All About Tony Hawk’s Fried Chicken Restaurant in San Diego

Guy Fieri never arrives empty-handed to film Guy’s Feast Club for Food Network’s YouTube channel. In addition to plenty of questions and surprises for his special guest, Guy brings a table and chairs, a checkered tablecloth, plus a dish that his tablemate requests.

So when he stopped by a Los Angeles skate park to catch up with Tony Hawk (watch the episode right here), what was the legend’s choice? Chicken.

Tony came to the right guy with that special order, as his tablemate just so happens to own 19 locations of a restaurant called Chicken Guy. Instead of bringing his best-selling menu items like The O.G. fried chicken sandwich or chicken tenders, Guy reached into his chest to reveal something very different from his usual “winner, winner chicken dinner.”

“This wasn’t easy on short notice, but I got you a chicken,” Guy laughed, as he handed over a live, clucking chicken to Tony. “It’s kind of awkward that I had to bring it all the way from my ranch,” Guy joked.

When Tony mentioned that he thought Guy might deliver chicken that “was a little more … cooked?” Guy hopped outside the indoor skate park and began cooking a meal for his pal, who has fully embraced his nickname of “Birdman.”

Tony Hawk History

In case you missed it, Tony has been known by this moniker for more than 30 years. Not only is this a nod to his unique last name, but it also tips a cap to Tony’s tremendous aptitude for high-flying aerial tricks. In 1999, he was the first human to ever successfully soar through the air while completing two-and-a-half full midair rotations (900 degrees) on a vertical ramp, accomplishing a skateboarding feat that some thought they might never witness. Tony rocked that breathtaking move dozens more times since, including again just nine years ago.

At age 57, Tony still tears up a half-pipe. These days, he’s embracing the Birdman alias in a whole new way at Chick & Hawk, the Encinitas, California, fried chicken restaurant he co-owns with chef Andrew Bachelier.

Open since November 2025, this block-from-the-beach bistro celebrates skate and surf culture, '90s nostalgia (paying tribute to the start of Tony’s impressive athletic career) and Nashville-meets-Korean hot chicken.

The signature dish? The Birdman sandwich, featuring locally sourced fried chicken thigh, tangy slaw, kimchi comeback sauce and pickles, all tucked inside a potato brioche bun. Diners can ask for it dialed in to their desired spice levels. Instead of mild, medium and hot, here, your chicken can be customized to 180, 360, 720 and 900 — numbers relating to increasing spice levels and progressively more difficult skate tricks.

Pair that with a side of tempura-battered Shroom Nugs and Chick & Hawk’s Cheap Skate beer, and you’ll be well-fueled to rock one of the many ramps that speckle Encinitas, the town that is known by many as the unofficial skateboarding capital of the world.

Guy Actually Gives a Cluck

Back to Guy and his flat-top griddle, he seasoned brined chicken thighs with his paprika-scented All-Purpose Seasoning, then sizzled it skin-down on the oiled surface. To give it a little barbecue flair, Guy later added a Bourbon-Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce. (Can we pull up a chair at this feast?)

As the dynamic duo shared Guy’s crispy yet saucy chicken — “excellent, by the way,” according to Tony — Guy peppered Tony with questions about his diverse diet, getting started in skating, family, philanthropy and beyond.

The conversation and feasting continued over chicken tacos and chicken egg rolls, as the topic shifted to their worst skateboarding accidents. For Guy, it was when he was 12. He was attempting to skate near a railing and jump over it while his board slid underneath. The jump went well, but instead of landing on the ground, Guy’s feet hit the tail of the board — causing the wheeled wooden object to fly up toward his face. The victims? His pride and his two front teeth.

Tony resonated with Guy’s dental woes and admitted that he had knocked out his front teeth “about five times. The best thing about knocking your teeth out is you get to pick the size and the color of the new ones,” he laughed.

However, Tony’s worst injury was just a few years ago, at age 54, when he tried a mixed twist at too slow a speed. We’ll spare you the traumatic visual description, and we’ll just confirm that Tony broke his femur. Recovery took more than a year.

Nourishing the Next Generation

Feast Club ended on a less harrowing and more heartwarming note, with reflections on legacy. Similar to how Guy has parlayed his Food Network Star win into elevating up-and-coming chefs on shows like Tournament of Champions and celebrating under-the-radar restaurants on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Tony said that he delights in cheering on younger athletes who are following in his tracks.

“I love being an observer of it. I love being a champion of it,” Tony explained. “I'm living the dream! I don't have to compete anymore, but I can still skate with the best skaters, have a blast and there's no pressure? That’s amazing!”

Guy told his fellow chicken-loving friend that he respected the way he has mentored, been a coach to and inspired the next generation, and asked if Tony had any advice for parents of active or otherwise ambitious kids.

“Be supportive. Show up. Half of it is just being there physically and emotionally,” Tony said.

Part of the Flock

Soon after, Guy got a little emotional, as Tony presented a Guy’s Feast Club-branded board and said, “You’ve been nominated as an honorary member of the Birdhouse team.” (Birdhouse is the name of Tony’s skateboard brand, by the way.) “Time to revive that [skateboarding] career!”

Guy beamed as he conceded, “I'm going to revive it by putting it on the wall because you saw me just fall on the skate ramp standing here with no board. Thank you. You’re the best, man.”

True to his ever-humble nature, Tony told Guy he felt like the lucky one to be able to share time and a table with him: “I am thankful for anything that comes my way, [including] being able to have these crazy opportunities like hanging out with you.”

This isn’t the first time Tony and Guy have dined and dished. In fact, more of their “framily” reunions have been recorded on film. Tony joined Guy on a 2022 episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives that filmed at vegan restaurant KINDRED in San Diego. In between dad jokes, the pair helped chef Dylan Craver make chimichurri-topped seitan skewers and crab cake-inspired chickpea patties.

If you, like us, can’t get enough of Tony, there’s even more to devour in our archives. The Birdman has appeared as a guest judge on Chopped Junior and Cupcake Wars, and was one of the most memorable special guests to ever fly onto the set of Beat Bobby Flay. And over on HGTV’s Celebrity IOU, Tony collaborated with the Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott, to renovate a garage for Tony’s friend and videographer—a buddy who was a huge help to Tony when he healed from his broken leg.