Where to find hot and spicy foods at Wilmington-area restaurants

Allison Ballard, Wilmington StarNews
·4 min read

They say that spicy food can warm you up when it’s cool or cool you down when it’s warm. Such is the power of capsaicin. So, really, there’s no wrong time to enjoy food flavored with peppers and chilis. While parts of the world, and the U.S., are well known for foods that bring the heat, the Wilmington area is not usually considered an, ahem, hotbed for spicy fare. But there are dishes, sauces and drinks that range from ‘make you sweat’ to a pleasant burn. Here are a few local favorites. As always, let us know if there are others we should add to the list. Email aballard@gannett.com.

More:As more restaurants open in the Wilmington area, how diverse is the food scene?

Pho Vanhly Noodle House in Porters Neck in Wilmington makes a house-made chili oil that can be served with their pho and other Asian fare.
Pho Vanhly Noodle House in Porters Neck in Wilmington makes a house-made chili oil that can be served with their pho and other Asian fare.

Asian fare

Many of the local Asian restaurants will season to taste and offer levels of spiciness. But at Szechuan 132 at 419 College Road in Wilmington, one dish comes with a warning label. The Cheng Du Chili, made to have the region’s distinctive numbing sensation, is one dish designed for the spicy food lover. According to the menu, it can’t be made less spicy. “It won’t happen,” they said.

Or get a bowl of pho at Pho Vanhly Noodle House at 208 Porters Neck Road in Wilmington and make it spicy with some of their house-made chili oil on the side. At Ida Thai, which is moving from Carolina Beach to the Monkey Junction area, the extra-spicy pad Thai is a popular choice. So is the red curry served at Indochine, and its sister restaurants from Wilmington to Southport.

New Bloody Mary Cocktails at Cast Iron Kitchen in Wilmington include a spicy smoked chipotle version.
New Bloody Mary Cocktails at Cast Iron Kitchen in Wilmington include a spicy smoked chipotle version.

A new Bloody Mary

There are a few good ones in the area, but Cast Iron Kitchen, a breakfast and brunch spot at 8024 Market St. In Wilmington just unveiled two new Bloody Marys as a part of some updates they’re working on. In addition to a green tomato version, they also have a spicy smoked chipotle Bloody Mary.

More:Do you love a good Bloody Mary? Here are 9 to try in the Wilmington area

The Pulpo Tampico, fried octopus covered in a light spicy sauce, at El Mariscal Mexican Style Seafood in Wilmington.
The Pulpo Tampico, fried octopus covered in a light spicy sauce, at El Mariscal Mexican Style Seafood in Wilmington.

Latin fare

One of the signature dishes at El Mariscal Mexican Style Seafood (1319 Military Cutoff Road in Wilmington) is the Pulpo Tampico, or fried octopus served with a spicy sauce over a bed of rice and steamed vegetables. The level of spiciness depends on who you talk to, but it's already a favorite.

Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn, which has locations in Carolina Beach and Wilmington, created their eponymous specialty burrito as the hottest item on the menu. It has chipotle peppers, fresh jalapeños, mild green chiles, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, rice, beans, and is finished with the Flaming Hot salsa.

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Infused tequilas

If you’re looking for a spicy margarita, try one made with chili-infused tequilas. Zocalo Street Food & Tequila, at The Pointe at Barclay, infuses a tequila blanco with chilis for cocktails. And the Coquina-rita at Coqunia Fishbar at Mayfaire in Wilmington is made with house-infused serrano tequila and garnished with a chili salt rim.

The Coquina-rita at Coqunia Fishbar at Mayfaire in Wilmington is made with house-infused serrano tequila and garnished with a chili salt rim.
The Coquina-rita at Coqunia Fishbar at Mayfaire in Wilmington is made with house-infused serrano tequila and garnished with a chili salt rim.

Pizza with spicy sauce

The Wilmington area has a few options when it comes to hot honey pizza, from Your Pie’s version with pepperoni (at 4403 Oleander Drive in Wilmington) to the Kevin McCallister at Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria in 206 Greenfield St., in the South Front District.

But Jay’s Incredible Pizza at 3600 S. College Road in Wilmington is often experimenting with spiciness for their specials. For the Super Bowl they will be bringing back the Jalapeño Popper Pizza and Doritos Spicy Chili Pizza. They also recently partnered with the local Sea Monster Sauces for the Tropical Fire Mango Chicken Pizza, with chunks of chicken tossed in the newly released Signal Fire Lift Up Hot sauce. Soon, look for a line of wings made with those sauces.

And more wings

Wings are a favored vehicle for delivering spicy sauce to your mouth. Local favorites include the sweet-and-spicy Pineapple Habanero at Fu Wangz (2105 Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington, or the spicy garlic parm at The Hot Buffalo (3446 Holden Beach Road SW in Supply), and the Nashville Hot and Carolina Reaper at Coastal Wings & Spirit Co. at 108 Triton Lane in Surf City.

The Flame Thrower biscuit at Vicious Biscuit in Wilmington.
The Flame Thrower biscuit at Vicious Biscuit in Wilmington.

Chicken and biscuits

Many Wilmington restaurants have their own versions of Nashville-style hot chicken, and now the area also has its own Dave's Hot Chicken location at Independence Mall. Plus, other Southern-inspired spicy food can be found at the Wilmington location of Vicious Biscuit at The Forum.

You can find The Flame Thrower there, which is a cheddar-and-jalapeño biscuit topped with hot-sauced-tossed fried chicken breast, white cheddar, spicy remoulade, Vicious candied bacon and their cowboy candy. In Southport, check out The Saucy Southerner at 503 N. Howe St., for the Howe Street biscuit, which is a bit spicy with pepper jack cheese and pepper jelly. Get it topped with an egg and a Neese's sausage patty or a fried green tomato.

Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Hot and spicy food in Wilmington, NC: Try these restaurants