It's pretty tough to find grocery store tortilla chips that are any good. Most commercial varieties just don't taste like corn to me. Instead, they taste artificial and stale.
My favorite chip to buy in grocery stores is Santitas Yellow Corn Chips. Sure, they're made by Frito Lay, but they also have a nice, thick texture that makes them good for scooping and a flavor that's not too far off from a freshly-fried chip made from real masa (corn meal that's used to make tortillas and chips). If you look at Santitas' ingredients, there are only three listed: Corn, oil, and salt. There are no preservatives added.
As an added bonus, Santitas are cheap. Just $2 for a one-pound bag.
Still, I recently found another chip that I really like at Publix. They're called Xochitl Totopos de Maiz, and they're actually very good.
The chips are light, thin, and crisp, and have great corn flavor. And
there are only three ingredients: Organic corn, organic oil, and sea
salt. They come in a few different varieties, including yellow corn,
blue corn, and some coated in lime and chili powder.
If you go to an authentic Mexican restaurant, the chips are thick
because they're made from corn tortillas that have been fried. Xochitl
chips aren't thick, but the flavor is right. I guess it comes down to
personal preference on which thickness of chip you prefer.
Xochitl is a Dallas-based company that makes a wide variety of salsa as
well as chips. I've never had their salsas, but the chipotle and
habanero varieties sound great. If Publix is carrying the chips,
there's a good chance they could get the salsas as well.
The only downside to Xochitl chips is the price. They cost $4.45 for a
12-ounce bag, more than double the price of Santintas. But they are
organic and are definitely a notch above in flavor. Give them a try if
you find them.
