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Kearny Mesa · $14–19 · Ranked in 1 list
Last updated
Fat Boy's Deli is a Kearny Mesa spot ranked #4 of 7 in our Best Fried Chicken in San Diego list, scoring 86/100. Order the fried chicken plate. Best value fried chicken plate in San Diego.
We scored Fat Boy's Deli 86/100 in our full editorial review.
Read the full Fat Boy's Deli reviewFat Boy's Deli is in Kearny Mesa, San Diego. Give yourself a few extra minutes for parking on weekends — Kearny Mesa fills up early on sunny days.
Explore Kearny MesaOn our Best Fried Chicken in San Diego list, Fat Boy's Deli lands at #4 of 7, just behind Cross Street Chicken & Beer (88/100) and ahead of Kiin Kiin / Bonchon-style spots on Convoy (83/100). The Crack Shack holds #1 with 90/100, so the gap is 4 points.
See the full Best Fried Chicken in San Diego rankingFat Boy's Deli scores 86/100 against a best fried chicken in san diego field that averages 85.7, running from 82 at the bottom to 90 at the top. That puts it 0.3 points above the category average and ahead of 3 of the 6 other places we scored. It lands 4th of 7, and the category leader is 4 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, Fat Boy's Deli separates itself most on value (90/100 versus a 84.9 category average). Its softest showing is atmosphere at 72, 7.1 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for value, not for a clean sweep of every category.
| Criterion | Fat Boy's Deli | Category avg. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience | 88 | 88.3 | -0.3 |
| Consistency | 87 | 86.7 | +0.3 |
| Value | 90 | 84.9 | +5.1 |
| Atmosphere | 72 | 79.1 | -7.1 |
| Uniqueness | 78 | 82.3 | -4.3 |
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best fried chicken in san diego.
Kearny Mesa is dense enough that Fat Boy's Deli rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored at least six other ranked spots in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Hidden Fish (92/100 in our best sushi in san diego list) or Menya Ultra (91/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
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Yes, if you are in the neighborhood or nearby.
Fat Boy's Deli scores 86/100 in our Best Fried Chicken in San Diego list (#4 of 7). It is strongest on value (90) and experience (88). Best value fried chicken plate in San Diego.
Skip it if atmosphere matters most to you — that is its weakest category (72/100).
Fat Boy's Deli is a good fit for fried chicken. Because it ranks #4 on our best fried chicken in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in Kearny Mesa rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
Best tactical tip: Cash-friendly, fast, and portions are enormous — split one.
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Score 86/100 · Order: Fried chicken plate · $14–19
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.
Local tip: Cash-friendly, fast, and portions are enormous — split one.
Scored with our ranking methodology — fried-chicken.
Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .