Amazing gluten-free chicken. Celiac friendly and safe with a knowledgeable staff. We'll definitely be back!

The Chicken Oysters is literally CRACK! I can't share them. Love the sauce it comes with. I'm not a fan of what would usually be tartar sauce but this one was amazing IMO. I never had heard of it before until my sister and brother-in-law had mentioned of it. The moment I had a go at the Chicken Oysters was the moment I fell in love with this place. They are crispy without being oily. Flavorful. I must've had gone here another 2 more times before having to fly back to Hawaii. We all had to get our own order of the Chicken Oysters. Had given the Mexican Poutine a shot. It was so much food. It's a shareable kind of food. Went into a food coma when eating the Poutine with the Oysters. Took 2 days to finish the Poutine but still yummy. If anything, I think my husband would've loved the Poutine if he were with me at the time. Perhaps the next time I'm back in California I'll give their sandwiches a try. read more

I have been waiting for this to open since I heard that some of San Diego's best chef's were opening a casual fried chicken restaurant not 5 minutes from where I live. It did not disappoint. The place was PACKED but my two energetic boys still had something to do while I waited for my food which was HUGE. Then the food. Oh my God, the food! I got take out and had my first piece on the ride home. It exceeded my already high expectations by miles and miles. I've told everyone at work that I just had the best chicken of my life. Even the coleslaw was incredible. If this place can consistently deliver the quality of food I had last night I will likely have a new #1 favorite spot. Can't wait to get home and see how the leftovers are. If they are half as good as what I had last night I will be STOKED. read more

Mexican fries. Just to it! Array of fusion sauces cannot be beat. Well seasoned chicken & carefully crafted cocktails in a casual yet chic space set in a non-descript strip mall in Encinitas! read more

Went for my birthday lunch this past week and it was great. The deviled eggs are to die for. My girlfriend had the blue cheese chicken salad and I had the hummus/veggie/quinoa salad. While I would have voted the blue cheese chicken salad as the winner; both were great. Love the vibe here and the bar is great as well. read more

Finally made it over to try out The Crack Shack. Wasn't all it was "cracked" up to be. Thought the venue itself was cool looking. Love the open air concept and it was a great view as the sun went down. So there was that. But now to the nitty gritty. Employees were very nice and friendly, but the menu was a bit tricky in terms of trying to understand the portions and what would constitute a meal for two people. We ordered the five piece chicken with the Border Slaw, Wedge salad, Schmaltz Fried Fries, a wine and ice tea. The chicken was very tasty. I enjoyed it..but it was weird eating chicken and then watching a video of chickens up on the wall. (The video was on repeat and was idyllic with chickens going out to the green pasture. Made me wonder when they lowered the boom on them. :( ) Hubby didn't think the chicken was all that and the man LOVES fried chicken. Reminded him of the taste of Ramen noodles. Liked the Border Slaw, if you like tropical fruit. The Schmaltz fries were nothing to write home about. Of course we had to inquire what the Schmaltz was exactly...which is duck fat or chicken fat or some kind of fat or flavor, depending on how you view it. Since this obviously wasn't the place to worry about calories, we gave them a try. They were fine, but nothing to write home about. Some were crispy, some were not....flavor wasn't unique or worth the extra calories. So a big ol...Meh. The Wedge...well...was not a wedge. It's a bowl of wilted lettuce, that had obviously been pre-made, but for both of us, who love a good Wedge salad, neither of us took more than a bite. We did order the side salad version, but regardless of size it was unimpressive. No bueno. The cost: About 57.00 with tip. For a casual dinning experience, the venue was great but for the money...not feeling it. No WOW factor to be had. We wondered if we just didn't know the right items to order, but we did ask for recommendations and we got what we got. Probably won't be back. read more

If you like chicken, or even if you don't, you have to try this place. We ordered the Firebird, the five piece chicken, biscuits and a side miso salad. Everything was GREAT! The chicken is cooked perfectly and the skin is soooo crispy and tasty. The Korean BBQ sauce is da bomb. The biscuits and maple butter melt in your mouth. The salad is a great complement to the fried goodness. And I don't ever drink soda- but theirs are the best!! The orange ginger drink was refreshing. The people who work there are extremely happy and nice- they're doing something right at this place. Can't wait to go back!! read more

Really good, good beer selection, full bar, food was excellent, service was excellent, neat little spot.

You order at the cashier and seat yourself at this place. Food was good, we got the anti salad power bowl was really fresh and good also got the g bird sandwich for my husband who said it was good but not filling and the kids meal chicken nuggets that comes with a cookie which was bomb. They're also a bit overpriced for a chicken meal. read more

We love coming here. Great vibe. The kids love playing in the sandbox :) The food is great. The chef Paul came out and spoke to us. Very friendly and fun! read more

Dear Crack Shack: I love you. Please open an outpost in the Bay Area, preferably in the East Bay. Some of the best fried chicken I've had, right up there with Addendum. And the chicken sandwiches rival Bakesale Betty's in its heyday. My kids didn't care for your grilled cheese sandwiches on the kids menu, but that won't stop us from coming back next time we are in SoCal. XO! read more

Nice spot with really bomb chicken!!! Seriously the food is excellent!!! It's also close enough to the beach to be able to head to moonlight beach after eating and enjoy the beautiful ocean views! read more

The Crack is where it's at! Such an improvement to Encinitas and especially the dated shopping center it's in. From the minute you walk up to the outdoor registers, you're greeted with chickens clucking in the distance and huge flat screen monitors showing your delicious menu choices! They even have infrared heaters hanging in the line so guests don't get chilly. Our chicken friends are celebrated and respected here. Yes, yes.....they're ALSO being deep fried and eaten, but what a life the chickens enjoy free-ranging and clucking it up on a private farm in LA before D-Day. I got the Señor Croque Sandwich and it was perfect! The Encinitas Crack Shack has a full bar, bocce ball court, TVs, a sauce bar, sand box for the kiddies, and cornhole! The motif in itself is oh so satisfying!...reminiscent of a country farm house, but with a modern twist complete with all the stylish fixin's! They're dog friendly, with a big outdoor patio and GM Abraham Baptista was really great!...he took the time to come over and chat, say hello to our doggy and took care of us like we were his only guests! We can't wait to go back again! read more

The Crack Shack - Crack Shack is where it's at! - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Gourmet Fried Chicken ! And then some . Sandwich's are all 100% Dee-lish . Fries fried in duck fat - Yes please. Either take out or eat in and the food is great. I love the cocktails too . Our Bartender ( guy with a stache ) was funny and made a great libation . Great set up to watch the sports on TV . All in all , very happy that I live 10 mins driving from this place . Thank you . read more

MIND BLOWN! Incredible chicken, kids meals are a great size and the prices are GREAT! Can't wait to come back!! read more

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

Came here with one of my littles to catch up. Prices are on the more expensive side, especially for a sandwich. You do get a big piece of chicken, so if that's your thing, you may like this place a lot. After tax and tip, you are paying about $14-15 for a sandwich that doesn't come with any sides, so I am not sure if I would be back since I wasn't a huge fan. To be fair though, the chicken was juicy, so I will give them that. read more

I really wanted to love this place great Ambien, nice staff and good looking menu but the food itself is mediocre at best We ordered deviled eggs, kids meal and two sandwiches Deviled eggs where nice but nothing to brag about (my grandma make better eggs...) The fries with the kids meal was dreeping with oil and the nagets itself tasted like shredded cardboard my kids refused to eat it. The sandwiches won the title as just ok sandwiches the chicken inside was the size of a turkey breast (what kind of crazy chicken they are using?) It tasted like braised chicken that was breaded and fried so nasty... It's so disappointing to go to a place the "specialized" in chicken and get stuff I can get at any fast food . read more

Easy pickup. Food was hot and great!! We had it all, fried chicken, schmaltz fries, 2 sandwiches and tons of sauces. Ready in 10 Minutes. No wait in line. read more

This place is hopping , excellent chicken sandwich and biscuits to die for . I got a treat when it first opened when I saw Richard Blais , owner and Top Chef winner , My Fam frequent this place and its a great (loud )place to take our guests read more

The name of this place offends me but we went in for a try. They brine their chicken and I am not a fan of the texture after brining. I wanted to taste their biscuits but was told I had to buy an entire order. I declined and the next thing I know the manager kindly brought me a sample so I give him 5 stars ! They were ok only. Other than that, I like the big chicken standing out front and the sight of families inside as I drive by but the name still turns me off big time. read more

Go for the 3pm to 6pm Mon-Fri Happy Hour to get the most for your money. Unique cocktails - well presented by their bartenders - are priceworthy @$6 ... we had two cocktails each plus one appetizer for about $32. .... Atmosphere is fine. The location is dog friendly. Ample parking. Easy freeway access. Non-Happy Hour prices are a bit more than we ordinarily go for....e.g.... $10+ cocktails read more

It's only 3 stars just because the food isn't all that worth it, but the service was awesome the servers were really nice.

Food is top notch, sourced locally and so much better then you'd expect. Fresh vibe, sit back and enjoy great eats. Aloha. read more

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

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Because of the hype, I have to try it. The first time I went, chicken pieces was flavorless. I thought maybe they were really busy and ran out of the prepped chicken. Went back the 2nd time, same results. I'll be honest, I didn't try their sandwiches. Very pricey for what you get. If you want good fried chicken, go to Popeyes. If you want good chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A is better. read more

I'm not sure how this restaurant could not be 5 stars?! Our experience started on the phone when I called about reserving a table(s) for 30 people. Gino, the manager was wonderful! And although they don't necessarily take reservations, he said he would do what he could to accommodate, find him upon our arrival and he'd get us in. We arrived and another wonderful employee helped us to a room in the back where they had saved 4 huge tables for us! So great! We then all headed back out to order. The employee taking orders was fantastic and answered all our menu questions with great detail and enthusiasm. The food is so, so good and different from anything we have in Phoenix- please consider opening in Central Phx!! Prices are right on considering the quality. It's not Kentucky Fried Chicken so you are getting what you pay for. Overall our experience was 5+stars. I can't thank Gino and his staff enough for taking care of our group from the very beginning. We will be sure to tell everyone in Az that we highly recommend!! read more

Holy YUMMINESS!! I love the fried chicken!! The skin is super crispy and not oily and the meat was juicy and has so much flavor. One of the best fried chicken I've ever tasted! We also ordered the coleslaw and that is light and tasty and goes perfectly with the fried chicken! 'Crack Shack' is so appropriately termed as I just can't get enough of it!!! I'm totally looking into my next excuse to come back to SD and I haven't even left! read more

The Crack Shack - Fried chicken and slaw - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

I love their open space setup, the restaurant is really clean. The sandwiches are very well served, I was starving when I walked in and couldn't finish it so the hubby had to step in. They're sauce/drink/to-go bar is very clean and efficient. I love their creativity with the menu. read more

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

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Only have eaten here once but I was not expecting such a hip modern vibe from the name lol. The food options are a little minimal but over all very tasty food. They have a full size bar area inside. Love that the soda options are not the average cola brand. Tried the acai lemonade and it was very refreshing. The condiments are very cool as well. They're not your typical sauces. Love that everything is kind of get it yourself. Like if you want to refill your soda or condiments. As well as if you need to go boxes they're right by the soda fountain. To me, as my first experience, the place was really good. Definitely worth a try. The atmosphere, food, drink, everything was great. read more

The food is already excellent, but we also had great service from staff. Arturo was especially helpful taking care of our table and making everything easier with our kids. read more

Wow! It is so nice to take a break and have some really good "comfort food". I ordered takeout and it was scrumptious. The fried chicken was crunchy on the outside and super moist, tender (and hot) on the inside. I couldn't resist the Deviled Eggs to start off my meal. Mixed this meal with an ice cold beer and it was a winner!! read more

Arrived at 500pm on a Wed. to give Crack Shack our first try. First impressions, stood in line for 18 min. to place our order. Once seated inside, waited 17 min. for our food. I compare it to a long wait for a ride at Disneyland. Staff recognized the wait by serving samples of their soft serve ice cream. Akin to Costco sampling, sales pitch included, maybe not the best. Was the wait it worth it, HAPPILY YES! We ordered the 10 piece fried chicken, original slaw & fries, 2 drinks. The fried chicken is perfect, crispy, seasoned to perfection, moist! Drink bar and sauce bar is remarkable. The conversion of the Marie Calendar's is well done, nice interiors replete with rooster crows big screens, cool bar. They definitely created a contemporary urban chicken vibe, nice! Would we come back? Perhaps after the Grand Opening settles in or after we discover how to avoid the waiting line. Crack Shack is a welcomed addition to the Encinitas food scene. 5 stars if they can solve the wait, both inside and out read more

Finally got to the new Crack Shack in Encinitas! Ordered fried chicken, fries, and coleslaw. A delicious combination and still a lot of food for 2 people. Good inside/outside ambience. Full bar and tvs. Looking forward to calling in an order for fried chicken, picking it up and heading down to the beach for a sunset viewing this summer. Gotta love North County San Diego and now we have our own Crack Shack!!!! read more

I genuinely enjoyed this place. I got the Firebird and my boyfriend got the 5 piece fried chicken and the border slaw. And holy moly... fried chicken was amazing: perfectly juicy and wonderfully crispy. I've never eaten fried chicken so deliciously combining these two traits. My life can be divided now into two phases: before crack shack and after crack shack. Yes, it was that noteworthy. The Firebird was delicious as well, and not too spicy even for me, a spice noob. The border slaw (basically a tropical fruit salad) was a nice balance to our heavier dishes , but I wouldn't get it again. Come here if you have the chance! read more

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The menu is nothing special. Too expensive for simple chicken but no taste, you don't even get a side fries for what you order. Fries alone is $ 6.00 way over price. Place is nothing special. Waitress is not friendly. I'd rather go to Chick Fili or KFC. I will never go back. read more

I've been a fan of the Little Italy Crack Shack and was in North County area and thought I would check this new location out. Crowded during lunch hour, and taste is still great. But I still favor the Little Italy location versus this one. My go to is the Señor Croque-the fried egg, bacon, and chicken all together is damn delicious! read more

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Great service. Sat 6 feet away from others outside. The chicken is moist and tender. The firebird was pretty spicy. Enjoyed all the sauces. read more

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

Best chicken I've had! Very juicy and flavorful! 2 thumbs up! Pricey but well worth it. And the pineapple cream soda omg!

The Crack Shack never disappoints. I love the Little Italy location, and the new one in Encinitas is just as wonderful. Their sandwiches are top-notch. I love the addition of some new salads to the menu, too. They have all kinds of fun sauces that you can add to your meal, too. Their drinks are good, although perhaps a little pricey. The line can definitely take a while, but it's worth the wait! This location has tons of parking. If there is no seating available, you can just get it to-go and take your food down to Moonlight Beach. The dining area is relaxed and kid friendly. They even have a game area with corn hole and golf. Definitely worth coming back again and again! read more

Hmmm. Wasn't too bad. Wouldn't go out of my way to go here. Food was okay, not terrible. Setup is strange where you stand outside to order, then grab a seat... What if there are no tables? Eat in the car? Lol. Looks like there is plenty of seating though. It was also weird that you have to walk outside to go to the restroom. Luckily we live in SoCal with beautiful weather or else this would be a bust having to stand in the rain to order your food and to go to the restroom. read more

I have been twice and have been unimpressed with the chicken both times. I thought maybe I went on an off day the first time. My business colleague and I were both underwhelmed. Second time? Same thing. read more