UTZ Potato Chips-The BEST

I'm surprised no one has made a topic on the best potato chips in the country!!! (Mostly available on the east coast), Whenever I leave to go to the westcoast, I have to take a bag along with me. All flavors are delish, although Carolina BBQ and Salt and Vinegar are my go to's. Any other favorite flavors?

quote:

Originally posted by crabbymatt

I'm surprised no one has made a topic on the best potato chips in the country!!! (Mostly available on the east coast), Whenever I leave to go to the westcoast, I have to take a bag along with me. All flavors are delish, although Carolina BBQ and Salt and Vinegar are my go to's. Any other favorite flavors?

You might want to check out this forum, it pretty much covers all the chips, including UTZ

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=187&whichpage=1&SearchTerms=potato,chip

Matt, if you really want your Utz to be off the charts, get them fresh at Lexington Market. Much better than the ones from the grocery store.

I completely agree with you -- Utz ARE the best. I thought I was the only one who felt that way, since most stores seem to sequester them with the "off" brands. They are delicious! All their flavors are excellent.

I'm also a big fan of their tortilla chips. They have a "40% less fat" tortilla chip -- comes in a purple bag -- that I actually prefer to their regular-recipe chip. More corn taste, and just the right amount of salt (that is, a lot.)

Utz is underappreciated.

herr's chips are great too, they remind me of lays chips.

i also remember marsdens banquet potato chips from many years ago they made a green onion and garlick chip i loved

The Pennsylvannians sure know snacks, and there you'll find a wide variety of local independent potato chipmakers.

Two that I've tried and liked are:
Kay & Ray's Dark Potato Chips
With a tagline "Gee! They're Delicous" That is true.
Still cooked the same way 30 years in PRIME PROCESSED LARD!
I don't care, they are good.

Zerbe's Homestyle Potato Chips
Much darker than Kay & Rays. A real dark crunchy chip made with Shortening and Lard. Super tasty!

No flavor junk sprinkled on any of them except salt. Believe me they don't need it.

Next time you're in the Lancaster area, look these chips up!

I love UTZ BBQ potato chips .. no other BBQ chip compares!!

~Jessica

According to my Dad, you haven't eaten a good potato chip unless you're at the factory eating one HOT off the line.

quote:

Originally posted by bluegrasser031

According to my Dad, you haven't eaten a good potato chip unless you're at the factory eating one HOT off the line.

You can experience that if you visit the Herr's potato chip factory in PA.

I found the smaller bags of Utz in a Dollar Tree store last week. Three kinds: BBQ, rippled,and plain. Naturally, I stocked up. They were very fresh, too. Dollar Tree doesn't always carry the same stuff all the time, so this was an unexpected treat.

I love the salt and pepper potato chips..do not seem to see many here in the good old south...I like the Herr's but with shipping they would be expensive.. tried the Tom's brand, was not pleased..Anyone know of another brand i could find in the South?

languishing Laurie in smalltown Georgia

Is there any way to get Utz in Southern California. I ate them as a kid when I lived in Camp Hill PA.

I had a bag of UTZ chips in April in Maryland on our honeymoon-"crab seasoning" flavor-thought they were terrible.
Being from MA, UTZ chips are not distributed here, and I personally am not used to the blend of Crab seasoning up here in lobster country.
I will try them again when I get far enough south to be able to purchase them.
Do they have Ketchup (catsup) flavored, as do Humpty Dumpty brand in Canada?
Or Dark Russet version, as do Cape Cod potato chips?
My personal favorites.

I'll have to admit, here in New York City, I reach for the UTZ and they ain't bad! Let me ask this: Does New York have it's own locally made chip that people love or do we just love chips that come from other areas? I kinda wish I could get the Stateline chips I grew up eatin' in Connecticut here in Gotham City.

quote:

Originally posted by speechpeach

I love the salt and pepper potato chips..do not seem to see many here in the good old south...I like the Herr's but with shipping they would be expensive.. tried the Tom's brand, was not pleased..Anyone know of another brand i could find in the South?

languishing Laurie in smalltown Georgia

Laurie,
In this area, I find Zapp's from Louisiana and "Dirty" Potato Chips from Memphis. There are a few other "boutique" and/or premium brands, but the library is closing, so I'll detail them tomorrow.
Happy chunching!
As Chipper As Usual, Ort. Carlton in Amazing Athens, Georgia.

Oh man..Utz' Cheddar/Sour Cream is THE max!! Yeah the 'crab' ones are pretty dire...Still like the Wise onion/garlic chips.... there used to be a PA chip that was distributed here called NIBBLE WITH GIBBLE'S..whatever happened to them??

quote:

Originally posted by ConeyIslandLou

Oh man..Utz' Cheddar/Sour Cream is THE max!! Yeah the 'crab' ones are pretty dire...Still like the Wise onion/garlic chips.... there used to be a PA chip that was distributed here called NIBBLE WITH GIBBLE'S..whatever happened to them??

Gibbles is still in business, but I believe they are owned by Birds-Eye.

quote:

Originally posted by Edwaste

The Pennsylvannians sure know snacks, and there you'll find a wide variety of local independent potato chipmakers.

Kay & Ray's Dark Potato Chips
With a tagline "Gee! They're Delicous" That is true.
Still cooked the same way 30 years in PRIME PROCESSED LARD!
I don't care, they are good.

Next time you're in the Lancaster area, look these chips up!

Kay & Ray's chips are slammin'!!! The dark chips are good, but I may need an intervention for my addiction to the regular Kay & Ray's.

to all: try the cheese balls, they are the balls

Dave M: you can get UTZ products at Rite-Aid drug stores, at least you can here in NH

Wing Lover: Try Uncle Ray's BBQ Potato Chips (and their fine products)out of Detroit MI url: www.unclerays.com

I agree, UTZ potato chips are very good.
Was UTZ previously known as Bon Ton? The Bon Ton brand disappeared just around the time UTZ made its appearance so I was wondering. Does anyone know the meaning behind the name UTZ?

quote:

Originally posted by hotdogger

I agree, UTZ potato chips are very good.
Was UTZ previously known as Bon Ton? The Bon Ton brand disappeared just around the time UTZ made its appearance so I was wondering. Does anyone know the meaning behind the name UTZ?

Bon Ton is still around...but they are pretty far down on the Pennsy Hip Chip List..and WHY is it that Pennsylvania is such a hot snack spot anyways?

But what is it about these chips that sets them apart? I've not tried many, but I know I like old standards like Lay's and Ruffles. I don't particularly like flavored ones, and I don't like Pringles.

I've had those Hawaiian Kettle Chips, and Boulder Chips, which I thought were just plain awful.

What makes a good chip a good chip?

Edited to fix punctuation.

utz chips are not the successor to bon ton. Utz have been around for decades in Pennsylvania. The name is that of the founders Bill and Sallie Utz.

quote:

Originally posted by Kristi S.

quote:

Originally posted by ConeyIslandLou

Oh man..Utz' Cheddar/Sour Cream is THE max!! Yeah the 'crab' ones are pretty dire...Still like the Wise onion/garlic chips.... there used to be a PA chip that was distributed here called NIBBLE WITH GIBBLE'S..whatever happened to them??

Gibbles is still in business, but I believe they are owned by Birds-Eye.

Kristi,
They're not owned by Birds-Eye. They are an operating unit of Martin's Pastry Shoppe, maker of Martin's rolls. Which are incredible potato hot dog and burger buns found in most PA supermarkets.

quote:

Originally posted by CheeseWit
They are an operating unit of Martin's Pastry Shoppe, maker of Martin's rolls. Which are incredible potato hot dog and burger buns found in most PA supermarkets.

Oh yes, I know. I adore Martin's rolls. Used to get em all the time at Shop Rite. Now that I live in Florida, there is but one specialty store that sells Martin's and I'll bet they're $5 a bag or something...

quote:

Originally posted by daveritzdog

I'll have to admit, here in New York City, I reach for the UTZ and they ain't bad! Let me ask this: Does New York have it's own locally made chip that people love or do we just love chips that come from other areas? I kinda wish I could get the Stateline chips I grew up eatin' in Connecticut here in Gotham City.

Seems I remember a NY-Centric chip that was marketed quite a bit in the late 70s/early 80s. They came in a purple bag, were extremely crispy, and they had some very 70s/80s name like "The Greatest New York Style Crispy Crunchy Potato Chip Ever". (That guess is not even close, but you get the idea.) Does that ring a bell for anyone else?

Had heard some good things about Wachusset (spelling??) brand chips in Massachusetts and had some recently on a trip north when I stopped at George's Coney Island in Worcester. They were VERY good...especially the BBQ. Lighter on the BBQ flavor than many brands, but done just right to me!

Your mention of Mass. chips reminds me of State Line Chips, which are made somewhere near Worcester. Those chips are excellent, especially their barbecue. It's the best BBQ seasoning I've ever tasted. MY aunt remembers eating them hot at the factory.

i just joined and this is my first post, and i cant believe i'm reading a slew of postings about chips without a SINGLE mention of the amazing ZAPPS chips, i think from new orleans. the 'cajun dill' is like a dill pickle, in chip form. almost makes me wanna' be pregnant! not to mention several other unusual, tasty flavors, special limited editions, and the classic unflavored varieties. you can get 'em mail order, or in gourmet shops around the country. but they're worth trekking to nawlins for!!