A selection of groceries ordered through Kroger's website

A Cincinnati-based challenger has rolled into town to take on San Antonio's top dog in the grocery store games. Earlier this month, supermarket juggernaut Kroger debuted its home grocery delivery service here. There aren't any physical retail stores where customers can browse the aisles, but there's plenty to scroll through on the store's website at kroger.com.

Kroger is the nation's largest grocery store chain in terms of revenue and stands behind only Walmart and Amazon as the third-largest general retailer. As you might expect, they offer a huge selection of items, including many things you can't find on rival H-E-B's online store.

To see how those products stack up, I filled my digital shopping cart with 15 unique items — all sold under Kroger's house brand label, its Simple Truth Organic line or its upscale Private Selection marque — that were delivered in less than 24 hours for a flat rate of $6.95.

And I must say, there were some sure winners tucked into the blue plastic grocery bags that landed on my porch. Here are seven standouts that you can only get from Kroger.

Private Selection Carolina BBQ Kettle Chips from Kroger

The market for potato chips with increasingly regional or obscure flavor profiles has exploded in recent years. H-E-B certainly has plenty to chose from (jalapeño queso or dill pickle, anyone?) but they don't offer one like this. These wavy cut, kettle-fried chips are thick, crisp and taste distinctly of the mustard- and apple cider vinegar-based barbecue sauce found in South Carolina.

On ExpressNews.com: Kroger launches grocery delivery in San Antonio

Private Selection Cucumber Infused Vinegar from Kroger

I'm a little bit of a vinegar junkie. I have at least a half-dozen types in my pantry right now. Well, you can add one to that roster. This unique vinegar has subtle hints of cucumber and melon with just a touch of sweetness. It was great on a salad and even better as an extra splash of acidity in a gin and tonic.

Private Selection Fire Roasted Poblano Ranch Dressing from Kroger

In ranch-crazed Texas, this dressing laced with smoky fire-roasted poblano chiles is a guaranteed hit. The texture is silky smooth with a mild tangy and sweet flavor that lets those chiles shine. It worked well as a dip for sliced vegetables and on a salad. And in true Texas style, try using it as a zippy alternative to classic ranch as a dipping sauce for pizza.

Private Selection Five Cheese & Marmalade Thin Crust Frozen Pizza from Kroger

This weird and over-the-top pizza just plain works despite its unlikely ingredients. The five cheese blend includes mozzarella, Asiago, provolone, edam and cheddar, which is a lot to process right off the bat. Add a sweet and ever-so-bitter orange marmalade standing in for sauce, and you have a pretty spectacular flavor resembling a fancy cheese board supported by a crisp sourdough crust.

Private Selection Raspberry Ruby Cacao Bean Ice Cream Bars from Kroger

Ice cream bars are always a winner in blazing-hot South Texas, and this one is no exception. Unlike the more common dark chocolate-dipped options, the flavors in this bar were light and refreshing. Under the crisp exterior, creamy vanilla ice cream was given a punchy hit of acidity thanks to a colorful swirl of raspberry puree throughout.

Private Selection Tequila Serrano Beef 24 Hour Marinated Jerky from Kroger

On ExpressNews.com: Texas has a long history with and deep love for ranch dressing

Beef, booze and chiles. Kroger seems seems to be reading just about every Texan's mind with this smartly flavored jerky. The aroma was sweet, tart and lightly smoky with a telltale hint of agave. And that 24-hour marinade in the name proved true, delivering an intense flavor with a mild serrano burn that lingered on the palate.

Simple Truth Organic Creamy Ranch Mini Rice Cakes from Kroger

We all know rice cakes are supposed to be a healthier alternative to classic junk food like potato chips. But these 70 calorie-per-serving snacks don't sacrifice on flavor, delivering a hefty dose of this state's unofficial favorite condiment. Bonus: You get to savor that ranch dust stuck to your fingers after the cakes are gone.

pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen

Paul Stephen moved to San Antonio from North Carolina in 2017 to join the Express-News Taste team. In that time, he's cooked through about 1,000 recipes, noshed at more than 200 restaurants and seriously considered getting a map of the city's grocery stores tattooed on his arm for easy reference. He cannot be trusted around your cookbook collection.