Cult favorite 3D Doritos are back under the rebranded name Doritos 3D Crunch. Are these light and airy triangles of the revival just as good as their snack chip forefathers from the 90s or does this 3D snack fall flat?

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So recently I was on Instagram and a food blogger I follow was doing a taste test of a ton of new and interesting snacks she’d found at the store. One of the snacks was Doritos 3D Crunch, Doritos’ new revival of their cult-classic 3D snack from back in the 1990s. I was very intrigued!

She gave a positive review while her significant other was quite enthusiastic and overwhelmingly happy that Doritos had made the decision to bring back a snack that was beloved by so many people. As luck would have it, the next time I was preparing my Amazon Fresh order, Doritos 3D Crunch was available. I grabbed a bag of each flavor, Spicy Ranch and Chili Cheese Nacho.

I was curious to see how they stacked up against my memory of the original 3D Doritos from my youth. There was so much buzz on the Internet that I wondered, “Is everyone so excited about these chips because we’re in need of some distraction from our collective reality right now or do these crunchy pockets of air really live up to all the hype?”.

JUMP TO:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS  ★  APPEARANCE  ★  TASTE  ★  PRICE  ★  RESULTS

Taste Test Review Rating System

Trying out new things is always fun, but it’s honest and transparent reviews that really help us as consumers to make an informed decision. Given this, I will always be candid about how I feel about a product.

Every food product I try is reviewed on its Appearance, Taste, and Price. I take into account questions like, “Does it look IRL like it does on the packaging?”, “Would I go back for seconds?”, “Is this something I would share with others?”, and “Is this worth the price?”.

There’s no point system here—we don’t go through life judging whether something is a 3.7/10 or 7.8/10. We judge based on whether we like or don’t like something. And whether we would or would not buy it again. So my rating system is simply four levels of appeal: Love it, Like it, Leave it, and Lose it.

Review of 3D Doritos Crunch – First Impressions

The new Doritos 3D Crunch look exactly like the 3D Doritos I remember from my younger days. Though, perhaps, these are a bit more intense in color in the Nacho flavor…like an almost neon orange color. But, they both look light and airy and like they’re going to be downright delicious.

There’s less of them in each bag than I had expected based on the size of the bag. But that seems to be how it always is with chips of any kind. Even though there’s less in the bag than I had expected, there’s still a lot of them in each bag.

If I was having a party and going to serve these, I would definitely get multiple bags of each flavor. One bag on its own won’t fill up a big chip bowl. But if I was going to buy these just for snacking here and there, one bag would surely suffice for 1 or 2 people for a few snack attacks.

Appearance – Do the 3D Crunch Chips Look as Advertised?

Each little Doritos 3D Crunch is like a triangle chip that got popped in the microwave. They’re mostly symmetrical and they remind me a lot of Bugles chips. As mentioned before, the Nacho Chili Cheese flavor has an almost neon quality in coloring. However, the Spicy Ranch 3D Crunch looks very natural. Especially in comparison.

They both look very similar to their 2D siblings Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch Doritos. The Doritos 3D Crunch almost have a fragile quality about them. Light and airy looks like it will be good for texture when eating, but it also makes these cute chips feel kinda dainty.

Taste – Do 3D Crunch Doritos Keep You Coming Back for More?

Wow! These small chips pack a BIG punch of flavor in such a small package. I’m not sure why I’m surprised at this since Doritos is known for intensely flavoring their chips. I guess it’s because of that small, dainty (and deceiving!!) appearance.

The spiciness of the Spicy Ranch comes in like a stealth ninja. You pop a 3D crunch in your pie hole and start chomping away. Immediately, you’re thinking, “Hrm, these are very reminiscent of Doritos Cool Ranch Tortilla Chips.” You get big Cool Ranch vibes as you’re eating. Then, the peppery spice of the 3D Crunch hits you on the back end of the chip. After a few of these deceptive little cuties, you may need to take a break depending on whether you’re a spicy foods person or not.

Me? I kept chomping along…you know to be extra sure that I was thoroughly vetting these chips for you all. *wink wink*

The Chili Nacho Cheese 3D Crunch flavor was very close to how I expected them to taste. And yet, it was still slightly different than my expectations. Imagine you made a bowl of chili and then topped it with a big handful of shredded cheddar cheese. Now, imagine that bowl of chili with the cheese topped with a giant handful of crushed up Nacho Cheese Doritos.

That combo is exactly how the Chili Nacho Cheese 3D Crunch tastes. And it’s de-freaking-licious!

Both flavors of Doritos 3D Crunch are satisfying and, in their own way, addictive. Just like the 3D Doritos from when I was a kid–you can’t stop eating them and when you do, it is very hard to resist popping another into your mouth.

Price – Are Doritos 3D Crunch Worth It?

Doritos 3D Crunch retails for $3 to $4 for a 6 oz bag, depending on where you purchase. In the age of internet shopping, prices can quickly fluctuate based on supply and demand. I paid $3.99 per bag for the bags of Spicy Cool Ranch and Chili Nacho Cheese 3D Crunch.

I don’t typically spend this much on a bag of chips because there’s always a sale going on somewhere. However, I really wanted to try this revival of 3D Doritos and so I considered it a “treat”. Having tried them, I would totally purchase them again—even at $4 a bag!

They’re fun and they’re tasty. They’re something different to shake things up in your spread of chips for a party or your personal snack bowl when the craving for something salty hits.

Doritos has also decided to produce the 3D Crunch chips in little snack size bags. They make a 36-pack that is half Spicy Cool Ranch and half Nacho Chili Cheese. They’re the perfect size for tucking into your kiddos’ lunch bag or tossing into your own bag for a mid-day snack at work.

Results — Love It, Like It, Leave It, or Lose It?

Overall, Doritos’ revival of a snack from the late 1990s gets a resounding Love It! These 3D Crunch do totally live up to the hype and buzz that abounds on social media for them.

At $3.99 a bag, I would probably stick to buying just one bag at a time as a fun treat. If our household had to pick just one flavor to have at a time, we’d most likely go with the Nacho Chili Cheese. We liked the Spicy Cool Ranch but it was a bit too spicy for one of us to fully enjoy.

If you’re buying to serve at a party, I’d say the safe crowd-pleaser bet is on the Nacho Chili Cheese. And remember to get at least 2 bags if you’re going to serve in a standard chip bowl because the amount of chips in the 6 oz bag is a bit less than you’d expect by looking at the bag.

Where You Can Find Doritos 3D Crunch

As of this posting, you can find Doritos’ 3D Crunch available for purchase online through Target and Walmart, among others. I live in NYC and didn’t see them for sale while on a recent trip to a brick and mortar Walmart in my area.

Though the 3D Crunch have been on the market for just over 9 months, it appears as though Doritos may be selling them via brick and mortar stores in only specific markets. So your best bet for getting your hands on these babies is to purchase online.

Have you tried this product?

Let me know in the comments whether you liked it or not!

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