Food is amazing and serving is generous! Ryan is amazing! Helped me with my order as first time customer Yay read more

I came in right around opening time on a Sunday - no wait and ample street parking on Hill St. Service was great with friendly people working the counter. There's quite a bit of outdoor seating right outside the restaurant and places to sit and eat throughout the plaza. As for the food - I ordered the quarter bird which consisted of a drumstick and thigh and came with a slice of bread and some pickles. This came out to around $14 - a bit expensive for the amount of food. The chicken was very good, nice and crisp with a good amount of heat at medium spice and had some nice allium flavors. Just a little too salty for my liking. All things considered, I'd return if there was no line and parking hassle which isn't usually the case. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Quarter Bird Dark - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

For years I've heard my friends rave about Howlin Rays being the best place for chicken sandwiches in Los Angeles. Even with high expectations, I found the food great and the service better. Despite a fairly long line, the orders came efficiently and the workers made an effort to get to know every customer and interact with them. More than the food, which hit the spot, that business-to-customer relationship stood out from my visit. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Excellent service is great. The food is great and I would definitely recommend. Not to loud or noisy!

Probably the best hot chicken sandwich I've ever had! Got the medium spicy sando, texture and flavor was spot on. Line was relatively short however takes a bit of time for the food to be ready. The staff were all super friend and helpful, every single one of them introduced themselves to us. Def coming back! read more

Howlin' Ray's - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

About 3.5 stars because I feel like our experience was cut short due to miscommunication. I'd first like to say Ryan was AWESOME. He was going around trying to help other customers find seats and he was very keen about ensuring tables were wiped. He also went around asking how things were doing and to let him know if you need anything. He was just a walking smile - great, bubbly personality! The reason I gave this review 3.5 is because my fiancé ordered ahead since he had gift cards from 5 years ago and he still had their "fast pass" service. It's essentially letting us bypass the line to get our food faster. Since we placed the order via email and set our pickup time for 12:45pm. We thought the food would be ready for us at the time stated. It was a bit of a surprise when they said they would make it fresh when we checked in for our order, which we were absolutely fine with because who doesn't love a hot, fresh order? So the girl he spoke to that was distributing orders, said she'd come find him when the food was ready. Ok, we went to go sit nearby at the tables as we were dining in. 20 mins later, we go in and check for our food because it's starting to feel a bit absurd that we have to wait as long as the normal line. Literally people who were in line at the back had already ordered. It turns out the girl said she came to look for us but she really didn't because I was in position to eye the front entrance. She didn't call out a name or anything. The food was ready over 15 mins ago. The waffles were soggy and the butter that came with was completely melted. What I don't understand was why she didn't just call his name out on the mic if the food had been ready. She had his name from the start and it was such a let down to get soggy food after waiting 20 mins and having the fast pass. Now for the food review, the fries and the sandwiches were good! Fries was perfectly seasoned and crunchy. The chicken sandwich was big, juicy and tender. The sauce and the coleslaw lettuce mix was a great complement to the chicken and helped balance the meal. Even though the waffles were soggy, they were really good but I think for a different reason. It reminded me of McDonald hot cakes which are pancakes. The waffles were so soft that they started to taste like pancakes. While flavor was there, texture was not but it ended up being good for another reason. For the wings, I liked how big and juice each wing was but I felt the dry rub was overwhelming. I definitely needed water after this meal. read more

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The food was absolutely amazing and the service was so good! The worker that took my order, Charlie, was very helpful and friendly. I'll definitely be revisiting here! read more

Yeah that hot level is not a joke.... I eat Serrano peppers with my eggs in the morning, but I still wouldn't order the hot or above anymore! Heat level aside, the chicken sandwich was as expected, perfectly cooked and juicy. The fries were alright, nothing special, and I don't think their sauce is as good as the typical chicken chains, but the sandwich is where it's at. I also tried the bone in chicken, and that was also alright, but I've had better. Overall, I'd recommend just grabbing some sandwiches to try, but I would hate to stand in line for it again (about an hour from arrival to getting food). There are limited outdoor seating, but it's nice and you can find a spot because they manage it well. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Hot chicken - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Friendly service and great food. Been coming to the og location since precovid and it doesnt disappoint. You can tell they care.

First time and lemme tell you great customer service and one of the best Nashville chicken spots I ever had in general in la Shoutout to the workers for always having the great energy even if it's busy much luv read more

Howlin' Ray's - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Service was quick. Surprised to see a line outside before they opened. The food quality was great, flavors are good too. It don't wow me, but it was fire. I think with a lil bit more honey it would have a great savory taste, my sandwich was a bit on the tarty side. The fries were really good, a bit heavy seasoned but hey that's their sauce. The place was small, but they work fast on getting you in and out - very politely too. Overall experience? Everything paired with their cream soda - it hit the spot. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Luis Style Sando - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Service was great even as a take out predominant place! There r some tables at the front since the store itself is kinda like a hole in the wall typa inside a plaza so there wasn't any seat inside. Still we managed to snatch a table, the employee always wiping the cleaning the dining area so it was always clean and well maintained. The guy who took our order at the booth was friendly and cool, gave us all kind of recommendations and services! They also gave us free water bottle and came to check on us during our meal A COUPLE TIMES ( which is unheard of for a counter order/ self serve fried chicken place elsewhere) so i appreciate a lot! Parking: paid lot next to the plaza $5 whole day or find meter street parking. For the food: - quarter leg $14 total: very delish, juicy, skin was crunchy and flavorful. Meat was soft and warm. Though i feel like it's pretty salty so we drink hella water w/ it. Came w 1 toast n 2 tiny pieces of pickles. - Sando w/ fries and sauce ~ $24: it was good but the coleslaw was a bit much and overpowing for some of the bites. The tender inside is still very delish and juicy with great cajun seasoning! They gave lots of supa crunchy fries for $6 and the fries seasoning was def one of the best i had in a while. Not too salty, just right! All sauces are extra charge tho. recommend their signature come back sauce! We went midday thursday so it wasn't too bad of a wait- 15 mins but there still hella people waiting for the chicken, it def takes a while for it to comes out. So i could only imagine how crazy long it must be for weekend Overall: 4.5 for food but the employees there get 2 thumbs tf upp 10/10! Will be back soon! read more

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Date of visit: 11/15/2024 Stopped by around 11:09 am and the line was still short so I decided to get some. What I ordered: - The Sando (country aka not spicy) - chicken tenders & waffles (mild) - tenders (mild) - The Sando (mild): WHAT?! I actually ordered Sando 2.0 coz I wanted to try the other sandwich but the guy took my order wrong and I didn't check the receipt either T.T - 3 shake fries Everything was flavorful & delicious. Tenders were HUGE in size. My only issue is the butter bun got smushed up to the point it's flat. Also I wish I ordered correctly so I could also try Sando 2.0 but I guess this gives me a reason to come back. Needless to say, it's highly recommended! read more

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They hype is so real. Hands down the best hot chicken I have had. The chicken was great, very well seasoned and juicy, perfectly fried. The fries were really good too and the waffles were not bad either. Be careful with the heat, I got Hot+, which is still a few levels down from their hottest and it was pretty hot even for me as a spicy eater. Be ready for a long line on a weekend. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Chicken & Waffles Hot+ - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

5 stars for both food and service. My wife and I visited Howlin' Ray's recently and we were worried about the long lines and getting a table as we had seen this place is pretty popular. I fully understand why. The food was really amazing and very filling and the staff was super helpful and friendly. You don't have to worry about not finding a table. When you order, there is a person who takes your name and will come get you when a table is available. Such an amazing service so people aren't fighting over tables, or taking up tables before ordering their food. There is parking in the back. It fills up. When we went here there was only 1 open parking spot left so we felt pretty lucky. Not sure how much street parking there is nearby. Would definitely come back here again sometime. read more

I crave this place. Ordered the sando chicken sandwich. $14. The mild has a good kick to it the chicken piece is large Line wasn't bad. Only 5 people ahead of me but it does have a long wait, they do online orders. The staff is really nice and they do have a reward system so if you're regular it's worth it to sign up! The ambiance is great, the staff talks to the customers. The ambiance is lively. I was lucky and found street parking right in the front. read more

I ordered chicken and waffles and when I got home they only gave me the chicken, not is not very professional of them charging for one thing and then give you something with less value, tried calling and only a machine answered. read more

Wow! The food was FANTASTIC. My friend, husband, and I stopped here to grab a bit to eat. I had heard about this place on the LA Reddit. We all had the same band tshirt on because we were headed to a concert later that evening. Lee at the register recognized the shirt and we started talking about the band. He was so cool and friendly - he made us feel right at home! He encouraged us to get some stickers and pins & even shared his fav Howlin rays sticker with us! We all got sando 2.0 with fries. Holy moly - what a sandwich!!! Absolutely packed with flavor - juicy yet crunchy, the bread was so good and so was their special sauce. For the fries we tried ranch + honey mustard + house sauce (all of the phenomenal; my fav was the ranch). Overall great experience. Loved the place, loved the people, loved the food. I'm looking forward to coming here again. Thanks Lee! read more

Howlin' Ray's - Cute stickers from Howlin Rays - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Fries: 5/5 Burger: 2/5 Service: 10/10 Ambiance: busy, friendly, East Coast vibes If your looking for this kind of Nashville style burger try, cluck and blaze in Long Beach. read more

Amazing food! And amazing service every time! I work close by the Chinatown location and this place rocks. They are always kind and welcoming! Recommend them to everyone! read more

People weren't kidding. this chicken blows Dave's out the water. the customer service, the favoring, the juiciness of the chicken. 10/10 definitely recommend. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I can say this with confidence that Howlin' Ray's is the best chicken sandwich place in Southern California. Nothing comes close to it. The high quality chicken, right amount of seasoning, the fresh bread, and fries perfected along with their sauce? What more can you ask for? It's just perfect. What adds to this is the fact that they also have one of the best customer service out there. You feel welcomed here and the staff do it in a way where you feel warmth. It's very homey. As for the area itself, this is a hidden gem in LA. This is a must visit. read more

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WOW! This chicken place is amazing! Their customer service is phenomenal. You could use their text service to ask any questions you may have about their locations/parking. The restaurant does not have indoor dining space, but the outside sitting is ample. I got the spicy chicken sandwich and it was delicious! Hot chicken, that gets addicting with every bite. My husband got the mild spicy chicken sandwich and this one allows you to enjoy more the chicken flavor with enough spicy notes. However, I would not change my spicy ghost pepper with habanero sandwich, it was a 100/10 read more

I love Howlin' Ray's. Best Chicken place, hands down. The workers are always so nice as well! They did hook it up both times that I came to visit with a free item. It was super busy both times that I went, but it's no surprise that there would be a line. Hoping to come back again though! read more

This place is GREAT, I highly recommend the Half Bird Leg and Thigh if it's your first time trying and the fries are always very good fresh. Parking might be tricky in Chinatown and the line is PACKED but definitely worth it. Might have better Nashville hot chicken than Nashville. read more

It's been years, but it's still great. Been trying to get here for months, but my in-office days doesn't match up with their business hours. Finally remembered the correct hours and managed to get around to driving here. There's a big jump I'm heat from mild to medium. Fully cooked all the way through. Outside is crispy, inside is juicy and not greasy. Batter has great seasoning. Meat must have been brined because it has flavor itself, not just from the batter. There's a line to order. The wait to get the food is shorter. Doordash is available. They give tokens for the restroom. Staff are all chill, friendly and helpful. Casual dining. Picnic benches outside is more seating than the indoor seating available before. read more

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FINALLY got to try the famous Howlin' Ray's! My friend's and I got there around 6:30pm and the line was almost to the escalator. Also, as long as you're in line before 7, they'll still take your order. Food: I got the hot sando, a hot chicken tender, fries, potato salad, and the bread pudding. Everything was delicious! The Sando had my mouth on fire! But I couldn't stop taking a bite because it was still so flavorful. The potato salad definitely helped neutralize some of the spiciness in my mouth! Might get the medium next time though (it was hot going in and it was hot coming out)! Lol. Would definitely recommend everything that I ordered. Service: Really friendly! When my friend and I were in the store to pick up our food, Bye Bye Bye was playing over the speaker. The chorus was coming up and the staff were hyping us up to do the dance... and you KNOW we had to deliver! Lol. They ended up hooking us up with the bread pudding! Parking: Tons of parking across the street and if you get lucky, you'll be able to find some street parking. Not a lot of places to sit. Only 2 long tables. I can see how this could get really packed if this was around lunch time. But I gotta say.. Props to the people that get the Howlin spice! It was fun watching people's reaction as they take a bite into their Sando and the HOWLIN just creeps up and smacks them in the face! Lol! Props to them! They took that spice like a champ! Will I be back? Oh heck yes! Howlin Ray's has definitely set the bar really high on how Nashville Hot Chicken should taste! I definitely want to go back! Can't believe it's taken me so long to try this spot! I'll see you soon Howlin' Ray's! read more

Fantastic hot chicken sandwich! Drove over an hour each way to get this and it was worth it! Gets busy so be prepared to wait in line but the people who work here know how to work with a busy line- amazing friendly service- menu is limited to chicken and fries but you will come back happy! Also seating outside only and is limited and communal style so this is by no means high end dining. But who cares! The food and service hit it out of the park! Can't wait to be back. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Fried chicken quarters- awesome! - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place was absolutely amazing with the customer service and the timeframe of getting our food. They were so generous and were very friendly with me and my son . The cashier was absolute five stars. The food now omg . This spot my son found and was bragging about it being the best chicken in LA. He was not lying. We got the chicken sandwich mild and chicken and waffles with fires and banana pudding . This was absolutely amazing. I would definitely come back here when I'm in LA again 100%. Thank you for the experience and a forever customer . read more

What We Ordered: -(2)The Sando (Medium) $14 Each -Mild Tenders $13 -Orange Soda $4 -Lemonade $4 Howlin' Rays is the most well-known hot chicken shop in LA. There's countless other Hot Chicken shops in LA, but none of them can compare to Howlin' Rays. The hype never dies down either. I came here before COVID hit back in 2020 and there were long lines then. To this day, they still have long lines. Be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes or more to make your order. I seem to recall getting the hot level of spice for the hot chicken. The guy taking my order let me know that they have changed the spices since I was last here. He offered for me to try a sample. I can't say no to free samples. He wanted to make sure I could handle the spice before I ordered it on my Sando. Boy am I glad that he did that! I took one bite of the hot spice level of the hot chicken and I was overwhelmed by a strong spicy flavor. I instantly started to tear up and my nose began to run. It was very embarrassing. I'm glad I was able to try it ahead of time otherwise I would have been disappointed to order this and not be able to finish it The Medium Hot Chicken Sandos are still very spicy. I like to think and I can handle my spice pretty well (I guess not) and I felt like the medium spice was still very spicy. Don't sleep on this Sando! It's very big and filling. It is more than enough to eat for one person and even could be shared amongst two smaller people. The tenders are massive. The pair well with some of the dipping sauces as well. The customer service here is next level. The staff working the register are very personable and good conversationalists. Where else will they give you a free piece of chicken to make sure you know how spicy it really is?? No one does that. They are only concerned about making money and processing the next order. I really appreciate the staff working to make you feel more than number on your order. When you pick up your order, they are very charismatic and kind. They introduce themselves to you and help you make sure you get what you need. Customer service is lost art in today's society, but not at Howlin' Rays. Howlin' Rays, great food and great service! read more

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I'm so glad I decided to stop by here, worth waiting in line for that chicken sandwich

The hype is deserved! This chicken sando was amazing. I got the X-Hot and he got the Hot. They gave me gloves with the food so I didn't burn myself. It wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be but the hot was spicy for him, who is more sensitive to heat. The fries were FABULOUS. As was the lemonade. We waited in line for about 50 minutes but once we ordered, it was ready in about 5-10 minutes - super fast. We were able to get a table and the stuff was super nice and helpful with it being our first time. 10/10 recommend read more

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Can I tell you all this is an awesome place. The order taker was welcoming. The guys giving the orders out are nice and friendly and engaging. Sat out on their metal tables where guy walks around to make sure they are clean. It doesn't get packed for no reason other than their food is worth your bok, bok for the yumminess of hot n fresh food with great flavor snd the great service. Yay Ray, keeping it howlin! read more

They have the best banana pudding in Los Angeles. Hands down. This is what banana pudding is supposed to taste like! Potato salad was s bit salty. Sandwiches are still the best. read more

Local to OC and have been dying to try Howlin Rays! It delivered chicken is massive juicy and flavorful. The spices all work perfectly with the sauce, pickles and tangy slaw. Have tried many spicy chicken sandwiches and this one is top tier. Definitely worth the wait. In addition, I feel like this place offers all the flavor for someone who can't do super spicy, which I very much appreciated. We got everything on the side since we ordered through Postmates and knew we wouldn't be eating it immediately. read more

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BEST NASHVILLE CHICKEN I'VE HAD IN CALIFORNIA! Nashville Hot Chicken seems to have popped off recently with numerous restaurants opening up all over the place. However, Howlin' Rays has them all beat in my opinion. They're located in Chinatown and the line is ALWAYS super long, but moves relatively quick (I don't think I've ever waited more than 20 minutes in line honestly) and the staff is always so friendly and playing absolute bangers in the small establishment. The Sando is great for first timers since you can experiment with the heat levels -- the slaw, sauce and bread provide a nice cushion in case you get it too spicy. The tenders are my personal favorite since they're huge and just pure, juicy, delicious chicken. My heat tolerance is pretty good but I opt for the medium and am a little too scared to go any hotter. They do offer samples if you want to try a certain spice level! The fries are also incredible and if you like ranch, then don't miss out on theirs. It's tangy and provides the perfect pairing with the spice of the chicken. Go here, you will not be disappointed! read more

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Some of the best chicken you'll eat in the Southern California area. I have been coming here since early 2018, and although the menu has changed slightly, the quality of food and service has not: outstanding quality. I'll address the food: I have tried all spice levels: country, mild, medium, hot, x-hot, and HOWLIN', my go-to is mild to truly enjoy the chicken itself, as opposed to the chicken and spice. Do not get me wrong, for anyone daring, I recommend the higher spice levels, but be warned: they do not prepare sandwiches with the howlin' spice level. The shake fries are salty and seasoned: they are not entirely crispy, but I have always preferred my fries slightly soggy. Dipping the fries and chicken (wings/sandwich) with their comeback sauce pairs perfectly with one another. Another fair warning: they are sold separately, not together. They also offer collard greens, macaroni salad, vinegar salad, and potato salad, which are valid side options, but my stand-by is the shake fry option. --and finally they also offer waffles as an "entree" option paired with the choice of wings, tenders, and wing/thigh. Service: in the almost eight years that I have gone here, never once have I left thinking the service was average or below average. Service has always been outstanding and the employees go above and beyond what is expected of them. Their personal touch: that is what sets this location apart from other fried chicken spots, and what has made me a reoccurring customer for so long. The wait time can be long, depending on the day and time you are arriving, so be wary of that, but it is a facet of being a patron of such a popular establishment. The least amount of time I waited in line (I go late afternoon/evening) has been 35 mins, so be conscious. Finally I'll address other aspects of the locale: it is located in the middle of a shopping district/food center in the midst of Downtown LA... be conscious of parking. Parking may be difficult depending on the time of day you decide to go, and although there is a parking lot adjacent to the center, you may still find yourself parking a short distance because of how congested the area is. Be mindful of the businesses in the locale too, they have offerings like books, boba tea, ice cream, secondhand stores, etc. the wonderful thing about the community is how connected it all is. All of that being said: it is noisy. If you're looking for a quiet spot, this will not be it. If you ever find yourself in the Downtown Los Angeles area, and you have the time to go, I can never recommend enough how incredible this is. I am not a picky eater by any means, but I do critique often, and this surpasses any expectations of what food, and customer service could be like. read more

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Still good fried chicken. A lot of customers. The wait will be a little shorter if there is another guy with order remote machine. The order takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you are lucky to avoid lunch crowd. Outdoor seating if you are lucky again. read more

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Made to trek out to this location for my second time and was just as blown away by the quality of food and service as the first time years back. I ordered the standard mild chicken sandwich and a side of fries. The portions are massive which I appreciate as someone who can eat a ton of food. The fries were nicely seasoned, crispy on the outside, and hot/fluffy on the inside. The chicken was crispy, tender, juicy, and thick. I tried a lot of hot chicken in Nashville and Howlin' Rays blows all of it out of the water. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Mild Chicken Sando and Fries - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I'm not sure why there's so much hype around this place. It's honestly just a step up from Dave's and that's not saying much. I feel the spices and fries are ok. Definitely nothing memorable. Especially not worth the 20-30 minute wait. I'd rather go to the main chick or crimson coward in Downey read more