Hot sauce tastes like where it comes from, and nowhere proves that faster than Philadelphia. The four makers on this page work within a few miles of each other, and every one of them puts something unmistakably Philly in the bottle — a cheesesteak in sauce form, locally grown reapers, a collaboration with a Philly DJ. This is the deepest craft sauce scene we carry.
Here is who they are, what they make, and where to start.
The Philadelphia makers we carry
Shop all Philadelphia hot sauces →
- Hotbox Philly (now Faiya) — award-winning small batch, from gateway-mild to Carolina Reaper
- Kevin's Fire Sauce — all-natural, no salt, no sugar, no gluten, no preservatives
- Mammoth Sauce Co. — chef-minded blends with a sense of humor (Willow Grove, PA)
- Weaksauce Philly — bright, citrus-forward heat
Hotbox Philly (now Faiya)
Philadelphia, PA
Hotbox Philly was a company born from the collaboration of two brands, Faiya and Pickle Monster. Radhi Fernandez, Steve Ulrich and Nicholas Clark merged their talents and kept busy creating an awesome lineup of tasty small batch sauces. With a drive to support others and innovate in the hot sauce business, they also help other companies develop their sauces through co-packing and business development services.
These folks made some seriously great sauces, and had fun doing it. The brand now operates as Faiya, so you will see both names on bottles and labels.
Where to start: the 2x award-winning Salsa Verde ($7.50) is known as "the gateway" by people who were nervous about spicy food — tomatillos, jalapeños and cilantro with just enough heat to get you going. From there, What the ... Fuego ($8.50) brings a wave of natural mango ahead of a creeping habanero burn, and La Muerte ($9.00) drops locally sourced (PA and NJ) Carolina Reapers and Caribbean habaneros on your rice and beans. Mama Juana ($12.00) is the world's first Mama Juana hot sauce, built around Dominican rum culture.
Kevin's Fire Sauce
Philadelphia, PA
Kevin Gorum has been turning up the heat in Philly since 2017. Using locally grown peppers and other fresh ingredients, Kevin creates unique hot sauces that are all-natural, handcrafted, and free of salt, gluten, added preservatives and sugar. His company also produces a wide range of dry blended spices that are just as flavorful.
Grab one of Kevin's sauces when you are looking for something with a depth of flavor beyond the typical hot sauce. One of our favorites is his Mango Scotch Bonnet ($9.50) — that hit of tropical pepper heat alongside apple cider vinegar and herbs is truly something special. When asked about the one ingredient that makes his sauces really stand out, his reply was true to his Philly roots: "LOVE."
If you want the heat turned up, Peach Ghost Pepper ($9.50) pairs fruit and spice with the bite of the Bhut Jolokia.
Mammoth Sauce Co.
Willow Grove, PA
Stephen Gill — a rugby playing, home brewing, all-around culinary creator — is crafting sauces with some true Philly spirit. Every sauce has such character to it that we can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
Whiz Wit ($9.00) is a cheesesteak in a bottle: serrano and jalapeño peppers, caramelized onions, cheesy nutritional yeast and liquid smoke for that grilled feel — and it is entirely vegan, no meat or dairy. Spicy Jawn ($10.00), a collaboration with DJ Tonka, blends cayenne and habanero with the subtle warmth of mustard and bay spices. As Tonka puts it, "there's a new jawn for everything."
Weaksauce Philly
Philadelphia, PA
Tangerine Nightmare ($10.00) is the citrusy one — the sauce to reach for when you want to brighten (and frighten) up a burger or a plate of chicken. A Philly favorite.
