What should I buy at Trader Joes?

[Poohbug]

Never been to Trader Joe's and I am going tomorrow with my sister. What are your favorites? I'm sure I will be at a loss as to what to buy.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I always look at the cheeses there...typically cheaper and better than reg. grocery store cheese. Cereals and cereal bars are really good. I get snacks like popcorn and Pirate Booty stuff for the kids there. Nuts and dried fruit are a good buy at Tj's. I like some of their prepared sauces to help me make a meal. I don't typically buy meats or seafood at TJ's because it seems really expensive there.

 

[dakcp2001]

They have delish chocolate croissants in the freezer section, you have to let them rise before you bake them, but they are wonderful!

They have lots of good cookies, we like the low fat chocolate cat cookies (they are like choc animal crackers, not super sweet, but take the edge off) they also have great dipped biscotti cookies.

They have good frozen veggie burgers, good frozen seafood, good frozen veggies.

 

[minnie1928]

I like their Portobello mushroom ravioli, the bruschetta, dried mangos, and their bread.

 

[MinMouse]

I would shop there occasionally for nuts but over the last year or so we have a growing list of the stuff we like from Trader Joe's. From the freezer section we like the spinach pie, veggies, egg rolls, vegetable fried and the breaded chicken fingers. From the snack section we love love love their stone ground tortillas and pirate booty. We like their dried granny smith apples but that has been scarce at our local TJ's lately (haven't been able to find it since mid-summer). Kids like their fruit bars, granola bars, cliff bars and tiger bars.

Oops I forgot their double roasted salsa *yum*!

 

[clutter]

Frozen green beans. Best ever. Frozen artichokes. Cheeses are really good. Their Tzatsiki dip is outstanding. Wines are good. Pita chips.

 

[limace]

What everyone else said! Plus:
-these dark chocolate nut clusters, with a little sea salt...yum
-one calorie meringue cookies
-great prices on good butter and organic milk and greek yogurt (we love our greek yogurt)
-often good prices on everyday drinking kinda wine
-their truffle brownie mix is fabulous
-sparkling blueberry juice-festive for the kids
-frozen mushroom turnovers and the tarte d'alsace for fancy appetizers

 

[Disneysun]

We love their mac and cheese in the freezer section. A little pricey at $3.29, but in a pinch it is easy and the best mac and cheese every.

Also, we like cereal bars, cereal, breads, handmade tortillas (amazing), yogurt, agave necter (use to sweeten nonfat unflavored yogurt), blueberry sauce (for kids yogurt), enchilada sauce, salsa...you can' go wrong with TJ's.

 

[maggiew]

Frozen orange chicken, frozen rice (3 pack) (I know it doesn't sound appetizing, but it is good!), chicken potstickers, little pizzas (maybe a 3 or 4 pack individual size)

Things I've tried that I don't like:
cooked rice in the pasta aisle (just reheat) - yuck
eggplant parmesan in individual container frozen

Maggie

 

[Mickeefan]

Only available at Christmas time: Candy Cane Jo-Jos. Sandwich cookies that are chocolate, but the filling is peppermint! Soooooo yummy.

 

[robinb]

Frozen artichoke hearts, frozen french beans, frozen 3-color peppers. Note to self, gotta go to Trader Joe's tomorrow .

 

[billwendy]

We LOVE their fresh dough balls- they are delicious!! make pizza, stomboli's!!!

 

[Purseval]

Two Buck Chuck.

 

[krisnchris]

had to add my favorite: dark choc covered peppermint joe joes! yummmmmm! I also like the pb filled pretzels. their prepared sauce for pizzas is really good (refrig section). don't get fruit. i find it goes bad like the next day. they do take it back, but it's another trip to the store.

 

[akcire]

The French Hand Soap. My husband loves it

 

[rentayenta]

Utah has no TJs so when we are near one we can only buy non-perishables and no freezer foods; here is what I buy:

• dried pineapple
• dried mango
• kettle corn
• artichoke tapenade
• candied pecans/almond
• candied ginger
• dried spices- sooo much cheaper than at the grocery store or even Whole Foods
• pineapple salsa
• tortilla chips
• Kosher wafer cookies
• LOTS of Two Buck Chuck
• other wine
• dried soup mixes
• pad Thai
• different seasonal cookies and mixes

 

[ptmmg]

if yours sells wine the two buck chuck is a great wine!!!!

 

[Mrsduck101]

Frozen: Orange chicken, potstickers, chicken/shrimp fried rice, jasmine rice, 3 bell pepper blend, super sweet corn, most frozen veggies (love the hodgepodge)

Gyoza sauce for those potstickers!
Stir Fry Sauce

Hummus
Parmesan/Romano cheese
Fresh Salsa

Joe O's
Fruit bars (so this blueberry walked into a bar, etc, my kids love them!)
Cat Cookies
Flax seed chips (sound odd but so yummy)

The cookies in the white bags by the bread...

Wine!

My parents love the mini bagels and the carrot cake cookies.

 

[Tumblwd501]

Lots of what PP have already mentioned plus their humus and their balsamic salad dressing.

 

[Swimalie]

To add to what others have said:

Chicken drummettes (frozen). Great for kids and I love them, too.
Milk - great price
fruit bars (they call them "This (fruit) Walked in to a Bar")
Fruit leather strips
salad mixes - I love the spinach with rosemary vinaigrette dressing
chicken hot dogs
TJ's brand wheat sandwich bread
Parpadelle pasta
Instant Miso soup (my son and I love this)
Oregon Chai concentrate (best price around)
Tiny frozen peas
Soycoutash (made with soy beans)
Edamame - frozen
Buffalo burgers (My husband eats these)
mini pizzas
12 grain crackers
Peanut butter crackers
Wheat thins
Pretzel nuggets
Reduced guilt potato chips


By the way Charles Shaw is also know as Two Buck Chuck but only in Cali is it actually $2. I know in Oregon it's $3 so look for Charles Shaw if you want the Two Buck Chuck people are talking about.

I shop at TJ's about every 10 days and love it there. I think you will find you love it, too.