Stay Warm with this Spicy Food Tour

Vancouver is a mecca for spicy food, with spice levels from around the world showcased in every neighbourhood. Think you’re up for the challenge? Here are our top spicy picks that will keep you warm this season.

Lunch Lady

Your tour begins at the notorious Lunch Lady on Commercial Drive, and no, it’s not the lunch lady slinging slop from the cafeteria. From a food stall in Saigon to a restaurant in Vancouver, Lunch Lady is a love letter to Vancouver’s Vietnamese community, with highlights of spiced oils and broths, combined with local Pacific Northwest ingredients. Nothing cures a cold better than leaning your face over a warm bowl of pho. The Bún Bò Huế is where a spicy beef and pork broth creates both fiery and soothing flavours. For another flavourful pick, try the Bun Ga vermicelli bowl, featuring a perfect mix of slurp-worthy vermicelli noodles, chargrilled chicken thighs, pork skewers, and a generous dollop of scallion oil that ties it all together.

Downlow Chicken Shack

You won’t have to go far for this next spicy pick. Nashville might be a plane ride away, but a stroll down Commercial Drive gets you closer and right into Downlow Chicken Shack. Heat is the heartbeat of their infamous Nashville hot chicken, and here you get to choose your own spice adventure. Starting with mild, all the way to the ultimate test: Fear the Ripper, for those who believe taste buds are optional. Every dish comes with a side of tangy pickles, creamy slaw, and your choice of golden crimped fries. Try their OG Spicy Chicken Sando for the feel of that squishy, smooth bun cozied into a crunchy, fried chicken bite, and paired with cayenne that lingers.

Afterwards, take a breath by strolling through Grandview Park, followed by a reward with gelato at La Casa Gelato in Little Italy for some sweet relief.

Vij’s

Follow the scent of spice through Cambie Village and you’ll land at Vij’s, Chef Vikram’s Michelin-recommended gem. Step inside, and the first thing you’ll be handed is a warm cup of chai before diving into some of the best spicy food in Vancouver. Things only get spicier from here. You’ll want to order Vikram’s Favourite Snack, think schnitzel with a kick. The snack is all about presentation, where butter chicken sauce, infused with chilli oil, is doused on top of crisp chicken schnitzel.

Vegetarians aren’t left behind either. The creamy Dhal Makhani is a buttery lentil stew with stewed dried red chilli, rich enough to satisfy even the biggest spice lover. And if the weather’s on your side, order a fun cocktail and head up to the rooftop patio, where views overlook downtown.

Fat Mao Noodles

On a day when you need a bit of warmth, a tasty bowl of noodles feels like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket. If Thai food and Chinese food had a love child, it would be Fat Mao Noodles in Chinatown. Their Spicy Boat Noodles feature a beautiful burgundy-hued broth, allowing you to choose from various noodles to swim in, and an aromatic meat broth layered with beef brisket, meatballs, and dried red chillies. Balance the heat with a creamy Khai Soi Bowl, featuring a light coconut flavour and a hint of red chilli, topped with crispy garnish to keep your taste buds happy.

Chinatown is also full of historical heat worth exploring. The warmth doesn’t just come from the food, but also from a short stroll over to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, a zen getaway in the heart of Chinatown.

Machete Ancestral Mexican Food

If you stay along Main Street in the outskirts of Chinatown, you’ll find authentic Mexican street eats at Machete. The menu is all about spice and soul, with handmade blue corn tortillas folded around different meats like slow-cooked birria beef, rich with dried chillies and deep smoky flavours. Pair any of their tacos and quesadillas with house-made guacamole and salsa, ranging from zesty green chilli to red hot, that’ll fall right out of the tortilla. And to satisfy that sweet and spicy craving, try their Elote, a whole corn rolled in chilli, lime, mayo, and queso fresco that’s as juicy as it is addictive. Choose your spice level with a final dusting of chilli powder and finish with Nieves Raspadas (shaved ice), to recover from a burn that was totally worth it.

Baby Dahl Roti Shop

For the last stop, you’ll wanna skip wearing your white shirt because things are bound to get messy. Baby Dhal Roti Shop on Commercial Drive is a Trinidadian gem serving the spiciest foods in Vancouver. The air is heavy with the aroma of Brown Stew Chicken bubbling away on the stove, the meat falling off the bone and kissed with that signature Scotch bonnet heat. The Curry Goat Roti is a staple here, goat simmered in a rich curry and wrapped in layers of flaky roti that soak up every last drop of spice.

The Buss Up Roti on its own is worth the visit. Homemade, buttery, and soft goodness, it's suited as a side for everything on the menu, so you simply can’t go wrong. Add a classic Caribbean favourite: Ting or Kola Champagne soda to calm the scotch bonnet sizzle on your tongue.

Going on a spicy food tour in Vancouver is more than just a challenge for heat seekers; it’s a chance to taste cultures from all over the world. Just be sure to pack some extra napkins and maybe a fire extinguisher for some serious scorchers.