Perth, March 10: Australia’s latest extreme spicy burger has arrived, and it’s so hot that customers are asked to sign a waiver before taking their first bite.
Betty’s Burgers has launched its new Burners’ range, featuring a burger topped with hot sauce made from Carolina Reapers, one of the world’s hottest chillies.
Each chilli can be up to 200 times hotter than a jalapeño and reaches around 1.2 million Scoville units, putting the burger firmly in extreme heat territory.
While the waiver might make it sound like a traditional food challenge, the brand says the experience is designed to be fun rather than intimidating.
Each serving comes with a glass of milk, cooling cucumbers and staff on standby, turning the challenge into a social experience rather than a test of endurance.
“We set out to make a proper spicy burger – and we absolutely did,” says Betty’s Head of Culinary, Jonathan Alston.
“The Scoville rating speaks for itself. The waiver speaks for itself. But this isn’t about proving you’re the toughest person in the room. If you need milk, grab it. If you want to tap out, tap out. It’s about bringing your mates and making it fun.”
New national research commissioned by Betty’s Burgers suggests Australians are becoming less interested in intimidation-style experiences.
According to the findings, 27 per cent of people say they have avoided a food or activity because it felt like it was designed to prove something, with the figure rising to more than a third among those aged 18 to 35.
At the same time, one in three Australians say they are open to extreme food experiences when they are framed as fun and inclusive, while more than half of younger respondents say challenges feel more enjoyable when shared with others.
“The appetite for thrill hasn’t disappeared. But the ego has” says Alston.
The Burners’ range includes two spicy chicken burgers with different heat levels. The Hot Shot offers a milder, flavour-focused option available nationwide, while the Madman burger is only available in restaurants and delivers a much more intense heat designed for those who want the full experience.
Dr Alissa Knight, Clinical Psychologist with a PhD in Nutrition and Health Psychology, says the popularity of extreme flavours reflects changing attitudes toward challenge-based experiences.
“Sensory experiences like extreme spice activate psychological mechanisms linked to reward, memory and bonding,” she says.
“In the past, very spicy food was often framed as a test of toughness. What we’re seeing now is a move toward experiences that are intense but psychologically safe – social, voluntary and fun rather than intimidating.”
“When people willingly step into discomfort together – even something like eating a very spicy burger – it can create a shared sense of achievement and a feeling of ‘we did that’ which can strengthen social connection.”
For Alston, the idea behind the new menu was to keep the thrill while removing the pressure.
“Australians still crave bold flavour – they just don’t want gatekeeping. There’s a difference between thrill and exclusion,” he says.
“People want to opt in, not be dared.”
The limited-time Burners’ range is available nationally from March 12 to April 22.
By June Ramli
I tried the Madman burger from Betty’s Burgers at Scarborough Beach in Perth on the night of March 20, and while I was looking forward to it, the experience was a bit mixed. The wait was quite long, and when the burger finally arrived, it wasn’t as hot as I expected. The patty was also slightly burnt, which took away from the flavour, and I found myself wishing it had been cooked a little more carefully.
The fries were decent, but they felt more like leftovers than the fresh, long fries you usually hope for with a burger meal. They weren’t terrible, just not as good as they could have been.
On the positive side, the thickshake was really good and probably the highlight of the order. I also ordered milk on the side, but honestly, it wasn’t necessary, especially with the shake already being quite filling.
Overall, not a bad meal, but not the best I’ve had from Betty’s Burgers either. I just wish the burger hadn’t been burnt and the food had been served hotter.
Disclosure: I was given a $50 voucher to try the burger, but the review reflects my honest experience.
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