OG and always hits the spot. The guys at the counter always know how to make you feel welcome and always love conversations (and throwing in freebies!) Can't get better hot chicken than howlin! read more

Chicken sandwich medium spice 4/5 - I enjoyed this more when I tried it the first time and when I shared with someone. But eating the whole sandwich alone was just too much and I did get tired of it toward the end. Medium spice wasn't that bad in my opinion. Line wasn't too long. Did take a while for the line to move but after ordering we got our order pretty quickly. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Chicken sandwich and fries - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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a chicken sandwich that's worth the wait and the price 10/10 - definitely recommend! we got a complimentary banana pudding dessert because of our extended wait (they ran out of chicken) total time for the line and food was about 45 minutes which is not bad at all for a saturday afternoon! read more

Howlin' Ray's - chicken sando with Hot Shake Fries - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is my second time here. The first time I got the medium plus and the sandwich was it hot at all. I'm a spicy girl, so maybe that is why but the seasonings were absolutely delicious, the bread sauce, pickles crunchy and the slaw was fresh! I absolutely love the fries. They were fresh and very tasty. Their sauce is better than canes! And that is saying a lot. The line was about an hour and the parking lot is a bit small. They close at 7p but as long as you are in line by 6:45p you will get your food no matter what. line that's very helpful and I was able to get my questions answered before even going. They also had Postmates or Uber eats, but it is delivery only and not pick up. They are so cool when you go in they say hello and they have a microphone when they call you for your order. When you order a certain level they give you a specialized hurrah. It's so cool in there. The second time I went, I got the extra hot and it was to my liking! It was hot just how I like it next time I will try to Howlin'! People say don't get it. It is way too hot, but why not the challenge! I can't wait to go back. I didn't eat a lot of water towards the end of my sandwich. I had to take a break to finish my last couple of bites, but that is what I love about spicy foods. read more

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The best. The best crew. The best food. The best vibes. Been going since it first opened, quality is still bomb today.

Everybody here talks about Dave's but sleeping on howlin. Tbh it's just not as accessible but everytime I go here I'm more than satisfied. Best Nashville fried chicken here hands down. That is all . read more

Incredible service and food. Succulent, filling and crunchy! 10/10 recommend. The environment is loud, with great vibes and very welcoming! read more

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

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Super long lines, staff is super friendly. Tenders are HUGE. The medium was already super spicy for me. A decent amount of seating outside, no tables indoor. read more

As they say in the pharmacy world, this here is the GOLD standard! Here comes a long overdue review. So, many moons ago, we came here when it first opened. It was a rainy day and we snagged the last spot in line before closing, phew! Fast forward to 2024 and having tried a good amount of Nashville hot chicken, the family votes Howlin' as their favorite! SPICE LEVEL: mild, mild plus or medium for us. Anything above this wasn't pleasant for our mouths. Hehe! This all depends on you and how well you can handle spice. My cousin got x-hot and cried haha. RUB/SEASONING: best of the best! They've perfected the seasoning ratio. Batter is bursting with flavor; not too salty or peppery. Gotta try it to see what I mean! BATTER: good amount of batter with a nice crisp CHICKEN: juicy and flavorful Tenders: 3 tenders; $13 Wings: careful when ordering this. Specify wings and don't say, legs and thighs. This got mixed up as a quarter bird (leg & thigh attached). Tasted great either way. -3 wings for $12 -1 leg & thigh for $12 Chicken sandwich ($14): Every bite is so satisfying. The crunch, heat/spices, juiciness, slaw and butter bun, will leave your taste buds in an UMAMI heavenly state. Located in Chinatown -wait time depends on time of day! Service moves fast and efficiently! -common area seating -parking on the street or lot. -closes ~7pm; check times read more

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Omg I've been wanting to come try Howlin' Ray's for years! Been hearing people rave about this place. Idk why it took so long to come try it but finally did. I came on a Sunday around noon and of course there was already a long line lol. Surprisingly, only waited about 35 minutes in line, which I don't think was too bad for a weekend. I got the Sando, which is their fried chicken sandwich and a side of their fries. I was told that their spice levels are kind of intense so I decided to go with medium. The hype was real. The best fried chicken sandwich I've ever had. Everything was perfect, from the chicken to the coleslaw, to the fluffy bun. The chicken was super juicy and the skin was nice and crispy. For a side of fries, they give you a ton! They give a big bag of fries and wow these fries were just as amazing. They are crinkle cut fries with the perfect amount of seasoning and nice crunch when you bite into them. They even gave me a free wing on the house, which I noticed were given out to all the customers. I only took a bite cuz I was so full but it was also very good! It took me about 45 minutes to drive here and I can very much say that it was worth the drive. For sure next time I come I'm going to get their spice level in Hot in w/e I decide to order since medium was not spicy at all for me lol. I saw that they had banana pudding on their menu so I can't wait to try that next time too~ read more

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Exquisite food and outstanding customer service. I always know the vibes will be great and I'll get the best recommendations when home slice Mario and Ryan are working! Some of the best fried Chicken in LA, worth the wait. Tables are always diligently cleaned by the staff, off the chain! read more

First of all, I'm rating this based off a chicken sando from here that was brought to me after an hour of traffic. That being said - it was still really good and I can only imagine it when it's fresh. I got the hot. I can handle spice well and this was a good level for me, but it was def spicy. I would probably get the medium next time only because the spice was the kind that wasn't super flavorful but just like acidy. It was pretty salty as well. The coleslaw was good and that along with the pickles balanced it out. The bread was good too. If you don't like spice I prob wouldn't recommend getting medium or higher. read more

If you ever take a trip to Los Angeles and like places like Angry Chicks and Daves hot chicken, you need to try Howlin Rays. It's some of the best chicken ive ever had. It is incredibly juicy and flavorful. I have gone three times and each time there is a long line that always goes by super fast. You will be guaranteed great service and great food if you decide to go. read more

Ordered the Sando, Fried Pickles, and macaroni salad. Best chicken sandwich I ever had, I'm not just saying that. Delicious. Everything else was good too. Mario was an outstanding employee too. Extremely friendly and approachable. I'd definitely be back! read more

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

I was quite impressed with Howlin' Rays! I'm a little bit of a picky eater, but I think this restaurant really lives up to the hype. I ordered pimento macaroni salad with a chicken sandwich (no spice, Southern style). I like my coleslaw a little more like KFC, but any slaw is still good slaw. My partner said it has a more saurkraut texture, which I agree with. It has a nice neutral taste and adds a good crunch to the sandwich. The pimento mac salad has a strong pimento taste. It brought me back to Southern cookout days with the first bite. The texture is out of this world. I don't know how they got it so creamy and to retain its liquid, but they really hit it out of the park with this side. Not at all for people who don't like pimentos, though! It is heavily flavored throughout. The chicken itself is gigantic. It hangs off the sides of the bun. Normally, I don't love a huge portion like this because I can't finish it. I ate every single bite of this sandwich!!! Ray's MUST brine their chicken or something before frying, because it is wonderfully juicy on the inside. The seasoning is flavorful and everything I like in a piece of fried chicken. Their sauce almost isn't needed, but it just adds that extra layer of amazing. I wished I asked for extra! It isn't too strong or powerful. The bun is buttery, slightly sweet, and compliments all the other ingredients. The price is standard for the portion size and a California takeout meal. I believe we paid about $12-13 for our sandwiches and about $5 for the mac salad. It may have been pricey, but many spots charge a lot more for lesser quality. I assume on a busy weekend, parking may be a bit of a wild card. We came early in the day on a Tuesday, so we got street parking and paid about .50 cents to park and walk across the street. The restaurant is located inside a China Town plaza. As we were leaving, a lady stopped us and asked how to find the restaurant. It is not upstairs, so you may be wandering a little bit before you stumble upon it. There are tables and chairs outside for families to sit and have their meal. They are quite large, so multiple families can share if it's busy (it most likely will be). The restaurant was still busy despite the light traffic in the area. The line was about 7 people long when we arrived, but our food was ready within 15 minutes. The servers seem to have a nice system going to get orders out fast. Many Doordash drivers were in and out consistently. You place your order at a podium inside the door and then wait for your number to be called. The service was pretty good. The servers that took our order seemed cheerful to have such a busy work day. They took time with each customer to explain spice level and even small talk, even if the line was growing. It was nice not to be rushed out of the door as fast as possible. I don't say this often, but I definitely think we will be back here in the future. read more

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What we had:  The Sando (medium x1, hot x1) $14  Wings (3 whole wings, medium) $12  Shake Fries $5  Banana Pudding $7 Taste: 3.5/5 I had mixed opinions about the Sando (spicy chicken burger). I loved the texture of the chicken, so thicc and juicy. But I didn't like the taste of it - you know how some spicy food is just spicy but not flavourful-spicy? That was how I felt about it. It had a really strong kick but that was all. The wings were tender and meaty but a bit too salty. The banana pudding was my favourite. It was pretty sweet and smooth, and it balanced out the spiciness of the chickens. Vibe: 4/5 It was a nice little store with a warm and bright interior. It sort of stood out in Chinatown. Service: 5/5 The staff were super friendly and passionate. read more

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really good portion and honestly best customer service ive had. Very friendly and threw in a free water + ice for free

Hype is real. Flavour is so phenomenal and didn't even need the come back sauce which was also phenomenal. Medium was perfectly spicy and tenders were huge and juicy. Just would always wait in a line for anything from this place. read more

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

Hand down the best Hot Chicken Sandwich I've ever had. The chicken is juicy and tender and the batter is so flavorful. Use caution when choosing a spice level. The Hot is very hot and even the medium has a good amount of heat. The fries and banana pudding are also fantastic. Customer service is also exceptional, shoutout to Mario who took our order. If you're ever in the area and have time to wait (very busy) it's a must try. read more

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

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The line was very long but the service itself was super fast. Very high quality food, we will be back. read more

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

Alina was the best! She was very helpful and friendly, she made us feel special and took care of our every need! This place continues to be our go to! The food was amazing and so was her customer service, she deserves a raise!! read more

Howlin' Ray's always comes through!! After spending the past two months in Colorado we were in desperate need of the best Nashville hot chicken sandwich we have ever had...and we've had A LOT. Ray's is always consistent...perfectly spiced, juicy, tangy, crispy...everything a Nashville hot chicken "sando" should be!! In Colorado we have Dave's luckily...but no-one can touch Ray's...NO...ONE!! We were also gifted a bag of fries on the house which was unexpected but very greatly appreciated!! Thanks Johnny!!!!! ;) read more

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I don't think I've ever written a review so fast after eating somewhere as fast as this one, but here we are. I had only heard amazing things about Howlin Rays leading up to this experience, and let me say it was one of the few places that actually lived up and surpassed the hype! The only negative thing I had ever heard, if you can even say it's a negative was that there was always a long line, BUT I think that's just a testament to how good this place is. Once we arrived there was maybe 6 people ahead of us, it moved super quick next thing we knew it was our turn to order. We were greeted by Alina who took our order was super kind and helpful and even gave us 2 free drinks. All in all it came out to 38 dollars for 2 sandwiches, 2 orders of fries and 2 comeback sauces. Super reasonable. The food was ready in about 5-7 min and we were on our way. The chicken was crunchy, juicy and tasty. Portion size was huge and definitely enough for one person. The fries were honestly enough for 2 people. I ate the whole bag anyways because I was that hungry . And the comeback sauce was the perfect pair to the chicken and fries. Lastly I will just add that the environment of the whole place was super welcoming. I'm a food vlogger so I always film some stuff and try to be as inconspicuous as possible but as I was filming the cooks someone says "WE GOT A CAMERA HERE!" And they all face me and say hi. As we began to eat someone came out and asked how was everything and if we needed anything. That all goes a long way for me outside of just how good the food is. Friendly environment, amazing food and good people. I'll be back. IG: _wheresthefoodat read more

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

Finally came to try this place after so hearing from many others that this is the place to get chicken tenders. I've got to say, this is probably one of the best places to get chicken tenders. I got the medium spicy level and it was the perfect spice level to get. The chicken was nice and tender along with moist on the inside. The chicken also comes with a slice of bread and pickles, sauce is not included and you would have to buy it separately. Other than that, the staff are very friendly when speaking to you and was a great experience overall. Definitely coming back for more in the future! read more

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

Went here for the first time and me and my family are 100% satisfied with over all the food, service and ambiance. I want to give a shout out to employee Charlie who was amazing and very helpful. read more

Great customer service and food! The people love to get to know you and give you good recommendations if you wanna go looks at things around DTLA. The chicken was never dry and really juicy. If you like spicy chicken this is the place for you! read more

Ahhhhh my mouth, it burrrrns. I couldn't handle the heat. Next time I'll try not the craziest option. Gg no re for now

I'm so bored of hot chicken. There's a Dave's on every corner and a new pretender popping up every minute. Howlin Ray's is the originator and the goat and the only place I'll go for hot chicken anymore. Their chicken is anything but boring - nuclear hot but not in an off putting way and always fried to perfection. Get a sandwich and some fries and enjoy. I still remember the days when you had to line up for hours to get one so be thankful it's so accessible now. read more

Finally had the opportunity to try the fried chicken here and it was good! It is not dry and a good chicken flavor as well! read more

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

Shoutout the workers Matthew and Ryan their service was EXCEPTIONAL. Never have I had a culinary experience where the workers went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable, taken care of, and ensured that we enjoyed our meals. Their friendliness elevated our trip from 12/10 to a 20/10!! The food was magnificent. We drove 1.5 hours to get the chicken sando and it was worth it for all three people of our party. Food was the amazing, without a doubt the best fried chicken sandwich we have had from any chain or fast casual restaurant. They serve takeaway and had tables outside so the ambiance of sitting and eating with fellow customers was a fun time. Only concern I have is that when it becomes too popular there's isn't enough space for everyone to sit down and eat. I'd say the must haves are the Chicken Sando and the Banana dessert both were too good. read more

Best Hot Chicken in LA. No indoor seating like the Pasadena location has. This one has a line and is take out only. Outdoor tables in the courtyard to sit at. I love the Luis Sandwich (medium heat), but today I tried the Mario Fries, and they are excellent. They are basically a deconstructed sandwich and fries (chicken, fries, cheese, slaw, pickles, comeback sauce, etc)... generous portion too (you will be full). No free tap or sparkling water like the Pasadena location has, but they have drinks to go. Luckily the line isn't as crazy as it was a few years ago. Check this place out! read more

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

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I will start by saying that I cannot handle spice. I typically don't order food that is supposed to be spicy at a lower spice level or without a spicy sauce because it ends up just tasting bland since a key ingredient is missing. Not so here. It was still perfectly flavorful. The line was long but the cheerful ambiance, incredible service, and delicious food makes it more than worth it. read more

Loved the food here. Definitely has earned its reputation. I would love to come back but the lines are ridiculously long and make it hard to want to come back and wait for that long. I would order delivery but not wait again. Either way you gotta try it at least once! Definitely delicious. read more

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I still reminise about this sandwich. It's lowk the top 1 bussest thing I've ever put in my mouth. They DO NOT skim on the chicken it is HUGE. I went in a group and the second we started eating we all sat in silence because it was just that jaw dropping. I hope to come here soon it is worth every penny man. like im drooling now writing this review read more

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We arrived around 10:45AM on Sunday morning and there were about 15 people in line in front of us. It still took almost 30 minutes to order because they take orders one person or group at a time and it seemed like most people ordered for themselves even though they were friends lol. I got the medium spicy fried chicken sandwich and it wasn't too spicy at all! Some other reviews mentioned it was spicy but they must not be able to even eat flamin hot Cheetos. The mix of spices they used is fantastic and the chicken was perfectly fried! After ordering, our food came out within 4 minutes and we ate upstairs on these little table ledges. My friend loved the banana pudding which is back! read more

Howlin' Ray's - The line on Sunday 5 minutes before they open! About 20 people ahead of us. - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is more of a reminder to return to this place as it's been many years. When I used to to go, the lines were over an hour and even then the wait was worth it. I would love to go back, especially if the line was not as insane. Great chicken that is crispy and spicy! read more

The 2 guys at the front taking orders need a raise!! I've never seen so much good and good hospitality from anyone.. very welcoming! Nicely trained read more

Came on a Saturday around 1-2pm. The wait wasn't too bad at 40ish minutes to order and recieve the food. Sando medium spice- 5/5: I was debating between the medium or hot and was told there is a huge jump between the two so I decided to stick with medium. Personally I thought the spice was there, but barely. Afterwards I found out there is a medium plus level so I'd definitely try that one next time. The chicken was so juicy inside while the outside skin was crispy. The chicken batter and the sauce had a bit of a sweet taste which made it all come together so well. Shake fries- 4.75/5: These were crispy and the seasoning was the perfect amount of saltiness and flavor. Ketchup is not even needed with how good the flavor is alone. They gave a huge amount for the price. Can definitely share between multiple people. Solo tender- 5/5: Same as the chicken in the Sando. The tender was a lot bigger than I was anticipating. Ate this a couple hours later and the juiciness inside and crunch of the outside was still as good as it was initially. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Sando. Medium spice - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Haven't been back in a few years, and it still tastes just as amazing as I remember. We arrived a little bit before noon on a Sunday, and the line to order took about 30-40 minutes. I always say that you always go to Howlin Rays for the experience because you meet and chat with nice people in line while waiting, and the workers inside always provide impeccable customer service when ordering/picking up your food. I have waited in line for 3+ hours years ago in the past (before opening hours because it was so hyped up), so these days the line honestly isn't that bad (and there are other ordering options like Postmates). I ordered my favorite chicken sando medium heat, and my bf got the chicken (mild) and waffles. Took probably another 15 minutes to get our food, and oh man it was absolutely delicious (maybe because I was also really hungry). The ratio of bread, slaw, sauce, pickles, and thick juicy fried chicken with just the perfect kick of spice was worth the wait. My bf said his chicken and waffles were great too (light and crispy waffles, chicken always perfectly fried and juicy), but he also thought that the chicken sando was even better. Next time, I really want to visit their new Pasadena location, but the OG Chinatown location will always hold a special place in my heart and memories. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Chicken sando (medium) - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I lived a couple miles away for years but never went because of parking and the long line, but now that I live in DTLA, and Postmates delivers, I decided to try it. I can't remember what it's called, but it's a waffle sandwich, and it's the best thing ever! The fries are also great with their seasoning. I wish they would sell the seasoning because I'd love to have some. I tried the sandwich with bacon and without, and I really do like the extra flavor the bacon gives it. The first time I got mild, and the second time I got medium spicy. For me, mild hits the spot. I no longer have as high a tolerance to spicy food, unfortunately. You can't to wrong with a fried chicken breast on a waffle with butter, syrup, bacon & cheese. It's pricey, but it's worth it! That fey seasoning! I just can't say enough about it! read more