Brand of tortilla chip that tastes close to homemade?
I don't know what it is lately, but I can't seem to find chips at the store, any type, that I like. They all taste over processed, over crunchy, over loaded w/ seasonings. Blech! The more "gourmet", the more disgusting...
I can live w/o most chips; however, I must have my tortilla chips to go w/ my homemade guacamole!! I've become really fussy after discovering the joys of homemade tortilla chips...basically, corn tortilla wedges that I fry in leftover oil from fried chicken and then sprinkle w/ kosher salt. I've only done this once, but I really loved how I could taste the pure corn flavor. It wasn't overpowered by a fake corn flavor, too much salt, funky seasonings, or an overly coarse texture. I prefer something plain, medium thickness, w/ a finer texture.
Since I'm not into frying my own chips every time I make guac or making a special trip to a taqueria, is there a commercial tortilla chip that mimics the home-fried kind that I described above? I know there's nothing like freshly-fried chips, but something approximating that would be nice. White or yellow corn is fine; just no blue corn of funky seasonings. Thanks for any leads!
PS. The most memorable store-bought tortilla chip I've had lately is, IIRC, a brand called Taco Works from San Luis Obispo, CA. It was pretty good but had MSG and a little bit of an "off" sweetish flavor to me (maybe from the MSG).
Carb Lover
Oct 06, 2005 03:03PM
Most Mexican restaurants will sell you their fresh made chips. They last for a few days in a tightly closed plastic bag...
For me, the type of tortilla chips that you would make from home cut from U.S. tortillas (The tortillas i grew up in the Yucatan are smaller and thinner than ones sold here) are only good for Chilaquilles. To dip and snack on, I perfer thinner mexican store brands of tortilla chips, my favorite is El Paraiso. Very thin, not much salt, lots of corn flavor. It really is a great compliment for complex salsas and guacs because the salsa flavor does not get hidden by too salty or thick a chip.
So far, I've only seen El Paraiso sold at Mexican or Mexican targeted grocers only.
--Dommy!
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Thanks Dommy!, I was hoping that you'd chime in! Will keep a look out for El Paraiso and also check out what's on the shelves next time I stop in at a good-sized Mexican market. I don't know why I haven't looked there before...
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Mission brand tortillas sell an extra thin corn tortilla that I prefer when I make tacos. They're pretty much available at most markets and they are the yellow corn variety that we prefer.
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Have you ruled out Casa Sanchez? Thick and thin varieties are available at New Leaf and other stores though not Shoppers. By far the best available in SC though they have some salting variability. Best I have ever bought are from a market in San Jose which were fried in Palm Oil or something similar that would send the health police into a frenzy!
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Hmmm...I don't believe I've had Casa Sanchez chips, so will def. give them a try. Based on the link below, looks like they are the kind I'm looking for. Nice to have a choice btwn. thin and thick. Good to know that New Leaf carries them...thanks.
Link: http://www.casasanchez.com/parent.htm
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Casa Sanchez are the closest I have found to homemade. I prefer the thin ones. More info below.
Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...
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Count me as another fan of Casa Sanchez. They are truly delicious
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I will echo the other Casa Sanchez recommendations. Whenever I send hubby to the store, and 'tortilla chips' are on the list, he gets agitated worrying that he will get the wrong thing, which just illustrates how adament I am that they are better than your average bagged chip.
Available lots of places, including main-stream grocery stores, at least in the bay area....
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I agree - these are the best homestyle chips in the Bay Area. I know many Safeways in S.F. carry them. They can be a little salty sometimes, but you can rub off the salt.
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People on the board will think it is sacrilegious but I find the only chip for Guacamole, and I make Rick Bayless's recipe, is the Tostitos Scoops. After all what is a tortilla chip but a delivery mechanism for Salsa and Guacamole. and I find no better chip to do the job.
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I don't think that's sacrilegious but then again I like Santitas.
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Yes, I like Santitas, too. Though I don't think they taste like homemade.
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That's funny b/c my dissatisfaction w/ Santitas was partly what prompted my post. I impulsively picked up a bag since I didn't much like the obscure brand tortilla chips that I had tried at my local market. They looked basic and I figured they would be decent enough w/ my guac. Nope, way too salty, too hard, very acrid on the tongue. And I usually adore salt!
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Happened upon Santitas, by accident, at SoCal Albertson's and found them to have just the right body (don't break easily in the chucnky guac I make) and not that salty at all. These are 'white corn' restaurant style, not the yellow corn ones. That may make a difference.
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You're right, there are always a few variations w/in the same brand. Mine were regular-sized triangles of yellow corn tortilla chips. I've had the ones that you refer to, and while better and not as salty, I don't care for the texture or large size, and I do prefer yellow over white corn, in general.
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Abuelita and Nana's Cocina work for me, but they are made in Virgina and I am not sure how far they get.
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We get Abuelitas at Costco here in NYC...Not sure if it's what poster is looking for but I enjoy them...
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I second the recommendation. The Abuelita tortilla chips are locally made (in Virginia) and very fresh!
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we get abuelitas from costco also. we love them.
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agreed about nanas cocina. i live in virginia rite now and am thrilled to have them again.
havent had abuelitas.
in michigan we had garden fresh gourmet crisps which i enjoyed but i imagine they might be too salty for your tastes.
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More sacriledge---I think the best thing at Chili's (at least the Long Beach branch) is their chips. Really thin and light but hold up to a pico-de-gallo-weight salsa. Guac may break 'em, I don't know. But they'll sell you a big bag to take home. I've gone there just to get them as take-out.
I also love the chips at our local Superior Warehouse, a Mexican Food-4-Less kind of place. Have you tried these, Dommy?
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I second the Chili's rec. They were a little stingy last time with the salsa, but that didn't stop us from devouring the whole bag. You get a decent size bag for 2.50
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No, I haven't tried them! But I'll keep them in mind. My Mexican supermarket of choice in the city is Gonzalez Northgate on Pacific... They have the most amazing Supermarket Fried Chicken, makes me kinda glad they aren't TOO close to me... LOL!!
http://www.northgatemarkets.com/htm/l...
--Dommy!
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I'm glad you started this thread! Just last weekend I had friends over for mexican food, and had to call one of them last minute to pick up different tortilla chips because the ones I'd bought were so disappointing I feared it would ruin the whole meal.
I will check out some of the suggestions, but wanted to offer up one of my own. I like "Hava-chips" for snacking -- I think they are the best bagged corn chips. (The only reason I didn't buy them for my dinner last weekend is that they are pricey! A smallish bag is 1.79, and I would've probably needed 5 or 6 bags and couldn't justify spending over $10 on chips alone. But if it's just for you, it could work just fine! :-)
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The Trader Joe's Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips are very good.
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La Tapatia Tortilla Chips (Hayward, CA). These chips are AWESOME!! (Available at your local Safeway.) They're replacing those tired Doritos and the Doritos-knock-off that we've been purchasing.
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In the Chicago area, El Milagro. Salted, seasoned, or unsalted, it is a thick chip cut from a sixth of a corn tortilla and fried in corn oil. Strong corn flavor and smell, very glassy, brittle-like crunch. Great with sour cream, better baked under a layer of refried beans, chorizo, jalepeno, and cheddar (not queso? sacrilege!), then pulled from the oven and topped with ice cold crema.
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I'm partial to El Galindo chips from Austin, which are in the thin/crisp school (as opposed to the thick, stands-up-to-being-smothered-with-salsa-for-chilaquiles school). They come in a plain white corn, as well as flavors like lime & salt, which I like alot. Perfect for dips & guac like you want.
Carb Lover, if you can find them Santa Cruz, I highly recommend them. I can't get them in So Cal, so I have to have friends from Austin send a care package.
Link: http://professorsalt.blogspot.com
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Grrrr. I love the El Galindo chips (especially those lime and salt ones) but they disappeared from the Boston area soon after El Galindo was bought out (i can't remember by whom).
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I had to go home yesterday and look up what chips I currently have. Tia Rosa. They are fantastic. Very thin and crispy, lightly salted, perfect by themselves or with some garlicky guacamole. I usually look for them. I know them by the packaging, kinda a brown paper bag. If the store doesn't have them I think I go for El Milagro. They are really good too, but usually don't have enough salt.
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Drat!! You got me all excited! Tia Rosa are my new find for great supermarket corn tortillas! They always come out soft and flavorful... never crumbley and dry... Sadly, I just checked their site and they say the chips are only available in Texas... :P
--Dommy!
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Tia Rosa is a good brand of chip. I agree.
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I don't think this is going to help you since the chips I found that is the closest to homemade is actually "homemade" by this Mexican chain called "El Gallo Giro". It's made daily and sells out quick, sometimes within an hour. There are branches all throughout Southern California, but I know you are in Central/Northern.
Anyway, just thought I'd share this review and photo I did about a few months ago.
Link: http://elmomonster.blogspot.com/2005/...
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Thanks! You guys are awesome, as always! I haven't tried most of the ones that were mentioned. I've assembled my "to try" list and thought I'd include it for others as a reference. Of course, I may not be able to track all of these down, but I'll keep a look out. I listed locations where it has been confirmed to be found; however, other areas may have them. Sorry if your chip isn't listed (please don't take it personally), but either I probably can't find it, have already tried and ruled it out, or the description didn't suit me.
El Paraiso: usually found at Mexican grocers in SoCal
Casa Sanchez: found in NorCal, widely available including at Albertson's and Ralph's (salsas may also be worth a try)
Abuelita: from VA; has been found at Costco in NY
Nana's Cocina: from VA
"Hava-chips": more pricey but worth it
La Tapatia: from Hayward, CA; can be found at Safeway
El Milagro: thick chip; found in Chicago area
El Galindo: from Austin; worth having Texan friends send to you
Tia Rosa: brown paper bag packaging; found in TX
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Hi, Carblover.
A word on "Have-a" chips. I agree with DanaB that they are delicious (and, yes, they are pricey). They are worth seeking out, but...
IMO, these are chips designed to be eaten on their own (versus various dipping scenarios). They are fairly delicate and, more importantly, are flavored "with a dash of soy sauce", according to the package. You can definitely taste it, and it's what makes them so good on their own. This may, however, interfere with chip-guac balance, flavorwise.
As a newbie to home salsa-making, thanks to all for this great thread.
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Thanks for the heads up. While the Hava chips may not work w/ my guac, sounds like they could work w/ my mango salsa!! Hmmmm...
I didn't find much info on google about them, except that they're produced in Laguna Beach, I think. Where does one find them in LA or beyond?
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LA: Gelson's
Beyond: Wish I could tell you (TJ's perhaps?)
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In SF, I get them at Whole Foods + Rainbow. I have randomly seen them in larger markets in the "health food" section.
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I seem to recall these are made in Laguna Beach by Hare Krishnas. For reals.
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The Hava chips from Laguna Beach are by far the best tortilla chip I have ever had. Sadly they are only sold in Laguna beach :(
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Casa Sanchez salsas are definitely worth a try if you are not going to make your own salsa. I think they are pretty fresh and might spoil quickly, so it's best to eat them soon.
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Bought some at a Super Walmart in Colorado last night, so they're not just in Texas. Nice chip--very thin & crispy, light on the salt.
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There is a chip in So. Calif. that is real fried tortillas that haven't sold, Diegos sold at Max
foods in Montebello and Alhambra (don't know if there are other locations). They taste as tho' you fried them yourself.
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