Welcome to Los Angeles!
Bryan grew up in LA and his parents still live in his childhood home, so we have made an effort to go back to California for Christmas every single year since we have gotten married, missing only one year (2012) because we spent 3 weeks in November that year with his parents touring Australia and New Zealand.
This past Christmas, our good friends caught us up on what we have been missing since we moved to Hong Kong. First stop: FRIED CHICKEN!
I love a good fried chicken. Southern fried chicken is one of my favorites. I even love Chick Fil-A and seek it out when I'm in the US now.
Our friends assured us that The Crack Shack was fantastic. They had tried it in San Diego, where The Crack Shack was founded by celebrity chef Richard Blais.
Finally in the summer of 2018, The Crack Shack opened its first location outside of San Diego in Los Angeles. We couldn't wait to try it.
The restaurant is casual, with an open-air feeling complete with picnic benches. Kids can even play lawn games in the small play area in the corner.
The chicken, of course, is the star of the show. They use what they call "ultra-premium" locally sourced, free-range, bone-in chicken that does not use any additives.
Chef Richard Blais says "there's no reason a $12 chicken sandwich can't be treated like a $90 roast chicken."
A set of 10 pieces of fried chicken will run you around $30 USD, but the results are worth. The chicken is juicy, flavorful, and all around fantastic. The "crack" spice that they use is delicious as well. We loved it.
Salads
I really like the fact that they offer excellent salads to go with the fried chicken. I guess we are in California, after all, where the salad culture is strong.
Classic Slaw - pickled fresno chilies, pickles, lime mayo, and napa cabbage
Baja Chop - guacamole, cotija cheese, charred poblano dressing
Downward Dog - seasonal grilled vegetables, quinoa, hummus, and lemon yogurt vin
And just for fun, Mexican Poutine with schmaltz fries (fried in duck and chicken fat!), pollo asado, and jalapeno cheese wiz (yes, for real!).
General Thoughts - The Crack Shack Los Angeles
We had a great time sitting under heat lamps (California winters are still a bit chilly) and enjoying our delicious fried chicken with upscale salads and a fusion fries in the form of "Mexican poutine".
In general, the quality of the food is very good. I would highly recommend coming with a group so that you can try the fried chicken, their salads, and the fries. Of course, one can come alone and easily try one of their many excellent-looking chicken and/or egg sandwiches.
There are now three locations in Los Angeles: Costa Mesa, Century City, and Pasadena. Apparently, they are planning their first one outside of California in Las Vegas.
Highly recommended!
The Crack Shack
196 E 17th St
Costa Mesa, California
(949) 383-5040
