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    Surf Up Chicken

    4.8 (196 reviews)
    Closed 10:30 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Surf Up Chicken Takeout or Delivery

    Surf Up Chicken Photos

    Business Info

    SURF UP CHICKEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Surf Up Chicken

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    Just the waffles (no chicken)
    Susan D.

    Been a few more times since my first review and still a great spot for great food and great service! We came on Friday right when they opened. Love the vibe of this place. I'm always amazed how they can continue to give great customer service with a super small staff especially when it gets busy. They have great meal deals and their food is served at the right temperature, has great texture and so flavorful! They also have many different types of dipping sauces which we love. We've brought and recommended this place to friends and family and no one's been disappointed. If you're craving popcorn chicken, this place can't be beat!

    Leo P.

    Crispy, juicy chicken, love all the sauces to choose from. Broccoli was seasoned nicely and the price was nice! Also love that it has some religious roots to them. Quick service and welcoming atmosphere. Will definitely come here again!

    CRISPY SHIRMP & CHICKEN (Surf & Bird) and GRASS JELLY
    Klariza F.

    I came here as soon as they opened! I was pretty hungry. I ordered crispy chicken and shrimp with grass jelly. They changed their menu. I miss the tacos and salad. I need to try the wrap next time. Their sauces are the best! I liked the green one for the chicken and the Nashville hot for the shrimp. I've never had the jelly before and it was pretty great dessert! It was so fun to jiggle it and eat it. It was so soft. I like the cream/milk that comes with it. It's a very light taste and it's not super sweet. The service is always good and it was pretty empty when I came so it was comfortable. It does get pretty busy during lunch.

    Yadi E.

    5/5 chicken, service, and experience. The best fried chicken I have had in a while! Plus the variety of sauces really made the experience even more enjoyable. Seating & hours are limited as of now. Hopefully they can expand in the future!

    Combo 2 - crispy chicken, fries, toast
    Don B.

    Surf Up Chicken in Carlsbad is a great lunch spot offering Fried Chicken in nugget or patty form. Very reasonable prices for combos and a la carte items. Seasoning on the crispy chicken is akin to pepper salt or chinese five spice. Great flavor on the crispy chicken but was a little salty for my taste. Fries were a great side item as well as the texas toast. The sauces are great with my favorite being the yum yum sauce for the chicken. Service was great and the wait was minimal. A great tiny shop located in a business park, all the tables inside and outsite were full during this lunch time visit. Would definitely love to visit again and try their other menu items.

    The BEST Fries in the area! Seriously!
    Richard T.

    "I gave my love a cherry that has no stone. I gave my love a chicken that has no bone..." Bonus points if you know which classic film that line is from (no googling allowed). Now, where do I begin with Surf Up Chicken in Carlsbad? This place has quietly become one of my go-to spots for a weekly meal that hits all the right notes: comforting, flavorful, fresh, and fast. Let's start with their newest menu item: the pan-seared cilantro butter shrimp. Holy moly. This dish is a total game changer. Juicy, perfectly cooked shrimp served over a bed of vibrant Asian coleslaw that's crisp, tangy, and just the right touch of sweet. I love to order a side of their salad greens and combine it all for a light, healthy shrimp salad that's low in carbs, high in flavor, and (I'm guessing) pretty easy on the fat content. It's quickly become my guilt-free favorite. But don't worry, I still embrace the sinful side from time to time. Their fried chicken? Sublime. Always tender, juicy cuts of dark meat and none of that dry, day old overcooked nonsense you get elsewhere. And if I'm feeling wild, I go for the cheese dip. I mean, if you're going to do it, do it right. And now, let's talk fries. Hands down, the best french fries in North County. Maybe all of San Diego. Crispy, light, perfectly cooked, and they'll leave off the salt if you ask. I limit myself to fries only once or twice a week because of my training schedule, but if I could eat these daily, I would. Service is consistently sweet, fast, and friendly. They've extended their hours, which means I can swing by for dinner after a long day and still enjoy a great meal without compromising quality. Surf Up Chicken nails it every single time. Great food, great service, fair prices. What more can you ask for? Answer to what film that song is from- Animal House fans, this one's for you!

    Japanese Chicken Curry
    Shay C.

    While deciding what to order through door dash for Friday night dinner, there it was... Surf Up Chicken. Like where did this place even come from??? Mmmm...chiiiicken..... They have an interesting mix of items on the menu that at times seem to not be connected, but once you put it all together, it makes sense. I ordered the chicken sandwich along with French fries for myself, Japanese chicken curry for my daughter and shrimp tacos for my husband. For sides we also ordered the veggie eggrolls and Texas toast, which seemed a little strange for the menu, but it was so delicious. The corn tortillas for the shrimp tacos were a little tough, and really the only negative I have. Other than that, everything else was perfect and delicious! The chicken sandwich was perfection. We'll be back for sure!

    Crystal F.

    The food here is really good, we stopped in before closing time and we're able to get out order in. Very chill inside, the owner was very nice and explained the what was popular on the menu. We started with nacho cheese chicken, fries, Thai ice tea and a shrimp taco. Everything was delicious, very crispy and flavorful. We got some sauces on the side, the green cilantro sauce was a favorite of mine and so was the chipotle. The owner offered us a free cookie when we finished dinner which was very nice. I will definitely be coming back here, hopefully they will extend their hours soon, they close at 6pm. Parking is easy here which is a plus and there is a brewery in the same complex.

    Jason N.

    This place is great! Endeavour is seriously THE nicest guy. While the location is a bit hidden and not where you would expect a restaurant to be, once you find it you will go back and back. If they were open a bit later, I would frequent them much more often. Their chicken is perfectly cooked, the fries are amazing, and their Shrimp Taco is just absolutely perfect. Don't forget to taste the sauces, they are made in house and delicious! They are super clean, super friendly, and super tasty! Do yourself a favor and go here!

    Henry's T.

    You ever have one of those days at work when you're so busy that allocating a few minutes for lunch seems like an unlikely aspiration? On those days mere survival appears to be the most reasonable goal and time to eat is a cute luxury afforded to others. When I was still working I recall on more than one occasion ordering something (typically at a drive thru) based upon some glam shot on the window. This form of deceptive advertising always left me wanting when I opened the bag and unwrapped something doing a very poor imitation of the item championed on their ginormous color poster. It always felt like I was another losing participant at one of those street shell games only to find out that the meal I thought I had ordered was actually under the cup on the right. That exasperated destination is exactly where I figured I was headed when I visited "Surf Up Chicken." I was intrigued by the featured picture of their "Crispy Chicken Sandwich" and wondered if there was any way it could taste nearly as good as portrayed. I figured no way, but was curious enough to find out. Given my previously disclosed pessimism I decided to hedge my bets and also sample their "Crispy Chicken Taco", "Chicken & Waffles", "Thai Tea Boba", and "Grass Jelly". Surely something had to hit for me, right? When my sandwich arrived it not only looked just as good as advertised, but it also tasted as good as it looked! The food quality here, and their fast-casual format, makes this a formidable opponent to their mega chain adversaries! While there are several options for the sauce enthusiasts out there, it's all about the "Yum Yum" sauce for me! During my visit I noticed a Biblical reference printed on their bag (and given their commitment to truth in advertising) I'd recommend that they add another: "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 And that's...Henry's Take. #truthinadvertising #yumyumsauce #megachainlunchalternatives Hand model credit @danavoros

    Trevor T.

    I just LOVE Surf Up Chicken and every time I come in they either have a new menu item or are doing something cool like their happy hour roll a 6 challenge. They are so nice to top it all off. Support this family business that brings positivity to the world!

    CHEESY CRISPY CHICKEN.
    Kevin M.

    Surf up chicken is a great chicken spot with cool scenery inside and great service. When I walked in, I was greeted by what seemed to be the owner who was super excited to have guests in! He was very friendly and provided great answers to all my questions on what's the best thing to get as it was my first time here. The food here is real good! I ordered the cheesy chicken combo which comes with fries and toast. I also ordered a chocolate chip cookie. The price overall was about $14 dollars, which is on the cheaper side for Carlsbad food. The chicken is similar to popcorn chicken that I've seen at boba spots, but it's a little bigger. The cheese was a great touch too. The fries were spectacular and very crispy. They have many selections for sauces too that you can grab on the side. The yum yum sauce and Nashville hot sauce are must grabs. The only downside of this place is the location, it is easily missable as it's off the main road. But it's helpful that they have a sign at the main side of the street off the bed of a truck that was helpful to see and locate. A must try spot!

    A few fries and broccoli were eaten prior to photo lol
    Marissa M.

    Just finished my take-out and it was so good and filling! I got the popcorn shrimp and chicken and a side of the spaghetti. My husband got the chicken, broccoli, rice and fries...he liked his! Fries had a great flavor, piping hot and nice crunch. Broccoli was good, too. The sauces were all yummy, my fav was the yum yum. Super clean and friendly staff. Would love more surf related motif to match the name of the shop, but still cute inside :) I was surprised there was no tip option upon payment. Makes you want to tip, instead of feeling forced to. Highly recommend, would come back.

    Cool receipt

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    29 days ago

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Surf Up Chicken

    Is the chicken breast meat or dark meat? Thank you!

    Great question! We use leg and thigh meat because it has a richer flavor and stays tender and juicy—perfect for our style of cooking. It’s all about delivering the best taste in every bite.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Felix's BBQ With Soul - Fresh, Crunchy, and Piping Hot! This is still one of my favorite Fried Chickens in the area! YUM!

    Felix's BBQ With Soul

    4.2(108 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Such a good fun! We ended up visiting a couple times during our trip in San Diego. We loved their…read morelunchbox specials for only $12. You get an entrée, side and cornbread. I tried the fried southern style catfish. It was a great size and well breaded. It was super good. I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of being back south. I also got a side of candied yams. They weren't too sweet It was a perfect side to my cat catfish. We also got the southern BBQ rip tips, chopped spare rib ends, which were well seasoned. With this dish, we got the side of mac & cheese, which was very cheesy and one of our favorite dishes. We also tried the BBQ baby back ribs. The lunch portion comes with four pieces. We got it with the side of hoppin John which is like beans with other stuff in it, it was pretty good. We also got a side of mashed potatoes which was really good and had plenty of gravy. Loved the service, this place is pretty small and most people who came got take out, but if you're in the the area, it's definitely worth a stop!!

    First time here. I thought the meats were alright but nothing special. The brisket was def like 1/3…read morefat in the middle, the ribs were hardly tender, fried chicken was meh. Not a big catfish person myself, but the catfish nuggets were actually pretty good. On the flip, sides were really good. The mac and cheese is amazing, potato salad was boring (pretty much just potato and dressing) but at least homemade, hushpuppies were some of the better Ive had. The woman at the counter was handling the many takeout orders like a boss and super helpful/friendly for this first timer. All that being said, I was disappointed to end up unswallowing everything for an hour straight. Not sure what item made me sick but the rest of this $41 meal is going in the trash.

    Photos
    Felix's BBQ With Soul - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Felix's BBQ With Soul - Eli wanted

    Eli wanted

    Felix's BBQ With Soul

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    bb.q Chicken Vista

    bb.q Chicken Vista

    3.6(109 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Finally got to try out BB.Q Chicken Vista…read more Located in a strip mall with banks, and other businesses, so there is some parking. Depending on the time of day and if the high school is getting out it can be pretty crowded to get in and out and park. The ambiance is ok, lots of pictures of their food, and a large TV playing people walking around. The place is clean, nice Tile floor, tables look inviting. There are probably 10-12 tables inside and a few outside. The doors were open so it was a little cold in there. They have a rewards program and an an app. You get 7000 points just for signing up. (Basically a free Soda). Joanna was super friendly, nice, and brought all of our food as soon as it was ready. She made sure we were all set. There is a paper menu you can look at, but there also have 3 monitors displaying the large menu. You can wait to talk to someone to order, or you can use the giant iPad to order yourself for takeout or dine in. There are quite a few choices for food. But the star are their wings. You can pick boneless or with bone, and for the qty they offer these sizes - small, medium, or large. They have several flavors to choose from. We tried the soy garlic, and they were delicious. Looking forward to try honey garlic and cheesling next. We tried the cheesling french fries, some kind of cheese powder, that is pretty tasty. Yum. My main course was the chicken fried rice, packed with umami, and very good. Nicely prepared. It was warm, delicious, and hit the spot. We also tried the fried dumplings, they were crispy, crunchy, also tasty. Definitely good food, and friendly service, so I am looking forward to go back to try other items for sure.

    Ive been to 4 different locations and the one in Vista is the worst one. The main reason being when…read moreI opened the box, I couldnt believe how dark the chicken was indicating old oil. Ive ordered honey garlic many times and its usually golden yellow color. Its too pricey almost $50 for 24 wings. I will stick to convoy location

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    bb.q Chicken Vista
    bb.q Chicken Vista
    bb.q Chicken Vista

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    Roostr Yard - Garlic bread and Chicken

    Roostr Yard

    4.5(79 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$

    I met my brother here for lunch on his recommendation, and wow--it was amazing. The chicken…read moresandwich was easily one of the best I've ever had. It was incredibly juicy and tender, and their special sauce is just plain addictive. They have plenty of seating both inside and outside. We sat on the patio, which was perfect with the umbrellas providing great shade. The experience was excellent from the moment we walked in. We were warmly greeted, our order was taken right away, and the food was delivered to our table quickly. Kudos to the staff--the entire restaurant was spotless and well‑run. Roostr Yard is officially my new favorite spot for a chicken sandwich. Can't wait to come back!

    The location is good. Across from Front Wave Arena and the soccer fields…read more The service is good. They kindly take your order, deliver it and check on you. The food is DELICIOUS. We ordered quarter chicken, breast and wing. It's not fried chicken. It's grilled and the skin is crispy. I'm a salt lover, I salt without tasting, and there was so much flavor, I did not salt it. The fries were crisp and hot. We also ordered salads. Choice of greens or kale. We got greens. Cherry tomatoes and a nice vinaigrette. Soda fountains or water. The dining room has wood tables booth or table. Seat yourself. Overall, a delicious enjoyable meal. We will be back. Stop by and give it a try. I don't often say that. Cheers!

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    Roostr Yard
    Roostr Yard - Half Chicken Plate

    Half Chicken Plate

    Roostr Yard - Mac and cheese and garlic bread l! Yum

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    Mac and cheese and garlic bread l! Yum

    Los Primos Mexican Food

    Los Primos Mexican Food

    3.1(340 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Stopped here for a quick bite to eat…read more I love their burrito options! There are so many and you can make it monster size if you're really hungry!! Service was quick! They have a salsa bar and they don't charge extra for spicy carrots The horchata was delicious. The cashier had such a beautiful name, I'm sad I forgot the spelling! But she was awesome! Beautiful smile and very aware! What I mean by that is that she noticed I was going to be sharing my burrito and she asked me if I wanted it cut in half ahead of time! I told her yes! I would have asked for a knife, but it's little things like that, that separates good customer service from GREAT customer service! So thank you!

    It's been a great while since I've been here. Came in on a Saturday for lunch. The place wasn't…read morebusy at all. The atmosphere was cold, areas were clean. Walked in to order and the lady at the register was nice. We ordered a Burro Del Mar (shrimp burrito) and 5 Taquitos (supreme rolled tacos). While we waited, we got our salsa at the salsa bar and helped ourselves to warm chips to go with it. The various salsas were delicious and the chips, nice and crisp. The shrimp burrito looked great but the shrimp was sparse. It was more of a cabbage burrito than shrimp. The taquitos however, were delicious! Going supreme was definitely the best way to go. Had all the fixings. Apparently, they cater and will have churros and other new items soon.

    Photos
    Los Primos Mexican Food - Complimentary chips - Good

    Complimentary chips - Good

    Los Primos Mexican Food - "Monster" breakfast burrito. It's so small for the price

    "Monster" breakfast burrito. It's so small for the price

    Los Primos Mexican Food - Warm CHIPS

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    Warm CHIPS

    Surf Up Chicken - hotdogs - Updated May 2026

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