Best herring, according to chefs
Two picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from New York magazine, The New York Times and Ryan Burk. Recommendations come from nytimes.com, nymag.com and heavytable.com.
Fish · The ranking
- 1Top pick
Russ & Daughters Herring in Cream Sauce
Chosen byAlso chosen byFrom the century-old Lower East Side appetizing shop, which re-brines its herring and makes its own sauces. In its survey of the city’s herring, The New York Times called the quality “extremely high”: the sour cream sauce was “especially good, with no sweetness,” and the fillets were “as firm as they can be in this preparation.” New York magazine named Russ & Daughters Café the city’s best herring. Ships nationwide; the plain pickled herring with onions is the wine-sauce-style alternative.
- 2
Ingebretsen’s / Olsen Fish Co. Herring in Wine Sauce (or Sour Cream)
Chosen by- Ryan BurkHeavy Table
Minneapolis’s Scandinavian deli sells herring packed for it by the Olsen Fish Company from North Atlantic (Icelandic) herring, cured in a traditional wine sauce of vinegar, wine, sugar, mustard seed, fennel and sliced onion. Heavy Table: “few do it better.” The fish is “tender but not mushy, substantial but not chewy” and “very nearly melts in your mouth.” The sour cream version is “absolutely amazing,” with the sea and the sweet brine “brought harmoniously together.” Brand-level pick: Olsen also sells its own wine- and cream-sauce jars.
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Questions, answered
- What is the best herring, according to chefs?
- MyTastr’s top pick is Russ & Daughters Herring in Cream Sauce, chosen by The New York Times; New York magazine (Best of New York). From the century-old Lower East Side appetizing shop, which re-brines its herring and makes its own sauces. In its survey of the city’s herring, The New York Times called the quality “extremely high”: the sour cream sauce was “especially good, with no sweetness,” and the fillets were “as firm as they can be in this preparation.” New York magazine named Russ & Daughters Café the city’s best herring. Ships nationwide; the plain pickled herring with onions is the wine-sauce-style alternative. Source: nytimes.com ↗
- What are the other top picks for herring?
- No. 2 is Ingebretsen’s / Olsen Fish Co. Herring in Wine Sauce (or Sour Cream), chosen by Ryan Burk (Heavy Table). 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.