7/17/06 | Lays Jalapeno Kettle Chips
[ Currently Eating: Rold Gold Pretzels ]
I really have a weakness for Jalapeño flavored chips. They are just WAY too tasty for their own good.
I also dig Kettle Chips, so these Lays Jalapeño Kettle Chips were pretty much going to win me over even before trying them. I don’t remember when major potato chip manufacturers started making kettle chips in full force (it seems like it wasn’t more than a couple decades ago but I could be wrong), but way before then I remember buying no-name Kettle Chips and really liking them.
For those with an aversion to oily chips, you’ll want to look away. I’ve had kettle chips that were so oily that you could easily see through them. They were like panes of stained glass. The Lays Kettle Chips aren’t that bad, though they are definitely cut thin and seem a bit oilier than normal Lays. Kettle chips are also quite a bit more crunchy so you have to be careful not to cut up the roof of your mouth. If you’re expecting normal potato chips, it’s going to seem like these are overcooked.
The Jalapeño flavor on these guys is pretty good, and for me it was more noticeable than the earlier reviewed Jalapeno Cheetos but that’s probably because there isn’t cheese powder to compete with the jalapeño taste. They’re delicious. There isn’t a significant burn though, so hothead chip connoisseurs might be disappointed. The overall flavor is definitely nice, though.
I guess the only rub with these guys is going to be the price. I always get suckered by these smaller “99 cent” bags of chips (Damn those conveniently placed Snack Foods lining the checkout aisle at Frye’s) but if you can find larger bags of these on sale you might be OK. Still, these smaller occasionally go on firesale… I’ve seen them as low as 69 cents but at that price I might be wondering just how fresh that Jalapeño taste is going to be.
Price: $0.69 - $0.99
Found At: Everywhere
Cheap Eats Score: 6/10
July 17th, 2006 at 11:16 am
I can’t bring myself to eat a deep-fried Lay’s product since they had that olestra mix up back in the late nighties …. that was a very bad experience.
July 17th, 2006 at 11:30 am
I haven’t had kettle chips for years, but I used to eat Poore Brothers brand…good stuff.
The flavor you described sounds pretty tasty, but for some reason I don’t believe Lays can make a ‘rough’ enough kettle chip, and for reasons like this I probably have to go out and buy some to see for myself
July 18th, 2006 at 1:08 am
I tried these and liked them very much. Definitely more spice than the Jalapeno Pringles. I also liked the crunch, although here on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean we have some pretty crunch brands of kettle chips.
July 18th, 2006 at 11:00 pm
These look good.
I tried some Blair’s Death Rain chips awhile back - very good, hot as heck, and expensive. I think they were jalapeno cheddar.
November 7th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
I just tried these because you gave them such a good reveiw. They are really good, and they arn’t too spicy either. I’m really big on spicey but some times I don’t want to have to buy 2 liter just to finish a bag of chips.
December 13th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
My FAVORITE chip ever! OMG I’m so in love with this chip. God I could eat them forever. They are the best! And the ones from Quizno’s rock too.
June 10th, 2007 at 8:05 am
I love them! But I can’t find them anywhere I living at! Help!
January 18th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
They are the best. Lays jalapeno chips are the best chips I have ever had.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I am a real fan of jalapeno chips. I have tried PoorBrothers and it’s great too but now not anymore available in supermarkets. I tried lays kettle cooked brand and it’s a winner!
I think that overly crunchy chips and burst of hot jalapeno spice did the extraordinary zing. Always looking forward to getting my next bag!