Cuisine Scene: Spicy

Some people love spicy food for the blend of flavors and sensations that chilis, peppers, and hot sauce add to dishes. Others pursue spicy challenges like culinary gladiators, testing just how much heat they can handle. Create your own Long Beach-inspired spicy food safari with these local dishes.

FLAMIN’ HOT CHEETO BURGER, HAMBURGER MARY'S

The burgers at Hamburger Mary’s (330 Pine Ave) come piled high–some are served skewered with a steak knife to keep all of the ingredients together in a tower of indulgent delights. At Mary’s, you customize your burger by picking the patty, the bun, and style. The spiciest is the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Burger, which adds the bright red, crunchy snack food onto a burger that also comes loaded with mac and cheese.

MANGO HABANERO WRAP, ROXANNE’S

One of the kings of heat is the habañero, the smaller, sweeter, yet punchier cousin of the jalapeño. Head to Roxanne’s (1115 E Wardlow Rd) to test your tastebuds with their Mango Habanero Wrap. It’s made with grilled chicken tossed in a house-made mango habanero sauce, wrapped inside a warm tortilla with chopped lettuce, crispy bacon, habanero-lime sauce, and shredded cheese. Wash it down with the L.B. Mule, made with their house-distilled vodka known as Long Beach Water, plus lime and ginger beer.

SPICY CRAB NOODLES, NAREE THAI

Thai cuisine is a good one to test your tolerance of spice, as Thai chilis are generally known to be about 15 times hotter than your average jalapeño. Naree Thai (555 E Ocean Blvd, Ste 101) offers its spicy crab noodles, which come piled high with a couple of large chunks of crab as well as egg, garlic, and scallions swirling in the mix. Resting atop the mountain of rice noodles is a small scattering of roasted Thai chilies, making for a gently searing and pleasant heat.

SNAKEBITE POPCORN, POP’N FLAVORS

Let your quest for the spiciest treats in Long Beach take you next to Pop’N Flavors (3916 Atlantic Ave), a popcorn emporium in Bixby Knolls. This family-owned business offers over 250 sweet, savory, and gourmet flavors of popcorn. Their spiciest flavor is Snakebite, which balances the intense kick of ghost pepper with cool ranch and cheddar cheese. Stop by the shop or order online, with sizes ranging from a small 8 oz container to a 2 gallon bucket.

XTRA SPICY HOT WINGS, SAL'S GUMBO SHACK

You can’t talk about spicy food and not include hot wings. Some of the spiciest in Long Beach are the Xtra Spicy Hot Wings at Sal’s Gumbo Shack (6148 Long Beach Blvd W / 4470 California Pl). Owner Sally Bevans is on a mission to bring the flavors of Louisiana and the Bayou to Long Beach, but these hot wings bring the fire! The wings come in a 10- or 20-piece order, and afterward you can soothe your tastebuds with the restaurant’s namesake gumbo or delicious peach cobbler.

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for over 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.