Give your Taste Buds a Journey They Won’t Forget
Written By: Bobby Anand Fire Alert! The Spiciest Foods in LA
Now that spring has fully sprung, it’s time to take your taste buds on an adventure all around the city! These restaurants are home to some spicy dishes will take your palette all around Los Angeles to enjoy an eclectic mix of cuisine options.
Beverly Soon Tofu
You might recognize our first recommendation from Anthony Bourdain’s episode of Parts Unknown when he and Roy Choi dined there to discuss the popularity of Koreatown and its corresponding namesake cuisine. The episode highlighted the Soon Doo Boo Spicy Tofu dish—a hearty stew with a fiery, chile-packed broth. This soft tofu dish has the texture of burrata and can be served with a variety of proteins and kimchi. Choose from either beef, oysters, mussels or clams. The most enjoyable part upon the dishes arrival to your table is when the egg is cracked directly into the bowl by your server! Make sure to ask for plenty of rice to help sustain the temperature and explosive flavors.
2717 W Olympic Blvd Ste 108
Los Angeles, CA 90006
213.380.1113
Hunan Chili King
Named one of four best Hunan restaurants in the entire San Gabriel Valley, Hunan Chili King is commonly known as the spiciest restaurant in the area! There are over 170 items within its menu, but the Spicy over Spicy exceeds the Scoville scale for a capsaicin-laced mouthful. The Sichuan pepper topped dish—stir fried with crunchy green beans and radish—is a dry, enduring heat, unrelenting to water or any drink known to man. The only diversion is the bizarre numbing sensation created by the pile of Sichuan peppers that builds with each bite.
534 E Valley Blvd Ste 2 & 3
San Gabriel, CA 91776
626.288.7993
Orochon Ramen
Many have tried and failed to join the Orochon Wall of Bravery (in which only 200 other brave adventurers have been able to successfully complete)! The key contingencies that stop many from completing the challenge are that the person must finish the ramen bowl, including the extra spicy broth, in 30 minutes. The spices utilized by Orochon are so coveted that competing ramen houses in the area have been known to have spies be hired there to find out the key ingredients behind the house-made spice that is added into the Special # 2 ramen broth! For the least adventurous, the Miso Ramen is highly recommended and can be specially made with a Heat Level of a Mild 7 to an Extreme 1 without the utilization of the previously aforementioned special spice.
123 S Onizuka St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213.617.1766
Guisados
The infamous Boyle Heights establishments has now spread westwardly towards Echo Park and their newest location in DTLA on 5th and Spring inside the European-esque Spring Arcade Building! The Cochinita Pibil taco, a traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork is by far their hottest dish. This bright red-pork rests in a thick tortilla and is covered in blistering habaneros, topped with dried chiles and smothered in a pureed habanero sauce.
541 S Spring St Ste 101
Los Angeles, CA 90013
323.264.7201
Addi’s Tandoor
Hidden in a mini-mall in Redondo Beach, one wouldn’t expect to find the best Indian cuisine in the South Bay amongst its unassuming frontage. However, Addi’s Tandoor happens to be known by locals as one of the best places to inhale top-notch cuisine from the Goa region in India, which specializes in swelling-hot spice-infused dishes. The Lamb Vindaloo is no exception. Tender lamb and vegetables soak in an aromatic “fiery hot and tangy” curry sauce permeated with vinegar. Even if you were to ask for this dish to be prepared mildly, its level of spice will still get you every time!
800 Torrance Blvd Ste 101
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310.540.1616
El Cholo
Ron Salisbury’s famous Mexican restaurant has moved on from their original Koreatown location to spots all around Los Angeles and Orange County including Santa Monica and La Habra. However, this DTLA Location near the Staples Center is Metro accessible and offers its celebratory Crab Meat Enchilada with jalapeño-cilantro pesto sauce, sour cream, and avocado. Make sure to pile up the salsa from their free chips and salsa to add some extra heat to your Enchilada and really give your taste buds a run for its money! Overall, a great place to hit up before or after LA Live and the numerous entertainment options it provides.
1037 S Flower St
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213.746.7750
Red O
Chef Rick Bayless’ three locations all have different takes on his version of Mexico City flavored cuisine with both the Newport Beach and Santa Monica locations leaning heavily on their surf and turf options. However, the Braised Short Rib Enchiladas with its red guajillo chile sauce, melted Monterey jack cheese, frisee and Mexican red rice & black beans is the real highlight! This dish brings both the heat and the flavor with the frisee added on top for freshness and texture. The meat itself is slow cooked for over three hours. As always, add in additional homemade salsa to really bring out the flavor of the dish.
8155 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.655.5009
Feel the Burn!
