Calbee Takoyaki Corn Puffs: Similar in size and texture to Utz cheese balls but tasting nothing like them, these octopus-flavored puffed corn snacks from Japanese snack brand Calbee actually hail from South Korea. They’re coated in a light brown powder tasting strongly of Worcestershire sauce, giving each bite an initial vinegary and savory hit but ending on an unexpectedly (and slightly overpowering) sweet note. They don’t have as strong of a seafood flavor as I would like, probably because the Worcestershire seasoni... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended octopus korean calbee takoyaki corn puffs 3.5 nijiya
Furuta Green Tea Cookies: I was lucky to find these crumbly green tea sandwich cookies at Niniya Market for a very reasonable price just over $3. The biscuits are lightly sweetened and more substantial than normal Oreo-like sandwich cookies, and the cream filling has a much more natural matcha flavor than most packaged snacks I’ve had. Great value and taste! 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese matcha nijiya furuta green tea cookies 3.5
Tao Kae Noi Hot Chili Squid Grilled Seaweed Super Crisp: The unique texture of these ultra thin and crispy seaweed crisps inspires me to keep trying new flavors. This one, hot chili squid, tastes like a concentrated seafood ramen seasoning packet, except that it incorporates a sweet garlic chili paste that makes it unsettling sweet. More zesty than spicy. It’s one of the less successful flavors from this line of snacks but not so bad that I wouldn’t purchase a flavor I haven’t tried before. If you enjoy dried seaweed snacks but haven’t picked up t... (read more) 3.0/5.0
nijiya taokaenoi hot chili squid grilled seaweed super crisp 3.0