15 Store-Bought Tortilla Chips, Ranked Worst To Best

Whether you are making nachos or simply looking for a superior dipping ingredient, tortilla chips are here for the win. They are salty and crispy, and the best of them are sturdy too, so basically everything you could possibly want from a top-notch dipping instrument. However, there are so many tortilla chips on store shelves that it can be hard to determine which ones to buy. I know I've definitely spent way too much time staring at the wall of options. That's all in the past now, though.

I sampled tortilla chips from 15 brands to see how they measure up in a head-to-head comparison. I'll do a deep dive into my methodology at the end, but you should know I ranked each of the brands I tried based on salt content, structure, dip potential, and overall flavor. I also stuck to mostly white corn tortilla chips (a couple yellow corn chips made their way in as well), as well as straightforward chips without any added flavoring in order to level the playing field. Keep reading to find out what my taste-testing foray taught me so you can stick to the tastiest brands from here on.

You can find Signature Select White Corn Tortilla Chips at Safeway and Albertsons, but if I were you, I'd leave them on the shelf. Out of the 15 brands I tried, these regrettably came in dead last. The best thing about these chips is that they are cheap (about $2.29 per bag), but considering the steep competition, that simply won't cut it.

As a whole, Signature Select White Corn Tortilla Chips are dreadfully bland. The bag says they are flavored with sea salt, but it's more of an afterthought or a very light dusting at best. The overall structure of these chips isn't bad, thanks to a decent thickness. The size is on the larger side too, so they'd be good for loading up with other ingredients, but these chips are not going to impress anyone — that's for sure. Oh well, it can only get better from here. Next!

At just $1.98, Great Value Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips are the cheapest bag of the bunch. However, that's not nearly enough to save them from second-to-last-place. The best way to describe them is boring. Sorry, not sorry, Walmart. I did detect a touch of classic flavor, hence their ranking above Signature Select, but I'd never willingly buy these at the store. Okay, maybe if they were the only ones available, but that'll never happen.

The thickness of Great Value's Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips is on par to withstand a chunky dip. Even so, you better hope it is a flavorful one because these chips are bland at best. There wasn't nearly enough salt, and the flavor screamed low quality. The quality was expected, but the abysmally low salt content surprised me because Walmart sells this same chip in a Lightly Salted version. If you didn't know any better, that's what you'd think the regular restaurant-style ones are, so I can only imagine how much of a letdown those would be.

Sometimes organic products are worth a few extra bucks, but sadly, this isn't one of those times. Late July Organic Sea Salt Tortilla Chips are seriously lacking in the flavor department. There isn't nearly enough salt for my preference, and they lack any semblance of toastiness. They remain bland overall. The blistering on the surface of the chips is okay, but they are pretty thin, so they don't hold up in a heavier dip as well as I'd like. To be fair, the bag does say "Thin & Crispy," but if you're looking for the ultimate dipping chip, this isn't it.

When you buy Late July Organic Sea Salt Tortilla Chips from a brick-and-mortar grocery store, they'll run you between $5.29 and $5.99, but they are much cheaper on Amazon ($3.99). The lower price definitely makes them more appealing but still, I'll pass.

365 (by Whole Foods) Organic White Corn Tortilla Chips are another organic product that didn't stand a chance against the competition. They're priced at $3.49 on Amazon, so lower than Late July, but again, I found these chips to be somewhat bland (at least comparatively). I did pick up more of a fresh corn flavor, but not by much, and the salt content isn't awful. Even so, they are far from a top recommendation.

These chips are right in the middle regarding thickness, so they won't let you down with thick dips. They are also small enough that you don't have to struggle to cram an entire chip into your mouth. Still, you'll want a super flavorful dip or a store-bought salsa upgraded with fresh ingredients to make up for the lackluster taste. Try 'em if you want, but they are not great. Thank you, next!

My 11th place ranking may come from a well-known brand, Mission, but unfortunately, its Tortilla Strips didn't have what it takes to outshine the other products on this list. Are the chips, excuse me — strips — bad? Not at all. They have a classic taste and a structure suited for dipping. The strips even have a touch of blistering (something I really like). The main drawback for me once again revolved around a lower presence of salt. I was surprisingly disappointed when I compared the taste to all the upcoming products. Bummer.

Mission Tortilla Strips are only $3.19 on Amazon, so the price isn't bad. The shape is perfect for reaching the bottom of a store-bought queso or salsa jar too. Still, you may want to think about upgrading your dip of choice because these chips are only worthy of a supporting role. There's no question Mission Tortilla Strips are better than the organic and generic grocery store picks that ranked lower, but don't rely on them to be the main event regarding flavor.

Trader Joe's is one of the best groceries to buy store-brand products. Not only does it have a ton of unique options, but most of its products are flipping tasty — this includes the White Corn Truly Tortilla Chips. I may have awarded them only a 10th-place ranking, but this is where my list takes a turn for the better. Plus, the competition is just too stiff for them to rank higher.

Trader Joe's Tortilla Chips are big and thick. In fact, they are the sturdiest chips I tried, so they are ideal for heavy dips like guacamole or pico de gallo. They are also large enough to load up, but with that comes a disadvantage: the inability to fit an entire chip in your mouth without making a mess. Oh, well. The toasty, salty flavor is better than good — way better than Safeway, Whole Foods, and Walmart brands, that's for sure. At $2.99 a bag, I'd say it is a solid chip for a solid price.

Coming in next is Tacupeto Handmade Corn Chips. While not bad chips overall, they had some issues with my criteria. For starters, a bag costs $4.99, so they are relatively expensive. Secondly, while they are somewhat sturdy, they aren't thick enough to hold up in a dense guacamole. The overall structure doesn't live up to my blistering expectations either.

On a more positive note, Tacupeto chips are pretty tasty. They have a good amount of salt without going overboard, and there's a hint of toasted flavor at the end. In addition, the bag proudly states they're handmade and don't have any preservatives, so they have a few things going for them. In the end, though, that didn't allow them to clinch higher than ninth. Will they get the job done? Absolutely, but that's not enough of an endorsement for me to spend so much. Moving on.

At first crunch, On The Border Café Style Tortilla Chips were deliciously salty — finally, yum! Upon tasting again (how could I not go back for more), I detected a pleasant toastiness and mouthfeel as well. Unlike many of the previous chips, these ones packed flavor and had a nice amount of blistering. A bag typically costs between $3.59 and $4.48, and while I tend to prefer white corn tortilla chips, these are an excellent yellow corn option (especially if you find them on the lower end of the price range).

In addition, as one of the sturdiest chips on the list (Trader Joe's beat them by a smidge), I have no reservations about buying On The Border tortilla chips in the future. They won't let you down when it comes to dense guacamole and other dips. The chips are also quite large, so they are perfect for nachos and more flavorful chilaquiles. I'd even go so far as to say they are the best tortilla chips for nachos.

Next up are Xochitl Organic White Corn Chips. At first glance, they look like a gourmet product. I'm not sure if I thought that because I made a special trip to World Market to find them, but the packaging looked legit. Regardless, after tasting Xochitl's chips, I was instantly drawn to the flavor. It's salty, super toasty, and seems fresh as well. I really enjoyed the nice saltiness left on my lips after munching.

Even with all the good things about Xochitl's chips, they only locked down seventh place. Why? First, they cost $4.99 at World Market ($3.81 on Amazon). Second, they are quite thin, so they didn't stand a chance in the thick avocado-infused queso I attempted to dip them in. Third, the blistering on the surface was minimal at best. I will say they are infinitely better than the previous organic products. If a thin and crispy chip is your thing, these could be a go, but seventh place is where they stay for me.

La Banderita Fresh Cantina Style Thin Tortilla Chips are nothing to scoff at. They have a fresher taste than many of the other products I sampled, and I don't have any complaints about saltiness either. The salt doesn't do all of the talking, but it's definitely in the conversation — perfect. Admittedly, there isn't a ton of blistering, but that's just me being picky.

The main drawback to La Banderita Fresh Cantina Style Thin Tortilla Chips is that they are super thin. They may be crispy, but you can forget about them conquering a chunky dip. If thin and crispy is your style, though, by all means, grab a bag next time you're at the store. In fact, the chips are eerily similar to Xotichl, but thanks to their significantly lower price, they were an obvious choice for sixth place. At about $2.97 a bag (that's $2 cheaper than Xotichl), how could I not rank them higher?

I'll be the first to admit I was shocked Tostitos Restaurant Style Original Tortilla Chips made their way into my top five, but you know what? They earned it fair and square. They hit all the trademarks of a delicious tortilla chip, no question. They are extra salty, crispy, and toasty and have a lot of blistering. Their flavor had some nostalgic appeal for me as well. Actually, the salt content is off the charts — it puts many of the other chips to shame in this regard. They would be perfect for a bland store-bought guacamole that needs a helping hand in the flavor department.

One of the reasons Tostitos didn't rank higher is because it's the second most expensive product I tried. It may be the tortilla chip brand we all know and love, but that doesn't justify paying $5.29 a bag ($5.49 on Amazon), even if you can often get a larger bag for this price. In addition, the blistering created most of the bulk in the structure. While this gave me a fantastic mouthfeel, it didn't hold up in a chunky guacamole. Doubling the chips up certainly helped, but they were already fairly large, so crumbs were unavoidable. These chips would also be great for making nachos.

Legend has it that the invention of tortilla chips was born out of a way to repurpose deformed tortillas and minimize food waste, but Calidad Corn Tortilla Chips prove they are in a category of their own. Simply put, they're delicious and easily one of the best yellow corn chips around. Not only do they deliver a nice toasty flavor, but they also have plenty of drool-worthy salt. The overall texture is well above average too.

Calidad Corn Tortilla Chips are nicely sized and sturdy enough to withstand a thick dip, but thanks to ample blistering you don't bite into a dense chip. As a result, I'd say they are quite possibly the best tortilla chips for dipping. To top it all off, Calidad chips are priced just right. A bag will run you about $3.19 on Amazon, but you can often get one for less at your local grocery store. I'm not typically the biggest fan of yellow corn tortilla chips, but these had me reevaluating my preferences. 

It's finally time for the top three, and the first product to earn one of the most coveted spots on this list is Santitas White Corn Tortilla Chips. They are deliciously salty and toasty, and the texture does not disappoint either. The surface of each chip features ample blistering, and it helps create a sturdier effect overall. However, these chips are a touch on the thinner side if you don't count the appealing bubbles. That doesn't mean they aren't good for dipping though — I tested them (obviously), and they are.

Oh yeah, Santitas White Corn Tortilla Chips are sized right too. They aren't the perfect bite-size chip, but they are big enough to scoop up lots of dip. In addition, the $2.99 price boldly printed on each bag of Santitas isn't false advertising. This is already an excellent price, but sometimes you can find them even cheaper (they're $2.79 on Amazon). Winning! Easily one of my favorite chips, Santitas is a no-brainer for anyone who wants a bit of everything from their tortilla dippers.

The runner-up for the best store-bought tortilla chip is none other than Juantonio's Gluten-Free Tortilla Chips! When I bit into one, I instantly knew this chip was going places. I got lots of fresh, toasty flavor, and the salt level was spot-on. It was right in the forefront but not overbearing. Delish! Plus, the chips were more than sturdy enough to scoop up thick, chunky dips. They also had plenty of blistering, which provides added crunch and a lighter mouthfeel.

Another great thing about Juantonio's Tortilla Chips is that they are slightly smaller than your average triangle. What this means is I could easily stuff an entire chip in my mouth and avoid any mess. Score! I'll admit, these chips are not priced the best. A bag costs about $4.99, but you know what? This time I actually feel like they are worth the price hike, especially if you consider that you get a slightly larger bag of chips.

The award for the absolute best store-bought tortilla chips goes to a product that needs no introduction: Mi Niña White Corn Tortilla Chips! Just kidding. They totally need an introduction. In fact, I'd never even heard of them before I grabbed a bag from the store. However, I sure am glad I gave them a second look and included them in my roundup because they are phenomenal on all fronts.

Just like Mary Poppins, Mi Niña White Corn Tortilla Chips are practically perfect in every way. I was skeptical when I saw the bag labeled "just the best tortilla chip," but, man, did these chips live up to that proclamation. When I took my first bite, I thought to myself, finally, there's the authentic flavor I've been craving! Not only were they fresh-tasting, but they were toasty and deliciously salty. They had an ideal sturdy, blistered texture as well. Oh man, I was in love. I could easily see them being served in a restaurant. Regrettably, at $5.99 a bag from my local store, they are the most expensive chips I tried, but you can buy them for slightly cheaper on Amazon ($4.99), and they are so worth it. Go get some!

As a lifelong lover of tortilla chips, I jumped at the chance to sample these 15 products. However, ranking them was not as straightforward as you might think. What makes the best tortilla chip? For me, the ideal corn chip is thick enough to scoop up plenty of dip, and it has to have a good display of crunchy blistering on the surface. It also provides a fresh, toasty flavor backed up by plenty of salty goodness. Before tasting so many, I would have said I preferred white corn, but a few yellow ones won me over. 

With my preferences in mind, I ranked the products based on salt content, structure, dip potential, and overall flavor. I also factored in cost, but the prices listed may differ depending on where you live and the bag sizes vary — we aren't buying in bulk though, so the bag price is what it is. In the end, there were quite a few top performers, and honestly, I could see myself buying any of the tortilla chips in the top 10 again. The top five will be in heavy rotation though.