Best hamburger & hot dog buns, according to chefs
Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Kyle Taylor, Dylan Clay, Golan Haiem, Joe Sevier and 2 more. Recommendations come from simplyrecipes.com, epicurious.com, allrecipes.com and realsimple.com and 1 other sources.
Bread & Bakery · The ranking
- 1Top pick
Martin’s Potato Rolls (and Long Potato Rolls)
Chosen by- Kyle TaylorHE COOKS
- Dylan Clay
- Golan Haiem
Also chosen by- Joe Sevier · Writer, Epicurious source ↗
- Andrew Black · Counter Service source ↗
- Three chefs source ↗
All three experts Simply Recipes asked picked Martin’s: soft and slightly sweet, and squishy enough to meld with the patty. It’s Shake Shack’s bun, and the winner of Epicurious’ blind tasting. Chef Andrew Black picks the long rolls for hot dogs: “very soft and slightly sweet.”
- 2
Whole Foods Market Kitchen Brioche Burger Buns
Chosen by- Lee MushoSerious Eats
The top-scoring bun of the 17 in Serious Eats’ 2026 blind tasting: “sturdy but not heavy.” One taster: “I can taste that it’s from fermented dough.” Whole Foods bakery only.
- 3
Schmidt’s Old Tyme Potato Sandwich Rolls
Chosen by- Joe SevierWriter, Epicurious
A very close second to Martin’s in Epicurious’ blind tasting of potato buns, and Sevier’s own personal favorite. From Schmidt Baking, a family bakery in Baltimore.
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Questions, answered
- What is the best hamburger & hot dog buns, according to chefs?
- MyTastr’s top pick is Martin’s Potato Rolls (and Long Potato Rolls), chosen by Kyle Taylor (HE COOKS); Dylan Clay; Golan Haiem. All three experts Simply Recipes asked picked Martin’s: soft and slightly sweet, and squishy enough to meld with the patty. It’s Shake Shack’s bun, and the winner of Epicurious’ blind tasting. Chef Andrew Black picks the long rolls for hot dogs: “very soft and slightly sweet.” Source: simplyrecipes.com ↗
- What are the other top picks for hamburger & hot dog buns?
- No. 2 is Whole Foods Market Kitchen Brioche Burger Buns, chosen by Lee Musho (Serious Eats). No. 3 is Schmidt’s Old Tyme Potato Sandwich Rolls, chosen by Joe Sevier (Epicurious). Each card above links to the original source.
- How does MyTastr choose these picks?
- Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.