Pennsylvania may be known as the potato chip capital of the world, home to dozens of local, independent chippers and big brands alike. But New England has quietly emerged as one of the best regions in the country for chips. And I don’t just mean Cape Cod.
I’ve tried every New England chip brand I can find. After rating 200+ chips total, the New England brands dominate my top rankings — five of my top ten chips overall are made in New England. Here’s what’s worth seeking out.
Wrap City — New Hampshire (Average Rating: 9.4)
Wrap City is the best chip brand I’ve ever had. Full stop. They make thick, kettle-cooked chips from actual potato slices in New Hampshire. The packaging looks like nothing — a big brown bag you have to cut open with scissors. The chip inside is extraordinary.
White Cheddar Jalapeño (9.8/10) — My highest-rated chip out of 200+. Cheddar and jalapeño balance perfectly on a chip that tastes like it was sliced and fried minutes ago.
Sea Salt (9.4/10) — Strong potato flavor with a hard crunch. The light salt really lets the potato shine. Tastes like potato chips should — almost homemade.
Sea Salt and Vinegar (9.3/10) — Like Cape Cod’s version but on a better chip. Thick, crunchy, great potato taste.
Original Salty and Sweet (9.3/10) — Amazing crunch. Tastes like a legit potato slice. The mild sweet taste is fun.
Barbeque (9.2/10) — Big potato slices with a sweet barbecue. One of the best BBQ chips I’ve rated.
Sea Salt Tortilla (8.8/10) — They make tortilla chips too. Crunchy with strong corn flavor and perfect sweet, salty seasoning.
Five potato chips. Lowest rating: 9.2. That’s pretty damn good.
Fox Family — Maine (Average Rating: 9.2)
Another small-batch New England chip maker that’s quietly incredible. Fox Family uses fresh potato slices and simple ingredients.
Plain (9.4/10) — A classic thin and oily potato chip with a fresh, natural potato flavor and light salt. Like a much better plain Lay’s. Exactly what you want a potato chip to be.
Salt & Vinegar (9.3/10) — Near-perfect flavor. Subtle but still hits. Not super salty. Big potato flavor still comes through.
Wicked Hot BBQ (9.2/10) — Legitimately spicy. Fresh potato slices with a great crunch. The BBQ is light but there’s a nice sweetness. Addicting to eat.
Sour Cream n’ Onion (9.0/10) — Fantastic chip that tastes like a fresh potato. Flavor is good but wish it was stronger.
Beefy’s Own — New Hampshire (Average Rating: 9.2)
The beef tallow chip. Beefy’s Own fries actual potato slices in beef tallow, which gives them a thick, slightly smoky taste. Beef tallow is having a moment in the chip world, and Beefy’s Own is leading it.
Sour Cream and Onion (9.7/10) — My second-highest chip out of 200+. That thick beefy tallow taste paired with subtle, perfectly calibrated sour cream and onion. Could be served as an appetizer at restaurants.
Sea Salt (9.1/10) — Beefy tallow taste front and center. Nice thick crunch. Wish the sea salt was a little stronger, but the chip itself is elite.
Salt n’ Vinegar (8.7/10) — The chip is incredible, but the S&V flavor is a bit strong for my taste. If you love bold vinegar, this might be your chip.
Cape Cod — Massachusetts (Average Rating: 8.6)
The most well-known New England chip brand, and for good reason. Cape Cod makes one of the best kettle-cooked chips in the country. Crunchy, small, with points that pierce the roof of your mouth in the best way.
Sweet & Spicy Jalapeño (9.4/10) — The flavor is next level. Instant sweetness into accurate jalapeño with lingering, multiplying spice.
Original with Sea Salt (9.1/10) — Near-perfect potato chip. Salty potato flavor and sharp crunch with an oily surface. The standard that all kettle chips are measured against.
Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper (8.6/10) — Classic Cape Cod crunch with strong black pepper and salty aftertaste. Unique and really good.
Waves Sea Salt (8.4/10) — Wavy version. Good chip, slightly different crunch. Solid but I prefer the original.
Nantucket Crisps — Massachusetts (Average Rating: 8.3)
A newer brand out of Nantucket making creative-flavored chips with a nice thin crunch. Nantucket Crisps is still building out their lineup and already has a couple of standouts.
Stubby’s Jamaican Jerk (9.2/10) — Instant sweetness into a mild jerk taste with a spicy kick at the end. Spice lingers. Really good chips, and this is the best flavor of theirs that I’ve had.
Whale’s Tale Beer Cheese (8.7/10) — Solid light crunch with a mild but good cheese taste. Very munchable.
Stuffing Terrific (7.7/10) — Stuffing taste is pretty accurate. It’s both smoky and salty. Solid but not essential.
Wachusett — Massachusetts (Average Rating: 8.2)
Original (8.2/10) — Like a thicker Wise chip. It looks more like actual potato slices. Pretty good but not very compelling compared to the brands above.
Sour Cream & Onion (8.2/10) — Sharp, crunchy chip with hard ripples. SC&O flavor is good but mild.
Why New England Chips Are Different
The difference comes down to the chip itself. The best New England brands — Wrap City, Fox Family, Beefy’s Own — start with actual potato slices instead of processed potato starch. You can see the difference and taste it immediately. The chips look like someone sliced them by hand. The potato flavor is front and center.
These aren’t the kind of chips you’ll find at every gas station. Most of them are only available in local stores throughout New England or online. But if you can find them — or order them — they’re worth every penny. Five of my top ten chips across all 200+ I’ve rated are from New England. That’s not a coincidence.