Best nashville chicken spot in LA. They have 2 locations, pasadena and DTLA. This one I recommend if you want a better dining experience. There's seating, customer service is insane, they also serve beer, and every employee goes above and beyond to make sure you've got everything you need. Wait time is usually half hour to 45 min, they'll give you umbrellas if it's sunny out and really do their best to keep the line moving. I've tried everything on their menu, sandos are the perfectly balanced but my go to meal now is solo chicken wings medium spicy, fries to share, and their coleslaw. Never have had a bad dining experience here, food hits every time and is always worth the wait. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Finally got to try howlin rays after having it bookmarked for YEARS. This location has a parking lot, however it's small and only has about 15-20 spots. I ended up parking in the residential area which is only a few mins of a walk away. They have indoor and outdoor seating and the staff here are friendly. I love that they have a pebble ice machine and water station that we can freely help ourself to. I got the medium spice chicken sandwich, 1 mild tender, 1 mild wing, & potato salad to try. All were very delicious. I love how tender and juicy the chicken is. The potato salad is very pickly - lots of pickle chunks, but was good. Howlin Rays is good but it didn't make it as the #1 spicy chicken spot in my heart. read more

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Every once in a while, you stumble onto a spot that just feels right the second you walk in. The staff was incredible, the vibe was unmatched, and the entire experience blew me away. Take my word for it--go see for yourself!" read more

For almost six months, everytime I drove by, I'd see this line around the building. No matter time of day. From the moment they open at 11am until 7pm there is almost always a line. And as long as you're in line by 7pm, they will take your order. The place has fried chicken, fries and fried pickles if you know to ask. And like a more well-known joint, they have a secret menu. The chicken is fantastic. Heat levels go from Country (almost zero spice) to their 6th level of hell they call 'Howlin' level. If you're psychotic enough you can have the 7th level of hell 'Howlin+' and '++". I' will warn you that 'Howlin' level is damn hot. You need to be 18 or older to order and you sign an aknowledgement saying you know. It has a bite. If you like spicy and love to keep your tastebuds, I recommend Medium or Medium +. I also prefer their tenders over the chicken with bone. But to each their own. During the summer heat, they provide sun blocking umbrellas for those waiting in line. Peak hours, you will need to wait for seating and someone there will assist you. They also offer free still water and soda water. Place is clean and inviting. The staff is damn awesome. All are friendly and they tend to remember your usual order if you go often enough. I usually go once or twice a week. Prices are typical. Better than that 'other' spicy chicken joint. And they are only open from Wednesday to Sunday, 11am - 7pm. During the three weekdays, the first hour and the hours between 4 to 5 usually have fewer people in line. All and all great spicy chicken, price is decent, and worth the 30-minute wait. read more

Finally got to try this place for the first time and it did not disappoint! The juiciest and flavorful chicken sandwich I ever had. It's also a vibe inside with music popping and everything! Gotta come early to avoid long wait times. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

The staff here are great folks. My brother who is using a walker was approached by the manager and sat him while I was in line. It's the same good ole HR grub. A+ spot. read more

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The food is awesome and spicy but the wait time is way too long!!! If you're starving don't come here no instant satisfaction. We got the sandwiches mild, medium and one above medium. Mild was spicy for me but the other people started to sweat... yikes!! The chicken tenders was good. We got all the side encore the Cole slaw for some reason we didn't get it. The staff is super nice here. read more

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the food here is amazing!! chicken is so crunchy, flavorful with a kick to it and soft. one of the best chickens ive ever had. the waffles with the chicken is one of my favorites. macaroni salad was amazing! very filling and delicious. we waited in line for around an hour and we received an umbrella from one of the employees which was very kind because it was very hot outside. parking lot will be excruciating because it's small, tight and will always be crowded. you'll be very lucky to find a parking spot. service was excellent, everyone here is friendly and we always got checked up on. inside is a little spacious with many seating tables and outdoor seating. i would definitely come back again, all the foods here are delicious! read more

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This was my first time here, and let's just say--it absolutely rocked my world! I went with the highly recommended sando at a medium spice level and also added a solo tender at the hot level. Let me tell you, that "hot" was hot! Fortunately, not enough to make my booty burn. To round out my meal, I got a side of macaroni salad and banana pudding to wash it all down, and everything was immaculate. The flavors, the spice, the textures--this place truly lives up to the hype. On top of the amazing food, the service was just as great. The cashier was super sweet and gave me the "Comeback Sauce," "Tennessee Tang," and "Sweet Honey Mustard" for free since it was my first visit. The entire staff was so friendly--several of them came up to chat, and they even complimented my outfit (thank you!). I don't know if all Californians are this nice, but back where I'm from, people aren't this friendly! Overall, I had an incredible experience. I'll definitely be coming back to try more spice levels. Highly recommend! read more

Howlin' Ray's - The Sando - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Another great visit! Always worth the wait. The staff is beyond amazing. They really made me feel welcomed. They were so attentive to my dog. The food was delicious per usual. Their friendliness stood out to me and I had to thank them for the great service. This place is definitely a good vibe. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

We love coming here! Our must have food stop whenever we go to Southern California!! Every time we come here the experience is always great. Chef Ali and team's service and hospitality is the best! read more

Been wanting to try this for year! So when I heard they opened a location in Pasadena- away from LA traffic-I had too! We waited 45 minutes to get in and about 15 for our order, however the choice in music and the vibe made it bearable. Let's me just say, the hype is real!!! Hubby and I shared a sandwich, a two piece and fried pickles- all medium heat! What makes this place different from the other hot chicken places? It's not greasy or over breaded and I was so surprised at how juicy the chicken actually is! Will I wait in line again? Yes! But what will encourage me to make line again is their staff! The friendliest staff I have encounter for such a busy restaurant. Kind, full of energy and great vibes! Whatever this owner is doing he needs to keep it up his staff was happy and that energy was passed on to the customers! PS- don't leave without the banana pudding! read more

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Man I love me some Howlin! So much love and flavor goes into each bite it is and always will remain the GOAT. No one does it better! You can literally order ANYTHING here and it will be amazing. Also shoutout to postmates for delivering this savory and stunning spread to us. So we got 2 Luis style(secret menu?), a box of wings, and two orders of their fries. Everything was FLAWLESS. Just like sitting down at the actual eatery. Fresh and delicious. Bite after bite, humming and dancing around the table. Yeah we added cheese and heck yes we added bacon! Fire in the hole! Total knockout the park. Medium plus is the way to go if you actually want to enjoy your meal LOL anything else past that, you tend to rethink your actions. Like there's food that needs spice to make it better because not everything is great. But here you could even enjoy no heat and it's freaken amazing every time. A little bit of spice won't hurt though. Especially the flavor their spice mix has. It's PERFECT. Their Sandos are God Tier basically, their chicken is God tier, everything you name is in that level. Service has always been amazing as well. I love eating at the restaurant too, long lines but always worth the wait. Nicest people to serve in history. I don't think I have ever met anyone that is rude or "having a bad day". Not once. They got inside and outside seating for anyone. Like I mentioned you will always have a great experience here. Shoutout to Ray and his team for being the quintessential definition of what and how any establishment should be. Hats off Howlin Rays! read more

Despite not having gone back to this chain in years, I'm still impressed with the quality and service here! I used to never go to this location either because it was always farther away but am glad I did because it's clearly the best one lol e.g. easier parking, more spacious seating, livelier staff & they had sun umbrellas for lines! As for food, I'd say that the medium spicy chicken sando was definitely the right play! It's just that good. If you're looking for something that's a little lighter, then go with the chicken & waffles (also a tasty choice). Don't wimp out and get mild spicy though, it's really not as good but no comment on anything above medium...Also free stickers and buttons!! Plus, Sidecar is conveniently next door too for those with a sweet tooth. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Chicken breast sando with freebies! - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I never really understood the hype for Howlin' Rays until today. The service and staff completely blow my mind! They are on another level of hospitality. We celebrated our friends birthday here on Sunday. While they were near closing time, they were still super attentive and made us feel like we were well taken care of. They really do care about their customers. The food was super good, well seasoned and fresh, super worth the wait. I really thought this was a fast food restaurant but no, it felt like not even a 5 star Michelin restaurant can compete with this service. 10000% recommend read more

I've been going to Howlin Rays since they opened . The Pasadena location is slacking big time. This is the 3rd sandwich Ive gotten were there is barely any chicken in my chicken sandwich. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Where's the chicken? - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Howlin' Rays is always an experience, eating the most delicious chicken, cooked to perfection, spicy or no spice! Simply done, lots of ambiance, great music, and fun service! Plan on a few hours to wait in line to fill your chicken desires! Can't be beat! Closes at 7pm! Just went yesterday Thanks to the Staff! Always a tasty time! read more

Found out about this location a few months ago on a trip with friends down to Pasadena. Was really surprised to see they opened up a second location in the area, but really happy about it because I don't like braving the drive and wait time at the Chinatown location. I'd say the wait here is comparable to the Chinatown location, if not marginally better. They have a pretty limited parking lot considering how many people actually come here to eat, but I appreciate that they have a dedicated lot at all versus the Chinatown location where you default just have to pay for parking. Here, if the lot is full, you can find free street parking pretty quick nearby. Is the wait still worth it for the food? Yes. YESSSS. This place is my favorite hot chicken sandwich place ever. There's no contest. The wait can get kind of ridiculous, so do try to either come with friends or come during off hours. I got The Sando and fries both times. The Sando is pretty much perfect. My husband got The Sando 2.0, but...I don't like all the additional toppings, I think it distracts and detracts from the perfection of the spicy chicken flavor, to be honest. And my husband agreed with me. Their fries are really good too! Great crispy crunch and a nice, fluffy inside. Good spice as well. Also, medium is like a hot at other places. Their hot is like HOT. My husband keeps getting hot every time and underestimating how hot their hot actually is lol. I think their medium is perfect actually, although probably a tad to hot for most people. They also have sparkling water on tap!!! Whoever made that decision is galaxy-brained. It's cold, crisp, perfectly bubbly. S-tier. Thank you for having this. I got so excited the first time I saw it. I wish more places had sparkling water as an option. I choose it over plain water everytime. Service is EXCELLENT!!! Really friendly, helpful, prompt and attentive staff. S-tier customer service. Sometimes they have a waitlist for the seats when it's crowded, so be aware sometimes you may not be able to just sit down. They'll have you give your name and party size to one of the employees that'll come and fetch you when a table frees up. I wonder if there's a way that they can signify this to customers? I made the mistake with my group by just sitting down at a table on our first visit, and have seen many parties do the same on my first and second visit. Will definitely be back!! I really wish they'd open up other locations in different areas (Cerritos!!!). I would legit probably never go to another spicy chicken sandwich place than Howlin Ray's if I had one nearby fjkdhgkdjrtgird. read more

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Just amazing. 5 stars all round for Howlin Rays. Great quality food, love the Nashville spices. Julian, Javier and the whole team were awesome! Even hooked us up and gave us a free waffle because of wait time! Crazy good service! It's buzzin so be there before they open or else the line is at least 30mins. Also, love the vibe! Never thought I'd see a disco ball in a bathroom lol, but yeah, this place is just epic, 100% coming back. read more

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Great service, great food. The staff were nice and friendly. There's a small parking lot in the back, there's also street parking. The tenders and fries were fresh and crispy. read more

Howlin Ray's Chicken, what can you say it's damn good ok great but you're going to wait... Sometimes, wait is an understatement, LOL!! Unlike their Chinatown location, getting chicken here is much easier, but still, you're going to wait... If I'm by myself, it's worth my time, but when with the family, it's tough because for those that have kids/teens, they don't like to wait at all... The staff here do their best to get you in and and out. The chicken is always fresh and flavorful. it's hard not to want more. There are secret menu items not listed anywhere I have learned of one, and once I try, I will post my pictures... If you're not in a rush for some great chiken stop at the location, plenty of street parking leading up the front door. read more

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Honestly the food was not what I thought it was going to be. Maybe I got the wrong flavor. I got medium hot. I don't know what I was expecting but the chicken was a bit dry. Luckily the Cole slaw was delicious and so was the bun. Service was excellent. The fried pickles were also good. The place of course was packed. They have a good batter. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Medium hot sando - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

as a hot chicken connoisseur, this place is completely amazing and worth the line!! so delicious. Pro tip look up their secret menu.

What can I say that hasn't been already said!! Delicious, juicy, spicy, super friendly! My gripe would be the parking! I don't like having to struggle with parking! I will avoid a spot if parking is a headache! Luckily, I wasn't driving! :) Do businesses rent tiny spots so their business could look like they're booming? Of course there's long lines! There's only one register and about 10 tables!! Lol! The employees though... amazing! Anywazzz.. get the Mario Fries! So good!! read more

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This was my first time at this location, and I remember waiting over an hour. I ordered the Sando with Hot Spicy. I remembered the Sando was so good and juicy, and how I was sweating from the spice. The parking lot was packed, and I was a little nervous about where I parked, but fortunately, I didn't get a ticket. The staff here were super friendly. One of them asked what I was up to that day, and another complimented my shoes. Someone else also made sure to let me know they were available if I needed anything else. Free sparkling water was available while you wait, and I ended up waiting about 20 minutes. I had expected a longer wait. I ordered the Sando with Medium Spicy and a side of potato salad. The chicken had great flavor from the seasoning. However, I remembered it being juicier. I'll definitely go for the Hot Spicy again because I didn't feel the burn at all! I loved the potato salad! The potato salad was excellent. I highly recommend to order, and if you need something to cool down your palate if the chicken is too spicy. Although I didn't try the tenders this time, I saw other customers with them, and they looked massive! I'll be ordering those next time, also with Hot Spicy! read more

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Finally got a chance to try this spot that typically has a long line out the door and now I know why! The food and service were great My mild Sando had great flavor and just enough heat for me! I definitely would give this place a try! read more

Howlin' Ray's - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

A group of 10 of us came by for lunch today and had children with us. We didn't even get to placing our order. With music blasting "mother f**ker" it is clear that this establishment only serves people who don't care about profanity being blasted through the restaurant and parking lot. We got back in the car and took our business to Shake Shack up the street. Will never be back. read more

Food, staff, vibes, all top notch! I've always wanted to try the famous chicken from Howlin' Ray's and when a friend invited us there to celebrate their birthday we were thrilled. We lucked out and arrived as soon as our friends were at the top of the queue. Note, if you do have to queue outside they provide decent sun umbrellas. Every single member of staff we interacted with were incredible. The vibe was great, the place was buzzing the chicken was unreal. The chicken was so crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I got the wings, mild heat, with the fries. We also got the banana pudding. My friend got the howlin hot chicken, it comes with some sort of a disclaimer to sign lol. Can't wait to go back! Tip: they have a parking lot in the back but it was wedged. You should be able to find street parking within a short walk. read more

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The staff is really friendly every time I go there amazing, The food is 10/10 totally recommend.

The service at howlin is unbeatable! The chicken was also evenly seasoned and juicy. There was a small line getting up to the counter, and small wait before a member was able to get us to a seat, but the food is worth the small inconvenience. Parking lot is also not too big, and they share a parking lot with side car donuts. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Overall Experience: One of the best restaurants in So Cal. Not only is the Food amazing, the service is top-tier and you can tell the staff love working here. Note check their schedule and when they are open! Food: Best hot chicken you can find. They do something to prep the chicken to make it next level. Far better than any Nashville hot chicken shop. Be careful of the heat, if you ask for a sample of the hot, they will give you a small piece. I think the medium heat is just right. I like the OG sandwich more than the 2.0. Also the chicken and waffles are great! Portion Size: Very good size. Service: Exceptional. Staff love working here, try to get to know you, asks how everything is. Next level. Ambiance: Really nice design and good brand. Even their bathrooms are clean, fun, and cool. Presentation: Food look and is prepped very well! Parking Situation: Sometimes it can be difficult to find parking when it's busy. But there is a decent size lot. You just have to wait if it's busy. The only downside in my opinion is they charge .75 cents for the sauce. Wish it one would come complimentary. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Sandwiches. I like the OG sandwich more than the 2.0 - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Came on a Sunday afternoon around 11:30 and there was no line!! We were so excited as there has been a line every time we drive by. The lady at the order counter was really nice and even offered us a sample of the x-hot spiciness level. We got our order about 10-15 mins afterwards and everything was fresh and tasted amazing. The x-hot was pretty spicy and it definitely builds up. I'd say it's comparable to the Buldak level spiciness but it builds up more as you eat! The staff was friendly and everything was clean. Would be back and hoping the lines aren't as bad in the future. read more

Howlin' Ray's - The Sando HOT (Front left), Sando 2.0 X-Hot (front right) The Sando mild (back left), shaken fries (back right) - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

My wife and I have been wanting to try this place for a while now. Today we finally decided to go & wait in the line. The line does move slow. From the start until we ate & left, it was over an hour process. We shared fries, chicken & waffles and a chicken sandwich. EVERYTHING was incredibly delicious! Best of everything I've ever had. Very much well worth the prices. The places older jams which made the environment much better and the customer service was on point. Everyone was extremely friendly and polite and hard working. Something I feel I haven't experienced in quite some time. I can't wait to get back to this place for another meal. read more

Finally made it out to Howlin' Ray's and it was definitely an experience! We waited about 30-45 minutes in line, which wasn't too bad considering how popular the place is. Parking was kind of a headache, so be ready to circle around a bit. Before ordering, we got to sample the mild, medium, and hot spice levels, my boyfriend tried the hot and lhe iterally sneezed from how spicy it was lol. We ended up going with the quarter bird at medium spice, but honestly, it was a little too spicy for me. Next time I'm definitely sticking to mild. My boyfriend, on the other hand, loved the medium heat. The star of my meal, though, was the Mario Fries. They're loaded with coleslaw, chicken, cucumbers, and their comeback sauce. I was a little nervous they'd get soggy, but they totally held up and stayed crispy. So flavorful and satisfying! The service was super kind and very thorough. The staff made us feel taken care of even with the long line and busy vibe. Overall, a fun spot with big flavors and a lively atmosphere! read more

Howlin' Ray's is the place to be at if you want quality Nashville hot chicken. It is always bustling at this restaurant (Chinatown or Pasadena), but it is worth the wait! I love the culture and enthusiasm of what this restaurant brings. All the employees are super friendly and they make you feel very welcome and loved. Every time I come here, I always get the chicken tenders. I know they are most known for their sandwich but tenders are just more worth it in my opinion. I come for the chicken so I'm getting just chicken! The chicken tenders are always so well seasoned and super tender on the inside. It was a little bit too salty this time around, but still really delicious. I got the medium spice and it was the perfect amount of kick to it. Love pairing it with the comeback sauce. Fries were also hot and crispy. This restaurant is definitely a must try. Even though the line is always long, it is worth the experience! read more

Howlin' Ray's - Chicken tenders - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

First time to try ...There's a big parking space , safe area. Usually there's a long line, all the time. Good thing, we came bit early . Service was super great. Had a good service from the servers since, we had queries . Staff were attentive and very welcoming. Food was good and tasty. It has this different yummyness and big portions too. The ambiance has this cool environment and chill vibe. It was worth the try and will definitely comeback. read more

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First time at this Pasadena location. We came on a rainy day. They handed out some samples of chicken noodle soup and let people borrow umbrellas. There was still a wait to get in as the staff made sure not to keep the line moving faster than food is prepared. About 20 mins wait in line starting from the driveway, plus 10 more minutes after order. Once we put in our order we got led to a table to wait. There were some postcards and buttons as well as crayons for the kids. We ordered the Sando 2.0 and chicken and waffles with fries. This was more than enough for two! Food was tasty and juicy. Medium was hot enough for us! Clean bathrooms and available parking in the back. read more

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Been going to Howlin' in Chinatown for years. Finally came to the Pasadena location for the first time. Love that they have a parking lot shared with Sidecar next door. Howlin is still my fav hot chicken spot... juicy chicken & the slaw is just different from other spots. Doesn't need sauce, but u can still get some of u want to. My go-to is the sando with medium spice. Tried the wings, too, YUM! The best service! From water & umbrellas while waiting in the line, to having getting & saving tables after ordering & getting your number, providing Crystal sauce pepper-vinegar sauce bottles, & all the times staff checked on us if we needed boxes, napkins, or anything in general. Oh & the clean party restrooms (IYKYK). read more

Howlin' Ray's - Wings & Sando medium spice - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Today, we visited this place based on a recommendation from one of my friends, and I wanted to leave an honest review. We came to this fast food restaurant in Pasadena because a friend highly recommended it, and I have to say it completely exceeded my expectations. While fast food may not be the healthiest choice, the food served here is honestly some of the best fast food I have ever had in my life. If you're looking to experience fast food at its absolute highest quality, I truly believe this is the place to visit. In my opinion, this restaurant is one of those iconic places that every tourist should experience. If you're visiting Los Angeles or anywhere in California, you should definitely make time to come here and try the food. As you can see, the line is incredibly long, and people are willing to wait because it's absolutely worth it. Even though they're extremely busy, everything is managed so efficiently. The staff was exceptional. Khaviar, his wife, whose name I unfortunately can't remember, and everyone else who helped us find a table were all incredibly kind and welcoming. Everything was spotless, organized, and high quality. Honestly, I don't even know how to write a review that truly does this place justice. I wish I could give it more than five stars. If I could, I would give it every star in the sky. This is not an exaggeration. No one asked me to write this review. This is simply my personal opinion. Whenever I visit a place, I always leave my honest thoughts, whether they're positive or negative. In this case, I can sincerely say this was one of the best dining experiences I've had. You'll be able to see even more in my videos because they showcase many of the unique things this place has to offer. They also have wonderful souvenirs that you can take home for yourself or for someone you love, making the experience even more memorable. I wholeheartedly recommend this place, and I can't wait to come back. One thing to keep in mind is that if you're extremely hungry or not the type of person who enjoys waiting for food, this may not be the best time to visit. There is usually a long line, although it moves fairly quickly. After ordering, you'll also need to wait for your food, and if you're dining in, you'll have to wait until your table is ready and your number is called. For us, the entire process took about 30 minutes, which we considered very reasonable and probably a bit lucky. Depending on the day and time, other guests may end up waiting longer. read more

Staff were super friendly! Maybe too friendly-it felt a little awkward. But they were happy to explain the menu and get us seats as our first time there. I can't handle spice at all, I'm a huge wimp. The mild was the edge of my spice tolerance, and the oil helped the spice cling and linger. But it wasn't painful, just flavorful! It's a very loud space. Between the music, calling out orders, and people talking, don't expect to have a quiet conversation. But it never felt overwhelming as the space is divided well. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Chicken Sando, Chicken Tenders, Banana Pudding - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California