First thing, this isn’t a Japanese product, though I did find it at Nijiya – which is a Japanese market. It’s from Taiwan, or at least it was manufactured there, distributed in CA though.

Second, during the haul, I didn’t understand why they called it Ketchup French Fries. If, however, I had actually turned the package around (which, I have no idea why I didn’t…), I would’ve realized that it said “Enjoy Crispy and Crunchy potato sticks with tasty Ketchup flavor!”. Yup, so it’s ketchup-flavored, that’s why.

Taste:
It also says “once you eat, you can’t stop!”. That, happened to become true for me. I went through almost the whole bag, but I stopped myself because I wanted to eat some while I was writing this review.

The size kind of surprised me. I thought it would be similar to Jagabee or Jyagariko, but it isn’t. It’s much thinner and smaller, which I suppose is what made me blow through it faster (having to grab a bunch at a time).

The smell is very much like french fries, with ketchup. Like the packaging says, it is crispy&crunchy. The taste is very unique, and familiar at the same time. It has the sweet tartness of real ketchup, but also a little bit salty.

It tastes astonishingly close to what a real, fresh french fry would taste like. It’s really unbelievable. The only difference – aside from the size – is the texture, which is more crunchy than regular french fries. Although, there are those tiny bits that are crunchier in real fries.

I don’t think there are any like, I don’t actually know what they’re called, but I guess, chemicals? Or like, hmmm… Anyways, it’s natural (ish) ingredients. The ingredient list says “potato, vegetable oil, seasoning, tomato powder, salt, spice (onion, garlic, chili pepper), vegetable powder”. Yeah….

And another good thing about this product is the packaging design. No, it isn’t resealable (I wish it was, that’s the only thing that could make this better). But it has TWO openings. They actually tell you that “when content becomes smaller, make an opening from the middle of the package”. This is really convenient and thoughtful of the manufacturers. I didn’t rip it, because I’m a little OCD about that – I don’t like to ruin packaging. Which is why, I tried to open this just by pulling at it, rather than peeling. But I couldn’t, it was too tough.

Nutritional Facts:
Net Wt: 1.8oz (50g)
Serving Size: 50g
Calories: 268.4
Total Fat: 16g
Sat Fat: 7.3g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 400mg
Total Carbohydrate: 27.7g
Dietary Fiber: 2.6g
Sugars: 0.7g
Protein: 3.4g
Vitamin C: 4.4%
Calcium: 2.3%
Iron: 5.6%

Cost:
I got this for $2.49.

Next: Jyuu-C : Gold

I would actually consider buying this again, if I were ever in the mood for it.

I’m going to start off this post with a little bit more personal stuff. So you can skip this part if you want to.

First, I want to say that I don’t have many snacks left (well, I already told you before, but I’m just repeating myself). I only have about one month’s worth of reviews (that is if I post them weekly). Of course, I can stop by my local market and get some from time to time, but I don’t think I’ll be going back to Japantown anytime soon. During Thanksgiving break for sure, but I don’t know if I’ll go back any time before that. So I might have some really long breaks between posts, sorry in advance.

Second (and lastly), I want to talk about my pictures. I totally have a nice camera now, so I want to start taking better – more artistic – shots of the snacks. I’ve been kind of lazy with it so lately, it’s just been BLEH, but I know I can do better, so I will try!

Taste:
I’m a fan of dark chocolate. I’ve tried 86% before (which is probably the highest) and I found it a tad on the not so delicious side. I mean, the first piece was kind of awful. But the ones that came after it tasted a bit better, but it was still a little bit gross. There was absolutely no trace of a sweet taste on it at all.

My favorite is 72% from Ghirardelli. It’s perfect for me. Bitter, but still a little bit sweet.

I would label this chocolate around 60% (because it’s kind of similar to the 60% at Ghirardelli). It’s darker than milk chocolate for sure. It doesn’t have any of the creamy/milky-ness that milk chocolate has. But it’s also pretty sweet – kind of milk chocolate sweet (not in taste, but in strength).

The shape kind of throws me off, because it makes me feel like I’m getting less chocolate than the big bar makes it seem like I should. Still, the flavor makes up for it. I want to say that this is even better than Dars, but I can’t because I haven’t had Dars in a while so it wouldn’t be a fair game. But this is definitely making it up there as one of my favorite brands of chocolate.

It’s good, though a little bit sweet for me. I would recommend this for people who don’t necessary love dark chocolate (like I do), but still want something a bit darker than milk chocolate.

Nutritional Facts:
Net Wt: 2.04oz (58g)
Serving Size: 1/2 package (29g)
Calories: 170
Fat Calories: 100
Total Fat: 11g
Sat Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 10mg
Sodium: 10mg
Total Carbohydrates: 10g
Fiber: <1g
Sugar: 15g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: <2%
Calcium: 8%
Iron: 4%

Cost:
I got it at the market for $1.68.

You can get it at marukaiEstore ($1.78), eFoodDepot ($1.79), Asian Food Grocer ($1.84), or Amazon ($2.49).

Read reviews by Jim’s Chocolate Mission, Authority Sites Blog, and Candy Addict.

Check out this site for some handmade chocolate recipes (手作りチョコレシピ). If you can read Japanese, you can look (and maybe try) some of the recipes on the left hand side. If you can’t, well, you can still enjoy the sparkly and delicious looking pictures.

Next: Ketchup French Fries

I hate when I review something that I can’t find any other information from online – reviews and/or purchasing. I mean, I guess I’m kind of weird because some people might be happy about it because it means they have something “exotic” or something. But for some reason, I get upset about it. I don’t even know why. I’m just weird.

I’m not sure exactly how European peach is different from regular peach, but whatever. There was also another package that was European strawberry. I was craving peach more than strawberry though, it sounded better – because I knew strawberry would just be strawberry, but I was hoping peach would be different somehow.

Taste:
I like Yogurfrul because it really is yogurty so it melts away. You don’t necessarily have to chew it at all, though I still would to get some of the “juice” out. 

I wouldn’t exactly call it “peach”, it kind of tastes like canned peach – in a way – but not exactly. It’s pretty artificial I guess. But I still like it. It’s “unique”. And it smells nice too (lol).

I only had 3 pieces (there was 9 or 10 total), but I brought it to work to share (with my new “extended” family!) so, yeah.

Nutritional Facts:
Net Wt: 1.93oz (55g)
Serving Size: 5g
Servings: 10
Calories: 24
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 3mg
Total Carbohydrate: 5g
Sugars: 4g

Cost: I got it at Nijiya for $1.99.

Next: Meiji Black Chocolate

I’m so sorry to anyone who saw the last post & thought it was a real review. Shit. I’m so stupid. I forgot that I had set that as scheduled – because I thought I would be done with it. But I got so busy with work & all. I’m sorry!

I’ve been neglecting this blog for a while. First, it was because of my work, but then after my job ended (summer school teacher), I just got lazy. It’s okay though, because I won’t be able to go back to Japantown for a while, and I still have a huge stack of snacks to review. I’ve had some stuff already, but I just haven’t gotten the chance to write up a review.

Taste:
This is the kind of stuff I see at every asian market, but it’s so expensive for something that’s mildly stupid, that I always pass it up. Which is why, the only reason I bought this was because it was on sale.

It’s actually not that bad of  a chocolate. Like, it’s not the nasty, cheap kind of chocolate. It’s pretty good, but it’s not like amazing either. It’s just regular milk chocolate in pencil form. Yeah, it’s good for all it’s worth (the on sale price that is).

Nutritional Facts:
Net Wt: 0.95oz (27g)
Serving Size: 0.95oz (27g)
Calories:  160
Total Fat: 10g
Sat Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 8mg
Sodium: 10mg
Total Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: <1g
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: <2%
Calcium: 6%
Vitamin C: <2%
Iron: <2%

Cost:
I got it at Ichiban’kan for $.69.

Get it at KabariStore ($1.75) or eFoodDepot ($1.69).

Next: Yogurfrul – European Peach

I still have a lot of candy and stuff from the last haul, but I wanted to go anyway. I was mainly looking for boxes for my eraser collection, but it looks like they’re not selling them anymore. Damn. That means, I’ll have to rotate what gets to be displayed.

Anyways, first up is pictures of what I got and then just some random pictures that I really like (remember, this is taken with my new camera). Oh, and I think I might stop putting the tag on the pictures, I’m getting tired of it – I haven’t thought it over a lot yet, but that’s what I’m feeling like doing at the moment.

Pineapple eraser, the only one I bought this time (at Ichiban’kan for $.75 plus tax).

Sweet Tortes has not disappointed me so far. I’ve tried the Fondant Chocolate and Chocolate Tart, and this time I’m trying Tiramisu. Looking forward to this ! :D

Chocolate pencils from Fujiya. My friend and I each got one because they were on sale. I agree with her on what she said about it though “I’ve always wanted to try it, but I would never buy it if it was the usual price”, the usual price is about $1 something. That day, it was only $.69. Sorry there isn’t a whole picture, but I opened the package before I could take one – stupid, stupid me.

Meiji Mango Chocolate and Look Matcha Anmitsu – both that I read reviews for from Snack Love, so I’m looking forward to these, especially the mango chocolate. I actually also got a folder at Ichiban’kan, of Rilakkuma (of course), but I didn’t get a chance to take a photo so… oh well.

I found this right next to the Look Match Anmitsu. I didn’t get it though, because it was more expensive ($5.99) and I figured that it should taste pretty much the same – this one is called “Matcha Cream Parfait”… so, I don’t know. It probably would have tasted great, but I’ll settle for the Anmitsu.  There was also a box next to this one that was basically the same thing, except it was from a different brand, I don’t remember what it looked like anymore, but yeah. That was the same price as the one I bought, but since I’ve had Look before, I just went with this one.

Looks delicious right? Actually, no. The shop looks like they have delicious cupcakes, and they probably are. But these are the ones that are on display – and have been sitting there all day (without even a covering – it’s a wall display with glass only on one side). This one is in pretty good shape, but there are a lot that are in far worse condition.

Just something my friend bought at Kid Robot, they were having a sale – a bundle of 5 for $10. I don’t think the actual toy is very cute, but I love the shot. It’s so much easier and better to take pictures using the natural light. I feel like when I use the indoor lights, the picture quality is so bleh.

So I’ll end this post with a shot that I absolutely adore. I love the angle – the slanted floor was not intentional, but it’s one of my favorite features of this picture. The colors in the background are awesome and my friend is so cute. LOL, she was confused/embarrassed about how I told her to pose, but in the end, this was her favorite shot too.

Taste:
The taste is pretty good. It’s not like really a legit kiwi flavor, but it’s still good. It kind of reminds me more of the muscat flavor though, rather than kiwi. It’s sweet and tart

The thing that bothers me though, is the seed. I mean, it’s cute and makes it look “authentic” and all, but it doesn’t taste good. Seeds don’t taste good in general. I think it’s a real kiwi seed, which is cool, but doesn’t taste very good. 

Nutritional Facts:
Serving Size: 9 pieces (45g)
Servings: 3
Calories: 150
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 10mg
Total Carbohydrate: 35g
Sugars: 30g
Protein: 2g

Cost:
I got this at Daiso for $2.50 (not including tax).

You can get it at Amazon ($2.98), Asian Food Grocer($2.98), Pacific Mercantile Company($3.25) or eBay ($4.49).

Next: Haul #18

This was totally sudden, I didn’t think I was going to do one, but last Wednesday, I went to Walgreens to buy some stuff for my secret friend (I’m back at my summer job ! Getting paid this year though !). I also bought two things for myself, Royal Dansk Luxury Wafers (Vanilla) and Hershey’s Air Delights (a new product to me).

Today is the Luxury Wafers, and maybe I’ll save the Air Delights for the near future.

Taste:
I’ve actually had these before, which is why I was hesitant to review it, but I don’t really remember it all that well – and I might have had a different flavor entirely.

There are 15 sticks contained, and each is a little piece of heaven. Well, kind of.

The smell is just – mmf! Very vanilla-y. It’s kind of a mix between real vanilla and vanilla frosting – the one from Betty Crocker’s. I love those ! They are so good, I always try to scoop some out and just eat the frosting. It’s that delicious !

It’s about a ring-and-pinky-finger in length. I know, that’s kind of a bad way to tell you the length. But whatever.

Very delicious. The wafer is light, but crispy. And the vanilla cream inside it is absolutely divine. The cream is pretty sweet, but the wafer is kind of plain, so it gets balanced out and it’s not too overwhelmingly sweet.

Nutritional Facts:
Net Wt: 3.5oz (100g)
Serving Size: 5 pieces (36g/1.3oz)
Servings: 3
Calories: 170
Total Fat: 7g
Sat Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 90mg
Total Carbohydrate: 27g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 9g
Protein: 1g

Cost:
I got this at Walgreens for $1.00, no tax.

Get it at ShopRite ($.99).

Next: Kiwi Kasugai Gummies

I think they used 25% of chocolate chips…or maybe they’re saying that out of the whole cookie, 25% of it is chocolate chips. It says “チョコチップ 25%使用”. The katakana part just says “choko chippu” and the kanji part says “shiyou” which is translated to “use; application”. But yeah…

Well there’s a short little Japanese lesson for today…not really.

Taste:
Even though the packaging is pretty much see through, I was surprised at how tiny each cookie was. Only about 1 inch in diameter. And there were only 22 in total, which is probably equivalent to only about 5 or 6 regular sized cookies.

Well, they smell really good though. Super chocolatey, but not in the sickening sense. They are so tiny, but delicious! At least it makes me feel a little less bad about myself if I eat three or four in one sitting.

I love it because it’s chocolate on chocolate. It’s not like regular chocolate chip cookies where it’s just like “vanilla” cookie with chocolate chips. It’s a chocolate cookie with chocolate chips. DOUBLE CHOCOLATE. Well, it’s kind of obvious that it is, but whatever.

The cookie is normal I guess – in terms of texture. It’s not crispy, but it’s not the chewy type either. It’s a semi mild dark chocolate taste for the cookie portion and then the chocolate chips are most likely just milk chocolate. There is also a sort of cocoa powdery after taste. So overall, it’s very chocolatey, but not in a bad way. They complement each other – each level of chocolateness.

Nutritional Facts:
Net Wt: 2.11oz (60g)
Serving Size: 1/2 package (30g)
Calories: 150
Total Fat: 7g
Sat Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 10mg
Sodium: 45mg
Total Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 8g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: <2%
Calcium: <2%
Vitamin C: <2%
Iron: 4%

Cost: I got it at Nijiya for $1.69, but it wasn’t until I got home that I realized I could have gotten it for cheaper, at my local market for $1.59. Damn.

Sorry, I can’t find it anywhere online. Well, there was this one place, but it only ships domestically in Japan…so… But here it is anyways, in case anyone can and wants to get it.

Read a review by The Japanese Snack Food Reviews.

Next: Holiday Special (July 4th)

Oh well, whatever I guess.

My grandma gave both my sister and I $60 each the day before I went to Japantown. Jackpot ! I was happy. I only spent $20 of that $60… Okay, I admit, I also spent that $4 that was already in my wallet.

So, I couldn’t take an entire photo with all my sh!t together for personal reasons. But I did manage to take individual shots. And then (well, I thought of this idea while I was taking the pictures, which, by the way, was while I was walking) I thought individual pictures would take up to much room/I don’t have the perseverance to upload them all. So I made a “collage” I suppose that’s what you would call it.

These are arranged into the places I got them from. First up is Daiso.

Yup. Erasers at Daiso are better – in terms of price. Because it’s $1.50+tax for three, instead of Ichiban’kan where it’s $.75 each or Amiko where it’s $.80 each or Kinokuniya/Papertree where it’s $.98 each. Plus tax of course.

The only bad thing is that you can’t choose what you get. Sigh. That’s where my problem came in today. I wanted that bell pepper + carrot and I also wanted the pumpkin + corn, but both of the packages included a potato. And I didn’t want double. In the end, I gave one of the potato away to my friend.

On the bottom left hand corner is curry, ramen (I think) and sushi (tuna). I haven’t really started collecting the sushi yet. Which is like…weird, isn’t it? But the thing is, there are two that I don’t like in the entire set. And I feel like it’d be a waste if I didn’t get them because it wouldn’t finish my collection, but yeah…

And then the Kiwi Gummy Candy was just kind of an extra. I haven’t bought candy from Daiso in a while (because it’s really lame products compared to Nijiya/Market). See the thing was, I had those three erasers (which totals around $4.50), but I wanted to break my $20. So I just got that package to make me feel less bad about using a $20. Well, I did want gummies anyways. REAL gummies, after having to deal with those Poppin’ Cookin’ fake gummies. >.<”

Ichiban’kan is where I usually get my erasers. (And I haven’t gotten food here in a while either…) It’s still the cheapest (aside from Daiso) place to get erasers.

They had some new stuff today. It hung on hooks. It has a different packaging than the old ones. See the two on the bottom, see how the whole thing is plastic. Yeah, that’s the new design. I’m going to miss that paper slip (the top two are still in old packaging)…well, not that it’s gone completely.

Starting in the top left and working clockwise, first up is the charms. I already had the blue and yellow ones for a while. And I finally bought the red and pink ones, which completes the set. It probably took only like, oh, a year or so.

3 dinner plates. It took me forever to find the 3rd one. I kept digging and digging, but there wasn’t any. These have been around a while, but not at Ichiban’kan. This is the first time I’ve seen them, so I snatched them up. Isn’t it funny (not really) how all three plates have string beans on them? I can switch them around and no one will ever know. :D

GREEN HEDGEHOG! This was only recently released (in May), so I’m surprised Ichiban’kan had them. But all the more reason to get it. Also recently released is the Maneki Neko and Kokeshi Doll erasers (It’s the same link for both eraser pictures). I SO want them! But unfortunately, I didn’t see any. Well, I did see a few Maneki Nekos at Papertree. But $.98 is… I’ll try and wait for it to come to Ichiban’kan/Daiso. If not, then I’ll just get it at Papertree or something.

DESSERTS are also new! I love the ice cream cone crepe. It looks deeeelicious. The macaroon looks good too. I’ve never actually tried a macaroon. They definitely look pretty (kind of like Pretty Patties). But I don’t like coconuts or well, nuts in general. so… And then just a cruller. It was between this one and a pink one. My friend said brown (chocolate) looks more real.

It’s really cute, the first one. It says “jyuu” and then C in English (obviously). So it’s like “juicy”. I just find that adorable. I remember Tasty Japan reviewing a “jyuu-C” product, though it was grape flavored. It’s basically a tablet inside, but the container reminds me of lip gloss or something.

Meiji Black Chocolate, pretty self-explanatory as to what it is. I wasn’t actually planning on buying this, it was kind of a whim. I’ve seen it around for a while, but it hasn’t interested me (mainly because of the packaging – I know it’s one of those silver foils where it’s super sensitive so when I try to rip a little it exposes the whole bar and there’s no way to re wrap it or whatever). My friend pointed out that the milk chocolate bar (which was bigger) happened to be cheaper than the white chocolate bar (which was smaller, by about 20g). Then, I turned and saw this one (dark chocolate) which was the same price as milk chocolate and my hand just grabbed it, without any thought.

Peach Hi-Chew. I’ve had the White Peach before, and Peach from the HK Haul. But I don’t think I’ve tried/seen a normal peach Hi-Chew.

Bourbon Petit Series Chocolate Chip Cookies. I’m craving cookies right now. Actually, I realize just now as I’m typing this that I could have gotten it for cheaper at my local market. Damn. Oh well, too late now.

Ketchip French Fries. That sounds pretty damn awesome. I love Jagabee and Jyagariko, so I’m pretty sure this will turn out well. The only thing I’m confused/concerned about is the ketchup  part. Is it ketchup-flavored, or is there ketchup included or some weird shit?

Finally, Yogurfrul. The last one with blueberry and cassis was pretty good. So I’m looking forward to this. It’s actually labeled “European Peach” on the package…whatever that means. There was another one too, that was “European Strawberry”, I felt more like peach though.

I realize I didn’t exactly make my writing more “interesting”, just longer. Well, maybe it’s more interesting. You tell me. Please?

Next: Bourbon Petit Series Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you want to see a better version, I suggest you watch RRcherrypie’s video instead of mine.

Taste:
Octopus – Strawberry flavored 「タコ　ウィンナー : イチゴ昧」
This was the easiest to get out of the mold. >.<” But I think I might have put in too much water.

Yeah definitely. It’s all watery…and nasty. But it’s my fault..so. But yeah, it has the basic artificial strawberry flavor.

Broccoli – Muscat flavored　「ブロッコリー : マスカット味」
I had trouble getting this one out. The opposite problem happened, I think. I put in too little water. -[]- Why do I suck at doing everything?

It’s firmer (and less watery) than the octopus one. It’s still kind of gross though. It’s not a “typical” gummy with all the bounce and stuff. It’s really…flat and watery… The muscat flavor is good though.

Egg – Grape flavored　「たまごやき : グレープ味」I added sprinkles (even though you don’t have to) because I kind of wanted to make it like the colorful eggs that Kanata made. And then I stupidly added the grape powder because I figured I had nothing else to do w/ it and it’d be a waste. But it ended up making it look dirty.

The grape flavor is surprising good, for grape. But again, it’s all watery and gross. Though not as bad as the other two.

Riceballs – Yogurt  flavored 「おにぎり : ヨーグルト味」
I’m sorry. I lack skills in anything artistic. *cries*

Oh god. That’s nasty. I like the grape powder. But the texture of the yogurt ball is like…disgusting. It’s all grainy and..UGH. I can barely taste the yogurt taste too.

Neapolitan Spaghetti – Grape flavored 「ナポリタン : グレープ味」
The spaghetti strands are very fat. And getting it into the bag was very messy.

Uhm. Gross, that’s all I can say. I need water. These were all pretty bad.

Nutritional Facts:
Net Wt: 1.02oz (29g)
Serving Size: 29g
Calories: 114
Total Fat: <0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 33mg
Total Carbohydrates: 27g
Sugars: 16g
Protein: 0g

Cost:
My sister bought this for me, I think it was around $5.

Buy at jBOX ($5.00), napaJapan ($6.99), eBay ($7.99), or pocket-arts ($10.00).

In conclusion, it was fun/frustrating to make, but it tastes awful.

Check out other people’s results/thoughts : dropdeadkawaii, kawaiikakkoisugoi, and emmymadeinjapan (video).

Next: Haul #17