After a two-year hiatus, what has unofficially been crowned “The Hottest Pizza on Earth” is returning to Mikey’s Late Night Slice, the edgy Columbus, Ohio pizza chain, starting October 26 for a limited time.
Masochists and the unhinged alike are welcome to treat their taste buds to the Fiery Death at Mikey’s new Grandview shop, located at 1312 Grandview Avenue, through October 31 or while supplies last.
When signing a waiver is required, you know even Scoville would be scared. This devilish pie is topped with the three hottest commercially available peppers in the world: Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion and Bhut Jolokia Ghost peppers.
The Fiery Death also sports a Scorpion Pepper-laced red sauce and cools things down with Sriracha-tossed sausage crumbles known as “Hellfire Sausage.” Fans of the supremely spicy previously traveled annually to Mikey’s for a slice of this incendiary pizza and have been burning for its return since 2024.
“It’s been two years since Fiery Death scorched the Earth as well as the guts of many brave souls,” said Late Night Slice Co-Founder Jason Biundo. “This year’s crop of Reapers, Scorpions and Ghosts are ready for harvesting and bursting with fiery flavor. Prepare for the long-awaited (for some reason) return of the world’s hottest pizza. That’s not a catchphrase. It’s a literal description.”
It’s unclear why Biundo and his team skipped a year, but they have been busy. Founded in 2009 and featured on PMQ’s cover in the January/February 2017 issue, Mikey’s now has 13 locations in Columbus, Dayton, Cleveland and Cincinnati. And the Fiery Death has become a major draw for customers who appreciate the brand’s irreverent humor.
“Folks ask about it all year long,” Biundo told PMQ in 2023. When it finally comes around, people travel from all over to feel the burn. I often wind up on the local news and get to watch the newscasters burn live on camera.”
He added, “I’m also proud of the fact that even the folks who can take the heat will be sure to compliment the flavor and the quality. I didn’t just create the hottest pizza on Earth. I made sure that, underneath the flames, it was as tasty as anything else we put out there.”
In celebration of this scorcher, Mikey’s is bringing the Fiery Punishment Contest to Grandview on October 28. Spectators are encouraged to watch as eight gluttons for punishment race to eat three slices of the Fiery Death and a garden-fresh ghost pepper, then sweat it out for five minutes before the sweet relief of a cold drink.
The first-place winner will take home a prize pack filled with swag and a $300 Late Night Slice gift card. Contestants may enter for $6.66 starting on October 19 through Mikey’s merch store.
