Buzz
While some steer clear of overly spicy dishes, others actively pursue them. For those who thrive on heat, numerous global food challenges are designed to push diners’ limits. From casual bars to vibrant food festivals, here are 11 fiery challenges that put participants to the test.
1. Chili Pepper Festival’s Chili-Eating Contest // Hunan, China
This annual event in China features a chili-eating contest where participants devour a plate of Tabasco chilies, which range from 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units (SHU), while standing in a pool filled with floating peppers. In the 2018 competition held in Hunan province, Tang Shuaihui earned a 24-karat gold coin by eating 50 peppers in about a minute, surpassing the previous year’s winner, who managed only 15 chili peppers.
2. Jitlada’s Spicy Dynamite Challenge // Los Angeles, California
Jitlada, a renowned Thai restaurant in Los Angeles, California, is known for its fiery dishes. For those who find the regular menu too mild, the Spicy Dynamite Challenge awaits. This stir-fry dish features a choice of protein, bell peppers, green beans, and Thai basil, all combined with a potent mix of fresh and dried Thai chilies. The challenge is restricted to diners aged 18 and above, with a menu warning advising participants to proceed at their own risk. To succeed, diners must finish every last bite, including the smallest chili remnants.
3. Heatwave Hot Sauce Expo’s Extreme Jerky Eating Competition // Ontario, Canada
In 2019 and 2020, Ontario hosted Canada’s Heatwave Hot Sauce Expo, featuring events like a hot wing-eating contest, a pepper-eating challenge, and a chili cook-off. However, the standout event was the extreme
4. Brick Lane House’s P'hall Challenge // New York City, New York
Brick Lane House in New York City boasts some of the spiciest curries globally. Their British-Indian p’haal curry is crafted from 10 to 12 ground chili peppers, including the notorious Carolina Reaper, which exceeds 2 million SHU. The dish is so fiery that the chef must wear a gas mask while preparing it. Diners who conquer the curry earn a certificate, a complimentary beer, and a spot in the P’haal of Fame.
5. Smokin’ Ed’s Pepper-Eating Challenge // Fort Mill, South Carolina
In 2019, spice enthusiasts gathered in Fort Mill, South Carolina, for a Giant Carolina Reaper-eating contest hosted by the Puckerbutt Pepper Company, founded by the pepper’s creator, “Smokin’ Ed” Currie. This Reaper variety clocks in at 2.6 million SHU, and the top two competitors each won $1000 for enduring the heat. The intense event was showcased in the 2020 Netflix series We Are the Champions.
6. Bushido’s Seppuku Challenge // Charleston, South Carolina
The spicy tuna hand rolls at this Charleston, South Carolina, Japanese restaurant are not for the timid. To conquer Bushido’s Seppuku Challenge, participants must consume 10 spicy tuna rolls, progressing from mild to extreme heat. Winners are awarded a Bushido headband, entitling them to a free appetizer on future visits.
7. Chunky’s 4 Horsemen Challenge // San Antonio, Texas
This fiery burger challenge features four peppers, each with escalating heat levels. Participants are served a burger topped with jalapeños, serranos, habanero sauce, and ghost peppers. To win, they must finish the burger within 25 minutes and endure a five-minute wait. Successful challengers earn a spot on the Wall of Flame.
8. Philippine Chili Festival’s Labuyo 100 Rites // Manila, Philippines
To join the elite Labuyo 100 club, attendees at the Philippine Chili Festival must eat 100 labuyo chili peppers, a staple in Filipino cuisine that delivers 80,000 to 100,000 SHU. After initiation, members must participate in the yearly Labuyo 100 Rites alongside new inductees to maintain their membership.
9. Salvador Molly’s Great Balls of Fire // Portland, Oregon
The Great Balls of Fire at Salvador Molly’s are even spicier than they appear. These cheesy fritters are loaded with habanero peppers and paired with a signature “Sunshine & Pain” hot sauce. Diners who can finish five in one sitting earn a spot on the restaurant’s Wall of Flame and a Facebook feature.
10. Bath Chili Festival’s Pepper-Eating Contest // Bath, UK
The Clifton Chili Club hosted this pepper-eating contest at the Bath Chili Festival in Southwest England in 2015. The challenge began with mild jalapeños and escalated to hotter varieties like the Naga king chili, yellow 7 Pot habanero, and Carolina Reaper. Past winners who surpassed level 17 received cash prizes and chili-themed products, though the free milk was likely the most appreciated reward. The Clifton Chili Club continues to host similar events at festivals across the UK annually.
11. Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap’s XXX Wings // Chicago, Illinois
The XXX Wings at Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap, coated in a Trinidad scorpion pepper sauce, might be Chicago’s spiciest wings. Served with a fireman’s helmet and a waiver, diners can also request a cooling plate of milk and ice cream for relief. Those who finish an order are immortalized on Jake’s Wall of Flame.
