I walk into Lion Market, mind locked on one target. Hurrying into the candy aisle, I spot it: Popin’ Cookin’. Starting last year, my friends and I took turns buying one of these small Japanese gummy food kits every Friday, and we would spend the next lunch period pouring gummy powders, taste-testing and laughing over how ridiculous the abominations looked. Some kits were more successful than others, so I’ve compiled a list of my top five Popin’ Cookin’ kits.

5. Tanoshii Sushi

In Japanese, “tanoshii” means fun, and this sushi kit definitely lived up to its name. Sushi was one of the more time-consuming kits, requiring us to pipe an orange mixture into round balls to create gummy roe. 

The roe in the sushi box looked like popping boba, a texture uncommon among Popin’ Cookin’ food items, which usually have a gummy texture with artificial fruit flavoring. The tuna and omelette jelly pieces were uniquely textured, jiggly and colorful, sitting nicely atop the rice balls. 

However, there was one major drawback with the sushi kit — they did not provide enough rice powder to recreate the full-looking sushi displayed on the packaging, and we struggled to keep the sushi upright.

4. Tanoshii Hamburger

Picture walking into McDonald’s as a child and ordering a Happy Meal, sitting at a table while munching on hamburgers and sipping on soda. Popin’ Cookin’s Hamburger set perfectly encapsulates this nostalgic feeling.

The kit came with no piping bags, sprinkles, or decorations: we only had to mix powders and make gummies out of molds, so it was one of the quicker kits to make, perfect for a short lunch period. Sandwiched between the orange-flavored gummy bread was a patty of creamy chocolate pudding, an impeccable combination of tastes. The fries, which were pineapple flavored, were textured like actual fries, crunchy and chewy at the same time. The strawberry-flavored ketchup added to the realism. 

And of course, with fast food, who could forget coca-cola? As we poured the powder into the water, the coca-cola bubbled and fizzled, but it tasted bitter and medicinal. Still, the fries won me over based on taste alone.

3. Tanoshii Donuts

Donuts was the first kit we made that gave us decent results, so it already has a place in my heart. After our attempt at the Popin’ Cookin’ Kawaii Gummy Land kit ended in cursed creations and horrifically sticky hands, my friends and I had low expectations for the donuts. 

However, the process pleasantly surprised us with how smooth it was. Two donut gummy powders were birthday cake and one was chocolate flavored, which was a welcome change because most Popin’ Cookin’ packets smelled like artificial fruit flavoring. 

As we piped chocolate drizzle, smeared vanilla-flavored frosting, and meticulously placed our sprinkles, the gummies began to resemble miniature donuts from a cozy bakery.

2. Tanoshii Ramen

The ramen kit includes dumplings, spring rolls, mango pudding, and of course, ramen, like a meal someone might order at a Japanese restaurant. The molds made the dumplings and spring roll turn out accurately, resembling the actual food. The soup looked like a bowl of ramen found at a restaurant. 

Although the ramen was a little thicker than actual ramen, piping it into the soup was a satisfying, almost magical process as we squeezed the piping bag and watched the mixture transform into delectable noodles in front of our eyes. 

However, the mango pudding did not look appetizing — it just looked like a sticky, shapeless lump. Nevertheless, I’m giving it a pass because I enjoyed making this kit the most.

1. Tanoshii Waffles

Waffles is the ideal Popin’ Cookin’ set. Aside from the results looking cute and closely matching the packaging, the equipment worked very well: the waffle molds defined every ridge on the waffle, making it look like an actual waffle. 

The red berries and purple drizzle added a jelly texture and smelled like cranberries, which contrasted nicely with the slightly firm, vanilla flavored waffles, which tasted like cake. Like the donuts, the kit also came with heart-shaped sprinkles, and the green, watermelon-flavored frosting was a pleasant touch. 

If anyone wants to obsessively spend their lunch periods making Popin’ Cookin’, I’d recommend Tanoshii Waffles as a start for its delightful visuals and beginner-friendly equipment.