Chicago-area/regional potato chips available in the city

I did an archive search on this topic but couldn't find what I was looking for:

What are some good Chicago-specific or region-specific potato chip brands that might make a good gift for a Brooklyn-based potato chip lover? Something that would have only a Midwest distribution that an East Coaster might not have had. And where could I buy these brands on short notice? I need something that is available to purchase in person in Chicago (so, no online ordering) and something in stay-fresh packaging (so most grocery store and restaurant chips are out).

Jays and Vitner's are obvious ones. I'm seeing Rockford-based Mrs. Fisher's, but it looks like they don't sell in the city; it's the same with Farmington-based Kitchen Cooked. Any other ideas, LTHers?

Great Lakes chips, sold at Local Foods - several flavors. Caveat: they are quite salty.

HI,

If you happen to visit Woodman's, they offer small, local potato chip maker's not regularly seen in other grocery stores.

During life on Chowhound, there was a guy who was in the amusement ride business. He proclaimed Ole Salty's potato chips from Love's Park (a suburb of Rockford), the very best chips. I have only seen them at Woodmen's and once I passed their business. If it were not Friday night and parking lot empty, I would have strolled in to chat with them.

Peerless Potato Chips in Gary, Indiana may or may not be in production. I hope it will return to the living.

When I am away from Chicago, I will check the snack aisle for chips and such I don't regularly see. One favorite I see sometimes in the Chicago area: Uncle Ray's from Detroit. What do I like about them: the stories on the back of the packages.

If you do a slow walk through snacks aisles and look below, there may be more regional chips than you may have thought. Those small companies may not be in the position to buy shelf space like the national brands. Perhaps an independent market may offer more selection than a major store.

Sorry I cannot be more specific. If I get to the store this evening, I may add more information.

Regards,
CAthy2

Note that Jay's isn't really local any more, they're owned by Snyder's of Hanover, and closed their Chicago manufacturing in 2007 [source: Wikipedia]

Butera carries Ole Salty chips.
Ironically I prefer the “lightly salted “ version! They are pretty much my go to chip. I also like the Foid Club generics.

I know you said no on line only chips but the chips in Spain are so good and Jose Andres (hero) has the best potato chips. They are available from La Tienda or Amazon.

No potato but El Milagro totopos /corn chips are the best I've had.

I have been going to Ole Salty's for at least 25 years. Give them out to many people every Christmas via an order directly to them and they ship. They know me well. These will make any chip lover happy. They can send them for you direct. Just look up their website and shop or you can call. They have many more flavors than what the limited distribution stores carry. Great stuff.

Puckjam wrote:They have many more flavors than what the limited distribution stores carry. Great stuff.

What flavors do you happen to like? I think I have only seen regular and lightly salted.

Thanks!

Regards,
Cathy2

BrendanR wrote:No potato but El Milagro totopos /corn chips are the best I've had.

I love this idea.

=R=

I also like the bbq, bbq jalepeno, sweet onion, smoked gouda chipotle, cheddar.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

BrendanR wrote:No potato but El Milagro totopos /corn chips are the best I've had.

I love this idea.

I was at a reoccurring get-together, an informal gathering of musicians, last night where multiple participants often bring uncoordinated snacks. A bag of El Milagro chips is a universal constant, perfect for trying every item offered. Far more sturdy than the nationally advertised offerings and able to scoop plenty of dip, sauce, queso, tapenade & salsa yet less mouth-shredding than some of the other brands that fry them too far. We've really got it good here, as far as totopos gos'.

Puckjam wrote:I also like the bbq, bbq jalepeno, sweet onion, smoked gouda chipotle, cheddar.

Good to know! I adore sweet onion flavor. Where do you go to get them?

To get the flavors, you would have to go to their outlet store in Loves Park, or google Ole Salty's of Loves Park and order from their website.

LPython wrote:I did an archive search on this topic but couldn't find what I was looking for:

What are some good Chicago-specific or region-specific potato chip brands that might make a good gift for a Brooklyn-based potato chip lover? Something that would have only a Midwest distribution that an East Coaster might not have had. And where could I buy these brands on short notice? I need something that is available to purchase in person in Chicago (so, no online ordering) and something in stay-fresh packaging (so most grocery store and restaurant chips are out).

Jays and Vitner's are obvious ones. I'm seeing Rockford-based Mrs. Fisher's, but it looks like they don't sell in the city; it's the same with Farmington-based Kitchen Cooked. Any other ideas, LTHers?

Mrs. Fisher's, Chips are sold at Binny's in the Elmwood Park and River Grove Stores not sure about City proper locations.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I will enjoy working my way through them later in the year. I ended up grabbing some Ole Salty's from Foodstuffs in Evanston - which was about as far as I could get on short notice due to various constraints - along with a selection of other non-local chips that looked good. I'm looking forward to exploring the Ole Salty's flavors.

And yes, I agree that El Milagro corn chips are superior! If my gift-exchange partner hadn't specifically requested potato chips, I could have wowed her with some.

Do they have to be available in stores? Does it have to be pure thin slices of potato?

There is a local company that makes healthy, organic, some plus some other attributes, snacks, including "potato & something". I think they are online only. I asked if I could stop in their office to buy small quantities without paying shipping (or order large quantities to get free shipping) and did not get any response. I didn't try just going to their address, though.

Might be an opportunity to positively affect the health of your friend...

deliciousness.com

https://deliciousness.com/collections/all?page=2

My favorite is Kitchen Cooked Potato Chips. They are made in Farmington, and Bushnell, IL. I've only seen them sold within the western IL region. Whenever we visit relatives, we stock up on those chips. They have been around since the 1930s and buy their potatoes and other ingredients locally.

Susan June wrote:My favorite is Kitchen Cooked Potato Chips. They are made in Farmington, and Bushnell, IL. I've only seen them sold within the western IL region. Whenever we visit relatives, we stock up on those chips. They have been around since the 1930s and buy their potatoes and other ingredients locally.

Thank you for the tip. I will for these next time I am around Peoria.

Regards,
Cathy2

Susan June wrote:My favorite is Kitchen Cooked Potato Chips. They are made in Farmington, and Bushnell, IL. I've only seen them sold within the western IL region. Whenever we visit relatives, we stock up on those chips. They have been around since the 1930s and buy their potatoes and other ingredients locally.

Thank you for the tip. I will for these next time I am around Peoria.

Regards,
Cathy2

No need to go too far. You can find those Kitchen Cooked Potato chips at the Big R in Homer Glen as well as Berkot's in Lockport. The Big R also carries the Corn Curls and Pork Rinds as well.

Mickey

Mickey12 wrote:

Susan June wrote:My favorite is Kitchen Cooked Potato Chips. They are made in Farmington, and Bushnell, IL. I've only seen them sold within the western IL region. Whenever we visit relatives, we stock up on those chips. They have been around since the 1930s and buy their potatoes and other ingredients locally.

Thank you for the tip. I will for these next time I am around Peoria.

Regards,
Cathy2

No need to go too far. You can find those Kitchen Cooked Potato chips at the Big R in Homer Glen as well as Berkot's in Lockport. The Big R also carries the Corn Curls and Pork Rinds as well.

Mickey

Thank you for the info. Lockport and Homer Glen are much closer.

I know this brand was already mentioned but there was mention of healthier...

Vitner’s is local, available everywhere and also has a no salt version that might appeal to the health conscious...

https://www.snakking.com/product/no-salt-potato-chips/

Saw these last night at Walgreens.

BrendanR wrote:No potato but El Milagro totopos /corn chips are the best I've had.

I hope it's alright to bump this mostly unrelated thread but this comment was the latest relevant and there's a new totopo in my life.

Finding my beloved El Milagro unavailable at the grocery I was at a few weeks ago, I tossed a bag of La Visita totopos in my cart. They're also from a Chicago company, Castillo Brothers. Lighter in every way than El Milagro, there's a sort of toasty movie theater popcorn fragrance quality to them that's hard to describe but very pleasant. I find them better than EM for simply eating a handful out of the bag, though they're a lot more likely to break when aggressively dipped.

Interestingly, the paper bag is mostly English and French with a little Spanish. The two Nutrition Facts panels are in English and French. USA, Mexico and Canada are all thanked on the back of the bag. Also interesting is that the company is based on Ann Lurie Place, an industrial stretch of what used to be called 42nd Place, that I'd never heard of. This appears to be the official name of the street (green sign, not brown).

I'm not going to say La Visita are better than El Milagro but they're worth a try.

Manufacturer's product page, though the graphics have changed a bit:
https://cblavisita.com/english/nacho%20 ... #bookmark1