In the premiere episode of Heat Eaters, chef Esther Choi goes on a SPICY Korean food crawl in L.A.'s legendary Koreatown, in search of the most delicious and tongue-sizzling delicacies.
In the second episode of Heat Eaters, chef Esther Choi does a deep dive into SPICY CHINESE FOOD to explore tingly hand-ripped noodles, powerful street-food lamb skewers, and classic hot pot with Bobby Flay.
Calling all Spice Lords-we're finally pulling back the curtain on all things Hot Ones. For the first time in Hot Ones history, we're giving fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of how an episode of Hot Ones is made.
Esther Choi teams up with acclaimed taco scholar Bill Esparza for a tongue-sizzling journey in Los Angeles, unearthing the vibrant, chili-infused cuisines of Sinaloa, Oaxaca, and the Yucatan regions of Mexico.
Prepare your taste buds for a tantalizing THAI SPICY journey. On this fiery episode of Heat Eaters, our host, Chef Esther Choi, joins forces with her friend and renowned James Beard award-winning Chef, Justin Pichetrungsi.
Are you ready for a taste of the tropics? In this episode of Heat Eaters, our host, Chef Esther Choi, embarks on a fiery food journey through the vibrant Little Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.
In the season 2 premiere of HEAT EATERS, Chef Esther Choi embarks on a quest to 1). Try NYC’s spiciest chicken sandwiches! and 2). Create her own ULTIMATE version with K-pop superstar, JEON SOMI. The adventure begins at Pecking House, a restaurant that went viral during the pandemic, and famous for its fried chicken that at one point boasted a waitlist of 10,000 customers. At Pecking House, Chef Eric Huang teaches Esther the culinary process for their renowned Chinese Nashville-style, spicy chili oil-dipped chicken sandwich served on milk bread. Next, Esther meets up with Chef Chintan Pandya at Rowdy Rooster to sample their notoriously spicy Level 5 Indian Rowdy Sandwich - one that Eric Andre hailed as spicier than anything featured on Hot Ones! After her fact-finding mission, Esther teams up with JEON SOMI to construct their own PERFECT spicy chicken sandwich, using ingredients that Esther personally curated for SOMI. Their creation combines chili-dipped fried chicken, bulgogi colesl
In this episode of HEAT EATERS, Chef Esther Choi explores the spicy food ICONS of New York City! Think classic NYC staples, with some major heat. Her journey begins at the legendary Scarr's Pizza, where she samples the 'Hot Boi' slice loaded with spicy pepperoni, jalapenos, and drizzled with hot honey. Next, Esther hits up Han Dynasty with renowned food TV icon and native New Yorker, Andrew Zimmern, for a Sichuan feast spiked with chilis and Sichuan peppercorns. Han Dynasty founder, Chef Han Chiang, also throws in an extraordinary surprise: an off-menu Habanero-infused Bull's Penis specialty. The spice trail continues in Midtown Manhattan where Esther is joined by her friend and fellow New Yorker, Chef Eric Adjepong, for a classic meal at the Tik-Tok famous Adel’s Halal Cart. The order? Lamb and chicken over spicy rice, topped with four different sauces and french fries—the stuff of legend.
In this episode of HEAT EATERS, Joshua Weissman and Esther Choi combine forces to make the ultimate spicy instant noodles! And with these two chefs, you know it’s gonna be gourmet. For inspiration, Esther first visits the Instant Noodle Factory in Queens, a unique haven dedicated to different instant ramen packets from around the world. After ranking and taste-testing noodles, Josh and Esther cherry pick their favorite elements for a high-end take on this dorm-room staple: a creamy carbonara loaded with guanciale, chili oil, and a ferocious Trinidad Scorpion pepper blend!
In this episode of HEAT EATERS, chef Esther Choi is joined by chef Sohla El-Waylly and NY Times food reporter Priya Krishna to explore the vibrant South Asian flavors of Jersey City’s India Square —including spicy dosas, pani puri, and CRAZY HOT Bangladeshi homestyle cuisine, featuring the infamous Naga chili pepper. Home to one of the highest concentrations of South Asians in the U.S., Jersey City's India Square boasts a kaleidoscope of incredible traditional street food and culinary delights that reflect the rich culinary heritage of the community. Esther kicks off her day with a classic street food snack, pani puri—crispy hollow spheres loaded with chickpeas or lentils, and drenched in spiced chili water. Esther continues her journey at Sri Ganesh's Dosa House, where, alongside Sohla, she taste-tests the intricate flavors of savory dosas, which include a variant so full of fiery flavor that it's aptly named 'gunpowder' spice. Their food quest reaches its crescendo at Korai Kitchen,
Attention all Spice Lords - the moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here! In this episode of Heat Eaters, chef Esther Choi embarks on the much-anticipated journey down to South Carolina to visit legendary Hot Ones' Pepper Breeder, Smokin' Ed Currie. From cultivating Carolina Reapers to the newly-crowned Hottest Pepper in the World, Pepper X, along with top-secret peppers in development — this episode offers a comprehensive view into what it takes to run the most fiery pepper farm and hot sauce company in the world.
Get ready for the hottest season finale of Heat Eaters yet, infused with Italian heat! This isn't just a spin on your Nonna's tomato sauce - it's a sizzling Italian feast that delivers a punch hotter than Mount Vesuvius.
Heat Eaters is back! In the Season 3 premiere, Chef Esther Choi links up with K-Pop sensation Stray Kids for an unforgettable spicy Korean BBQ feast. The episode kicks off with a fiery tour of NYC’s KTown, where Esther and Camera Guy Bill sample spicy bites like Flamin' Hot Cheetos Rice Hot Dogs and jalapeño kimbap. Esther then heads to Ahgassi Gopchang (https://ahgassigopchangnyc.com), her favorite spot for gopchang - aka grilled Korean BBQ intestines, to meet Stray Kids and challenge their spice tolerance with her special hot sauce.
Chef Esther Choi teams up with her friend and food TV icon Adam Richman, an expert from The HISTORY Channel’s “The Food That Built America,” for a global spicy street food crawl in Jackson Heights, Queens. They kick things off with aguachiles drenched in a habanero mango sauce - the perfect spicy wake-up call for the day. Then onto classic NYC pizza with a Mexican twist: chicken tinga and al pastor topped with a creamy chiltepin hot sauce. The adventure continues at a Tibetan momo truck, where they try mom’s recipe for chili-drenched laphing and juicy dumplings. Finally, they finish strong with ghost pepper-infused Bangladeshi fuchka and jhalmuri, which leaves Adam in pure pain.
Chef Esther Choi is back for another spicy Thai adventure! Last year, Esther spent a month eating her way around Bangkok and Thailand, and now she’s on a mission to find that irresistible heat in her hometown of NYC. First stop: boat noodles, an iconic dish from Thailand's famous floating markets. Esther slurps down these flavorful noodles, using a spice-adjustable condiment caddy to add a variety of chilis. Next, she heads to one of her favorite spots, Fish Cheeks, where she’s joined by rapper Denzel Curry. Over a feast of regional Thai dishes, Denzel and Esther swap stories about their time in Thailand and his muay thai training. Then, it’s game on as they go head-to-head in a friendly eating showdown with the intensely spicy nam jim sauce.
From grab-n-go rolls you find at supermarkets, to high-end versions at sushi bars, the spicy tuna roll is seemingly everywhere. In today’s episode, Esther Choi investigates what makes this legendary sushi roll so beloved. First stop: Sunrise Mart, one of the most iconic Japanese marts in NYC, for spicy tuna rolls. Esther links up with her good friend Sakuri Yagi, whose family opened one of the first East Village sushi restaurants and helped kick-start the rise of sushi eating culture in the 1980s. Then, Esther heads to the legendary Michelin-starred Masa for an extraordinary spicy omakase experience. Master sushi chef Masa Takayama pulls out all the stops in an effort to “make Esther cry” - from wasabi-laced nigiri, an extra spicy habanero-jalapeno tuna roll, and culminating with Masa’s spiciest Japanese curry, leaving Esther gasping for water.
The wait is finally over! After seasons of fan requests, Uncle Roger and Auntie Esther team up in the kitchen for a spicy rendezvous. Uncle Roger is on a mission to win her over with a classic Malaysian noodle dish, packed with spice. But does he have what it takes to impress his crush, who’s known for her sky-high standards? Or is he in for a roasting of his own?
Chef Esther Choi is on a mission to create the ultimate spicy challenge—one that’s as mouthwateringly delicious as it is hot. Teaming up with legendary Hot Ones pepper breeder Smokin’ Ed Currie, they create a next-level showdown: 100 dumplings stuffed with Pepper X and Carolina Reaper spice bombs. And who better to face this monster challenge than competitive eating legend Matt Stonie? Can Matt tackle the heat and devour the massive plate, or will the spice bring him to his knees?
The San Gabriel Valley is the spot for next-level regional Asian food and hands-down some of the best Chinese eats in America. Chef Esther Choi hits up this foodie paradise with her chef buddies - Michelin-starred Jon Yao and Top Chef winner Mei Lin - to take on the spiciest, most drool-worthy dishes SGV has to offer. From fiery Hunan chili frog, to tongue-numbing Chongqing noodles, to a chili-loaded fish head, this food crawl turns up the heat and shines a spotlight on the bold, fiery flavors of this Los Angeles culinary hub.
Food TV legend, author, and all-around genius Alton Brown teams up with his good friend Chef Esther Choi for an unforgettable omakase experience with a spicy twist. Esther pulls out all the stops, crafting a custom tasting menu inspired by Alton’s life, career, and favorite dishes. From the Korean fried stuffed chicken wings featured on Iron Chef to his beloved Korean bibimbap from Good Eats, every dish cranks up the heat while paying tribute to Alton’s iconic legacy. Will he rise to the challenge of Chef Esther’s creations, or will Chef Esther push him to his limits?