I used to eat potato chips pretty much on the daily, back when I had a regular schedule at work. But with the constant strains of COVID ruining everything, I now have no time to eat anything (besides snacks) on the clock. Since I’m limited for time, I have to be able to eat things on the go, and the greasiness of potato chips just kind of ruins that; I opt instead for trail mix or protein bars (or shakes). Those seem to get the job done.

My wife, on the other hand, has never been into potato chips. I don’t understand why, because there are so many varieties that it’s just like any other medium: there’s (at least) one for everyone. She does like the Zapp’s Voodoo Chips, which are far and away some of the best I’ve ever had, and can dabble in the occasional cheese puff or Pringle, but as far as actual potato chips are concerned, she tends to avoid them at virtually all costs. 

So imagine my surprise when it was she – not I – who suggested Queso flavored potato chips while we were at a Tennessee Walmart visiting her inlaws. Now, knowing what you know about her from the previous paragraph, that should already strike you as odd in and of itself. But on the raaaaare occasions she does want some, she sticks to more typical flavors; I never would have expected her to grab something as exotic (and potentially disappointing) as queso, a flavor that can’t really be translated accurately to potato chip form. 

Going in, I have to admit I really had no idea what to expect. I mean, I knew it wasn’t going to taste like the queso that we love – the kind served at Mexican restaurants the world over – but how would it taste? There were just so many possibilities out there, and none of them really seemed all that enticing. 

Before I get in to the only part of the content you’re actually interested in, I’ll additionally stall for time with another random observation (that also applies to this product): All chips seem to pretty much taste like an already existing chip. It’s like chip companies have already pushed existing technology to its limits, and there are no flavors left to experiment with; instead, they just combine existing ones into weird combinations and then just name them something that it remotely reminds them of. Even a nearly flawless chip – like the aforementioned Voodoo Chips from Zapp’s – mostly tastes like a combination of salt and vinegar and barbecue (don’t let that description fool you; I don’t like salt and vinegar either). 

These taste just like sour cream and cheddar in the beginning, but then, I guess, earns the “queso” moniker thanks to a semi-spicy finish that tastes a lot like buffalo. It’s a good sour cream and cheddar-style base, but I didn’t think the ending was really all that spectacular (although it might just be me, seeing as how I’m not a fan of buffalo in the least). Nor does it really taste anything like any queso I’ve ever had (it is still a notch above Chipotle’s, however). So, to summarize, this is basically a combination of sour cream and cheddar, and buffalo.

This is just another example of a product that really has no reason for being, although I guess such a case can be made for virtually every product on every store shelf. It’s a decent alternative to sour cream and cheddar, but aside from a buffalo-style finish that adds small levels of heat to the proceedings, there’s really no need to check it out. That being said, if you decide to, 

Overall: 6/10. This essentially functions as a combination of sour cream and cheddar, with buffalo; however that description sounds to you will tell you whether or not it’s the right chip for you. Personally, I don’t see how it tastes anything like queso, so if you’re looking for a flavor that’s actually along those lines, you will be disappointed. But if you’re just looking for a cheap chip that’s familiar, but ever-so-slightly unique, this may be your meal ticket.