After more than two years in development, skateboard legend Tony Hawk's highly anticipated Chick & Hawk restaurant has finally been cleared to begin construction in San Diego's North County.
In September 2021, we
broke the news that longtime San Diego chef Andrew Bachelier had announced he would be opening a new restaurant in partnership with the most famous skateboarder in the world Tony "Birdman" Hawk. Chef Bachelier was previously integral in the launch of dining destinations Campfire and Jeune et Jolie in Carlsbad before parting ways with the company in summer 2020. Dubbed as a "fast-fine" restaurant and bar concept, Chick & Hawk was originally anticipated to open in San Diego's Encinitas community in summer 2022 but has been plagued by bureaucratic delays.
"So, as you all know, we've been in the incubator for long, long time now," read the post on Chick & Hawk's Instagram page. "Behind the scenes, we’ve been navigating some pretty gnarly bumps in the road (yes, for over two years now) to try and get our doors open to all of you in the community... Well now folks, it’s time for some speed wobbles... we have officially received permits to begin construction on Chick & Hawk! To commemorate this long-awaited hatching, we couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate than to bring US to YOU! Our cherished friends, family, and neighbors right here in Leucadia."
To celebrate being able to move forward with construction, Chick & Hawk will host a pop-up at
Duckfoot Brewing tasting room in Encinitas on Friday, September 15, starting at 5pm until they sell out. The menu for the evening will be primarily the "Birdman" fried chicken sandwich.
Chick & Hawk is currently under construction in the 1,421 square-foot space that long housed Fulano's Restaurant in the Leucadia area of Encinitas. Local design firm Starch Creative Studios and CLVT are spearheading the desing and renovation, respectively, with the final product set to offer indoor and outdoor dining with a design inspired by 90s surf and skateboard culture combined with a chicken motif. The incoming restaurant will integrate facets of fast-casual and fine-dining, offering a menu centered around elevated fried chicken sandwiches made with locally sourced poultry, as well as oysters, seafood, and approachable versions of Bachelier's globally-driven Southern California cuisine. There will also be a full bar with craft beer, wine and cocktails.
With the impending opening of Chick & Hawk, San Diego native Tony Hawk is expanding his growing restaurant portfolio. In 2019, the iconic skateboarder teamed up with Playboy Playmate Nicole Dahm Kelly (one of the famous Dahm Triplets) to open GuacAmigos Mexican restaurant on Coast Highway in Newport Beach, CA. Nicole Dahm Kelly previously operated
Lucky Bastard Saloon in San Diego's Gaslamp from 2013 until the bar shuttered in 2016. Hawk is also teaming up with San Diego's former "Top Chef" contestant Claudette Zepeda to
launch San Diego Airport Terminal One's signature restaurant named Novecientos Grados, which is Spanish for "900 degrees", Hawk's signature skateboard trick. Once completed, the 4,700 square-foot space will have a full bar, a modern Mexican food menu and an outdoor terrace with a bay view.
Chick & Hawk is expected to open at some point in 2024 at 145 Leucadia Boulevard in San Diego's North County city of Encinitas. For more information, visit
chickandhawk.com and follow the
concept on Instagram.
