Chick & Hawk
Restaurant · Encinitas ·
Spicy fried chicken, farm-fresh sides, cocktails, surf & skate vibe
Spicy fried chicken, farm-fresh sides, cocktails, surf & skate vibe
"Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk teams up with chef Andrew Bachelier—whose résumé includes Michelin-recognized Atelier Manna, Jeune et Jolie, and Campfire—for a long-awaited skateboarder-themed, laid-back all-day spot serving fast-fine dishes in a nostalgic dining room where skate and music videos loop nonstop. I’m here for fried chicken sandwiches, caviar, seafood, and low-intervention wines; The Birdman, a spicy chicken sandwich nodding to Hawk’s nickname, is the move, with spice levels cheekily named after skate tricks from 180 degrees to 900 degrees. For something lighter, the Kona Bowl mixes salanova with birdseed furikake and mint, and I can pair it all with bubbly, beer, or cocktails like the Neon Bell made with lime aperitif, Thai basil, and lemongrass." - Helen I. Hwang
"After nearly five years of development and delays, this Tony Hawk–Andrew Bachelier collaboration debuts an ’80s time‑portal of a dining room and a “fast fine dining” menu loaded with skate references. The Birdman—a spicy chicken sandwich with a thick slab of craggy fried chicken on a pillowy potato brioche bun, zingy purple‑cabbage slaw, kimchi comeback sauce, and sweet‑spicy pickles—leads the lineup, with heat levels riffing from 360 up to a 900, nodding to Hawk’s iconic spin. Rounding it out are the Kona Bowl (crispy quinoa with avocado, crunchy radish, birdseed furikake, and mint), tuna tataki with a Chick & Hawk spice crust and carrot‑orange‑ginger vinaigrette, a fresh catch served blackened or tempura‑fried, duck‑fat fries, a signature caviar service (French onion crème fraîche topped with Osetra and paired with homemade Kennebec chips), and a sweet 50‑50 shaved‑ice riff with seasonal toppings like hibiscus lime. Drinks span the electric‑green Neon Bell (a Taco Bell‑inspired mix of lime aperitif, Thai basil, and lemongrass), Cheep Skate lager made with Viewpoint Brewing, up to five sparkling wines plus Champagne, and house red and white from Skull Wines. Produce is mainly sourced from Sage Hill Ranch Gardens, and the space goes full‑tilt nostalgic: neon‑pixel cushions, wire‑mesh seating, blue‑and‑orange pool‑tile tables (some made from skateboards donated at pop‑ups), keyhole sinks, and old‑school TVs looping 1980s/1990s skate and music videos. Murals by Shepard Fairey, Mark Gonzales, and David Persue (Bunny Kitty) frame two patios poured by California Skateparks, including a west patio shaped like a skate bowl (not skateable) and an enclosed north patio with counter seating and small tables. Opening with limited service November 6 ahead of a grand‑opening weekend, it takes lunch and dinner reservations and welcomes walk‑ins." - Helen I. Hwang
"Due in 2024, Chick & Hawk is the next project from Andrew Bachelier that I’m anticipating after the success of Atelier Manna." - Candice Woo
"Planned to arrive by the end of this summer, Chick & Hawk is a hugely anticipated restaurant partnership between Andrew Bachelier and skate legend Tony Hawk; its culinary team is already developing the concept in Manna’s kitchen and includes chef de cuisine Marlaw Seraspi (Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizza) and bar manager Nick Sinutko (Campfire)." - Candice Woo
"Conceived in partnership with skate legend Tony Hawk and led by chef Andrew Bachelier, this North County 'fast-fine' restaurant and cocktail bar centers on spicy fried chicken and sustainable poultry but will also serve a variety of locally sourced plates from an open kitchen, including a raw bar and seafood dishes." - Candice Woo