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
Yaokin Cabbage Taro Baked Cookies: This bag of puffed corn snacks was purchased solely based on packaging, with its friendly green police frog and lack of English labeling. They are more airy than your typical cheese ball, with a flavor that is almost like a junk food mirepoix, with tomato, onion, and carrots. It's unmistakably Japanese, with added sprinklings of nori and MSG. And, like many Asian snacks, they come in small packages, with only 3 servings in a bag. Brought out during a party, these were quickly devoured an... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended japanese vegetables yaokin cabbage taro baked cookies 4.0
Yaokin Takoyaki Umaibo: Continuing my quest to try every flavor of Umaibo (a challenge I don’t think will ever end), I tried the takoyaki flavored corn snack. For those who haven’t had takoyaki before, takoyaki is a Japanese street snack consisting of battered octopus balls topped with shaved bonito flakes and a kewpie mayo drizzle. This snack version of a snack had a very smoky seafood flavor, savory and sweet like a deep brown gravy (Worcestershire-like). It isn’t one of my favorite Umaibo as I found the flavor b... (read more) 3.0/5.0
japanese yaokin takoyaki umaibo 3.0
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
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
YBC Levain cheese sandwich crackers: I think the texture of cheese Ritz crackers is probably controversial, with it's fluffy texture and vaguely mild cheddar flavor, but I've always enjoyed it. These Japanese YBC crackers are similar but with a crispier, flakier cracker base; the cheese flavor is otherwise similar The bag comes with two individually wrapped stacks. Decent everyday snack. 3.0/5.0
japanese inegaya ybc levain cheese sandwich crackers 3.0