Quick Bites: Some Like It (Sort Of) Hot
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Spicy foods are not for everyone. Connoisseurs of the heat know what it’s all about – that spike of intense flavor, that piquant rush of heat, the burn that feels good even while it hurts. But for other diners, spice is not so nice. Maybe what’s needed is a gentle introduction with a few dishes.
Pisco y Nazca
The Ceviche Mixto ($22.50) at Pisco y Nazca offers a perfect blend of subtle spice that is delicious and enjoyable. With a mix of fish, shrimp, octopus, fried calamari, rocoto leche de tigre, changa and sweet potato, it is the perfect balance between sweet, spicy, and citrusy. Light and refreshing, it’s an ideal choice for seafood lovers who enjoy a gentle kick without overwhelming spice. Vibrant, zesty, and satisfying.
101 Miracle Mile
piscoynazca.com
Emmy Squared
Emmy Squared advertises its pizzas as Detroit-style with a New York twist. The VIP pizza ($24) is one of our favorites: a thick square-cut ‘za with a crunchy sesame seed crust smeared lightly with homemade vodka sauce and topped with parsley pesto, pepperonis, and Calabrian chilies, which give it a special “oomph.” One of the few spicy pizzas that doesn’t rely entirely on jalapeños, we’d give this VIP a 10/10.
230 Miracle Mile
emmysquaredpizza.com
Namaste Miami
The Shrimp Biryani ($22) at Namaste Miami is layered with fragrant basmati rice, plump shrimp, caramelized onions, and a mix of turmeric and red chili powder that hits quick. Not everyone can handle Indian heat, and the high setting isn’t for the faint-hearted. We went for medium heat, enough to make our lips tingle, and wanted more – but that’s us. The sweetness from the onions also cuts the burn.
221 Navarre Ave
namastemiami305.com
Malakor Thai Isaan
Malakor’s Pad Mee Ko-rad ($20) is a flavorful stir-fried noodle dish with tamarind sauce, shrimp, egg, peanuts, scallions, pickled radish, and beans. You can choose your heat level from one to five or ask for extra spice on the side to adjust as you go. Five is blistering, we’ll tell you right now. So, try a mild level one or two and see how it enhances things.
90 Miracle Mile
malakorthaiisaan.com
Khaosan Road
Our go-to for Thai street food, Khaosan Road’s Pad Gra Pao ($18) is a classic dish for those who aren’t entirely confident in their ability to handle spice. Here, you can order the dish with a range of different proteins and spice levels – but we recommend chicken, and a spice level of one or two until you can learn to handle a fiver. Served with sauteed veggies and a cup of rice, it’s healthy, delicious, and nicely customizable.
157 Giralda Ave
khaosan-road.com