In the past, Lay’s has turned to the American people to decide the next chip flavor.

We blew it, so now they’re just telling us what to eat…

Lay’s Tastes of America Chips

More accurately, they’re telling us what we already eat. Lay’s “Tastes of America” promotion includes flavors inspired by local cuisines across the U.S. The launch includes 8 new flavors – the most bags of chips the company has ever released at once – which is also symbolic of the way that America eats.

If that weren’t enough, Lay’s is also re-releasing 4 flavors from past promotions under this new “We’re All Fatasses Across America” campaign.

Even I’ll admit this is better than having to review prior “Do Us A Flavor” finalists like Lay’s Cappuccino, or other fan submissions like Lay’s Pepperoni Dogfart.

Now, you won’t be able to procure all 12 chips from your local grocery store. Each region will receive their designated regional flavor, plus a few of the more “national” flavors like Ketchup, Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Popper, Fried Green Tomatoes, and West Coast Truffle Fries, depending on which of those makes the most sense for your region. Check your local grocer. 

Or, you can sink your ass into your couch, buy them off Lay’s website, and have food delivered to your door like a true American – just like I did.

Since there are 12 chips and I’ve already lost your attention, the following reviews will be brief and dirty.

Ranked from my least favorite to my most favorite:

Lay’s Pimento Cheese

Inspired by Sunday socials and Southern charm, here’s a taste of creamy sharp cheddar and pimento pepper. Ya’ll are so welcome.

Ya’ll are sooo full of shit.

I don’t taste any pimento pepper in Lay’s Pimento. Imagine stripping Lay’s Cheddar & Sour Cream of the sour cream; you’re left with potatoes covered in cheddar cheese, which is this. 

BOOOORRRRINNGGG.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Lay’s New England Lobster Roll

Inspired by lobster shacks of the Northeast, here’s a taste of fresh lobster served on a buttery grilled roll. It’s wicked good!

It’s wicked disappointing.

I don’t know exactly what a good lobster roll tastes like, but I know it’s not this. This tastes like butter. On a sour cream & onion chip. 

I don’t taste any lobster or other seafood things. This is kind of my gripe about lobster dishes in general; for something treated as a delicacy, do we really need to drown it in butter to make it taste good? That’s cheating.

And I hate cheaters.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10

Lay’s West Coast Truffle Fries (Wavy)

Inspired by a taste perfected in the West – Parmesan, sea salt & truffle oil on fresh fries. It’s a little SoCal, a little NorCal and a little holy cow. 

French fries are already potatoes, and there isn’t enough truffle oil on these chips. If truffle fries are simply pretentious french fries (they are), then these are pretentious sour cream & onion chips.

BUT, Lay’s definitely upped the seasoning on this year’s West Coast Truffle Fries versus their last time around. There’s a little more herb and some noticeable parmesan on top of that sour cream & onion base.

People from California are probably gonna like, totally overrate this. 

Rating: 6 out of 10

Lay’s Ketchup

Inspired by the flavor that makes everything better, it’s no surprise that ketchup is found everywhere from backyards to ballparks!

I feel like most establishments fall outside the range “backyards to ballparks”, but anywho… Lay’s Ketchup chips suffer mightily from a lack of seasoning on most of the chips. They taste like salt & vinegar chips with a faint sweetness more than they do the tomato-based condiment.

Every once in a while you get a super seasoned one and they’re solid, but…. how hard is it to just dip chips into ketchup, anyway? 

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Lay’s Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Popper (Wavy)

Inspired by a Southwest favorite and now nationally loved, here’s a taste of jalapeño peppers, cream cheese and bacon. Let’s spice up snack time!

Only one problem: they’re not spicy.

You can taste the jalapeño’s freshness more than you can their heat. They have a dairy component, but lack the finer, distinctive qualities of the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and Montery Jack cheese in the ingredients.

However, it’s not all bad news for Lay’s Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Popper. A slight smokiness helps call to mind the bacon. These chips also existed last year, but they’ve got a Wavy new facelift this time around that works to its advantage. The rippled texture plus the grease draw parallels to a crispy fried coating.

A passable chip that could have been more.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Lay’s Chile con Queso

Inspired by legendary Tex-Mex of the Southwest, here’s a taste of velvety cheddar quest with a dash of spice. Who even needs guac?

I mean, if you’re offering guac…

But Lay’s Chile con Queso does have a really great flavor that stands on its own. A rich cheddar cheese flavor is accented wonderfully by the freshness of green bell peppers, with a little kick and some garlic. 

If I only I could dip some tortilla chips into these potato chips, I would.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Lay’s Cajun Spice

Inspired by the flavors of the Gulf Coast, here’s a taste of garlic, paprika, onion, and oregano. Laissez les bon temps roller!

… the f*ck did you call me? 

I didn’t know what exactly comprises cajun seasoning, but since Lay’s just told me, I know that I like the combination of garlic, paprika, onion, and oregano on crispy potatoes 

Lay’s Cajun Spice is probably the most boldly-seasoned chips in this promotion, and I’m someone who appreciates a lot of flavor on my chips. In addition to the aforementioned, I taste chili powder and a slightly sweet finish to round them out. 

Different, and good. 

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Lay’s Thai Sweet Chili

Inspired by the food truck scene of the Pacific Northwest, get a taste of Thai sweet chili sauce with a hint of heat. Food lovers rejoice!

Do the…. do the trucks just sell sauce?

This is a sweet chip, both literally and figuratively. Lay’s Thai Sweet Chili has a rad sugary base with a clean ginger bite. It tastes like those packets of chili sauce you get with fresh spring rolls but then put in your fridge and eat with better things later. 

A very good chip that would be a fantastic chip if only they were Kettle Cooked.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Lay’s Fried Pickles with Ranch

Inspired by a deep-fried favorite at Midwest state fairs, get a taste of fried pickles with ranch. Who’s ready for a ride on the Ferris wheel?

Because there’s nothing like someone puking Fried Pickles down your neck from the sky above…

I was most excited for Lay’s Fried Pickles with Ranch in this entire promotion, and for the most part they don’t disappoint. Tons and tons of dill flavor – both from juicy pickles and ranch dressing. Light herbs provide some complexity for the creamy ranch component, and the grease helps the fried batter angle just enough.

There’s absolutely no excuse for these not to be Wavy though. 

Rating: 8 out of 10

Lay’s Deep Dish Pizza

Inspired by the Giordano’s pizza recipe made famous in the Midwest, here’s a taste of their iconic stuffed deep-dish pizza. Legendary cheese pull anyone? 

Does it taste like the pizza-lasagna monstrosity that is deep dish pizza? Not necessarily, but I’m shocked to death at how much this does taste like pizza.

Lay’s Deep Dish Pizza joins a myriad of other pizza-flavored snacks on shelves, but God help me it might taste the most like pizza. There’s something about the inherently oily base of a chip that works so well with this tomato-y seasoning and carefully-constructed cheese blend to recreate the signature dish. Like I can even taste the crust, and then Lay’s topped it with garlic powder and onion powder just like I would a hot New York slice.

Whether you best enjoy your pizza in the Midwest, the Northeast, or an airport toilet, you’ll enjoy Lay’s Deep Dish Pizza. 

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Lay’s Chesapeake Bay Crab Spice

Inspired by crab shacks along the Atlantic, here’s a taste of the Bay with custom-blended spices ready to savor. Let’s get crackin’! 

I’m from Baltimore and I’m disgusting, so trust me when I say I know a thing or two about crabs…

Lay’s sure did the Chesapeake Bay justice with a seasoning blend that is terrifically Old Bay®. It starts salty above anything, with notable depth from what I suspect is the celery salt and dry mustard. Then comes some bold peppery notes (cayenne in particular) before finishing with a little sweetness too.

Lay’s Crab Spice share some qualities with BBQ-seasoned chips for those reasons, but make no mistake there’s a lot more complexity present here.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Lay’s Fried Green Tomatoes (Wavy)

Inspired by a dish we know and love, here’s a taste of tart tomatoes, seasoned batter, remoulade sauce… and a little Southern hospitality. 

The secret’s in the sauce (it’s human flesh), and Lay’s Fried Green Tomatoes captures it well. These chips have a complex seasoning that tastes zesty, acidic, and slightly greasy just like the crispy brown batter on a nice FGT. It finishes with some brown sugar notes and a fiery kick.

These were amazing last year and the story hasn’t changed.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Summary

My favorite chip from last year takes home the Gold, with Fried Green Tomatoes besting the competition. But Lay’s has introduced a few more gems with Deep Dish Pizza, Chesapeake Bay Crab Spice, Fried Pickles with Ranch, and Thai Sweet Chili leading the pack in Lay’s new “Obesity is Rampant Across America” celebration. 

The rest of the pack is either good, safe, or boring.

By the way… if America voted for Lay’s Crispy Taco as its favorite flavor in last year’s contest, how did it not crack the Top 12 Tastes of America?

American justice at its finest… 

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