Be prepared to wait in a line. But it's worth it! I ordered the Tenders for myself in Mild. Juicy chicken and very flavorful w just the right amount of heat for me. Ordered the Tenders for my husband in County...and he loved them. Sides were good too...but nothing extraordinary. But the Banana Pudding was exceptionally good! Don't pass it up. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Mild was the perfect flavor and heat. - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

The the food is delicious. Be careful of the heat though go with the country wings if you can't handle heat at all and always asked to taste the heat because it is nothing to fool around with the service is top-tier and they have sparkling water on tap it was a wonderful experience, food and interaction. Also, the waffles were very good too. I was very pleased. They deserve the rating. It's a must go. I don't live in the area, but I will be going back. read more

Food: BEST HOT CHICKEN IN SOCAL! NO EXAGERATION! I usually get their chicken sandwich with a side of mario fries (secret menu). Chicken is larger than the buns they use, insanely flavorful, crispy, and juicy. I love the slaw they use. The slaw is a vinegar based slaw instead of mayo based. This doesn't make the chicken sandwich heavy and adds a good balance of acidity. I recommend getting medium spice to anyone's first time here, and medium plus if you enjoy foods on the spicier side. My spice tolerance is ok and I think medium tastes more like a mild. Fries are great too. Crinkle cut fries seasoned with their hot chicken seasoning. I like the mario fries, which are fries loaded with their slaw, pickles, and sauce. They come as with a hot spice level but you can always ask to adjust that. Check out their secret menu on their website for other items before going! Service: Service is exceptional. By far the best service I've experienced. The staff are all very friendly and all always seem to be enjoying themselves. They chat with regulars and new customers, and won't hesitate to make sure your experience exceeds your expectations. They very cool stickers up for grabs, which I snagged some to stickerbomb my snowboard helmet. Ambiance: Love the decor of this place. Even the bathroom is decorated with their own unique style. Very lively place with lots of people, as it is very popular. Weekends will get busy, especially during lunch/ dinner time. Parking is also limited but there is street parking nearby. read more

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I'm actually so mad I waited 45 mins for this place.. Customer Service 4/5 Let me start with the customer service. All the staff here are very friendly, but a little too friendly. Like you can tell some of the interactions are pretty forced and doing to much. Idk maybe it was just me. However the inside of the restaurant had great ambiance. It was packed so it is kind of hard to get a table. Food 2.5/5 Now let's get into the food. Ordered 2 chicken sandos one mild and one medium. The mild barely had any spice to it and was damn near naked. Half way into the sandwich I look down and notice the left corner of the chicken looked a little undercooked... (see photo below). I checked in with one of the guys there and he told me that it was "a blood line and was still edible" not quite sure what that means but I do know my appetite has now been ruined. They ended up making me a new one and I just boxed it up to go. Medium one had a decent amount of spice. Also ordered the tenders (mild) and that had way more spice than the sando?? It just felt inconsistent. Fries were good tho. I find it crazy how hard people ride for Howlin rays being the best chicken spot in LA. Go down the street to main chick in old town and you'll find yourself MUCH better chicken there. First time here and probably won't come back. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Pretty sure I didn't ask for medium rare chicken.. - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Super cool and friendly staff, seating was easily arranged. I got the Sando, Medium Heat and it was excellent. Chicken Breast piece was perfectly cooked with a nice crispy outside. Everything else in the sandwich makes it a perfect combination of sweet, savory, tangy, warm, crunchy, buttery deliciousness. Looking forward to trying the chicken and waffles next. read more

Howlin' Ray's - The Sando & Unsweet Peach Tea. - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Oh man oh man where do you I start... Howlin Rays is the ultimate chicken sandwich restaurant. Once you try it it's game over. It's unlike any other chicken joint. Staff: I have no words. They're all incredible in their own ways. Very attentive, friendly, caring & over all amazing people. They care about their customers and it shows. We love you Howlin Pasadena Staff!!! Food: The food is always on point, fresh, delicious and full of love lol. The Sando is my favorite it's huge crispy flavorful and very satisfying. One of the best I've ever had. The fries are also bomba-rific crispy and full of flavor. The mac salad is one of a kind yummy you just want to keep eating it. I wish they had it in stores lol. Overall Howlin Rays is an awesome restaurant with wonderful people doing what they love. I will keep coming back over and over! read more

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This review is for delivery only! I was devastated when howlin rays pasadena closed postmates delivery orders when they were getting ready to open their restaurant, and I was left wondering if they would ever restart delivery. Well, my wistful constant checking for them on postmates finally paid off this past week when I realized they were back!!!! I needed that sweet, sweet gratification of their chicken sando and fries so I ordered ASAP. It's always delivered piping hot and fresh (and quick to boot! Especially if you are an old-time customer that has waited in line at their Chinatown location like me...). I am SO ECSTATIC they are back and hope they continue to take online orders, no matter what service they use! My order is always a mild or medium chicken sandwich with cheese, with a side of shake fries. Anything more than medium isn't enjoyable for me, but I'm a bit of a spice weenie. The shake fries can get a little soggy during delivery, but pop that ish in the oven for a couple of mins and they crisp right back up (not that I ever do this since I'm ok with some of the fries being soggy. For the most part they stay pretty crispy upon arrival). read more

Howlin' Ray's - Mild chicken sandwich with shake fries delivery - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Best chicken sandwich in town. The service was amazing. My husband got the Hot chicken sando and was struggling but an employee brought him some milk and it helped immensely. Thank you. Unfortunately we didn't have cash to tip them but I will definitely make sure next time. read more

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

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We thought we would beat the crowd for going for an early dinner.... WRONG... the wait in line was over one hour. Go with friends so you can visit while you are standing in line. They help tells me on Wednesday and Thursday between 2 to 5 pm is there slow time. Parking in the back is ample. Service was great and they help you find a table. We sat outside. It was comfortable with the heaters and quieter than inside.. We enjoyed the chicken sandwich.... only ate part of it and took the rest home. The next day I ate it for lunch and the chicken was still tasty! Fries are good too. Mac salad not traditional and made with a twist. I would go again read more

Howlin' Ray's is THE BEST, there is no argument here. I have never met anyone who didn't like this spot. I was excited to finally check out their newest location in Pasadena that has a dining area. Although they also have a parking lot, it's very packed so depends if you get lucky here. On a Sunday at 4pm, our group waited almost two hours. Luckily, we were just catching up, so time went by. While waiting, the employees checked up on us multiple times and were very friendly. Once we ordered, they found our group of 8 seating in the patio. Even though it was a chilly evening, they had heat lamps to keep us warm. After waiting for so long, we were starving and beyond excited for our food. I swear, that's how they get you with the long lines so you end up ordering everything on the menu by the time you made it to the front of the line. So what's so special about Howlin' Ray's? It's not just the food, but the amazing customer service. They are always super friendly and enjoy sparking a conversation, especially if you're out of town. If you order a lot, they randomly like to throw in freebies for you too. Don't forget to grab some cool stickers and pins too! Now onto the food, it's out of this world. I can say with confidence that this is the BEST NASHVILLE FRIED CHICKEN you'll ever have --and I've been to Nashville. I do have to warn you though, they do not play with their spice. I love my spicy food, but I wouldn't get level hot again. At the same time, medium wasn't enough spice, so I'd recommend doing medium plus if you like a good kick of spice without dying. On this visit, we ordered the Luis Style Sando ($14), Chicken Tenders and Waffles ($16), Wings ($10), Shake Fries ($4), and a Beer ($7) and Sweet Tea Cooler ($4). The Luis Style Sando is a secret menu item, which I'd suggest over the classic. This version comes on toasted sandwich bread and cheese, which gives it a twist. Either way, both sandos are bomb though. Their tenders are thick and juicy, but I got mine way too spicy to enjoy. Last but not least, the wings are a winner here too. The order comes with three, but these are huge, full pieces of wings. Overall, flavor and spicy is everything here. You simply cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Yes, there's going to be a long time, but it is 1000% worth it. Tip: You could order through Postmates from the Chinatown location if you want to skip the line though, but part of the charm is the staff here. read more

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People who come to this place will vouch when I say, "This is some good chicken." I'm not into all the heat with the chicken, so I just stick to the country flavor, which has a lot of flavor. I have tried all the other heat levels, but I like to enjoy my food without sweating and sniffling. I've been to both the Chinatown location and the Pasadena location. I prefer the Pasadena location because you have an actual place to sit and eat. If you're picking up food to go, the Chinatown location will be perfect. You can do the same in Pasadena, too. Customer service is always great. The workers will stop to interact with you even when it is really busy. If you are in the neighborhood, you have to give this place a try. read more

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What can I say about this place, the vibes are great , the chicken tenders were well seasoned and juicy, the fries were crispy and fresh, the homemade lemonade was tangy and delicious, but man the service was immaculate. It was truly the best experience I've ever had at a restaurant, if I could give them a million stars I would. The workers were friendly, took time out of their busy day to talk to you and make you feel like you've known them forever. Allison, I hope that's the right spelling, was amazing, my family and I talked to her for at least 15 minutes. My daughter told her how she's been trying to find a Labubu and a few minutes later she brought a present out to my daughter and it was a Labubu. You guys made her day, she hasn't put that down yet. Thank you not only for an amazing meal but for the conversation and being so amazing! I can't wait to come back to Pasadena and eat there again! read more

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We had a craving for chicken and waffles. Waffles hit the spot and satisfied my craving. Chicken yum. They gave us a complimentary order of Mario Fries we weren't disappointed. The staff and the vibe on point. read more

The new location in Pasadena has a vibe that the first location didn't have. I love this place, the food, the service from staff all work to create a vibe that is hard to match. Def the best chicken in LA. read more

All right! All Right! This place deserves their high ratings and long lines. But they run this business like CHAMPS! This place is bustling so expect a line, but they are very efficient and when you do get up to order they greet you with a smile and make sure to answer all your questions. No disgruntled workers at Howlin's! This is a testament to the management, even with staff shortages and how busy they are. Kudos! Hot chix sandwich = delicious. But here is my WARNING. I love me some spicy food, and apparently got too cocky here and ordered a little above my pay grade. They don't mess around here so be careful and if it's your 1st time go less spicy. My lunch was still yummy, but I think I would've enjoyed it more if I went less spicy. But the cashier did warn me, even tho I thought I could handle that Nashville Heat (I was wrong) Next time I'm rollin' thru Pasadena, I'm planning to make a stop here. :) read more

Howlin' Ray's - They don't have a soda fountain, so you need to buy your drinks in cans or bottles. This Lemonade was 5/5 - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I came here for a late lunch and there was still a long line out the door, but it moved quickly. The chicken is really good, I tried the mild which was really good. Very friendly servers, and everything comes out very quickly. read more

Incredible chicken sandwich. You know how you go to most hot chicken places and it's always just a spicy sandwich? This chicken is juicy, sprinkled with flavoring, and just the PERFECT bite. Great customer service, and food comes out quick. Highly recommend. I LOVE spicy and the Medium was just right for me. Will return next time I'm in the area read more

Howlin' Ray's - Medium chicken sandwich - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Its my first time in the Pasadena location and it is beautiful. This is a sit down location with draft beers!! I came here with friends after a baby shower. We have a few kids too. Some of our friends have not been to any of the locations so it was great idea to stop by. My usual go to is The Sando in HOT. To me, that's flavorful with a kick but medium is nasty and bland. Extra HOT kick my ass to the curve. Lol. So today we got extra hot chicken tender and one bite of it was good enough for me but that's my bf's order. He love it. I LOVEEEEE their fries. Well seasoned and it tasted like deep fried mash potatoes. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This location does not have milkshake but they have water on the tap and sparkling water (damnnn fancy!). We waited for an ho tur since the line was wrapped around the building ish but they have speakers on the outside of the building so they are play some good music! A The vibes of these workers there are always on point. I was recording the place and they will post for me and even took my phone to get everyone to cheers for me. Aren't they dope?!? Love it boys!! Keep it up. They have a wheelchair elevator here!! Don't forget to add me! Hehe read more

Howlin Rays basically changed my life, I first tried their location in Koreatown some years ago and I was mind blown. A friend and I were in LA for a show and had a few hours to kill so we didn't mind waiting in line for an hour plus for some very hyped chicken. The hype is VERY real! Ever since that first bite I've been chasing hot chicken perfection, trying as many spots as I can. I've come across some pretty good ones but nothing compares to Howlin Rays. Going to Howlin Rays itself is an experience, the staff bring a crazy great energy which adds to the excitement of it all. They give you free fries or a wing to try if you're a new comer. read more

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

Howlin' indeed! This is the king of hot chicken. The chicken is always juicy and cooked to perfection whether it's tenders or in the sandos. I go mild plus most of the time, spicy will definitely leave a burn for the rest of the day. As good and as spicy as the chicken is my favorite part is the staff, always friendly,welcoming, and look for seating spots. read more

This 5 stars is for the exceptional customer services. We are delighted to have Justin to help us with various requests including taking pictures for us. Justin is polite, patient, and efficient. Store is well organized, clean, and everyone is friendly. Free water or sparkling water. As for the chicken, it is a bit on the salty side. But each piece is crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside. Although pricing is higher than other chicken joint, but their services made up the difference. Arrived around 10:40 on a Friday morning, there were 7 people ahead of me, almost no waiting time. read more

Best hot chicken I've tried in California, always juicy and the breading never falls apart. Customer service is superb and they are very friendly. I love this place read more

Finally after several years waiting, I had Howlin' Rays. The wait at 12 on a weekday was under 10 minutes, and the cashier and all the staff were super helpful and seemed to enjoy working there. Now on to the food, the sandwich was every bit just as good as I thought it would be. Even with my case of hot chicken fatigue in LA, you can see why HR stands above all by a mile. Might be the best macaroni salad I've ever had too. read more

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Service and staff are very friendly and attentive. Food was good, but doesn't live up to the wait time and hype personally. The fries didn't have much flavor and chicken sando at medium spice tasted like a mild, bit disappointing. Also surprisingly they charge for sauce individually when every other competitor doesn't. Compared to Main Chick, I'd have to give it to Main Chick. The spices there, seasonings and flavor are all on point without the long wait time. Also comes with plenty of free sauce. read more

SO happy another location opened up and so close to me! We came on Sunday around 11am and it was one hour wait. They have a reputation of delicious food but the wait is worth it when the service is the best. Shoutout to Justin and many other staff members I didn't get the names off. The vibe was so welcoming and they appreciate you waiting and show that appreciation. I loved it and I would wait in line again haha. My partner and I can handle spice pretty well we think. At Chicken Tender Fest we tried one tender of the Howlin' which was obviously on fire but not the most unbearable thing in the world (for 1 tender lol). With Justin's suggestions, we got a Hot level chicken sando and Xhot 3 piece wings along with some comeback sauces and sweet peach tea. Hot is a blend with habanero peppers and xhot was a blend with ghost pepper and carolina peppers I believe. We were warned recovery with xhot would be 1-2 days.... that's pretty accurate. When we sat down, one of the staff members handed us some waffles on the house and let me tell you - they were SO good. Slight crisp exterior but soft inside, not sweetened which I loved cause you can adjust your sweetness with how much maple syrup you add. We devoured these so fast. Onto the chicken. The hot sando was HOT, but we were able to finish it calmly. I loved the coleslaw and pickles in there to break up the spice and the chicken was large and juicy. The Xhot however was a spicy surprise. A couple bites and our mouths were starting to fume - it's definitely a slowish burn but lingers. Thank goodness for the comeback sauce to cool us down. We ate one wing in the store and took the other two home to not embarrass ourselves further. I was determined to finish all that day though. Back at home, with a 64oz water bottle by my side and milk and the comeback sauce, we succeeded. I'm proud of myself for this accomplishment but will stick to hot for all my future visits. read more

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Having tried nearly every "Hot Chicken" Place in LA, we finally made the hour drive to Pasadena and yes, all the hype is legit. Best hot chicken in town -- maybe the world? Came on a Sunday at 4pm and the wait was about 40 minutes. Not a ton of people on line -- but they only had one register open and 1 guy to take orders. They told me it was because they don't want the kitchen to get slammed (as they also take alot of Postmates orders for delivery). Free parking lot in back but it was full but we got a spot on the street. Not a ton of seating but they seem to manage it well (Thank you Javier for found us a spot on the back patio as we had our dog with us). We shared alot of food like: Chicken Tenders a mix of "Mild' and "Medium" but the winner was the medium as it had enough heat while not being killer hot. G/f loved her "Country Style" sando (no heat) but tons of flavor with pickles and cole slaw. (Sauce on side). My large chicken wing was also fab -- as was the cole slaw, the AMAZING fries, and the banana pudding for desert. Oh, they have 5 or 6 different beers on tap too. If you don't like waiting in line, I was told Wed. and Thurs. are less crowded. (They are closed Monday and Tuesday and at 7pm every day). Guess they don't need the extra dough. This is a well run, clean organization and if they wanted to -- they could be the In N Out of the hot chicken world. PLEASE OPEN ONE UP ON THE WESTSIDE SO WE COULD COME MORE OFTEN! read more

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New location in Pasadena I finally got to try! Parking in the back. Tables if you want to dine in, or you can get take out. Postmates also delivers if you want to order online. Music is a little loud but keeps the vibe. Sparkling water available while you wait! Friendly service. Food is excellent. Love the Luis Style sando, fries, and comeback sauce. Medium is just right, medium plus at the most. This place can get busy, so be prepared to wait or come at an off hour. I will definitely be back! read more

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There is no doubt that Howlin' Ray's staff are the friendliest and most helpful in what I consider a casual, fast-food establishment. Aside from being helpful, staff will spark up a conversation with you, and are also empowered to give you freebies like an extra wing or comeback sauce if they feel like you can use it. However, with one cash register and a line already forming before opening time, it does not make this an efficient experience if you're pressed for time. As for the chicken, Nashville hot chicken is just not for me. The chicken retains its moistness and juiciness so that's a big plus but the seasoning is just too overwhelming for my tastebuds - it kind of reminded me of hot Cheetos dust but way more concentrated. Mild is too salty and hot is too spicy and salty at the same time. I had to discard the skin in order to enjoy the quarter chicken I ordered. Luckily, the slaw and pickles did help with cutting the saltiness of it all. I guess I just like the traditional fried chicken from my local Ralphs/Albertsons grocery store more. read more

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I was always on the fence about Howlin' mainly because of the wait and yea I still am but if you do it - just choose a time and day where you have time to kill. Also, know what level of spice you can handle and you should really enjoy the food here. First time I ever tried Howlin's I went Medium spice and no I didn't enjoy it. I couldn't hang! For me Mild is the sweet spot. It's not a competition y'all In saying that yes this location gets busy mainly cause there's tables and seating. Ironically, the Chinatown location now doesn't have much of a wait. You can check on wait times on their website. As for the food, love the Sando which has a good amount of Cole slaw, pickles and sauce. It's quite a tasty chicken sandwich. I also love the fries too, it has great seasoning on it. And my kryptonite are the waffles which are only available on the weekends. Youcan get chicken and waffles but you can also just order a Sando or wings and get the waffles on the side. The workers here are amazingly friendly. I had a great short chat with the cashier and the person when I went to get my food, best of all they gave me wings on the house!!! Love the vibes, the employees seem genuinely happy. Parking might be a bit difficult but there is a lot and the wait might be long. If you're willing to put up with that - go get yourself some Sandos and waffles! read more

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

Dammit Howlin' Rays, why are you so dang delicious?? Normally 1 hr+ waits with no Yelp waitlist or ability to sign up and get a text is a no go for me. But your chicken is worth the wait! So stoked that this Pasadena location opened up that is literally walking distance to me. We arrived a little before opening on a Sunday and there was already like 25+ ppl waiting. We ended up waiting about 1 hr and 15 min or so. Customer service is fire! The crew is always super helpful and friendly and they really try go above and beyond. It started drizzling and the only tables available were outside. One of the crew saw me and asked how many in my group which was 4 and he was like I got you and he made sure that we got the first available table inside and bring our food to us. The chicken is also BOMB! I usually get mild cuz I want to still enjoy myself before my mouth goes numb. My bf and I shared the waffles and fries, I got the quarter bird and he got the sando. What else can we say that hasn't been said? The fresh crisp juicy chicken, the fries are seasoned so well and the waffle is perfect. They even gave us some maple butter which was so delicious! It's kind of good that the wait deters me cuz I'd prob be here every week and I don't think my hips or arteries could take it. read more

Howlin' Ray's - Chicken sando and fries - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Finally made it to Howlin Rays. It did not disappoint. I came on a Saturday afternoon during a rain storm hoping the line wouldn't be too bad. Bad weather and all, there was still a line of people waiting. Fortunately, an employee came out and offered every single person who needed one, an umbrella. Such a considerate gesture. Overall, I think I waited in line about 35 mins (see pic to see where line finished), so it wasn't too bad and totally worth it. Hands down, the service here is the best I've ever experienced. Every single employee - Javier, Justin, Allison - went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure my dining experience was a positive one. An employee came to our table regularly to make sure we didn't need anything the entire time we were dining. Every single one of them was super friendly and eager to please. The positive attitude of the employees made the atmosphere so pleasant. As for the food, absolutely delicious. We ordered every level of heat except the howlin, which they require you to eat with gloves because of how hot it is. Every level was delicious. Although I generally have zero tolerance for spicy food, I liked the mild heat level more than the country. The country had zero heat level. The mild has the perfect amount, in my opinion. Hot and x-hot was really spicy but doable for someone who really likes spiciness. But be prepared, both levels are extremely hot. As for the flavor of the chicken, absolutely delicious. The tenders are huge as are the wings. They have a lot of meat on it. The ratio of breading to chicken is perfect. The chicken is juicy and well seasoned (so flavorful). The breading is also well seasoned and perfectly crispy. As for the waffles, which they only offer on Saturdays and Sundays, were outstanding. The were crispy on the edges, fluffy and light on the inside and the perfect amount of sweetness. They were so good, I had to order more to go. Addicting. I don't have a negative thing to say about this place except I wish they had a location is San Fernando valley. Regardless, totally worth the wait and can't wait to come back. They have a designated parking lot that gets pretty full but there is street parking and a public parking lot across the street for another shopping center. read more

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Howling' Ray's is such a gem. So glad that they opened the Pasadena location. Hands down the best chicken sandwich around. Breading is crispy and infused with all this spicy/sweet goodness. The best part about this place is the environment that the staff create. They are so fun and welcoming! It seems like they enjoy working together and man, do these people hustle. read more

"It's a VIBE!!!" Ambience: From the moment you walk through the door, you can feel the energy in the room, it's electric! You feel like you are in da club. Music playing. I felt like they had my playlist. I probably Shazammed a few jams. Lol. You are greeted with a friendly face, a smile, a fist pump and an introduction of the person taking your order. I wish I could remember his name because he was a doll! Service: The service was the best I think I've ever experienced in a very long time. No joke! Everyone you came in contact with was cool, friendly and just happy to be there. That speaks volumes. You can tell all the staff were having fun, enjoying what they do. Even in the kitchen, they were vibing. Brought our food to our table. Loved the peeps! Excellent service!!!! Food: The food....THE FOOD!!!! AHMAZING! LIT! All of the above. We had the chicken and waffles. Good piece of chicken, delicious fluffy but crisp on the ends waffles. The portions are HUGE, if you're into sharing, these servings are definitely shareable. If you have a huge appetite, this fits the bill. You will get full or tap out early, like I did. But it was so good, I kept wanting to eat more. One thing I love about this place is they let you sample the heat of the chicken, the spice. They give you a good piece of chicken to sample the flavor of heat. My husband chose hot. They do sell beer. My husband liked that. Seating inside and out. It gets crowded with a line out the door. It's worth the wait. Everything is made fresh to order. Legit, good food, service, ambience. 100%! Parking is plenty. In the back and on the streets. Get your grub on! I, 1,000% recommend! Cheers! read more

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Thank you so much to the staff here! I have never had a bad experience. The staff is always beyond kind and friendly! They swipe the tables right way, the give water to the dogs, they brought me a to go box before I asked. They are on top of it. The food is great, worth the wait!! We get chicken and tenders and it's always perfect! Waffles and soft but not soggy and tenders always crunchy and juicy. The music is always fun! The bathroom has a cute disco ball. Only downside is the wait time Friday-Sunday, be prepared to wait. read more

Wait times can be a little long - but happy it's shorter compared to when Chinatown was the ONLY location. I'd say the most we've waited was about an hour and half here? Food and hospitality is as great as ever! There's staff from the Chinatown location also working here so there are familiar faces. Menu is the same - if anything they just put their secret menus items out on the menu. Quality and sizing of their sandos and chicken are still the same even from years ago! Flavor is amazing - no Nashville chicken place can beat Howlin for me. If you like a nice kick and do enjoy spicy - I'd recommend Medium or going Medium+ for a slightly more intense spicy kick. Service is great - everyone's hardworking here and very hospitable. There's always people walking around checking to see if you'd like a table and they will help set one up for you! Everyone is sweet and really seems like a family. I have nothing to complain about for Howlin other than they need to get an OC location!! Hoping they can expand more in SoCal but for now, I'll make the trip out to Pasadena if I'm in the 626 area just for Howlin :) Always excited and happy to eat their sandos. Absolutely LOVE! read more

Food was BOMB at Howlin' Rays! My wife and I went around 12:30 pm on a Saturday and the line was insane! It was out the door and around the corner. The wait ended up being about an hour in line and another 20 minutes for the food, but it was SO worth it We got the hot chicken tenders and waffles, medium chicken tenders, and shake fries with Comeback sauce on the side. The chicken was super juicy, crispy, and delicious. The heat was insane on the hot tenders! I recommend sticking with medium unless you can handle some HOT chicken. The fries were perfect, crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The waffles were super flaky and light! The employees were amazing, introducing themselves to us and asking how we were doing! Very friendly! The design of the restaurant was a cool modern retro feel! 5/5 best hot chicken in LA read more

Howlin' Ray's - Wall near the register - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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It is quite a wait to get your food, but it's worth it! We waited for probably half an order before we got to order. Cashier Javier helped us, and one of the things we ordered was the hot chicken sandwich. He warned us that it was hot and wanted to make sure we would enjoy it, so he got us a chicken tender to try the heat. He also let us know how this level of heat was prepared. We ended up enjoying jt, so we went ahead and ordered hot. We also ordered mild chicken tenders, fries, waffles, and the canned unsweetened peach tea. Javier gave us a cup and let us know that the drink was better poured out and on ice. Didn't know it was unsweetened at first, but it had a good peach flavor! They also have sparkling water offered for free. - hot chicken sandwich: the hot was a good amount of heat for us, but we did have to take breaks in between bites. The batter was pretty crispy and the chicken was moist and tender. By the end, our sandwich was pretty soggy and falling apart, but still very good. - chicken tenders: mild was a little too mild for me, might go for medium next time. Similar to the chicken sandwich as far as the meat goes. The tenders comes with a slice of bread and pickles. The size of the chicken tenders was also pretty generous. - fries: they're crinkle cut, and a great mix of crispy, crunchy. This was really good! - waffles: comes with 4 pieces, this quickly became soggy as it cooled down. It comes with a side of butter and syrup. It's dusted with powdered sugar. I don't think I would get this again Overall, worth the wait! read more

Got there 11:30am and waited 1.5 hours in line. The parking is lot very small and there's a lot people vying for a spot. The staff was very friendly and attentive, did not expect from a fast casual restaurant. My boyfriend and I both got the sando, he got medium and I got mild. The sando had the perfect ratio of cole slaw to meat. The chicken was perfectly crispy and juicy. I think the buns were toasted as well. I thought my mild spice level was a good mix of savory with just a hint of spicy. The medium was just a touch more spicy, but felt like it lacked some of the savory flavor that the mild level had. The fries are a must have. Usually crinkle cut fries are soggy, but each was perfectly crispy and fluffy on the inside. The spice mix they add was also a great addition. The comeback sauce is a must have when getting the fries. The banana pudding was the perfect ending to the meal. It wasn't too sweet and I loved the banana slices in it. read more

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I love Howlin' Ray's. I usually go to the Chinatown location, but while driving to The Huntington Library, we drove by the Pasadena location and I made a mental note. Now I assume this is a brand new location, so the line was out the door and around the building, but it moved at a solid pace. They have inside and outside seating, and while it isn't a lot, they make sure people aren't camping out at tables while someone is still 20 people deep from ordering. The staff is super friendly! My friend got engaged earlier in the day and we came here as we were starving, the staff all made a big commotion over it with one guy saying he was ordained and could marry them now lol. Anyways to the food! I got the 3 medium chicken strips with fries. The chicken is so tender and juicy and huge, I couldn't finish my food! Luckily that meant I have lunch for the next day. The crinkle cut fries are my favorite. Their house made sauce is amazing too! I can't get enough of it! I also got the watermelon seltzer they had on tap. It was so refreshing and not heavy on the watermelon taste. They do have a parking lot, but since it's a new place, it's bound to be packed so don't expect to park there. My fiance dropped me off and I stood in line while he parked around the corner. read more

I've never had the time to wait hours in line for Howlin' Rays when I visit the LA area but when my friend told me that this had just opened up, I knew my upcoming trip would include this in the itinerary. We waited in line for about 45 minutes during lunch time on a Friday. Everyone was so friendly and nice here. I love the spirit and everyone just seemed like they genuinely enjoyed being there :^) We ordered a bunch of chicken sandos for the group and it surprisingly came out super quick! Soo soo good! The chicken was sooo juicy and flavorful. I loved the slaw and pickles in the sandwich as it helped with cutting some of the friedness. Definitely go with their recommendation on hotness as the medium one was already pretty hot (and I feel like I handle my spice pretty well). I'll be sure to come back if I'm ever in town again! read more

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

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