I'm not 100% certain, but I only ordered take-out here the whole week and ate nothing else the remainder of the day. The next morning I developed a severe sore throat that turned out to be the worst strep throat of my life. My belief is a worker there was sick, handled the coke can or my food, I ingested the germs from licking my fingers and that led to me having 5 chins in less than 24 hours. I ordered fries which were yum and the firebird which I wasn't quite fond of-- it tasted more smokey than buffalo spicey. read more

Awful! Their spicy chicken sandwich had so much fat in the meat. Even their bathroom posts about their terrible reviews.

So the chicken was really good! I really wish they opened the second floor to eat when I went. Ambience was great, and a great place for families to play with their kids. read more

My boyfriend and I came on a Friday night and lucked out on a short wait time. We ordered 5 pieces of fried chicken, chicken oysters, large fries, and mini biscuits. The fried chicken was perfectly seasoned and at first, I was definitely curious about what the chicken oysters, i.e. were they the mysterious innards of a chicken, but essentially, they were just the "dark meat" of the bird. Sooo juicy and tender - a must try. The boyfriend LOVED the biscuits and I mean, really, really love. He thought they were the best he ever had. It was super buttered, freshly made, soft, and just downright delicious. I personally can do without the miso-maple butter (it'd taste twice as good with Lucille's apple butter imho). We did a quick tasting of all of the available dipping sauces but concluded that everything was fine as it. In regards to the prices, they were a bit high for fried chicken but the food was solid, so I guess it was somewhat worth the price tag. Parking was easy to find (complimentary valet on the premises) and it was definitely a family friendly restaurant! Will come back to try the Firebird next time. read more

The Crack Shack - Scramble (blackberry vodka mule) - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Mhmm you can never go wrong with anything fried! Delicious, juicy fried chicken and some of the best fries you'll ever have! You order outside and pick any table inside and they serve your food for you! There's plenty of seating ranging from booths to picnic style benches. There's a sauce bar by the drinks, make sure you get some sauces because they have a variety to choose from! They have a happy hour menu on weekdays from 3-6pm. Beers and half off and they have some snacks for a low price! Here are some of the things I got to try the couple times I've been here: Schmaltz Fries: YOU MUST GET THESE. Fries fried in chicken fat.. never tasted so good Mexican Poutine: If you like toppings with your fries this is a good option. Didn't really care for the chicken (its was just plain and grilled) but the nacho cheese sauce was nice and creamy Coop Deville: Delicious, juicy tender chicken breast served in a soft warm brioche bun with cabbage, mayo, pickles, and chilles. If you're feeling like a sandwich and not just fried chicken, get this sandwich! Spicy Chicken Sliders: Happy hour menu! Nice little small bite, wish the biscuit was a tad more buttery and flakey Chicken lollipop: another happy hour menu item. This was terrible, do not get this. It was so dry Fried Chicken: You can only get the chicken in increments of 5! Seasoning for the chicken is tasty, and if you want to add some heat grab some of the hot sauces from the sauce bar. Milkshake: They have rotating flavors, I decided to get the cookie monster. The milkshake was bright blue with sprinkles and cookie crumbs on top (flavor was cookies and cream). Wish the milkshake was thicker but tasted good! Overall solid fried chicken place (and place to get fries)! read more

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Dog Friendly. There were 4 dogs there when we went. They gave my dog 3 biscuits made of real chicken. Kid Friendly. There were 4 kids there when I went. They gave my kid a kid biscuit made of real chocolate and flour. They also have a corn hole game for the kids. Dad friendly. There were like 4 dads there when I went. They gave us a cup for water made of real plastic. They also had 4 TV's up with whatever game was on that day. Mom friendly. There were like 4 moms there when I went. They gave them really good food. Crispy chicken, salads that were amazing and not too over dressed, perfectly crisped fries, and awesome real sugar sodas. read more

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

Everything on the menu is good! I really enjoyed the cookie... hahaha... Okay I had the chicken nuggets and we got the big family meal, the most expensive one! The chicken is fried to a crisp and is extremely crunchy, so worth the bite... But the little bread that they, FIRE!!! Take it from me, try everything! No complaints here! Thanks for the service guys! read more

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

I always liked this place for the vibe and the whole setup, very cool! Same for the menu, it's diverse and appealing, and they put a twist on almost every dish. Big TVs and a lot of seating everywhere, (including outdoors in the parking lot during covid), fun and games too. They have a limited selection of beers so you can plan a long dinner too, not just a lunch to go. But I wish they did the fried chicken right, it seems like it's fried too fast and that's why it has that oily look and sometimes not done well inside, just not my taste. I enjoyed the Mexican Poutine, it's a good side order to the 5 pieces of chicken. Their service is nice and welcoming, plenty of parking behind the restaurant. read more

The Crack Shack - Fried chicken and Mexican Poutine - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My girlfriend and I decided to try the crack shack right next to our house and we were very pleased with the food. The chicken was great quality and crispy, the biscuits were super delicious, and fries were so good! We were helped out by Garrison a the front and he was very nice and helpful, he even went out of his way to give us to go boxes and set us up for our trip home. Thank Garrison and the crack shack team! We will be back! read more

Crack shack provided a coupon for a less than stellar experience. That was great. But when I went to use the coupon just now, we were unable to apply it. The coupon was a code that said it could be used for "next order." Not in person, not takeout, not online or phone--it didn't stipulate. Just said next order. When I clicked on the coupon it said "are you sure you want to use this coupon? Once you open the link it will only be valid 15 minutes." So I called in the order, and my wife went to pick it up. When she got there I opened the link and the coupon prompted me to order online. My wife showed the employee the coupon code that and the staff said sorry that's for online orders. So now that coupon expired and we didn't get to use it. Poor communication and poor service that's two bad experiences in a row. Really angry. read more

My son and I love Next Level chef, and have been excited to try all of Chef Blaise's Southern California restaurants. We had a free day today and decided to drive down to Costa Mesa after church to try The Crack Shack. We loved our experience! From the inside/outside ambiance, to the kind staff, to the thoughtful touches like a table top paper towel roll (you need it!), and the sink to wash up afterwards, we felt comfy and card for. And then there was the chicken. Goodness, it's good. My son loved his "Katsu Lookin" sandwich and I was so happy, as someone with gluten intolerance, to get to enjoy fried chicken! It was wonderfully crispy on the outside and dripping with juiciness inside. I think Chef Blaise would have been proud of the experience we received. We were all-around impressed! The only tough part was having to drive back to LA after eating such an epic lunch. The 405 is not compatible with a food coma :) Thanks Crack Shack! We'll be back! read more

Really good fried chicken! All the sandwitches are tasty as well. Of course you can also get a salad if your diet prefers it over fried food. Must try at least once, fried chicken at is. The drinks are also good. They have a wide selection of beer and a cocktail list that's very tasty. A cool place to hang out. Good for everyone, family time during the day and a fun hang out place for adults. I got the raspberry moscow mule with we shared a 5 piece chicken. Plenty of food! read more

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Expensive. Underwhelming. Salad was boring. Gets and chicken taste the same. The atmosphere is nice and casual though. read more

This place was bomb ! I have the Firebird, mini biscuits, and the shack fries ! Delicious 10/10 and they have the best service, as well as games to play ! Will be back ! & thank you to Camille for an awesome experience! read more

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The service at the order counter wasn't great. After telling the person twice that my order was a "for here", it was delivered to me as a to go order. So I had to put all the ingredients together myself. The one good thing about this experience was the bartender. He was very nice. read more

I always like to be bring friends here for good food and a super cool atmosphere. The seating area is 2-stories, open air, pet-friendly, and beautifully decorated. My faves: Biscuits with miso-butter, Fried Chicken, Firebird Sandwich I've never had a problem finding parking in the back lot as well. Oh, and they also serve alcohol! read more

Like most if not all other Yelpers have said, these guys know how to fry chicken! To say it is really good is stating the obvious. The ambiance is casual comfort with a side of hang out and chill. My advice is order more than you want as you will want it the next day and leftovers are key. They have a sauce bar that has 8 or so different sauces and we did try them all but to be honest you don't need any of them...maybe for dipping fries in?? read more

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

First time here we wanted something yummy after a long day at the beach and HOLYYYY COWWW this exceeded our expectations insanely!!! The cali drip sandwich dipped in their amazing bbq and sriracha sauce and the Mexican poutine fries was the most mouth watering food I've had in awhile! The people there are so nice and the restaurant is pretty and aesthetic if your nearby stop here!!! (If your not make the drive anyways 100% worth it)) ;) read more

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

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I'm so glad The Crack Shack is now here closer to me! I first tried it in San Diego and really enjoyed it there. Thankful that this location's food is just as good and I seriously love the environment here. Super cute set up with the way the restaurant is laid out - little games available and big screen and bar and second story seating. My favorite is the firebird sandwich, so much flavor! I honestly am not a chicken sandwich person, but that's what I have to get here. I've had bites of others' sandwiches but I didn't enjoy any of them as much as the firebird. Get their fries!!!! It's really a must with your order, I don't know what they do to season it but it's bomb and crispy and soft at the same time - obviously depends on each fry but fries are just so good, ugh craving them now with this review lol. The biscuits are small and warm and soft and cute too, so good with their brown sugar butter and honey! I've tried their fried chicken as well, but not a super big fan of the batter and how their chicken is. It's ok though, love the sandwich and fries more anyways! Also super big fan of their sauce bar with such a huge variety of choices. Literally go try them ALL! read more

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one of the best fried chicken spots in the area. Although it is more on the expensive side, the flavor and spice of the chicken makes me want to come back for more. I had the Fried Chicken and Firebird Sandwich. the sauces provided gives another level of variety and flavor I will definitely come back to try other sandwiches read more

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

Amazing fried chicken place with a fun atmosphere, delicious fried food, a full bar with great happy hour specials, friendly helpful fun servers, great bartenders, and quick table service. We tried the fried pickles, spicy biscuit sliders, chicken lollipops, fried chicken, deviled eggs, a couple items modified to be gluten free, and several drinks. Not only was the food and drinks outstanding, but the servers and bartenders were very friendly, extremely helpful, jovial, and efficient. They made the visit joyous and made us want to return again soon. read more

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Food quality and service has gone way downhill. My wife and I used to eat here once per week. The last couple of times the food quality was not as good, and this time is even worse. The service has also gone downhill: we called an order in, went to pick it up, paid for the order, and 15 minutes later, I had to ask where it was. It was outside where it had been sitting for a while in the cold. Also, the bag that the food was in already had a tear in it when they gave it to me, and the handle broke as soon as I picked it up. It's unfortunate because this used to be the best chicken shack around, but far from it these days. read more

I was very excited to try out this cool little hangout with an awesome name that made me super curious to try its offerings. i got the firebird sandwich which the clerk said was the most popular item along with 6 pieces of the fried chicken. My wife got the classic sandwich and then we sat down with a half dozen little cups of sauces to enjoy our feast! The food was served within 5 minutes of sitting down! Amazing efficiency! The firebird had a crispy coating of seasoned goodness that created a nice contrast in textures. The chicken was juicy and hot but not too spicy. A slathering of sriracha sauce added some kick to the cool and sweet pickles. A great start! The fried chicken was seasoned and came out piping hot. I still like my chicken with out breading but this was pretty good. True to it's name, I got my fix, experienced a nice high and then my body told me not to do it again for at least a month! read more

Crack shack is still decent, but when they opened their century city store, it just hit different, this store didn't even have the crack'sup anymore and some of the items they had before were no longer available, the chicken even tasted a bit different. read more

The Crack Shack - Chicken sandwich and fries that have lost their edge - Chicken Shop Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The Baja Chop Salad with grilled chicken breast is NOT worth the money. It was a total rip off! I received approximately 3-4 ounces of burnt flavorless chicken breast and the salad was served in a 4x6 cardboard box for $18.00. Tiny portions and basic ingredients at a premium price is not what I expected. After posting my review about that sad overly priced salad, it seems the manager is only sorry about me posting a bad review. Never mind my disappointment. Not even a come back and let us make it up to you on us invite. Instead, I got a "call us to investigate" and when you come back, we hope you like it. LOL! Wow! What's there to investigate? You see the pictures of the food your restaurant served me! By the time I get home to eat it, it's a bit too late to fix it. No matter what the manager says, the portion size of the salad versus the price still doesn't justify the amount they charge for it. read more

Meh !!! Must be a local favorite/hangout. 3 Firebird sandwiches, 1 Jidori Tenders, 1 large fry and 2 drinks for $75. It was our first time here. For $75 I kinda expect to tell myself "mmm...this is good". Nope. My daughter said her tenders didn't have any flavor unless you were dipping them in sauce. Son only ate half of his firebird. I think the wife and I enjoyed our 1 beer each more than our firebird sandwiches. Ambiance and service were good....off to the next... read more

This is a decent spot to get a chicken sandwich. It has a large parking lot in the back and the ordering process is easy: order at the front window, take a number and go inside to find your own seating. I really enjoy the environment because of the high ceilings and open-air layout with natural light coming in. There's a bar on the left side and good music playing. This would be a good place to hangout to watch sports on their multiple TVs around the restaurant. Coop Deville (6/10): This sandwich isn't too crazy or special, but is a staple of what you would picture when thinking of a chicken sandwich. I was a bit worried about getting chicken breast that was dry, but mine came out tender and juicy. I liked the slaw on the sandwich, but like a few other reviews, I felt that this sandwich was a bit soggy, especially the bottom bun. I probably wouldn't order this again in the interest of trying something more exciting that I wouldn't find elsewhere. But, if you're looking for something nice and simple, this is a good choice. In my opinion, pricey for what it is. Mexican poutine (8/10): This is probably the item with the best value on the menu. For $12, I expected something that would be a nice side to share between 2 people. Instead, we were given a heaping tray that could probably feed 3-4 people! Not only is it a huge portion, it had lots of chicken that balanced out the amount of fries, cheese, and salsa that was on it. Order this only if you have a few people to share with; otherwise, you'll be taking home a lot of leftovers. I was pretty disappointed by the sauces. They had interesting names and I was excited to try them, but they overall didn't hit the mark for me. I think sauces are really important for chicken, but if I go back, I wouldn't grab anything other than ranch and ketchup to be honest. One of the best things about this place is how quickly the food comes out. The line was long when I was ordering, but we got our food within 10-15 minutes after. Give this a try for some chicken sandwiches in a great atmosphere! read more

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

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Crack Shack really is the perfect name for this place. After the first bite of their fried chicken, my thought was "I think they put crack in their batter" lol. The bf and I had tried to go to our of their SD locations over a holiday weekend but just didn't have enough time so a few days later, we made our way to the Costa Mesa spot! FOOD: - Coop Deville sandwich - I really liked the bread in this sandwich, but personally, I didn't like the pickles and thought the slaw was too tart/pickly. But that's just my opinion - I probably ordered the wrong sandwich. - 5 piece fried chicken - yum. Super crunchy, great flavor without being overly salty and the chicken was still juicy inside. Lots of craft beers offered on tap as well as wine and cocktails. They also have a sauce bar with 6 different sauce options. SERVICE: Order at the counter outside, grab a number and they bring you your food pretty darn quickly. Friendly and fast and they clear your table for you when you're done. VENUE: Parking is easy in the lot behind the restaurant and the space is really nice! Two stories and we had no trouble finding seating. Would def come back! read more

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

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I like this place. It's setup where you order the food at the outside window, find a seat inside and they deliver the food to your table. The parking situation wasn't great, very crowded, hard to find a spot. Be careful not to park in the neighboring business spaces or u can be towed. I got the 1/2 fried chicken and I must say it was above average, although I felt like it needed salt. They put some seasoning on it but it's not enough. The biscuits are delicious as is the accompanying butter. I was not impressed with the deviled eggs, very bland. My wife got the coop de ville sammich and was very pleased with that item. I would definitely come back here, the ambience is pretty cool and food is good. The only recommendation is to get rid of the corn hole toss and add more tables, this place gets crowded. read more

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One of the most unique fried chicken sandwiches I have had, but the prices are steep. The very large and generous chicken pieces make up for it, but I did not love the sides that I got (which I forgot, but I remember not loving whatever I got). The location is super convenient and the restaurant is larger than what meets the eye. I came here during lunch but, it looks to be a great place to hang out after work or for happy hour or for a group gathering. read more

eat um yum done fast and tastle fun and I love hot red dip very hot and spicy I really like

First time We came to check out Crack Shack for an early lunch at 11 am on Thursday. The restaurant has a nice casual and super clean feel. You park in the back in only the spots labeled crack shack parking only. There'a a sign that says to park in crack shack labeled parking only or you will be towed by neighboring tenants. Once you order, there are dipping sauces and drinks (variety of craft sodas) inside. My son ran straight for the corn hole game and played as we waited for the food. Pros: -attention to detail in all aspects of the restaurant -great service front and back of house -food was hot and fresh -plenty of seating first and upstairs levels -full bar Cons: -for me, I felt like the chicken could have used a pinch more salt -sandwiches are a little pricey Ordered: -(5) piece chicken -$7 kids meal (comes with chicken or grilled cheese, apple juice, cookie, and fries or carrots) -$5 miso side salad Overall, if you like fried food and you are hungry, come check this place out. I would come here again. And I really like to support the chefs from Top Chef (Go Richard Blaze!) read more

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We visited the Crack Shack because we need a place for 20 guys. The first thing that surprised me about the Shack is we lined up on the sidewalk to place our orders. Perhaps it was a hole in the wall joint at one time and the set up just continues to this date. The Shack has plenty of seats including a second floor seating area. The place is well-lit and you can look up to see the sky. I ordered half a fried chicken (5 pcs) for $15. The batter was too thick for my taste and the chicken was fatty. Overall the food is okay but rather pricy. It's a good place to hang out with guys but not a place for me by myself. read more

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First let me say I travel a long way to get chicken at this place so it is doubly hard when it isn't good. I ordered a fried thigh and an order of the Fries. BTW they raised the price of one piece thigh yet again. $8.00 for a piece of chicken. The fries are always excellent. I rave about them to everyone as an orgasmic experience and I love the chicken when it is cooked right. It seems to happen more often on to go orders. They have heard from me before on this. It was edible it just didn't seem fresh and burnt on the other side. I probably should have took it apart before I left but I shouldn't have to do that. Very disappointed. I guess I need to find a new place closer. read more

This food was excellent!!! I don't give too many 5 stars! Social distancing , hand sanitizer and masks were all obvious. Parking was simple. The inside was open and airy. Stopped here passing thru and so glad we did!! Everything and I mean everything was delicious! Prices are reasonable, good location! The biscuits melt in your mouth and are so good even if alone! The fries, scrumptious! Nice and hot with lots of flavor! All four of us were just in heaven eating! The Mexican Poutine came unassembled since it was to-go. The cheese, chicken and spices came in a bowl and it was a big serving .Also came with sour cream, cheese and cilantro. That cheese concoction was to die for! The chicken was so seasoned and tender, the cheese hot and good! Did I mention they have a local sodas and the choices are amazing! I had the pineapple cream soda and it was so good! The flavor was outstanding! Cannot wait to go next time I'm in the area! read more

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Every. Bite. Was fantastic! Such an easy place to feed the kids as well. The menu has something for everyone, the environment is kid and group friendly and very accommodating. Everything was fresh and flawless. A great experience!! We'll be back soon! read more

I wanted to leave a 1 star in hopes to get on bathroom wallpaper. However it was too good. Could use a little saltier seasoning on the chicken but everything was amazing. Make sure to try the pineapple mustard. read more

Catchy name, crunchy chicken, mild on the spicy stuff - can't go wrong. My only request would be warmer ketchup. - Malik

Good chicken sandwich here, however if you're looking for some spice you need to ask them to add the Firebird sauce. Our favorite is the Señor Croque which has melted cheese a brioche bun and miso mayo, it's really good but add the Firebird sauce trust me, some like the included egg, but you can also have them remove it. Fries are cut in house with skin on, they are cooked to perfection here and the BBQ sauce pairs well with them. read more

The place was really cool and the vibe was awesome and the best part was the fact that they allow dogs. The also provide dog bowls for the little ones. That aside, the food was delicious and worth the money being spent there. If you want to hang back and drink cocktails or a beer then there's a bar across the booth seating area as well. Food pics to show the grub. read more

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

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