Caesar salad hits all the right notes, with crisp romaine, buttery croutons, and the creamy, garlicky, umami-rich dressing that gives it its signature savor. The dish was born at Caesar’s in Tijuana, Mexico, over 100 years ago, though its inventor is disputed. It rose to popularity in the United States thanks to chefs like Julia Child, and remains one of the most popular salad options in restaurants and home kitchens.
Because you can’t make a good Caesar salad without a good Caesar dressing, we tried nine bottled dressings side by side to crown the very best.
