Howlin' Ray's Hot Chicken - Chinatown

"The longest lines these days are still at the Nashville-inspired food truck-turned-shop Howlin' Ray's Hot Chicken, which opened in 2016." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"This Chinatown spot has been widely credited for sparking LA’s love for hot chicken, with pre-pandemic wait times often reaching up to two hours. Today, you can get your Howlin’ Rays delivered and it still comes just as tender and spicy as always. Their fiery red chicken isn’t just for show though and it comes in a spectrum of spice levels ranging from comfortably hot to so-good-but-I-might-cry spicy. Their sandwich has the standard brioche bun, pickles, and swirl of a savory mayo-based sauce, but it’s their peppery slaw that adds a nice acidity to the whole thing." - sylvio martins

"Howlin’ Ray’s is still some of the hottest fried chicken in Los Angeles, even after close to a decade of being open. A line forms through Far East Plaza in Chinatown every day to score some of Johnny Ray Zone’s Nashville hot chicken. The chicken is available country style with no heat all the way up to howlin’ which borders on painful to eat." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff

"Even though Howlin’ Rays opened a Pasadena location in 2022, the original Chinatown outpost is still kicking. Though it used to be known for perennially long lines and counter dining, it’s now shifted to a more effective pre-order model that’s even better for getting those spicy chicken sandwiches and wings in a timely manner." - Mona Holmes

"Howlin’ Rays’ Nashville-inspired hot chicken brought the craze to LA with perennially long lines to boot. Now that its spicy chicken tenders and sandwiches are available for walk-ups, and online orders for pickup and delivery on Postmates, it’s a lot easier for folks to get a mouth-tingling taste of the revered restaurant’s dishes. There’s another location with on-site seating and even craft beers in Pasadena." - Eater Staff