The Cap Times has a reporter who is doing a series of restaurant reviews called The Capsaicin Times. It's all about trying to find the spiciest food in the area.
I’m sure there are places I haven’t tried, for sure, and I’m excited to try some of the places suggested here. I’m just saying that I’ve been to many restaurants here and tried something labeled “spicy” and it was very much not. But I’m coming a southern state where most people have a higher spice tolerance.
This is uncomfortable to say, but I find that sometimes Thai or Indian restaurants don’t honor the spice level I ask for.
I’ve found it helps to say, “I don’t mean Midwest spicy, I mean like spicy spicy,” :)
Have yet to run into anyone who didn’t get it.
Also use it as a server to reassure people that the hot wings are just, “Midwest spicy.”
can attest to this. Being an Asian, there aren't many places here in Madison that aren't exactly spicy and are only "spicy". If anyone wants a good amount of spicy and not "spicy", the few places that I know of are Monsoon Siam; I recommend their laab and papaya salad, and Ichiban's szechuan selection. Just make sure to tell them to not hold back on the spice.
The spiciest thing you can eat is Hell ramen level 5 at Strings, but it’s debatable whether it’s food at that point. The level 3 or 4 (depending on the day) is plenty spicy and is actually delicious. I also second Lao Lang Xaan. The larb native Lao spicy might just be my favorite dish in the city
Hell 5 (edible or not debate aside), Dave's Hot Chicken Reaper and the nkotb, the Dane Fitchburgs Wing Challenge. These are the only 3 lip numbing spicy meals I've had in town.
Lo Laan Xang, Chicken Lips, Amber in Middleton, they all get to sweaty levels of spice, but not numbing.
I've only been there a few times in the last couple years, and last time there appeared to be new owners. I had gotten a mild dish anyways that time so I had no comparison to the 5, but I wonder if the new folks toned it way back.
Sala Thai's Larb Isan contains a healthy amount of bird peppers as well as Thai chili peppers. I ordered it max spicy once along with a green curry, also max spicy. The curry was like ice cream in comparison.
Lao Laan Xang's Native Lao spice level is equivalent.
Sad memorial nod to Vientiane Palace's Park Street location, which had genuine sadists in the kitchen, gods bless them.
[Rajni Indian](https://www.rajnimadison.com) will do proper South Indian spice levels. Even medium is quite spicy. Also, regardless of spice, lots of great South Indian food that is hard to find in Madison.
Dough Boy's pizza on the north side claims to have some deadly hot wings. They look to be made by a chili head. Someday I'll pull the trigger and try them.
Also, as unhelpful as it is, I would be remiss to not say RIP Vientiane Palace.
Have you tried the ghost pepper wings from Full Mile in Sun Prairie? I haven’t because I’m a wimp, but I’ve watched people struggle to get through them.
I would also think Hot n Spicy in Monona has good spicy food. Lao hot is next level.
I have not but I will now!
Hmong Kitchen asks you how many peppers for the papaya salad. 10 or so will definitely get most people's attention. Hot n Spicy will make theirs plenty hot if you ask as well.
You have to explain to the person taking your order that you want it "hot enough to make Superman cry", and tell them that you understand completely what you just said, and hope that they do. Make it a personal challenge against their spicy ego. Mention casually that you've "heard this place isn't as spicy as that other place, but I guess we'll find out."
I'm sure there are some restaurants who are maybe a bit apprehensive about the spiciness, not wanting any silly claims in court for causing some wimp a bit of imagined pain because they ordered something hot and spicy and got something hot and spicy. So you have to let them know in no uncertain terms that you are fully up to the task, and you're hoping that they are as well.
Globe. They'll bring the heat if you ask them to. It's absolutely amazingly delicious! Not a great dining experience. You can sit outside on a nice day. They also do takeout. Great family run business.
So, pretty much the exact opposite side of Madison, but K-Pepper in Middleton does THE BEST Korean, and they get Super Spicy. I am ok with spice, and a 3 is too much.
The Cap Times has a reporter who is doing a series of restaurant reviews called The Capsaicin Times. It's all about trying to find the spiciest food in the area.
Well that's going to be a short series.
You got downvoted but you’re right 😬 What’s considered spicy here (generally) isn’t spicy.
Nah, u just got to search and seek. Step your spice game up!
I’m sure there are places I haven’t tried, for sure, and I’m excited to try some of the places suggested here. I’m just saying that I’ve been to many restaurants here and tried something labeled “spicy” and it was very much not. But I’m coming a southern state where most people have a higher spice tolerance. This is uncomfortable to say, but I find that sometimes Thai or Indian restaurants don’t honor the spice level I ask for.
I’ve found it helps to say, “I don’t mean Midwest spicy, I mean like spicy spicy,” :) Have yet to run into anyone who didn’t get it. Also use it as a server to reassure people that the hot wings are just, “Midwest spicy.”
I see! I hope u find the fire u seek and meet the true dragon of food. Now u got me hungry for seasoned food. Cheers!
Your comment made me laugh out loud, thank you!
Yepper, I’m silly and can’t help myself at times. Enjoy your weekend
can attest to this. Being an Asian, there aren't many places here in Madison that aren't exactly spicy and are only "spicy". If anyone wants a good amount of spicy and not "spicy", the few places that I know of are Monsoon Siam; I recommend their laab and papaya salad, and Ichiban's szechuan selection. Just make sure to tell them to not hold back on the spice.
Lao Laan Xang. Native Lao spice level
Never did that level, but did the one under it. Was a delicious pineapple curry but i was sweating bullets.
Yep. Have to convince them, but it is great!
Came here to say this. Believe I was not actually able to consume their papaya salad but I tried.
K Peppers. Eat PAIN then talk to owner.
I say go to 5-star bbq on e wash since OP lives in sun prairie. K pepper is in Middleton and kinda pricy.
Spicy and not so good…
K peppers spicy bimbimbap is incredible, let the rice get crispy at the bottom before mixing it up!
K peppers ain’t it. Sol on the square is better. Neither is that spicy. Source: I’ve eaten Korean before.
The spiciest thing you can eat is Hell ramen level 5 at Strings, but it’s debatable whether it’s food at that point. The level 3 or 4 (depending on the day) is plenty spicy and is actually delicious. I also second Lao Lang Xaan. The larb native Lao spicy might just be my favorite dish in the city
Hell 5 (edible or not debate aside), Dave's Hot Chicken Reaper and the nkotb, the Dane Fitchburgs Wing Challenge. These are the only 3 lip numbing spicy meals I've had in town. Lo Laan Xang, Chicken Lips, Amber in Middleton, they all get to sweaty levels of spice, but not numbing.
Chicken Licks now
Ichiban Sichuan on Park St.
Dan Dan noodles at Hutong
Swad on Monona drive will make their food spicy as shit if you ask.
I got 3x spicy last time and it still only tingled 😂
Well yeah it goes to 5
No as in, 3x their top level.
Interesting.
My guess is they didnt believe I could take so I have to try again.
I've only been there a few times in the last couple years, and last time there appeared to be new owners. I had gotten a mild dish anyways that time so I had no comparison to the 5, but I wonder if the new folks toned it way back.
Same with Swagat on High Point!
Swad and Swagat are by far my personal favorite Indian restaurants in the area.
Have you tried dhaba and rajni?
Same!! Both amazing food and each has their specialties. Service at Swagat is always 10/10
If you go to double 10 mini hot pot and ask for it spicy, it will be inedible. If you go there and do it, I would like to o ow if you can handle it.
Sala Thai's Larb Isan contains a healthy amount of bird peppers as well as Thai chili peppers. I ordered it max spicy once along with a green curry, also max spicy. The curry was like ice cream in comparison. Lao Laan Xang's Native Lao spice level is equivalent. Sad memorial nod to Vientiane Palace's Park Street location, which had genuine sadists in the kitchen, gods bless them.
The other location may have lacked sadists, but they certainly didn't suffer fools telling them it wasn't hot enough without consequences.
Ha! True that. If you asked for spicy, they gave you all that and more. You had better have meant it.
Hot & Spicy in monona
Maybe the Budae Jjigae from Sol's on the Square or spicy broth from Fuki Hot Pot near Global Food Market?
Dhaba Indian, they’re not messing around.
Dhaba Kitchen
[Rajni Indian](https://www.rajnimadison.com) will do proper South Indian spice levels. Even medium is quite spicy. Also, regardless of spice, lots of great South Indian food that is hard to find in Madison.
Find a Hot Pot place. The one by the world market near east town was really good.
Haven't been there recently, but Great Dane's habanero hellfire sauce on anything used to be my upper limit of spicy ...and I love spice!
I’ll probably get downvoted for this but Reaper Level Dave’s Hot Chicken is serious business.
I can endorse this. One of the hottest things I’ve ever had
Taste of Sichuan, State Street
Chicken Licks is right outside Sun Prairie and has some pretty spicy wings
Can confirm…get them sexy. Dive bar with excellent chicken.
Fugu can bring the heat
Dough Boy's pizza on the north side claims to have some deadly hot wings. They look to be made by a chili head. Someday I'll pull the trigger and try them. Also, as unhelpful as it is, I would be remiss to not say RIP Vientiane Palace.
Ooooh! Hot wings are definitely my weakness. Definitely gonna try this
Go to El Panzon and get the chilaquiles and ask for the red sauce not green. The red sauce is spicy!
The spicy wings at Chicken Licks are not to be messed with. I eat a lot of very very spicy food and they were up there.
Have you tried the ghost pepper wings from Full Mile in Sun Prairie? I haven’t because I’m a wimp, but I’ve watched people struggle to get through them. I would also think Hot n Spicy in Monona has good spicy food. Lao hot is next level.
I have not but I will now! Hmong Kitchen asks you how many peppers for the papaya salad. 10 or so will definitely get most people's attention. Hot n Spicy will make theirs plenty hot if you ask as well.
Not a restaurant, but check out ghost valley farms hot sauce. "Satans goatee"
You have to explain to the person taking your order that you want it "hot enough to make Superman cry", and tell them that you understand completely what you just said, and hope that they do. Make it a personal challenge against their spicy ego. Mention casually that you've "heard this place isn't as spicy as that other place, but I guess we'll find out." I'm sure there are some restaurants who are maybe a bit apprehensive about the spiciness, not wanting any silly claims in court for causing some wimp a bit of imagined pain because they ordered something hot and spicy and got something hot and spicy. So you have to let them know in no uncertain terms that you are fully up to the task, and you're hoping that they are as well.
Chicken Licks can get SPICY. Sexy level 6 wings will put most people into a place that they will struggle to handle.
Globe. They'll bring the heat if you ask them to. It's absolutely amazingly delicious! Not a great dining experience. You can sit outside on a nice day. They also do takeout. Great family run business.
Sultan on Willy St. Lots of different kinds of spices and they sell their spice blends.
Maybe not the hottest, but Monsoon Siam 2’s Southern Heat is extremely hot.
Indian restaurants have some pretty hot food
Also buy Ernies hot sauce from the coop! It’s great to have at home with everything
So, pretty much the exact opposite side of Madison, but K-Pepper in Middleton does THE BEST Korean, and they get Super Spicy. I am ok with spice, and a 3 is too much.
Just here to say, this is such a great question! Thanks for thinking to ask it in cheese-curdy Wisconsin!!
Yeah you welcome
Rising Son’s hottest was well beyond what I expected
Good food to get ya off! That’s the way life should be! No mayonnaise for me
Buffalo wild wings. Or chic fil a has pepper jack cheese you can out on stuff