I Tried Trader Joe’s New Korean-Style Potato Cheese Sticks, Here’s My Honest Review| Sporked

Trader Joe’s is at it again: translating international snacks into frozen foods for hungry Americans. This time, they set their sights on Korea, where street vendors have been doing some truly amazing things to corn dogs. They don’t stop with a battered hot dog. They roll them in all sorts of things like corn flakes, dried ramen, or even little french fry bits. And sometimes they don’t even include hot dogs. Sometimes it’s a cheese stick instead. That’s what you get with Trader Joe’s new Potato Cheese Sticks.

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You find 4-packs of these handheld snacks in the frozen section for $4.99. They’re sizable and made with string cheese that’s been battered, rolled in potato bits, and then fried. According to Trader Joe’s, they’re made by a Korean supplier.

But are they good? Well, it depends on who you ask. Here’s the full, official Sporked review.

New Trader Joe’s Snack!

Trader Joe’s Korean-Style Potato Cheese Sticks

Trader Joe’s

Pros: Look, I’m really into these things. The batter is tender and chewy and a little sweet, the potato bits are crunchy and savory. You get a good cheese pull. I’ve never personally experienced a Korean-style corn dog (hot dog or cheese), so I can’t speak to how true these are to the real deal, but they’re a fun new addition to Trader Joe’s frozen food line-up. And they’d be even better with a dip. Ketchup, mustard, chili crisp, marinara sauce—I think you could go sauce crazy on these.

Cons: These sticks definitely have a love ‘em or hate ‘em quality. My colleague Gwynedd Stuart was not sold on them at all. The whole experience was just a bit disjointed for her and she thought the batter was too thick. I’m also not totally sure when you would eat these. They’re too big to be considered appetizers but not substantial enough to be eaten for lunch.

Verdict: At just $4.99, I think these are worth a gamble. Buy a 4-pack, crank up the air fryer, set out a buffet of sauces, and try something new.

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.

Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!