Crimson Coward — Restaurant in Lake Forest

If you’re craving chicken sandwich or tenders and want to try something new besides Cane’s, I recommend Crimson Coward! Especially if you love spice, they have a good scale to choose from. Both orders we got were mild and it was a good kick without losing flavor. The crispiness was great, the tenders were big and the fries were well-seasoned too.

Their pricing sits more closely to restaurant-style rather than fast food, so be prepared to pay more than you might expect. Our two combo orders was $38 something, so about $20 per person. For the portion, it was acceptable since it comes with a drink and a hefty amount of fries. I think next time I would skip the combo and share one order of fries with someone. It would also be interesting to try out other items on the menu, like the loaded fries or burrito.

My biggest complaint was customer service. It wasn’t busy for a Saturday afternoon (5:10pm-5:45pm), we were the only ones dining in with this heat wave and a few takeout orders came by. The employee at the register had appalling manners. Hardly acknowledged us, sitting on a rolling office chair behind the counter, wired earphones and on a call the entire time and even propped on a mini tripod she never let go of. As she took our order, she didn’t bother pausing the call but took the phone with her and only when I looked at her ready to order did she stop talking to acknowledge me. It was still with her when she delivered our food to our table. Her voice and laughter was louder than the music and kitchen prep, like she was in her living room rather than at work. It was really unprofessional and disruptive. I’m not looking for compensation, but it’s an issue I hope gets addressed for other customers. The one star can go to the two employees in the kitchen who handed me our missing sauce from our order.

Overall great location, so easy access for good food in the neighborhood. Worth a try, but we’ll see if it becomes a regular stop...

The Crimson Coward is another restaurant joining the recent influx of Nashville inspired hot fried chicken joints in south OC. With big chains like KFC and Popeyes already championing similar style chicken in the fast food arena (inspired by Kentucky and Louisiana, respectively) it’s interesting to see how the new chicken sandwich shops set themselves apart from the competition. The Crimson Coward does so with delicious, perfectly seasoned, fried to order chicken and a “choose your own heat level” model. Still, with locations like Zach’s Chicken (just opened in Lake Forest), Burning Mouth (to open in the Irvine Spectrum very soon), and Dave’s Chicken (with a location opening in Mission Viejo within the next year), all of which do (or, will) offer the exact same upsides mentioned above, it seems the biggest thing setting the Crimson Coward apart is the price. A chicken sandwich, no fries or drink included, just the sandwich, is $14. Not outrageous, to be sure, but a shock to see from an “upscale fast food restaurant,” as I’d call it. Still, I must admit I don’t regret the money spent on the delectable meal I enjoyed at the Crimson Coward. If your wallet will allow you to take a trip yourself, I’m sure you won’t regret it either, but as more affordable, equal quality options continue to pop up, I can’t see myself going back...

🙌 GIVE THE NEW GUYS IN TOWN A SHOT & DECIDE YOURSELF! 🙌

I'm a big fan of the hot chicken trend, been to Cluck & Blaze, Dave's, Bangin' Bunz, Baba's, etc. And they're all very similar: At least $20 per meal (Sandwich, fries, drink), no more than ~6 menu items, etc, heat levels, etc. This is somewhat lack luster IMHO, I know another chicken place which claimed Halal as well, but shut down, who literally bought it off the shelf, because how does one prove their chicken is actually Halal? They also have 1 dude making it usually who is crazy slow, I literally couldn't believe it. They almost taste like Dave's, not good, not bad. I'd honestly rather wait to go to Cluck & Blaze in long Beach to eat this again after eating here 5+ times and convincing others to pay $20 for lunch as well. It's obviously mad unhealthy & makes you feel bloated like no other. Somethings missing here I feel, either market to the niche that truly want Halal and keep the price to justify, or up ingredient quality/staff to improve some aspect, because somethings just not working. There has to be something making people come back other than trand...