I stood in the Howlin Ray's line in Chinatown last year and I swore I would not do it again. Nashville hot, fine, but is that sandwich still worth an hour on Broadway or has fried chicken in Los Angeles moved on?
I live in Koreatown. I can walk to other chicken. Tell me if I am being cheap or if the line is nostalgia now.
I still go to Howlin Ray's when I am already downtown. 727 Broadway, the sandwich is the point, the line is the tax. I will not do it on a Saturday.
Dave's Hot Chicken on Wilshire is the one I actually repeat. Spicy, no Chinatown wait, and I can eat and get back to work.
It is a chain now. I know. The sandwich still hits and I am not standing on Broadway for it.
Gus's fried chicken on Crenshaw is the one. Not hot chicken, just a regular plate. I go when I want chicken not a line story.
Howlin Ray's is still the one I send visitors to. The heat is the whole show and Chinatown is easy from my side of town.
Weekday lunch if you can. Weekend line is a different sport.
I live closer to Culver. Honey's Kettle is the comfortable one and I will say it is not in the same fight. I still go when I want fried chicken without a scene.
For the actual heat, I go to Dave's on Wilshire and I am done.
I did Howlin Ray's on Broadway and Dave's on Wilshire two weeks apart. Howlin Ray's still wins if you want the original Nashville heat and you already accepted the line. The sandwich is why that window stays packed.
Dave's is the weeknight. Wilshire, faster, still hot enough, and I am home before I have time to argue about it. So yes Howlin Ray's still deserves it, just not every time you want fried chicken in Los Angeles.
Next to USC is a food truck called Sunset Hot Chicken. It's some of the best chicken I have had anywhere, not kidding. The people working there are very friendly and the prices are reasonable. You should give it a try.
This fried chicken spot is absolutely outstanding.
A couple of weeks ago, I found a new little gem in Palms. It's called Al's Hot Chicken. They mostly sell spicy chicken sandwiches, tenders with waffles or fries, plus some sliders. Really, really liked it. I hope that they stay in business.
I prefer the Howlin' Ray's in Pasadena. I feel it's just slightly better managed. Lines never move fast. Yeah, it's kinda the In-N-Out of hot chicken. Do not let the long lines deter you when the place is actually worth it. 
This one is, at least for me.
It's great, not gonna lie. I saw they deliver via Postmates. The thing with hot chicken sandwiches and delivery is that it never tastes the same. The bun gets soggy after 20 or 30 minutes. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind the extra fees. Well, I guess I will be back eventually and try some of the other spots in the meantime.
I 100% agree. It's not the same as eating it fresh. 
It's called hot chicken for a reason. That said, I prefer Howlin' Ray's over anything I've tried so far.
There is one place that is even better than Howlin Ray's, but it's in Long Beach. Right, how many times do we actually end up there?
Nevertheless, if you do, check out Crimson Coward. Their menu offers a wider variety. Everything is a winner. They have 5 spice levels. Try their "burn baby, burn". 
Oh, one thing.. the Downey location doesn't compare. Do yourself a favor and try the one in Long Beach instead.
Howlin Ray’s is just on top of their game. Doesn’t even matter what location. It’s that consistency that makes them the number one in L.A..
