08/28/2025
RESTAURANT GET SUED FOR SPICY APPETIZER!
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A Thai restaurant in California is facing a lawsuit after a San Jose neurologist claimed she suffered permanent internal injuries from an overly spicy appetizer called “Dragon Balls.” According to the Hanford Sentinel, the woman is accusing Coup de Thai in Los Gatos of serving her a dish so spicy that it caused chemical burns to her vocal cords, esophagus, and the inside of her right nostril.
The physician reportedly ordered the $11 chicken-meatball appetizer, which contained Thai “bird’s eye” chili, during a visit to the establishment in July of 2021. She had allegedly asked for a less spicy version due to her intolerance to spicy foods and was told by the server that this request could be accommodated. Soon after consuming the dish, however, she began coughing and experienced burning sensations “like fire” throughout her mouth and nose.
“The story does not really surprise me,” said Ryan McEachern, Underwriter, Commercial Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, Woodland Hills, California. “Individuals going into restaurants and ordering a spice level higher than they are comfortable with feels like a tale as old as time. It is important to know what you are getting into and what you can handle when you order at a restaurant.”
