MyTastr

Best fresh salsa & pico de gallo, according to chefs

Two picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Eric See, Barbara Sibley and Luis Herrera. Recommendations come from epicurious.com.

International Pantry · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Jalapa Jar Fresh Salsa (Brooklyn or Austin Blend)

    Chosen by
    The fresh-salsa standout of Epicurious’ blind chef tasting: “really the Jalapa Jar was the most fresh flavored one that we had by far.” Roasted, spicy and made with real lime juice. One chef called it “the first salsa that I have that is actually like a little fiesta”: “It definitely has the balance and it definitely hits all the criteria.” Refrigerated tubs at Whole Foods nationwide.
    Where to buy · wholefoodsmarket.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: epicurious.com ↗
  2. 2

    Ithaca Cold-Crafted Salsa (Mild or Medium)

    Chosen by
    • Epicurious Taste Panel chefs (Eric See, Luis Herrera, Barbara Sibley)
    The same blind panel’s other fresh favorite, brighter than any jar: “I like this one ’cause there is a freshness to it… I taste the onions, I taste the tomatoes… it’s bright,” with real cilantro stems and a hint of fresh garlic. Caveat: it’s mild, and one chef wished it used serranos instead of red jalapeños. Cold-pressed (HPP) instead of cooked. At Target, Whole Foods and Kroger.
    Where to buy · target.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: epicurious.com ↗

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Want a shelf-stable jar? Best jarred salsa →

Questions, answered

What is the best fresh salsa & pico de gallo, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Jalapa Jar Fresh Salsa (Brooklyn or Austin Blend), chosen by Eric See (chef, Epicurious Taste Panel); Luis Herrera (chef, Epicurious Taste Panel); Barbara Sibley (chef, La Palapa, Epicurious Taste Panel). The fresh-salsa standout of Epicurious’ blind chef tasting: “really the Jalapa Jar was the most fresh flavored one that we had by far.” Roasted, spicy and made with real lime juice. One chef called it “the first salsa that I have that is actually like a little fiesta”: “It definitely has the balance and it definitely hits all the criteria.” Refrigerated tubs at Whole Foods nationwide. Source: epicurious.com ↗
What are the other top picks for fresh salsa & pico de gallo?
No. 2 is Ithaca Cold-Crafted Salsa (Mild or Medium), chosen by Epicurious Taste Panel chefs (Eric See, Luis Herrera, Barbara Sibley). Only two picks cleared the bar so far. 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.

The tasters behind this ranking

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