When is a chip not a chip? When it’s an art form. Here’s a short list of great chips — potato, rice, corn, even lotus root — found around town.

Potato Chips
The Daily Pint
McG’s Irish Pub

They’re not on the menu at the Daily Pint because there isn’t a food menu there, but ask for potato chips and you shall receive a paper-lined basket of fantastic golden-brown, thin-sliced crispy potatoes. And they are on the menu at sister pub McG’s in Chatsworth, where they’re fried fresh daily and driven promptly to Santa Monica.

Daily Pint, 2310 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.450.7631. Daily 2 p.m. – 2 a.m.
McG’s Irish Pub, 21356 Devonshire St., Chatsowrth, 818.734.7056. Daily 11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m.

Rice Chips
Lundberg Family Farms

The Lundbergs have been growing rice for more than 60 years in Richvale, just outside of Chico. Rice chips (basically tortilla chips made from rice rather than corn) may not be what Albert and Francis Lundberg had in mind when they founded the company in 1937, but they are darn good. Stick to the unadulterated flavors, such as the sea salt, rather than such crazy renditions as Fiesta Lime and Santa Fe Barbeque. They’re gluten-free, too, but don’t let that stop you from tasting them.

Available at most Whole Foods and many specialty grocers.

Tortilla Chips
La Cabanita

A Mexican restaurant gets snaps for homemade chips. But when it also serves said chips with two superb homemade salsas, one roja and one verde, and it makes a mean margarita to accompany said chips ‘n salsa… well, that Mexican restaurant deserves our undying devotion.

La Cabanita, 3447 N. Verdugo Rd., Montrose, 818.957.2711. L & D daily.

Tortilla Chips
Superior Grocers

This local supermarket chain boasts a tortilleria, where the day-old, house-made tortillas are fried into fantastic tortilla chips. Grab a big bag for less than $2, whirl up some tomatillo salsa in the blender, and appetizers are served.

Superior Grocers, various Los Angeles–area locations.

Vegetable Chips
Sona

David Myer’s lotus-root chips have been quiety served up with crème fraîche at Sona’s bar for some time now. Add the new bar menu to the mix, and you’ve got really affordable, high-end snacking.

Sona, 401 N La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.659.7708. D Tues.-Sat.