This is the Kettle Chip Company Ridge Cut Japanese Style Fried Chicken.
The chips were ridge-cut rounds measuring approximately 4–6 cm in diameter and around 1.5 mm in thickness, pale yellow in colour and dusted with red and black seasoning. The aroma was muted, registering primarily as a generic seasoned chicken stock rather than anything distinctly aromatic.
On tasting, the thick crinkle-cut structure delivered a satisfying crunch that held consistently through each chip. The flavour opened with a broadly savoury spiced profile, with sage and thyme becoming clearly identifiable through the mid-palate, accompanied by a diffuse chicken note. This developed into a pronounced chicken bouillon character in the finish, which lingered and ultimately dominated the profile. While clearly chicken-flavoured, the seasoning diverged markedly from what one would associate with Japanese-style fried chicken, where garlic, ginger, and soy typically form the backbone. Instead, the reliance on celery, black pepper, star anise, thyme, oregano, and sage pulled the profile closer to Western herb seasoning, undermining the stated reference point.
Overall, the texture was well-executed and enjoyable, but the flavour profile felt conceptually misaligned, with the persistent chicken bouillon note detracting from what could otherwise have been a more compelling interpretation.
This Kettle Chip Company Ridge Cut Japanese Style Fried Chicken contained 165 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2025.