Exotic Snack Guys — Local services in Lake View Township

Came here to grab the viral Dubai chocolate that a lot of people have been talking about -- and ended up leaving with a double credit card charge, in which I am unsure was an intentional scam or not, which kind of says a lot.

The store itself is just okay. It's a bit empty but I think I would give it 3/5 normally. I did find the Dubai chocolate, the flavor was fine, no knock on the shop for that. However, the large majority of the Asian snacks available for sale (which probably accounts for more than 50% of their offering), can be found at H-Mart or 88 Marketplace for a fraction of the price.

When I went to check out, I was rung up and asked to pay. I used my card and it seemed to work, but the guy working the register immediately said it didnt go through. He then switched to a different POS and typed in the charge and asked me to pay again. A few days passed and I saw that both transactions went through and were posted. I decided to just file a simple request with my bank stating that I was charged twice from the same merchant, but when I tried to dispute it, they thought it was odd that one transaction was "Exotic Snack Guys" and the other was "Exotic Snack Guys LLC"; like it was a whole different merchant, which required me to have to call in and file a claim with the fraud department. As mentioned, unsure if this was on purpose, the switching of the POS system was very odd to me -- which is why there are two accounts and makes it harder to dispute is my thought. But I didn't see any other people claim this happened to them so maybe I should give them the benefit of the doubt, which is why I am leaving 2 stars instead of 1. Either way, regardless, nevertheless, extremely inconvenient and annoying, considering I already spent over $30 for 2 chocolate bars, a bag a chips, and gummy bears. And if I didn't check the statement myself, I would have spent over $60. Not the...

If you're a snack enthusiast with a wanderlust for flavors from around the world and happen to find yourself in the Windy City, you absolutely must pay a visit to Exotic Snack Guys. This little gem of a store is a treasure trove of global snack and beverage delights, nestled right here in Chicago.

From the moment I walked in, I felt like I had stepped into a corner convenience store in a foreign land. The place was lined from wall to wall with an astonishing array of goodies from all corners of the globe.

First off, let's talk about the snacks. As a self-proclaimed Oreo aficionado, my eyes were immediately drawn to their red velvet Oreos – a delectable twist on a classic favorite. But that's just the tip of the snack iceberg.

Their chip selection is mind-boggling, offering a dizzying array of flavors ranging from pork to chicken to steak, and beyond. Seriously, if you can dream up a chip flavor, chances are they've got it in stock. The same goes for Pringles – the flavor options seem endless.

I found myself captivated by their extensive KitKat collection, spending a good 10 minutes just deciding which ones to try. Caramel Crisp, Cookie Crumble, Southern Australian Orange, and even Churro-flavored KitKats were among the tempting choices. And for the Twix lovers out there, they offer a delectable cookie dough option that's simply irresistible.

Now, let's talk beverages. Prepare to be shocked, because Exotic Snack Guys takes your thirst on a worldwide tour too. Not only did I spot Exotic 7up, but I was blown away by their selection of Pokémon and Pac-Man energy drinks. And if you're up for a taste adventure, they even had a lemon Warhead pop – a drink version of the iconic candy. I've only tried the candy, so I can only imagine how that's going to tantalize...

Overhyped. Overpriced. It was good for a "try it once."

Associates were friendly and welcoming. I received a hello when I came in and after a while was even offered a basket. I was actually disappointed with the selection when I went today for the first time. I've seen people's hauls and a majority of the things I was looking for weren't there, though this may have just been unlucky bad timing with whenever they restock. And like many of the lower reviews, many of the items you can find in the international isles of some markets and at small stores; venture into more ethnic communities or even make a trip to small pockets in the suburbs. Maybe the selection was also due to the location of this particular Exotic Snack Guys? Catering to the community? Or maybe bland, gross, and/or mostly for youtuber videos and social media content creators, isn't my snack preference. It was mostly Canada, England, and various chocolate flavors (Kit Kat selection was decent and expected); the choices are far from "exotic."

If that is your thing though, this place is great! Mystery boxes. Giant ridiculously flavored oversized pickle in a bag - you know the ones. Did I see a Paqui one chip? The ones that burn your tongue and throat and burn holes in your insides, make your ears ring and head feel like it'll explode, make your eyes go bloodshot and tear while snot runs out your nose uncontrollably?

Very niche...