salt and vinegar is the best flavor of potato chip (with a frankly pathetic presence on Wikipedia), but there is a vast difference in quality between brands. i've started reviewing chips that i've tried for my own reference. if you disagree with any of my opinions below just remember that i am objectively right.
this is not for the faint of heart. i do not accept that barely-acidic pussy shit some brands bring to the table. if it doesnt feel like a layer of enamel is getting dissolved off of your teeth when you eat a salt and vinegar chip then it is not doing its job. i want edible paint stripper.
all that being said, the criteria i consider when rating each chip are:
- salt factor: any potato chip runs the risk of being under salted. in this case its in the name so they better not skimp out
- vinegar factor: does it taste like vinegar or did they just put some citric acid in the bag? there is a difference
- pain factor: this is a flavor for masochists so pain is an expected part of the dining experience
- je ne sais quoi: any other plusses or minuses
Dutch Crunch Salt & Vinegar
this is the absolute pinnacle of what salt and vinegar chips can be. i am sorry if you live somewhere that doesnt sell these (i think theyre mostly in the midwest usa??) because if you like salt and vinegar chips you need to try these. a strong vinegar flavor that is acidic enough that opening the bag is enough to make your mouth water without being sour. they've even got some umami. the texture is perfect for a kettle chip, as well. at their best, even in moderation these will kinda hurt when you eat them. whenever i mention to my friends that this is my favorite brand their reaction is usually something like "oh god no those are too strong". their only flaw that keeps them from a perfect 10/10 score is the inconsistancy. every 5th bag or so tends to be light on the flavor. otherwise, the platonic ideal of this chip genre.
final score: 9.5/10
Jimmy Chips Salt & Vinegar
a little zingy, but it doesn't last. the texture could be a lot crisper/crunchier. not that salty, but in a way that makes it easy to eat a lot of. perfectly decent, but nothing to write home about. a safe take on the salt and vinegar flavor.
final score: 6/10
Miss Vickie's Sea Salt & Vinegar
the best i can say about them is that they're not the worst. sure they're acidic, but they don't really taste like vinegar. also a bit sour.
final score: 4/10
Lays Salt & Vinegar
i would mostly eat these whenever i was high in college and to be honest i havent really had them since. they're easy to eat a lot of and have a relatively mild flavor compared to others on this list. despite this, i think they're pretty decent. being regular lays they are not kettle chips, so everything from the taste to the texture makes them almost comforting. they are a solid entry-level salt and vinegar chip. maybe give these to your grandpa who you want to eat salt and vinegar chips with but who cant handle strong flavors.
final score: 7/10
more coming soon...
