Bukkake okazu rayu is Japanese chili garlic oil, a tasty mix of chilis and very crispy fried garlic. Oddly enough, the regular variety doesn’t have any heat at all despite its fiery red presentation. It’s similar in appearance to the Chinese version (in that category, I favor Lee Kum Kee’s chili oil) but is very tasty even in small amounts that it’s best eaten with bland food such as rice, steamed vegetables, and plain wontons.
I love chili garlic oil, especially this one that our friends graciously shared with us from Tokyo. I recently discovered that it’s actually available at Sunrise Mart, and possibly other Japanese or Asian stores.
Here it is among other sauces in a Japanese specialty store in the East Village, New York. This is a great addition to your pantry if it’s available to you. Left to my own devices, I could drink this bottle straight up!
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