San Diego’s Fried Chicken King Lands in Century City

It’s Crack Shack time in Century City. The long-anticipated fried chicken spot from celebrity chef Richard Blais is ready to open at the sprawling Westfield Century City complex soon, with an opening date slated for July 21.

The Crack Shack is already a well-established name in the fried chicken genre, successfully operating for years down in San Diego. Now Blais, founder Michael Rosen, and culinary director Jon Sloan are in expansion mode, planning locations everywhere from Costa Mesa in Orange County to Pasadena to this Westfield Century City newcomer. The latter is the first to land in Los Angeles proper, and should open with a bang late next week.

As for the space, expect high ceilings, lots of sunlight thanks to tall windows looking out over the property, and a ton of wood. The centerpiece bar is wrapped in golden hues and dark tile, and there’s a run of iconic Los Angeles sports images hanging over one wide run of banquettes — each with a chicken head swapped in for the face of the athlete, of course. Blue Motif Architecture and Shawmut helped to design and build the 5,186 square foot space, including the expansive and interactive outdoor patio.

On the food and drink side, look for a full lineup of beer, wine, and cocktails. Chicken is available via bowls, sandwiches, or standalone pieces, with sides like mini biscuits, schmaltz fries, and milkshakes available as well. Unique to Los Angeles is the Double Clucker, a ground chicken double-patty burger with bacon and fried onions served on a potato roll. The opening menu is below.

The Crack Shack opens on Saturday, July 21, keeping daily hours starting at 10:30 a.m. and running until 9 p.m. or later.

The Crack Shack. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles.