never been to one before but they opened a new location near me and people are acting like it's a big deal. is their shit actually good and/or affordable or is it a meme?
>>21638107it's all marketinghttps://x.com/IanCarrollShow/status/1745576821679394855
>>21638107It’s freezer food same as in your local grocery store but with a Trader Joe’s name and people eat it up.
>>21638107It's just Aldi
>>21638107The orange chicken is really good. The wine is cheap and good.
>>21638107it's like an Aldi, but not quite as Aldi. Slightly more stuff
>>21638107To me it’s generally good quality at generally good prices. Their chili crisp is made with olive oil, and the Korean scallion pancakes tastes pretty close to authentic. Also the mini meringues taste like giant Lucky Charms marshmallows
I wouldn't do my regular grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, but they have some great snacks, frozen foods, and drinks. Go there and just pick up a few things to try for curiosity's sake.
>>21638107Apparently they have their own frozen and boxed/bagged shit that's pretty good. I used to go because they have are the only place that reliably sells kumquats and gooseberries, and I would get some TJ branded porcini powder and liquid bourbon vanilla while I was there.
I stock up there on frozen shit like Indian and Chinese, best part you don't even need to look at prices, stuff a shopping cart and it's not even 100 bucks
>>21638107Their frozen stuff is actually good. So is all their candy. Produce section is solid for their size. Meat section is fine. Cheese section is good and very affordable. My only real complaint is they have too many different chip variants and not enough actual potato chips, and they don't stock big enough bags of rice. Their bread is also good
>>21638123She's very cute. I bet her butthole smells like butterscotch candy!
>>21638107I only go there to buy the $4 pound of pork pot stickers
>>21638107they definitely have some good stuff, im a weekly shopper at TJs. affordable compared to the other stuff in the area (commiefornia).
Some of the frozen stuff and snacks are good. Cheese is good. Produce is mediocre and the same price as Whole Foods. Meat is inedible.
>>21638107They got weird stuff
>>21638107the frozen adana/koobideh kabobs are good with Toum or hummus, the shawarma chicken thighs are tasty when grilled (but don't taste like shawarma), the butter potato chips are good. Chocolate babka cake is decent but a little dry. Do NOT get any of the asian frozen foods, they are horrific. Think panda express but with sticky globs of molasses for the sauce and tiny pieces of meat (which are unevenly sized so they don't cook evenly at all). Frozen pizzas are decent but a little pricey for the size.
>>21638107It's a meme. They have some okay stuff, but nothing great for the money.
>>21638107overhyped, but good. i mainly go there for snacks. freezer section is also pretty good if you don't feel like cooking.their snacks aren't healthy, but are 'natural' so it's nice compared to the normal stuff.don't go there for actual grocery shopping though, it adds up and it's prices are above average.you should go and let us know what you think!
>>21638107I've got one near me that I shop at often. They do have some good snacks and treats, but the reality is that their meat, dairy, and frozen goods are overpriced. Their store brand goods are especially deceptive, because while the price tags may appear cheaper than name-brand and other store-brand counterparts, the quantities are smaller but small enough so that it's not noticeably different.The real reason to go to Trader Joes is cheap wine and produce. Most of their produce is not sold by weight but by quantity, so if you go early in the morning you can make like a bandit by picking the biggest fruits and veggies. Also, the produce holds up very well. Aldi and Walmart produce are borderline rotten when put on display and goes bad within days. The stuff I get from Trader Joes can (varies by item of course) hold for over a month in my fridge.The wine is cheap and good for its price. Great for cooking. Not much more to say.
>>21638107their pasta, sauce, beer/wine/liquor selection is pretty good (and cheap). Some of their snacks are nice and aren't easily found elsewhere. In fact that's true of trader joe's products in general. I would put them a half step up from your average run of the mill supermarket.
>>21639575lol what did you get banned for
Ok but do these guys have the whole foods shit where you put served shit into a bag and take it home?
>>21639925hot bar?no lol
I went there for the first time a few days ago and got this stuff. Of the stuff I've had, this is my thoughts:>Apple shortbread cookies: Fucking delicious but also a calorie bomb, 140cal for 3 cookies.>Apple Cinnamon Sourdough: Fine but not very sourdough-y.>Maple Pancake Puffs: Tastes like maple, but not like pancakes. They're fine.>Cheese sticks: tastes like crispy cheddar cheese, no real sense of sourdough.>Ube mochi pancakes: delicious and chewy but use way less water than mix for optimal thickness.>Aglio olio seasoning: tastes good, will use on garlic bread or the sweet potatoes.>Sweet potatoes: didn't try yet but I mean they're just sweet potatoes I can't imagine they're much different than any other place's but I really wanted to get some sweet potatoes and they were there so why not.Going to have the Mac and Cheese tomorrow so if this thread is still up I'll report on that.
I am pissed they discontinued the sourdough crust uncured pepperoni pizza and replaced it with an updated version with salamis that have that gross hamlike 'cubed pepperoni' flavor instead.Their nuts and wine are great. Produce is fine. A ton of their frozen items taste the same, like anything with a 'vegetable medley' element like veg birds nests or spring rolls or etc uses the exact same gross mirepoixish slurry, seems like. Their dark chocolate almond pretzel bark is disgustingly, dangerously good. Powerberries are awesome too.
>>21638107>omit generic Dino nuggy TV dinersMostly more appetizing frozen shit. Used to be only they carried Rustled Jimmies and Puffins, aside Hole Foods. Ask the wagering boomers what wine's good.
They have cheap and quick meals for single people or couples. Good when you're tired or need something last minute that isn't Stouffers or fast food. You kinda have to experiment to see what is good and what is shit. Every time I go there I spend less than 20 bucks. If it's your main place for groceries you're doing it wrong.
>>21639925into a bag? you mean a box?
>>21640354>discontinuedIt's been years but I'll never forgive them for getting rid of the pickled garlic mushrooms.
I go every 3-4 months and get these. The crackers are replaceable but if they ever get rid of the cheese spread I doubt I'll ever shop there again.
>>21640479Why do you guys name your food like Dick Tracy gangsters.
>>21640317The mac is good.
>>21640354>Their dark chocolate almond pretzel bark is disgustingly, dangerously good.I'm not a chocolate guy, but dark choc + salt + cronch just works.
