The Best Regional Potato Chips the Rest of America Needs

As of 2023, there were more than 366 potato chip makers in the United States, which just goes to show: America loves salt and trans fats, especially when they come with a crunch. And while big dogs like Lay’s and Pringles dominate the shelves from big cities to nowheresvilles, there are regional chips that thrive on local loyalty. Every region in America has a potato chip that the locals will go to war over, claiming it’s better than Ruffles. To avoid a bad buy on your next road trip, we’ve gathered 17 regional chips that are worth the extra mile.

Louisiana

Practically a Louisiana institution — Zapp’s kettle-cooked chips are as much a part of the local culture as Mardi Gras and jazz. Founded in the '80s by Ron Zappe in Gramercy, the brand proudly claims to have been the first to bring true Cajun spice to the chip scene.

While Spicy Cajun Crawtators became the flagship product, Zapp’s didn’t stop there. From Cajun Dill Gator-Tators to Sour Cream & Creole Onion, the chip brand keeps its lineup fresh, with every flavor staying true to the spicy, unapologetic taste of the bayou.

Arizona

You don’t need to be from Arizona to know the state’s love for spice, and when it comes to potato chips, Poore Brothers delivers. Hailing from Goodyear, Poore Brothers' lineup of flavors like Habanero, Jalapeño, and Three-Cheese Jalapeño brings serious heat and crunch to their kettle-cooked chips. No wonder these chips are considered a state favorite—just ask their cactus mascot.

Washington

The pride of the Pacific Northwest, Tim’s Cascade chips are a cult favorite. Originating in Auburn, Washington, they come in signature red-striped bags and are extra-thick, which means they are extra crunchy. Some of Tim’s flavors — like Salt&Vinegar or Sour Cream and Onion—remain timeless staples. However, other flavors have come and gone. Longtime fans of Tim’s Cascade Chips might recall the days of bold varieties like habanero, Cajun, Johnny's, wasabi, and more.

Pennsylvania

If you’re from the Mid-Atlantic, you can’t not know about Utz — practically the unofficial potato chip of road trips. Founded in Hanover, Pennsylvania, Utz has gathered a fan base so dedicated they might fight you if you claim another chip is better. They also have a cult following in Maryland.

The classic Utz Original has that old-school, salty potato flavor, but it’s their Crab Chips, seasoned with Chesapeake Bay crab spice, that put them on the map. In 2017, the brand rolled out a patriotic line called Grillin’ Classics, with fun flavors like hamburgers and hot dogs.

Michigan

At one point, Detroit was the potato chip capital of the world, home to over 40 local chip brands. Today, only Better Made has survived, thanks to its crisp, lightly salted classics. One of their specialties, Rainbow Chips, gets its dark color from certain sugar-rich potatoes, a nod to the old-school way of making chips. They’re a crunchy piece of the Motor City’s history.

California

Based in Huntington Beach, Rusty’s Island Chips are a SoCal favorite. The hand-sliced chips are slow-cooked in safflower oil, giving them a nutty, slightly caramelized taste you won’t get from just any bag of chips. They’re hard to find outside of California, but locals swear by them — even though they’re a bit pricey. But then again, what isn’t in California?

Iowa

If you’re not aware of Sterzing's, (how dare you?), there are three things you need to know. First, they have only one flavor, and it's all they need. Second, they’re as patriotic as a potato chip can get. And third, they don’t skimp on salt — at all.

Based in Burlington, Iowa, the thick-cut, kettle-style chip started as a side venture to founder Barney Sterzing’s candy empire and quickly became a regional legend in the chip world. Known for using only three ingredients — potatoes, salt, and oil — the brand even started international shipping because Midwestern soldiers serving in Vietnam wrote home asking for Sterzing's chips to be sent their way.

Ohio

Grippo’s chips are the pride of Cincinnati, and the Bar-B-Q flavor is a standout. We’re talking heavy, serious seasoning that leaves a finger-licking layer of spicy-sweet goodness. They’re almost dangerously addictive and absolutely worth the messy hands.

Tennessee

Despite the scandalous name, these chips are squeaky clean in flavor. Dirty Potato Chips are kettle-cooked, crunchy, and come in flavors like Mesquite BBQ and Jalapeño Heat. They’re a favorite in the South for just the perfect ratio of salt to strong flavors. 

Virginia

Out of Mount Jackson, Virginia, Route 11 obviously has a Chesapeake crab-flavored chip—it’s basically a requirement for any respectable Virginia snack. But they don’t just ride on the success of that one flavor. They also serve up options like the fiery Mama Zuma’s Revenge, a habanero-BBQ chip that’s as intense as it sounds, and for the health-conscious, they’ve got a sweet potato chip and even a “no salt” variety. If you’re a die-hard chip fan, you can actually watch your snacks being made during their “free fry viewings” at the factory.

Massachusetts

Cape Cod Chips are basically the snack version of a Massachusetts postcard, with a lighthouse on the packaging and all. Starting out in a small Cape Cod shop on July 4th, 1980 (because if you’re going to create an iconic American chip, why not do it on America’s birthday?), over the years they’ve made their way far beyond Hyannis. Their original flavor is a classic, but Cape Cod also includes flavors like Sea Salt & Vinegar and Sweet Mesquite Barbeque. Chip fanatics can visit the factory to see what it takes to get your sodium levels up to the roof.

West Virginia

Mister Bee might not be the fanciest chip you can grab in West Virginia, but it’s the only one actually made in the state — and that’s got to count for something. Locals have sworn by it for years, although some have been a little less enthusiastic since they changed the recipe back in 2006 to cut out the trans fats. Even so, this Parkersburg-born brand still holds a special place in snack cabinets across the Mountain State.

Ohio

Ohio’s chip game is seriously strong, to say the least, and wildly underrated, and Mikesell's is a big part of that legacy. Based in Dayton in 1910, it's likely one of the nation’s oldest chip brands, dishing out classic, kettle-cooked chips long before “artisanal” was even a thing. Their Groovy chips, with deep ridges that make them perfectly scoopable, are a fan favorite, along with their Cincinnati-Style Chili flavor. In 2023, after more than a century of ongoing work, the company was sold to Conn's Potato Chip Company. However, fans of the brand can breathe a sigh of relief — Mikesell's chips remain on the market.

Georgia

Brother Kane chips, based in Georgia, describes itself as an “old fashioned guy with old fashioned ideas.” But don’t mistake that for boring. These crinkle-cut chips pack serious flavor, especially with options like Baby Back Ribs, which is anything but ordinary.

Colorado

One thing you don’t usually expect from chips is that they are healthy — salt and fats are usually the requirements for the gonzo snacker. But if you do, Boulder Canyon, Colorado's pride, delivers. Their kettle-cooked chips use better-for-you ingredients like avocado and coconut oils, but they also go a little wild sometimes like when they had a seasonal Thanksgiving Feast lineup that included a pumpkin pie flavor.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is another state with a competitive chip game, and Snyder of Berlin has been holding its own since the 1940s. Made in the small town of Berlin, they’ve built a loyal following in the Mid-Atlantic, thanks to their kettle-cooked chips and puffed snacks. Unlike their similarly named cousin (Snyder’s of Hanover), Snyder of Berlin sticks to classic chip flavors like Bar-B-Q and Sour Cream & Onion, delivering that perfect balance of crunch and seasoning.

Want more tips for saving money? Be sure to sign up for our free newsletter.