# Spiciest Offering From a Fast Food Chain **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756 "2015-04-28T22:49:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/1 "2015-04-28T22:49:32Z")
Just read a few quick reviews on Wendy’s Ghost Pepper Fries…general consensus is that they’re rather on the mild side. Also mentioned in one review was their new Jalapeño Fresco Spicy Chicken Sandwich - the opinion was that most of the heat came from the chicken patty itself. So, what’s the hottest/spiciest prepared food that’s ever been offered from a chain? I’m excluding Church’s (or anyone else’s) side of jalapeños - although I’d predict that something hotter has been on someone’s menu. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/2 "2015-04-28T22:55:25Z")
I doubt there would be a major chain that would go beyond jalapenos. Anything hotter, those people won’t be looking to fast foods for a chile fix. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/3 "2015-04-28T23:01:30Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > Just read a few quick reviews on Wendy’s Ghost Pepper Fries…general consensus is that they’re rather on the mild side. We went to Wendy’s for lunch on Saturday and I got those fries. Mild? My high school graduation ceremony was in New Orleans so I know from spicy. Those fries definitely were not mild. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/4 "2015-04-28T23:03:40Z")
[Thrillist did a study.](http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/spicy-fast-food-taste-test-best-spicy-fast-food) Seems the spiciest stuff requires additions to the regular offering, like buffalo sauce or jalapenos. I don’t know where the new Carl’s burger or wWndy’s fries would fit on the scale. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/5 "2015-04-28T23:43:38Z")
Some of the Buffalo Wing chains (e.g. Pluckers) can/will make them spicy far beyond anything I would find pleasant to eat (I generally like spicy food) - not sure if they count under your definition of “fast food” though. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/6 "2015-04-29T03:11:07Z")
[Nando’s](http://www.nandos.com.au/menu?gclid=CjwKEAjw3_ypBRCwoKqKw5P9wgsSJAAbi2K9LN8rhBzFkWLEk4aAftoI_BbtMuQ4KJSwszu8KUGyuxoC-XDw_wcB)extra hot Peri Peri sauce has some serious kick ---
**Author:** ![Scruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Scruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruff)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/7 "2015-04-29T04:13:27Z")
As an aside: If you get the “Ghost Pepper Fries” at Wendy’s **and** the Jalapeño Chicken Fresco sandwich, I think it’s the same damned sauce on the fries and the sandwich. Red Robin has a [Ghost Pepper Burger](http://www.redrobin.com/menu/item/8d7687a6-069c-441c-b407-22c5d51ed077/) that is quite a bit hotter than the Wendy’s sauce. I’m not sure it’s actual Ghost Peppers in the sauce, but it is “tasty”… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/8 "2015-04-29T04:18:24Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > We went to Wendy’s for lunch on Saturday and I got those fries. > > Mild? My high school graduation ceremony was in New Orleans so I know from spicy. Those fries definitely were not mild. Maybe your Wendy’s is different, but the ones I had were definitely mild. The Jalapeño chicken sandwich had more of a kick. My brother and cousin also had them independently of me at two other Wendys, and said the only thing that appeared to be contributing any heat was the jalapenos on them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/9 "2015-04-29T04:30:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > [Thrillist did a study.](http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/spicy-fast-food-taste-test-best-spicy-fast-food) > > Seems the spiciest stuff requires additions to the regular offering, like buffalo sauce or jalapenos. I don’t know where the new Carl’s burger or wWndy’s fries would fit on the scale. Oh, yeah, that does remind me. That Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken sandwich actually does have a kick to it. While it’s not what I would call crazy spicy, it’s probably the spiciest I’ve come across at a popular fast food chain (enough for me to be pleasantly surprised after ordering it and tasting it.) Still, it’s only maybe a small step above something like Popeye’s spicy chicken. (Now if you count sit-down chains like Buffalo Wild Wings, their Blazin’ sauce does pack a reasonable amount of heat–now if I could only get good wings from them.) ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/10 "2015-04-29T07:32:22Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Some of the Buffalo Wing chains (e.g. Pluckers) can/will make them spicy far beyond anything I would find pleasant to eat (I generally like spicy food) - not sure if they count under your definition of “fast food” though. Yeah, BW3’s is definitely fast-food. I was going to suggest their Blazing sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/11 "2015-04-29T07:37:44Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Yeah, BW3’s is definitely fast-food. I was going to suggest their Blazing sauce. How is BW3’s fast-food? It’s sit-down, has a waiter, serves alcohol, and isn’t especially speedy. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/12 "2015-04-29T13:23:12Z")
I’ve had a report that the Ghost Pepper fries are barely spicey (from somebody who doesn’t do HOT). That Taco Bell purple assed Volcano taco a few years back was crap too. Their fire hot sauce is respectably hot though. Mc Donalds $1 spicy McChicken sandwich is also respectable. I wouldn’t say hot, but when most things that say hot aren’t even detectably spicy I consider that a win. And can’t beat if for a buck. Flaming hot Cheetos are pretty spicy too. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/13 "2015-04-29T13:51:54Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > How is BW3’s fast-food? It’s sit-down, has a waiter, serves alcohol, and isn’t especially speedy. The ones around here all have to-go/take out counters. But calling it fast food is probably pushing it. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/14 "2015-04-29T15:24:27Z")
The Taco Bell sriracha items are pretty spicy, especially for fast food. I was surprised at just how much so- they put the Wendy’s Ghost Pepper stuff to shame. ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/15 "2015-04-29T15:28:11Z")
I think I remember Church’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich having some heat to it. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/16 "2015-04-29T16:01:58Z")
I have to agree with the Thrillist link that the Chipotle Barbacoa Burrito has some really nice spice to it (barbacoa is my go-to at Chipotle). Now they put that at #2 and Five Guys Burgers with jalapenos at #1, but I don’t consider 5 Guys to be really all that Fast Food-y. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/17 "2015-04-29T16:07:19Z")
There’s a distinction usually made between fast food restaurants and fast casual ones: > **[Fast casual restaurant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_casual_restaurant)** > > A fast casual restaurant, found primarily in the United States and Canada, does not offer full table service, but advertises higher quality food than fast food restaurants, with fewer frozen or processed ingredients. It is an intermediate concept between fast food and casual dining. > The concept originated in the United States in the early 1990s, but did not become mainstream until the end of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2010s. During the economic recession that began in 2007, the categor... ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/18 "2015-04-29T17:08:06Z")
> [@bump](#): > > The Taco Bell sriracha items are pretty spicy, especially for fast food. I was surprised at just how much so- they put the Wendy’s Ghost Pepper stuff to shame. How fortunate for the timing of this thread: [Taco Bell Diablo: Irvine chain to debut first new hot sauce in five years](http://www.ocregister.com/articles/taco-659716-bell-diablo.html) > [@](#): > > In terms of the heat scale, Diablo is hotter than the chain’s newly introduced sriracha sauce, Taco Bell said. However, sriracha is not available in a packet, Taco Bell said. Diablo joins the other packet sauces: Verde, Mild, Hot and Fire. > The limited-edition sauce was made to address consumer demand for more heat, Taco Bell said. Diablo contains a variety of chili peppers including aji panca (a South American pepper) and chipotle. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/19 "2015-04-29T22:08:07Z")
The [ghost pepper loaded griller](http://www.brandeating.com/2015/03/taco-bell-testing-ghost-pepper-and-habanero-sauces.html) that Taco Bell is (was?) testing in my neck of the woods was surprisingly spicy, to my utter delight (it’s certainly spicier than Wendy’s new jalapeño spicy chicken sandwich, though I did quite enjoy that LTO, too). Of course, though not as spicy, the habanero loaded griller was the tastiest of the three. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756/20 "2015-04-29T22:20:40Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > I have to agree with the Thrillist link that the Chipotle Barbacoa Burrito has some really nice spice to it (barbacoa is my go-to at Chipotle). Now they put that at #2 and Five Guys Burgers with jalapenos at #1, but I don’t consider 5 Guys to be really all that Fast Food-y. Well, if you’re considering Chipotle fast food, I’d think you’d have to consider Five Guys fast food. I personally think of both as fast food, although, technically, I guess they’re “fast casual.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiciest-offering-from-a-fast-food-chain/718756.md?page=2)