Lucifer's House of Heat — Restaurant in Vancouver

As soon as I walked in, I felt like I was in a wonderland of spice and flavor. They had everything. I'm talking rows and rows of hot sauces, from mild and tangy to burning your mouth off. Whether you're into fruity, smoky, or just straight-up heat, they've got it.

The vibe? Top-tier. The customer service was incredible. They made us feel very comfortable and helped us with choosing hot sauces; they took the time to ask what kinds of flavors we liked which was cool and we got to sample many sauces they offer! One of them had this mango-habanero blend that hit all the right notes: sweet at first, then a fiery kick that sneaks up on you. Another one was a smoky chipotle sauce that was so rich and flavorful, I wanted to put it on everything.

But it wasn't just about the sauces. They had dried up peppers with different SKU, chili oil (which I regret not buying), garlic oil, rubs, spicy snacks, etc. I ended up getting their dried up reaper x pepper.

If I remember correctly, they also host events and raffles as well!

What I really appreciated, though, was how welcoming and helpful everyone was. It wasn't just about making a sale--they genuinely seemed excited to talk about the sauces and share their favorites. They gave us tips on how to pair the sauces with different foods, like which one works best on wings versus burgers or even cooking with the sauces.

It was a great experience and I'm definitely coming back if I ever...

I went into the shop midday with my one year old son in his stroller. There was no greeting. Fine. The worker must be busy fulfilling online orders. No problem. I continued to peruse a nice assortment of sauces meticulously lining various shelves. A dog sat in the corner. A few minutes pass and still no interaction or welcome from the staff person. I needed some guidance in terms of sauces that steered away from habanero heat and towards an Asian influence. The worker gets up, I see them see us, and exit to the back.

So deduce what you will from this one non-interaction. Are walk-in customers not a priority or important? Was it because I had brought a young child? Who really knows. I wanted to like this place. I used to carry a packet of bird's eye chilies to sprinkle over nearly every meal until I drew a line and abstained back down to a point I could appreciate foods without spicy accompaniment. I am learning to love a range of varied hot sauces again after a hiatus during pregnancy. This was to be my re-entry point! Alas, I do hope they do better around their service for those visiting their brick-and-mortar establishment. A majority of businesses are hyperfocused...

Detoured to Lucifers' from a few cities over to pick up the hottest of hot sauces for my friend overseas. I'm not a hardcore spice guy myself, so big thanks for your expertise. Stayed to try the Burning Bird chicken sandwich: spicy mayo, habanero, bell peppers. Unexpectedly refreshing for a hot and humid summer day. The value was fantastic too for such a loaded bun.

Fascinated by the atmosphere here. People gasping and choking and crying into their food with big smiles. Friends cheering them on. Great vibe. There must be something about spicy food that adds to every interaction. Maybe it's the relatable suffering. You know that empty thing that restaurant staff do where they interrupt your thoughts every minute to ask how things are? It's not like that here. They've got this really catchy enthusiasm about spice, and I guess you can be really, really interested in cool stories when your senses are otherwise on fire.

Easily 5/5 in service. Kudos to the two in the back who must read minds, because they seem to be able to tell what I would have asked for in an instant. Thanks for the extra packaging for my fragile glass bottles; I'm sure they'll survive...