Fly By Jing Alternatives: US-Made and Small-Batch Options

People look for a Fly By Jing alternative for a lot of reasons that have nothing to do with the product itself: wanting something made closer to home, curiosity about a different oil base, or just wanting to compare options before buying. Momofuku's Chili Crunch is the closest same-format answer, a US-made chili crisp built on grapeseed oil.

Phởzen offers a different kind of alternative: a US-made, small-batch chili condiment built on a different oil and origin than Fly By Jing, though it's worth saying upfront that it's a different format entirely. Below is a factual look at where a few chili condiments are actually made, what oil each uses, and where each one might fit.

Key Takeaways

• Fly By Jing's Original Sichuan Chili Crisp is manufactured in Chengdu, China, on a blend of non-GMO rapeseed oil, non-GMO soybean oil, and sesame oil, per its own ingredient panel.
• Momofuku Chili Crunch lists its country of origin as United States and uses grapeseed oil as its base, a genuine US-made option in the same chili crisp format as Fly By Jing.
• Phởzen's chili saté is made in small batches in Washington, on organic avocado oil, Filaree Farm garlic, and Red Boat fish sauce, a different product category (Vietnamese-style infused oil, not Chinese-style chili crisp).
• "Alternative" doesn't mean identical: a same-format swap (Momofuku) and a different-format option (Phởzen) solve different wants, worth knowing which one you're actually after.
• None of this is a quality judgment. Origin and oil are facts you can verify on a label; they're not a statement about which tastes better.

What to Look For in a Fly By Jing Alternative

Before comparing specific products, it helps to know what's actually different from one chili condiment to the next:

• Where it's made. Country of origin is printed on the label or listed in the ingredient panel on most retail sites. A "Made in USA" claim isn't just marketing language either: per the FTC's Made in USA standard, an unqualified claim like that legally requires the product be "all or virtually all" made in the United States, not just assembled or bottled here.
• What oil it's built on. Rapeseed, soybean, grapeseed, and avocado oil all carry heat and flavor differently, and some people have a specific reason (allergy, preference, or just curiosity) to check this.
• Format and texture. Chili crisp (crunchy, fried solids in oil) and chili saté or chili oil (smooth, infused oil) behave differently in a dish, even when they're both "spicy condiments."
• Batch size and ingredient list. A short, named ingredient list is easier to evaluate than a long one with unnamed "spices."

Fly By Jing vs. Momofuku vs. Phởzen: Origin and Oil at a Glance

Is There a US-Made Alternative to Fly By Jing?

Yes, more than one, depending on what you're looking for. Momofuku's Chili Crunch lists its country of origin as United States, and it stays in the same chili crisp format as Fly By Jing: crunchy fried garlic and shallots suspended in oil, built here on grapeseed oil rather than the rapeseed-and-soybean blend Fly By Jing uses. If a like-for-like swap in the same format matters most, that's the closer match.

Phởzen products are also made in the US, in small batches in Washington, but it's a different product: a Vietnamese-style chili saté, a smooth, infused oil rather than a crunchy topping. It's a US-made option, but not a same-format substitute. Beyond these two, other companies in the chili crisp category are worth checking individually, since origin varies by brand and isn't always visible without reading the label.

Where Is Fly By Jing Actually Made?

Chengdu, China. Fly By Jing's Original Sichuan Chili Crisp is manufactured there, per the H-E-B's product. The oil base is a blend of non-GMO rapeseed oil, non-GMO soybean oil, and sesame oil, alongside dried chili, garlic, shallots, and fermented soybean or black bean. The brand itself is a direct-to-consumer business based in California, though the product's actual manufacturing has stayed in Chengdu. None of this is a mark against the product; it's simply where it's made, which matters to shoppers specifically looking for a US-made option.

Phởzen's Chili Saté as an Alternative

Phởzen isn't a chili crisp, so it's worth being upfront: it won't replicate the crunchy texture Fly By Jing is known for. What it offers instead is a smooth, garlicky, Vietnamese-style infused oil, made in small batches in Washington on organic avocado oil, Filaree Farm garlic, and Red Boat fish sauce, three named ingredients rather than a longer, less specific list.

"I used it in garlic shrimp spaghetti, and it gave the dish a nice savory edge, different from the usual chili crunches I buy, in a good way." Caleb N., verified Phởzen customer

For a full breakdown of the format itself, see our guide to what chili saté is, and for a closer look at how it stacks up against chili crisp specifically, see chili saté vs. chili crisp vs. chili oil.

Which Alternative Should You Choose?

It depends on what you're actually solving for:

• Want the same crunchy chili crisp format, made in the US: Momofuku is the closer match.
• Want a smooth, garlicky condiment built on a different oil, made in small batches in the US: Phởzen's chili saté fits, with the caveat that it's a different texture entirely.
• Want the original Sichuan chili crisp as Fly By Jing makes it: that's still Fly By Jing, made in Chengdu, and there's nothing wrong with that if origin isn't the deciding factor for you.

None of these is a universal upgrade over the others. They're built differently, made in different places, and suited to different priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Momofuku's Chili Crunch compare to Fly By Jing's?

Both are chili crisps with the same crunchy, fried-solids format, but Momofuku is made in the United States on a grapeseed oil base, while Fly By Jing is made in Chengdu, China, on a rapeseed, soybean, and sesame oil blend. If a same-format swap matters most to you, Momofuku is the closer match on origin.

Is there a US-made alternative to Fly By Jing?

Yes. Momofuku's Chili Crunch lists its country of origin as United States. Phởzen is also made in the US, in small batches in Washington, though it's a different product category than a Chinese-style chili crisp.

What chili sauce brands are not made in China?

Momofuku's Chili Crunch and Phởzen are both made in the United States. Fly By Jing's Original Sichuan Chili Crisp is manufactured in Chengdu, China. Several other widely sold chili crisp brands are also made in China, so it's worth checking the label if origin is the deciding factor.

What oil does Fly By Jing use?

A blend of non-GMO rapeseed oil, non-GMO soybean oil, and sesame oil, according to its ingredient panel.

Is Phởzen the same as Fly By Jing?

No. Phởzen is a Vietnamese-style chili saté, a smooth, infused oil built on organic avocado oil, Filaree Farm garlic, and Red Boat fish sauce. Fly By Jing is a Chinese-style chili crisp with crunchy fried solids, made in Chengdu on a rapeseed and soybean oil blend. They're different products in the same general category of spicy condiments.

What's the difference between chili crisp and chili saté?

Chili crisp is texture-forward, with crunchy fried garlic, shallots, and chili suspended in oil. Chili saté is a smooth, infused oil with more built-in aromatics like lemongrass and fish sauce, but no crunchy solids.