The Chicken Shop — Restaurant in Newport Beach

The Chicken Newport Beach delivers a surprisingly sophisticated and flavorful experience, particularly when it comes to their wraps and bowls. Forget your standard grab-and-go fare; this spot offers a fresh and satisfying upgrade. Let's dive into the Wraps. With options like the OG Wrap and the Chimichurri Wrap, it's clear they're not afraid to offer variety. I opted for the Chimichurri Wrap, intrigued by the vibrant flavors promised. The choice of grilled chicken (you can also select mushrooms) was cooked perfectly – tender and with a lovely char. But the star of the show was undoubtedly the chimichurri sauce. It was bright, herbaceous, and packed a delightful punch that elevated the entire wrap. The pickled red onions added a welcome tang, and the sweet potato fries tucked inside provided a unique textural contrast and a hint of sweetness. This wasn't just a wrap; it was a well-balanced and exciting flavor combination that left me wanting more. My companion chose the OG Wrap with the homemade pickles. The chicken was again cooked beautifully, and the pickles added a crisp, vinegary counterpoint to the other fillings. It's a testament to a classic done right. These wraps are substantial and clearly made with quality ingredients. Moving on to the Bowls, which are essentially hearty and flavorful salads, Beach-The Chicken truly shines. I decided on The Newport Bowl, drawn in by the description of sweet potato, roasted jalapeño, charred corn, avocado, and crispy pita over a preserved lemon vinaigrette. This bowl was a fiesta of textures and tastes! The sweet potato provided a subtle sweetness, beautifully complemented by the smoky char of the corn and the creamy avocado. The roasted jalapeño added a pleasant warmth without being overwhelmingly spicy. And those crispy pita pieces? They added the perfect crunch! The preserved lemon vinaigrette was bright and zesty, tying all the diverse elements together in a harmonious way. It felt like a genuinely nourishing and exciting meal. My friend tried The Bowl Bowl, and the combination of mixed greens, grilled chicken, pickled onions, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, beets, avocado, crispy pita, and their house green goddess dressing sounded equally appealing and received enthusiastic nods of approval. What's evident at Beach-The Chicken Newport is their commitment to fresh ingredients and thoughtful flavor pairings. The wraps are more than just a quick bite; they're a satisfying and flavorful meal. And the bowls are a step above your average salad, offering a delightful combination of textures and vibrant dressings. While the sides also look tempting, the wraps and bowls are definitely the stars of the show here. If you're in the Newport Beach area and looking for a fresh, flavorful, and satisfying meal that goes beyond the typical chicken shop offerings, Beach-The Chicken is definitely worth a visit. I left feeling full, satisfied, and impressed by the quality and creativity of their...

You’ll find the best food you’ve ever had and strip malls…this a hill I will die on. Those up for the task of braving the warzone-esque, valet-less parking lots, will find themselves stumbling upon hidden gems worthy of any travel blog right in their own backyard.

This is generally true anywhere you go in the world, but especially true in Costa Mesa. Home of The Chicken Shop run by none other than Fred (last name unknown), an Austrailian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant paying tribute to a classic: the rotisserie chicken.

In the world of over cooked, dried out salad bar chicken at even the highest end establishments, the chicken shop is the sole light in an age devoid of well cooked chicken. I’ve dined at this spot on more than one occasion, always expecting a slip in food quality, a break in the customer service facade. Maybe it’s just me I thought? Maybe Fred selected me by random chance to have a conversation with, to show genuine interest in. But no, I watched him do it with all who entered. You would be hard-pressed to find someone Fred treats as any less than a friend once they cross the threshold of his poultry abode. But alas, this is just the cherry on top, the whipped cream, the icing. Time for the Sunday.

The real star of the show at The Chicken Shop is the food, the chicken of course. Tender and juicy, never dried out. On the off chance you’re breast fan, gym rat turn foodie or Newport housewife stumbling next-door for your first real meal in 3 days after your monthly juice cleanse, you’re probably looking for clean eating, high protein. The Newport Bowl it is. A half rotisserie with sweet potatoes and beets it is. And you won’t find juicier or better anywhere else for a better price.

Ranch? Forget about it. “Secret sauce” that’s just Thousand Island with cracked pepper and liquid smoke? Never heard of her. Try on yogurt harissa, chili garlic, and chimichurri for size. Balanced flavors, light enough to overpower the deliciously seasoned chicken but strong enough to be perfectly complementary. Matches made in heaven by Fred.

Whether you’re a bowl guy, a wrap gal, or you just enjoy the systematic deconstruction of a whole rotisserie chicken (see a therapist), The Chicken Shop should be your next meal. Lunch or dinner.

Highlights: The Chimichurri Wrap, The Bowl Bowl, Garlic Puree Sauce, split protein half chicken/half mushroom

Omissions: An aside including the theorized number of Chicken Wraps consumable in a 10 minute sitting by...

Chicken Shop is solid and earns fives all around... for now, but some subtle issues could bring her down.

I've enjoyed Chicken Shop at least 20 times so far and usually get the OG wrap, which isn't necessarily their best wrap, but just a solid contender for amazing flavor with just the right amount of wood fired chicken and their perfect garlic sauce (aka toum). The chimichurri wrap is also spectacular if you don't want to smell and taste garlic for 6 hours after.

The fries are fantastic, the zaatar spice gives them a subtle flavor kick. The slaw is decent. The uri cucumbers are nice and tangy. Great sauces on the side are available; try the harissa or the spicy or if you're feeling wild, mix them both together and thank me later.

The salad is a standard fare mixed greens salad but the ingredients are high quality so it's a good choice. I personally haven't had any of the bowls, but I hear good things.

The whole chicken or half chicken, is, in my humble opinion, a tiny bird for the price you pay. It doesn't make a lot of sense and I've had more dry whole or half chicken than not. Stick with the wraps for now. I'm not sure how or why their half or whole chickens come out dry (3 times for me at least) but that's been the case. And again, the birds are tiny. Half chicken is not enough for one person.

Overall, the flavors are excellent and the wraps are best in class, avoid the whole chickens until they...