Chef Peter McAndrews blends French, African and Sicilian flavors at this Italian spot, which offers seasonal dishes with fresh seafood and housemade pastas. On Heat Seekers, Aaron Sanchez tried their harissa, a "deep, earthy" North African chile paste that goes into many of the dishes on the menu.

Dig into BBQ dishes with a kick at Cowgirl. Spike up the spice factor with the smoking-hot pulled pork sandwich, or indulge in the Five Pepper Nachos with Salsa Diablo (add brisket for extra decadence). The Frito Pie is also a standout, complete with Fritos, chili, sour cream, cheese and jalapenos.

No forks necessary: Burgers, sandwiches and snacks keep things lively at LBS Burger Joint in the Red Rocks Casino Resort & Spa. In pursuit of hot-hot dishes, Heat Seekers hosts Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking staked out the Potato Twists, a one-of-a-kind variation on spicy, pepper-topped nachos.

Lindo Michoacan has been serving up authentic Mexican cuisine for more than 20 years. Dig into gourmet specialties like savory Buey Al Cilantro, cubed rib eye steak in verde sauce with onion, cilantro and tomatillos, or Camarone Borrachos, shrimp simmered in lemon juice, garlic and tequila.

Legend has it that Thai Place is known in K.C. for throwing down serious heat. It's "go hot or go home." For the true heat experience, try Ted's Famous Pad Thai made Thai hot, or attempt a Thai Hot Challenge. For those not into spicy, Thai Place has an entire menu of authentic, non-spicy dishes.

Featuring many more burger options than the comparably Spartan cheeseburger, KC Smoke Burger boasts a long list of meaty favorites, like the Gyros Smoke, Hawaiian, Danger Zone and Monster burgers. All come flamed, grilled and smoked to perfection, and all are served with a heap of crispy fries.

Each bite of Rice & Company's Fire Breathing Dragon Roll delivers a mountain of spice as Heat Seekers Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking discovered. Besides heat, Rice & Company excels in sweet and smooth with their impressive menu of sake and signature cocktails such as Lychee-Tini and Sake Sangria.

A Santa Fe institution that's been serving up New Mexican cuisine for 40 years, Tomasita's is known for its red and green chile Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking recommend kicking up the heat with an order of Sopaipilla, a Mexican puff pastry stuffed with spicy pork and topped with red chile.

A visit to Kakawa will change the way you look at chocolate. The staff will happily explain the food's history or take you on a tasting tour of different styles of chocolate. Stop in for truffles, chocolate elixirs, homemade ice cream or spicy drinking chocolate.

Pay a visit to Big Al's, the self-proclaimed "home of the crawfish king," for some Cajun-country crawfish boils and Southern-style seafood dishes. New Orleans locals can't get enough of the crawfish, which are boiled in a secret mix of spices that includes cayenne pepper. Aarón Sánchez calls them "out of sight."

For authentic Creole food and the hottest hot sauces in New Orleans, head to this "world-famous" cafe and store. Sample 16 different sauces on the "Walk of Flame," then order the signature spicy gumbo, which Roger Mooking and Aaron Sanchez kicked up with spoonfuls of their World Famous Voodoo Sauce

Sample house-smoked sausage, craft beer and homemade pizzas at Crescent City Pie & Sausage, a New Orleans favorite. If you're looking for spicy eats, try the Hot Sausage Po' Boy or signature Bad Bart's Black Jambalaya, and wash it down with a raspberry beer float that Roger Mooking calls "a winner."

At family-owned and operated Zarda Bar-B-Q, "things are definitely, definitely hot," and the two hottest items on the menu, Brisket Burnt Ends and Baked Beans with Creeper Sauce, come on one plate. But fear not: Heat Seekers hosts Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking say their flavor is "breathtaking."

Known for decidedly nontraditional Chicago-style pizzas, Bricks has become a local favorite for thin crust pies with creative toppings. Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking tried the Super Painful Pizza, a 10 inch pie with a hot sauce base that's topped with spicy pepperoni and two types of hot peppers.

The Chicago-style hot dogs served at Hot Doug's have had locals lining up around the block for years. If you're looking for heat, try the Fire Dog, made with hot peppers, or the Atomic Bomb, a spicy sausage mixed with peppers and topped with chipotle mayo, as Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking did.