Mike L.
Yelp
I remember the first time I ever saw Starbird's chicken sandwiches pop up in my feed, I was immediately intrigued. Thick, enticing sandwiches with golden, crispy pieces of chicken and a variety of dressings? Yes please! They looked so good, in fact, that it made it that much more surprising to discover that Starbird was a chain! With all due respect to the likes of Chick-fil-A and Popeyes, those traditional fast food joints would be hard pressed to put out something that looked this good, let alone anything that even remotely resembles their ads!
In a way, Starbird strikes me as the chicken version of Shake Shack - more fast casual than fast food (though still fast food-ish) with better quality food to offer. In addition to their aforementioned chicken sandwiches, the menu has a pretty good variety of options for folks to choose from - a variety of salads, wings (both bone-in and boneless), nuggets, and a handful of sides. Plus, I love how their soda machine features a local craft soda company (Alameda Point Craft Soda) rather than the typical assortment of Pepsi and Coke flavors.
-- SEOUL STAR - Crispy Chicken, Sweet Soy Glaze, Korean Seoul Sauce, Shredded Green Cabbage, Sliced Cucumbers, Toasted Sesame Seeds, Korean Chili Flakes, Green Onion, Mayo, and a Soft Round Bun
It's a shame they don't have this on the menu anymore because it was great! The chicken was really juicy, the glaze and sauce added a nice sweet and spicy element, and the cabbage and cucumbers provided a touch of freshness.
-- STARBIRD 2.0 - Crispy Chicken, Herb Aioli, Rainbow Slaw, Pickled Red Onion, Avocado Mash, and a Soft Round Bun
We thought about trying their classic chicken sandwich, but it felt a little too "classic". Plus, this just sounded so much better! The batter wasn't too heavy or dry, the chicken itself was moist, and the avocado, pickled red onions, and herb aioli mixed together so well.
-- TRUFFLE PARMESAN FRIES - House Fries, Truffle Oil, Grated Parmesan, and Chopped Parsley Served with Truffle Aioli
I know truffle oil on fries can be divisive, but these were fantastic! The fries were crispy and the truffle oil and parmesan complemented each other so well. The truffle in the aioli wasn't overpowering, but also not really needed either. Yum!
-- HALF & HALF WINGS (8pcs) - Four Bone-in Original Wings and Four Boneless Lemon Pepper Wings
The taste of the Original bone-in wings was fairly basic, but I liked how crunchy the batter was and the juiciness of the chicken. As for the boneless wings, it was the reverse - I liked how the tartness from the lemon pepper, but a couple of pieces were just short of being dry.
-- CHICKEN CHOP SALAD - Crispy Chicken, Romaine, Cabbage Blend, Tomatoes, Roasted Corn, Avocado Mash, Cotija Cheese, Pepitas, Crispy Tortillas, Cilantro, Green Onions, and Chipotle Lime Dressing
I wish I saw this had cilantro in it, as it otherwise wasn't bad. All of the salad components tasted oh so fresh and there was a good amount of chicken, though, some of the pieces were similarly dry. The dressing a little sweet, but fine in moderation.
The other thing that I liked about Starbird is that the workers seem so much friendlier than at your typical fast food joint. Not that they have to be overly chipper and cheerful, but I did appreciate how nice and helpful all were. Considering how my first trip here was more of a four while my second was closer to a three, their THREE AND A HALF star average is pretty spot on. However, between how convenient this place is and how the sandwiches are far superior to traditional fast food joints, I'm more than happy to round up.