How to Choose the Right Chili Sauce for Your Restaurant Plus 3 Simple & Flavorful Dishes You Can Make With It

In Taiwan, spicy flavors are a culinary favorite—and there’s more to “spicy” than just heat. From fragrant and sweet-spicy, to mouth-numbing or tangy-hot, chili sauces come in many styles and levels. A well-made chili sauce can even become a standalone retail product your customers take home!

In this article, KDDS breaks down the most popular types of chili sauces, how to choose the right one for your restaurant, and how to use them in three easy but crowd-pleasing recipes.

5 Best-Selling Types of Chili Sauce

🌶 1. Korean Gochujang (Sweet & Spicy)

Made from fermented chili powder, glutinous rice, soybeans, salt, and sugar, gochujang is thick, deep red, and slightly sweet. It's the soul of many Korean dishes like:

• Bibimbap

• Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)

• Korean BBQ marinades

Due to its complex fermentation process, many restaurants buy in bulk from sauce manufacturers like KDDS for quality and consistency.

🌶 2. Sichuan Mala Sauce (Numbing & Spicy)

This iconic Chinese chili sauce is known for its powerful combination of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns—the latter leaves a tingling, numbing sensation.

Used in dishes like:

• Mala hot pot

• Mapo tofu

• Spicy wontons

• Dry chili noodles

It’s made with a complex mix of aromatics (garlic, ginger, scallions, red onions, dried chilies) and Chinese herbs—making it hard to replicate without professional sauce production.

🌶 3. Thai Chili-Lime Sauce (Spicy & Tangy)

Thai chili sauce blends lime, lemongrass, fish sauce, shallots, galangal, and red chilies for a refreshingly spicy profile. Great for:

• Seafood salads

• Lemongrass fish

• Thai tom yum soup

• Taiwanese-style street snacks like fried chicken, skewers, or marinated bites

🌶 4. Classic Taiwanese Chili Sauce

These vary from shop to shop, often made from local aromatics like garlic, shallots, scallions, and chilies. Popular styles include:

• Garlic chili sauce

• Dried anchovy chili sauce

• Spicy soybean paste

Commonly served as dipping sauces for rice noodles, meat buns, egg rolls, dumplings, or sticky rice dishes.

🌶 5. Tabasco Sauce

Made from Tabasco chilies, this tangy hot sauce is a staple in Western cuisine—great with:

• Pasta

• Pizza

• Steak

• Cocktails (like Bloody Marys)

Many Taiwanese foodies even use it in stir-fried vermicelli, stinky tofu, or dumplings!

Bonus: Chili oils are also in high demand. KDDS offers a full line of spicy condiments, including mala hot pot base, Sichuan pepper oil, universal chili oil, and chili crisp sauces—all available for OEM customization.

📩 Want your own custom spicy sauce? Contact KDDS for a free consultation.

What Makes a Great Chili Sauce?

When choosing a chili sauce for your restaurant, keep these 4 key factors in mind:

✔️ 1. Balanced Flavor Profile

The spice should be front and center, but it needs balance from aromatics and seasonings. Too much of one ingredient (like garlic or vinegar) can overwhelm the sauce.

✔️ 2. Clear Heat Level

A good chili sauce must have a memorable kick. Mild sauces with just a hint of chili aroma might not satisfy spice lovers, so be clear about who your sauce is for—and adjust the heat accordingly.

✔️ 3. Proper Texture

If it’s too runny, the flavor won’t stick. Too thick, and it may overpower your food. A medium-thick texture is ideal for stir-frying, dipping, or brushing over grilled foods.

✔️ 4. Food Safety Certification

No matter how great your sauce tastes, food safety is non-negotiable. Look for sauces produced by certified manufacturers.
At KDDS, our factory is ISO-22000, ISO-9001, and HACCP certified—ensuring consistent quality and safety.

📖 Learn more: 4 Things to Know Before Choosing a Sauce Manufacturer →

3 Simple & Delicious Chili Sauce Recipes

🍖 1. Korean Spicy Stir-Fried Pork

Perfect for summer, this dish pairs well with lettuce wraps or white rice. All you need is the sauce and a quick stir-fry.

Ingredients:

• 200g pork slices

• ½ onion, thinly sliced

• 1 scallion, chopped

• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced

• Gochujang (Korean chili paste)

• Soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine, honey (15g each)

Steps:

1. Mix all ingredients and marinate for 20–30 mins

2. Heat pan with sesame oil and stir-fry everything together

3. Add a bit of water if sauce becomes too thick

4. Cook until pork is done and onions are soft—done in 2–3 mins

🍲 2. Mapo Tofu (Sichuan Spicy Tofu)

This classic Chinese dish is perfect with rice and easy to make at home.

Ingredients:

• 300g ground pork

• 1 pack soft tofu, cubed

• 1 tbsp Sichuan chili sauce

• 1 tbsp spicy bean paste

• 15g garlic, minced

• ½ cup water

• Chopped scallions for garnish

Steps:

1. Sauté pork until white

2. Add chili sauce, bean paste, garlic—stir well

3. Add water and bring to a boil

4. Gently add tofu and simmer until infused

5. Finish with scallions before serving

🦐 3. Thai Spicy Seafood Salad

Perfect for hot days! Light, refreshing, and packed with flavor.

Ingredients:

• 10–15 shrimp

• 1 squid, cleaned and cut

• 6–8 cherry tomatoes

• ¼ onion, sliced and soaked in cold water

• 2–3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 chili pepper, chopped

• Fresh cilantro and celery

• Thai chili-lime sauce

• Juice of ½ yellow lemon

Steps:

1. Boil shrimp and squid, then cool in ice water

2. Drain and mix with other ingredients in salad bowl

3. Add lemon juice and chili sauce—toss and serve!

Need a Signature Chili Sauce for Your Brand?

A top-notch chili sauce should check all these boxes:

• Rich in flavor

• Clearly spicy

• Easy to use

• Safe and certified

With over 30 years of experience, KDDS is your trusted partner in chili sauce production. We offer OEM and ODM services tailored to your taste, audience, and market needs.

Whether you already have a formula or want to develop something exclusive, our R&D and manufacturing teams are here to help.

📩 Contact KDDS today and let’s create your one-of-a-kind chili sauce together!