Kearny Mesa · Best Fried Chicken in San Diego
Fat Boy's Deli Review
Last updatedRanked #4 of 7 in Best Fried Chicken in San Diego
Best value fried chicken plate in San Diego.
Score breakdown
- Experience88/100
- Consistency87/100
- Value90/100
- Atmosphere72/100
- Uniqueness78/100
The verdict on Fat Boy's Deli
Ranked #4 of 7 — 86/100 in our Best Fried Chicken in San Diego coverage
A no-frills counter that quietly turns out one of the better fried chicken plates in the county. Sides are generous and the price is well under what similar quality costs downtown.
What to order at Fat Boy's Deli
Across our coverage the recommendation is consistent: Fried chicken plate.
Cash-friendly, fast, and portions are enormous — split one.
Is Fat Boy's Deli worth the price?
Fat Boy's Deli sits at $14–19 — the budget band for this category. Nothing else we ranked in this category lands in the same price bracket, so the comparison is against cheaper or pricier alternatives rather than a like-for-like rival.
Fat Boy's Deli FAQ
Is Fat Boy's Deli expensive?
Fat Boy's Deli is priced at $14–19, which puts it in the budget band for this category. There is no other option at the exact same price point on the same list, so treat it as its own bracket.
Is Fat Boy's Deli worth it?
It scores 86/100, 0.3 points above the 85.7 average for its list. That's a solid recommendation within the category.
What should I order at Fat Boy's Deli?
We recommend the Fried chicken plate.
What else is nearby Fat Boy's Deli?
Hidden Fish (92/100 in our best sushi in san diego list) and K Sandwiches (92/100 in our best banh mi in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
What works
- Strong value — scored 90/100 in our ranking
- Strong experience — scored 88/100 in our ranking
Know before you go
- Atmosphere is the weak point — 72/100, below the rest of its scores
- Cash-friendly, fast, and portions are enormous — split one.
The full review
A no-frills counter that quietly turns out one of the better fried chicken plates in the county. Sides are generous and the price is well under what similar quality costs downtown.
On our weighted scale it earns 86/100 — good for #4 of 7 places we evaluated for best fried chicken in san diego. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes.
What to order at Fat Boy's Deli
Fried chicken plate
Price: $14–19
How we scored Fat Boy's Deli
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: experience, consistency, value, atmosphere, uniqueness. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.