Salsas are a lot like snowflakes… no two are the same. So whether you like your salsa spicy or mild, chunky or blended, red, green, yellow or brown, Salsa Fest LA most definitely had a salsa for you.
1. Vasquez Family Salsa
Photo by Cedric Alfonso
For being the new kids on the block, Vasquez Family Salsa sure has been getting some solid recognition. They received first place honors last year at The OC Fair salsa contest, so you know they’ve got serious salsa game. Their signature Fire Roasted Habanero Salsa is made with fire roasted tomatillos, serrano chilies and a bunch of other good stuff. Valerie and her salsa squad are probably on their way to a farmer’s market near you; so make sure to be on the lookout and say hello from the Spoon LA family.
2. Nam Prik Asian Hot Sauce
Photo by Cedric Alfonso
Based out of Torrance CA, Nam Prik is a company whose goal is to share the wonderful flavors of Southern Asia with the world. Heavily influenced by Thai cuisine, their signature NAM PRIK Salsa Verde is made with simple ingredients to produce big time flavor. NAM PRIK is less of a traditional salsa, and more of a versatile sauce to be used for a wide range of purposes and dishes. Fish sauce, Thai chili, garlic, vinegar and sugar go into producing one of the tastiest salsas we’ve ever tried.
3. Rojo’s Salsa
Photo by Cedric Alfonso
Rojo’s Salsa has been supplying LA with some of the best salsa since 1985. Their original family recipe remains the same as it was in 1965 when the Rojo family immigrated to the US from Mexico. Staying true to their roots, all of Rojo’s products are made with fresh cut vegetables like tomatoes, onions and chilies. The salsa is done in small batches and is processed cold – never cooked. This process assures delicious fresh tasting quality salsa and guacamole every time.
4. Del Real Foods
Photo by Cedric Alfonso
Based in sunny Southern California, Del Real Foods has been cranking out traditional Mexican favorites since the 1970’s. Their dedication to tradition and quality have made them one the most recognized companies around. Featured above is their signature Tomato & Garlic Salsa, made with fresh tomato and other fresh herbs to create a light and refreshing salsa, perfect for any occasion.
5. J&R Food
Photo by Jessi Jordan
J&R Food knows their way around salsa making, and because of this, their signature Fiera Hot Sauce is top notch. Made with roasted red peppers, garlic, white vinegar, sugar and water this simple sauce brings in big time flavor. Not chunky at all, the Fiera Sauce has a smooth and velvety texture making it perfect for any of your culinary needs.
6. El Machete Microbrew Chili Sauce
Photo by Cedric Alfonso
El Machete Chili Sauce is a company based out of Boyle Heights, and let me tell you, these guys are serious about their salsa. With three signature blends, and some limited special releases, this is what gourmet salsa should taste like. Their mildest salsa, Verde Rebelde, has fire roasted Jalapeño, serrano & orange habanero chilies and Mexican herbs. Their medium heat salsa, Insurgente, is mildly sweetened with roasted carrots, mixed with fried onion and garlic. Finally, for the heat lovers there’s the Mexican Molotov. This salsa contains fire roasted red Serrano and orange habanero chilies. All sauces are on the chunky side and sell for $10 each.
7. Casa La Dona
Photo by Cedric Alfonso
Casa La Dona is one of the LA’s most authentic Mexican restaurants, and their salsas are no joke. With over 20 different styles to choose from, La Dona is your one stop salsa spot in LA. No matter what your salsa style is, La Dona is crafting a salsa for you. Here are some of our recommendations:
- The Smokey Morita Salsa is made from smoked tomatillo and roasted onion for a deep earthy and smokey flavor.
- Their Pineapple Salsa is made from arbol chili and fresh pineapple for a sweet and spicy finish.
- Their Peanut Salsa is made from whole raw peanuts and arbol chili for spicy peanut butter flavor profile.
- Lastly, the Mango Cilantro Salsa is made from fresh mango and fresh cilantro for a sweet chunky chutney style salsa.
Photo by Jessi Jordan
Since we have a hunch you’re dying to know our top 3 salsa makers from the 2016 LA Salsa Fest. Here they are:
1. Nam Prik Chili Sauce. Unlike any salsa we had ever tried, this Asian-inspired sauce was surprising sweet and tangy with a good level of heat.
2. J&R Fiera Sauce, which was blended to an unreal velvety smooth consistency with bold and complex flavors.
3. La Dona. Boasting a wide and eclectic range of salsas, this premier LA salsa maker did not lack in creativity.
Don’t you feel silly for not going to this event? Make sure to be on the lookout for next year’s lineup – you don’t want to miss this event two years in a row.
In the meantime, satisfy all your salsa fest needs with this awesome recap video: