The 78-seat Chick & Hawk eatery, tucked just east of the train tracks in Leucadia, marks a long-awaited milestone for a project that's weathered permit delays, funding setbacks, and construction holdups since its 2021 announcement - testing the patience of both San Diego foodies and skate fans. Billed as "fast-fine" dining, the concept revolves around "The Birdman," a tallow-fried chicken sandwich named after Hawk’s iconic nickname. It's seasoned with California chilies and duck fat chili oil, with spice levels ranging from a mild "180" to a blazing "900" in tribute to his signature trick. Originally conceived before the city was flooded with fried chicken sandwich concepts, Chick & Hawk now joins a crowded field.
Bachelier's menu will expand beyond the bun with family-style chicken buckets, salads topped with crispy skin and poached eggs, and splashes of seafood like oysters and caviar dip paired with house-made sour cream-and-onion chips. The space, formerly Fulano's Mexican Cafe, will sport a skate-inspired design - think pool coping as a bar counter and surfacing that flows onto a patio, evoking a giant skate bowl - crafted with input from local firms Starch Creative Studios and CLVT, plus Hawk's own 90s culture touch.
This isn't Bachelier’s first North County rodeo. The Rancho Peñasquitos native honed his craft at Solana Beach's Blanca and the now-Michelin three-star Addison, then ignited Carlsbad’s dining scene in 2016 with Campfire alongside owner John Resnick. Their follow-up, Jeune et Jolie, opened in 2019 under Bachelier's watch, earning accolades before he stepped away in 2020 amid pandemic shifts.
Post-departure, Jeune et Jolie snagged a Michelin star in 2021 - a bittersweet McTwist for Bachelier, who'd traded fine-dining ambitions for a takeout gig at home and private chef stints, including for Hawk. That pivot birthed Atelier Manna in 2023, a tiny Leucadia brunch spot that's since become a local darling despite its 25-seat constraint and $26 French Toast.
Chick & Hawk's road to June has been a slow grind. First teased in 2021 with a 2022 target, the 1,500-square-foot project faced bureaucratic snags that left it dormant for years, prompting pop-ups - like a standout Callie showcase last fall - to keep the buzz alive. Construction finally kicked off after 2023 permits, with the team - featuring Bachelier’s Blanca comrade Marlaw Seraspi as chef de cuisine and Campfire alum Nick Sinutko as bar director - now eyeing a mid-2025 debut, buoyed by merchandise sales and continued community hype.
Chick & Hawk's road to June has been a slow grind. First teased in 2021 with a 2022 target, the 1,500-square-foot project faced bureaucratic snags that left it dormant for years, prompting pop-ups - like a standout Callie showcase last fall - to keep the buzz alive. Construction finally kicked off after 2023 permits, with the team - featuring Bachelier’s Blanca comrade Marlaw Seraspi as chef de cuisine and Campfire alum Nick Sinutko as bar director - now eyeing a mid-2025 debut, buoyed by merchandise sales and continued community hype.
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| Artistic rendering of Chick & Hawk bar by Taylor H Morgan Designs |
Hawk's culinary footprint isn't limited to Leucadia. Beyond past ventures like GuacAmigos in Newport Beach and Lucky Bastard Saloon in San Diego's Gaslamp, he's partnering with San Diego's own Claudette Zepeda - known for Top Chef and Iron Chef - for Novecientos Grados, a modern Mexican eatery set to anchor Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport when it opens in phases starting later this year. Zepeda, fresh off launching Leu Leu in February 2025 - a cozy, globally inspired lounge in a 1930s bungalow on Highway 101, just a stone’s throw from Chick & Hawk - brings her star power to Hawk's growing portfolio, linking two high-profile projects in North County's orbit.
Will Chick & Hawk’s June opening stick after years of false starts? For now, the promise of "The Birdman" and a skate-infused vibe has San Diego watching closely.
Will Chick & Hawk’s June opening stick after years of false starts? For now, the promise of "The Birdman" and a skate-infused vibe has San Diego watching closely.
Chick & Hawk is located at 145 Leucadia Boulevard in the Leucadia neighborhood of Encinitas. For more information, visit chickandhawk.com.
Originally published on April 8, 2025.