2nd time at The Crack Shack with four of my family members and this time around we ordered the small flock meal. On our first visit we ordered the large flock meal and had way too many leftovers. The chicken nuggets and all the sauces were my favorite part of the meal. The biscuits were warm and soft and came with good honey butter. The fries were typical and the coleslaw had a spicy kick that I really enjoyed but no one else in my family liked. We ordered one milkshake and it wasn't worth the $9+, but we did enjoy the sea salt chocolate cookies that came with the flock meal. There's a full bar, TVs for sports games, doggy water bowls you can fill up and take to your table, and a cornhole area, so basically it's adult-friendly, dog-friendly and kid-friendly! read more

The Crack Shack - Large Flock family meal - fed 5 of us and left us with lots of leftovers. Small Flock meal would be the better choice for a group of 5. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is the best fried chicken sandwich (Coop Deville) I've had in OC. It's a tad different than Howlin' Ray's in LA County if you're looking for "spicy" and Nashville style, this place is not it. As a big fan of Richard Blaise, I'm impressed with the delicacy of balancing flavors, grease, and texture in a composed sandwich with high quality and large sized meal. The sandwich is certainly different than his restaurant Juniper and Ivy in San Diego. It's more home style and less restaurant vibes. I loved the quick service and the outdoor seating available even though I decided to take my food home. I LOVED all the sauces available especially the ranch, sriracha buffalo, and ketchup. It was a phenomenal meal. Highly recommend as a regular spot to hit up for quality food that's relatively "affordable" of this caliber. read more

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Tried three different meals, and everything was really good. The fries were solid, and the sauce bar was a great touch. It's a bit on the pricey side, but the cool ambiance makes up for it. Overall, a nice spot worth checking out! read more

The Crack Shack - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Good food. Great atmosphere. Friendly bartenders. Decent prices. Never a long wait for service.

I love their chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders!! Fire toss is a must for my spicy lovers! The pineapple mustard sauce is so amazing and pairs well with their fries. I order take out mostly and the food is always ready in a timely manner and staff is always friendly and helpful. Favorite chicken spot in OC! read more

Please note that this review is in no way a reflection of the excellent staff. Let me begin by saying that this place gave me the relaxed vibes I was looking for on a Friday afternoon. Trying to find trending new places that aren't in LA is hard, but I found a place. With the growing hype of chicken sandwiches, thanks Popeyes this place was a great choice. It has a very open concept with them taking your order outside before you even walk in. It gives a first come first serve vibe. This is definitely a casual let's grab a bite to eat quickly place. It's time to get started. I want to start with the mini biscuits which honestly taste like Chick Fli A biscuits minus the wetness. What is the wetness of Chick Fli A? That's not the point, let's move on. I'd like to give a shout out to this maple butter because it was spot on. Texas Road House butter is good. I really enjoyed these. My only issue is I wish they came hotter. We didn't get them cold, but a bit of warmth would have helped spread the butter. The fires: delicious the right amount of crispy and potato's unclear of the seasoning but but it was really good. Margarita it wasn't good but it always wasn't bad. It gave off the taste of let Jr toss these on a cup and keep the line moving. It was 90% percent ice. It was nice they came with a full bar but it suggest sticking to their menu of drinks and their beer. It's my fault going off script. CHICKEN SANDWICH: AWFUL. Start with the fact that it wasn't seasoned AT ALL. Poor chicken died for nothing. Despite the fact that the sandwich looked full of potential, it was very bland. No flavor profile to it at all. I get more flavor from a McChicken at McDonald's and that didn't cost me $25 bucks. You can't see but this sandwich has bacon which I only assume they use the same bacon as Starbucks does. Lifeless and chewy no crunch AT ALL. The egg cooked too perfection but would a little salt and pepper hurt. I even tried dipping it into the sauce and it somehow made things worse. My friend said it was my fault since I should have grilled the chicken. Well how the hell was I suppose to know that? I was really disappointed in the sandwich. Also, the Pineapple Mustard blew it out of the water. It would be great if they could do the same with chicken. My friend really enjoyed this place so maybe it is my fault, I just can't see myself going again. They do have cream soda and root beer those are both pluses. Alright I'm out! read more

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Honestly, the food was pretty subpar. I ordered the Baja Chop salad and picked out so much lettuce that had gone bad, I only ate the cucumbers. I was honestly worried I'd get E Coli from how many bad leafy greens I picked out. I don't think they clean the grills throughout the day because the smell of the black char on my grilled chicken was gross. The only reason it gets 1 star is because the service was okay. The host knew it was our first time, so a follow up on our experience would've been nice. As a Costa Mesa native, I love exploring new places and unfortunately I won't be back to this one. read more

This place has a GREAT chicken sandwich, puts Chick-Fil-A to shame. Would for sure recommend! read more

I ordered online delivery. they charged me and the order was never received. I spoke to the lady on the phone about my order and she said sorry they don't have my order and this is off there website That I ordered from I told her. she didn't care and said "sorry nothing I can do". I am a long time customer and I wont be back with my family after this. This company takes your money and does not give you the food. read more

The firebird was excellent for lunch, but it was also incredibly filling. The sandwich had a slight spicy taste that intensified towards the finish. My mom said her salad was quite satisfying, but she enjoyed the fries. However, I thought the sauce station was fantastic and I really liked how many variations they had. There are numerous drink options and condiments available to customize the sandwich. The bottled 619 pineapple habanero sauce, Baja hot sauce, siracha thousand island, and pineapple mustard were all really good. The chicken-themed items were fantastic! As soon as you step in, you're greeted by a gigantic chicken and posters depicting famous people as chickens. The carefree bach vibes of California really spoke to me. You really must see the bathroom walls for yourself. It was a weekday lunch, so it wasn't really busy. The staff was incredibly kind and accommodating. The fact that this property is dog friendly is my favorite feature! They can sit indoors in a friendly manner, but not on an outdoor patio. Additionally, I like how clean the restaurant's floors are. read more

I have eaten here several times. I have only eaten here mid-day, mid-week. I have only had the fried chicken; I've never had one of their chicken sandwiches. These caveats aside: I like fried chicken; and I like to try various interpretations of fried chicken. One of the differentiators for this restaurant chain is that they use Jidori (brand) free range chickens. As a result, the texture of the meat is firmer and denser that what you experience with a lot of other fried chicken. With reference to their recipe, the spice combination in the breading does give "The Crack Shack" a taste profile that is unique to them. I also like the fact that the breading is not excessive; it's rather minimalist. I usually purchase a "half-chicken". This is served in five pieces: a wing; a thigh; a drumstick; and the breast cut into two pieces. Sides are ordered a la carte. By the way: serving the breast in two pieces serves two purposes (I think). It allows two people to split an order of a half chicken more easily. Also, the half pieces of chicken breast are more similar in size to the thigh and drumstick, so presentation is more aesthetic. I mentioned the time of day when I visit because I have never been there when it was really busy. As such, I've always had really good service. The dining room is like a large hall. There are booths on one side of the room; there is a bar on the other side. There are individual dining tables in between. The bar has a good selection of craft beers. The roster of alcohol is not extensive, but sufficient to fulfill orders for highballs and cocktails. If pressed, I would describe "The Crack Shack" as a grown-up restaurant, which specializes in fried chicken (and chicken sandwiches). read more

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Cool layout & decor, pricey, undercooked chicken. Kiddo was begging to try this place after we'd consistently seen lines of hungry humans wrapped around the building. We arrived on a weeknight before the dinner rush, when it was empty. THE BAD: Undercooked poultry is dangerous and unacceptable. Before writing this review, I just saw other reviewers post completely raw chicken photos so buyer beware. Check your chicken. Half of my sandwich was fully cooked, white meat fried chicken, tasted good, greasy. The other half was undercooked and pinkish; not raw but definitely undercooked. My man's was also undercooked after the first section. My child loved the tenders and I wish I would have checked each one he ate before he finished them but I was busy disecting mine. The tender I saw was cooked but then he fell suddenly ill with serious stomach issues 2 nights later out of nowhere and I'm not saying it was for sure this chicken but I'm not saying it wasn't. It was definitely food related. COST: Our order was expensive for fried chicken: Over $70 for 1 Beer, 2 Fountain Drinks, 2 Chicken Sandwhiches (no sides), 1 order of Tenders with Fries, and one extra order of fries since they don't come with sandwiches. For reference, Beach Pit BBQ right down the street from this place has entire family size BRISKET meals with 2 sides and cornbread, plus 2 more individual meals with a side, and beer for less than that. SERVICE: The girl taking our order outside was nice and provided good, standard customer service, as did the bartender. VIBE: The inside space was clean and had a really cool indoor/outdoor, modern hen house kind of vibe. It's indoor but with tons of natural light. There's a long bar, two floors, booths and tables. Good sauce selection and hipster/artisan sodas, lemonade, and thankfully Pepsi. Like others have mentioned, it's a cool concept but quality control needs to level the cluck up and maybe throw in some fries or sides with $16 sandwiches. Just saying... read more

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Overall a decent spot for fried chicken sandwiches. There's parking in the back of the restaurant and you start off with ordering your meal at the front window. The inside dining area is pretty open and casual. There's a bar inside along with tv screens. The staff was super friendly and the food came out surprisingly quick. In all honesty the chicken wasn't as flavorful as I'd expect it to get, but still a good option in the oc. I ordered the coop deville with regular fries. The sandwich itself is a good size and definitely filling. It gave me a food coma. The maple butter served with the mini biscuits was delicious and unique. I'm glad I was able to try that. I do really like all the different sauces this restaurant offers. You can help yourself to as much as you like. The pineapple mustard was a nice twist of honey mustard! read more

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By far one of the best restaurants in Orange County. The chicken is excellent. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is fun and relaxing. I don't mind the prices because the food is so darn good. I honestly can't say enough great things about this place. Definitely in my top 5. read more

I love the coop deville it's my go to sandwich, I'm a chicken sandwich girl and the crunch from the chicken goes well with the coleslaw. The service is also good sometimes they are a bit packed so the wait times are longer than usual but it's worth it for me I order ahead and do curbside. When we've dined in the music isn't too loud they have many tables and tv's playing sports. read more

The Crack Shack - Coop Deville Sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I don't know what happened here. The food used to be so, so good and then it's like, they just decided to stop seasoning everything. The fries are good, but the fries aren't the show. Also, they used to offer regular combos but now I feel like either you get a bucket of chicken or a sandwich. And the sandwiches have so much stuff on them it's hard to taste the chicken. The service is always good and it's a cool place to hang out, especially if you have little ones. All in all, it's kinda overpriced for what you get. read more

I've had this several times since my last review and I must say, I've finally found my groove at The Crack Shack. The last time I came, I ordered the Señor Croque ($12). It's a fried Jidori breast, bacon, runny egg, white cheddar, miso-maple butter on an artisan brioche bun. I love breakfast. I love fried chicken sandwiches. The Señor Croque was the obvious move. The chicken patty was tender and had the right amount of batter. The bacon, runny egg, cheese, and brioche bun were all the brunchy things I love in life, so in fried chicken sandwich form, this was a dream. Highly recommend if you love breakfast. The Schmaltz fries were also very terrific - lightly seasoned and tossed between crunchy and soggy fries. The Crack Shack has very many options to satiate your chicken sandwich/bowl needs. read more

The Crack Shack - señor croque: fried jidori breast, bacon, runny egg, white cheddar, miso-maple butter + artisan brioche = $12 - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time here. The store front attracted us as we drove by. Shawn was very helpful helping us pick the favorites. Firebird sandwich was perfect and amazing. Best chicken nuggets ever. Sauces were also amazing, especially the pineapple mustard. Yum! read more

Love this! You order outside where the menu is posted large for all to see. Then you walk inside past the giant chicken and find a seat. They offer booths and tables- all very casual. They have a very creative selection of soda combinations that I would have again. Our food was brought to us in a few minutes. My lunch mate had a salad that she loved. I had the best - and the messiest- fried chicken sandwich. The bun was fresh, the pickle coleslaw was so crunchy and delicious, and the chicken was perfect! I think they had some options for non fried chicken - chicken pattie's etc, but why would you? It's a fried chicken place! They have a good selection of sauces to dress up your chicken as well. I tried two, not that my sandwich really needed anything extra. They have some locations in Utah, Nevada, and Texas so all I can do is hope they open one in Arizona soon. read more

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Chicken is moist and tender. The skin is crispy. Service was just fine, and over all can't quite judge the ambiance as I ordered take out.

We tried The Crack Shack when we were in Vegas and it was perfection, so when I saw they had a location in OC, I was very excited. Sadly, the chicken wasn't seasoned like it was in Vegas. We don't mind paying for good food, but the cost for bland chicken is too much. They have sauces, so I guess that is where the seasoning is, but we don't eat chicken with dipping sauces. If you like dipping sauces for flavor this is your spot. read more

I've wanted to try this place for so long and finally decided yesterday was the day. I ordered the 5 piece fried chicken, fries, a shake and my wife got a sandwich. Our total was around $50. The chicken was very bland. There seemed to be no seasoning in the batter. It was also very hard to bite through. Not sure if ours was over fried or what but I ended up just pulling the skin off each piece. The fries were really overcooked and not enjoyable. My wife said her chicken sandwich was bland as well. Two stars because the shake and the ranch were really good and we liked the open atmosphere. They had corn hole to play and some TVs to look at. Manager was also doing interviews while we were there. I noticed he wasn't really looking at the guy interviewing and just kept staring at his computer. Awkward. All in all, won't be back. read more

Visiting from out of town. Atmosphere A+. Food A+. Bathrooms A+. Did I say food A+? Super duper cool place.

We were here on a day trip. We couldn't decide on seafood or this place. We decided to check it out. What a regret!! Chicken sandwich tasted like the meat was boiled. Two of us had the fries pastor. The best thing on the dish was the few pieces of scattered chicken. The fries tasted heavy with old oil. The menu said there were different sauces non the dish. There was NO difference of taste in the different sauces, all bland! The chicken tenders had NO flavor! We will not be going back. Sad waste if money! Use a salt shaker, guys! read more

This place is absolutely fantastic. The staff is all very friendly, which is always a huge plus. We have been here two times, the first it was pretty quiet but the second time was a bit busier but wasn't too hard to find a table. The food is all great. The chicken is cooked to perfection and is always juicy not dry. The chopped salad is also really good, especially the poblano dressing. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

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Service was friendly and the food came out quick..! Ordered some fries, cold beverage, and a chicken burger..!! It was yummy and they give military / veterans discount! Thank you Crack Shack...! read more

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Try this place at least once ! My friend and I were touring her new campus and stopped here for lunch and this place was great. It's an open place with an ordering station outside. The entire inside is seating, and once you order you're given 3 sauce cups to fill with whatever you want (their pineapple mustard was surprisingly good). It seemed that a lot of people eating here were locals, which I think says something about their community as well. This place is definitely kid friendly and animal friendly, some people had their dogs inside and there's a section with some turf so you can bean-bag toss too! The chicken sandwich I got was amazing, not lacking any flavor but also not overwhelming. Their fries were perfectly crispy and seasoned. Overall nothing negative to say at all, this was a great spot for lunch and an overall nice experience. :) read more

The Crack Shack - Senor Croque Sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Came here for dinner with a friend after work and Crack Shack has always been a great place for chicken sandwiches, fried chicken, and drinks! I dropped by on Friday night and it was busy but they were able to get our food quick and service was great! You order at the window on the outside before you head inside to the dining area and the menu is listed to the side and on screens above! I ordered the Coop Deville with a large side of fries and my friend got the Cali Drip. There's a sauce bar/station when you walk in with 6 different sauces including ranch, ketchup, siracha 1000 island, & baja hot sauce. Their hot sauces have different styles/flavors depending on what you want from a thicker sauce to a more vinegary sauce! They also have a Stubborn soda fountain which I like as well! My sandwich was fantastic with the cabbage, lime mayo, pickles, & chilies complimenting the fried chicken breast with the soft, toasted brioche buns. The chicken was nice and moist while having a crispy exterior. Definitely one of my favorite sandwiches here and highly recommended! I also like adding the various sauces they have to give a nick kick of heat to the sandwich! Their fries are one of my favorites and I love how seasoned they are and how crispy they are when they come to you and they give you quite a lot for what you pay for too! The bar is also really great with a good selection of beers that they rotate in and out monthly and they can also make cocktails as well! You can come by here during the day or night to come watch a game with some amazing food and drinks! Service here has always been great here since I started coming here years ago and I look forward to more visits here with my friends and family! Parking is available in the back and it's a relatively big lot so finding a spot shouldn't be an issue! A 5/5 spot for me! read more

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We absolutely loved The Crack Shack in Costa Mesa - and this isn't our first time! The sandwiches are packed with flavor (I had the firebird I believe, and it had a kick) --crispy, juicy, and creative. The 1/2 chicken was perfectly cooked. Love the cold slaw because it's not too sweet and has a little bite. Can't wait to go back! read more

Freshly fried chicken tenders were moist and juicy. Service was fast and staff was friendly. Sweet BBQ and ranch dipping sauces were big hits with the kids. Ambiance is hipster-like with bar, games and plenty of tables and seats. Great place for lunch with the family! read more

The Crack Shack - Menu - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We love this place it never disappoints! We come here all the time and the food is always great quality, and the beer is always ice cold!

I went back. I got the fries this time. For $3.5, it's enough to feed 2 people. I love having the sauces to dip in (pineapple mustard and sriracha ranch are the best) and wish they gave more cups to pump the sauce into. I also got a chicken sandwich which was underwhelming. It lacked a creamy sauce. Was I supposed to only use the sauces from the pumps? That's odd. It needed for flavor. I don't understand how this restaurant chain is all about chicken but doesn't get chicken right. Too much flavorless breast. read more

After spending the day at Newport Beach we decided to have lunch here. The order process is pretty cool, you place your order at an outside counter then take a seat inside and someone brings your order to you. They have a drinking fountain available for refills and a selection of dipping sauces. I tried all of them! We tried the spicy sandwich and it was utterly delicious, with plenty of pickles! We sat at the bar and the bartender was super friendly and welcoming. He gave us samples of the beers better deciding on a selection. We were there on a Tuesday afternoon and the place was not busy like on weekends. I will be back! read more

I was staying at a hotel nearby and needed a quick lunch. It had a cute modern rustic look and lots of seating inside. You order at a window outside and then seat yourself inside where they will bring out your food. I was craving some nuggets, but was disappointed to find the only option for adults was a spicy nugget. I ended up with the Bae sandwich, which was a bacon, avocado, egg sandwich, the only one without chicken. It was standard but tasty, the brioche bun was delicious. My fiancé got the Senor Croque and liked it a lot. The fried chicken was pretty good and juicy for white meat, though it could have been crispier. There is a self-serve sauce bar with multiple options like ranch and chipotle mayo which was awesome! read more

The Crack Shack - Senor Croque (left) and Bae sandwiches - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Amazing!!! I love this place. But seriously go read the wall in the bathroom, so funny, I'm tempted to give it a 1 star rating but I just can't Food is off the charts. We usually get a burger and Caesar with grilled chicken. Top notch crack. read more

The Crack Shack - Bathroom - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

if i could leave no stars i would. terrible for the price. fries are super greasy and tenders are so small read more

The Crack Shack - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Was surprised to recent learn this place has incredibly tasty healthy food as well. Power Bowl is delicious!

Cute little spot. Prob more for the adult than family... definitely that young Newport vibe. You order outside and then can walk inside to sit. Service is whatever- they bring u your food, that's all. There's a bar inside. Bartender is chill. He gets 5 stars. The strawberry crunch shake is reminiscent of the strawberry shortcake ice cream bar. Definitely more for adults. My toddler hated it. I thought it was good- not very sweet- which I prefer. Sandwich was pretty good. Whole meal in one sandwich. Fries were good. The chicken nuggets were ok. Not much flavor- I suppose they expect you to be excited about the sauce selection? Best part of kids meal was the cookie- but no parent is giving their little kids that whole cookie. Anyhow, food was a little more than good but not spectacular. Sauce selection is pretty varied, if u like that. The pineapple mustard was my favorite - kinda like a tropical take on honey mustard. I may be back... but maybe for a date or friends time. read more

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Got their seasonal sandwich and I loved it! The arugula balanced it out and brought out the freshness. They also had one of the best fries I've ever eaten! Very crispy and it stayed crispy. Multiple options for sauces that everyone is bound to find one that they will like. Decor is pretty funny with all the chicken paintings! Service was fast and everyone was friendly. Food also came out at a good time! read more

The Crack Shack - Nonna sloan - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've been interested in trying this place for a while, choose to try the tenders and fries... I love the inside, a bar and sauce bar was unexpected but damn were the chicken tenders a terrible. Zero flavor, the sauce shouldn't be the star of the show. 5 tenders and fries (fries were alright) just shy of 20$ and no drink. I threw most of it away. I don't normally write review but this was really a huge disappointment. Probably won't be back which is unfortunate since the concept of the restaurant is cool. read more