Garlic Bread Smackdown

Garlic Bread Smackdown: Which Aussie Loaf’s a Banger—and Which One Tastes Like Science Homework?

‘The garlic might’ve held back, but none of us did when it came to arguing over the last slice,’ writes Tristan Lutze about the garlic bread that took top spot. Photograph: James Gourley/The Guardian

It’s Crusty, It’s Buttery, and It’s Starting Fights at the Dinner Table

Garlic bread isn’t just a side dish—it’s a national sport. Whether you’re mopping up bolognese sauce or fending off relatives for the last slice on pizza night, this golden slab of carbs and garlic is a must-have in Aussie households. But not all loaves are created equal.

So, we threw on the oven mitts, recruited a three-year-old, a carb-mad mate, and a partner with tastebuds sharper than a cheese grater, and got serious. 12 supermarket garlic breads. One garlic-stained scoreboard. Let the butter-soaked games begin.

Garlic Bread Taste-Off Table

Brand & ProductPrice / 100gScoreKey Notes
La Famiglia Stone Baked Baguette$1.638.5Golden crust, rich butter, soft inside
Aldi’s World Kitchen Homestyle$0.467.5Budget banger, vampire slayer level garlic
Global Bakehouse Value (Woolies)$0.476.5Nostalgic fluff, uneven butter spread
Senza Gluten & Dairy Free$1.806.5Good for gluten-free, quiet garlic vibes
La Famiglia Traditional$1.256Fancy looks, flavour didn’t show up
La Famiglia Sliced Loaf$1.186Sweet-ish, confused identity
Coles Simply Garlic Bread$0.475Background snack energy, bland garlic
Coles Kitchen Garlic Baguette$0.715All butter, no bite, nostalgic junk-food vibes
La Famiglia Garlic Slices$2.414.5Dry, salty, more biscuit than bread
Woolies Free From Gluten$1.804Tasted like the packaging, ghosted on flavour
Woolies Garlic Slices$1.224Kid-approved, garlic-optional
World Kitchen (Standard)$1.113Fake garlic, plastic taste, no nonna involved

The Best in Show

La Famiglia Kitchen Stone Baked Baguette

  • Score: 8.5/10
  • Price: $6.50 (400g)
  • Where: Coles
  • “Glossy crust. Fluffy middle. Butter that hugs your soul.” One slice in, and it felt like nonna kissed us on the forehead. Downside? There wasn’t more of it.

Best Bang for Your Buck: Aldi’s World Kitchen Homestyle

  • Score: 7.5/10
  • Price: $2.09 (450g)
  • “A vampire would combust just walking past this.” Loud garlic, plenty of love, and even if the crust didn’t crunch, it still slapped. Budget garlic bread with top-shelf chutzpah.

And the Flops

World Kitchen (270g) – Aldi’s Evil Twin

  • Score: 3/10
  • Tasted like it was made in a lab, not a kitchen. Garlic salt bomb meets packaging aroma. The horror.

Woolies Garlic Bread Slices

  • Score: 4/10
  • A three-year-old’s fave—enough said. Nice texture, but garlic and butter were on a smoko.

What We Learned (So You Don’t Have To)

  • Garlic = Non-Negotiable: If the garlic is missing or fake, it’s toast.
  • Butter Balance Is Key: Too little = dry. Too much = slippery dip.
  • Crust Matters: Soft inside, crispy outside is the gold standard.
  • Price ≠ Performance: Aldi’s $2 loaf punched well above its weight. Some $6 loaves flopped like wet toast.

Final Word: Don’t Settle for Sad Garlic Bread

Whether you’re treating yourself post-workout or dishing up sides for Sunday family dinner, garlic bread is a simple pleasure that deserves respect. So next time you’re wandering the freezer aisle, remember: if it smells like a vampire might combust, you’re probably onto a winner.

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