The Latest Costco Snack Won't Even Make It Out of the Parking Lot

I have to admit: When I see "Warning, do not buy," and "Whoever said not to get them, you were probably right," posts on Reddit, I have to know what's so bad it warrants a precautionary post. However, this week when I came across one such thread on the Costco Reddit page, the result wasn't what I expected. When I clicked into the thread, it turns out this was a warning of the other kind—the dangerously good kind:

Once I saw a photo of the product, I immediately knew why this user felt compelled to issue a warning. I also understood exactly how and why they could polish off the bag before even exiting the Costco parking lot. Heed the advice of another user and "Run, don't walk": Turtle Chips are a must-try.

Turtle Chips Arrive at Costco

Let's get one thing out of the way: Turtle Chips contain no actual turtle. Their name comes from their shell-like appearance which resembles an empty turtle shell. Turtle Chips are a super popular Korean snack that are essentially puffed corn chips with four layers of folded chip rolled into one little shell-shaped package. They come in a variety of both sweet and savory flavors, but the Choco Churro is the latest Costco arrival flying off of shelves. Try one chip and you'll see why.

Why Are Turtle Chips So Good?

The thin layers corn chip with air pockets in between makes them have an unrivaled crunchy texture. Thinking of a Bugle, but lighter and with an even more satisfying crunch. Add in the flavored coatings and you've got a truly irresistible snack. I am a crunchy snack connoisseur and I can safely say these are some of the best snacks I've ever tried.

As I mentioned, the Choco Churro flavor—a cross between a chocolate and cinnamon-sugar coating—is the one being sold at Costco right now. Many fans have compared the Choco Churro Turtle Chips to another crunchy chocolatey treat: Cocoa Puffs. "People compare them to puffier Cocoa Puffs, which in a way is true, but softer and more satisfying," writes one Reddit user. "They're like someone made better Cocoa Puffs," argues another. One commenter described them as "If Cocoa Puffs and Cinnamon Toast Crunch had a baby. 10/10."

Some even went as far as to treat them like cereal, pouring them into a bowl with milk. While I can't speak to that method, I can say that you're demonstrating serious willpower if you have enough leftover to experiment with after opening a bag.

Personally, I find that once my boyfriend and I pop open a bag of Turtle Chips, they are almost always entirely gone in one sitting. Something about the puffy texture and the way your teeth crunch through the layers. I promise that once you try them you'll see why there's post after post on social media about Turtle Chips with warnings of being unable to resist them.

Where You Can Buy Turtle Chips

After doing some digging, it appears some Costco locations have sold the Sweet Corn flavor in the past (the closest Turtle Chips come to a plain flavor), but the Choco Churro is the only one currently in stores, retailing for around $5-$6 for a supersize 17-ounce bag. However, you can likely find many more flavors at your local Asian grocery store.

I buy them from my local H Mart—I almost never leave the store without a bag of the Flamin' Lime flavor Turtle Chips, which have a zesty, mild spice (think Sweet Chili Heat Dorito-, not Takis-level of heat). But the Sweet Corn, Sweet Vanilla, and Seaweed flavors are also all more than worthy of a try.

There's no telling if Costco will start to sell other flavors of Turtle Chips soon, but if you see a bag of Choco Churro chips on shelves, you should probably grab it; many Reddit users shared they got the last ones on shelves at their local Costco warehouses. But be warned—the first bag may not even make it home (or out of the Costco parking lot), so it's best to get two if you plan to share.