Los Angeles restaurant offers free Vietnamese food in exchange for Sriracha amid chili shortage

June 29, 2022

Los Angeles-based Vietnamese restaurant Bé Ù is offering some of their menu items for free in exchange for unopened bottles of Sriracha.

Along with photos of the iconic green-capped Sriracha bottle and an NPR news headline stating a “nationwide” shortage due to climate change, the Vietnamese street food restaurant called on locals via Instagram to help.

“Hello Los Angeles Community!!” the post read. “We need Sriracha (Huy Fong Foods Brands ONLY). Of all the supply chain issues in the world, this one feels personal lol.”

Customers will have the option of “free banh mi, popcorn chicken, or order of summer rolls” if they bring in a 28 ounce bottle; half off will be given to those who bring in a 17 ounce bottle.

“We go through about 312 bottles a year or so any little bit helps. Thank you FAM!!!” concluded the post.

Huy Fong Foods, the company that makes Sriracha, initially announced in an email on April 19 that they were facing “a more severe shortage of chili” compared to the beginning of the pandemic in July 2020.

The California-based company released another statement this month explaining weather conditions had affected the quality of chili peppers, creating a further shortage of the signature chili sauce.

“We are still endeavoring to resolve this issue that has been caused by several spiraling events, including unexpected crop failure from the spring chili harvest,” said Huy Fong Foods. “We hope for a fruitful fall season and thank our customers for their patience and continued support during this difficult time.”

Featured Image via @beukitchen (left) and GETTY IMAGES (right)

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