We all know Trader Joe’s houses a bounty of economical delights and a helpful army of Hawaiian-shirted staffers… but, guh, the fustercluck of a crowd, always, during most of the store’s hours. And oy, for many of us, the schlepping. So here’s what’s worth dragging your cart on the subway and getting mauled by urban assault strollers for, and what’s better bought at your corner bodega.
WORTH THE SCHLEP (AND MAULING):
1. Just Mango Slices: $3 is a bargain for dried, unsulfured mango slices that have all the nutrients of real mango and taste like candy. (Really chewy candy.) Considering that a real mango is $4 and is crated thousands of miles to your local TJ’s, this Vitamin A and C-packed bargain is even sweeter. Buy them in bulk— they keep for months just like astronaut food . You won’t find them unsulfured anywhere else.
2. Packaged Brussels’ sprouts: Ok, hear me out: One, your mother will be so pleased. Two: they’re always fresh, and for $2.49, you will pay the same or more at Whole Foods (talk about schlepping, Brooklynites) or any big name grocery. When you’re afraid these little guys will go bad before you get around to cooking them, remember that they freeze and thaw beautifully. They’re full of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, and if you sauté them with some olive oil, salt and Parmesan cheese, they are DELICIOUS.
3. Indian Fare vegetarian packaged meals: They may come in NASA packaging and they’re not quite as good as your corner takeout, but the are much cheaper at $2.49 each. For meat-phobics, they’re full of protein and iron, and they keep forever without any preservatives, so they’re perfect for the marathon TJ’s trip when you’re buying in bulk. They microwave in minutes!
4. Mini-Mint Ice Cream Mouthfuls: I’ve never seen this special dessert treat anywhere else, and they remind me of McDonald’s once-a-year Shamrock Shake. It’s mint-chocolate chip ice cream INSIDE an Oreo crust. At $3.49 for 12 mouthfuls, it’s arguably the best dessert in the entire store, for the same price as a Shamrock Shake.
5. Condiments! TJ’s ketchup and mustard are just $1.99, so stock up. You could grab some at CVS, but you’d pay $3.29. That’s just silly. Included in the condiments: the Spicy Smoky Peach Salsa. It’s just spicy, sweet and tart, and you won’t get it anywhere else. You will want to eat it with a spoon.
6. Reduced Guilt Mac & Cheese: It’s just $2 and I swear it doesn’t taste like the sauce you make by mixing cheese dust and milk. That box of Auntie Annie’s powder and rabbit-shaped version is $4, so really, this is a no-brainer .
BETTER AT THE BODEGA (OR NEARBY GROCER)
1. Hemp Granola. At $2.89 and six servings per box, this seems like a good deal, but these six nutrient-deficient servings actually provide only about two bowls’ worth. Also, it tastes like dry mouth. You get way more with a box of Kashi or Quaker Oats for a dollar more at any grocery store.
2. Donut O’s: At $2.49, add on an extra 50 cents and buy Entenmann’s from Duane Reade, or wait until they go on manager’s special at the end of the day at the grocery store and pay 75 cents. They taste better and they keep longer. You’re already eating processed donuts, man! Who cares about preservatives? Just go full-throttle.
3. Frozen Gorditas are $3.49: Let’s say you’re walking past a TJ’s after a happy hour. You are starving. The lines are minimal. You stumble past the frozen foods section and look at all the delicious, heats-in-minutes frozen foods. The four tiny frozen Gorditas are $3.49, and you will eat them all in one sitting. Just pay $1.29 for one stunning fried concoction full of taco “meat filling” at the Taco Bell (the nearest Taco Bell, btw, is inside the nearest hospital). You will literally save dozens of calories and two dollars.
4. Herbs: You could buy the $1.39 plastic pack of dry herbs, but you live in Brooklyn, there are probably fresh herbs at the green grocer on your corner for about the same price.
5. Bagels: The company’s overall lack of preservatives is unfortunate for the bagel lover. Preservatives are essential to proper bagel consumption (Trust me, I used to work in a kosher bagel shop). If you want bagels to last longer than a day, you need a little preservation. If you don’t, they turn into hockey pucks. Speaking of kosher… if you really crave a good bagel, schlep to your local bagel joint and buy them ready to eat. Don’t buy ‘em at TJ’s, or in advance.
View Comments (30)
at the tj's i frequent in nj, the best things are:
bagged baby spinach (way cheaper than any grocery store)
the 0% greek yogurt (so cheap and good that it's always sold out)
the almond milk (cheaper than organic dairy milk)
the eggs
the old fashioned non-instant oats (brand name is heartland something or other)
occasional bottle of decently priced wine
i skip the cheese and produce, save for the occasional promotional deal.
The problem with getting to TJ's at 8am is that you might not find what you are looking for. I have arrived at open at 6th Ave store and found the freezer cases to be nearly empty and was told they didn't expect them be filled for a few hours. I will say that even when the lines at 6th Avenue look long, even when they stretch as far back as the dairy case, I have never waited more than ten minutes.
I schlep there for 2 things: milk and dog biscuits.
TJ's-brand organic milk is under $4 a half-gallon, which is cheaper than the big-name brands at other grocery stores (like Horizon and Stonyfield) and about the same price as the Fairway-brand organic milk, but I've tried 'em all and TJ's tastes the best. I know it costs more, but the taste difference with organic milk is worth it, especially if you can get it at TJ's.
And their dog biscuits are really inexpensive for the size of the box and quality of ingredients. They are the best deal I've found for doggie cookies anywhere (they even have an organic variety, but my trashy-ass dogs didn't like them as much).
The Thai Tuna Curries (red and green) are delicious at TJs..and a bargain to boot.
Tamari almonds are also yummy.
I also like the whole grain pastas! They cost $2.50+ at all of the other grocery stores near me.
Can I recommend the curry gravy... I found like 10 jars broken at the bottom of their dumpster.... If you clean out the glass and hair it's sooo good!
Trader Joe's doesn't sell packets of spices and haven't for at least 5 years(as per my in-company knowledge, but I'm pretty sure they never have). They're $1.99 each for a substantial sized jar of non-irradiated herbs that McCormick will charge you twice as much for half as much. A real gourmand on a budget will appreciate this.
You're also wrong on Ketchup being 99 cents, its at least twice as much and has been for several years. The only kind TJs carries is organic, mind you.
Just thought you might want to know to keep your article on-par.
i hear ya /feel ya re the hard liquor license. i am a long time TJs customer and cali ex-pat who worked at TJs after moving east. apparently its not about TJs not getting a license, its about NY laws which generally don't permit grocery stores of the category that TJs falls into, to sell wine/liquor. the union square location does sell wine, they got the one license the State was willing to fork over to TJs but still had to house it under another roof. or so i'm told.
Yes to the greeting card! 99 cents and the greek yogurt is better the rest.
You can freeze bagels! No reason to skip them - Trader Joe's bagels are cheaper than a bakery and just as delicious.
Preservatives are not tasty and give bagels a rubbery, unnatural texture. You don't even need to freeze Trader Joe's bagels because they will last a few days and they won't turn into 'hockey pucks', as long as they are sealed well. The fact that the author is so wrong on this and used to work in a bagel shop makes me question their intelligence and everything else on the list.