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If I did this often - monthly, weekly, daily - yeah - excessively obsessive fucking nothing-else-in-life nutzo like probably a lot of those folks in line. If I do this once in a while, or infrequently for something I really like and canât get elsewhere? Shoot me.
Some cultures are so civil.
I for one like to mark my territory by spraying my personal liquids around, therefore itâs a good idea for you to wipe everything down. Itâs the same reason I always carry a pack of wipes and napkins with me on any food outings.
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Itâs a classic collective action problem. Everyone would be better off if nobody saved seats, but the incentives to free ride are just too strong. Ideally, it would be the restaurant that coordinates customersâ behavior, like Huckleberry does, by enforcing a policy of not saving seats. In this case, however, itâs not clear to me Howlinâ Rayâs could control seating at the picnic tables outside even if they wanted to.
Speaking of which, does anyone know who âownsâ those outside tables? Can I sit at any of the tables in the complex, or am I supposed to confine myself to the ones by the restaurant Iâm visiting?
No one whoâs been to Howlinâ Rayâs would say that. Letâs get him!!
Well, Iâve had hot chicken in Nashville.
And, yes, it is just fried chicken. Phhht.
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Hi @Bigmouth,
You can sit anywhere. Iâve seen people bring their Chego bowls or Amboy food to all the tables spread out at the plaza.
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Considering no one is policing the table from savsies, then yes you can sit at any of the tables. Iâm not sure who âownsâ them, but most are covered by the same oilcloth tablecloth that Pok Pok uses and they appeared at the same time Pok Pok did, so my guess is them? For outside picnic tables, unless they are in a gated off area, I always consider them as community tables for everyone.
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I believe Far East Plaza owns them. Theyâve actually replaced the more traditional picnic tables outside of Howlinâ Rayâs with longer ones that should seat more. Just saw them yesterday at Chinatown After Dark.
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I was there a few weeks ago, on a Sunday, as we needed ice cream and Scoops Highland Park was closed so we decided to try the chinatown location for the first time.
Mostly Chinatown for us is Dim Sum or me telling my husband âJust wait in the car while I get the herbs and then we can go.â
Sad to see the chinese herb shop gone. : (
But fun to see hip happy stuff right next to chinese housewares and tea shops.
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Hi @Bigmouth,
They get their pickles from County Fair Farms.
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You. Are. My. Hero.
Update 5:
We had the craving for great Fried Chicken so it was time for a returnâŚ
It should be noted the wait is a bit crazier now, with Chef Zone deserving all of the great business the restaurant is getting nowadays. The line was moving faster than our previous 6 visits.
Fried Chicken Dark (Leg & Thigh), âCountryâ Style (Level 1 - No Heat):
We were afraid that increased business and months later might have an effect on Howlinâ Rayâs, but looking at our piping hot pieces of Fried Chicken, the perfect crunchy crust, the tender, juicy, wonderfully seasoned interior of this high-quality Chicken and our fears were allayed.
Howlinâ Rayâs Fried Chicken is even better than ever! 
The natural juices from the Fried Chicken, the right balance of salt, pepper and the brine, itâs just the right amount of salinity without it being the grossly oversalted stuff found in too many Fried Chicken joints these days.
Fried Chicken Wings, âCountryâ Style (Level 1 - No Heat):
The Wings were also cooked just right: The fact that their Chicken Breast, Leg & Thigh and their Wings are always coming out of the fryer at different times, to ensure a proper finish without being overcooked says a lot about the way Chef Zone runs his kitchen.
Each bite of the Fried Chicken Wing was flawless: That perfect crackling crunch of the exterior and juicy Chicken Wing meat inside, and like the Leg & Thigh today, was just right in terms of salt level, thankfully never too salty. 
@CiaoBob thereâs no âhelmet crustâ here.
We couldnât stop eating their Chicken!
Market Side: Collard Greens (with Pork Belly):
Finally! I remember hearing from some friends who tried Howlinâ Rayâs Collard Greens before, but with their Market Side changing daily, we kept missing it. Not today!
Slow stewed, soft, supple Collard Greens, cooked for hours with Smoked Turkey Necks and Pork Belly(!) 
, result in the most delicious Collard Greens Iâve ever had at any of these Southern / Fried Chicken joints, itâs not even close.
The Smoked Turkey Necks give the Collard Greens a bit of smokiness, but also this interesting poultry backnote. And then imagine succulent, super tender chunks of Pork Belly stewed with the Greens, to give it a lush mouthfeel, a bit of fattiness that elevates Howlinâ Rayâs âCollard Greensâ into something far better. Chef Zoneâs Collard Greens are the âHowlinâ Rayâs level of excellenceâ that all other Greens should be compared to. SO GOOD! 
As others have reported, Howlinâ Rayâs was nice enough to hand out free Chilled Watermelon to everyone in line, which was a nice gesture. Chef Zone and staff continue to deliver legendary Fried Chicken that is seemingly only improving with time.
Initial Hours (extended Hours will be added once they settle in):
Wed - Sun
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Howlinâ Rayâs Nashville Hot Chicken
727 N. Broadway Ave #128
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tel: (213) 935-8399
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One interesting note that didnât strike me until I overheard Chef Zone chatting with a customer at the counter:
Howlinâ Rayâs âWingsâ listed on the menu are actually the entire Wing (all 3 sections). On the one hand cooking whole chickens at home, Iâm used to the thought, but he noted many people are used to seeing larger quantity for their order of âWingsâ: Going to restaurants and ordering a âBuffalo Wing Appetizerâ of say, 6 Wings or 8 Wings or 12 Wings.
But those âWingsâ are actually just one section (1/3) of a full Wing: Most restaurants serve you a Drumette or the other half (2 bone section) of a complete Wing, and they count each section as 1 quantity.
At Howlinâ Rays itâs the full 3 section Wing, so their order of â3 Wingsâ is actually more like a 6 piece Wing order at other restaurants, and their Dozen Wings item is actually more like 24 pieces of Wings at other places.
Kinda interesting when you think about it that way.
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Agreed. And the wings arenât tiny either.
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Indeed. Theyâre described as âjumboâ on the menu, and the description is apt!
The wings @ Escala are the entire wing as wellâ like HR they are much larger than the âwingsâ that are usually served at most places (they also point out that fact on their menu). I actually liked the wings much better this wayâmore chicken vs bones.
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Finally went. Fabulous sandwich. Problem was my 63 year old white husband policing all of the younger folks âcuttingâ into line with their friends who were ahead of us in line. No bueno.
I donât see how thatâs a problem. Thereâs no difference if one person orders for the whole group or if each person in the group orders individually.
exactly. agree. but could not explain this to him.