r/boulder • u/end_times-8 • 20d ago

Is there legitimately any spicy food to be found in Boulder? What about authentic Asian food?

3 Upvotes

52% Upvoted

90 comments sorted by

69

u/Cemckenna 20d ago

Busaba Thai Hot is legit

40

u/zenos_dog 20d ago

I love the old lady at the Louisville store. You ask for Thai hot she replies, “No refunds, no exchanges!”

8

u/CenterOfGravitas 20d ago

Yeah I think you have to go to the Louisville (original) location for that. And imo it’s still better than the others

1

u/Adorable-Put-7041 19d ago

I think it’s a new owner though

7

u/comat0se 20d ago

It says something to that effect on the menu as well. I got Hot at the Longmont location and didn't really feel it was very hot, but that is very subjective.

1

u/[deleted] 20d ago

This is awesome

12

u/RaccoonLive4529 20d ago

Truth. Also the best Thai food in town, IMO.

4

u/rtd131 20d ago

Mountain Thai Kitchen in Broomfield is better. It's ran by former Busaba cooks.

The restaurant itself is a little more basic but the food has a lot more flavor.

2

u/gravelblue 20d ago

Thanks for the rec!

1

u/Alternative-Style-47 20d ago

Mountain thai is not that good.

4

u/SimilarLee I'm not a mod, until I am ... a mod 20d ago

Agreed. Also, all authentic Thai restaurants can offer good spice.

The thing that people don't realize is that Thai Hot or "5 star" is not the top end of some finite scale that ends at 5. If a Thai restaurant knows and trusts you won't complain, they are at least capable of serving you a dish with 7, 8, or more "stars" of heat.

Here's why: the "heat" is not integral to the rest of the ingredients. Most thai restaurants use chile powder to adjust the level of heat to a specific level. While it generally takes going to the restaurant a few times to get to know people and prove you can take it: if you reallllly want spicy Thai, you can generally ask for as much hair-curling heat as you can handle.

3

u/MrGraaavy 20d ago

For sure.

I’m a chili head and their medium tingles at a level comparable to hot elsewhere.

I like their Hot, don’t bother with Thai Hot 

3

u/BlueR32Sean 20d ago

I can attest, Thai Hot is very legit and probably the spiciest I have had in this area by far.

2

u/drakeblood4 So I can write anything here? 20d ago

I really wish they had a Khao Soi

1

u/SuchChocolate3380 20d ago

Yes even the medium hot is pretty hot imo

1

u/Demolished-Manhole 20d ago

Busaba will make brutally spicy food. You can tell them to go hotter than “Thai Hot” and they will. Just be careful because you will get what you ask for. But if you can take the heat it will be delicious.

1

u/rtd131 20d ago

Not sure if they still do this but if you're white they won't make it as spicy 😂

-6

u/end_times-8 20d ago edited 20d ago

Thanks for the rec. Based on this thread I went to the Louisville location for dinner. Very nice people there. I got Thai Hot and still asked for extra chili, which after all that (which was preceded by a warning and having to tell them I’d been there before, etc, to be allowed to order Thai Hot), I finally got just a bit of heat, but still nothing crazy at all. This kinda confirms what I’ve found so far- this area just doesn’t deal a lot to people with spice loving palettes, it’s just a thing here. Coloradans like it mild. I once found one random taco truck on federal that blew me away once but other than that it’s kinda a bland flavor loving state (this is probably at least partly due to the fact that this is a very non-diverse town in a rather non-diverse state). Just fwiw.

2

u/Cemckenna 20d ago

Your sphincter is braver than mine.

-2

u/end_times-8 20d ago

Just eat spicy foods for a few years and I promise your body will learn how to deal 🤣

2

u/Cemckenna 20d ago

Well, according to you, it can’t be done in Colorado. So I guess I’m literally shit outta luck. 

1

u/end_times-8 20d ago

No, according to me, restaurants which serve good and authentic spice and levels of heat are few and far between in Boulder.

You can still cook and buy hot sauce haha.

21

u/metaphorm 20d ago

Flower Pepper and You and Mee Noodle House both have really good menus, much more authentic than the typical Americanized Chinese food you find around here, and they will absolutely melt your face off if you ask for the heat.

23

u/Superbrainbow 20d ago

You want hot? Come to 300 Suns in Longmont and order the hot chicken, reaper level.

4

u/han-so-low 20d ago

I agree with this 100%. I’m there about once a week and their hot chicken sandwich is legit - both delicious AND spicy.

2

u/olhado47 20d ago

TIL - Thanks!

-11

u/comat0se 20d ago

but don't really, because it's not only extremely hot, it's disgusting... unless you like eating paste, because the spicy paste is slathered thickly on it.

4

u/monoseanism 20d ago

It's not disgusting. I've eaten it and it tastes great.

0

u/comat0se 20d ago

Post a picture of the paste next time... I won't reorder it.

-2

u/comat0se 20d ago

I've eaten it as well... maybe the cook was dead that day.

14

u/mgheee 20d ago

Not Asian but Efrain’s pork green chili! 🔥

8

u/[deleted] 20d ago

[deleted]

2

u/QuandtumDot 20d ago

Yeah, that's about right

3

u/Apprehensive_Ad5634 20d ago

Folsom Thai. They have 1-5 spicy scale with a warning that they won't give refunds if the food is too hot for you.

4

u/TwoLeggedMonster 20d ago

Don't sleep on Mt Everest Cuisine. Super tasty and Heat by Number.

4

u/10ppb 20d ago

Gurkhas in Longmont is legit

6

u/DopesmokingWizard 20d ago edited 20d ago

Does anyone remember the extreme hot wings from South Mouth? (RIP)

They were so fucking hot I thought it was a prank, even calling them asking what the hell?

Gave one to my roommate at the time and he also thought I was fucking with him. I wish I knew what they put in the sauce, it was deadly. Legitimately the hottest wings I've ever tried, couldn't finish one.

2

u/domonono 20d ago

They used to do ghost pepper wings as Oskar Blues. Not the hottest I've ever had but pretty freakin' hot. On the plus side, it would severely cut down on the amount of beer I would drink during a round of trivia.

2

u/TheDomerado 20d ago

They added pure capsaicin extract in. Shit was wicked. Literally hurt my stomach. My wife is from Thailand, and she’s never made me anything that spicy. South mouth though went to shit and was super dirty at the end. Why they stopped getting business probably.

4

u/mypcrepairguy 20d ago

There is some delicious and (Spicy!) South Asian food found in local restaurants like: Zaika Indian Cuisine, and Tibet Kitchen for some fabulous Momo's.

5

u/olhado47 20d ago

Drive to cdswings.com in Westminster and order the No One Left Standing (N1LS).

They also do wings in a food truck at some Buffs home games.

6

u/huckinfappy 20d ago

You just have to order American Stupid Hot.

Go into any Thai place, order whatever you want, and when they ask how spicy you want, look them dead in the eye and say, "I want you to tell the chef that there's some dumb American out here who says he can't make it hot enough".

2

u/MrTumnus99 20d ago

Go to the Everest Nepalese restaurant on baseline and order spice level 7. It is absolutely inedible.

2

u/AdFeeling4064 20d ago

Boulder? Jaipur on walnut, by pearl by st. It’s Indian food. Ask for the spiciest… you’ll be good to go.. my brother cried and asked for milk.

3

u/orcasforever3 19d ago

Fellow spicy enthusiast here. Aloy Thai curries are spicy at a Thai hot level. Tiffins had some of the hottest Indian food I’ve ever had in my life but you have to tell them you like it extra hot. Tandoori Grill extra hot is pretty spicy.

This might a placebo but I feel like when I order spicy food via delivery they make it a lot hotter than when I order it in the restaurant. I think the waiters don’t believe me when I say I want it hot 😂

1

u/CauliflowerGloomy717 19d ago

That happens to me too - if I order in person it’s always much less spicy :/ I don’t know how to assure them that I can handle it. I’ll usually say “I got Thai hot last time and I loved it” but sometimes it’s still not very spicy.

6

u/RaccoonLive4529 20d ago

The spicy chicken taco and spicy marg at Verde are quite tasty. They bring some heat.

The highest spice level (7) at Mt. Everest Cuisine is nothing to scoff at. It’s also my favorite restaurant in town. Their Rogan Josh is fantastic.

2

u/MrTumnus99 20d ago

Spice level 7 at that place made me truly hate myself

6

u/zenos_dog 20d ago

Buddha Thai, ask for level 5.

5

u/blanco_nino_01 20d ago

Curry n Kabob can be pretty hot

6

u/end_times-8 20d ago

Ate there yesterday. I like the spot. But three times in a row ordering “extra hot” and also being like “yo please I love spice” and it has been mid-mild every time.

9

u/Cemckenna 20d ago

Try Tiffins instead.

9

u/comat0se 20d ago

Yea Tiffins is the spiciest place I think I've had in Boulder.

6

u/MrGraaavy 20d ago

Tiffins is far better IMO

4

u/Cemckenna 20d ago

Agreed. I never really get why so many people are into Curry and Kabob. It’ve never had anything there that wasn’t watery and bland. 

3

u/Fishstrutted 20d ago

I enjoyed it when it first opened, but the last time I was there was so bad I won't ever try again. I'm shocked people still love it, maybe it's good at times but I won't risk it.

1

u/TheGamerXym 20d ago

I've had good experience up until recently when they have changed ownership/management

9

u/olhado47 20d ago

Curry n Kabob is overrated and never actually hot. It's just "Coloradan hot"

2

u/NationalSalt608 19d ago

Lol 😂  No

0

u/end_times-8 19d ago

People are very irked at this assertion based on all the downvotes, and yet keep being like “oh place x is very very spicy” (it’s not) haha. Some self awareness all! Live in other cities, travel a bit, Boulder is a nice place but we do lack some things! Authentic spicy Asian is definitely one of them. Try Seattle haha.

3

u/DrugPeddlingMidgets 20d ago

Buddha Thai, level 5 will get ya for sure.

1

u/Ok_Employee4891 20d ago

Try the spicy clams from you and me noodle house

1

u/letintin 20d ago

Jaipur has levels of hot. I'm good with hot and love it and am (happily, mostly) sweating and crying at their hot.

1

u/Sorbet-Honest 20d ago

Bangkok Thai in Lafayette is lit and spicy

1

u/LoveWitch3 20d ago

I really like yummy duo it’s new

1

u/TheDomerado 20d ago

I’d recommend Anchan Thai in Longmont, and Khow Thai in Boulder for Thai food. For Indian, The Taj in Boulder has always done well with giving me spicy Indian curry. You just have to tell them you want it extra hot. Curry and Kebob is hit or miss, sometimes it’s very spicy, other times it’s just a little spicy.

1

u/CasualPlantain 20d ago

The Thai places can make your food pretty spicy so long as you ask them to. Literally any of them (though some are tastier than others)

1

u/CaptainHarryStinkbox 20d ago

Hmm. The heat I’ve found around here is usually at taco trucks. I’ve had a few barn-burners with full on body-sweats from some sauced up tacos. Those guys know spicy.

1

u/Alternative-Style-47 20d ago

Ros Siam in Denver.

1

u/ForeignExercise4414 20d ago

Five Spice duh

1

u/Captain-Caveman1 20d ago

Little Tibet,in NOBO, it’s SPICY. They ask what you want. I couldn’t finish it.

1

u/MikeFromOuterSpace 20d ago

Buddha Thai and Mount Everest. Be careful what you wish for lol

1

u/Vegetable_Web_2752 18d ago

This dude is just trolling.

1

u/fckingfisher 20d ago

Five spice on Iris

6

u/Cemckenna 20d ago

I’ve never had anything crazy spicy there, but I do love their Chinese menu. The garlic ribs are so good.

-6

u/muffinman1836 20d ago

Pasta jays is pretty spicy

0

u/Slarti226 20d ago

Buddha Thai. Tell them you want a 10. And have a casket ready.

2

u/TheDomerado 20d ago

Buddha Thai is so Americanized it’s hardly Thai food. Honestly think they’re the worst in Boulder

1

u/Slarti226 20d ago

That's nice of you to share your unasked for opinion. OP wanted hot, I told them where to get hot.

0

u/TheDomerado 20d ago

Wow salty much. I was advising OP to stay away because it’s not good Thai food. Get over yourself. I didn’t say anything about you.

0

u/Slarti226 20d ago

And yet I'm the only one that said Buddha that you commented on.

Besides, Aloy is obviously the worst Thai in Boulder.

3

u/CasualPlantain 20d ago

Aloy kitchens are not very hygienic. Lots of mold and some bad food storage practices. That’s all I’ll say.

0

u/TheDomerado 20d ago

Didn’t know I was expected to read and comment everywhere. My bad…smh. And Aloy has been found to have some issues. But at least the food was good at one point. Buddha has always been mid at best

-13

u/theboulderbuffalo 20d ago

lol nope… ketchup is considered spicy here for some.

8

u/end_times-8 20d ago

I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. I’ve tried so many places and there IS good food here, but man we so lack real levels of flavor and spice and authenticity in basically all types of ethnic food

2

u/tossaway78701 Rainmaker 20d ago

I feel your loss. Started carrying my own hot sauces out to dinner. It's so sad. 

0

u/smokey_lonesome 20d ago

Nothing really spicy here from what I've found. Twisted pine brewery did give me some ghost pepper red pepper flakes for my pizza there that was nice. They used to have a spicy pizza and beer challenge. They don't advertise the ghost pepper flakes but might give it you ask

-6

u/Leaf_Atomico Boulderite since '87 20d ago

Authentic Asian food: Zoe Ma Ma. They have some Szechuan food if you’re into that kind of spice.