The best chili crisp has wonderful texture, plenty of spice, and is made with good quality oil. If it doesn’t have those three qualities, it’s not the best chili oil—end of story!
If you regularly dine at authentic Chinese restaurants, you’ve probably been eating chili crisp for a long time. Or maybe you recently tried it for the first time now that chili crunch has popped up on shelves at places like Trader Joe’s and Publix. Or maybe you clicked on this article because you saw it and thought, “What the heck is chili crisp?”
Wherever you are in your chili crisp journey, I hope you can make use of this list of the best chili crisp to buy. Over the course of two separate taste tests, we tried all different types at all different price points and I can assure you that the best chili crunch for your dumplings, pizza, ice cream, and more is on this list.
- Lao Gan Ma Chili Oil with Fermented Soy Beans
If you know chili crisp, you know Lao Gan Ma. If you don’t know chili crisp, get familiar with Lao Gan Ma. It’s a classic and it’s some of the best chili oil you can buy. There’s more than one version, but the one with fermented soy beans is my favorite. It has such an interesting texture that I can only describe as a soft chew. It’s so sensationally savory. This is not numbing like the other chili crisps we tried, so it has a more mild taste. That makes it the best chili crunch for people who don’t want to be socked in the face with flavor. I keep my pantry stocked with Lao Gan Ma and I think you should, too.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- SOMOS Salsa Macha Mexican Chili Crisp
SOMOS’s new line of “Mexican chili crisp” is based off classic salsa macha, a traditional salsa from Veracruz, Mexico, made by combining dried chiles, nuts, seeds, and oil. It’s very different from tomato or tomatillo salsa, but it’s absolutely delicious! It’s very crunchy and filled with pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, and more. It’s so smoky and slightly spicy. This is the best chili oil to use to make an incredible vinaigrette. It comes in regular and mango & pineapple varieties, and I would happily buy both.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Momofuku Original Chili Crisp
If you’re intrigued by Momofuku’s chili crisp but can’t handle intense heat, grab a jar of their Original Chili Crisp. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still spicy. But not nearly as spicy as their Extra Spicy Chili Crisp. It tastes more roasty-toasty than blazing hot. The Extra Spicy has my heat-loving heart, but this one is almost as good (almost) and I would still consider it one of the best chili crisp options at the grocery store. I would happily top eggs, silken tofu, and dumplings with plenty of this chili crisp.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Momofuku Extra Spicy Chili Crunch
I was skeptical about Momofuku’s line of chili crisp because I’ve had mixed experiences with Momofuku products—some are great and some are just okay. I wasn’t sure if theirs would stand up to some of the more iconic, OG chili crisps we tried. Now I must admit that I was wrong. I owe you an apology, Momofuku, for ever doubting your chili crisp. It’s so spicy and numbing. It made my scalp tingle. It has bigger chunks of chilies than some of the other sauces we tried. My favorite part is that the oil on its own is sensational. If you’re buying chili crisp because you want the best chili oil, buy this.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Barnacle Foods Kelp Chili Crisp
I know this chili crisp from Barnacle Foods is expensive, but it’s so worth it because it’s some of the best chili crisp ever. It’s one of my favorite products. It’s the best chili crunch to give as a gift (and I have) because it’s that good and special. It has a wonderful roasted flavor and the oil is delicious. It’s not super hot and a great option for chili crisp novices. And “kelp chili crisp” isn’t just a name: this is literally chili crisp made from kelp (yes, like from the ocean). It’s so unique and tasty. Try it and then you’ll get why it’s so pricey.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Fly by Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp
Believe the hype: Fly by Jing’s chili crisp is unreal and definitely one of the best chili crisps out there. It is easily the most unique and interesting chili crisp we tried. There’s lots of umami and you get hints of other flavors like ginger, seaweed, and shallots. The bottle says you will “find yourself putting [it] on everything” and I cannot argue with that statement. I even tried the viral trend of putting it on vanilla ice cream and it was delicious. If you’re looking for the best chili crisp for doing it all, order some Fly by Jing.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Natural Plus Green Sichuan Chili Oil
This has dethroned every other product that I’ve said was my “favorite thing I’ve ever tried while working at Sporked.” This chili crisp is better than the homemade chili crisp I buy in bulk from my local dumpling place, but please don’t tell them I said that. This is like the best version of a classic chili crisp that is even more numbing and savory than usual. It even has a light floral flavor from the Szechuan peppercorns. Also, it’s actually spicy! I cannot believe how good this is.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Classic
Most Unique
Best Restaurant Style
Best Spicy
Best Splurge
Best Viral
Best of the Best
Other Products We Tried: Trader Joe’s Chili Onion Crunch, Lao Gan Ma Original, Don Chilio Habanero, Don Chilio Serrano, Don Chilio Jalapeno, Mister Bing, Spicy and Crunchy Woojoo Chili Crisp
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