Howlin’ Ray’s

At Howlin’ Ray’s, you’re going to enjoy the pain. After waiting in line for more than an hour in Chinatown, it’s your turn to order hot chicken. White meat, dark meat, or the whole bird (guaranteed hormone-free and antibiotics-free), and your choice of heat: country, mild, medium, hot, x-hot, and howlin’. You’ll burn your fingers by even touching the chicken, and then burn your taste buds by swallowing it — Nashville-style. Sweat begins to pearl on your forehead, but Gosh it feels good. You can also get chef Johnny’s (who worked for Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Matsuhisa) hot chicken in a sandwich filled with coleslaw, pickles, and packed between two brioche buns. Your throat will burn all afternoon, but you’re learn to love it.