Crimson Coward

The best Nashville chicken I've had in California. Spicy and moist. Unlike other "hot chicken" places, this is hot and you can taste the chicken not just the spice. The fries were perfectly cooked too. Oh, the sauce was tasty too. This place should be packed every day. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this place over just about any other hot chicken. I don't know why anyone would drive past this place to go to that other hot chicken place that starts with a "D".The dining room and restrooms were very clean, and the service was polite and friendly at the same time. Decent music too. Writing this review is making me hungry!

The restaurant was clean. The music was upbeat. The bathroom was clean. The music in the bathroom was loud, but it was a good song and almost got me to dance. I ordered Chicken Fries (slaw on side) Medium Heat. They were perfect. The fries were crispy. Even as I kept eating. The chicken was cooked well. The sauce was tasty. The heat was perfect. 10/10 will come again

This "sniffs in" at 3.5 stars...The first mistake many of these chain chicken restaurants make is they use breaded white meat chicken. They need to learn from the Taiwanese who make excellent pounded flat dark meat chicken breaded fried cutlets. White meat chicken is dry as the Mojave and they only thing that can save it is slaw and sauce. Or chains like Jollibee's who only sell dark meat. Unless your customers are 92% health and fitness nuts there is no good reason to sell only white meat chicken, breaded or not.I ordered the HOMESTYLE CHICKEN SANDWICH "country" (NO heat):-- the appearance of the sandie is pretty solid-- it came on toasted sliced bread (not buttery Texan toast good but pretty good)-- the slaw on the sandwich is bland-- I continually add the creamy orange sauce ("Crimson sauce" I assume?) which is very tasty-- the breading is nice but the chicken is drier to say the least-- NOT juicy or moist-- portion size is LARGE-- price is LARGE but normal for the current inflationary period we are inRATING = B-SIDE OF SLAW:-- bland, no oil, no vinegar, no spice-- it was nearly like they pulled it from the bag and put it in the cup-- I brought it home and added lime juice, EVO, honey and considered fresh chopped cilantro but vetoed that since it was good with the 3 add-onsRATING (their way) = DRATING (my way) = AThey were efficient.

Very good and crispy Nashville chicken.Juicy big pieces, good spice for medium level but a bit salty. Some may we come it that way.

The Mac n cheese loaded with chicken (medium heat or hotter) is to die for. Get a side of pickles and fries and you'll be in feasts heaven! I highly recommend. Mouth watering and doesn't taste like "fast chicken."

Sandwiches are good! Wish the mild was a little more api y but the service was amazing and I was given more hot seasoning to add on my chicken. Sandwich was juicy and well worth it. Wait is long so I recommend calling in the order and picking it up. Definitely a good Nashville spicy Chicken sandwich! But I have had better too. Definitely check it out if you're in the area

This household goes to Raising Cane's a lot. I mean A LOT. I wanted to try another chicken restaurant just to have more variety and decided to visit Crimson Coward due to the Cole slaw, potato salad and other sides. The establishment is located right next to Lee's Sandwiches in Lake Forest off of El Toro Road. Looking in from outside, the place is nice and clean, with wide open space and an open concept kitchen. The decor right inside by the cashier is a colorful mural with a chicken, of course. The food and service were alright. Honestly probably our first and last visit, which makes me sad. I enjoy supporting small businesses and becoming regulars when we love them. I'll talk more about our experience but will briefly go over food. The cashier, who you can see in one of the pictures in the background, doesn't greet you. I just wanted to finish ordering to get to the table because it was just such a cold exchange. Not personable, no thank you, absolutely nothing and a not so lovely flat affect. I wasn't given the total, no talking, except when I asked about spice levels. I had to look at the screen to get the amount which we obviously all do, but cashiers will typically talk to you. I didn't even want to give a tip but had to remind myself that there were cooks who would get tips too, at least I hope they got some tip. Let's take a break from service and talk about the food real quick. What we ordered: 1) two Mac n cheese - my kids didn't like it. 2) crimson sandwich/medium spice - 2/5 stars . This was a lot smaller than the burrito but exactly the same ingredients. Chicken, crimson sauce, cole slaw, pickles. 3) crimson burrito/medium spice -3/5 stars. This was large in size and was exactly like the sandwich version. Chicken, crimson sauce, cole slaw, pickles. 4) one chicken tender low spice - my kid who is nuts for chicken didn't like it. 5) chicken and waffles/no spice - the waffles were very dense, dry, bland. It came with syrup but it should still be tasty by itself. My other kid didn't like the chicken either and this kid is also crazy about chicken tenders and is obsessed with waffles. 6) potato salad - I liked this side 3/4 out of 5 on this. All but the Mac n cheese, came with a small crimson sauce. Back to the service. The two male cooks were hard working and busy. The cashier...this is where I decided I would not return. I was going to rate the whole experience a 3 out of 5, but not after what I saw. 1) cashier - sat with their bare foot up inside the back of the front counter. Sat on an office chair, sprawled out. 2) she was on her cellphone while on speakerphone. Both her and the person she was talking to were loud. She was on the phone the entire time we were eating, even while people were coming in and ordering. She eventually put her ear buds on when people came, but again, rudely stayed on her call while customers ordered. 3) as mentioned earlier, the cashier was not personable at all, did not talk to us or to other people who walked in, didn't verbalize our total, no thank you, nothing. 4) when we asked for water cups, she had her filthy saliva covered fingers on the mouth of all of the cups. Read number 5 to know what I am talking about. 5) THE LAST STRAW and THE WORST ONE OF ALL. She was separating the paper liners that go into the boxes which food is served in while LICKING HER FINGERS like some people do when sifting through paper. YES she did this. She did it at least 12-15 times when we were there. She would separate a few here and there, lick her fingers and do it again. She did this repeatedly. Can you imagine how many times a day she does this all day long???? I didn't want to freak my family out and make them vomit everything we just ate. I just told them to hurry so we could leave. I still haven't told my family...cause OMG. I'm so grossed out and I'm trying hard not to gag right now. I'm so sensitive to seeing disgusting things like this while I eat. So 1 out of 5 stars from this foodie. I really wanted to like this place, but the food was just alright, however, it was worsened by the unprofessional cashier with really disgusting habits. Just no.

Crimson Coward; what an interesting, fun, funky name. So, the Nashville Hot Chicken craze has been going on for sometime now and I would be lying if I say I wasn't somewhat curious. I attended a yelp* event last year spotlighting Chicciety, located in Irvine and it was delicious! (I've been meaning to return to Chicciety.) The reason I bring it up is because it is the only thing I have to compare Crimson Coward to.Restaurant front - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=rW_KEHuW568n1aqQgslCSA&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQFront counter - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=G8XrvGCdlw0y620kczY2Jg&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQMy order:Crimson Chicken Sandwich (Hot) - A boneless breast, Crimson Sauce, slaw, pickles, served on a brioche bunPhoto - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=y4yNUV0At0-KLPJ4BMKaUQ&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQFrench fries w/Crimson SaucePhoto - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=cE8-XnjSJ6zw2WF3JEDWjA&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQSoda (Dr Pepper)Soda Fountain - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=HbDPYMdJxKP0yEe1n_tlkA&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQNote: No root beerCost: $18 (+tax/tip)Restaurant interior - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=c_xdjGQookN-zsu1Ge_myA&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQThe chicken sandwich was huge. There was enough chicken for two sandwiches! I ordered spice level, "hot," and it sure was. (I may try medium heat next time.) The french fries with Crimson Sauce were tasty as well. It was a lot of food... 'More specifically, a lot of chicken; see photo. It looked like the Crimson Chicken Sandwich was sticking its deep fried tongue out at me, no joke.Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=NPUMDZE1db5Hqa_3v8dqJg&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQThe service was the average fast food demeanor, walk up, place your order, and wait. The gentleman that took my order was nice enough to walk it over to where I was sitting. I also suggest getting extra napkins as it can get messy. You have been warned.Dining area - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=77kMNe5WZZZwTJAX_3MWQQ&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQSo, in comparison to Chicciety, Crimson Coward takes second place. I enjoyed the sandwich and experience but the chicken sandwich from Chicciety is something one needs to try. Will I make a return visit to Crimson Coward? It's a definite possibility. I am curious about the other menu items such as the tenders, chicken wings, the Garlic Twister, the Crimson Sandwich, the Crimson Burrito, Joey Eat Fries, Crimson Onion Joey Style, and Chicken & Waffles. There's a lot to try! Also, Crimson Coward is a lot closer than Chicciety, located in Irvine.- Big Aloha!Overall rating: 3 1/2 Stars (Rounding up)Food: 4Ambiance: 3Service: 3Value: 4

I have to go at least once a week for the Crimson Chicken sandwich! Perfectly cooked and seasoned, a huge piece of white meat in a delicious bun with sauce. Pickles are really tasty. Has cole slaw too, but I leave it off.

I don't understand why this place is not always packed. The chicken is natural halal, the spice is just right, no sugar in the rub, and the restaurant and bathrooms are always clean. Nice family owned establishment. You will not regret eating here.