The first time I had FAT Chips was at their booth after the Pacific Beach 5K last year. I was hungry, the bag said three ingredients, and I kept going back for more. They are the first producer we’re putting in the spotlight.
Who makes them
FAT Chips is two co-founders, Chris and Erik, cooking small batches in San Diego. Erik’s title is VP of Chip Development, which tells you how seriously they take the fun part. They started the company to bring real food back to snacking, and the label shows it: potatoes, 100% beef tallow and salt. No seed oils, no preservatives, no artificial flavors.
Why tallow matters
Most chips on the shelf are fried in sunflower, canola or soybean oil. Beef tallow is how chips were fried before cheap seed oils took over, and it makes a sturdier, richer chip. For the long version, including what is actually in the fat, read our guide to beef tallow chips.
Where to find them
- Farmers markets
- Little Italy Mercato on Saturdays; Hillcrest and La Jolla on Sundays
- Shops
- More than 50 San Diego stores, including Frazier Farms, Valley Farm Market, Seaside Market in Cardiff, Fox Point Farms and Ramona Family Naturals
- Online
- Single bags and packs on their site, or a monthly Chipscription with free shipping
- For shops
- Wholesale through Faire
- Directory
- FAT Chips on The Real Yield
Why they’re here
We list people who make real food close to home. FAT checks every box: local, small-batch, a short ingredient list and a fat your great-grandparents would recognize. Next time you’re at the Mercato on a Saturday, stop by their booth and say hi.
Know a producer we should spotlight? Tell us about them.