Aside from natural landscapes or human elements, cuisine is one of the distinctive factors that attract tourists to a travel destination. Each dish carries a story of history, culture, and tradition of the locality. Spicy food is no exception.

In Thailand, spicy food is seen as a symbol of luck and prosperity, while in South Korea, spicy dishes help ward off the cold and boost health. Meanwhile, in China, spicy food represents courage and strength.

In this article, let's take a tour with Vietjet and explore the list of the top 10 spiciest dishes in the world!

1. Vindaloo Curry - Rich Flavor of India

One of the top ten spiciest dishes in the world is Vindaloo curry - a hot and flavorful dish originating from Goa, India. Vindaloo is believed to have originated from the Portuguese dish "carne de vinha d'alho," a stewed meat with red wine and garlic. When introduced to Goa, this dish was adapted with Indian spices stewed with pork, chicken, or seafood, creating the distinctive flavor it has today.

Vindaloo curry has a strong spicy flavor from chili, ginger, garlic, mustard seeds, etc., combined with the sweet fatty taste of meat and the sourness of vinegar. This dish often has a beautiful orange-red color due to the use of various spicy peppers. The meat is marinated with spices and enhanced with vinegar, intensifying the spicy sensation even more.

Vindaloo is usually served with white rice or roti - a popular flatbread in India. You can also enjoy it with a slice of lime or a small piece of cucumber or mango to reduce the spiciness.

Vindaloo brings a unique culinary experience to diners, with a harmonious blend of spicy, warm, sweet, fatty and sour flavors.

See more: Famous Indian dishes, most attractive to tourists today

2. Sambal Oelek - The Hottest Chili Sauce in Indonesia

Sambal Oelek is not a dish, but it is frequently mentioned in the list of the spiciest foods in the world. It is a famous chili paste in Indonesia. Its intense spiciness can shake you from the first taste. Sambal Oelek originates from Indonesia and Malaysia, but it is most widely used in Indonesia today. Indonesian people are known for their love of spicy food, and Sambal Oelek is an indispensable condiment in their meals.

Sambal Oelek is characterized by its intense spiciness made from the spiciest peppers in the world such as Habanero, Cayenne, Jeanette, Chili, Spanish, and Jolokia Naga (10 times spicier than Thai chili), providing a fiery taste for the eater. Especially, the peppers used for processing are completely fresh and finely ground, without adding many additives, preserving the natural fiery taste of the peppers.

Apart from Sambal Oelek, there are over 300 different types of sambal, with the main ingredient being fresh red peppers. Each type of sambal will have its unique flavor and spiciness, depending on the type of pepper and processing method. From grilled fish sambal, fried fish sambal, dried fish sambal to sambal made from chicken, beef, etc.,...

There are more than 300 different types of sambal, with the main ingredient being fresh red chili. This is certainly one of the spiciest dishes in the world, making it difficult for many people to forget after enjoying it.

See more: List of the most famous Indonesian specialties

3. Gaeng Tai Pla - Traditional Spicy Dish of Thailand

Gaeng Tai Pla, also known as salted fish curry, is a traditional dish from Southern Thailand, famous for its unique and intense spicy flavor, with fermented fish as the main ingredient. This dish is often regarded as a challenging treat for those visiting Thailand.

This particularly spicy dish is made from various hot Thai peppers, especially dangerous peppers and buffalo horn peppers, along with traditional fermented fish sauce (plara), creating a pungent flavor explosion right from the first taste. Fermented fish sauce (pla ra) brings a salty, umami taste to the dish, combined with the sweet coconut milk and sourness of tamarind for harmony in flavor.

Gaeng Tai Pla is often served with white rice, raw vegetables, and condiments like lime, chili, and cilantro. It can also be enjoyed with noodles or bread. However, due to its high spiciness, you should consider carefully before indulging in this dish.

4. Som Tam - Spicy Papaya Salad, National Dish of Thailand

Som Tam (papaya salad) is the most famous salad and considered the "soul and essence" of Thai cuisine. This dish is found in almost every restaurant and eatery across the country, offering a spicy, sweet, and crunchy flavor that is extremely enticing.

Som Tam is prepared with fresh chili peppers, especially Thai dangerous peppers - a type of chili known for its intense spiciness. In addition to the spicy flavor, Som Tam also has a tangy taste from lime and a sweet taste from palm sugar, creating a harmonious flavor profile. Som Tam is usually served with white rice, raw vegetables, and condiments like lime, chili, and fish sauce.

In addition to enjoying this typical spicy Thai dish at restaurants, you should also try Som Tam at night markets or on the streets to fully experience all aspects of its flavor. It's one of the most popular street foods in Thailand.

See more: Explore the mouthwatering street foods of Thailand.

Som Tam (papaya salad) is the most famous salad and is considered the "national soul" of Thai cuisine.

5. Jerk Chicken - Distinctively Spicy Flavor of Jamaica

Jerk Chicken, or Jamaican Jerk Chicken, is a famous traditional dish in Jamaica. This dish is prepared by marinating chicken with a spicy jerk seasoning mixture and grilling it over charcoal fire, resulting in a delicious, unique, and highly appealing flavor.

The Jerk seasoning is made from various hot spices such as Scotch Bonnet peppers (one of the hottest peppers in the world), Jamaican allspice, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, and garlic, creating a lasting, intense spicy flavor. Marinating the chicken in spices for a long time helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with rich flavors. Especially, when grilled over charcoal fire, the jerk seasoning will emit smoke, creating a rich aroma that stimulates the taste buds of diners.

6. Goulash - Hearty Spicy Beef Dish from Hungary

Goulash (or Gulyás) is a famous traditional dish of Hungary. This dish is made from stewed beef with vegetables, paprika powder, and other spices, bringing a delicious, hearty, and warm flavor.

Goulash originated from Hungarian shepherds in the 9th century. Goulash is often eaten in cold winters to warm the body and provide energy. They often cook this dish over a campfire by stewing beef with available vegetables and spices. Over time, Goulash has become a popular dish in Hungarian households and has been adapted into many different versions.

What makes this one of the spiciest dishes in the world is the intense spicy flavor from Paprika powder - a characteristic spice of Hungary. Combined with slowly stewed beef, it creates a tender, flavorful meat. Goulash can be cooked with various vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, onions, bell peppers, etc., creating a diverse and rich flavor. Goulash is often served with bread, mashed potatoes, or white rice. This dish can also be enjoyed with noodles or pasta. To enhance the flavor, you can sprinkle some sour cream on top of Goulash.

7. Sichuan Hot Pot - Famous "Infamous" Spicy Dish from China

When talking about the list of spicy foods around the world, Sichuan cuisine cannot be overlooked - known as one of the spiciest cuisines globally. Among them, Sichuan Hot Pot, also known as Ma La Huo Guo, is the most characteristic and famous dish of the Sichuan region, China. This dish is likened to the "soul" of Sichuan cuisine, bringing a distinctive spicy and numbing flavor, allowing diners to fully explore and experience it.

Originating from the Qing Dynasty in China, Sichuan Hot Pot was initially used by the people of Sichuan to keep warm during cold winters. Gradually, the spicy hot pot became a traditional dish loved across China.

Sichuan Hot Pot leaves a lasting impression due to its unforgettable spicy flavor cooked with various types of chili peppers, especially Sichuan peppers - a type of chili known for its distinctive numbing, spicy taste. Additionally, the dish uses many other spicy spices such as pepper, Sichuan peppercorn, cinnamon, and fennel, creating an irresistible spicy flavor. Besides the unforgettable spiciness, the broth of Sichuan Hot Pot is also special due to its richness. The broth is simmered from stewed bones, combined with various herbs, spices, and chili.

Especially, Sichuan Hot Pot also attracts diners with its unique pot design with two separate compartments. It is known that previously, hot pot pots even had up to nine compartments to hold different types of broth. However, nowadays, most Sichuan Hot Pot restaurants use pots with two compartments. One compartment contains various hot spices, and the other contains non-spicy broth to suit the taste of customers.

See more: Top 9 famous Chengdu delicacies not to be missed

When enjoying Sichuan hot pot, diners will feel the spicy, numbing taste typical of Sichuan chili spreading throughout their mouth.

8. Creole Shrimp Dish - "Terrific" Spicy Flavor from the Southern United States

Creole shrimp dish is one of the spiciest dishes in the world originating from the southern United States, especially popular in states along the Mason-Dixon line. This dish is prepared with shrimp, vegetables, and spices, bringing a unique and intensely spicy flavor, making diners "breathe fire."

The Creole shrimp dish originates from Cajun and Creole people in the southern United States. These two groups have origins from France, Spain, and Africa, and they combined their culinary cultures to create this unique Creole shrimp dish.

The spiciness of this Creole shrimp dish is described by many as "terrific." This spicy American dish is cooked with Chili and Cayenne pepper - two types of chili with strong spiciness, creating a distinctive spicy flavor. In addition to the intense spiciness, the Creole shrimp dish also has a sweet taste from shrimp, a light sourness from tomatoes, and a strong aroma from other spices like onions, garlic, pepper, creating a harmonious and enticing flavor. The Creole shrimp dish can be prepared with various ingredients such as shrimp, green bell peppers, red bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, celery, pepper, salt, etc.

The Creole shrimp dish is usually served with white rice or bread. You can also enjoy it with a vegetable salad to balance the spiciness.

9. Dakbal Spicy Chicken Feet - Spicy Street Food in South Korea

Dakbal Jjim (Spicy Chicken Feet Stew) is a popular street food in South Korea, loved for its spicy, rich, and crunchy flavor, making it an ideal snack for gatherings with friends or enjoying with a glass of soju. However, the spiciness of this dish can make many people "hesitate," even for native Koreans.

The characteristic of Dakbal Spicy Chicken Feet dish is the intense, numbing spiciness from Korean chili peppers, Gochujang chili paste, and other spicy spices. This spicy flavor blends with the sweetness of the chicken broth, the richness of roasted sesame, and the crunchy texture of chicken feet, creating an irresistibly attractive flavor.

However, the spiciness of Dakbal Spicy Chicken Feet dish can make many people "suffer." To reduce the spiciness, you should order additional gyeranjjim (steamed egg) and rice. Steamed egg with its creamy richness and sticky rice will help balance the intense spiciness of the dish while providing additional nutrients for the body.

See more: Enchanted by the famjous delicacies, must-try when visiting South Korea

10. Otak-Otak - Spicy, Fragrant Fish Cake from Southeast Asia

Otak-otak, also known as keropok ikan or otak-otak, is a popular spicy and fragrant fish cake in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

One of the spiciest dishes in the world is said to originate from Palembang, Indonesia, where this dish is made with catfish and grilled over charcoal in banana leaves. Then, this dish was introduced to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore, becoming a favorite street food among locals.

Otak-otak is made from finely ground fish, combined with characteristic spices of each region, bringing a unique and enticing flavor. Otak-otak has a distinctive spicy flavor from chili, a strong fragrance from ginger, lemongrass, combined with the sweet and fatty taste of fish, creating a harmonious and attractive flavor. This dish is often wrapped in banana leaves or coconut leaves, bringing a natural aroma and helping to retain moisture for the cake.

Otak-otak is a spicy, delicious fish cake. This is a popular spicy dish in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

It can be seen that spicy cuisine is an interesting and attractive part of culinary culture worldwide. It not only brings unique taste experiences but also contains many stories about history, culture, and people where it originated. If possible, give yourself the opportunity to "give birth" to these spicy dishes to enjoy and experience the unique cultures there. Exploring these regions is sure to be as exciting as tasting the exquisite spicy dishes mentioned above.

To make your journey more complete, don't forget to book Vietjet flights. Vietjet offers a wide range of direct flights from Vietnam to 19 domestic airports and 88 international airports, including many tourist destinations worldwide. Additionally, special offers for travelers, Vietjet offers a promotional program for flights priced at only 0 Vietnamese Dong (excluding taxes, fees) to many tourist destinations worldwide. The international flight program priced at only 0 Vietnamese Dong applies to customers who purchase international flights on Fridays every week. See details HERE.

Follow Vietjet's official information channels to update flight information, ticket prices, and useful travel information.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vietjetvietnam
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/vietjet
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/VietjetOfficial
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vietjetvietnam
• Zalo: https://oa.zalo.me/vietjet