Why You Should Always Pass On Bottled Hot Sauce At Mexican Restaurants

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Why You Should Always Pass On Bottled Hot Sauce At Mexican Restaurants By Rolland Judd Nov. 20, 2025 3:20 pm EST

Condiments can improve many dishes, complimenting and deepening their flavors to create an altogether richer dining experience. But the wrong condiment can also undercut the taste and appeal of certain food, especially those with diverse or complex ingredients. To that end, Maycoll Calderón, the executive chef of Cuna at The Standard East Village , noted that one thing you should avoid doing at a Mexican restaurant is drenching your meal in bottled hot sauce.

Some foods, like pizza, can be complemented by hot sauce on occasion. Yet, when sampling the fare at a Mexican restaurant for the first time, folks should taste what's brought to their table b