We raided the snack aisle at the Korean market to bring you the Ultimate Korean Chips Taste Test. What’s your all-time favorite?
SWEET
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Cosmos Jangeiya, Kirin Rice Chips, Cosmos Sweet Potato Snack, Corn Cho, Crown Caramel Corn & Peanuts, Cosmos Wang Sora, Nongshim Honey Flavored Twist Snack, Nongshim Cho Chung U-Gua Rice Snack.
Cosmos Jangeiya (Korean cookie)
Audrey Ryu, social media and marketing intern: It looks like calamari.
Steve Han, staff writer: There’s a hint of sweetness. I like them.
Tony Kim, editorial intern: I grew up eating these. They’re crunchier than I remember. You’re supposed to put them on your fingers like this [puts them on his fingers].
James S. Kim, staff writer: I can already tell these will be one of my favorites. They’re not too hard with just the right amount of crunch.
Kirin Rice Chips, Honey Flavored
Steve: They have everything you need—they’re crispy, salty, sweet and savory.
Tony: Too many different tastes. My brain is overwhelmed.
James: They’re perfect.
Audrey: They’re surprisingly savory and sweet. But hard on your jaw.
Cosmos Sweet Potato Snack
Audrey: They’re kind of dull.
James: This is very old-school Korean.
Steve: I’m not a fan. They’re stale and get stuck in my teeth.
Corn Cho, Choco Flavored
Steve: This would be good if you put it in the fridge. Yes, refrigeration is key.
Audrey: The puff has absolutely no flavor.
Steve: Yeah, and it’s kind of stale.
James: It’s a good concept, but the execution is disappointing.
Tony: You can make this with Nutella with no effort.
Crown Caramel Corn & Peanuts
Tony: I feel like I just ate dust. But the aftertaste is really good.
Audrey: They’re like Cheetos Puffs, but sweet.
James: There’s a hint of peanut sweetness.
Cosmos Wang Sora
Steve: Yeah, this sucks. Very plasticky and gets stuck in your teeth.
Tony: They’re like stale Frosted Flakes.
James: They taste very old-fashioned.
Nongshim Honey Flavored Twist Snack
Audrey: Oh, I like these. They’re light and the flavor stays from beginning to end.
James: It’s your basic honey snack. Nothing special, but solid.
Steve: Once you start eating them, you can’t stop.
Nongshim Cho Chung U-Gua Rice Snack
Audrey: Sweet and savory. This is the perfect snack.
Steve: I love this. It’s so good. A mix of crunchy, soft and sweet.
SAVORY
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Lotte Cheetos, Nongshim Postick French Fried Potato Snack, Lotte Spicy & Sweet Corn Snack, Orion O! Karto Italian Gratin Italian Potato Chips, Cosmos Tteokbokki Snack.
Lotte Cheetos, BBQ Flavor
Steve: I like these, but the taste is overpowering.
Audrey: It hits you like, whoa.
Tony: So addicting.
James: The powder brings me back to my younger days.
Nongshim Postick French Fried Potato Snack
Audrey: Kinda blah.
Steve: They really do taste like potatoes.
James: But the real thing is better. It looks like plastic, tastes like plastic.
Lotte Spicy & Sweet Corn Snack
Audrey: Oh, you HAVE to eat it like this [puts pieces on her fingers].
Steve: These are awesome.
James: Thin, crispy, addictive.
Tony: I wish they went all the way with the spiciness.
Orion O! Karto Italian Gratin Italian Potato Chips
James: Terrifying bag design. But so good. Lays has nothing on this potato chip.
Audrey: It has the perfect crunchiness. And the flavor is on-point.
Steve: These are legit.
Cosmos Tteokbokki Snack
Audrey: They start off sweet but then get spicy really fast.
Steve: They really taste like tteokbokki. You can taste the gochujang.
Tony: Just as terrifying as I remember. They lead you on. You think they’re going to be one flavor and then turn out to be something else. Kind of like when a girl … never mind.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Bing Crab Snack, Samyang Foods Corn Snack, Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack, Goraebap, Orion Peanut Squid Balls.
Bing Crab Snack Original
Audrey: Perfect. Really light. You can eat so much of this.
Steve: It’s like eating the crumbs of fried food.
Tony: The design is impeccable. Light and airy.
Samyang Foods Corn Snack
Audrey: They melt too fast.
Tony: It’s like cotton candy.
Steve: This is horrible.
James: It’s the sweet version of Trader Joe’s Pirate’s Booty.
Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack, Spicy Rice Cake Flavor
James: Chunks with the perfect amount of powder are the best.
Steve: It’s overpowering at certain parts.
Tony: There are so many positives.
James: It’s really exciting to make. As a kid, I wasn’t allowed to eat ramen this way. So when I discovered this snack, I felt rebellious. I was obviously a sheltered child.
Goraebap
Steve: Mmmmm! Light and peppery. You just keep eating them.
Audrey: Very addicting. There’s no American snack that tastes like this.
Tony: This is the king size version. It tastes the same as the original.
Orion Peanut Squid Balls
Steve: Wonderful! It’s like beer food.
Tony: I like how it breaks when you crunch it.
FROM LEFT: Cosmos Shrimp Chips, Nongshim Tako Chips, Nongshim Onion Rings, Ottogi Swing Cuts.
Cosmos Shrimp Chips
Steve: Legit flavor.
Tony: I feel like I’m eating paper.
James: It has a good texture. It’s fine for what it is.
Nongshim Tako Chips, Octopus Flavored
Steve: I don’t know why they say it’s octopus-flavored. You can’t tell.
Tony: It’s not that bad and not that good. Very average.
James: The taste is what you’d expect.
Nongshim Onion Rings
Steve: You can’t go wrong with this one. It’s a classic.
Audrey: It has no flavor.
Tony: You can connect the circles together. It’s fun.
Ottogi Swing Cuts, Hot Pepper Flavor
Audrey: There’s a lot of flavor but it dies out at the end.
Steve: Good, but a lot of American chips taste like this.
James: American barbecue chips are better.
Tony: Eh.
Top image via Iconic Soul
