Season 2

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.

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.

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. Tune in for a master class on Pepper Breeding 101! Learn about Ed’s 'Field of Dreams', where he pioneers ferocious new pepper strains! Get an exclusive factory tour where all Hot Ones' hot sauces are brought to life, including the famous "Last Dab"! And, best of all, hear firsthand accounts of what Smokin' Ed is REALLY like, from the friends and family who know him best!

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. Our journey kicks off in the Bronx at the iconic Arthur Avenue, where host Esther Choi and Bronx-bred chef Christian Petroni—a local celebrity familiar to everyone on the block— explore the spicy realms of Calabrian cuisine. Paying respect through historical landmarks, they taste-test various spicy cured sausages from Calabria Pork Store and try the renowned Calabrese-style egg, potato, and porchetta sandwiches from Mike's Deli—a cultural cornerstone since the 1940s. To cap off her adventure, Esther jets to Brooklyn to join forces with Binging with Babish at his home studio. Together, they unleash the formidable flavor of Carolina Reapers from Smokin' Ed to make “Spaghetti all’Assassina," also known as “Assassin’s Pasta”.