Crimson Coward

You have to order thru the app, you can’t call and place an order that’s the only bummer. After placing the order online it took about 25-30 min, they had an option to cut the sandwich in half which i selected and they unfortunately didn’t do, I also asked for no pickles on one sandwich and both had it regardless. There’s no distinction on which one is what when you get the order. So when selecting options on the app to place an order they may not do what you selected. We got the hottest level burn baby burn-and hot. It was pretty good, the chicken was well cooked and juicy. We spent roughly $40 on both our orders, two sandwiches, two scoops of fries and one drink. Would consider going back.

BEST CHICKEN EVER!!! I just went with my grandma to check this place out and we both enjoyed it. This place is so good that my grandma who is picky enjoyed it a lot and she kept complimenting it. (Sorry about the bad picture, I got the crimson sandwich)

I have been to this place before just never had done a review. I come here for the tenders. The staff is always too cool. Love their style of chicken it is always cooked fresh the place always is clean also. I always come when i get a chance. Love to get my spicy on when in the mood for spicy fire chicken.

I tried the Hot Chicken Sandwich (HOT level) and the Blooming Onion, spending around $24. While I appreciate that everything is made to order, and the food came out hot, the overall experience didn’t quite meet my expectations. The sandwich had the right level of heat based on their scale, but the flavor beyond the spice was pretty mild. The chicken patty could’ve used more seasoning, and for $13, it felt a bit small. It came with a light amount of coleslaw, and adding cheese was an extra charge (possibly $1 or $3, I may be misremembering). The Blooming Onion was unfortunately undercooked in the middle. It likely needed to be cut a bit deeper and fried longer to ensure everything was fully cooked and crispy throughout. More seasoning would’ve helped as well. On the positive side, the food is made fresh, which I do appreciate, even if the wait was a little longer than expected. The seating was basic, but on par with what you’d find at most casual spots. Service was minimal since I ordered at the kiosk, and there wasn’t much staff interaction. It wasn’t unfriendly, just more of a self-serve vibe. I usually like to try a place twice before making a final call, but with so many great chicken sandwich spots around at more affordable prices, I’m not sure I’d return. Still, if you’re curious and like trying new hot chicken places, it may be worth checking out once to see how it lines up with your own taste.

Had the 4 tenders at the hottest level (burn baby burn). I love spicy food. Definitely had some heat to it, but the flavor was super good. Nice, slow building heat. Tenders were fried very well. Crispy outside and very juicy inside. I would have given my experience 5 stars, but for four tenders and a small bowl of Mac n cheese (also pretty good), was $28 with a tip. They also charge an extra dollar to order the spiciest level tenders. I would definitely go back and try one of their sandwiches.

Crimson Coward's food looks fantastic, but the flavor doesn’t match the presentation. The chicken is all heat with no depth—lacking the seasoning to balance the spice.

Great service. Great atmosphere. The food was cooked fresh. It had a great flavor. Not to mention the kitchen looks very clean and maintained as I ate. I saw the workers constantly cleaning the kitchen. Makes me feel safe here. I'll definitely be back and if you want great chicken I suggest you come here too

First time here and heard lots of good things about the food. We lucked out and showed up just before the crowd. They have touch screen kiosks for ordering but since we were the first there, the friendly employee took our order. 10 minutes later, our food was at the table. It was fresh, hot and delicious.

Today was my first time at Crimson Coward. Employees were very HELPFUL. Everything was ran like Clockwork. THE FOOD WAS GOOOOOD. YES I'll be BACK

The food was meh--not bad, but definitely not great. The fries were completely unseasoned, and I ordered my sandwich mild, but it was so bland it might as well have been country. No flavor at all. Overall, I wasn't impressed. I'd rather take the extra drive to Howlin' Ray's. What really bothered me, though, was the fact that they don't offer a restroom for customers. It's not like it's tucked away in the back or behind the kitchen--it's right there in the dining area, just locked and marked for employees only. What kind of restaurant doesn't provide a restroom for its guests? Do better.

A little disappointing. Fries were sadly underseasoned and were not very crispy, texture was off. The macaroni was particularly offensive, it had little flavor besides the pepper and was overall unsavory. The sandwich was okay. It had an overpowering fried taste, which made me feel kind of sick. Did not finish the sandwich. I know this is a viral place now and if you really want to sate your curiosity, I'd say go for it. But it honestly is on par with any other fried chicken alternative down the street, and that's not considering it's price. Will not return here.

Their chicken is amazing, I ordered their signature burger and loved it! But the first time I ordered a soda, there was a weird black substance that came out of the soda machine into my cup. When I brought it up to one of the employees they were very sorry and figured out what was wrong with the machine before getting my drink for me. I appreciated this but can't help questioning their cleanliness.

Just ordered through DoorDash and I spent $50 on this order & also ordered my Joey eat fries without sauce and of course it had sauce. I also ordered a ranch and missing item. I used to work here before and it was never this bad. Horrible, never again.

I had high hopes from crimson coward given driving all the way to Howlin Rays can be difficult at times. The place looks great and staff was nice. When I got the food, it looked and smelled fine but when I tasted it. it just seemed to lack a depth of flavor, overcooked, and the seasoning tasted like powder than spice. Some may say my expectations are HIGH and it's not as far as driving out to Howlin Rays, but I just didn't think it was as good sadly. Maybe another time but for now I'll stick to Howling Rays.

Food was okay. Mac and cheese was cold and a bit bland. Cole slaw tasted a bit sour. Fried pickles were perfectly crunchy but could use a little more seasoning. Girl cook was a bit rude and accusatory. The fries were too drenched in sauce to really enjoy.

The chicken sandwich is so good spicy but not to spicy the Mac & cheese is dry and nasty buy I love the Joey fries service is good.. so if your in the area stop by

Cool little spot in Downey. The chicken was so juicy and flavorful! Staff was great, very friendly.

So excited to try Crimson Coward! Dae and Leo were quick. The food is definitely made fresh. All the vibes inside with the decoration and music. French fries are super delicious! Burn Baby Burn FRANKENSTYLE is hurting my boyfriend, he tapped out after half way and drank two glasses of milk, eat if you dare! Crimson Sandwich is good too, nice flavor

Everything here is packed full of flavor! Like wow hands down the best chicken sandwich I have ever had. Jamal was super helpful, friendly, and had our food out quick. This place is pretty chill to eat at but it does get busy. We were lucky enough to get a table. As a Mac n cheese enthusiast theirs blew me away, will definitely be back for more!

Had the greatest service and very good chicken sandwich here! Service was attentive, the staff who helped me was very helpful in helping me figure out what to order! Afterwards, as I was taking pictures she nicely pulled out the inflatable chicken just for us! The place itself is very clean. I went a bit after lunch so it had plenty of parking but might be a bit tight during peak hours. Thanks so much for the great experience! Will be back

First time here and I have to say the chicken is so good and cooked perfect!. Next time I will get the fries with no hot seasoning though. But over all very good and the young lady that works here was so nice and helpful. Will be back for sure!.

Service used to be great but we're seeing more and more of a decline every time we go. A few times we ordered the Joey eat fries specifically without Cole slaw and they still added it. This time my daughter picked up our order, came home and opened the box with the sauces to find none of the cheese sauce containers were closed and left a huge mess for us to deal with. Also the portions have gotten much smaller than when they opened. This will be our last order with them as we've had more bad experiences with them than good lately.

Stopped by on a whim bc I needed to charge my car and my kids were hungry. The employee was patient and helpful. I got the Joey fries and some tenders. The food was made fresh and cravable . It can be messy but the portions are large and a good price too. Can't wait to have a cheat day to eat more.

Fantastic food! Chicken was perfect! Pickles were sooooo good. We sat at the bar so we got to interact with the staff. Jamal and Favi were awesome. Very friendly and attentive!

Gross. Found a hair baked into the chicken. Had to pull it out and it got stuck with the breading. DO NOT BUY

Their sauce is good. The spicy level is not accurate, their hot is not hot and it felt a little bland. The service was great though, very friendly and helpful. I would try it again, but not my first to go to for chicken sandwiches.

If you're looking for good fried chicken, this is the place to go. I've been here probably 10 times now and it's been great every time. I think it's pretty comparable to Howlin' Rays but without the crazy long wait times.

Forget Dave's hot chicken, respectfully. Once you try this place you'll feel the same. All I have to say is loaded Mac and cheese. This ain't no BS Mac and cheese, this is the real deal. Topped hot chicken and crimson sauce. Nothing comes close to it. It's the perfect combination of spicy, creamy, savory, crunchy and over all goodness (FYI this is an off menu item) and it's quite a lot of food. But nevertheless, Crimson Coward will always have place in my stomach. The staff are always professional and always clean atmosphere

Not worth the hype sorry we were so disappointed! Fries were not good at all. The sandwich was good but not so crazy that I'd come again

First time back in months. Disappointed. We usually get the loaded Mac to share and a side of fries and it's always bomb but this time we were given a much smaller portion than before :( we were really looking forward to eating here. $17 for it and was not worth the drive.

Every time that I'm here to have a quick bite to eat, the food, service, the vibe, and the staff are always amazing. The food always hits the spot, especially the crimson onion! This is the first time I'm having it, and all I can say is that Outback doesn't have nothing on this bloomin onion! Hands down it's been one of the best ones I've tried, and will continue to have. Shout out to the Crimson staff. You guys are all amazing!

Wow. Crimson. You failed me *sad face I've been here plenty of times. Big fan! Gave them 5 stars 2 years ago. I came here with my kids on Saturday 11/26/22. It wasn't the Crimson experience we've loved in the past. Prices went up. Not bad if I get the quality I remember. Portions went down. I ordered the 3 wings and fries $16. Those wings were the size of chicken nuggets. Our fries were kind of cold. And portions were really small for what they charge. My daughters chicken sandwich was good. All of their orders are now in a box. They used to serve it on trays. Eating out of a box when eating-in is wack. I feel I over paid. And we didn't get that awesome Crimson food we've loved before. I hope management reads this. As of now, I'm not going back. I've tried other chicken shops so no need to come back. Sad part is I really, really loved Crimson.

Food was salty ... fries no flavor ... macaroni was bland ... couldn't taste sauce on burger... best thing was the burrito but it wasn't special either. I think there's plenty of better options , so I wouldn't come back here. It is fast service and workers acknowledge you when you walk in, whether you pay using the machine or order with them

Awesome food and staff, we had some burn baby burn seasoning on top and boy did we break a sweat! Employees were awesome gave us free waffles on the side. Will definitely be back, definitely rate this place 8/10

When I signed up for Crimson Coward's loyalty club, I had set my preferred location to Artesia, but that location has since closed due to irreparable structural damage. Even though the Long Beach location is much closer to me, my preferred location got switched to the Downey location, which I hadn't been to before. Earlier this month, I got an email from Crimson Coward Downey that included a 20% off coupon tied to my phone number. I wasn't sure if I could use that coupon at the Long Beach location, which I had been to before, but like I said, I hadn't been to their first location in Downey. Plus, for whatever reason, I was in a really sour mood on a Saturday evening, and I just needed to get out. Like far out hoping that the food would be far out (see what I did there? lol) Just like the Long Beach location, the Downey Crimson Coward is located on the west side of Lakewood Blvd. It's in a strip mall just south of Florence, and there are only three rows of parking in the immediate lot. With so many businesses in that strip mall, I was afraid it'd be difficult to find parking, but surprisingly, the lot was nearly empty when I arrived just before 7 PM. There were a handful of customers inside at the time, but one was making an order as I stepped inside. I had my eyes on the Frankenstyle sandwich, which is basically a Crimson sandwich, but with mac & cheese, and each bun is replaced by a grilled cheese sandwich. Actually, on second thought, it's probably more comparable to a Home Style sandwich because that sandwich already uses toasted bread and cheese. If you add some mac & cheese as well as two additional pieces of toast to a Home Style sandwich, that would equate to a Frankenstyle. The Frankenstyle is listed as an off-menu item, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Frankenstyle wasn't even listed on their menu. Or was it not on their menu because they didn't have all the ingredients? That was almost the case for me, believe it or not. When I asked about the Frankenstyle, the cashier did confirm they do offer it, but wasn't sure if they had enough mac & cheese to make me a Frankenstyle. She asked one of the chefs in the open kitchen to check, and that chef said they had just enough to make one more Frankenstyle sandwich. It was my lucky day! One of the reasons I had my eyes on the Frankenstyle was because the Yelp check-in offer is a free drink with a $15 purchase. I wasn't sure if the $15 would be after my 20% discount, but before tax; I assumed it was. A Frankenstyle sandwich is just under $20, so with the 20% discount, I would have met the $15 minimum for the free drink. Had they not had that last bit of mac & cheese, I would have needed to devise a new way to make a $19 order. After paying, I asked how long the wait would be. The cashier noticed the kitchen was getting slammed with orders, so she estimated 15 to 25 minutes. Not surprised, honestly, since they don't cook the chicken until you order. 13 minutes later, one of the chefs asked me what my order number was. After I told him my order number, he saw his female co-worker working on my order and estimated it'd be about 3 more minutes. It was actually 7 minutes more before a third chef asked if I wanted my order for here or to go. More customers kept coming in as I waited, so the dining area was getting packed. I chose "to go", and he offered me a takeout bag. I also grabbed a few ketchup packets and some napkins before filling up my cup. Two of the drinks were out of order, but luckily, they still had the Pepsi zero sugar, so I went with that. I also grabbed a lid and a couple of forks. They didn't have any straws, but each lid does have a hole. Just be careful while driving! I ate the entire Frankenstyle before driving home. I don't know what was harder, that or holding the sandwich, but neither was easy. The thought of a fried chicken sandwich in between two grilled cheese sandwiches sounds like heartburn waiting to happen, but I was more focused on trying to hold the sandwich without making a mess in my car. Amazingly enough, I only dropped a few bits in my takeout box. How did the Frankenstyle taste? It tasted good enough to put me in a better mood, but some bits of chicken were overcooked. Borderline burnt I might even argue. Also, the mac & cheese was forgettable since I got their last scoop of the week, but I will forever be thankful for that last scoop lol. When I got home, I checked online and saw that the Downey location was sold out of Frankenstyle sandwiches. Lucky me! The Downey location is set up very similarly to the Long Beach location with the cashier standing just to the right of the front door, and the open kitchen spans the remainder of the right wall. There were about 4-5 chefs working in the open kitchen, and they were cranking out orders like a well-oiled machine. Will I order the Frankenstyle again? No. Once is enough. Do I recommend the Downey Crimson Coward? Yes. Most definitely! :)

I've been to this establishment a couple times now and the service has always been acceptable. But this time around an employee stood out. Helped us out at the register , gave us some personal recommendations, set proper expectations as far as wait times, and gave overall great customer service. I believe his name was Victor ( thin build, long curly hair). I believe the manager/owner was there and he wasn't too friendly to his staff. A customer complained about wait times ( after 5 minutes of waiting) and the manager was quick to complain to his staff. The Staff is great , and great food takes time to prepare!

Fiery chicken and simple waffles is really tasty. Not to mention the girls working is attentive and have great customer service! Simple ambience of a fast grab and go eatery. I will come back and try everything lol

If half stars were allowed they get 4 1/2 They doing this right. Love the hot chimkin Sandos and the Joey-Eat-Fries are the standard of dumpster fries, so good. Pro-tip: Order ahead if you dont wanna wait. Like all good hot chicken samiches they are cooked fresh and takes a bit to cook.

It was nice to see the owner Ali today. They were making 2 tender basket for free today from 12PM-2PM. Juicy, tender, and good size chicken. Comeback sauce went well with their seasonings. Good and quick service.

Their chicken burgers are so spicy, satisfying, and delectable!!!! I swear I couldn't tell if the seasoning here was better than the seasoning they use at Dave's. So guess what? My boyfriend and I are going to get a sandwich from here and a sandwich from Dave's (our go to) and have a taste test comparison! We're betting this place might be better but we'll see. I wish Yelp had a comment section because I wish I knew what you guys think too. Update coming soon! But I digress, there was a 15 minute wait which is fine because the wait was worth it. The only issue we had were with the prices since they're more expensive than Dave's Chicken, so the upcoming taste test is a mussstt!!

The food was really good!! It was one of the beater spicy chicken sandwiches I had. The smash burger was really good too! Definitely ordering again. The service was absolutely wonderful. They employees were so nice. Nice ambiance in the restaurant. Nice big table. Over all I'm definitely coming back!

Food was blah. A bit pricey. Which I can over look if everything thing else is ok. High chair was filthy and no restrooms for customers WTF! Maybe not an issue if I'm local but I stopped in on my way home from an event at Sofi. I won't be back

Fried the blooming onion so long it was burnt. The fried pickles also burnt. They tried to cover it with like a pound of salt. The chicken also too fried. How tf does everyone give this place a good reveiw. Yall need to wake up. I really want a refund for my wasted time.

Very delicious food I love the hot chicken with rice I ask for rice for my kids since they don't love spicy foods. The service is beyond my expectations they are fast and trustworthy with their jobs and they are accurate with their job. The place is a nice and quiet surrounding it's also appropriate for families and for people with kids.

I came here on my lunch since I was in the area and I saw that there are really good reviews. I ordered a mild chicken sandwich on brioche with french fries. Remember to check in to get a free drink if you spend over $15! They have a self serve kiosk if you plan on ordering and paying with your card. Otherwise someone will come over and take your order if you are paying in cash. I think that set up is pretty nifty. The sandwich was very delicious and perfectly fried with good flavor and just enough heat for me. Seriously though, that flavor was perfection. My fries were lightly seasoned, just like I requested. The only thing I didn't care for is that I had a lot of what seemed like end of the bag fries, meaning, there were a lot of very short length fries which was hard to dip in my catch-up without getting it all over my fingers. I am definitely a chicken sandwich lover and this place gets my stamp of approval! I love supporting small businesses and this place was so delicious. You won't be disappointed if you come here

Jamal and Gabriel have wonderful customer service and top quality cooking and operational skills!!! Fav place for hot chicken!!!

This place is delicious! As someone who has tried hot chicken in Nashville, Crimson Coward tastes just as good if not better. There's online ordering which is great. We ordered two sandwiches and they were ready by the time we got to the store. There's a parking lot in front of the store which made parking easy. Immediately I was impressed by the size of the sandwich. The chicken is absolutely massive and extended beyond the brioche bun. The sauce is amazing and the pickles gave it a zesty punch. Even though I chose the mild sauce, I thought it was spicy in a good way and packed some heat. I'd definitely return again and it made such a stellar impression on me, I'd warrant to say it's my favorite hot chicken place.

I tried the burn baby burn level of heat I didn't know it was more of challenge kind of spice lol it was amazing keep some milk and honey if you decide to take the challenge! Ever since I've tried the country mild medium and hot level I have never encountered any undercooked chicken which I think many chicken places eventually land on and that's horrible.But Crimson coward has nailed it all the way up to customer service I've been there busy and non busy hours and every time the staff is communicative on orders and wait times they have a self order machine or can be assisted by a cashier they are consistent in their heat spices cooking and friendly demeanor. Best Spicy Chicken in Downey! Recommend- lonely coward , tenders sandwiches fries! Honestly since they're consistent everything is always good! True Thank you guys for doing such a great job !

Great sandos with awesome portions! The Mac and cheese is also really tasty. Very cheesy!

Setting/Staff Small, but clean interior. This place is catered best for takeout due to the size, but it's a nice enough place to be if you can grab a seat. Staff is friendly and meticulous. Lots of care goes into the food and making sure the customer gets their order as intended. The staff opened up your box before handing it over so you can verify it's correct, which is a nice touch. My only complaint would be the lack of knives (minor, but it made for a messier meal than I would have liked!) Food: I ordered a chicken breast (medium heat) and a side of Mac n cheese. The chicken itself is excellent. Juicy inside with crispy breading. The chicken is properly seasoned and cooked to order. The medium heat is the spiciest I'd personally go, and I consider myself average with heat tolerance. Next time, I'd order the mild or even no heat. The chicken is so good that I suspect no heat won't deter is flavor. The Mac and cheese was good, but tasted a bit flat on flavor. The addition of some herbs, seasoning, or fresh grated cheese on top would be a welcomed change in my opinion. Overall: This place deserves its hype. Lots of care is taken with the food here. It's cool to have a spot like this in Downey.

This place is amazing food is always great and fresh never had any bad experience here if you love spicy food this is the place to be

NOT CLEAN. NO MASK.. RUDE OWNER, bad customer service! On multiple occasions, many different interactions. Owner wore NO MASK OR GLOVES WHEN HANDLING ORDERS.. He was rude and told me not to Come back when when I asked for my fries to be made extra well done.. I asked why I wasn't being treated with the same respect as other customers .. Got a private message saying he & his staff despises me.. lol !! I don't understand why as a paying customer I am subjected to bad treatment.. if someone asks for their fries a certain way and pays the same as everyone else what is the issue.. & I was told AFTER I PAID & Went to pick up my order that they wouldn't be making them to my liking .. it was not told to me before making the transaction and purchase.

We love us some Nashville Hot Chicken! Be ready for that spice to kick in! I'm absolutely addicted to their Joey Eat Fries. Gotta give them a try next time you want to order in!

Chicken dipped in the honey is bombbbb!!! However, it may give you heartburn afterwards The service in the drive through is pretty quick and the ambiance is pretty up beat :)

Will always be a fan of this place. The portions are getting smaller but I just love the customer service and the friendly vibes all workers have! Thank you for the consistency

Food review: the meat was cooked to perfection... I barely eat chicken but will order this again. La buns ( a restaurant behind portos) fried chicken is better tho. The fries were plain. The service was cool, employees seem to enjoy their job. It was packed but it was a good vibe.

The food was good, ordered 2 country sandwiches with fries and a drink. They weren't as spicy as we wanted them to be but I liked how everything was fresh ! Took a star off because service was SO SLOW. 5 workers and only 2 couples waiting for our sandwiches took 30 minutes ? If that's how it normally runs I can't imagine how long it would take if it was actually busy willing to come back but hopefully service is better next time