Best mortadella, according to chefs
Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Evan Funke and Justine Sterling. Recommendations come from latimes.com, sporked.com and gamberorosso.it.
Meats · The ranking
- 1Top pick
Leoncini Mortadella Bologna IGP
Chosen by- Evan FunkeChef-owner, Felix · Los Angelesfelixla.com ↗
The mortadella Evan Funke serves at Mother Wolf, folded into La Mortazza with lemon ricotta. It’s Verona-made to the IGP rules and plain, with no pistachios, as Bologna purists insist. “I f—ing love mortadella… it’s one of the most underrated salumi,” Funke told the LA Times. Sold sliced at Italian delis and online.
- 2
Mastro San Daniele Style Mortadella
Chosen by- Justine SterlingEditor, Sporkedsporked.com ↗
Sporked’s best of the best (10/10) after tasting pre-sliced and deli-sliced mortadellas side by side: huge slices with whole peppercorns, “a blend of savory, meaty, piquant, and fatty flavors.” Sterling: “If you see this mortadella at your grocery store, deli, or specialty Italian store… get it. It’s the best mortadella to buy.” Sold at deli counters across the US.
- 3
Levoni Mortadella
Chosen by- Gambero Rosso tasting panel (blind tasting of 60)
Levoni’s Mortadella Oro tied for first among classic artisan mortadellas in Gambero Rosso’s blind tasting of 60 at its academy in Italy: “very classic, inviting, fragrant,” with evenly spread peppercorns and fat, a full, round flavor and a “particularly soft and meaty” texture. A family-run producer near Mantua since 1911; its Italian-made mortadella (with or without pistachios) is sold sliced in the US at Eataly, Heinen’s and other stores on Instacart.
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Questions, answered
- What is the best mortadella, according to chefs?
- MyTastr’s top pick is Leoncini Mortadella Bologna IGP, chosen by Evan Funke (Mother Wolf, Felix). The mortadella Evan Funke serves at Mother Wolf, folded into La Mortazza with lemon ricotta. It’s Verona-made to the IGP rules and plain, with no pistachios, as Bologna purists insist. “I f—ing love mortadella… it’s one of the most underrated salumi,” Funke told the LA Times. Sold sliced at Italian delis and online. Source: latimes.com ↗
- What are the other top picks for mortadella?
- No. 2 is Mastro San Daniele Style Mortadella, chosen by Justine Sterling (Sporked). No. 3 is Levoni Mortadella, chosen by Gambero Rosso tasting panel (blind tasting of 60). 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.