We Tasted 10 Store-Bought Pita Breads, and the Winner Was Unanimous

You might know pita bread as a vessel for hummus or shawarma sandwiches. This yeasted flatbread is commonly served at Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants. 

The possibilities don’t end there, though. You can use pitas for chicken Caesar salad wraps, bake them into croutonlike chips for a salad, or even cut them into wedges and fry them for nachos. To help you find your go-to supermarket pita bread, we tasted 10 of them side by side. Here are the four worth trying.

How we determined the contenders

For this taste test, we only considered store-bought pitas that are widely sold across the country. We were not particular about the type of pita — we considered both thick and thin, white and whole-wheat, and pitas with and without pockets. All of our contenders can be found in the bakery section of your supermarket. We did not include any frozen pita bread. 

How we tested

While pita bread is often eaten warm, we opted to taste them at room temperature, reasoning that a quality pita should taste good with or without heating. All of the pitas were cut into pieces and labeled by number so our editors were unaware of which products they were tasting.

Our team of tasters evaluated the pitas based on taste and texture. For taste, we were looking for a wheaty, balanced flavor with a hint of salt and subtle sweetness. For texture, we wanted pitas that were soft, slightly chewy, and sturdy enough to hold heavy ingredients without ripping. We also gave each product an overall score based on our personal preferences and how likely we’d be to buy it again. We averaged the scores to determine the four best pitas on the market.

Best overall: Angel Bakeries Classic White

It took us approximately one second to realize that Angel pitas are unlike any others on the market. Made with enriched wheat flour, the Classic White pitas were very thick and fluffy, with a charred exterior. “This is my Platonic ideal of a store-bought pita,” said Special Projects Editor Lucy Simon. “I don’t think it gets much better than this.”

The interior had light, webby air bubbles, reminiscent of a Neapolitan pizza crust, and we could clearly taste the yeast and char. It was pleasantly chewy and delicious at room temperature — sturdy enough to be split and filled with falafel — and it would be even better warm.

Best value: 365 by Whole Foods Market Classic White Pita Bread

This pocketless pita from 365 by Whole Foods Market was more divisive than our winner due to its soft and slightly gummy interior, but it still won over many tasters. “Personally, I like the texture,” said Elsa Säätelä, associate director of digital production. “It tastes a bit yeasty and underbaked, which I’m a big fan of.”

The pita had a neutral wheat flavor with a subtle sweetness that’d pair beautifully with savory dips like harissa and whipped feta. And if you’re at all deterred by the chewy texture, you can easily crisp up the pita in the oven or toaster. For the low price of $5 for a five-pack (one of the least expensive pitas we purchased), it’s worth a try.

Best whole-wheat pita: 365 by Whole Foods Market Whole Wheat Pita Bread

The texture of 365 by Whole Foods Market’s whole-wheat pita was nearly identical to that of the white — soft, sticky, and doughy — but the flavor was more complex. “There’s almost a maltiness to it,” said Associate Editorial Director Ashley Day. 

“There’s a sweet, whole-wheat flavor with nice honeyed notes,” agreed Senior Editor Audrey Morgan. “I could see this being too sweet for some, but I like it.” Pair this pita with ingredients that could stand up to the strong flavor, like grilled meats and vegetables, or go all in on the sweetness and smother it with peanut butter and honey.

Most classic: Joseph’s Simply Baked Classic White Pita Bread

We could see Joseph’s Simply Baked pita being a crowd-pleaser. “When I think of a classic pita flavor, I think of this,” said Assistant Special Projects Editor Emma Gehris. The yeasty wheat flavor was prominent but not overpowering, and the pita was well salted and lightly charred. As one of the largest pitas we tasted, it’d be ideal for hefty shawarma sandwiches, and its flexible texture would be well suited to scooping up creamy dips. 

Is this pita going to knock your socks off? Probably not. But it’s a reliable choice for everyday ripping and dipping.

The full list of contenders, ranked from highest to lowest

1. Angel Bakeries Classic White
2. 365 by Whole Foods Market Classic White Pita Bread
3. 365 by Whole Foods Market Whole Wheat Pita Bread
4. Joseph’s Simply Baked Classic White Pita Bread
5. Joseph’s Original Pita Bread
6. Joseph’s Simply Baked Whole Wheat Pita Bread
7. Toufayan Bakeries Hearth Baked Pita Whole Wheat
8. Toufayan Bakeries Hearth Baked Pita Classic White 
9. Kontos Pocket-Less Pita Whole Wheat
10. Kontos Pocket-Less Pita Traditional White