This Popular Sweet and Spicy Korean Snack is Back at Costco and Fans are Saying It's 'So Addicting'
Despite trying our hardest to get our summer bodies ready for the incoming warm weather, there's just no resisting the pull of something crunchy, spicy, and a little bit sweet—especially when it shows up at Costco in bulk. This week, that irresistible treat comes in the form of Soban Korean Pantry's Premium Korean Sweet & Spicy Puffs, Yangnyeom-style.
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Spotted by @costco.so.obsessed during a recent Costco run, this fan-favorite returning snack has officially been seen on shelves in both SoCal and Colorado warehouses, with hopes of a wider rollout soon. Light and airy with a crunch reminiscent of Bugles or Turtle Chips, these puffs deliver a gentle sweetness followed by a spicy kick, channeling the bold flavor of classic yangnyeom chicken.
'These Korean sweet and spicy puffs are back in SoCal Costcos,' Shannon captioned her post. 'Crunchy, light, sweet, spicy and the perfect snack with some beer.'
Related: The Perfect Summertime Snack Just Arrived at Costco and Fans are Racing to Stock Up
At $7.99 for a 10.58-ounce bag, some might be a little shocked by the sticker price. However, should you take the plunge and snag a bag for yourself, be prepared to wish you had stocked up in the first place.
'Had I known they were so good I would've gotten 2 or 3 bags,' one satisfied shopper wrote in a review of the Korean snack in a post shared to Reddit. 'My costco has them, but I have to pretend they don't,' another fan wrote in response. 'Too good.'
As is the case for most fan-favorite Costco finds, this 'perfect combo' of flavors will only be around for a limited time, so be sure to stock up. If a light and airy snack that boasts sweet and spicy Korean flavors is already right up your alley, you won't even need to think twice about Soban Korean Pantry's Premium Korean Sweet & Spicy Puffs. Snag a bag or three today and be prepared to hoard them for yourself or share with the whole family.
Related: Costco's Most Iconic Food Court Items Get a Furry Makeover and Fans are Obsessed
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Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
From an L.A. parking lot to a $1 billion deal — the red-hot success story of Dave's Hot Chicken
It started in an East Hollywood parking lot: one small fryer, no permits, a few heat lamps and a tent constantly battered by wind. A trio of friends — all from L.A.'s Armenian community, and all high school dropouts — scraped together $900 in 2017 because they believed that their Nashville-style fried chicken stand was the future. Now Dave's Hot Chicken is worth $1 billion. This year the modern specialist in the decades-old spicy fried chicken style that originated in Nashville became one of L.A.'s most astounding small-business success stories. The chain currently operates about 320 storefronts, with 800 more planned. Dave's Hot Chicken has opened as many as five new locations in a day. ('Oh, we've done that multiple times,' co-founder Arman Oganesyan said casually.) The spiced, craggly, neon-red chicken tenders and sandwiches can now be found in London and Dubai just as easily as in Hollywood and Ladera Heights. And those are now valuable globetrotting chicken tenders. In June private-equity firm Roark Capital acquired the homespun chain, which began with a five-month renegade stint, valuing Dave's at $1 billion. 'Ever since Dave's started it changed my life, but this [deal] gives me a little bit of security,' Oganesyan said. According to Oganesyan, who declined to share the figure of his new net worth, the payout was 'a lot.' 'Let's just say it's starting to look like a phone number,' he said of his bank account. The 33-year-old entrepreneur, born in Armenia, moved to Los Angeles when he was 2 years old and met another Dave's founder, Tommy Rubenyan, in kindergarten. In middle school Dave Kopushyan became another fast friend, and eventually the chef, co-founder and namesake of their company. Until 2017 the thought of owning a restaurant empire — let alone a single restaurant — never crossed Oganesyan's mind. But that year the aspiring actor and standup comedian noticed Nashville hot chicken starting to trend, primarily given the success of Chinatown's Howlin' Ray's, a West Coast beacon of the dish. The fried chicken is typically coated in a mixture of cayenne and paprika that singes the tongue. It was invented by Thornton Prince III, of Nashville's Prince's Hot Chicken. His descendant Kim Prince brought her family's legacy to L.A. in 2017 with her Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw restaurant, Hotville Chicken, but closed it in 2022. She now serves her famous Hotville fried chicken via Dulanville Food Truck, which she runs in collaboration with restaurateur Gregory Dulan. Prince's sparked hot chicken restaurants throughout the country, but it reached a fever pitch in Los Angeles with Howlin' Ray's. Oganesyan knew Kopushyan, a former Bouchon line cook, had the culinary skills to test the waters, but it took a little convincing to get him on board. But after a taste — and witnessing the popularity — Kopushyan had to try to create a recipe of his own. 'Arman brought me to Howlin' Ray's and it blew my mind,' Kopushyan previously told The Times. 'We saw the lines at Howlin' Ray's and we knew it was going to be a good business.' When not working shifts at Echo Park vegetarian restaurant Elf Cafe, Kopushyan toiled in his home kitchen with spice blends for four and a half months, obsessively tinkering with breading, seasoning and frying. The three friends ate it every day, tasting and discussing each batch in Kopushyan's Hollywood apartment. He wanted to steer the pop-up in a cheffier direction, incorporating their own house-made bread and pickles, while Oganesyan wanted something more tailored to his own 'simple palate.' Eventually they found compromise. The recipes, however, remain secret. They scraped together about $900: $315 Oganesyan had saved, $300 from Kopushyan's most recent Elf Cafe paycheck, and another $300 from Rubenyan. When the trio deemed their product ready, Rubenyan's parents spotted an opportunity: Across the street from their East Hollywood flower shop sat a vacant lot. They knew the landlords, who gave the trio their blessing to use the space. The plan was simple: Pop up for roughly a year, then spring for a food truck and slowly grow the operation into a bricks-and-mortar. Things moved at a much faster pace than any of them imagined. Dave's Hot Chicken debuted in May 2017 running Monday to Saturday, informally, in the parking lot. 'If we got shut down, we got shut down, back to square one,' Oganesyan said of the business plan. Fortunately for them, it never happened. As word of mouth spread curious customers lined up for meals that included two tenders with fries, slaw and slices of white bread, nearly identical to what the chain offers today. A few weeks later the team added sandwiches. Eventually they would expand the spice-level offerings from the simple choice of mild or hot to today's seven options ranging from no spice to reaper. 'We always tell people to get hot, because it's not called Dave's Mild Chicken,' Oganesyan said. The chicken — sourced from Wayne Farms — has been halal from day one, not due to religious preferences but to quality, a choice that multiple members involved said contributed to the seamless expansion into the United Arab Emirates. The early days were 'hectic,' according to its owners, who said they were 'working against the elements' with far too many customers than they were prepared for. An early article from Eater LA multiplied the lines overnight, with 60 to 90 guests waiting for at least an hour. Instagram and TikTok fueled the demand, creating more buzz and a flurry of parking-lot imitators across the city. Within a few months, the trio realized they'd need to ride the hot-chicken wave and expand earlier than planned. Rubenyan's brother, Gary, became a partner, allowing them to launch their first restaurant, a corner space in a strip mall on Western Avenue. They invited their friends to scrawl spray-painted phrases and sketches across the walls, an aesthetic now seen in Dave's locations around the world. Soon after launching their first storefront, investors John Davis and Bill Phelps entered the picture. Davis, a prolific movie and TV producer, had his hand in a number of fast-casual restaurants. He'd helped incubate and grow businesses such as Blaze Pizza and Wetzel's Pretzels with his business partner, Phelps. In 2018 the Dave's founders sold half of the company to Davis and Phelps, and tapped the latter as chief executive; the company launched the second Dave's in 2019, quickly followed by a half-dozen more. Franchises spread into San Diego and Orange County, then Canada, across the U.S. and into the United Arab Emirates and London. Lines at openings still routinely wrap around the block, eight years into business. 'I've been doing the restaurant industry since I was 15 years old — I'm 51 years old now, and I've never seen anything like Dave's or the fandom around it,' said Jim Bitticks, Dave's president and chief operating officer. Bitticks joined Dave's after the company's fourth restaurant, and had worked with Phelps and Davis at Blaze Pizza. The companies' franchise and expansion plans, he said, are similar: Roughly 99% of the restaurants should be franchise-owned-and-operated, with a few company-helmed restaurants to staff training teams, which then help open franchise locations around the world. The four founders still own and operate seven locations, including the first restaurant and three others in L.A., plus three in Las Vegas. They see themselves as a kind of In-N-Out for Nashville hot chicken — but with a globe-spanning reach. Within two years of Dave's partnership with Phelps and Davis numerous celebrities signed on as investors, including Drake, Samuel L. Jackson and Maria Shriver. 'It was great, but I emphasized to everybody that celebrities are not going to make or break your brand,' Oganesyan said. 'If your food can't stand on its own two feet, then it doesn't matter if the pope endorses you, nobody's gonna care.' Then in 2025, a breaded-and-fried bombshell: Multi-billion-dollar private equity firm Roark Capital would acquire 70% of the chain's business, a deal valued at $1 billion. The behemoth, Atlanta-based firm currently owns five dozen companies, nearly half of them food-based, including Subway, Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin' Cinnabon and Jimmy John's. Its courtship with Dave's was a long one. Representatives attended the opening of the chain's 15th storefront in 2021, and ever since, they kept in touch. In late 2024 the Dave's founders decided to expand into even more countries and 'nontraditional' spaces such as airports and food courts. After years of interest from Roark Capital they decided, in early 2025, to agree to a deal. Bitticks said that a stipulation of the acquisition was that all executives keep 50% of their equity, keeping them engaged in the future of Dave's Hot Chicken. 'None of us are leaving,' he said. 'We have gotten people saying, 'Oh, they sold, they're going to sell out,'' Bittick said. 'We're really focused on not allowing that to happen. Even though there was a sale and some of the equity changed hands, the whole point is that Roark Capital doesn't want to screw it up, either.' Eventually, Oganesyan said, he might like to start a new company. For now his focus is on Dave's and how far they can build the brand. 'I feel like the sky's the limit right now,' he said. Nearly everything — at least so far — has remained the same at the company. The same management team remains in place. Oganesyan will remain the branding officer, and Kopushyan the chief culinary officer. The founders' hope is that Roark Capital allows for an international expansion with minimal intervention in the existing chain of command. There's also the increase in access. With a network of global food suppliers, the Dave's team aims to secure better vendor pricing and similar scaling perks under the Roark umbrella — though the chicken's sourcing will remain the same. According to Dave's owners the food will not change, and if any new items are added to the menu, they will be closely related to the original dishes. Oganesyan said all employees will be retained. 'For the most part,' Oganesyan said, 'I think we'll continue to run the company the way it is.' After the acquisition, shareholders contributed roughly $60 million of their own profits to start a bonus pool for Dave's employees, including some store managers whom they felt had helped the business grow over the years. Before Dave's, Olivia Mendoza had never tasted Nashville-style hot chicken. The closest she'd come, she said, was Popeye's — not very close at all. But the spicy hot chicken would change her life, turning her into a first-time business owner in less than one year with the company. Along with Bitticks and three others, Mendoza owns and operates Dave's locations in Ontario, Fontana and Chino Hills, and a fourth is set to debut in Claremont this month, with more planned for next year. Could the excitement over Nashville-style hot chicken eventually fizzle out? 'Obviously, there's always things that come and go — a trend — and they die in a few years,' Mendoza said. 'But I feel like this is something that's going to stay because it's not just another brand. I think because of all it has behind it, and all the support that is there, that it will keep us going and growing as well.' The company hopes to bring its neon-red chicken strips farther into the UAE, U.K. and Europe. But to Oganesyan, no matter where Dave's opens and how far his hot chicken empire spreads, Los Angeles will always be the chain's home base. 'We're just so known out here,' he said. 'It's our hometown. It's like a home court advantage out here.'
Tom's Guide
8 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
6 top new movies to stream this week on Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu and more (July 15-21)
It's set to be a quieter week for new movies across the best streaming services. However, that doesn't mean there's nothing worth adding to your watchlist. Netflix is offering a new Korean thriller, while HBO Max has a 'subverse' rom-com and Hulu premieres a sci-fi movie set in a dystopian future. Meanwhile, in the premium streaming space, the live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon' remake and sequel 'M3GAN 2.0' make the switch from theatres to home streaming. However, only one of them is worth the premium video-on-demand rental fee, in my opinion. Cue: It's not the one with a number in its title. It may not be the most packed week of new streaming releases, but there's still a handful of movies you'll want to consider. So, these are the biggest new movies arriving on streaming this week. Plus, check out our guide to the top new TV shows this week for even more viewing options. The latest live-action remake of an animated flick doesn't come from Disney. Instead, it's rival DreamWorks reimagining its 2010 family-favorite 'How to Train Your Dragon.' Like several similar projects, 'How to Train Your Dragon' loses some of its charm in the transition, but the heart of the story is largely the same. The extra 20 minutes bolted onto the runtime feel unnecessary and create a movie that drags in spots. Still, the relationship between cowardly Viking Hiccup and dragon Toothless is as heartwarming as it's ever been. Set in a whimsical fantasy universe, 'How to Train Your Dragon' opens with the Vikings of Berk at war with fearsome dragons, but when the timid son of the village's chieftain, Hiccup (Mason Thames), stumbles on a wounded Night Fury, he discovers that these winged monsters might not be so scary after all. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Nursing the dragon, whom he names Toothless, back to health, the two team up to fight a new threat that could endanger both dragons and Vikings. And in the process, Hiccup might just prove that dragons can be friends, not foes. Buy or rent on Amazon from July 15 Back in 2022, a creepy life-like doll called 'M3GAN' took social media by storm, so a sequel was inevitable. However, it appears that Blumhouse Productions may have overestimated M3GAN's appeal with the average viewer because this sequel flopped at the box office. Now "M3GAN 2.0" arrives on PVOD in the hopes of clawing back some interest, and perhaps maybe even going viral again (there's an extended dance scene that screams 'post this on TikTok, please'). But, unfortunately, this movie has all the hallmarks of a lackluster follow-up. The movie's biggest sin is switching genres, while the first 'M3GAN' was an intentionally silly horror, 'M3GAN 2.0' opts for a more action-oriented route, which feels like a real downgrade. Plus, the bizarrely convoluted plot and mismatched tone don't exactly help matters either. This movie sees 'M3GAN' resurrected to help defeat a military-grade robot known as AMELIA, who is unleashing cyber havoc. Rebuilt to be more lethal than ever, it all leads to a M3GAN vs. AMELIA showdown. This is very much one for the M3GAN superfans only, but considering the box office returns, it would appear that group is a lot smaller than initially believed. Buy or rent on Amazon from July 15 A spy movie that is perfect for fans of the 'Jason Bourne' franchise, 'The Amateur' is a slightly more grounded take on the world of espionage (though only slightly, it's still pretty unrealistic), and sees Rami Malek prove himself capable of leading an exciting and very engaging globe-trotting thriller. Based on the Robert Littell novel, Malek plays a CIA analyst whose world is shattered when his wife is killed in a terrorist attack while on a trip to London. Using his skills, he identifies those responsible for his wife's murder and blackmails his superiors into giving him a license to hunt them down and get cold-blooded revenge. A novice in the field, Charlie (Malek) is shown the ropes by a gruff mentor, Hendo (Laurence Fishburne). However, even with some training, he's still a fish out of water. Quickly realizing he can't outshoot his enemies, he focuses on outthinking them using his superior intellect. The flick also contains one of my favorite action sequences of the year (so far) involving a glass swimming pool suspended between two skyscrapers. It's just a shame the movie's trailers thoroughly spoil 'The Amateur's' best moment. So perhaps skip them before streaming. Watch on Hulu from July 17 Getting on the property ladder is hard enough for most people, but what if you finally managed to save up enough to buy a place of your own, only for it to turn into a nightmare? That's the compelling pitch for 'Wall to Wall,' Netflix's new South Korean thriller. Woo-sung (played by 'Squid Game' star Kang Ha-neul) moves into his new 84-square-meter apartment and is full of excitement to be a homeowner at long last. But that joy doesn't last very long. The home becomes a waking nightmare of strange noises and oddball neighbors, who are just unnerving enough to be creepy. As tensions within the apartment block bubble over, Woo-sung finds himself caught in the middle of an increasingly heated neighborhood stand-off as he's blamed for being the source of the mysterious disturbances. Netflix has been on a roll lately with loads of fantastic Korean content — not least of which is 'Squid Game' itself — and 'Wall to Wall' looks like it could be another winner from the country. Watch on Netflix from July 18 The romantic-comedy genre is often comforting, but also pretty formulaic, with many entries falling into predictable patterns and leaning on classic tropes. In steps, 'I Love You Forever,' which aims to be a 'subversive' take on a 'girl meets boy' story. The movie premiered in theatres earlier this year and was largely well-received by critics. It currently holds an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising it for tonal shifts and the balance of comedic moments and dramatic beats. It looks well worth streaming now that it's arriving on HBO Max. At the heart of this (anti-)love story is Mackenzie (Sofia Black-D'Elia), a 25-year-old law student whose love life is a blur of hookups without any real commitment. But when she meets a handsome journalist named Finn (Ray Nicholson), she is ready to give proper love a shot. However, the honeymoon phase can't last forever, and as their relationship becomes increasingly tumultuous, Mackenzie must confront Finn's darker side and consider whether 'love true' can actually exist, or if it's just the stuff of fairy tales and sappy rom-coms. Watch on HBO Max from July 18 'The Assessment' earned my interest based on its leading stars alone. Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander and Himesh Patel is quite the trio, and factor in its strong reception with a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 'Certifed Fresh' rating from critics, it looks like Hulu might just have a hit on its hand with this sci-fi thriller set in a dystopian future. The feature film debut of director Fleur Fortuné, it focuses on Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Patel), a couple hoping to have a child, but in this alternative reality, having kids requires approval from the government. Resources are limited, so reproduction is state-controlled rather than a matter of personal choice. In steps Virginia (Vikander), a government assessor, who moves into Mia and Aaryan's home for seven days, during which she will judge their suitability to be parents. What they hope will be a simple process becomes increasingly nightmarish as they're forced to question the society around them, and even the very fundamentals of what it means to be human. It sounds like an intriguing sci-fi yarn, and I can't wait to stream it when it arrives on Hulu this weekend. Watch on Hulu from July 19
Eater
15 hours ago
- Eater
The Twin Cities' Saddest Restaurant and Bar Closures for July
The hottest season has brought a slew of restaurant openings to the Twin Cities. But it's also marked the end of some longtime favorites. From legendary dive Palmer's Bar to fine dining beacon Café & Bar Lurcat, these are the places that have closed in recent months or announced they will in the near future. The Shutter is a regular roundup of restaurant and bar closures around the Twin Cities. The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to twincities@ July DINKYTOWN — Classic burger-and-malts spot Annie's Parlour is no more. The restaurant, a favorite of the University of Minnesota community, made a comeback in 2024 after a four-year hiatus. In an Instagram post, the owners said the business was simply 'losing too much money.' Annie's originally opened in 1974. 313 14th Avenue SE in Minneapolis. LORING PARK — The curtains will fall on Café & Bar Lurcat after service on September 5. For the past 23 years, the posh space next to Loring Park has been a gathering place for celebratory dinners and fine dining American cuisine. It's also been a magnet for celebrities, including Prince, Mick Jagger, and Lady Gaga. 1624 Harmon Place in Minneapolis. WEST BANK — Iconic dive bar Palmer's has announced it will be closing for good in September. Opened in 1906, the watering hole was popular for cheap drinks and nightly live music, ranging from punk to folk to blues. 'We will be open regular hours until bar close[s] on September 14th with a jam-packed calendar and plenty of time to party and say farewell. Please join us in saying goodbye to a West Bank institution, raise a glass to all the good times and great people, and make it a last summer to remember here at Palmer's Bar.' 500 Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS — The end is near for beloved 72-year-old institution Heights Bakery. According to a Facebook post, owners Debbie Doty and Dave DeShaw are retiring. The bakery, a family-owned business across four generations, is currently closed for a summer break but will reopen July 22. The final day will be August 1. 4925 Central Avenue NE in Columbia Heights. June KINGFIELD, NICOLLET — Chef Jamie Yoo has closed the Abang Yoli outposts in the Market at Malcom Yards and Nicollet. On Instagram, he cited the struggles of running multiple restaurants, which left him 'physically and mentally exhausted.' Fans can still get his Korean fried chicken at Abang Yoli's new Minnetonka spot. 501 30th Avenue SE and 3749 Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. NORTHEAST — Chef Ann Kim's pizzeria Young Joni will end its run on September 14. The restaurant was locked in a legal dispute with its landlord over unpaid rent, and the two sides were unable to come to terms on a new lease. The acclaimed wood-fired pies and Korean-influenced plates helped Kim win the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest in 2019. 165 13th Avenue NE in Minneapolis. NORTHEAST — StepChld's last day will be August 24. The Ethiopian-influenced restaurant by Kamal Mohamed is closing after almost five years, with the chef telling the Star Tribune that rising costs, labor, rent, and limited seating were all factors in the decision. StepChld's menu features East African influences in dishes like birria tacos with berbere spice, and a smash burger topped with mitmita aioli. 24 University Avenue NE in Minneapolis. DOWNTOWN — Apostle Supper Club closed at the beginning of June, with owner Brian Ingram citing crime as one of the main challenges the restaurant faced in a since-deleted Facebook post that received national attention. The Pioneer Press looked into the claim and found that crime stats in 2025 have been down compared to the same period last year. 253 Kellogg Boulevard in St. Paul. LOWERTOWN — Customers have had their last taste of the wood-fired pies at Big River Pizza in downtown St. Paul. It closed at the end of June, with a Facebook post explaining that 'the current political and policy landscape in St. Paul has made it increasingly difficult to ensure the safety of our employees.' The Neapolitan pies featured a variety of toppings such as purple potatoes, bacon jam, and spinach artichoke dip. 280 5th Street E in St. Paul. May LONGFELLOW — Less than a year after debuting, both Lagniappe and the Du Nord Cocktail Room closed at the end of May. The restaurant and bar from the owners of Du Nord Social Spirits brought the flavors of New Orleans to town through offerings like gumbo, charbroiled Gulf oysters, boudin balls, and po' boys. The two establishments were both located inside the historic Coliseum Building. 2700 E Lake Street in Minneapolis. SOUTHWEST — Although it closed earlier this year, the owners of Terzo have officially announced that the Italian restaurant will not be reopening. A water main break flooded and caused extensive damage to the space in February. The Broder family wrote in a post on Instagram that 'the time, energy, and resources needed to rebuild Terzo are beyond [their] capacity.' Terzo originally opened in 2013. 2221 W 50th Street in Minneapolis. April MINNEAPOLIS — All four Café Ceres locations closed in April. The coffee shop started in Linden Hills in 2021, with pastry chef Shawn McKenzie earning a James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker in 2023. DDP Restaurant Group intends to focus on its other restaurants, but hospitality union Unite Here Local 17, which includes Café Ceres workers, criticized the move in a statement that read, 'Heads of restaurant empires like Daniel del Prado would rather close shop than give a fair share to the workers who make them rich.' Eater Twin Cities All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . 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