Tacos De Juarez is one way to beat the heat by "fighting fire with fire" according to our food reporter. You can find spicy meals like this in Downtown Phoenix at many of the local venues. (Photo by Kylie Gumpert.)Phoenix is one hot and bothered city during the summertime, and with highs of 110 degrees for more than a week last August, the question on everyone’s minds is: What’s the best way to keep cool when being outside is comparable to standing in front of a 425-degree oven?
Apparently, eating spicy food is one option that can help. According to some scientists, the rise in internal temperature that occurs from consuming fiery dishes creates a better balance between your body and the temperature outside, increasing blood circulation and making it easier for you to cool off through sweating.
So, here’s a list of fun eateries throughout downtown Phoenix that’s dishes might just help you fight Phoenix’s fire-like temperatures with fire.
1.) Tacos de Juarez
This divey but authentic sit-down Mexican restaurant is situated just north of the Los Angeles-El Paso Greyhound bus station on 7th Street. It’s location, compared with it’s quaint appearance, can make it difficult to spot, but once you find the side-door, you can tell that Tacos de Juevos is a very homey joint that draws entire families — and I mean great-grandbabies to great-grandparents — for Sunday dinners. As for the food, you have your average Mexican food menu: tacos, burritos, enchiladas. But, for the “heat factor,” I recommend the Camarones a la Diabla. My first thought was, “Lady-devil shrimp?" So I ordered it — and yes, it has a pretty good kick. The dish comes with sides of rice, refried beans and your choice of corn or flour tortillas. I recommend getting the horchata to soothe what’s most likely going to be a mouth begging for a cool-down.
2.) The Wild Thaiger
If you are a Thai food fan, the Temple of Fire paired with either the tamarind juice or Thai iced coffee or tea is your best bet to stuff yourself with something incredibly flavorful and seriously spicy. According to the menu, the dish is a local Korat favorite, which is a historical city in Thailand. The Temple of Fire is made with red chili fried rice, chicken and string beans — the proportions of which should leave you with enough leftovers to beat the heat another day.
3.) Pallets
This combination Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese restaurant has a vast sushi menu and a pretty impressive drink selection for those of age, of course. There are quite a few spicy food options to choose from, but I recommend the Spicy Red Dragon. This roll comes adorned with delicious and colorful garnishes, of which I am unsure of because I had trouble understanding what was foreign terminology to me. But be assured that if you are a fan of real, raw sushi with some spice to it, you will dig this dish. Plus, sushi’s edibility won’t weigh you down afterwards — an especially uncomfortable feeling when paired with high temperatures. A side of Japanese soda will also leave you feeling refreshed.
4.) Jobot
Famous for it’s crepes, I actually recommend getting Jobot Coffee’s No. 10, the root-beer pulled pork in taco-form. This dish comes with distinctive root-beer pork, jalapeño-cilantro slaw and fresh pineapple, and the combination is amazing. Paired with the Desert Blossom iced tea or the Iced Toddy helps the jalapeño burn you will probably be feeling, and you might even get a caffeine kick out of it.
5.) The Rose and Crown
For an All-American dish with some heat to it and a great atmosphere, I recommend visiting The Rose and Crown in Heritage Square and getting the Pub Wings starter. It’s your basic hot wings with carrots and celery served in a British-American themed restaurant, but it hits the spot after a long day in the sun. "Yankee favorites,” pool, foosball, and high-definition TV for watching sports, along with Wednesday night trivia, make this a fun place to visit when you are craving some good ‘ol American sports food.
Reach the reporter at kgumpert@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @cat2bekittenmee
