The best Trader Joe's items of all time?!

They changed the eggplant spread; I liked their old one from years ago better. Ghost pepper chips are a gimmick, I've tried them.

I like their cinnamon graham crackers

I'd like an article I can read. This one is paywalled.

Archived version.

These are simple things, but I get a lot of use out of the them.

Indian flatbread (plain and garlic). It’s soft, doughy and very versatile.

Frozen beef bulgogi with fried rice is really tasty. especially when paired with their sriracha sauce or green dragon sauce.

Salsa especial (medium) has a nice smoky heat flavor and is blended not chunky (not a pico de gallo fan)..

Their Chantilly cakes and kringles are basically crack.

The dark chocolate peanut butter cups are perfection and only 99 cents a bag

Nothing makes me happier, food-wise, than a container of Caramelized Onion dip and a bag of whole-grain pita chips. Also good with vegetables or spread on chicken before baking.

They are now peddling a vegan version. I got it by mistake once. It's terrible.

And also, not to be a jerk about the article, those peanut butter pretzels can be found (just as good) elsewhere for far cheaper. In fact, the Aldi bag is much bigger and a dollar or so cheaper.

I’ll never stop grieving the Greek yogurt dip with chives and cilantro. Low calorie. Low fat. Delicious

And the chipotle lime chicken skewers.

And the Asian marinaded chicken breasts.

And the mini pot pie appetizers

But their breakfasts were not good. I bought pancakes - tasted like mildew. Later bought waffles - mildew.

I mourn the demise of their black bean soup.

HASH BROWN

I was in Trader Joe’s recently and they wanted over $8 for a small bag of pita chips. No thonx!

I recently returned their chocolate-drizzled plantain chips 👎

Triple ginger cookies: disappointing!

Salted brownies. Salmon / Spinach pinwheels Trek Trail mix

They used to have a trail mix with big hunks of candied ginger in it.

Loved it.

Now it's gone.

I like candied ginger. It is supposed to be good for stomach aches. Why not just buy some candied ginger and mix it into another trail mix.

They had a Chocolate Mint Cheesecake for a year or so that was really good. It was in a green box and was different than the Peppermint one that was in a red box.

What are those little purple things in the photo at OP?

The only things worth buying there in my opinion:

Mandarin Orange chicken

Frozen rice that comes 3 packages in a box

Tomato and red pepper soup in the box

Dark and milk chocolate peanut butter cups

Large bars of milk and dark chocolate. These are a good value for baking.

Puff pastry

Meringue cookies. The only place that I can find meringues anymore for my Eaton Mess desserts.

There are many things worth buying there.

My favorite is frozen steel-cut oatmeal—microwave 3 minutes.

Nuts are excellent.

The ice cream sandwiches in the article are amazing, as are the ones with brownies and coffee ice cream.

Maple cookies.

Coffee.

Milk

Bread

Cheese

Steel cut oats can be soaked overnight and microwaved.

Rice? I don’t understand buying precooked frozen rice, but okay.

IMO, the Reese’s peanut butter cups are better than the TJ’s. The ratios, saltiness, and texture (kind of sandy, in a good way) of the Reese’s are just about perfect.

[quote] Steel cut oats can be soaked overnight and microwaved

But thank god they don’t have to be.

The point of precooked frozen rice is 1) it’s excellent and 2) it’s there when you need it.

The organic ground corn dippers

The horseradish cheddar cheese food spread

The Calabrese salami

Damn them for getting rid of the Blue Cheese Walnut dip

The frozen butter chicken

The chicken drumette nuggets

Cats cookies - the cinnamon ones

Dark chocolate orange jelly sticks

Chocolate covered dried fruit medley

Sesame sticks

Frozen breaded fried olive bites

Frozen Chicken taquitos

Orange chicken

Savory mini crackers

Everything bagel crackers & Seasoning

Moroccan Mint tea

Black Truffle and mushroom flat bread pizza

Samosas (chicken and/or vegetable) in the freezer case. Triple ginger cookies

Best of all time? The Dominican security guard that I sucked off behind the dumpster In Nutley (!) NJ, 9 years ago.

Runner up, I'll go with the dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

Where was the Trader Joe’s in Nutley? Do you mean Route 3 in Clifton?

How does TJs rate among specialty food stores in general for their entire product offering? Is it way below Whole Foods? Does it rank above Sprouts? Way better than Kroger?

I've never been super impressed by their brand but a new store just opened a few blocks away and I wanna like them.... I really do. But why?

They only sell a limited number of items, mostly their own brand. Not really comparable to a full supermarket. Produce is not as good as WF. Meats and seafood more limited and much less expensive.

Seconding the tomato - red pepper soup from R19.

I’ll have to try it if it doesn’t have too much sodium.

[quote] How does TJs rate among specialty food stores in general for their entire product offering? Is it way below Whole Foods? Does it rank above Sprouts? Way better than Kroger?

I would say that it has its own niche: affordable prepared foods and snacks with TJ's branding (hip factor). Look at all of the prepared / packaged foods listed in this thread. People feel like they're getting something special.

IMO, the constantly discontinued items are a feature, not a bug. It makes the customer appreciate the items more if the item can disappear without warning.

That said, the produce department seems pretty good.

I believe the soup has a low-sodium version, R32.

Their turkey slices are real sliced turkey, not turkey roll.

[quote]I like their cinnamon graham crackers

They're incredible. Now I want to make a pie crust with them.

People are scalping Trader Joe’s new insulated mini bags for exorbitant prices, and for some shoppers across the U.S., buying them from the underground market may be their only hope.

Never get too attached to anything Trader Joe's sells -- it will likely be gone in a matter of months.

I loved their Belgian Chocolate Pudding. Dark and delicious. Like my men.

I haven't seen the insulated lunch bags, if I do I will purchase for a few buddies

There are many things I love at Trader Joe's, but their produce is horrible.

The seasonal items rotate and some never return, but most things are around for many years. Things I like:

Maple Cookies

Mac & Cheese

Kringles (from a first rate place known for them in Wisconsin)

Corn Dippers, esp. the hot ones

The Australian chocolate cookies

Everything bagel rolls

the salads are pretty good

Some of you forgot to sign your posts “Fat Whore”

Some things go without saying.

Strawberry liquorice

[quote] There are many things I love at Trader Joe's, but their produce is horrible.

What's so horrible about it? I bought some Honeycrisp apples that were good.

Speaking of their produce, I like that they always have arugula! And the mixed greens 🥬 are good, too.

Some of the things I like:

--The frozen Japanese fried rice is delicious. I serve it with a fried egg--makes the perfect lunch. --Frozen salmon burgers. Served in a bun with tartar sauce, a few squirts of lemon juice and some salt and pepper, it also makes a very good lunch. --Frozen sweet potato gnocchi. Yummy! --The frozen bambino pizza formaggio. As far as frozen pizza goes, not half bad, and I appreciate the convenient serving size. --The frozen chocolate croissants. Perfection! --The frozen potato pancakes. So good! --The bags of teeny tiny avocados. Each avocado is the perfect size for avocado toast. --As others have mentioned, those 99 cent bags of dark chocolate peanut butter cups. --Ginger chews --Chocolate hold the cone mini ice cream cones

Things they got rid of that I still miss: --Frozen fish korma --The frozen soy ginger cod filets --Tuna curry --Kettle chips in small individual serving size bags

Ugh, let me reformat that.

Some of the things I like:

--The frozen Japanese fried rice is delicious. I serve it with a fried egg--makes the perfect lunch.

--Frozen salmon burgers. Served in a bun with tartar sauce, a few squirts of fresh lemon juice and some salt and pepper, it also makes a very good lunch.

--Frozen sweet potato gnocchi. Yummy!

--The frozen bambino pizza formaggio. As far as frozen pizza goes, not half bad, and I appreciate the convenient serving size.

--The frozen chocolate croissants. Perfection!

--The frozen potato pancakes. So good!

--The bags of teeny tiny avocados. Each avocado is the perfect size for avocado toast.

--As others have mentioned, those 99 cent bags of dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

--Ginger chews

--Chocolate hold the cone mini ice cream cones

Things they got rid of that I still miss:

--Frozen fish korma

--The frozen soy ginger cod filets

--Tuna curry

--Kettle chips in small individual serving size bags

Their produce is hit or miss. But in addition to the teeny avocados, I like some of their regular seasonal items, like the cara cara oranges and the bags of small Mcintosh apples and small multi-color pears. Their bananas are also good and reasonably priced.

Tiny avocados? Hass?

I'm obsessed with Kimbap and have 20 of them in my freezer. They're rarely in stock and there's a 2 per person limit so I've been hoarding. Recently purchased key lime pie and key lime cookies and both are delicious. Thai peanut sauce is also a favorite. I also love the mini coffee bean ice cream cones.

My store had no sign of a Kimbap limit. I tried them in the microwave, and was underwhelmed.

Frozen kimbap sounds underwhelming.

Their puff pasty is made with real butter. I make easy apple tarts or palmiers out of it.

The Hot Corn Diapers are okay, but not as good as Fritos.

Bean chips (discontinued decades ago). Still miss them and have never found even a close to adequate substitute.

I have a friend who has a wedding cake business & she swears by TJ's lemon curd.

Bring back Dill Pickle Salad!

I the chocolate covered ice cream bon bons are utterly sublime!

Anyone else a fan?

Pancake bread is crack for fatsos

Are you referring to the Latin Style Black Bean Soup, R9? It was really good!

When I worked at TJ's years ago, it was the basis for a popular, no-fuss-no-muss, four-ingredient meal which was featured at our Demo station many times, especially in fall/winter months. In a saucepot over medium-high heat, you dumped the following (stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes):

1 box TJ's Latin Style Black Bean Soup 1 can TJ's Cuban Style Black Beans 1 pkg TJ's Frozen Chimichurri Rice 1 pkg TJ's Cooked Chicken Sausage, sliced (I liked it with the spicy varieties: Andouille, Spicy Italian, or Jalapeno)

It was great topped with a little shredded cheese, diced avocado, green onion, etc., if you had that stuff around, but it was tasty & satisfying plain, as well. Or certainly good enough to resist the temptation of take-out/delivery. (I think the Cuban style black beans are gone, too; not sure about the Chimichurri Rice).

I recommend this TJ's mustard aioli sauce. It's good in sandwiches.

[quote]The Hot Corn Diapers are okay, but not as good as Fritos.

Well hello, Miss Channing!

I loved their canned stuffed grape leaves, can’t find them anywhere else.

Shamoshas... shprinkled with sheshame sheeds.

My hopes for their kaarage chicken were dashed, never again!

Trader Joe's loves offering new and unique products at (usually) agreeable prices. That's no secret.

But Trader Joe's is FULL of secrets. First among them - they want customers to think Trader Joe's invented these items. Hah! They haven't produced anything on their own since at least the turn of the millennium. It's all on the vendors, and their "show me" meetings are legend. Then, once the products are on the shelves, they only stay if 1) they sell; and 2) if the vendor can make them cheaper. Fail one or both, and the product is discontinued, and they don't waste time.

Even as I type this, Trader Joe's is working with consultants to quietly refocus and by that, I mean raising prices. Significantly. Some posters are already recognizing this, and you're astute to be sure, but you ain't seen nothin' yet. Management is going from "we can undercut Whole Foods and offer unique items" to "yes, we have unique items, but why the hell can't we BE Whole Foods?" Mind you, they've made no plans to upgrade any products. But this time next year, you'll go into TJ's and you'll THINK you're in WF.

Last, they realize they've expanded too much. Trader Joe's management now LOATHES having flyover locations. Supply and distribution issues etc. So they say. I guess they could save money by closing those locations and the price increases will give them ammo to do it with dwindling customers. But by 2030 expect TJ's to be back to the coasts and Chicago exclusively.

R64: The first version of canned stuffed grape leaves that TJ's carried in the early aughts were absolutely FANTASTIC! They were made by a company in Israel (before TJ's started putting *everything* under private label) & were canned in OLIVE OIL (which was key).

However, the packaging was unappealing/didn't catch the eye. Something about the color-way & artwork made it look like the can had been sitting on a shelf -- fading in the sun -- for twenty years. A co-worker (who also loved them) and I joked about this often. The dust on the cans (because they just sat there & were restocked so infrequently) made them all that more unappealing. We weren't surprised when they were discontinued.

The next couple iterations of stuffed grape leaves (whether in a glass jar, or the "fresh" section) were okay. Still made with olive oil, but not as nearly as good as that Israeli brand. Then, at some point (in 2010s), TJ's found another canned-supplier....made with canola & soybean oil. Blech. Didn't care for them.

r67 They're building new stores everywhere, so you 2030 preduction makes no sense.

And what supermarket "invents" their own products? Some of the major chains may manufacture or produce things like dairy and sodas, but all of them are primarily RETAILERS.

I only discovered stuffed grape leaves at Trader Joe’s maybe 10 years ago so the ones they sell now are all I know. But they do taste exactly like the ones I used to get at a Greek deli near my office decades ago.

R67 this description of hell they introduced new products found on their website with directly contradict your moronic statement: Our buyers travel the world searching for products we think are exceptional and will find a following among our customers. To earn a spot on our shelves, each product is submitted to a rigorous tasting panel process, in which every aspect of quality is investigated in context of the price we can offer.

Also they've been pretty rapidly expanding in my state which is nowhere near the coast or Chicago. You seem like you're one of those dumb f**** who just make s*** up because I guess we would all be impressed by your supposed insight.

I love grape leaves

I believe r67.

Of course, companies don’t always follow consultants’ advice, but usually they hire consultants to tell them what they already know they want to hear.

R73 well that just sort of explains the sorry state of America doesn't it. Someone says something and even in the face of variable facts that refute it choose to continue believing the morons.

Their refrigerated pie crust is the best. Far superior to any other brand.

I don't see how Trader Joe's thinks it's even close to being a Whole Foods. My friends and family Looooove TJ's and I just don't understand it. It always feels like half of a store, to me. If you're a drinker (and don't live a godforsaken state that runs its own liquor stores) and you like to eat nuts and dried fruits, I can understand. Other than that, I don't consider it a complete store.

Honey—what you have seen in the past and are seeing today doesn’t tell you anything about the future. Companies make strategic changes all the time.

Things I want that Trader Joe’s no longer has (I forgot the names): the Greek feast in the ready made salad section, the frozen French egg and potato breakfast scramble that came in the little plastic tub, the frozen personal pizzas that came in a box of 2 and had Kalamata olives, red pepper and feta, their original soy yogurt and the canned chili that was actually form Amy’s. They recently changed the meatless chorizo too.

One of my favorite things ever -- which had a decent, 10-ish (?) year run -- was the Tarte d' Alsace in the frozen section, with the pizzas. It was a thin slice of heaven with creme freche, shredded Gruyere, caramelized onions & diced ham. Really great for brunch with scrambled eggs & fresh fruit, or with a salad for dinner. But you had to bake it very hot, 450 degrees, on a pre-heated baking sheet for it to get crispy, and it was best to get it home FAST (from freezer to freezer) -- so it was always the last thing I picked up before going to the register.

[quote] Then, once the products are on the shelves, they only stay if 1) they sell; and 2) if the vendor can make them cheaper

You forgot contamination. Trader Joe’s has one of the most recalls of any grocery store I’ve ever seen. And listeria plays a big part in that contamination.

The biggest supermarket chains used to manufacture a lot of private label stuff, but that hasn't been true for decades. Kroger is the only one with a large commitment to this and its because they produce items for other chains. The problem is maintaining capacity that matches the reach of the stores--chains like Winn-Dixie and A&P wound up with overcapacity as they closed stores and even though Winn-Dixie produced for other chains and opened up stores heavy on private level they had more plants than they needed.

TJ's has a lot of imported packaged goods, so it's obvious that it's made for them.

The produce isn't horrible, but it's often worse than mid-range chains.

[quote] TJ's has a lot of imported packaged goods, so it's obvious that it's made for them.

Oh please they sell Tate’s chocolate chip cookies under the TJ brand.

They sell Maple Leaf cookies under TJ brand. Aldi sells same cookies as Benton's Maple Leaf Cream cookies.

TJ’s Christmas dark chocolate covered Jo Jo’s with peppermint chips are sold in Aldi as Benton Peppermint Creams.

Snyder’s Honey Wheat pretzels are sold as TJ’s.

TJ’s sea salt pita chips are Stacy’s.

TJ’s dark chocolate pretzels? Snack Factory.

TJ’s Very Green smoothie is Naked put out by Pepsi

They do the same thing with European brands. They rebrand them a TJ’s

That’s the big “secret” of Trader Joes. They rebrand other companies’ products. So does Aldi.

So they resell other companies products at a cheaper price?

TJ's Natural Mountain Spring Water (the regular bottled water) & Sparkling Mineral Waters (plain & flavored) are made by Crystal Geyser.

Is it not common knowledge that a lot of generic or store branded items come off the same production lines as branded items?

[quote] That’s the big “secret” of Trader Joes. They rebrand other companies’ products. So does Aldi.

So does Costco. So what?

It wouldn’t make sense for them to source exclusive products. They are a retailer.

The point is you can find a very well-curated collection of products at low prices, not that you can’t find them elsewhere (if you know what to look for).

R82- You’re such a sleuth 🕵️‍♂️.

R76- Trader Joe’s is not a supermarket but it is a food store.

[quote] Is it not common knowledge that a lot of generic or store branded items come off the same production lines as branded items?

Nit to R81.

R89: It's R67 who doesn't know this.

[quote] Even as I type this, Trader Joe's is working with consultants to quietly refocus and by that, I mean raising prices. Significantly.

Meanwhile, Aldi and Target are reducing prices. Aldi is also opening 400 stores as I type this.

[quote] [R76]- Trader Joe’s is not a supermarket but it is a food store.

R88, I wrote that in response to a post by the marketing consultant upthread, who said that TJ's wants very badly to be Whole Foods.

R92- I hope not. It would require them to be overpriced on many items in the store and to give you paper bags that are too short for newspaper recycling.

I dip the Kimbap in peanut sauce and it's damn good. Hard to believe something vegan is this good. My store has no limit so I buy 4-5 every time I go to TJs.

Today, when I told them how disappointed I was with the chicken karaage the manager refunded it without my needing to produce the physical package. Other clerk fully agreed that the chocolate plantain chips were a failure.

Thanks R94. I bought two today (the store limit). The clerk had to go to a freezer in a no-customers-allowed part of the store to get them for me. Crazy that they have to hide them like that.

R96 My TJs doesn't have a no-customers-allowed section of the store. Weird. What else does yours keep in that section?

R94: He obviously meant the area in the loading area in the back. Either they don't stock it in the freezer case at all, with a "please ask staff" sign, or the clerk volunteered to see if they had any in back, which has happened to me. My store had plenty the other day with no sign (though it's off-season here in Florida).

I tried the new calamari and I would advise against it. Way too rubbery and I was unable to chew about 1/4 of it. Breading is tasty but not worth it.

I love to cruise Whole Foods on Sunday mornings. I’ve met two boyfriends there.

[quote]The Hot Corn Diapers are okay, but not as good as Fritos.

Oh look another Trump thread.

[quote]I tried the new calamari and I would advise against it. Way too rubbery and I was unable to chew about 1/4 of it. Breading is tasty but not worth it.

Agreed. Huge disappointment. And it never got crispy in the oven.

R100- Did they work there or were they customers?

In 2015 a good looking cashier at Trader Joe's seemed to be flirting with me but I fucked it up. Oh well

He asked my name and shook my hand and asked where I lived. One week later he walked right up to me and said Hi Jack !- as if he knew me- I was very uptight about his overtures and acted disinterested. Oh well. I still think about him frequently.

R99 and R102: sounds similar to my problem with their Chicken Kaarage.

This is THE best hummus Trader Joe's sells. It's also the highest in calories of any hummus they sell but it's worth it.

It’s Aldi food

The mini shrimp bao is absolutely delicious. I steamed them and added some fresh cilantro and shredded carrots but they're also fine in their own. They can also be microwaved.

Tragically, I haven't been able to find them lately. I hope they're just temporarily out of stock and haven't been discontinued.

R105: The Mediterranean Hummus has pine nuts topping it. That's why it's so high in calories relative to the to others. It's also why it tastes so good (it's also a more lemony than the others, IMO).

This garlic spread is my favorite, which I hope they never discontinue.

Went to TJ's and was delighted to see that the mini shrimp bao are back! They were gone for a few months so I was worried they'd be just a one-time thing. I hope they stay around for a long time, because they are delicious. They're in the frozen foods aisle, near some of Indian and other Asian foods.

We've occasionally bought item 10 on the list (the salmon).

I've got GI issues so my shopping list at TJs is limited, but they have overnight oats there in different flavors that I often get, as well as a chicken sausage breakfast burrito (easy to share - the whole thing is too much for me), a frittata (I think they call it a Spanish omelet on the package), and some various things like guacamole, frozen vegetables, and occasionally, some salads.

R103 so why didn't you just say hello back?

Now that we're in fall, I'm always a fan of the Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese.

I love their vegetable biryani. The box says two servings but I always eat the whole thing.

Chili Oil Crisp. I went through a jar of this in 2 weeks. I put it on everything I could, the perfect amount of heat and umami.

Bump. I can't cook and it's just me so I either get takeout or try to find frozen dinners at the supermarket (which all suck) so I tried TJ's and found several TV dinners that are not only inexpensive but really good. Tell me some of your favorite frozen dinners and I'll blow you....

Since you're shopping at Trader Joes, try their Orange Chicken.

They used to sell ______ which was great, but like any product you actually like there, they discontinued it.

No kidding R118. They used to have a wonderful hibiscus drink there that they discontinued. I was so bummed.

I recommend the dark-chocolate covered almonds. When you want a little something sweet - hits the chocolate desire and also gives you some protein from the almonds.

You can't really pig out on them - 3-4 max and you're good for a snack. I don't think anyone can pig out on dark chocolate - milk chocolate, however, is the devil.

Stay away from the Jamaican patties. I buy the paneer Tikka, palak paneer, lamb vindaloo, Cuban chicken bowl (though it's a bit sweet), and frozen kebabs. Their peri-peri hot sauce is good, though the creamy texture doesn't work with everything. If you like jalapeno flavor (not really a fan myself) the Green Dragon sauce isn't bad.