Search
classic-comfort-food-with-a-flair

Classic Comfort Food With a Flair

By

Share

If you’ve already visited The Crack Shack’s locales in San Diego’s Little Italy, Encinitas and Costa Mesa, then you’re familiar with the kitschy environs and fine-casual, gourmet comfort food centered around fried chicken. But the newly opened L.A. site at Westfield Century City mall is the brand’s most upscale offering yet.

Think a virtual “Crack Palace,” offering a Moet & Chandon champagne vending machine, ingredients typically reserved for fine-dining restaurants, an L.A.-only sandwich and other fresh twists, alongside some of the eatery’s tried-and-true fun, edgy and playful touches…like a full wall of chicken-headed athletes, just to name one.

“We are an affordable luxury for guests who care about where their food comes from and how it tastes, and take extreme pride and care in our casual coop,” says Michael Rosen, The Crack Shack CEO and founder, who operates the eateries with Top Chef alum Richard Blais and Culinary Director Jon Sloan.

“While there are several fried chicken concepts, there aren’t many places that you’d want to go to hang out with your friends, have a cocktail and eat fried chicken; we wanted to change that.”

When it comes to the food, The Crack Shack offers anything but run-of-the mill fried chicken and standard sides, and all things chicken and egg. “We use Southern Californian, pasture-raised birds from Jidori, and a custom spice blend of smoked chilies and Old Bay from Le Sanctuaire in San Francisco,” says Rosen.

“We like to say that our fried chicken can be a not-so-guilty pleasure, as even though it’s fried and a little naughty, you can be sure you’re still treating your body with respect with all of the best ingredients and care.”

Among the popular offerings: bone-in fried chicken with biscuits and fries; the Firebird sandwich (a spicy fried chicken thigh topped with cool ranch, crispy onions and pickles on a potato roll); Senor Croque (a crispy fried chicken breast, runny fried egg, white cheddar and miso-maple butter on a brioche bun); and the Double Clucker (an exclusive L.A. item made with two ground chicken patties, cheddar, bacon, avocado, burger sauce, pickles and fried onions on a potato roll).

SoCal-influenced side items include border Slaw (resembling what you’d find south of the border) and Mexican Poutine (a play on traditional poutine, but with Mexican and Californian flavors).

Guests also will find non-chicken-oriented items—such as salads, quinoa bowls and seared tuna—as well as signature milkshakes from Salt & Straw, beer and wine on tap, and craft cocktails. Two of the most popular drinks? The Hot Mess (a take on a smoky margarita with mezcal, Ancho Reyes, honey, lime and grapefruit) and the Scramble (a blackberry mule with vodka, crème de mure, lemon and ginger).

crackshack.com

RELATED TAGS

Designing Zeru Miami: Faci Leboreiro’s Artful Fusion of Spanish Soul and Miami Vibes

Transporting you to the sun-soaked shores of the Spanish Coast, Zeru, the latest endeavor by Mexico City-based design studio Faci Leboreiro, has made its debut in Miami's vibrant Brickell neighborhood. Spanning 4,843 square feet, this third installment of the Zeru Group took two years to meticulously craft, marking the brand's inaugural venture beyond Mexico City.
  • November 15, 2023
  • Karine Monié

Breathtaking Blufftop Living: 317 Rocky Point III in Palos Verdes Estates

Boasting two designer stuctures on over an acre of meticulously landscaped grounds, 317 Rocky Point III a coastal retreat offers unobstructed 180-degree views of the shimmering ocean, winding coastline, and a breathtaking panorama stretching from Catalina to Malibu. The main residence, masterfully designed by Tim Clarke, features airy elegance with a coastal palette, reclaimed wood-beam ceilings, and high-end finishes.
  • November 1, 2023
  • Constance Dunn

Blurring Boundaries: A Klopf Architecture Mid-Century Modern Marvel

Perched atop a rocky hill in Sonoma, California, Klopf Architecture's latest creation seamlessly marries the essence of mid-century modern design with a contemporary twist. With an astute eye for the indoor-outdoor connection, the architects brought the natural surroundings into the heart of the residence.
  • October 18, 2023
  • Jenn Thornton

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: Man of Steel, Bronze & Glass Curtain Walls

Perhaps no one better understood how to positively exploit the potential of technology and engineering than van der Rohe, a founding father of Modernist architecture who was central to the Great Age of the Skyscraper during the 1950s and 1960s—a time when many city landscapes would shift from horizontal to vertical.
  • October 4, 2023
  • Constance Dunn

A Duplex in the Clouds: Inside Barbara Cartategui’s NYC Transformation

Nestled on the 78th and 79th floors of a Tribeca skyscraper, this New York City duplex boasts breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline. Transformed by Workshop/APD, the interior is a gallery of contemporary art curated by expert art advisor Barbara Cartategui.
  • September 6, 2023
  • Karine Monié

Walter Gropius & the Enduring Legacy of the Bauhaus

In the early 20th century, architect Walter Gropius aimed to harmonize art, technology, and craftsmanship—a vision that birthed the groundbreaking Bauhaus school in 1919. Gropius's call to unite architecture, sculpture, and painting underpinned the school's ethos. Rejecting tradition, the Bauhaus propelled design and art into a new era, embracing functional forms and interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • August 23, 2023
  • Constance Dunn
Sign Up for DIGS Newsletters