1. TOP
  2. Food and drinks
  3. Snacks and candies
  4. 20 Best Tried and True Japanese Potato Chips in 2022 (Calbee, Koikeya, and More)
  • 20 Best Tried and True Japanese Potato Chips in 2022 (Calbee, Koikeya, and More) 1
  • 20 Best Tried and True Japanese Potato Chips in 2022 (Calbee, Koikeya, and More) 2
  • 20 Best Tried and True Japanese Potato Chips in 2022 (Calbee, Koikeya, and More) 3
  • 20 Best Tried and True Japanese Potato Chips in 2022 (Calbee, Koikeya, and More) 4
  • 20 Best Tried and True Japanese Potato Chips in 2022 (Calbee, Koikeya, and More) 5

20 Best Tried and True Japanese Potato Chips in 2022 (Calbee, Koikeya, and More)

Potato chips are a savory and sometimes sweet snack that is hard to put down. They're deliciously addictive and even go great with alcohol. Whether you prefer kettle-cooked chips, ruffled chips, or regular thin chips, there's bound to be a perfect potato snack for you. 


Our editors searched Japanese e-commerce sites (such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping) for the best potato chips. We then chose the 20 most popular products and had our five testers do a blind taste test for all products. We focused on three things: the strength of its flavor, how hard the chips were, and how fragrant the potato was. Then our testers combined their thoughts and scores into a collective overall score of deliciousness.

Last updated 2023/01/16
mybest US Editors
Guide
Editing Dept.

mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.

mybest US Editors's Profile
…Continue reading
  • This content is independently produced by the mybest team. We may receive free products and services from brands and manufacturers and/or place ads, but these do not influence our content and product rankings.
  • For more information, please see mybest content policy
The products and services listed are ranked independently by the editorial team based on the relevant research (as of 11-04-2022).

What's Special About Japanese Potato Chips?

What's Special About Japanese Potato Chips?

Japanese potato chips are unique in that while they of course are available in a wide range of flavors, they have one thing in common: they all try to highlight the natural flavor of the potato with their flavoring. 


Moreover, Japanese potato chips are flavored with unique flavors that may be unfamiliar to Western audiences. Aside from your standard salt or pepper flavors, common Japanese potato chip flavors include: 

  • Consomme - a French soup made from meat and vegetable stock
  • Salt and seaweed (or nori) - a fragrant and savory taste that is common in Japan
  • Soy sauce - Often blended with other ingredients, such as butter or mayonnaise to add depth and complexity
  • Butter - emulating buttered potatoes, this flavor highlights the natural flavor of the potato
  • Spicy - Usually red chili pepper or wasabi

20 Best Japanese Potato Chips

Here are the 20 best Japanese potato chips that we tested. We had five testers conduct a blind taste test to eliminate bias and had them record their thoughts as they tried each product.
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Points
1

Koikeya

Potato Chips Rich Consomme

Koikeya Potato Chips Rich Consomme 1枚目

The Very Best Japanese Potato Chips

2

Royce'

Chocolate Potato Chips

Royce' Chocolate Potato Chips 1枚目

An Addictive Sweet-and-Salty Combination

3

Calbee

Kata-age Potato Chips

Calbee Kata-age Potato Chips 1枚目

A Kettle-cooked Option for Extra Crunch

4

Calbee

Kata-age Potato Chips Black Pepper

Calbee Kata-age Potato Chips Black Pepper 1枚目

The Best Potato Chips to Pair With Alcohol

5

Calbee

Kata-age Potato Chips Seaweed

Calbee Kata-age Potato Chips Seaweed 1枚目

A Potato Chip With a Great Texture and Flavor

6

Koikeya

Potato Chips Lightly Salted

Koikeya Potato Chips Lightly Salted 1枚目

Tasty, Salt-flavored Chips With Fantastic Potato Flavor

7

Koikeya

Karamucho Potato Chips

Koikeya Karamucho Potato Chips 1枚目

The Potato Chip for Spicy Food Lovers

8

Yamayoshi

Hokkaido Rich Butter Chips

Yamayoshi Hokkaido Rich Butter Chips 1枚目

Taste the Succulent Mix of Butter and Garlic

9

Studio Socio

Hula's Lightly Salted American Potato Chips

Studio Socio Hula's Lightly Salted American Potato Chips 1枚目

Salty, With Just a Hint of Sweetness

10

Calbee

Pizza Potato Chips

Calbee Pizza Potato Chips 1枚目

Chips With a Rich and Unique Flavor

Product details
Close
No.1

KoikeyaPotato Chips Rich Consomme

$1.26

The Very Best Japanese Potato Chips

Out of all the potato chips we tried, we thought Koikeya's Rich Consomme chips had the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and crunch. The consomme flavor is an exquisite blend of meat and vegetables that melts in your mouth after that initial crispy bite.


We also liked that it had a slight kick of spice, and had an incredibly rich yet strong flavor. Even if you've never tried consomme-flavored chips before, we think this would be an excellent place to start.

No.2

Royce'Chocolate Potato Chips

$7.10

An Addictive Sweet-and-Salty Combination

Royce' Chocolate Potato Chips are a perfect treat to give as a gift to others or yourself. One side of each ridged chip is coated in sweet chocolate, while the other is seasoned with flaky salt. The resulting combination is an addictive one.


We also liked that these chips basically melted in our mouths. They also taste good when chilled!

No.3

CalbeeKata-age Potato ChipsLightly Salted, 12 pack

$15.46

A Kettle-cooked Option for Extra Crunch

These chips are advertised to "taste better with each bite," and we are 100% in agreement with that statement. These kettle-cooked chips are perfect for those looking for a super crunchy snack. 


The only thing that disappointed us about these chips is that their simple flavoring left the snack feeling a bit greasy. But through all that, we were able to savor the taste of the potatoes, so it still earned a place in our top ranking.

No.4

CalbeeKata-age Potato Chips Black Pepper

$1.27

The Best Potato Chips to Pair With Alcohol

These kettle-cooked potato chips have a spicy kick of black pepper, but it's not strong enough to sting. Rather, our tasters found it was the perfect amount to make them irresistible.


The crunch from these chips are satisfying, and since they're kettle-cooked they definitely taste fried. The black pepper flavor keeps them from tasting too greasy. This taste combination is what makes us think they'd be perfect to pair with alcohol.

No.5

CalbeeKata-age Potato Chips Seaweed

$5.16

A Potato Chip With a Great Texture and Flavor

The seaweed flavor of Calbee's Kata-age potato chips, in particular, gave us a super satisfying crunch, and the gentle scent of seaweed made the snack have a very satisfying taste all-around. 


If you're looking to experience the feeling of crunching into a good potato chip, consider this flavor of Kata-age potato chips. You won't be disappointed.

No.6

KoikeyaPotato Chips Lightly Salted

$7.85

Tasty, Salt-flavored Chips With Fantastic Potato Flavor

Koikeya's salt-flavored potato chips are made exclusively from Japanese potatoes, and you can really taste and feel the potatoes, which is what makes this one of our favorites. If salt chips are your thing, this is our number one recommendation to you.


It's a simple yet addictive flavor that stands out in a world where unique and strong-flavored chips are gaining attention.

No.7

KoikeyaKaramucho Potato ChipsHot Chili, 12 pack

$12.88

The Potato Chip for Spicy Food Lovers

If you can handle spice, you'll definitely enjoy this chip. Karamucho Hot Chili chips were so hot that our testers that weren't that great with spice dropped out after the third chip.


For our testers that could take the heat, they said it was light enough that they found themselves unable to stop eating them.

No.8

YamayoshiHokkaido Rich Butter Chips

$3.16

Taste the Succulent Mix of Butter and Garlic

By popular demand, Yamayoshi created butter-flavored potato chips, as opposed to the more conventional buttered potato flavor. That's exactly what we got with these chips; they're a blend of slightly sweet butter and aromatic garlic.


Though both flavors can be considered strong, they're not so much that it's like a punch in the mouth; rather, it's a delicate and delicious mix of the two. 


If you're like our testers and can handle the rich flavors, add this chip to your wishlist.

No.9

Studio SocioHula's Lightly Salted American Potato Chips

$3.40

Salty, With Just a Hint of Sweetness

Hula's Lightly Salted American Potato Chips is actually the first-ever Japanese brand of potato chips. Its creator, Otoshiro Hamada, started the brand in the 1940s and is credited as the "Father of Japanese Potato Chips."


What makes Hula's American potato chips stand out among competitors is that it has a distinct sweetness that accompanies the main light salt flavor. They've also managed to strike a perfect balance between soft and crispy in terms of texture.


Both the bag's design and the chips within are decidedly simple and delicious. If you're looking to enjoy the pure taste of simple potato chips, we'd recommend Hula's.

No.10

CalbeePizza Potato Chips3 pack

$18.08

Chips With a Rich and Unique Flavor

Have you ever wished you could have pizza without actually buying a pizza? These thick, ruffled Calbee chips will give you that experience, combining sauce and double cheese flavors to create a pizza flavor that will blow your mind.


Some may find the flavor and salt content a bit much, but if you're in the mood for something junky, this is a great chip to consider. It also smells as great as it tastes!

No.11

CalbeePotato Chips Honey Butter

$13.52

An Excellent Blend of Sweet and Savory

No.12

CalbeePotato Chips Gizagiza Rich Chicken Consomme

$17.75

Rich Consomme Flavors In a Fun Cut

No.13

CalbeePotato Chips Soy Sauce and Mayo

$18.26

A Great Balance Between Acidic and Savory Flavors

No.14

YamayoshiWasaBeef

$18.44

Sharp Wasabi Flavors Make for an Unconventional Potato Chip

No.15

CalbeePotato Chips Kyushu Soy Sauce

$19.23

So Balanced That You'll Love It or Hate It

No.16

CalbeePotato Chips Seaweed and Salt

$13.01

Strong Seaweed and Salt Flavors That Pack a Punch

No.17

CalbeePotato ChipsLightly Salted, 12 pack

$12.89

A Long-seller With a Great Balance of Salt

No.18

CalbeePotato Chips Gizagiza Flavorful Salt

$2.14

Balanced Flavors and Satisfying Texture

No.19

Yamazaki BiscuitsChip Star Potato Chips Light Salt

$8.88

Light and Crisp, With a Unique Texture

No.20

Yamazaki BiscuitsChip Star Potato Chips Salt and Seaweed

$8.45

A Little Too Light on Flavor

How We Tested the Potato Chips

How We Tested the Potato Chips

How we tested the potato chips is pretty simple: we did a blind taste test. After researching which chips to buy and purchasing them, we gathered five of our Japanese editors to score each chip's deliciousness on a five-point scale. 


Additionally, in order to properly break down each chip's flavor and traits, we had them comment on the richness of the flavor, hardness, and fragrance of the potato for every product.


*All of our testers that participated in the test were Japanese.

Extra Tips

When buying Japanese potato chips, here are a few extra tips to consider.

Consider Area-limited Chips as Gifts

Consider Area-limited Chips as Gifts

If there's one thing Japan loves, it's area-limited editions of food, and this includes potato chips. Flavors like Calbee's Kyushu Soy Sauce or even Royce' Chocolate Potato Chips are not only a great way to let people know where you've been; it will also give them the opportunity to experience your travels in a sensory way.


While we've only included Japanese chips in this list, chips made by international makers would also make great gifts for friends or loved ones if it symbolizes that area.

When You Have to Stop After You Pop

When You Have to Stop After You Pop

While most of the time you'd probably finish an entire bag of chips once you open them, some potato chips come in huge bags, making it hard to finish in a single sitting. Unfortunately, the more time passes, the staler potato chips get.


In order to keep your chips nice and fresh, all you need to do is store them in the refrigerator


While most people think that potato chips go stale because of moisture, it's actually the oil going rancid is that ruins potato chips. This is mostly caused by light, air, and high temperatures, and the best way to prevent all three is to store your chips in the fridge.


Potato chips can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week. While it's fine to just put the bag in the fridge, transferring the chips to a ziplock or other sealable container will help further maintain the crispiness of your chips.

More Snacks and Drinks for Your Pleasure

Potato chips aren't the only snack that goes great with beer. Check out these other Japanese foods! You'll, of course, need the beer, too.

Disclaimer

In order to provide as much accurate information as possible, we referenced the following sources for information:


https://calbeena.com/

https://koike-ya.com/en/

http://www.e-socio.co.jp/brand/

Top 5 Japanese Potato Chips

No. 1KoikeyaPotato Chips Rich Consomme

No. 2Royce'Chocolate Potato Chips

No. 3CalbeeKata-age Potato ChipsLightly Salted, 12 pack

No. 4CalbeeKata-age Potato Chips Black Pepper

No. 5CalbeeKata-age Potato Chips Seaweed

View Full Ranking

When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.

Related Articles

Popular articles

Popular favlists

Search by category