Watch CBS News

Best Spicy Food Restaurants In Sacramento

Whether you like spicy cuisine that is flavored with horseradish, jalapeno and ancho chilies, Japanese wasabi, Chinese hot mustard, chili sauce or hot curry, there are many ways to appreciate the zestier things in life at these Sacramento restaurants.
Sandra Dee's BBQ & Seafood
601 15th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-6375
www.sandradeesbbq.com

Sandra Dee's serves up Southern barbecue and soul food, created with a house-made sauce that really packs a wallop. The signature sauce is available in varying level of heat and can be used on many menu items, including tri-tip, pork ribs and rib tips, chicken and chopped pork. The family owned and operated restaurant also serves gator, oyster and prawn po'boys with a spicy sandwich spread, and the beef links come in mild or hot. Some side orders have heat as well, including string beans, corn stir-fried with jalapeno peppers and onion, and the best greens in town, slow-cooked with smoked turkey.

Heat Shabu Baru
2416 18th St., Suite E
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 930-9888
heatshabu.com/home

Heat specializes in shabu shabu, a Japanese hot pot dish made with vegetables, ramen and thin slices of lobster, shrimp, Wagyu Kobe beef, lamb or pork; a vegetarian option is also available. Diners can choose from several broths to add, including spicy tonkatsu and spicy miso. Flavorful appetizers include juicy grilled mussels that have a touch of heat and a plate of phenomenal jalapeno poppers filled with Kobe beef. Heat uses fresh vegetables, seasonings, seafood and meats, and shabu shabu is available in individual servings or as all-you-can-eat.

Related: Best Creative Burgers In Sacramento

Oz Korean BBQ
3343 Bradshaw Road
Sacramento, CA 95827
(916) 362-9292
ozkoreanbbq.com

Oz offers zesty Korean cuisine during the lunch and dinner hours, and now has a second location in Elk Grove. Spicy chicken and tender pork loin filets with fiery chili sauce are both popular dishes, and guests love the crispy Cajun garlic fries tossed in a piquant housemade sauce. Hopped-up traditional entrées include tofu, mussels, calamari, shrimp and mushroom soup in a very spicy broth, and stone age bibimbap, a vegetable and beef ribeye concoction served on a hot stone skillet and topped with chili sauce. There is even a wasabi salad, made with the spicy condiment also known as Japanese horseradish.

The Coconut
2502 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 447-1855
www.coconutmidtown.com

Thai cuisine is celebrated for spicy seasonings, and guests to The Coconut can choose the degree of warmth they prefer. The spice level runs from mild to hot, with brave, heat-seeking customers requesting the more extreme "that hot." Zippy red, yellow and green curries are a flavorful favorite, and the Thai fried rice, tom yum hot and sour soup and spicy beef burger all have some zip. Spiced-up lime juice brings a special zest to salads, such as the grilled meat or seafood Thai salad and larb salad with ground chicken. Dishes which are particularly good when highly spiced include the drunken noodles and pad thai. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available at Coconut.

Vallejo's Restaurant
1900 4th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-8488
www.vallejosrestaurant.com

Vallejo's serves up authentic Mexican food, made with flavorful and spicy seasonings. The housemade salsa and pico de gallo leave a pleasant tingle on the tongue, and a variety of tortas are served with red chile asado gravy, a combination of dried Cascabel and ancho chilies. The spicy chicken wings and Mexican jambalaya are a piquant treat, and tasty dinner entrees include chicken or shrimp with chipotles and camarones a la diabla, served in a spicy red sauce.

Related: Best Pizza In Sacramento

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers business, employment, animal rescue, volunteerism and nonprofits.
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.