24 replies to this topic

[no1uno]

I like hot food. I grow red savina habaneros and love them. I've grown bhut jolokias, but I don't like their taste -- it's not just about the heat.

Restaurants tend to be hot-adverse. I've ordered Thai all over, specifying extreme heat, and have always been disappointed.

Except at Little Serow -- their hottest dish is genuinely hot -- not as hot as I'd like (no tears; it's not really hot if you're not crying), but certainly hotter than my companions have been able to tolerate (actually convenient for me, since I get to finish their leftovers...).

So, my question is: is there any place in the local DC Metro-accessible area that will prepare actually hot food? I'd especially love to find hot Mexican, but anything would be great!

And, has anyone asked Little Serow to really let the heat out? I'm pondering doing that next time....

Thanks!

[Waitman]

I din't find Little Serow exceptionally spicy the couple of times I've been there. Pretty serious, but not memorably so. I'm sure that changes day-to-day and dish-to-dish.

Next time you're in Thai restaurant with actual Thai servers, order a three-pepper dish or two and tell them you want it "ped mock," which is apparently Thai for "hot as Hell." The phrase itself will usually get the server to do a double take, and the fact that it's Thai seems to indicate a little more seriousness of purpose than just saying "spicy, please." No gurantees, but try it at Ruan Thai or Nava Thai (the Market Soup) in Wheaton and you'll likely be pleased with the results.

[Ericandblueboy]

Bangkok Golden at 7 Corners. Specify Lao hot and say you really mean it.

[AlexC]

If you go to Ghana Cafe on 14th and ask for something very spicy, they will deliver. I can't handle their top end and I lick my plate at Little Serow. Try a very spicy stewed goat, and be sure to get their wonderful hot sauce on the side.

[Kibbee Nayee]

Here's a rather indelicate question, but it needs to be asked....I absolutely love the heat when it's going down the esophagus, but the next day it can be a pain in the butt, if you catch my not-so-subtle drift. Anyone have a remedy for that turn of events...?

[ozgirl]

I seem to recall Adam Richman talking about this exact issue when doing a retrospective type piece from the Man vs. Food series. His remedy was to eat bananas before chowing down on the insanely spicy stuff. Something about enzymes from the bananas coating your stomach/colon.

[ozgirl]

forgot to add that I have no personal idea if this actually works.

[thetrain]

The two or three chili dishes at Thai Curry by Ballston metro are Little Serow spicy.

Also at courthouse metro, Guajillo's massive burrito is insanely spicy, in part to keep you from finishing it and getting it for free.

[SeanMike]

The two or three chili dishes at Thai Curry by Ballston metro are Little Serow spicy.

Good to know. I've had one of them or two, and they were super spicy, but I could handle them (barely).

[dcandohio]

If you go to Ghana Cafe on 14th and ask for something very spicy, they will deliver. I can't handle their top end and I lick my plate at Little Serow. Try a very spicy stewed goat, and be sure to get their wonderful hot sauce on the side.

Yes, that hot sauce is fiery and yummy. I have to get back there soon.

[JuneBacon]

Need to subscribe to this for when my wife hits 38 weeks.

[Albert Yi]

I don't know if they've toned it down since I visited but the Spicy Miso ramen at Sakuramen, when you ask for it spicy, is pretty intense. As someone who regularly goes to Korean/Szechuan places I couldn't finish it.

[Barbara]

I don't know if they've toned it down since I visited but the Spicy Miso ramen at Sakuramen, when you ask for it spicy, is pretty intense. As someone who regularly goes to Korean/Szechuan places I couldn't finish it.

Was just going to post about this. When I was there, I was asked how spicy I wanted it: 1 to 5. Thinking that this is Korean, so what do they know about spicy, I went with 4. Bad move. Fortunately, the spicy part was in a lump, so I could eat around it. Too bad, but the bowl started tasting boring and one-note long before I finished. They have more interesting, although not spicy, types of noodle bowls than that one.

[DonRocks]

The only meal I've had in two years that I just couldn't eat was at Burapa Thai.

[thistle]

Spicy basil chicken (gai pad kaprow) has always been very spicy at ThaiBox, although I've never made a specific request (once, they warned me that it was spicy, I must have looked like I couldn't handle the heat).

[DanielK]

Joe's Noodle House in Rockville for Sichuan food. You have to really talk them into making the really hot dishes really hot, though.

And the Curry Goat at Caribbean Feast, also in Rockville.

Truly spicy Mexican food is largely an American creation.

[no1uno]

And the Curry Goat at Caribbean Feast, also in Rockville.

Is Island Pride what used to be Caribbean Feast in Rockville? I can't find anything for a current CF in R'ville, and at least some folks on yelp think IP used to be CP -- and there are many raves about the curry goat....

Thanks everyone for the replies -- since I live in Rockville and work in Ballston, I'll be trying those first!

[ICD]

Sheba the new Ethiopian in Rockville had me in tears, wonderful tears. I had Meat Sampler #2 for lunch, which tasted great. While not a chile head, I handled Little Serow without a problem.

[porcupine]

^tell us a little more about this place?

[ICD]

Porcupine,

Sheba is in the same plaza as Amina Thai on the corner of Nicholson and Nebel Streets, near White Flint Mall. The lunch menu offered vegetable and meat samplers as well as other entrees, most if not all for under $10. Despite being mentioned in the Washington Post in the Wednesday Food Section, the place was not too busy last Friday afternoon. I am not an expert on Ethiopian, but found the food quite enjoyable as did my wife who had the veg sampler. It tasted "authentic" given the heat level. The injera was only part teff, but you can pay extra for 100% teff injera. Service was extremely nice with water refills and extral injera. A very amiable lady, who maybe the owner, asked how we enjoyed our meal. I look forward to going in the evening with the kids, who will get a kick eating with their hands.

Ignacio

http://shebarockville.com/

[no1uno]

The two or three chili dishes at Thai Curry by Ballston metro are Little Serow spicy.

Just tried the Southern Wild Pork there, very tasty and a nice building spiciness.

[thistle]

I ordered some takeout gai pad kaprow at ThaiBox last week, when asked how I would like it, on a scale from 1-10, I opted for 6 (mindful of the last meal I had there). I can't figure out how it is so incredibly spicy-lots of rice on the side (thank goodness), small portion of minced chicken, hints of Thai chiles, a little bit of red & green bell peppers (not my favorite), but incredibly incendiary, almost too much for me, & I love spicy food...

[DonRocks]

I ordered some takeout gai pad kaprow at ThaiBox last week, when asked how I would like it, on a scale from 1-10, I opted for 6 (mindful of the last meal I had there). I can't figure out how it is so incredibly spicy-lots of rice on the side (thank goodness), small portion of minced chicken, hints of Thai chiles, a little bit of red & green bell peppers (not my favorite), but incredibly incendiary, almost too much for me, & I love spicy food...

 

Thai is merciless because there's just no dairy to cut it with.

[Twinsdaddy]

To borrow from the late great Jerry Reed, when the Tiger Skin Peppers at Hong Palace in Seven Corners are hot, they're hot! And you'll say, yeah, thanks a lot.

[drsmoke]

I'll make you wings so hot, if you can eat 10 or even 20, no charge for the wings or beer/soda you get, call ahead and let us know, I make the sauce in small batches!