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Bird & Bone’s spicy chicken.
Bird & Bone / official photo

Miami’s 15 Best Spicy Dishes

Turning up the heat

by Alona Martinez
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Bird & Bone’s spicy chicken.
| Bird & Bone / official photo
by Alona Martinez

There’s no denying that the heat is on in Miami all year round. As South Floridians crank up the a/c, lounge by the pool or head for the beach to cool off, those craving hot temperatures will be pleased to know they can get an assortment of spice all over town with these 15 top picks.

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Surf House Bar & Grill

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With the debut of the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa’s water park, Tidal Cove, hunger can strike hard when having fun. So head to its Surf House Bar & Grill and order up a hot chicken sandwich, a house favorite that comes with its own namesake spicy sauce. 

19999 W Country Club Dr, Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 932-6200
(305) 932-6200
Nashville hot chicken sandwich
JW Marriott Turnberry Resort and Spa/Official Photo

Bird & Bone

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Chef Richard Hales serves up all sorts of Southern comfort dishes at this unpretentious spot inside The Confidante Hotel in Miami Beach, but it’s the Chef Hale’s Hot Chicken that is the star of the show for those seeking something hot. The recipe is Hales’ take on Nashville-style fried chicken served over Zak the Baker bread and topped with a drizzle of Chinese hot mustard, local honey and house-made pickles. 

4041 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
(305) 424-1234
(305) 424-1234
Chef Hale’s Hot Chicken
Bird & Bone/official photo

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Palmar

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The smashed cucumber salad at Palmar is an ideal spicy dish. Chef Raymond Li combines English cucumbers with plenty of citrus and a homemade Szechuan oil, among other ingredients. The result is a bright, refreshing salad with plenty of bite — the ideal remedy to a hot day.

180 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127
(305) 573-5682
(305) 573-5682
Smashed cucumber from Palmar
Palmar/official photo

Also featured in:

Beaker & Gray

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Wynwood mainstay Beaker & Gray is always a crowd favorite, and for those craving some spice can opt for the yellow curry made with rice noodles and served in a fiery sauce with blue crab and Chinese sausage.

2637 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127
(305) 699-2637
(305) 699-2637
Spicy yellow curry
Beaker & Gray / official photo

Also featured in:

KYU

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Chef Michael Lewis’s Korean fried chicken is made with braised spinach and red chili butter. It is double fried for extra crunch and boasts an addictive sweet and spicy flavor combo.

251 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127
(786) 577-0150
(786) 577-0150
Spicy Korean fried chicken
photo by Rashida Sol

Also featured in:

Villa Azur

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People watch and party while dining at the tropical patio of this Miami-meets-Mediterranean spot. For spicy aficionados the restaurant offers its cauliflower “crab cake,” a vegan dish made with aji blanco, crispy kataifi dough, fresh herbs and an avocado remoulade.

309 23rd St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 763-8688
(305) 763-8688
Cauliflower “crab cake” at Villa Azur
Villa Azur / official photo

Also featured in:

PEZ - Mexican Seafood

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Newcomer to the thriving Mexican scene in Miami, Pez shines a light on the seafood-centric food of Baja California. Spicy lovers will want to order the aguachile tradicional de camarón, a piquant chilled broth (aguachile literally translates to spicy water) made with shrimp, lime juice, cucumber and onions as well as chiltepin, a mad hot chili from Sonora.

20 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130
(305) 570-3440
(305) 570-3440
This aguachile is made with chiltepin, a chili 20x hotter than jalapeños.
Pez/official photo

Also featured in:

Novikov Miami

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Aside from the luxe setting and Biscayne Bay views, there’s something for everyone at Novikov from robata grill to wok dishes to dim sum and sushi. Start off with some spice by ordering the scallop and jalapeño sashimi, where each sweet mollusk comes crowned with a ring of spicy pepper. Pair it with a pleasantly hot wasabi martini to keep the burn going.

300 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 489-1000
(305) 489-1000
Scallop and jalapeño sashimi
Novikov / official photo

Also featured in:

Red, the Steakhouse - Miami Beach

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This Miami Beach outpost is cool and chic on the inside, but those craving a chance with some heat should dare order the stuffed hot peppers. The banana leaf peppers are filled with Italian sausage and served over marinara sauce — with each banana leaf pepper varying in heat (some being extremely hot), something quickly determined after the first bite. Chef Peter Vauthy also prepares a lobster fra diabolo for pasta lovers seeking some spice.

119 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-3688
(305) 534-3688
Banana leaf peppers stuffed with Italian sausage
The Luis Collection

elcielo By Juan Manuel Barrientos

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Delving into molecular gastronomy, chef Juan Manuel Barrientos produces exotic dishes that blur with art. Everything here pushes the culinary envelope, so, when it comes to spicy dishes, the hot spicy pork arrives: tenderloin served over charred habanero carrot puree topped with a pig cutout tuile made with aleppo-spiced celeriac and cayenne pepper.

31 SE 5th St, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 755-8840
(305) 755-8840
Hot spicy pork
Manuela Lopez

Also featured in:

Upland

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Twin to the wildly popular Upland in NYC, this spot on South of Fifth offers an array of Italian-inspired dishes with a California twist. New to the menu is the clam pie pizza, a simple take on classic flavors: cheese, garlic, and chili for extra zing.

49 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 602-9998
(305) 602-9998
Spicy clam pie at Upland
Upland Miami / official photo

Also featured in:

Cantina La Veinte

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Santiago Gomez is the prolific chef behind this modern Mexican (with a nod to traditional) all within a gorgeous setting that includes a waterfront patio. Common place in Mexican cuisine, Cantina La Veinte offers several types of aguachile, akin to a spicy ceviche. The ribeye version uses soy and chile de árbol, which adds heat to the refreshing dish.

495 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
(786) 623-6135
(786) 623-6135
Ribeye aguachile
Cantina La Veinte / official photo

Also featured in:

Katsuya Brickell

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Sexy cocktails and almost-too-pretty-to-eat sushi are some of the items found inside SLS Lux’s Katsuya Brickell. For a hot start, the spicy tuna crispy rice fits the bill. The appetizer features spicy tuna tartare served on grilled sushi rice topped with green serrano peppers to hone the spicy point in.

8, SE 8th St, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 859-0200
(305) 859-0200
Spicy tuna crispy rice
Katsuya Brickell/official photo

Also featured in:

AD LIB

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Chef Joe Mizzoni offers modern American cuisine with dishes like scallops with caramelized cauliflower, roasted chicken with black truffle ravioli, and pork chop with apricot chutney, but it’s the royal red shrimp which hits the right spicy notes. The shrimp arrives in a Serrano cilantro broth, offering plenty of heat, and comes garnished with shaved radish, pickled onion and apple.

2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 504-8895
(305) 504-8895
Royal Red Shrimp with Serrano Cilantro Broth
Ad Lib / official photo

Ghee Downtown Dadeland

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Those big on saucy dishes will enjoy sampling favorites like chicken tikka masala, smoked lamb neck, and yucca and vegetable kofta, at this modern Indian spot by Niven Patel. Spice lovers can scoop up the rich sauces with the restaurant’s ghost pepper and cheddar naan or savor the heat-infused traditional leavened flatbread on its own.

8965 SW 72nd Pl, Kendall, FL 33156
(305) 968-1850
(305) 968-1850
Ghost Pepper and Cheddar Naan
photo by Andres Acero of Phood Productions

Also featured in:

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Surf House Bar & Grill

19999 W Country Club Dr, Aventura, FL 33180

With the debut of the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa’s water park, Tidal Cove, hunger can strike hard when having fun. So head to its Surf House Bar & Grill and order up a hot chicken sandwich, a house favorite that comes with its own namesake spicy sauce. 

19999 W Country Club Dr, Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 932-6200
(305) 932-6200
Nashville hot chicken sandwich
JW Marriott Turnberry Resort and Spa/Official Photo

Bird & Bone

4041 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Chef Richard Hales serves up all sorts of Southern comfort dishes at this unpretentious spot inside The Confidante Hotel in Miami Beach, but it’s the Chef Hale’s Hot Chicken that is the star of the show for those seeking something hot. The recipe is Hales’ take on Nashville-style fried chicken served over Zak the Baker bread and topped with a drizzle of Chinese hot mustard, local honey and house-made pickles. 

4041 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
(305) 424-1234
(305) 424-1234
Chef Hale’s Hot Chicken
Bird & Bone/official photo

Palmar

180 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127

The smashed cucumber salad at Palmar is an ideal spicy dish. Chef Raymond Li combines English cucumbers with plenty of citrus and a homemade Szechuan oil, among other ingredients. The result is a bright, refreshing salad with plenty of bite — the ideal remedy to a hot day.

180 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127
(305) 573-5682
(305) 573-5682
Smashed cucumber from Palmar
Palmar/official photo

Beaker & Gray

2637 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127

Wynwood mainstay Beaker & Gray is always a crowd favorite, and for those craving some spice can opt for the yellow curry made with rice noodles and served in a fiery sauce with blue crab and Chinese sausage.

2637 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127
(305) 699-2637
(305) 699-2637
Spicy yellow curry
Beaker & Gray / official photo

KYU

251 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127

Chef Michael Lewis’s Korean fried chicken is made with braised spinach and red chili butter. It is double fried for extra crunch and boasts an addictive sweet and spicy flavor combo.

251 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127
(786) 577-0150
(786) 577-0150
Spicy Korean fried chicken
photo by Rashida Sol

Villa Azur

309 23rd St, Miami Beach, FL 33139

People watch and party while dining at the tropical patio of this Miami-meets-Mediterranean spot. For spicy aficionados the restaurant offers its cauliflower “crab cake,” a vegan dish made with aji blanco, crispy kataifi dough, fresh herbs and an avocado remoulade.

309 23rd St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 763-8688
(305) 763-8688
Cauliflower “crab cake” at Villa Azur
Villa Azur / official photo

PEZ - Mexican Seafood

20 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130

Newcomer to the thriving Mexican scene in Miami, Pez shines a light on the seafood-centric food of Baja California. Spicy lovers will want to order the aguachile tradicional de camarón, a piquant chilled broth (aguachile literally translates to spicy water) made with shrimp, lime juice, cucumber and onions as well as chiltepin, a mad hot chili from Sonora.

20 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130
(305) 570-3440
(305) 570-3440
This aguachile is made with chiltepin, a chili 20x hotter than jalapeños.
Pez/official photo

Novikov Miami

300 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131

Aside from the luxe setting and Biscayne Bay views, there’s something for everyone at Novikov from robata grill to wok dishes to dim sum and sushi. Start off with some spice by ordering the scallop and jalapeño sashimi, where each sweet mollusk comes crowned with a ring of spicy pepper. Pair it with a pleasantly hot wasabi martini to keep the burn going.

300 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 489-1000
(305) 489-1000
Scallop and jalapeño sashimi
Novikov / official photo

Red, the Steakhouse - Miami Beach

119 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

This Miami Beach outpost is cool and chic on the inside, but those craving a chance with some heat should dare order the stuffed hot peppers. The banana leaf peppers are filled with Italian sausage and served over marinara sauce — with each banana leaf pepper varying in heat (some being extremely hot), something quickly determined after the first bite. Chef Peter Vauthy also prepares a lobster fra diabolo for pasta lovers seeking some spice.

119 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-3688
(305) 534-3688
Banana leaf peppers stuffed with Italian sausage
The Luis Collection

elcielo By Juan Manuel Barrientos

31 SE 5th St, Miami, FL 33131

Delving into molecular gastronomy, chef Juan Manuel Barrientos produces exotic dishes that blur with art. Everything here pushes the culinary envelope, so, when it comes to spicy dishes, the hot spicy pork arrives: tenderloin served over charred habanero carrot puree topped with a pig cutout tuile made with aleppo-spiced celeriac and cayenne pepper.

31 SE 5th St, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 755-8840
(305) 755-8840
Hot spicy pork
Manuela Lopez

Upland

49 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Twin to the wildly popular Upland in NYC, this spot on South of Fifth offers an array of Italian-inspired dishes with a California twist. New to the menu is the clam pie pizza, a simple take on classic flavors: cheese, garlic, and chili for extra zing.

49 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 602-9998
(305) 602-9998
Spicy clam pie at Upland
Upland Miami / official photo

Cantina La Veinte

495 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131

Santiago Gomez is the prolific chef behind this modern Mexican (with a nod to traditional) all within a gorgeous setting that includes a waterfront patio. Common place in Mexican cuisine, Cantina La Veinte offers several types of aguachile, akin to a spicy ceviche. The ribeye version uses soy and chile de árbol, which adds heat to the refreshing dish.

495 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
(786) 623-6135
(786) 623-6135
Ribeye aguachile
Cantina La Veinte / official photo

Katsuya Brickell

8, SE 8th St, Miami, FL 33131

Sexy cocktails and almost-too-pretty-to-eat sushi are some of the items found inside SLS Lux’s Katsuya Brickell. For a hot start, the spicy tuna crispy rice fits the bill. The appetizer features spicy tuna tartare served on grilled sushi rice topped with green serrano peppers to hone the spicy point in.

8, SE 8th St, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 859-0200
(305) 859-0200
Spicy tuna crispy rice
Katsuya Brickell/official photo

AD LIB

2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134

Chef Joe Mizzoni offers modern American cuisine with dishes like scallops with caramelized cauliflower, roasted chicken with black truffle ravioli, and pork chop with apricot chutney, but it’s the royal red shrimp which hits the right spicy notes. The shrimp arrives in a Serrano cilantro broth, offering plenty of heat, and comes garnished with shaved radish, pickled onion and apple.

2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 504-8895
(305) 504-8895
Royal Red Shrimp with Serrano Cilantro Broth
Ad Lib / official photo

Ghee Downtown Dadeland

8965 SW 72nd Pl, Kendall, FL 33156

Those big on saucy dishes will enjoy sampling favorites like chicken tikka masala, smoked lamb neck, and yucca and vegetable kofta, at this modern Indian spot by Niven Patel. Spice lovers can scoop up the rich sauces with the restaurant’s ghost pepper and cheddar naan or savor the heat-infused traditional leavened flatbread on its own.

8965 SW 72nd Pl, Kendall, FL 33156
(305) 968-1850
(305) 968-1850
Ghost Pepper and Cheddar Naan
photo by Andres Acero of Phood Productions

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