Like life a little spicy? Berks is no stranger to fun food finds with a kick. Want to give them a taste? Check out this handy list.
Winging It
Jimmie Kramer’s Peanut Bar Restaurant
332 Penn St., Reading | 610.376.8500 | peanutbar.com
If you love hot wings, there may be no better place to satisfy your appetite than Jimmie Kramer’s Peanut Bar Restaurant in downtown Reading. The buffalo-style hot wings have earned honors including Top 10 Chicken Wings by USA Today, 6th best wings in the USA by thedailymeal.com and New York Daily, as well as local accolades including being name Best Wings in Berks County Living’s Best of Berks awards as well as winning the same category in the Reading Eagle’s Reader’s Choice Awards. Note: Monday and Thursday Nights feature 95 Cent Wing Night.
The Liberty Ale House
1501 Lancaster Avenue, Shillington | 610.375.7895 | thelibertyalehouse.com
Want to kick things up a notch? Head to The Liberty Ale House for their XXX Hot Wings. The name says it all. If you’re bringing a friend that’s not big on spice, the Shillington spot’s big, crispy wings are available in 11 flavors.
Brewer’s Bar & Grill
101. S. 3rd Avenue, West Reading | 610.375.8760 | brewersbarandgrill.com
Have a death wish when it comes to trying spicy foods? A trip to Brewer’s Bar & Grill in West Reading may reveal your perfect match when it comes to wings: the Death Sauce. The spicy house-made sauce features a secret blend of fresh habanero peppers and assorted spices. You’ve been warned.
Straight to the Source
When you think hot, you think peppers. Head to these local spots to satisfy your craving.
Tlacuani Mexican Restaurant
5005 Kutztown Rd., Temple | 610.921.3037 | tlacuanimexicanrestaurant.com
Tlacuani Mexican Restaurant in Temple serves up a delicious spicy dish called the Relleno Burrito. It’s a stuffed poblano pepper with Monterrey Jack Cheese, rice and beans wrapped in a flour tortilla and topped with red or green sauce. If you want to ramp up the spice, choose the green sauce. Once roasted, a relleno brings out a spicy flavor.
Russo Gourmet Foods Market
1150 Bern Rd., Wyomissing | 610.898.1918 | russofoodmarket.com
Want to enjoy some spicy peppers at home? Visit Russo Gourmet Foods Market in Wyomissing and pick up their Tutto Calabria Crushed Calabrian Chili Peppers. The line from Italy specializes in HOT. More than 20 items in store feature the famous hot chili Calabrian pepper, including oils, sauce mixes, relish spreads and balsamic glaze, to name a few.
Fun fact: Food Network celebrity chef Bobby Flay is a big fan of the line.
Cocktails with a Twist
Try something new by adding some spice to your adult beverage. Here are some standouts locally…
Broken Chair Brewery
424 Penn Avenue, West Reading | brokenchairbrewery.com
Spicy beer? You can grab one at Broken Chair Brewery in West Reading. Just order their Hot Pants Habanero IPA, an American IPA brewed with a signature blend of hops for an optimum balance of bitterness and flavor. They’ve added habanero and jalapeno peppers to the secondary, resulting in an evident, but not overwhelming, pepper flavor and a refreshing, subtle warmth on the way down.
Pilsudski
Shillington Farmers Market | 10 S. Summit Avenue, Shillington | pilsudskimustard.com
If you’re a Bloody Mary fan, grab the new Spicy Bloody Mary Mix from Pilsudski. It's gluten-free, with orange habaneros, tomatoes, horseradish and spices. Just shake well, prepare as desired, and enjoy! Available on the Pilsudski website, as well as at their stand in the Shillington Farmers Market.
Cheers American Bistro
701 Penn St., Reading (in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading) | 484.577.8633
Mix up your own spicy cocktail at home courtesy of this Fire Roasted Jalapeno Mango-rita recipe from Cheers American Bistro in Reading.
Fire Roasted Jalapeno Mango-rita
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces House-made Jalapeno-infused Tequila
- 2 fresh jalapenos
- 1.5 ounces sour mix
- 1 ounce Triple Sec
- 1 ounce Mango Nectar (store bought)
- Cajun-spiced salted rim
Tools Needed:
- Margarita Glass
- Mixing Glass
- Shaker and Strainer
For garnish: Char the outside of a whole fresh jalapeno on a stove or with a torch. For Cajun spice rim, use a mixture of store-bought Cajun spice and kosher salt.
For infused tequila, cut one fresh jalapeno in half and insert both halves with seeds into a 750ml bottle of vodka and let sit for 48 hours.
Directions: In a mixing glass, muddle one half of a fresh jalapeno that has been charred on a stove or with a torch. Fill mixing glass with ice and add infused tequila, Triple Sec, sour mix and mango nectar and shake vigorously. Use a lime wedge to wet the rim of a margarita glass and dip the rim in the Cajun salt mixture. Fill the margarita glass with ice and strain the cocktail from the mixing glass over the ice. Garnish with a lime wheel and whole charred jalapeno. Enjoy!
A Dash of Spice
Saint Lucifer Spice Company
If you like to cook with spices, purchase many – or a few – from Saint Lucifer Spice Company. The co-creator of the products is originally from Blandon! The one that got it all started was Habanero Table Spice #11, a masterful blend of garlic, salt, paprika, vinegar and fiery habanero peppers. Sprinkle it on pizza, pasta, seafood, fish, chicken, burgers, wings, popcorn, eggs, dips, vegetables…you name it.
A Splash – or Spread – of Spice
Café Sweet Street
722 Hiesters Lane, Reading | 610.929.0616 | cafesweetstreet.com
They’re home to sweet treats, but don’t dismiss Café Sweet Street’s Hot Sauce. In late summer when local peppers are just right, they brew and bottle about 60 quarts of the sauce featuring simple, organic ingredients. Habanero and ghost peppers, carrots and yellow onions from Epic Acre Farm in Mertztown are simmered in organic apple cider with sea salt from Sicily. The bottled sauce is available as a condiment in the café or to purchase and take home.
Russo Gourmet Foods Market
Want to add spice to your pasta? Grab the Nonna Carmen Fra Diavola Sauce at Russo Gourmet Foods Market. Featuring hot chili pepper, it’s imported from Italy.
Simply BOLD Cafe
550 Penn Avenue, West Reading | 610.207.7368 | simplyboldcafe.com
Hot peanut butter? Yes, it exists. Sold at Simply BOLD Cafe in in West Reading, Habanero Honey Peanut Butter by Nutty Novelties can be added to apples or used as the main ingredient in Thai peanut sauce, or perhaps you’d like to try it direct from the spoon!
Mrs. Miller’s Homemade Jams
845B Woodland Rd., Wyomissing | farmersmarketofwyomissing.com
We’ve got hot peanut butter, what better to pair it with than Hot Pepper Jelly? Grab Mrs. Miller’s Homemade Jams version at Meme’s Chocolates & Bulk Foods in the PA Dutch Farmer’s Market in Wyomissing. Add it to crackers with cream cheese for a crunchy snack.
Funny Farm Apiaries
17 Oak Rd., Mertztown | 610.401.8317 | funnyfarmapiaries.com
Hot Honey? You can get that, too! Head to Funny Farm Apiaries in Mertztown for Sweet Heat, their hottest raw honey. Raw wildflower honey is infused with a proprietary blend of peppers, including a Carolina Reaper. It’s perfect to use in marinades, to glaze chicken and pork, to dip wings in and more.
Spicy Starters
Looking for a taste of spice before you move on to the entrée part of your meal? Start with one of these appetizers.
Austin’s Restaurant & Bar
1101 Snyder Rd., West Lawn | 610.678.5500 | austinsrestaurant.com
The Twisted Shrimp at Austin’s Restaurant & Bar in West Lawn features tender, crispy shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce. They’re $7 on Tuesdays.
The Barley Mow Craft Beer House
719 Penn Avenue, West Reading | 484.926.2094 | barleymowbeer.com
At The Barley Mow Craft Beer House in West Reading, try the Spicy Tuna Nachos, perfect for sharing and featuring sushi-grade Ahi tuna, sriracha sesame crema, unagi sauce, furikake, scallions, crispy nori, pickled ginger, avocado crema and sesame tempura asparagus.
Snacks with a Kick
More of a spicy, savory snack person? These ideas have you covered.
Unique Snacks
215 E. Bellevue Avenue, Reading | uniquesnacks.com
Are you a dipper? Pick up the Jalapeno Mustard Hot & Spicy Pretzel Dip at Unique Snacks. It’s artisan crafted with tiny pieces of Jalapeno peppers for a burst of extra bite, yet not-too-intense taste.
Tom Sturgis Pretzels
2267 Lancaster Pike, Shillington | tomsturgispretzels.com
The Jalapeno Minis at Tom Sturgis Pretzels in Shillington pair well with a tall, cold drink. You can even see the dried jalapeno pepper bits right in the pretzels.
The Main Event
Want your entrée to feature some spice? Head to one of these Berks spots for a meal.
Thaiwat Restaurant
1145 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing | 610.898.9191 | thaiwatreading.com
The Green Curry at Thaiwat Restaurant in Wyomissing is three-pepper spicy and features coconut milk with bamboo shoots, green bean, red pepper and fresh basil.
Nonno Alby’s Handcrafted Wood Oven Pizza
701 Penn Avenue, West Reading | 610.376.1011 | nonnoalbys.com
Want a slice with spice? Head to Nonno Alby’s Handcrafted Wood Oven Pizza and order the Diavola Pizza featuring imported San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh hot sausage and hot peppers.
Mikura
840 N. Park Rd., Ste. 7, Wyomissing | 610.373.5851
Craving sushi? For some with kick head to Mikura and order the Spice Girl Roll with spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail, crunchy avocado and topped with spicy salmon, crunchy and colorful tobiko and a special sauce.
Coastal Grille
2713 N. Meridian Blvd., Wyomissing 610.743.4006 | coastalgrille.com
When you think spicy entrée, Jambalaya may come to mind. Get it at Coastal Grille! Shrimp, chicken and Andouille sausage combine with onions, tomato and peppers in a spicy Cajun sauce over linguine.
Sandwiches, Burgers & Dogs
For a quick-yet-satisfying spicy meal, order one of these items…
The Beer Wall on Penn
619 Penn Avenue, West Reading | 610.743.5744 | thebeerwall.com
The Beer Wall on Penn’s Nashville Style Hot Chicken Waffle Sandwich is a buttermilk marinated chicken breast floured in house blended spices, dredged and deep fried. It’s served on a Thom’s Bread sugar waffle with chipotle aioli, pickle spears and Mike’s hot honey.
ACEC Farm & Market
469 Adams Hotel Rd., Shoemakersville | 610.223.6205 | acecfarmandmarket.com
At ACEC Farm & Market, purchase the Jalapeno Hot Dogs made of homegrown pork, raised on their own farm and fed grains grown by the owners. Livestock is shown the care and respect it deserves and is raised from the farm to the table with love. Products are also sold at Wanamaker’s General Store, Kempton, and at Way-Har Farms, Bernville.
West Reading Tavern
606 Penn Avenue, West Reading | 610.376.9232 | westreadingtavern.com
Pair a spicy burger with spicy fries at the West Reading Tavern. The Hot-As-Hell Burger is topped with Sriracha aioli, avocado, pepper jack cheese, fried jalapeños and onions, served on a brioche bun. Fire Fries feature Carolina Reaper pepper salt, are topped with fried onions and jalapeños, and served with a side of cilantro lime aioli. Choose medium or hot.
Toppings with POW
In search of the perfect topping or condiment to offer some zing? We have some suggestions.
Peter Piper’s Pickle Palace
Pickle lovers have to visit Peter Piper’s Pickle Palace for all things hot pickle including Hot Dills, Habanero, Jalapeno Sriracha and Sweet & Spicy varieties. Experienced with spice? Try the Vampire Spears with three times the amount of fresh garlic than the traditional Garlic Dills, plus heat from fresh peppers for a true bite. Sold at Renninger’s Farmers Market, Kutztown, and Leesport Farmers Market, Leesport.
PILSUDSKI/BETTY'S
Shillington Farmers Market | 10 S. Summit Avenue, Shillington | pilsudskimustard.com
Betty sounds sweet, but Betty’s Pure Hot Horseradish has sass. Owned and manufactured by Pilsudski LLC, based in Reading, Betty’s Pure Hot Horseradish is named for the owner’s grandmother, who was also the founder of Betty’s Salads.
