Thanks to the craze for Korean instant noodle Samyang, hot fast food swept the market like a fiery wind, although given our traditional diet of Malay, Indian, and to some extent, Chinese food, extra spicy dishes aren't exactly foreign to our gastronomical experience.
But there's a spicy food lover market to be tapped and today, sandwich brand Subway unveiled two new sandwiches that go along its #tambahpedas line.
This is a big deal for Subway. As a loyal customer who would have a sub every day when I am too lazy to decide on what to eat, Subway is my go-to place for a good meal that's friendly to my stomach and diet.
Now, a spicy sandwich from Subway?
The Hot and Spicy Subs range, which, the company says, deliver a "fiery mouth-watering experience", include new ingredients, including chilli flakes and sizzling sauces.
I tried the Spicy Mayo Chicken and Hot Pepper Chicken, two flavours that join the line-up to give an extra kick to Malaysians' taste buds.
The Hot Pepper Chicken is made up of small pieces of meat doused in tangy roasted hot pepper sauce, but it's not as spicy as it looks. I only felt the heat halfway through the sandwich, but if you like it hot, you could always generously sprinkle chilli flakes on your sandwich.
The Spicy Mayo Chicken is more mayo than spicy with just a slight hint of spiciness. According to the brand, this one features chicken pieces marinated in Southern-inspired creamy remoulade.
Subway Malaysia country director Samad Shariff says the limited-edition sandwiches are created to delight Malaysians with spicier options and reflect a commitment to cater to Malaysians' tastes, including their love for spicy food.
"We know how much Malaysians enjoy adding more spice to their food–the spicier, the better! So we knew we had to take it up a notch by offering these limited-edition subs," Samad said.
My verdict? Both sandwiches are far from fiery if you don't add chilli flakes, and that's a good thing, not to mention healthy. Doctors will tell you spicy food is not good on your stomach, especially if you have acid reflux.
And because these sandwiches are not that spicy, you could still savour the taste of chicken, bread and vegetables, unlike those super spicy instant noodles that's just very spicy and not much else.
The Hot & Spicy Subs are available for dine-in or takeaway from all Subway restaurants or through delivery via Foodpanda and GrabFood. For further information, visit www.subwayisfresh.com.my.