If you’re a Northwestern student looking to try a unique and tasty selection of Asian snacks for an affordable price, you don’t have to go any further than Mudd Library.
In March, Northwestern undergraduate students Jessica Sun, Hailee Kim, and Vi Yang launched Muddbites, a 24-hour vending machine for specialty Asian snacks. The start-up is based out of the Garage, a collaborative entrepreneurial space where students can bring their start-up concepts to life.
For the founders, the Muddbites concept was simple: one, to create a spot for students to get Asian snacks without traveling far off campus; two, to have it open for late-night cravings; and three, to give Asian students at Northwestern a curated selection of the foods they grew up with.
The vending machine has since been a hit among Northwestern students, though not without a few mechanical issues along the way. Just in time for finals week, Muddbites has been replaced by a new-and-improved machine to ensure students can rely on the machine for all their study-snacking needs.
To help you decide what to try, Spoon ranked our favorite items from the Muddbites vending machine. Whether these snacks are novelties or nostalgic to you, here’s our official ranking of the top items.
6. Peach Konjac Jelly Pouch (Korea)
The peach-flavored Konjac jelly pouch isn’t all that different from the GoGo Squeeze snacks many Americans are familiar with. However, these Korean-produced snacks don’t contain applesauce — they’re filled with a flavored liquid mixed with chunks of jelly from the Konjac root, a vegetable plant native to China. The jelly pouch has a delicious and fruity flavor. Be warned: it might not be the best snack if you’re looking for one that’s more filling, but it’s perfect as a light, sweet refresher.
Price: $3.40
5. Kasugai Gummies (Japan)
Sure, they aren’t shaped like bears, worms, or fish from Scandinavia, but that doesn’t mean these Kasugai gummies aren’t a great gummy snack. These fruit-flavored circles come in an assortment of three flavors: grape, strawberry, and muscat (green grape). You might notice that they feel much softer than American-made gummy candies. The simplicity of Kasugai gummies might be what makes them so good. There’s nothing about these that will totally blow you away, but they taste great, have a soft and satisfying texture, and come in a unique assortment of flavors. What’s not to like?
Price: $4.64
4. Lays Grilled Squid Chips (China)
Made by Lay’s to serve Asian markets, the squid chips might be the most unique item from Muddbites. It’s an irregular take on an iconic American snack, and although the flavor may elicit some eyebrow raises at first, these chips taste similar to American Lays Barbecue chips– only, with a fishy taste and mildly spicy aftertaste. If you’re spending a late night at Mudd and are craving a savory, crunchy, and filling snack, skip the candy and sweets and grab a bag of these.
Price: $4.48
3. Nongshim Shrimp Crackers (Korea)
Just one place ahead of the squid chips are these shrimp crackers, another fishy snack with a crunch. However, this snack has a less smoky flavor and a more salty taste. Similar to Cheetos or Doritos, it’s easy to empty an entire bag without even realizing it. Even better, these bags are filled almost completely with crackers, meaning you can avoid the disappointing amount of air that we often find in American chip bags. Of all the top Muddbites snacks, the Nongshim Shrimp Crackers are by far the “snackiest”. In other words, they’re the best option if you’re looking for something both crunchy and filling.
Price: $4.50
2. Chocolate Churro Turtle Chips (Korea)
This snack somehow manages to take influence from American, Mexican, and Korean cultures– and the result is something absolutely delicious. They get their name from their shape: curvy, round, and layered, resembling the shell of a turtle. Be warned, they are ADDICTIVE, and they feel more like a dessert than a snack. The snack is a puffy corn chip with a moist chocolate and sugar coating: light, airy, and bursting with flavor. If you have a sweet tooth but also love a good crunch, this one’s for you.
Price: $4.49
1. HelloPanda (Japan)
In first place is an iconic Japanese snack that has also made its way into American markets in recent years. These mini biscuits have a shortbread shell and a delicious creamy filling. We tried the strawberry HelloPanda snacks and loved them, but the chocolate flavor is also available at the Muddbites vending machine. It has just the perfect amount of sweetness to satisfy that sugar craving without being overwhelming. Why does it earn the first-place spot? It’s the perfect snack for just about anyone. It’s light but still filling, soft but also crunchy, and sweet but not too sweet. Since it’s also one of the cheapest options from Muddbites, you’ve got to give this one a try during your first Muddbites visit.
Price: $3.49