Image via Complex Original
Patrick Judabong - photographer, DJ, and founder of the Fat Bastard Crew, known to the world as Buddhabong. He has traveled the world in search of stunning images, great beats, and the best eats. Currently, you can catch him getting fat in and around New York City.
All over the world, the snack chip game is very competitive, with hundreds of different kinds to choose from. What makes one stand out more than the other?
On a recent trip to Thailand I discovered a variety of strange-flavored chips at the corner store, a 7-11. Yes, 7-11! Believe me, the 7-11 corporation exists outside the U.S., and they are thriving.
Thinking back to my Thailand bug article, I'm glad I convinced myself to try some new eats; don’t judge a chip by its name.
North America’s mundane flavors—barbecue, sour cream and onion, ranch—don’t have anything on Thailand’s special combinations. Most of the flavors tasted true to the name on the bag, and smelled exactly as described.
The Frito-Lay corporation's Asian counterpart offered the most variety and shelf-space per corner store and market I visited. That said, there are still plenty of local snack manufactures pumping out delicious snacks.
Fat Bastard Approved!
by Patrick Judabong (@buddhabong)
Lead
Patrick Judabong - photographer, DJ, and founder of the Fat Bastard Crew, known to the world as Buddhabong. He has traveled the world in search of stunning images, great beats, and the best eats. Currently, you can catch him getting fat in and around New York City.
All over the world, the snack chip game is very competitive, with hundreds of different kinds to choose from. What makes one stand out more than the other?
On a recent trip to Thailand I discovered a variety of strange-flavored chips at the corner store, a 7-11. Yes, 7-11! Believe me, the 7-11 corporation exists outside the U.S., and they are thriving.
Just like trying fried insects in Thailand, I'm glad I convinced myself to try some new eats; don’t judge a chip by its name.
North America’s mundane flavors—barbecue, sour cream and onion, ranch—don’t have anything on Thailand’s special combinations. Most of the flavors tasted true to the name on the bag, and smelled exactly as described.
The Frito-Lay corporation's Asian counterpart offered the most variety and shelf-space per corner store and market I visited. That said, there are still plenty of local snack manufactures pumping out delicious snacks.
Fat Bastard Approved!
by Patrick Judabong (@buddhabong)
Tasto Seafood
Tasto Seafood Tom Yum and Scallop Butter Garlic
When I first opened the bag, a rush of Cup Noodles fragrance smacked my face. Looking in, I discovered there were two types of chips. The first kind is the seafood tom yum chip, which, true to the soup, gives off a sour shrimp taste. The other is packed with the scallop-butter-garlic flavor. The combination of the two chips is too salty. But if you like your chip rich in sodium this is the snack for you.
Peking Duck
Lay's Peking Duck with Sauce
The best sauce to eat with duck is hoisin sauce. The developers of this chip must have read my mind, because that's precisely the sauce they mean. The flavor is surprisingly subtle, meaning you could eat an entire bag without thinking.
Ribs Sour Cream
Lay's Ribs and Sour Cream Shrimp
Here's the chip that brings Southern hospitality to Thailand. The bag contains two types of chips, one for the ribs and one for the shrimp. The rib-flavored chip tastes smoked, with a charcoal grill scent. The shrimp is coated with a tart sour cream flavoring. Eating the two together is reminiscent of a meal at Outback Steak House. If you're in Thailand but craving America, crush this.
String Beans
Snackjacks Green String Bean Pea Snack
String beans? Really? And yet. This snack has a nutty, almond flavor with a semi-bitter aftertaste. This is probably my favorite chip out of the group; it's also the one with least pungent aroma. With the right amount of salt, I could polish off the whole bag.
Lays Hot Chilli Squid
Lay's Hot Chili Squid
If you've ever had dried squid, then you know what this chip smells like. However, the taste is more like a honey-barbecued chip. There is a mild chili aftertaste but nothing that scorches your mouth. Looking for a mild chip? Look no further.
Lay's Hot and Spicy Crab
Lay's Hot and Spicy Crab
With one whiff, this chip takes you back to a steamy Chinatown summer day. As the label indicates, this chip tastes and smells exactly like crab. The spicy flavoring leaves a tingling sensation on your lips. Perfect for satisfying nostalgia and spice cravings.
Fried Yam Chips Coated with Caramel
Fried Yam Chips Coated with Caramel
The first couple of bites of this chip provided a sweet caramel flavor, followed by a sweet potato taste. The sweet potato is covered with a generous coating of what tastes like butter and brown sugar. Chips almost never satisfy a sweet tooth, but this is the exception.
Lay's Nori Seaweed
Lay's Nori Seaweed
The nori seaweed chip drifts from a sweet flavor to a lighter seaweed taste. The sweetness keeps the chip from becoming too salty. Eating this chip, you find yourself scraping for crumbs at the bag's bottom without even realizing it.
Bacon Cheese
Lay's Baked Bacon Cheese with Seaweed
At first pop, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed by the cheesy aroma. The first whiff stinks of the sharp taste of smoked bacon with cheddar cheese. The seaweed hits afterward. It's salty and weird, East meets West, but if you're feeling adventurous this chip won't let you down.