The Food Guys Podcast · Dub & Nectorious Papi

The BEST Snacks & Foods of 2025 Award Show!

·56 min·4 clips

Reese's Hot Cross Buns get called charcoal and the company had to message them about it.

The Food Guys frame this as their inaugural 2025 award show, and they lean into that energy right away. The conversation opens with a welcome, a promise to hand out awards across different food categories, and a quick introduction to Nick as another snack minded voice in the room. They also clear up the Ange Eats question and make it plain there is no bad blood. Royal Stacks gets a sponsor mention, along with a simple endorsement of the burgers there. The tone stays relaxed, but it is also ready to argue. They start with worst overall release, because the painful category might as well go first. That leads into the kind of back and forth where everyone wants to go last, nobody wants to be the first person to admit disappointment, and the crew still enjoys taking swings at the year. From there the talk shifts toward the better releases. One of the clearest favorites is Andy Cooks' Red Rock Deli char grilled spiced chicken with citrus. The reaction is immediate and very physical, with the chips described as tasting like charcoal chicken and landing as a real win. They also talk through the dips that came with it, including a garlicky aioli and a barbecue style rib flavor. The praise feels tied to the person behind the release as much as the product itself, which keeps it grounded instead of generic. There is also a comparison to coming back from America and noticing that local shelves have gone quieter. That bit gives the praise more bite. A good chip can feel much bigger when everything else has been dull. The panel then drifts into Doritos and Cheetos doing a naked line in the US. The appeal there is mostly about the lack of dyes and Red 40, though the response is bluntly practical rather than moral. If it tastes good, they are happy to eat it. They would rather have the flavor than worry too much about the color. That turns into its own small philosophy check. Taste beats trend chasing. It also shows how easily they move from product talk into wider consumer habits without changing the mood. Near the end, the episode steps back and admits the year itself has not been as exciting as last year. That gives the awards format a little honesty. It was a slower year. People kept hunting for things to post. The shelves felt thinner. Prices and ingredient inflation probably made brands more cautious. The final stretch still lands on a hopeful note, with the sense that more interesting releases are coming next year. They thank Nick for joining, wrap the show, and leave the feeling that this was less a polished ceremony than a live inventory of what actually tasted good.

As heard by us

A flavor first awards show built around snacks, fast food, and sweet and savory picks.

The Food Guys' 2025 awards show is loud and loose, with categories that run from fast food to snacks to sweet and savory releases. The hosts trade names quickly and talk over one another, but the energy feels rooted in real eating, not canned banter.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want snack opinions that sound like the group chat, not a press release.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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