I stopped by Crimson Coward and decided to try the Smash Burger, and it did not disappoint--10/10! The burger was cooked fresh to order with a perfectly crispy patty, melty cheese, flavorful grilled onions, and plenty of pickles. I'm an extra-pickles kind of person, so I was more than happy to add even more! The fries were hot and seasoned well. I personally prefer my fries on the saltier side, so I added a little extra salt, but that's just my preference. One thing that really stood out was the customer service. Everyone was welcoming, friendly, and made the experience enjoyable from the moment I walked in. You can tell they take pride in serving fresh food, and the quality definitely shows. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was clean, the restrooms are available for customers only, and there was plenty of parking, which made the visit easy and convenient.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also had great music playing with a mix of throwback hits that added to the fun atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you're craving a fresh, flavorful smash burger, this location is definitely worth checking out. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu! read more

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Embarrassed we took our overseas friends to try this Halal fried chicken restaurant. We came in 20 minutes after opening. There were a couple of of people in front of us ordering & the restaurant itself was completely empty. After ordering, we were told it would be a 15 minute wait time. Not too bad, so we decide to wait inside to dine in the restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was a hot day and the ventilation inside the restaurant was not working well with the hot fryers going off. And we definitely felt the warmth in there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We also ordered some soda, which was just a soda machine with some lemonade dispensers on the side. The mango lemonade was horrendous and way out of balance. The "soda" was basically tasteless carbonation as if they forgot to refill the soda machine with the soda syrup. After 30 minutes, we noticed that they were fulfilling the big ticket online/delivery orders first. We were STILL the only people at the restaurant WITHOUT food. All of this would have been annoying but acceptable if the food was good. However, it was very unremarkable. The food was somehow salty but flavorless, despite the considerable amount of spice. The chicken was more oil than crunch. We ordered the crimson burrito, chicken and waffles, and half a dozen chicken wings. 2 stars because the crimson burrito was somewhat enjoyable and the sauce was good. read more

Crimson Coward - Half dozen wings - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Ordered pick up for dinner on a Saturday and I was the only one in the restaurant when I got it I got a couple "hot" strips, and while they had spice, I definitely thought they would be hotter. The bloomin onion with chicken was pretty good, so was the joey. If you're feeling something like fries, chicken, pickles, smothered in sauce, definitely try this. read more

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Honestly it's really good. The chicken sandwich and the loaded fries are great. Surprisingly, their smash burger is absolutely fantastic. The burger was probably my favorite thing. The lady working at the front was rude and watching movies on her phone. Unsanitary that she also closed the boxes for the food while holding her phone while doing it. Also heard her make a comment to the cook asking him if he knew how to clean. Overall, I'd come back but the service leaves a lot to be desired. The food was great though! read more

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Ordered through door dash and didn't get any of the condiments with it or any Cole Slaw. Called the restaurant and they said I'd have to go there to get the condiments. That defeats the whole purpose of ordering through Door Dash! I spent over $60 on this order so extremely disappointed I didn't get exactly what I ordered. The chicken is delicious though so I'll give an extra star for three total. I wouldn't recommend ordering through door dash. read more

Crimson Coward - " Everything on Side" but I got nothing. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Ordered through my office's third party delivery system, and the food came nicely packaged without spillage. I ordered the loaded Mac which came with chopped up chicken tenders, their house sauce, and mac. The chicken was still crispy despite all the saucy goodness under it which was a plus! However, the mac and cheese was way too mushy for my liking. I'd stick to the classic chicken tenders. Also, their spice level so nothing compared to Howling Rays or Dave's. So you can definitely bump it up if your tolerance isn't as high. read more

Crimson Coward - Loaded Mac - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This is the best chicken restaurant!! The chicken is so flavorful and delicious! I also love that they have so many different spice levels. Everyone there is super nice and welcoming too. Definitely my new favorite spot. Can't wait to come back! read more

Crimson Coward - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Omg loved every bite I had tonight from Crimson Coward! The half coward wings were perfectly seasoned, juicy, yet crispy. The batter was just right and seasoning was delicious! The loaded mac was also wonderful. It had large cut up chunks of their chicken tenders and I devoured them quickly. The order was placed via DoorDash and ready upon arrival. The prices for the items were excellent even if it's DoorDash pricing. The only regret I have is not trying them out sooner and not getting it in spicier level. I can't wait to try out their chicken sandwiches and other items in the future. read more

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Had a wonderful time at Crimson Coward today! We ordered a little bit of everything today: French fries, wings, two piece tenders (medium) and a single smashburger. Fries were lightly seasoned (definitely more tasty with ranch or the crimson sauce!) and the wings were delicious too. I got them breaded but I think we can opt for them not breaded as well. The two piece tenders to my surprise were delightfully crisp and hot. Was eating them pretty slowly and still, they remained hot most the time. I got medium spice and it was true to its name. The burger was fresh and the brioche bun was great too. Everything was served in a separate box and it took a bit of time to get everything but no problem. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a dine in or to go place, with plenty of seating (at least when I was there on a rainy Wednesday afternoon!).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Would definitely go back and try more spice levels of the tenders. Parking is not an issue - check out the neighboring shops while you're in the area! read more

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ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffles weren't even cooked well, the inside was raw.... Chicken was mid, texture was crisp. the spice was good though. Service was mid. guy at the counter was on his phone with headphones on. didn't even see me for the first 2 minutes of entering the establishment. Ive had better halal chicken. I Guess they specialize in spice. Food took 15-20 minutes to come out for two tenders and three waffles. felt like forever: [[HIGHLIGHT]]at least the inside was nice though. I liked the color scheme and the music playing inside, it made the long wait less boring.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food came out and the guy didn't even ask if we'd like anything else, he just looked at me with a deadpan expression. I guess he was a little bored. besides the raw waffles and the mid chicken I wish I had gotten Daves hot chicken instead. Safe to say to save your money and time and choose something else read more

YAAYY!! Absolutely delicious Halal chicken sandwich! Ordered to go Crimson sandwich with Medium heat , fries on the sides. Drove home to Irvine. Still warm with juicy chicken. Totally returning to get the High heat level ! Highly recommended read more

Food was good, however lady at the register potentially mom of cook was not friendly whatsoever. Has zero customer service skills or anything welcoming. Our food also took a bit longer than expected. read more

Crimson Coward - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Been coming here on/off for a couple years now. My order is always the same: The Crimson with side fries. I'm happy to say that it's always consistently delicious. I've tried the wings and Mac n cheese before, they're alright. The tenders are good. But as I said, I always come for The Crimson. Very big portion of chicken on the sandwhich and I really enjoy the flavors of sooces [[HIGHLIGHT]]Staff is always kind, inside is always clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Crimson Coward - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Overpriced mediocre Nashville hot chicken. The lady wearing a hijab and lots of makeup, who I assume is the owner, is rude and has no sense of customer service or basic etiquette. [[HIGHLIGHT]]She was talking loudly on her phone the entire time with no sense of awareness of how loud her voice actually was.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] She left the register unmanned when I came in and when she saw that I was waiting, she walked slowly with no sense of urgency. When she got to the register, there was no greeting or anything when she took my order, just a long hard stare as she waited for me to decide on what to get. And then when my wife and I sat down waiting for the order, she asked us if we were going to order anything, having completely forgotten that I already placed one. I read the low rating reviews on this particular location and I see that I'm not the only one who has complained about this woman. I know this place is a chain so I know to never come back to this location if I ever eat here again. But I probably won't. Dave's Hot Chicken is a much better option for Nashville hot chicken if that's what you're looking for. read more

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Food was amazing! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Went on a Saturday and it was empty which was good for us![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]location is in a nice area and shopping center was nice[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Good chicken and tasty. Look a really long time for them to get the food ready, though. One of the younger staff members preferred to look at his cell phone than promptly greet or take orders. The food is dragged down unfortunately by the variable service. read more

Food was ready for pickup when I arrived. It also traveled well due to neat packing of the items I ordered. When I got home to dive in, I was sent to the moon. Perfectly fried, no oily hands, and the spice level was perfection. 10/10 would recommend to everyone, definitely got a customer out of me. read more

The food was so tasty . I would definitely eat here all the time, good food good music spicy yum yums good drink selection.

Bad service. The person taking our order was rude and rushing us. She didn't answer our questions and looked like she didn't want to be there. No smile with poor body language. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was pretty empty but clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The fried chicken was extremely salty but lacked actual flavor. The fries were underseasoned and soggy. The sauce didn't save it either. Overpriced for the poor quality. read more

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I ordered The Crimson chicken sandwich at hot level. Flavor was good, heat wasn't really that hot. But I was disappointed that the flattened out chicken patty had no juiciness to it - more like a poultry smash burger. The mango lemonade is really good. And thumbs up for their no-straws drinking cup lids. Great to see a fast food place having corporate concerns about plastic straw pollution that is devastating to marine life! read more

Crimson Coward - Drink lids that don't need straws. Much better for the environment! And the mango lemonade is tasty!! - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I don't think this place is bad but I just don't understand a couple of aspects. First is the pricing because it's almost 20 dollars for a sandwich with coleslaw but 5 tenders is almost the same price also the coleslaw was warm and had way too much pepper not much else to say the quality is decent but it's hard to justify the pricing read more

Very helpful. Ordered large amount for party. Easy. Tasted great. Will do again. Thanks

Very good and crispy Nashville chicken. Juicy big pieces, good spice for medium level but a bit salty. Some may we come it that way. read more

Crimson Coward - Half chicken , medium spice level - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Been here 4 times in the last month. Excellent smash burgers. French fries fresh and nicely seasoned. Orange sauce better than other similar fast food places. Buns are nicely toasted, beef flavorful and fresh tasting. Melty cheese adds yummy texture. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Clean place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will come again. Also chicken wings were crispy, juicy and tasty The staff let us use their wifi for doing homework while waiting for food. Good service. . read more

Came back to try the more traditional style Crimson burger. Chicken was slightly greasier but still juicy and very well cooked, and dwarfed its attached bun by some distance. A solid burger, but I think the Homestyle version was more of a standout for me. That'll be my go-to option here. read more

Crimson Coward - The Crimson (Hot) - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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SOOOOO FREAKING GOOOD!!!!! OMG, Ive never ever liked fried chicken, it would never ever hit but this place I DREAM OF!!! IT IS SO AMAZING!!! The service is always so amazing, it's my second time and I just jump out of my chair when I come here. Im so freaking excited to eat! I make this review as I sit here waiting for my food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibe is also amazing, I love the art on the wall.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They are doing something so amazing here. TRY THE HOMESTYLE you won't regret it!! read more

So happy for another halal chicken place near us. This one actually serves spicy chicken! I like the medium but can also do the next level up. Their top spice level is too hot even for me, and I eat spicy food! Their chicken wings are ah-MAY-zing and satisfying! Only complaint is the price, almost $5/wing, which is too much IMO. If it was more reasonable then we would eat there at least once or twice a week, which is why I took a star off. The owners are super nice and friendly. Definitely recommend if you're looking for halal fried chicken. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Delicious food, Nice and clean ambience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I tried their crimson sandwich (9.5/10) and Borrito (9/10) both med spicy, I would go for hot next time. Some really good fries too. read more

Crimson Coward - Crimson burrito - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Sandwiches are good! Wish the mild was a little more api y but the service was amazing and I was given more hot seasoning to add on my chicken. Sandwich was juicy and well worth it. Wait is long so I recommend calling in the order and picking it up. Definitely a good Nashville spicy Chicken sandwich! But I have had better too. Definitely check it out if you're in the area read more

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Food is always consistently good here. Takes a little while but you can't rush perfection! Service can be a little lackluster at times but the quality of the food kind of makes up for that! Highly recommend the "Snash Burger" as well as the chicken and fries! read more

Crimson Coward - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for a quick lunch. The gentleman behind the counter was nice enough but the lady (had to be the owner- there is no way anyone would keep her employed) was sitting on a chair next the register, talking loudly on the phone. It was extremely rude and did not provide for a welcoming atmosphere. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We originally took a seat out front of the restaurant- there was NO WAY we were going to dine inside and listen to her loud conversation. We eventually moved to a table over near the dumpling place to get away from her annoying phone call[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. When my husband went back in to collect our food, he confirmed our order and she was rude to him stating yes, it's all complete and handed him the food. She did not thank him and was not friendly in any way. Customer service makes or breaks a business...given we were the only people in there besides one other man, this business will not last long. The food itself was just ok and extremely overpriced for what it was. We will not be back and would not recommend anyone torture themselves with the experience of that woman. I notice that pretty much every review mentions how horrible she is. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The music was upbeat.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The bathroom was clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The music in the bathroom was loud, but it was a good song and almost got me to dance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered Chicken Fries (slaw on side) Medium Heat. They were perfect. The fries were crispy. Even as I kept eating. The chicken was cooked well. The sauce was tasty. The heat was perfect. 10/10 will come again read more

Crimson Coward - Chicken Fries - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

They're a little on the pricey side, but their chicken sandwiches are DELICIOUS. The staff is always very friendly, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant is spotless[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and you leave very satiated. This place is much higher quality and tastier than Dave's Hot Chicken. read more

This household goes to Raising Cane's a lot. I mean A LOT. I wanted to try another chicken restaurant just to have more variety and decided to visit Crimson Coward due to the Cole slaw, potato salad and other sides. The establishment is located right next to Lee's Sandwiches in Lake Forest off of El Toro Road. Looking in from outside, the place is nice and clean, with wide open space and an open concept kitchen. The decor right inside by the cashier is a colorful mural with a chicken, of course. The food and service were alright. Honestly probably our first and last visit, which makes me sad. I enjoy supporting small businesses and becoming regulars when we love them. I'll talk more about our experience but will briefly go over food. The cashier, who you can see in one of the pictures in the background, doesn't greet you. I just wanted to finish ordering to get to the table because it was just such a cold exchange. Not personable, no thank you, absolutely nothing and a not so lovely flat affect. I wasn't given the total, no talking, except when I asked about spice levels. I had to look at the screen to get the amount which we obviously all do, but cashiers will typically talk to you. I didn't even want to give a tip but had to remind myself that there were cooks who would get tips too, at least I hope they got some tip. Let's take a break from service and talk about the food real quick. What we ordered: 1) two Mac n cheese - my kids didn't like it. 2) crimson sandwich/medium spice - 2/5 stars . This was a lot smaller than the burrito but exactly the same ingredients. Chicken, crimson sauce, cole slaw, pickles. 3) crimson burrito/medium spice -3/5 stars. This was large in size and was exactly like the sandwich version. Chicken, crimson sauce, cole slaw, pickles. 4) one chicken tender low spice - my kid who is nuts for chicken didn't like it. 5) chicken and waffles/no spice - the waffles were very dense, dry, bland. It came with syrup but it should still be tasty by itself. My other kid didn't like the chicken either and this kid is also crazy about chicken tenders and is obsessed with waffles. 6) potato salad - I liked this side 3/4 out of 5 on this. All but the Mac n cheese, came with a small crimson sauce. Back to the service. The two male cooks were hard working and busy. The cashier...this is where I decided I would not return. I was going to rate the whole experience a 3 out of 5, but not after what I saw. 1) cashier - sat with their bare foot up inside the back of the front counter. Sat on an office chair, sprawled out. 2) she was on her cellphone while on speakerphone. Both her and the person she was talking to were loud. She was on the phone the entire time we were eating, even while people were coming in and ordering. She eventually put her ear buds on when people came, but again, rudely stayed on her call while customers ordered. 3) as mentioned earlier, the cashier was not personable at all, did not talk to us or to other people who walked in, didn't verbalize our total, no thank you, nothing. 4) when we asked for water cups, she had her filthy saliva covered fingers on the mouth of all of the cups. Read number 5 to know what I am talking about. 5) THE LAST STRAW and THE WORST ONE OF ALL. She was separating the paper liners that go into the boxes which food is served in while LICKING HER FINGERS like some people do when sifting through paper. YES she did this. She did it at least 12-15 times when we were there. She would separate a few here and there, lick her fingers and do it again. She did this repeatedly. Can you imagine how many times a day she does this all day long???? I didn't want to freak my family out and make them vomit everything we just ate. I just told them to hurry so we could leave. I still haven't told my family...cause OMG. I'm so grossed out and I'm trying hard not to gag right now. I'm so sensitive to seeing disgusting things like this while I eat. So 1 out of 5 stars from this foodie. I really wanted to like this place, but the food was just alright, however, it was worsened by the unprofessional cashier with really disgusting habits. Just no. read more

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This is the best chicken you will ever have. So flavorful, and juicy. I can not get over how tasty the chicken and fries are here.

Man. The conflict. The chicken is fine. Good value. Hot isn't very spicy. But wow the customer service is atrocious. Lady at counter doesn't give two shits about the guest. She was on the phone the entire time we were there and had an ear bud in her ear. We felt like we were interrupting her by walking up to the counter. Then she proceeded to walk around and talk on the call and we could hear the entire call. When we left (place was empty), not a "thanks for coming in" or "was everything ok?" What an awful experience. I assume she's the owner. I'll go to the Downey location next time. They are a lot more friendly. read more

Amazing food! Chicken is always moist and perfect. Fried pickles are a a family fave. Service is always great!

This is my go to place for fried chicken of any kind now. You can get tenders, or a sandwich, and even a burrito! So here's the basics. You can get your chicken in several levels of spice. Ranging from country, which is plain vanilla, all the way to burning, which I would avoid. I like to go one level lower, hot. It's pretty spicy. Enough to want a glass of water. My spice tolerance is generally pretty high. So hot is like spicy Indian food. I would skip the fries. It's pretty generic. And they have Pepsi products. I would skip the meal. But the chicken is amazing. If you eat at the restaurant they will bring you the meal in a box. The service is as basic as it gets. Don't know if it's even worth giving a tip. But I give tips anyways. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room is pretty ok. Think about a standard fastfood joint. It's like that.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Come check it out. read more

Every single item is a few dollars more than is printed on their menu. She supposedly voided the transaction and fixed it which came out to 53dollars instead of 80 but I was charged both times. I honestly think they are scamming people who don't check their receipts. The food was good but I could have done without paying 133$ for 2 combos and a burger. read more

Crimson Coward - Every single item is a few dollars more than the menu shows. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Lake Forest, California

We love the chicken at this place! This time I had the strips, but I love the sandwiches as well. The service is quick and the employees are competent. read more