Save yourself. Poorly prepared, unclean and undercooked chicken. Disappointed. Disgusted. Outraged.
A Bba
If you're gonna be a chicken place, the chicken has to be off the hook. The chicken here was fine at best. Not bad. Far from great. I ended up shredding some of it and mixing with mayo or a chicken salad sandwich. That should tell you all you need to know. I won't be back.
Food: 2
Kokila R
Spicebird is a take-out place inside Makan. Ordered the half chicken with two sides - chicken n wood ear mushroom and the cold noodles. Additional two sides of the crispy potato and fried rice. Although all 4 were great, I loved the chicken n friend rice most. $18 for the half chicken and two sides is a great value meal and the ingredients were fresh! Loved itVegetarian options: This is mostly a non-vegetarian place. There maybe a side or two with veg options
Food was definitely unique. I ordered the half chicken to go and got potatoes and chicken salad with wood ear mushrooms. I think the chicken was juicy and really good, the sauce on the side was good. They should keep playing with unconventional flavors and offer some more sauce options on the side. I would come here again.
Great chicken. Only pick-up and delivery. You have to order before you pick-up. Very good
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Turmeric Cabbage with Curry Leaf, Half Chicken GF
Levi T.
Sides were great. Bird was mediocre. Service (actually just the manager Kate) was off the charts bad.
Hannah K.
Rude rude rude manager (Kate)! I love good chicken and Spicebird was mentioned in the Washingtonian magazine so wanted to try. My husband called the number on the website to ask whether we can get seated and got a reservation. Drove 30 minutes to get here and was told we couldn't eat food from Spicebird because the sit down was only for Makan. We said we'd be happy to order food from Makan too and asked whether we can eat the chicken here since they failed to mention the difference when we called! She didn't even sound sympathetic nor apologetic but was extremely ungracious about it. We ended up ordering Spicebird to go AND a dish and beer from Makan until we basically got kicked out so we can eat our dinner. Ruined our date night.
Celina G.
I agree with a few reviews here already: the chicken is good but the sides are even better. The whole and half chicken meals are a great value. If I lived closer to Spicebird, this would be a go-to spot. The bird itself is flavorful and really enjoyable with the sauces. For the large sides, we got the sesame noodles and Thai basil fried rice. I thought they were so good that they could both be enjoyed as meals by themselves. Beware of the noodles - high spice level! We also got the crispy yuca and the berempah potatoes, which tasted pretty basic. I didn't get to try the vegetable sides, but I would definitely come back for it. After food pickup, we ate the meal inside of Thirsty Crow. Thanks to the bar for being responsive over Instagram when I inquired about eating in there!
Gracie M.
This restaurant is coupled in one location with a few other different restaurants. I haven't tried the other menu's but Spicebird's food is delicious. I ordered two whole chickens, cold sesame noodles, fried rice, yucca, and berempah potatoes. The chicken was juicy, soft and cooked to perfection. The sesame noodles were good; however, they are very spicy. My friends loved them more than me. My favorite was the fried rice, it was a little spicy and very flavorful. The fried yucca was crisp and fluffy on the inside. And, the berempah potatoes were seasoned extremely well. All of this amazing food was also extremely affordable, especially for the area. Highly recommend!
Laurine T.
Ok, unfortunately, this is one of the rare chicken places with sublime sides and a mediocre bird. We ordered the chicken with the Thai rice, tumeric cabbage, and berempah potatoes. We tasted the potatoes first and fell to the floor in ecstasy. The rice elicited moans of pleasure followed by an ode to the cabbage. However, one bite of chicken revealed a big problem...all the seasoning, and it's very tasty, is on the skin. None made it to the meat, which was therefore very bland. There was a tantalizing Dipping Sauce on the side, but even that could not rescue the flavorless bird. So, Spicebird Chef, for the true spice lovers out here, please consider marinating the bird,even in a simple brine, prior to cooking. While we wait for this change to take effect, we're going back to taste the other sides.
Bird was perfection. Service you carry out but we waited at the bar after ordering. Bartender was extremely friendly and nice. Ambiance pretty good.
Dan Carney
The food is excellent. The logistics are ridiculous. It’s takeout only—fine—but also they don’t give utensils or napkins. Hostess was quite rude, acted like I was an idiot for even asking… had to eat half a chicken with my bare hands on a stoop around the block (which admittedly was kinda cathartic)
Food: 5
Service: 2
Gertrude L.
Gosh is it salty! I had the flat noodle with pork and woodears. All flavor is overpowered by the saltiness. And I'm Asian and pretty good at tolerating salt! The server was impatient, and provided no meaningful answer to my questions. And while I was still eating, a guy started sweeping the floor vigorously next to me and some dirt and garbage got on my foot. Very disappointed in general.
Reed S
Spicebird is fantastic. One of the most flavorful chicken dishes I have ever had. This restaurant is a ghost kitchen operating out of Makan on 11th St NW. Ordering from this restaurant is very simple and it’s READY WITHIN 5 MINUTES of when you order. First, Pick your quantity of chicken. Second, pick your sides. I went with the half chicken and 2 small sides and it is enough for 2 meals. I ordered the Berempah Potatoes and the Wood Ear Pulled Chicken Salad. Of course the chicken is the star of the show. Cooked perfectly every bite was tender and delicious. The menu says the chicken is rubbed with 15 spices and they aren’t lying. You can tell they use the same Southeast Asian spices as Makan does. The potatoes come seasoned with a spicy crunch blend and green onion. I was feeling adventurous when I ordered the Wood Ear Chicken Salad and it did not disappoint. It is seasoned in a spicy vinaigrette with garlic and crunchy cabbage. However, if you have s peanut or shellfish allergy stay away from this one. Both of which I highly recommend. I’m already looking forward to coming here again!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wood Ear
Brian Ellis Sound
This place is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. We got the half chicken and like every single side they had, and every single thing was fantastic. Chicken was cooked super nicely. Every single side was SO GOOD, and every new to-go container we cracked open and bit into we were like WOW.Great service: They noticed I mentioned no peanuts in one dish, and they called to ask if it was an allergy, and to remove peanuts from a different side. Super personable and friendly.Top two side dishes I think were:1) Wood Ear and Pulled Chicken Salad - wowowowow, so unique and exciting and delish2) cold Seasme noodles. to die for.Thai basil fried rice and diakon and yu cho were all also just absolutely fantastic. Will be eating here again.Dietary restrictions: They called because I mentioned one allergy on one thing and they confirmed about a few other items on the menu. Super thorough and helpful.
Save yourself. Poorly prepared, unclean and undercooked chicken. Disappointed. Disgusted. Outraged.
If you're gonna be a chicken place, the chicken has to be off the hook. The chicken here was fine at best. Not bad. Far from great. I ended up shredding some of it and mixing with mayo or a chicken salad sandwich. That should tell you all you need to know. I won't be back.
Food: 2
Spicebird is a take-out place inside Makan. Ordered the half chicken with two sides - chicken n wood ear mushroom and the cold noodles. Additional two sides of the crispy potato and fried rice. Although all 4 were great, I loved the chicken n friend rice most. $18 for the half chicken and two sides is a great value meal and the ingredients were fresh! Loved itVegetarian options: This is mostly a non-vegetarian place. There maybe a side or two with veg options
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Wood Ear & Pulled Chicken Salad with Coconut Vinaigrette, Thai Basil Fried Rice, Half Chicken GF, Cold Sesame Noodles
Food was definitely unique. I ordered the half chicken to go and got potatoes and chicken salad with wood ear mushrooms. I think the chicken was juicy and really good, the sauce on the side was good. They should keep playing with unconventional flavors and offer some more sauce options on the side. I would come here again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Wood Ear & Pulled Chicken Salad with Coconut Vinaigrette, Half Chicken GF
Great chicken. Only pick-up and delivery. You have to order before you pick-up. Very good
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Turmeric Cabbage with Curry Leaf, Half Chicken GF
Sides were great. Bird was mediocre. Service (actually just the manager Kate) was off the charts bad.
Rude rude rude manager (Kate)! I love good chicken and Spicebird was mentioned in the Washingtonian magazine so wanted to try. My husband called the number on the website to ask whether we can get seated and got a reservation. Drove 30 minutes to get here and was told we couldn't eat food from Spicebird because the sit down was only for Makan. We said we'd be happy to order food from Makan too and asked whether we can eat the chicken here since they failed to mention the difference when we called! She didn't even sound sympathetic nor apologetic but was extremely ungracious about it. We ended up ordering Spicebird to go AND a dish and beer from Makan until we basically got kicked out so we can eat our dinner. Ruined our date night.
I agree with a few reviews here already: the chicken is good but the sides are even better. The whole and half chicken meals are a great value. If I lived closer to Spicebird, this would be a go-to spot. The bird itself is flavorful and really enjoyable with the sauces. For the large sides, we got the sesame noodles and Thai basil fried rice. I thought they were so good that they could both be enjoyed as meals by themselves. Beware of the noodles - high spice level! We also got the crispy yuca and the berempah potatoes, which tasted pretty basic. I didn't get to try the vegetable sides, but I would definitely come back for it. After food pickup, we ate the meal inside of Thirsty Crow. Thanks to the bar for being responsive over Instagram when I inquired about eating in there!
This restaurant is coupled in one location with a few other different restaurants. I haven't tried the other menu's but Spicebird's food is delicious. I ordered two whole chickens, cold sesame noodles, fried rice, yucca, and berempah potatoes. The chicken was juicy, soft and cooked to perfection. The sesame noodles were good; however, they are very spicy. My friends loved them more than me. My favorite was the fried rice, it was a little spicy and very flavorful. The fried yucca was crisp and fluffy on the inside. And, the berempah potatoes were seasoned extremely well. All of this amazing food was also extremely affordable, especially for the area. Highly recommend!
Ok, unfortunately, this is one of the rare chicken places with sublime sides and a mediocre bird. We ordered the chicken with the Thai rice, tumeric cabbage, and berempah potatoes. We tasted the potatoes first and fell to the floor in ecstasy. The rice elicited moans of pleasure followed by an ode to the cabbage. However, one bite of chicken revealed a big problem...all the seasoning, and it's very tasty, is on the skin. None made it to the meat, which was therefore very bland. There was a tantalizing Dipping Sauce on the side, but even that could not rescue the flavorless bird. So, Spicebird Chef, for the true spice lovers out here, please consider marinating the bird,even in a simple brine, prior to cooking. While we wait for this change to take effect, we're going back to taste the other sides.
Restaurantji Recommends
Bird was perfection. Service you carry out but we waited at the bar after ordering. Bartender was extremely friendly and nice. Ambiance pretty good.
The food is excellent. The logistics are ridiculous. It’s takeout only—fine—but also they don’t give utensils or napkins. Hostess was quite rude, acted like I was an idiot for even asking… had to eat half a chicken with my bare hands on a stoop around the block (which admittedly was kinda cathartic)
Food: 5
Service: 2
Gosh is it salty! I had the flat noodle with pork and woodears. All flavor is overpowered by the saltiness. And I'm Asian and pretty good at tolerating salt! The server was impatient, and provided no meaningful answer to my questions. And while I was still eating, a guy started sweeping the floor vigorously next to me and some dirt and garbage got on my foot. Very disappointed in general.
Spicebird is fantastic. One of the most flavorful chicken dishes I have ever had. This restaurant is a ghost kitchen operating out of Makan on 11th St NW. Ordering from this restaurant is very simple and it’s READY WITHIN 5 MINUTES of when you order. First, Pick your quantity of chicken. Second, pick your sides. I went with the half chicken and 2 small sides and it is enough for 2 meals. I ordered the Berempah Potatoes and the Wood Ear Pulled Chicken Salad. Of course the chicken is the star of the show. Cooked perfectly every bite was tender and delicious. The menu says the chicken is rubbed with 15 spices and they aren’t lying. You can tell they use the same Southeast Asian spices as Makan does. The potatoes come seasoned with a spicy crunch blend and green onion. I was feeling adventurous when I ordered the Wood Ear Chicken Salad and it did not disappoint. It is seasoned in a spicy vinaigrette with garlic and crunchy cabbage. However, if you have s peanut or shellfish allergy stay away from this one. Both of which I highly recommend. I’m already looking forward to coming here again!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wood Ear
This place is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. We got the half chicken and like every single side they had, and every single thing was fantastic. Chicken was cooked super nicely. Every single side was SO GOOD, and every new to-go container we cracked open and bit into we were like WOW.Great service: They noticed I mentioned no peanuts in one dish, and they called to ask if it was an allergy, and to remove peanuts from a different side. Super personable and friendly.Top two side dishes I think were:1) Wood Ear and Pulled Chicken Salad - wowowowow, so unique and exciting and delish2) cold Seasme noodles. to die for.Thai basil fried rice and diakon and yu cho were all also just absolutely fantastic. Will be eating here again.Dietary restrictions: They called because I mentioned one allergy on one thing and they confirmed about a few other items on the menu. Super thorough and helpful.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wood Ear