HIGH FIVE: Exotic Snack Guys Edition
here's some of the snacks we found at the Oakwood Mall's Exotic Snack Guys location
author & photos by McKenna Scherer |
Spicy crayfish-flavored chips, sweet and spicy Buldak ramen, melon-flavored Fanta and “mystery” Kit Kats.
An otherwise random stream of words finds common ground – er, shelving – at Exotic Snack Guys, the largest exotic snack retail and wholesale company in the U.S., now with a local location.
It’s a near straight-shot path from the Oakwood Mall’s (4800 Golf Rd., Eau Claire) main entrance – through the food court but before reaching JCPenney – to Exotic Snack Guys. Its purple-blue gradient sign is hard to miss and inside, pop culture snack icons like Homer Simpson and Chester Cheetah are splashed across the walls; treats from dozens of countries are yours to peruse.
The Midwest-founded company has seen swift growth since its first location opened in Chicago’s Lincoln Park in 2023. By January 2025, Exotic Snack Guys – the founding ‘guys’ being longtime friends Zohaib Naman and Shafiq Rehman – had received a multi-million dollar investment driving plans to open 100 new stores over the following three years.
Franchisees have helped bring upwards of 50 Exotic Snack Guys locations to life throughout the U.S., from Massachusetts to Texas, Florida and Nebraska, among others. Eau Claire’s Oakwood Mall welcomed the shop about a month ago.
Among the dozens of varieties of chips, candies, chocolate, drinks and other snacks stocked at Exotic Snack Guys, here’s a quick five-snack highlight:
Viral Fruit-Shaped Ice Cream Treats ($8.99)
Trompe-loeil – frozen fruit-shaped desserts – have taken the internet by storm over the past few months, both for their unique flavor and cute look. Some locally-owned shops in town have been selling them too, including Sweet Boba House and Amerasian Market. On my recent stop to Exotic Snack Guys their cooler was nearly sold out of them.
Churro-flavored Kit Kats ($5.99)
Probably the most abundant chocolate brand in the store, shoppers have their pick from a wide range of Kit Kat varieties otherwise unavailable at big box stores. The churro flavor caught my eye alongside orange, matcha, peach, coffee and more varieties.
Lay’s Spicy Crayfish Chips ($5.99)
If this flavor seems like too much for you, no worries – there are plenty of other varieties to choose from: Avocado, lemon pepper, Korean BBQ, roasted garlic, sweet chili and more intriguing flavors from familiar (and unfamiliar) brands like Doritos, Pringles, Cheetos and others are up for grabs too.
Oreo Matcha Green Tea ($6.99)
If Kit Kat is the most popular chocolate brand in store, Oreo easily takes the crown for the cookies category. There were so many varieties (especially Korean-branded Oreos) to choose from that they had their own section: Strawberry blast, tiramisu, lemon pie and cinnamon roll are just a few of the flavors available.
Fanta Peach Soda ($5.99)
I love a fun drink as much as the next person, so the Exotic Snack Guys' beverage fridge pulled me in right away. The Hello Kitty brand sodas pulled my eye first, followed by the Ramune sodas, and unique flavors from familiar brands like Fanta, Pepsi and Mountain Dew are as enticing. Next time, I’ll probably snag the Fanta Peach soda and something from a brand I haven't heard of before, of which there are plenty.
