiving some online orders. They also deliver via Doordash (per the signage outside). The staff was very friendly and welcoming. You can tell it was still very new. The inside was very clean also. They had kpop playing on the TV, but it wasn't loud or obnoxious. If you aren't aware, this is pretty typical at a Korean eatery, so I don't find it obnoxious. Ordered the fried soy sauce chicken (half) and the oven baked buldak (chicken with melted cheese) without the spicy sauce. I know it tastes better with the spicy sauce, but wanted to avoid the reflux afterwards. The crinkle cut fries and pickled radish tasted great. The fried soy sauce chicken was nice and crispy! It was fresh and delicious! Did not disappoint. The oven baked buldak was a bit bland, but I think it's because I modified the order rather than kept it as is with the actual sauce. The chicken was very moist and tender though, so that was good. We had the don sauce on the side, which we dipped our oven baked chicken in anyway, so it was fine. The don sauce is pretty mjch the marinade they use to sauce up the spicy fried chicken, very common Korean sauce/marinade. Overall, I preferred the fried chicken over the oven baked due to the crisp and flavor. Hoping this eatery gets more attention soon. We need more local joints like this. Overall, good experience, and I will certainly be back when I'm craving Korean fried chicken! read more

See all

Came here to try the Korean wings. These were amazing! Super crunchy and so much flavor! The food is made to order but worth the wait. It was surprisingly empty but I can hear the online bell ringing a lot. The owner was super friendly and very accommodating. I wish you could smell the pictures. Drool. We usually have to go to convoy but this secret spot by the old .99 store seems a bit hidden in the corner. So glad we found this place. read more

Don Chicken - 11. Fried Soy Sauce Chicken we got 2 different flavors so I hope I tag the right one. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

This place is legit.... Love everything I've had here and want to work my way through the menu. Posting this review in hopes that this gem will be around for a long while read more

I was completely unaware of the Don Chicken chain until recently, and it turns out that I was missing out. As the name suggests, they serve chicken in a variety of ways: baked, fried, and baked then fried. A number of different flavors and sauces cover them, some familiar to American tastes and some that are definitely more Korean. Personal faves include the fried soy garlic and the corn-baked chicken, but all of them are surprisingly tasty. The price point of the dishes is pretty reasonable as well. If we want something fast and a bit out of the ordinary, this is almost always our choice. In short, it's become a takeout go to in our family. I only hope it stays around. I say that because Don Chicken faces a big challenge: location. Like the recently closed and much missed Tiko Tiko, it is in an inconvenient shop in an inconvenient mall south of Encinitas Boulevard. I am not sure frankly whether it will survive in such a spot, but I really hope it does. My advice is for you 1) try it and 2) patronize it regularly! read more

Food is excellent. Had a whole chicken with one half regular fried chicken and one half with their signature sauce. Chicken was prepared to order so you do have to wait a bit, but it's totally worth it. read more

First off the chicken is amazing very high quality great fry and good seasonings. The owner is very nice and guided us on what to get our first time. The only bad part was that it was located next to a gym so you would randomly hear weights being dropped and your seat would shake but other than that it was perfect!. read more

Food's great and the owner is super nice. We especially like the regular fried chicken, the fried chicken with spicy Don sauce and the chicken bufok. read more

Super underrated Korean fried chicken place. As someone who has lived in ktown for many years, this restaurant actually tastes better than the ones from ktown. We got the half and half, half original fried chicken and half don fried chicken! Meat was tender, crunchy, freshly made (so we did wait for a good 15-20 min, but very worth the wait), annnnd for someone who can't handle a lot of spice, this is perfect. The Don fried chicken is similar to Thai chili or yangnyeom chicken without the spiciness, super delicious! read more

Yummy chicken! Went here on my lunch break and the customer service was very exceptional and nice staff and very helpful with explaining the sizes of the chicken. A very nice indoor and outdoor seating areas. Peaceful location. read more

KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN Multiple types of Korean fried chicken dishes here. We selected Corn Baked Chicken and Oven Soy Sauce Chicken to take home -- both were delicious and so different from each other. Crunchy, crispy, juicy, tasty, and Kim's service was kind and informative. Let's support another Asian restaurant in San Diego's North County. Rare to find good Asian food in Encinitas. We will go back to try the other styles. Yummy!! KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN read more

Don Chicken - Oven Soy Sauce Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

A friend and I make our way around chicken shops in town, trying all of them, as possible. DC has a basic counter to order at and a plain but clean dining room to eat in. We were the only ones there when we ordered, but people were doing a lot of take out as we ate our meal. There was one man working there, who seemed to be the proprietor as he paid the extra attention that an owner would. We tried the Don Chicken sauce fried chicken, a spicy honey oven chicken, side of fries, and a salad. The salad was a basic salad, but solid and we enjoyed the fries very much. The main event is obviously the chicken. We both enjoy fried and baked chicken for what they are. Both of us leaned towards the fried chicken being better than the oven baked. While the spicy honey sauce was good, the Don sauce was simply superior. Next time, I think I'd order the Don Sauce on the oven baked chicken and ask for it crispy. That would be a great piece of chicken! One knock on all chicken restaurants, why don't you guys pay more attention to vegetables? I love me some chicken, but it seems to be a blind spot on most chicken restaurant menus. read more

We've enjoyed the chicken especially with Don sauce. However our last order of pieces of baked and pieces of fried chicken without sauce. Both of us became ill with intestinal problems. read more

This place was absolutely delicious. It was a mainstay in our dinner routine. We are so disappointed it closed. If the owners reopen elsewhere, we want to know about it! Our family sorely misses Don Chicken! read more

My favorite chicken place! Food is amazing, especially oven chicken. We keep coming back for the oven chicken even if it's 30 minutes away from where we live. Service is phenomenal. Ambiance is perfect for friends and family. read more

We have been wanting to try Don Chicken and finally had lunch there today. After just the first bite, we could understand all the excellent reviews. Actually we have to add our praise to that of all our fellow diners. Tell Kim that Linda sent you read more

Don Chicken - Yummy fried wings - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

My family and I went to this amazing restaurant on our Christmas vacation. The family running this fine establishment is so sweet. If that's not enough, the wings are phenomenal. I live in Northern CA and I can't wait to drive hours to eat here again. I have picky eaters and they too are impatiently waiting to head back! Biggest, juiciest, and most flavorful wings we've had! read more

This is our family's go-to korean chicken place. The boneless cheese buldak has always been my mom's favorite. It was good before too, but I think they may have changed the recipe and it actually tastes better. Tastes more cheesy. The chicken here is not too greasy, but juicy. read more

this is the best korean fried chicken wings in encinitas!! i come almost once a week and get the house spicy wings.

The chicken is of low quality. I couldn't eat it, it gave me the creeps. I don't understand all the great reviews.

Finger lickin great!!! The food feels healthy although probably not better than grilled chicken but this spot is sooo good. Good for parties, apps and weeknight meals when time is tight. The owner is really nice guy too! read more

Tried this place for the first time last night. It was amazing and the staff were so nice! The staff also is very knowledgeable and will recommend great dishes if you're having trouble deciding. We'll definitely be going back! read more

Don Chicken - 10. Fried Special Don Sauce Chicken 7. Spicy & Honey Chicken Not pictured: 16. Boneless Cheese Buldak - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

When we pulled up around 7pm on a Monday there was no one else in the store until someone came to pick up a takeout order. This gave us a chance to talk to the man who sounded like the owner directly. We told him we are fans of Korean fried chicken and wanted his recommendations, and he pointed us to #9-11. When I took a bit of time to decide on the sauce, which was the main difference, he shared that we could get any sauce on the menu on the fried chicken, so we chose spicy honey friend chicken wings and special don friend chicken legs. Upon paying, he told us it would be 10-15 minutes, which meant it would be freshly made, and gave us some time to enjoy a beer and watch KPop on the tv. He brought them over to us piping hot! 8 minutes later we bit into them at home and wow, moist and juicy mean with a crispy, sweet saucy crust. So delicious! I'm not used to eating spicy food, and the don sauce was sweet with just a hint of spicy. The spicy honey was definite spicier, with a kick my husband really liked. The legs (drumsticks) were "Costco-sized" and meaty, which my husband liked, and I liked how the wings had a higher crust-to-meat ratio. I'm so excited that this opened so close to us and look forward to swinging by for quick dinners and to grab wings for parties. It's too bad their marketing seems to emphasize "oven chicken," which didn't appeal to me. I'm so glad we realized this is actually a delicious Korean fried chicken place that is much more convenient, sells beer, and has hearty portions. We'll be back! read more

Don Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all