Golden Steamer Red Bean Bun: Here's a classic Chinese bao favorite from Golden Steamer in NYC, filled with sweet red bean paste that is surprisingly mild in sweetness, especially compared to the typical sugar bomb you get elsewhere. Surrounded by soft and plump steamed white bread. This one is not bad, but it isn't especially interesting. If you like red bean buns, you will enjoy it, but it will taste like you expect it will. Costs under $1. 3.0/5.0
nyc buns chinatown goldensteamer red bean bun 3.0
Beanitos White bean Mac n cheese crunch: These corn-alternative snacks have an irregular crunchy texture with a similar size to puffed Cheetos. The Mac n Cheese flavor is just a marketing spin on cheddar (more on an actual cheese puff whose flavor resembles boxed Mac and cheese in a forthcoming review). They have a slightly less neutral taste than regular corn puffs, with an aftertaste that resembles wheat snacks. Not bad, but not particularly memorable. 3.0/5.0
junkfood cheese cheddar cheesepuffs beanitos white bean mac n crunch 3.0
Chia pod Vanilla bean chia pudding: Chia seed pudding that contains a handy mini spoon and tastes of vanilla and cinnamon equally. Thick consistency that may be a turn off for those used to pudding packs but totally normal for people familiar with chia seed pudding. Overall, a sweet and well balanced snack. 3.5/5.0
recommended chiapod vanilla bean chia pudding 3.5
iTea Matcha milk tea with boba and red bean: This matcha drink from iTea in SF contains red bean and boba as default toppings. While the matcha milk tea was decent, the red bean was heavily sweetened so that this 30% sweetness beverage tasted more like a normal 100% sweetened drink. Texturally, the red bean also seemed canned as it was slightly too soft. As a result, I’d recommend getting the drink but skipping the red bean topping. 2.5/5.0
drinks sf milktea itea matcha milk tea boba red bean 2.5 bubbletea
Beanitos Better cheddar and sour cream pinto bean chips: High fiber + protein tortilla chips made of bean (instead of corn). They have a more crumbly texture than your typical chip and a stronger flavor. Together, with cheddar and sour cream, I expected it to taste like a bean dip, but it was strangely muddled and unbalanced. Do not recommend. 2.5/5.0
tortilla veggie chips beanitos better cheddar sour cream pinto bean 2.5
Our Little Rebellion Cha-Cha Chili Bean Crisps: I love potato chips, but I also enjoy finding healthier substitutes. This new bean crisp snack fills that void, with a satisfying crispy baked texture and distinct chili flavor that's just spicy enough for snacking by the handful. They are from the makers of Popcorners, and while I generally like the Popcorner product, I actually think these Bean Crisps are even better, since the bean flavor is more distinct, and the chips are crunchier and generally more satisfying texturally. I hope the... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended ourlittlerebellion cha-cha chili bean crisps 4.0