Reviews of Howlin' Ray's - Chinatown. (Restaurant) in Los Angeles (California).

Howlin' Ray's - Chinatown

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393 Comments

Restaurant

Chicken restaurant

727 N Broadway #128, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States

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Information of Howlin' Ray's - Chinatown, Restaurant in Los Angeles (California)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

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Open hours of Howlin' Ray's - Chinatown

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Reviews of Howlin' Ray's - Chinatown

Andy Cheng

I believe this place started the fried chicken frenzy in LA. There are so many talk at this place that we finally found our way to visit the famous place. It's located in the middle of Chinatown and we had no issue finding a paid parking lot right next to the plaza ($5 all day parking). It's easy to find the place because you will see the long waiting line before you see the restaurant. The line was long and the server told us the wait is around 40 min and another 10 min for our food. Luckily, we received our order under 35 min. Even the guy in line told us usually the wait it 1-2 hours long 😅 We ordered their famous chicken sandwich with spicy level of 4/hot (there are 6 level of spiciness). And we also ordered Half Bird with spicy level of 3/medium. The server warned us about level 4/hot and it contains ghost pepper. When our number was called, the manager/owner was friendly and asked if we forgot to add fries. I said we ordered enough for two and he gave us a bag of fries for free to try! 👍♥️ So, why only 3 star review? Well, the food was just average, unfortunately. The chicken sandwich was tasty and cooked well, but the patty was thin (4/5 ⭐). The fries was tasty. But the half bird was a disaster!!! They were too salty and we couldn't finish them. We only ate 1.5 piece out of 4. (1/5 ⭐). I do want to point out that everything cooked to perfection, but the half bird was the most salty food we have tried! And plus the usual wait time of 1-2 hours, I can't recommend this place.

Ian Chou

This place lives up to the hype! In my opinion the winning ingredients for me are their sauce and coleslaw. I'm usually not a big fan of coleslaw but it pairs really well with the burger and fries. The sando ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: super juicy with coleslaw sauce and a soft bun. Medium plus has some ghost pepper so was near the peak of spicy I could handle so I would recommend mild or medium to be safe for people who don't eat super spicy. Mario style fries ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: crinkle cut fries with coleslaw pickles and a generous helping of sauce on top.

A C

This place is magical!! I’ve only been once, and it was a really great experience. Can’t wait to go back! We purchased a fast-pass type of thing way before COVID and finally had the chance to use it just recently. The process was so easy. We ordered ahead of time via email and got to choose our pick-up date and time. I think what we ordered ended up being $1 or $2 over the gift card price and they didn’t charge us the difference. The person replying to email was the absolute sweetest and I’m so appreciative of their generosity! When we went to pick-up the food we only waited a few minutes and then received our order. The person who gave it to us was so friendly and made sure we didn’t need anything else before we left. We ordered tenders, a sandwich and fries, all varying degrees of spice level. All were amaaazing. I think my favorite thing was the tenders in medium hot. You definitely need to try this place out, you won’t regret it! Definitely lives up to all the hype.

Michael Harrold

Medium-Plus Spice Chicken Strips / 5 🌟! Shake Fries / 5 🌟! Comeback Sauce / 5 🌟! I've known Howlin Ray's since their brief but glorious food truck setup. I didn't try them until their Chinatown location opened. I did the 2 hour wait and sat at the bar seating and it was glorious. Their modified setup with online ordering makes stopping here a heck of a lot easier! I highly recommend ordering for pick up and wait for it. This meal is best fresh out of the fryer. Fresher the better. Fair warning. Their spice levels get intense fast. Heed their warnings about their top 3 spice levels since those are going to ko you. I had medium-plus and even that was a trip! I had the sweats and a runny nose the entire time I ate. And it was worth it. Their flavors are so strong and so complex, every sweaty bit is worth it. If you ever wonder why LA has a lot of hot chicken places, these guys are the reason why. Such a great meal. So much flavor. So freaking hot. And fresh is best.

My Kristy Nong

I had a craving for fried chicken and decided to give this place a try located in Chinatown LA. The slaw, sauce & pickled definitely is a must on The Sando! Otherwise, it wouldn't be good without it. The kitchen was nice enough to unpack my Sando & cut it in half when I picked up my order. Glad I ordered online because there was already a line around 11am. You line up outside of the door to place an order. You line up outside in a separate line to pick up online orders. No one is allowed inside the restaurant that I noticed. The collard greens was okay I'm flavor, yet tender. I suggest adding the Crystal brand hot sauce included with the order. It's braised with bacon, not smoked with turkey or ham hocks so it doesn't have that smokey, meaty taste that I'm accustomed to. It's take out & pick up. There's delivery through Postmates I believe. They do have a good ordering and pick up system down. We were able to find curbside parking and there are nearby lots as well. We ate our order in the car because let's face it, fried chicken tastes better while it's fresh & crispy.

Kian N.

Tried here for the first time. The taste was awesome, but a lot of problems afterwards! Stomachache and sore throat started the minute after the food finished. Tried the medium on the sandwiches and fries. There is no sauce with the food, not even one, so you need to purchase it separately! That’s so cheap when you buy a sandwich before tax for $13 and you need to pay another 50 cents or so for the sauce! I’d recommend other hot chicken sandwiches even the ones with a lot of branches!

Austin Yochus

Hands down best hot chicken sandwich in LA! You can get wings, tenders, legs etc too. There are 6 different heat levels. There is usually a long wait. Parking can be tough on the street. Order online ahead of time! Restaurant is carry out only but there are a few places to sit nearby.

William Tucker

I was expecting to be let down because of how much it gets hyped up... But they really were the best chicken tenders I've ever had. Crispy and juicy with LOTS of flavor in the breading. For those who can't handle spice. Just get the country style, you won't be disappointed!

Nicole Ridgely

I didn’t understand how there could be a big hype about chicken, but damn it’s good. I was worried the three tenders box would be small but the pieces are large, I was only able to eat half for dinner. I love spicy food and to me the Medium was perfect, burns your lips a little and the flavor is incredible. The mac salad was a perfect cool addition to the spicy chicken. We placed a pickup order through Postmates and had our order about 20 minutes later. Excellent!

Jerry Huo

Best chicken sandwich I've had in my entire life. Chicken was well seasoned and super juicy and tender. The mild spice level was reasonable and the medium was tolerable. The best part was how the spiciness didn't compromise the flavor of the chicken itself. I also got the howlin level which was absolutely killer in terms of pain, but it was quite the experience and the kitchen was nice enough to give us an extra piece of mild chicken as a vote of confidence.

Danielle Browne

I’m gonna say this once and say it loudly so everyone can hear — this is the best spicy fried chicken sandwich you will ever have. AND the best Cajun fries you will ever have! The sandwich is saucy and spiced to the gods, the chicken is perfectly crunchy and well-seasoned, the slaw is so creamy and flavourful — I could go on for what feels like forever. And the fries, I swear I’ve had dreams about them. First off, they taste like real potatoes which is always a good sign lol they’re crispy on the outside and soft inside, with a generous dusting of Cajun spice that make these unforgettably delicious. Just try it out for yourself and see, but I advise you order ahead for pickup to avoid long lines!

KC Chen

The fried chicken is AWESOME! Staff are helpful. The shop is in a small plaza in China town 🇹🇼. No dine in, you can grab the food and find the space in this plaza to enjoy the food. Few information if you plan on coming here - 1. Parking : street parking just close by. $0.5/hour. Not difficult to find a parking space before 3pm in the weekend. 2. Restrooms : onsite restroom in this plaza. You have to ask staff from Howlon’ Rays to get token to get in the restroom. It’s clean, no worries! 3. You can order online ahead.

Poly Gone

This is one of the best Nashville Hot Chicken sandwiches I've ever had. I ordered on Postmates and went to the Pasadena pickup location. Showed my order number at the check in window and my order was out in a few minutes. I got a Sando "HOT" $13 and that it was. You can taste the tender chicken in spite of the heat. The Shake Fries $4 were good but not better than other Hot chicken places. The packaging is very well done and the crew member who served me was very upbeat and friendly! Can't wait for their permanent Pasadena location at 800 S Arroyo Pkwy to open.

Aeris (AZ)

Greatest chicken sandwich in America. Its not a restaurant, its an experience you need to try at least once in your life and every weekend after. I come here very often for lunch as the Chicken is the highest quality, juicy, and coated with a mix of great flavor and a nice kick. I recommend coming around 4-4:30 for least wait. Update September-October 2022 STILL GOING STRONG BEST CHICKEN SANDWICH LA We revisit from time to time and I have never had a bad experience. The food is ALWAYS hot and delicious and they even give bigger chicken pieces now for the same price. Pictured here are my first sandwich and my most recent, both medium plus spiciness and ordered at 4:30 pm. No line in either visit and have never been disappointed. Local gem of a place to eat and don't let a few disappointed reviews talk you out of trying it.

Hani AlMalki

It’s incredible! Also their customer service is awesome. Loved everything about this place and yes, I was howlin’ from the spice! I took “hot”. Next time I’ll take medium plus.

Jacqueline Telljohann

This seems to be on everyone's must try list in LA so we stopped by. Like many places, you have to pay for parking. They're only doing takeout/delivery right now and you have to order on Postmates. They also tell you your order is ready when it's not. We waited another 15 minutes for our order to come out after they said it's ready. Logistics aside, we got the Sando, medium spice level. I didn't think it was supposed to come with any sides, but we were given fries which were good. We enjoy spicy food, but medium was a little spicier than I would have wanted. It seems to be the kind that's spicy just to be spicy, not to add flavor. I'd go down a level next time. Other than that, the sandwich was good. If you're a big hot chicken fan, I think this should be on your list to try.

Adelle Gutzmer

Came from SD 2 hours away for the sandwich that ended up having had almost no sauce on it. The chicken and spice itself was phenomenal but without the sauce it was not great. I would go back but order extra sauce next time. I would also suggest the company be a little more generous with their sauce.

Adam B

After hearing about all the rave reviews of Howlin' Ray's I finally tried it out. It lives up to the hype for sure. I tried "The Sando" at a "Medium" heat level as I was wary of getting something too spicy. Don't get me wrong I like spicy food, I just didn't know what to expect. Medium was great, the flavour was awesome, I could handle spicier but I'd probably go with medium again as it was a nice balance. The heat didn't linger either so it was nice. I'm sure the bun and slaw and sauce helped "cool" it down though. The fries were super tasty and crisp. I would definitely go back!

Bassam Alqahtani

Great Nashville chicken place! They’re generous with portions. Order the fried pickles from their *secret* menu items, it’s so good! And the staff are extremely friendly

SamsungGal

The hype is finally over so we can easily get Howlin Rays! I now am able to try this highly talked about fried chicken! Google showed that it wasn't busy on Thursday afternoon so I went for it. It's in the Far East Plaza right in Chinatown. I parked underground in their parking structure. It's $2.00 for the first 20 mins. I was lucky Howlin got my food ready quick. I was in and out in 10 mins. They DO NOT validate parking so be ready to pay full price if you park in their structure! I wish I would have found parking outside to save the $2.00. I wasn't even in a rush. Oh well. I ordered the 3 wings with 3 pieces of pickle and slice of bread. Also got the macaroni salad since the guy said they do make it in house. I think I like the macaroni salad more than the chicken!! The macaroni salad had a very light kick and hint of relish with some light red pepper flavor. I can taste a small amount of thousand island but not really. It was delicious!! The chicken was good but MILD is still spicy. I asked the guy if mild is really mild, he said yes. I think it's spicier than mild. You'll see a lot of red pepper and red oil in your fingers when you eat it. It's good but not like whoaaaaa get back here for more kind of good! I feel like not much batter on my wings compared to others who had a crunchy batter. Maybe I was jipped! I'd come back to try sides and get mac salad again. Not sure on the chicken. I'll think about it. Service was quick and staff was quite nice and very happy to help!

Gary Dunkel

The Chicken Sandwich and Fries were delicious. However, it is super expensive for what it is. For a sandwich, fries, and a drink, it’ll set you back $22. Sadly, for that price, I’d rather go to Chick-Fil-A. Definitely worth trying once, but I don’t think I’ll be back, unfortunately.

WickedEye Filmz (Shane)

Absolutely phenomenal! Great food! The fries are banging too! If you don’t like Spicy food, get it plain! I got medium & it was extremely hot! Still good though! The sandwich was huge!!!! The female handing out the orders (from Indianapolis) was extremely helpful, courteous & attentive! #Philly!

Ella Abe

Their chicken is honestly my favorite! It was juicy and flavorful! It’s huge and soooo good! I can’t wait to come back! 10/10 would definitely recommend this place to anyone and everyone.

Marsha Talbot

I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and the day finally came!!! It was SO good! Heavenly chicken, tasty breading, the best cole slaw ever with that sauce!! Wow. I will be back. I had the mild and it was perfect on the spice level. The chicken was juicy inside. The bread curved around everything in-between it! If you love fried chicken, go to Howlin Ray's!

Kadien Kent

Simply put: the best fried chicken / fried chicken sandwich ive ever had and probably will ever have. The bun is perfect, warm and soft. the chicken is nicely seasoned, juicy and depending on heat level, really spicy which is a nice surprise. The cole slaw and pickles are fresh and crunchy. Its perfect! Fries seasoned beautifully and crunchy and dont get me started on that Comeback sauce… I came for 1 sandwich and ordered 2 more after trying the first one. thats all imma say. This place really lives up to the hype and people ive talked to come back time and time again. Go there!

Todd S

That was a damn good hot chicken sandwich. I’ve had most of the OG spots back in Nashville and I’d say this is one of the most respectable versions I’ve had in California.

Alice Martinez

This place is magical!! me only been once, and it was a really great experience. Can't wait to go back.The guy at the counter was SUPER COOL and gave us a free fries even though we said we were full and didn't want to order it at the beginning.There are 6 different heat levels. There is usually a long wait. Parking can be tough on the street. Order online ahead of time! Restaurant is carry out only but there are a few places to sit nearby.but it was quite the experience and the kitchen was nice enough to give us an extra piece of mild chicken as a vote of confidence.

Jen Es

I've been wanting to go & try these fried chicken since I found the great reviews in here, I finally did! Good chicken breast sandwich & wings! Their chicken wings are a big size (not like the others that's tini wini) & the serving was the whole wing not in separate pieces, that's why it cost $3 each for a total $9 for 3pcs.I wanted to try their whole chicken but it was not available, so I settled with what I ordered. Service was excellent! There was a line when we get there but the guy got the orders quickly AND the wait to get the food orders did not take long @ all +++👍. The guy was helpful. Will definitely come back when in the area, hopefully they will have the whole chicken for me to try.

Eloise

This was amazing!!! They did not have indoor dining but looking inside everything seemed super organized and clean. A very nice employee helped us order and warned us of just how spicy the chicken really is. I can’t handle a lot of spice, but I got the mild and it was excellent super flavorful and really crispy. Even the fries were well seasoned and super yummy!

Gary Roisentul

Even delivered, and not even as good as getting it there in person, it was still the best chicken sandwich I've had. So huge, so delicious. I can see why it's worth the wait. And the hype. Great chicken! The Country wings are instant desired favorites.

Ebbie F.

Even though you have to order through postmates now it's worth it. My husband and I have been coming for some years now. . .We suggest that you order at least the medium spice. The flavors are in the spice. We ordered a mild chicken sandwich one time and it was just okay. The coleslaw is delicious and I don't even like coleslaw and the sauce is perfectly proportioned to the chicken but I repeat the chicken needs a little heat to get the true essence of the flavor. If you get mild there is a high chance of disappointment

Dan Najafi

One word: The best, even their fried were the one that I had in LA, super crispy, well seasoned and good portion. The guy at the counter was SUPER COOL and gave us a free fries even though we said we were full and didn’t want to order it at the beginning. No indoor sittings but everyone was super happy to sit around a little i door gardena and take bites of that juicy sandwich. Just a note: their “mild” spicy level was a little bit more than Mild for me. So it’s really up to u and you can choose the spicy level.

Jana

This is seriously the best Fried Chicken I‘ve ever had!! From the outside it looks really unassuming since it‘s in a mall. But oh boy, this Fried Chicken really is finger licking good. Worth driving the extra miles just to try it!!

Bryan M203

The Mario’s fries 🍟 are the biz! I got the Sando “Hot” , there’s two additional levels over this, Howling and top hot. The “Hot” is legit hot AF and the build up is strong, compounding effect. …

Serena Mangino

Everything about this place was amazing. The chicken, the sauce, the fries? Perfection. Not even including how great the staff was. They made sure our order was correct both before and after we got our food. They also sought to make sure we had what we needed. I genuinely can’t wait to go back again.

Susan Walker

This place is magical!! me only been once, and it was a really great experience. Can't wait to go back.The guy at the counter was SUPER COOL and gave us a free fries even though we said we were full and didn't want to order it at the beginning.There are 6 different heat levels. There is usually a long wait. Parking can be tough on the street. Order online ahead of time! Restaurant is carry out only but there are a few places to sit nearby.but it was quite the experience and the kitchen was nice enough to give us an extra piece of mild chicken as a vote of confidence.

Taniya Ahmed

Amazing, best chicken I’ve ever had. Worth the drive. Everything was outstanding. Someone someone who doesn’t care about the pickled and coleslaw sides, it was sooo goood a game changer for sureeeeeee not a hype

Donald Anderson

Just Go for God's Sake. It's GREAT food but it's also an experience. Worth the wait. HR Veterans recommend starting slow on spice level. Medium is quite sweat inducing. A good technique is to order your Sando at whatever spice level you can tolerate and then start with a single wing one level hotter than that. The pickles, greens and Comeback Sauce complete the meal.

Adam Dehrey

Friendliest staff ever. Had come before, but never had it because of the long lines. Was going to dinner next door and arrived a little early and was surprised to see no line as they were closing up. My girlfriend and I decided to order a sandwich to share and the staff member in front was so amazing. He gave us a ton of goodies and made something special for us. The food was as good as advertised and the staff were awesome! Thanks Howlin’ Ray’s

Greg Soriano

My absolute favorite place to eat. Not only is the food the best tasting hot chicken in Los Angeles, they have the best friendliest and competent staff. Love Chef Johnny and the crew. Any hot chicken spot can burn your mouth with heat but Howlins has an amazing flavor with it and superb chicken quality and portions.

Aimee Lim

Our new fave chicken sandwich place! So tasty and the mild is perfect for someone who can’t handle a lot of heat 🙋🏻‍♀️ My husband likes his food very spicy and usually orders Thai food hot (out of mild, medium, hot) and prefers the “medium plus” spice level for his chicken sandwich! The flavors are SO GOOD and the chicken is SO JUICY and CRISPY! I love the dry rub on the chicken + coleslaw + pickles 👌🏼🤤 Recommend placing your order ahead of time and then you just show your order confirmation through a small window at the store front once you arrive.

W X

Edit 11/28/22: I would have NEVER imagined to ever change my review for this place I so much fell in love with. There is something that has significantly changed here. Besides that the lines are much shorter now, the overall serving has changed. I came here twice since covid. The skin is not crunchy crispy anymore and more Luke warm and slightly soggy. The juice, and temperature hotness that would spill everywhere on your first bite is totally gone. I usually had to limit my food spot visits to a few during my short trip in LA and Howlin was always on the top. That will change moving forward. I wouldn’t come to LA or wait 30+ minutes in line for this anymore. It’s a shame. ——— Howlin rays is still my favorite BUT it used to be better when we were waiting in line. Something feels like it has changed ?? Tip #1: Eat immediately Eat whatever you order immediately. I’d rather wait that letting my order sit there. The hot crunchiness only goes with the first bites right after it’s been served. Don’t order for delivery or something. Tip #2: Go in spicy I had medium plus and it was perfect for me. I can take Hot as well but the spicy level would make it less enjoyable than the medium plus. The legs is the best! Better than the tenders for sure Tip #3: say you want it very crispy outside cause lately they have been Soggy and lukewarm. You want it right out of the oil

Monica Cusano

First time there, crispy spicy fried chix. Easy to order and fast. Co.es with pickles and slaw on the sandwich. Soooooo good!!

carlos herrera

Thammm good well recommended please be aware if u order hot 🔥 they mean it it's f@#$en hot 🔥 🥵 my opinion that get a 10 rate 👍👍👍

Benjamin Tan

Best nashville hot chicken here in LA. They only do postmates ordering rn cuz of covid but its super fast. Definitely experience the medium plus before gojng hot or howlin. I parked at usc village and got validated 2 hr parking just from buying a drink at target. Then met the delivery driver near the entrance.

Alan Rodrigues

The queue for this place was long but the chicken certainly did not disappoint. A mix of heat and tenderness, a must visit in LA!

Rawan Tahan

This place is bomb! The best hot chicken in LA. Our server Lee was amazing, definitely try the hot honey with your sandwich. Be aware the hot level of spice is HOT! Enjoy

David Schwartz

It's the most famous hot chicken sandwich in Los Angeles and after eating hundreds of these all over LA I now agree that the badge for Ray's is well earned. Ray's has mastered and refined each element of the sandwich. The chicken. Perfectly cooked white meat and the crispyness was ideal on every inch of the sandwich. None of it fell off the chicken. Spice level of medium has just the right kick. Not too much slaw, but just enough, and that, and the pickles, added just the right level of fresh crunchiness. Bun also had a nice chewy texture. All together they make for a sublime hot chicken sandwich. Considering how many sandwiches this places pumps out per day it somehow seems to maintain the level of quality through each one.

Tee Ponsukcharoen

Howlin' Ray's is my most favorite western-style fried chicken on earth! How can you fry a chicken breast to be so tasty, juicy, and crunchy at the same time? The servers and chefs are upbeat. This place will always be my destination when I visit LA.

James Chan

Came here twice on a Wednesday and Saturday. Both times super busy especially during the weekend. Waited over three hours (we came when it just opened and there was already a line for it) for super delicious chicken but waiting for over three hours definitely made me reduce it by 1 star. The staff gave us extra pair of chicken to compensate for the long line. I highly recommend going in the morning lining up before it opens to avoid the long lineups.

Spyro Morfopoulos

My 3rd time, and even better than before! Shared a half chicken - mild, and it was super tasty, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Their fries are really good too. I just wish they had more seating available.

Shay

5 months later and I’m still thinking about the fried chicken sandwich I had at this fine establishment . I just had the strangest synchronistic moment where I jumped on here to leave a review about my experience here and my friend who took me to this place back in June of this year just happened to be dining here and he sent me a picture of it. Bizarre . Fyi I’ve grown up eating spice my entire life and I ordered the medium spice for the burger and the tenders and I can say I was truly humbled. Also the size of those tenders was Something to behold. I legitimately have never had a fried chicken burger this good . Not in the UK anyway . When I first came to LA this year I told my friend that I wanted to go straight to “In N Out”because everyone’s raving about it , suffice to say that the next time I come to LA I’ve told My friend that we shall be coming straight back to Howling Ray’s so that I may indulge in what may quite literally be the best fried chicken sandwich in the world. Much love from across the pond.

Anthony Do

First off, the person taking our order was incredibly nice. We chatted a little bit as I was in town apartment hunting and he gave me some other recommendations of things to eat/do in LA. For food, I ordered The Sandwich (chicken sandwich) and an order of Wings which came with 3 pieces. When I received my order, he told me that he also included a side of the Braised Collard Greens and recommended dipping the sandwich in it. It was next-level phenomenal! When I opened up the box of wings, he even threw in an extra piece so my friend and I can each have two pieces. Both the Sandwich and chicken were the best I've ever had. Hundred percent recommend and I'll definitely go back when I finally make the move to LA.

Jordan Green

Believe the hype!!! We have eaten a lot of Nashville hot chicken in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Denver... And Howlin' Ray's is now at the top of our list of best sandwiches! The Sando is, in a word, perfection! The chicken itself is crispy, juicy and perfectly seasoned. We went with medium heat which was a great choice for us. We debated about getting the medium-hot, but wanted to make sure that we could taste all the goodness without too much space being a deterrent. The comeback sauce is delicious, and The Sando had the perfect amount of coleslaw, sauce and pickles on a wonderful butter bun. We went on a Sunday morning just before 11 and there was just a short line. Ordering in person was quick and easy, and we got our sandwiches about 10 minutes after ordering. The staff is super friendly. They do have online ordering which is probably a good idea if you are going during a more traditionally busy time. If you haven't gone to Howlin' Rays yet, and are a fan of Nashville hot chicken sandwiches... run...don't walk...and get there ASAP!!

Jeff Duck

The best awful experience I could ever hope for. Having eaten several of their delicious sandwiches, I finally decided it was time to get the Howlin' level of spice. Through my anguish, they were so kind and treated me almost like a patient despite being the reason for my torment. Each bite took me further outside my body to a surreal plane of existence to the point where I lost comprehension of the environment around me. Once I finished they filled me with pride and gave me an awesome sticker as a memento for my suffering. I was a wreck that evening, vomiting and destroying my toilet in every possible way wondering why I would ever put myself through that. 10/10 would do again

Traci Hakim

This Chicken is full I mean full of favors I have tried med, and my husband try med plus he said it was hot, I love the fries they are full of favors as well. If you have blood pressure problems stay away lost of salt other then that I love the Chicken!

Stephen Lee

I'm glad this place delivers because I didnt think it was worth waiting two hours when you were able to dine-in. Sides were great. The macaroni salad definitely stood out but I couldn't really tell the difference between Howlin Rays, Daves Hot Chicken, and Hot Chicken sandwiches. Very good stuff!

Kudea

It is absolutely spicy, much hotter than usual spicy sandwiches

Pita Amaya

Worth the wait once you bite into that perfectly seasoned chicken breast, it's so juicy along with the perfect combination of pickles and there coleslaw. Give this place 100% a 10/10 best chicken spot in California 🔥🔥. There great food plus outstanding customer service is what makes this place a 10/10. …

Mike G (Varios)

Hands down best chicken in Cali. Awesome service, Sando, wings, chicken quarters, get it all.

Sandro Antao

Expect a wIt but the food is good. Spicy was if you can’t handle, tone the spice down.

Ryan Baum-Joseph

Best fried chicken ever! Very friendly and accommodating staff.

Gabriel Forrey (Gabe)

Holy Howlin Rays, this was the best fried chicken I have ever had. The line was epically long with a wait of about an hour, so prepare accordingly. We got take-out and had a great time chatting with people in line. Once we ordered, I got the shake fries, the chicken sandwich, and a quarter bird (leg and thigh). The line moves quickly, and ordering is hurried but efficient and the employees are very warm and accommodating. The chicken itself was simply delicious. The crust is light and crispy with a lovely spice. I had a medium spice level, which was advised by the lady taking my order. The fries were my first taste, and they are seasoned exceptionally well and came with come-back sauce. Just the fries are a delicious treat. The chicken sandwich came with a huge fried chicken breast on a delicious roll that couldn’t quite handle the goopy sauce and toppings, but that didn’t matter. The entire sandwich comes together to make you simply say, “wow!” Overall, this place is worth the wait. Go and go again and again. Maybe you’ll even get a little freebie if they recognize you as a regular!

Eric

I had to come see for myself how on Earth a restaurant can be open for over 3 years and still have a 2 hour line every single day. Truly, this place those up to the hype, and I must say is certainly worth the wait. I admit, I am obsessed with fried chicken, especially Nashville hot! Not only does this place simply make great chicken, but the staff makes me feel right at home and hopefully you can be as lucky as we did to be able to sit inside in the middle of all the action. It is very Lively, and eating good food with good friends does not leave anything wanting whatsoever. Make sure to buy extra to go, because you won't want the experience to end!

Ron Nguyen

Well worth the wait! Got there prior to opening The line was already at the approx 1 hour wait point The chicken was fresh, crispy and juicy We started with the Half Bird in mild - pleasant Then a Sando in medium - nice heat Tenders (new on the menu) in hot - slight tears Last were the Wings in Howlin'. Just be prepared to die..🔥 It's the best fried chicken in town!

Alex Nowak

Hands down the best chicken sandwhjch you’ll ever have. If you can handle spicy, I would recommend getting the Xtra Spicy, but beware that it does come with gloves…. Sandwich and spice is perfect.

Manuel Mora

Have been coming at least twice a month and each and every time the food is just on point, hot and spicy, the people working there make you feel like home Eddy is the Best but each and every one if them are great guys, if you are craving spicy chicken sandwich this is the place!

Ian Finley

literally the best fried chicken sandwich I've ever had. No question about it. (be warned: whatever level of heat you think you can handle, you probably want to go one lower just to be safe)

Katt Raja

Ummm the best chicken sandwich I've ever eaten. Don't get the Howlin Rays spicy because they will be incredibly spicy and had my bf sweating and teary eyed the whole time. He def wished he got one or two spice levels lower. But a must try if in LA.

Dave Babcock

Easily the best chicken sandwich I've had. Also the staff is incredible and really seem to be having a good time. Everybody is really nice and seem like they actually care that you have the best experience you can have while you're there. However, be prepared for extremely long lines. Not a spot to run out to for lunch if you have anything under 1.5 hours. But that wait is absolutely worth it. Will absolutely be back.

Penny Oquendo Fulsom

My nephew has been telling me about this Nashville hot chicken place. We got the Nashville Hot Chicken Sando -Country style and Medium and a side of collard greens. The flavors were amazing and did not disappoint. I will definitely be back to Howlin’ Rays.

Joseph Hoffman

Its no Prince's nor even Hattie B's, but it's not bad as far as Nashville chicken replica places go. The spice was okay, got the howlin Sando. Big piece of meat. The greens were better than I'd expected.

Chris Tessaro

The wait was about 45 minutes to even place the order. The food was really good. I got a medium spiced sando and it was more than I was expecting but still really good.

Johnson

TLDR: Yes, the wait is long cause of the hype. Yes, it's damn well worth the wait (maybe not at over two hours though!). There's flat rate parking lots around the area and they also validate for underground parking for up to two hours I believe! I love this little place so damn much, I wrote a 700 word essay on why I love hot chicken. What makes this different from any other fried chicken joint? The chicken here was brought slaughtered in their sleep, making the meat more tender in conjunction with the brining. The essence of Nashville Hot Chicken is that the seasoning and spices are flash fried in oil from the fryer (similar to how Chinese hot oil is made) to "bloom" the flavours, and the chicken is then tossed in that seasoned oil. On top of that, they throw in more dashes of seasoning to your desired level of heat. Then it is served almost immediately to ensure you get the best flavour, one of the reasons why they don't do deliveries! You don't get this type of quality control anywhere. I always recommend to first timers to get the Sando, medium heat. I had the mild my first time and it was absolutely fantastic, but the medium was not much more spicy at all and had much more flavour packed in. From there on, the heat levels take on large jumps from ghost peppers to Carolina reapers. The coleslaw in the Sando is not a typical scoop of heavy handed mayo filled cabbage. The acidity rounds out the sandwich so nicely and tames higher heats with the pickles. It's a steep price for a chicken sandwich, but you get a fat slab of boneless breast that's fried so well it's like biting into an incredibly tender steak with a well developed crust. The comeback sauce absolutely crushes any "special" sauce I've ever had before from any restaurant chain. This is a flavour bomb and I hate being that guy, but this really will ruin other chicken sandwiches for you. Mario style fries are also a must have! The normal fries are already incredibly seasoned, but Mario style fries (an off menu item) are essentially a Sando blown apart all over fries with cheese. Think animal style fries, but with coleslaw and hot chicken. I can't sing enough praise about this place, and it's hard to avoid the typical buzzwords such as crispy on the outside and juicy/tender "even for a breast" inside, but this really is the epitome of fried chicken done right.

Just DeePee

2 hours and 20 minutes total time before I got my order. I want to say it was well worth the wait, but my feet hurt! Yes the food was great and the staff is phenomenal! But dang, they need to expand because they are pretty darn popular. Unfortunately, as delicious, delicious, delicious as their chicken is, I can't stand for 2 hours, barely moving. Did I say the chicken is delicious?

Taha Jomha

I stood in line for 3 hours for fried chicken. It was that good. The experience was also interesting. Owner discovers I'm Canadian and tells me a story about riding the greyhound that made no sense. I walked away confused but super fun team there.

Andrew Ly

The line up was insane, probably wouldnt bother with it if we didn’t already commit 2hrs and were leaving LA the next day. Chicken sandwiches were bomb. I’d recommend not getting the spicy ones though since it made it hard to enjoy the flavours (or at least try the regular one first). Staff put on a show for all the guests dining in and provided big orders with lots of freebies.

Josh Park

I hate waiting in lines, but the hour-long wait was worth it here. I got the Hot Chicken Sando with Shake Fries. The Sando was pretty spicy (they use ghost peppers for the spice), but it was bearable enough to eat. If you're not a fan of spicy food, get medium or mild. The chicken quality is on-point. The outside is crispy while the inside just melts in your mouth. Fries just taste like slightly spicier Cajun fries, which I'm a fan of. Worth the wait? Yup. Waits can go an hour long (and maybe more sometimes), but if you love fried chicken, you gotta try this place out.

Adrián Garcia Mora

Insane queues but insane fried chicken. Totally worth the wait. Probably the best fried chicken sandwich you could have. Service was superb. Very attentive and they offered us to try the different spicy levels.

Joshua Kim

Always a perfect 💯, hands down. Fantastic chicken; hot, crispy, and spicy (in more ways than one), yet tender, moist, and juicy. Service is excellent; they really know how to take care of you. Just an all-around good time, every time. Some might say it’s crazy to wait 2.5 hours for food on a weekend. Those of us in the know will say it’s well worth it. But for the less patient (and cultured) the wait time can come down to 45 minutes or so during the week. Good food, good people. Go get it.

Cilla Siomara

They're only open for orders till 6:45, in case anyone is trying to make it before closing. Disappointed I thought I made it before 7pm and had to pay for parking cause there was no other option or I would've made it. 😒What a let down, guess I'll go to Main Chick, Al's, Kluckin Chicken, Hot Chickz, Legends, Daves or somewhere that's open later...........!!🔥😮‍💨 dumb abandoned building on fire slowed everything down. Whack world.

Wayne Kimball, Jr.

Where to begin!? After waiting in line for 2 hours and 2 minutes I must say that my wife and I were very pleased. Great food and even better service. The employees were kind and entertaining. The HOT chicken sandwich was excellent. Mild and Medium are fairly close in flavor. The macaroni salad and greens were surprisingly amazing. Definitely work the trip and wait, but please open more locations!

Ivan Negrete

This place deserves 6 stars. They truly do customer service right! The food is one thing (yes, best chicken around), but the way the staff pay and focus on their customers is outstanding. Each staff made me feel like we've been besties for years and I was just visiting. That's incredible. The long lines are one thing but when you finally get there it's truly amazing food and service. I listened to a podcast about the chef before and everything he said lived up to the hype. Great job everyone!

anthony taing

Food is good Wings are delish, though very pricey at nearly 3 bucks a piece For those concerned the spice levels should be considered on the spicier side for those not used to heat Only bad aspect is location and length of time one may spend waiting in line. I spent a little over 2 hours just in line.

Clem Kwoah

Amazing food and amazing customer service. The line is long but it can shorten to less than two hours. I've heard sometimes less than an hour on weekdays. Casual setting, 90 percent outdoor seating. Bring a friend to pass the time. The place has been open for quite a while now. If the hype was just hype, there wouldn't be a line.

Bobby Sruale

This place is delicious! Came here on a Saturday morning, about an hour before opening, and there was already a line of people waiting. We all ordered "The Sando" ($12) which was boneless chicken breast, slaw, comeback sauce and pickles between a buttered bun, as well as a side of "shake fries" ($3.50) which came in a pretty big portion. Since the cashier knew we were from the Bay, he hooked it up with an additional free side! The chicken was tender and juicy and the fries were crunchy and delicious! Overall, this place had great food and great service. Although the wait for this place is long, I would come back!

Candace Chesnut

2 hour wait.... totally worth it. This is a well thought-out place. Got the chicken sando spice level medium. If you can handle spice this is the perfect option. Also got the 3 piece wings 2 hot 1 medium. The hot is HOT!!!! Overall Howlin Ray's gets an A+. Super friendly and helpful staff, they even check in on ya while your in line. The owner is super dope handed us our meal and everything! Check this place out!

Kevbun Y

I would recommend this place! The chicken sandwich is one of the best chicken sandwich I ever ate! My friend told me about this place and I didnt think it would live up to its hype since some places doesn’t, but this place did for me! I ordered the Sando medium spicy and no pickles. I used postmates and ordered it around 10:54AM and didn’t receive it till 11:15AM. I thought it would take longer so I ordered it early. It took about 21 minutes to get it delivered! The taste was amazing! I enjoyed every bite of it! The bun was buttery and it was so good! The chicken was boneless breast and it was delicious with the amount of spiciness on it! I don’t usually eat slaw, but it was good with the sandwich! I would recommend this place if you haven’t tried it! The food was fresh! The sandwich was big enough to fill me up! I was already getting full and had a few bites left. The pricing is a bit expensive to me, but it’s worth it! If you are debating in trying this place, try it as least once!

BB

Highly recommend! Their chicken is absolutely delicious! I really enjoyed the hot but I would only recommend if you can handle heat. We tried medium, hot, and the one after and I would say that one takes away from the flavor. Medium is probably the best way to go. Fries were okay, but don't forget to get the pickles.

Megan Pritchard

Love, love, love Howlin' Ray's. The service is always great too. Chinatown no longer has the crazy lines, we were able to order right away on a Wednesday around 2.

Mathis Bernard

Arrived 30 minutes prior to opening, there was already a long line-- Food is good and staff are very friendly. Overall this is the best fried chicken in the world, you will forget the pain of wait time the moment you eat the chicken.

Kevin Wells

Seriously one of the best restaurants that I've ever been to. By far the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. Their heat scale commands massive respect from me, and I'm a big chilehead. Their extra hot is exactly as it sounds — EXTRA HOT. The wait is usually pretty long, but definitely worth it. Order more than you think you will want, because you will want leftovers for sure.

Caroline Ryan

I was worried this place would be overrated, but I am so glad it isn't! First off, be ready to wait in line. I think my friends and I waited about 20 minutes before ordering, however, once we ordered it didn't take too long to get our food. Prior to coming, we had heard about the "howlin" level of spice for the chicken, so we of course had to get an order of chicken tenders at this spice level. We were warned more than once by the employee, but we went ahead and ordered. We also ordered 3 medium sandwiches, and 1 mild order of tenders. Since we got the howling tenders, they even threw in some fries for us. I was a bit skeptical by the prices ($12 for just a sandwich), but once we got the order I understood (the sandwiches are huge!) All of our food was really delicious, but I think if I ever have the chance to come again, I will get the hot level instead of medium. As for the howlin tenders, my friends and I literally could only handle a tiny bite each...they are NOT lying about the spice!!!

Kevin Le

The line for their chicken is no joke... people literally drive across town/ counties just to try their food. I must say I had my doubt if the hype was real but it sure was good. Best fried chicken I had so far!!! The staff there are so full of energy and positive that once you order. I have to say it's mainly because of their customer service is excellent that people still come back.

Warren W

Awesome Nashville hot chicken!! Best fried chicken hands down, came at 4:30pm on a weekday and waited 45 mins... Staff extremely friendly as you can see in picture and got free fries and water while I waited.. Chicken is large so don't order more than you can eat the wings are massive! Highly recommend if you're in the LA area!!

Gikeissy Díaz Brea

I coming here from Chicago and this pleace is incredible! It’s by far the best sandwich. Also their customer service is awesome. Loved everything about this place.

Peter Kim

Got the medium and hot spice levels. Start with the medium spice level if you like it hot. This place is no joke. The pepper flavor really cuts through the sweetness of the coleslaw and the bun has a nice density at the end of your bite. Waited 1:34 hours in some rain, it was worth it. The fries have a dusting of pepper rub. Also had the wings which were bomb too.

Darcel Black

The Food is exceptionally delicious. The employees are energetic, fun and enjoy preparing the food while smiling, singing and entertaining the customers. I definitely plan on going back and I highly recommend this place. The 50 minute wait was well worth it.

Al Campbell

The line is hella long (1hr) and you'll likely have to pay ($5) for parking somewhere and walk a little but it was worth it. Best spicy chicken sandwich I've had anywhere. It's a bit pricy ($24 for a sandwich, fries, drink, and 1 big whole wing) but you get but portions. Since it was my first time, the guys hooked me up with a free side of collard greens! They really seem to enjoy working there. Pro tip: Unless you enjoy really really spicy stuff, stick with the Medium level. The "Hot" is actually hot.

Jessy Vasquez

I honestly think this place Is way too overrated. The seasoning used on the chicken tastes like your generic bottle brand you get at the super market. It could be just that I dont appriciate the seasoning since I know mom and pop shops that make their own seasoning. I would not wait in line for an hours first this chicken again. But i always say it's good to try something once. Definitely wouldnt come back here again. I do have to admit the service was excellent very friendly and welcoming!

Jimmy Anh Truong

I couldn't believe my eyes when we were driving by to this place. The line was long and it wrapped around the blocks. By the time we started to order the foods, it took us almost 2 and a half hours. It was worth the wait. We ordered half bird it cost $16.00 , and a sandwich for $12.00. They were so nice to throw in Chicken waffles, for free. Chick meat was so tender and juicy, no complaints there. Let's me tell you the services were awesome and superb. Their spicy was out of this world. Don't try hot and above if you are not a fan, because you will have problems. Overall, this is the best Chicken I have.

Mason Taylor

The wait is long and hot! We wait 3 hours and we got there at about 11:30. I normally would never wait that long but this place is well worth the wait. Once you get inside the experience is awesome the staff is super friendly and engaging! Oh yeah and the chicken is the best I have ever had.

Chelsea Josette Dy

Food: Texture- I am very impressed with the texture of chicken, waffles and the fries. The chickem is very crispy on the outside and incredibly tender on the inside. The waffles are also very fluffy with a nice thin crisp on the outside. The fries is probably on of the crispiest fries I’ve had. Flavor- the chicken has the nice blend of spicy, salty and sweet. I got the medium and it is a good level of spice for me. The waffles is buttery and helps balances out the spiciness and saltiness of the chicken. Service: One of the best service I have ever experienced! The staff is incredibly friendly, somehow manages to work efficiently and make small nice conversations with you. Although the line is long due to the amount of people lined up, they actually process the food very quickly. Once we ordered, we barely had to wait for the food, which is a plus since we already waited 1.5 hours in line. They also gave us an extra serving of free fries! (This could potentially be due to the fact we got served 20 minutes before closing so maybe they wanted to reduce waste at the end of the day?—but I mean can’t complain right?)

Bishwarup Dey

The chicken was just awesome and so were the sides. It was a long 2 hours to the front of the line after driving 5+ hours from Bay Area. I just wanted to try howlin, which was the spiciest level on the menu. I ordered the howlin sando and shaker fries. While ordering they clearly tell you what to expect. My friend ordered the Hot sando. We saw there was seating available inside by the counter. It's a very clean open kitchen, so you can see everything they are doing. They gave us complimentary waffles which was expertly put together by one of the employees. One of the best waffles I have had to date. Perfectly melts in your mouth with the butter and maple syrup. The overall atmosphere was positive and fun. It was finally time for the sandwich. Since I ordered the howlin spice level surgical gloves were provided so I don't get the spices on my hand. We also receivd pickles on the side and I got a complimentary macaroni salad to help with the heat. The sandwich was super delicious. Perfectly balanced with the slaw and pickles. The heat from the peppers got worse with every bite. Spiciest sandwich I have had till date. The shaker fries were amazing. I will definitely come back to eat this chicken again. Maybe not the howlin but definitely the hot chicken. Howlin level was very delicious but the side effects were not for the faint hearted. 30 minutes after I started getting stomach cramps anytime I drank water. It felt as if my stomach was going to explode. The pain that only stopped after a visit to the restroom. Defitnitely coming back. Customer service is great here.

Zachariah Cooney

I loved their chicken 🐔🍗 it was spicy and awesome...we went here for a work lunch. We had a lot of fun, only drawback not enough benches to ait at (but understandable due to limited space). …

Christian Zane Clado

Hands down the best chicken I have ever tasted thus far. My fiance and I came on a week day which meant that the wait wasnt as bad as what we have heard from others. We heard that the wait could be up to 3 hrs. This was how it probably was on a weekend. We waited probably a good hour. It was busy but the awesome staff were quick and efficient. The energy at this restaurant was awesone. The staff seemed to really enjoy working their based on their service and the way they interacted with customers. We got the medium spice half chicken and the hot spice Sando sandwich. Their are 6 levels of heat and hot was maybe level 4. The medium spice was perfect, you can taste all the flavours from the seasoning that they use. There is a big jump from medium to hot so becareful. I am someone who usually can take the heat but the Hot spice was pretty hot even for myself. I can imagine what the other 2 levels could be like. When they warn you about the heat take it seriously!!! I would definitely come back again!

Jeana Allan

Howlin' Ray's is all I have been hearing about for weeks now and I can see why now. THIS PLACE IS AMAZING. I honestly wish I could give H.R.'s 10 stars and for so many reasons. Here's what you need to know: 1. Don't let the wait/line scare. Yes, it is long and YES it is worth it. 2. They have the best customer service I have ever seen. Hands down. Jamie took our order today and she is legit the coolest person ever - so welcoming and kind. My friends, do me a favor...when you are waiting in line, decide what you want ahead of time and write it down for Jamie. It makes her life so much easier...Julian and all the guys were also so friendly and hospitable - introducing themselves, seeing how they can enhance your H.R. experience...they seem like a "family" who really care about you (the customer) and your experience. 3. Omg that chicken....the CHICKEN! woooo probably the best fried chicken I have ever had. If you are unsure of your spice level tolerance, I'd suggest scaling down one notch. Their flavor has a nice hint of sweetness before the burn kicks in! And boy oh boy is it a good burn. 4. Do yourself a favor and check out their off the menu items. You will not be sorry. I highly recommend the Luis-style sando which is Howlin' Ray's take on a patty melt. The spicy chicken is covered with cheddar cheese and then tucked between two thick slices of buttered and griddled Texas-ish toast. Dear lord.. 5. Get lots of pickles...and maybe ask for them fried 6.That comeback sauce is what dreams are made of. Put it on everything! Howlin' Ray's is my kind of place as well as my kinda ppl. I will be back, and often!

Hiep Nguyen

I would put 4 stars, but the staff and service was amazing and deserve a 5 start just for that. The chicken sandwich is massive and you definitely getting your money worth. It is not cheap, but the quality and flavor justifies the cost (and extra stuff they give you). It's worth the try if you got the time to spare (2h in my case). I went for medium heat for both sandwich and leg+thigh. It was just right - spicy with a kick and slightly sweet - plenty of food. The chicken was juicy and tender, bread/bun was nicely toasted and coseslaw cooled down some of the heat. It is messy and you will be dripping oil and sweat, but I say the experience was great.

Amelia Tan

Got there at 10.45am and had to wait 1.5 hours, I was the 77th order. After ordering you wait about 10 minutes for the food. Super delicious fried chicken! I preferred the burger over the wings. Medium was quite spicy.

Vanessa D

Be prepared to wait.... but it's worth it! The Sando (chicken sandwich) is delicious! The breast is a beautiful and large piece which sticks out the bread. You can choose your heat level. For me mild was perfect... nice spice and still able to taste all the flavors. The sandwich comes with vinegar slaw and pickles which are a perfect compliment to the fried chicken. The bun was soft and had a mild sweetness to it. This chicken sandwich is totally worth the hype. I would wait again. We also got an order of chicken and waffles. For this order we got medium spice... which was to spicy for my taste buds. The waffles are nothing special and not worth the wait. The service here is beyond friendly and welcoming. They add to the experience. I love it and them!

Dennis

Won’t be disappointed. Prob one of the best chicken sandwich. Chicken was big, thick and moist. Mild was still a bit too spicy for me but still good. Sandwich - the mix of the chicken, slaw and sauce was a great combination of flavor and texture. Service - unexpectedly great. (Rating based on food alone) Waited for 2 1/2 hours on a Saturday at 1:30pm. Would I come back? Would love to only if the line were much shorter.

Alex Orchilles

As my friend and I were walking through Chinatown we saw a shopping center and decided to take a stroll through it. To our surprise we ran into a very long line and sure enough it was for Howlin’ Ray’s. This famous fried chicken fast food chain was in our itinerary of places to eat when in Los Angeles so we decided to stand in line for about an hour to see what all the buzz was about. After placing an order for just one chicken sandwich to split, we sat down at the bar and to our surprise all of the staff was the friendliest I’ve ever dealt with! We made some conversation and soon after the chicken sandwich was given to us, the staff decided to give us about 8 more pieces of chicken with their special sauce. It was an amazing experience, the chicken sandwich was like no other. No more Popeye’s or Chic-Fil-A talk, this is the real deal! Although it came out to about $12-$14 for a chicken sandwich and the wait was about an hour long, this chicken sandwich was hands down one of the best I’ve ever tried in my life. Okay enough small talk, I need to fly to Los Angeles again and go eat.

Ray Benjamin Ventigan

Pictures don't give the food justice. Best fried chicken I have ever had. Wanna spoil your taste buds on fried chicken? Go for it. Totally worth the wait. About 2 hours, and we got there at 10. Chicken and waffles on the weekend! Apparently when I got mine they said the waffle didn't meet their standards and gave me another chicken instead. Great food. Friendly service. Top notch

Neal Jha

I literally drove here from MB and ordered Postmates to deliver it within their radius. It’s always delicious, no question. Medium sando is perfect for me. Can’t wait until they open again to get the full bar experience (and free food).

Dillan Weerasinghe

Generally I love this place for the atmosphere and the people who work there. Plus the chicken is off the charts amazing! Now with COVID they've done an amazing job if still getting food to the masses with Postmates and the wait time is relatively short. Only about 20-30 minutes.

Jake

Wow!!! This is the best chicken sandwich I’ve had in my life. I got the mild and I started tearing up a little, but the flavor is out of this world. I held back on 5 stars because the line is ridiculous. We came on off hours (Thursday afternoon) and still waited for nearly an hour. But if you have the time, you won’t be disappointed.

Tara Frazer

It's good chicken sandwich but maybe not worth waiting for 2 hours in line I eat spicy but their "hot" is too much for me , so I had medium which was good enough. The staff is super nice and friendly. Paurisio, one of the guys, gave us complimentary fries :)

Joe Uhde

Hands down the best chicken sandwich I've had. Perfectly seasoned and fried and topped with a great slaw and sauce. Staff is always upbeat and friendly. A must have anytime we're in the area! Gets very busy, get there early for a good spot in line 😉 …

Noella Anyangwe

WORTH THE WAIT ! Honestly the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had and I’m not even going to waste your time comparing it to the other brand name chicken sandwiches. My favorite aspect of Howlin Rays has got to be the customer service. Everyone who works there is so jovial and it make the customer experience so much better. Now to get the good part. I had the Sando chicken sandwich which was seasoned to perfection and topped of with slaw, pickles, and their secret sauce, I also had fries on the side. Each staff member stopped to individually feed my friends and I our first time ever bite because they wanted the experience to be perfect 😂😂😂. I love this place and I will be back.

Mark Toledo

The hype is legitimate, from a holistic point of view; Nashville hot chicken is all over town, it seems. But truly the juiciest bone-in chicken, hot and spicy, and served by a rowdy but friendly crew, is best enjoyed in this corner of Chinatown. Exercise proper line etiquette, there's no reason to be concerned about getting fed if you arrive VERY early or between standard meal times.

Anna C

My husband & I have pretty good spicy food tolerance. Thus, we ordered 3 pieces of wings - Howlin Rays, Xtra hot sando, Hot chicken & waffle and medium plus half bird. Think up tl xtra hot is bearable but don't try howlin rays. No joke spicy 🥵 …

Antione Taylor

It was our first time to “Howlin Rays”, it was almost a 45 min wait, but it was worth it. We all got the “Hot” level chicken sandwiches with a side of fries. We sat at the counter and the workers couldn’t have been nicer, great conversation and good music too!! The sandwiches were crispy and the slaw and pickles helped add to the over all flavor and the waffles were super tasty and fluffy!! I would definitely come back and recommend stopping by if your in town and try to get a seat at the counter if you can!! The waffles and the sandwiches are a must and worth the wait!!

Tu Lam

Delicious southern BBQ with a nice kick. There's outdoor seating in the strip mall. Don't go when you're hungry because the wait is long. We got there about 40 minutes before they open. The line was already crazy long. From start to finish, we were in line to getting our good, 2 hours and 15 minutes. We actually made good time, a friend of mine was in line for over 3 hours. Their leg and thigh is exactly that, one piece of leg with thigh attached. Same with breast and wing, it's one piece. It's also one of those that you need to eat with your hands, it gets messy, but delicious. And they give you pickles with your order, take them, it helps cut the heaviness if fried chicken. Do be careful if you're spice level.

Rudy Gonzalez

Really long wait to try this place out. The food was amazing though. I tried their medium and mild Sando and they were both delicious. The seasoning the use brings out a great flavor.

D Pak

Came out of curiosity of why people wait hours to eat some hot chicken. Having eaten hot chicken throughout the US, I intended to compare it nationally. Ordered a quarter medium and the sando with a side of the aioli sauce. Once my order was called up, the staff immediately impressed me with some corny jokes and they simply made me feel like family. They even threw in alot of extras to provide some extra feel good The quarter chicken was delicious. It consists of a very good crust and seasoning. The chicken is not as not meat as it looks due to the thick crust. The sando is really the reason why people wait hours to eat here. It has a giant boneless chicken breast topped with coleslaw, pickles, and aioli sauce. Overall the quality is superb but not worth the 2 hour wait.

Ken Sullenger

About an hour wait by the time you order and get your food. In the end it's worth it though. The chicken sandwich is excellent! The staff and very nice and make the experience that much better. Highly recommended.

Angel L.

The big question: "IS IT WORTH IT?" and for those who wants to know, imo, "No" because when I went, I had to wait FOUR hours!!! I went around 1pm and waited and waited and waited all day. The service is excellent, it's a fun and personalized atmosphere once you step your foot into the door, but maybe it's because of this that makes it seem like the lines do not move at all. Don't come here if you're hungry because I had to buy some Chego's rice bowl to power through the long wait. You have to be committed! The Chicken Sandwich was my all time favorite! That thing was DELICIOUS! It was juicy, it had vinegary coleslaw, it had amazing sauce on toasted brioche bun with a little bit of heat! I would not come back if I had to wait more than an hour. I don't eat spicy foods and can't even eat hot cheetos, but I found the medium heat for the sandwich to be tastefully tolerable for me.

Monica Potpourri

First time eating Howlin Ray's and it was so good! Get there early because after 12pm the wait is 1-3 hours. Waited in line for approximately and hour, so worth it. Chicken comes in various levels of heat. Tender and and full of flavor. The Comeback Sauce is great. Best seasoned fries I have ever had. Staff was super friendly, and work very fast.

Francis Asuncion

Best. Fried. Chicken. Ever. Even the chicken breasts were tender and juicy. I highly recommend trying this at least once. 2-3 hour wait. It's not a typo.

Megan Crisp

Get ready for a long, long, long line. Came on a Saturday super packed. However this chicken is soooo good!!!!!! Had the Sando (sandwich) amazing. You can get different types of spicy. Be warned the hottest is HOT they give you gloves to eat it. Fries and the fried pickles amazing. Staff is super friendly and personable. The 2 hour + wait is well worth it!!!

Dennis Wai

Got here at 10am on a Friday, waited till ~11:30a before I ordered. Started eating at noon. Hope that helps you plan :D I got mild and it was enough heat to notice that it was there without suffering for it. The patrons next to us got the medium and said the jump from mild to medium definitely skips a few steps. I would highly recommend the sandwich with unlimited lemonade+peach tea!

Michael Saechang

+ Fried Chicken (Dark Meat) - crispy skin, very moist, and very flavorful + Waffles - freshly made, great syrup (not too sweet) + Comeback Sauce + Amazing service - LONG wait This is my favorite deep fried hot chicken joint. Howlin' Ray's has opened my eyes to the glorious thing known as Nashville Style Hot Chicken. The chicken skin is very crispy and flavorful while the chicken meat is super moist. The flavors are banging! Great intense flavor and some serious heat. The workers and owner are amazing, great people to interact with. I crave this chicken. My go to order is Chicken (Dark Meat, HOT) and Waffles (Only on weekends) w/Hot Shake Fries.

charlie casas

Off the top I have to say this place is amazing! One of my best eating experiences to date. Hands down the best fried chicken around lol seriously though If available I highly recommend eating on the front counter top. The staff is awesome! Believe me, you wont get a better experience than sitting right in the mix watching these guys kick ass handling the crazy long line that never seems to disappear. Honestly this place is so crazy delicious, id wait 4 hrs in line

Erick Rivera

NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN 😋👌Fell in love with hot chicken on my trip to Nashville. Been tasting different places around So. CAlifornia and this place so far is one of my top choices. The wait from what I hear is about an hour and a half. The vibe/the workers are really friendly and seem to really love and enjoy what they do everyday. The place is small on the inside but there is some chairs and tables in the front people sit to eat at. In regards to the price:it is standard for hot chicken anywhere. Pretty spot on and I got full with a simple order of tenders with price. Meaning, the rations are really good in my opinion. Would definitely came back,probable next week, and I will try the sando. Follow @thehungrynomadz on instagram and join us on our travels

Wendell Gibson

The food was great! Just be ready to wait in line. We went at around 2pm on a Thursday and there was still a hour wait. But I would say the wait was worth it. For the most part while you are in line you will be in a shaded area. Once you get your food there are a few benches outside to sit and eat on. They also give military discounts.

300 lb Gorilla

#7 God damn what did I just put in my mouth! Some tips to my followers if you go here. 1) It's a 2 hour wait time. 2) Don't use the meters on the street, see above. Use the parking lot and pay $5. 3) Bring a friend, see #1. 4) No friend bring a charged phone or a battery pack recharger. 5) They should rename the hotness chart. I got Hot and my lips were burning 4 hours latter and sweat ran into my eyes. 6) Must get the comeback sauce! I waited in the line to order, the kind lady tells me if I have had "their" hot before, it has ghost pepper in it. (Should of been a warning sign). I smile at her and say I will give it a try. I collect my order and he tells me he gave me some fries and a thigh for free. (Warning sign #2) I sit down and start eating. The 1st bite is great, the skin is super crunchy and the meat is moist. Then like a uppercut from hell the heat hits me. Thank god for the extra piece of chicken and pitty fries(btw the fries are great and you should get them, they have seasoning but it's not hot). He knew and was trying to help an idiot. I ordered a half chicken and only could eat a wing and a drumstick because of the heat. I went back to get more comeback sauce and he gave me a free sandwich too. I think he felt sorry for me when I told him it was spicy. BTW there is 2 more levels above what I ordered. You can see it in the picture the spice is coming though the box.

L B

From Houston an when I arrived it was not a long line but a line and when I sat down food was amazing coleslaw amazing chicken amazing

alireza tarighati

Best Chicken tenders and chicken sandwich I have ever had! Worth the wait and once we sat at the bar, the staffs are super friendly, great conversations and got to sample some of the food too! It’s cool to watch how they made the food in front of you.

Alan L

Absolutely amazing chicken sandwich! They changed it up from before, if you want to order at the location, you gotta do on the Postmates app. Cashierless experience. Once you place the order on the app, gotta walk up to the check in window and show them your order number so they know you're here. Different, but effective. Once we received our Sandos we went to the Historic Park to relax and ate, since the weather was beautiful! We order the Sandos with mild spicy level. I am a little bit of a chicken to go any higher. There is quite a jump in slickness from mild to medium. YOU ARE WARNED! I cannot imagine how spicy Hot or Howlin is. I be dead, Forreals. The Sando is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Probably the best chicken sandwich I had... ever! The chicken is super juicy, their coleslaw mix is delish, as well as their pickles! You will not not like their Sando, how can you? Some may think $13 for a chicken sandwich is really expensive, tho I do agree but if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. It. Will. Not. Disappoint. Don't forget to order on Postmates if you intend to pick it up at the location !!

Calvin Tran

Now I didn't think 3 hours of waiting for a chicken sandwhich was worth it, but then I got it and went straight to the back for more. Don't hype yourself up too much but damn it's pretty good. Service is friendly and just delicious.

Brenda Ortiz

We committed to the 1.5 hour wait time. Can't say that I'll do it again though. We ordered our food mild after seeing some people eating their food and turning red and practically crying. Wish I hadn't chickened out, because there was no heat. Next time, I'll go for medium. Either way, The Sandwich was cooked to perfection. Didn't really care for the sides. The wings were pretty tasty as well.

Popeye the Foodie

We love the fried chicken and sandwiches here. Beware, their spice levels are serious. Our recommendation is medium for the fried chicken and hot for the sandwich. Also, we like to mix their tea and lemonade. Service is always great and they have the shared outdoor pet friendly area. Only downside are the lines. We've given up many times due to the long lines.

Tellier Pound

It was fantastic. I ordered the pork dip, which did not disappoint. After seeing multiple YouTube videos about this location, I decided to give it a try, and it turned out to be rather enjoyable. On the interior, the bread was moist, but on the outside, it was crispy. It was well worth the money.

Tawfiq Raji

A-OOOOOOO!!! WOW!!! Probably the best fried chicken we have ever had, and I've had a TON of fried chicken. Visiting from Canada, we went through quite the mission and hassle to get our order in, as we were unable to download the Postmates app given that our credit cards were Canadian. But somehow, in some way, we managed to get through using the Postmates website, but the emotional toll it took on us constantly refreshing and waiting for Howlin to accept orders 40 minutes before closing was something else. We even decided to skip doing the Hollywood tourist stuff because fried chicken is, and always will be, more important. WORTH IT. WORTH EVERY SINGLE TEAR. WORTH THE WAIT. WORTH THE HASSLE. STOP READING AND GO GET SOME.

Pawel Hanusowski

The 1.5+ hour wait is completely worth it for the amazing food and service. (Plan for the wait or have someone run and get a snack) Staff was friendly and helpful, the chicken was flavorful and crispy. Don't forget to order the pickles !

S Cho

The Sando: spicy, tender chicken topped with cool, sweet, tangy slaw, all sandwiched between two buttery toasted buns slathered with that delicious sauce. The only drawback is that the bun gets a little soggy if you’re a slow eater. If you sit at the counter, they give you all kinds of freebie goodies to try. It’s definitely an experience I recommend everyone tries at least once. Yeah yeah, the line is long. A three hour wait is typical. Come with someone you like, or bring a good book. Definitely bring a snack. It helps if you come before they open. You won’t be alone!

Alyssa Ulrich

Come for the experience, stay for the food! If after standing in that awesomely long line to get that hot chicken sandwich isn't enough to get you down here, at least make sure you can sit inside this little hangout just for the shear atmosphere of this place. The staff that works here are super friendly and very nice! So nice, they gave me an additional sandwich for FREE, just because they're awesome. So if a hot chicken sandwich isn't tempting enough, at least take a stroll down here to check it out and be served by some super nice crew!

Emily H

This is one of those places that you wish you could teleport to! Best Nashville Fried Chicken outside Nashville! Sandwiches are HUGE. Sauce is delicious. Medium Hot isn't actually all that spicy. These sandwiches are MESSY to eat but totally worth it. Make sure to have lots of napkins around. The restaurant is VERY responsive. I shot them a text message and received a reply a couple minutes later! If you live in LA - go to this place!

Nicholas Sablan

Some of the best hot chicken I've EVER had!!! Delicious! And the service is fantastic! Very nice people working here :)

Christian W

Is it worth a 3-4 hour wait in line? Absolutely! Johnny's team is fantastic and make the best chicken sandwich you'll ever have. If you like spicy foods that have great taste and flavor, this is the place for you. Get the Howlin' heat for a serious spice!

Jack Banyard

They specialize in HOT FRIED CHICKEN, Nashville style. Meaning these babies are spicy. I've had friends who tried the non-spicy chicken here and it just wasn't good - so be warned if you cannot eat spicy - it's really spicy! The comeback sauce here is a must for an order of fries that you should get with whatever chicken pieces you prefer (or the sammy). There is a secret menu too that you can find online. Thank me later! Not only is the chicken absolutely juicy, far from dry, and portions are out of this world - the SERVICE here is THE BEST EVER. It is lively in there with a wonderful crew behind the counter. Johnny does an amazing job and picking out his people. The music BUMPS in here and you feel like you are at a mini club that serves fried chicken more than a food shop! Do not miss the opportunity to swing by to Howlin Ray's when you are in the area - thank me later.

草牛 Ox Lin

In China town. Took 2 hours. The longest waiting line I ever had. 12 a burger. Unique flavor, oily spicy. Staff was super kind.

Kevin Chau

The hot chicken place that started it all and it remains king. It is the best chicken sandwich I have ever eaten. The three hour lines are worth it.

Jamie K

Hot is very spicy. Good flavours

Los Angeles

The wait in line for 2 hours is not justified for fried chicken smeared in varying amount of hot chilli powder. The chicken is fried well. The "comeback" sauce is good. The pickles were crunchy and sour. The workers were fun to watch, and they were friendly and nice. But, are they worth 2 hours standing in line? My answer is a NO. Chick-fil-A is a good alternative. Personally, I'll go to Kyochon Chicken in K-town and grab myself a box of fried chicken.

Nina Yuan

Waiting in line for 3.5 hours on a Wednesday afternoon had me questioning my priorities... And the direction my life was taking as a whole. But I forgot all about my existential crisis when I took a bite of that chicken sando 🤯. Check their Instagram story for line waiting times!!! IMO the "hot" level is the perfect level of heat. "X-hot" takes a bit too long to eat and the tears and snot you'll be extruding kind of ruin the experience. Now... let's talk about the "Howlin" level. When they say it's going to ruin your day, they are NOT exaggerating. It will F*U up. Only masochists should order this.

Ashay Padwal

Ordered Hot chicken which was perfect amount of spicy for any Indian. Wouldn't recommend Howlin' Hot at all. They accept Postmates orders only and are ready in 10 mins so order accordingly.

Henson Lau

I was not the one who purchased or ate the sandwich, a friend visiting from Canada was. Overall, excellent service, the staff were humorous and friendly, and the food had successfully made our friend (who claimed he was quite the hothead) regret his life decisions. We purchased the spiciest item in the menu, and he was able to finish about half of it before tapping out.

Shiloh Baptist

Outstanding service within a short interaction, very considerate of all humans stopping by here from near or far during COVID. No official seating but plenty of spots to sit and eat for an outdoor plaza

Andy

This place is amazing. The workers are super enthusiastic and the food is absolutely delicious. If you try this once, you're definitely going to come back. I've tried a good amount of the menu and everything is spot on. I highly recommend the Chicken Sando and some fries. I chose mild plus because the spice level is a little spicier than you would expect. I think you can compare the spiciness to a hot cheeto. The waffles and chicken is really good too, but they only sell it on the weekends. I highly, highly recommend finishing your meal with the banana pudding. The only downside is waiting 2+ hours. So only come here if you have the patience. I will tell you now, it's worth the wait.

andre ta

Julian I swear has been here since they opened I remember when they used to be opened inside and when you would get the sando they would all make a big deal out of it and make a show and then hand it to you it was amazing. Till this day after Covid I still feel the same energy from him and the team. I can’t wait for things to go back normal only thing I don’t miss is the 3 hour waits haha but amazing chicken hands down I would wait that 3 hours again. Nothing on the menu is bad!!

Kian Boon Low

The fried chicken sandwich is great! We also got the medium and mild fried chicken. The medium heat one is too salty for us but the medium one was great. The wait in line is long thou so come prepare

Jennifer P

Wait: Wednesday 12:20pm. Waited about 45 mins to order and by the time we started eating an hour had passed. Food: Worth the wait. Tried the "hot" Sando and "medium" wings. Hot level is pretty spicy and a very big spiciness jump from medium; medium was more sweet than spicy and color-wise more intimidating than it really is. Hot is very spicy as that level is where the ghost peppers are added. Be sure to get a drink and a side dish (fries or macaroni) if it's your first time eating the "hot." Sando is very juicy even though it's chicken breastmeat. Next time I will get one hot and one medium sandos to share with hubs so that we can actually enjoy the chicken. (A spice level in between medium and hot would be perfect.) Fries were ok. Parking: they validate 2 hours if you park in the garage. Although most times that 2 hours will be spent in line and you'd end up paying for parking if you want to eat at the tables outside. Parking garage was $1.75 per hour.

Jade Valdez

When I tell y’all this is the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had! TikTok recommended this place and it didn’t disappoint. I would give this all the stars.

Nate Weir

The hype is real, this place is legit! Crazy good chicken that packs some real heat. I love spicy and the hot almost melted my face... And there are at least 3 heat levels above that. Not for the faint of heart, the weak of spirit, or the impatient.

Vin Esco

The problem with this place is not the food (although I have some complaints about the food), it's mostly the location and the service style. The biggest annoyance is that finding a place to park is a mother. Its not their fault, its mostly the city of LA and the slime of the earth parking officers that make it this way. Although I can blame Howlin Rays for putting their business in such a terrible spot in a rundown stripmall. If you want to be a higher end food place that actually lives up to such a hype, go to a nicer location. With parking and seating. The things that annoyed me about the service are that you cant order inside or even walk inside (covid is over, guys), theres no seating (even the outside table is not for dining, and other seating is for other restaurants), the only drink they have is bottled coke. The people are nice enough but who is dictating this service style to them? With no place to sit and no place to park, i dont know where they expect you to eat the food! As far as the food, the chicken itself was nicely seasoned and flavorful. It also was a nice big sandwich. The pickles seemed to not fit in with the taste of the sandwich. And I like pickles on a hot chicken sandwich but not these ones. The fries were good. Those loaded fries with chicken and sauce looked gross to me, but some people like tons of sauce on things. God, Americans are fat. The mac salad was nasty it was obviously from a store bought can. I'll give this place 3 stars for a good piece of chicken and decent fries. The rest needs much improvement. I would say definitely overhyped. Go to Chick Next Door in Glendale. Small place with seating parking and better chicken.

Y H

If you want to challenge yourself or to torture your stomach, go for it. Go for x-hot or howlin level...They do provide good-quality chicken and fries but I had to wait 3hrs to get them...

Y L

For safety, since the start of the pandemic, this specific Howlin' Ray's location has converted to delivery only through the Postmates app. The con - substantial Postmate fees just for pick up. The pro - no crazy lines and you only need to wait ~30 minutes to get your food. Customer service was beyond excellent. Matt was great, he packed my order and handed it to me. I had mentioned I was visiting from NYC. He was super sweet and gave me some mild chicken tenders in case I couldn't take the "Hot" heat level just to make sure this meal wouldn't be a wash. Luis Style Sando "Hot" spice - Super tasty. I want all my future hot chicken sandwiches in the Luis style only. Cole slaw is just right and the comeback sauce pairs perfectly. The "Hot" level definitely pack the heat but if you can handle the last dab sauces, you'll be okay. Probably could go another level hotter but I guess not everything in life needs to be in extremes. I hope I can come back again someday soon. TLDR; absolutely worth trying - get the Luis Style Sando sandwich, however not sure if I would wait 1.5-3 hours in line for it. If lines come back, be strategic and order for a nearby location on Postmates.

Vincent Vuong

Always 60+ minutes wait but so well worth it. I try to hit the spot any time I'm in the that part of LA. It's in a random Chinese strip mall, this Nashville fried chicken spot, highly recommend! Wish I could get the recipe and recreate it at home!

Drew Alyeshmerni

Okay, so if you aren't ready to stand in a Disneyland long line, don't even bother. You'll miss out on the best food of your life and post a downer review of nothing. Once you've prepped yourself for the excursion (hats/sunglasses/water bottle and plenty of phone battery) step into the awesomeness of this chicken experience. There are sandwiches and chicken pieces of varying heat levels (and mild too) but you must try the sandwich- they'll even cut it in half for you if you want to split it with a friend and try something else too. Here's a hint- you can ask for a "nugget" of any heat profile to test your limits before ordering. After you place your order, try and sit at the counter. The music is great, the staff are stellar and Chef Johnny will make you swoon. Once you're presented with great pickles and tons of smiles, you know your wait has been worth it. The imminent presentation of your dish and the first succulent bite will send your mind to another universe. Yeah, you just ate what most of America has to see on a TV screen. Enjoy it, say thanks to the guys, and schedule your next afternoon at Howlin' Rays.

jspawn1003

What a great place. We knew going in that the wait was going to be long, about an hour and forty-five minutes to order and another fifteen to get our chicken, but the line was fun people are friendly, and we got to spend time talking with our family. All of the staff seemed to be enjoying themselves. There was an older lady that walked up to the door, she seemed to want to know what the fuss was about, and the owner was nice enough to speak briefly and give her a small sample of something. I only over heard part of the conversation, but I heard him tell one of his customers that "you have to respect your elders". He seemed like a really nice guy, and the fact that he was there the entire time I was able to see the front of the line and hand people their food with smiles, conversation, and handshakes was amazing to see from management, but especially ownership. The chicken was great, made to order and full of flavor. We had mild, medium, hot (which was hot enough for me), and then two solo wings Howlin. The Howlin was great, as hot as advertised. My ears were burning, sweat was beading, and my mouth was on fire. Overall the whole experience was more than expected, I highly recommend making an afternoon of it and spend sometime in the area.

Alex Angyal

It’s a long wait but worth it for the excellent food and service. The workers love their job and it shows. Some of the best chicken I’ve ever had. A word of caution if you dare try the “howlin plus” level of heat. This is not listed on the menu for good reason. I’m normally very tolerant of spice and search for the hottest foods I can, and this one did me in. I managed to finish half a chicken tender, but the real pain came hours later while my body attempted to digest it. After an hour of agony I vomited and got a nosebleed simultaneously. It was worth it for the experience but I would not attempt this again. Great food!

AR-Sith F.Austin

Get the Howlin'++ not hot at all with all the flavor you want. I you're a "hot head" you won't bat an eyelash, if not grow your tolerance cuz it ain't hard. Here in Texas I grow the hottest peppers on earth (Bhuts, Scorps, Reaps, Brains, 7s, of every strain imaginable & etc.) and eat habaneros like tic tacs, if you can handle Caribbean Hot habanero peppers that are about 800k Scoville you can easily handle this chicken without a sip of anything. Love people who claim they eat spicy on here and pull their "ethnic heat card" or in general who think they "eat spicy", they don't. They're weak. This is some great chicken, though, because Nashville seasonings bring the flavors of the south we all love. If you're accustomed to real Nashville Chicken which I've had and made tons of it at the house, they bring it. (some great Nashville Hot seasonings out there to try at home if you look on-line). They're doing it right here if you want goodness and moist chicken with a lil kick when you're away from home. They do make the grade and as always, get EXTRA sauce. You just need it for the lubrication of gnaw it down. 😆

Manuel Parra

The sandwich was amazing I'm a Dave's hot chicken guy and this mild sandwich is amazing. Great spot that plaza used to be the spot back in day before covid happy these guys are there fast service amazing food.

Memos Munchies

WORTH THE WAIT!!! The best fried chicken in Los Angeles The staff is so friendly and helpful. They treat you like you're family but for real. Take time to go and try them if you still have not.

Cindy Varela

We waited for a little over 1 hour in line and another 15min for our order. They have excellent customer service and genuinely make you feel special for trying their food. The food was very good. We got the medium heat sando and Mario style fries. The heat doesn't hit you until after a few bites. I love spicy food and I truly think the hot would be been to hot for me ! Worth the wait for sure.

Jv Ortiz

The best chicken in LA, hands down, with the best 🌶 spicy levels you can choose from! Thank you to the Howlin crew! And to Chef Johnny for the amazing customer service. I know the wait is long... but it's so worth it! …

Fernando Jarquin

Great service and delicious food! Must have if you love chicken sandwiches!

Peezy Reid

I was in LA for a week with 2 friends and we wanted to eat something new and my friend found Howlin' Ray's on Google Maps so we went there. None of us ever heard of this place and we did not know about the hype. When we got there on a Wednesday at around 4pm, there was about 40 people in front of us and we were debating on wether or not we should stay. We ended up waiting and it took about 1 hour to get inside and order. We all got The Sando's with shake fries. I got it in Medium Plus, and my 2 friends got it in medium and they were saying that they should of gotten Mild because the Medium was like a Hot. Needless to say, we all agreed that this was the best chicken sandwich we ever had. You can just tell its made with love. The seasoning is on point, the way it was fried was perfect, i could go on forever. Even the fries were bomb. I would definitely wait in line again. The staff inside are super nice, funny people. They will gladly talk to you while you are inside. Just make sure to bring some wet wipes or something if you will be eating there as after you are done, your hands will be very messy.

Julius Marzuki

Finally, my wife and I get the chance to try some Howlin' Ray chickens yesterday. I wanted to try it at the beginning of the year, but when I got there, the line was way too long. And yesterday, we got there 30 minutes before it opened, there were already about 50 people before us. We decided to wait for it. After it opened, another 30 minutes before we reached the cashier and placed our order, another 25 minutes waiting for the chickens. Totalling of 85 minutes. Was it worth it? I think at least I get the chance try it once. But I don't think i want to wait in line again. Don't get me wrong, the chickens are great, very moist and tender. My wife and I like it, very juicy, even the breast. However, it does lack flavors, the species do not sink through all the way to the meat. Another thing will be the location, it is very hard to find street packing at Chinatown.

Katherine Relate

Amazing. One of the quality chicken sandwiches I actually have ever had. Perfection and on weekends you get a further deal with fowl and waffles!!. Service is extremely good Mario and the guys are fun and make it a full enjoy. Love this location

Grace Wong

It was definitely yummy!!! Got the Sando mild, and the chicken was definitely quality and had quality taste. We got the matto fries to share and there weren’t that many fries in it but had a lot of toppings/chicken mixed in. Wish there were more fries!

Raymond Liang

Definitely great chicken, so flavorful and juicy. I'm a spicy food lover, even the level 3 hot wings gets me real bad. And the level 5 almost "killed" me at the spot. My stomach have burned for the whole night ( tip: milk would help ease up a lot after)

Jesse Silva

Food is bomb and staff are super friendly! Highly recommend to come. It's a long wait but the experience is all worth it!

Don Frasco

Parking is available underground. Expect to wait in line no matter what time of day! Lively atmosphere. Staff are very friendly. The food is all worth the wait!!

legokingiscool

Phenomenal food! Definitely worth the wait. But, the main flaw is the location. I strongly recommend that you check the Howlin' Ray's twitter account for approximate wait times before coming. I have seen them go down to as little as 30 min to 1 hour. Now, the main negative factor is the location of this fine establishment. Some areas stink and are quite dirty while waiting in line. If you can survive the stench, then I would advise you to come here. Furthermore, parking can be difficult for the normal person. I personally park at a close paid parking that costs ~$6 to park at (I don't have to pay as I have a newfound friendly relationship with the parking worker there). Anyways, the food is excellent. Try to check their twitter to know when there are short wait times! So far I have been here twice and had a blast. I always get my sandwiches hot or medium plus. Keep in mind that not even the average man can survive the spiciness of hot. Don't be dumb and overdo the spiciness! You have nothing to prove kid. For the average person just get mild or medium. If you are an alpha male like me, then I suggest getting hot. If you are an alien from mars get howlin! I wish you Good luck and enjoy my friends! 😎🇺🇸🇺🇲🇺🇸🇺🇲🎇✨

Sam Mooney

Lives up to the hype. Best hot chicken sandwich I've ever had, just the right level of spice. Incredible food and service.

Jason V (Spoon)

At first, I had my doubts about Howlin' Ray's. But when i took a bite out of the Chicken. It's definitely surpassed my expectations .When it comes to hot chicken, this is the best place in L.A. that serves it. The seasoning is on point and if you don't mind spicness definitely get medium. The service and its employees are always having a great time and enjoying what they do. The menu is simple and the price is fair for the portions you receive. The place is small but finding a seat shouldn't be a problem since their picnic tables around the plaza. The only thing I wasn't too fond of was the wait time. If you don't mind waiting, definitely check out this spot. If you're still not sure, the line of people waiting for chicken should be an indication of the dedication their willing to wait for hot chicken.

Stu W

First time I've gotten it since they opened up shop and it's ridiculously good. Got a couple of the off menu items like Mario fries, Matty fries, fried pickles, and the staff is always super nice. Be warned, you get there late, it could be up to a 2 hour wait in line.

Christian Walsh

Went with my mates, waited short amount of time @ 1hr we had the bench seat in the kitchen. The boys hooked it up!! We had an awesome feed and some cheeky extra fries. No need to comment on the food. The line and the rating speak for itself. Best , chicken, ever.

Clemente Lopez (Clementine)

Top quality hot chicken. Highly recommend it. Kind of pricey depending on what you order and sometimes the line can take awhile depending on day and time you go (1-2hrs average, sometimes up to 3 from what I heard and as fast as 15-30mins) so it's better to go with friends or something that can keep you distracted, I got there around 6:30ish with some friends and it took us about an hour for us to give our order, they cut off the line at 7 and send someone at the end to cap it off. Regardless it is definitely worth it in my opinion. Staff is very friendly and energetic. I ordered a Luis Style Sando and Mario Style Fries both Howlin' (pictured).

MissCookie Cairo

I finaly got some Howling Ray's. I live right down the block. The line is always crazy long , but not tonight. I ended up in front of a neighbor, who just like me, decided to go because of the short line. Any way I got a 1/4 chkn, white meat, medium heat, with a side of collards and it was DELICIOUSNESS! Jamie and Mario took care of me, but I give a big THANK YOU to the whole staff. THANK YOU!

Emerson Chow

The most amazing chicken I've tasted. Even 10 hours later, they were all still crispy and unbelievably juicy. I would recommend their chicken sandwich. It's $12 and comes with fries and sauce. However, we also bought a whole chicken which came with pickles and toast. Everything was delicious, it's quite a treat and if you have the time, worth the 1.5 hr wait. (Wednesday 12:30- 2)

Chi Kang

Definitely worth a wait. I would recommend going in the morning around 10am to stand in line. You will get your food about 30 minutes after it opens at 11am. Definitely one of the best fried chicken I have ever had!

Daniel Yang

On my socal fried chicken journey, I have tried all the hyped places from The Crack Shack in Encintas (good fried chicken, sandwiches not good as they included food poisoning on my undercooked chicken) to Tokyo Fried Chicken in Monterey Park (juicy, but bland flavor, very much like ALL Japanese food) to a food truck like Free Range parked in Little Tokyo sometimes. Howlin Ray's has absolutely the best chicken sandwich I have ever had. The mix of heat, fresh coleslaw, soft bun, the tender juiciness of the chicken breast, the crunch of the breading, all add up to the perfect "Sando" as they call it. That said, the fries are okay. I also ordered wings, a leg/thigh quarter chicken, and while I enjoyed that a lot, it paled in comparison to the almighty sandwich. The line was about 30 deep on a 530pm Wednesday, but it was a quick 30 minute line, and maybe another 5-10 minutes to get the food. Well worth the wait. The owner and staff are amazing people, and the vibe of the little store in the China Town breezeway just oozes living the American dream. What a great place to eat.

Xochitl Munoz

A great place to drop by for food. Went to split a meal with a friend this past Friday and everyone was super nice and the food was amazing, one of the best hot chicken places I’ve tried!

Mariana

Best chicken sandwich in LA!! The waffles are also great but are only available on the weekends. Definitely worth the wait!

Rayray Juan

We had to wait 2 hours but this was definitely worth the time! Howlin Ray's is not just a place where you can get awesome chicken. It is also an experience you will never forget. The guys working there are so friendly and funny in their own way. Will definitely visit again when going to LA.

David N

We stumbled upon this place by accident. We saw the massive line and decided to go with the crowd. I’m glad we did. It’s definitely worth the wait. The crew behind the counter was hilarious and friendly. The food was delicious and the definition of comfort food.

Daniel Wong

I'm not sure if I agree that this is "America's best fried chicken sando" but it totally slaps. The slaw was really tasty but not laced with too much mayo. The chicken was seasoned really well and was really moist despite being breast. We got a side of fries and they were some of the best we've ever had. So crispy and satisfying. The only part of the meal we didn't enjoy was that the bun was a little soggy.

Seong Hun Moon

Best chicken sandwich ive ever had. Love the owner. Chill vibes. Need to wait in lines though.

James Scannell

Very, very good, the sando (hot chicken sandwich) and greens are the best I can remember having, the chicken is comparable to Hattie B's in Nashville.

Bosch Chan

Good ol' spicy chicken served in the middle of Chinatown. If you can handle some spice, go for the medium. If not the mild variety is as good. In fact with the mild spice chicken, the flavor of the chicken comes out even more.

Marc Brandofina

Absolutely out of this world. Hands down best chicken I’ve ever had. The line is long but worth the wait. The staff is super fun and friendly. Will definitely be back.

Choon T

The Sando was especially tasty and the wings were nice and juicy. The best was the atmosphere and staffs - they were just amazing!!! You must try!

Miguel Cisneros

We drove 300+ miles to eat some Howlin' Ray's. One thing to note is there will always be a long at this uber eatery. Especially on weekends where you can wait upwards of 3 hours. Best thing to do is follow them on Twitter and see what the current wait time is. We went on a Wednesday and the wait wasn't too bad (1hour 10 mins) line moves fairly quick. Once the wait is over you'll greeted by an awesome team. Once order is placed your food will be ready in about 5-10 minutes. I had the Sando, howlin Fries, and some chicken tenders to go. It was by far the best chicken sandwhich I've ever had. The prices are not that bad but the quality speaks for itself. A must try when you find yourself LA.

Mia Cervantes

Definitely WORTH the HYPE and WAIT IN LINE!! a lot better than Dave’s hot chicken.

Ben Luc

I grew up around the area and the long lines to this place always fascinated me. I finally made the commitment during vacation to try it to see what the fuss is all about. The chicken sandwich is soooo good. I can handle spicy food very well but the Extra Hot almost burned a hole in my stomach. I powered through and despite the creaks and pops emanating from my GI tract, I finished it. I could appreciate the moistness of the chicken and the pickles/sauce complemented the sandwich very well in between sips of water (water did not really help but it was a psychological thing). It took me a day to recover. The wait was two hours so I am not certain I would be back. I mean, it is good but not two hour in line good. If I do, I'll stick with the medium spicy /sheepishsmile

Steven Marter

The chicken sandwich is absolutely delicious! I got the howlin heat level and it is actually spicy, unlike everywhere else here in LA that says they're spicy. The line is the worst part by far. Took me over 3 hours with a group of friends to order. You've been warned. Highly recommended if you have the time.

Live Free With Angie B

Absolutely DELICIOUS food!!! And amazing customer service!!! Highly recommend eating inside if you can!! But be WARNED......It is HOOOOOOOTTTTTT!!!!! We were on fire with the Medium and we LOVE spicy food!!! Lolol

Caitlin Drumm

Always worth whatever the wait in line may be! Ultra friendly staff, always above and beyond on customer service! Definitely a Los Angeles must-stop when in town

Roshan

Please Expand!! Even though the 2.5 hours in line waiting was worth it. Hands down best Fried Chicken & Chicken Sandwich I have had so far.

Naomy Alvarez

AMAZING chicken sandwich!! I usually get the medium spice which gives it a little kick. Although the wait may be a bit crazy it's totally worth it, not to mention the STAFF is so outgoing and friendly!!

erika alcaraz

First visit, I saw them on Google maps & decided to try them I wasn't thrilled about paying $6 for parking right next to the plaza but hey it was that or the meter...I arrived at 3pm & saw the posted warning of a 45 min wait it ended up going a bit beyond that Ordered the sando medium, fries, & of course after seeing the chz pulls a grilled cheese😄 got my order pretty quick. & i was shocked to receive not 1 but 2 complimentary goodies💞 who does that? Service is #1 will return but only during their slowest times as I have issues with my ankle & couldn't take a longer wait...sandwich was perfect I'm not a fan of coleslaw but in this sandwhich it added a hint of sweetness chx was juicy Nothing like that bootleg Popeyes sandwich🙊

Joy

If you weren't hungry at the start of the line, you're sure to get hungry by the time you reach the end of it. A grueling long wait for fried chicken that is surely to be too spicy for me to tolerate? Definitely not something I would sign up for. But it is an LA institution. I'll admit it. Curiosity got the better of me. Even if you get there early in the morning, chances are you will still be faced with a long line. I have heard that is the case, even on weekdays. A friend of mine went on a Tuesday afternoon around 4PM and waited about an hour or so, so perhaps that is the sweet spot. If you plan well in advance, you can place a pre-order. Some parties definitely came prepared as they brought bottles of bourbon and whiskey while they ate their chicken. Firstly, their chicken are put to sleep before they are slaughtered, so as to make it more tender. I must say this is effective. Their chicken is tender and juicy, and that is hard to do with fried chicken breast, which dries out pretty fast. Secondly, here's the deal with the spiciness: Country: no heat Mild: a little cayenne Medium: Mild + a little ghost pepper Hot: Medium+ habanero X-Hot: Hot + scorpion Howlin': X-Hot + Carolina reaper When you order the Howlin' chicken, they provide you gloves to protect your hands. They'll also state a disclaimer: there's a 2-day recovery period. The chicken is served with white bread, to balance out the heat, I suppose. We had the $9 Quarter Bird - leg & thigh (Medium), $9 three wings (1 Hot, 1 X-Hot, 1 Howlin'), As for me, mild was just fine. There is a stark contrast between mild and medium. Beyond that, they are all too spicy for me, so much so that I can barely tell the difference between the three. I took the slightest nibble of howlin' and that was already too hot for me. A friend of mine from Thailand ate an entire Howlin' wing and didn't even flinch. I'm amazed. My other friends noted that the spiciness was just one-note; super hot with a lot of smokiness, but not a lot of complexity in the spiciness. $12 The Sando - boneless breast, slaw, comeback sauce, pickles, butter bun: This is a winner for me. As I mentioned, chicken breast is often dry, so that makes me less inclined to order fried chicken. This is such a good chicken sandwich. Not only is the chicken breast juicy, but the sauce provides a delicious tanginess. The pickles and cole slaw add some crunch and sweetness, and are acidic enough to cut through the heaviness. The bun is also nicely toasted, which is great. I always say half the appeal of a sandwich comes from how good the bread is. $4 Shake Fries w/ Comeback Sauce: The sauce is good, but I don't care for crinkle cut fries. I'll take them or leave them. Mr. Joy loves all fried potato products, hence why we ordered these. $5 Solo Waffle (weekends only): We only ordered this, because we waited hours on a weekend. Being that waffles are only available on weekends, there was no way we could not order it. The waffle definitely surpassed my expectations. It is substantial, thick, and most importantly, it is crunchy. No soggy waffle here. I definitely enjoy the Sando, but I don't think I could ever wait that long for a sandwich again. Also, I know there must be a lot of people out there who are curious to try Howlin' Ray's, but it does bum me out that most of us cannot handle such spicy food, and thus, a lot of chicken probably just ends up in the trash. Plus, they use quite a bit of packaging to keep the different wings separate. It seems to me Howlin' may very well have the ability to expand their operations, but they may prefer catering to long lines to see proof of how popular they are. It would be nice if they did expand and streamlined their operations, they wouldn't have to deal with such a heinous line, nor would people lose half the day every time they have a Howlin' Ray's craving. On the other hand, it definitely looks like their workers enjoy interacting with people in line.

Ken

Was prepared the night before to get here right at opening, ended up being a little late. Got there at noon and ended up waiting about an 1.5 hours. I came to win so that didn’t really faze me, I’ve heard the wait can get as bad as 3 so consider myself lucky. Once you get through the door to order you start to understand why this place is so special. You do get a sense when you’re approaching around the line but entering the threshold is when it sets in. I ended up ordering howlin tenders that I took home to try. It’s really no joke. I wanted to experience the kitchen so I sat down at the bar to eat my sando and see the operation. Shout out to all the chefs, it’s a seamless operation and they’re all such good people. Someone saw my hungry eyes and brought my some chicken to munch on with no spice, and let me tell you that was definitely in my top 3. Super crunchy, super juicy. Wow guys. Congrats on the success! Very much deserved.

Art Thomas

I still haven't decided if standing in line for 2 hours was worth it, but the entire experience definitely felt like an event. Also it might be ridiculous chicken, but I made the mistake of ordering the hot tenders. Now I can put down my fair share of hot wings no problem, but this mess was no joke. I'm talking hiccups, sweating, runny nose. My glasses literally fogged up 😆. My friends and I got an order of the howlin tenders just to see what it was like, and when they pull out those rubber gloves for you to hold them with... All I'm going to say is bring your A game lol. If it's your first time going, my recommendation is to make your time in the line worth it and keep your heat level medium or lower; test yourself on your return trip. P.S. if you get there and are completely discouraged by the line, there is a delicious boba tea shop two doors down that could give you the energy to get through it. Or there is an unbelievable ramen shop right upstairs!

Sam Siam

I don't always leave reviews, but when I do, it's for the love of chicken. I consider myself a chicken connoisseur and man have I found the chicken capital in Los Angeles, Howlin' Ray's! Deciding to go on a rainy day to beat the long line. I used my nose to navigate to the restaurant, chicken sense was engaged (take that spiderman) I was surprised to be met by a gang of troops patiently waiting in a really LONG line, patience is a virtue! The line increased my chicken excitement and appetite tenfold. I found my people, those in search for the ultimate fried pleasure. Are these people loco for chicken or are they just loco? As we got closer the anticipation was building as my hunger was rising. The menu was clear as could be highlighting my way of life, chicken. I ordered the sandwich with medium spice level (I recommend this for those than can handle spice, don't be a chicken when you're eating chicken!) and I got a half chicken to go (hot, HADOOKIN!). Watching the staff putting in work on their craft really showed through within the food. The chicken took care of my craving and the staff tended to your every need, icing the cake on your ultimate experience. The quality of the meat was above my expectations and the portion size was sure to leave you topped off. This is by far the best chicken I've had in Los Angeles, unfortunately topping my other local favorite in Culver City, Honey Kettle. Bravo team at Howlin' and keep that cluck-a-comin'! #chicken

Janet Macias

The wait time is extremely long but the crew there is great, their energy is very welcoming. Ofcourse the food is delicious N on point.

Trust Goddess

My not too spicy fiance wants more. My department is waiting for pre order to open again. Yea 45-90 min wait worth it especially if you get a stool enjoy the show.

Alexis Kam

You've probably heard a lot about this place and I'll say it again: IT IS AMAZING. I don't even like chicken that much but dang it is so good just bring some friends or people to hang out with in the line and make a day out of it. Definitely sit inside esp at the bar and the atmosphere is so happy and energetic. Plus pst pst they may just give you free food at the bar......😎

James Han

Only hot chicken I crave in LA! The sandwich is flavorful and the chicken is super juicy! The spice level is for real so be aware!

mike w

Definitely worth the wait, at the very least once. I'm in orange county and I've driven out with friends roughly five times to wait in line at Howlin Rays. Be wary of the spice levels. If you like really spicy food, go for hot. If you want a challenge go for xhot. If you're masochistic get howlin. This is coming from someone that has the chemical structure for capsaicin tattooed on them.

HaRi Kim

is the at least one hour and a half wait worth it? is the sky blue? yes it is worth it! the food here lights up your tastebuds on fire! the staff here are super friendly and super chill too.

Jr_04

I recently treated my sister to Howli'n Rays. Being that this location is in a small strip mall in Chinatown, their only doing dine out. They didn't let people enter the restraunt so I ordered through postmates. I ordered the Sando Combo. It consists of a sandwich, two full sized wings, and their sides which were vinegar slaw, macaroni salad, a cup of pickles, and their special sauce. They have six different sauce variations to try and we had the medium. Were use to eating spicy food so it wasn't to spicy for our taste buds. Overall the food was excellent and ill definitely be having it again with a spicier mix.

Vicky B

Definetly lives up to the hype!! It was so good, I took some wings home for my family to try out. They all loved it!!

Kennedy George

This place is the best! So delicious. Worth the drive. Drove 45 min to eat here and service was fast. Mauricio helped us at the front and had a great attitude. Writing this review post sandwich high Eat here! You won’t regret it

Tamara Qonita Mahadi

It was really good. The meat was really tender and well flavored. The sandwich balance the spiciness a little bit. Beware: it's hot. You might overestimate your spicy tolerance. It was a really nice sandwich, but I think I just had a very high expectations because of the hype and hoping that there would be something that makes me wanting it more. But apparently I'm good with trying it once

Elizabeth McCanless

I'm from Nashville, so I like to think I know Nashville hot chicken. And I can attest, this sando is the real freaking deal. Think twice before ordering it "howlin'" because this spice bites hard! Best chicken sandwich I've ever eaten.

Ibrahim

Howlin Ray’s is the godfather of the Nashville Hot Chicken craze here in LA. All of these other places such as Daves (which is also pretty good) wouldn’t have existed without Howlin and their success. The combination of a perfectly seasoned piece of bird with the comeback sauce is to die for. A must go to place if you’re ever visiting out of LA.

Nishant Sahoo

Some of the best hot chicken I have ever had. Huge portions of chicken and very reasonable prices. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE SPICE LEVEL! I eat very spicy foods, and even the hot was up there.

Irvin Vazquez

Best chicken I've eaten. Gave me a sample of the hot and that was right heat for me. Ghost pepper level of heat. Hope to come back on my next visit to CA

Anon Spider

One of the best hot chicken I've ever tasted. It wasn't like most that were all spice, no seasoning. I have a pretty high spice tolerance and the hot caused me to chug almost a half gallon of water but nonetheless, still delicious and I'm going to burn my mouth enjoying this meal

Brandon Fuentes

Look there's a line. Deal with it. The chicken and the staff are worth it! The guys in the restaurant make it a fun time, with the bumping music and fresh fried chicken!

Julie D

I've always thought it was so annoying how they always had a huge line where people are waiting 2-5 hours for food when there's technology available for people to order food and pick up when the food is ready. It's not that hard. :) BUT THEY FINALLY DID IT. Thanks to the pandemic, Howlin' Ray accepts orders online through Postmates. You place your order online and it notifies you when the food is good for pick up. I opted for the wings (3 pieces for $9) and tenders (3 pieces for $10) and come back sauce (1 for $0.50). I must say, the food tastes a lot better when you're only waiting 5-10 minutes for it. Each order comes with pickles and Texas toast. And much to the hype, this chicken is very good. Both the wings and tenders were large and filling. I love the crisp it gets and the flavors are just *chefs kiss*. I am a spice fanatic and I thought the medium was perfect. Not too spicy where I couldn't taste the flavor but still has a nice kick. I've had both the sandwich and the wings + tenders now and IMO, I prefer just getting the wings/tenders. I like enjoying just the chicken. Overall, I appreciate the online ordering and fast pick up. Definitely worth going now that you don't have to wait hours!

Adalid Cuevas

This has to be the best fried chicken I ever tasted! Where to begin... I came here on Saturday. Was not sure what to expect but once I arrive it was a 2 hour long line just for this chicken. But it is totally okay! The chicken is worth the wait. The food is amazing but just be aware of the spicy-ness. The Hot spice is already spicy enough. If you try the "howlin" level just expect to be dying for the the rest of the day and the next. Never knew about true pain until I ate the howlin spicy level. But other then that it's a great place and would recommend to everyone.

Licca Iso

We love the food so much. Chicken wings are juicy and savory!!! Oh, and the sando sandwich was real good too. We drove all the way down from San Diego to try it. Matt and Eddie is the best dynamic duo. Super friendly and helpful. We were greeted with a huge smile. Awesome people with great customer service. THEY BOTH DESERVE A RAISE! We will definitely come back.

E C

You'll have to get the chicken sandwich here. Depending on your tolerance on how spicy you like your food it'll dictate your experience. It's very spicy. So if you want to enjoy your food I'd recommend taking it easy with the spice level.

Shirley H

This place is incredible! From the lively atmosphere to the delicious chicken! Waited an hour for this and it's definitely worth the wait! Try to get a seat at the bar. Staff there are very friendly!

Josh James

Best Nashville Hot chicken I've had. Staff are super friendly and helpful. Definitely a must try if you're in LA

Erika

I chose HOT sandwiches, I couldn't finish it as one meal, but even too spicy one, I still could feel they use good chicken!! And I recommend to order french flies too!

Ranjit Raju

Well worth the wait. After trying many others, I believe this is the best fried chicken sandwich in LA.

joe joe

Heard about Hawling Ray's from a co-worker. Decided to come try it for myself. Order a Mild Chicken Sandwich with a order of fries and a Mexican Coca-Cola. Sandwich was good 👌 had better one like Chic Filet deluxe chicken sandwich. A little spicy but good to eat. Tasty and toppings we're good as well. I give the staff 5 stars , 4 stars for the food and 4 stars for not having anywhere to sit.

Tonie P

Delivery was fast.. first time taster.. got medium spiced chicken wings.. very juicy chicken.. loved the crunchy pickles n enjoyed their macaroni salad.

Azur B

Best fried chicken sandwich, the fries are really good too, but the service was above and beyond. For a place this busy to have better service than most places I've been to is amazing

Leesha Moore

Big mistake getting medium heat, it had a little more kick than I thought. We came down from the Antelope Valley to do some shopping in the alley. Word of mouth got us ! The chicken was great ! No line (surprising) and the parking SUCKS ! I parked in where I could get in (TOTALLY ILLEGAL) and so was everyone else But fortunately, it tastes like Dave's Hot Chicken in Lancaster where I live so.....ENJOY IT WHEN YOU'RE IN CHINA TOWN !

Merry Susanti

Super friendly and clean location. Best fried chicken in Los Angeles. Tried their Ghost Pepper and get ready to cry for more.

Mathew Jackson

Great food taste with this few time which we ordered food and their delivery was very in time the have almost the best fried chicken. Great service really liked them.

mhsen saleh

Amazing food and service, but why we can’t order pickups anymore? :(

Lienne Pyzik

Delicious, reasonably priced fried chicken. Also quick and friendly service. We highly recommend Howlin' Ray's!

David Park

Waited in line for 2 hours, but the food and staff will keep me going back in line! The chicken is the crispiest fried chicken I have ever had!

Mary R

Went here for my birthday. The 2 hour drive to LA and the long line to order was definitely worth it. It was a little tricky to find at first. Even walking GPS got us lost. If I lived closer to LA I would eat here more often. Mmmmm, now I'm hungry.

Nicholas Putz

You wait 2 hours in line for these sandwiches for a reason. So good. The fries are seasoned wonderfully as well. Will fly back from Milwaukee for more again.

James Chou

This place is worth the wait ND the hype. Long line always. We were here at 3:30 on a weekday and the wait was 1 hour 😂. Staff is very well trained at customer relations. …

Derek Aguirre

Best spicy chicken place in Los Angeles. Highly recommend if in the Los Angeles area.

Will Powers

as a skeptical human being, i debated with my friend if we should wait 90 minutes for a chicken sandwich and fries, we conceded and waited, talked with folks, we swapped spots and walked around chinatown, got our food, and wow, my skepticism was wiped away and this “sando” with the spice dusted fries were amazing! recommend 100%! fun day activity if you have some friend(s).

Samantha Kristian

It has been months since i had my last howlin rays sando. They added new items in their menu since my last visit. The only way for you to get it is thru Postmates delivery. If you do not live in their restaurant delivery range you can chill in the plaza and then have your order delivered in the plaza (a specific store) and meet your driver there.

Alexander Jake Moreno

Long wait, but worth the bird! FYI: there seems to be a huge jump in spice from medium (not too bas) to HOT (habaneros and ghost pepper mix— according to the waitress). Tread carefully!

Jacky Zhao

A delicious Nashville style spicy chicken sandwich. Very worth it if you don't have to wait 2 hours in line for it.

Duncan Stanley (dunkman)

Absolutely worth the wait for the best fried chicken in Los Angeles! Delicious at any spice range, but be wary of anything Hot or higher!

Luis Estrada

Very busy, a lot of people in line, but the line got very short quick. Fast service and courteous atmosphere.

Jorge Razo

Wow!!! 2 hours until I got my food in hand!!!!! So why the 5 stars??!!!! Because the Chicken is amazingly good!!! Once you reach the inside the employees are so happy singing, dancing to the loud music, makes the remainder of the time go by quick. While I waited inside employee making the fries was cool, he Fist pimped me, asked my name and gave me free fries while I waited to get my to-go order. Then the employee calling numbers out asked where I’m from and was extremely cool. The employee Mario was walking around introducing himself as the “The Face” of Howlin Ray’s because it was him the was in the Los Angeles magazine. Haha

Sherwin Rodriguez

I got the spiciest flavor and almost died. Even when dying by level of heat I could think to myself that is some good chicken, still tastes so good. Tried a middle level and enjoyed so much more. If you want a laugh with your friend get the hottest but if you want some amazing chicken come here either way.

Andrew Hon

Management team at Howlin' Ray's, I brough my friends, who were visiting from New York, to this establishment because it is one of the best chicken sandwiches that I have ever had and was assisted by Matt. He displayed great customer service and hospitality- and went above and beyond expectations while serving us- and I've been to a fair share of fine dining experiences. His act of kindness and great service honestly made it as a highlight of my friends trip and made my day. Not only did we have a great sandwich, it also was a great experience and memory. Thank you so much Matt- you are awesome! Best, Andrew

Miley Yu

Really nice service & worthy of waiting for da HOT fried chicken sandwich P.s secret menu: Mario style fries BOMB

Danny Dang

Amazing wait, amazing chicken incredible service! That's why people are willing to wait! Love this place!

Nicholas Frechette

While I was visiting L.A California I was told to try to get to Howlin' Ray's for lunch. My friend and I got there ruffly about 12:00 on Wednesday. The line was so long we were about 50 deep. To bad we had to leave the wait would of been to long do to we had to be somewhere by 1:00. Maybe next time this is only why I gave them 3 star. Mabey next time!

Shannon M

I love Howlin’ Ray’s from the first moment I bit into their chicken sando. It was the spicy chicken sandwich I’ve been waiting for my whole life. As a youngin, I loved the Rally’s Spicy Chicken sandwich, it was my holy grail meal with the seasoned fries. It slowly started to lose its flavor to me as I became a typical LA foodie. Then comes Howlin’ with its Louisiana spiced chicken with slaw and pickles. A dream come true. This wasn’t the thin spicy chicken of my childhood but the chicken sando of my now mature years. Hope you enjoyed my review ! Also, the Medium is just right.

Perry Price

Too long to wait, order and pick up. Take away all the people but keep the wait, would you really think its the best chicken ever?. Atmosphere is a run down strip mall in a dump area of LA.

Archie Magtibay

Food is always excellent. Tuesday wait time is not very long. About 30 minutes.

Jana Y

I thought it'd be spicier but I did only ordered medium spicy. The meat itself didn't seem to have much flavor, the only thing was the powdered seasoning that I tasted. It was an experience but I definitely had better tasting chicken elsewhere. Luckily I had it delivered by postmate because I would've been disappointed if I waited two hours for it.

Ashwin Alexander

Longest wait for fried chicken ever. IS WORTH IT? HELL YA !!!! Superb tastin chicken ...blows Gastro plate away ...😍😍😍

Lord Shmup

This hot chicken sandwich is worth the hype. Our whole squad had a great experience. Get your ingredients on the side so it doesn't get soggy. Load up your sandwich and dip it in the house sauce. Enjoy a taste of greatness. Must be delivered by postmates. Would highly recommend.

Minh Fong

Should’ve done medium and not medium plus so I could taste the flavor and not just the spice. So delicious!

Giordana Brami

Super worth it!!! I got there 9:50 and waited sitted all the time. When the line formed at 10:50 I was the 5th in line. My order was ready in 5 minutes!! Super friendly staff they were amazing!!! I tryed the country and love it!! My husband tried the x-hot and coul not eat it.

B “Duece” Hernandez

On point for the nation. Best nashville style chicken i have ever had.

Scott Wilson

Believe the hype around this restaurant! We ordered two medium chicken sandwiches, one order of fries, and collard greens. The chicken sandwiches were big and juicy. There was a slight kick with the medium, so next time I think I would take it up a notch. The fries were well seasoned. Tried the collard greens and as a native Southerner - I approve! They didn't even charge me for them; he wanted me to try them! The customer service was what made the experience most memorable though. I wish I could remember the name of the dude helping us but he was so welcoming, offered suggestions from the menu, and treated us like we were friends right off the bat.

Su Lew

Actually i havent tried but others who stood hours in line months after months precovid days, all who i have asked said it is all worth it. For once today i passed by but there is no line,as there is only delivery service by postmates...so to all their fans maybe you get it faster if you order??? keep safe!

ogk will

Best food I ever ate in my life. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 my brother had a seizure in line and the manger Mario help us with some water and made sure everything was ok with my brother. Everyone go get there amazing food. God bless you guys they deserve the best. Delicious try the Mario fry’s …

Kahang L. Chan

The BEST chicken sandwich I have ever eaten. It raises the bar. It is quite spicy. I recommend the mild unless you really like it hot. FYI - the Chinatown location is closed. They only make sandwiches for delivery. We were lucky and grateful that the staff would sell us a sandwich. We came all the way from Orlando, FL.

Christen Romero

As a lover of Nashville hot chicken sandwiches I drove 30 mins to try out Howlin' Ray's. The experience fell far short of the hype. Overall I rate Howlin' Ray's three (3) stars. Below is a ranking for the following categories: (i) location; (ii) food; (iii) service and (iv) price. LOCATION: 2 stars The location is an outdoor market. There is no indoor seating and only one small 2-person table outside of Howlin' Ray's to sit. This means you're looking at either taking your meal to go or finding an obscure unshaded spot to post up and eat. FOOD: 3 stars. I love Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. I've tried 6-7 places in L.A. thus far in search of the best one. Howlin' Ray's is (unfortunately) not it. First, a must of a friend chicken sandwich is the tenderness of the chicken. My sandwich was 3/5 in terms of tenderness/juicy-ness. It was not dry—but it was a far cry from where it should be. Second, the type of spice or method of spice hits like a dry rub hits—rather than a well-marinated chicken breast. I will say the size of the chicken breast was a positive. SERVICE: 5 stars. The staff was efficient and kind. That was the highlight of visiting Howlin' Ray's. PRICE: 2 stars. $15 for the classic sandwich. I understand food price increases—but $15 is 2x the price of a Hot Dave's Chicken sandwich—and you can actually sit down and eat your meal at Dave's Hot Chicken. If the food quality was there I'd be all for it—but the quality of Howlin' Ray's hot chicken sandwich just isn't there for me to justify the price difference. OVERALL: I love Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and am in search of the holy grail of hot chicken sandwiches in LA. For me Howlin' Ray's is not it. Nonetheless I wish them the best of luck!

Leslie Concepcion

The person who took our order was rude. We were dying to try this place out!! Coming from Texas just to try this! In Dallas there is this location called Ricky’s hot chicken and the owner said that the owner from howlin rays pretty much helped him get started. When we told that to the person who took our order, he was extremely rude to us and acted as if we lied! Which sucks cus it’s nothing to be rude over. Overall the food was delicious, we tried the hottest spice level which is howlin and it was delicious. Crazy spicy but nothing we weren’t expecting!! Wish the location was in a better place, someplace more easily accessible with parking and seating! The food was delicious, will definitely go back!!

Bleu Belrry

Besides the food being beyond belief the love is amazing. If you haven’t been place it on your list of stuff to do before you die.

Eric Lin

Worth the wait. Their chicken is fried perfection. Pickles and white bread are the perfect supplements.

Vamp's

Jesus!!! If you can't do spicy 🌶️🌶️ don't try the howling or howling+++, i had the sando howling and i could only take half the sandwich. Had some chicken strips H++ i couldn't. It was just too much, i had da bomb sauce daves insanity, the last dab sauce, yucatan xxx, and many more!!!. Don't get me wrong try mild the first time then work your way up!!!. This was crazy. The spicy was just a raw metal flavor. But everything else was good. Im definitely returning

Lisa Gustafson

Best Chicken Sandwiches you will ever taste! Everyone is amazing who works here.

Aishel Marie

Amazing Staff!!!😄Goodness in a Howlin' Ray's Box 😍... Indeed good thing come to those who wait...🤗 So Yummy!!! 🤤😋😍 Pack your patience and know the Twitter wait time is nearly spot on😮 …

gerald johns

It is worth the wait don’t even stress and that peach sweet tea is fire.

Melody Ortega-Chino

Love the food just the right amount of spices will recommend for you to try it out

Myla Wilson

This place is amazing! Perfect crunch, and the chicken is still moist! The customer service is beyond incredible! I enjoyed the entire experience!

ROGER “MCMLXXII” REYES

Great food, great vibe and well worth the wait. Your staff is awesome you guy treated us like familia. We love your vibe

Inolvidable Pelonsito

We love this place it !! We waited almost 2hr but it was worded!!service excellent very clean place!

Stephanie Contreras

I don’t usually like chicken sandwiches but let me tell you, this chicken was absolutely hands down one of the best ever! I ordered the Skinny Jimmy and It was so tender and the flavor was delicious. The dipping sauce gave it that extra yummy flavor. I will definitely be going back for more!

David Chile

Excellent environment excellent food excellent service Excellent employee atmosphere there's a reason this place always has a long line and there's a reason why people wait this place deserves your patience and your belly

Wei Yuan Tzeng

Long wait, but one of best fried chicken ever had. Very friendly.

Walter T

Delicious chicken, great seasoning on the chicken. Very spicy go for country or mild. Expect long lines during the weekend. But well worth it.

Andre H.

Been going to Howlin Ray's since they opened up in Chinatown. Food is always the best here. Never had a complaint in all the years ordering food. The staff is amazing and they make you feel like you have known them for a long time. Very fun place to eat. Since covid and using postmates they are still the #1 in Nashville Hot Chicken. Yeah I cheat sometimes and go to the other place that only has chicken strips. BUT, there is no other hot chicken sandwich, chicken wings breast and thighs like Howlin Ray's. Their sides are way better than the competition as well. The fries are dope!! Was pretty disappointed during covid I couldn't order the Batter Box. But hey there is no place like Howlin Ray's.

Effie Mei

Howling’ Ray’s Chicken wings is bomb! Finally tried this chicken place that’s known for its long line! 🍽🍗😋 …

Adam Miller

The only thing matching their flavor is their service. Unknowingly went on their first day back open after a holiday hiatus. This meant we had to wait for over 4 hours to receive our food. After waiting this long we knew the food had to be great. After ordering the Hot, the cashier let us try a free sample of the hot, thankfully he did because it was too spicy for me! They let us adjust our order to the medium with no problem. The service was the best I've probably ever had in my life. The owner and workers treated us like family. I would gladly come back and wait four hours for this chicken again. Best chicken in LA for sure. Definitely a must have.

Raj Shah

Lines worth it, foods worth it and especially the staff is amazing. Get the hot sando, (it is spicy) but if you want to enjoy the flavor then this is the one to get.

Sully Yang

Definitely worth the wait! Sit at the counter for amazing service. Best waffles.

Michael Cho

This place is life changing. The employees were so nice. The chicken is so flavorful. Mild was not spicy enough and the medium was just right. Everything was perfection. Be sure to get the sauce for the fries!!

Steffy Sanchez

Great place to come to eat i love the Chicken sandwich everyone is nice and good music the downfall is that there's a long line but its worth the wait 👍 …

Robert McQueen

The food is good you won't be disappointed with that, however you will be disappointed by the wait. I'm talking at least 30 minutes or more depending on time of day. This is NOT a place you can run to on lunch break, or even for a date night. You need to get there at like 10AM and hope you can start eating 10:45. On top of that there location is basically a hole in the wall with no seating available. You will find multiple people having meals on the floor. I can't stress enough how annoying waiting in line excessively for a simple chicken sandwich. So all in all be prepared

Kaku Ephraim

Get anything on the menu honestly, nothing to disappoint. Fries are on another level and the Chicken?!?! There has to be witchcraft going on, because there ain’t nothing like this out there. Every bite brings tears because you have a smaller sandwich. You know how they say don’t over feed fish because they will just keep eating.. well this is the same thing for humans and their sandwhich. Live, laugh, and eat at Howlin’ Rays, you won’t be disappointed.

Ariel Johnston

Would give them 6 stars of I could. They were short one wing for our 15 wing order so they threw in two sandwiches and an extra bag of fries which I think would be an extra $28 otherwise. Chicken tasted fantastic as well. 10/10 would order again.

Nathan Roy

Best hot chicken sandwich in LA. Better than Main Chick even (even though Main Chick is great also).You can only order through Postmates — and you give your order number when you arrive.

Alfredo E. Lopez

Awesome place, a blessing from God, the Nashville Chicken Sandwiches are by far the best in LA. Johnny the Owner is great. Highly recommended.

Natalie Smith

Excellent food, Excellent service. The complete package 👌🏾 Mario was my server and he was quick and friendly. Small talk with customers goes a long way. He's a true asset to the business. If the food was bad (which it's not) I'd probably come back just because of him! …

Gregory Bradley

Chicken was pretty decent. Basically, you wait in line for about 2 hours for a good friend chicken that tastes completely of cayenne pepper, with a very crisp skin. My honest opinion is: if you've never been, the wait is worth it. Good story, really fun and friendly staff. I wouldn't go a second time if I had to wait more than about 30 minutes. This place is more about the one-time experience than it is about the food.

Vonz

Best chicken sandwich I’ve ever eaten. Will be coming back whenever I’m in LA again.

Keith Barne

Totally worth the hype and the wait. Over 2 hours! Best spicy fried chicken I've ever had. I definitely didn't enjoy the wait but that was forgotten once I started eating. I got the classic sando and it was... Perfect combination of crispy, spicy, and flavor in every bite. I'd do this again but I hope they expand so the wait isn't so ridiculous.

Huy Nguyen

Delicious and takes spicy fried chicken sandwiches to a whole different level

Brandon Cole

What can I say about this place? It was by far the best chicken I've ever had in my life. There is a 45 min to an hour wait, but it's definitely worth it. Trust me. I got their two spiciest chicken breasts, and they were super hot. If you aren't good with spicy food, I'd make sure you get one of their lower tiered spice levels. Lastly, the employees and owner are awesome. Super friendly and actually care about their customers. If you're visiting LA for the first time, you have to stop by a get some Nashville Hot Chicken.

Janice Chan

Ahhh I love Howlin’ Rays so much, I wish it were closer to me! Their new takeout only system through Postmates is excellent, we barely waited for our food and the food quality was just as I remembered. We ordered the wings and chicken sando - the medium was too spicy for me but I powered through it! Everything was crispy and fresh! If it’s your first time at Howlin’, I’d recommend the sando and waffles (available on the weekend!)!

Dennis

Consistently fantastic food, the staff makes the experience all the more better. They're friendly and fun and full of banter, and Def know how to make the fact that you'll be waiting in line all the more worth your time. The chickens spicy succulent and juicy. My only regret is that I got cold feet from my first experience here trying extra hot hot and went down to medium. 100% would go back and order hot or hot+

Haig Dakessian

I went here because of the positive experiences everyone has been talking about. So I decided to give it a shot. I decided to get the chicken tenders, fried pickles, fries, Sandro, molasses cookie, and banana pudding. Everything was a 50/10 and worth the wait. But I would not go above medium if you can not the spiciness of authentic Thai food. Although the line is long, everyone is friendly, and very relaxed. Also the guy handling our order was outgoing, and friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant if you have time, are there to have fun, and eat good food. Since the line is long I would not decide to eat here if you are on a time crunch. Yet again overall really good food and really good atmosphere.

Cas

Amazing Chicken, well worth the very long wait. I always stop here everytime I am in town. I get the medium. It's got some nice heat but not too much. Perfect level of heat. Let's you still enjoy the great chicken flavor. I tried the hot and my mouth was burning for 15 minutes. The crew is always friendly, helpful and inviting. Definitely recommend that you stop here if you are in town. It's worth the wait!!

santiago avalos

Hot chicken long lines always makes a good combo. Also the occasional celebrity also helps put this local on a high pedestal. (Adrian Gonzalez & Mario Lopez)

lightspeed1212

No contest best chicken In LA county 100% worth the wait. The customer service is rediculious.

Jeff Chong

Hands down one of the best chicken sandwiches around. Great crunch to the chicken and the sauce, bread, and slaw they pair it with is perfect. I got the medium spice and I thought it was perfect. Although the spice does build so it's more like a medium hot at the end. I recommend a mild if you don't care that much for spicy. Overall I'd come here again but definitely not on a Sunday. It was a 3 hour wait when I went.

Jorge Mendez

Waited four hours for this right before Christmas. The wait was definitely worth it. Ever since having hot chicken in Nashville I have been craving it and every other place has been a disappointment. I had the extra hot sandwich and it was amazing. I would recommend the hot for anyone who just wants to get a taste of heat. I usually eat pretty spice and I was definitely feeling the extra hot. I don't think I am brave enough to try Howling level.

Diego Barreto

It’s not just about the food but the experience! The atmosphere was like no other! Everyone who works there is freakin dope! Super amazing fun people! Plus the sand which was A1!!!

Kevin Lange

By far the best hot chicken sandwich i have ever had...

Quynh Dao

Amazing. Probably the best chicken I’ve ever had in my life. My favorite is the chicken sandwich. The seasoning is perfect! I have to say that it’s pretty spicy though. Mild is hot to me, and medium is almost not enjoyable because of the heat (for me). Their customer service is outstanding! Good people who deliver service with a smile. They definitely go above and beyond and you can tell they truly enjoy what they do! Their lines are long for a reason. I usually try to find any excuse to come here! 5 stars for sure!

Arturo Delgado

The spicy chickens here are incomparable. Not only is the breading crispy and spicy but the chicken itself has good flavor and spice within it. The fries with their house sauce are howlin good. They also were very friendly and offered us some sample of hot and very hot chicken. Looking forward to be back

Ken Lee

One of my favorite chicken places. I’ve been 2 times so far and it’s been at least a 2 hour wait. When I come down to LA, I don’t have much to do so that 2 hour wait isn’t so bad. The food on the other hand is bomb. The chicken tenders are so good and the chicken sandwich taste amazing. Best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. Would definitely recommend even with the wait. Quick tip: make sure you sit inside 👌🏽👌🏽

Gerardo Abrego

This place is delicious. I waited 3 hours, but I am not from Glendale so wanted to try it. I got the Sando. I got medium hotness and it has plenty of kick. The chicken has so much flavor as well as being juicy and tender. The fries were good as well. The atmosphere is great you can tell the workers work hard to get the orders done, but also make sure that all orders are correct and up to standard. I would definitely come back, but hopefully not have to wait 3 hours.

Vincent Torres

You may look at this place and wonder. Is it worth waiting 3 hours just for a chicken sandwich or a half chicken? Absolutely. Best chicken I've had hands down. The vibe inside the restaurant is what truly makes it all worth it. Makes you feel like you are part of a big family and gives you personal customer service by each member of their staff. If I find myself in LA again, I will definitely add this to my list of places to go.

Mike Conover

If you haven't experienced Howlin' Ray's than you've been missing out. This is some of the best hot chicken on the country.

Phille Anthony Agustin

Food and service is 5/5. The only reason I docked some points is the wait time. I tried the X-hot which was the second spiciest level. It's enough to warrant gloves for handling! I never thought food can still be spicy yet maintain its flavor the way howling Ray's does their spicy fried chicken. The burn was more of an after effect rather than the main experience when eating the chicken sandwich. The slaw greatly balances the spicy and juiciness of the well-seasoned battered chicken! It was great! Can be worth the wait depending on how long.. we waited 1.5 hrs!

dora guerrero

It's been a while since I had a Howlin' Ray's Chicken Sando. Quite recently they came up in casual conversation and I decided I should try it again. Lucky for me, the opportunity came up shortly after and I jumped on it! When I opened my Howlin' Box, I was happy with the size and thickness of the chicken. It was well seasoned, crispy and the mild was just right this time around. Definitely got me sweating but I was happy with the slight heat. I really loved how the chicken wasn't dry, and that it was bursting with flavor with every bite! My experience on the toilet this time around was also way better. Not sure what that means... but it's best not to think too much about it. Will probably find my way to Howlin' for another Sando in the near future after my most recent experience. Much more enjoyable!

Adam Marin

It's easily worth the two hour wait. Best hot chicken sandwich I've ever had. The upbeat and fun nature of the people working there made this one of the most memorable dinning experiences in my life. I'm salivating just writing this review. I can't wait to drive back up to LA (live in OC) to have Holwlin' Rays again!

Jim Hoang

Let me just start off by saying, if you want to ruin your entire day, order anything as howling. If you just want to punish your body, your mind, and your soul, howling is going to do it for you. On a more serious note, this place is great. Expect long waits in getting into this small place before getting some of the juiciest fried chicken you'll ever eat. Super friendly staff (special shoutout to Mo) and great service. We got a few extras, which was a great surprise. We were a group of 4, and we waiting about 1.5 hours before getting in on a Saturday afternoon. Ordered the sandwich, chicken, wings, pudding, fries, and macaroni. All very tasty. Definitely worth trying when you come to LA.

Veronica Landa-Beavers

The wait is ungodly long, but if you follow them on social media, they'll post when it's short. The food here is phenomenal - granted I'm a vegetarian so the chicken I can't attest to, but my friends rave about it. The weekend waffles though are the tastiest I've ever eaten. But the people/service? The absolute best. They'll banter with you, slip extra fries into your bag, give you suggestions if you're the weirdo who doesn't eat meat at a chicken shop. So yes, it is absolutely worth the wait

David King

The line was long. The food was great. We stood in line for 1 hour and 32 minutes for the Nashville chicken and we were not disappointed. Making sure to cover the menu board we ordered chicken and waffles with mild tenders, a box of medium tenders, and a hot Sando. All of it came with a bit of kick, even the mild. The taste though... Often hot chicken mean more heat less flavor. Not here. This chicken was delicious, great quality eats. My only complaint, the waffles were cold. Very tasty, but cold. I would certainly recommend Howling Ray's. Just be ready for a wait.

Alishah Jamal (AJ)

The hot chicken here is very similar to what you'd get at princes or Hattie b back in nashville. The taste of the spices is pretty good. Wish they had more breading but it was good. Also their fries and pickles are very good. Would recommend. PS I had the medium spicy and it wasn't even all that spicy (though spice is a bit subjective but I normally don't eat much spicy food)

Z. Cai

Excellent chicken and great service. Featuring the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. Moist, fresh chicken coated in delicious sauce (don't get more than medium unless you're really up for it. I liked mild). The large portions of chicken fall right off the bone. The curly fries are crisp and not overly greasy. I loved their peach tea as well, which featured real peach taste and hit the spot when the heat came up. The only problem is the lines, they really need to do something to expand and it's not coming soon enough. No need to brag about making your customers wait 3 hours just to show how popular you are...

j c

Postmates only rn, but can get to order on site if not too busy.

Samuel Garcia

We waited 2 hours in line and it was worth it. The staff is friendly and the chicken sandwich was the best I've ever had. When you took a bite the meat was pure white and juicy and the outside was crunchy and flavorful and the slaw and pickles added more. The wings themselves are awesome I even tried a wing howlin hot and boy it burns but still delicious. I recommend going with hot if you're a spicy person. I'll be coming back again that's for sure.

Mike Porter

I didn't think this would be worth waiting hours for. Chicken sandwiches? These people must be crazy. I've never been so happy to be wrong. These are the most delicious sandwiches you'll ever have. They're not kidding about the spiciness though! Their waffles are also amazing -- the perfect texture.

Martin Famiglietti

The food is amazing. So don't come here. The line already takes 3 hours to get through. We don't need you to come and make it even longer!

Tony Fleming

BESTTTTT damn chicken around! The atmosphere is great! The staff is phenomenal!!! Just such a great place with great vibes, and even more awesome food. The food is DELICIOUS!!! and it honestly makes the line worth it. This place truly deserves all the glory. My favorite chicken place hands down. We pay to park across the street, it's easy that way. We entertain with munching on the shops around until we order. They take cards, so we don't need to worry about having cash. They box up everything to go, they make it easy. You must go & try this piece of heaven!

Carlos otos

There are many claims of the best fried chicken. I can’t say I’ve tried them all, but definitely enough to say this is the best I’ve had by far. It’s worth the long lines. If you get lucky you’ll find a spot at the counter and see the team work as you enjoy the amazing food.

Montana Ellis

The moment I sat down at the counter and started taking in the ambiance, interacting with workers, and getting served free food left and right, I forgot all about the 3 hour wait I stood through to get there. And then I got my food—amazing. If you’re heading in on the weekend, you NEED to get the chicken and waffles, or at least a waffle on the side. My friends and I all agreed that it was quite possibly the best waffle we have ever had (crispy, fluffy, buttery, etc.), and the wonderful counter staff sent us home with extra. And of course the chicken was on point. Worth the wait.

Don Alcantara

The only thing I could complain about is the wait but then again, the wait is there because the place is so damn good. We had the fried chicken sandwich and a couple of pieces and the spices were on point, the temperature was correct and the crispiness was exactly what we were looking for. I can't say enough great things about this place. I would give it six stars for the service and quality food we received. The guys and gals that worked there knew exactly what kind of wait we were in (better than 3 hours!) and they were very patient with us, talked us up and made us feel so comfortable knowing it was our very 1st time. Would I go back? Definitely! I'll just bring a book for the line next time.

H N

Great fried chicken, especially if you're a fan of spicy food! Definitely recommend the sandwiches as well.

Andrea R

French fries were amazing. Chicken was pretty delicious but way too salty. Cut out like 30% of the salt and it would be perfect

J L

We drove up from Orange County to try this place and did not find out that we had to use Postmate to order until we got there. So....we ordered through PM and entered the address of the business next door, same with almost everyone else standing around. The chicken sandwiches definitely had a kick if you ordered the spiciest, but to me it was mostly salty than spice for some reason. Overall, the food was good, but to me it is only 4 stars good and not 5 stars. Definitely give it a try if you are in town as long as you are OK with ordering through PM.

Happy Memories

Their food is to die for!! I ordered "The Sandwhich" (mild) yesterday and oh my god!! The line sure is long! BUT The food is super delicious and when you combine it with the Mario style fries.. my god! It's waaaaayyy too good!!! 😄 plus their customer service is amazing! 😊👏 …

David Lopez

Best spicy chicken in LA and probably in California. Everything from chicken and waffles to fixed up fries are killer. The sando is my go to with medium heat. Take their heat levels seriously. On top of that the customer service is top tier.

Queen W

Its very good. The greens were fire and the best part was the bread soaking up all the flavor. Extra bread is a must! The waffle was light and good. Wing were a nice size but a 2 hour and 30 min wait in line at 11 in the morning? Sheesh! I would love to try some of the hotter flavors; however, I wont be standing in line for it again any time soon. People inside to the restaurant were very friendly!

Julian F

I ordered a medium spicy sando. I ended up getting the howling version for some reason could have been a computer error or my error. However I returned back and let the guy giving out the orders by the name of Matt know what happened he quickly fixed my order with great customer service. I really appreciate that. This place rocks!!!

Justin Bartholomew

Easily the best sandwich I've ever gotten. Easily the best customer service I've ever gotten. The wait is long. But the payoff is more than worth it. I got the hot version of there chicken, I wouldn't advise going past that point, the hot is spicy without being overwhelming for me. Will 100% be coming back here.

Poorna Shivaprakasha (Poorna)

One of the best fried chicken sandwiches I’ve had!

German Isiordia Jr.

Howlin Ray’s has one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had. It’s juicy and the portion is just right. The service here is always amazing. They will recognize you if you go often, which is a feat in itself considering how many people they see a week. Just goes to show how they actually care to interact with their customers. The only downside is the lines, at times. It’s the only location and considering how popular they are, long lines are to be expected at times. They always update their wait times on Twitter so you can plan ahead accordingly. Amazing sandwich, chicken and service.

chris nguyen

Awesome chicken but the wait can be excruciating. I waited about 2.5 hours on a Thursday afternoon (arrived 11:30am and ordered at 2pm). They warn you about the spice level so if you normally order “hot” somewhere else, they tel you to get medium here. They have the option of ordering medium plus which was perfect for me. My buddy eats spicy and tried the chicken sandwich hot, he barely ate 2/3 and he’s stomach wasn’t right for about 30mins after. Worth eating some there at the counter because they guys behind the counter are super chill and create a great atmosphere to sit and eat and joke around. That made an experience in itself and erased the pain of standing in line for so long. Eat immediately. Wasn’t as good eating the rest of the order at home.

Jon Cyprus

The staff is extremely fun and friendly! They make it a really fun and amazing place to go to. Even with hundreds of customers they still remember me from the week before! Their chicken is very juicy and has a lot of amazing flavors packed inside of it. If you don’t want to wait very long get here at around 8:30 or 9 on a weekend and you’ll get in by 11. 10/10 would recommend!

Esther Lee

I do think the chicken sandwich (medium) was quite good. It is an extremely dense and heavy sandwich and you will likely be full for some time. It was such a mess to eat though! I'm more of a fan of just plain fried chicken and not in a sandwich though, so that's on me to try next time. Service here is really fantastic. The employees seem really happy, and I can really appreciate a place with happy employees, since it usually means they're being treated well. The wait is no joke though...

Kane Dallas

Lives up to the hype! I believe it's the best tasting Nashville hot chicken in LA, I've gone about 5 times & it is great every single time! The fries & sandos are bomb! Especially with the comeback sauce! The crew is awesome! It's a one of a kind experience, ESPECIALLY if you're able to find a seat inside the restaurant! It's definitely worth the wait!

Courtney Kobata

I'll start off by saying the chicken is 100% worth the wait. I've come by before, and gave up due to the long line, but this time stuck around. They cut off the line at 7, so as long as you're here before that you're good. We got there at 6:20 and got our food almost at 8. I read the reviews that the chicken is spicy, but had been afraid that if I didn't get it spicy there wouldn't be any flavor, so I got one mild and one medium. The medium was a big mistake for me. I can handle spice, but not too much. If you want to be safe and really enjoy your chicken, get mild. The chicken itself is super juicy, with the perfect amount of batter and crunch. I took home a chicken sandwich to eat the next day, and it was still crispy!!!

F G

awesome chicken juicy chicken breast they know what they are doing one of the best fried chicken places I have EVER been the down side the LINE!!!OMG so long!! but it is well worth it great customer service too! if u are down to wait a minimum of 2-3 hours in line to place your order then go for it I promise you wont regret it! and the medium is the perfect spice might b too spicy if u cant handle spice well so go lower anything above medium has ghost pepper in it

remi ster

I remember the days when the line was only 45 minutes, before all the social media and hipsters took over. Back then you had less time to get the fried chicken with their operating hours. Now with the hustle and bustle you got peak wait times of 2 hours or more, but with better operating hours, The food here is amazing, the fried chicken is juicy! I usually come here on the weekends, so I can get the waffles with the chicken. I have brought lots of people here and they loved it and also making friends while we all wait for the feasts. It is totally an experience!

Abigael McGuire

Worth every second in line, this is my favorite restaurant on planet earth

Hannah Tom

wow! hands down best customer service! the food itself is 5 stars. with the customer service i wish i could give it a 6th star. if you’re in the area you MUST TRY! definitely worth it.

Kevin Lui

They're really nice. Got our food super quick. Gave us a token to use the restroom and also water bottles after telling me they didn't have tap water. The food lives up to the type. Definitely visit here.

Steve Jay

Really enjoyed their food. Definitely coming back.

Spencer Anderson

Food was fresh. Great flavor. But the staff is what really made it special. They created a great atmosphere. Very energetic,upbeat and fun. Julian was attentive and made us feel especially welcome even while being extremely busy. The whole team made this a great experience. Came all the way from NY and it did not disappoint. Will be returning.

Jose Marquez

THE BEST CHICKEN SANDWICH EVER! I waited 45 minutes and it WAS SO WORTH IT! I live in San Diego and I am making the trip back Howlin Ray's next week. Pricing is right and the food is outrageous, no kidding! The atmosphere adds to the overall feeling. You feeling like you know everyone and they treat you as very well. I ate the sandwich and a side of macaroni. This could have fed two people. I left with a great feeling and an extremely full stomach. I have been telling all my friends and family. This is a must visit! I'm hungry just writing this review.

Vincent Lemus

TLDR: Amazing service. Julian is super cool and great. Having bumped into the restaurant from Korea Town and perhaps not within delivery radius, he accommodated me. I ordered three wing at the spiciest. I enjoyed it but despite the preparation and ingredients' quality, it was more fun than tasty. I recommend people heed the spice warnings. I eat super spicy. This is not mainstream spicy. Food was otherwise quite great. Chicken exterior not burnt and interior juicy and cooked just right. Would recommend it as a standard bearer for all great LA fried chicken. The long story: I mostly eat fried chicken in Korea Town. Lots of shops there. They even have a Nashville-style franchise Dave's Hot chicken and a Korean and perhaps (?) Nashville fried chicken spot Michin Dak (my go to near home). I have had their highest spice level each. Neither were too spicy but the spice level from Dave's gave me heartburn. I got the three wings at the spiciest level. I was warned against it. Receiving such warnings before, I did not heed it. Most places cater to a more mainstream hot level. Their hottest is typically barely spicy. I received my chicken with courtesy gloves to handle them and a warning not to touch anything after handling the chicken without washing. Not thinking too much about it, I got home and took my first bite. It is certainly spicy—quite spicier than anything. The wings were quite large compared to other restaurants' offerings and prepared just right, juicy, and how the exterior was not on fried burnt. The texture and appearance were exceptional, but having not heeded the earlier warnings, I could barely taste the chicken with the first bite. After the first wing, I could not taste chicken at all and my mouth was properly burning 🥵. After the second wing, I stopped. It was fun to eat something spicy, but I was not particularly hungry and could not taste chicken. After carefully drinking two pints of milk, I continued my evening and slept. It was spicy but very manageable. Probably could have done without milk but I did not want it to rub off elsewhere or think about the burn too much after eating. I woke to a some stomach pains and needed to drink water to settle my gut. Slept well after. Great food. Real hot spice level.

Matthew Brabec

The best chicken I've ever had and well worth the wait! Very moist and seasoned deliciously. Medium spicy was perfect. Howlin spicy is ridiculously spicy. Staff was amazing. Positive and so nice despite how busy they are. Will come back the next time I'm in LA!

Guadalupe Anguiano

This place is really delicious, the service is great now why the bad review? Well the line is ridiculous and it's not so great that it's "worth the wait". The hot chicken is flavorful but the heat takes away rather than adds to the flavor. As a Mexican I love heat, but am used to heat that ADDS flavor to food rather than kills it. I think the chicken is tender and delicious but I don't think I'll ever come back to this place ever again, there's plenty of places with shorter lines. Best, Lupe A a native L.A. woman.

Isaac Martinez

Great seasoning and crisp on the chicken. It's a popular location. They give you a little piece of bread and diping sauce that compliments the chicken. You can pay meter or parking lot if you driving or use Ubereats enjoy.

Diana Glauser

This may be the best hot chicken I have ever had. It was spicy, flavorful, juicy and piping hot. Fries and banana pudding accompanied dinner and were delicious. We waited an hour to order, but it was well worth it. The employees here are awesome - friendly, happy and upbeat. I absolutely recommend Howlin’ Ray’s.

Daniela Duarte

First time there was amazing great staff and it is a very friendly atmosphere. We only waited about 45 minutes on a Friday so the wait wasn't bad. We has never been there so i ordered a extra hot and it was super spicy but so flavorful that i couldn't stop eating it. But if you like spicy food 100% recommend the extra hot. The Sando is delicious. Plus the staff is very friendly and gave us extra food gotta love the Howling crew! It was definitely worth the wait and the 90 mile drive!!

Lance

Great chicken, good serving sizes. I don’t miss waiting in the long lines ore covid and love that they deliver now so everyone has a chance to enjoy some! If you like spice, take it easy and work your way up. They give you a series of talk throughs before you can eat their hottest heat and a waiver to sign, it’s THAT hot.

Crystal Nunez

We arrived around 2:30 we were in line for an hour and a half but it was totally worth it! The chicken sandwich was really good although I though the fries were way too over seasoned. Other than that Best chicken sandwich I’ve ever tried. By the time we got our food the line was even longer than where we originally started. Would suggest coming earlier because the later you come the longer the Line .

CaliforniaCalories

When you hear about Nashville Hot Chicken, you probably are prompted to think about, well, Nashville. Those of us in California are lucky because we have that authentic Nashville hot flavor just a drive away. Serving up Tennessee’s finest in La La land since 2014, Howlin’ Ray’s brings those flavors to you without having to book a flight. Order their famous Sando with whatever amount of spice you prefer. I have to warn all my readers that this chicken sandwich will forever change your mind about all chicken sandwiches. I came back to the Bay Area and the chicken sandwiches here just aren't the same compared to Howlin' Rays. Howlin' Rays has the most tender and juiciest chicken I've ever had in my life. They have country spice for those who are not big fans of heat, and they have howlin’ heat which is reserved for those who live for spice. Make sure to keep it Southern by adding a side order of collard greens. What I recommend: Chicken sandwhich but if you can take spice, try their Howlin'

May Cheung

I feel like this place is overhyped in a sense but a must try at least once, especially for the cost of a sandwich. The lines still run about 1.5-2 hrs of a wait so it is definitely popular to many! If you want the full experience, definitely sit at the counter so you get a full view of the cooks working hard but also having a lot of fun entertaining you!

Nav

The undefeated, undisputed heavyweight chicken sando champion of the world. Best customer service in the game, pure vibes in side. Check the secret menu for sure, get extra sauce and enjoy your best life.

Patrick Marzullo

Hot Damn! Believe the hype. This isn’t just the best hot chicken sando in the LA, it’s the best sando, period. Special shout to the guy running the take-out window, Matt. He keeps things moving efficiently and went above and beyond to fix our order after I screwed up by ordering online from the wrong location.

Katherine Michelle Haro

I have never experienced such incredible hospitality. I ordered a lot of food, and it being my first time, I ordered Hot everything ( short story, I was dying ) . The cooks served me up a fresh medium sandwich. Additionally the service was just out of this world. After a long wait in line, the minute I sat down they gave me little appetizers for free and talked to me . The food is flavorful, but really listen to their warning about recovery times for eating the hot and Wildin chicken. Would recommend over and over again simply because the customer service was the ABSOLUTE BEST!

Tmp terrostone

Lively place. Every customer is a winner here, today was a lucky day for me as we met the main man himself. Very kind and the staff was just as exceptional. The chicken is worth the 3-4 hour wait! I make a pilgrimage to eat there about once every month. I highly recommend going if you are contemplating or have yet to try it. It is worth the wait and hype. A friend recommended it to me And so far we've made 5 people into believers and counting. Haha. Great food, i recommend trying the "Jojo sand which" (weekends only i think) and the "mario style fries"!!!

Fritz Von Eric

Waited 2 hours in line but the food was pretty good! Ordered the 3 wings (hot). I love spicy food but the hot was way too spicy for me so I would say medium if you want just a kick of spice and not want your whole mouth to burn. Other than that I really enjoyed myself, the staff was super friendly. Gave us a free cookie and person in charge check on us and introduced himeself. Highly recommended.

Shruti Thukral

The food is phenomenal, but it's the employees who totally make it. Worth the visit worth the wait! Thank you guys!

Angel Wagner

Went back here alone and was lucky enough to grab a seat at the counter. I had ordered stuff to go, but I asked to eat one of my sandwiches at the counter, and take the rest to go. Julian was so friendly and said, of course! He offered free pickles while I waited. I got my sandwich handed to me, and about a minute later, I was given a free mini order of cheese fries and extra sauce. If you are going to take the time to wait in line, make sure you grab a seat inside. The food is only half the experience. Last time, I got the mild plus and medium hot and i thought i could take some more heat, so this time I got the HOT. It's a big difference from medium to HOT - be warned. Everyone is so friendly there, especially on this day - a day when I really needed some warmth and kindness...RIP TCB.

Jonathan Lechuga

I can't get enough of it, very delicious spot must try. The medium is not too bad if you can handle spices you're good anything over is definitely hot .

Theodore Nguyen

First off if you give this place anything below a 5/5 stars you must be a bitter and undoubtedly hard to please person! The first thing you will remember from this place is how impeccable and amazing the service is! If you are having a bad day, I am sure the employees here will be able to brighten it up. The waits are heinous but the moment you walk up to order, everything just seems to wash away and happiness seems to be restored. As for the chicken itself, you cannot deny that it is extremely juicy, flavourful, and undeniably delicious! The fried chicken in the sandwich is a massive juicy piece of crispy chicken in a perfect bun with that awesome slaw. The regular hot fried chicken deserves a try too especially with all of their sides! I crave this everytime I go overseas! Worth every penny and every minute waiting!

Kobe

The Customer service was without a doubt the worse service I have ever experienced. It was like as if I stepped in a funeral, the mood was very sorrowful, It was as if someone died. I was treated by the employees as if I had personal problems with them, just politely asking for some ketchup seemed as if I was asking them to perform a large task. The food on the other hand served no justice towards the attitude of the employees. I ordered some fries and it came to me cold, not only that but so was the meat. To top of my review I would Honestly rate this restaurant 5 stars.

Rodolfo Teague

I went to Howlin' Ray's last Sunday and waited three hours for fried chicken. I couldn't imagine waiting that long for anything is worth it. I don't know how they do it but it DEFINITELY was worth the wait!!! They open at 11:00 am and we got in line at 10:00 am and we ordered at 1:00 pm. I had the mild and they suggest you go one level lower than your normal heat map setting. So when you have some time to kill bring a chair and a good book!

Kevin L

It's hard to imagine why people would stand in line multiple hours for some fried chicken, especially when there are so many other good places in LA. But this place is seriously that good. At the advice of some local friends, I went on a weekday (they are closed Mondays) two hours before they open. And when I arrived at 9am, I wasn't the first person in line... The couple guys in front told me they were waiting from 8:30am! Regardless, I waited in line and just watched as the line grew longer and longer. When the doors finally opened, it only took a few minutes before I was up for my order. The staff are super friendly and like to strike up conversation. They even gave me some pickles to snack on while I waited for my food. Finally when it came to the chicken itself (I had the sando and the wings), I could tell why people waited so long. It seriously is that amazing! My recommendation is that if you've never been here before, to get it medium spicy, or medium plus. Do not get Howlin unless you are prepared for some of the absolute hottest chicken you will ever eat in your life.

Raj Banerjee

As others have said: the owner is hospitable humble courteous and shakes you by the hand...despite there being a 1.5 hour long queue. The food is delicious, good portion size, the taste is heavy on paprika/cayenne (the coating is reddish rather than brown) and crispy and delicious with moist chicken. Waffles were fab. Is it worth the wait? You'll have to find out for yourself! I would come again though.

Jennifer Lainez

The line is long, but so worth the wait. I've waited up to 2.5 hours! Definitely recommend the Sando. Huge piece of chicken that is so delicious and crispy. Their shake fries are also yummy, especially with the sauce. The waffles are only offered during the weekends, so take advantage when you can as they are also soooo good! Last but not least, the crew that works their is so hospitable and fun.

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