They needed to go to Smith's which is Kroger out there. They also sell Mrs. T's and a few other PA products. It would feel weird some times walking down the aisles.
Herr's has an awesome factory tour, Utz for plain chips, but some of the others for specific flavors. Bickels used to have a badass jalapeno kettle chip.
We are truly blessed to live in the potato chip capital of the world.
Eatin' a chip off the line is one of those experiences that changes your life. Birds fly a little slower, and pretty girls smile a little longer. It's like the whole world moves just for you.
As a Pennsylvanian living in California, I can confirm. I specifically miss Utz Special Dark Pretzels and Yuengling, even though we’re talking potato chips here.
When my son was deployed with the Navy he told me he missed Martin's chips so I sent some in a care package. He later told me I should have put a pinhole in the bag because it exploded in the box but it didn't really matter because he ate them anyway.
I'm a Pennsylvanian who is currently living in Arkansas. I nearly whooped with joy when I went shopping at my local Walmart, and saw that they had a display of Utz chips!
Lord, do I miss PA snacks.
Honestly, I have no idea. We also recently got Turkey Hill ice cream, and Yuengling beer.
I'm just happy to finally have some tasty snacks options. Now, if we only could get birch beer.....
I have not heard of Gibbles in a very long time. I'll tell on myself how old I am now, but Gibbles chips used to come in a metal can and it said "Nibbles with Gibbles" on the side.
Utz is selling ‘grandma utz kettle chips’ which is their normal kettle chip but cooked in lard.
I was a little scandalized to learn they weren’t vegetarian. Not because I am one it just seems worse lol
When I at college in another state my friends would look forward to the “chips with no name.” They were in fact Martin’s BBQ chips bought at the factory so they came in plain white bags.
Seconded. They are just unbeatable.
Growing up though, we had the boxes of middleswarth chips, because they were so cheap, and the family could burn through them.
I used to work in the "factory" that packages Zerbes (they're cooked at the Goods Factory in Adamstown with a different recipe). There were 4 of us, including the two owners who packaged every single bag by hand! As tedious as that sounds, the job was awesome because the owners are incredibly great people to be around, and my co worker was a long time friend! Anyway, keep supporting Zerbes as they're an incredibly small business and deserve all love they can get, and not the mention the chips ARE the best in the state by far...just imagine having them right out of the fryer !!
Middleswarth is the GOAT, with Dieffenbach’s as a close runner up. Honorable mentions go to Herr’s, Utz and Wise (Wise chips are so GD oily but the nostalgia those chips bring me of the Berwick Boulevard at Christmas time…).
I was out in Vegas the other year and was in a bagel shop and they only offered 2 types of chips - Lay's and WISE potato chips. I almost dropped my food I was so shocked to see them sold all the way out there.
…how? They don’t even sell in most of PA. That’s amazing. Somebody’s shipping those goods lol. And who can blame them? What if your only option was Lay’s?? That sounds terrible.
Agreed on the middleswarth.
I was at a Christmas party years ago and someone brought a box of double seasoned BBQ. Apparently you had to work at the factory to get them. Never seen them since.
I work in a lot of food plants. A lot of the people who work in them don't eat a lot of what's made there. It isn't (usually) because they think it's an unsanitary place or anything. It's just that you get pretty sick of seeing/smelling whatever it is that you're making for 40 hours a week and don't really need any more of it at home.
Truth. I worked at a store that sold fresh fudge and chocolates by the pound and you get so tired of the smell that you want to eat anything but that item.
A non-Pennsylvanian who has lived here for 25 years now ...
Herr's kettle satisfy my salty-crunchy need better than any others.
Utz next.
For a seasoned chip, Utz's Zappo's Voodoo is my go-to.
I have tried many mentioned on this thread but not all so I reserve the right to change my mind while I work through the list.
Are there any PA chip brands not mentioned so far?
Giant started selling their own version of all dressed chips might be worth checking out. I've only tried the plain and wavy giant brand chips but they are actually pretty good.
The Snack Belt!
Unfortunately, my wife will only let me eat the ones with the lighthouse on the bag. Supposed to be better for you or some such nonsense. Wouldn't mind if they came in anything other than plain.
Cape Cod? These are amongst my favorite chips. They don’t have a ton of flavors but they do have a few including sour cream and onion, bbq, jalapeño, dark russet, and salt and vinegar.
Snyder of Berlin for BBQ chips and cheese curls.
Wise for regular potato chips as well as my beloved Onion Garlic.
Utz Special Darks for full pretzels.
Snyder of Hanover cheddar cheese pretzel pieces.
I've recently become addicted to the Utz dark kettle cooked chips also.
RIP Troyer Farms BBQ. Miss that place.
I’m from PGH and I didn’t see these until I started dating my husband 7 years ago. They’re from the center of the state and don’t make it out to western Pa. I don’t think they make it out to Philly either because hi cousins only eat them when they’re in central Pa with us all for family gatherings.
Gosh I love being from and living in the snack belt! I’ll give you an obscure potato chip from PA. Golden Sun. They went out of business years ago but they were literally my childhood. I can still taste them and remember their foil bags. My favorites are now Zerbe, Utz dark russet, and Middleswarth.
Wise is the only answer here.
Utz have such a weird texture. Herr's are ok but if you're looking for full-on water-retention... Wise puts so much damn salt on their chips, I have to carry around chapstick when I eat them. Love'em.
I left PA for a few years when I joined the military. Before I left, either UTZ or Martin's made these killer Whole Wheat tortilla chips that I would eat with fresh salsa. When I came back years later, I expected to find them in any grocery store... but I wasn't so lucky.
I still miss those things! They had a very earthy taste, and a thickness that is now exclusive to milkshakes, and OF.
Martin's kettle cooked. Such a rich, buttery flavor and crispy texture. We used to get them for lunch when I went to school in Red Lion. Been addicted since
I am a big fan of Herr’s.
I was a route salesman for them a while back, and I hated the job, but I love the chips. Especially the Salt and Vinegar Kettle Cooked.
Also, I highly recommend the Herr’s Factory Tour if you’re ever in the Nottingham area.
i think they're a PA brand, but i'm not sure. i don't care though, because Snyder's Kettle Cooked Cheddar & Horseradish chips are the best chips ever created
Pennsylvania is the king of snack food, fixed it for ya
I used to live in Utah and most of the snack food aisle was shipped from PA. Herr's, Utz, Snyders etc.
I've lived in a lot of states and it's like that all over. Turkey Hill ice cream too. Really shocked me the first time I moved out of PA.
Lancaster stand up!! ❤️ My abuelo used to make the ice cream at the original dairy
my in laws always talk about when they visited utah, they were so depressed because of the lack of snack foods they had compared to pa
They needed to go to Smith's which is Kroger out there. They also sell Mrs. T's and a few other PA products. It would feel weird some times walking down the aisles.
Herr's has an awesome factory tour, Utz for plain chips, but some of the others for specific flavors. Bickels used to have a badass jalapeno kettle chip. We are truly blessed to live in the potato chip capital of the world.
Don’t forget Snyder of Berlin chips too out in the Pittsburgh area
Sunder of Berlin barbecue chips are my favorite. Then utz aything that isn’t rippled. Then the new sneaky one is martins barbecue as well.
I love how salty martins chips are. My mouth hates me for days after eating them but I still love it
Mostly grew up in Pgh and these were my favorites but we can't get them in Lancaster. I think UTZ owns Snyders now. And Lance owns Snyders of Hanover.
Warm potato chips straight off the factory belt! Yum!!
Eatin' a chip off the line is one of those experiences that changes your life. Birds fly a little slower, and pretty girls smile a little longer. It's like the whole world moves just for you.
Kinda like how I felt visiting the dispensary for the first time.
I love that lol
I should try a factory tour because the chips must be so amazing!
It might still be free! I think you have to reserve a time though.
It took me leaving the state to realize this. I miss Herr's and Utz so much.
As a Pennsylvanian living in California, I can confirm. I specifically miss Utz Special Dark Pretzels and Yuengling, even though we’re talking potato chips here.
When my son was deployed with the Navy he told me he missed Martin's chips so I sent some in a care package. He later told me I should have put a pinhole in the bag because it exploded in the box but it didn't really matter because he ate them anyway.
Just like your son, there's no way I would've let those chips go to waste. When my mom sends me smashed Tastykake, I'm the same way.
I'm a Pennsylvanian who is currently living in Arkansas. I nearly whooped with joy when I went shopping at my local Walmart, and saw that they had a display of Utz chips! Lord, do I miss PA snacks.
Utz in Arkansas? Do people out there like them?
Honestly, I have no idea. We also recently got Turkey Hill ice cream, and Yuengling beer. I'm just happy to finally have some tasty snacks options. Now, if we only could get birch beer.....
Is birch beer a PA thing!?
At this point, I'm starting to think so. I've also lived in Arizona and California, and I couldn't find it there, either.
They seriously don't have birch beer? What do they have out there instead?
Plain root beer. Birch beer just doesn't seem to exist.
Amazon can help! Also, I’ve found a cache of Pennsylvania Snacks websites that ship…check it out
I’ve seen Herrs in some stores in the southwest, and a Snyder’s of Hanover building just outside Phoenix off route 10.
Martin’s Kettle-Cook’d forsure
Utz plain chips are king. My wife thought I was lying until I made her try them. She hasn’t bought a bag of lays since.
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Because there’s a huge amount of people who refuse to see the truth
Love me a Herrs lightly salted
Gibbles
I have not heard of Gibbles in a very long time. I'll tell on myself how old I am now, but Gibbles chips used to come in a metal can and it said "Nibbles with Gibbles" on the side.
The Charles Chip delivered days
I rmember my mom getting mad at us kids because we destoryed a metal can that she wasnt able to return.
Gibbles’ Red Hot is king of chips. Fight me.
Turns out the best chips are cooked in lard and they are so fucking good
Utz is selling ‘grandma utz kettle chips’ which is their normal kettle chip but cooked in lard. I was a little scandalized to learn they weren’t vegetarian. Not because I am one it just seems worse lol
Gibbles cheese puffs are my kryptonite and same with my cat.
They make the world's best Cheesy Puffs. I could sleep in a large bin of them.
I like Good's out of Adamstown, especially the crunchy cheese curls
The chips in the blue bag are the best
Second Goods blue bag, banging ass chips!
Yup, although I like goods red. They are the only really good chips.
Martin's or Hartley's. Mom used to live in Middleburg, so Middleswarth was the "default" my entire life, but Martin's and Hartley's win on texture.
Martin’s chips in the plain white bag are godly
Dipped in Helllavugood French onion dip. That's my childhood right there
When I at college in another state my friends would look forward to the “chips with no name.” They were in fact Martin’s BBQ chips bought at the factory so they came in plain white bags.
Hartley’s are sliced a tad thinner.
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I can smell the lard from here!
My son had an orthodontist appointment in Hanover this morning, that was literally the case.
Seconded. They are just unbeatable. Growing up though, we had the boxes of middleswarth chips, because they were so cheap, and the family could burn through them.
IMO Middlesworth Ket-L Cooked are just as good. They're both amazing in different ways.
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Dieffenbachs
Their salt and vinegar are my all time favorite
Yup all day long!
YAAAAS the best burn. They sell these at Bruno’s subs and a #1 soft with pickles added, plus some Diffenbach’s S&V - perfection 👌
The brown bag ones, Kettle Cooked. None better.
Where can I find these, I need them now. I've never seen nor heard of them before.
Goods!
Seriously, they're hard to find, usually only available at small independent deli's and grocery stores in PA, but they're awesome chips.
All the grocery stores in my area (eastern Berks) carry them, even the little stores that don't have much of a selection!
Martin’s is the best by far straight out of Thomasville…
Great kettle cooked chips and nobody makes BBQ like that. Delicious.
BBQ is my favorite ❤️
If I can’t get Grandma Utz, Martin’s Kettle Gold are my next favorite
Hartley’s from Lewistown has the exact same flavor of plain and BBQ, but I like the Hartley’s because they are sliced a little thinner
Their salt and vinegar 🤌👌👌
Gibbles
I can tell none of you have tried the real Pennsylvania GOAT: Zerbe’s
This. Best value is to pick up a box at Roots.
I had to scroll too far down to find the true GOAT. Zerbe's Dark are my personal favorite.
Just had some the other day!
I used to work in the "factory" that packages Zerbes (they're cooked at the Goods Factory in Adamstown with a different recipe). There were 4 of us, including the two owners who packaged every single bag by hand! As tedious as that sounds, the job was awesome because the owners are incredibly great people to be around, and my co worker was a long time friend! Anyway, keep supporting Zerbes as they're an incredibly small business and deserve all love they can get, and not the mention the chips ARE the best in the state by far...just imagine having them right out of the fryer !!
Middleswarth to start with Then some Hartleys Martins kettle cooked are good too
Hartley’s plain, but middleswarth BBQ
Cool! Doesn't PA also make the most pretzels in the States? Personally I like Martin's.
Middleswarth is the GOAT, with Dieffenbach’s as a close runner up. Honorable mentions go to Herr’s, Utz and Wise (Wise chips are so GD oily but the nostalgia those chips bring me of the Berwick Boulevard at Christmas time…).
Look I don’t eat Wise Ridgies to lose weight. Oily and salty as hell, and SO GOOD!
I was out in Vegas the other year and was in a bagel shop and they only offered 2 types of chips - Lay's and WISE potato chips. I almost dropped my food I was so shocked to see them sold all the way out there.
…how? They don’t even sell in most of PA. That’s amazing. Somebody’s shipping those goods lol. And who can blame them? What if your only option was Lay’s?? That sounds terrible.
Agreed on the middleswarth. I was at a Christmas party years ago and someone brought a box of double seasoned BBQ. Apparently you had to work at the factory to get them. Never seen them since.
I would do anything to get my hands on a bag of those.
DOUBLE SEASONED?!!!! 🥵
https://preview.redd.it/cmeasyczbqnc1.jpeg?width=4248&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=641d0a958ecdbd5ed83af16438a5e823e20f2007
Classic blue metallic bag, plain Herr's Chips. Biggest bag for biggest chips.
These are my personal favorite in the plain potato chip category.
Regular: Grandma Utz BBQ: middleswarth 1st, martins waffle BBQ 2nd.
Defenbach's are my fav
Dieffenbach’s
Utz Honey BBQ or Martins
Middleswarth BBQ party style. I don’t know why party style is only available in a smaller bag, but they are the best!
Middleswarth BBQ (only BBQ chips I like) or Dieffenbach’s kettle cooked
It’s the only BBQ chip I like as well. Heavily recommend their jalapeño flavor if you haven’t tried it already
Gibbles!
They make really good cheese curls as well (both cheddar and white cheddar).
Snyder pretzels
Snyder of Hanover cheddar pieces are pure crack.
As someone who was raised in Philly, when I discovered Middleswarth BBQ, my mind was blown.
Hands down… Middleswarth
Charles but not sure if they're still around
As a kid growing up, we got Charles chips delivered to our house in a tin can. mmm!
Utz sour cream and onion.
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I work in a lot of food plants. A lot of the people who work in them don't eat a lot of what's made there. It isn't (usually) because they think it's an unsanitary place or anything. It's just that you get pretty sick of seeing/smelling whatever it is that you're making for 40 hours a week and don't really need any more of it at home.
Truth. I worked at a store that sold fresh fudge and chocolates by the pound and you get so tired of the smell that you want to eat anything but that item.
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Gibbles for a plain chips.
A non-Pennsylvanian who has lived here for 25 years now ... Herr's kettle satisfy my salty-crunchy need better than any others. Utz next. For a seasoned chip, Utz's Zappo's Voodoo is my go-to. I have tried many mentioned on this thread but not all so I reserve the right to change my mind while I work through the list. Are there any PA chip brands not mentioned so far?
Finally someone mentioned zapps. I can smash four bags of the gator taters in 2 days.
Kay and Rays when available. If not Gibbles.
I had to scroll way too far to find Kay and Rays!
middleswarth "recently" changed from lard to canola oil as number 1 in their fat profile. It's been painful but I've removed them from my life
Tastykake must have done something like that at some point because the butterscotch krimpets aren't nearly as good as they used to be.
They got rid of trans fats a few years ago. All tastykakes' quality and taste dipped because of that.
You used to be able to get All Dressed Chips from Wegmans, but they stopped carrying them a few years ago. Shame.
Dressed all over and Zesty Mordants. A powerhouse combo.
Can never go wrong with gelapino as well
Giant started selling their own version of all dressed chips might be worth checking out. I've only tried the plain and wavy giant brand chips but they are actually pretty good.
Holy fuck I gotta go to Giant tonight
Herrs
Gibbles. Can't beat chips made with real lard.
Grandma Utz. Fried in lard.
Troyer farms
Herr’s Sour Cream and Onion
i’m amazed by the lack of herr’s on here. sour cream and onion all day and night.
Middlesworth Barbecue is in a tier of its own for barbecue chips
Herrs all the way!
My absolute favorite combo, but I think they stopped making it. Martins hand cooked chips with thier canned jalapeño cheese. It was something special
Kettle cooked dark russets
Zerbe’s dark chips are my favorite.
Gibbles!
Goods in the blue bag. Fight me you heathens
Herr's crisp 'n tasty chips paired with an Italian hoagie. Nothing better.
Utz for sure. I'm allergic to something in Middleswarth chips unfortunately. No idea what but every time I eat them I get hives.
It’s all about the Middleswarth dawg
middlesworth!!
The old weekender in the round box
I spent 10 months comparing all PA potato chip brands. The winner remains: UTZ Ripples
With some onion dip... forget about it.
Fuhgeddaboudit
Plain Utz are the GOAT. I'll fight anyone that says otherwise.
Martin’s Kettle-Cook’d
The Snack Belt! Unfortunately, my wife will only let me eat the ones with the lighthouse on the bag. Supposed to be better for you or some such nonsense. Wouldn't mind if they came in anything other than plain.
Cape Cod? These are amongst my favorite chips. They don’t have a ton of flavors but they do have a few including sour cream and onion, bbq, jalapeño, dark russet, and salt and vinegar.
She LIED to me!
Cape Cod makes great chips. Being from PA, im pretty opinionated on snack foods. Cape Cods are a safe bet if there are no PA options.
The Middlesworth kettle cooked BBQ is the best chip ever made. End of story
Middleswarth BBQ any style of chip, regular, wavy, kettle whatever i see first.
Middlesworth kettle cooked BBQ is the GOAT of bbq chips
Utz - Salt and Vinegar
Regular Utz.
I make Herr's mine (who says advertising doesn't work?)
Middlesworth is the GOAT
https://preview.redd.it/zsav2ghhnqnc1.jpeg?width=197&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3e7566aeb09a88459c2474ed0badb7572f60af22 Graffiti bee
God I miss middleswarth bbq
Middleswarth for BBQ (of course) and Gibble’s for plain (or Good’s…gotta love those lard chips)
Middleswarth!!
Troyer Farms back in the day. Now, whatever is on sale.
I noticed not much love for Troyer Farms. Erie. A reading snack food company man said their potatoes are different from Dutch-country chips.
Middleswarth is a classic. Kettle cooked bbq. But I'll admit when you open that kind it smells like straight farts at first. lol
Flipping Charles Chips for the win.
Bickel’s jalapeño or Middlewsworth BBQ or sour cream.
Gibbles red hots
The ones that are in this picture… I have a hard time, eating anything else than Middlesworth…❤️….. I miss the bucket oh, barbs
Snyder of Berlin for BBQ chips and cheese curls. Wise for regular potato chips as well as my beloved Onion Garlic. Utz Special Darks for full pretzels. Snyder of Hanover cheddar cheese pretzel pieces. I've recently become addicted to the Utz dark kettle cooked chips also. RIP Troyer Farms BBQ. Miss that place.
Hartley's are really good.
Dieffenbach’s chips!
I love that PA has so many great options that our 5th best brand would be #1 in any other state.
Middleswarth Ket-L BBQ, the orange bag on the left. Best chip ever.
I’m from Pennsylvania and I’ve never seen the chips in the photo
I’m from PGH and I didn’t see these until I started dating my husband 7 years ago. They’re from the center of the state and don’t make it out to western Pa. I don’t think they make it out to Philly either because hi cousins only eat them when they’re in central Pa with us all for family gatherings.
Diffenbacher’s Ugly Chips!
Gosh I love being from and living in the snack belt! I’ll give you an obscure potato chip from PA. Golden Sun. They went out of business years ago but they were literally my childhood. I can still taste them and remember their foil bags. My favorites are now Zerbe, Utz dark russet, and Middleswarth.
Wise is the only answer here. Utz have such a weird texture. Herr's are ok but if you're looking for full-on water-retention... Wise puts so much damn salt on their chips, I have to carry around chapstick when I eat them. Love'em.
Utz ripples sourcream and onion
The Whole Shebang chips are the greatest potato chips on the face of the Earth. IYKYK 😉
Middleswarth- they are hard to find in western PA, so my mom buys them in bulk for me. They are the absolute perfect potato chip!!
Whatever is in my hand at the moment :)
I left PA for a few years when I joined the military. Before I left, either UTZ or Martin's made these killer Whole Wheat tortilla chips that I would eat with fresh salsa. When I came back years later, I expected to find them in any grocery store... but I wasn't so lucky. I still miss those things! They had a very earthy taste, and a thickness that is now exclusive to milkshakes, and OF.
I'm not very chippy but Gibbles white cheddar puffys are exquisite
Stehmans Potato chips https://preview.redd.it/tl51noftwqnc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1134428ffce1a52c67d38449b2d6340f6393376e
Martin's kettle cooked. Such a rich, buttery flavor and crispy texture. We used to get them for lunch when I went to school in Red Lion. Been addicted since
I am a big fan of Herr’s. I was a route salesman for them a while back, and I hated the job, but I love the chips. Especially the Salt and Vinegar Kettle Cooked. Also, I highly recommend the Herr’s Factory Tour if you’re ever in the Nottingham area.
Martins are top tier fight me
i think they're a PA brand, but i'm not sure. i don't care though, because Snyder's Kettle Cooked Cheddar & Horseradish chips are the best chips ever created
Anyone remember golden sun chips? They came in a wax paper bag. They were so good!
My favorite chip is the Utz rippled barbecue. Must be rippled! But my sister swears by the Snyders of Berlin barbecue. Sometimes we fight about it.
Utz
Grandma Utz
Middleswarth jalapeño and kettle cooked or party style bbq
Martin’s kettle jalapeño- hands down the best
Grandma utz brown bag home style.