Do you remember when chili crisp first became a thing here in the U.S.? Suddenly, people were putting it on eggs, in soup, on ice cream—basically bathing in it. Chaotic, beautiful times. Yeah… I still do that. I go through jars of chili oil so fast, it’s alarming (to my friends, but not to my taste buds). So, when I heard that Fly by Jing—makers of my ride-or-die chili crisp—were releasing a chili crisp ketchup, it elicited the kind of excitement that should probably be reserved for life milestones.
Sporked did a ranking of all Fly by Jing’s products in 2024, and the OG chili crisp was crowned king. Hard agree! So, my expectations for this chili crisp ketchup? Through the roof. I’m hoping for the chili oil magic that makes their OG so good: a savory, tingly, umami bomb, but with a ketchup-y sweetness and that tang you can only get from a bottle with a tomato on the label.
New Product!
Fly By Jing Chili Crisp Ketchup
Pros: Fly by Jing absolutely nailed the sweet-meets-spicy flavor I was hoping for. It’s everything you want from an upgraded ketchup: rich, a little funky, just sweet enough. I already know I’m putting this on my bánh mìs and any other sandwiches that need rescuing from boring lunch-dom (looking at you, sad deli turkey on white). Sometimes, regular ketchup is just too sweet for my taste—but this? The perfect punch of flavor. Just keep in mind that Fly by Jing’s chili crisp isn’t about searing heat; it’s savory and complex with a little kick. So the ketchup isn’t hot—and that tracks. It’s more chili oil-flavored ketchup than ketchup-flavored chili oil. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
Cons: This is not “crisp.” At all. Which, fine, it’s ketchup—things get weird if you put crispy bits in a squeeze bottle. But there are zero crunchy chili flakes or garlic bits. Texture-wise, it’s identical to classic ketchup. My only real flavor gripe: There’s a slight aftertaste that reminds me of General Tso’s or sweet and sour sauce—not bad, but maybe a bit too reminiscent of Americanized Chinese takeout. At Fly by Jing prices, I was hoping for a dash more complexity.
Verdict: Is it worth buying? For me, yes—mostly because regular ketchup does nothing for me and this is actually fun to eat. I do wish it had a bit more heat, but honestly, the balance of “swicy” (sweet-spicy) tomato and earthy chili is spot on. If you’re looking to spice up your ketchup game—or you’re just not that into basic Heinz—this could be your new fridge staple.
