Agreed, just tastes like chilli and vinegar to me and I never understood the appeal.

I’ve never really been a fan of it as a direct condiment so I’m inclined to agree.

I think the first time I tried it was about 15 years ago. Out to lunch at a bahn mi spot with coworkers and all the guys were drenching their sandwiches in the stuff. I think in that context it’s overpowering and awful and ruins a good sandwich. Preferentially, I love the Three Mountain Yellow Sriracha as a condiment for a lettuce wrap or a sandwich.

Where I feel red sriracha is a staple item is making sauces and marinades. Whenever I’m making vaguely Thai peanut sauces at home for a pad Thai or a satay it’s the #2 ingredient after the peanut butter itself and often at a 1:1 ratio. Combined with all the other ingredients it mellows out the harsh flavors and makes a wonderful layered sauce.

It isn't hard to make your own hot sauce to your own tastes. I grow my own chillis, lacto ferment them with shop bought pineapple and add mango and vinegar. Tastes far better than most shop bought sauces IMHO.

Try it, it's fun!

https://successfulsoftware.net/2024/08/04/making-your-own-ho...

There are countless different (hot) sauces. And each one is liked by someone somewhere in the world. Shall we list them all?

It's just slightly spicey ketchup, pretty sweet.

There are definitely better things out there.

Which ones would you recommend?

> I don't know why people like Sriracha anyway. It just tastes of "hot" and vinegar.

Nope, also of garlic.

"I don't like $PopularThing" is always a boring take. Other people clearly like it if it's popular.

It is known since ancient times, De gustibus non est disputandum (1): Tastes differ, so it's pointless to dispute matters of taste as if there's a correct answer.

1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_gustibus_non_est_disputandu...