Spiciest Dishes in America

American cuisine is all about big flavors, but few are bold enough to finish these dishes from across the country. If you have a penchant for heat, put your tongue to the test and give these spicy food challenges a try.

Phaal Curry at Brick Lane Curry House, New York, N.Y.

Brick Lane is rumored to have collaborated with the creator of the ghost pepper to develop its nosebleed-inducing Phaal Curry. It’s so spicy the cooks wear respirators to protect themselves from the fumes. Patrons are also required to sign a waiver before eating.

Dynamite Spicy Challenge at Jitlada, Los Angeles, Calif.

If you like your seafood on the spicy side, Jitlada is a must-try in Los Angeles. The dish is a spicy concoction of green mussels, scallops, squid, crab and vegetables, with everything smothered in a chili sauce.

Spicy Tuna Rolls at Bushido, Charleston, S.C.

Bushido’s spice challenge entails 10 sushi rolls infused with habanero. The challenge starts off relatively tame, but each level increases the chili content until the final, eye-watering stages. The final prize is $25 dollars in restaurant credit and a sushi headband, along with your face immortalized near the front door.

XXX Chicken Wings at Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap, Chicago, Ill.

Jake Melnick began importing the ghost pepper shortly after the Guinness Books of World Records declared it the spiciest pepper in the world. The resulting XXX Chicken Wings is so spicy, it comes with its own fireman’s hat, as well as a signoff by the U.S. Department of Health.

Four Horsemen Burger at Chunky’s, San Antonio, Texas

This burger is spicy on a biblical scale, topping a half-pounder with jalapeño, serrano, habanero and a ghost pepper. To complete the challenge, you must eat the entire burger in less than 25 minutes and wait five more minutes before using milk or ice cream to lessen the burn.

Inferno Soup at Nitally’s Thai Coffee House, St. Petersburg, Fla.

If you’re curious about trying the hottest peppers in the world, try them all at once with the Inferno Soup, containing five of the world record holders from the past 10 years. The list includes the ghost pepper, the Naga Viper, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (along with its Butch T counterpart) and finally the reigning Carolina Reaper.