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oChef » Starbird Chicken – San Francisco
Starbird Chicken - San Francisco
Photo from Starbird Chicken
Starbird Chicken at a glance
San Francisco Mission District
- 🍗 Chicken Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $31–$40
mentioned by 20 of the guests
#2390 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#29 Chicken Restaurant out of 31 in San Francisco
Poor
3.6 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
215
Reviews
27.4%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Perfect chicken
- Flavorful sauces
- Helpful staff
Frequently criticized
- Delivery issues
- Ghost kitchen
- Food inconsistency
The restaurant Starbird Chicken in San Francisco’s vibrant Mission District offers you a delightful experience focused on delicious chicken. As a dedicated chicken restaurant, you’ll find a casual atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
Whether you’re looking for lunch or dinner, this spot provides convenient service options including no-contact delivery, standard delivery, and comfortable dine-in. You can easily enjoy their offerings, making it a go-to for your chicken cravings.
Overview: Introducting Starbird Chicken
Starbird Chicken seems to hit the mark with its core offering. Many appreciate the well-prepared chicken and flavorful sauces , noting the tenders and salads as particular standouts.
The convenience of ordering and the helpful staff also receive positive remarks, making it a solid choice for a quick meal. However, the experience isn’t without its challenges.
Some customers have faced issues with delivery consistency and food temperature upon arrival. The physical location often feels more like a ghost kitchen than a traditional restaurant, which can be a letdown for those expecting a sit-down experience.
Poor
3.6
out of 10
215
Reviews
27.4%
Satisfaction
152
negative
4
neutral
59
positive
Starbird Chicken registers an overall Restaurant Score of 3.6 , placing it in the poor category. This aligns with a Customer Satisfaction rate of 27.4% , also indicating a poor overall sentiment.
These figures are drawn from 215 customer opinions, with a notable imbalance of 59 positive remarks against 152 negative ones, suggesting significant areas for improvement. Diving deeper, Food scores an average (4.9), standing out as the strongest aspect despite some inconsistencies.
However, Service (2.0) is a clear pain point, frequently cited for delivery mishaps and order inaccuracies. The Ambience (3.0) also falls short, often described as lacking a proper dining experience, while Value (3.4) is perceived as poor by many, despite some finding it affordable.
What people like
- Perfect chicken
- Flavorful sauces
- Helpful staff
What people don't like
- Delivery issues
- Ghost kitchen experience
- Inconsistent food quality
Starbird Chicken presents a mixed bag, with its Recommendation Score of 3.7 suggesting it might not be for everyone. While the core chicken dishes and sauces often receive praise, the overall experience is frequently hampered by operational challenges.
If you’re seeking reliable, well-prepared chicken for takeout and can pick it up yourself, it might be worth a try. However, those relying on delivery or expecting a traditional dining atmosphere should temper their expectations, as these areas often fall short.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Starbird Chicken
Food (4.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 72% of the guests
When it comes to the food, there's a lot to like, with a score of 4.9 and a mixed customer satisfaction of 44.4% based on 108 opinions. Many diners rave about the delicious Nashville hot chicken, crispy chicken, and excellent salads. The great sauces and fresh vegetables also get a lot of love, making for some truly satisfying meals.
However, not every dish hits the mark. Some experiences, detailed in 58 negative comments, point to issues like cold food and soggy fries. Concerns about bad quality, dry chicken, and even a foul smell have also been raised, suggesting that consistency might be a challenge for some items.
Food
108
Reviews
44%
Satisfaction
58
negative
2
neutral
48
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Flavorful hot chicken
- Perfect crispy chicken
- Excellent fresh salads
What people don't like
- Food served cold
- Soggy, stale fries
- Inconsistent food quality
Often praised
- chickenThe chicken is perfect not greasy at all
- foodcan't say anything bad about their food
- fried chickenI believe the negative reviews might stem from people expecting a dine-in experience. Without a doubt, this is the best fried chicken I've had in the city.
- sandwichTried the sandwich and tenders and so amazing
- sauceI love the sauce it's spicy but shuttle
- saucesI liked their fried chicken and sauces
- Boneless Wingsordered the Boneless Wings and everything was perfect
- FoodFood:5
- Green Goddess Cobb Saladrecommend the Green Goddess Cobb Salad
- Nashville chicken tendersThe Nashville chicken tenders are amazing
Frequently criticized
- friesMy experience was pretty bad. The chicken was dry and the fries were stone-cold, suggesting they might have been premade and sitting for a while, even though the delivery didn't take long. On a positive note, the coleslaw was good.
- wingsThe food is edible. That’s about all there is to say concerning the wings.
- chickenI’ve had good experiences in the past, but tonight I was flat out disappointed. I ordered a 4 piece hot tender box, make it blazin style, and the chicken was barely seasoned. Additionally, there were nasty pickles all over the chicken.
- foodThis food was soo soggy and cold
- food qualityfood was not upto its hype at all
- food temperatureFood arrived soggy and cold
- saucesauce. Just super sweet & disgusting
- Nashvilleorder the Nashville cuz it has so much cayenne
- Thai chicken saladafter eating their Thai chicken salad. I got a bad case of food poisoning
- all flatsdidn't put anything we ordered in there, nothing was correct
The food here offers a mixed bag. While many rave about the flavorful chicken and fresh salads, others have encountered cold, soggy, or poor-quality dishes. Its worth a try if youre feeling lucky, but be aware of potential inconsistencies.
Service (2 out of 10)
mentioned by 69% of the guests
While the overall service picture has some challenges, there are bright spots! A few customers (7 positive remarks) have praised the convenience of delivery and pickup options, especially for those who like to order ahead. The staff also gets a shout-out for being amazing, helpful, and friendly, making for a smooth experience when things go right.
However, the service here faces significant hurdles, reflected in a poor score of 2 and a very low customer satisfaction of just 8.3%. With 76 negative remarks, many customers report frustrating delivery issues, including canceled orders, long waits, and wrong or missing items. Poor customer service and unresponsive management are also frequently mentioned, indicating a need for serious improvement.
Service
84
Reviews
8%
Satisfaction
76
negative
1
neutral
7
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Easy pickup
- Convenient delivery
What people don't like
- Orders often cancel
- Delivery issues
- Poor customer service
Often praised
- deliveredhave it delivered
- deliveryMy experience has been great with this spot for tasty salad delivery! I consistently find fresh vegetables and their crispy chicken is so good.
- order ahead and pickuporder ahead and pickup in their store.
- pickupit was ready 7 minutes later
- staffThe staff is amazing. They are so helpful and friendly
- street parkingI got street parking
- take outOrder take out
Frequently criticized
- customer serviceIf I were you, I would strongly consider replacing Uber as your delivery provider. Horrible customer service and experience!
- deliveryHowever, the rating is for the constant bad experience when ordering through the application. The food rarely arrives on time, and we’ve had many deliveries not arrive at all. We’ve easily ordered 15+ times, and I’d be surprised if we didn’t have issues with 50% of orders.
- delivery issuesdelivery issues from older reviews were fixed, they aren't
- employeeplease owner of this place please remove this employee from your business she is toxic
- missing itemsMissing items every single time I order through doordash
- orderthey have gotten our order wrong
- pickupcouldn’t figure out where to go to get the order
- waiting timeThen had to wait another 25 minutes for a fresh order.
- 2-hour waitone after 2hrs of waiting
- Google mapsGardenbird doesn't exist according to Google maps
If you're considering ordering, be prepared for a potentially frustrating service experience, especially with deliveries. While some find pickup convenient, the high number of issues suggests it might be best to proceed with caution or explore other options for reliable service.
Ambience (3 out of 10)
mentioned by 19% of the guests
When it comes to ambience, this spot seems to have a bit of a split personality, though the overall vibe leans heavily negative. A few guests (3 opinions out of 18 total) did appreciate the cleanliness, noting how staff were constantly cleaning tables floors and calling it a five star experience. However, the overall sentiment is quite low, with a score of just 3, which is considered poor, and customer satisfaction sitting at a mere 16.7%, also poor.
On the flip side, the vast majority of feedback (15 opinions) paints a rather bleak picture. Many were disappointed by the lack of a proper store front or indoor dining, describing it as a ghost kitchen in a shady part of town. Issues like no place to park and no place to sit were frequently mentioned, leading to a disappointing trip for many expecting a traditional restaurant experience.
Ambience
18
Reviews
16%
Satisfaction
15
negative
0
neutral
3
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Clean tables, floors
What people don't like
- No indoor dining
- Shady part of town
- No place to park
Often praised
- experienceit's a five star experience
- restaurantI was impressed by how attentive they were, constantly cleaning tables and floors. I am amazed at how on the ball this restaurant is and will definitely be coming here frequently. I highly recommend Starbird!
- tables floorsThey are constantly cleaning tables floors
Frequently criticized
- food safetythe food safety is questionable
- areaThe area also looks scary
- back alleyMy experience was defined by the scary back alley and sketchy people everywhere. It was impossible to drive through.
- brandingno branding indicating I was in the right place
- brick & mortarnot real brick & mortar
- disappointing tripWe wasted an hour just to come here and got nothing, expecting to be able to sit down like at the Starbird place in San Jose. It was a disappointing trip.
- ghost kitchenthis is a ghost kitchen, not a restaurant
- indoor diningthere is not indoor dining
- no place to eatNo place to eat
- no place to parkNo place to park
If youre looking for a traditional dine-in experience with a pleasant atmosphere, this isnt the place for you. It's best suited for quick takeout, as the physical location and surrounding area are significant drawbacks for most customers.
Value (3.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 9% of the guests
When it comes to value, theres a small glimmer of hope as one piece of feedback highlighted that it was indeed affordable. However, the overall sentiment isnt quite as bright, with a score of 3.4 and customer satisfaction at a low 20%. Unfortunately, the majority of the 5 comments paint a different picture, with 3 negative remarks suggesting you might want to save your money or feeling like they were out $$.
Some even felt their money was basically stolen from me, indicating significant concerns about the cost.
Value
5
Reviews
20%
Satisfaction
3
negative
1
neutral
1
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Found affordable
What people don't like
- Wasted money
- Felt robbed
Often praised
- affordableit was affordable
Frequently criticized
- moneybasically stole money from me
- out $$So not only am I out $$
If you're on the hunt for a bargain, you might find a rare affordable moment, but be warned. The overwhelming feedback suggests you could end up feeling like your money was wasted. Proceed with caution, as this spot might disappoint on value.
How are the prices at Starbird Chicken?
You’re looking at roughly 34 per person – reported by 20 diners. That puts it in the $31–$40 category. For a Chicken Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Looking at what people spend, prices are quite spread out, suggesting a mix of options from more budget-friendly to some premium choices, rather than everyone spending around the same amount.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 20 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value for money compares to similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, for a Chicken Restaurant, we think the pricing feels fair, especially given the range of options available. It seems like a good spot for a satisfying meal without breaking the bank too much.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Starbird Chicken
Price per Person
- $101+
Visit Type
- Delivery
Group Type
- Large Group
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Delivery
Meal Type
- Lunch
3
DoorDash Issues, Food is Good
My experience with DoorDash orders has been consistently problematic. It seems they only prioritize direct orders. Every single time I order through DoorDash, there are missing items.
Your response to complaints is cold, inanimate, and unwarranted, and it's the same response given to everyone facing the same issue. Please just fix the problem instead of making me do more work.
- Food5
- missing items1
- response1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Quiet
10
Best Chicken Restaurant - Highly Recommend!
My experience at Starbird in Walnut Creek was absolutely fantastic. This is hands-down the best chicken restaurant, even beating Chick-fil-A. The chicken was perfect and not greasy at all.
The staff was amazing, incredibly helpful and friendly. I was impressed by how attentive they were, constantly cleaning tables and floors. I am amazed at how on the ball this restaurant is and will definitely be coming here frequently.
I highly recommend Starbird!
- chicken10
- staff10
- tables floors9
Price per Person
- $41–$50
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Delivery
Meal Type
- Dinner
2
Quality Decline and Order Errors
I used to frequently order from this restaurant via DoorDash, but the quality has significantly declined. Over the past month, on three separate occasions during normal hours, our orders (both takeout and delivery) have been incorrect. Furthermore, the food quality is disappointing.
The chicken meat is poorly butchered, and the breading has become excessively thick. While I generally like this brand, I can no longer justify giving them repeated chances, especially when they are an easy go-to option. I suggest saving your money and trying Gotts nearby instead.
- brand7
- quality2
- order2
- food quality2
Visit Type
- Delivery
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Delivery
1
Serious Safety Concerns with Delivery
I’m giving Star Bird one star because they are part of the problem. I ordered from them through DoorDash, and the person who showed up was not the dasher on the app. As a single woman, I have serious concerns about this practice continuing unabated.
We have to demand that DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, and all the other companies enact stricter controls to keep us safe. I’m also holding the business accountable because you all can also insist that these companies maintain stronger account controls.
- delivery person1
- stricter controls1
- account controls1
Visit Type
- Tourist Experience
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Couple
2
Disappointing visit to San Francisco
I was visiting San Francisco with my friend and I saw this place on Google Maps. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to get inside. The area also looked scary, and the delivery guys on motorcycles in the back pickup area looked at us in a very uncomfortable way, covering their faces.
We wasted an hour just to come here and got nothing, expecting to be able to sit down like at the Starbird place in San Jose. It was a disappointing trip.
- area2
- delivery guys2
- wasted 1h1
What Starbird Chicken offers
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Catering
- Dessert
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What kind of dining options does Starbird Chicken offer?
Starbird Chicken provides a range of dining options to suit your schedule. You can enjoy a satisfying lunch or dinner, and they also offer catering services for your events. Don’t forget to check out their dessert selections to complete your meal.
What service options are available at Starbird Chicken in San Francisco?
At Starbird Chicken, you have several convenient service options. You can choose from no-contact delivery or standard delivery for food brought right to you. If you prefer to visit, dine-in service is available for a casual and enjoyable experience.
How does Starbird Chicken generally perform according to customer feedback?
Starbird Chicken has an overall Restaurant Score of 3.6 and a Customer Satisfaction of 27.4% . While Food scores an average (4.9), Service (2.0), Ambience (3.0), and Value (3.4) are areas where it struggles.
What do customers particularly enjoy about the food at Starbird Chicken?
Many customers praise the chicken itself, often describing it as perfect and not greasy. The sauces are also frequently highlighted for their flavor, and specific items like the sandwich and Nashville chicken tenders receive positive mentions.
What are the most common complaints or issues customers experience with Starbird Chicken?
Frequent complaints revolve around delivery issues, including late or missing orders, and incorrect items. The Ambience is often criticized for being a ghost kitchen with no indoor dining, and some food items arrive soggy and cold .