IKEA Tarta Mandel almond cake: As part of my free meal at IKEA, I got a slice of their almond cake, the most harmless looking dessert on display. It consists of two thin layers of cake with butter cream in between; sliced almonds are sprinkled on top. While the portion size was not very large, it was difficult to get through given the over-sweetend and gummy icing. The nuts offered neither texture nor flavor. It was free, but I would not choose to eat it for free again. 1.5/5.0
avoid ikea tarta mandel almond cake 1.5
Calbee Honey Butter Potato Chips: Back when I lived in Cambridge, I frequently saw honey butter flavored potato chips on the shelves at HMart, and despite my proclivity for odd snacks, this is one I left untouched. Little did I know that in late 2014, honey butter chips set off a frenzy in South Korea, with convenient stores frequently sold out and single bags going for as much as $50 (a 2500% markup) on eBay (google the Munchies article to learn more). After hearing about this craze, my sister and I bought a bag from 99 R... (read more) 1.5/5.0
korean honeybutter chips avoid calbee honey butter potato 1.5
Hidden Garden Ginger Snap Cookies with Butternut Squash: One of the major downsides of trying so many types of snacks is that when you hit a dud, you're stuck with an entire bag, which also stands in your way of trying new snacks until you finish it. These gluten-free cookies are quite frankly one of the worst snacks I've had all year. When you open the bag, you're hit with a strong scent of butter, which also dominates the taste. There's also a prominent sweet molasses flavor but very little ginger or butternut squash. I love the mellow sweet... (read more) 1.5/5.0
avoid hiddengarden ginger snap cookies butternut squash 1.5 berkeleybowl
Mary's Gone Crackers Everything Pretzels: Each pretzel stick is shaped like a twig and sized like a skinny cinnamon stick, with a texture that did not match my expectation for a pretzel at all – it's crispier, as if fried. The sticks are covered with an array of seasonings like poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and caraway seeds, but the flavor combination overall tastes like burnt garlic. One of the more unpleasant snacks I've consumed in some time. 1.5/5.0
avoid organic vegan marysgonecrackers everything pretzels 1.5
Wonderful Dessert and Cafe Grass jelly drink with boba: Wonderful Dessert and Cafe is a small shop lined with bulk candy bins. Counter for bubble tea in the back. Painted window signage declares that this shop has the "best tapioca in town." In actuality, it was one of the worst I've had from any establishment, with a mushy texture and no flavor. The herbal jelly tea was no better, with a medicinal metallic taste. Was hopeful given high online reviews and this store's location in Inner Richmond, which feels the most like Flushing, Queens as I've... (read more) 1.5/5.0
avoid sanfrancisco bubbletea innerrichmond wonderfuldessertandcafe grass jelly drink boba 1.5 drinks