Consumers’ appetite for fiery flavors has long been on an upswing. But a new trend focusing on dishes that combine sweet and spicy flavors – “swicy” – began last year and expands in 2025, with fast-food spots testing the waters with limited-time menu additions. Meanwhile, swicy dishes have been forever favorites at several finer Fashion Island restaurants.

Swicy is an East Asian tradition. Obvious examples at P.F. Chang’s include the Chinese-style spicy chicken, made with the restaurant’s signature sweet-and-spicy chile sauce, and the Korean-style cauliflower side with sweet-and-spicy Korean sauce. Another: the wok-charred Brussels sprouts with chile pods, peanuts and kung pao sauce.

Traditional Mexican mole sauce is made with roasted chiles, spices, nuts, seeds and often fruit or chocolate. Red O offers a roasted pollo asado with Jidori Farms chicken in a mole poblano and a grilled rack of lamb in mole negro. The Alacrán margarita features house-infused chile agave and a tajín rim.

Pizzas topped with hot honey – honey infused with chile peppers – are popping up everywhere. Among the predecessors that might have inspired them are the hot-honey-drizzled pepperoni pizza at Cucina Enoteca and the Pepperoni Stinger with hot honey and Calabrian chili oil at Sessions West Coast Deli.