YEA WE SAID IT —THIS IS THE BEST CHICKEN SANDWICH WE’VE EVER HAD.
Quite simply, we haven’t had anything like Howlin’ Rays.
It's the kind of chicken sandwich you finish long after your stomach has told you to stop—not because it's too heavy, but because it's simply too good to put down.
Howlin’ Ray’s flagship location is located at the edge of a strip mall in the heart of Chinatown in Downtown LA, just 1 mile away from Dodger Stadium. Named the #1 fried chicken restaurant in the U.S. or Canada by Yelp Elite Squad members, the establishment is not only popular—it has managed to hold a remarkable 4.7-star Google rating across more than 4,400 reviews. Restaurants can earn 5 stars with a few dozen reviews. Maintaining a 4.7-star rating after thousands of customers have weighed in is a completely different accomplishment.
At the height of the hype, customers reportedly waited as long as 5 hours for a Howlin' Ray's chicken sandwich. Even the surrounding strip mall adapted to the phenomenon, with other worthwhile restaurants, and a modest refreshments kiosk that seemed perfectly placed to keep hungry patrons hydrated while they waited.
The good news for you? We stopped by on a Saturday and waited just 10 minutes. That's not a typo. Since launching as a food truck in 2015, Howlin' Ray's has evolved well beyond the days when standing in line was the only way to score one of its legendary chicken sandwiches.
“Since we now offer both delivery via Postmates and a second local location in Pasadena, this spreads out the demand quite a bit,” the company said. “Our team is still getting hit hard with about the same amount, if not more, orders as we were pre & during the pandemic, but the different ordering outlets have allowed the volume to flow a bit more steady, maintaining more streamlined wait times. We enjoy this flow a lot better!”
Howlin’ Rays debuted as the West Coast’s first exclusive Nashville hot chicken food truck, before opening the Chinatown location in 2016, and then a Pasadena location in 2022.
A spread at Howlin’ Rays. Photo: Jakob Layman
Now let’s get to business and talk about the chicken. Massive portions of all natural, hormone & antibiotic free chicken set the stage for a bespoke dining experience where you can experience 6 different levels of heat as described below:
Country
No heat, just classic flavor.
Mild
Perfect for those who want a subtle amount of heat, while enjoying the essence of the chicken. Think slight heat but more flavor.
Medium
It’s getting spicy in here. Gives a kick that isn’t excessive and enhances the overall taste of the item.
Hot
Habanero makes the heat seem fruitier, while the ghost pepper provides a lingering heat. Beware.
XHot
The heat starts to get a little insane now with a mix of Carolina Reaper & Trinidad Scorpion Peppers.
Howlin’
A mix of the peppers from Hot & XHot, this is comparable to eating the peppers raw. Guests who order Howlin’ are required to sign a waiver before eating it.
The Howlin' spice level doesn't come with an official Scoville rating, but its reputation speaks for itself. Among hot chicken enthusiasts, it's widely regarded as challenge-level heat—even seasoned spice lovers often stop at X-Hot. Many self-described chileheads on Reddit—people who regularly eat ghost peppers, Carolina Reapers, and off-menu Thai or Indian spice levels—say they intentionally order below the Howlin’ level because it crosses from enjoyable into endurance.
Regardless of your heat tolerance, the quality of the chicken is undeniable.
“There’s a lot of care in what we do, and the ingredients that we select,” the company said. “We only work with the highest quality of ingredients, which we feel directly translates to all our menu items.”
Showing no signs of slowing down, Howlin' Ray's expanded to the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip last summer, opening inside The Venetian Resort alongside some of the country's most talked-about and sought-after restaurants.
“We’re feeling really good about where we’re at in Las Vegas and where we’re headed,” the company said. “Sharing with everyone who and what Howlin’ is.”