Best fried chicken in California is at this restaurant, Yelp says. Why it’s No. 1

A California restaurant is serving up some of the best fried chicken in the state, and Yelp reviewers can’t seem to get enough of it.

Howlin’ Ray’s in downtown Los Angeles ranked No. 1 on Yelp’s “finger-lickin’ guide to fried chicken in every state.”

The list was created after Yelp looked at businesses that serve chicken with lots of five-star reviews from Elite Reviewers. The July 1 results came out just in time for National Fried Chicken Day on July 6.

The chicken joint is run by a husband-and-wife team, chef Johnny Ray Zone and Amanda Chapman. They started serving Nashville hot chicken out of a food truck and later opened a restaurant in Los Angeles’s Chinatown.

A fan favorite is The Sando, a chicken sandwich served with a boneless breast, comeback sauce, pickles and a butter bun, according to the restaurant’s online menu.

“I could already tell after my first bite it was the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had ... it is worth the hype,” Yelp reviewer Bryan M. wrote.

“The hot chicken here is phenomenal . The crispy, perfectly seasoned coating combined with juicy, tender chicken creates an unforgettable flavor experience,” Nathalie B. wrote on Yelp.

Hungry customers have plenty of hot chicken to choose from, including a quarter or half of the bird, along with chicken tenders and wings.

And every meal can be customized to each person’s spice tolerance with six levels.

Howlin’ Ray’s has a second location in Pasadena.

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