Charlie Hong Kong is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

1. Charlie Hong Kong

8.6
1141 Soquel Ave (at Seabright Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Noodle Restaurant · Eastside · 30 tips and reviews

Trisha L.Trisha Liu: Seasonal treat: spicy garlic green beans. They are delicious - get them!!

Tommy L.Tommy Leep: Get Dan's spicy and add pork. Done.

Tobias S.Tobias Schmidt: Spicy Dan's peanut delight and some of the fall-apart tender hoisin pork hit the spot

Cafe Iveta is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

2. Cafe Iveta

8.1
2125 Delaware Ave (at Swift St.), Santa Cruz, CA
Café · Westside · 26 tips and reviews

Lois S.Lois Sones: The Egg Biscuits are the perfect little breakfast - a few light bites, a tiny bit of cream cheese to keep it moist, and an incredible, tasty, slightly spicy biscuit - ahhhhh!

Roxy L.Roxy Lo: Spicy vegan with bacon! The taste is worth the irony.

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: They make their Spicy Vegan sandwich LIKE A BOSS

Real Thai Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

3. Real Thai Kitchen

8.2
1632 Seabright Ave (at Soquel Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Thai Restaurant · Eastside · 12 tips and reviews

Emmalouise B.Emmalouise Brown: Curry's are really watery, more like soup. Yellow curry is more spicy and Masaman sweet... completely wrong.

MatthiasMatthias: #thegreatamericantakeout : What I wasn‘t quite expecting was the heat... They are taking their spiciness serious! 🌶🔥👌🏼 WOW!! If you like it HOT, this is definitely a place to keep in mind! 👍🏼

Susan C.Susan Cannon: Great buffet! (Unusual for a Thai restaurant) Wonderful Veerkat art on the walls too.

Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

4. Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room

8.3
221 Cathcart St (btwn Pacific Ave & Cedar St), Santa Cruz, CA
Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 80 tips and reviews

Chris H.Chris Harding: Go to Hula's and start with Poke & a Primo, move to wasabi fish special paired with a Dr. Funk, and close with a top shelf rum served neat - I like The Kraken.

Richard T.Richard Tasker: Ahi Wasabi Bowl +1

Greg R.Greg Rose: Try the Wasabi Fish Special

Kianti's Pizza & Pasta Bar is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

5. Kianti's Pizza & Pasta Bar

7.2
1100 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Italian Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 43 tips and reviews

Mickie R.Mickie Rat: The marinara here is amazing, as is the garlic bread and the jalapeño breadsticks. Also, Will is an excellent waiter!

Ron R.Ron Record: I like the spicy pasta!

Jeremy K.Jeremy King: Spicy pasta is great. Surprised by the show on Saturday night - very cool.

Laili Restaurant is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

6. Laili Restaurant

8.7
101 Cooper St #B (btw Front and Pacific), Santa Cruz, CA
Mediterranean Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 44 tips and reviews

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: Get the jalapeño chutney. It's vegan and perfectly spiced.

Ted G.Ted Gooch: Love the jalapeño walnut sauce for dipping the chicken kabobs

NahidNahid: Get patio seating if available (gorgeous). Great food, prices in the $20-30 range for entrees.

Akira is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

7. Akira

8.3
1222 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, Santa Cruz, CA
Sushi Restaurant · Eastside · 25 tips and reviews

Allyscoop W.Allyscoop W: Ask for the spicy tuna spears! Amazing!

Ashley M.Ashley Mowrey: Really good sushi in a place you wouldn't expect. The staff are really nice. The sushi rice was almost perfect, the fish was clean and cut well (giant prices though), and the menu is huge.

Jen K.Jen K: The Shrine veggie roll - yum!

Mobo Sushi is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

8. Mobo Sushi

7.7
105 S River St, Santa Cruz, CA
Sushi Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 23 tips and reviews

MCMC: Death Star, Crunchy Dragon, Spicy Big Mac! Yummy!

Marrield B.Marrield Berry: My favorite! Spicy Big Mac! With a side of edamame!!!

Yuma T.Yuma Tripp: Any roll with cream cheese! And tempura it!

Bantam is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

9. Bantam

8.2
1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Pizzeria · Westside · 16 tips and reviews

Jamie P.Jamie Pagels: What’s good: Chickpea farinata pizza with ricotta and rocket pesto, soppressata pizza with mozzarella and spicy honey

Rob H.Rob Hapner: The Brussels sprouts and pancetta pizza was soooo good. Finished off with the chocolate nemesis. Yum!

Sid B.Sid Boz: Great salads and pizza. Delicious beers on tap. Good vibe.

Jalapeños is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

10. Jalapeños

8.3
206 Laurel St (Pacific Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Burrito Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 5 tips and reviews

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: get the Downtown Veggie Burrito which I believe is already vegan! Ask for jalapeño peppers inside. They have both a spicy and not so spicy green salsa that you can request (shown) #onelove #vegetarian

Kevin Y.Kevin Yu: Their carne asada and chicken nitza burritos are super delicious. Try adding srirachi on them!

Austin D.Austin Djali: Try a breakfast burrito in the am

Parish Publick House is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

11. Parish Publick House

8.2
841 Almar Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Dive Bar · Westside · 25 tips and reviews

ScottScott: Add the cheddar and jalapenos to that side door burger for something great.

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: order the impossible burger with a Portabella mushroom and jalapeños on that bitch

Peter H.Peter Harkins: Philly cheese steak, sub cheese for Irish cheddar.....hangover helper is great

Steamer Lane Supply is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

12. Steamer Lane Supply

7.9
644-670 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA
Food Truck · 5 tips and reviews

Todd G.Todd G.: Spicy tuna sandwich and cold press Turkish coffee are winners.

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: Healthy, plant-based, eaters can order the vegandilla. Order yours w/the jalapeños & various peppers 🌶️

Nico P.Nico Pitney: “Modern, seaside snack shack with affordable handheld meals across from Steamer Lane, the city’s most iconic surf break. Menu items include salmon poke bowls, fish tacos, panini-pressed quesadillas”

Vivas is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

13. Vivas

7.1
1201 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Eastside · 5 tips and reviews

MCMC: Sampled the chile verde and it was amazing!

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: A great ambiance is created here with high ceilings & down tempo jams. Whole wheat tortillas and vegan burrito option wraps it up for the vegetarian types. Try the green salsa! It's spicy.

DejonDejon: I love their al pastor nachos

Los Pinos is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

14. Los Pinos

7.8
2019 N Pacific Ave (Water St), Santa Cruz, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 12 tips and reviews

Debbie M.Debbie McMenemy: Best guacamole ANYWHERE hands down & paired with their awesomely hot salsa you just can't lose. Oh and the food is great too! ;-)

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: Order the vegetarian burrito, vegan style (no cheese & no sour cream). ask them to add molé on top. It's goooood

Ben C.Ben Cruz: Go for the torta lunch special. Includes bomb fries.

Sala Thai is one of The 15 Best Places for Spicy Food in Santa Cruz.

15. Sala Thai

7.9
353 soquel Ave (Ocean), Santa Cruz, CA
Thai Restaurant · Central Santa Cruz · 4 tips and reviews

Tanya B.Tanya Bauerle: Best pho in town! The #1 is delicious, has beef, chicken& prawns.Add mixed veggies for$2!It's pho-king tasty!I also love the fried squid with spicy green sauce and the fried bananas&coconut ice cream.

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: #vegan and #vegetarian types should avoid the tom Kha and tom yum soup. These have shrimp and other fish based broth. Otherwise, this place is fantastic for vegans. They have faux duck, chix and fish!

Aaron H.Aaron Hughes: The Pho is awesome!