Eden and his wife Marie (aka Ria) Van officially launched Ria’s RoadKill Jerky in 2011, based out of Long Beach, California, where Eden was raised. Eden is a first-generation Cambodian immigrant and Marie is Filipina. Ria’s RoadKill Jerky award-winning jerky is smoked in tiny batches using all-natural ingredients with no preservatives that take four days to make from start to finish.
Currently, Ria’s RoadKill Jerky sells Original, Chipotle, Canadian, Habanero, Korean BBQ, Spicy Sriracha, and Peppered beef jerky flavors, along with a Mesquite flavor of crispy Jerky Chips. Today, Ria’s RoadKill Jerky now operates out of Sacramento, California.
Unfortunately, we are sad to announce that Ria’s RoadKill Jerky has since gone out of business.
The next review for Ria’s RoadKill Jerky will focus on a 2 ounce/56 gram bag of their mesquite beef jerky. This jerky was kindly submitted for review by Chef/Owner Eden Van.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Soy Sauce, Spices, Natural Flavorings, Coarse Black Pepper. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The only liquids listed in the marinade used here are water and an unknown ingredient list for soy sauce.
Healthy spices are added, which likely include onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper.
There is no nutrition facts table provided. As a result, the exact sugar and salt levels are unknown.
This jerky does qualify not to use sodium nitrite, or any other similar preservatives. Instead, salt is the main preservative. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
RIA’S ROADKILL JERKY – MESQUITE BEEF JERKY CHIPS
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I believe I smell pepper. The strips (‘chips’) are large in size, wafer-thin, and are exceptionally dry. I like the look, texture, and especially the taste of these ‘chips’. I can see the pepper flakes on the actual jerky.
The first flavors I encounter are salt, at a solid level, pepper, at an even more solid level, next to no sweet (awesome!), garlic, as well as copious amounts of natural beef.
Can this jerky taste any better than it does? I don’t think so. One of the pieces even has a strand of fat in the middle, which greatly enhances the flavor. Even my wife, who usually doesn’t like most beef jerkies out there, really enjoyed this jerky.
Ria, once again, you have to tell me which road or highway you are procuring this roadkill jerky from, ‘cause I gotta get me some!!
Grab me a scraper and a spatula, and I’m gonna hunt me down some asphalt snacks, some highway heaven, some concrete cuisine, and quell my cravings for Ria’s Roadkill. Straight from the car grill to the barbecue grill, to my palette, a little taste of heaven gentlemen. A no-brainer 10/10. Two thumbs way up!!!👍👍
Here is what Stéphane said: “The Ria’s Road Kill Mesquite Beef Jerky Chips are fabulous and it stands out from any other jerky. The thinly sliced strips are awesome and tasty. These beef strips deliver a great deal of beef flavor, cracked black pepper, a hint of vinegar, and a nice smokiness.”
“This jerky is outstanding, as it shines by its merit, and truly deserves a 10/10 taste rating.
Here is what Mark had to say about this mesquite beef jerky chips flavor from Ria’s RoadKill Jerky: “Thanks Stéphane and Paul for the enthusiastic, compelling taste reviews. Unfortunately, I do not have as much enthusiasm as Stéphane and Paul for these jerky chips. Don’t get me wrong, this flavor tastes good to great. It’s the crispy texture that is a little off, where I too love crispy jerky.
As Paul mentioned, this texture is wafer-thin. Possibly the thinnest jerky reviewed to date. With these chips being so thin, there is little crispiness to this texture. Also, I found that the mesquite flavor to be faint tasting.”
“Due to COVID-19, the Group of Seven is down to four people. Mark M. surprisingly only awarded a 6 rating. With me at an 8 rating, it seems only fitting to award a Very Good (9/10) taste rating.”
Ria’s RoadKill Jerky sold this 2 ounce/56 gram bag of jerky for $4.50. That equates to $2.25 an ounce, which rates at a cheap price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear plastic resealable has labels affixed to both the front and back. The Ria’s RoadKill Jerky logo depicts a picture of a bull’s head. There is a graphic on the front indicating that this is award winning jerky.
A slogan printed on this bag is “The Real Man’s Meat – EST. 2011”. There are no facts printed on this bag.
Some bag categories missing are the jerky weight not stated in grams, a USDA stamp, barcode, allergen alerts, distributor address details, best before date, a hole to hang on hooks, a blurb about Ria’s RoadKill Jerky or this flavor, and a nutrition facts table.
Order their jerky online: www.riasroadkilljerky.com
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