Apparent Howlin’ Ray’s Ripoff Hot Chicken Restaurant Springs Up in Australia

There seems to be a Howlin’ Ray’s ripoff restaurant preparing to make its debut soon, all the way out in Australia. Not only is the red-lettered eatery with the modern chicken logo preparing Nashville-style hot chicken, they’ve taken the name Howlin’ Jay’s.

Yep, Howlin’ Jay’s.

As if the rhyming name weren’t enough of a tell, you can see the similarities across the spectrum between the two brands. While the uber-popular Chinatown shop Howlin’ Ray’s has modified their logo and font over time, check the text in the back of this photo:

With the slightly thicker name logo over on Howlin’ Jay’s Instagram page.

Update: Howlin’ Jay’s deleted the previously-referenced photo, but does have this up now.

Of course, there’s nothing illegal about a different restaurant in Queensland, Australia serving their own version of Nashville hot chicken. Heck, the Dave’s Hot Chicken team in Thai Town offers a unique late night version themselves right here in Los Angeles, and were long fans of owners Johnny Ray and Amanda Zone before starting their street operation.

Howlin’ Jay’s seems to be the work of one man named James Burman, who also seems to own a spot called Jimmy’s Burger & Co. in the city of Cairns. Eater reached out to him on multiple fronts to ask about the similarities, but so far hasn’t heard back. The Zones don’t want to say much about it either, as they seem content to keep serving hours-long lines in Chinatown instead.

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