Best smoked salmon, according to chefs
Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Joshua Russ Tupper, Dana McMahan, Kate Shannon Levine and Justine Sterling. Recommendations come from savingseafood.org, eatthis.com, americastestkitchen.com and sporked.com.
Fish · The ranking
- 1Top pick
Acme Smoked Nova Salmon
Chosen by- Joshua Russ TupperRuss & Daughters
The Brooklyn smokehouse behind New York’s great appetizing counters: Barney Greengrass, Zabar’s, Russ & Daughters and Shelsky’s all buy at least some of their smoked salmon from Acme (each to its own spec: “Our suppliers do special stuff for us,” says Russ & Daughters’ Joshua Russ Tupper). The packaged Nova is the supermarket version, smokier and saltier than the Scottish style.
- 2
Spence & Co. Traditional Scottish Style Smoked Salmon
Chosen by- Dana McMahanWriter, Eat This, Not That!
Also chosen by- Kate Shannon Levine · Writer, America’s Test Kitchen source ↗
The only brand in McMahan’s 10-brand tasting to get a unanimous thumbs-up for its tidy, evenly colored slices with “nice pushback.” America’s Test Kitchen’s longtime winner: “silky,” “delicate” and “lush,” the thinnest slices in its lineup, cured with salt alone.
- 3
Santa Barbara Smokehouse (incl. Kvarøy Arctic rope-hung)
Chosen by- Justine SterlingEditor, Sporkedsporked.com ↗
- Dana McMahanWriter, Eat This, Not That!
Also chosen by- Dana McMahan · Writer, Eat This, Not That! source ↗
Small-batch, open-fire smoked after a sea-salt and brown-sugar cure. Sporked’s runner-up (9.5/10): “silky with a great smokehouse flavor.” McMahan’s tasters liked it even more than Spence: “I cannot honestly believe how good this is,” and the rope-hung Kvarøy Arctic salmon the same smokehouse makes was “perfect.”
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Questions, answered
- What is the best smoked salmon, according to chefs?
- MyTastr’s top pick is Acme Smoked Nova Salmon, chosen by Joshua Russ Tupper (Russ & Daughters). The Brooklyn smokehouse behind New York’s great appetizing counters: Barney Greengrass, Zabar’s, Russ & Daughters and Shelsky’s all buy at least some of their smoked salmon from Acme (each to its own spec: “Our suppliers do special stuff for us,” says Russ & Daughters’ Joshua Russ Tupper). The packaged Nova is the supermarket version, smokier and saltier than the Scottish style. Source: savingseafood.org ↗
- What are the other top picks for smoked salmon?
- No. 2 is Spence & Co. Traditional Scottish Style Smoked Salmon, chosen by Dana McMahan (Eat This, Not That!). No. 3 is Santa Barbara Smokehouse (incl. Kvarøy Arctic rope-hung), chosen by Justine Sterling (Sporked); Dana McMahan (Eat This, Not That!). 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.