Is This the Spiciest Burger in Fast Food?

Carl’s Jr. and Hardee's -- the Mary-Kate and Ashley of fast-food restaurants -- have made a name for themselves via abnormally large and sloppy burgers and showing abnormally hot women eating them. Now, though, they want to make you tingle in a different way with what they claim is the spiciest burger in fast food.

The El Diablo Thickburger starts with a black Angus patty before turning up the heat with sliced jalapeños, fried jalapeño poppers, habanero bacon sauce, and a slice of pepper Jack. The Scoville-tipping burger joins a spicy food showdown that also includes Taco Bell’s Sriracha menu, the Angry Whopper, and Jack in the Box’s Hella-Peño Burger, which is also loaded with poppers and slices, but subs out pepper Jack for cheese sauce.

Of course, a Carl’s/Hardee's joint isn’t complete without a commercial featuring a scantily clad woman eating it, which is why they’ll also be rolling out a commercial featuring Victoria's Secret model Sara Sampaio sexualizing the thing. It’s a good call, though not bringing Paris Hilton back to mumble “that’s hot” dispassionately while staring into the distance seems like a missed opportunity.

Andy Kryza is a senior editor on Thrillist’s Food & Drink team. He doesn’t always eat Carl’s Jr., but when he does, he does so while wearing a mesh body thong. Follow him -- except during mealtimes -- at @apkryza.