Food was delicious! Firebird for the husband, little cluckers for the kids, and a power bowl for me all perfection! But what prompted me to write this review was the service and kindness from our server Nicole. It seems like genuine smiles and great service are a little harder to come by these days, so I want to celebrate it when it happens! Nicole went out of her way to make us feel comfortable bringing our dog whipped cream and our kids chalk! She was so welcoming and sweet and we had a great experience because of her! Thanks Nicole! read more

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

Great place, family friendly (including the dog!) They have good chicken sandwiches, cold beer, and fantastic dipping sauces. What more do you want from a chicken place? read more

This place was great.It had everything it had a sand pit and it toke the kids away to have some time to talk with my husband. read more

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

I haven't been here since it first opened, and I was in for a pleasant refresher! We arrived at what seemed to be peak time, so the line to order was a little slow but the food arrived quickly. I like the selection of beer and cocktails, especially the holiday one. We ordered the Cali Drip and the chef's special, the Katsu chicken sandwich. My friend who ordered the Katsu chicken sandwich too pointed it out that the chicken seemed to be regular fried, not necessarily with panko. But it was still very good - I loved the potato bun, aioli, cabbage, and pickles (and thankfully it didn't come with onions so I didn't have to take them off)! Overall good and I'll be back eventually! read more

The Crack Shack - Chef's special - Katsu chicken sandwich - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Holy yum!! Ok outside of the wait time for taking our order to go after placing in store, this spot was fire! I wanted to go back the next day. I got the special which was the katsu chicken sandwich and my husband got the firebird. Then we got a huge order of fried and biscuits. So yummy!!! Will def be coming back for this chicken Sammy! read more

See all

We had a great experience today with cashier Dean ! He was friendly , accommodating and gave some good suggestions ! I eat out a lot and rarely get this type of service ! The food was great ! And we love stopping in and getting a bite on our way home from SD ! Make sure you get a cookie for there and one to take home ! read more

Saw it on yelp after we went pet searching. It was very close to the ranch coastal humane society so we gave it a shot. The got a bunch of sauces and the seasoned fries are on point. I went back and tried em with all the sauces. Note: i drafted this about 5 years ago and i guess i never posed it. But i can assure you 5 years ago this place was awesome. read more

The food here is always top notch. I seriously do not know how anyone can give them less than 5 stars. I've never had a bad experience or bad food here. Yes, it's on the pricier side but it's WORTH IT. Their Senor Croque (like a croque monsieur) is terrific. Excellent, quality, bun, huge chunk of real chicken (not processed chickie feet and such), fried egg, and thick bacon. You can't go wrong. Check out their special offerings, too. I tried the Mikey D'Rosen which is a chicken broccoli rabe with a jus dip. It's apparently modeled after a Philly restaurant's sandwich which, I'm guessing, uses roast pork and not chicken. It was hearty, had tons of flavor, and also had a perfect amount of spice/heat. Their shakes are solid, too. They taste like the real deal without a lot of artificial crap. And always, always, always, get their "shmaltz" fries. I could eat a thousand of them. This is a well-run restaurant, with very good, quality, food. You really get what you pay for here. read more

See all

Everything is damn good! Salads with chicken are the way to go if you want a healthier option to the sandwiches. But don't skip out on the fries or biscuits! read more

The Crack Shack stepped up and really took care of my concerns and made up for my disappointment on my previous visit. I love the food here and the look and feel of the restaurant I will be back again and again read more

The Crack Shack - Overcooked, soggy and greasy fries - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

I have never had a bad meal at The Crack Shack, whether it's the location In Encinitas or Little Italy. Since the one in Encinitas is closest to my house, we frequent it regularly and especially under covid. The go-to for my husband and me is usually the Senor Croque, which is a toasted brioche bun, slathered with miso butter, fried chicken breast, a over medium egg on top, cheese and bacon. It's everything you could ask for in a sandwich and has such a depth of flavor and texture to it. A must try are their fries, cooked in chicken fat and served with either their house made ranch or their cracksup which I can't ever seem to get enough of. I miss their deviled eggs, enjoy their biscuits with the miso butter, their fried chicken on the bone is flavorful and delicious as is their poutine fries and their fruit slaw and regular slaw. Their stubborn sodas, especially their pineapple cream, is soooo good. Thanks to Crack Shack for packaging everything up safely to go and also having ample seating for those that want to dine in the airy establishment. read more

The Crack Shack - Senor Croque Sandwich - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

I came here after the car show and wanted to watch the Giants Niners game so I drove to Oggis. I saw that the Crack Shack was a few doors down so since I heard good things about it I decided to go . When I went in it wasn't crowded like I expected since there was the game on. I went in the back where the giant tv was divided into 4 sections No one came after 15 minutes of me sitting there. I asked a helper that was bussing tables to get one one. Still nobody cane over so I ordered a 5 piece fried chicken, schmaltz fries and a soda. The chicken had the breast in two pieces rather than one piece. One of the pieces was a weird shape and didnt have much meat and the other piece had little batter on the top and was dry and overcooked The drumstick and thigh when I got toward the bone it was raw inside in places so I ate around it. The wing was overly battered and hard and thick. The chicken was a total mess. The fries I received were completely greasy which meant that the oil or schmaltz was not cooked at a high enough temp. I sent them back but the second batch was t any better. When I walked to get my drinks at the founain I kooked at the food and especially the fries at other tables and the food looked betterand the fries were not greasy. Overall a total disaster and I doubt I will be back as it is overpriced for the quality of the food served read more

Food was great as always. Split a couple sandos and chicken oysters (must have) with pops for his first time. Only issue is the music selection. Theres no need to listen to listen to mopey rappers with piss attitudes and loud swearing over dinner. Give me some happy ambiance and something cheerful to listen to. read more

The Crack Shack is a great place to get your fried chicken "fix"! We've stopped here twice over the last couple of months when visiting nearby Carlsbad. Just a short drive down from the popular beach town to get a great version of fried chicken. My recommendation is to stick to the usual fried chicken pieces as its got a great breading and crispy exterior white not sacrificing the juicy interior of the meat! The poutine fries I tried on my second visit and was severely disappointed. It was just a soggy mess, but I am not typically a poutine fan anyways, and I had already had their awesome fries on my first visit..plain! The "fire nuggets", which are just small bite sized nuggets tossed in a buffalo sauce, are good but doesn't replace the need to simply order their fried chicken. A very good spot to get great chicken, and an even cooler outdoor dining area that is unique for sure! read more

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

This place has THE ABSOLUTE WORST French fries that I've ever tasted in my life!! I actually send them back bc I thought they made a mistake in not having the oil ready (not hot enough..) But the redo's were equally disgusting. You could squeeze the grease dripping out of them absolutely gross beyond comprehension.... The staff told me they seemed normal to them, 'that's the way they are....' read more

My second time at this location! I had the señor croque. I thought all the toppings took a little bit away from the chicken itself. The chicken is so so good, tender and juicy. I realized next time I will try the chicken on its own (without the sandwich and toppings). I loved their fries and there were plenty in the small size. I also love the selection of sauces But the star of the show was definitely the cookie milkshake which was so creamy and delicious, and so beautifully presented as well. Will be back! read more

See all

I've only had the Downward Dog bowl but it's soooooo good!! I ordered it both times without raisins so I'm not sure how that changes the over all taste but there's so much flavor in this whole mix and even better if have them toss it with the dressing (instead of on the side). It doesn't contain chickpeas/garbanzo beans like some of their pictures show, it's hummus instead. I do wish it had the chickpeas and I think the portion could be a little bigger. It wasn't really filling enough to be a whole meal but a larger option would be perfect...might be that I was just super hungry both times and had just worked out. I'm still giving it 5 stars based on taste and freshness and how grateful I am for something so healthy that tastes so great! read more

The Crack Shack - Downward Dog Bowl - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

My boyfriend and I love the Crack Shack, so we knew this location wouldn't disappoint. We ordered the fries, mini biscuits, and the Coop Deville. All was really great! You order outside at the cashier and then you seat yourself and the food will be brought to you. They have indoor and outdoor patio seating. Definitely recommend and can't wait to go back! read more

See all

Fries and chicken nuggets grade A Vibe cool and chill grade A Fitz at the bar A ++++++ read more

Tried the Katsu Sandwich. It needs some actual Katsu sauce on it and it would have been amazing. The aioli on it soaked into the bun and I could barely taste it. Was hoping it would have been better read more

Plenty of parking. Before you walk inside, you order and they will give you a number to put on the table of your choice. The chicken itself was crunchy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside. The sweet heat was more sweet than spicy, thankfully, I ordered it on the side. The fries were very homemade which is good and as for the chicken sandwich, my husband gobbled up the whole entire thing. There is plenty of seatings from indoor to outdoor, which was really nice. read more

See all

Great food and some delicious sauces. I absolutely love the way that they make their chicken. It's mouthwatering just thinking about it. Service is quick and lovely staff. I love how the testy has an outdoor seating and indoor but it feels super relaxed and you can watch the games on their large TVs. Fries are also great! read more

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

Very yummy food, especially the Mexican poutine, carter was a very hospitable bartender read more

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

Stopped here for the mad hype of the stories I've heard about this place.. in my photos are The Firebird, The Senior Coup, Sauces , biscuits , strawberry milkshake and Soda... The Firebird it's a Hot chicken sandwich.. Was told it's like eating hot Cheetos. It's about the same spice as Wendy's Spicy Chicken sandwich, not impressed at all.. it was good, not great!! The Senior was good too ( says the wife) the runny egg yolk was a treat.. The fries are extra and they are cut fries and were really good. The sauces.. Yellow was a pineapple sauce, the orange was sirache thousand island, the white was ranch and red was ketchup, the only other sauce not shown was the firebird hot sauce.. The biscuits are decent, the maple butter was terrible!! No flavor at all.. The Strawberry milkshake was like drinking strawberry milk. Very little ice cream- had them remake it thicker.. And No coke products, only Pepsi.. BUT STUBBORN Soda is here, Vanilla Agave is the bom .. Will not come here again read more

See all

I love this place so much. From the fresh food to the natural sodas. Everything is delicious. I love that there weren't a lot of people at the time we went on Friday around 1330. Right now, they're wiping everything down, wearing masks & gloves, & are social distancing. So I appreciate that greatly. We ordered the 5 pieces of fried chicken with a regular size of fruits, & 2 black cherry sodas. They are pricey, so beware, but the quality & taste are superb. read more

See all

Food poisoning, got some undercooked all American chicken sandwich ‍ My husband and I both got food poisoning from this place. The restrooms are also a mess got a bunch of real life reviews on the stalls and walls. read more

Crack Shack's concept is not a problem -- fried chicken and eggs are an underexploited synergy, a pairing that needs to find itself on more menus. (In fact, one could argue that fried eggs and fried chicken are the same food but at different stages.) I am content with Crack Shack's awkward ambition to be a "guilty pleasure" restaurant during a unique cultural moment when no one is allowed to judge anyone else. I am even fine with gimmicky ingredients like jalapeño cheese wiz and pickled mustard seeds on chicken sandwiches. At the time Crack Shack was launched five years ago, San Diego had reached a culinary nadir, our dining options north of Chula Vista and west of La Mesa were absolutely irrelevant. A wave of heavily-promoted, high-profile openings in Little Italy from Top Chef alumni helped generate excitement about food in America's Tritest City. Celebrity chef Richard Blais, a man whose hair product consists of equal parts liquid nitrogen and duck fat, lent his name and time to this popular poultry enterprise, becoming its "de facto" avatar as Crack Shack spread its wings and opened outposts in North County, Orange County, Colorado, and L.A. It is now 2022. Blais is gone. The L.A. locations have closed. Joe Biden, Bottega Green, COVID-19, and so on. With many of San Diego's once-hyped upmarket fast casual endeavors from the pre-pandemic era having met their well-deserved end, it is surprising that Crack Shack survives in North County. It is more shocking given that the execution of Blais's menu has clearly devolved after spilling out of downtown San Diego. Case in point, this outpost's underbaked and doughy "Mini Biscuits (6 piece)" ($6.50) were served to me with a small mound of gamey miso-maple butter that evoked the kind of viscous and musty substance that you may find on the underside of your nethers after a vigorous session of zumba and farting. I do not recall tasting a substance so acrid when Crack Shack opened in downtown San Diego. The "Señor Croque" ($13.00) is a chicken-and-egg sandwich that was lacquered with the same foul miso-maple butter, but it was thankfully stifled by a bland mixture of chicken, melted cheddar, egg yolk, and bacon. The best part of the sandwich is the sweet and spongy brioche bun. The worst parts are everything besides the bun: an uninspired amalgam of rich but under-seasoned components, the whole of it rendered less than its haphazardly prepared parts. My initial thought was that this sandwich screamed for something fresh or pickled, but I remember enjoying it at Crack Shack's DTSD location, which means this was again a problem with execution. I made a final attempt to salvage my meal by dousing my sandwich in Crack Shack's "Baja Hot Sauce," though the Cholula-style mixture of chemicals did little to change my mood. My 6-year-old similarly struggled with the "Kid's Meal," ($7.50) a disposable fry tray consisting of disposable chicken nuggets and disposable fries. A "Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie" was also provided -- my daughter didn't eat more than a bite but it was, at minimum, well-intentioned. Food/Décor/Service: 2.0/3.8/NA What to Order: Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie? read more

The food was amazing and the service was great too! Ryan dropped off our food and later bussed our table before we left and while doing so cracked a couple jokes making our whole table laugh. I had the Cali Drip and was one of the best things I have ever put into my mouth. I will for sure be back with all my friends and extended family!!! read more

Food: 5/5 Look no further for the best chicken sandwich spot in SD~ We got the firebird sandwich that was so juicy and jam packed with flavor and the large schmatzel fries that is ginormous and enough to feed 4+. You have to try all their sauces especially the spicy thousand island. We ended our meal with the Oreo milkshake that has large chunks of Oreos throughout ! Service: 5/5 The staff are super friendly and bring the food right to your table. They are helpful and offer to bring you any additional condiments needed! read more

The Crack Shack - Schmaltz Fried Fries, Firebird Sandwich, - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

The original BBQ was amazing. So simple yet so satisfying and tasty. We enjoyed eating this outdoors on their picnic tables by the beach.

Cluckin' amazing food! The chicken, the thick cut seasoned fries!!! They even have gluten-free Fried Chicken. Such tasty food with or without their array of delectable sauces. Ranch is the best and the honey butter, wow. I luv the Señor Croque Sandwich immensely-- fat and juicy fried chicken breast topped with bacon, fried egg, cheddar and miso-maple butter served on a butter-toasted brioche bun... I should top it with my Maple Bourbon Syrup next time and call it breakfast for a king. The Lil Cluckers (kids meal) is huge with Food, fries, juice... and a buttery sweet/salty chocolate chip cookie big enough for three kiddos. Again, one of the best cookies ever You can even take your dog into their outdoors-style dining area I may not go as often as I wish, but dang, it satisfies and then some read more

First time dining at this location. It was busy but not too crowded. My wife and I ordered and grabbed a seat in the middle of the kitchen with a view of the big screens and patio. The bar area is a good size. The dining area is spacious and clean. It is dog friendly as I noticed guests had their dogs with them. Food came out in about 15/20 minutes and was inhaled within 10! The food was well prepared and tasted good. I'd probably drop in again. Maybe on a Monday as they have a deal which includes a drink and fries! Cluck, cluck! read more

See all

Great spot. Really good fried chicken sandwiches. Got the firebird but wasn't too spicy. The spicy wings seemed hotter and have a different sauce. Great fries and plenty sauces, beers and different types of sodas (I got vanilla cream soda). Easily would come back if in the area. The Name definitely got our attention, so shoutout to the marketing team. But the food will keep people around, shout out to the kitchen crew. read more

Rejoice! Crack Shack in Encinitas brings you the great food and drink you love from the original location in a much more spacious setting with ample parking and typically shorter waits. We love grabbing a bite and drink here when in north county -- plus you can't beat the happy hour specials from 3pm - 6pm on weekdays: $4 off specialty cocktails $3 off beer and wine As always, you can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches or fried chicken a la carte paired with the delightful sauces. Great spot and glad to see the continued expansion for a SD favorite. read more

See all

I went back because I was given a free sandwich for my disappointing experience which was very kind. The fries were cooked perfectly with decent seasoning. The sandwich had some more flavor and i enjoyed it. My first order must have been abnormal considering all the positive reviews and my second meal being pretty good. The price is still pretty steep though. read more

We had 6 chicken tenders and fries. The chicken tenders are 2.50/each but they're pretty small for the price. The texture of the chicken was great, but they tasted so.... plain. Like nothing, they didn't even taste like chicken. I guess you have to rely on the sauces for any flavor. I liked the bbq but even the ranch dressing was lacking ranch flavor in my opinion. I far more enjoy fried chicken from chick fil A or popeyes for their taste and value. The fries were seasoned better than the chicken! Ambiance is cool and open, family and large group friendly. read more

I'm a HUGE Top Chef Richard Blais fan (and even got to meet him when I visited Juniper & Ivy), so The Crack Shack has been on my must-try list for a while ever since he opened up the Encinitas location (I don't think he's affiliated with them or Juniper anymore BTW). Having to travel to Del Mar, we recently had the opportunity to pop in to give them a try. Parking was easy and the place wasn't too busy. Ordering is a bit odd, since you basically walk up to a cashier outside where the menu is and order. We were getting ours to-go so this was perfect for us. Ordered a Firebird, Coop Deville, the Cali Drip and a large fry. My least favorite was the fries...but the sandwiches were huge and quite tasty, especially when coated with some of the various sauces they have. We didn't go inside, but I did see they had a full bar, TVs, heat lamps - the whole nine yards. Seating looks a bit uncomfortable without any padding so you probably won't stay a while but still, if I lived close I'd pop in here for a drink once in a while. The competition is tough out there in this sector, and I think every fast food joint has a chicken sammich on their menu now (ok maybe not Taco Bell but still....or do they now? I dunno.), so you betta have some damn good options on the menu to go against the likes of KFC, Popeye's or Chick-fil-A and I think Crack Shack fits the bill. BTW, this is my 666th review so I hope this was a devilishly good read. read more

See all

Great service and a lot of fun to hang here to watch games. Food is always delicious. Special shout out to Ryan for his professionalism and hilarious (and helpful) personality. Bartender Cole is always awesome as well. read more

I have stopped at their Encinitas location for lunch here a couple of times when I am in that area, had the Coop Deville one time and the Cali Drip another. They were both fantastic, the Coop Deville is a chicken sandwich on locally sourced steriods and the Cali Drip is more of a decadent indulgence - a little heavy that one, good for saving a half for another meal. But no less delicious! The space is very appealing too, airy and high ceilings, right off Encinitas Blvd maybe a block east of the 5. Indoor and outdoor table seating and a nice bar with 4 or 5 big screens for sports. Parking right there in the lot for the adjacent strip mall. Next time I will try their jidori fried chicken or the Mexican Poutine. read more

It's "Black Friday" and its lunchtime! Let's start with the "Likes" Very easy to find - plenty of parking - ordering is simple - great ambiance - very spacious - serve yourself soda fountain and "sauce bar" - food runners are quick and friendly. Biscuits with miso-maple butter were pretty good. Cold IPA from the tap. Now for the, "I wishes" You know the the saying; "You get what you pay for?" I don't mind paying $10+++ for a chicken sando, if it's worth it. However, it's all relative, right? I ordered the Coop DeVille "dry" w/slaw on the side. (see pic) Notice the "Slim" piece of chicken breast; also dry, that would've been hiding under all that slaw?? My chicken breast fit the profile of "not made fresh." :( So, I "wish" the chicken breast was a thicker cut and moist. But this place was really busy. Perhaps there's something else we should've ordered. Oh well, I'm always happy to be in Encinitas. Thanks for reading my review. read more

See all