Recommendations for a very spicy red chili oil hot pot soup base without mouth-numbing?

My wife and I love hot pot, but I usually had to go to one specific spot in LA/SGV to get it really spicy without the Szechuan mouth-numbing (ma). That restaurant (Hibiscus Tree) just closed, and now I’m hunting for alternatives I can make at home.

What I’m looking for

  • Red chili oil–forward heat (la) without the numbing/tingling from Sichuan peppercorns (ma)
  • Either a store-bought base/packet or a DIY ingredient combo I can build on
  • Available around LA/SGV (99 Ranch, H Mart, Amazon, etc.) is ideal

Posted Nov 3, 2025, 9:13 PM UTC

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