Thami Letto vs Chilli Crisp
If chilli crisp is already in your fridge, there is a very good chance Thami Letto belongs there too. Here is exactly why they are different, and which one deserves the spot.
Chilli crisp has had a remarkable decade. What started as a niche Chinese condiment became a genuine pantry staple for food lovers across the UK and US. And for good reason. The combination of crispy bits, chilli heat and savoury oil is genuinely brilliant. It makes almost everything taste better.
Thami Letto does not compete with chilli crisp. It exists in a different category entirely, one that was feeding Burma long before chilli crisp arrived on Western shelves. But if you are already the kind of person who keeps chilli crisp in the cupboard, Thami Letto will make immediate sense to you. Here is what makes them different.
✦ What They Have in Common
Both are condiments you spoon over food. Both have crispy textural elements. Both are intensely savoury. Both are ready to use straight from the jar. Both work brilliantly on rice, noodles, eggs, toast and dumplings. And both have a devoted following of people who put them on everything.
If you like one, the logic of the other is easy to understand. They come from different food cultures and different flavour traditions, but they scratch the same itch: the need for something that transforms a plain bowl of food into something you actually want to eat.
✦ Where They Differ
| Thami Letto | Chilli Crisp | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Burma (Myanmar) | China (Sichuan) |
| Base | Roasted peanuts, sesame, gram flour, fried onions | Chilli flakes in oil |
| Heat | Warm, background spice | Front-and-centre chilli heat |
| Texture | Thick, chunky, dry-ish. Made to be mixed through food | Oily, crispy bits suspended in chilli oil |
| How to use | Mix through rice or noodles until every grain is coated | Spoon over the top as a finishing sauce |
| Flavour depth | Layers of roasted nuts, umami, spice and sesame | Chilli heat, garlic, savoury oil |
| Protein | High (peanuts, sesame, gram flour) | Low |
| Vegan option | Yes | Usually yes |
| Fish option | Yes (with sardines and fish sauce) | No |
| Best on | Rice, noodles, eggs, toast, dumplings | Dumplings, noodles, eggs, pizza |
✦ The Three Real Differences
Chilli crisp sits on top of food. Thami Letto gets mixed through it. The result is not a dish with a condiment on top, it is a fully dressed bowl where every bite has the same depth of flavour. Think the difference between a drizzle of olive oil and a proper salad dressing.
Chilli crisp leads with chilli. The heat is the point. Thami Letto has spice but it sits in the background, supporting the roasted nuts and sesame rather than dominating them. It is warming rather than hot, complex rather than punchy.
Chilli crisp is oily. Thami Letto is thick and dry-ish, made of ground nuts and seeds and fried onions rather than oil. It coats food rather than pooling on top of it, which is why mixing it through rice rather than spooning it over works so much better.
"Chilli crisp made the world ready for Thami Letto. Once you understand why a crispy, savoury condiment makes everything better, the next step is obvious."
✦ Can You Use Both?
Absolutely. They do not compete on the plate, they complement each other. Mix Thami Letto through your rice first to get the full Burmese base flavour, then add a small spoon of chilli crisp on top if you want extra heat and oil. It is one of the better things you can do to a bowl of plain white rice.
Most people who try Thami Letto already have chilli crisp in their cupboard. They tend to keep both, but they reach for Thami Letto when they want something that feels more like a complete meal and less like a finishing sauce.
✦ Which One Should You Try First?
If you have never had either, try Thami Letto. It is less familiar, which means it is more of a discovery. The flavours are new in a way that is immediately enjoyable rather than challenging, and the experience of mixing it through a bowl of noodles and eating something that tastes this complete from just two ingredients is genuinely surprising.
If you already have chilli crisp and want something different, Thami Letto is the answer. Same shelf. Different job. Worth having both.
Your New Favourite Jar is £4.99.
Handmade in Hackney. Ready to eat straight from the jar. Fish and vegan versions available. UK tracked delivery.