The Crack Shack in Little Italy is the flagship shack. Next to the barn, the large open air patio with communal tables is a fun place to unwind. If you are interested in a creative chicken sando spot with more than just a couple options, this is the place. Firebird: The ingredients are top notch. They start with a big plump Jidori chicken thigh. Known as the wagyu of chicken, the fried Jidori chicken has tremendous flavor, and is firm and juicy. Also, extra points for chicken thight - always. There is a hint of spiciness which they balance with a cool ranch sauce. The potato roll is the best bun for a sandwich, nice, dense, and spongy. The crispy onions and pickles seal the deal. As a sauce lover, this is my happy place. They have a rotating assortment of delicious sauces, perfect for dunking every single bite. Parking: You may have to circle a bit, but you should find a spot on one of the side streets. read more

The Crack Shack - Firebird - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

This a great outdoor location that you can find in the wonderful Little Italy. The food was great, the service was fast, and the vibe was relaxing. The chicken sandwich was crunchy and flavorful, but it was not spicy one bit. I believe that the restaurant should allow its customers to choose a spice level. That is the point of the hot chicken, but it was still perfectly enjoyable. The great thing is that they are not stingy with the sauces and have a sauce bar where you are not handcuffed to small packets of sauce you get elsewhere. If you want to watch a game and grab a drink too, they have a bar area and they also have a small area where kids can play. Definitely a great spot. read more

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Great sandwich but the fries were the real stand out. Came on a Saturday. Also sauce bar!? Get out of here! Excellently done. Its not like Nasville hot chicken but i def taste smoked paprika sriracha combo i think on the chicken? Only complaint was maybe my chicken could have used more salt? Felt slightly underseasoned but still delicious burger! Amazing. When I went there were plenty of seats - got there like 3PM on Saturday was expecting it packed. There is limited parking outside the area but you would chance it. Also - LAZ parking nearby but its $25 for like 1 hour! ...I parked far away and walked half a mile to this place lol. read more

The Crack Shack - Firebird - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

What a great place for food, vibes, and friendly service! We walked on over from our hotel (probably on the hottest day of the month of March) and ordered our go-to: the Firebird (extra pickles for the preggy lady) with a side of fries and ample amount of sauces. We even indulged in their awesome soda selection (pineapple cream soda for the win!) Even after all these years (we first came back in 2019), the quality is still great. We've tried the Crack Shack in Vegas and it just doesn't compare; they charge for the sauces! Not here, the sauces were a'flowin. Overall, it's a great stop before or after the airport, with amazing fried chicken, and a fun outdoorsy place to nosh. 10/10 would recommend every time! read more

The Crack Shack - Firebird is my go to, with extra pickles - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Lines were long & tables were filled. They say their most popular is the Firebird and so I ordered it. It did sound very appealing, but that's all to it. The taste was disappointing especially after spending ~$15 (almost $16) for it. There was absolutely no spice to it and the crispy onions tasted burnt. You know if you order an onion bagel and all those onion pieces on top are bitter and black? That's how the "crispy onions" on this sandwich tasted. With a name like firebird, I wanted the sandwich to be spicy that it lit a fire within me and made me warm. They gave a small amount of pickles and barely any ranch. The only good part was that the chicken was nicely cooked. Other than that it was not worth ordering. (I wish I took a pic, but I didn't because I'm a slow eater and my friends were halfway done with their food). My friends ordered the Katsu Lookin' Sandwich and it seemed they liked it. They also have salad, tenders, hand cut fries, and seasonal shakes. The seating area was spacious and clean for the most part. They had sandbag toss for people to play if they wished to, and even a bar. The tables had rolls of paper towels that were easily accessible. Something for Crack Shack Management: the large *tree* in the center near the chicken statue has white flies on it. I'd recommend removing those parts that are infested. While they aren't known to be harmful to people, they aren't very pleasant to look at or see while eating in the space. They also can come down from the leaves during windy times/when disturbed and they tend to be a sticky kind of bug when on clothing. I've last had The Crack Shack YEARS AGO and they were a solid 10/10, I think in terms of quality they definitely lowered their standards. It was not worth the price to me. The menu is decently big however, so if you see something that interests you come and give it a try. But plz take my warning bout the firebird, don't want you to be disappointed too! (: read more

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Crack Shack didn't just feed my family. It gave me a brief, shimmering illusion that I might survive parenthood. I rolled in with three kids who treat public spaces like obstacle courses, a mortgage that wakes me up at night, and allergies so bad I sneeze if someone opens a window in another zip code. My will to live was already in the glove compartment. But somehow this place coaxed me back from the brink. The outdoor setup is exactly what a dad on the edge needs. Fresh air that feels medicinal even though it's just San Diego dust. An open air bar that radiates quiet encouragement. And then the kids area. Cornhole. Space to sprint. A zone where they can scream, negotiate, form alliances, and no one looks at you like you've failed as a parent. Well... other than that Arizona couple sipping their boba's all side eye. The shack is basically a beer garden for children. I don't know how they got away with it, but I'm grateful. The food hits harder than it has any right to. The chicken is crisp enough to make you forget your lower back pain. The pineapple mustard on tap feels like someone in the kitchen still believes in magic. My kids ate without bargaining or existential questions about fries. That alone is worth five stars. Plus a giant cookie, which may have disappeared before the kids realized it was there. Crack Shack didn't fix my life. But it gave me forty five minutes where I wasn't actively questioning every decision that led me here. And honestly, that's all I'm looking for these days. Well that and a painless vasectomy. read more

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I did what the nice lady, Christina suggested. I ordered the senior croque, tossed in honey butter BUT the suggestion for jalapeños l, I added on the side and yes, yes, yes mam....taste like chicken and waffles. Now I may add. I like a sandwich a bit wet.', so the flavors can join together as one. My egg was more on the firm side vs the runny side but I made do with the sauces. I also tried the coleslaw and that's a "yep" for me. Now my pass. That would be the french fries. Unfortunately I found these soggy, limpy and tasteless. Now I did get these to go, so yes they could steam soggy in the bag, but I did what any foodie would do, I opened the bag as I was walking to my car. I agree with some of the feedback from other post. From the first bite, it was a "nope" for me. Absolutely amazing service! Everyone here has an energy that is positive and contagious and giving of smiles. Even the music is my vibe and let's not forget the full bar! I needed all of this! This place has been around a while, now I see why. I will be back! read more

The Crack Shack - Hand Cut Fries (Regular) ...said no one ever "limp fries for the win". Nope, - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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I ordered the half chicken 5 pcs and it was really tender and juicy, cooked perfectly. On its own, it didn't have much flavor, but the good thing is they offer a wide variety of sauces so you can customize the taste based on your preference. The sauces definitely help elevate the dish. The staff in the dining area was very friendly and helpful, which made the overall experience pleasant. Great service and a nice place to enjoy a casual meal! read more

The Crack Shack - Half Bird - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

The Crack Shack was a great place to grab lunch during a conference lunch break. You order at the counter and the line moved quickly. They have rotating flavors of milkshakes and the key lime flavor was tart and refreshing. The food came out quickly and was delicious. Highly recommend! read more

The Crack Shack - Menu - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Always the best!! My favorite chicken spot in Cali. This visit I ordered the 5 piece and 2 sandwiches. DELICIOUS! Love the Little Italy spot (original). Outdoor seating is perfect. Heaters if it gets cold and curtains for shade. Outdoor "sports" bar is excellent. A bocce ball/Corn hole court. Parking is street only, so hit or miss. Order at the counter, they bring you your food, there is a sauce bar, fountain drink, water, etc. Read the bathroom wallpaper -- original reviews when they first opened. read more

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Whenever we visit San Diego we need to come to The Crack Shack! We love the outside patio in Little Italy. Fun open bar with great service. Everything was so delicious and I wish they would open in Az! We had the 5 piece, chicken sandwich and tenders. You need to try all the dipping sauces. The pineapple sauce was out of this world read more

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The Crack Shack in San Diego is a fun casual spot, especially if you're looking for a laid-back place to grab chicken and a drink. Everything is outdoors, but there's a lot of shade so it's still really comfortable even during the day. You order at the counter and they bring your food to the table. One thing I liked was their sauce bar where you can try a few different sauces. My favorite was the sriracha 1000 island -- definitely the standout. They also had pineapple honey mustard, which was a little too sweet for my taste, ranch which was pretty average, BBQ (which I didn't try), and ketchup. They also have a full bar with a bunch of beers on tap and some drinks on the menu that looked really fun if you're planning to hang out for a bit. We ordered the chicken oysters and the All American Chick sandwich. The chicken oysters were good and I really liked the dipping sauce that came with them, but they weren't delivered to our table hot, which was a little disappointing, especially since they aren't cheap. The All American Chick sandwich was good as well, although I misread the menu. It's actually made with two chicken burger-style patties instead of a chicken breast, which is more what I was expecting. Still tasty, just not exactly what I had in mind. Parking is street parking, which is pretty typical for San Diego. Overall the price felt fair for the area. It's a fun spot with good sauces and a cool outdoor vibe, especially if you're meeting friends and want something casual. read more

I was near convention center and in downtown San Diego and we were craving for some good fried chicken . I was googling and found this top rated place . It had about 4.6 stars and when I went there , it was crowded ! More crowd = better confidence for me about the restaurant:) The bar was good .. They had some home brewed IPAs and some bottled beers.. service was ok. Could've been better . It was crowded and everyone was busy with customers .. wish there were more employees in shift and making the service much better . I liked hazy IPAs . Went well with the chicken . Price wise wasn't very expensive . Order five piece half fiery chicken .. I generally like it spicy.. the chicken was very crisp and tasted OK.. was a bit oily, and the fiery spicy flavor was like the Nashville hot chicken . Quantity was also a lot.. couldn't finish even half of it. Thought of giving a three or 3.5., but gave it a 4 .. read more

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The Crack Shack is the best restaurant when it comes to any chicken Downtown. It doesn't matter if it's protein bowl, sandwich (my favorite), plain chicken thighs or anything on their menu (we've tried so many). The sauces are so good. Tonight we had Lance as our waiter and bar tender. He made an excellent Old Fashion and Cosmo. Excellent customer service and a perfect place to bring kids because parents can relax and let kids run around in the fun area where they can play corn hole or just play with other kids. read more

Came here for lunch and did not disappoint! If you like chicken sandwiches, this will hit the spot! I got the Firebird and it was the right amount of crunchy, spicy, juicy, and tender! The restaurant is outdoors with lots of shade. Service was great, ordering was quick and easy, and food came out pretty fast too. I'd say the only downside is that parking is a bit tough. I had to park slightly farther away and walk over, and even then, I just got lucky with finding a spot. read more

The Crack Shack - firebird, shack fries - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

The firebird certainly did not disappoint. This massive fried chicken burger is a gastronomic pleasure bomb. The crunch is perfect and as you bite into the juicy chicken, you get a mix of the sauces, onions and pickles all syncing in harmony like an orchestra. I'm drooling as I write this. I love that they have other hot sauces at the sauce station. They have the right amount of heat for me (might be a little much for the average Joe). Service is quick and friendly and I love that the there's a bar with plenty of TV's to watch sports. One thing that bumps me out is how difficult parking is in this area! But it is Little Italy... It comes with the territory. read more

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While I was in San Diego, my friends and I wanted to grab a quick lunch somewhere nearby so we ended up going to The Crack Shack. There was a lot of open seating here, so after we ordered our food we were able to find a table really easily. It's a nice, bright open space so it's particularly nice in good weather. For the food I decided to get their five piece fried chicken, which actually was a pretty large portion size. It comes with fries too, so I think this honestly is enough to share between a couple people. The skin was quite crispy and I enjoyed the sauce they tossed it in, although I do think that the meat could be juicier. Still a pretty solid meal though. Overall, if you want a nice place for lunch I think The Crack Shack isn't a bad option since they give a good amount of food for the price. read more

The Crack Shack - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

I got the Firebird, and it was glorious. Not only is it actual chicken, it's a giant chunk of thigh rather than breast. It had what felt like multiple layers of crispiness and yet the chicken was also thick and juicy. The white sauce is superb. The bit of spiciness is great for flavor, and the roll is also thick and supportive. I even like the pickles. The fries are pretty good also. Could use a tad more seasoning, but it's a little more optional with all the sauces available. And the texture is also quite good. Maybe not an A+, but at least like a......B+ lol. read more

The Crack Shack - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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The Crack Shack ended up being a mixed experience for me, with some clear highs and lows. I ordered the Cali Drip, and unfortunately it didn't land. The chicken was on the dry side and lacked the bold seasoning I was expecting, especially for a sandwich built around comfort and flavor. The sauce helped a little, but not enough to bring everything together, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. It's not something I would order again. That said, other dishes coming out of the kitchen looked much more appealing, and a few at the table seemed happy with their choices. Service was friendly and generally on point. Our order was taken without issue, food came out in a reasonable amount of time, and staff checked in to see how things were going. Nothing stood out in a bad way, which I appreciated. The ambience is lively and casual, with an open, energetic setup that works well for groups. It feels like a place meant for hanging out rather than a quick bite, though the noise level can be a bit much depending on the crowd. Overall, The Crack Shack seems like it has potential, but the Cali Drip missed the mark for me. I'd consider coming back to try something else, just not that sandwich. read more

The Crack Shack - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

CRACK Shack - Little Italy is cute joint that has outdoor door setting. Great location, closes late, great menu and has a full bar. (Our visit was on a Saturday night close to closing hours. Fast service - Easy parking given the time) The sauce station is PLUS!! Especially if you're a condimentsn type gal like me. Lol their bbq sauce is heavenly - the right consistency of flavor and texture = YUM!! MUST HAVE if you're in the San Diego area! read more

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Came here to not for people watching, but for plane watching! Our little one absolutely loves airplanes, so the location of this place couldn't be perfect. It is right below the landing strip of SD airport, with planes landing pretty much every 10 mins. He came up with this guessing game where we all had to guess which airplane was about to land! Good beers on tap including the rather popular Stone Buenaveza Salt Lime Lager, amongst other commercial ones. Overall setup was pretty good, and cozy! read more

The Crack Shack - Place to sit at for airplane viewing! - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Worst rehab center ever. Still stuck on crack...... and still living in a shack. Do not recommend unless you like chicken.

Felt like a crunchy chicken sandwich today we tried two different sandwiches. The coop de ville had a good chunk of chicken breast. I like coleslaw, but something about this one was bitter. I couldn't get use to it so it kind of threw the flavor off for me. The firebird was OK there was a smokey taste to it that kind of killed for me. The firebird was made out of chicken thigh it was kind of fatty. I have to say the sauces were pretty damn good!!! The Sriracha thousand island gave my fries a good kick. The ranch though gets a special shout out. I killed both sides with those fries. They were crispy and soft all at the same time. Lets talk about these homemade biscuits!!! Wow with sweet butter I did love. I'll be back and give it another shot. read more

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I'm perplexed by all the positive reviews. I had the firebird and order of biscuits. The biscuits were gluey and dense. The miso butter was interesting but couldn't make up for the texture issue with the dough. The firebird was flavorless even though it had a lot of spice. Don't ask me how that's possible but there was a total lack of seasoning and salt. I liked the sauce bar but at the end of the day, food should taste good without having to douse it in a bunch of extras. The outside seating area was nice and the staff were fine. The food made the whole experience meh. read more

Great place to grab a bite outdoors. Plenty out outdoor seating and dog friendly. Their chicken is always super tender and juicy. Can't go wrong with anything on their menu. You have to get their sauces to dip your chicken. read more

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Came here with a friend on a Tuesday evening. Parking wasn't too difficult for a weekday night, which was a nice start. We ordered the mini biscuits, fries, and I got the Firebird sandwich. I immediately made a stop at the sauce station because sauce is an essential part of any chicken sandwich experience for me. The mini biscuits had a miso maple, buttery sweet-and-savory situation going on. Interesting flavor that I liked but didn't love. They weren't the flakiest or fluffiest biscuits I've had and felt pretty average overall. The fries were solid--hard to go wrong there. The sandwich was the main event and definitely delivered. The crispy onions were a standout and added great crunch alongside the crispy chicken. I went pretty heavy on the sauces (ranch, Thousand Island, and BBQ), and with each bite the spice still came through nicely. Delicious, messy in the best way, and exactly what you'd expect--thankfully the tables are equipped with rolls of paper towels for this very reason. Food came out quickly, chased it down with a beer, and overall had a good experience. Solid chicken sandwich and would come back. 4/5 read more

The Crack Shack - Firebird - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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The firebird was bomb! The outdoor space is great to hang with friends for a drink or dinner. read more

The Crack Shack - Firebird - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

I tried the downward dog with chicken al pastor added and it was good but not particularly noteworthy. I also tried the "chicken oyster" and felt like it was just juicy meat fried and served with tartar sauce. The food came out quick and it's nice that they bring it out to the tables. All the seating is outdoors and there's an even a bar with seating. Lots of tap options. read more

The Crack Shack - Downward Dog with Chicken Al Pastor - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Went here for lunch and it was pretty packed so we thought we'd try it. You order at the counter and they bring you your food. The guy suggested the chicken oysters, which I'm still not completely sure what they are but they were delicious! My favorite thing we ordered. We also got some sandwiches and they were pretty good too. It was nice to sit outside and we enjoyed the atmosphere. read more

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Generous portions and solid flavors make Crack Shack a decent Sunday alternative for my Chick-fil-A cravings. We ordered delivery, and unfortunately it took an hour to arrive so everything was cold but that's not Crack Shack's fault. Popped the Mexican poutine fries sauce into the microwave, and had a delicious, jalapeño-spiked fondue which paired well with the fries. Coup de Ville sandwich was huge, hearty and exploding with spicy flavor as well as thick, juicy entire chicken breast. Liked the slaw, but wish it had more tang. No sauces came with our order, and I had to grab some BBQ sauce from my fridge to finish this off since the chicken itself wasn't strongly seasoned. Dining pal enjoyed the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, though he said it could have been spicier (could have shared some of the hot peppers that were overloaded on mine). Cost was high, but somewhat justifiable given the portions. read more

I came here on a Friday afternoon and it was pretty busy. Parking was tough, but fortunately we got a good spot right beside the restaurant. They have parking there or they have street parking. They don't have a lot that you can park at so you'll be competing with other businesses for parking. Once we walked up to the restaurant, everything is outdoors. You order outside and find your own seating. They have a large area for seating so grabbing a seat wasn't hard. We got 3 kids meals, $7.50 each, we chose the 3 tenders, came with fries a drink and a large cookie. I felt that was a steal. My kids didn't finish it so it was plenty. I ordered a coup DeVille, and my wife got a Cali drip with the fires on the side. We also ordered a side of fries. Everything was very delicious, I really enjoyed my wife's sandwich. It was pretty unique and it had almost a Mexican food taste to it. I think I'll get that next time. We enjoyed sitting outside, they have large screens to watch sports etc, the airport is also close to this location so you'll hear plans flying over every 5-10min. It's not too bad though. The sauces puts this place on the spot. They have ketchup, bbq, ranch, pineapple mustard and 1000 island (which was a little spicy). I enjoyed all the unique sauces and you can ask for more sauce cups of needed. They also do a great job cleaning up, they clean up the tables as people leave. My wife got up and I also got up and they cleared her cup right away. However we wanted more to drink so my wife asked for another cup and they provided one to her with no fuss. Great spot. I'd like to come back and try this again. The bar area is nice too with various beers or liquor to try. read more

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There's a side quick order location and a bar, if you want to drink. This makes ordering so easy! There's a large space for sitting and eating, and the food came out very quickly. Being full, the kids meal and snickerdoodle cookie was more than enough. The chicken nuggets were moist and gently breaded, my preferred style, and the fries were pretty decent. I liked the siracha 1000 Island sauce a lot, and the pineapple mustard had a sweetness I found delightful. The chocolate chip cookie wasnt bad, but the snickerdoodle cookie was absolutely delicious! Honestly, I was quite full, but the bathroom had one star reviews as the wallpaper, and it was so funny, I needed to know. read more

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This was a cool little joint! I came here for a work function, and they were able to accommodate 50 of us. The bar counter in the food counter were in different locations so that was nice, you didn't have to wait for people ordering drinks to go place an order for food. It was clean and had a really nice SoCal vibe. They brought out waves of food, which was all good, but unfortunately, I couldn't get a good picture before everybody started digging into it. Everything we ate was very good though. The staff was very friendly as well. read more

The Crack Shack - Outside (only) eating area - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such a good chicken sandwich but the fries and milkshakes were unreal. The staff was friendly during our visit. I loved the outside seating as well. It was spacious and allowed you to soak up the sun. read more

The Crack Shack - Fried chicken sandwich and loaded fries - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

It has been a while and things changed. I got Crack Shack gift cards but for some reason 3/4 cards didn't work. I paid the difference in my order on my credit card. We ordered kids meals bc we wanted a light snack. We also got their seasonal milkshakes: a chocolate shake and a Cookie Monster, which is a blue colored vanilla based shake with cookie crumbs. After we ordered Brooke the manager came over and helped sort the issue out with the gift cards. She was very pleasant to work with. Their soda machines featured stubborn soda. Our food came out quickly. Their fries were seasoned with duck fat. Their chicken nuggets were real pieces of chicken not breaded fried chicken paste. They were marinated in pickle juice. Years ago their menu had more items like deviled eggs and soft serve. Their menu has been changed maybe to focus on their best sellers. Parking can be tricky but lots of street parking after 8pm. read more

This is a must stop when in San Diego! We actually came here directly from the airport, we couldn't wait! We love the outdoor space, the service is always fast and food always fresh. read more

The Crack Shack - Baja Chop - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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If you're a fan of fried chicken. this places is must visit. It's a very modern and relaxed premium fast food concept, erfect for a flavorful lunch. read more

First time try and I have to say I'm highly impressed! First thing first customer service was phenomenal, also food was equally appetizing. Surprised by the taste of the pineapple cream soda. Pineapple was subtle but definitely there. The fries were seasoned well and fried to a crisp to stay firm while holding all the toppings. The staff were friendly and willing to assist including providing salt and pepper upon request. Highly impressed read more

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Really enjoy coming to Crack Shack in Little Italy. The outdoor seating is great and gives it a fun atmosphere, especially on a nice San Diego day. My go-to is the Fire Bird and I highly recommend it. The chicken piece is huge, the seasoning on the breading is really well done, and while the breading can be a little thick at times, it still works well with the sandwich overall. If you like spicy food, the heat level is just a tad past mild with really great flavor, so it's got a nice kick without being overwhelming. It can take a little while to get your food during peak hours, but that's honestly expected with how busy they get. It is a little pricey, but the quality is there. They also have a full bar, which is a nice touch even if it's nothing overly fancy. Staff has always been very friendly and helpful, and the sauces are seriously amazing. read more

We visited San Diego recently and I saw Crack Shack pop up as a must visit place in the city. So glad we went! I decided to order the Firebird sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. The homemade ranch was perfect and I even got more to dip it in. As soon as you take a bite you can taste how fresh all the ingredients are, and it makes a huge difference. We ordered Mexican Poutine Fries and the Mini Biscuits for the table and both paired nicely with the sandwiches. I also appreciate there are more balanced menu items available, such as salad bowls with chicken. All of my friends enjoyed the sandwiches they ordered and we were all in a food coma after coming here. This is also a great spot to grab some cocktails and sit outside and enjoy the weather. read more

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