Calbee Cheddar Cheese Crisps: These are puffed corn chips, similar in texture to fried shrimp chips you get from certain types of Chinese restaurants. In other words, they have a type of crispy-styrofoam-like texture rather than resembling potato chips or crisps. Overall, the cheese flavor is so-so; I definitely didn't like it enough to buy it again. 2.5/5.0
japanese cheese chips calbee cheddar crisps 2.5
YBC Aerial Cheddar Flavored Chips: I really like the texture of these light and crispy chips from Japanese junk-food manufacturer YBC. They consist of nugget-shaped chips that are multi-layered and irregularly shaped, giving it a very unique texture. The cheddar flavored ones have a milky and creamy flavor that is common among cheddar-flavored Asian snacks, which is less salty and sharp than American cheddar-flavored snacks. Overall, I still like it for the texture but prefer the roe-flavored chips I previously reviewed. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese junkfood ybc aerial cheddar flavored chips 3.5
Koikeya Strong Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips: These chips taste like the Japanese version of Ruffles Sour Cream and Onion Chips except that the flavor is stronger on tangy sour cream taste, which I enjoy even more. I get the sense that Koikeya is sort of like the Frito Lay's of Japan, since their brands are everywhere and especially prominent in convenience stores. Overall, a familiar but comforting junk food flavor. 3.5/5.0
potatochips recommended Maruetsu japanese junkfood koikeya strong sour cream onion potato chips 3.5
Yamazaki Biscuits Co Nori Chip Star Potato Chips: These chips are like Japanese Pringles, with more Asian flavors than you would normally find for Pringles. They come in a similarly-shaped cardboard tube but the stack of chips inside are further wrapped in sealed packaging. I bought the nori-shio flavor, which had specks of seaweed. They definitely had a distinct nori flavor but otherwise taste just like Pringles, which is to say they are thickly-cut potato crisps whose flavor dries largely from the oil they're fried in. If you like Pri... (read more) 2.5/5.0
chips japanese weica yamazakibiscuitsco nori chip star potato 2.5
YBC Aerial Roe Butter Flavored Chips: It is very rare for me to come across a snack that is fundamentally different than any I've had before, and this fried Japanese corn snack is one of them. I found it at Weica, sort of like a CVS, which has an impressive stock of junk food. These chips consist of multiple crispy layers, each uniquely shaped probably due to the irregularity of the manufacturing process. Each square is about the size of a Wheat Thin in area. The separated layers gives it a light crispy texture unlike any sn... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended weica japanese junkfood yamazakibiscuitsco aerial roe butter flavored chips 4.0 ybc
Calbee Takumi Sendai Beef & Black Pepper Chips: I'm pretty fascinated by meat-flavored snacks, which are very popular in Asia. These are chips you can purchase at 7-11 in Japan that are flavored like peppered steak. They have a smoky flavor that do taste of black pepper, but they also have a meaty sweetness as if the beef were marinated in a sweet glaze. The chips are thin and crispy - similar to Lay's and a bit better than the other potato chips I've had here, many of which are translucent with oil. Overall, though, the pepper flavor... (read more) 3.0/5.0
chips 711 japanese calbee takumi sendai beef black pepper 3.0