I Tried 7 Corn Tortillas, and This Is the One I’ll Buy From Now On

A corn tortilla has a big job to do. It has to somehow taste good, but not so good that it overpowers the flavors of the ingredients it holds, and it has to be strong. Strong enough to transport a multitude of often wet ingredients to your mouth without the whole thing falling apart. Could any store-bought corn tortilla meet these demands? I tried seven varieties, and I found one (and a pretty good runner-up) that exceeded my expectations.

How I Chose the Tortillas

As you may remember from the flour tortilla taste test, I live in Chicago. It’s a city full of Mexican grocery stores packed to the brim with tortillas from small, local businesses. Those are by far my favorite. But I know you don’t all live here with me, and it can be hard to find the time to whip up a batch of homemade tortillas, so it was important that I tested corn tortillas that you can find in most stores nationwide. I ended up with seven different brands for testing.

How I Tested the Tortillas

I judged each corn tortilla based on three factors: pliability, texture, and flavor. A good corn tortilla should be pliable, able to bend or roll without breaking or tearing. It should provide a bit of chew, without being overly thick or thin. Finally, corn tortillas should be rather neutral in flavor, but still provide a subtle taste of corn. 

I warmed each tortilla in a hot cast-iron skillet and sampled them both plain and filled. The filled version included black beans, salsa, cheese, and lettuce and were all constructed the same way.

The Best Store-Bought Corn Tortillas, Ranked

7th Place: Pueblo Linda (Aldi)

The bottom three on this list fall into the “nothing-to-be-excited-about” category. There’s nothing really wrong with them, but that definitely isn't a criteria for a good corn tortilla. Aldi’s tortilla is chewy and rather flavorless, but it did hold up to fillings well, especially after warming on the hot skillet. 

6th Place: Trader Joe’s

I appreciate the simplicity of these tortillas made with only white corn, water, and lime, but like the Aldi brand, there’s nothing truly special about them. They performed well, holding up to heat and taco fillings, but they didn’t add or subtract to the flavor experience. I’d save them for enchiladas or turn them into tortilla chips.

5th Place: Guerrero

These corn tortillas were slightly thicker and chewier than others on the list, so if you like those features in your tortilla, you might want to give them a try. I prefer a thinner version with a less chewy bite, so I positioned them in 5th place. The tortilla was rather bland, but definitely flexible and able to hold up even when topped with wet ingredients.

4th Place: Nuevo Leon

I’m starting to sound like a record on repeat, but again, there isn’t anything impressive about these tortillas. They were relatively bland and lacked corn flavor. Like the others, they were strong and pliable, so maybe I’d use them for quesadillas or fry them up for tostadas.

3rd Place: La Tortilla Factory

These were the firmest and chewiest of all the tortillas. While I didn’t love those attributes, I did love that I could actually taste their namesake ingredient, corn! This wasn’t enough to push them into second or first place, but I’d buy them again to use for chimichangas or other rolled and sauced dishes. 

2nd Place: Mission

Mission’s corn tortillas were the biggest, size-wise, of the bunch, making them perfect for taco-lovers who want extra space for more ingredients. The flavor was subtle and didn’t interfere with other ingredients, which I liked. It also held up incredibly well (no ripping or tearing), and I loved the texture once warmed. I only wish they came in a 12-count versus 10-count package.

1st Place: Mi Rancho

My winner met all of my expectations! Mi Rancho corn tortillas had the perfect amount of corn flavor and performed the best when it came to pliability and texture. They crisped up nicely in my hot skillet, but were still flexible enough to hold my fillings without breaking or falling apart. These tortillas also come closest to the local brands I love. They’re organic and therefore a bit more expensive than others on the list, so save them for tacos or other meals where you’ll want the full tortilla experience.