Oishi Marty's salt and vinegar flavored cracklings: I bought this snack because I saw chicharons on the package, but when I got home, I was upset and baffled to see they were vegetarian. Upon tasting, though, I'm impressed with how closely they were able to match a distinctively meaty snack. The cracklings don't melt in your mouth the way fatty chicharons do, but the aggressive salt and vinegar flavor combined with a crunchy, textured cracker bears a passing resemblance. There is no way a vegetarian designed this snack. While the packaging ha... (read more) 3.5/5.0
oishi vegetarian chicharon recommended chips cracklings hmart 3.5 philippines saltandvinegar marty's salt vinegar flavored
Primizie Gouda and garlic crispbreads: This product occupies a new snack space for me, with chips falling somewhere between a tortilla chip and a pita chip in terms of thickness and texture. In many ways, it's the best of both worlds, as it's both crisp and hearty. Flavorwise, garlic is prominent, verging on uncomfortable to speak to others after eating. Gouda adds a unique taste that you don't often find in the snack aisle. 3.5/5.0
recommended chips berkeleybowl primizie gouda garlic crispbreads 3.5
Burma Superstar Lotus Root Chips: I ate at Burma Superstar in Richmond 6 years ago, so I instantly recognized their branding when I saw this bag of lotus chips on the shelves at Berkeley Bowl. Thinly sliced lotus root is deep fried and lightly tossed with nori, cayenne, and sesame. Oil saturates the rings, leaving your fingers coated in a thin layer of grease and speckles of seaweed. No serving size indicated on the packaging, but they lasted two days at work. 3.5/5.0
berkeleybowl veggie recommended burmasuperstar lotus root chips 3.5
Good Crisps Sour cream and onion potato crisps: Blatantly mimicking a popular product whose heyday likely passed in the late 90s, this tube of potato crisps takes a gmo- and artificial-flavors-free approach to junk food. It's a less salty but otherwise uncannily familiar flavor, down to the curved shape, crispy texture, and classic sour cream and onion flavor. You would think there might be patents to cover these signature attributes, but Good Crisps has somehow gotten away with it. The result is a product that has a 1.5x markup from its ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended potatochips chips wholefoods goodcrisps sour cream onion potato crisps 3.5
Dang Chipotle Garlic Onion Chips: Berkeley-based snack company that uses whole caramelized sliced onions, crisps them so they're almost chip-like but much lighter in texture, and seasons them for additional flavor. Prominent sweet onion taste without the heaviness of additional cornmeal or flour (like Funyuns or other onion ring-like snacks). Chips at the top of the bag had just a hint of smoke and spice, but those on the bottom were more robust, so shaking may help distribute the coating. Few servings in a bag and kind ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended safeway dang chipotle garlic onion chips 3.5
Bare Cinnamon Banana Chips: Containing only bananas and cinnamon, these literally bare banana chips are super crunchy but not dense, giving them a uniquely crisp texture. In the bag, they clink like bingo chips unlike more weighty alternatives like fried banana chips. No added sugar. Cinnamon is an unexpectedly good pairing. Only downside is they get stuck in your teeth. High price per serving (just 3 in the bag), but well worth a try. 3.5/5.0
recommended fruit bare cinnamon banana chips 3.5