The Trader Joe's Product Discussion Thread (S/D)

can't stop eating the organic stone ground blue corn tortilla chips with sprouted amaranth, quinoa & chia seeds.

stop and get some sleep!

the cacio e pepe ravioli is great but the wrapper is a lot thinner and more delicate than all their other ravs, so be cautious bcz it cooks quickly. I cooked a bag of this + an entire bag of tuscan kale sauteed and wilted down w some olive oil, garlic, and red pep and it was the perfect veg-heavy low-effort meal.

the cajun alfredo is fucking HORRIBLE, jarred alfredo is often bad in a way where it's clearly inferior to homemade but still usu tastes good in its own weird way, so I figured this would be at the very least edible, but it is not. I'm shocked this made it thru testing.

the new fruity gummy candies are excellent, though I'm quite miffed because my bag had one (1) grapefruit gummy and at least 30 watermelon gummies >:( though they do have a disclaimer on the pkg that's basically like "warning: you get what you get", and the watermelon tastes more like actual fresh watermelon than any watermelon-flavored thing I've ever had

Been waiting for the Portuguese egg tarts. But the Tim Tam knockoffs were back.

the May peonies at Trader Joe's have been spectacular this year. I've bought three separate bunches, they have all been different but were equally amazing. I really don't want the season to come to an end

The spicy Thai eggplant (frozen section) appears to have been discontinued, and I'm bummed.

Hmm, let's see:

Ube tea cookies: mostly taste like sugar, C.
Southern Peach Crisp: Tastes exactly like peach cobbler with cream, A
"Aussie-style Chocolate Crème Sandwich Cookies" (aka Tim Tams): Pretty good knock off! A-
Dill pickle potato chips: didn't try them because others ate them too fast, which is a default B+

Bought but TBD: dill pickle mustard, tangerine cream bar, frozen carrot cake

MIA: Those Japanese wash cloths, I liked those.

Focaccia Primavera: cardboard. D
Dairy-Free Mozzarella Style Shreds: thought I could skip a trip/expense to get the Daiya. A mistake. C
Vegan Jackfruit Crabless cakes: not as convincing as in the Yellow Jackfruit Curry. B-
Bamba peanut crusted corn puffs: I struggle to not buy a $1 bag for the drive home. B-
Aloo Chaat Kati Pouches: masala hot pockets, a value at $2.50. B
Chicken-Less Mandarin Orange Morsels: needs some quick veggie veggies for a meal, but decent. B
Thai Vegetable Gyoza: filling's a cut above the veggie gyozas at the Korean grocer, and good sauteed in sesame oil before steaming. B+
Greek Spanakopita: the pie tin one is much better than the triangle wraps. A-
Soy Chorizo: really flexible ingredient for soups and cassaroles, and a value. A
2018 Punto Final Malbec: dry but balanced, at $9 B; but at $4 clearance, I got 6.

Greek Spanakopita: the pie tin one is much better than the triangle wraps. A-

If this is the one that I’m thinking of, then whole heartedly agree. So good!

I forget what they’re called but the mixed-bag chips are great - it’s a mixture of bbq, ketchup, salt and vinegar, and dill (I think)

patio chips?

Tried the frozen almond croissants last weekend - nice, not as flaky as the same from a favorite bakery but an easy option.

the frozen fiorucci pasta in the pink cream sauce is amazing

I bought the butter they claim is from New Zealand but I think it’s bullshit because it’s the exact same color as American butter - but NZ butter is actually a deep yellow

Also tj’s ramen is somehow terrible? I have eaten many brands of chicken and beef ramen in my life and they all taste exactly the same. Despite coming with a giant bag of seasoning this was the blandest ramen I’ve ever eaten

I suspect TJ
secretly banned MSG
hence the weak ramen

true haiku, nice

at first i thought the mesquite almonds were too salty but now they're the only nuts i get (i love nuts har har), highly addictive and no diminishing returns as in the other flavored nuts.

I've only seen the knockoff Tim Tams a couple of times but once everyone started raving about them, I haven't seen them on the shelves at all. Last time I asked them, they said there were supply problems, so maybe this is like a West Coast problem?

It's that time of year when the coconut cold brew hits the spot!

a couple new items I'm trying out:

Key Lime Popcorn - very unusual flavor, and I'm not a key lime fan, but I found these strangely addictive
Dill pickle mustard - taste like... mustard with dill pickle in it

I recently bought a jar of awesome Spicy Kosher Dill Pickles (made in Bulgaria) that were seriously spicy.. but I haven't seen them since.

Same I loved those! Never to be seen again!

My TJ *finally* got the knock-off Tim Tams in stock, they were great!

I saved the jar of pickle juice and spices and soaked boring pickles in there to spice 'em up

The frozen fried rice & bulgogi w/kimchi is a good meal base (add extra veggies, an egg)

haven't seen that, will try it. recently had the roasted garlic and pesto deep fried crust pizza, it is very good

my kids continue to devour mini mint mouthfuls at an unsustainable pace

Xps I bought the key lime popcorn based on your recommendation - it’s not something I would’ve normally picked up - and it’s surprisingly delicious. It’s like gourmet candy corn*.

*I don’t know what you call it in the US, since here candy corn is an actual candy, but in NZ candy corn is that multi colored sweet popcorn like you get at fairs

possibly kettle corn?

I've had caramel corn, but key lime popcorn?

candy corn is a candy

Covert junk food itt

TJ's has a lot of good junk food

covert my ass, that's why I go there

Covert junk food itt

― calstars, Friday, July 16, 2021 12:35 AM (fifty-three minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

incredible observation

Silby otm. TJs is exclusively where I go for junk (except chips. Their chip selection is shitty)

I googled kettle corn and that sounds close enough

i ride hard for

Organic Stone Ground Blue Corn Tortilla Chips with Sprouted Amaranth, Quinoa & Chia Seeds

+

Salsa Autentica (refrigerated)

it sounds healthy but it's actually junk food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! zomg can't believe no one has noticed this

i am drinking their evenus port desert wine right now. it's pretty good.

multiple xp
Think Cracker Jacks with no nuts and dye in the syrupy coating.

The Carolina bbq chips are really really good. They’re sort of a cross between vinegar and paprika flavored chips

Frozen chicken chow menu sucks

Frozen chicken fried rice isn’t as good as the bulgogi fried rice but it’s a decent meal base if you dress it up

Its possible to get pretty good chips and salsa at TJs. I like the organic yellow-corn rounds. Not quite as good as organic Tostitos, but better than most other organic tortilla chips I've tried. They nearly nail the perfect thickness. Organic tortilla chips tend to be either so thick and hard that you worry about cracking a tooth, or else thin and flavorless, but these have good flavor and are crispy without requiring jaws of steel. The Salsa Autentica is not quite as good as Pace Picante but a very acceptable substitute.

We live in a place where we can get local, fresh tortillas and tortilla chips almost anywhere we shop, so the TJs tortilla chips don't do much for us. We do like their salsas, though, and, oddly enough, their actual tortillas, particularly the homemade flour, wheat-and-corn, and habenero lime.

I didn't mind them, but for some reason my family didn't like the handmade flour tortillas from TJs. I'm curious about the wheat and corn ones, if I can overcome the family skepticism maybe will try them sometime.

The wheat and corn ones are thicker than regular tortillas, so in that regard they do a great job staying together no matter what you wrap in them. Plus I presume they're healthier than standard corn or flour tortillas, but that's pretty relative.

the refrigerated salsas are decent at TJ’s with the ghost pepper one being my fave

nearly all of their chips suck, though

Tortilla chips. Their potato chips rule.

the flaxseed tortilla chips are good imho

Really enjoying the everything and the elote yogurt dip

Parody product, surely?

Frozen Focaccia entree was a significant disappointment -- both too salty and underseasoned.