Lola's Chicken Shack

It was great! Very straight forward menu with enough choices for all tastes. The food was very good. The flavors were there and we had the option for asking for the sauces on the side, not necessarily inside. Also, the chicken was tender and you could see everything was cooked fresh. Prices were reasonable. Made it one of our go to places!

With piping hot extra tender super juicy chicken tenders on offer, Lola's has become a weekly habit. I highly recommend the 'signature' breading for it's satisfying crunch and slightly sweet flavor. My experience here has always been consistently good. If you're eating in, make sure to appreciate the strange chicken-themed artworks!

They are always so nice, and tonight was exceptionally so ... The young lady that took my order was bubbly, helpful and very nice. I watched her with a family which included a child. The counter person bent down to engage her, discussed what she did and did not want on her sandwich ... so polite and engaging. The rest of the staff was also polite, inviting and a joy to observe. Order the Baja, Asian salads, and American B and Mac n Cheese. We enjoyed our food at home, it was as we requested and so fresh and tasty. Thank you "Lola's" team ... you are a joy to go to!

Had lunch at Lola's yesterday. I tried a chicken burger. It was delicious. I don't remember the name but it was a bit spicy. Cooked perfect! Also had the mac and cheese. Also delicious. The resturant is clean, the staff is nice and the price is right!

Did not disappoint!! Tried the Cobb salad w/poppy seed vinaigrette and it was 💣💣💣. Will definitely be here once a week to try the whole menu. Worth every penny, chicken was nice and juicy.

Some of the best chicken in the Bay. Tenders are juicy, soft, and flavorful. Sauces bring out even more. Garlic fries have chopped garlic and are also meaty and soft. Parking is hard to find on the weekend, but we'll worth circling a few times

Absolutely huge and amazing tenders, great service and honestly I love the small town vibe. I came here almost every day in 2018!

Went there for the first time just to get a small snack and the cashier was very friendly. I look forward to trying more food there! This was a great filling and affordable snack the chicken quality was really good.

This was a great choice especially with kids. The menu suits young kids perfectly and the chicken were very tasty for the adults too. I was surprised how much I liked the strawberry sauce with the chicken. The dining room is bright with lots of room. It was a very stress free dinner with a 3 and 4 year old. Definitely a place we will come back to

Just had the Lola b chicken sandwich. It had to be the best grilled sandwich I've had in a very long time. I stumbled on this place cause I don't know the area and hungry. Best accident I've ever had. Definitely will recommend this place to others.

K H

Did not disappoint!! Tried the Cobb salad w/poppy seed vinaigrette and it was 💣💣💣. Will definitely be here once a week to try the whole menu. Worth every penny, chicken was nice and juicy.

Maggie Nazario

Went there for the first time just to get a small snack and the cashier was very friendly. I look forward to trying more food there! This was a great filling and affordable snack the chicken quality was really good.

M. Barra

Some of the best chicken in the Bay. Tenders are juicy, soft, and flavorful. Sauces bring out even more. Garlic fries have chopped garlic and are also meaty and soft. Parking is hard to find on the weekend, but we'll worth circling a few times

Jimmy Hsu

Absolutely huge and amazing tenders, great service and honestly I love the small town vibe. I came here almost every day in 2018!

William Dieu

This was a great choice especially with kids. The menu suits young kids perfectly and the chicken were very tasty for the adults too. I was surprised how much I liked the strawberry sauce with the chicken. The dining room is bright with lots of room. It was a very stress free dinner with a 3 and 4 year old. Definitely a place we will come back to

Michael Sklar

Just had the Lola b chicken sandwich. It had to be the best grilled sandwich I've had in a very long time. I stumbled on this place cause I don't know the area and hungry. Best accident I've ever had. Definitely will recommend this place to others.

Nice takeout spot for quick service and quality bites. Menu is predominantly chicken sandwiches and salads, with a small selection of hamburgers.

I enjoyed this chicken sandwich with honey mustard sauce.

The service is good & their sides, the fries and onion rings are always good. My only issue is that they don't toast the bread on their sandwiches. Because they're so substantial, toasting the bread would help the bread hold up a little better IMO. Also, as good as their chicken is cooked, the recipe could you a bit more salt to enhance the flavor.

Lola was the first place we ate at when moving to Alameda. They have some very good food and will always be a special place to us! Always has great service! Update: new ownership bring back the old bbq sauce please! It’s not as good without it. Down to 4 star 😔

The southwestern burger was great. I thankfully got it without the spread. They have several items to choose from, when it comes to sandwiches, salads or burgers, but not so much that you're paralyzed. They have two outdoor tables and several booths inside (but booths were empty due to CV). They have fountain drinks and bottled drinks as well.

Thank you Lola team for supporting the community and taking precautions to ensure everyone's safety. ======== If you're remotely close to Alemeda, want to go on a drive, adventure away from home - Lola's will be a good stop. They are pick up only, you can order online or in store, and wait times are fairly short. We're big fans of fried chicken, and being it's now trending - we make it a point to find local gems. And Lola's is a gem! They have a good size menu, for our first time, we stuck to the 'basics' - 3 piece Tenders (classic) - This is a signature blend of breading that is slightly seasoned and fried. Good crust on the tenders, and fried to golden brown. The chicken is well coated, leaving it moist inside. And 3 pieces is basically a full chicken breast. So it can be a meal. There are a number of dipping sauces you can get - 1 free, additional will cost ~ $0.40 Flamethrower Chicken (sandwich) - Don't be thrown by the description, it sounds spicy, but it's THE BEST balance of spices. The chicken cools the flame sauce, the fresh jalapenos add a crunch and freshness, with the onions, and the bread is perfect! Everything is wrapped so well in the roll, all the flavors soak up in the bread which cools it all down. Onion Rings - This is what (kind of) lost us. Freshly fried, gave this a very 'fast foody' smell. And made the rings really 'heavy'. Taking a bite of the best sandwich gets drowned by a bite of the rings (oiliness). Coated the tongue and throat, so it was a bit hard to eat, and finish for that matter. Overall, we're definitely coming back and Lola's has given us a reason to hang around Alameda. Thanks Lola's!

Food was bomb. Ordered the Lola b sandwich and a side salad. Chicken was cooked well . Had a hint of spicy sauce which was tasty. The waitress was pretty spicy herself lol. Location is nice. Able to eat indoors or outdoors. Not to expensive. Staff was friendly. Recommend it if in the area.

Fantasy Football Huddle

Lola was the first place we ate at when moving to Alameda. They have some very good food and will always be a special place to us! Always has great service! Update: new ownership bring back the old bbq sauce please! It’s not as good without it. Down to 4 star 😔

Dave C

The southwestern burger was great. I thankfully got it without the spread. They have several items to choose from, when it comes to sandwiches, salads or burgers, but not so much that you're paralyzed. They have two outdoor tables and several booths inside (but booths were empty due to CV). They have fountain drinks and bottled drinks as well.

divya patel

Thank you Lola team for supporting the community and taking precautions to ensure everyone's safety. ======== If you're remotely close to Alemeda, want to go on a drive, adventure away from home - Lola's will be a good stop. They are pick up only, you can order online or in store, and wait times are fairly short. We're big fans of fried chicken, and being it's now trending - we make it a point to find local gems. And Lola's is a gem! They have a good size menu, for our first time, we stuck to the 'basics' - 3 piece Tenders (classic) - This is a signature blend of breading that is slightly seasoned and fried. Good crust on the tenders, and fried to golden brown. The chicken is well coated, leaving it moist inside. And 3 pieces is basically a full chicken breast. So it can be a meal. There are a number of dipping sauces you can get - 1 free, additional will cost ~ $0.40 Flamethrower Chicken (sandwich) - Don't be thrown by the description, it sounds spicy, but it's THE BEST balance of spices. The chicken cools the flame sauce, the fresh jalapenos add a crunch and freshness, with the onions, and the bread is perfect! Everything is wrapped so well in the roll, all the flavors soak up in the bread which cools it all down. Onion Rings - This is what (kind of) lost us. Freshly fried, gave this a very 'fast foody' smell. And made the rings really 'heavy'. Taking a bite of the best sandwich gets drowned by a bite of the rings (oiliness). Coated the tongue and throat, so it was a bit hard to eat, and finish for that matter. Overall, we're definitely coming back and Lola's has given us a reason to hang around Alameda. Thanks Lola's!

Grand Old Soul

Food was bomb. Ordered the Lola b sandwich and a side salad. Chicken was cooked well . Had a hint of spicy sauce which was tasty. The waitress was pretty spicy herself lol. Location is nice. Able to eat indoors or outdoors. Not to expensive. Staff was friendly. Recommend it if in the area.

This was my first time eating Lola's and it left me wondering if they know what salt is. I ordered a sandwich, soup, a salad, mac and cheese and some tenders on their own to really tell the quality. Sandwich is good value, bread is nice. Soup was good but skimpy serving size. Mac and cheese, absolutely skip. Pasta was overcooked and drizzled with a mystery sauce and topped with bitter bacon and a literal shake of cheese. Salad, meh. It was for my partner and had low expectations from the beginning. The huge tenders are the constant through the main dishes. It was decently moist for tenders but I guess salt or a simple brine is too much to ask for? The breading is really nice, it seems like a rice flour base which makes it crispy through the next day. The breading is also slightly sweet on its own which gave a chicken and waffles vibe especially with the maple mustard. I ordered delivery so I can't say much for service or atmosphere but I saw my driver having to wait a while for my food to be ready. I wasn't in a rush but I've been a driver and it sucks having to wait while you could be getting other orders. All in all, if you're watching your salt intake, Lola's is great because they do not know what that is. Mostly decent portions for the price. Probably won't be back for more.

This is my first time here. I had their "classic" chicken tenders sandwich and fries. The sandwich would have been much better if the bread were toasted or grilled. They use a good quality roll but cold bread just doesn't work on a hot sandwich. The chicken and the slaw were good - nothing special but competently executed. The fries were very good, hot and crispy as fries should be. Service was quick and friendly and is a hybrid of counter service and full service. You order at the counter and the staff brings your meal to you when it's ready. The dining area is a little shabby and drab. The staff doesn't seem to care about the trash on the floor and the benches.

Man, I'm so sad to say this but this place is not the same as it was a couple years ago. Apparently there was new ownership, and they cut back on a lot of what made the place so special. Like their unique french fries. I used to come over to this place just for the fries because they were so good. But now they're charging like five bucks for a bag of thick cut fries. At least their chicken strips are still good. But RIP those addicting fries.

Honestly this place used to be really good- But then it seems like they changed ownership or are under new management, even though I can't see any acknowledgement of this in the window. The staff are all new, the fries are now frozen and just low quality, and it just feels... Wrong now. The foot traffic has decreased, and it looks like a lot of the decorations that made Lola's... Lola's have just gone too.

love the customer service and I can only give a 3 star because they took away the pesto dipping sauce which was delicious and something no one else has it would have been 5 star.

You get bang for your buck but I missed seasoning in all dishes. The cheesy fries came with a bechamel sauce ( i guess) which tasted bland, not very cheesy, and the bacon was tasteless ( like the salad toppers you can buy at the supermarket). The mac and cheese was made with the same cheese sauce and bacon. My chicken was a bit dry, not something I would order again.

Lora Schuringa

You get bang for your buck but I missed seasoning in all dishes. The cheesy fries came with a bechamel sauce ( i guess) which tasted bland, not very cheesy, and the bacon was tasteless ( like the salad toppers you can buy at the supermarket). The mac and cheese was made with the same cheese sauce and bacon. My chicken was a bit dry, not something I would order again.

Went back for the first time in 5 years. Sad it’s gone downhill. Chicken was dry and tasted weird. No one else in there. Used to be a gem but just wasn’t good. Hope they can turn it around.

The chicken is amazing! The only reason I gave a 3 star because you need to be careful ordering or maybe there is some newer employees. I ordered a Caesar Salad and asked for chicken on it...they said it was included...so for $10.99 it's a great meal! I didn't come with dressing...not even on the side...this may have been a stupid mistake because it doesn't make sense to serve a salad with NO dressing.

Rich

Went back for the first time in 5 years. Sad it’s gone downhill. Chicken was dry and tasted weird. No one else in there. Used to be a gem but just wasn’t good. Hope they can turn it around.

tori burton

The chicken is amazing! The only reason I gave a 3 star because you need to be careful ordering or maybe there is some newer employees. I ordered a Caesar Salad and asked for chicken on it...they said it was included...so for $10.99 it's a great meal! I didn't come with dressing...not even on the side...this may have been a stupid mistake because it doesn't make sense to serve a salad with NO dressing.

The boneless wings were dry and bland. The service is reasonable. The restaurant no longer has dine in seating but could REALLY do with a make-over! It makes the place look shabby and the food reflected it. I wo t be visiting there anytime soon.

Doesn't feel like the Lola's I remember, they clearly got the recipes from the old ownership, but they aren't being executed in the same way. They dropped quite a few sauces, as well as other items from the menu, the tenders were not freshly prepared or crispy, and the friola beans were undercooked with the veg preparation rough. Maybe they are still finding their way, but this was a disappointing visit.

8 years ago I called Lola's "delicious." And it was, then. Unfortunately, the ownership has changed and it has steadily gone down hill. Every-flavor coke machine: Gone. Their fantastic fries: Replaced with tasteless ones. Their wonderful, amazing, made-in-store ranch: Replaced with cheap, jiggly, sour cream dip. Today I actually brought my food up to the counter and asked if they'd accidentally put something other than ranch on my chicken bacon ranch wrap. I was informed that no, the owner had replaced my beloved ranch with one that was cheaper. So if you love(d) Lola's ranch as much as I did, you should call before you visit to find out if they've gone back to their original recipe.

Staff was rude when I asked them for extra bacon on my mac. Maybe don't serve bacon mac if its gonna be bland shells and "cheese" with maybe 6 bacon bits total in the entire thing. And if the cook and staff are gonna talk smack about me for politely asking, they can have the nerve to do so *quieter*, especially since I was nice about it? Rude.

It was a couple of us but I ordered some chicken strips. When received they looked and tasted burnt. Strips weren’t even hot, barely warm. Waste of money, canes is better. The young lady who took our order was sweet and there was plenty of seating.

Hmmm .... I ordered the chicken tenders sesame seed breading (crunchier th as n the original). Not much flavor on it's own, needed the BBQ sauce with each bite. Nothing comes with the tenders so I went off the grid ...in hopes the homemade chips were good. They weren't. No flavor, salt or special seasoning. I was disappointed, and probably won't go back again.

K F

It was a couple of us but I ordered some chicken strips. When received they looked and tasted burnt. Strips weren’t even hot, barely warm. Waste of money, canes is better. The young lady who took our order was sweet and there was plenty of seating.

LaTanya H

Hmmm .... I ordered the chicken tenders sesame seed breading (crunchier th as n the original). Not much flavor on it's own, needed the BBQ sauce with each bite. Nothing comes with the tenders so I went off the grid ...in hopes the homemade chips were good. They weren't. No flavor, salt or special seasoning. I was disappointed, and probably won't go back again.

My partner and I had the worst and most bizarre experience at Lola's, and I was treated extremely disrespectfully by the owner. On April 14th, my partner ordered chicken tenders, but all of them were burned. They were visibly burned, tasted burned, and had a rubbery texture. When my partner approached an employee to get new ones that weren't burnt, even the employee agreed they looked burnt, so she offered my partner new chicken tenders. The ones the employee brought out were still burnt, so my partner said she didn't want to try those. The employee kept telling her to, and at one point, touched the chicken tenders without gloves to show us the inside. The employee even tried the chicken tenders that she had brought out for my partner. The employee mentioned that the oil is supposed to be changed every day, but the oil that day was old because it hadn't been changed the night before. The employee told my partner and me to call the following day to get in touch with the owner, which is what I did. However, the owner had already left. When I called the next day, the owner had already left. An employee wrote down my name and number, and the owner called me. The phone call I had with the owner was beyond unprofessional and rude. She didn't listen to what I had to say, kept interrupting me, and didn't offer me an apology or a refund. She gaslighted me into thinking my partner and I didn't know what we were talking about. Then she wanted me to come in and talk about this, and I asked why it couldn't be settled over the phone, but she wouldn't give me an answer. I reluctantly agreed to and assumed it would be within the next few days, but no, she said the 25th. I asked around 12 PM, and she said no, but then said 1 PM. I agreed, but on the day I was supposed to go in, I got called in to work, and I sent her a test message. Instead of responding to me or calling me, she left me on read. This was highly upsetting because, years ago, I would go to Lola's frequently and had never had an experience like this.

NEW OWNERS RUINED THIS PLACE!!! BEWARE 99% of the good reviews for this place are from before the new owners screwed it all up. This place was amazing as is. I don't know how someone buys a successful/loved local business and immediately ruins it. I have been going here for years and loved all of their menu items (ESPECIALLY THE FRIES) and nothing is the same. Seems that the new owners are trying to cut corners on everything. They ruined the fries and the atmosphere. I cant give the service a bad rating since the staff is the only good thing left at this place. They are always so welcoming and kind especially the lady who works the front (thought she was Lola but I think her name is Andria).

TLDR: Lola's Chicken Shack is going downhill with their new owners. LOTS of red flags. The food is still ok, but the new owner is cheap and not friendly. We've always been a fan of Lola's and used to eat there at least once a week. We've gotten catering orders for parties before and everyone loves it. However, we had a bad experience this past weekend: - I had ordered 100 little tenders - $165. In Raj's quote, he wrote $326. Ok fine, simple mistake... - Upon delivery of my order, he forgot an entire large tray of Lola Mac. When I called him, he said it was my fault and that I had cancelled the item. If I wanted it, I'd have to pay more. I told him to look at his quote and receipt-- the Mac was on it... He then blamed the chef. - I had asked him multiple times if we ordered too much, but he only told me to increase my order. We had so much left over. Mark, the old owner, used to be knowledgeable about quantities and would give me his honest opinion. This new owner only wants your money. - With servingware, Raj gave me a pair of tongs for the Lola Mac (which makes no sense) and 1 set of spoons to share amongst the salads...no spoons or anything was provided for all the dressings. Cheap. - The Caesar salad did not have any croutons on it. It was an entire tray of lettuce and some parmesan cheese. He said croutons are by request. I've never heard of such a thing and it does not say "croutons by request" anywhere on the menu. - I called him to give my honest opinion (did not ask for a refund) so that I wouldn't have to write a review, but he got defensive, rude, told me to not talk to a "businessman" like this and hung up on me. Very mature businessman he is...way to take ownership and feedback from customers…Strike 3. So here we are. Along with other recent reviews, Lola's seems to be trending downwards. Such a bummer that a good local family business that worked hard to build up their name went to the wrong ownership. Pro Tip: If you're in San Rafael, there's a restaurant called Tender Tenders that has a similar menu and the chicken tastes similar to the OG Lola's chicken.

I've been going to Lola's Chicken shacks for 10 years plus. But I guess it recently changed owner's hands. Which is sad because the quality of the food has just gone downhill. The fries just suck The chicken strips are longer juicy and tender like they once were. You got to really wonder why someone would buy a place and just destroy the reputation of it what's the point. If you're looking for a chicken place this is no longer it, your best bet is to find other place. Lost two customers.

This is what I got for $14 plus $2 tip (total cost $16) today - three "HALF" pieces of chicken tenders that was dry and dark or burnt with a load of fries...UNACCEPTABLE!! In short, a so called meal of 3 bad pieces of half cut chicken tenders (equivalent to 3 chicken nuggets or 1 1/2 chicken tenders, which kitchen cut and served cut into halves) with a half bag of french fries for $16 - RIDICULOUS!!! I can bake 3 chicken nuggets and half bag of fries at home for only $4. I won't be stopping here again and have many OTHER places locally to choose from for $16 with better quality food service. Spent too much for vey little so don't expect to get your 'bang for your buck' at Lola's Chicken Shack.

Ordered for delivery the chicken tenders and it was absolutely tasteless. Like how is this a chicken shack and you don’t season your chicken? Like the tenders weren’t even salted. Very disappointing for a “chicken shack.”

tweetyb

This is what I got for $14 plus $2 tip (total cost $16) today - three "HALF" pieces of chicken tenders that was dry and dark or burnt with a load of fries...UNACCEPTABLE!! In short, a so called meal of 3 bad pieces of half cut chicken tenders (equivalent to 3 chicken nuggets or 1 1/2 chicken tenders, which kitchen cut and served cut into halves) with a half bag of french fries for $16 - RIDICULOUS!!! I can bake 3 chicken nuggets and half bag of fries at home for only $4. I won't be stopping here again and have many OTHER places locally to choose from for $16 with better quality food service. Spent too much for vey little so don't expect to get your 'bang for your buck' at Lola's Chicken Shack.

Kayi Esse

Ordered for delivery the chicken tenders and it was absolutely tasteless. Like how is this a chicken shack and you don’t season your chicken? Like the tenders weren’t even salted. Very disappointing for a “chicken shack.”

Ordered food last nite got food it was good however my coke a cola 16oz bottle was expired two weeks ago and was flat and awful. And my brownie was hard as a brick. So im taking a break from this place for a while . This place was my go to restaurant not no more though and that sucks

Literally forgot to take my order. Waited 20 minutes just to find out they didn't even take the order and then took 10 minutes after that. Staff were a bit unfriendly and didn't even apologize and then tried to imply that we had somehow forgot to order it. Got this rusty nail burger that had this dry chicken cake inside. Atmosphere was ok, wouldn't recommend.

Terrible Experience! New Owners! I went in for lunch with my husband and sister. My sister ordered her food, then my husband and I each ordered our meals. To start the house made lemonade was rancid. Then my sister and I got our orders but my husbands order never came. I asked the cashier Steven, where his food was and he tells me we never ordered it and then just stares at me. In my opinion it is obvious that 3 people would order 3 different entrees, or at least that the cashier should confirm. He didn't offer any solutions or apologies. So then I ask him if I can get the other burger for which he tells me, "You have to pay for it." Fine, I'll pay, but I did expect some type of customer service other than his blank stare. Once we all had our food, my sisters Pesto B had a hair in it! The garlic fries had a huge scoop of pre-packaged garlic on top that weren't even hot. My mushroom and Swiss burger was decent and the Lola's Classic burger was good. I called the restaurant the next day to speak to a manager but no one knew how to connect me to one. I was given the cell phone number of "Rog" who I was told was the owner. That phone call went worse than the dining experience. He answered the phone and all I could hear was gibberish as if he was talking to someone else. I stated I was a customer at Lola's and that person hung up. I did a search and found out that Lola's now has new owners and is no longer the quality place I used to love.

Tim Urbonas

Ordered food last nite got food it was good however my coke a cola 16oz bottle was expired two weeks ago and was flat and awful. And my brownie was hard as a brick. So im taking a break from this place for a while . This place was my go to restaurant not no more though and that sucks

lucas Ashes

Literally forgot to take my order. Waited 20 minutes just to find out they didn't even take the order and then took 10 minutes after that. Staff were a bit unfriendly and didn't even apologize and then tried to imply that we had somehow forgot to order it. Got this rusty nail burger that had this dry chicken cake inside. Atmosphere was ok, wouldn't recommend.

Veronica Castro

Terrible Experience! New Owners! I went in for lunch with my husband and sister. My sister ordered her food, then my husband and I each ordered our meals. To start the house made lemonade was rancid. Then my sister and I got our orders but my husbands order never came. I asked the cashier Steven, where his food was and he tells me we never ordered it and then just stares at me. In my opinion it is obvious that 3 people would order 3 different entrees, or at least that the cashier should confirm. He didn't offer any solutions or apologies. So then I ask him if I can get the other burger for which he tells me, "You have to pay for it." Fine, I'll pay, but I did expect some type of customer service other than his blank stare. Once we all had our food, my sisters Pesto B had a hair in it! The garlic fries had a huge scoop of pre-packaged garlic on top that weren't even hot. My mushroom and Swiss burger was decent and the Lola's Classic burger was good. I called the restaurant the next day to speak to a manager but no one knew how to connect me to one. I was given the cell phone number of "Rog" who I was told was the owner. That phone call went worse than the dining experience. He answered the phone and all I could hear was gibberish as if he was talking to someone else. I stated I was a customer at Lola's and that person hung up. I did a search and found out that Lola's now has new owners and is no longer the quality place I used to love.