Where to Buy the Best Salmon Lox

Salmon lox – the velvety, melt-in-your-mouth smoked salmon that stars in the beloved New York City breakfast staple, the bagel and lox – is truly one of life’s great pleasures. But not all lox is created equal. Finding high-quality lox that lives up to the incredibly high standards that we New Yorkers have can be surprisingly tricky, even here in the city that made lox famous!

As a New York native who loves bagels and lox, I’ve had my fair share of bad lox from grocery stores and delis that doesn’t satisfy my cravings. Because of this, I’m going to tell you where you can find the best salmon lox to satisfy all your fishy cravings. Read on to find out where to buy lox that will make your taste buds sing, whether you’ve eaten lox before or this is your first time trying this silky-smooth smoked salmon.

Buying Lox at the Supermarket

For many of us getting to specialty shops like Zabar’s or Russ & Daughters on the Upper West Side simply isn’t realistic on a regular basis. When a lox craving strikes we need the goods quick – and the local supermarket is often our best bet. While the deli counter at your standard neighborhood grocery store may not offer the highest quality lox, some surprising options stack up nicely against those famous NY appetizing stores. Here are my top picks for supermarket lox

Acme Smoked Fish

Wegmans and many other supermarkets across the country carry lox from Acme Smoked Fish, the same Brooklyn smokehouse that supplies renowned NY restaurants like Zabar’s! The Acme smoked salmon always has a velvety texture and perfect balance of salty and smoky flavors. It’s the gold standard for grocery store lox.

Blue Hill Bay Smoked Salmon at Costco

Acme Smoked Fish makes Blue Hill Bay smoked salmon, which Costco sells in party-sized packages. This is a great choice if you need to feed a lot of people or want to have lox on hand for many breakfasts. Many Costco locations also sell high-quality pickled herring.

Daniel Boulud Artisanal Lox at Whole Foods

Daniel Boulud, a famous New York restauranteur, teamed up with Whole Foods to offer artisanal lox that has been smoked over fruitwood and sliced very thinly. The smoke never overpowers the pure salmon flavor.

Citrus Cured Lox at Whole Foods

For a twist, try Charlie Trotter’s lox cured with citrus. The bright, floral tones make this a delicious and unique experience.

Trader Joe’s Smoked Salmon Varieties

From peppery Pastrami Salmon to Everything Bagel smoked salmon, Trader Joe’s offers quality and novelty. Their Sockeye Salmon lox is a classic crowd-pleaser.

Ordering Lox Online

If you don’t live near a market with a quality lox selection, don’t despair! The internet has enabled lox lovers everywhere to get top-notch fish shipped straight to their doors. Here are my favorite purveyors of mail-order lox:

The SeaBear Smokehouse

This Pacific Northwest smokehouse has been crafting smoked salmon since 1957. Their thin-sliced Wild Sockeye Lox and Wild Coho Lox have that melt-in-your-mouth texture you crave. The Lox Box subscription sends 10 portions monthly.

Russ & Daughters

The iconic NY appetizing shop ships their hand-sliced Gaspe Nova lox nationwide. Available in 2 or 4 oz packs, this buttery soft lox is worth every penny.

Acme Smoked Fish

The legendary Brooklyn smokehouse sells their excellent salmon lox online in bulk or individual packs. I always keep a few bags in my freezer for lox emergencies!

Ducktrap River Smokehouse

For a milder, slightly brinier lox, I love Ducktrap River in Maine. Their sustainably-raised salmon lox is available sliced or in Log shaped whole fillets.

Wild Caught Salmon Direct

This company catches salmon in Alaska waters and ships the Just Caught lox pack with 1 lb of fresh salmon ready for you to cure at home.

Best Spots for Lox in Person in New York City

While mail order lets lox lovers everywhere indulge, there’s nothing quite like getting your salmon straight from the source at an iconic NY appetizing shop. On your next trip to NYC, check out these lox purveyors for the freshest fish and real old-school deli charm:

Zabar’s on the Upper West Side

This place is lox heaven, with a huge array of house-brined Gravlax, Nova Scotia, and cold smoked selections. Don’t miss their Platters with lox, cream cheese, onions, capers, and more bagel toppings!

Russ & Daughters on the Lower East Side

In business for over 100 years, Russ & Daughters offers melt-in-your-mouth lox hand sliced to order. Their sandwiches and platters are sublime.

Barney Greengrass on the Upper West Side

This Zagat-rated deli cures their own salmon for silky lox with a robust salmon flavor. Try a sturgeon and lox platter!

Shelsky’s Smoked Fish in Brooklyn

This small-batch smokehouse uses sustainable salmon for their buttery, richly smoky lox. Their Everything Bagel lox is amazing.

Frankel’s Delicatessen in Brooklyn

Pair their house-brined lox with schmear and pickles on rye bread baked fresh daily. Traditional perfection!

Key Tips for Picking the Perfect Lox

Now you know where to buy lox both near and far – but what should you look for when choosing your perfect salmon? Follow these expert tips for lox that will make your bagels sing:

• Seek out wild-caught salmon, preferably Alaskan. Avoid anything labeled “Atlantic salmon”, which are farmed.

• Look for deep orange or pink flesh with white marbling rather than pale flesh. This indicates higher omega-3s and better flavor.

• Thinner slices are ideal for laying over a schmear on bagels. Get hand-sliced for the most luxe texture.

• Smell the lox before buying. Avoid any off or strong odors. Good lox smells pleasantly like the sea.

• Read the ingredients. True lox contains just salmon and salt. Avoid lots of preservatives.

• Ask questions at the deli counter. Inquire when and where their lox was cured and smoked for the freshest fish.