Best Chili Crisps on Amazon (2026): 5 Jars Worth Hoarding

Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp — The One That Started It All

The original and still the gold standard — Lao Gan Ma delivers unbeatable crunch, deep umami from fermented black beans, and a heat level that’s assertive without being reckless. For under $8 a jar, nothing else comes close on value.

Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp: The Gold Standard (~$7)

If you’re new to chili crisp, start here. If you’ve been eating chili crisp for years, you probably have a jar of this in your fridge right now — and if you don’t, something went wrong. Lao Gan Ma (which translates to “Old Godmother”) has been making this stuff in China since 1997, and there’s a reason it became the gateway drug for an entire generation of chili-oil obsessives in the US.

The oil is deep reddish-brown, loaded with fried chili flakes and fermented black beans (douchi), which is what gives it that savory, almost meaty depth that pure chili oils can’t match. The heat is real — I’d call it a confident medium — but it’s not the kind of heat that chases you. It’s the kind that warms your whole chest and makes you reach for another spoonful. The texture on the bottom of the jar is a whole snack: crunchy bits of chili, sesame seeds, and black beans that I’ve eaten straight off a spoon more times than I want to admit.

The weaknesses are real but minor. The oil itself is standard rapeseed oil — nothing fancy. If you’re looking for extra-virgin olive oil or premium avocado oil as the base, this isn’t it. And the flavor is pretty one-note compared to some of the pricier options — it’s chili, garlic, black bean, and not much else. That’s also what makes it so versatile. It works on eggs, noodles, dumplings, rice, pizza (trust me), roasted chicken, and basically anything that could use a hit of umami and heat. I keep a jar next to my stove permanently.

At $7 a jar, it’s the easiest recommendation I make. If you’re spending $15 on a premium chili crisp and you haven’t tried Lao Gan Ma first, you’re doing it wrong — start here, then branch out.

Usually $6–$8 per jar · Also available in 6-packs if you go through it fast (and you will)

Fly by Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp: The Bougie Upgrade (~$15)

Fly by Jing is what happens when a Chengdu-trained chef decides to make a chili crisp for food people. Jing Gao (the founder) sources Tribute peppers from Sichuan, uses mushroom powder for an extra hit of umami, and keeps the whole thing vegan, gluten-free, and free from artificial stuff. The result is the most complex and interesting jar on this list — and also the most divisive.

The Sichuan peppercorn presence here is strong. If you’ve never had mala (that tingly numbing sensation that proper Sichuan food delivers), this is a very direct introduction. It starts savory and deeply fragrant, then the back of your mouth goes slightly numb — not unpleasant, just different. For people who love that sensation, Fly by Jing is a revelation. For people expecting a standard chili oil, it can feel strange at first. I’ve had guests love it immediately and others need a few tries before it clicked.

Where it shines is on dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, stir-fried vegetables, and anything where you want the condiment to actually be the star. It’s delicious on eggs too, but it almost feels like a waste — the flavor is nuanced enough that I want to pair it with food that can hold its own alongside it. The 6oz jar goes faster than you’d expect, especially if you’re cooking for two or more.

At $15 a jar, if you’re spending that money and you don’t already love the mala flavor profile, I’d try a smaller order first before committing to a multi-pack. But if complex, aromatic, legit-Sichuan-style chili crisp is what you’re after, Fly by Jing is the best version of that I’ve found.

Usually $14–$16 · Also available in an Xtra Spicy version if you want even more heat

Momofuku Chili Crunch: The Most American Chili Crisp (~$13)

David Chang’s Momofuku brand makes a chili crunch that is distinctly different from the Chinese-style versions — and that’s actually the point. Instead of fermented black beans and Sichuan peppercorns, Momofuku goes heavy on the fried garlic and crispy shallots. The result is roasty, savory, and familiar in a way that works with Western cooking as naturally as it does with noodles and rice. I’ve put this on fried chicken sandwiches, and I’m not sorry about it.

The heat level is on the lower end — I’d say it’s medium-mild. There’s enough heat to know it’s there, but this is not a “challenge” chili crisp. It’s an “I want to eat a lot of this without my face catching fire” chili crisp, which is exactly what some people need. The fried garlic and shallot pieces are the real selling point — they’re genuinely crunchy and deeply savory, almost like a condiment version of the crispy shallots you’d put on a rice bowl.

One real downside: the jar is 5.5oz and, at $13, it feels expensive per ounce compared to Lao Gan Ma. The flavor is good but not dramatically more complex — it’s just different, leaning more garlic-forward and less black-bean-funky. If you love garlic, this becomes very hard to put down. If you’re hoping for the fermented umami depth of Lao Gan Ma, you won’t find it here. They’re solving different problems.

Usually $12–$14 · Also available in an Extra Spicy version and a Truffle variety for a splurge

S&B Chili Oil with Crunchy Garlic: The Japanese Sleeper (~$7)

S&B has been making Japanese condiments for decades, and their Chili Oil with Crunchy Garlic is one of the most underrated jars on this list. This is not trying to be Lao Gan Ma or Fly by Jing — it’s a Japanese-style chili oil with a lighter, cleaner flavor profile and a very satisfying garlic crunch. It’s also the easiest to find in person (most Asian grocery stores carry it), but the Amazon price is usually the best.

The oil is lighter and less intense than the Chinese-style versions. The chili heat is mild — this is firmly in the “accessible” camp, which makes it great for households where heat tolerance varies. The crunchy garlic bits are the star: genuinely crispy, garlicky, and more substantial than what you get in most chili crisps. I’ve used this on ramen, Japanese curry, fried rice, and grilled salmon, and it feels at home in all of those contexts in a way that a more assertive chili crisp doesn’t always.

The knock against it is that the flavor isn’t particularly complex or memorable. It does its job — adds heat, garlic, crunch — but it doesn’t make you think “wow, what IS that?” the way Lao Gan Ma or Fly by Jing might. If you want a chili oil that stays in the background and enhances rather than dominates, S&B is your jar. If you want something bold and punchy, look elsewhere.

Usually $6–$8 · Also available in a larger 14oz size if you go through it regularly

This Little Goat Original Chili Crunch: The Chicago-Born Wild Card (~$11/jar)

Stephanie Izard won Top Chef and has run Girl & the Goat in Chicago for well over a decade — so when she started making chili crunch, people paid attention. This Little Goat’s Original Chili Crunch is genuinely different from everything else on this list: it uses hondashi (Japanese bonito stock powder) as a flavor base, giving it a smoky, oceanic depth that you won’t find in any Chinese-style chili crisp. It’s weird in the best way.

The crunch is excellent — one of the most texturally satisfying jars here, with a good balance of chili flakes, sesame, and crispy bits. The heat is medium, similar to Lao Gan Ma, but the flavor profile is completely its own thing. The hondashi adds a subtle miso-meets-smoked-fish undertone that sounds odd but lands beautifully on noodles, rice bowls, roasted broccoli, and especially anything with egg. I’ve put this on soft-scrambled eggs with scallions and it was one of the better things I’ve eaten this year.

The main catch: it’s typically sold in 3-packs on Amazon ($28–$33 for three 6.9oz jars), which brings the per-jar price to around $10–$11 — reasonable, but you’re committing to three jars. If you love it (likely), that’s a great deal. If it doesn’t click with you, you’ve got more chili crunch than you bargained for. It also ships well and makes an excellent gift for food-obsessed friends who think they’ve tried everything.

Usually $28–$33 for a 3-pack · Created by James Beard Award winner Stephanie Izard

👋 The Practical Move

Start with Lao Gan Ma — it’s the best value chili crisp you can buy, and it’ll immediately tell you if you want to go deeper into the rabbit hole. Once you’ve burned through your first jar (it won’t take long), you’ll know exactly which direction you want to go next.

Get Lao Gan Ma on Amazon →