Power Crunch

Power Crunch is a brand that primarily makes protein wafer bars, but they experimented with a protein chip product line too.  As an avid snacker, but also someone who is conscious of protein intake, of course I wanted to try these out.

Protein CRISPS

"PERFECT POTATO CHIP ALTERNATIVE: The Power Crunch Protein Crisps provide all the crunch and satisfying taste of a regular chip but packed with protein. With 12 grams of protein per serving (2 servings per can), you can feel good about eating Power Crunch CRISPs."

While they primarily have pea protein (yay!) I later realized they have whey protein isolate, which my body really, really does not like.  If you can tolerate these things though, 12 grams of protein seems great.  They come in small cans a la Pringles. The shape of the chips is exactly like Pringles too, saddle shaped.  Each small can is listed as 2 servings, which ... is ambitious.  I think most people would finish one.

"The Power Crunch high Protein CRISPS are seasoned to perfection while also providing a light, airy chip-like crunch that’s impossible to resist."

I found it interesting that they call the chips "light" and "airy" as they were thicker and heartier than most chips.  They also broke ridiculously easy, despite being thicker, as they were just really quite brittle.  I tried 3 flavors of these (all but their 4th flavor, salt & vinegar), and found myself wanting to like them more than I ever did.  I wouldn't get again.

Barbecue.

I'm a barbecue chip girl to the core, always what I'll pick in a standard American chip flavors lineup, so of course I started with those.  

The chips were considerably more orange than I was expecting, making my brain think they were sweet potato chips, but of course they were not. They were crispy, and broke easily (hence the need for the can I guess?).  They certainly didn't taste like any normal chips, nor much like potato at all.  They didn't taste bad, just, different, and not familiar really.  Sorta healthy.

They were well seasoned with assorted savory spices, and did taste fairly barbecue.  They did have MSG if this matters to you.  I liked the seasoning. 

It took me a long time to figure out how I felt about these.  Well seasoned, good form factor, and great to get so much protein in a snack, but they weren't actually that tasty.  Inoffensive, and again, good for protein, but they won't replace the desire for a yummy snack. 3/5.

Cheddar.

I was going through a particularly cheesy phase of life, and the cheese flavor called out next to me.

They were much the same as the bbq: they broke easily, they tasted a bit odd and healthy, and they did have a reasonable cheesy flavor.  They were almost good, but the aftertaste and overall oddness just never made me really crave more.  Low 3/5.

Hot & Spicy.

The hot & spicy had some promise, but they looked the least visually appealing.  Again same overly breakable form factor, that was almost ok, same base flavor that was kinda off but almost ok, and another MSG laden seasoning mix that was almost compelling ... but under it all was just a taste I didn't care for.  Another very low 3/5.

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heybody protein snacks

Avid snacker Julie here.  I love to snack, I love to munch on things, and even moreso, I love to try products from other countries with flavors and ingredients that are a bit more novel to me.  Which led me to discover protein snacks from heybody, a Korean brand.

"Unleash Your Healthy Snacking"

These are high protein snacks, and healthy ones at that (baked not fried, etc).  The brand also makes protein balls that look like candy and high protein chocolate chip cookies ... and knee and wrists braces, and ankle and elbow support bands.  Um, yes.  The non-edible products are part of their "Hey balance!" line.  I stuck with the consumables.

Protein Chips

I honed right in on the chips.

"heybody Protein Chips are a nutritious snack option that allows you to indulge your cravings for savory and salty flavors without compromising on health. Craving a protein boost? Each serving of heybody Protein Chips delivers a whopping 12g of protein. Fuel your body with the essential building blocks it needs to support muscle growth and repair."

The protein comes from the soy protein isolate, and, to a lesser extent, rice and whole wheat flours and corn grits.  You'd think this would make the chips taste like these things, but, they don't at all.  They just taste like nice puffy rice crackers.  I was amazed I didn't taste anything healthy or protein isolate-like.

They come in 4 flavors: Onion & Sour Cream, Red Pepper & Sweet Chili, Sweet Corn & Cheddar, and Tomato & Pizza. I tried all of them.  All were remarkably flavorful.

"Baked Goodness, Crunchy Bliss: Why settle for greasy, unhealthy snacks? heybody Protein Chips are baked rather than fried, making them a healthier choice compared to traditional fried snacks. Baking helps reduce overall fat content while still providing a satisfying crunch."

Many snacks claim to be crunchy, but, wow, these really delivered.  I was blown away by just how crunchy they were.  Incredible crispiness, shocking in a baked product.  All had the same form factor of sorta puffy crackers.  They call them chips, but they are certainly more cracker like to me.

Red Pepper & Sweet Chili.

Wow!

One bite of these and I was pretty hooked.  First, the aforementioned insanely crispy texture, that just made for a very satisfying eating experience.  But then, the flavor.  So intense.  They did not shy away from the heat on these.  I was pleased that they had legit spice to them (with a bit of sweetness on the finish).

I was really surprised that they didn't taste like a high protein product.  No strange texture nor flavor, and yet ... 12 grams of protein in this snack bag?  The mix of rice and wheat flours and corn grits worked very successfully as a flavorful, hearty base that didn't taste too overly healthy either.

So, great form factor, satisfying snack, AND high protein?  Really a shockingly good product.  4/5.

Note to vegetarians, these actually contain chicken bouillon in the seasoning.

Onion & Sour Cream.

Next up, I went for the Onion & Sour Cream.  These had, um, "onion taste seasoning" and "sour cream taste seasoning" listed as the ingredients, so I can't really tell you what was in them to make them onion & sour cream adjacent (and yes, it drove me crazy that they put onion first - my brain just immediately puts them in the other order!).

Anyway, the flavor was good.  It definitely had dairy-ish taste.  And some savoriness.  Not as awesome as the previous flavor, but, still, good.  3.5/5, maybe even 4/5 as I just love the crispy form factor so much.

Corn.

Now it was time for "corn", perhaps a flavor not expected by most Americans, but one I'm pretty familiar with from Japanese snacks in particular, where corn potage is a fairly common snack flavor (e.g. these Aerial corn potage snacks I reviewed).

The chip/cracker format was pretty much exactly what I came to expect from Heybody now - super crispy, slightly hearty/healthy base. 

The ingredient list for these was just as funny as previous ones, with "buttery cheddar seasoning", "butter mixed powder", "cheddar cheese seasoning", "super sweet corn mix" as ingredients (along with cheese powder, bread crumbs, sugar, salt, and "salty enhancer".  I didn't taste any of the cheddar though, as the flavor was very distinctly corn.  Sweet corn.  Buttery sweet corn.  One you need to be in the mood for, as it was quite intense.

Overall, a nice snack when I was craving crunching on super crunchy corn chips, which isn't all that common of a craving, but, good when I wanted them, a bit overwhelming otherwise.  High 3/5, just because they aren't really an everyday flavor for me.

Tomato & Pizza.

I saved the strangest flavor for last, Tomato & Pizza.  These had tomato powder, cheddar cheese (not what I think of as pizza cheese ...), and beef seasoning.  Calling these pizza inspired seemed like a stretch given the ingredient list, but, actually, the flavor was sorta there. 

Like the other varieties, they were super flavorful, super crispy, and just an addicting joy to eat.  They were savory in a complex way that was maybe pizza if you really tried to envision it, but I mostly just got the tomato and herbs, not pizza exactly.  They were quite enjoyable, another bag gone in mere moments.  3.5/5, nearing 4/5 because I really did love eating them.

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Ruffles Chips

Update Review, 2026

As I discovered back in my original review in 2012, it turns out, the chips I grew up eating, Ruffles, just really truly aren't for me anymore.  But after another nearly 15 years, I decided to give them one more shot ... and, yeah, nope.  Not the chips for me, nostalgia and all.

Cheddar & Sour Cream.

"A blend of rich, velvety cheddar with smooth, creamy sour cream flavor."

I was so excited when I saw these at my office one day.  Sure, I remembered that I've really not enjoyed any Ruffles in recent years (my parents still exclusively eat them, and, meh), but I had such fond memories of this flavor.

The flavor still was nostalgic for me: creamy, cheesy, unique.  But underlying all that was the base Ruffles chip, which I just don't care for.  The taste is really greasy, they don't really taste like potatoes, I just don't care for them.  Maybe 3/5 nostalgic flavor, but still just a 1/5 for me because, Ruffles.

Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream.

Next up, baked. These tasted way too healthy.  Like compressed potato flakes.  I didn't care for the form factor, and even the "ridges" weren't as dominant as in real Ruffles with ridges.  Cheddar & sour cream flavor was ok.

1.5/5.

Original Review, 2012

My favorite chips back when I was a kid were Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream (or perhaps Cape Cod chips, those still hold a special place in my heart!).  I loved the addicting tang from the sour cream, and the cheesy goodness.

It was time to try them out again, along with their baked counterparts.  I appreciated them for the nostalgia, but, turns out, my tastes have changed.   I guess Frito-Lay brand chips in general just ... don't quite do it for me, as you've read about in all my other reviews too.

Baked! Cheddar and Sour Cream.

These were unlike any other baked chips that I've had in that they were still ruffles, so they had ridges.  Most baked chips don't have that going for them.

They were basically a healthier, more potato-y tasting Ruffle.  The sour cream flavor was very strong, the cheddar flavor was ok.  Not bad for a healthier chip, but not really something I want more of.

Cheddar & Sour Cream.

Now these, these are just like I remember. 

Strong flavor that I guess is cheddar and sour cream.  Orange coating.  Yup.

Update Review: Yup, exactly what I remember, except that I don’t really like them now :(

Update Review #2: Ok, they have their place.  I think it is alongside a burger or hotdog, at a cookout.  In any other setting I seem to dislike them, but there, they aren't bad.

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Hawaiian Chips

Hawaii.  A destination somehow *still* on my bucket list.  Yup, I now live in California, and have never been to Hawaii, even though I've had friends even move there in the past few years.  Someday.  Like I said, bucket list.

But there are parts of Hawaii that I appreciate from afar - poke, spam masubi, furikake chex mix, macadamia nuts, etc, so even if I don't know Hawaii intimately myself, I'm always up for trying something from afar.  Particularly anything in the snack foods realm, as I'm an avid snacker.  Which brings us to ... Hawaiian chips.

"Explore the always tropical and sometimes exotic tastes of Hawaiian snacks. Our Kettle Style Potato Chips and Snack Rings are crispy with a satisfying crunch—and loaded with sweet and savory island flavors!"

I was drawn in by the bright packaging and Hawaiian motifs on these chips, on display at a poke shop.  On impulse, I grabbed a bag several years ago (see original review below) and since have sought them out again.

Update Review, 2026

Ah, Hawaiian Brand chips.  I fairly recent discover for me, part of the Utz brand of products.

These are really the gold standard when it comes to the style of kettle chips I like.  Super crispy. Nicely blistered.  Some air bubbles. Super fried.  Fairly greasy.  The kind where you know they are awful for you, but they are just so delicious.  I don't necessarily want to devour a whole bag in one sitting, but, I sure do love this style of kettle chip when the craving hits.

Luau BBQ.

"Your taste buds will jump for joy when you bite into the delectably sassy, sweet and spicy flavor of Hawaiian Luau BBQ Kettle Style Potato Chips."

BBQ is often my preferred flavor of chip, so I was excited to try the Hawaiian brand version.  I'm not entirely sure what was Hawaiian about them, besides the "luau" in the name, but, they were a sweeter style of bbq, not quite as smoky as some brands, but still had great flavor.  Sweet and spicy, just like they say.  They go great with coleslaw, at least for me.  4/5.

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Sweet Maui Onion.

"Bring the flavors of Maui to your next packed lunch or backyard barbecue with these Hawaiian Sweet Maui Onion flavored potato chips. The savory sweetness of sweet onion perfectly complements the unmistakable crunch of kettle-cooked potato chips. Aloha!"

This was the original flavor I tried from Hawaiian brand chips years ago, but it had been a while since I last had them.  The chip base was exactly like all other Hawaiian brand chips: super crispy, blistered, thin, and probably my favorite kettle style chips (which aren't a style I often go for).  I loved the base chip.  And then the flavor.   I forgot just how unique that "sweet maui onion" flavor really is. Such a fascinating blend of savory spices, not zesty and leaning in the bbq direction like many other flavors, but also, not really anything like a sour cream & onion either.  Definite its own thing.  The magic combo of onion, garlic, yeast, soy and corn, whey powder, sugar, salt, and romano cheese ... it really just is its own thing.  For the times I'm not craving a bbq-esque chip, these are a complete winner.  4/5.

Original Review, April 2022

Later I did my research and discovered that Hawaiian chips are owned by Utz, the mega snack foods company that makes, among many things, some rather addicting pub mix, which of course I've reviewed before.  They make a number of different kettle chips, such as their play on BBQ, dubbed "Luau BBQ", a spicy "Hulapeño", and more.  They also make puffy onion rings snacks in several flavors.  All do try to include Hawaiian ingredients it seems.

Authentic Hawaiian chips?  Well, no, not really, but enjoyable?  Yes.

Hawaiian® Sweet Maui Onion
Kettle Style Potato Chips

"Discover a new world of flavor when you crunch into Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips. These crispy, golden chips are cooked to perfection, then seasoned with just the right amount of Sweet Maui onion flavor. We have combined only the finest ingredients to create a unique chip that captures the freshness and authenticity of the islands.

Open a bag of Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips and you'll imagine yourself sailing on the blue waters of the Pacific, headed toward an island of tropical paradise."

I had these early into the pandemic first summer, when I was getting really, really bored with lunch made at home.  Just when I thought I was over (potato) chips as a snack food, I discovered these.  Well, huh.  It reinvigorated my love of chips.

The chips were incredibly crispy and crunchy as advertised.  Sure, all chips are crispy, but these were ... just more crispy.  Probably the best kettle style chips I've ever had.  Clearly high fat chips too, they tasted, and looked, very fried.  But I think that is what made them great.

And then, the flavor.  "Sweet Maui Onion".  The chips were very well coated and flavorful.  The flavor was ... fascinating.  Sweet and savory, yes you could taste sweet onion, but there was more than just that going on.   It turned out to be a coating made from sugar (dextrose and regular sugar), a pile of powders (onion powder, garlic powder, whey powder), and ... romano cheese.  Cheese?  Totally not what I expected on these, and I didn't taste cheese as a standalone ingredient, but, clearly, it contributed to the overall flavor.  Really quite fascinating.

I enjoyed these, and would gladly try more flavors.

4/5.

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Cape Cod Potato Chips

Update Review, 2025/2026

Whenever I visit the east coast I make sure to enjoy a bag or two of Cape Cod chips.  While they are ~everywhere around New England, I never ever see them in California.  Still such classics for me.

Original.

"Our Original chips are made with potatoes, oil, sea salt and the good vibes of the Cape."

These are the quintessential New England chip to me.  They are what should come with your lobster roll or what you get to dunk in your chowder.  They are super fried, they are crispy, they are thin, they are greasy, they are not good for you ... and they aren't trying to be anything else.  Classic well salted flavor.  In my childhood memories, they are best dipped in onion dip.  I rarely want a plain chip these days, but, these are good for that basic style. 3.5/5.

Sea Salt & Vinegar.

"Everyone loves the delicious combo of salty and sour that you get when you crunch into a sea salt & vinegar chip. That’s why we knew we had to create our very own version of it which has a bit more vinegar than what you'll find on a thinner chip to stand up to the robust potato flavor of our hearty chip."

I don't tend to love nor hate salt & vinegar chips.   They are fine, but, I'm more of a bbq girl. Still, since I love Cape Cod bbq chips so much, I wanted to give the salt & vinegar a chance.

The base chip is the classic thin crispy Cape Cod style that I really do like.  Certainly thinner than most.  I particularly like the pieces that are rolled over into themselves.  

The flavor was more tangy than salty, fairly average salt level, but nice tang.  Still not the flavor I'd pick given other options, but a nice salt & vinegar chip.  3.5/5.

Update Review, 2023

Since rediscovering Cape Cod chips a few years ago, every time I visit the East Coast now, I make it a point to have at least one bag of Cape Cod Chips.  They really are quite good.

Sweet Mesquite Barbeque.

"We channeled our days grilling on the beaches of Cape Cod to craft a blend of tomatoes, onions and spices into a barbeque seasoning perfect for our chips."

When I think of a great bbq chip, these are essentially what I think of.  Super crispy.  Blistered.  Very clearly not a "light" style of chip.  True kettle chips.  Very zesty coating, deep mesquite flavor, tangy and smoky and sweet.

Maybe it is because I grew up with these, but, they really are a gold standard for me for a very good bbq chip.  4/5.

Original Review, 2020

Over the years, I've reviewed many snack foods, and many bags of chips, in particular.  By now, you probably realize that while I love taro chips, and other more exotic veggie chips, I pretty rarely get excited by plain old potato chips.  I see them as a vessel for dip, and little else.  Maybe sometimes I get drawn in by unique flavors in other countries, but besides that, chips? MEH!

But I recently re-discovered Cape Cod potato chips, and that all changed.

"We transform simple ingredients – hand-selected potatoes, oil and salt – into delicious, satisfying kettle cooked potato chips. Cape Cod Potato Chips are always made one batch at a time in our custom kettles to give them their distinctive crunch and unique flavor."

I remember Cape Cod chips from growing up in New England.  They were not the standard chip offering, usually we had Ruffles in our household, or Lays were common at sandwich shops or parties, but when we got to splurge for a fancy bag of chips at the convenience store, or perhaps at a friend's house, I remember getting Cape Cod chips, and being very happy with them.  They were always crispier, greasier, than others.

In my memories that is.  I didn't really trust my memories, but it turns out, this is one area where my memories lived up, basically, entirely matching accurate to my experience today.

Cape Cod chips are still based in Massachusetts, although they have expanded dramatically since when I knew them.  The classic chips come in different flavors.  They have reduced fat offerings.  Waffle cut or wavy style.  Um, "infused" chips.  Limited Edition flavors with partners like Samuel Adams Brewery.  But I can't tell you about any of those, as I had eyes only for the originals.

Classic Potato Chips

"Hand selected potatoes. Pure vegetable oil. Salt. How do you transform the simplest ingredients into such a satisfying kettle cooked chip? For us, it’s done one small batch at a time, using select potatoes, sliced thick and cooked at precisely the right temperature in custom kettles to a golden amber hue. No two chips are the same. Except that they all share a hearty potato flavor and that wonderful Cape Cod crunch."

The classic potato chips are what I always knew, and I didn't even know they came in multiple flavors (maybe they didn't before?).  But now they do, with flavors like Sweet & Spicy Jalepeno, Aged White Cheddar & Sour Cream, plus more standards like Sea Salt & Vinegar and Sweet Mesquite Barbeque, among others.

But I went for the originals.

Original Chips.

These are no frills chips, they really are just potatoes and vegetable oil and salt.

But somehow ... they are just really damn good.  Is it the small batch cooking?  Is it the oil they use? The potatoes?  I have no idea.  But they are really good.

The crispy factor is sky high.  Perfectly crunchy and crisp.  Salt level is high, but not over the top. Most are folded over in unique ways, making eating a bag an adventure in "what shape will come up next?".

They are highly greasy, leaving your fingers coated instantly.  You know they aren't trying to be healthier.  The bags are smaller than other brands, and that is ok, because, well, they are heavy chips.

I don't know how to describe these beyond just ... perfect crispy chips?  I honestly am just happy with a bag of these, alongside a salad (or ideally, a lobster roll, right?).  They are awesome tucked into a sandwich, particularly a BLT.  Sometimes I think about making onion dip, or something else to dunk them in, but really, they don't need anything.  Just perfect as is.

I'll devour a bag any day.

4/5.

Less Fat

The Less Fat lineup comes in Original, Sea Salt & Vinegar, Aged White Cheddar & Sour Cream, and Sweet Mesquite Barbecue, the later of which I immediately went for.

Sweet Mesquite Barbeque.

"We may have tossed our 40% Less Fat Sweet Mesquite Barbeque chips one more time in the kettle, but we seasoned them with the same delicious blend of spices so they taste just like our classic Sweet Mesquite Barbeque chips. 40% less fat than the leading brand of potato chip."

I didn't intentionally seek out Less Fat chips, but my office had them, and they were still Cape Cod chips, and were still barbeque, which I was definitely going through a thing for, so I gladly grabbed a bag.  I wish I'd grabbed a second (2 bags is just ... 120% fat right?).

They were perfectly crispy, I loved the bent over pieces, and they were oily, but in the right way, not the gross way.   Form factor: A+, and I think I liked the lower fat version more than the classics, actually.

The barbeque flavor was good, I prefer a less sweet version (these had sugar and molasses), but the flavor was complex with tomato, onion, garlic, paprika, and more.

A very solid chip, one I'd gladly get again.

4/5.

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Nongshim Snacks

Snacks, snacks, snacks.  I kinda love snacks.  I'm an avid snacker, all day, every day.  Sweet, salty, savory, spicy, yes, yes, yes.  All the snacks.  Generally, the crunchier the better.

I also love travel, and adore trying snacks from all over the world.  I'm the kind of tourist who brings an extra suitcase to load up on items abroad - no, not souvenirs for family, nothing like that, I'm there going to the convenience stores and grocery stores, and stocking up on all the fun looking snacks.  Rather than go to a museum or lay on the beach, I'm the tourist wandering the aisles of the corner store, with Google translate open on my phone as needed, to discover all the novel-to-me items.

Which brings me to Nongshim, a South Korean snack food manufacturer popular around Asia (and yes, they do distribute to the US as well).  They have a massive product portfolio, including snacks, beverages, and of course, their most well known item: instant ramen.  They have 40+ different *brands* of ramen under their umbrella, and completely dominate the market.  But I was most interested in the snacks, generally the rice or wheat based items.

Cuttlefish Snack.

"CUTTLEFISH SNACK has nutritive cuttlefish as its ingredient.  The plain and savory flavor of grilled cuttlefish is preserved.  The snack is a delight to see as its contents are shaped like cuttlefish and a pleasure to eat as well."

"Our Cuttlefish Snack is a delightful snack with its chips shaped like cuttlefish. Made of cuttlefish, the unique and savory flavors are perfectly preserved, allowing one to fully emerge in the taste."

Um, these are addicting.  The flavor, the texture, all of it.  Love them.

Super crispy, yet light and airy too.  And fairly greasy - they taste legit fried, even though a packaged snack.  Very savory, but with a slight sweetness, and great salt level.  And definitely fishy.  If you don't like fishy flavors, don't go near these.  There is real cuttlefish (minced and extract), along with anchovy extract too.  Plus a slew of savory vegetable extracts (red radish, purple sweet potato, mushroom, onion, kelp), and of course sweet things (molasses extract, sugar, dextrose), and some random things like cacao extract (why?), and a long list of other preservatives, dairy ingredients, and more.  Certainly not wholesome.  But so delicious, even if reading the ingredient list makes you think they can't possibly combine into something tasty.  They do.  Food science magic.

I love these.  Way too easy to eat most of an entire (9 serving!) bag in one sitting.  4.5/5.

Banana Kick.

"Banana Kick is a corn-based product, with the flavor and shape of a banana. Loved specially among children, who find its crunchy sound and delicious taste appealing."

These are such a fascinating product.

Imagine a big airy snack puff, like a cheese puff but even more melt in your mouth in texture, and sweet, ... banana flavored.  Its like all the flavor infused in banana Runts, but, in a very munchable form factor.  They are odd, unique, and strangely delicious.

I love the crispy and airy form factor (they are very mild corn flavor, with a corn flour base).  I love the very artificial banana flavor (it really is just like banana Runts!).  Sometimes I think they are a bit too sweet (sugar is actually the second ingredient!), but generally, I love the over the top sweetness.  I don't know why we don't have any snacks even in this category (that I know of) in the US.

I enjoy these, and grab a bag whenever I see them.  But beware, you definitely have to be craving a sweet snack!  Low 4/5.  They are sorta similar to the sweet puffs line from Tohato (Japanese brand), that I also adore.

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Chester's Snacks

Everyone's favorite orange cat, Chester (you know, the Cheetos mascot) has ventured out on his own.  He has his own line of products now, entirely devoid of Cheetos branding.  As a lover of all snack foods, I obviously had to try some of these, even though I don't actually like Cheetos chips (or their branded mac & cheese ...).  His product line includes "fries" and "puffcorn", the later of which I tried. 

Puffcorn

Puffcorn is not popcorn (although the Cheetos brand carries a version of that that I've reviewed before too). It is however corn (meal) based.   Puffcorn comes in several flavors, such as butter flavored (not cheesy at all!), a classic orange signature cheese flavor, and of course, a Flamin' Hot variety - he may be acting as an independent icon, but he is part of the same franchise after all, and Flamin' Hot is, well, their trendy range these days.

CHESTER'S® Cheese Flavored Puffcorn.

"When CHESTER CHEETAH puts his name on a snack, you can count on a bold and cheesy flavor like you’ve never tasted. CHESTER’S® snacks are made with a special blend of real cheese seasoning to give each bite the perfect pop and zing."

I went for the classic neon orange "cheese" flavor.  The pieces really did look like just kinda blown up Cheetos, although again, there is no Cheetos branding on this product.

I took my first bite, and wasn't sure how I felt about them.  I took another.  Same thing.  I really didn't know how I felt about them, even as I devoured half the bag in no time flat.

The product is pretty hard to classify - it really isn't like chips, and it isn't like popcorn, it is somewhere in the middle ... uh, I guess calling it "puffcorn" will suffice after all.  I really did like the form factor - it was airy, it was crispy, it was very munchable.  If you are familiar with Trader Joe's Jalapeño Seasoned Crunchy Corn & Rice Puffs, it reminded me a lot of that.  So, form factor?  Definitely a success for me, although I did grow a bit sick of the pieces being so soft, I missed the extra crunch that popcorn hulls provide.

The flavor is the part I wasn't as into.  Yes, they were savory and cheesy, but definitely in a fake cheese sense, and just not something I gravitate towards.  When I go for fake cheese, I prefer white cheddar.  They did still leave an orange hue on my fingers, although not as bad as traditional Cheetos.  

Overall, an interesting product, but, I'd rather eat Trader Joe's Jalapeño Seasoned Crunchy Corn & Rice Puffs, or white cheddar popcorn, instead.  3.5/5 for novelty, but probably more like 3/5 for me really.

Fries

And then there are the "fries".  Which are obviously not actually fries, they are a packaged snack food found in the chip aisle. These come in a variety of flavors, including chili cheese, bacon cheddar, carolina style bbq, and of course, Flamin Hot'.

Flamin' Hot Fries.

"Get ready for a sizzle of flavor that will set your mouth on fire. Dive into a red hot blaze of fiery crunch with Chester's brand hot fries."

These confused my brain.

I knew they were Chester's brand.  I knew that meant they'd be cheesy. And corn puff based.  And yet, with the bold red color and shoestring fries shape, my brain still didn't expect them to taste like (lightly spicy) corn based cheese puffs.  You may recall that I don't actually really care for Cheetos or adjacent snacks.  These fared a bit better, but not much.

The form factor was unique and kinda novel.  Airy and crispy, fun familiar fries shape, just unexpected as a snack food.  Not bad.  The base flavor was generic corn puff, which I don't love though.  That base was masked entirely by all the cheese powders, and, um, the red.  They were a bit spicy, but certainly not "fiery" nor about to "set my mouth on fire".  They tasted like Cheetos puffs, just, in a different shape.

Not really my thing, but, fun to try. 3/5 if I'm not taking my own preferences into account.

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Tohato

Oh, man.  Things I love?  Snack foods.  Popcorn or other crunchy sweet things.  Fun flavors from other countries.  

Enter Tohato.  A Japanese snack food maker.  They make a few product lines, but I focused only on their most popular: the caramel corn.

But this is not caramel corn as Americans think about it.  No take me out the ballpark moments here.  In fact, if you are expecting, well, coated popcorn in any way, you'll be let down.  While I adore popcorn more than most snack foods, this completely different version of caramel coated puffed corn won me over pretty instantly.  The base of these is made with corn, but, they are big puffy corn snacks, like giant bamba (iykyk) or similar products from European countries.  A void in the US snack market if you ask me.

Tahato has an extensive lineup of flavors of said caramel corn.  And by extensive, I mean, extensive.  On the Japan Candy Store website for example they have a whopping 110 varieties available.  110!  Tohato  lean heavily in to seasonal limited flavors and collabs with other hot brands of the moment.  Some are even just special bags with the same original product inside, just, differently branded for a short time.  Also note that just like these aren't caramel corn as in, not popcorn, they also don't all have caramel (or even caramel adjacent) coatings ... yet are all called caramel corn.  So, expectations set, let's dive in.

Regular Flavors

I won't try to enumerate all the standard flavors Tohato offers, but let me assure you, they range from the expected caramel-esque flavors, to fruity creations, to beverage inspired such as matcha or mango lassi, or even fried chicken.  Yeah.  So many fun varieties.  Their original basic flavor, the simple caramel corn, is a lightly caramely flavor with nuts included too.

Bitter Caramel Corn.

"Have a blast snacking on these bittersweet crunchy corn puffs! Each piece has a unique combination of charred caramel paste and roasted peanut flavors."

"A bag of charred caramel and roasted peanut-flavored corn puffs."

My first bag was the bitter caramel corn.

I was drawn to these because 1) they were caramel corn and 2) I was fascinated by the idea of "bitter" caramel corn.  I was curious what sort of interesting possible translation issue this was.

Like all of the Tohato products, I loved the form factor.  Lightly airy, super crispy, great crunch, corn grit base.  These are the sort of thing it is far too easy to scarf an entire bag of in one sitting.  4/5 just for the form, as is true for all their varieties.

Then, the flavor.  What does "charred caramel paste" "roasted peanut" and "bitter caramel" translate into?  I found it to be a more complex and sophisticated flavor than standard caramel, still sweet, but definitely not cloying.  Deeper, darker, richer.  Just on the edge of bitter.  Caramel that left a tiny bit longer would turn burnt, no question.  I didn't taste anything peanut-like in the coating, which I didn't mind, as I really liked the flavor.  4/5 for the flavor.

There were some small roasted peanuts in the bag too, which I didn't discover until nearly at the end, as they were smaller than average peanuts, and had all settled to the bottom of the bag.  I considered them a bonus snack for later, but if you knew to dig for them, you could eat in unison with the puffs, a la Cracker Jacks. 4/5 for those too.

I'd get these again, although I did wish they had a touch more salty quality too.  I appreciate that they seem to be made with real caramel - the ingredients include sugar, margarine, cream (and honey), although they do have "flavoring", "seasonings", and "caramel pigment" too.

Salty Caramel Corn.

"To enhance the sweet caramel flavor, a perfect amount of salt is added to bring out more savory taste! It will definitely have you licking your fingers afterwards."

"Take this pack of yummy corn puff treats to the picnic! These Caramel Corn snacks are lightly seasoned with Guérande salt which brings out the sweetness of the caramel. Not only that but it's also made with fermented butter that adds a luxurious richness to the corn puffs. "

Next I went for a more classic caramel corn flavor, the "salty" caramel corn.  I again *adored* the form factor, so crispy, and I love how they sorta dissolve in your mouth.  The flavor was, well, caramel, definitely less bitter and complex than the bitter caramel flavor, certainly sweet, and I guess a touch salty.  The margarine, sweetened condensed milk, and real caramel really make these a top notch, decadent in a good way, treat.  Love them.  

Serving size: 1 bag, I'm sorry.  I'm incapable of not finishing a full bag in seconds flat.  They are just THAT good!  Another 4/5.

Sweet Potato Caramel Corn.

"Take a bite out of Tohato Caramel Corn Sweet Potato, where crunchy caramel corn meets delicious Japanese sweet potato. Crafted with Annou sweet potato powder, fresh cream, and brown sugar, this delightful snack is deliciously sweet and umami!"

"When you open it, you won't smell the usual sweet caramel scent, but rather a rich aroma reminiscent of a fluffy roasted sweet potato. The moment you put it in your mouth, it's sweet, and the fluffy and crispy texture that is unique to caramel corn. The flavor of the sweet potato spreads throughout your mouth immediately, and you'll be delighted with the autumn taste. Even after the caramel corn melts, the sweet potato flavor lingers, making you long for the next bite."

I had no idea what to expect from this one, besides the addicting form factor of course.  As always, I loved the crunchy, airy puffs.  I loved the decadence from the butter and cream and sugar.  That was all expected.  The sweet potato flavor was ... subtle.  Less dominant than some of the other stronger flavors, and definitely not one that I'd know was sweet potato if you didn't tell me.  It made sense and I could kinda taste it knowing it, but the flavor isn't one that immediately strikes you.

I did enjoy these, but found they trended a bit too sweet for me overall.  I wanted to dunk in whipped cream, or mix with something more plain, in order to keep eating them (or, you know, just eat a small portion and have some self control ...).  4/5 form factor, 3.5/5 flavor for me though.  Not one I'd seek out again, but I certainly wouldn't turn them down.

Seasonal / Limited Edition Flavors

Tohato goes all in on limited edition flavors.  Holidays, seasons, random Tik Tok trends ... they seem to embrace all as an excuse to create a limited time flavor, usually with some very cute branding and graphics.

Christmas Caramel Corn - White Milk.
(Seasonal).

"Enjoy these satisfyingly sweet corn puffs in their cute holiday season packaging! The crunchy pieces look like snow with their white milk flavor coating. Taste the rich milk flavor, thanks to the combination of fresh cream and honey."

The next flavor I tried was another variation on caramel corn, this time a special Christmas "white milk" flavor.

ZOMG.  I couldn't believe how much I liked these.  Same great base form factor, and pretty classic caramel corn taste to the base, and then ... well, sweet white chocolate-esque milky coating, but not a drizzle or shell, rather, a powder.  They were super sweet, but also creamy, and yet so crunchy, that I actually ate the entire bag in something like 2 minutes, stopping finally at the end to take a photo so I could write my review.  They were *that* good.  Wowzer.

What makes them that delicious?  Well, the ingredients.  Besides the corn grits that form the base, sugar, margarine, sweetened condensed milk, condensed milk, cream, "milk seasoning", and salt (plus a few emulsifiers and the like).  No wonder these were so tasty!  

Anyway, incredible.  And sadly seasonal, and sadly gone from my pantry now.  5/5.  No edits needed.

Mont Blanc.
(Limited Edition).

"Enjoy the taste of Japanese chestnut Mont Black when you bite into these delicious corn puffs! Each piece of Caramel Corn is crispy and soft at the same time that it actually melts in your mouth. These corn puffs are made with Japanese chestnut paste and fresh cream that give them a nice mellow but rich flavor."

I was very excited when I moved on to the next flavor: mont blanc!  I have had very few of this dessert in my life, mostly actually in Tokyo where it seems to be quite the thing (like even the soft serve Mont Blanc parfait at Mother Farm Milk Bar or the one from Silkream), but I adore it, and wish we had more chestnut inspiration in the US.  The ingredients even included chestnut paste, so I was quite hopeful the chestnut would deliver.

Sadly, these really didn’t taste like chestnut.  The form factor was still that perfectly addicting very crispy yet airy and puffy corn grits base, and it was still caramel corn with sweetened milk, margarine, and cream, so sweet and creamy, but … truly it just seemed like regular caramel corn flavor.  Tasty, absolutely, and this bag was definitely just one serving for me, but, mont blanc they were not.

I’d give this a low 4/5 IF it wasn’t marketed as being chestnut flavored, but since it was, and didn’t deliver even a tiny bit of chestnut flavor for me, I have to deduct a star.  3/5.

Hinamatsuri (Peach).
(Limited Edition).

"Crafted with pureed Japanese peaches, this snack boasts a charming blend of white and peach colors, reminiscent of traditional hina-arare sweets enjoyed during Japan's Girls' Day Festival."

"The Tohato Caramel Corn Seasonal Limited Peach Flavour is a new addition to the "Caramel Corn" series of Japanese snacks. It is a limited edition flavour for the Doll's Festival, also known as Hinamatsuri. The snack features an enhanced peach flavour made with Japan's domestically produced peach puree and a rich taste achieved by adding condensed milk as a secret ingredient. "

Well, this may be the most unique flavor I tried.  Another limited edition, made only for Hinamatsuri, the Japanese Doll's Day, which is a rather fascinating actual holiday.  Peaches are a symbol of this festival, and thus, the feature of this flavor.

The shape and base makeup of these is the same as the others: puffy, amazingly crunchy corn grits infused with sweetened milk, margarine, and sugar, decadent and impossible to put the bag down.  The pieces are actually light pink and rather pretty.  And the flavor?  Yup, wow, that is peach!  The flavor is not generic sweetness, nor does it taste artificial.  It tastes, well, like fresh peaches.  Rather impressive, really.  The secret (or, not so secret I guess) is in the ingredient list: peach puree.  They don't use anything artificial to get that peach flavor, it is actual peach puree.  And you can tell.

I didn't think that fruity peach would be a great match for these snacks, particularly as they are still caramel corn under that all, but, it really does work.  A fascinating and enjoyable flavor.  I'd love to try their other fruity flavors. 4/5.

Sanrio Characters Strawberry Caramel Corn.
(Special Edition).

"Introducing the delightful Tohato Sanrio Caramel Corn Strawberry, a taste sensation straight from the heart of Japan. This unique and charming snack combines the irresistible flavors of sweet caramel and luscious strawberries to create a treat that will transport your taste buds to a world of pure delight. Whether you're a fan of Sanrio's beloved characters or simply a lover of delicious snacks, this Japanese treat is sure to captivate your senses."

Wow, these were unique!  A collaboration with Sanrio to have Sanrio cutesy characters on the package, and a pack of Sanrio stickers hiding in the bag.  I believe they had several styles of packaging and stickers on offer.

The first thing that surprised me was the form factor.  While the shape and format is the same as all the others, they are tiny!  The cutesy little mini form kinda matched the whimsical branding, but I'll admit that I do prefer the bigger puffs.  These were just slightly bigger than popcorn pieces.

Once I got over the adorable tininess, I took in the taste.  Much like the limited peach flavor, the strawberry flavor was intense, and definitely not just an afterthought or something that comes through on the finish.  They were super fruity, in a good way that didn't taste fake nor cloying.  There is real strawberry puree used, and you can tell.

Sweet, fruity, crunchy, and gone in an instant.  4/5.

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MUKGLAM Go-chips

As you frequently hear me say on this blog, I'm an avid snacker.  I love all kinds of snacks, particularly ones that are not flavors or styles that I grew up with.  Which means that when I travel, I always stock up on local products.  I'm not sure where I discovered Mukglam products, a Korean brand, as I haven't visited Korea, but must have picked them up in Sydney or Singapore perhaps?

"MUKGLAM is a modern K-snack brand that blends clean ingredients with bold flavor and cultural flair.  We take pride in transforming Korea’s finest agricultural produce into innovative, healthy, and sustainable snacks and beverages. From vegan-certified snacks to upcycled fruit-based treats, our products reflect a perfect balance of taste, nutrition, and eco-conscious practices. "

The company is fairly new, founded only in 2020.  The products are all relatively healthy and vegan.  They mostly use upcycled fruits or vegetables for the bases, and modern technology to minimize their eco footprint.

Go-Chips

"Go-chips are perfect for on-the-go snacking. You can top Go-chips on your salad, oatmeal, or yogurt. Make Go-chips a part of your everyday healthy adventure!"

The product line I tried was the Go-Chips.  They are a fascinating product, that look more like crackers than traditional chips, yet the flavor is more akin to a chip.  But they are thick and shaped like crackers.  I mostly just ate them as a snack on their own, but I do see how their recommendations of using on salad/oatmeal/yogurt would work well too.  

I tried the "Original" flavor with is sweet potato and almond.  They also make a "Nuts" version with sweet potatoes, powdered almonds, fried cashews, and macadamia nuts.

Original: Sweet Potato + Almond.

"Go-chips Original is a delicious crispy oven baked sweet potato snack with Almond."

"Oven baked sweet potato and almond snack great for both kids and adults. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, hiking, at the office, before a workout, or on the go. "

The Go-Chips looked a lot like crackers to me, thicker than any usual chips, and basically rectangular.  I took one, and definitely expected to taste something cracker-adjacent.  But my brain was instantly confused when they tasted basically like sweet potato chips, e.g. Terra chips or the like.  Yet ... they were also loaded up with slivered almonds, which made them exceptionally crunchy too.  The texture was fascinating, the flavor was fascinating, they really were unique.  Quite a savory snack, although there was some inherent sweetness from the sweet potato.  The sweet potato was really quite strong too.

Due to all the nuts, they have 7g protein in the bag, which is pretty good for a munchy-style snack, rather than protein bar.  They went really, really well topped with warmed up bake brie en croute with some cranberry preserves at the holidays.

I enjoyed these, and would get them again, or try other flavors.  4/5.

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Great Lakes Pot Pies

Great Lakes Pot Pies is mostly a pot pie company.  They are located in Michigan, but also ship nationwide (frozen pies).  They make savory pies in various sizes and fillings, breakfast pies, sweet pies, and also hand pies.  But I tried none of those things (although I gladly would, many sound great!).  I was drawn to their snack foods business, where they sell a fairly unique product: pie chips.

Pie chips are available as a savory option (everything seasoning) or sweet (cinnamon sugar).  I tried the later.  They recommend as a snack right out of the (resealable) pouch, sprinkled on ice cream, or any other creative uses you can come up with.

Cinnamon Sugar Pie Chips.

"Irresistibly crunchy pie chips with sweet cinnamon sugar goodness. The crisp cookies come with a flaky buttery crust and are covered in cinnamon sugar."

"Savor buttery, flaky cookies crafted from our famous pie crust—each crisp bite of the cinnamon chips is reminiscent of the delight of freshly baked pie."

I wanted to love these.  I didn't love these.  I simply liked them.  

Which is to say, they were fine.  Absolutely fine.  But I wanted more from them.

They were very buttery and seemed to be made from high quality pie crust.  I liked that there were smaller nibble broken bits and bigger squares.  They did, indeed, taste like pie crust.  

But for a standalone snack, I wanted more from the cinnamon sugar element.  They were coated on just one side, and the cinnamon and sugar were both fairly muted.  I wanted more, more, more.

As an ice cream topping, pudding topping, or even just with fresh berries and whipped cream they were a nice component, but as a standalone snack, they weren't quite enough flavor for me.  Low 3/5.

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Deep River Snacks

Update Review, Summer 2025

It had been a few years since I last had Deep River Snacks potato chips, but I remember thinking they were a bit better than average, so I picked up a few more varieties to try.  

All were their standard kettle style chips - average thickness, little bit of skin on, extremely crispy, definitely heavy oily fried style, blistered all over.  Not my favorite style of chip, but a touch above average.  Deep River Snacks only makes two flavors of non-kettle chips, so kettle are mostly what you'll find.

Sweet Maui Onion.

"Combine the flavors of sweet onions and garlic, add our thick-cut potato chips, and you've got one of our most popular kettle chip varieties. It’s simply addictive. Just don’t say that we didn’t warn you."

The Sweet Maui Onion I don't think I'd had before, at least, not in the past 10 years or so.  They were extremely flavorful, with a taste that starts of in familiar sour cream & onion territory, but quickly veers off more sweet, and less creamy.  It really is an enjoyable flavor.

4/5.

Mesquite BBQ.

"Down-home, done right! The perfect blend of mesquite, brown sugar, and paprika, with notes of exotic spices - your taste buds will thank you."

These are pretty classic mesquite style BBQ kettle chips.  Very kettle-style, so again, not my favorite.  The mesquite flavors are quite strong, which is nice when in the mood.  Not a bag I'd get again though. 3/5.

Zesty Jalapeño.

"Four-alarm kick with only four ingredients! Impossibly simple and incredibly delicious, our Zesty Jalapeño kettle cooked chips are the perfect balance of flavor and fire."

This batch of chips was all pretty dark, lots of burnt spots on them.  And the chips were all bigger than normal, and more twisted up.  It was interesting to see the base chip so different in this bag compared to any other Deep River chips I've had before.

The flavor was deeply potato, and only a bit zesty, the zing really only hit on the finish.  Compared to the other flavors of Deep River chips I tried, these seemed to have the flavor hit dialed back a bit, which is too bad, as jalapeño chips can be such a great heat!  3/5.

Update Review, Summer 2021

Deep River is a fairly major potato chip manufacturer, but I rarely see their products around town.  I wonder if it is a regional thing?  Anyway, I've reviewed them before, but it was years ago, and before my covid inspired "chip-a-holic" phase.

Deep River only makes two flavors in the "Kringle Cut" form: Salt & Cracked Pepper and Sour Cream & Onion.  The rest are all kettle style (or tortilla chips).  As a krinkle cut fan, and not really a kettle chips fan, I was eager to try these, but also couldn't resist picking up another fascinating kettle chip flavor.

Krinkle Cut Sour Cream & Onion.

"The bold flavors of onion and garlic combine with tangy sour cream on our krinkle-cut kettle chips for an incredible flavor and crunch you can’t resist."

Sour Cream & Onion is somewhere on my list of general "eh, they are ok, but not my top choice" flavors.  But, with only two flavors available for Krinkle Cut, I had to pick them.

It was a good move.  These were great chips.  I loved how crunchy they were - I think the potatoes are sliced a bit thicker than a standard chip, and they were so very fried, the crunch was just fantastic.  They felt like heavy chips, and, well, they were.

The sour cream and onion flavor was fine - not very sour cream forward, but they had a nice herby zing to them.

These were a chip that ate very well, and I certainly enjoyed.

****.

Aged Cheddar Horseradish.

"Sharp, aged cheddar cheese paired perfectly with the zesty bite of horseradish. Kettle chips so delicious they’ll bring tears to your eyes!"

These chips were a lot of fun!  They really delivered on all aspects: they were deeply cheesy from the aged cheddar AND quite zingy from the horseradish.  The kettle style worked well, perfectly crisp.

I really enjoyed these, even though cheese and horseradish isn't a combo I normally think of!

****.

Original Review September 2016

Deep River Snacks is, well, a snack food company.  They make 5 product lines: kettle chips, classic chips, Honchos (tortilla chips), popcorn, and healthier baked crisps.  Given that I love to munch on things, chips and popcorn are right up my alley, so I sought out their products.

Except, it turns out, kettle chips are clearly the focus of the company. The Classic Potato Chips line has exactly one variety: salted.  Same with the popcorn, just one flavor: salted.  And same with the baked crisps.  You guessed it: salted.  Honchos are their version of Doritos, available in nacho cheese and ranch, plus peach habanero.  Since plain salted items aren't really my thing, and I loathe Doritos, I stuck with the kettle chips only.

Kettle Chips

"These are no ordinary kettle chips! Our kettle-cooked potato chips are made in small batches, ensuring outstanding crispness and crunch! Our Kettle Chips are a better-for-you snack made exclusively with sunflower oil. And, like all of our snacks, our kettle cooked chips are certified gluten-free, free from GMO ingredients, and made in a nut-free facility."

Deep River Kettle Chips are available in about a dozen flavors, ranging from your standard salted, salt & vinegar, and bbq, to slightly more interesting like Aged Cheddar Horseradish, Salt & Cracked Pepper, and Zesty Jalapeno, to downright fascinating New York Spicy Dill Pickle, Ninja Ginger, and Rosemary & Olive Oil, and a plain 40% Reduced Fat version for those who are attempting to be healthier, and somehow think kettle chips fit the bill.

I can't speak on the reduced fat versions, but, the regular ones are not healthy chips.  280 calories in a bag of chips!  (Sure, it says 2 servings, but, um, its a personal bag of chips, no one eats them in 2 servings).

They are very classic, super fried, style chips.  If you are looking for a standard kettle chip, check them out.

Rosemary & Olive Oil.

"Deliciously fragrant and flavorful kettle cooked chips!  Rosemary, garlic, and olive oil marry perfectly with our kettle-cooked potatoes for a delicious chip with great crunch."

These were very classic kettle chips.  Super crispy, super oily, crunchy chips.  My favorites are always the ones that are curled up slightly, or bent over.

The flavor however was pretty unique.  I don't think I've ever had rosemary chips before.  I really liked them.  I know it sounds funny, but, the more interesting herbs made them taste ... grown up?  They really seemed like what a trendy bar would serve as a bar snack, "And here is our housemade rosemary kettle chips ..."  They really didn't seem like a packaged snack.

Anyway, a very unique chip, and I liked them. ***+.

Sea Salt & Vinegar.

"A New England classic potato chip!  The tart and tangy taste of vinegar paired with the perfect amount of sea salt is sure to make your mouth pucker. "

These did make me pucker, exactly as advertised.  Very tangy, classic salt and vinegar chips.  Standard very fried kettle style.  Not really my thing, but, a good version of what they are. Low ***.

Zesty Jalapeño.

"These kettle chips offer a four-alarm kick with only four ingredients!  Impossibly simple and incredibly delicious, our Zesty Jalapeño kettle cooked potato chips are the perfect balance of flavor and fire."

The Rosemary & Olive Oil were my favorites in that they didn't seem like packaged potato chips, but, for a classic potato chip, the Zesty Jalapeño actually wins.  They were indeed fire-y.  And again, classic kettle chip style. ***+.

Ojan was eating a bag of these and absent mindedly took a big handful all at once.  Several seconds later he was frantically running for water, as he had forgotten that they were so intense.

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