Orion Turtle Chips

As you know, I love snacks.  Even better is snacks from other countries.  And best yet, snacks with interesting flavors.  Which gets us to Orion, a South Korean brand, one of the top manufacturers in the country.

Orion makes Orion a variety of items, like biscuits, cookies, pies, crackers, chips, chocolate, gum, and candy.  If you don't recognize the Orion name, you may know one of its products: Choco Pie, its top seller that has been around since 1974.

"Turtle Chips are characterized by rich texture and double flavor because they create the feeling of eating several chips with only one bite. When you slowly chew your sweets, it maximizes crispiness in your mouth and the resembling turtles are also the alluring features of Turtle Chips."

The largest of their chip lines is the kkobuk chips, or "turtle chips".  The name of the chip comes from the shape, that somewhat resembles a turtle shell.  The come in many flavors, both savory and sweet.  On the savory side, flavors include truffle, corn soup, shrimp, crunch cheese, flamin lime, onion, nutty bean, and seaweed. For sweet, there is vanilla, sweet soybean, cinnamon, and choco churro.  I've tried every flavor I could get my hands on.

Update Review, October 2026

Flamin' Lime.

“Four-layer corn crisps covered with a hot and tangy blend of red chili peppers and lime. Named for their turtle shell shape, these richly textured multi-layer chips create the experience of eating four flaming-hot chips at once with every fiery, crunchy bite.”

These are definitely not a flavor I’d ever pick.  I do like spicy, but I don’t care for lime, and don’t care for Mexican flavors, as these seemed inspired by.  But when they had them stocked in my office ... of course I tried them.

They were zesty, they had salsa sort of flavors going on with tomatoes and chiles, and they tasted a bit like flavored tortilla chips ... just, not what I really care for.

But … I still adored the actual form factor of them, they were sooo snackable, I loved how they dissolved in my mouth, and I really truly wanted to appreciate the salsa-eque thing going on, I just didn’t.  So 4/5 on form factor, texture, fun, but 3/5 for me due to the flavor.

Update Review, May 2025

Truffle.

"Truffle is one of the most expensive foods you can buy. It is scarce to produce, seasonal, extremely difficult to grow and take many years to cultivate. Truffles provide oaky, nutty and earthy, sweet and juicy aroma which you can't taste from any other food. Transforming this unique and delicate truffle flavor into delightful crunchy bags of chips is ultimately amazing! Layers of crispiness and truffle flavor goodness leave a mark in your heart leaving you craving for another bite, and another, and another!"

This was my first time trying a savory flavor of turtle chip.  I started off my savory journey at the top: truffle!

Well, sorta savory that is.  My first bite left me a bit confused.  As always I absolutely adored the turtle chip form factor: light, airy, crispy, so many layers, zomg, why aren't all snack foods turtle chips?  But the flavor was very confusing.  I did taste the truffle salt.  I also tasted a ton of other savory elements: potato powder, onion powder, sour cream powder, butter powder, oregano, basil, parsley, they all did their job of creating quite a complex mix of flavors.  But those were only about half the ingredients.  There was also sugar.  And fructose.  And stevia.  And molasses powder.  And aspartame.  Yup, um, every common sweetening agent was also in here.  So they were savory, but very sweet, and not in a kettle corn way.

I loved the turtle form.  I really like the first hit of truffle.  I think I liked the other savory flavors, although they did seem a bit muddled.  But ... my brain didn't love the sweetness mixed in there, which is odd, given that I really do generally like sweet and savory mixes.  

I still enjoyed my bag, and certainly wouldn't give up even a single chip, but I'd move on to another flavor in the future.  3.5/5.

Flaming Mala.

"Experience the unique flavor of South Korea's Turtle Chips Mala. Made from a special blend of spices, this classic snack will delight your taste buds with its bold flavor. "

Wow.  Wow, wow, wow.

I finally really, truly understand what mala is all about.

But let me back up.  Another savory flavor, and one I expected to bring some heat.  After all, they are named "flaming" mala, AND the bag has a big "OMG!! HOT!" right on it.  I proceeded carefully.  I took a small handful, and was slightly surprised by the fact that they didn't seem particularly spicy.  The flavor was remarkably complex, and hard to nail down exactly, but, spicy or hot weren't really the words that came to mind.  I really liked the fascinating flavor, and of course *adored* the form factor (so light! so crispy! zomg, layers!), but I was thinking, "eh, these aren't very spicy."  I had more and more and more.  Because, that form factor is just so addicting.

And then a few minutes passed.  And I realized my entire mouth, and in particular my tongue, were sorta numb and tingling.  And that tingle lingered.    

Well, huh.  Yeah, ok, *that* is mala.  The ingredients list is pretty long, and somewhat explains the complexity of flavor, as there is just so much going on - "mala chilli seasoning" to start, and "umami powder", onion powder, garlic powder, shrimp powder, soy sauce, black pepper, salt, paprika, yeast extract, red pepper paste, white vinegar, gouda cheese powder, and so much more.  I can safely say that I didn't expect gouda cheese to be in that list!  Nor shrimp powder really, but yeah, so much complex savory tastes in there, and many strong ones at that (e.g. soy sauce, vinegar, red pepper).  The chips do have a sweetness to them too though, with with sugar, sucrose, fructose, and aspartame all in the mix too.  As I said, complex, fascinating, and indeed, tingling.  Mala.

And yes, these were gone far too fast.  4/5.

Sweet Corn.

"The lightly sweet, savory, and creamy corn soup taste."

Although these are called "sweet corn", they really are corn soup flavor, which is a bit more specific of a flavor, and one I'm familiar with due to other Asian snack foods (e.g. YBC Aerial corn potage very similar chips from Japan, or the corn potage flavor of Umaibo, also from Japan).  While I've enjoyed other sweet corn snacks, these were actually my favorites so far, as the flavor wasn't quite as strong in that niche potage department.  But still quite pronounced, most definitely sweet corn.

As always, I adored the form factor.  The Aerial snacks look nearly identical, but Turtle Chips really just get the layers, the airiness, the crunch perfect.  Absolutely nothing to change about the form factor, they are so crispy, so crunchy, yet they melt in your mouth, and break apart in the most addicting way ... swoon.  <3 these things in general.

The corn flavor is one you need to be in the mood for, but when you are, it is enjoyable.  Low 4/5 just because it isn't a flavor I find myself always wanting.

Original Review, February 2023

I got these on a whim from a Korean grocery store in San Francisco (along with the Honey Butter Chips), and I'm glad I did.  They were incredible.  I'd get them again in a heartbeat, and would love to try more flavors, but alas, they only had one.

Choco Churro.

"This snack, composed of four crunchy layers, harmonizes and blends in the flavor of Choco Churros."

Ok, these are wild.  I sorta thought I knew what to expect, but it turns out, I really did not.  

The form factor truly is unlike anything else I've seen, with the signature four layers.  The eating experience of these is fantastic.  Just as they say, it really does give you the sensation of eating several chips in a single bite.  They are perfectly crisp, and certainly addicting just based on the shape.

And then there is the taste.  This is where I was even more thrown off, as I was expecting a strong cinnamon component, per the churro name.  There was cinnamon, but really not much of it.  For me, this was a good thing, as I like cinnamon, but, cinnamon and chocolate aren't a magical combination for me.  The pieces did have a great chocolate flavor, a deep cocoa, and additional sugar coating that made them sorta lightly glazed.  Sweet and chocolately, with just a hint of cinnamon.  

The flavor reminded me of unhealthy children's breakfast cereals, but the form was more of a snack, or even a dessert if you wanted to dunk them in whipped cream, which sounds like a wonderful idea to me.  Ok, honestly, I think I'd really enjoy them for breakfast too, and I think the nutrition stats really aren't any different from sugary chocolately breakfast cereals, but mine never lasted that long.

I really enjoyed these, and will get them again if I ever find them!  4/5.

Read More...

I'm Donut?

Yes it is called I'm Donut?  Yes, it opened in New York with a ton of hype, the first location outside of Japan (yes, it is from Japan and known around the world).  Oh, and they make not only sweet but also savory donuts, which of course garners even more attention (I'm talking scrambled eggs, honey, and tomato mayo in one, three cheese bechamel and anchovy in another ...).

I've had a lot of great donuts in my life (I have a label on my blog devoted to them after all), so I rolled my eyes at this place, and assumed I'd find it fairly boring.

I did not.

This is truly the most magical donut I've ever had.

"Get ready to try nama donuts - airy, melt-in-your-mouth delights that are soft and light. Our specialty dough and toppings are meticulously handmade on-site 
daily, for a donut you'll never forget."

Apparently "nama" means fresh or raw in Japanese, and they use it here to refer to the texture. Which sounds crazy, until you have it. I've never had anything like this before.  So fundamentally different than any other donut, yet clearly identifiable as a donut at the same time.  It confuses my brain to eat these, but I delight in every moment of it.

I'm Donut? Original. $3.98.

"Airy, melt-in-your-mouth nama donut."

Magic voodoo.  That is all that I can say after eating this donut.  They are doing magic voodoo with these donuts.  I don't understand how this texture is possible.  So fluffy.   So light.  So airy.  Not at all greasy or oily, but clearly fried not baked.  Not too sweet, even with the powdered sugar.  This is a donut that doesn't leave you feeling weighed down, and even makes you consider eating a second one with no regrets.

If you are curious, the answer has to do with their donut base that is a mix of Japanese flours, squash, and organic shortening.  And clearly some interesting technique.

I don't understand how a donut can be this good.  5/5.  Stunned.

Strawberry Chocolate Ring (Vegan). $6.98.

"Strawberry chocolate coated glazed donut, sprinkled with fruity strawberry flakes."

I was stunned by this donut.  A vegan one at that.  I originally took only half, but went back for the rest immediately.

The glaze on it was remarkable - so fruity, not too sweet, and somehow ... juicy.  Yes, this was a juicy donut. Like biting into a fresh juicy strawberry.  I don't know any other way to describe, as totally crazy as that sounds.  Fruity and juicy and delightful.  The donut underneath the glaze was light and fluffy, didn't taste like like oil, and certainly didn't have any strange vegan vibes.

Adored this.  4/5 or maybe higher.

Read More...

Cubby's

Cubby's is a fast casual burger join in Hell's Kitchen, that I never would have discovered if it wasn't for the summer of Paze*, but I'm so glad I did.  It is a unique setting, the quality seems high, and the staff were always friendly.

*If you are unfamiliar, Paze is a digital wallet system (like Paypal or Google Pay) that you can use to check out with some merchants.  In the summer of 2026, when they launched, they had a promotion with most major credit cards and banks to give you back a $10 credit, up to 10 times, per card/account, if you spent $10 and paid with Paze.  One of their launch partners was Clover, the company behind many restaurant POS systems, so if you ordered online through their Clover storefront, and paid with Paze, you got $10 free (over and over, again, 10 times per card/account).  Tax, tip, it all counts towards the $10, so you could get something <$10, and just tip up to the $10 to trigger the credit.  I love a freebie, and I love excuses to check out places that I wouldn't normally stumble into, so I used Clover and Paze to go on little missions every weekend, gettings $100s in free food along the way.

Exterior.

Cubby's is relatively easy to notice, with several signs advertising their offerings, and bright flags decorating the awning.

Counter Seating.

Inside is unique and charming, with games laid out on the counter to play, with everything from Uno to chess to even a mini pacman arcade game.  The stools and bar seating make it great for solo diners too, and they had a few small tables as well.

Ordering Area.

Orders are taken at a register in front, although I ordered online and just picked up from the same area.

The menu is mostly burgers, in many variations, plus close siblings like hot dogs and grilled cheese, along with fried sides, and ice cream/shakes.

Sides

The lineup of sides at Cubby's is great: fries (regular, seasoned 4 different ways, chili cheese'd, or even loaded with a chopped cheeseburger and sauces on top), sweet potato fries (again, 4 different seasoning options), tots (shaped like tetris pieces), or onion rings.

Sweet Potato Fries. $6.25.
(no pepper).

"Medium cut sweet potato fries seasoned with salt and pepper."

I adore sweet potato fries, and since moving to New York have been mourning the loss of my favorite sweet potato fries in San Francisco, so I've been trying them everywhere I go.  These were, hands down, the best I've had in New York.

They were a average size, not big and think like I really prefer, but they were crispy, and very well flavored.  Perfect salt level, not greasy.  You can also get them seasoned with old bay, cajun, or truffle seasoning for $1 more, but I opted for the basic experience this first time, although I asked for no pepper (they include S&P normally).

I really enjoyed these, and plan to get them again soon.  4/5.

Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries.  $7.25.
Cajun, no pepper.

My next visit, I got the sweet potato fries again, no pepper, but also added cajun seasoning for $1 more.

The cajun spice added a bit more flavor to them, but I wouldn't say there was all that much seasoning, and I don't think it necessarily added much.  Probably not worth the $1 extra, but it was fun to try. The fries themselves were just as before, nicely crispy, clearly fresh.  4/5.

Mizz Honey Mustard / Truffle Aioli / Black Pepper Aioli.
$0.90 each with fries / $1.14 separately.

I was really excited by Cubby's lineup of house made sauces, and ordered three to try with my fries.

Mizz Honey Mustard:

A very creamy style of honey mustard. I liked it; it wasn't too sweet or too mustardy, but you definitely have to want a creamy mayo version, not a mustard forward version.  This was very mayo.  Probably best for the burgers, less of what I wanted for my sweet potato fries. 3/5.

Truffle Aioli:

Nicely creamy, pretty good truffle flavor, nice aroma.   Definitely my favorite of the sauces.  4/5.

Black Pepper Aioli:

"Mayonnaise, black pepper, minced garlic."

This was fine, but really just mayo.  I didn't really taste garlic. The black pepper flecks were large, and did give some flavor, but not much beyond what you get with properly seasoned food in the first place.  It was fine mayo, but not something I'd order again unless I really wanted mayo with pepper in it for some reason. 3/5.

Mizz Honey Mustard / Wheely Sauce (BBQ).
$0.90 each with fries / $1.14 separately.

Even though I thought the honey mustard was too mayo-y last time, I still got it my second visit, as in my world, sweet potato fries need honey mustard.  I also tried the Wheely Sauce this time, their version of bbq.

Wheely Sauce (BBQ)

A decent bbq sauce.  A bit tangy, a bit sweet.  Not overly complex, no smokiness, but it was fine.  3/5.

Read More...

Mister Softee

Mister Softee.  An iconic brand you'd think I would have experienced before now, given that I adore soft serve ice cream.  And yet, although I had great brand awareness, I hadn't ever actually visited a Mister Softee truck before now.

"Mister Softee was founded by William Conway and James Conway in 1956 in Philadelphia and is one of the largest franchisers of soft ice cream in the United States, with about 350 franchisees operating 625 trucks in 18 states. The headquarters have been in Runnemede, New Jersey since 1958. It is still run by the Conway family, co-owned by cousins Jim Conway Jr. and John Conway."

Mister Softee trucks are ~everywhere in NYC, but the city also has so much actual premium high end specialty soft serve I've just never prioritize it, although I've walked by the trucks many, many times.  Also, I'll admit I've always thought they were overpriced for what is pretty basic ice cream at the end of the day.  They do NOT post their prices on the trucks (hello, tourist tax), but when I've stopped by to ask a few times I recall a basic cone being $6-8, which seems crazy to me.  They have just the basics: vanilla and chocolate soft serve (or twist), cup or cone (or double cone), and standard generic chocolate or cherry dip, sprinkles, and simple sauces for sundaes.  I think they only do a single size.  That is it.  Iconic, yes, premium, no.

Visit #1: Catered truck, June 2026

But ... they also do catering, and I attended an event with the Mister Softee truck for all attendees, so I seized the moment to finally get to try it.

Small Vanilla with Rainbow Sprinkles.

This was such a basic cone!  It wasn't made with any particular care, it was kinda small (although really the size was fine with me), the sprinkles weren't particularly well applied.  Basically, generic, you can get it anywhere, in terms of looks.

The taste was good, but again, pretty generic you can get it anywhere.  The base flavor was perhaps a bit vanilla, not too fake tasting, not too sweet, but definitely more akin to frosting flavor than a deep rich vanilla.  It was very creamy, perfect temperature and consistency, and melted beautifully.  Their machine is clearly well calibrated.  The sprinkles were standard sugar sprinkles, the cone a triangle shape cake cone (which is actually my favorite style - I grew out of sugar cones for the most part, but I get annoyed by the flat bases of standard cake cones).  Both were fresh though, no staleness detected.

I see this as what is probably a very reliable, basic cone.  It is good, there is nothing at all wrong with it, but it is not an interesting, unique, or premium product.  Certainly many steps above a fast food cone though.  High 3/5, maybe 3.5/5.

Visit #2: Citi Field Concession Stand, July 2026

About a month after my first time actually having Mister Softee, I found myself again at an event with their ice cream, this time, at Citi Field, where several of the concessions had their soft serve.  Since it was a special event, the menu was very basic: cups only (no cones), vanilla/chocolate/twist, sprinkles.  That's it.

I again really wanted to like Mister Softee more than I did.  It was a bit better than fast food soft serve, but, barely.  It is just a shame to eat this kind of soft serve in a city with such better soft serve. 

Twist w/ (Mets) Sprinkles.

Since I had a vanilla cone my first visit, this time I went for the twist, even though chocolate ice cream of any kind isn't my favorite.  I got the sprinkles of course, and they were Mets colors in honor of the venue.

I was not very into this.  As I sorta feared, the chocolate ice cream was a miss for me (it was fine, but just not my thing).  I really like my soft serve in a cone (unless being used as an a la mode component) and only bowls were available.

It was a nice consistency, and melted nicely, but I found myself less and less into it with every bite.  Very low 3/5, really probably 2.5.

Vanilla w/ (Mets) Sprinkles.

At the end of the event, I decided to give Mister Softee one more try, opting for vanilla only.  Of course with sprinkles, which were pretty meagerly applied.

I liked this more than the twist, but the ice cream flavor just wasn't particularly good, a bit sour.  The ice cream melted nicely, but it was less creamy and premium than really good soft serve.  Another very low 3/5, if that.

Read More...

MIXUE Ice Cream & Tea

Update Review: 2026 Visit, New York, New York

I'll always remember the first time I went to Mixue.  It was in Sydney (in 2023, see my original review blow), and the idea of a $1 soft serve cone, even all those years ago, was wild to me.  AND it was decent?  Woah.  So when Mixue finally reached NYC this past December, I took notice.

"Mixue Menu has officially arrived in New York, bringing its renowned soft-serve ice cream, milk tea, and refreshing fruit drinks to one of the world’s busiest cities. Known for its great taste and affordable prices, Mixue New York is quickly becoming a popular destination for dessert lovers, students, and anyone seeking a quick sweet treat. Also, you can explore Mixue USA Menu."

The first NYC location opened on Christmas Eve, 2025, and was soon joined by 3 more.  They all seem crazy busy all the time, which sorta makes sense. Yes, there are a slew of bubble tea and soft serve spots in the city, but not with this price point.

Snow King... for Halloween.

Like all Mixue locations, there was a huge Snow King statue, and given the upcoming holiday, he was surrounded by a Halloween explosion.

There was also ... the jingle. ZOMG the jingle.  I was there less than 10 minutes, but it drove me low key insane.  And, it wouldn't leave my head the rest of the day.  A short jingle, sing-songy in all the catchy ways, on repeat. Gah.

Menu.

The most notable thing about the menu at Mixue really is the prices.  $1.19 for a soft serve cone.  A big one. In THIS economy.  Wild.  The ice cream lineup is rounded out by the pricier sundaes which come with toppings like chocolate, strawberry, cookie bits, etc.  The rest of the menu is the tea drinks: fruit teas and milk teas, fairly standard with mods like sweetness and a few toppings, although a considerably smaller topping lineup than most bubble tea shops. They certainly keep costs down by streamlining things.

Soft Serve.

There was one staff member solely responsible for soft serve.  He'd call out your number, and upon confirmation that you were there (a wave, an aggressive attempt to get near the counter,etc), would make your ice cream and hand it over.  He had a steady queue - when I ordered, I was behind 13 others he made first, which is remarkable given that most people were getting tea drinks (that station was REALLY backed up).  His station had the toppings exclusive to the soft serve (chocolate sauce, cookie bits) but he needed to dunk over to the tea station if you opted for toppings that are also used for tea.

Super Mango Sundae. $3.49.

"Sweet mango jam over soft serve."

This was my first time trying a sundae, far more pricey than the $1.xx cone, but still very reasonable at $3.49 for a decent size sundae (definitely bigger than fast food joint sundaes).  I had a hard time picking a flavor, but somewhat randomly picked the mango (er, "Super Mango") version.

It really was good.  The ice cream was creamy and not icy.  The soft serve machine was well calibrated, the ice cream was the right consistency, not too runny not too thick.  It melted really nicely.  The flavor was fairly classic vanilla-ish, although a bit more milk forward.  The serving was pretty large, no hollow center, really a full cup of soft serve.

The mango topping was enjoyable, very sweet, fruity, but clearly not fresh actual mango.  It worked though, and for this price, I didn't expect a fancy artisanal mango compote.

I enjoyed this, and it certainly out ranks any fast food or other soft serve in this price range.  4/5.

Original Review: 2023 & 2024 Visits, Sydney, Australia

I had never heard of Mixue before I visited Sydney recently, but once I saw it when I was walking by, I was pretty instantly drawn in, by their cheery "Snow King", and ridiculously affordable prices.  It turns out to be a large Chinese franchise, with 22,500 stores worldwide.  It started in 1997, but the first location in Sydney didn't open until February 2023, not long before I visited.

Storefront.

Visiting the store is, um, a cultural experience.  It does draw you in though, with the very welcoming mascot, the Snow King, showing up in many places.

$2 ice Cream.

The very low prices are definitely one of MIXUE's main attractions, and are displayed prominently, like the one here for the $2 cone (which, was $1.50 just a few months prior).  Note that these are Australian dollars, so that is actually just $1.25 USD with today's exchange rate.

Tea.

Milk and fruit teas make up the rest of the menu, and are mostly reasonably priced as well.

Snow King Magic Shop.

Off on the side is the branded "Snow King Magic Shop" where you can purchase toys and tumblers.

Signature Cone. $2.
(November 2023)

I had seen people walking down the street with these cones, so I knew it would be comically large, but, I still wasn't prepared to have this handed over.  The cone itself is, well, worthy of the Snow King perhaps.

My cone didn't actually look particularly made with care.  Nor did it look as well filled or as big as others, and they only make one size, so, it wasn't like I had a different size.  They lose a few points for that, as part of my cone was pretty hollow.  And, as I said, I was pretty apprehensive this could really be very good.

I took my first bite of the ice cream.  Well, huh.  It was creamy.  It wasn't icy.  The flavor was sweet, but not cloying.  Nothing artificial about it.  Milk flavored, I guess, but I detected hints of coconut even.   Certainly better than any fast food ice cream, and it rivaled many ice cream shops.  Not blow your mind special, but very good.  3.5/5, on the verge of 4/5.

And then the cone.  Ice cream cones are often sorta a throwaway component, a means to getting ice cream in a satisfying to lick form factor, and little else.  But this cone, this cone was part of the experience too.  It was a unique style, like thin sweet wafer cookies rolled into a cone shape, 2-3 layers.  It was sweet, it was crunchy, it was really quite good.  It got to maybe be a bit much, just given how big it was, but I truly enjoyed it.  I think it would be good just as a standalone cookie to eat alongside a coffee.  A memorable, and tasty, and unique, cone.  4/5.

So overall, made with care?  No.  Perfectly swirled and filled?  No.  But actually very enjoyable, and ridiculous quality for the price.  4/5, and I'd gladly get another.

Signature Cone. $2.
(February 2024).

Two months later, I was back in Sydney, and the moment it was a warm day, I was right back at Mixue.  This time I knew exactly what to expect, and I'll say that Mixue seems highly consistent, at least based on my experiences.

My order was ready relatively quickly, the soft serve was a bit haphazard and did have a bit of a hole in the middle, but, the cone was crispy, unique, and not stale, and the soft serve was fairly creamy, again lightly sweet milk flavor.  I added my own sprinkles, and was still just amazed that I got such a decent and unique ice cream cone for literally $1.20 USD.  3.5/5.

Read More...

Cajun Crackerz

I'm an avid snacker, but crackers are rarely what I reach for.  In fact, I actively dislike many crackers.  Yet I was drawn to a new cracker product, Cajun Crackerz.

"Surrounded by Cajun foods our entire lives, Sam, Shelby, and Will had the vision to take everyday foods and put a spin on their Cajun heritage into them, thus Cajun Crackerz was born. A simple cracker is almost found in a Cajun pantry, restaurant, and camp. Cajun Crackerz brings the flavors of our Bayou roots transforming these everyday crackers into a must-have at every camp, pantry, crawfish boil, and Cajun restaurant!"

I actually didn't realize that basic crackers, specifically saltines or oyster crackers, were such a core part of Cajun cuisine.

My first impression when trying these crackers?  Well, huh.  I never thought saltines could be this good.  Saltines aren't normally remotely exciting crackers, and I don't even really care for the base to them, so I never imagined that adding seasoning would transform them so much.  But, it does.

Ranch.

"Our special ranch recipe was created to bring you the freshness of herbs and spices as well as the creaminess you love. Add them to a dip, salad, or snack for that true southern taste."

"A flavor you will find all over the south, the Ranch flavor’s versatility can be found in so many different dishes. Our recipe has been refined to bring you all the freshness of herbs and spices and that creaminess we all love when ranch is thought of. These flavors in these crackers bring a splash of brightness to any dip, salad or snack. "

The first flavor I tried was the ranch, the flavor I didn't really care about, as I'm just not a ranch person.  My sister (and her kids) are obsessed with ranch everything though, so I figured this would be easy to pass off.  After trying a few, I nearly didn't (and, in fact, they got intercepted by my mother, who planned to give to my sister's family, but tried one, and declared she was keeping them for herself).

It is hard to explain what makes these so good, but, they really just are great.  The cracker crumbles nicely, almost breaking into slight layers.  They were fresh and crisp.  And the seasoning really made them quite flavorful - zesty, tangy, yup, very true to ranch.  Still not quite the flavor I wanted, but, these were a joy to eat, and the flavor was just so legit.

They recommend using with dip, but honestly, they were so flavorful they didn't need anything.  3.5/5.

BBQ.

"Cajun grilled foods are famous for their spices and so are our BBQ Cajun Crackerz. Enjoy their spices and sweetness right now or at your next cookout."

"If a Cajun isn’t boiling crawfish or making a gravy, you’re guaranteed to find them next to a BBQ pit! From fish to wild game to steaks, we’ll grill it all. Our BBQ flavor brings the spices and sweetness from the flavors we spice our grilled foods. These crackers are sure to be a hit at any BBQ! "

Next I went for the flavor that I was most likely to enjoy: BBQ.  When it comes to potato chips, of mainstream flavors, BBQ is definitely my favorite.  While I can't say I've had BBQ in cracker form, I see no reason why they wouldn't work.

And they did.  Damn these are good.  They look like big Cheese-Its, but totally aren’t.  They are insanely flavorful, smoky bbq flavors, with plenty of garlic and onion that linger on the aftertaste.  High salt level.  Soo much coating on them. They are nicely crisp, yet melt in your mouth.  Fantastic base cracker, incredible flavor.

The serving size of these is 5 crackers, at 170 calories, and the bag is supposed to be 5 servings, but I’d have zero problem finishing it in one sitting.  Danger, but oh so delicious. 4.5/5.

Crawfish.

"Experience the flavors of a true southern crawfish boil with our Crawfish flavor. Combining the heat of cayenne with a fresh burst of lemon, these crackers keep the tradition going!"

"A staple in Cajun cuisine is the crawfish. Celebrated throughout Bayou country you will find crawfish boils happening on every corner. This was a must have flavor that truly brings to life the heritage our ancestors have passed down through many generations. With the heat of cayenne to the fresh burst of lemon these crackers are sure to bring you right back to the crawfish boils we all love. "

And finally, the most interesting, crawfish.  I'll admit I've only probably had crawfish about 10 times, so I'm certainly no expert in crawfish boil flavors, but these sounded fascinating.

I ended up hating them.  

Well, I still liked the form factor, the big size, the crispy yet melt in your mouth nature of them.  But the taste?  No.  They just tasted a bit ... rancid?  Hard to describe. And waaaay too salty.  I tried a few times to make sure I wasn't just having a strange preferences day, but no, I did not like these.  1/5 for flavor, but higher for the form factor.

Read More...

Tea Makers

Tea Makers is one of my absolute favorite finds from the summer of the Paze promotion*.  I likely wouldn't have stumbled in otherwise, I am I glad I discovered it, driven by of course the freebies.

*If you are unfamiliar, Paze is a digital wallet system (like Paypal or Google Pay) that you can use to check out with some merchants.  In the summer of 2026, when they launched, they had a promotion with most major credit cards and banks to give you back a $10 credit, up to 10 times, per card/account, if you spent $10 and paid with Paze.  One of their launch partners was Clover, the company behind many restaurant POS systems, so if you ordered online through their Clover storefront, and paid with Paze, you got $10 free (over and over, again, 10 times per card/account).  Tax, tip, it all counts towards the $10, so you could get something <$10, and just tip up to the $10 to trigger the credit.  I love a freebie, and I love excuses to check out places that I wouldn't normally stumble into, so I used Clover and Paze to go on little missions every weekend, gettings $100s in free food along the way.

Setting

The Manhattan location is in Koreatown, right along a busy street, really a great vibe.  They also have a location in Brooklyn.

Window.

It would be very easy to miss Tea Makers, even if you walked right by.  The store is just a window, with a tiny little prep space inside.  Obviously, no seating, etc.  The service was fast and efficient. 

Food & Drink

Tea Makers is primarily a tea shop, as you may have guessed from the name. 

"Make Tea as it Should Be. It originally created Cheese Fresh Fruit Tea, Brown Sugar Milk Tea and Cheesecake Milk Tea, etc. Teamakers uses the best original leaf tea from the tea source, fresh fruit from the farm, imported cheese and wheat flour. The products are all made-on-side."

In addition to classic milk teas, they also make fruit tea, slushes, fresh sodas, and "cheesecake" drinks.  You can adjust sweetness, milk type (Lactaid, almond, oat), and of course mix-ins.  They have exactly one food item: pudding.  As a pudding lover, this thrilled me.  In fact, I ordered it rather than a drink my first visit.

Korean Banana Pudding
(Large). $8.50.

"Homemade creamy banana pudding made with fresh bananas, fresh cream, and cozy wafers. Super delicious and made fresh daily."

I'll admit I had no idea what Korean banana pudding would be when I ordered this, and, after eating it, I still do not know.  This just seemed like ... regular banana pudding?

That said, it was very good banana pudding.  It was thick and rich.  The pudding was perhaps vanilla or perhaps banana, not quite sure, but there was tons of banana flavor from plentiful banana slices.  The banana was not too mushy nor browned, so it really did seem relatively freshly made.  It was not too sweet.  The wafers ("cozy wafers"?) were quite soft and just provided a different textural element.  Everything in here was good, and the ratios were right.

I may have liked this more than Magnolia even, as I appreciated that it wasn't over the top sweet.  High 4/5.

I got the large for $8.50, they also sell a smaller one for $5.

Taro Slush, 0% sweet,  (L). $6.75.
Almond milk ($0.50), +coconut jellies ($0.75), +cheese foam ($1)

It was extremely hard not to order the pudding again my next visit, as I loved it so much, but it was a hot day, and I really did want to try one of their drink items.  The taro slush it was, which I asked for 0% sweet and almond milk (you can pick almond, oat, or Lactaid for $0.50 more), and added in one fun mix-in (coconut jellies) and one fun topping (cheese foam). 

My drink was quickly prepared and handed over. They were very generous with the coconut jellies, as they occupied a pretty substantial part of the base of the cup.  They were standard, sweet, slimy, slight coconut flavor.  The flavor was a good match for the taro, but they were quite sweet.  I would have preferred fewer actually.

The drink itself was fine, the slush nicely mixed, no big chunks.  The taro flavor was good, but clearly powder.  I could taste the almond milk, and it worked really well to give a complexity to the overall taste.  However, it was really, really sweet.  I said 0% sweetness, and I know using a powder has some sweetness anyway, but this was really, really sweet.  To the point that I wondered if they made it full sweet.  Combined with the jellies, just, too much sweet for me to consume much of in a sitting.

I loved the thick rich cheese foam on top, great tang.

Overall, I enjoyed the creation, but it wasn't something I'll repeat just due to the sweetness.  3/5.

Taro Cheesecake.  %0 sweet, (L) $6.50.
Almond milk($0.50), +aloe vera ($0.75), +matcha cloud ($1.25)

"If you’re looking for an alternative that won’t melt on you, Teamakers mixes the best things about a halo-halo with one of the best things they’re known for — cheesecake milk tea! "

I returned to try another taro creation.  This one is called a "cheesecake" but I knew it was going to be a drink.  It still wasn't quite what I was expecting at all.  I really thought the cheesecake part would be more dominant - I thought there would be thicker denser cheese foam and maybe some of their cheesecake that is an available mix-in in it.  Instead it really just seemed to be a taro milk tea with a bit of cheese foam that was drizzled around the cup before the taro milk tea was poured in.  It was liquid, not thick or rich at all, and it was pretty hard to even taste the cheese foam.  I tasted it more in my taro slush from having it on top.

So it was an ok taro milk tea, although again quite sweet even though I asked for 0% sweet, and I didn't actually taste almond milk this time (even though I paid for it), and it had ice even though I asked for none.  They really don't seem to pay any attention to customizations, although it did have my aloe vera pieces (soft, sweet, refreshing) and the matcha cloud (decent matcha flavor, but just seemed like matcha whipped cream?).

Very underwhelmed given what I thought I was getting, and lack of accuracy in my order, so for all that, this is a 2.5/5, but for a taro milk tea with a bit of foam and matcha whip, sure, 3.5/5.

Read More...