MyTastr

Best relish, according to chefs

Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Joe Sevier, Samantha Maxwell, Erin Zimmer and Emily Johnson. Recommendations come from epicurious.com, tastingtable.com and seriouseats.com.

Condiments · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Wickles Original Relish

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Won Epicurious’s blind tasting of 21 relishes (2019): sweet “but not too sweet,” with garlic, turmeric and a mild kick. Maxwell ranked it #1 too (2024): “it really isn’t even a competition,” made with real sugar and cider vinegar.
    Where to buy · wickles.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: epicurious.com ↗
  2. 2

    Heinz Sweet Relish

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Won Serious Eats’ blind tasting of eight relishes: “Tastes like relish!”, “perfectly balanced with the hot dog,” with “tons of crunch.” A classic mass-market exception; Maxwell ranked it #3 for its crisp snap.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: seriouseats.com ↗
  3. 3

    Claussen Sweet Relish

    Chosen by
    Epicurious’s pick for celery lovers in its 21-relish tasting: a big celery-seed note and the best crunch, kept in the refrigerated case. Johnson “would eat this on its own with a spoon.”
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: epicurious.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best relish, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Wickles Original Relish, chosen by Joe Sevier (Epicurious); Samantha Maxwell (Tasting Table). Won Epicurious’s blind tasting of 21 relishes (2019): sweet “but not too sweet,” with garlic, turmeric and a mild kick. Maxwell ranked it #1 too (2024): “it really isn’t even a competition,” made with real sugar and cider vinegar. Source: epicurious.com ↗
What are the other top picks for relish?
No. 2 is Heinz Sweet Relish, chosen by Erin Zimmer (Serious Eats); Samantha Maxwell (Tasting Table). No. 3 is Claussen Sweet Relish, chosen by Emily Johnson (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.

The tasters behind this ranking

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