I Tried 7 Corn Chip Brands, and Fritos Has Some Serious Competition

Some products are so iconic, their names become replacements for entire categories—think Kleenex for tissues or Q-Tips for cotton swabs. In the chip aisle, Fritos hold a similar status.

Launched in 1932, Fritos were the first mass-marketed corn chips, created by Texas confectioner C.E. Doolin. The exact origin story varies: according to some accounts, Doolin bought a bag of fried corn chips from a San Antonio café owner, who then sold him the recipe. Others say Doolin responded to a newspaper ad by Gustavo Olguin, a man selling his recipe, equipment, and customer accounts. Either way, Doolin brought the idea home to his mother’s kitchen, where his family began frying and selling the chips, eventually turning them into a nationwide sensation.

Fritos have also endured because of their versatility. Sturdier than tortilla or potato chips, they’re perfect for dipping and adding crunch to dishes like chili, casseroles, and Frito pie. While flavors like Chili Cheese and Flamin’ Hot BBQ have gained fans, the original corn flavor remains a pantry staple.

But how do store-brand versions compare to the original? We set out to rank major grocery store corn chips alongside the classic Fritos. Here’s how they stack up.

The Best Corn Chips, Ranked

7th Place: Schnucks Corn Chips

Only available in scoop form, these were a little stale and puffy—kind of like eating salty shipping peanuts. Perfectly sturdy for dipping but not great for casual noshing.

6th Place: Clancy’s Corn Chips

Aldi’s generic corn chips are super salty and troublingly brittle, which is fine for sodium-craved munchers or someone looking to liven up a bland bowl of soup. But they’re not so great if you want to use them as a vehicle for dip.

5th Place: Hy-Vee Corn Chips

These chips actually do the best job of any competitor in simulating the size and ribbon shape of Original Fritos. But unfortunately, somebody went overboard with the salt shaker here, too, overwhelming any rich corn flavor.

4th Place: Kroger Corn Chips

The nation’s largest supermarket chain weighs in with a strong showing. These are wonderfully crunchy chips with a nice touch of salt—but not so much sodium that it overwhelms a subtle corn flavor. A utility player good for dipping, topping, folding in, and eating on their own.

3rd Place: Trader Joe’s Organic Corn Chip Dippers

Trader Joe’s is known for the quality of its private-label products, and this entry doesn’t disappoint. Organic yellow corn, organic vegetable oil, and sea salt combine for a rich, salt-kissed crunch. And while these dippers are wide and strong enough to scoop even the chunkiest guac, they are still narrow enough to pass as Fritos. But at 160 calories per single service of just nine chips, you are paying for the decadence.

2nd Place: Great Value Crunchy Corn Chips

I’ll admit, I was surprised by this bag by Walmart’s private label. It comes the closest of any I’ve tried to matching the Original Fritos. The shape, texture, crunch, and salt are all present. It’s well-equipped for dipping or sprinkling in a bowl of tortilla soup. The corn flavor is almost there. And for less than half the price of the name brand, you can’t do much better.

1st Place: Fritos Original Corn Chips

But if you have the extra couple bucks, stick with name-brand Fritos—and if you don’t have the money, maybe try cutting elsewhere on your grocery list. Because there’s really no beating the original. In a blind test against all these other chips, I picked Fritos every time. They’re just that good.