The Crack Shack — a certifiable hit from the first moment it hatched last fall in Little Italy — has secured a second location for its fast-casual, fried chicken-centric concept. Tipsters have been clucking about a rumored expansion to North County and a rep for the eatery has confirmed that the next outpost is set for Encinitas.

Owner Michael Rosen, along with Richard Blais and the rest of The Crack Shack team, will open another branch of the popular eatery at 407 Encinitas Boulevard, on the site of a former Coco's just east of the I-5. The 6,000-square-foot space will be remodeled, with the tile roofing of the existing building replaced and all windows and walls in the dining area removed to create an open-air feel; it will also include an outdoor patio and drought-tolerant landscaping. And a bocce ball court, a popular feature at the Little Italy restaurant, will be installed here too.

The menu, which ranges from fried chicken to sandwiches and salads, will be transferred over, with a few items unique to this location. The Crack Shack Encinitas should open by late December/early January.

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