chili oil review
Holy Duck Chili Oil (OG, Lava & Vegan)
S tier — The pantry hall of fame — buy on sight
"An unduckingly unbelievable experience. The duck fat richness makes everything else taste flat."
At a glance
- Category
- chili oil
- Style
- Chinese-style, duck fat
- Origin
- USA
- Oil base
- duck fat
- Seed-oil free
- Yes
- Price
- $$$
- Small batch
- Yes
An unduckingly unbelievable experience.
Holy Duck is the jar that lives at the top of our tier list — the one we reach for when nobody’s filming. The trick is in the name: duck fat. Where most chili oils build on a neutral seed oil, Holy Duck’s richness coats everything it touches and makes other jars taste a little thin afterward.
The lineup
We unboxed the trio: the OG, the Lava, and the Vegan.
- OG — the flagship. Rich, garlicky, deeply savory. This is the S-tier experience.
- Lava — same DNA, more fire. For the folks who thought the OG was a warm-up.
- Vegan — no duck, still very good, for the plant-based members of the gang.
The taste test
Rich is the word we kept coming back to. The garlic is heavy without being harsh, the crisp is satisfying, and the duck fat gives it a roundness that seed-oil jars can’t reach. On rice, noodles, or a fried egg it’s borderline unfair.
Verdict
S tier. Our favorite. If you only buy one premium jar this year and you’re not vegan, buy this one (and if you are vegan, they made one for you too).
Where to buy: direct from Holy Duck’s site — link in the buy box above.
Best on
- noodles
- rice
- eggs
- dumplings
Skip it if
- you want a vegan oil (grab their Vegan jar instead)
- you avoid animal fats
Keep tasting
If you like this, try…
Lee Kum Kee
Chiu Chow Chili Oil
The gateway jar that started the Gang. Cheap, everywhere, and still beats jars 4x the price.
Mama Teav's
Hot Garlic
A+ tier — full tasting notes coming after our next side-by-side.
S Boon Sauce
Original & Vegan Sauce
Batch-numbered, umami-loaded, and the Vegan jar with fermented turnip gives up nothing.