We were on our way home from a quick stay in La Jolla and found this place, so we stopped - boy are we happy we did! The food was awesome! The service was stellar! The ambiance....super cool! We went with the recommendations of the counter gal, who was super friendly, she did not steer us wrong! Hubs had the firebird sandwich, and his verdict...delicious! I had the little pecker which came with 3 chicken tenders, biscuits (with THE best honey butter) and fries (sooo good)! Dogs are welcome at any table (both inside and outside), which was a huge plus since we had our pup with us. The location is easy to get to, pretty much right off the 5 freeway. We will definitely be back! read more

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It saddens me a bit to write this review because I've loved Crack Shack for years, but unfortunately after my most recent visit, I feel like the food quality has gone down. My usual order (to share between 2 people) is the half bird (5 pieces of chicken) and the mini biscuits with miso maple butter. The mini biscuits are tasty and moist, and the miso butter complements them well, adding the perfect amount of sweetness! However, both of the chicken thigh pieces were quite dry. The restaurant provides a self-serve sauce bar with plenty of sauce options. They also provide large paper towel rolls at each table as well as multiple sinks located around the restaurant so that it is easy to clean your hands after eating! The servers are very attentive. read more

The Crack Shack - Half Bird, Mini Biscuits - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

My son picked up a kids meal to try. The chicken was dried. The cookie was delicious. Large indoor seating. Plenty of parking. read more

The Crack Shack - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Their chicken is crispy and flavorful on the outside, and they have a good assortment of sauces as well! I felt like 2 pieces were a bit on the dry side/overcooked but the rest were all juicy and tender. Their biscuits are also super soft and fluffy, and the paired maple butter is delicious. Only issue with them is that they're pretty small for what you're paying for (they are called mini biscuits on the menu). Food came out quickly and everyone was very nice. Lots of seating inside and outside with the cool ocean breeze. read more

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I've been wanting to try crack shack for awhile now, and I have been missing out! The food was exceptional. My wife got one of the salads and I got the Mexican poutine and a fried chicken sandwich. Everything was very delicious. The service was great and they provided water bowls for dogs. The restaurant is very cozy and it has a spectacular view from the patio. We went right at sunset and were treated to a wonderful sunset with our meal. read more

The Crack Shack - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Have to drop this down to 2 stars . I've been here a couple times since my initial visit and it keeps going down hill. From " we're short staffed " to "She never mentioned the sauces". I tried to like this place even driving from Oceanside but it's been nothing but cold food and messed up orders. First, get rid of that IPad and tip option. There is no need to tip anything as it's self serve . Take care of the kitchen so the orders come out correctly. If they don't, that's on you . Don't take the food back to make it right. That's on you and you bring out the correct order. That's how you learn not to make mistakes. The order is on the house . Super loud with kids running around . Every time I've left my ears are ringing. It seems staffed now but just workers waking around while the kitchen suffers with orders . Part of my last order I ordered some wings and they were the size of paper clips . read more

The Crack Shack - Firebird - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Definitely gone down hill. And to add insult to injury, my husband and I went over there tonight, about a half hour drive from home, just for the fun environment and some fried chicken. Well we were met with a cheap sign mentioning that the entire dining area was closed for a private party and everything would have to be take-out. I was a bit shocked but decided we would get the take out anyway. Well by the time we got home, the actual "quality" of the chicken was obvious. The breast meat was so dry it had to be choked down with a load of sauce. The breading, after getting a chance to dry down, was so hard you could hardly bite into it. My favorite piece, the leg had a bloody bone, which was sickening to see. I was upset in the first place that dozens of paying customers were sent on their way due to their "private party", but was completely disgusted with the food. Even the coleslaw lost its creaminess and was soggy and flavorless. Do yourself a favor and skip this place. We used to go once or twice a month, but I'll be sure we will not ever go back. Hope that "private party" was worth it Crack Shack. There were lots of unhappy customers tonight. read more

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 read more

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This is always a great dining experience. We took some time after being back in town to come here. We both knew that we wanted to dine inside with the cold weather and we were not sure if the Little Italy and PB locations had inside seating, or enough of it. We ordered 1 Chicken Sandwich and 2 Cobb Salad, a shake, and water. Everything was delicious as usual. Staff was very customer service oriented. Our order came out in about 12-15 minutes, and we were able to find a table next to the large TV screen to watch the NBA Game. We love how consistently delicious the food is here. We also like that this location has inside dining. Thanks! read more

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Loved it! Roomy interior. Service was outstanding. I ordered the Coop Deville and made it a combo (fries and a drink). Fries were on point. Super delicious with a crispiness that gave it the right texture. The sando was perfection! Crispy, juicy, tasty, spicy...so good! I'll be back cuz Crack Shack don't lack and all the rest are wack make you wanna yack. read more

The Crack Shack - Coop Deville - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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. read more

The Crack Shack - Family Flock - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Went there for a quick bite. Had their fried chicken wrap, French fries and a soft drink. The wrap was huge. Enough for two people, which I shared with my wife. It was ok. The fries were good. We topped it off with a large chocolate chip cookie. Very good. We've been here before and really enjoyed their fried chicken sandwiches. Fun place to take the kids too. read more

Vibes here are great. Plenty of seating, nice patio, good service. But the fried chicken itself can be hit or miss. Sometimes it's juicy and well-seasoned, other times it's a bit dry. For a restaurant built around fried chicken, that's kinda hard to overlook. The chocolate rice krispy treat is incredible though, the best I've had. read more

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! read more

The Crack Shack - Little Flock - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

super overpriced. nothing special in their fried chicken. I was very surprised since it is a big establishment and I suppose has its own cult following read more

The Cali Drip is the best spicy sandwich I have ever had! The fries are also amazing. I went to the mission beach location and got service was great. read more

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. read more

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the chicken isn't that great ... it's kinda oily and it tastes strange ... my wife and I don't come here anymore cuz it doesn't meet our standards read more

What happened to the biscuits were so undercooked and small.and there's pickles in the coleslaw Are there new owners? Won't be back. Bill was $70 for 2 sorry read more

You literally order outside and are presented a number. When I return and have a small party I will skip that and sit at the bar. There you can order and get "normal" service. The restaurant is large and bright with an indoor/outdoor feel and potential. The food is good. We ordered the whole bird 4/5 (perfectly cooked and nicely spiced just not the best I have ever eaten) and fries 4.5/5 (order large they are addictive). The beer selection is solid. Wine by glass or bottle in each main variety. Craft cocktails. read more

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First time coming to The Crack Shack. It's a really cool location. A lot of seating indoor and outdoor. They also have a bar in case you are in need of an adult beverage. read more

Bring one of these to Long Beach!! Order at the counter and seat yourself, they bring out your food. Unique dipping sauces available for you to grab your own- we liked them all! Got a variety of items with our group and everybody was raving about everything. Fresh, tasty, big portions! Would definitely be a regular if it was closer to home. read more

The bartender she followed me out of the bar. She looks like a fucking bitch like a Mac truck such a Mac truck yeah

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 read more

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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. read more

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The hot chicken sandwich was extremely tasty. Love the crunch on the fries and the coleslaw with pickles was amazing. Great beer selection as well. The ambience was also fun for kids and adults. read more

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. read more

The Crack Shack - Can I get some chicken in this sandwich? - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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. read more

The Crack Shack - Power bowl - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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. read more

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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 read more

The Crack Shack - Firebird Sandwich Firebird Sandwich Firebird Sandwich - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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. read more

We came here for lunch & sat at the bar. Easy to converse with other folks also sitting at the bar icy cold Pilsners sealed the deal. The salad with chicken & quinoa was very tasty. Passed on the pickled onions. Will be backHadn't been here in awhile. Very spacious inside. Excellent airflow with all the doors open. Pet friendly. Also, has outside dining. read more

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This restaurant chicken sandwiches have lots of flavor and are very filling. Very clean and great service

This location is a favorite spot of mine. I love the beverage snd sauce selection on tap. I enjoy coming here for lunch meetings. They even have WiFi. This location has both indoor and outdoor dining with a full bar. The food is consistent and the staff is very friendly. I enjoy and recommend the Encinitas location. The Little Italy location is also great with a fun Urban vibe! They only have outdoor dining. read more

Kallin & Fitz were amazing hosts to my wife and I at the bar - the drinks were fantastic and came FAST AS F*** BOII. Super hospitable, can't wait to come back. read more

The place is quite unique. We had to order by the entrance, the menu can be viewed through the board by the entrance. we got Katsu Lookin and Firebird both have very distinct chicken flavor. The menu is by itself and for side order, it is sold separately. The french fries was super tasty and served hot. What makes this place different than the others is the sauces!!! They have pineapple mustard, BBQ, Sriracha, Ranch, and many more. Staffs are friendly and the place's vibe is more to me like a sports bar with spacious seating area. read more

The Crack Shack - Firebird Sandwich - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I wanna be clear that ... I LOVE the crack shack. I've been coming here with my family for years. Today however - it's been rough. So my wife and i got a chicken wrap... one side was for her , and one for me. My side ruled. Amazing as usual. Her side had one tiny sliver of chicken , and the rest was lettuce. No worries we will tell them. So we tell them and they offer to bring us chicken. Really I expected a remake but fine. So out comes thus girl and approaches my wife with said chicken , and says "you know ...you can order more chicken." - uhhhm.... I don't want more chicken I want normal chicken- The girl then said verbatim "well here's your chicken" and tossed it in front of my wife , rolled her eyes and walked away. This didn't sit with me- so I asked for a manager. After explaining to the manager what happened he exuded an attitude of disbelief, sighting that the employee had "been there from the beginning" and was "loved by everyone. Now ...the herpe on his upper lip slightly distracted me from the moment and acquiesced to his remarks and retreated to my seat. Now I've had a few minutes to think about it - and I'm just disappointed honestly. Not because my brother in laws sandwich was also undercooked and returned, and not because the chicken was shittily distributed - but because of the gross disrespect we were treated here at one of our favorite places to eat. Like ...another beer and I might talk shit. Anyway - whomever is reading this - I also witnessed the manager having a talk with this employee through the window. They were laughing. Hate to say it but RIP crackshack. You were a blaze. read more

Power Bowl Salad was the bomb with chicken al pastor and quinoa, arugula, a boiled egg and pickled onions. This felt hearty and not a salad that leaves you hungry. Fries were unfortunately too salty . read more

Finally tried the crack shack after all of these years of driving by it. Nothing fancy...just great delicious chicken for all your chicken loving needs. I especially love the biscuits and the honey butter that comes with the chicken. The chicken is great and the sauces that you get ti choose from add some great flavor. read more

This place is fantastic! The food was amazing. I ordered the Cali Drip sandwich which is not for those counting carbs. It was made with spicy cicken,carne asada fries and other yummy ingredients. We experienced super friendly and genuine service. Both the bartender and the person that took our order were great. The atmosphere was also really cool and laid-back. Very family friendly. Dog friendly too. We saw some pups hanging outside. read more

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