Bin Bin Coconut Milk Flavor Rice Crackers: I grew up eating Bin Bin rice crackers, the classic kind containing individually wrapped packets of 2 peanut-shaped rice crackers coated with a sweet and savory MSG seasoning. But did you know that they had coconut milk flavored crackers? I didn't until this weekend, when I stumbled upon this product at Uwajimaya. The coconut flavoring seems to be in the biscuit base itself, which still has the familiar crispy cracker texture of the original. I was hoping it would be a little more savory... (read more) 3.0/5.0
uwajimaya binbin coconut milk flavor rice crackers 3.0
Calbee Takoyaki Balls: Puffed corn snacks coated in a sweet and savory seasoning blend that tastes just like takoyaki sauce (sort of like Japanese Bulldog sauce or Worcestershire sauce, deep in umami). In other words, it doesn't taste like seafood but just the sauce that typically coats the normally octopus-filled balls. Undoubtedly a substantial amount of MSG. Purchased from Uwajimaya, but actually a product of Thailand. 3.0/5.0
uwajimaya japanese calbee takoyaki balls 3.0
Kuze Fuku & Sons Yuzu with Apple Cider Vinegar: I enjoy switchels so I was hopeful about this apple cider vinegar-based drink purchased on sale from Uwajimaya, but the verdict is that it was not good - it tasted like an unbalanced mix of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar with little more, somehow both bland and a little too sour. Would not recommend this low calorie beverage. 1.0/5.0
drinks uwajimaya vinegar kuzefukusons yuzu apple cider 1.0
Lay's Roasted Seaweed Potato Chips: Since when did Lay's make Pringle's canister potato chips? Unlike the classic crispy, transluscently-thin Lay's potato chips, these are very much in the style of Pringles, though slightly smaller. They surprisingly come packed in a pull-out plastic tray (so you don't have to dig for the chips at the bottom, I suppose). I purchased them from Uwajimaya (the Japanese grocery chain in the PNW), though these are Chinese. The roasted seaweed flavor has a really satisfying savory sweet flavor and... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended chips fritolays chinese uwajimaya lays roasted seaweed potato 4.0
Macfuddy Pepper Elixir: Orca Beverage is a wholesale distributor for vintage sodas, featuring the likes of Dad's Root Beer and Bubble Up. I didn't actually know about Orca Beverage until I had already purchased a few bottles of sodas from Uwajimaya, a Japanese grocery store that somehow also features a wide range of non-Asian beverages. They all had a vintage vibe, and it wasn't until I returned home that I noticed they all had Orca bottle caps. Macfuddy has a definite Dr. Pepper vibe but also manages to have a ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks uwajimaya macfuddy pepper elixir 3.5
O'Food Seoul Sparkling Yuzu Prebiotic Drink: I'm pretty open minded when it comes to trying new snacks, but this prebiotic drink made from fermented radish is simply not good. Its unusual ingredients include radish water kimchi (pear, green onion, ginger, and garlic), and it contains just 1% juice and 25 calories. It tastes like drinking a watery salad dressing, and the fermented ingredients totally overpower any type of yuzu flavor. Definitely avoid. Purchased from Uwajimaya. 1.0/5.0
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