Gluten FREE YUM!!! So good! Love the cane sugar sodas! It was hot and love all the sauces!!! So fun to have gluten free chicken to go and eat at the beach! read more

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This restaurant was perfect for our team while we were in Newport Beach for a baseball tournament. We wanted to find good food and drinks for the parents, while the kids could have a place to visit and have fun. The Costa Mesa location is great with plenty of seating, quirky chicken art on the walls, old school 90's music playing and games like Connect Four and corn hole. There was a line out front because it was lunchtime, but the checkout person handled it quickly and with a smile. There was a full bar with assorted beers on tap, along with normal drinks for the kids. I tried the fried chicken on my Laney's Caesar salad and it was delicious. My family shared the large shack fries; they were tasty and the perfect crispiness with smokey seasoning. My hubby had the Firebird sandwich that was the envy of our table and once he picked it up, he couldn't put it down. My son had the chicken nuggets and fries. It was fun and really good. read more

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It's been a little while since I've been to crack shack! I have no idea why it's been such a long time, but I need to make sure I put this back into my regular rotation. The chicken sandwiches here are just simply on a different level when it comes to, the flavor and juiciness of their chicken sandwiches. I always like dining in as it does give me a little bit of a different feel with picnic style, seating, and bar area. This is a definite must, if you have never had the experience of eating here! I promise you, you will not be disappointed! read more

The crack shack is a very chill hang out spot. You order food at the front window and seat yourself at an open table. The interior is absolutely gorgeous. It's two stories with Lots of natural light. The roof top is basically a gigantic sun roof. And when the weather is nice, the roof is open and you can feel the breeze and scent of the ocean. I love plants. There was live trees and a plant wall. There's also a bar and multiple tvs so you can watch the game. Food is decently priced and delicious. I went overboard and ordered too much food. Didn't finish the poutine or chicken. Will return for sure. read more

The Crack Shack - Senor Croque Sandwich Fried Thigh 6 Pieces Mini Biscuits Mexican Poutine - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Love this place. At first I started with the sandwiches but now their baja chop salad is my go to. Kids love the kids meals and the sandwiches are all really good. read more

Chicken is delicious (as it should be). The atmosphere is very nice, with full drink and sauce bar. The food will be very heavy so you should come with an empty stomach. I would come back every few months or so as its a bit expensive to go any more often. read more

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

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2nd time here. Food is amazing, fountain drinks are somewhat unique and the staff is fantastic! Can't wait until I'm back in the area to eat here again! ....make sure you check out the bathroom wallpaper! read more

Food really good fresh served hot, sandwich has a kick to it. Definitely recommend. Quick service. read more

The Crack Shack - Firebird Sandwich Really good has a kick to it, fries are great too. Definitely try all their sauces. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Ordered the Coop Deville and it was mouthwatering! I appreciated that it didn't irritate my sensitive stomach. It didn't taste overly fried or greasy for a chicken sandwich. The chicken tasted fresh and crispy. I tried a bite of the Fire Bird and it also was scrumptious but I think the simplicity of the Coop Deville won. This was a great cheat meal! Thank you crack shack. read more

Usually i like what I get from Crack Shack. Well seasoned and well fried chicken and good selection of food. I walked in today around 8pm and chickens came out extremely greasy and burnt where i could not eat em as well as other customer i was watching complaining about the burnt parts and grease. They were served very fast within 2-3 min meaning they were already fried and refried before serving and without letting fat to come off before serving. I hope you guys fix this because I do like crack shack and that we all know is no way to serve good quality fried chicken. read more

The chicken here was delicious but maybe a bit pricey. I love fried chicken sandwiches and although this was good I felt like it was a bit overhyped. I probably wouldn't return because I've had better for less. read more

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Oh my god, I love everything about this place from the food to the drinks to the atmosphere. There's a parking lot, which makes it easy here. When you walk around to the front, there's a window to order your food at. I ordered the Firebird ($12) while my friend got the Cali Drip ($12). We also got the Mexican Poutine ($12) and Mini Biscuits ($6) to share. Let me just say that this is a lot of food for two people, but everything on the menu looked too good to pass up on! Once we ordered, we grabbed a table inside where it had an open rooftop and airy vibes. There's even an upstairs area, but I had my dog with me. Extra plus is how dog-friendly they are too with water bowls for the pups too! There also a gorgeous fully stocked bar on one side and some games on the other. It's a great place to hang out with friends. All their cocktails are only $10, but we both decided to go for the Bartender's Choice where they'll stir up a concoction for you depending on what you like. I really liked how creative this was. We told them we liked whiskey or something close to an Old Fashioned, and the bartender created this beautiful, smokey drink. You really can't go wrong. Plus, he made sure we enjoyed it afterwards too. Now onto the real star here: the food, of course. The firebird sandwich is huge, but neatly wrapped so it wasn't a mess. The chicken was tender, juicy yet crunchy and flavorful. I loved how it paired with crispy onions and pickles to add that extra oomph to the sandwich. You also get an extra sauce with your burger, so I got the sriracha 1000 island to add an extra creamy kick of spice. As if the sandwich wasn't amazing enough, both the Mexican poutine and mini biscuits were drool-worthy. The poutine came on a huge tray filled with crispy fries topped with pico de gallo, chunks of pollo asado, and smothered with jalapeño cheese wiz. This gooey cheese was the best and just made every bite delicious. To end the meal, don't forget the mini biscuits here. They're dense yet fluffy like clouds in your mouth. But the best part of these biscuits is the miso maple butter. Wow, I need a jar of this stuff! It's somehow the perfect balance of sweet yet savory in this smooth and buttery texture. It's nothing like you've ever tasted. I can't get enough of this place and only wish I had come here sooner. Definitely one of my favorite fried chicken spots, but big thumbs up for all their other items on the menu too! read more

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I love Fried Chicken so much and this place has the best Fried Chicken I've ever had in my entire life. There is a secret to making Fried Chicken even better add hot sauce to your Fried Chicken and it's 100x better. They are absolutely phenomenal. Their Fries are so so so good their seasoning is incredible. And their Biscuits with their Maple Butter is some of the best Biscuits and Butter I've ever had in my whole life. Their Service is amazing every single time I go there and they're always so kind and helpful to me and my family. The place is a super groovy place and they even have Corn hole and a 2nd floor that is flawless. If you love Fried Chicken this is a place you have to try once in your life you're gonna love it. read more

If you're a fan of crispy chicken, try this place!! Down to the fries, everything was delicious. Everything came out super quick. The drinks from the bar were on point, and we loved that there was stuff for the kids to do while we took our time with our meal. You won't be disappointed. read more

What a crackin' place! The Cookie Monster shake was the bomb! My toddler devoured his kids meal, what a great deal that also comes with a cookie and juice box and the burger was everything that I wanted! Go for it! Don't chicken out! read more

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We LOVED the chicken nuggets. Get the fire nugs with no sauce! They were amazing!!!!! We got the big flock it comes with cole slaw, fries, nuggets, a whole chicken fried, and mini biscuits. Here's what we thought about each: Fries: 10/10 crispy delicious, good little seasoning Cole slaw: 6/10 good not anything to write home about Mini biscuits: 10/10 would go again just for these so fluffy and yummy Fried chicken: 9/10 soooo crispy and tender, only reason not 10/10 is the nuggets are easier to eat and just as delicious Nuggets: 10/10 the best fried chicken nuggets you can find Cookie: 6/10 good made with semi-sweet chocolate chips We had 8 adults and 4 kids (ages 3-5) and the big flock, a 1/2 bird (5 piece), extra fry, 1 order of fire nugs, was enough for the group if we were to order again we'd get another side of nuggets and a side of biscuits. Try this place out if you're a fan of chicken or biscuits!!! read more

Wow I have been coming back to this place again and again and everytim I visit I leave more and more impressed. I tried the Fire Nugs and WOW. The first bite exploded with chicken juice and sauce was just perfect! Juicy, fresh and tender, these were the best chicken nuggets I have had so far. Very impressive! read more

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All went well when I visited this restaurant!!! Friendly customer service, delicious food and all types of people enjoying the restaurant!!!

Tasty chicken, loved the mix of pickles + sauce. The guy suggested that the cookie was good. it was! I forgot to take a picture before i finished it read more

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

This was our first time and I was not impressed. I got the Cali drip, it sounded good but did not live up to its name. The bread was hard and tasteless. My husband ordered the firebird and I'm guessing this one was cooked under fire and not a fryer as it was burnt and inedible served with stale bread. We also ordered some fries and they tasted as if the oil in the fryer had not been changed out in a while. Needless to say I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it and will not be returning. I will just stick to my usual spot Hotties in the Village. read more

The Crack Shack - Looks good but don't be fooled it was so hard and inedible. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I had recently heard about Crack Shack as they are opening one in Las Vegas where family lives. I was in Costa Mesa for work and was able to meet some friends for dinner one night. They suggested the Costa Mesa Crack Shack and I was more than down for trying it. You order at the counter and are given a number to place at your table. They have a nice inside/outside feel with big open windows and an outdoor patio too. The food came pretty quickly. My friends and I shared Schmaltz Fries. This are basic fries with some sort of spice on them. And maybe they are cooked in chicken fat based on the name. These were really tasty. And they have a wide variety of sauces at the self service counter - not just ketchup. The ranch was really good. One friend and I had the Señor Croque - crispy chicken, bacon, fried egg (we both held the egg), cheddar, miso-maple butter, brioche. This was really flavorful. Loved the bacon and maple flavors. Nice crispy tender chicken. My other friend had the Coop Deville fried chicken, pickled fresno chilies, lime mayo, napa cabbage, brioche. He really liked this. Tasty with a bit of spice from the chilies. Overall a fun place. Interesting menu of chicken dishes. Definitely will be checking out their other locations, especially once Vegas opens. read more

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

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I got it to go. Their portion were huge for me. I got Their spicy chicken sandwich and fries.i could only eat the sandwich and save the fries. The presentation was very on point. Looking at it can watered your mouth. However, the taste could not be paired with the presentation. It was not bland nor flavor bomb. Nevertheless the chicken was remained crispy (10 mins drive) and juicy, which I appreciate. read more

I've driven past this Crack Shake several times but never tried so we decided to today. There is plenty of parking in the back of the restaurant but in order to order takeout you have to walk to the front of the restaurant which is parallel to the Main Street. We got take out so I can't speak for the inside of the restaurant but it looked pretty spacious and great for large parties. We ordered the following sandwiches and a large order of fries: The fries were really good! I would get them again as they are fried perfectly and not too salty. I can taste a hint of vinegar in them. We ordered a large and shared which was plenty because the sandwiches were pretty big portions. Rating: 9/10 Senor Croquet sandwich is basically a breakfast sandwich. Since we came for a late lunch, i feel like I would've enjoyed it more had i ate it for a brunch meal. It's too heavy to be a breakfast and too breakfast like for a lunch. I was also craving a juicier sandwich. Rating: 6/10 Firedbird chicken sandwich is not as spicy as we expected it was however a great chicken sandwich. I would suggest this if it's your first time trying this place The pineapple mustard sauce is by far the best sauce they have to pair with your sandwich. Service was good, food came out fairly quickly and was packaged well for to go. The food was still warm when we arrived home. The portions are pretty big and filling and put you in a food coma. read more

This place is Clucking Good! Located in Costa Mesa off 17 th street, with parking in the back. The layout is also pretty cool! You order outside at the front and can order out or eat in. Inside there is plenty of seating and a bar as well! The food was delicious, I ordered the Cali Dip I believe and it didn't disappoint, it was the right amount of everything! I also ordered a milkshake that was made with AFTERS ice cream so it was pretty tasty! The fries were also pretty good. They serve beer and natural soda It is definitely something I'd like to enjoy again very soon! read more

The Crack Shack - Concerned about the distance - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great service. Excellent food! You will live the roof top ambiance and the outside dining ambiance.

First time here! I never tried the food here yet, but I'm hoping it's good. Crispy fried chicken and fries is what I love to eat here. read more

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Cool seating area, nice sized lot. The fries were delicious and the sandwich was just alright. The fries were the star of the show for me. Unique little sauce bar and a good variety of sauces. I liked that the sauces weren't basic, they had sauces like pineapple mango and sriracha and thousand island, so that was cool. read more

There are no shortages of places to find a great crispy chicken sandwich nowadays. One of my favorite stops has to be the Crack Shack. They just do everything right. And virtually no lines and crazy wait times! Like the other places, they only use cage-free, no antibiotic chicken. But what makes The Crack Shack stand out is the amazing seasoning and juiciness of the fried chicken. 9 sandwich choices total, including white and dark meat choices, and one rare tuna option. 6 very good dipping sauces. My favorites: The Firebird, $11.50 - spicy fried thigh, cool ranch, crispy onions, pickles, potato roll Coop Deville, $12 - fried breast, pickled Fresno chilies, pickles, lime mayo, Napa cabbage, brioche The Schmaltz Fries, $3 were just perfect. Well seasoned, piping hot, crunchy, moist and soft-centered when you bite into one. Order at the outside booth whether dining-in or for take-out. Complimentary dog biscuits for your pup. Family friendly. Good service, energetic staff. Very modern, open-air, two-story venue that is a bar-style restaurant complete with wooden panels, metal beams, wood and metal benches and barstools, hanging ceiling lights and fans, and retractable windows as the ceiling and walls. Other locations in San Diego, Encinitas, Century City and Pasadena. Definitely near the top of the pecking order of chicken sandwiches I have tried. All pun intended. read more

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Horrible service. When I complained to the manager, she proceeded to lecture me. I asked for a refund and she had the worst attitude I have ever experienced. Did not care about the service of her workers. Extremely unprofessional. I liked the food but will never go back. read more

Wow, this place makes some really great chicken if you're willing to pay the price. I came just after they opened the doors on a weekday morning and the place was quiet. You order at the outside window and then go inside to one of the many tables and booths where your food will be delivered. The interior has a lot of whimsical "chicken" art and an area for playing cornhole. I ordered the Señor Cróquet sandwich along with some schmaltz fries and a cold cocoa milkshake. The sandwich consisted of a crispy-coated chicken breast, bacon, a fried runny egg, white cheddar, and miso-maple butter served on brioche. The chicken was excellent although I have to cut through the hype and admit I've had better fried chicken. The smokey flavor of the bacon proved to be a delicious companion to the chicken. The egg and less-than-sturdy bread made for a messy meal but didn't make it any less delicious. Those fries. Oh, those fries. Amazing. Whatever seasoning they use is doing the job. The milkshake was equally outstanding. They not only pour a substantial amount of chocolate sauce over the top, they also fill the glass with cookie crumbles to give it a little crunch. I loved how thick the shake was. Someone from the kitchen came out and told me he made it thicker than normal and wanted to know what I thought. A big thumbs up from me! I enjoyed the food here but the prices would keep me from being a regular customer. But to others it may be totally worth it. read more

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The chicken sandwiches are good, but overpriced for what you get. They should come with chips or fries. The French fries we bought on the side were not good & seemed overcooked this visit. Wish they offered sliders of the different sandwiches, so you could try out more options. read more

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

I've been here a handful of times, love their chicken and don't know why I haven't written a review until now! Must have's: - Fried chicken (duh) - Matzo ball pozole; First we were like, "Really? Mashup? We love matzo ball soup and we love pozole...we don't know about this though..." But it's really good! Sometimes it's a little saltier than others, though... - Chicken Oysters; can totally taste pickle brine. I'm convinced this is the only way to brine fried chicken now. - Anti-Salad Power Bowl: Pretty hearty and delicious but only order as a side to your fried chicken. The ok's: - Biscuits: Not as flaky as other versions - Deviled Eggs: Not sure I'm a fan of the French Toast / sweet taste profile on these Sauces: The variety of sauces here is pretty impressive. That being said, I tend to stay away from everything other than the hot sauce and ranch since everything leans towards the sweet side. (personal preference, not an indictment of the sauces). Service: With a walk-up window model, this isn't a sit-down restaurant. However, they do bring your food to you, clean up, etc.and everyone we've encountered has been very nice and professional. They even have biscuits for your doggos! Definitely one of our go-to's for fried chicken. read more

So I am so disappointed in this place I could scream ... I came because a friend wanted to go sooo bad. I love the spicy chicken sandwich at Chick Filet so I thought I would give this place a go. I asked waiter if they had a spicy chicken sandwich and what I got was a deep fried crusted whole chicken breast that was dipped in red hot sauce topped with fried onions on bread that was soaked from the red hot sauce for $13. I took one bite and tossed it out the window ... need I say more. To make matters worse my friend ordered a regular chicken sandwich and it had peppers on it and she didn't finish it either ... biggest waste of money ... came on a Friday night and 3 people inside I should have guessed ... read more

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Really good! Friend of mine recommended: -chicken sando Gotta check out the rest of the menu read more

One of the best fried chicken sandwiches I've had. A good portion for the price. Would definitely recommend checking out their sauces as they have quite the spread! Curbside pickup was quick and flawless. The layout for the parking was excellently done as there's a good number of parking spots and clear instructions where to park for pickup. Always appreciate that in spots close to the beach where parking can be a headache sometimes. read more

I finally found a place with great fried chicken sandwiches (among many other delicious items) *cries tears of joy* We were lucky to come at the right time when there was only 3 people in line, because as soon as we got to the register, we turned around and saw the line wrap the building -- the moment you knew you're making some real sinfully good food decisions. We were a hungry bunch of 3... and because everything looked so good, we ordered almost everything *giggles*. We ordered: Firebird spicy fried thigh, cool ranch, crispy onions, pickles, potato roll. The firebird is FIRE .. it is a definate hot item to get!!!! as in POPULAR. I LOVED IT. Coop Deville fried chicken, pickled fresno chilies, lime mayo, napa cabbage, brioche. Not as lime enough or tangy enough as a thought it would be, definitely on more of a creamier side due to the mayo. 10 Pieces Ten pieces of fried chicken with ALL dipping sauces. It is funny how none of the dipping sauces really tell you how hot or what is in it... they named and put a sign "at your risk" hahaha funny, scary, daring! Border Slaw papaya, mango, jicama, coconut, chili, pineapple - I am allergic to pineapple but my two friends said that this was very refreshing to cut the fat in the meals they were devouring so fastly Chicken Oysters (original or hot) original: pickle brined, mustard seed tartar hot: taco stand pickles, cotija, cilantr - BEST THING ON THE MENU!!! I COULD EAT THREE ORDERS OF THIS Schmaltz Fries - large - good seasoning, which it was crispier, so ask for that if you have a preference Mini Biscuits (6pc) miso-maple butter - not a big fan but my besty is obsessed read more

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Consistently good. Order at the counter, grab your number, and find a table. Service is as quick as can be as everything is made to order. The firebird is still a favorite, crunchy, maybe 2/5 on the spice level, and enough to feed 2 people or save 1/2 for later and warm in the air fryer. The Mexican poutine was a little disappointing this time around with not enough toppings but good for sharing. It was our first time ordering the chicken oysters and they were unique with a very distinctive dill pickle marinade. We also tried the spicy chicken nuggets for the first time and were unimpressive. My friends ordered the shake and it looked good for those who are lactose tolerant. Beer is always a must with my fried chicken and happy they've kept Cali Creamin' Cream ale in their assortment. read more

Finally got the chance to try Crack Shack. We were in the area and I personally am a fan of Richard Blais (esp. his J&I restaurant in SD) So I figured, hey we're near Costa Mesa, why not check out Crack Shack? Online ordering seemed really simple but as I was preparing to check out, the online orders suddenly closed on me. Sucked since I had already entered all my info to check out, but at least I knew exactly what to order on the phone along with sauce choices and options. -5 Piece Signature Jidori Fried Chicken: We didn't get this tossed in any of the sauce options and I'm kind of glad we didn't since we did take out. It'd prob be soggy by the time we got it home. This chicken was delish though, I loved the breading - it was still crispy and warm by the time we ate it. Unlike most fried chicken joints, you can really taste the flavor of the Jidori chicken (quite frankly, not sure how many fried chicken joints even serve Jidori chicken to begin wtih). -Coop Deville: Nothing else to say other than tasty! -Senor Croque: I enjoyed this sandwich but I was expecting the egg to be a runny one. Instead, it was overcooked. -Schmaltz Fries: These felt a little run of the mill, I was expecting them to be tastier and crisper but there were just okay. Sauce Options: -Sriracha 1,000 Island: Tastes pretty much exactly like the name, was pretty good and a good sauce option -Cracksup: I was expecting more "crack" but it's pretty much comparable to regular ketchup -Kimchi BBQ: Sounds weird, but it worked. -Baja Hot Sauce: Great - exactly what you need if you're looking for a kick in your sandwich bites without being too overpowering -Pineapple Mustard: I personally am not a fan of mustard but this was my fav sauce of the bunch. There wasn't much mustardy about it and it was more like a pineapple heaven. Overall, the Crack Shack is worth a visit. They have good options and tasty food. The parking situation isn't ideal - but nothing in the area generally is. read more

Dry chicken, dry bun, soggy fries. Very disappointed in the overpriced chicken sandwich. Would've gotten an actually juicy one at Chick-fil-A for a third of the price! On the other hand, the deviled eggs were tasty, and the cookie monster shake was really good. It had a soft blend of vanilla shake, bits of cookie, ice, chocolate, and some mint. That was the best thing about this place. Water and condiments were available for self-service. And there was a bar in the middle of the urban garage feel of a dining space. The hipster vibe is prob what you're paying for, and the line was long (you order at this shack looking area outside of the cafeteria area). Overall, the atmosphere was nice, but the food was so bad that it didn't matter. Would not recommend, would not return. Sorry! read more

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

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When in Costa Mesa the Crack Shack calls to you. My personal favs here are the Firebird and the Coop Deville. Fans of the spicy, go with the Firdebird, trust me. My last visit here I opted for the Coop Deville. A stacked sandwich with a huge fried chicken breast, pickled chilies, lime mayo, Napa cabbage, on a brioche bun. This was amazing, the both crunchy and juicy chicken breast was huge and the pickled chilies with mayo is a perfect mix. This is the epitome of a gut bomb. Note to self, wear sweatpants to the Crack Shack next time. For the sides, they are all good and I know this because I've had all of them! The Mexican poutine, basically carne asada fries, mini biscuits, deviled eggs which have french toast crumbles on top, and the famous chicken oysters. Dark meat style chicken nuggets. They are all a hit and will not disappoint. First timers, go with the Chicken Oysters. They do offer healthy options here, but I've never sampled from that menu, maybe next time? The beer list here is decent and they have a full bar, both upstairs and downstairs. Come for happy hour, stay for the chicks. read more

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