When we first visited Sweetfire Hub back in 2022, we knew this was going to become our go-to chicken wings joint for years to come. Two years later that mentality hasn’t changed at all. In fact, it has solidified itself even more.
In just two years, Sweetfire Hub has continued to grow consistently. They’ve added more items to the menu, increased in popularity to the point where people all over Puerto Rico (including travelers) have driven hours just to try their mouth-watering wings, and have even received offers to build a franchise.
For this 2024 review update, we sat down with the renowned owner of Sweetfire Hub, Chef Anaís Rivera to catch up on what she’s been up to lately as well as find out what’s next for the business.
Read on to learn about what makes Sweetfire Hub the go-to spot for chicken wings, and how you can be part of their #KissTheFire Challenge and own a spot on their “Board of Fame”.
Sweetfire Hub Highlights
- +25 signature sauces to try out (ask for their seasonal sauces, too)
- 3 dry rubs
- Pet-friendly + dog popsicles
- Live 80s and 90s rock music
- Outdoor seating
- Casual and family-oriented environment
- Lots of parking
- Local craft beers (ask the Sweetfire Hub team for pairing recommendations)
What’s New at Sweetfire Hub
We recently visited Chef Anaís Rivera’s to get a sneak peek at what’s to come for her and Sweetfire Hub.
When we arrived, one of the first things we noticed was the expansion of the container-style restaurant starting with the zinc roofing on the second level above the container itself along with new chairs, tables, and hanging lightbulbs to give it that ambient mood.
The next thing we noticed was the addition of another zinc rooftop above the main dining area, and some wall decorations of inspirational quotes and images of the KissTheFire Challenge winners.
Going Beyond the Kitchen
Running a restaurant, especially in Puerto Rico, is a challenging feat for most entrepreneurs. But despite the constant headwinds these brave business owners push through to accomplish their goals.
For Chef Anaís Rivera, one of those goals is giving back to the local community.
We were told a story of when Chef Anaís volunteered to be part of a community service event organized by Fundación de Cuido during World Autism Month. This was supposed to be a fun event for those attending, mostly children. Unfortunately, on the event day, the organization sent a letter letting volunteers and attendants know it was to be canceled.
When Chef Anaís got word of the news, being an entrepreneur with a kind heart, she took matters into her own hands.
She and her team, besides being the only providers who went to the event after it got canceled, drove to local supermarkets, bought large quantities of food, and fed almost 300 children.
Even teachers who were accompanying the children helped with food preparation and some went as far as to put on dinosaur costumes to play with them.
Last but not least, Chef Anaís is also a volunteer teacher. Her devotion to teaching others about the importance of cooking food is something to admire and serve as inspiration for other professionals in the industry.
Chef Anaís doesn’t consider teaching a job. She just enjoys it; and even told the Roam Puerto Rico team: “It makes me happy to see others happy”.
Celebrating Three Years of Chicken Wings
This June 29th marks the third anniversary of Sweetfire Hub, and Chef Anaís has planned something extraordinary to celebrate with her customers.
She’s organizing a Street Food Pop-Up event featuring live music, local vendors, three guest chefs, and four daring participants, including our founder, who will take on the Kiss The Fire Challenge.
The challenge will introduce a new hot sauce called “El Triple X,” boasting an impressive 3,180,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
Don’t miss this fiery celebration!
Come for the wings, stay for the fun, and experience the unforgettable heat of “El Triple X.”
Whether you’re a spice enthusiast or just looking for a great time, Sweetfire Hub’s anniversary event promises excitement for all.
What to Eat at Sweetfire Hub
Obviously, the first thing you should do when visiting Sweetfire Hub is order some wings.
There are currently three types of chicken wings customers can choose: traditional, boneless, and cauliflower.
Additionally, customers can order a minimum of 5-piece orders up to 30 pieces.
Each order of wings includes one signature sauce and one house dip. The more pieces of wings you order, you can choose up to 3 signature sauces and 2 house dips.
Remember to ask for Sweetfire Hub’s seasonal sauces like the Guavatle, a combination of guava and chipotle — sweet, smoky, and medium spice flavor.
Roam Puerto Rico’s Favorite Signature Sauce: Ron Caña BBQ
Sweetfire Hub Signature Sauces Sorted by Most to Least Spiciest
- Butcher BBQ
- Sweetfire
- Mango Habanero
- Del Pueblo
- NotYourClassicBuffalo
- Guavatle
- Ron Caña BBQ
- Maple Garlic
- Tropicana
- Korean Chili
- Honey BBQ
- Garlic Parm
- Cilantro Lime
- Guaya-Tu-Rindmo
Sweetfire Hub Dry Rubs to try out
- Lemon Pepper
- Garlic Parmesan
- Cilantro Lime
Sweetfire Hub Dips to Try
- Classic Ranch
- Avocado Ranch
- BBQ Ranch
- Buffalo Ranch
- BlueCheese
- Honey Mustard
- Siracha Mayo
- Chipotle Mayo
- Sour Cream
- Mayo Ketchup
- Cheddar Cheese
- Crema de Coco
Those are a lot of options, right?
That’s why we recommend visiting in groups of four or more so you can have the opportunity to try most of the signature sauces and dips.
If wings are not your thing, Sweetfire Hub offers additional options. Here are some that we tried.
Chicken Bowls
Sweetfire Hub offers a total of six chicken bowls for customers to choose from. However, the most popular chicken bowl amongst customers (and the Roam Puerto Rico team) is the Chicken Melele.
- Chicken Melele – Six layers in one bowl. Potatoes of your choice, cheese, macaroni, chicken, bacon, pico de gallo, and sour cream
Chicken Sandwiches
Sweetfire Hub offers a total of eight chicken sandwiches. Some of the names are, BBQ Chicken, Mad Mac, El Jefe, and Caribeño.
But when it comes to chicken sandwiches, our favorite is El Original.
One thing is for sure, we’re still debating whether we love the chicken sandwiches more than the wings. Tough choice, indeed.
In the meantime, below is an image of El Original along with a description of its ingredients.
- El Original – Coleslaw bathed in house sauce, fried breaded chicken, pickle, and a signature sauce of your choosing.
Sides
Although Sweetfire Hub’s sides can be ordered along with your chicken wings, we recommend looking at the various sizing options available.
The reason is the portions are generous enough that anything over medium-sized can be more than enough even when you’re sharing.
- Curly fries
- Battata
- Yuca Fries
- Nacho Chips
- Tostones
- Onion Rings
- Jalapeño Popper
Make it loaded
There are currently four options to choose from:
- Sweetfire — Cheese, bacon, hot Cheetos, sriracha mayo, japaleño, and classic ranch
- Classic — Cheese, bacon, and sour cream
- TexMex — Chipotle mayo, avocado ranch, bacon, pico d’ gallo, jalapeño, and sour cream
- Garlic Parm — fresh chopped garlic, and granulated parmesan cheese
New Menu Items
Remember when we wrote Sweetfire Hub added new items to their menu?
Some of these include chicken strips, a kids’ meal (three boneless wings or two chicken strips + one side), and frozen yogurt pet treats for dog lovers.
It’s safe to say there is a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy.
KissTheFire Challenge
Do you have what it takes to beat the KissTheFire Challenge and be forever placed on Sweetfire Hub’s Board of Fame?
Check out the rules as well as what you will be facing below.
Challenge Rules
- You must be over 18 years old
- Have great health — if you have the following conditions, this challenge might not be for you
- Pregnancy
- Heart disease
- Digestive system conditions
- Had recent surgery
- You have to sign a disclaimer and service agreement
- To partake in this challenge, you have to pay ahead of time and make a reservation
- Your experience will be documented
Challenge Details
To beat this challenge you must eat six chicken wings in six minutes.
Seems simple enough, right? What’s the catch?
You will come face to face with a locally-made sauce called “Cherry Bomb Reaper”.
What does this mean, exactly?
It means you will be facing two of the hottest peppers in the world (according to the Guinness Book of World Records), the Carolina Reaper and the Pepper X.
How do we know both the Carolina Reaper and the Pepper X are the hottest peppers in the world?
The heat of a pepper is measured by the Scoville Scale.
A Jalapeño can reach between 3,000 and 5,000 Scoville heat units or SHU.
The Carolina Reaper? Reaches an average of 1.642 million SHU, according to Wired; The Pepper X? Reaches an average of 2.693 million SHU, according to NBC News.
As a way to make sure this KissTheFire challenge is the real deal, Chef Anaís buys the Carolina Reaper directly from its creator in North Carolina, Ed Currie.
Still not afraid? To add more heat to the challenge, Chef Anaís adds in an extra seven chilies — hence the name “Chery Bomb Reaper”.
During our conversation with Chef Anaís, she mentioned around 15 people out of 30 have been able to complete the challenge.
About Sweetfire Hub
When it comes to chicken wings in Puerto Rico, Sweetfire Hub is the place to go.
With over 20 signature sauces, three dry rubs, various spiciness levels, and the number one hot wings challenge on the island, it’s no wonder this place is known as “The House of Wings”.
Sweetfire Hub is located just beside the Estadio Mario Ramírez in Yauco, a small town in the island’s southwest region. The small container-style restaurant is owned and managed by Chef Anaís Rivera, who is a force of nature when it comes to putting the right ingredients together to create the best-tasting wings and sauces.
Every restaurant owner on top of their game has an amazing story to tell. Sweetfire Hub’s creator and owner, Chef Anaís Rivera is no different.
Chef Anaís was born in the United States but raised in Yauco, Puerto Rico. She started working in the restaurant industry at just 16 years old. After graduating high school in Yauco, Chef Anaís went abroad and worked at 8 restaurants, which helped her attain experience in Korean, Japanese, American, Creole, Mediterranean, and Italian, among other cuisines.
Her proudest achievement has been opening Sweetfire Hub where she can put all the experiences and skills she acquired abroad to the test.
An expert in her craft, Chef Anaís values quality over quantity any day. To the point that if customers have to wait a bit longer for their food, then so be it. It’s better to have them wait a couple of more minutes than to give them something that they might not enjoy as it should be.
Now at 29 years old, Chef Anaís is proud of the work she has done with Sweetfire Hub. However, Chef Anaís knows there is a lot more to be done with her business and community.
Sweetfire Hub Summary
Whether you are a fan of chicken wings or love to take on tough challenges such as the KissTheFire challenge, one thing is certain: Chef Anaís will always be on top of her game with Sweetfire Hub and do her best to continue creating one-of-a-kind experiences through her unique artisan sauces.
Could we say Chef Anaís can be considered the Queen of Chicken Wings in Puerto Rico?
That’s for us to know and for you, the reader, to find out.
