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    The Crack Shack

    4.1 (2.1k reviews)
    Closed 10:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order The Crack Shack Takeout or Delivery

    The Crack Shack Photos

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    THE CRACK SHACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Half Bird
    Loan N.

    Great alternative for groups and families! Came here because the nearby In-N-Out was slammed and I'm glad we did. There were no lines and the food came out quickly. It's a standard counter-service setup: order first, then find a seat. What we ordered: Half Bird: This comes with 5 pieces of fried chicken and was the standout of the meal. Crispy and well-executed. Katsu Lookin': This sandwich features Namasu pickles, which are a bit sweeter than your standard pickle. Combined with the slaw, the whole sandwich felt a little too sweet for my liking. I really missed that sharp, vinegary kick to balance the richness of the chicken. Hand Cut Fries: Decent seasoning and a good side. The Sauces: Most of the sauces even the hot sauces lean quite sweet. The interior is massive with plenty of seating. The outdoor area is great for kids. we saw little ones playing with bubbles. Even the restrooms are located outdoors. However, there is a hand wash station located inside. Staff were friendly and the vibe over all is perfect for large gatherings

    Family Flock
    Maria M.

    This is a great spot for fried chicken. We had the family flock that comes with half bird bone-in fried chicken, large fry, classic slaw, mini biscuits, chicken nuggets or tenders, and choice of 2 cookies. This is a very good deal for $60. They have several sauces to choose from and I really like that you have access to refill them. My favorite ones are the ranch and the sriracha 1000 island. It's a family friendly place with big chalkboards that the kids can draw on and keep busy. The staff is always very friendly and helpful.

    gluten free chicken basket
    Socialwithsams S.

    I am gluten free so heard this location had fried chicken that was gluten free. Happy I got to try! Overall I've heard good this chicken was but maybe just not my style of chicken. They clearly labeled the gluten free sauces and which ones were not which was nice. Staff was very nice. Plenty of seating and perfect for families.

    Little Flock
    Ashley D.

    My son and I spent the morning at Legoland and decided chicken sounded great for a late lunch. I ordered us each a Little Flock online. The order estimate was about a 20 minute wait. We arrived within 5 minutes and let them know we arrived. We were handed our cups and we sat down. Less than 5 minutes later they called my name, which I was shocked at, it was so quick. We ended up eating there and our food was very fresh. My son finally decided to give their ranch a try and loved it. The tenders are fantastic and some of the best fries anywhere. There are a decent amount of soft drink options and there was plenty of seating. The restaurant itself was very clean. There is plenty of parking at this location which is fantastic. That is my only issue with the Little Italy location. It was a great experience and we love The Crack Shack!

    Can I get some chicken in this sandwich?
    Leo F.

    Came here and had the Firebird, the chicken is almost nonexistent and way overcooked. I've been here in the past and it seems the quality has gone down. Don't think I'd eat another chicken sandwich from here.

    Jesse R.

    Service was out front and friendly. Get your drink and sauces on your way in to sit down to a pretty open air restaurant. A bunch of different seating options along the inside and outside of the building. Plenty of room for groups all around. Food was good portion size for the price. And very tasty. Be advised at the restrooms are outback around the corner. Will return again.

    Fries
    Daphnne C.

    Order at front, seat yourself, food brought out to your table. Mostly large tables with benches, other tables are 4 seaters. Outside seating available and dog friendly. Senor croque sandwich was amazing. Bacon cooked well, bread was soft, egg was perfectly cooked for a sandwich; just messy enough! Firebird sandwich had a few good spicy bites.... Hubby got it without pickles. The fries were good, really good seasoning. Wish they were served hot... they were basically room temperature. Ranch and BBQ was delicious! We will return when in the area for sure

    Firebird Sandwich
    Haley T.

    We were in the area and saw the Crack Shack on Yelp. The restaurant is very convenient because it is off the 5 freeway and offers plenty of parking. They have dine in seating as well as outdoors because they allow you to bring your pets! They have a water station for your dogs if they any as well . The staff were very friendly and it's a great place to eat with a group of friends as they have a bar inside as well. It seems like a quick service style restaurant as you order outside and are given a number, so the staff can find you when your food is ready. They offer unique sauces to go with your sandwich or fries. The sandwiches were really good and the fries were crispy how we like it and seasoned very well! I definitely want to come back and try their fried chicken meal.

    Power bowl
    Christine M.

    We visited the crack shack on Saturday afternoon around 5pm for an early dinner with friends. There was no line and the ordering and finding the table was a breeze. Trying to eat a little healthier, I opted for the power bowl. The chicken al pastor had nice flavor. The veggies, quinoa and egg went well with the salsa verde. Al lin all, it was a nice bowl. Would I come back, maybe. The food was not bad. But I guess there's really no real reason to come here unless you want to eat fried chicken.

    Nevin A.

    What a great branch! The Crack Shack in Encinitas is very spacious. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu includes sandwiches, signature fried chicken, bowls, small and big flock , fries, coleslaw, biscuits, nuggets, Mexican poutine, chicken oysters, seasonal special, kids meals and more.They also have various assortment of craft beer. I ordered the food at the front window then I picked my order up at the side. They had a long line but it went very fast. The restaurant was very clean and had relaxing vibes. They even have ceiling fans. I ordered; -Coop Devillle 5/5 Large fried chicken breast, cabbage slaw, pickles, lime mayo in artisan brioche. The chicken was crispy from outside, juicy and tender from inside.This was the best sandwich -Mini biscuits 5/5 They are buttery and flaky. -Mexican poutine 5/5 I ordered it to go, so they put the fries in a box and the other ingredients in separate boxes to assemble them at home.I appreciated the neatness. It was savory with generous amount of chicken and other toppings -Chicken nuggets 5/5 Were crispy, juicy and savory. We finished it before going to the hotel. There were ample parking. I am glad I stopped by The Crack Shack in Encinitas. It offers exceptional quality of chicken, cozy vibes, and great service.

    Firebird Sandwich Firebird Sandwich Firebird Sandwich
    Porch G.

    Went here kinda a joke because of the name.... Glad I did Their Firebird !!! spicy chicken sandwich was really good... thats all I needed... oh and their sauces are great... Pineapple Mustard sauce was surprisingly good ...I should have paired it with cold lager ... Next time

    Spacious testaraunt

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    3 months ago

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    11 days ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    25 days ago

    Get the coupe davil and Mexican poutine one of the best combos at this place! Lots of seating and nice open area

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    9 months ago

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    8 days ago

    Good food, great portions, and quick service. Casual atmosphere. Family and dog friendly :)

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    10 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

    It was a nice clean place, great outdoor space and lots of heaters. I enjoyed my first time here.

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    1 year ago

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    Page 1 of 54

    The Crack Shack Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Crack Shack

    Can you get the fried chicken coating without so much spice?

    Hi there. Yes, you can order your bone-in without Crack Spice! Just let our team know when you're ordering.

    Can you order just chicken legs?

    I'm not sure I remember they are really known for the sandwich

    Is the schmultz you use real schmultz?

    Yes, the use real Schmultz.

    Are your fries gluten free?

    Hi Lauren! Our fries are naturally gluten free, however they do share a fryer with our regular bone-in chicken so those with serious allergen concerns may want to avoid eating them. The Encinitas location does have GF bone-in fried chicken that is… Read more

    Do you have HAPPY HOUR?

    Every hour is happy here! We do not have specific times of day when we discount items.

    Pre-pandemic, my favorite item on the menu was the delicious Deviled Eggs. Any chance they will return to the menu?

    We went to the Encinitas location in April and they said they were not on the menu then.

    Is there brunch here?

    We have an all-day menu with some of the best quality chicken and eggs (and bacon!) you'll find. Perfect for any meal, and we make a mean Bloody Mary to wash it all down ;-)

    Has the restaurant closed? Thought I saw a sign that said "For Lease"

    We are OPEN, Steve! We did temporarily close over the weekend for a deep clean of the space, but we re-opened this morning, and are offering outdoor dining, takeout, curbside ordering/pickup and delivery. I hope you'll visit us!

    Is it halal?

    It is not certified as halal, Minha. Sorry about that!

    Is there frose?

    Yes Dani, we have delicious, refreshing frosé!

    Why no veggie option? I actually thought the "substitute grilled chix" line on the menu board meant I could get any sandwich made with a vegetarian chickn' patty like ones morning star farms makes and I was very excited.

    Great question! We do have vegetarian options on the menu--all bowls and salads can be made sans-chicken, eggs can be added to any bowl or subbed into any sandwich, and we've got sides that can be turned into a full meal, including deviled eggs,… Read more

    Is it a drive through?

    Sorry no drive-thru at the Crack Shack In Encinitas

    Will you be able to accommodate nut free and seafood allergies?

    Absolutely! Almost our entire menu is nut and seafood-free :) If you'd like, I can share an allergen chart with you--just send me an e-mail at nrogers@crackshack.com.

    Can we order 1/2 and 1/2 on the Fried Chicken tossing flavors?

    Unfortunately you cannot split an order, however you can order a 5-piece with one toss option, and another 5-piece in a different toss option, which technically ends up being a 1/2 and 1/2 10-piece :)

    Do you take reservations for more than 8-10 ppl?

    Hello! We do have a semi private dining area that is available to reserve. Please email madison@crackshack.com for more info!

    Can you accommodate dairy and gluten free?

    Absolutely! We have plenty of gluten and dairy free items. Just be sure to let our cashier know about any dietary restrictions and they can guide you from there. Thanks!

    View All 18 Questions

    The Wise Ox Butcher & Deli

    The Wise Ox Butcher & Deli

    (251 reviews)

    $$

    I am so in awe over this place. My partner heard about it over conversation from some really cool…read morecustomers at her work, and decided to suprise me! Wayde (I hope thats spelled correctly) was so sweet when we walked in and gave us the run down and made some great suggestions. If you plan on sitting down to eat, I highly recommend getting there early because seating is limited but also its a great spot to grab and go to the beach! We got the DBL (as first timers) with the beef fat fries. The flavor profile and portions are SOOO worth it. Be wise and come to The Wise Ox

    our DRY-AGED BURGERS (havarti, bacon, mustard, mayo, and house-made pickles) weren't just dry-aged,…read morethey were drier than old boot leather. I get that smash burgers are all the rage these days, but if a burger patty spends as much time on the second side as it did on the first, it's not crustified; it's as tough and juiceless as jerky. an abundance of aging primals are on display at the WISE OX. when they're cut into steaks, the trimmings are ground for burgers. a not-particularly-wise cow died for our sins (so said the family's vegan son who begged off lunch). honor that and cook the meat properly. to not do so is beyond sacrilegious. if I told the meat cutter (aka the "butcher") I was going to use the dry-aged Rib Eyes or New Yorks he'd just carved up to make jerky, he'd be horrified. so, why isn't he raging at the guy on the grill doing that to our burgers? the BEEF FAT FRIES (aka Tallow Fried Fries) still have great flavor, but are still way, way, way too salty. check the photo, and count the visible salt crystals if your cardiologist's on speed dial.

    The Crack Shack - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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