Righteous or wrong?
Righteous Felon Craft Jerky wants you to believe it’s the most exciting jerky you’ve ever tasted.
With a name like that, how could it not be?
They claim they have revolutionized the American meat snack game…
does this “Tangy Teriyaki with a punch of pepper” and a hefty price tag live up to the hype, or is it just another snack in a meat-scented plastic bag?
If that’s the case, I will honestly just end up chewing on disappointment. I’m really expecting big things from this jerky!
Righteous Felon prides itself on sourcing protein from pasture-raised animals, free of antibiotics and growth hormones.
Thanks to strong partnerships with top-quality farms, they receive fresh meat delivered weekly, ensuring consistently flavorful jerky that’s as fresh as it is premium.
This level of freshness and quality is something that Righteous Felon claims sets them apart from other jerky brands.
While Righteous Felon offers a variety of other gluten-free meat products and flavors, their beef jerky line alone features eight distinct options beyond the Teriyaki Balboa. While each 2oz bag packs a different type of punch (and different ingredients), they each offer 20g of protein in each serving (Jack Link’s has about 11g per serving).
Looking over the ingredients list, I couldn’t help but smile. Everything seemed familiar—like items I could easily grab from my own kitchen, except for the premium beef (thanks a lot, sky-high meat prices!).
At $5.99 for a (2 oz.) pack on Thrive Market, I’m expecting a jerky experience so transcendent that you’d be willing to dish out a bit of extra cash.
But $17.69 at Walmart?
That price better come with a side of righteous satisfaction and frankly, I haven’t seen that moment come quite yet.
I ripped open the bag, anticipating a burst of savory perfection.
While it didn’t completely knock me over, it delivered a solid hit to my senses with a bold wave of teriyaki—almost as if the jerky had been lost in the sauce a little too long. The tanginess was unmistakable, with a subtle hint of spice lingering in the background.
I took my first piece out of the bag and was pleased to find a nicely cut strip of jerky. I could tell just by the feel in my fingers that it was going to be a tender bite.
My first bite was definitely tender, and not a ‘jaw workout’ like other jerky brands, but it was a
total letdown.
The flavor was barely there (and by that, I mean pretty dang bland). It had a subtle hint of sweet with a faint ‘slap’ of spice that didn’t come close to the promised 'punch’.
What I really got was a mild peppery sting, backed by a whisper of teriyaki. The aroma had me expecting something bolder, but the taste just didn’t live up to it.
Gluten-free, all natural, and 20g of protein sounds great on paper,
but in my brutally honest opinion, I’m not sure this jerky punches in quite the same weight class as some of the other jerky’s on the market.
Yes, it has 20g of protein per serving, but you can’t fool me. I saw the seasoning and sauce go on a jog together, and they still haven’t been back.
So was Righteous Felon’s Teriyaki Balboa worth the hype? No, and I’m not ready to commit a jerky felony anytime soon.
This jerky fell very short of the expectations they set with their name, what they stand by, and their price tag.
It could be a decent snack, but it just doesn’t deliver the flavor ‘punch’ or the premium beef experience I was ultimately hoping for.
If you are willing to pay for a name and perhaps its ethical sourcing, then it could be a decent choice. But for a jerky to be impressive in both the taste and value categories–
I’ll keep searching.
IMBHO-Teriyaki NOt
So, will I be adding Righteous Felon’s Teriyaki Balboa to my jerky rotation? Obviously not.
But I’m curious—what’s the best jerky you’ve ever had?
The best I ever had was from Liebenthal, KS called Pat’s Beef Jerky.
Let me know in the comments, and let’s settle this once and for all. Jerky showdown, anyone?
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