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If you haven’t heard, a new flavor of Lay’s potato chips has been baffling the internet since its announcement: the new Lay’s x IHOP Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity Chips. Well, they’re officially on the shelves, and we at Sporked tried them—cue the theme song. 

When I arrived at work Thursday morning, there was an IHOP on my desk. Yes, you read that correctly. An entire IHOP, like, the brown-and-blue brick building, was sitting on my desk. Only this one was made of cardboard, and instead of tiny people eating tiny pancakes on the inside, there was a big bag of Lay’s x IHOP Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity Chips. (We’ll be posting a video on our socials of what this looks like, so keep an eye out.) 

See, when Lay’s first announced this collab with IHOP, public response was not favorable—people definitely thought this would be a product fail. A potato chip that’s supposed to taste like pancakes topped with syrup and fruit? For what purpose? No one asked for this. So the fact that Lay’s sent us an obnoxiously over-the-top PR package containing a product we couldn’t even confidently say was real left me a little confused, but mostly bemused. I felt like I was looking at an internet meme in real life. I didn’t care if I loved them or hated them—I was just stoked to try these divisive pancake chips. (Can we call them breakfast potatoes? What do you think?) 

Oh, and PSA: You can only find these at Walmart for a limited time! So if this review leaves you intrigued, go out and grab them while you can.

New Product!

Never has a product so sincerely delivered on a promise this outrageous. They told us this new Lay’s flavor would taste exactly like IHOP Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity pancakes. I rolled my eyes and went, “Sure, pal.” Now, I’m a fool. A stick-in-the-mud food journalist who doesn’t believe that dreams really can come true.  Because these pancake chips are somehow exactly what they claim to be, and more.  

Pros: This chip is complex. As you munch on it, you’ll experience a series of unexpected flavors (and emotions). First, the strawberry hits you with a punch. Then the salty-sweet Lay’s chip nullifies that initial fruity explosion. Finally, as the chip dissolves on your tongue, you taste a syrupy finish. The flavor is identical to the stuff oozing out of an IHOP syrup pump. So, yeah. I don’t know what freaky food voodoo this is, but the chip tastes exactly like the Rooty Tooty pancake. 

Cons: It’s a weird chip, you guys. It’s fruity and sweet and salty. You won’t be able to eat more than a handful at once. (Actually, a handful is pushing it; you’re more likely to stop at two or three.) But that’s okay—it’s not meant for widespread consumption. It’s more of an art piece or a social commentary. What the new Lay’s flavor lacks in addictive yumminess and practical use it makes up for in creative genius and perfect execution. Hence: a C+. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

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