Do we all like Vindaloo? Our reporter tries new pies produced for World Cup, including one made by iconic Sandwell restaurant

As someone who likes a bit of spice, I have found that some food items which claim to be spicy and hot are not actually what they claim to be.

There are packets of chilli crisps, spicy noodles, hot burgers and death wings which have left me feeling underwhelmed, but I am always open to new challenges when they come up.

With the 2026 World Cup underway, the tournament has brought back memories of a song that that reached number two in the UK singles charts in 1998 and was part of the soundtrack of the World Cup in France, and some new meals as a result.

Both the iconic Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory in Tipton and the popular pie chain Pukka Pies have taken on the theme of Vindaloo, the song by Fat Les, by creating pies that reflect the hot curry tastes and flavours.

Mad O’Rourke’s releases their version, a Beef Vindaloo pie, on June 11, the day of the start of the 2026 World Cup, after a public vote for it, while Pukka Pies have created what it claims is its hottest ever pie, a Chicken Vindaloo pie.

Being the spice lover that I am, and also being keen to try out anything that has sufficient kick to make it interesting, I decided to give them a go and see what they were really like.

First call was to Mad O’Rourke’s at opening time, meaning that I was the first person outside of the staff at the restaurant to try the pie ahead of the World Cup.

The second I walked into the restaurant, I heard Vindaloo playing on the speakers and a section in the corner all dressed up with England flags and other paraphernalia, which was slightly awkward as I actually support Scotland.

However, they were kind enough to welcome me in to take on the challenge, so I got comfortable and actually smelled the pie coming towards me, brought over by the owner Pete Towler with a big smile on his face. Clearly, he and the staff there were looking forward to my reaction.

It smelled rich and sharp, with all the chilli flavours mixing together, and I could tell it meant business by the orange splodge on the dish underneath the poppadum that came with the pie, alongside the legendary double cooked chips.

The pie itself is a large bowl of Beef Vindaloo curry with a naan bread on top, so after procuring cutlery, I set about trying the pie and took my first bite.

What I got was a wide range of flavours and textures, from the soft and well cooked beef to the richness of the sauce and just a little bit of a kick to keep you honest, which does build as you go along.

For me, it was spicy and warming, but was really nice and really rich and tasty and didn’t seem to cause me any issues or concerns with the heat, although this is due to my spice tolerance and I feel that others may get caught out by it.

I finished it, mopping up the remaining sauce with the lovely and soft naan bread, and gratefully accepted my certificate for completing it, a prize spice-lovers must have, and thanked the staff for the warm welcome and hot meal.

While that was a prepared dish, with the chefs taking time to prepare it and get the right spice, it was harder to tell what would come from the Chicken Vindaloo pie offered by Pukka Pies due to it being a mass-manufactured meal.

I received the pie in a box which needed to be seen to be believed, with a cover that says “Can you handle the heat?” with four chillies on the front, and a description of what consumers can expect inside (habanero and birds-eye chillies encased in golden puff pastry).

It was also lit up through lights inside to reflect the fires of hell, which impressed me, plus a smaller box on the inside which contained two pies and a bottle of milk, plus an envelope with a red card and yellow card and a flag saying “I surrendered”.

It’s all designed to intimidate you and make you think that it’s going to be a flaming meal, but the proof is in the eating, so I heated it up in the oven to get it ready.

On taking it out of the oven, it provided a nice and warming smell and looked like a proper Pukka Pie, with a golden brown top and the tinfoil case, and on cutting it open, I got a wide range of smells in my nose.

It smelled rich, but not as spicy as the Mad O’Rourke’s pie, but matched it for the rich sauce and well cooked meat, so I took a bite and savoured the flavours.

Again, it had spice and a bit of a kick, but still wasn’t what I would call overly hot. However, I do know that I consume a lot of chilli, so it will have a different effect on other people.

However, it was really nice and really flavourful and definitely keeps you warm when you eat it.

People will be singing and chanting Vindaloo throughout this World Cup and if you fancy a bit of spice to go with it, there are two very good options to go to.

Just pack a glass of milk, just in case.