New Aldi store

[HM]

I've never shopped at Aldi, and all I know is they are a grocery store, right? Just noticed that one will be opening soon not too far from us. What are the best things to buy there? Is everything priced well?

 

[zoemurr]

I would say most things are priced well, and we've liked everything.

Our staples are bacon, frozen fish, bread and full sized pizza. All are much cheaper than the grocery store.

Produce is also cheaper but not usually as fresh. If you are going to eat it very soon it's a great deal but it often does not keep. Check the bottom of packages as grapes and strawberries especially might not be good.

Snack items are also much cheaper. Cereal, chips etc. are made by companies you know but are in different packaging. The animal crackers are expecially yummy.

I don't buy a lot of meat there but when we have it's been fine.

There aren't as many healthy options, and it's across the street from a
Wegman's so I usually run in if I only need a few basics and don't want to brave the big store.

You need to bring a quarter for a cart and your own bags.

Have fun! Definitely worth checking out.

 

[jodgaff]

We have ALDI where we live and I love it! They have everything in the store but only their brand, so I don't stand there trying to decide who has a better price on a can of soup. We get most everything there except produce (not a good selection at our store) and Meat (we buy half a cow every fall). Some things taste different than the National Brands but they are not bad, just different.

You have to put a quarter in to get a cart, but you get it back when you put the cart back. And you have to bag your own groceries, but i don't mind. They are smaller so I can get through the store in half the time.

 

[kydisneyfans]

If you normally shop at Whole Foods, Aldi isn't for you.
We have certain items we get at Aldi often-milk has been $1.49 a gallon since September. Produce is hit and miss, we don't touch the meat.

One consistently good produce item has been red grapes. A 2 lb container has been from $1.98-2.68 lately and the grapes have been great.

 

[MrsPete]

I like but don't love Aldi's.

It's a small store, so it's quick to get in and out; however, they don't boast a huge selection of anything. We've liked most everything we've bought at Aldi's. No complaints about quality or freshness whatsoever. Bread, milk, and eggs tend to be low-priced.

Do note that some of their products (especially canned goods) are slightly smaller than most name-brands, so include that detail in your cost comparisons.

Note, too, that they do not accept credit cards. They take cash or debit cards.

 

[HM]

All great information. Thanks so much everyone! Sounds a bit like Trader Joes.

We use CCs for grocery purchases...get double points on one of our cards. Not being able to use one will definitely keep me away since I don't have a debit card at all and rarely have cash in hand. I'll check it out when it opens and see if getting some cash out of the bank once in while might be worth it.

 

[Madison'smommy]

All great information. Thanks so much everyone! Sounds a bit like Trader Joes.

We use CCs for grocery purchases...get double points on one of our cards. Not being able to use one will definitely keep me away since I don't have a debit card at all and rarely have cash in hand. I'll check it out when it opens and see if getting some cash out of the bank once in while might be worth it.

To me, not at all like Trader Joes. Aldi is ok for us... I occasionally run in for a few things, like every month or so maybe. I know you can get alot more for your money there on alot of things! I do happen to like their produce, and mainly get that when I do go there.

 

[JB2K]

But...Trader Joe's and Aldi do share something in common -- both chains are owned by brothers from the same family.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I think that in some ways it is similar to TJs. As a PP mentioned, they are owned by the same family.

Both stores are small--you get in and get out. And you likely can't count on finding EVERY item on your shopping list in the store..there are always a few things I have to go to a regular store for.

Both stores don't have a bunch of different brands. The canned black beans are the canned black beans...the rolled oats are the rolled oats, etc. TJs has more variety than Aldis.

I like Aldis. Great for getting the staples--flour, sugar, canola oil, milk, canned beans, pasta sauce, tortilla chips, etc. Haven't found much I haven't liked. I've also never had an issue with the meat I've purchased there.

Don't forget your quarter for the shopping cart!!!

 

[Juliet25]

Not at all like TJ! Quite different customers. The TJ near me attracts a more yuppie, affluent crowd. The Aldi gets the rest of us.

I've been doing more and more shopping there. It's easy to get in and out; everything's cheap; there's few things I avoid. They're especially good for produce. I've even found organic items there (though rarely). A few weeks ago my store had huge pomagranates for 79 cents.

I love going there and seeing what I can find.

 

[java]

It's a quick shop as they don't have a choice in things. Like if you want chocolate chip cookies- you get the one brand they have.

And it's kind of like a surprise- you never know what brand might be there. In PA (where the closest one to me is) Milk is more expensive $3.69! It's some weird PA rule (or tax I suppose) so I don't buy milk there. But eggs are .79 a dozen.

We love their tortilla chips and pretzels, way cheaper. I also like the shredded cheese- the ones they keep by the milk. My kids love the take and bake pizza they sell A Large Cheese is like $5.99 and it's HUGE!

I like the frozen spicy chicken bites they have but that's about all I get that is frozen and processed. I like their onion rolls - yummy and inexpensive.

I have heard that the grains- rice/pasta stuff is not good. Has a funky taste.
so I don't buy those.
Oh but by far the best is the CHOCOLATE!! They are a European based company- so when you see chocolate check to see where it's imported from. The Belgium chocolate was delicious! And even the Danish stuff was yummy. So for us the chocolate is the hidden gem here.

It's not a do it all kind of grocery stop= more of a quick filler in stop. You need to bring your own bags and don't forget a quarter for the cart.

 

[budafam]

I'm not a huge fan of it but once in awhile I go there. My MIL does all of her shopping there. She just tipped me off that they had whole lobsters in the freezer section for $9.99. They were 1.3 lbs. or something like that so I picked one up. At the grocery stores, the going rate is $25 a lb. for lobster so what the heck... if I need fruits or veggies cheap, I go there but everything else I kinda stay away from. I've heard some nasty things about their meat... you also have to bring your own bags or buy them there.

 

[KristinU]

I really, really like the concept of Aldi where you kind of get what you get and don't have to agonize over comparisons, and everything just seems to move along quickly and efficiently (though I feel like they need one more aisle so you end up at the front of the store rather than the back once you've gone up and down every aisle.) However, we eat as "whole" and "clean" and organic as possible, and try to stay away from chemicals, processed stuff, and high fructose corn syrup...oh, and we're sodium restricted. So when I go, I buy some of their trail mix and almonds, sometimes some crackers, oddly enough, their "gourmet" oil and vinegar dressings are pretty "clean" and low sodium. I also get their old fashioned oats, dry beans, their whole wheat pasta, sometimes some cleaning supplies, and sometimes some frozen berries. I've also tried some of their produce and I've been pretty happy, but no organic offerings. I do like their weekly "other stuff" and often get some good finds like a triple crock pot, those glass watering globes, a game of washers, some legos...just really random stuff that is a good price and kinda fun to goo see what they've got.

So, for us I guess it isn't a good fit since I don't really find a whole lot that is low sodium and doesn't have HFCS, and I really wish I could because I love the simplicity of the shopping experience.

 

[Hellothemouse]

We like our Aldi here.
Here are a few things that I always get and we enjoy
- String cheese for the kids
- Chips, Pretzels, crackers
- Take N Bake Big pizza's
- Frozen Pizza's
- Cream of whatever soup
- Canned fruit, veggies
- Pasta, rice (I have not had any problems with taste at all)


Some of the produce is good, you just have to watch (prices and quality)

I stay away from meat (unless its lunch meat in the round tubs like at wally world--some are pretty good)

Most of the time their cheese prices are better than Walmart

That is about all

 

[willowsnn3]

Both my daughters go to Aldi a lot. They say for the best produce you have to go early in the day. Never had a problem with anything we have bought there. My oldest dd always goes there when she wants a bouquet of flowers to brighten someones day as they are pretty reasonable priced.

 

[mommy2twingles]

We buy all of our cereal at Aldi. I like the snack sized applesauce and fruit packs for the kids lunches. My son likes the mac and cheese which is much cheaper than kraft. He says the canned pasta in sauce tastes like chef boyardee. I buy my peppers, cucumbers, carrots there. Fruit is hit or miss. We also love the ice cream cone drumsticks with carmel in the middle. A little smaller than the name brand but you get more in a pack for less. Frozen pizzas are always in our freezer for a pinch when needed. Also eggs and butter are cheaper than anywhere else.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

We are big Aldi fans. Love their prices and find the quality of their food and products in our local stores to be great. As another poster mentioned, they are great for your grocery list staples. I have my list of specific things I will always get from Aldi and I will also go to another local grocery chain to buy foods/products from specific brands we like and for foods/products that are on sale/special that week that I have coupons for.

 

[njmom47]

I wish our Aldi's was quick in and out! It's always crowded when I go, only 2 registers open. Anyway, yes, I have bought staples there...cereal, snacks, frozen waffles or french toast sticks (much cheaper than the grocery store), frozen pizza, milk, bread. They also used to carry Southwestern Eggrolls, yum!
They also have those individually frozen chicken breasts (cordon bleu, kiev or broccoli) for 99 cents each...a 4 pk in the grocery store is much more than $3.96.

 

[Plantlady]

I do 90% of our shopping at aldi. I do not usually get fruit, but veggies are pretty good. I have never had an issue with the meat, but we don't eat a ton of meat.

Like someone else said, the chocolate is to die for.


I save about 20% in groceries when I shop Aldi.

 

[North of Mouse]

TJ and Aldi are not alike at all. TJ is more upper scale and Aldi the bottom of the grocery line. That being said we have Aldis' in our area and a new one is opening even closer soon, so I will be picking up some things there. They even occasionally have name brand things, but mostly their brand. I do lots better with coupons and sales (especially Harris Teeter and Lowes which double to .99 every day). I haven't ever been there when they had what I mostly went for, but it is another option which is always good .