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01/09/2004: New Article: The Mystery of Hostess Choco-Diles!

Hope you’re hungry — here’s a tribute to Hostess Choco-Diles! The snack cakes have taken on a cult following over the years, mainly because they’ve become so hard to find. If you live in a city that sells Choco-Diles, don’t take it for granted. You’re part of an elite minority. Promoted with the help of “Chauncey Choco-Dile,” the chocolate-covered Twinkies are a sadly obscured corner of junk food history. Review includes everything from a trip to the Hostess Bakery to old commercials starring “Captain Cupcake.”

Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

Discussion Thread: 252 comments

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I am absolutely beside myself that I have never heard of the great classic, "Choco-diles!" I was watching the television program, "Unwrapped," on The Food Network, and they featured them. I cannot believe that they have been around for over 40 years (I’m 32 myself, and I’ve never heard of them!). I understand that they have been confined to the West Coast for some time. I WANT A CHOCO-DILE!!!! Can anyone tell me how to order some? I do live in "The Big Easy" of New Orleans. Please e-mail at twilloug@tulane.edu

Thanks!

Ghosted by T Willoughby @ 02/15/2004 3:34 AM EST

Check out this Media Kit at Twinkies.com for into about the characters Apparently IBC the makers of Twinkies do not have much about the Chocodiles on their site other than the obscure reference.

Ghosted by Sky Martin @ 02/15/2004 10:14 AM EST

They mentioned Choco-diles on "Yes, Dear" tonight on CBS. Greg was in a convenience store and was going to buy them for his dying aunt. Just after reading this article, what a kawinkydink!

Ghosted by Fr8train @ 02/16/2004 8:21 PM EST

CHocodiles….WHERE?!! WHO!!!?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I moved from Prov. RI. to Miami back in 1989 and have NEVER SEEN a Chocodile SINCE!

Explain to me what hostess is thinking. I can see the sales/marketing department now…

"OK folks, lets make the WORLDS best tasting Snack cake call is ah…THE CHOCODILE…and…."
"Ah…….hmmm…….."
"I GOT IT! Sell it in limited markets so we don’t make the profit potential on this item!"
"OH and maybe some fans might dedicated WEBPAGES to it!"
"BOOHHOOHHHAaaaaaa!"
Mr.Hostess replys,"GENIUS!"

-Rob
robertduran@hotmail.com

Ghosted by ROB in MIAMI, FL. @ 02/17/2004 1:56 PM EST

When I was a kid I used to buy Chocodile for 25 cents each, which at the time meant that buying two chocodiles was CHEAPER than buying a package of two regular twinkies. I used to think Hostess was INSANE. But kept it to myself and quietly spent every loose quarter I could find on them. YUM. You should see how giddy I got when I was able to get my hands on a whole dollar! That meant FOUR of those bad-boys.

Ghosted by Tony @ 02/17/2004 2:27 PM EST

Hey! I just saw a thing on food network about choco-diles. Yes, hostess is still making them, but only for the west coast. They showed the things being made, explained why they only come in singles, and basically raved about the chocolaty goodness. I just thought I’d let everybody know that there’s still hope yet in finding you fave treat.

Ghosted by backgroundmusik @ 02/17/2004 2:31 PM EST

I am doing a project on the company of Hostess. Since you did a page on Hostess Chocodiles, I figured you might know a few things about the company and its history. Thank you for your time and help. You can reach me at jnw20@hotmail.com if you have a reply.

— Jill W.

Ghosted by Jill W. @ 02/17/2004 2:44 PM EST

— Jill W.

Ghosted by Jill W. @ 02/17/2004 2:44 PM EST

My best Chocodile story (sadly, I have more than one)goes like this: when I was in College, in 1986, my roommate and I bought a bunch of junkfood (including a Chocodile) for a night of binge junkfood eating. Well, we had eaten a small mountain of candy, candy bars and pastries, and I unwrapped the Chocodile. I found, however, that my desire to continue with the binge had abruptly left me completely. I was unable to bring myself to take even one bite of the Chocodile. Nor was my roommate inclined to take a bite either. I carefully placed the Chocodile on top of its shed wrapper and set it down on my windowsill. The Chocodile stayed, undisturbed, on that windowsill for three months and NEVER CHANGED. It never melted, hardened, or grew mold. At the end of three months it still looked and smelled exactly as it had when I unwrapped it. Unable to persuade anyone that it was still OK to eat, I tossed it in the trash when we vacated the apartment at the end of the Quarter. I have never since had a desire to eat a Chocodile from that day to this.

Ghosted by Rufus Xavier @ 02/17/2004 6:37 PM EST

After watching the ‘Unwrapped’ about Choco-Diles, I immediately shearched on the web for a place to order them, all to no avail. Next thing I did was place a call to my girlfriend in California, as ‘Unwrapped’ stated they were still available there. I asked her to look around, and try to find me some, as I was pining for my Choco-Diles for some time. I can now say with pride, that I have a ‘Choco-Dile Connection’, and am the proud owner of 3 boxes, that she lovingly shipped to me. I ate one box, and the other 2 went straight into the freezer. =D

Ghosted by Chauncey ;) @ 02/19/2004 6:11 AM EST

You’ve never seen WINDMILL cookies??? Where have you been?

Ghosted by Kersten @ 02/21/2004 10:19 PM EST

I was in Riverside,California last week visiting the in-laws with my wife when I nearly caused her to drive off the road.. There it was, The Hostess Bakery outlet at the side of the road. It looked EXACTLY like the picture in the article. I had a vision and made my wife stop the car. It HAD to be the same place. I rushed inside and again, I was convinced it had to be THE MYSTERY SPOT that Matt wrote about. I requested Chocodiles from the weary looking clerk. She pointed them out…..3 boxes of Chocodiles!! I was ecstatic. I had flown 3000 miles from Michigan and I found them… God bless my wife for putting up with my idiocy. For the record, Chocodiles are very tasty

Ghosted by Jon @ 02/23/2004 6:16 PM EST

Also, I have the phone number and address in case you want some for yourselves….

909-686-5932
Wonder/Hostess Bakery #7034
2215 Third St
Riverside, CA 92501

Ghosted by Jon @ 02/23/2004 6:33 PM EST

Every page in this article, screenshots included, featured an ad for WeightWatchers.ca. Gotta love context sensitive internet ads, all the better to say "Hey Fatty! Quit looking longingly at these pictures of delicious refined sugar delivery systems and get off your ass and take a walk or something!".

Ghosted by Ummagumma @ 02/24/2004 9:56 AM EST

Me thinks someone pilfered your pics:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2990229990&category=1467

Ghosted by Another Matt @ 02/27/2004 1:40 PM EST

OH MY GOD. I REMEMBER that Twinkie commercial!!

Now if someone can track down the ones with Twinkie the kid and Fruitpie the Magician..

Ghosted by Adam @ 03/03/2004 7:33 AM EST

I’m so happy that Chocodiles still exist! Your narrative about the outlet store was wicked funny! I’m sure with all the chemicals/preseratives in the snack cakes the expiration date doesn’t really matter much! I’m in New England and I doubt I’ll ever see another Chocodile

Ghosted by Jen @ 03/10/2004 8:55 PM EST

Hey man, lets watch the Fearless Photog Movie….EH

EH WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT !!!

Ghosted by Chocodile @ 03/11/2004 9:14 AM EST

Oh, it is so comforting to know that there are other hungry souls out there, yearning for the sweet caress of choco-dilian rapture. My buddy and I, actually, hit our jackpot after only a couple weeks of searching: He’s on his way up with a duffle-bag full of Choco-diles, fresh from Los Angeles.

I knew we Californios were the lucky ones.

Ghosted by atilla @ 03/14/2004 3:28 PM EST

expiration date? what are you talking about???? that stuff never goes bad, i say eat’em up.

Ghosted by welton @ 03/14/2004 3:57 PM EST

Chocodiles are pretty readily available in my part of California. Anyone interested, I’ll look into buying and shipping ‘em to you. Email me at ellielbc@yahoo.com.

Ghosted by ellen @ 03/27/2004 10:42 PM EST

I was watching Boyz In The Hood yesterday and right before Ricky gets gunned down by Chris Tucker, he’s snacking on a delicious Chocodile. Guess Hostess don’t know….don’t show…or just don’t care about what’s goin’ on in the hood….

Ghosted by buc nasty @ 03/28/2004 9:39 AM EST

Surely someone has already sent you this, but while Googling Chocodiles I found this source!

http://www.hometown-treats.com/products/chocodiles.html

Ghosted by K @ 04/10/2004 9:56 PM EDT

I just had a chocodile this weekend from a flying J truck stop inAZ. I have seen them around but it is far and few between. Thanks for the article!

Ghosted by Lil Red @ 04/10/2004 10:54 PM EDT

http://www.hometown-treats.com/mw.html is selling boxes of 8 chocodiles for under 5 bucks.

Ghosted by sarah @ 04/11/2004 7:36 PM EDT

My friend and hero Mike!!!
I found the elusive species of Choco-Diles, just a block away from the college where I reside!
Here in Claremont, California, there is a 5 college conglomerate that takes up blocks and blocks, and nearby is a shopping part of town called "The Village". Here, in this small town not 30 miles from LAX airport, is a small Asian market that sells, among other things, Choco-Diles for a mere 35 cents each. I can get them anytime, and they’re great when not expired and rotten! When I get my camera working again I can send a pic of the store and its regularly stocked Choco Dile display!!!

Ghosted by Manalone923 @ 04/15/2004 8:25 PM EDT

I live in Northern Oregon and I work at one of the Wonder Hostess Bakery Outlet Stores! We had a ton or chocodiles come through off the routes recently and people were going for them like crazy! I will say I don’t really like snack cakes after being around them all day but damn those are GOOD! Cool website!!

Ghosted by katluvver @ 05/06/2004 2:18 AM EDT

I lived in New Jersey in the eighties. I loved chocodiles. I moved and didn’t have one until the store down the street from me started selling them. That was 1998. Ten years and I still looked. Now I moved again and can’t find any, this sucks. Everytime I go into a store I check out the hostess shelf. I’ll wait as long as it takes until I’m shoving a chocodile in my face again, and it will be wonderful

Ghosted by cman @ 05/21/2004 2:06 PM EDT

I saw Chocodiles the other day at the Walmart at the Baldwin Hills plaza in Los Angeles, CA

Ghosted by Jack @ 05/21/2004 6:07 PM EDT

You are InSaNe. Truly.

Ghosted by customer 1 @ 05/23/2004 12:45 PM EDT

I love Chocodiles and I too have been searching for them. I now live on the East Coast and it is impossible to find them. Thank you so much for the story and the hope. My cousin was supposed to bring me some from home but she ate them on the airplane ride. I want a Chocodile sooooo bad!!!!
AAAAHHHHHH

Ghosted by Katherine from East LA @ 05/26/2004 4:45 PM EDT

Ah well, it is better to have loved and lost than to have eaten an out of date twinkie dipped in chocolat.

Ghosted by Guy Incognito @ 05/28/2004 7:42 AM EDT

Right on Jay Amabile!
Screw that Hip Hop Garbage! We gotta try to keep our rock ALIVE! Screw Billboard top 100! Screw Motown! Who the hell did those guys (The Bomb) think they were with their hot chicks and their BIGGY Smalls, Jay Z and R. Kelly junk? LNOE (Last Night On Earth) are the guys who really are keeping it real with the long hair and the ripped jeans. The Cowboy Hat was Awesome! North Jersey RULES! Long live the South! The Aquarian, RollingRock, AmeriasBest, ZuteWorld, WKNJ & Jay Amabile is all we need! White people are only 72% of the united States but with Jay Amabile on our side I feel like we are 90%. The BOMB and all those chicks can pack up and get out of North Jersey! We don’t need em. Hip Hop, Reggae and R&B should be illegal. We need to use Jay and his affiliates to put all that Jungle Music down and Stomp it out!

Later, Straight Edge Daniel (S.E.D)

Ps. All my boys will buy Rolling Rock now!!! JAY AMABILE

http://www.wdhafm.com/airforce/jayamabile/

Ghosted by S.E.D. @ 05/31/2004 5:31 PM EDT

Looking for cherry Pine Brother’s Cough Drops? Try Red Current Grether’s Pastilles. I bought them at Trader Joe’s and they are the closest thing to Pine Brothers that I’ve found. They are a damn good replacement.

As with Pine Brothers, these also don’t stop you from coughing, but they don’t pretend to be cough drops either.

Ghosted by the ghost of Pine Brothers cough drops @ 06/02/2004 5:45 PM EDT

i have to say, i loved those things! and i have often wondered (and argued with my husband) about them. im glad i now have proof they existed. in face, you could send me a few …. )

Ghosted by kira bloodrose @ 06/23/2004 3:32 PM EDT

can i buy one from you? even if the expiration date is a bit off…theyre probable still edible!!!! >.<;;

Ghosted by yvette @ 07/07/2004 10:14 PM EDT

Hmm, I’ve eaten those before. They sell them all the time at this gas station in town. Then again, I live in a town time forgot. They taste okay though. ^_^ Sorry such an incident happend to you!

Ghosted by Rachel @ 07/13/2004 11:16 PM EDT

Just read your article on chocodiles the other day. I am from central Illinois and I was in Wal-Mart. I looked where the hostess products were sold and low and behold there were several boxes of chocodiles. From reading other comments, Chocodiles must be a midwest thing only. Who would have thought?

Ghosted by Alan @ 09/06/2004 6:35 PM EDT

jjberrios73@hotmail.com

I am a dying man in need of a Choco-Dile…I need the address so I can write to them and have them send me my Choco-Dile, my last dying wish…

P.S. That’s all I ever wanted was just one Choco-Dile…Thanks for the address or well the inside number would be even better…

-Josh-

Ghosted by Joshua Berrios @ 09/12/2004 7:43 PM EDT

The key is getting Fresh Chocodiles , then you don’t have to worry about them expiring before you get them.

Ghosted by chocodiles @ 09/23/2004 8:01 PM EDT

called that Wonder Hostess Bakery Thrift…they closed down a couple of weeks ago.

Ghosted by Jim V. in Highland Lakes, NJ @ 10/04/2004 1:46 PM EDT

You want the chocodiles? We got em for you! FRESHHHHH!

http://www.linuxgifts.com

Right now we have over a dozen boxes ready for purchase. We will continue
to sell chocodiles as long as we can get them, which here, in Arizona is
very easy currently.

What we don’t sell… we’ll eat!

Thanks,
Marcia Wilbur
Linuxgifts

Ghosted by Marcia Wilbur @ 10/09/2004 4:00 AM EDT

I’m so glad someone else is so obsessed with these things. I have been telling my husbands for ages about them and look everywhere for them. He grew up close to me and had never heard of them. My mom never bought “goodies” and for some reason she had bought these years ago. I’ll never forgot how good they tasted! Whenever I visit my brothers out of town I always scan their grocery stores for them (I live in Michigan and some are on the East coast and some on the West) no luck though. i think I just found a website that you can order them from. Thanks again!!

Ghosted by Mary @ 09/04/2006 11:14 AM EDT

Chocodiles are endangered? I never knew. I buy them all the time at my local general store.

Ghosted by Wrinkledlion X @ 11/14/2006 8:10 PM EST

Chocodiles are sold all over southern California. I am in El Paso and have my mother in law ship them to me from a Hostess Thrift Store from California for about $2.99 a box.

Ghosted by Ben @ 03/03/2007 9:07 PM EST

I had no idea Chocodiles are hard to find elsewhere. I live in southern Illinois, and they’re all over the place. You can go to Kroger or Wal-Mart and get a whole box, or just stop at a gas station and pick up one or two. I do seem to remember them being a little rare several years ago (maybe about 5?). They were my favorite snack cake when I was a kid, so them being suddenly gone was something I noticed. Then, as suddenly as they disappeared, they were back. I noticed them one day in the gas station my friend worked at, and when I threw a screaming fit about them being “finally back” he told me they’d always been there, at least as long as he’d been working there, which was about 2-3 years at the time. Sooo…they were around, then they left, leaving me confused about why they were gone, then they came back without telling me….mocking my love and desire for them for years before they announced themselves to me.

They don’t seem to taste as good as I’d remembered, though. I don’t know if they’ve changed or not. Most likely it’s just that my tastebuds are 28 instead of 8. I guess 20 years of aging plus about 10 years of smoking can distort the ol’ tastebuds, eh?

Ghosted by 80s kid @ 07/14/2007 12:16 AM EDT

I bought my chocodiles from freshchocodiles.com, it took about a week and they were not smashed or anything and they were indeed fresh. Although the date they arrived was pretty close to the expiration date;it’s not like you can’t put them in the refrigerator. Also those things have so many chemicals in them, you could eat one a few weeks after it expiration date and it would taste fine. F.Y.I the new packages don’t spell chocodiles with a hyphen anymore and for those of you ignoramuses who haven’t a clue what a hyphen is; I’ll give you an example with hyphen(choco~diles), without hyphen(chocodiles).

Ghosted by Lila @ 01/16/2009 3:23 AM EST

I started a group on FaceBook for all Chocodile lovers. Do a search for “Chocodiles” and this group should come up:

Chocodiles! I LOVE CHOCODILES!

Ghosted by Troy @ 01/24/2009 7:30 AM EST

I have felt the same way for about 10 years. Wondering what happened with choco diles and why would they stop selling them. Twinkies are awful and they still make those!
Over the past years I have made deliveries near several Hostess bakeries and popped in to ask. Most did not know what they were and some said they stopped making them. Just last night I brought it up again to my wife. “I wish I could buy some choco diles! They must have made money with them, why would they stop making them!?” She said they must still make them and that she was going to google it to prove it to me. I beat her to it and found this website. WOW! I knew I could not have been the only one who loved these as a kid (especially with milk). But, I never expected this many people to be wondering about them so many years later.

Ghosted by Lou @ 08/06/2009 7:25 AM EDT

The Hostess Thrift Shop on Village Parkway in Dublin, California has them for $3 a box. I buy two boxes a week. One for the home, the other for the coworkers. The ladies go nuts with health-guilt before diving into one.

Ghosted by Alex in Cali @ 08/18/2009 12:01 AM EDT

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