The Crack Shack

Name: The Crack Shack
Address: 196 East 17th Street, Costa Mesa, CA, 92627, US
Telephone: (877) 230-1416
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.7

Home
Costa Mesa
East 17th Street
The Crack Shack

The Crack Shack is a popular American restaurant specializing in fried chicken sandwiches. With national acclaim for their "SoCal Style" chicken and proprietary "crack spice," the restaurant offers culinary treats beyond the ordinary. Their locally raised, free-living chickens are antibiotic-free and expertly prepared to be enjoyed with reckless abandon. Enjoy classic comfort food with fine dining flair in an open atmosphere at The Crack Shack.
(1316)

Recent social media posts

10/20/2026

Oh hey just following up btw 👋🏼 as of yesterday everything that hits our fryers is gluten-free in Southern California :3

Just thought I’d remind you 🐔

10/19/2026

The newest addition to our SoCal menu is KILLER. 🔪

Introducing the Club Cluck Wrap. Now showing at ALL Southern California locations 🍁

Grilled chicken, crispy bacon, avocado, aged cheddar, tomato, pickled red onion, TCS ranch, shredded iceberg, black pepper mayo, all wrapped in a flour tortilla - $17 🌯

Come see for yourself 👻

10/17/2026

Orange County, we’re here for you. 🤍🐔

To our neighbors affected by the fires, and the firefighters and first responders caring for our community: please join us for a meal at 25% off at The Crack Shack Costa Mesa, through October 18.

Dine in or order takeout in person. Just let our team know.

A small way for our kitchen to take care of our community🤍

10/15/2026

California said: heatwave
I said: 🎃🍁

10/13/2026

We had you tho huh 👀

We could neva 🫶🏼

10/09/2026

Come thru, we got you… 📲

Happy hour Monday - Friday at The Crack Shack 🐔 check the link in our bio for your nearest location’s happy hour times! 🍺

10/06/2026

CrAAZYYY ✈️🐔

Little Italy and Encinitas go gluten-free 10.19.2026

09/28/2026

Happy National Drink B**r Day ya clucks 🐔🍻

No better way to celebrate than grabbing a b**r at a Crack Shack happy hour 🫣 check out your coops hours in our bio!

**r

09/23/2026

The girls are glistening ✨

Available for purchase at all of our SoCal locations and at SPECIALTY PRODUCE for $11.95!

*all sauces made with avocado oil! 🥑*

09/22/2026

Your fav sauces are bottled and NOW AVAILABLE at SPECIALTY PRODUCE along with our SoCal locations for purchase for $11.95! 💛🍍

Grab one. Take it home. Put it on everything….

09/21/2026

Crack grip 💅🏼🐔

09/15/2026

Rotisserie is BbY WOW 🩵

Enjoy The Full Roost (rotisserie chicken bundle) at both our Encinitas and Costa Mesa location!

It includes:
- one bird, 4 mini biscuits, miso maple butter, baja chop salad, chicken gravy, and a regular fry 🐔

AVAILABLE MONDAY - THURSDAY

Skip the dinner stress, we got your flock covered 😌

09/14/2026

Class is officially in session. Meet the new menu! 🐔📚

Le Cluck 🇫🇷 *LTO* $16 - fried thigh, caramel used onions, Gruyère / white cheddar gratin, roast garlic-chicken jus aioli, pickled mustard seeds, herbs, potato brioche (SoCal only!)

Updated Downward Dog 🫒 $15 - Mediterranean inspired with cauliflower, cukes, baby tomatoes, feta, herbs, garlic confit olive sun-dried tomato tapenade, quinoa, hummus (San Diego only!)

Autumn Salad 🍂 ($16 / $18 LV) - butternut squash, toasted pumpkin seeds, dried cherries, goat cheese, herbs, baby kale, arugula, apple cider-Dijon dressing (available at ALL locations)

Gravy Train Fries 🚂 ($14 / $16 LV) - hand cut fries, country chicken gravy, Jidori tenders, aged cheddar, fall herbs, green onion (available at ALL locations)

For ya sweet tooth, we’re also introducing our two new milk shakes! (SoCal only!)🥤

- Salted Caramel Coconut Oreo Shake 🥥
- S’mores 2.0 Shake ⛺️

Study up on the menu and come test it out in stores starting TODAY! 📝

09/13/2026

Class is almost in session 🐔 Peep the new syllabus tomorrow 9/14 🍁🍂

09/08/2026

Our NFL lineup is saucier than yours 🏈🫪

Here’s our starting lineup:
• Sweet Baby G’s BBQ
• Pineapple mustard 🍍
• House Ranch
• Sriracha 1K Island

Available for purchase for $11.95 at ALL SoCal locations!

04/23/2025

2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate?! 📣

Admins, moms, teachers, nurses...the list goes on. Show them all some love with chicken & swag🍗🧢 Order at the link in bio, or visit your local coop!

04/21/2025

Time to add SPRING BEAK and all-new item drops to your cals📆 Introducing...

🌱 LIMITED-TIME Spring Beak Sandwich
🥛 NEW Milk & Sugar Cookies Shake
🥦 UPDATED Downward Dog
🍪 NEW Drea's Cookie

04/18/2025

I see my future and it is bright🔮🍴

NEW & RETURNING items comin' at ya this Monday, 4/21...

04/01/2025

Sneak peep our health & wellness line “Egg-ceptional Beauty” by Crack Shack; dropping SOON🧴🧖🏽‍♀️

03/07/2025

Quality ingredients mean nothing without a quality flock. Shout out to our AMAZING teams at each coop that create a culture and atmosphere we're cluckin' proud to show off👊 💯 Happy employee appreciation day!

03/02/2025

Orange County Restaurant Week starts NOW📣

Stop by the Costa Mesa coop this week for OCRW sando & bone-in specials alongside good brews, cocktails, & vibes🍔 🍗 🍻

01/21/2025

Sunny 'Daise ahead🍳

01/08/2025

The Pacific Beach coop is OFFICIALLY HATCHING IN FEBRUARY 2025. Get a sneak peep of the coastal coop 👆 and get ready for the arrival of BETTER CHICKEN in PB. Tag a friend in the comments below and we’ll surprise 5 clucky people with something special.

Make sure to join the mailing list for the official grand opening date, chances to win VIP pre-opening tix, & big cluckin’ giveaways 🍗

01/06/2025

2025 brings an ALL-NEW MENU LINEUP❗🆕 Peep the newest additions below:

Limited-time cubano style vibes: MIAMI VICE🌴
The sunniest of starts to the day: SUNNY 'DAISE☀️
Make it saucy with all-new toss sauce: SMOKY TANG BUTTER🍊
Return of a classic rendition: DOWNWARD DOG🧘
PLUS, Cookies & Cream Cookie throwback and all-new shakes.

Visit your local coop to get your wings on the latest arrivals.

12/24/2024

Leaving honey butter bone-in out for the big guy tonight🍗

Happy holidays to all🎄 All coops will close at 3pm today and are closed tomorrow, Christmas Day.

Address

196 East 17th Street
Costa Mesa, CA
92627

For those using public transport, there are several bus stops along East 17th Street, which is within walking distance of The Crack Shack. Alternatively, the South Coast Plaza Metrolink Station is approximately a 10-minute drive away.

For those driving to The Crack Shack, take the CA-55 South and exit at Baker Street. Turn right onto Baker Street and continue for around 1 mile until you reach East 17th Street. Turn left onto East 17th Street and continue for approximately half a mile until you see The Crack Shack on your left-hand side.

There is limited parking available on-site at The Crack Shack, including several designated accessible parking spaces. Additional street parking is also available in the surrounding area but may be limited during peak hours.

Opening Hours

Monday	10:30am - 9pm
Tuesday	10:30am - 9pm
Wednesday	10:30am - 9pm
Thursday	10:30am - 9pm
Friday	10:30am - 10pm
Saturday	10am - 10pm
Sunday	10am - 9pm

Telephone

(877) 230-1416

Website

https://crackshack.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Crack Shack posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Chain

The Crack Shack

What people say

The Crack Shack in Costa Mesa is a must-visit for anyone who loves fried chicken. Their "SoCal Style" fried chicken sandwich has received national acclaim and it's easy to see why. The chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with a perfect blend of spices that make it truly addictive. But The Crack Shack isn't just about the chicken - their menu is full of delicious options that are sure to satisfy any craving. From their deviled eggs to their biscuits and gravy, every dish is made with care and attention to detail. And let's not forget about the atmosphere - The Crack Shack has a fun, laid-back vibe that makes it the perfect spot for a casual meal with friends or family. Whether you're looking for a quick bite or a leisurely lunch, The Crack Shack is definitely worth checking out.