8 Must-Try Spicy Food That Will Jumpstart Your Day

Most Filipino foods may not be as spicy as our neighboring countries like Thailand, but Filipinos are known to be a gastronome or someone who simply just loves food — spicy food included. This is evident in Filipino dishes like Bicol Express, Pinangat, and Sarabasab to name a few.

If you’re someone who loves Filipino spicy food or anything that’ll put a fire on the roof of your mouth, then you should not miss out on these restaurants around the metro. The dishes are guaranteed to make you sweat so don’t forget to bring tissues with you!

True to its restaurant name, Caution Hot serves hot and spicy food that will surely satisfy your cravings. Of course, you should try their Spicy Chinese Noodles, a house specialty that will give you the spicy kick you’re craving for. The ramen bowls at Caution Hot will suit your taste, too since it’s customizable. If you’re brave enough to try the ‘ultimate burn’ ramen bowl, brace yourself for a sweaty dine-in experience.

Address: 87 Magiting St., Teacher’s Village, Diliman, Quezon City

Contact Information: (02) 8330 9526, 0951 005 5891, 9855 205 0119

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Address: 17 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Contact Information: (02) 8452 3065, 0951 976 1468, 0955 205 0107

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Believe it or not, Thai cuisine has some similarities to Filipino food. You just have to watch out if you have a low tolerance for spicy food. But if that isn’t the case, you’ll love Khao Khai. This local Thai restaurant has already made a name on the food scene and has introduced authentic Thai dishes to Filipino foodies.

To do that, they’ve made their restaurant a Pad Thai-free zone and offers a different side of Thai cuisine. One of their best-sellers is Bangkok’s “street-cart” style fried chicken called Gai Tod which is best paired with Khao Niew (sticky rice) and Som Tam (papaya salad).

Another must-try dish here is the Pad Kra Pao. Khao Khai uses crispy fried chicken nuggets tossed with basil, chilies, and garlic. You can add a perfectly-cooked sunny-side-up egg to lessen the spiciness of it. We’ve warned you about how spicy food can get, so you can order Thai milk tea to relieve the spiciness in your palate.

Address: 5772 Ebro Street, Poblacion, Makati

Contact Information: (02) 7717 1240 or 0927 227 5558

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Address: Del Monte corner Biak na Bato, Banawe, Quezon City

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Address: Level 1, South Parking Building, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City

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One of the famous chicken wings restaurants in the metro is Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings or simply Frankie’s. They offer a wide array of flavors to their crispy and juicy chicken wings; if you’re into spicy food, level up your food crawl game when trying their Korean chicken.

Frankie’s Korean chicken wings use Korean spices and flavors “that pack a big spicy punch”. Just take note that you have to steer clear from this if you’re allergic to wheat and soybean. If you want a mildly spicy chicken, you can opt for the equally tasty Caribbean Jerk chicken wings.

Address: Varies per branch. See the full list here.

Contact Information: Varies per branch. See the full list here.

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This famous chicken restaurant in Intramuros is the go-to of every student, foodie, and spicy food lover in the heart of Manila. This has been featured in several vlogs and through word of mouth, Spicy Chicken has always been a hit to many. Aside from the crowd favorite Spicy Chicken, they also offer Creamy, Hawaiian, and Curry chicken flavors.

Address: Stall 1, Tiendas Del Parian, Muralla Street Walls, Intramuros, Manila

Contact Information: 0919 840 2441

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Previously known as Ukkokei Ramen Ron, this beloved ramen restaurant is now one of the go-to ramen restaurants in the metro. With ideas from passionate chef Tamura, esteemed Filipina chef Margarita Forés and her son Amado, the newly revamped place now offers more choices perfect for your gastronomic adventure.

Aside from their famous Tantanmen, you can try their Karamiso Ramen if you’re feeling adventurous. Karamiso Ramen is made with spicy Miso paste, “silky fowl” Miso-based broth, ramen noodles topped with Pork Chashu slices, bean sprouts, and spring onions. Your love for spicy food comes into play when choosing your bowl’s spice level. You can choose between Level 5 being the mildest and Level 10 as the spiciest.

Address: GF, RS-103, Edades Tower, Amorsolo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati

Contact Information: (+63) 917 628 7245

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Indian cuisine is rich in spices and flavor so you’ll definitely appreciate Indian dishes if you’re into strong flavors and spicy food. Swagat Indian Cuisine serves freshly cooked authentic Indian dishes for almost two decades now, making it a staple restaurant in Makati for anyone who’s craving foreign food. They also serve rice meals, desserts, drinks, and other Indian delicacies.

Address: G/F, The Columns at Legazpi Village Amorsolo St. corner Antonio Arnaiz Avenue, Legazpi Village, Makati City

Contact Information: (+63) 917 634 8899

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This unassuming burger joint in Quezon City has the best burgers in town especially if you’re into spicy food. You’ll never run out of options and burgers to try because of the extensive food choices on their menu. But if you want to try extremely spicy burgers, go for the Reaper Burger or the Hell’s Fire burger.

Reaper Burger is the beginning of your spicy burger adventure. It is made with a 1/3 pound beef patty with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and jalapeños. Other spicy ingredients to this burger are chili flakes and their special reaper sauce.

If you want an extremely spicy burger, then there’s Hell’s Fire. It’s made with three stacks of 1/3 pound beef patty combined with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, 3x jalapeños, chili flakes, and 3x the reaper sauce. Now that’s hot!

Address: 23 Scout Limbaga St., Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City

Contact Information: (+63) 917 471 9192

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Owned by Korean TV host and comedian Ryan Bang, you’ll surely get a taste of Korea’s hot and spicy spices and other authentic dishes when you visit Ducup.

In a bowl, you get rice, Korean skewered food such as rice cake (toppokki), spam, kikiam, and pineapple. On top of it is your choice of “Ulam” and if you want something spicy, choose spicy pork. One bowl is enough to satisfy your hunger or craving because it also contains japchae, seaweed, mayonnaise, and your choice of sauce. You can choose from these sauce flavors: gochujang, mustard, sweet chili, ketchup, and buldak.

They’re also available online via GrabFood and FoodPanda so you can munch on this yummy food in the comforts of your home.

Address: C 138 G/F, Serendra 2, Bonifacio High Street, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

Contact Information: foods@dujaba.com

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Address: Unit 112 Grand Emerald Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. corner Garnet Road, Pasig City

Contact Information: foods@dujaba.com

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Address: 184 Sct. Castor Street, Tomas Morato Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

Contact Information: (+63) 966 233 3777

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