With several delis, taquerias, sushi bars and a variety of restaurants, San Luis Obispo has several options capable of pleasing the palate. However, anyone interested in setting a little fire to that palate may have a harder time finding something that can do the job. The Mustang Daily went to several eateries in search of the spiciest food in town, and here are our spiciest four picks.
Taj Palace- Chicken Curry
Many students already know Taj Palace solely for its delicious buffet, but the Indian restaurant also has a menu for those who see dinner and lunch as more than an eating contest.
One of the spiciest dishes on the menu is the chicken curry, which tastes just as good as anything in the buffet, but is spicy enough to make an appearance in this article. The chicken is moist, tender and full of curry flavor. The spiciness doesn’t drown out the other flavors, but instead compliments them. This creates a wonderful taste that provides an excellent distraction from lips, mouth, tongue and throat all in dire need of soothing water.
Taj Palace isn’t the spiciest place to get hot food, but it does do a commendable job. Its Foothill location provides a close-to-campus alternative for anyone who doesn’t want the hassle of going downtown to eat dinner.
A word of caution though: if you’re going to try dishes this hot, take a group of friends and let everyone sample the spicy stuff. No one wants to suffer alone.
Hanabi Sushi- The Heart Attack
Most sushi restaurants downtown don’t offer anything seriously potent. Often, the spiciest menu item is a variation of the California roll with chili oil added in excessive amounts. This is where Hanabi stands out.
The Hanabi appetizer menu has the Heart Attack, easily capable of beating any spicy sushi roll offered elsewhere. The Heart Attack is a jalapeño filled with cream cheese and spicy tuna, then battered and deep-fried. Definitely not for the weak of heart, the immense spiciness of the dish makes its namesake a definite possibility.
The first bite is a pleasant sensation, due to the mixture of the crunchy exterior and the creamy center, but the jalapeño kicks in moments later. While it’s fiery enough to not be extinguished by several glasses of water, it doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the actual ingredients.
The appetizer has several stuffed peppers, allowing for one person to endure severe torment or for the anguish to be spread amongst a large party.
Thai Palace- Spicy Pad Garee Goong Muerk
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that a Thai restaurant has made this list, and Thai Palace has definitely earned its spot.
The Pad Garee Goong Muerk – a mixture of prawns, calamari, and vegetables sautéed with yellow curry powder- is just one of many dishes that Thai Palace offers in either mild, medium or hot, and it’s excellent. The seafood is fresh and well prepared, the prawns are crisp and the calamari is soft, not chewy. The vegetables are crunchy and the curry flavor is prevalent, which is impressive considering the dish’s overwhelming spiciness.
While the first bite is merely spicy, continuing to eat it has side effects beyond any else considered spicy. Instead of a burning feeling in just the mouth and throat, the entire body responds as though it is close to a blazing bonfire. Limbs get uncomfortably warm and pores open and form droplets of sweat. Asking the waiter for a glass of milk to stop the torture isn’t just a good idea, it’s necessary for survival.
More than just spicy food, Thai Palace is a great place to eat. It has an incredible amount of choices and great atmosphere.
Flame Bay- Extra Hot Kung Pao Stir-Fry
Located at the far end of the Network on Higuera, Flame Bay offers some of the spiciest food downtown. Based on the Mongolian barbeque, the restaurant lets customers pick out a variety of meat and vegetables of their own choosing, which are then stir-fried for them personally in a giant wok.
While most of the flavors of stir-fry are fairly mild, both the Kung Pao and Curry come in varying levels of spiciness, with extra hot being the most potent. So potent, in fact, that it overpowers the taste of the different meats and vegetables.
The result is a dish with varying textures, but the same extra hot flavor throughout. The lack of variety in taste is compensated for by the overwhelming spiciness of the sauce.
The first taste may induce choking if the customer isn’t prepared. Later bites may lead to tears. The sauce burns the entire mouth and continues to do so for several minutes after eating. Luckily, it comes with a side of rice that provides a bland haven for taste buds scorched by the extra hot Kung Pao.
Although Flame Bay’s stir-fry is the least tasty food of the five restaurants reviewed, it is by far, the spiciest, making it ill suited for an enjoyable dinner, but ideal for hazing fraternity pledges.