Trader Joe's

[McD]

A Trader Joe's recently opened in our area and I went for the first time last night.

I picked up some kiwi, wasabi peas, jalapeno cheese crunches, veggie straws, habanero lime salsa, low sodium chicken broth, and something else that I can't remember but Zac really liked.

Does anyone else shop there? What are your favorite items?

[Nishu]

We're getting a Trader Joes in silverdale some time in the future. I'm sooo excited about it. I don't have any favorites there because it's not close enough to shop on a regular basis, but I found their prices on a lot of things seemed cheaper than if I had bought them at whole foods.

My friend gets a wine there that's really popular and cheap. I think it's called Charles Shaw, but everyone calls it two buck chuck. It's three buck chuck now, due to inflation.

[Contrary Housewife]

We are finally getting not one, but TWO here in KC and both are relatively close to me (unlike all the other good stores in town). We've been waiting for years as all the smaller cities around us get them. Can't wait to get a look in person. I think it's going to become my new bad habit.

[McD]

We're getting a Trader Joes in silverdale some time in the future. I'm sooo excited about it. I don't have any favorites there because it's not close enough to shop on a regular basis, but I found their prices on a lot of things seemed cheaper than if I had bought them at whole foods.

My friend gets a wine there that's really popular and cheap. I think it's called Charles Shaw, but everyone calls it two buck chuck. It's three buck chuck now, due to inflation.

Two buck Chuck is still two buck Chuck here. I have some friends swear by it and some friends say that its only good for cooking.

[DharmaCakes]

The Trader Joe's Pita Crackers are so yummy! Sometimes I put a schmere on them, sometime I just eat them out of the box! They come in an orange box. They are not pita chips... Pita CRACKERS! Be careful, they are addictive!

[Telephus44]

We actually drive half an hour to do most of our shopping there. I've found that for a lot of things we buy, they are just plain cheaper. For example, we do a lot of cereal bars. Around here, name brand in the grocery store is about $3.00 a box. Generic is about $2.00 a box. Trader Joe's is $1.69. They also have great prices on frozen waffles and cheese sticks (two more staples in our house).

Overall, I love the store. My favorites:
Coffee Ice Cream. Chocolate and Vanilla are ok, but the Coffee is to die for!
Rasberry Sorbet
Dumplings
Fish Fillets
Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato soup
Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars (this is a candy-type item)
Wise Crackers
Spearean Risotto
Garlic Humus
Gourmet Granola

We also use them for a lot of staples. The only things I really can't find there are molasses and condensced canned soups.

My one complaint is that I'm not overly fond of the produce. Fruits are good, but I've been less than impressed with the fresh vegetables.

[Josephhgoins]

We have a few here in Raleigh and I don't particularly care for them. There is always an odor and I always have to put up with some hippie giving me crap.

Give Food Lion any day of the week.

[frugal.lass]

I love Trader Joe's! We don't have them in Canada but I used to ask for flights that would have me layover in a city with a Trader Joe's near the hotel so I could go shop.

The customs people are used to flight attendants declaring a bunch of stuff purchased abroad but they seem amused by my declarations of "This tote bag is filled with cookies, pita chips, crackers, dried fruit and English toffee". One guy joked "Yeah...I hate grocery shopping in Canada too." I just find there are some things there that I can't find here at decent prices.

I haven't gone in a looong time since I was doing a managerial position on the ground and just went back to flying recently. I'm super excited though because I'll be able to hit one up later this month in LAX.

[shoiji]

I have gone a couple of times. It isn't convenient to go but I do like looking around when I do go.

[flashyMcGee]

Those pita crackers (from previous poster) and their sun dried tomato pesto torta are soooo yummy! I love everything that TJ sells. Mmmm yogurt covered pretzels, chicken burritos, wasabi...I only grocery shop at TJs.

[Palooka]

We are finally getting not one, but TWO here in KC and both are relatively close to me (unlike all the other good stores in town). We've been waiting for years as all the smaller cities around us get them. Can't wait to get a look in person. I think it's going to become my new bad habit.

We are? Where, where?! I've wanted a TJ for so long.

[Vanilla]

We have one very close by (10 mins drive), we shop there very often.
We love the low sodium chicken broth, organic veg broth, Kefir, cheese selection, pizza dough, herbs, whole grain bread... etc. I love the chocolate ice-cream. I think we like almost everything in that store. We seldom buy meat there though.

That 2-buck-chuck varies bottle to bottle, some good, some are off.

[frugalfriend]

I miss Trader Joe's! There are none in Colorado, but when I lived in CA I shopped there often. I love their orange chicken! My mom loves their tomato soup (comes in a box). I have a friend who also moved away and now has no TJ's near her, and adores their chocolate chips. Once when I went to visit her I brought her like 10 bags! I remember they cost less than the average grocery store too! I used to buy a dozen eggs there for $1.00, but I think they are a little more now. I found the produce to be expensive, but beautiful plants and flowers to be at really amazingly low prices!

[LuLuBleen]

There is always an odor and I always have to put up with some hippie giving me crap.

I choked on my tea when I read this!

We have a TJs about an hour away. It's a bit expensive for my budget. And it's always absolutely jam-packed so it's not too inviting.

If I drank wine, I'd definitely brave it again. I've heard raves about their wines.

[Domestic Gal]

We are getting one here in the Omaha area. Can't wait to go and check it out.
It is a bit of a drive for me so will not be there regularly.