Eating Out Huy Fong Foods

I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Huy Fong Foods is the maker of your pho's BFF, Sriracha. They also make Sambal Olek, and Chili Garlic.  If you have been living under a rock, or just don't care about local/national news, Huy Fong Foods was declared a public nuisance by the city of Irwindale.  During the chili grinding season, the air in Irwindale had supposedly become spicy from the chilies, that eyes were watering and the air had become so thin that people were coughing because they couldn't breathe.  The city has since then had a change of heart. In a great PR move and to celebrate 34 Spicy Years, Huy Fong Food opened up its doors to the loving public to see and experience first hand the chili grinding season. 

So the tour is free? Cool! Oh you get to try the Sriracha ice cream for free? Hella tite! Wait, you get a free shirt and a commemorative bottle of Sriracha? I'm in!   

What they don't tell you is that you get to wear a kick ass red hair net! 

The tour is self guided and if you are like me, you go the wrong way.   

The tour takes you from start all the way to finished product. It starts outside where you can see the peppers trucked in and unloaded. The pepper they use is a mature jalapeno that is grown in Ventura. A little hometown pride here!  They have a 48 hour window from when the chili is picked and then ground, so the peppers have to be somewhat local.  Here and the grinding room are the only places were you notice the air to be "spicy," Not anywhere outside the factory or in other adjacent rooms. I didn't get watery eyes, but Shane got sneezy and I had a few coughs. No tears and it wasn't noticeable outside the factory. You also get to take one of the chilies! This tour just keeps on giving.  

Like an idiot, I lost one of the free ice cream vouchers, but I don't require much and I am a great sharer. 

Then I stole a cart.

 J/k but everyone that works at Huy Fong Foods was super nice and they have a pretty good gift shop.  

The founder, David Tran had cardboard cut outs of himself throughout the factory.  This one was probably the best one. 

This little bottle is so rad!

As you can see in the background, I do have other hot sauces in the mix.  It actually takes us a while to finish a whole bottle.   I love that they opened up their doors, Willy Wonka style and said, "Hey guys! We're just making hot sauce."  

Pretty good party favors if you ask me! 

Take the tour and see it for yourself!  Spots are filling fast and the tours are limited!