Where to find Vancouver’s spiciest dishes

It doesn’t take much to throw ghost pepper into a pot and transform a dish from “bland” to “three- alarm fire” hot. However, any true spice lover knows that when a dish is crafted to include spice – whether it’s fish simmered slowly in chili oil or crispy chicken wings lathered in Sriracha – the careful blend of savoury, salty and spicy can be a revelation. These signature spicy dishes in Vancouver are the hottest of the hot.

Where to find Vancouver’s spiciest dishes
Grace McRae-Okine By

Peaceful Restaurant

1
532 Broadway W, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1E9

There are a myriad of reasons to visit the local chain of Peaceful restaurants – incredible vegetarian and vegan options, some of the best steamed buns and dim sum in town – but one of the less-often talked about reasons to chow down here is the amazing selection of extra spicy Szechuan food available. The spicy DanDan peanut sauce is to die for, and fans of the restaurant will commonly tell you to try the spicy dumplings and the broth-braised beef. Go for all three dishes, and order a side mushroom salad to temper the spiciness as you enjoy.

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Alvin Garden Inc

2
4850 Imperial St, Burnaby, BC V5J 1C4

Alvin Garden is not messing around when it comes to spice…no siree! Even the most experienced spice lovers should think about ordering dishes here at a mild or medium level to test their tolerance first. Located at Metrotown in Burnaby, the restaurant is easily accessible via a quick SkyTrain ride, and it will squash both your craving for spice as well as authentic Hunan cuisine in an instant. Must-try dishes include the spicy cabbage with chili, fish simmered in spicy broth, sliced spicy potato, and any of the daily soups. Get ready to sweat!

Wings On Granville

3
1162 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L8

Located in the heart of Vancouver’s entertainment district and smack dab on Granville Street, Wings has one specialty – wings, of course – and there’s no better place in the city to grab a plate if you’d like them about 10-times hotter than those tossed in Frank’s Red Hot sauce. If you’re into torturing your tastebuds, the Bobby wings are for you. You’ll have to sign a waiver before downing a plate, and this isn’t a gimmick. For something slightly more palatable but still firmly on the volcano side of the hot scale, try the spicy and delicious Jakarta wings.

Spicy Six Indian Restaurant

4
1116 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1B2

For spicy, quick and delicious Indian food, you’ve got to visit Spicy 6 in downtown Vancouver. This spot is a triple threat, with excellent and spicy dishes, killer customer service, and a nice price point that won’t break the bank. Must-try dishes include the pakora for a crunchy and crispy start, chicken tikka masala, and a fiery lamb vindaloo. You have a choice of medium or spicy dishes, also known as “411 vs. 911” – give the 911 a try to guarantee the kick you’re looking for!

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Rodney's Oyster House

5
405-1228 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6L2

While your first thought when it comes to finding spicy dishes in Vancouver most likely won’t be high-brow seafood, it isn’t the freshly shucked oysters themselves that pack a punch at Rodney’s. Here you’ll find a wide array of house-made sauces that range in flavour from the mildest of cocktail sauces to a three-alarm-fire version, a dollop of which will certainly do you! For a spicy and delicious meal, be sure to drop in during Low Tide (aka Happy Hour), daily other than Sunday, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at both Vancouver locations.

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More from Grace McRae-Okine Grace McRae-Okine
With an addiction to all things internet and a passion for live music, you'll find Grace wherever both the Wi-Fi and the coffee are strong. Her ideal day in Vancouver includes taking in foreign horror films on Netflix, searching for the perfect gin cocktail in Gastown, and nodding along at underground concerts 'till the wee hours. When she isn't hanging out with her Bengal cat Basil, she's promoting shows for Timbre Concerts.
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