4 spicy Toronto restaurants where the heat is absolutely worth it
From Nashville to Szechuan, these spots deliver mouth-watering fire across cuisines.
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Toronto's spicy food scene spans continents—Nashville heat, Korean fire, Thai punch, Szechuan scorch. Here are four standout spots to chase the burn.
Chen Chen's Nashville Hot Chicken recently moved to The Well on Front Street West from Queen Street West. Order from five spice levels, ranging from "Southern" (a tiny kick) to "Poultrygeist" (hot with ghost pepper). The menu features mouth-watering spicy fried chicken pieces, tenders, and sandwiches that make clear why it's a local favourite.
BHC Chicken, also in The Well at 444 Front Street West, brings Korean fried cuisine with fiery options: Matcho-King, Sweet & Spicy, and Hot Fried crispy chicken, plus traditional dakbokkeumtang (spicy chicken stew). The heat is punishing enough to keep sinuses clear for months.
Khao Kang, at 486 Front Street West, is brought to you by the Michelin-recognized team behind Toronto's Kho Lipe. The Southern Thai cuisine is authentic without the travel. Spice levels range from "mild" to "Thai spicy." Finish with mango sticky rice to cool your palate after the panang curry if you pushed your luck on heat levels.
A Szechuan Restaurant in Chinatown at 388 Spadina Avenue delivers Northern Chinese flavours including off-the-charts spicy options. Visitors swear by the spicy fried clams, basa fillet in chilli spice stew, and twice-cooked pork belly—dishes that make a first visit a Toronto food moment worth savouring.