Went to Howlin’ Chinatown to try their Sando 2.0 and also got their waffles for the first time. Arrived a few minutes before 11am open time and wait + food took about 35 minutes. I felt everything went super fast but main wait was for a few select groups of people who took 5-10 minutes to order while everyone else took 30 seconds to 1 minute. Great service from everyone.
Sando 2.0 X-Hot ($16): I was very excited to try and honestly was a bit disappointed compared the the standard Sando. As always the chicken was perfect but I felt the toppings did not complement the chicken as well. The cheese was perfectly melted but tasted plain next to the chicken. The sweet honey mustard sauce was great on it’s own but again felt like it didn’t complement the chicken. The peppers were cold which felt weird as everything else was hot. I also felt there were too many peppers and too much sauce overall. Would not order again over the original Sando or Luis style. That said on lower spice levels maybe the flavors would go better?
Chicken and Waffles ($16, Hot Wings): Loved the waffles, a bit softer than expected but very tasty and airy. Wings were perfect as expected. While waiting for our food I realized it would have been $1 cheaper to order wings and waffle separately, so would do that in the future. To note you get full waffle but we ate one before photo. Comes with maple syrup and butter.
Still the best fried chicken sandwich for me after all this time. Also still the only place with properly spicy chicken while keeping all the flavors.
Ok-Essay458
The OG sandwich is just perfect. I get the need/business interest in adding options and updates, but imo anything new added on top of that chicken is just diluting a great thing.
Kind of amazed after all these years how consistently incredible that sandwich is. I’ll never get tired of it.
dre2112
Sucks that they call it Sando though
Foldable_Fridge7
I didn’t try howlin rays until this year believe it or not and wow it’s legitimately the best hot chicken I’ve ever had.
PlayDontObserve
Best fried chicken I’ve ever had.
Denali_Dad
The first time I tried Howlin Rays in Pasadena I couldn’t believe how good it was… every subsequent time I’ve gone it’s been nowhere near as good. I think the novelty wore off for me.
LarrBearrr
I just wanna know how people be waiting in line a fucking hour and when they get asked what they want they go “uhhhhh….”
_its_a_SWEATER_
How long was that wait?
Bruffalobill
I got the sandwhiche that uses a waffle for buns few weeks ago and I still think about it.
jnee23
Sooooo many peppers I had to take them out definitely sticking with the original
11 Comments
Went to Howlin’ Chinatown to try their Sando 2.0 and also got their waffles for the first time. Arrived a few minutes before 11am open time and wait + food took about 35 minutes. I felt everything went super fast but main wait was for a few select groups of people who took 5-10 minutes to order while everyone else took 30 seconds to 1 minute. Great service from everyone.
Sando 2.0 X-Hot ($16): I was very excited to try and honestly was a bit disappointed compared the the standard Sando. As always the chicken was perfect but I felt the toppings did not complement the chicken as well. The cheese was perfectly melted but tasted plain next to the chicken. The sweet honey mustard sauce was great on it’s own but again felt like it didn’t complement the chicken. The peppers were cold which felt weird as everything else was hot. I also felt there were too many peppers and too much sauce overall. Would not order again over the original Sando or Luis style. That said on lower spice levels maybe the flavors would go better?
Chicken and Waffles ($16, Hot Wings): Loved the waffles, a bit softer than expected but very tasty and airy. Wings were perfect as expected. While waiting for our food I realized it would have been $1 cheaper to order wings and waffle separately, so would do that in the future. To note you get full waffle but we ate one before photo. Comes with maple syrup and butter.
Still the best fried chicken sandwich for me after all this time. Also still the only place with properly spicy chicken while keeping all the flavors.
The OG sandwich is just perfect. I get the need/business interest in adding options and updates, but imo anything new added on top of that chicken is just diluting a great thing.
Kind of amazed after all these years how consistently incredible that sandwich is. I’ll never get tired of it.
Sucks that they call it Sando though
I didn’t try howlin rays until this year believe it or not and wow it’s legitimately the best hot chicken I’ve ever had.
Best fried chicken I’ve ever had.
The first time I tried Howlin Rays in Pasadena I couldn’t believe how good it was… every subsequent time I’ve gone it’s been nowhere near as good. I think the novelty wore off for me.
I just wanna know how people be waiting in line a fucking hour and when they get asked what they want they go “uhhhhh….”
How long was that wait?
I got the sandwhiche that uses a waffle for buns few weeks ago and I still think about it.
Sooooo many peppers I had to take them out definitely sticking with the original
Agreed fully on the 2.0.