There are any number of sauces sold here in the USA that are basically ground up chillis and water; you can get them to varying degrees of hotness. Nothing like that over there? Here the best selection is in the "Mexican" aisle of your grocery store. If you speak Spanish and and/or feel really adventurous you can go to your nearby tienda and really play Russian -- well, Mexican -- roulette.

Tabasco is good but is 1/2 vinegar so it will add a sour taste. There's another brand, Louisiana Hot Sauce, I think it's called, that is just hot.

But I have no idea if you have these there (I'm assuming you're in the UK?) Are there Asian food stores you might go into and ask what they have?

My guess is that the stuff the restaurants is probably similar to the pepper sauces we get here -- chillis and water. I imagine though that to make your own might be difficult (and painful).

O..O
=o=