Wow! What a place, some of the better hot chicken I've had, let alone in Orange County. The hot is a dry-rub and HOT. The fried onion is perfection, and I can't recommend coming here enough.They have a big menu, too, with a lot of variety.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken, Tenders
Danitza Arellano
I can't rave enough about my experience at Crimeson Coward! The food was absolutely amazing—I stopped by as soon as I got into town from Arizona, and everything was just perfect. I'll definitely be back and will recommend it to everyone I know. The fries were my favorite—so hot and delicious! If you're in the area, you must give this place a try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bettina Grillo
The sauce is great. The seasoning is great. The tenders and juicy. You can purchase waffles as a side.Love this place 5/5. Makes me reconsider moving out of state.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stephanie Pappilli
Decided last minute to try this place out, and I was not disappointed. Shared 3 tenders and Joey-Eat-Fries with my husband as suggested by the guy that took our order. I had to go mild because I’m a wuss there was no lack of flavor! So much flavor, so much crunch! I loved it. The fries were delicious and I could probably share the fries alone and be full.The restaurant was clean, the service was friendly, the food was tasty. You can’t go wrong here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Joey-Eat-Fries
Olivia Bain
Great food, clearly made fresh.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dre Fitzpatrick
First timeOrdered: The Crimson sandwich, medium heat; fries: fried pickles; a tender mild.Service was friendly and they were great at explaining the Crimson Sauce for those of us who don't know. It's better than Cane's.The food was really good. The chicken was lightly battered and perfect portions.The atmosphere was casual and they had high chairs which is a plus for those with little ones.I would come back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich
Jacob SOBCZAK
If you like spending a mortgage on mid chicken you would love this place. All kidding aside it really is kind of ridiculous to spend nearly $20 for a chicken sandwich combo that isn’t as good as Byrd’s or Dave’s. The staff was nice enough and the place is clean, but man; the whole thing was just overall kind of disappointing. I really was expecting better. It’s not that the food is bad, it’s just not as good as the reviews make it out to be.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
L G.
I came at lunch time during the week. I was the only customer at the counter. After I placed my order for 2 sandwiches and the cashier couldn't even tell me the total, she just flipped the screen and said tap your card here. After I paid, I was informed it would be a 15 minute wait. If I had of known that, I would have placed my order before running my errands at neighboring stores, not after. When I received my order and opened the box, I discovered a hair on the chicken... DISGUSTING!!! The buns don't even accommodate the size of the chicken. The restroom was running low on supplies. The toilet paper roll had ran out, there were only a few toilet seat covers left that looked like they had been pulled out and scrunched back in the box. I will not be returning.
Sohil N.
Open during all major holidays glad to have a restaurant open. Thank you for all your services to the community of Lake forest!
Michelle Gomez
I don’t usually write reviews but this place is SO GOOD! The chicken is perfectly juicy and has amazing flavors. I will be coming back :)
I have come here twice now and was disappointed by the customer service. I was not greeted or even smiled at either time, nor was anyone in my party. I felt almost unwanted at this establishment. The first time I came in, a worker was on FaceTime and I was uncomfortable because the camera was left on facing our group. The chicken was crispy, but the flavor was nothing special. The inside of the restaurant is very clean, nicely decorated, and well kept. I was excited to see that they had a blooming onion. The second time I came in, I ordered to-go and purchased a blooming onion again. This time, I was disappointed that the bottom of the onion was completely soggy and tasted of raw batter. The ranch was oddly gelatinous. I really like this area, but this Crimson Coward location could benefit from a few service improvements.
Billy R
Love this place on El Toro in Lake forest... best Chicken sandwich, slider, tender in my experience....way better than Daves HC, Angry Chickz; it's real food organically grown and cooked to order....Franchise owners are Wonderful Pakistani Americans (mother and son), and they do an excellent job of taking care of you....the Chicken is mouthwatering perfection !
You want satisfying halal food ... go there and enjoy ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken, Crimson Coward, Fried Pickles, Crimson Fries, Chicken Sandwich, Mac and Cheese
Jen E.
Holy moly. What a find. My favorite thing on the menu is the chicken garlic twister. It gives major chicken shawarma vibes. I always want to try something new, but I always end up getting the chicken twister. Although, last week I did try the burrito. It was delicious but the chicken twister is still my favorite. Definitely recommend !
Tony G
Excellent food despite complete lack of interest by staff. That's OK, we've been here before and will return. But owners should not fail to recognize that staff represents the franchise as much as the product. Next time I'll skip the tip Before service on the payment POS device. The tradition of leaving a tip, or not, After service, seems to help with situations like this.
Wow! What a place, some of the better hot chicken I've had, let alone in Orange County. The hot is a dry-rub and HOT. The fried onion is perfection, and I can't recommend coming here enough.They have a big menu, too, with a lot of variety.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken, Tenders
I can't rave enough about my experience at Crimeson Coward! The food was absolutely amazing—I stopped by as soon as I got into town from Arizona, and everything was just perfect. I'll definitely be back and will recommend it to everyone I know. The fries were my favorite—so hot and delicious! If you're in the area, you must give this place a try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The sauce is great. The seasoning is great. The tenders and juicy. You can purchase waffles as a side.Love this place 5/5. Makes me reconsider moving out of state.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Decided last minute to try this place out, and I was not disappointed. Shared 3 tenders and Joey-Eat-Fries with my husband as suggested by the guy that took our order. I had to go mild because I’m a wuss there was no lack of flavor! So much flavor, so much crunch! I loved it. The fries were delicious and I could probably share the fries alone and be full.The restaurant was clean, the service was friendly, the food was tasty. You can’t go wrong here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Joey-Eat-Fries
Great food, clearly made fresh.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First timeOrdered: The Crimson sandwich, medium heat; fries: fried pickles; a tender mild.Service was friendly and they were great at explaining the Crimson Sauce for those of us who don't know. It's better than Cane's.The food was really good. The chicken was lightly battered and perfect portions.The atmosphere was casual and they had high chairs which is a plus for those with little ones.I would come back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich
If you like spending a mortgage on mid chicken you would love this place. All kidding aside it really is kind of ridiculous to spend nearly $20 for a chicken sandwich combo that isn’t as good as Byrd’s or Dave’s. The staff was nice enough and the place is clean, but man; the whole thing was just overall kind of disappointing. I really was expecting better. It’s not that the food is bad, it’s just not as good as the reviews make it out to be.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
I came at lunch time during the week. I was the only customer at the counter. After I placed my order for 2 sandwiches and the cashier couldn't even tell me the total, she just flipped the screen and said tap your card here. After I paid, I was informed it would be a 15 minute wait. If I had of known that, I would have placed my order before running my errands at neighboring stores, not after. When I received my order and opened the box, I discovered a hair on the chicken... DISGUSTING!!! The buns don't even accommodate the size of the chicken. The restroom was running low on supplies. The toilet paper roll had ran out, there were only a few toilet seat covers left that looked like they had been pulled out and scrunched back in the box. I will not be returning.
Open during all major holidays glad to have a restaurant open. Thank you for all your services to the community of Lake forest!
I don’t usually write reviews but this place is SO GOOD! The chicken is perfectly juicy and has amazing flavors. I will be coming back :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crimson Coward, Joey-Eat-Fries
Restaurantji Recommends
I have come here twice now and was disappointed by the customer service. I was not greeted or even smiled at either time, nor was anyone in my party. I felt almost unwanted at this establishment. The first time I came in, a worker was on FaceTime and I was uncomfortable because the camera was left on facing our group. The chicken was crispy, but the flavor was nothing special. The inside of the restaurant is very clean, nicely decorated, and well kept. I was excited to see that they had a blooming onion. The second time I came in, I ordered to-go and purchased a blooming onion again. This time, I was disappointed that the bottom of the onion was completely soggy and tasted of raw batter. The ranch was oddly gelatinous. I really like this area, but this Crimson Coward location could benefit from a few service improvements.
Love this place on El Toro in Lake forest... best Chicken sandwich, slider, tender in my experience....way better than Daves HC, Angry Chickz; it's real food organically grown and cooked to order....Franchise owners are Wonderful Pakistani Americans (mother and son), and they do an excellent job of taking care of you....the Chicken is mouthwatering perfection !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken, Crimson Coward, Fried Pickles, Crimson Fries, Chicken Sandwich, Coward
You want satisfying halal food ... go there and enjoy ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken, Crimson Coward, Fried Pickles, Crimson Fries, Chicken Sandwich, Mac and Cheese
Holy moly. What a find. My favorite thing on the menu is the chicken garlic twister. It gives major chicken shawarma vibes. I always want to try something new, but I always end up getting the chicken twister. Although, last week I did try the burrito. It was delicious but the chicken twister is still my favorite. Definitely recommend !
Excellent food despite complete lack of interest by staff. That's OK, we've been here before and will return. But owners should not fail to recognize that staff represents the franchise as much as the product. Next time I'll skip the tip Before service on the payment POS device. The tradition of leaving a tip, or not, After service, seems to help with situations like this.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Hot Chicken Tenders