Muy picante! Edmonton spots with spicy dishes
For adventurous diners who prefer their dishes to be not just hot but flame-inducing, it can be a challenge to find restaurants that know how to truly bring the heat. These spots all put some extra sizzle in their fiery cuisine. And, it’s so tasty, you wouldn’t want it any other way – even if your mouth is numb for the rest of the night.
Dadeo
10548A 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 2A4This retro diner serves up Cajun food such as po’boys, jambalaya and gumbo. Cajun cooking traditionally uses cayenne pepper to add flaming heat to dishes. While not everything on their menu is blazing hot, a lot of their appetizers, including the crab cakes, Cajun cigars (hand-rolled spring rolls) and calamari come with Cajun spice. The chicken tortilla soup also brings the heat, with spicy chicken and veggies with tortillas and sour cream.
Padmanadi Vegetarian Restaurant
10740 101 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5H 2S3This vegetarian and vegan restaurant may not have meat, but it does have heat. The menu helpfully notes which items are spicy, so you can order accordingly. The tom yum soup and hot and sour soup are both sizzling hot and packed with flavour. The spicy eggplant is stir-fried with chili sauce, while the spicy coconut eggplant is cooked with Chinese radish, tomatoes and a heat-heavy coconut sauce. There are multiple spicy entrée options, including tom yum mutton, vegetarian chicken nuggets, curry and Mongolian chicken.
Bul Go Gi House
8813 92 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6C 3P9This authentic Korean restaurant has been creating spicy dishes since 1973, when it first opened its doors in Edmonton. All of the hot pot soups are quite fiery; customers can request for a milder heat, if they prefer. The deep fried chicken comes covered in a sweet and spicy sauce that is the perfect blend of the two flavours. Spicy definitely dominates here; it’s harder to find a mild dish than one that will set your taste buds on fire.
Viphalay Laos & Thai Restaurant
10523 99 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 0E7Most of the dishes at this Laos and Thai restaurant can be made spicy, with a red chili highlighting these items on the menu. All of the noodle dishes, including pad Thai, curry noodles and drunken noodles can be prepared with extra heat. The red curry is naturally fiery due to the blend of spices used, but the green and yellow curries can also be made with extra zip. All of the stir-fry, meat and seafood dishes can also be made at a tongue-burning level.
Lan's Asian Grill Ltd
11828 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5G 2J2Here, guests can customize the heat level of their pad Thai, ranging from mild to very hot. This popular street food comes with noodles, sprouts, green onions, tofu and egg, plus roasted peanuts. The Thai basil stir-fry is another entrée that allows for customization, with four levels of heat available. Made with ground pork and red peppers, the dish also has sweet Thai basil and garlic for flavour.
Midnight Sun Restaurant
11003 124 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 0J5This hidden gem can be found on 124 Street. The cuisine, which consists of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes, is surprisingly good. If you’re here for the heat, try the spicy deep-fried shrimp – your mouth will be on fire for what seems like eternity, but in the best way possible.
Old Szechuan
10016 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 1Z3Their massive menu rates each item on a level of zero to seven chilis for spiciness. And, they aren’t kidding around – Szechuan food, which uses lots of Szechuan peppers, is naturally spicy. If you dare to go for level-seven spiciness, try the shredded pork dish. The portions are huge, so bring a friend if you want to try several dishes. About half of the diced chicken with chili sauce dish is made with Szechuan peppers, so it is a tongue-numbing treat.
Boualouang Laos & Thai
10569 97 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5H 2L4Quality Thai food always hits the perfect balance between spicy and sweet, and Boualouang Laos & Thai does it very well. Their tom-ga-tee is my favourite soup in the city – it’s rich, creamy and heats up my mouth and belly with its ideal level of spice. The mango salad, which also has shrimp, onion, mint, cilantro and peanuts, comes spicy, which contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the mango. Fans of chilis will like the drunken noodles, which come with an exquisite red chili-based sauce.
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