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The Crack Shack - Little Italy
Elevated fried chicken and craft brews in San Diego's vibrant Little Italy.
4
Restaurant
$$
Elevated fried chicken and craft brews in San Diego's vibrant Little Italy.
The Crack Shack - Little Italy is a popular San Diego restaurant specializing in high-quality fried chicken, creative sandwiches, and house-made sauces. Located on Kettner Blvd, it offers a spacious outdoor dining experience perfect for casual gatherings. Known for its crispy tenders, flavorful biscuits with honey butter, and unique condiments like pineapple mustard, the restaurant pairs its menu with a selection of local craft beers and IPAs. While parking can be challenging, the lively atmosphere and attentive staff make it a go-to spot for chicken lovers in the area.
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Juicy, crispy chicken sandwiches like the Firebird and Cali Drip, served with creative toppings.
Fiery or classic fried chicken tenders and pieces, perfect for sharing or solo indulgence.
Curated list of local and home-brewed beers, including hazy IPAs, to complement your meal.
Fresh-cut fries, biscuits with honey butter, coleslaw, and delicious cookies or milkshakes.
Spacious, vibrant outdoor seating area ideal for groups, events, or casual dining in Little Italy.
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Overall rating
se va
Good spot for a solid chicken sandwich. We had made 2 stops here during our visit to San Diego. The first time we had the Firebird and it was on the smaller size. Not what we had seen in pictures on social media and Google reviews. The chicken was small but very juicy and the pickles made it all come together. We went a second time for we wanted to try the tenders so we ordered another Firebird along with some tenders. The second sandwich we got was more like what we thought it would be. A nice thick, juicy chicken patty that made the bun look small. The tenders were a bit oily and the breading didn't hold up to well. Try the pineapple mustard sauce is a must try. The biscuits with the honey butter is the hidden star in the meal. Buttery and salty with the perfect sweetness from the honey butter.
Raj S
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 ..
Regina Mosca
They have the best fries I've ever had before. The tenders were also really good. Their Sriracha thousand island and pineapple mustard is really good. They had messed up our order and we also got a free sandwich. It was the Cali drip. It was amazing. Had a kick to it because of the jalepenos. I definitely recommend this spot.
Nicole Elkhatib
The food was honestly really really mid. The chicken seems like a decent quality, but it honestly had no taste. It needed a lot more seasoning and taste and maybe breading? The coleslaw did not taste like coleslaw, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t coleslaw. The biscuits were good, but really dry. The fries were good. Atmosphere was also really nice, we were there in the late late evening, so it was nice and not crowded. Parking really sucked
missashley
Nice restaurant in a very nice area. It’s a huge outdoor restaurant so there is plenty of seating. Staff were very nice. Most memorable was Jon and Louie. They went above and beyond to make sure we had a good time. The food was good but the salad I had fell a little short of something. The fries are so fresh and delicious and The cookies are DELICIOUS and so are the milkshakes. Parking is a bit hard to find and it’s metered so be mindful.
