11 nostalgic 90s snack foods that need to inspire full-blown restaurants

Last week I stumbled upon the biggest piece of Jersey hidden treasure since some Wildwood dude found $1,000 under his house. Concealed inside a tiny, little store in Elmwood Park, it was the largest collection of Hot Pockets I'd ever seen — and they were all homemade.

As a 20-something, this discovery was euphoric. A bite into a salty Ham and Cheese sent me back to the after-school hours I spent in front of the Xbox (oops), and a smoldering Philly Cheesesteak ripped the taste buds from my tongue just the way it used to. It was a great experience.

The turn of the millennium was a weird time for food. We ate spray cheese, Boca Burgers and canned meatballs. Fla Vor Ices (ironically) didn't have flavor, and grape fruit snacks tasted like Tylenol. But even as we downed the most radioactively colored Go-Gurts, we enjoyed ourselves — something that the Bergen County Hot Pocket joint vividly reminded me.

So, I got to thinking; what if all our favorite 90's foods were turned into full-blown restaurants? Like, a Pop-Tarts bakery, or a Kid Cuisine buffet?

Following that thought down the rabbit hole, I ended up with eleven 90's food concepts that I think would rock as restaurants.

I reveal them to you now, in hopes that I inspire some millennial investor to pour 30 million dollars into a Bagel Bites pizzeria.

General Mills Cereal Bar

Think of this like Chipotle, but for cereal. Here's how it would work.

Customers would choose a base for their "bowl," with options including milk, yogurt or ice cream. From there, they'd select an iconic 90's cereal, followed by the various toppings they'd like layered above it (some options could be sliced fruits, peanut butter and chocolate drizzles, or candy pieces).

Each order will then be finished with the option of a chocolate magic milk straw (for slurping), but — like guac, of course — it'll cost you extra.

Bagel Bites Pizzeria

Picture pizza-sized Bagel Bites.

Like deep-dish pan pies, but with a 16-inch bagel for crust.

Jet-Puffed S'mores Lounge

Inspired by the table-top s'mores of Così (another lost gem of the 90s), I envision this concept as a DIY dessert experience for groups of friends.

The lounge would feature large, comfy booths around tables with built-in fire pits. Once seated, guests would choose between s'mores "packages" for up to eight people, each of which would be themed around certain flavors. From there, the diners would roast and assemble their own s'mores.

Package varieties may include Classic (graham, milk chocolate, marshmallow), Strawberry Shortcake (graham, white chocolate, strawberry marshmallow), Holiday Spiced (snickerdoodle cookie, white chocolate, pumpkin spice marshmallow) and more.

Lunchables Charcuterie and Sunny-D Cocktail Bar

Sunny-D mimosas, anyone?

Doritos Nacho Cantina

Picture Roarin' Ranch chips topped with crispy chicken, bacon and white queso, or Sweet and Spicy Chili with shrimp, hoison and scallion and you're on the right track.

Uncrustables Food Truck

The only problem I've ever had with Uncrustables is the lack of variety in the flavors. A food truck, though, could easily solve that.

Requiring nothing more than a circular crust cutter-offer (you know the thing) and a vehicle, a culinary entrepreneur would be able to invent many types of never-before-seen Uncrustables.

Think Italian, Turkey Club, or a deep-fried Tuna Melt — the crust-less possibilities are endless.

Easy-Bakery

If mini cakes are the size of a hockey puck, would mini donut holes be the size of marbles?

Visit the Easy-Bakery to find out.

Pillsbury Biscuit World

A fast food restaurant that offers 14 varieties of biscuit sandwiches, and absolutely nothing else.

Cheez-It gastropub

Cool kids eat Cheez-Its, and cool adults hang out at gastropubs, so combining them both just makes sense.

A few things on the menu at this trendy establishment are Mac and Cheez-Its, featuring baked mac and cheese finished with a crushed Cheez-It bread crumb, and White Cheez-It-Battered Fish and Chips.

Push Up Popsicle Stand

Because if even orange tasted good, literally any other flavor would totally slap.

Flamin' Hot Fried Chicken

Juicy, Cheeto-dusted and served exclusively on Zoo Pals.

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, join our NorthJerseyEats Facebook group, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Nostalgic 90s snack foods that need to become restaurants