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.
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.
The products and services listed are ranked independently by the editorial team based on the relevant research (as of 11-04-2022).
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:
$1.26
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.
$7.10
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!
$15.46
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.
$1.27
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.
$5.16
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.
$7.85
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.
$12.88
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.
$3.16
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.
$3.40
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.
$18.08
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!
$13.52
$17.75
$18.26
$18.44
$19.23
$13.01
$12.89
$2.14
$8.88
$8.45
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.
When buying Japanese potato chips, here are a few extra tips to consider.
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.
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.
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.
In order to provide as much accurate information as possible, we referenced the following sources for information:
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.
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