Crispy Fried Chicken

I grew up in the OC/LA area on the original Pioneer Chicken in the 80’s and 90’s, traveled all over and know my fried chicken. This spot was on point! Chicken was crispy and juicy. The hot sauce made it all the better. Drawn butter makes dressing your cornbread easy, it soaks in quickly, add some honey and let’s go!! Mashed potatoes were hearty, little on the dense side which isn’t a negative. Gravy was flavorful and savory. Price point was affordable. I got a 2 piece meal and drink for less than what most places charge for a burrito these days! I’ll definitely be coming back.

I ordered my food to be delivered so here’s my review. Who gives their customers sporks? They forgot my corn! The chicken was crispy but not seasoned. The breast pieces were small. Garlic noodles had lots of garlic seasoning but was dry! The Mac and cheese? Hell no. It was my first time ordering from this place and will be my last. I was so excited to try their food too! I’m very disappointed

Oh my, the best fried chicken ever!!! soooooo crispy!!! Had the drumsticks/thighs & sooooo tasty!!! The red snapper is really good too as well is the potato salad & coleslaw. There's a wait but we'll worth it!!! Service w/smiling faces!!! Atmosphere, we'll it's on El Cajon Blvd & scenery is bit trying if you know what I mean.

Great and affordable fried chicken joint I do love! Got some dark meat combo with fried chicken sandwich that hit the right spot

The catfish is bomb! Food is usually made to order, so it takes time. If you're in a hurry, best to order in advance. It is a little bit pricey, though. I got 4 pieces of catfish and 2 pieces of fried chicken and it was about $30+; yes, my friends. But I enjoyed this meal very much. People park like morons but, oh well, it wouldn't be San Diego, right?

I had the catfish sandwhich and it was very disappointing. The catfish was two small filets that were super processed. I would have liked fresh, hand breaded catfish instead.

There was a steady stream of people walking in to order plus delivery pick ups. So I take that as a good sign. Even though there are still tables in the dining area, it's not set up for dining in. We didn't know what to get, so we got everything! Dark meat chicken was beyond what we were expecting. Made fresh, the skin was delicate and crispy and the pieces were HUGE. Had we known, we wouldn't have also gotten wings. Also really tasty, naked and served with sauce on the side. So chicken, A+ As far as sides go, the sweet waffle was great. Corn bread was kind of sweet and cake like. The biscuit was more like a giant dinner roll. Hush Puppies were a surprising win. Crispy outside and good flavor inside without being a hard rock. Unfortunately the fried okra was mediocre and there's tons of it in a side order.

I usually go here for their chicken, but today their lunch special. This is good portion, juicy chicken, real shrimps inside the shrimp poppers and you get 2 sides. This is the bomb! You might have to wait a bit because they cook your food right there. Not like fast food.

First time trying Fried Gizzards and all I can say that I would be coming back! They were absolutely delicious! The perfect amount of Crispiness they had got me wanting more! No other place like this!!

Shrimp fried rice - very delicious Fried gizzards - very crispy and delicious Fried chicken (thighs/wings/breasts) - pretty bland even though it's crispy. Sides - average. Sauces - it's pretty bad. They're not homemade, and the sauce tastes kind of thin. They're also stingy on sauces. Since their remodel, I don't think they've improved their recipes. Or maybe nothing has changed and their lack of response for their temporary closure is clouding my judgement. Is this place justified?? No.

Crispy fried chicken is a classic comfort food that never disappoints. Its golden-brown, crunchy exterior encases tender, juicy meat, creating a delightful contrast of textures. The seasoning is perfectly balanced, offering a savory, slightly spicy flavor that keeps you coming back for more. Each bite is a satisfying crunch, making it an irresistible treat. Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with your favorite sides, crispy fried chicken is a crowd-pleaser that's hard to beat.

Kind of on the expensive side but what isn't in San Diego. I really enjoyed my dish the chicken was nice and juicy. Great flavor. Fries were good. Over Al pretty pleased

Hole in the wall chicken spot. Bars on the window, protective glass where you order. However the food is pretty good. We order the fried chicken, chicken fried rice, shrimp fried rice, fried shrimp and fried oysters. Service is a little slow. But the food is prepared fresh. The chicken is extremely crispy and seasoned well. Everything is reasonably priced. Indoor and outdoor dining not available.

Are closed for business? We kept coming by this week and have not seen any notices posted!

Still really good. Went back recently and enjoyed it. Nice to see they are still making it crispy!

The place isn't much to look at, but has really good food. The the tables were dirty and the woman at the table got a rag to wipe her table down and then gave it to me to wipe down. I don't think there was a bathroom here either. I got the chicken strips which were good. I got it with the French fries and potato salad. The potato salad was really good, which I was pleasantly surprised about. My friend got the same with the Mac and cheese, which we both agreed was not good at all.

The food is not to standards for me the chicken is cut the wrong way for the elderly there are too many small bones I asked for half a chicken didn't receive a breast or thighs just chopped up chicken wings and drumsticks the crispy is awesome just letting people know what type of chicken parts they are getting

Why have you guys been closed for so long? ????????????????????? when will you reopen it says in April but has no date. Just an update crispy chicken has been open for two weeks.

Shut down by the County of San Diego because of "Vermin Infestation" that means there were or are Mice/Rats Critters.

I Love the food at this place ! SO.... Good ! I have been going here for years, but, mainly on my b-day + other occasions. (I'm broke n cheap) lol I almost always get a Catfish and Shrimp Combo + Love it, but, have had the Chicken Strips too + they are also Great. The Staff is always Fantastic too. I do recommend eating it there to eat it at it's crispyest + hotest.......Cuz ....(It Can get soggy driving it home) But, just letting u know, the place itself may leave something to be desired. But, frankly, I don't care, because the food is just that good. At least to me. Again, I Love it. Thank you guys for the Great Food + Great Service.

They have returned after their 3 month disappearance and I was excited until I went in ( no delivery as yet ) and ordered. I dd not get what I ordered and frankly the wings were 'unusual'. I won't return since they are not in my neighborhood and are not worth trekking across town.

This will always be my favorite chicken spot in the hood. Service is regular, but the chicken is bomb. For some reason every time I come here the food just hits. Maybe not the best option at night for a female, but I made it out alive!

Crispy Fried Chicken is a mom-and-pop fried chicken shop in City Heights owned by an Asian family. The parking around the building was limited to six spaces, if that. You may have to parallel park on a nearby side street and walk over. The dining area resembled an outdated fast food joint which didn't look appealing at all. I was surprised to see so many items on their menu. Even the selections on the whiteboard of daily specials were intriguing. I only wanted fried chicken for my meal so I purchased the three piece mixed. They do know how to make a great crispy crust here that wasn't too greasy. Kudos to creating a ventilation hole on one of the corners of the styrofoam take-out container lid to extend the life of the crispiness of the fry. By doing this, it reduced the impact of the steam from the heat of the cooked meat which can quickly result in soggy fried chicken. Things that I would want to try at a return visit to this spot: calamari, krabby cake, oysters, and catfish nuggets. I wouldn't associate these seafood snacks with a fried chicken restaurant so my curiosity has been piqued as to how good they will taste with their formula of deep fry batter. The prices were quite affordable which I'm sure has added to their popularity. They will add an annoying surcharge to all credit card transactions regardless of the amount spent. Bring cash if you don't want to be nickeled and dimed from using a MC/VISA/AMEX.

whenever I want a taste of something slightly different from KFC or Popeyes. I come here. . they offer all sorts of fried foods besides chicken like hush puppies, okra, gizzards etc. shrimp, tenders, fries etc. my run down: the food isn't superb but it's a good local spot for a quick meal for yourself or family. customer service: while they are typically very nice I do find sometimes it can be hit & miss and sometimes a bit slow. the inside could use some extra regular cleaning at times but that's partly to blame on the clientle. the neighborhood can be a bit shady, especially at night but I never had an issue. I did have a homeless guy inside ask me for some change and Im glad I obliged as I later noticed a gun (possibly fake) tucked in his waistband. parking can be a bit tight and challenging. sometimes you can find some on the side in- between the taco shop, in the back (but don't park back there at night.) and on the main blvd. Because of this issue you will often see some degenerates with loud music, huge ugly rims and pants down to their knees parking anywhere they want because they feel don't need to follow the rules. yes I'm venting and it has nothing to do with the food an restaurant but several times I turn into the property and someone is parked blocking traffic while they run inside to order and even wait for it. many parking in handi-cap spots ( with no placard) and directly in front. it really upsets me seeing this so sometimes I grab my food and go and sometimes eat inside as there are several tables. give this place a try but be cautious of your surroundings and don't honk at the degenerates blocking traffic because you might get hurt by them

Did they get rid of the rats yet... I was feeding my family from there I'm so disgusted

Another favorite. Real chicken fresh fried. Try the special... chicken strips and shrimp. You will wait a little bit, but it is worth it.

Why am I calling 10 times back to back just to be ignored I order from here often I spend over $30 every time I usually love this spot I called to modify my order but now I'm unsatisfied with the food I received Deeply disappointed with the lack of service and the lack of transparency and lack of punctuality

Ordered again from them. We ordered the the 5 piece chicken. The chicken pieces were huge. I really liked the cole slaw. It reminded me of KFC cole slaw but maybe slightly healthier. The biscuits were big and tasty as well. We ordered via Grubhub so we had to wait a little while before our food came. Overall still delicious food!

Not gone lie, since they sold this place to new owner ship some years back this place went down hill. Of course they purchased the same exact recipes but the execution is just not there. Cornbread used to be extremely soft, fresh, and hot out the oven with some melted butter that merged inside but now that shit is just hard. I come here sometimes just because you can still taste that secret recipe within the strips but besides that, this place is a far cry from what it used to be.

Best fried chicken I ever had! Extra crispy and flavorful on the outside, yet moist and juicy all the way to the bone. Excellent side dishes which complimented the meal nicely .

This place has been open probably as long before I was even born lol anyways I used to come here so much as a kid. Their fried chicken is also literally so crispy and juicy inside!! Today was the first time in years that I've been back. I ordered the combo with 3 pieces fried chicken , onion rings and Mac n cheese. It was around $10 and some change! The chicken pieces are huge the price for the combo is so worth it! I ordered through Yelp and came by to pick it up. Defnitely come check this spot out for your fried chicken cravings!!! They also go seafood and gizzards, all that good stuff. I'll have to try it out next time!

Hole in the wall type spot. Kinda rundown looking but their chicken is super crispy and I LOVE their fried rice.

High Yelp reviews brought us here. The place is pretty dirty. We ordered the dark chicken w french fries, potato salad and mac n cheese. The chicken was fresh, juicy and crispy but it lacked flavor. The fries were pretty good made to order like the chicken. It was good but nothing special. The service was friendly but on this particular day they were backed up w orders so it took some time. They also didn't allow inside seating so we had to eat in our car...messy.

Too close to home, I go too often & Im not mad about it... Always satisfying & on point.

This is probably the best fried chicken in town. The building has a very unglamorous appearance. Don't worry about that.

AMAZING food! Definitely a golden spot! The chicken is some of the best. Small business so I will always support!

Order what they're named. It's juicy too. The chicken was fried to perfection. Along the way I drove by a kfc, kfc isn't as crispy as this place. It took about 15 minutes from ordering to pickup. There's a .35 extra charge for using a credit card.

I ordered $50 worth of food from here and it was all terrible. I didn't know you could ruin mac and cheese. It was so oily and not creamy. Then the coleslaw was like drowned in dressing. It was pretty disgusting overall

Their fried chicken and cornbread are absolutely perfect. Great prices too. Call ahead of time!

I had a craving for some fried chicken and macaroni and cheese so I ordered delivery. I chose a 5 piece dark combo with biscuits and macaroni and cheese. My chicken was really good, the biscuits were okay and the macaroni and cheese was inedible. Upon opening the lid, I could tell something was off right away. It looked greasy so I stirred it and it still was greasy. I pat it down a bit with a napkin (which I've never done before for macaroni and cheese) to see if that would help it become edible. There was so much grease in the cup of macaroni and cheese that I had to take a picture so it didn't seem like I'm exaggerating. It was under seasoned as well. I took 5 bites and threw the rest away. I was soooo disappointed with the dish since I was craving it. I would possible go back if I could have sent my food back but when you order from Postmates, you're SOL.

If you like crispy well flavored fresh chicken, this is the place to get them at. Be sure to try their deep fried gizzard. Soo good!

It's delicious and flavorful. The friend chicken here is absolutely amazing. My favorite item from CFC is the 13 piece chicken gizzard. The only thing I would fix is the amount of oil that goes in the food and if the service was faster. I haven't dined in here before so I couldn't tell you how the ambiance might be.

Ordered Crispy Fried Chicken for the first time through Door Dash. Overall it was pretty good. Though the batter could use a little more flavor and it could be crispier. But, the delivery time can't be avoided, so the heat from the chicken creates moisture in the box and it dampens the crisp a bit. The chicken pieces are good size. The thigh I had was huge. And the meat was juicy. Gotta say the portions of the sides are very generous. The chicken livers were good with the hot sauce and/or sweet n sour sauce. Very crunchy. The okra was good although I think it could be crispier. That way the okra wouldn't be as gooey. But I think it may be perfect when it is reheated as a leftover. I like the cole slaw. Though there is more "juice" than is needed. My hub thinks it's too sweet. So, if it's just drained a bit I think it would be just right. I read a recent review about the corn on the cob not being good. But ours was perfect. So, would I order again? Yes. And I would give 5 stars if the specific things I noted were improved.

So, I go into this place and order Gizzards and fries.. I had to repeat myself 3 times to the lady.Got my order and no fries and no hot wing sauce. So, I go back to the counter ask for fries and hot wing sauce from the Gentleman and he starts to question me.. "She didn't give you any sauce"? I say no, He rolls his eyes abs hands me this.. LOL.. I say could I get a full container, he proceeded to tell me, "that that was enough sauce because that's how much he uses and if I wanted more I could pay 50 cents! " poor customer service!! Thanks to the good homie for your spirit! He knows what I mean.

Ok chicken place has been in the area for a very long time. A little pricey for wings that were cut up with part chicken breast. Just ok.

A little dirty gem , the interior and exterior are honestly pretty deceiving . But for what they lack in appeal they make up in food ! I've never ordered from here myself but my boyfriend family orders from here all the time . The usually get the chicken and fried shrimp ! The one thing that keeps me craving them is the shrimp and the hot sauce they have here ! I'm not sure on the pricing here since I never buy it but I believe it's reasonable . This place beats any of the other America fast food chicken place .

Look! I know fried chicken. As a matter of fact, my favorite comfort food on the planet is fried chicken. Nobody. I mean nobody fries chicken better than me. My recipe is just the way I like it. I have a few recipes that I use depending on how I want my chicken to taste AND the type of coating for the mood I'm in at the time. There's dinner fried chicken. There's watching a movie fried chicken. There's take to work for lunch fried chicken. There's having a party fried chicken. There's let me cook a lot so I can eat on it all week fried chicken. This one requires spices that will hold the flavor for a week in the fridge. Nobody wants to eat stale tasting chicken. This place.. I just love it. Not as good as my chicken by any means. But let's face it, I ain't trying to fry chicken EVERY time I want some. I love the coating and that flavor... WOW! I'm not going to use Yelp to put down other establishments, as a matter of fact, a few establishments have fried chicken I'll eat. This one however is pretty damn good. Now, I know that the restaurant is owned run by Asians, I truly don't have a problem with that. The food however, not just the fried chicken, but the fried fish, shrimp and hush puppies definitely taste like they came from a southern black kitchen. I hope that doesn't sound racist. It's not meant to be. But the food is definitely out of a southerner soul food cookbook. I taste nothing Asian at all. Now I love Asian. But when it comes to fried chicken, fried catfish and fried red snapper, I'm not looking for Asian spices. I'm looking for southern spices. This place delivers. Located right next to an alley I used to get high and drunk in during my less fortunate days, top dollar quality food is generated from this establishment.

If you're driving down El Cajon Blvd with any sense of purpose, you've probably driven by this spot a hundred times and didn't even notice it. Located next to a small taco shop, Crispy Fried is a little fried chicken shop that also serves fried rice. 3.5 stars! The Goods: Crispy Fried is reasonably priced so you're likely to get a good bang for your buck. My go-to here are the chicken strip family combos. Lately it's been the 9 piece strip combo (for my lady and I to share) which comes with 2 small sides for $12.99! These aren't your baby strips either. We're talking large, meaty, honkin' strips. As for the sides, I typically stick to the fries (regular thick cut or sweet potato) but I've also had a few of the other sides and they're ok. My lady loves the gizzards which are fairly priced at $5. Chicken is tasty but doesn't seem like the highest quality of poultry. Their should be a "Free Play" arcade game to play while you wait for your food. I would recommend calling in my order though. The Not So Goods: The location is pretty run down and in need of a major facelift. The business is pretty mom and pop so you might find old menu prices covered up with new prices in pen or paper, you know that kinda thing. Their is space to eat inside but it's minimal and not the friendliest environment so it's always take-out for us. Parking is also minimal but it's usually not too packed. Crispy Fried gets the job done but it's nothing to write home about. However if you're looking for a decent, reasonably priced weekday meal, this is it.

We've been exploring places for fried chicken and was recommended this place. This place has its own parking lot but be prepare for a long wait. You can phone in your order then come to pick up. Owned by Vietnamese and you can see them working. Chicken here is fresh and inexpensive. We got 15 piece mixed ($19.99) and small popcorn chicken ($5.99). The small size was actually a lot considering what you get for the price. The skin is really crispy but it's bland for my taste with very little seasoning and there wasn't an option of spice level. I would prefer they make their own sauces to enhance the flavor more. Although, I appreciate the crisp and freshness. I'm not a fan of white meat but even the white meat was moist. I wouldn't come back for chicken because I prefer more spice. However, I do want to come back to try the seafood. Maybe it'll change my mind. After all, this place was crowded so something must be right.

Everything here is fried, fried, fried and fried some more. So do not come here if you want to detox. Honestly, this place is insanely busy but to me it's worth it. I am not good at frying chicken and not a fan of most large chains. The taste is just good to me. I bring their chicken to gatherings and folks always ask where it's from or if I made it. I suggest you call in your order or other methods before you come. Chicken is known to run out but the fryers are constantly going. If you call ahead, you should be okay. I am not a hot sauce fan but it works here. I also like their bbq sauce too. I can only review the chicken but the red snapper seemed the most popular when I was here to pick up our order. My only gripe, they are stingy with giving out sauces.

The wait time is incredible. I know they're shortstaffed, but this is unreal. Waited over 30 minutes for a chicken dinner.

Oh dang!! This place is the best. I ordered through Doordarsh today. Anyways I'm glad I made a right choice its my first time to buy chicken here. I always buy from kfc, popeyes, and church chickens. I decided to buy here for the first time and the whole family love it. Now we have new fav. Place to buy chicken

This place was a-okay. SUPER busy. Tons of people coming in and out. Basically a constant line. Food was super fresh for the most part. Lots of sauces. Friendly staff. Overall most of it could use a little marinade or seasoning. Tenders: so moist and cooked perfectly. Needed a little seasoning though. Made me wish Popeyes cooked theirs like this but that they had the spicy seasoning of Popeyes. Shrimp: very good. Calamari: a little stringy but overall pretty good. Popcorn chicken: skip. Too over cooked and chewy. Fried Zucchini: this was only okay. Taste was meh. Onion rings: standard. Poppers: good, tasted just like the brand Poppers Mac and cheese: meh. A little too watery. All of the above was about $28. Fairly reasonably priced.

Crispy, golden and amazing. This place does not disappoint. The location is right off El Cajon. Parking is limited. They are not doing dine in. Everything is take out. The cashier was friendly. I got there for a door dash pick up and I only had to wait two mins. It was worth it because even after a 10 min drive home the chicken was hot, juicy and crispy. This place is the go to place for fried chicken in San Diego.

Wow. This place is great. It's not much to look at but the chicken is on point. Other reviews mention the lack of spice but it's not supposed to be either a Nashville hot chicken or a hot and spicy fried chicken. The skin is so light and crispy. If you are in need of some spice kick enjoy the delicious hot sauce they provide. It really adds another layer to the chicken. I also got the fried okra. It was also covered in that delicious fried batter. It was so good! Next time I do want to try the jumbo shrimp and the French fries. They also have specials that sounded great. Lastly the price was so reasonable. When you look online for fried chicken usually super expensive. This place provides delicious food at a reasonable price. Also the place seems family owned so the next time you are wanting some amazing fried chicken stop in here.

Had it delivered. Apparently it's even better better fresh. Most things are, yeah, but even delivered their chicken and fried okra are in a class of their own. Don't sell that recipe, folks.

Where's the County's best fried chicken? Until this spring, the answer was inarguably Crispy Fried Chicken on El Cajon Boulevard. But this old place, my old favorite place, has lost its standing, having been outclassed by The Chicken Shop, a chicken fryer in Santee. And, although the news is bad for CFC, it should come as no surprise. The Chicken Shop is owned and operated by Henry, former owner/manager/chef of Crispy Fried Chicken. Henry sold Crispy Fried Chicken some months ago, making sure to set the new people up with recipes, processes and suppliers, because Henry's a good guy who wanted his replacements to do well. But recently, missing the energy and attention to detail that Henry and his family poured into Crispy Fried Chicken, this old place has faltered. Not a lot, mind you, and CFC is still very busy, but recent visits have enabled me to compare the two, and here's what I've noticed about Crispy Fried Chicken: - Their fried chicken is ostensibly the same - same bird, prepared the same way - but now diners risk being served hard, crusty shells of fried flour encasing dry, flavorless meat. That's new. - Shrimp: my notes say "greasy, slimy, ammoniac, inedible." If yours say something different, your notes are wrong. - Corn, mac 'n cheese, other sides, all overcooked. Like angrily, maliciously overcooked. Or perhaps they're just cooked early and left to steam, simmer and die. - Last time I checked, Crispy Fried Chicken wasn't making slushies any more. - I repeat: THERE ARE NO MORE GODDAMNED SLUSHIES. Somebody should call somebody. Meanwhile, at The Chicken Shop, Henry's crew consistently produces succulent chicken pieces, hand-cut and -breaded, including their "tenders," which, at three-for-$3.75, are, I believe, the best value on the board. The two restaurants are equidistant from my house, and I'd planned to patronize both, but, before returning to Crispy Fried Chicken, I think I'll wait to read reviews that mention the problems I've described, which also note that the issues have been addressed.

Great fried chicken and sides, good customer service with nice staff. Good atmosphere and good restaurant overall.