Nong Shim Banana Kick Snack: Who would have thought that banana flavored puffs, airy and porous with a slight glaze and crispy texture, would be such a delicious snack? I'll admit that I purchased this bag from the narrow, never-ending aisles of Manhattan's HMart solely based on its cute packaging. Yet there was also a driving curiosity for what a sweet fruity version of a cheese puff might be. Texturally, they are far more interesting than Cheetos largely due to its crispy yet light consistency. Its flavor taste of ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Annie’s Organic white cheddar bunny tail puffs: I haven’t purchased boxed mac and cheese since I graduated from school, but I’m not ashamed to admit that this cheap and quick staple was a regular in my pantry all throughout college and grad school. I generally preferred the white cheddar kind, like the white cheddar shells from Trader Joe’s and the Yummy Cheese flavor from Annie’s. Recently, I found that Annie’s is actually owned by General Mills, which gave me some pause when considering whether to purchased this snack. But given how muc... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Hippeas Far Out Fajita Organic Chickpea Puffs: A new take on the beloved puffed vegetable snack, Hippeas utilize ground chickpeas puffed to a crispy and light texture. The coating is slightly toasted, and each bite feels more substantial than a corn-based puff like Cheetos. The flavor is bold and smoky, with prominent chili powder and paprika seasonings that faintly resemble American Barbecue without any of the underlying sweetness. A good level of heat as well. If you prefer a more neutral flavor, this may not be for you, but I appr... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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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
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I Heart Keenwah Sweet chili puffs : Perfectly spherical quinoa-based balls that have a denser, crunchier texture than regular corn puffs. The sweet chili leaves a pleasantly light spice and builds pretty quickly. If you're looking for a slightly healthier cheese-puff alternative, you could do much worse than I Heart Keenwah, though the serving size is surprisingly small. 3.0/5.0
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Oorifood Premium Garlic Snack: Since moving to the Bay Area, I've been impressed with how well American grocery stores stock Asian snacks in their ethnic food aisles. Berkeley Bowl in particular has an array of both Japanese and Chinese staples, including dried seafood, shrimp crackers, and multiple varieties of rice crackers (even carrying their own in the bulk section). But one thing that I have missed is Korean snacks, which I had easy access to back in Cambridge, MA since I lived close to an HMart. Luckily, I recent... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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