Best sourdough bread, according to chefs
Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Kate Ramos, Patty Castillo, Andris Lagsdin, Henry Hill and 3 more. Recommendations come from simplyrecipes.com, sporked.com, tastingtable.com and thekitchn.com and 1 other sources.
Bread & Bakery · The ranking
- 1Top pick
La Brea Bakery Sourdough Loaf (Country White Sourdough)
Chosen by- Kate RamosCookbook author, ¡Hola! Jalapeño
- Henry HillChef, Hill’s Research Kitchen
- Andris LagsdinPizza chef & founder, Baking Steel
- Patty CastilloCreator, @traderjoesaficionadoinstagram.com ↗
Also chosen by- Justine Sterling · Editor, Sporked source ↗
All four food pros Simply Recipes asked (November 2025) named the same loaf. Ramos: “The crust is just the right amount of crisp, and the inside stays soft and chewy… available at pretty much every grocery store.” Hill picks it for “texture and tang”; pizza chef Lagsdin calls it “a great all-around sourdough for sandwiches and toasting.” Five ingredients, from a starter dating to 1989. Sporked’s best of the best in a tasting of 17 sourdoughs, 10/10. Sold at Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway and other chains.
- 2
The Rustik Oven Bold California Sourdough
Chosen by- Jet TilaChef, Food Network
Tila, reading off his own Instacart order: “Here’s my most frequent ordered sourdough bread… it’s a great store-bought brand, and it’s nationally available.” Tasting Table’s Judy Moreno put it second of 17 supermarket sourdoughs: “a bold tang that’s followed by a softer, nuttier, almost carbonated taste,” calling the loaf “a strong contender for the best sourdough bread.” The Kitchn ranked Rustik Oven’s sourdough second of five for its moist crumb and flavor, though its crust was softer than it should be. A sliced bread-aisle loaf sold at national grocers.
- 3
izzio artisan bakery San Francisco Style Sourdough
Chosen by- Rania BataynehNutritionist & recipe developer · author, The One One One Diet
- Justine SterlingEditor, Sporkedsporked.com ↗
Also chosen by- Justine Sterling · Editor, Sporked source ↗
A naturally leavened loaf of flour, water and sea salt, with no vinegar added for sourness. Batayneh: “naturally tangy flavor, porous crumb and beautifully caramelized crust,” with “a homemade taste perfect for morning toast, a standout sandwich or a slice of French toast.” Sporked’s pick for a crowd (7/10): a long loaf with nice air pockets that “makes a great piece of toast.” Sold through national grocers and Instacart.
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Questions, answered
- What is the best sourdough bread, according to chefs?
- MyTastr’s top pick is La Brea Bakery Sourdough Loaf (Country White Sourdough), chosen by Kate Ramos (chef, Kate’s Best Recipes); Henry Hill (Hill’s Research Kitchen); Andris Lagsdin (Baking Steel); Patty Castillo (recipe developer). All four food pros Simply Recipes asked (November 2025) named the same loaf. Ramos: “The crust is just the right amount of crisp, and the inside stays soft and chewy… available at pretty much every grocery store.” Hill picks it for “texture and tang”; pizza chef Lagsdin calls it “a great all-around sourdough for sandwiches and toasting.” Five ingredients, from a starter dating to 1989. Sporked’s best of the best in a tasting of 17 sourdoughs, 10/10. Sold at Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway and other chains. Source: simplyrecipes.com ↗
- What are the other top picks for sourdough bread?
- No. 2 is The Rustik Oven Bold California Sourdough, chosen by Jet Tila (chef, Food Network). No. 3 is izzio artisan bakery San Francisco Style Sourdough, chosen by Rania Batayneh (recipe developer, nutritionist); Justine Sterling (Sporked). 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.