The Fried Chicken From This Southern California Restaurant Will Make You A Lifelong Customer
By Catherine Armstrong|Published December 30, 2018
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
If you’re craving comfort food, maybe you need a fried chicken fix. Don’t just settle for any fried chicken – head to The Crack Shack for juicy, tender chicken that has a pleasingly crunchy crust.
Check out The Crack Shack! This fun, casual restaurant embraces everything awesome about Southern California, and serves up some mighty tasty chicken, too. There are five location: San Diego, Encinitas, Costa Mesa, Century City, and Pasadena. If you get lost, just look for the huge chicken in the front yard - it's impossible to miss.
Crack Shack isn't a snobby, stuffy affair - it's casual and light-hearted, with plenty of outdoor seating so you can enjoy that California sunshine along with your chicken.
Chef Richard Blais created the chicken at The Crack Shack. You might recognize him from Top Chef All Stars, or maybe you remember him from back in the day when he served you at McDonald's (he's moved up considerably since then). Blais developed a special blend of "crack spices" that make his chicken amazing.
Great fried chicken starts with great chickens. The birds served at Crack Shack lived free-range lives, with no antibiotics or hormones. This locally-sourced chicken is perfectly prepared with "crack spice" and fried up to juicy, crunchy perfection.
How do you like your fried chicken? If you prefer it on a bun, you're in luck! You'll find four fried chicken sandwiches on the menu, each one creative and delicious.
If you love all things spicy, you're going to want to sink your teeth into a Firebird. This super-spicy fried chicken thigh is paired with pickles and fried onions and drenched in cool ranch sauce to tame some of that mouth-searing fieriness.
Or, get your fried chicken straight up, with an order of five or ten chicken pieces. Can't decide? Get a sandwich and an order of fried chicken. This stuff is so good that your mouth won't want to stop gnawing on it, so you might as well indulge.
You'll come for the chicken, but once you're here you'll need to try the poutine fries, too. These schmaltz fries are buried in pollo asado and covered in jalapeño whiz. They're just as additive as the chicken.
Your meal isn't complete without some soft serve, so save a little room for a cold, sweet cup. You'll need to bathe your tongue in icy-cold, sugary goodness anyway, to help it heal after that Firebird.
All five Crack Shacks are open seven days a week, so you can get your fried chicken fix for lunch, brunch or dinner. Hours vary sightly, so check the restaurant's website before you head out.
Are you already smitten with this eatery? Check out its website to see the full menu, and hop on over to its Facebook page for more mouthwatering chicken pics.
