Spicy smash burgers: how hot is too hot?
On the DesiSmash menu, most burgers have no chilli heat, a few are mildly warm, the Garlic Chilli Crisp is medium, and the Naga Firecracker is the hottest. Choosing a Desi patty adds spice to the meat, not necessarily heat, so you control how hot your burger gets.
People love a spicy burger until it is too spicy. This guide explains how heat works on a smash burger, what each level on our menu tastes like, and what to do if you get more than you bargained for.
Spice is not the same as heat
"Spiced" means flavoured with warm, aromatic ingredients such as cumin, coriander and garam masala. "Hot" means chilli heat. A Desi patty is spiced, and it brings fragrance and warmth, but it is the chillies in the sauces and toppings that decide how hot the burger feels. You can read more in Desi spiced smash burger explained.
Our heat scale
Level 0: no chilli heat
The OG Smash, The Oklahoma Onion, Smoked BBQ Pitmaster, Caramelized Stampede, Truffle & Wild Mushroom and The Triple Threat.
Level 1: gentle warmth
Tikka Butter Melt, Tamarind & Bombay Street and Paneer Tikka Melt. You will notice spice and a little tingle, but it is friendly.
Level 2: medium
Garlic Chilli Crisp, with chilli-jack cheese, roasted garlic aioli and crunchy chilli crisp oil. It builds slowly and has a proper kick without being aggressive.
Level 3: hot
The Naga Firecracker. Pepper jack cheese, naga chilli mayo, pickled jalapeños and crispy shallots. Naga is among the hottest chillies used in cooking, so we balance it with creamy mayo and crunch. If you rarely eat spicy food, start lower.
How to cool down
Chilli heat comes from capsaicin, which dissolves in fat rather than water. That is why a gulp of water does not help much, and why creamy things do:
- Something creamy: a mint-coriander chutney mayo dip pot is a fast way to calm things down.
- Something starchy: fries, or the bun itself, soak up heat.
- Something sweet or fruity: a cold Rubicon Mango can takes the edge off.
- Something fresh: iceberg lettuce, red onion and coriander cool the palate.
Dairy-based drinks work well at home too, if you have milk or yoghurt to hand.
How to build the heat you want
- Want flavour without fire? Choose a Level 0 or 1 burger with a Desi patty.
- Want a kick? Garlic Chilli Crisp with any patty.
- Want to push it? Naga Firecracker with a Beef Desi patty, and Naga Cheese Fries on the side.
- Want hot but manageable? Naga Firecracker with a Chicken Original patty, so the meat itself is mild.
Tips for heat lovers and heat avoiders
If you love heat
Order the Naga Firecracker, add Fiery Naga Mayo as a dip, and eat it while it is hot. Heat tastes sharper when food is freshly cooked.
If you do not
Say so in the notes when you order, for example "mild please", and pick from Levels 0 and 1. You can also ask us to leave off specific toppings such as jalapeños.
If you are ordering for a mixed group
Put everything in one basket: a couple of mild burgers, one hot one, and a few cool dip pots. See ordering smash burgers for a group.
Important to know
Heat is personal. What feels medium to one person is hot to another. If you have allergies, tell us when you order. Our sauces are mayo-based and contain egg, and all our burgers contain gluten and milk.
Ready to choose? Open the menu, pick your level and slot, and collect or get delivery across Leicester and Glenfield.
Keep reading
Desi Spiced Smash Burger: What's in the Patty?What is a Desi spiced smash burger? Chilli, coriander, ginger-garlic and house-roasted spices in the patty, plus a heat guide to help you choose.
Which Smash Burger Should I Order First?Not sure which smash burger to order? A simple guide to choosing your first DesiSmash burger by taste, heat and appetite.
Best Toppings for a Smash BurgerThe best toppings for a smash burger: pickles, onions, jalapeños, crispy shallots and more, and how to balance them without losing the crust.