Riska Mentai Corn Snack: I love that Japanese culture is seemingly contradictory. There is the upmost respect for serenity and simplicity, along with an obsession with quality and workmanship (e.g., tea gardens, sashimi and sushi rice, Yurbai melons) - yet, at the same time, it can be loud, brash, and colorful (e.g., manga, Pachinko). This purple bag of Mentai (cod roe) puffed corn snacks is sensory overload all on its own, with multiple exclamation points, bold lettering, and metallic silver foil highlighting. I... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional japanese mentai cod roe fish seafood junkfood riska corn snack 4.5 tokyofishmarket
Taco Bell Doritos Gordita crunch: Hard shell nacho cheese Doritos taco wrapped in a flour tortilla. Topped with sour cream, lettuce, and shredded cheddar cheese. Texture of beef makes it difficult to know if you're eating refried beans or ground meat. Flavor is instantly familiar and incredibly satisfying. May shorten lifespan but is worth it for a few minutes of guilty pleasure. 4.0/5.0
tacobell doritos junkfood gorditas recommended tacos gordita crunch 4.0
Cosmos Tteokbokki Rice Crackers: Korean spicy and sweet rice crackers shaped like rigatoni, with the exact opposite texture of the typically soft and chewy cylindrical rice cakes. Tastes of fermented gochujang chili paste, which is a staple in most Korean cooking so will taste familiar if you enjoy eating Korean stews. More sweet than savory but has a mildly spicy aftertaste. This is the second brand I've tried from HMart, and they seem pretty much interchangeable but both delicious. 4.0/5.0
recommended junkfood korean hmart chili cosmos tteokbokki rice crackers 4.0
Lay’s Cucumber Potato Chips: One thing I find overwhelming but also awe-inspiring is that no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to try every flavor of Lay’s potato chips. These cucumber-flavored chips were purchased at an Asian grocery store and originate from China. Perhaps this is unsurprising, as crushed cucumbers, flavored with salt and vinegar, are a perennial side dish in Chinese restaurants. These chips are both savory and sweet, with a remarkably true-to-name flavor. They taste more vegetal than sal... (read more) 4.0/5.0
Kamman chinese chips potatochips junkfood lays cucumber potato 4.0 recommended
Dydo Purush Jelly Sparkling Flavored Grape Soda: This is a very unique drink that you need to shake in advance of opening to break up its gelatinous filling. It contains a mix of "jelly," which has been carbonated so there's no risk of having overly-pressurized soda explode upon opening the can, as well as coconut jelly (Nata de Coco). It tastes like Fanta grape soda, so very sweet, but I really liked the mix of softer jelly and chewy coconut cubes, and the grape flavor is also quite nostalgic for me. Purchased from a vending machine. 4.0/5.0
recommended japanese junkfood drinks soda dydo purush jelly sparkling flavored grape 4.0
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