31 Best Chicken Restaurants in San Diego

“Order ahead if you're in a hurry and avoid the wait (although it's totally worth it). The food speaks for itself as the best spicy fried chicken you can get from a chain restaurant (Cane and Kentucky who??). The staff at the Mira Mesa location are awesome too as they are patient, calm and very helpful with any customizations and recommendations too“

“Great food and good service 😍“

“Karaage was pretty good, served hot and juicy, but very lightly seasoned, could have had more of a Karaage taste. To me the original Hokka Hokka Tei Karaage from Japan is the standard to be met. A lemon wedge and Karaage spice packet would have made it a sure winner. Gizzards were tough, I wouldn't recommend those. The staff are Japanese which adds to to authenticity. Would recommend to others and I would return to try their other menu items. 🤤“

“This is my favorite Dave’s hot chicken restaurant! I’ve been to a few others and the service and food quality here are awesome. It is clean, the employees are friendly and provide a great service. But we love the chicken. we each get a slider and a tender. Great food for a great price.“

“One of the best milkshakes I've ever had here at Belmont park & affordable, the customer service was outstanding and their employees are all very kind. Everything is made fresh to order! If you're looking for a good chicken & fry spot in mission beach area try Fry Yay @ Belmont Park !“

“I love crack shack. I was born n raised in San Diego but moved to Memphis where I learned what good fried chicken is. This is the fried chicken spot in Southern California. Fire nugs+fries+pickles you can not go wrong. The bar tender is really awesome and the food is seasoned perfectly. Really good desserts as well.“

“This place serves 85 years of proven deliciousness. It is simple. It is hearty. These days, it is even out of the ordinary. Just go. You will be glad that you did. If you are like me, you’ll remember how Mom would heat the oven to 450 degrees and place the block of ice Hungry Man pot pie in the oven for one hour till it transformed into a cauldron of molten lava. My mother would even crack open the hood of the pie and load it with an extra cup of frozen peas and carrots that would cook to perfection in the heavenly inferno of scrumptious delight, which made me the muscular hunk of love that I am today. The San Diego Chicken Pie Shop serves up a pie that is an even better recipe than the one in my memories of my dear Mom. If your are nearby, give it a try.“

“My favorite Nashville hot chicken sandwich and tenders!!!!!!“

“I love that food taste good fresh“

“After trying all the Korean fried chicken in San Diego, this is one of the best. The size of the chicken is huge! Very flavorful with lots of meat for a great price.
The service here is also very good. Staff is attentive and friendly to customers.

Will definitely visit again!“

“Excellent service, amazing and delicious food. Highly recommended!“

“The clerk was a nice guy but not keen on the obvious. I ordered a 15 piece wing combo and he asked if that was for here or to go. Who would dine in and eat 15 wings by himself? Chuckled all the way home. Poor guy.“

“Ordered half of the whole chicken with Monster sauce and it was really good.

The chicken was crispy and the spice level was perfect!
I find it hard to gauge how spicy Korean chicken wings are at different places because its place seems to have their own level of spiciness whereas I find Thai food level of spiciness more or less the same.
So here's a little background about my taste in spiciness: at Thai food places, I like to get 7/10 for pad thai and 8-10 for drunken noodles/pad kee mao; which means I enjoy quite a bit of spice but I also want to taste the sweetness if the dish is supposed to be sweet.
Korean chicken wings should have some sweetness and but mild sounds too bland to me, so I went with my guts and got the monster. Jackpot!!! This really hits the spot; I got a little bit of spice, a lot of crunch and enough sweetness.

The portion is quite small; so go big next time.

Got this to-go and it was well-packed.“

“Bombtastic as usual! Been going for ever! Total San Diego staple!“

“the grilled breakfast sandwich & Cobb salad wit & Arnold Palmer is delicious 😋“

“These people were great! They accidentally handmade a mistake with our order and came out and gave us compensation in the form of gift card. Apologize for the inconvenience. I wanted a drink refreshed and in true Chick-fil-A fashion seemed to be genuinely friendly people.“

“Ive honestly never gone to a chicken restaurant where ive truly liked the chicken but here the chicken sandwich was so good. the chicken was juicy, the spiciness was just right. I usually have to ask if the most spicy chicken sandwich is actually spicy because I always get disappointed but not here, their supreme level was the perfect spice level I honestly loved it! But warning it is spicy so if you don’t like spicy food I don’t recommend getting it lol.“

“Ordered the original rice chicken and also the roasted chicken.....it was all delicious.....found a new favorite Korean restaurant and it’s in the neighborhood 👍🏼“

“Fast friendly service. Clean restrooms“

“Val and Andres make this place a family atmosphere“

“Nestled in the bustling northeast corner of the Balboa Mesa Shopping Center, this Chick-fil-A is a popular hub for diners in the area. With its reputation for friendly service and efficient operations, it attracts a constant stream of customers. Despite the high demand, the drive-thru experience remains impressively smooth, thanks to the diligent staff who excel in managing orders with speed and accuracy. The dual-lane drive-thru system, merging into one, is particularly effective in keeping the line moving swiftly, ensuring that customers are served promptly without long waits.

However, the popularity of this location does come with its challenges, especially during peak hours. The parking lot and access to the drive-thru can become quite congested, testing the patience of even the most seasoned fast-food enthusiasts. Navigating the busy environment requires a bit of strategizing, particularly during lunch and dinner rushes.

For those willing to brave the hustle and bustle, the reward is well worth it. The consistently delicious food, coupled with the warm and welcoming atmosphere, makes this Chick-fil-A a standout choice. Whether you’re grabbing a quick meal on the go or indulging in a comfort food fix, the experience here is both satisfying and efficient, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.“

“Awesome and kid friendly ❤️“

“Outstanding customer service and friendly workers. Enjoyed dining in with my family. Thank you

Parking: Good location

Kid-friendliness: Great environment for the family

Wheelchair accessibility: Great for military veteran with disabilities“

“mac and cheese. beans and rice. mash potatoes.“

“For what I wanted it was good. Thank you very much.“

“I don't know what it is about this particular location, but the food here is the best. I went to the East County location, and the food was no where close to the food here. Same exact order, but totally different. I'll keep coming to this one.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely love Chick-fil-A! The food is always fresh and delicious, and the service is top-notch. The Mira Mesa location is especially clean and well-maintained. The staff are friendly, attentive, and make you feel genuinely welcome. I usually dine in, and it’s always a pleasant experience—calm, comfortable, and everything is spotless. It’s one of my favorite places to go—not just for the taste, but for the entire experience. Highly recommend!“

“Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen located at the following address 2810 El Cajon Bloulevard, San Diego, California 92104, United States of America in an excellent place to taste original crispy chicken or spasy (spicy) house specialty and its delicious fries in addition to its burgers highly recommended chicken and its affordable costs and employees with the greatest willingness to give you excellent service“

“Great tasting chicken, mashed potatoes are delicious and you gotta love the biscuits. The service was very helpful and friendly all the employees were great. The prices are also very nice compared to other chicken places. You also have to try the sweet tea it's delicious.“

“Best pollo asado in SD!!!!!!!“

“Thank you for catering our Christmas lunch, everyone loved the food 🔥“