Zindrew Crunchy Garlic Chili Oil (OG & X Batch)

Zindrew has two personalities: one is a daily-driver chili oil, the other is a spice gauntlet.

Zindrew makes a few chili oils, and the labels matter.

Zindrew X Batch: handle with care

The red-label X Batch is seriously hot, closer to a 9/10 on our scale, not the mild end of the lineup. It has habanero, bird’s eye chili, and red Thai chili, and it tastes like someone built a chili oil specifically to test friendships. Great for spice challenges, tricky for dinner.

Zindrew OG Batch: the daily driver

The OG Batch is much more balanced, around 4-5/10 on heat, less than the label suggests. The dominant flavor is garlicky, oniony, and crunchy. It is still spicy enough to count, but not so spicy that it takes over the meal.

One heads-up: the site-wide heat score on this listing is a blend across both batches, so it reads milder than the X Batch actually is. If you only remember one number, remember this: OG is a 4-5, X Batch is a 9.

We liked OG Batch on eggs, rice bowls, noodles, and anything where garlic crunch makes sense. It is thicker and heavier than a pure chili oil, with enough texture to carry a bite.

Verdict

OG Batch: A tier. X Batch: B tier unless you are built different. For most people, OG Batch is the one to buy. X Batch is fun, but it is more of an event. If you love extreme heat (shout out to Valerie Cao, who eats the X Batch by the spoonful; we bow down), go for it.

Where to buy: their site (~$12 + shipping) or SoCal Asian markets; store list on their website.