The Crack Shack in Little Italy absolutely delivered. This is one of those spots where the food looks ridiculously good when it hits the table, and somehow tastes even better. The fried chicken was the star of the show. Super crispy and crunchy on the outside while staying juicy and tender inside, with a ton of flavor in the seasoning. You can tell they know exactly what they're doing with fried chicken here. The chicken sandwich was excellent too: massive piece of crispy chicken, pickles, sauce, and a soft toasted bun. Salty, spicy, tangy, rich... everything worked together perfectly. one of the better fried chicken sandwiches I've had. And DO NOT sleep on the fries. Thick-cut, crispy, golden, and perfectly seasoned. Exactly what you want alongside fried chicken and an ice-cold IPA. The Little Italy location itself is awesome. Open-air patio, plenty of sunshine, laid-back San Diego atmosphere, cold beers, and just an all-around great place to hang out with friends or family while absolutely destroying some fried chicken. Great food, great atmosphere, great location. Better ingredients, better chicken, poppa Crack. Easy 4.5 - 5 stars. Take it or leave it MOFOs read more

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Crack Shack was okay. The ambience is beautiful! I loved the outdoor seating area with the lights, bar, and fireplace. It's definitely a nice vibe. I also liked that you order and pay for your food first, then find a seat. As far as the food, it was pretty basic overall. We tried the Philly cheesesteak chicken the flavor was good, but the bread was hard. The chicken tenders were basic, and the biscuits were decent. The Mexican poutine chicken fries were probably one of the better things we tried and were pretty good. Overall, I wouldn't personally choose to come back, but if someone really wanted to go, I'd definitely go with them. The atmosphere was better than the food for me. 6.5/10. read more

Update update: I reached out about my visit and expressed my concerns and Victoria who was super kind and was very concerned, reassured me that this would something that would be discussed with the kitchen staff. This reassured me that this establishment genuinely cares about their customers and are good people. This left me not feeling like another order number on a receipt but a customer who is valued. Thank you for being kind, hearing my concern and responding back. Update: Aww man!!! You know when you find a good thing you hope it's not too good to be true.... Well, let me just say that today's visit in Aug 2026 wasn't a good one. Came back with the expectations of my last visit which was my first. Came here ordered what I got last time and service was extremely slow. I watched the family in front of me and the person in the back of me get their food 25 minutes before we got ours. Then when we did receive our food the fries looked as if they had been cooked twice and sitting in oil. You know the bottom of the fries that get all the access grease yea.... Imagine all your fries that way.... I took them back immediately and show the gentleman who passes out the food, he looked at it and apologized. I asked him how long it would take before I get some more and he said about five or 10 minutes. So I took my chicken and he took the Fries. Now anybody who knows me, knows I wanna eat my food together. I don't want my food separated. I didn't order it separate. I didn't pay for it separate I just wanna eat it together. I waited for 10 minutes with one chicken strip left and they tried to make it up, but it was almost just as bad, as they gave me a little extra fries, but they were all just like the ones that I had given up. The fries on top seem to be fresh and the ones midway through and down were just as bad if not worse than the first batch as these had more burnt ones in them. I'm not sure what's going on in the kitchen and I can't say there was a line as most people had already gotten their food and were dining. I just think that there might be a disconnect in the kitchen. The ambience was OK. The tables initially needed to be wiped down, but that might've been due to just a high volume of customers finishing their meals and leaving and the turnaround. I'm hoping that this might've just been this experience and I didn't get too excited my first visit. Im definitely disappointed this visit and it may be a little bit before I come back. I have pics but I'll spare you the detail as I think you get the picture. Initial Review July 2026. Not sure what happened to my initial review where I had given this establishment five stars. Great customer service, food, and atmosphere were top-notch. Prices decent and a great place to take the whole family, just dine with a group, or just a cool date night. Patio area with bar and small game area of corn hole. The area can get a little chili in the evenings but they have heaters to keep the customers comfortable. The vibe is cool here and I stated that I would definitely give this place another visit. read more

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Good place to eat at with great vibes and music! There's a lot of different menu options and there's also a bar. I personally think that their fries are some of the best. I usually will order the "Little Pecker Combo" or the "Jidori Tender Combo." The service is great and the staff is very friendly. I don't know much about the other menu options. I'd say it's good for the chicken and fries, but I got the "Power Bowl" once to try something different and it was alright. Bonus points for being open late! read more

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

Cafeteria style. Order at the counter then find a seat. Family friendly. They have a separate bar for drinks. Ate here many years ago. Food was still delicious. Got the family flock and a salad which had a really great Pablo avocado dressing. The fried chicken was so moist and Crispy. I don't normally like cole slaw but liked the flavor of it. The biscuits were served with a flavored butter as well which was delicious. The chicken tenders had a thin batter and were ok. Fries were great but a little salty. Loved the salted chocolate chip cookie as well. Overall great experience. read more

The Crack Shack - Salad and Family Flock - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow! Such a great find. Love the service and delicious food. Very busy restaurant and it gets super busy. Worth a try I must say. read more

This is one of my sister's favorite chains, and she was excited to try out this location. We were on our way to a concert, and this was a great afternoon meal before our day out. We got the cesar chicken wrap, friend chicken, fries, coleslaw, biscuits and a bloody mary. My favorite items were the biscuits and the chicken. The chicken was well seasoned and I like that they use jidori chicken. The wrap was good, it was just a little heavy on the dressing. The biscuits are soft and have a good flavor. I didn't really like the fries though. Overall the staff was nice. But the bartender was really nice and welcoming. This location is all outdoors. Parking can be challenging as it's mostly metered or in the structure. I'll definitely go back when in the area. read more

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Good service! Food was tasty too. This is a covered outdoor eatery with a full bar. They have happy hour as well. After you order, you can seat yourself anywhere. I ordered a power bowl and my honey had the Cali drip. Both were so full of flavor. There is metered parking right in front. The wall art is witty, I like it! read more

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

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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

Just ordered the Caesar's Chick Wrap with fried chicken. At first i thought $16 was a bit high for a salad wrap, but once i got it i realized it was definitely worth it! That thing was huge, at least the length of my forearm. I could barely finish half. It was also delicious. I love the burst of citrus from the lemon and the chicken was perfectly tender. I will be ordering this item again! read more

The Crack Shack - Caesar's Chick Wrap - 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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Stopped by Crack Shack for dinner during Comic Con and loved it! We ordered the chicken tenders and mini biscuits and really enjoyed both of them. The tenders were a little inconsistent in size between the orders, but we really loved the seasoning on them and there being 5 of them with fries rounded out a healthy portion. Huge shout out to the dips they provide, the Pineapple Mustard was a pleasant surprise and makes me want to come back to it for that alone. I would probably have gone 4 stars without it! The location and vibe were great, considering Little Italy is so close to the water and the beautiful weather allowed for a nice night eating outside. The fact the airport is so close was pretty wild as the planes can be loud, but we got used to it as the night went on. It was very busy when we got there (see Comic Con note), but there's so much seating we found a spot easy and the food came out quick (~10 minutes). If we make it back to Comic Con in the future I'll definitely be back! read more

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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Loved the outdoor seating and the open patio vibe! Limitless sauce and drinks is just so convenient and stress-free. The burger was juicy and tender but the chicken breast on the side for extra protein was pretty dry and tasteless. Not what I expected. Fries were all good and well seasoned. Would come again for chicken sandwiches in a casual but elevated outdoor setting. Great for larger parties, 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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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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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

Soooo sooo good. Love the airplane view. Tip : pull up the flight radar so you can see when the flights are going over online. Fries are so good hot only and fresh. Or maybe an air fryer. I'm visiting from Az and tried to reheat and they didn't have the same texture. But the sandwich was also bomb so no worries there. Pretty much self serve after you order would be back. read more

Absolutely phenomenal food, service, ambiance. My family loved their food. We can't wait to go back!

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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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

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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Love the food here, but I had an unusual experience today. I ordered a Cobb salad with chicken and paid using tap-to-pay. The person at the front was very friendly and asked if I wanted a receipt, and I said yes. Since I ordered takeout, I didn't think much of it at the time, but later I noticed an added $4.50 tip on my receipt that I did not intentionally approve. I asked a couple of people nearby if they had experienced something similar, and they mentioned they were told the POS system has a default tip setting and that it's the customer's responsibility to notice before signing. I went back to the counter to ask about it, and the staff member did remove the charge, which I appreciated. Still, it was a surprising and a bit uncomfortable experience. read more

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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Crack Shack is always my "Take-Out" food establishment...their Jidori chicken tenders with fries is always my favorite. When their bottled dips became available commercially, I was ecstatic because now I don't have to scrimp on the sauces. My favorite bottled sauces are Sweet G and Honey Mustard...I mix them in a small dip bowl. read more

The Crack Shack - Chicken tenders with fries, bottled sauces - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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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We love The Crack Shack! This location has such friendly and helpful staff and the food's always excellent. A go-to spot for us for catered lunches, especially when we have guests in the office. Thank you Crack Shack! read more

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

Nasty attitudes and hostile energy. Customer service isn't hard to give, especially for a simple pickup.

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

Took my bf here and it's a new fav place for him! Best quick dinner before heading to the padres stadium for a concert. The bowls are okay, nothing to rave about (that's what I got bc I can't have fried food). read more

Great service and delicious food plus you can choose the level of spice. Not far from the La Jolla cove and beautiful outdoor views. read more

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

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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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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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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

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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