The “Delicious” Condiments That Are Taking Over Grocery Shelves

Have you browsed your grocery store aisles (or scrolled through Instagram) lately? It feels like there are dozens and dozens of new groceries popping up every day — both IRL and online. 

I may just be super sensitive to what appears on shelves, though (it is my actual job to keep tabs on all things groceries, after all). Like the recent wave of dill pickle-flavored snacks, and the growing rise of Tajin-coated candies, lately I’ve been noticing a new trend in my grocery aisles: gourmet condiments. 

Ah yes, condiments. I personally love them, and sometimes feel like they are the reason fries exist. As home cooks continue to roll up their sleeves, brands — more than ever, it feels like — are making extra-flavorful mayos, barbecue sauces, and finishing oils to add a little luxury to everyday meals. Here are a few of my favorites.

Molly Baz, author of Cook This Book (and self-described sauce connoisseur), recently debuted Ayoh!, a line of gourmet mayonnaises that come in four flavors: Tangy Dijonayo, Hot Giardinayo, Dill Pickle (of course!), and Original. I was hesitant to try them at first, because … do we really need more mayo? I suppose the answer is “yes,” because I ended up sampling all four — and they’re really, really tasty. 

The mayo is incredibly creamy, like I just blended it myself — but in a squeeze bottle. It’s so briney, salty, and creamy.  I mean, I’ve already nearly gone through the dill pickle flavor. 

It’s not just Molly launching sauces. Tenayo Foods has a stellar line of Mexican-inspired sauces like Black Mole Sauce and Spicy Al Pastor Barbecue Sauce that are spicy, savory, and fantastic on almost everything, including fried chicken and, of course, tacos.   

And Bachan’s, of the famed Japanese barbecue sauce, recently expanded its line of sauces with a Sweet & Spicy Dipping Sauce that I absolutely love on rice, with dumplings, and even with tater tots. Its superb sweet-to-heat balance enhances everything it touches. 

I’m not just seeing new takes on the classics, like mayonnaise and BBQ sauces: Infused and flavored oils are also all the rage.

Somos — a purveyor of quick, easy, and delicious Mexican meals and condiments — has entered the chili crisp chat with its own Mexican Chili Crisp. You’ll find tons of roasted chilies, garlic, and sesame seeds as well as pumpkin seeds (or pepitas) and guajillo chili peppers packed into that petite jar, giving the chili crisp its signature spice. Momofuku, whose chili crisp was a recent runner-up in our official taste test, is also reimagining finishing oils with the launch of a garlic-sesame-flavored Garlic Crunch that’s ideal for those who triple the garlic — and the spice — in a recipe.

And last month I tried Maya Kaimal’s new Chili Crisp. Everything about it thrilled me: It’s the first Indian-style chili crisp that I’ve spotted at a major retailer! It’s made with a mixture of tarka oil, shallots, garlic, chilies, turmeric, and curry leaves, plus other warm spices that make it so darn good on rice, spooned into stews, and even spread on toast. 

Meanwhile, brands like Algae Cooking Club are completely reinventing the category with the launch of Shiitake Mushroom Oil and Gochugaru Chili Oil, which are deeply umami-packed and algae-based (something I personally haven’t seen before).

Are you shopping for new kinds of condiments? Tell us about it in the comments below.