Favorite Trader Joe's items

[The Big Ragu]

I'm with you, we've found the produce to be very mediocre. But that's about the only complaint.

Good shopping/checkout experience too, though I feel like an Earth-raping a-hole when I walk in there without my own canvas bag or paper from the last visit. Might just go full heel at some point and throw down a wad of old supermarket plastic bags.

We split time between two cities, so we have experience with multiple TJs. The lines are often ridiculous, but in every one I have been to, they do a pretty efficient job of moving things along and getting people checked out. Sometimes people not familiar with the place see the line to check out snaking around the store and start to freak, and it's always like, "Don't worry. It really moves quickly!" And it does.

We bring backpacks with us when we shop (since we don't use the car, it's easier to carry a load on the back than with the arms). We always do the raffle ticket for bringing our own bag. We have never won. I used to joke that they don't actually do a drawing, but then someone I knew won the gift certificate.

 

[Hermes]

Aldi of today is not the Aldi of 15 years ago, at least in our parts. We get about 80 percent of our groceries there while still getting fresh meat at the butcher's shop and produce at Kroger or Whole Foods. I'm guessing within the decade they will have closed the gap on produce, too.

I'm not ever getting my meat from any place but a butcher's shop, though.

 

[Scout]

Are all those off-brands at Aldi worth the savings? Been there twice, but was unsure if the packaged food measures up.

It costs 30% less than a Kroger or similar to shop there. You also shop much faster. You waste less time and the employees are paid a better age.

 

[Slacker]

It costs 30% less than a Kroger or similar to shop there. You also shop much faster. You waste less time and the employees are paid a better age.

Yes, but are Aldi's off-brands good food? I'm asking about quality and taste.

 

[Scout]

Yes, but are Aldi's off-brands good food? I'm asking about quality and taste.

Some yes and some no.

The thin crust frozen pizzas are amazing. Hummus is great. Eggs, milk, cheese, hot dogs, coffee, chips, salsa, and all the other stuff are good.

Pretty much everything is just as good if not better with the exception of cereal. My daughter does not like the cereal.

If you spend $150 on groceries each week, it's easily worth the $45 each week in savings.

 

[Slacker]

Some yes and some no.

The thin crust frozen pizzas are amazing. Hummus is great. Eggs, milk, cheese, hot dogs, coffee, chips, salsa, and all the other stuff are good.

Pretty much everything is just as good if not better with the exception of cereal. My daughter does not like the cereal.

If you spend $150 on groceries each week, it's easily worth the $45 each week in savings.

I did buy some block cheese and summer sausage at Aldi's because the prices were so low.

But they both were dogshirt. And I bought two of each, so they all got tossed. Pays not to skimp on cheese, I found out.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

Interesting that you said that. We get 99 percent our produce elsewhere. TJ's stuff isn't very good, in my experience. But one thing we will occasionally grab there is a pineapple -- if we can find one that is ripe. Tthey tend to have a bin full of them that were harvested way too early.

The produce is definitely hit or miss. We've had good luck with pineapples.

Usually depends on the day for other fresh fruit and veggies. Sometimes we'll load up. Other times, we'll get it elsewhere.

 

[Hermes]

I got hummus for 29 cents per tub at Aldi this past weekend because its expiration date was two days away. I was pretty psyched.

My 20-year-old self wants to hit me really hard right now.

 

[freqposter]

The attractive moms.

 

[Moderator1]

This is actually a pretty good thread, I've made a list of things to try. Let's not derail it with horseshirt please.

 

[Scout]

This is actually a pretty good thread, I've made a list of things to try. Let's not derail it with horseshirt please.

Hot moms are not horseshirt. TJ, and Aldi is becoming this, has become a nice way for young 20-somethings to cross paths. Tinder Joe if you will.

 

[Scout]

This is actually a pretty good thread, I've made a list of things to try. Let's not derail it with horseshirt please.

TJ, Aldi or Lidl?