20 restaurants for spicy foods in metro Phoenix

Spicy foods. Sometimes they hurt so good. Science says they also help cool us off by turning the skin into an evaporative cooler. Sweat it out with these fiery dishes. And remember: If it's too hot, drink milk, not water.

Phoenix

Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill

The Nuclear chicken wings come with a warning: no refunds or exchanges. They're that hot. You put your life and your mouth on the line with wings covered in a sauce made with six kinds of chiles (half pound $4.99, one pound $8.99).

Details: 2121 E. Highland Ave., Phoenix. 602-977-2700. Also, 288 E. Greenway Parkway, Phoenix. 602-993-6600, halfmoonsportsgrill.com.

Los Dos Molinos

This Mexican restaurant is known for its heat, found in such dishes as the Adovada ribs, which are pork ribs marinated in red chiles and served with chili beans, rice and a flour tortilla ($14.95).

Details: 8646 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-243-9113. Also, 1044 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-528-3535, losdosmolinosphoenix.com.

Tandoori Times

Order some great naan Indian bread and dig into the free condiments that come with it, such as the red-chile chutney or the yellow chutney, made with chunks of lemon rind, jalapeños and vinegar ($2.75). We once tried the yellow chutney and it melted our mouths. We hear the red is even hotter, depending on which chef is making it that day.

Details: 12027 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix. 602-595-0116. Also, 8140 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-794-1779. And, 5626 W. Bell Road, Glendale. 602-993-1422, tandooritimes.com.

The Breadfruit

A little red pepper leads you to the Jerk Chicken Off the Grill, a chicken breast marinated in a spicy jerk rub with mango chutney, rice and peas and roasted farm vegetables ($13.50).

Details: 108 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. 602-267-1266, thebreadfruit.com.

Szechwan Palace

Start with the Szechwan spicy salad made with shrimp, cucumbers and lettuce, with heat provided by a pepper powder ($4.95). Keep your tongue on fire with the Szechwan beef sauteed with vegetables in a spicy sauce (lunch $7.50, dinner $10.95).

Details: 668 N. 44th St., Phoenix. 602-685-0888, phoenixszechuanpalace.com.

Northeast Valley

Carlsbad Tavern

If you dare, defy the "WARNING HOT!!" notice on the habanero cheeseburger: The menu claims "this burger may cause temporary blindness or loss of hearing." The burger is made of lean ground beef mixed with habanero chiles and is topped with jalapeño Jack cheese and served with fries and a salad ($13).

Details: 3313 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-970-8164, carlsbadtavern.com.

Red Kimchi

Wake up your taste buds with the Budae Jjigae, a spicy casserole made with kimchi, a peppery fermented cabbage, along with sausage, ham, pork and vegetables (for two, $25.95).

Details: 1414 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-994-5995, koreanredkimchi.com.

Tottie's Asian Fusion

Tottie rates her dishes by hotness, from one to seven — with seven being an inferno. Start with Spicy Thai Seafood ($14.95), a melange of white fish, shrimp and mussels stir-fried with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, red bell peppers, onions and Thai basil. Then, pour on the chile paste and chile oil until your head sweats.

Details: 7901 E. Thomas Road, Scottsdale. 480-970-0633. Also, 6204 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-998-8220, tottiesasianfusion.com.

5th and Wine

Try the 5th Ave Bloody Mary ($8), a cocktail made from jalapeño-infused vodka, tomato juice and Tabasco, garnished with basil and mozzarella and served on the rocks or martini style. You can add more vodka and Tabasco.

Details: 7051 E. Fifth Ave., Phoenix. 480-699-8001, 5thandwine.com.

Jalapeño Inferno

Create a little bonfire on your plate with Courtney's Favorite Burrito Inferno, a giant flour tortilla wrapped around grilled chicken, black beans, cilantro and onions and then smothered in red enchilada sauce and Inferno sauce, made with the hottest fresh or frozen hatch chiles. It's topped with chile "rajas" strips and served with rice and beans ($15).

Details: 23587 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-585-6442, jalapenoinferno.com.

Southeast Valley

Cafe Lalibella

For a lightning bolt on a plate, this Ethiopian restaurant recommends the Yawaze Yebeg Tibs, or spicy pan-fried lamb cubes sauteed with onions, rosemary and awaze, an Ethiopian marinade made with the chile-rich spice blend called berbere. It's served with a small salad and Ethiopian bread called injera ($14.95).

Details: 849 W. University Drive, Tempe. 480-829-1939, cafelalibela.com.

Fired Up Grill

We don't usually think of meatloaf as a barn burner, but try this Southwest version made with ground beef, roasted corn, green chiles and jalapeños, served with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables ($13.99).

Details: 7131 W. Ray Road, Chandler. 480-940-4040, firedupgrill.com.

Baby K's Cajun Kitchen

Classic Jambalaya begins as a spicy rice dish with chicken, sausage and plenty of cayenne pepper, but you can add fuel to the fire with the addition of extra cayenne and Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning. Have it a la carte or as an entree served with potato salad, coleslaw or a salad, and garlic bread ($5 a la carte; $12.50 for entree ).

Details: 2051 S. Dobson Road, Mesa. 480-800-4811, babykayscajunkitchen.com.

Joyride Taco House

This taco cafe rates its charred habanero salsa "melt your face" spicy, the hottest of the specialty salsas made with fire-roasted tomatoes and onions, habanero peppers and Serrano peppers. Burn, baby, burn with an order of salsa and unlimited chips ($2 for one salsa, $3 for two).

Details: 302 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. 480-632-8226; also, 5202 N. Central Ave, Phoenix. 602-274-8226, joyridetacohouse.com.

Salut Kitchen Bar

If you can't get enough Sriracha sauce, then the Sriracha Burger is for you. It's a patty topped with bacon, Provolone, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions and a creamy Sriracha spread and served with fries ($12).

Details: 1435 E. University Drive, Tempe. 480-625-3600, salutkitchenbar.com.

West Valley

Siam Thai

Thais can cook up some of the hottest dishes in the world, including the red curry (gang-phed) with choice of beef, chicken, pork or tofu ($9.25). Ask them to crank up the heat — the decision is between you and your tongue. Look for anything on the menu marked with a little red pepper.

Details: 5008 W. Northern Ave., Glendale. 623-931-2102, siamthaicusine.com.

Tom Yum

Take a wok on the wild side with the Ginger Angel, prepared with chile paste, lemongrass, lime leaves and mushrooms. Add your choice of pork, beef, chicken, shrimp, tofu or calamari and as much crushed red pepper as you can stand ($10 to $16).

Details: 13637 W. Bell Road, Surprise. 623-584-0449, tomyumthaiaz.com.

Booty's Wings Burgers & Beer

At this award-winning wing place, let the name of the sauce be your warning: Ghost Death. Wings are doused in a sauce made with ghost peppers, some of the hottest peppers in the world (five to 50 pieces, $5.59 to $37.49).

Details: 1300 S. Watson Road, Buckeye. 623-386-3080. Also, 15557 W. Bell Road, Surprise. 623-546-7757, bootyswings.com.

Indian Garden

Start with one of the vindaloos, such as chicken (or beef, lamb or fish), a stew made with chunks of chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and chiles in a highly spiced gravy ($9.99). Too tame? The chef can fan the flames with more chiles.

Details: 1809 N. Dysart Road, Avondale. 623-536-2320, indiagardenaz.com.

Shanghai Grill

Of the various Chinese cuisines, Szechwan cooking is known for its spice and pungency. For a blast of heat, try the Szechwan Combination, a stir-fry of chicken, beef, scallops and shrimp with vegetables in a spicy garlic sauce (lunch is $7.95, served with egg roll, fried rice and wontons; dinner is $11.95, with white rice). Too wimpy? The kitchen can add more stomach-searing chile oil and chile peppers.

Details: 9044 W. Union Hills Drive, Peoria. 623-825-3388, shanghaigrillaz.com.