Trader Joe’s Just Came Out with My New Favorite Snack (It Tastes Just Like This Beloved Thai Dessert!)

Ali Domrongchai
Ali DomrongchaiAssociate Editor, Groceries
Ali Domrongchai, a Southern-raised, Brooklyn-based food writer, grew up around her family's Thai restaurant that sparked her initial love for food. (Fun fact: her grandparents briefly ran a Thai grocery store in the 70s). In this space, her curiosity on the role that food plays in building community lead her to pursue a Bachelor’s of Arts in American Studies with a focus on the ways in which pad Thai affects the Thai American experience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She joins The Kitchn as an Associate Editor for the Groceries vertical. Before this role, she held staff positions at Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Allrecipes. Her words and recipes have also been featured in Cook's Country, Simply Recipes, and EatingWell. Oh, and most importantly, she can’t go more than a few hours without a sweet treat.
published Aug 26, 2024
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Commack, NY, USA, 7.30.23 - A display in Trader Joe's. The sign says "New Items".
Credit: Jaclyn Vernace/Shutterstock

You know what really gets me excited? A bowl of mango and sticky rice, covered in a salty-sweet coconut sauce. It’s nostalgic for me. I have vivid memories picking fresh mangoes from my family’s tree and giddily skipping to the kitchen with my grandmother to make the delicious dessert. 

I’d consider myself a mango and sticky rice purist, feeling that it’s best in its original form (and generally staying away from adaptations). But Trader Joe’s has a sneaky knack for surprising me. The popular retailer has really outdone itself with a recent launch — Mango and Sticky Rice Crisps — that reminds me of my favorite dessert. 

Credit: Ali Domrongchai

What’s So Great About Trader Joe’s Mango and Sticky Rice Crisps?

I’ve tried my fair share of Trader Joe’s Thai-inspired desserts and frozen meals and, let’s be honest, the brand doesn’t always hit the mark. But the newly launched Mango and Sticky Rice Crisps? Well, the grocer has really knocked it out of the park. 

These crisps are a delightful mash-up made of sticky rice, dried mangoes, coconut milk, and sesame seeds, hitting all of the right notes of the classic dessert. (Its ingredients are also imported from Thailand!). The snack manages to evoke a familiar mango and sticky rice flavor, while being distinct and tasty enough to stand on its own. In other words, it’s a snack that’s good for the sake of being good, and not solely for co-opting Thai flavors. 

Credit: Ali Domrongchai

The crisps are packed with chunks of whole dried mangoes that give it a nice chew against the crispy puffed rice. Of course, the two are forged together with that signature coconut-sugar sauce that brings it all home. 

Credit: Ali Domrongchai

What’s the Best Way to Eat Trader Joe’s Mango and Sticky Rice Crisps? 

The bite-sized nature of these crisps makes them great for snacking anytime, anywhere. Seriously — they may just be the best store-bought treats I’ve had in ages. And as someone who tries and writes about groceries for a living, that says a lot. In fact, I’ve already gone back to grab a few extra bags, just in case they turn out to be a seasonal item (IYKYK).

I’ve only eaten these crisps out of the bag while sitting in front of my TV, but I’m already dreaming up all of the tasty ways I can use them in the future. Crushed over coconut ice cream? Yes, please! On a charcuterie board? Absolutely. 

They’re so good that I’m even planning on bringing a couple of bags to the rest of my Thai family to try — I know they’ll find them as good as I do.  

Find it in stores: Trader Joe’s Mango and Sticky Rice Crisps, $3.29 for 4.5 ounces

What new Trader Joe’s finds are you stocking up on? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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