Chocolate chip cookies are one of life’s simplest and sweetest pleasures, often evoking nostalgia and comfort. While they may seem straightforward, there are elements that make certain cookies stand out: the perfect ratio of chocolate to cookie, a crispy exterior & a chewy, soft center.
To help you find the ultimate chocolate chip cookie, we’ve gathered recommendations from renowned chefs across the U.S. who know where to go for the best in this iconic treat. Here’s a list of must-try chocolate chip cookies across the country that are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
1. Poppy Cake Baking Company – Sierra Madre & Arcadia, California
Poppy Cake Baking Company is a popular chocolate chip cookie shop on the West Coast. Chef Stephen Chavez has given this California bakery excellent marks for its cookies, praising them for striking the perfect balance.
This bakery, which is situated in Sierra Madre & Arcadia, specializes in handmade breads, pastries & of course, delicious cookies.
- What Makes It Unique: Poppy Cake’s chocolate chip cookies have a crisp outer layer and a chewy, chocolate-filled center, hitting the perfect balance between chocolate & dough.
- Location: Sierra Madre & Arcadia, California
2. Little Flower – Pasadena, California
Another California gem is Little Flower in Pasadena, celebrated for its well-balanced, delicious chocolate chip cookies. Chavez appreciates Little Flower’s approach to crafting these treats, which have been on the menu since 2007. Little Flower is also known for its caramels, but the chocolate chip cookies are equally irresistible.
- What Makes It Unique: Perfectly balanced flavors with a subtle taste of salt to accentuate the chocolate.
- Location: Pasadena, California
3. Tate’s Bake Shop – Southampton, New York
Widely available in stores, Tate’s Bake Shop is well-loved for its signature crispy chocolate chip cookies, but visiting the original bake shop in Southampton offers a special experience. Chef Matthew Cutolo praises Tate’s cookies for their thin, crispy texture that’s packed with rich flavor.
- What Makes It Unique: Thin and crispy texture with incredible flavor in every bite.
- Location: Southampton, New York
4. Levain Bakery – Multiple Locations
With locations in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., Levain Bakery is a household name for chocolate chip cookies that are nearly the size of a scone.
The soft, gooey center and generous chocolate chunks have garnered Levain a loyal fan base, including chefs like Matthew Cutolo and Pauline Balboa Pelea.
- What Makes It Unique: Giant, gooey texture with large chocolate chunks, served warm for a cozy experience.
- Location: Multiple locations across the U.S., with shipping available nationwide.
5. Chip City – Multiple Locations
Known for its rotating weekly menu of unique flavors, Chip City offers cookies that remain soft and flavorful even days after baking.
With 43 locations across nine states, Chip City has become a go-to spot for cookies in creative flavors like Hot Honey Cornbread and Spiced Hot Chocolate Churro.
- What Makes It Unique: Freshly baked, large cookies with a variety of unique and classic flavors.
- Location: Multiple locations in nine states.
6. Radio Bakery – Brooklyn, New York
Although Radio Bakery is well-known for its sandwiches and croissants, chef Guillaume Thivet suggests their chocolate chunk cookie as a particular favorite. This cookie has the ideal ratio of taste to texture, with a gooey, chewy texture and crunchy edges.
- What Makes It Unique: Chewy and gooey with just the right amount of chocolate chunks.
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
7. Warda Patisserie – Detroit, Michigan
Halvah is used by Detroit’s Warda Patisserie to create a distinctive take on the traditional chocolate chip cookie, giving their cookies a nutty, earthy taste. Chef Jon Kung appreciates the cultural inspiration behind these cookies and their complex, satisfying taste.
- What Makes It Unique: Incorporates halvah, giving it a unique, nutty flavor profile.
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
8. Tartine Manufactory – San Francisco, California
Known for its baked goods, Tartine Bakery in San Francisco serves up a Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookie that’s as delicious as it sounds. Recipe developer Peter Som highlights this cookie’s perfect mix of crisp exterior and chewy interior, complemented by flaky sea salt.
- What Makes It Unique: Salted dark chocolate chunks and a balanced flavor profile.
- Location: San Francisco, California, with multiple locations in California and Seoul, South Korea.
9. Bang Cookies – Jersey City, New Jersey
Chef Raechel Lebron is a fan of the Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie from Bang Cookies in Jersey City. With a gooey center and a hint of salt, this cookie has all the elements of a perfect treat.
- What Makes It Unique: Sea salt enhances the chocolate, creating a balanced & addictive flavor.
- Location: Jersey City, New Jersey, with nationwide shipping available.
10. Cardinal Provisions – Asbury Park, New Jersey
If you’re seeking a vegan option, Cardinal Provisions in Asbury Park delivers with its Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie. Chef Raechel Lebron notes that despite being vegan, the cookie is satisfyingly chewy and flavorful, proving that plant-based doesn’t mean compromising on taste.
- What Makes It Unique: Vegan-friendly, with a chewy texture and a hint of salt.
- Location: Asbury Park, New Jersey
11. Villani’s Bakery – Charlotte, North Carolina
A New York-style Italian bakery, Villani’s Bakery still embraces the American classic with its large chocolate chunk cookie. Co-owner James Dean praises this cookie for its shareable size and delightful balance of flavors.
- What Makes It Unique: Large, shareable cookie with big chocolate chunks and a soft texture.
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
12. Church Street Coffee & Books – Birmingham, Alabama
The Breakup Cookie, a favorite that goes well with coffee, is available at Church Street Coffee & Books. This cookie is a sophisticated take on a classic, made using a recipe influenced by Jacques Torres and dusted with sea salt.
- What Makes It Unique: A Jacques Torres-inspired recipe with a balance of chocolate and cookie.
- Location: Birmingham, Alabama
13. The Commons Chelsea – New York City
This cozy Manhattan spot serves up cookies alongside La Colombe coffee, and chef Ian Coogan loves the recipe passed down from the owners’ mother. The chocolate chip cookie at The Commons Chelsea offers a homemade touch with a balance of sweetness and chocolate.
- What Makes It Unique: A family recipe that brings a homemade feel to the classic cookie.
- Location: New York City, New York
14. Goodnight Fatty – Salem, Massachusetts
Known for their “thicc” cookies, Goodnight Fatty in Salem creates weekend-only cookies packed with nostalgia and indulgence. Chef Jacinto Perez highlights their gooey, warm chocolate chip cookies as a must-try experience.
- What Makes It Unique: “Thicc” cookies with a gooey texture, served warm out of the oven.
- Location: Salem, Massachusetts
15. Baked After Midnight – Online (Westchester, New York)
A chocolate chip cookie filled with an Italian rainbow cookie creates a distinctive, layered dessert experience for customers who would rather purchase online from Baked After Midnight in Westchester, New York.
- What Makes It Unique: A layered cookie featuring an Italian rainbow cookie inside a chocolate chip cookie.
- Location: Online ordering with nationwide shipping.
Conclusion:
From big chocolate chunks to a hint of sea salt or vegan choices, each of these chef-recommended chocolate chip cookies offers something special. These cookies are worth tasting because of their great flavor and chef-approved features, whether you live close to one of these bakeries or purchase online.