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    The Red Bird

    4.6 (163 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order The Red Bird Takeout or Delivery

    The Red Bird Photos

    THE RED BIRD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Red Bird

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    Hira R.

    The loaded fries were easily my favorite thing on the menu! The chicken was juicy and flavorful, but what really stood out to me was the batter. It's different from the typical super-crispy hot chicken coating--it's smoother, packed with flavor, and lets the chicken stay incredibly tender. The sauces are honestly the star of the show and bring everything together perfectly, especially on the loaded fries. The $5.99 sandwich deal is a great value if you're just looking for a quick bite, but I think the best bang for your buck is the 2-sandwich combo with a drink for $13.99. It's a much better value and gives you more food for only a few dollars more. l

    Nikki N.

    We ordered an Original Chicken Sandwich with fries and a Mild Chicken Sandwich. The restaurant was clean, and although we visited during lunchtime on a Saturday, it was surprisingly quiet. The fries were excellent and ended up being one of the highlights of the meal. I also liked the slaw, though it was a bit too peppery and spicy for my partner's taste. The Original came with cheese, while the Mild sandwich was noticeably larger but did not include cheese. I'm not sure whether the size difference was intentional or related to the different menu items. Unfortunately, the chicken itself was disappointing in both sandwiches. The meat was dry, and the coating was not to our liking. It almost felt like a thin sheet wrapped around the chicken rather than a crisp, flavorful crust. The chicken breast was also underseasoned and lacked much flavor on its own. The bread was only lightly warmed and could have benefited from a proper toasting. Nothing was particularly bad, but nothing stood out either. Aside from the fries, the meal felt fairly forgettable, and it's probably not a place I'll revisit.

    CHICKEN CAESAR WRAP

    I just had the new chicken wrap last night and it was insane. The Redbird always takes it to another level when it when flavor. The wrap you just could eat one half you have to finish it completely. Red bird has the unique style of creating new items that always has you wondering what is next on their mind to make. J the manager and his team are the Heart for the Lake forest location. They are always on point and professionals. Love this place. Plus both owners are from Washington DC like me. We know how to cook and eat good food.

    Chicken Slider medium spice
    Jake M.

    First off, the customer service here is amazing, which is something a lot of places now a days miss. This place blew us away. So glad that it's so close to where we live too. Onto the food, it's perfectly done. Best chicken I've had in a while and everything is seasoned to perfection. Really excited to go back but our first time there was a 10000/10 experience.

    Combo
    Scott M.

    Was craving some fried chicken and had not been to a Red Bird before so why not give it a try? Located in the same location as the legendary Dude Where's My Curry (RIP) it is very clean inside and you will be greeted with some great customer service. Any questions will be answered right away. Pretty good Halal chicken sandwich if you ask me. Several spice levels so if you love heat they can accommodate but if you aren't a fan of spicy then they have that as an option too.

    Two chicken sandwiches w fries and chicken cheese fries
    jovine l.

    Red Bird Hot Chicken & Fries follow @jo.bellyy for more recs! I found a DAVES DUPE and dare I say the deals are even BETTER (plus they're halal!). Literally where else can you find a spot that gives you TWO HUGE chicken sliders AND fries for $14??? Not to mention they have a great variety of spice levels and other dishes to suit your own preferences. What I Got: Two Sandwiches w/ Fries Chicken Cheese Fries Red Bird Hot Chicken & Fries 27412 Portola Pkwy, Lake Forest, CA 92610

    Their rice bowl. lettuce was old and turning pink. rice was bland.
    Elaine P.

    The service was nice and the inside was clean but I wouldn't come back for food. Got the medium spice bowl and the rice was disappointing. So bland and flavorless. The lettuce was old and wilted and turning pink. Just ate the chicken and left cause why eat boring tasting carbs.

    Chicken cheese fries, hala chicken rice bowl, 2 chicken sandwiches with fries combo
    Deanne S.

    I was craving hot chicken sandwich, so we decided to try this place. It was very clean and spacious. The cashier was very helpful and recommended 3 items on the menu that is a must try. So we ordered the #2 which is 2 hot chicken sandwiches with fries, the chicken cheese fries, and the halal chicken rice bowl. They offer a 6 levels of spice. We tried the mild and medium levels. When out order came out, I was so shocked to see the size of the chicken sandwich. The chicken was HUGE!!! And I've been to a lot of hot chicken sandwich spots and this place has to be the best prices that I've ever seen. My favorite was the rice chicken plate. The white sauce is sooo tasty! Overall, I would give this place a 9/10.

    X-hot Chicken Sandwich
    Joe S.

    These days, the LA / OC chicken sandwich contest is pretty much at MMA main event level. A field of heavyweights scrapping for honor, where any new upstart has to be perfect or they're only seconds away from a firm size nine and the hazy sound of a bell accompanied by some tasty canvas. I'd been looking forward to bringing Red Bird into the fray for a while after hearing good things locally, and I had high hopes when my partner and I visited for a midweek dinner. The location has plenty of parking, and was empty when we arrived. The music was pretty loud but just below obtrusive, with speed garage playing from the main speakers. Somewhat annoyingly though, it clearly wasn't to the chef's taste, and the R&B blasting from the kitchen somewhat clashed tempo-wise. The counter staff were great, taking time to go through the entire menu in a way that would've been super helpful to the less initiated (chicken nerd ego claim lol). The prices were very reasonable too, and the portion sizes huge - especially with the 'divide and conquer' #2 meal that contains not one but two chicken sandwiches and a heap of very enjoyable crinkle-cut fries (with a lovely honey mustard dipping sauce that was probably the highlight of the lot). Sadly though, the sandwiches were only 'pretty good', and around here that's mid-pack at best. A reliance on Serrano peppers in the slaw leads to a hint of bitterness across the entire bite in the milder chicken flavors, although it does sit well at X-hot level and might be enjoyable to some. Spice-wise, the scale seems to sit a step or maybe even two steps lower than comparable restaurants in the area. The smaller sandwich size might be helpful to those with lesser appetites, and points are gained for them being a bit less oily too, but it did lead to the occasional drier bite when compared to its gigantic 'two-hand-hold and wonder how big the cluckin' bird must have been' local competition. In summary, I'd still recommend that any fried chicken fan should give Red Bird a try. It's certainly not bad by any stretch, I just expected a bit better than I got. I'll likely go back for their loaded fries - which I expect to be a highlight - and a FCK (their top) level sandwich soon. I'm also the kind of boring fried chicken nerd willing to ride 50 miles for the best sandwich rather than settling for what's closest, so bear that in mind here too.

    Medium & hot tender basket
    Calli Y.

    We saw the great reviews and decided to try this place. I'm soo sorry but it was not for us at all!! Friendly service. However the chicken did not meet expectations. I personally liked the flavor somewhat, and it was juicy, however it was not crunchy at all! My breading fell off on each bit. The flavor was a little sweet. My medium had not heat and the hot had a tiny bit. Since it's halal, does it mean it's not crispy? Not sure but we will stick to Dave's hot Chicken. Nephew thought his was crunchy but he didn't like the flavor. The fries were good though! Not for us unfortunately.

    Terrence Y.

    I've been seeing great reviews on Yelp and other platforms for this newly opened restaurant so I had to try it. It's a light, bright and super clean spot. I was greeted enthusiastically by Jay who was super friendly and helpful explaining the options. I went with the two sandwich and fries option since that seemed to be the go-to order. I got the original and medium spice. The size of the chicken was huge. I honestly could've just had one, in fact I couldn't finish the French fries after eating both sandwiches. They were delicious and had just enough spice. I will certainly be back.

    Chicken cheese fries
    Johnathan H.

    The portion sizes are large and the prices seem almost too good to be true in this economy. Being a brand new restaurant, the staff are upbeat and eager to please. The chicken cheese fries had great flavor, and the spice level is below average. I normally get hot, but I'd go for extra hot here. It's a shame that another reviewer docked stars for the spice levels. It's not the restaurant's fault that you can't handle MILD spice. Being right down the street from my house, I'll put this place in my regular rotation for eating out. Cheers!

    Menu
    Jessica M.

    This is a cool new spicy chicken sandwich spot! If you're looking for a break from the usual chicken sandwich picks, The Red Bird is coming straight from the east coast with halal chicken and it's crispy and delicious. Personally, I loved the chicken cheese fries, the portions are HUGE, enough for leftovers! And their tenders are equally as big and honestly worth a try! I got one of their medium spice chicken sandwiches and man, it was the perfect amount of heat. Very manageable and still flavorful which I really appreciated!

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    2 months ago

    Great spot in south Orange County! I love that the chicken is halal and the spice levels are amazing! I also loved their outdoor seating!

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    Ask the Community - The Red Bird

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    Mamón

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    I ordered the Chancho en Cama sandwich (pork shoulder) and upgraded to add a side salad. We sat…read moreoutside and they brought the food to us. It was a lovely day and they had plenty of tables in the shade. The food came out pretty quickly. My sandwich was amazing! The sauce on it was just perfect. The salad complemented the sandwich nicely - I would definitely recommend adding that upgrade. The food was quite filling, too.

    It was a warm day out and it didn't feel like there was AC inside Mamon, but there was a large fan…read moreand the door was propped open. We were ready to eat after shopping nearby. It was a late lunch for us, and so the place was nearly empty with the exception of one other group. We scanned the QR code at the front counter and took a seat at a table to review the menu. It was a little difficult to navigate and some items did not have pictures. The gentleman who helped us was just friendly enough to go over some of the menu items. But after we placed our order, we never saw anyone again. We ordered the pork shoulder sandwich called Chancho en Cama. We split the sandwiches so that we could try two different kinds. We both really loved the flavor profile of the pork sandwich. I really enjoyed it and wish I had a whole sandwich of this one! We also had the Philly Me Up sandwich. This one was a miss for us, definitely. This was pretty bland and just didn't compare to the deliciousness of the pork sandwich. Our sides were good, which included french fries, and roasted cauliflower. The portions are pretty small for the price point of the food. We'd probably stop by again to try other items if we were in the area.

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    Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop

    Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop

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    We found this on a drive to Mission Viejo. It was accessible from finding it on GPS to getting…read morethere and finding it in the shopping center. The inside was clean, the staff were super friendly. We ordered two of the Mr Pickle sandwich. One on French bread and one on wheat. The sandwiches were delicious, very well made, the Ingredients were fresh and over just really tasty! We ate in the car, even though there was outdoor seating. I'd highly recommend if you're in the mood for sandwiches

    I came by on a busy weekday for a couple sandwiches. I don't usually like sandwiches, so I wanted…read moreto try something new. It was quite busy, as it was lunchtime, but I ordered online. I got there just as the order was predicted to be done, but I ended up waiting another 10 minutes, which was fine for me. It's a sparsely decorated sandwich spot, with a little bit of seating, but it's clear this is a grab-n-go type place. After picking up the sandwiches, I cut both in half and ate half of each. I can't really remember what I got, but that was kind of besides the point anyways. They offer a variety of breads, so I opted for dutch crunch and a regular french roll. The dutch crunch wasn't as good as others I've had from other notable sandwich places, but the french roll was great! I liked the construction of the sandwiches, as they were tightly wrapped and not over-stuffed. Good ratios and not too large as to not be able to wrap your mouth around it. But as for the content itself, I just wasn't blown away. It was perfectly normal, but I didn't feel anything beyond that. As a lunch place, I feel like it's a good option if you want a sandwich, but if you've got something closer to you that is marginally similar, I'd head there first.

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    Exceptionally fresh and overflowing with delicious ingredients!  Club Sandwich.
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    Brio Brio Bakery & Café

    Brio Brio Bakery & Café

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    My first time trying this cafe and it was amazing! The pastries were so soft and yummy, although I…read moredo wish it was a bit more hotter food nonetheless, it was still amazing! The drinks were pretty good as well, very standard. The coffee was good however the matcha was pretty standard nothing out of the ordinary or special. The service was also very quick! For it being super business having a less than 10 minute wait time and less than 5 minutes for our drinks it was super quick and awesome! The cafes ambiance was perfect as well, very cutesy as well as homey. The posters on the inside by the waiting line were so cute I loved it so much.

    One thing about me is that I'm going to drop at least $45.00 every single time I step foot into a…read morebakery and 9 out of 10 times, it's not even for a special occasion. It's just because I don't know what it means to practice financial discernment when it comes to fresh bread. And welllllll, look at who's back at Brio Brio Bakery & Cafe again...... I used to come here way more often back when I had recurring appointments in the area, but these days I rarely ever find myself in South OC. Tonight, however, I had a last minute opportunity fall into my lap when I was invited off the wait list to attend a Yelp Elite event at Onyx Golf. Naturally, I had to make an "unnecessary" bakery detour before moseying my way over to the actual main event. Listen -- you have your priorities and I have mine. We listen and we don't (critically) judge! Upon arriving to my old stomping grounds, I immediately went for my usual: the hojicha Basque cheesecake. Some things don't need to be reinvented. It's still rich and creamy as ever, and it's basically the reason I still come back to this place. Since I don't get down here as often anymore, I figured I'd live life a little more frivolously and grab some items I haven't tried before, such as their prime beef curry, kurobuta miso sausage, honey toast, and a GF brownie. My plan for a sweet treat quickly evolved into a larger commitment of carbohydrates, but honestly, I'd like to think of these items as a gift from past me to future me. Brio Brio is also running a promo right now where you get a free cookie with purchase during certain hours. I just want to be fully transparent that I don't remember what those hours are or how long the promo is running, just that it's a weekday ordeal. I know, incredibly insufferable Yelp Elite reporting on my part. You'll simply just have to go in and ask them about it or look for the signage near the register, and then purchase that item you need to qualify for the deal to begin with. Consider my review a very detailed advertisement about a potentially complimentary cookie that idk how to explain the sourcing means for. Lmao, my bad, y'all. Either way, it was refreshing to visit again after all these years. If you're stopping by Brio Brio, you really need to get the hojicha Basque cheesecake. That's singlehandedly the menu item I'll keep coming back for, even when it means I'll be suffering in rush hour traffic on the drive back home.

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    Silverado Canyon Market

    Silverado Canyon Market

    4.8
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    The Food is Amazing. So fresh…read more They only serve on weekends with limited hours but so worth it. Highly recommend it. They have a breakfast menu then roll into a lunch service. Nice indoor seating as well as an outdoor patio. A place that is meant to relax and enjoy.

    I've been here twice. I absolutely think the place is a hidden gem and would love to stop by more…read moreoften however both times Ive stopped in I haven't felt extremely welcomed, let me explain. Once I dropped in with my nephews (3 and 7 at the time) for lunch and enjoyed it however we had an odd experience where one of them wanted a sandwich dry (meaning no condiments) and we were told by the waitress that no alterations were allowed on the menu. That was a year or so ago. Moving on I thought it was strange but didnt think too much of it other than them not liking kids. Yesterday I stopped in solo after a 30 mile canyon ride and asked for a IVL (Latte) to go (in there small defense they did ask if I wanted for there or to go). They made it quickly which was great. It was maybe 9am and there were maybe 3 tables seated in their side outdoor space with maybe 6 cars in the lot, it was not packed at all. I went to walk thru the door to the side outdoor seating just to look around and maybe sit for 5 minutes and was told I wasnt allowed back there as they're 'full service'. My assumption was that meant they wanted to keep the tables open for people who eat there which is fine. So I said no worries and explained I just wanted to look around instead of sit and then was told yet again I couldn't even go through the door nor sit indoors. I was told my only option was to take my coffee out front. It really felt as if I wasnt welcome there at all. It was a very odd experince to be honest. I've worked in customer service for over 20 years myself and all that they had to say to me was 'you can look around and sit for 5 minutes or until we start to get busy'. Instead whoever trains the staff here seems to train that of it's to go then people arent welcome to stay even for 5 minutes. As for the drink itself. Instead of making a latte with an expresso shot it was simply milk with brewed coffee sat atop (very bitter at that). Which was really odd as I could see they had a full expresso machine setup. Not sure if it was intentionally made bad but once again it felt as if I wasnt welcome there. *Updating below in response to the owner/managers response* 1. Regarding the latte with brewed pour over on top I didn't get that information from anyone. That WAS the drink I was served. Ive had maybe 5000 lattes in my life time from about 500 different cafes. Maybe someone pulled a really bad (over extracted shot) but it was 100% like a pour over on top of milk. 2. I never tried to use the emergency side exit/gate. I tried to use the adjoining door way. 3. I completely get the outside is reserved seating only now. That could have been explained friendlier on the spot. The approach of the situation could have been a sure you can take a look but cant sit. Simple. 4. When I went with my nephews it wasnt a question of not having a kids menu it was not allowing the slightest of alterations (no condiments) for kids who are typically picky at a certain age. 5. Ill agree maybe its just not a good alignment.

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    Sunrise Bagels

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    3.8
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    Sunrise Bagels has become one of my go-to spots for a quick breakfast or lunch. My office is…read morenearby, so I'll usually walk over in the late morning to grab something to eat. I'm normally a breakfast burrito guy, but their bagels are seriously good too. The food is always fresh and comes right out of the kitchen. They also have a surprisingly wide variety of menu options and a great selection of drinks, so there's plenty to choose from even if you're not in the mood for a bagel. For a small cafe in a busy corporate area, they have their system down really well. They get a lot of business, but ordering is organized, efficient, and usually pretty fast. The staff has always been friendly and helpful as well. Seating is limited, so grabbing a table can sometimes be tough, but if you can get one, it's a great little spot to sit down and enjoy your lunch. Highly recommend Sunrise Bagels. Great food, great people, and consistently fresh and convenient.

    It's a good spot do bagels and healthy juices. I recommend to order your food in advance and just…read morepick it up. No inside seating available. Very limited seating available outside (Seating is shared with other shop). Tables outside were pretty dirty, we had to clean them up before seating. The cashier was friendly and patient as we were trying to figure out what we wanted (1st time at this shop). Food was on point, drinks were delicious.

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    The Red Bird - chickenshop - Updated August 2026

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