SoCal/Baja fried chicken concept coming to JoCo with bowls, sandwiches and ‘crack spice’

A SoCal/Baja fried chicken concept is coming to Overland Park.

The Crack Shack plans a late 2022 opening at 9292 Metcalf Avenue in Regency Park, on the site of the former Romano’s Macaroni Grill.

The Crack Shack was formed by the owners of Juniper and Ivy in the Little Italy area of San Diego. They opened it as a casual dining “shack” behind the fine dining restaurant in 2015. They now have seven locations in Southern California, Nevada, Colorado and Utah.

Its non-GMO, “beyond free range” birds are seasoned with a proprietary “crack spice” blend from Le Sanctuaire. Bone-in fried chicken is the signature item.

It also has fried chicken sandwiches including the spicy Firebird (spicy fried chicken thigh with crispy onions, pickles and cool ranch sauce on an artisan potato roll) and the Coop Deville (chicken breast with pickled Fresno chiles, pickles, napa cabbage and lime mayonnaise on an artisan brioche), chicken bowls including the Anti-Salad Power Bowl (with smoked chicken, soft boiled egg, quinoa, salsa, avocado, arugula, cilantro and pickled onions), and a Lil’ Cluckers menu for children.

Sides include Mexican poutine, mini biscuits and chicken oysters.

It will source as many local ingredients as possible including produce, and bread baked and delivered daily from an artisan bakery.

It has a “coop-like” décor with a chicken statue at the entrance, full bar with craft cocktails and local beers, and a sauce bar featuring a variety of house-made sauces patrons serve themselves — ranch, Sriracha 1000 Island, pineapple mustard and Sweet Baby G’s BBQ. It will have indoor and dog-friendly outdoor seating.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill had operated on the corner for more than 25 years. It closed five years ago and was later demolished.