What started out with the thin and crispy Classics has turned into an army of tastes.
I’m both proud and embarrassed to admit that that choice is spot on.
Although that was hard to resist, I decided we’re truly getting back to basics here.
Photos: The brands. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Once I was homewith some air but surprisingly mostly chipsI got to tasting.
Not to mention, it also boasts citrus notes from real limesa rare flavor profile for the brand.
The look:This neon green bag came as a red flag to me.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The chips themselves take after the originals in a light shade of tan.
The taste:I was right.
Something about the starchiness of the chips and the sour lime flavoring just doesn’t sit well with me.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Without any other ingredients to balance them out, these chips quickly fell to my last-place spot.
And, not even their satisfyingly crunchy texture could save them.
The look:The appearance of the chips was not what I expected.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
They are far from fully washed out with seasonings.
Instead, they give off more of a tie-dye effect of white and reddish-purple colors.
They do have some spice, I’ll give them that.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
For Lay’s, this means the Lightly Salted variety with 50% less sodium than its predecessor.
Of course, I had to check this fact for myself, and it rings true.
I’m no mathematician, but I believe that is actually more than a 50% decrease.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
However, the chips are indistinguishable from the originals.
The taste:The reduction of salt is obvious from the jump.
At the end of the day, they’re not bad, just boring.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Based on the deep auburn color of the bag, I thought they would be darker.
The taste:My least favorite barbecue of the bunch.
Like the Lightly Salted, they’re just rather humdrum.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
With such a vast barbecue department, I was positive Lay’s could do better.
So, I kept an open mind.
The look:Well coated and speckled with seasonings, giving them a terracotta-like tint.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The bag presents an aesthetically pleasing color palette in shades of pinkish Persian red and light green.
The taste:A major step above the Limon.
Although, now, there’s almost too much going on.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Plus, something here tastes very artificial and almost stalenot the chips themselves but the seasonings on them.
As the name suggests, the chips are meant to be a tad sweet and a tad spicy.
The salmon bag depicts honeycomb swirls and red chili peppers (yet again).
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:I immediately scrunched up my nose in confusion at this gustatory sensation.
But, at the same time, the sugariness exuding from the chips isn’t necessarily honey-like.
On another note, the spice is unmistakable and left my mouth the slightest bit singed.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
I continued to flip back and forth on whether I was a fan of these or not.
I think others would strongly like them, but I am still on the fence.
So, to the middle of the pack they went.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Honey Barbecue
Barbecue option number two is known as Honey Barbecue.
Let’s find out if my educated guess was correct.
In addition, there’s a flavor here that I wasn’t expecting at all: onion.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
But, at the end of the day, I wouldn’t mind munching on these again.
The look:Unsuspecting.
They look like the ordinary unflavored chipsalbeit a tad more yellowand they come in an eye-catching electric blue bag.
I think these current Lay’s chips are considerably less pungent than they used to be.
For some, this information is likely encouraging.
But for me, it’s disappointing because that aggressiveness was the original beauty of the chips.
Now, I still find them to be tasty with addicting levels of salt.
The only caveat is that the iconic brand often goes by a different name in different countries.
The look:Classic.
What else is there to say?
The taste:Salty with that quintessential crunch.
They’re good potato chipsno more, no less.
But without a buddy for dipping, it’s a completely different story.
But, as for me, I was excited to see what the big dill is.
They are just as colorless as the Classic or Lightly Salted chips.
Barbecue
Rounding out our trifecta of barbecues is the original.
Lay’s has been producing this staple flavor since 1965.
However, the brand wasn’t the first to enter this space.
The competing potato chip company Herr’s took those honors instead.
Now, barbecue is a given in most snack brands' lineups and a favorite among many.
They are coated well with the muted orange dust as well as other seasonings.
The taste:A little smokey, a little sweet, and a lot of tasty.
Presenting a great balance, it’s everything you would want from a classic barbecue chip.
This OG bag is miles ahead of the other two BBQ options.
And, to stop drawing up new, “innovative” barbecue styles when the first is practically unsurpassable.
The taste:How do you make a chip taste creamy and nearly exactly like sour cream?
I’m not sure, but Lay’s has done it.
These have a smooth and delicate flavor that keeps you coming back for more.
The Cheddar Jalapeno is a more recent, spicier option, and I’ve also seen White Cheddar Poppables.
But, any others are much harder to come by.
The look:Evenly coated in a pale orange powder.
A clear-cut winner in my book that I will continue to cherish for years to comenot to be cheesy.
