Dining Guide | 5 Spicy Dishes to Fight Fire with Fire in Phoenix

We may have had an easy breezy Spring but our Summer has definitely arrived. We are going to be paying for those 70 and 80 degrees days in the form of high 100’s for a good long time. Your first response might be to head to the pool or to your local fro-yo spot, and no one would blame you. Why not switch things up a bit and fight fire with fire? Embrace the heat of the day by pairing the temperature of your dinner with that of the thermometer outside. Be sure to have a chilled drink at the ready to pair with this selection of the Valley’s hottest dishes. Be warned, though, most of these dishes come with warnings, which means you order it, it’s yours. No refunds or exchanges, so make sure you can handle the heat!

5 Spicy Dishes to Fight Fire with Fire in Phoenix

Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill
2121 E Highland Ave, Phoenix 85016
602.977.2700
www.halfmoonsportsgrill.com
This Chicago bar is a favorite of many Midwestern transplants in the area and what your go-to dish at a sports bar? Wings, of course! The wings here have won some serious local awards. These meaty finger foods are well deserving of them. There are 7 different sauces available, most of which you’ve come across and tried many times. The far ahead winner in the battle of the heat is their Nuclear Sauce, made up of 6 different chiles. The wings themselves are hearty in portion, sold by the pound or half a pound. Unlike some of their other sauces, there is no slow burn here; this is some serious melt your face off heat. Too hot for you? Too bad, once you order it there are no refunds or exchanges, so order wisely.

Joyride Taco House
5202 N. Central Ave., Phoenix 85012
602.274.8226
www.joyridetacohouse.com

Looking for a place to really spice up your Taco Tuesday? With over 10 different kinds of tacos and the ability to mix and match, the possibilities for a memorable meal are seemingly endless. If you want to spice up any of their taco options, their Charred Habanero salsa will have you sweating in no time. This salsa combines the expected flavors of roasted Roma tomatoes, red pepper, garlic and onion with the unique citrus–like flavor of the habanero pepper. Need some reference? The habanero pepper is about 140 times hotter than the mildest jalapeno. When you pair this salsa with their spicy Chicken Tinga Taco you’ll find that the White Magic sauce on the taco (their house lime aioli) makes the citrus flavors really pop. While you’ve got a substantial amount of heat, you’ve also got some really great flavors dancing in your mouth. Having easy access to any one of their Agua Frescas won’t hurt your cause either.

Need some reference? The habanero pepper is about 140 times hotter than the mildest jalapeno. When you pair this salsa with their spicy Chicken Tinga Taco you’ll find that the White Magic sauce on the taco (their house lime aioli) makes the citrus flavors really pop. While you’ve got a substantial amount of heat, you’ve also got some really great flavors dancing in your mouth. Having easy access to any one of their Agua Frescas won’t hurt your cause either.

Los Dos Molinos
1044 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix 85014
602.528.3535
www.losdosmolinosphoenix.com
Those with a love for all things spicy are well aware of Los Dos Molinos and their intense New Mexican menu. You’ll find the word chili peppered throughout the menu, but don’t let that trick you into thinking that these chilis are of the pedestrian variety. The chilis used in the dishes here are New Mexico chilis and they are hot. Chef Victoria will be the first to tell you she doesn’t know how to do mild. So if you hear a dish is hot, trust that it is seriously hot. If you are looking for a challenge, shoot for the Adovada Ribs. At its simplest definition, Adovada means marinated. Here you will find the country style pork ribs marinated in a red chili sauce. While the heat is blatantly present, you’ll also be able to taste the intense combination of flavors. These flavors are married with the tender meat. While you sweat through the heat of your dish, order up a margarita to cool off your taste buds. They’ll definitely appreciate it!

If you are looking for a challenge, shoot for the Adovada Ribs. At its simplest definition, Adovada means marinated. Here you will find the country style pork ribs marinated in a red chili sauce. While the heat is blatantly present, you’ll also be able to taste the intense combination of flavors. These flavors are married with the tender meat. While you sweat through the heat of your dish, order up a margarita to cool off your taste buds. They’ll definitely appreciate it!

Moto Sushi
6845 N 16^th St., Phoenix 85016
602.263.5444
www.mrmotorising.com
Moto creator, Vince Heppler (the first Anglo sushi chef in all of Arizona) has created a unique concept of combining Asian influences in this hip and modern environment. When you settle in with the menu at Moto you’ll find a rating system of pitchforks, which will be your first indication that they take their heat seriously. Now, not all of the dishes have pitchforks of course, but there are quite a few that do. There are Moto Wings that boast 5 pitchforks when tossed in their Mustard Gas sauce. The name pretty much says it all if you can imagine a heat so hot that your eyes water to the point that you just can’t open them up again. The more intriguing dishes on the menu are the 4 pitchfork Exit Wound Bowl. This dish is made up of crispy shrimp, grilled chicken, and veggies along with their Hell Fire Sauce all on top of white or brown rice. The heat is heavenly, despite the sauce’s moniker. It burns, in the nest possible way but it’s not the hottest they’ve got. I can’t vouch for how many people have ordered the Classified Bowl, especially with the description they provide. “Do not order. You’re still considering it? Did you count the pitchforks?” For the record, there are 6 pitchforks!

The more intriguing dishes on the menu are the 4 pitchfork Exit Wound Bowl. This dish is made up of crispy shrimp, grilled chicken, and veggies along with their Hell Fire Sauce all on top of white or brown rice. The heat is heavenly, despite the sauce’s moniker. It burns, in the nest possible way but it’s not the hottest they’ve got. I can’t vouch for how many people have ordered the Classified Bowl, especially with the description they provide. “Do not order. You’re still considering it? Did you count the pitchforks?” For the record, there are 6 pitchforks!

Rokerij
6335 N. 16^th St., Phoenix 85016
602.287.8900
www.richardsonsnm.com/rokerij
The stone casing of Rokerij paired with the dim lighting in the interior creates a romantic and almost storybook atmosphere. With a Dutch moniker (Rokerij means smokehouse in Dutch) you wouldn’t immediately conjure up thoughts of spicy dishes. Trust that they are there. One beautifully spicy dish is their Pasta Heidi. The dish is made with a base of fresh made green chile linguine, combined with grilled chicken and then tossed in a deceptive chipotle cream sauce. You might think that the cream will cut the heat slightly, and it might, but there is still fire there. Like all the spicy selections you’ll find on the menu, the heat does not overpower the dish. While there is a lot of heat, it doesn’t mask the rich flavors of the cream and the nice charred flavor of the chicken. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the heat (I warned you) your server can have a tall Prickly Pear Margarita to you in no time to help muzzle the blaze.

One beautifully spicy dish is their Pasta Heidi. The dish is made with a base of fresh made green chile linguine, combined with grilled chicken and then tossed in a deceptive chipotle cream sauce. You might think that the cream will cut the heat slightly, and it might, but there is still fire there. Like all the spicy selections you’ll find on the menu, the heat does not overpower the dish. While there is a lot of heat, it doesn’t mask the rich flavors of the cream and the nice charred flavor of the chicken. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the heat (I warned you) your server can have a tall Prickly Pear Margarita to you in no time to help muzzle the blaze.

This article was originally featured in the July 2015 issue of Uptown Magazine.