Came here for a sit down lunch on a weekday afternoon by myself. The staff at the front were friendly and patient while I figured out my order. I decided on a sandwich meal and a cocktail and grabbed a table while I waited. The interior (?) is nice and spacious, and I enjoyed sitting out on a nice afternoon. There's lots of tvs too that kept me occupied while I waited for my order. Drink: Delicious. I can't remember which cocktail it was to be honest but I remember liking it. Fries: Also delicious. Seasoned but not overly so, and a LOT considering how big the sandwich is. Sandwich: This is where I think I got the wrong thing. Practically speaking it was good, but I realized I didn't like the spices used to make it "spicy". I also think the flavor of the chicken overwhelmed the other flavors that I was hoping to taste (cool ranch, crispy onions, pickles). I'd probably try something on the milder side next time. I placed an order to go for the fam on my way out and that came out quickly which was great. I'd return, there spicy chicken may just not be for me. read more

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

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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

Crack Shack has the best GF fried chicken I've ever had at a restaurant! I appreciate their commitment to having a dedicated fryer. The restaurant is dog and kid friendly. The indoor-outdoor style is a great place to spend an evening. 10/10 recommend read more

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

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Surprisingly fair value and tasted good too! We got the chicken with egg, bacon, and miso butter and the sandwich was actually pretty big with a huge piece of chicken. Picking up my order after ordering online was very easy (they have a separate window). There's a section where you can serve yourself different sauces (try the pineapple mustard!) and they go really well with the food. I would definitely recommend trying this place out if you're in the area! read more

We've been going here for years and lately it just seems to have gone down hill a little. We came for dinner last night and thankfully barely anyone was there (normally it's nuts with a very long line to order and only one register open). So since it was abnormally quiet you would think it would be clean and the staff would be more helpful. There was a young man sitting on the counter in the kitchen talking to two female employees. I felt like I was bothering their conversation to ask for a water cup. The restaurant itself was pretty dirty with the sauce station a mess, trash on and under the tables. Plus, the restrooms were pretty gross and out of toilet paper. I think you guys can do a little better just like you did in the first few years after you opened. read more

Holy Moly Sweet Baby Jeeezus!!!! I was losing sleep at night, tossing and turning and so unsettled by my last visit and review of this place I had to come back today. OMG I'm so glad I did because these guys outdid themselves!!!! Vindication never tasted so good. I opted for one of my usual orders of the Firebird Sandwich with a large fries and fountain drink. Wow, wow, wow... I would give this 47 stars out of 5 if I could. Pure awesome!!!! Thank you for bringing back the awesome to lunch. I promise to stay in my ordering lane moving forward however the table next to me ordered the fried chicken and I almost grabbed a breast as it went by... (the chicken, not the server's of course). read more

The Crack Shack - Old School Firebird... You just can't beat perfection - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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If you love fried chicken sandwiches, this place is a must! The menu has a variety of sandwiches to choose from. Their sauces are also plentiful. You've got to try them all! There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating definitely gives off a San Diego coastal vibe! Easy parking also compared to the Little Italy location. Staff is friendly. You order at the front and they will bring you your order once it's ready. I'll definitely be back! read more

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

This place is family and dog friendly. It is loud because on a Saturday night families are out and enjoying themselves. The staff are nice. The food, no good. Literally just left my whole burger and my loaded fries on the table. The fried spicy chicken sandwich squirted my entire face with grease from the smallest bite. With a mouth fool of grease I just wanted to vomit. I decided to try to pull it apart to taste the actual meat after I gathered myself, not an ounce of salt or any other seasoning. The hot sauce that is on it taste like gas. It's literally the worst spicy sandwich I have ever had. The same could be said about the French fries. There was not seasoning too it. Just ingredients thrown in top of French fries some soaked in grease. My husband had some sort of melt and said he'd give it a 4.5. Edible but do not recommend. We ordered the most popular items btw according to the host. We are from out of town and tried the local business instead of chain foods but it just was a miss. People were kind even as we were leaving but the bus person didn't even ask why we were leaving half the food on the table basically untouched. read more

The Crack Shack - Fire bird sandwich and don asada fries - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Let me start by saying we are usually big fans and even today recommended to multiple people before we went. The staff was all very nice but first we placed our order and additional food to take home for dinner. Someone who I believe was a manager came to our table and apologized that they only had enough oysters for a bar order. I was very disappointed but things happen and he did give me nuggets at no charge. Then we get home and we did not get the biscuits which I confirmed were part of my order. We live too far to go back but this is unacceptable especially when there were more employees on site than customers. 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

WOW the firebird is incredible. It is so flavor-packed, the chicken is super tender and juicy with the perfect fried dough ratio, and the bread is delicious. I love it with the pineapple mustard too. The service was super friendly. There was a little bit of a wait in line, but there is plenty of seating inside at the bar area and many table options. This is a cool place to eat at. The decor is very unique and there is also a giant tv to watch sports. I liked that there were sinks in the middle of the eating area so you didn't have to crowd the bathroom to wash your hands after destroying a chicken sandwich. read more

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

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Good stuff. Had ordered delivery before but stopped by for lunch with the kids. Had a pear and Brussels salad with fire tossed fried thigh which was pressed to make it extra crispy/crack. Kids had kids meals, which came with a cookie. Order outside and service pretty smooth. It's a big big space but a good number but I could imagine atmosphere would be higher level with a big crowd around dinner. read more

I am from LA. Came down for a short visit to San Diego. While driving I saw this place was packed, looked online for menu. At first I was scared as I never like chicken meat in restaurants, it always taste so bad and sticky as I prefer fresh poultry. My partner was hungry so thought to try. My my my so good and fresh, the fact of food is it's not spoiled rotten or doesn't have any foul smell. It's fresh crunchy juicy with pickles and fried onions sooooo Yummmmm! Though the place was full It was quick didn't wait more than 5-10 minutes. Service was 10 on 10. Love it! I wish you have more locations here in LA too. And definitely recommend this place and will be back soon! read more

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

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I associate Crack Shack w Richard Blais from Top Chef, which is pretty cool. It's high quality food inspired by Southern charm. Definitely have some rustic industrial features inside that's trendy for Insta-worthy selfies and group photos. It's located right off Encinitas Blvd, has plenty of parking, a full kitchen, bar, dining, and a play area for kids. You have to order and pay up front before taking a seat and there was a bit of a line when we got there around 2 pm Sunday. Definitely elevated compared to other fast foods such as Popeyes or KFC, but elevated comes w an elevated price. We ordered organic and gluten free fried chicken which is doused w quinoa instead of their alternative oil and batter. The half bird consists of 5 chicken parts. To me, the fries are the best way part - crunchy and flavorful. We also ordered tenders and fries as well for my brother in law. They offer a 10% military discount, which is always nice. My only con is that we ordered a full bird (10 chicken) but only received a half order. We called and they refunded that part of the order. read more

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

I really was expecting something special. $25 for a sandwich fries and a drink This should've been perfection and it definitely wasn't. The sandwich just tasted so greasy not just the fried chicken, but the fried onions too much. The chicken itself was half breading and half fat and grizzly not a lot of meat And it was so greasy soaked the breading everywhere. I feel like this place puts out a better product. I just got the wrong person making mine. And that's a bummer when you spend this much money on a meal. The fries were absolute trash. I think they might have some good fries but the ones they gave me were completely soaked with grease. You could tell that they were old fries that they had put back in the oil to get hot for me. Almost not edible. I wouldn't come here again. And I love fried chicken sandwiches. read more

I love crack shack it's the best place to get chicken sandwiches and fries. They also have a variety of dipping sauces, my favorite has got to be the pineapple mustard one. Their milkshakes always hit tooooooo 10/10 read more

Oh my goodness, this place rocks. The fried chicken is incredible, the chicken sandwiches are divine. And plenty of beer and cocktails to choose from. I wish I had a Crack Shack nearer to my home! read more

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

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

Husband purchased food through Uber eats and the chicken was uncooked fully. Will not be purchasing again. Update: I emailed to the crack shack and no response was given but hope staff will be mindful in the future so no one will have food poisoning. read more

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

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I can't believe I've not reviewed this one. It's a wonderful outpost of the original down in little Italy, and since we now live in north county, we are so grateful to have this one nearby. It's often cheaper to walk up and order to go than order pickup on your phone. They are dog friendly up here too which I appreciate! read more

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Meaty, saucy, crispy, and loaded chicken sandwiches that will blow your clucking mind. Located in a moderately sized and busy mall, The Crack Shack definitely sets the vibe. With outdoor seating, games, and self serve sauce stations, it's very family friendly and inviting to people and dogs of all ages. Soak in sunny San Diego and have a meal to remember. Their menu is quite simple consisting of chicken sandwiches and fried chicken. We ordered a few of the sandwiches to share and a few nuggets to taste and we were beyond full. Each sandwich is filling but the tangy sauces keep you wanting more. And before you know it, you've overeaten and need a nap. At the sauce station, you'll be able to get a helping of ketchup, pineapple mustard, sriracha thousand island, Baja hot sauce, or ranch. Out of all the sauces, the pineapple mustard was by far my favorite. It just went well with everything! The prices can be a bit steep but these aren't your typical chicken sandwiches. They're loaded and made well with great tasting ingredients. The chicken nuggets (non-spicy) were $1.50 a piece and aside from just trying them, it may be a bit too pricey for normal meals. Coop deville - the typical combination of ingredients you'd expect from a classic chicken sandwich but executed phenomenally. Senor croque - this dense sandwich has a hint of sweetness and keeps your mouth watering for the next bite. Pollo soprano - chicken loaded up in a sandwich roll; this one was a big one! Mini cluckers (nuggets) - crispy and pretty meaty. Great finger food for the kids but a bit pricy. Good for dipping sauces! Mini biscuits - these were really tasty and fluffy. Went well with the butter that came with them but also great for dipping that extra sauce from the sandwiches. The staff members taking and fulfilling the orders were great at communicating expectations and making our first time experience a good one. The food was packaged neatly and maintained a delicious temperature. Overall, if you're a fan of fried chicken and chicken sandwiches, you'll be a fan of The Crack Shack. This location was pretty easy to get to but they also have one near downtown San Diego. If you have kiddos or dogs, let them roam near the giant chicken outside while you indulge. The Crack Shack will have you coming back! read more

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My first time here, a very trendy and funky looking restaurant . You order as you enter and are greated by a very pleasant cashier. I ordered the coop sandwich. I like the breast meat. I also ordered a drink and fries. The sandwich was huge. A very large piece of fried chicken, well seasoned with coleslaw and Anaheim chilis on it. I am a big fan of fries. The order was plentiful and very tasty. They had a condiment bar with a verity of different dressings to use for dipping. While the meal seemed a bit pricy, it was well worth it. read more

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

I'm go the crack shack have a sandwich chicken the oils so much in the sandwich is so wet I can't eat

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

gluten free chicken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! enough said. read more

My favorite fried chicken sandwich meal around!! I love this place and the options on the menu for a great fried chicken sandwich. Don't miss out. Good place for groups and families. Chill vibes and great sauces. Service was excellent as well! read more

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

First time going, it sits next to In-n-Out so it was a hard choice. But luckily we made the right choice. Order at the window, grab a beer and sit down. Food came out and was nice crispy, We bought the meal deal to feed a family of 4. Great value even with a beer. Ambiance is alot of tables great for big parties or family from going to a sporting event. The only thing that wasn't cool and it's nothing to do with, "The Crack Shack" this is KID Friendly however, bar patrons and employees were getting trampled by loose, rowdy kids RUNNING in the bar while their parents were enjoying a beverage and not watching them. Have respect for others enjoying a great meal!! Would definitely come back. Pending wild animal kids.. Lol read more

Thank you Yelpers, for finding us a great lunch place in a part of town that I don't normally go to. Just based on the rating, we picked Crack Shack for a large group of 15, and everyone was happy! The line leading up the cashier might seem long, but the inside is all seating for guests and has a ton of space. And the food arrived pretty quickly! I got the Coop Deville, fries and a drink and everything was delicious. What I really loved, though, was 2 things that I wish every restaurant would do. 1. There is a sink OUTSIDE the bathrooms, if you just want to wash your hands. This is so smart! 2. Every table has self-service paper napkins. Need more to wipe your fingers or mouth? No problem. Did your kid spill ketchup on his shirt? No problem! Such a smart way to keep customers happy and not waste the time of restaurant staff. Run, do not walk, to this place for lunch or dinner! read more

We have dined here many times over the past few years. The food is consistently tasty. The señor croque is a favorite among our family. The power bowl is a great healthier choice. The schmaltz fries are quite delicious. Topping off the meal with a chocolate chip cookie is key. They have tasty dipping sauces and the ambience is decent with outside seating and a fire pit. Service is adequate. read more

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

I chose the half chicken. The only piece that was edible was the wing. The other pieces were pink inside and under cooked. They looked rubbery and disgusting. I brought them home and put some of it in a pot for soup. You must do better!! Fried chicken may not be your thing. read more

Great chicken, big variety of chicken sandwiches, good variety of beers and alcoholic drinks as well as soft drinks. Friendly service from everyone we encountered. Family friendly. A rare restaurant that is dog friendly! Prices are moderate. This is a place you will love! read more

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The food here is amazing! Service is quick if you order outside but you can also go to the bar and order. Inside the restaurant has a kind of patio feeling and always fun. read more

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Went to another Crack Shack in San Diego years ago and we were back in San Diego and came here after the beach. I don't throw around my 5 stars lightly but this place is one of them. Just so so good! Everything on the menu too.. read more

The Crack Shack - Encinitas isn't just serving chicken--it's serving culinary euphoria. The Firebird sandwich? A masterpiece. The breading was seasoned like a chef's secret handshake, and the chicken inside was so juicy and tender it practically melted. That onion brioche bun? Moist, flavorful, and structurally heroic--it held everything together like it was born for the job. Then came the coleslaw revelation. When a staff member says, "I don't even like coleslaw, but ours is great," and you believe them--and they're right? That's next-level persuasion backed by serious flavor. You'll be ruined for all other slaws. And let's talk about that sauce bar. Pineapple mustard, Sriracha 1000 island, homemade ranch--each one a bold flavor detour worth taking. You didn't just taste them, you experienced them. The vibe? Immaculate. Between the laid-back energy and the full bar, it's the kind of place that makes you want to clock out and chill with a cold beer every single day. This isn't just a chicken joint. It's a sanctuary for the taste buds. read more

Horrible disgusting. Food was raw. Staff didn't care. Was ignored. Will never ever go there again and will discourage anyone I know from going as well. Witnessed no hand washing to boot. UPDATE: Spoke to the manager Fitz. He was kind, understanding and concerned he refunded our visit and said he was disappointed in the way we were treated. He will address the staff. Hopefully some training and in service training will work. read more

The Crack Shack - Raw disgusting chicken - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California