You Should Consider Skipping The Bottled Hot Sauce At Mexican Restaurants. Here's Why

Hot sauce is an inextricable part of authentic Mexican cuisine. If you've ever been to a Mexican restaurant before, you've likely seen the bottles of hot sauce that are available at every table alongside other condiments and seasonings. But, believe it or not, you're likely to be far better off skipping the bottled hot sauce, especially if you're in a high-quality place where chefs have taken time to put a well-balanced meal together.

The reason you should avoid bottled hot sauces is because they can overpower the natural flavors of the dish. In the words of Maycoll Calderón, executive chef of Cuna at The Standard Eastern Village, in an exclusive interview with sister site The Takeout: "A good taco, molé, or ceviche already has balance — acidity, spice, salt, and freshness. Adding bottled sauce often covers the subtle layers we've built in the kitchen." Bottled hot sauce can complement a lot of foods, including frozen pizza, but if you're not careful, you can easily turn your meal's flavor profile into nothing but heat.

A good analogy, as Calderón put it, is that "It's like putting ketchup on a perfectly cooked steak." If you wouldn't walk into a fancy steakhouse and ask for a bottle of ketchup, you're better off avoiding the bottled hot sauce in your state's best Mexican restaurant. Enjoy the flavors the chefs have built, including those in the entrée and house-made condiments.

Instead of a bottled hot sauce, Calderón says to reach for the salsa. "Most Mexican restaurants make their own salsa daily," he said. "Each has a purpose: a green tomatillo salsa for freshness and acidity, a red chile de árbol salsa for heat, or a roasted salsa for smokiness." A Mexican restaurant's chips and salsa can tell you a lot about a place's quality, and if they're carefully crafted, you shouldn't have any trouble using them to complement your food. If you're feeling a bit lost, ask the waiter which type of salsa they recommend for your meal. In the same vein, check to see if the restaurant has any house-made hot sauces. Unlike bottled sauces, these are more likely to complement the flavors of the restaurant's dishes and may even be made with them in mind. Just as you would with salsa, ask the server about hot sauce options and what they recommend.

If you're determined to put bottled hot sauce on your Mexican food, do so sparingly. As many have learned, a little goes a long way with hot sauce. What's more, always try the food without it first before adding condiments. Otherwise, you may underestimate the spiciness already present and add too much or totally overwhelm the meal. You may even find that you like it better without hot sauce, so take some time and enjoy the food as-is first. You can always add more hot sauce later, but it's almost impossible to take it off.

Static Media owns and operates Foodie and The Takeout.