In general: high quality, low prices and an abundance of items you will not find in other markets. Produce sections are small and limited mostly to organic fresh fruits and veggies.
Jim

I travel an hour one way to shop at Trader Joe's. Food is good and often more wholesome. Prices are great. I give lots of Trader Joe stuff as gifts and it is always welcome.

And be sure to read labels. I get the low-sodium chicken broth and the tomato soup. About 140-160 mg sodium per serving, far less than the so-called reduced-sodium brands available elsewhere. I also get frozen fish. In fact, lots of the frozen items are excellent. And the snacks. Cookies, cereal, try the TJ brand reduced fat granola. Coffee. There are lots of high-end brand products at FAR lower prices than you will see at other stores.

Chocolate bars, by the cash registers. The kinds that are three for $1.79 are wonderful.

Produce is the last thing I buy there, because I hate the packaging.

Ditto to all above. Alot of different foods that you won't find in the supermarket. Even their frozen stuff is good. Really good wine selection with quality wines at a reasonable price.
I love Trader Joe's.

There's a Trader Joe's not too far from my home but I only stop there if I'm already going to one of the stores in the shopping center. The dairy and produce selection is very small - well let's face it - the selection in the entire store is small. It's really a food boutique. The prices aren't bad, the quality is good, the employees are cheerful- I just miss one stop shopping.

Love, love, love Trader Joe's! We have three within 10 minutes of our home and 19 in our county. When I put together gift baskets, care packages or need something special to give as a gift when I travel, I always shop at TJs. They even sell the baskets.

I love their selection of chips and nuts, organic beauty and cleaning products and they have the very best price on Japanese Mochi with ice cream.

Check it out, you will probably find something that you like there. And get on their mailing list, they send out a cute booklet every few months.

Jodi-

I keep trying to "get Trader Joe's. I stop in when I'm nearby, and always walk out with nothing. I'm sure that it's just my own limitations; the store is so popular and people (including here) rave about it. I don't know what's so great about it.

Suzieque

gosh... suzieque... I'm with you and I've tried the food and wine and such. I mean it's ok, but I actually think it's kind of expensive for the quality you get. I've never really fallen in love with any of the food. I must be blessed with having farmer's markets and such by me that sell better quality food at cheaper prices.

One word sums it up for me.... OVERRATED

i used to have to go there for my greek yogurt...and my mothe rloved the cocoa powdered almonds and the vermont cottage cheese...but i talked one of my local stores into carrying the yogurt and we don't drink wine, or coffee..but it's a fun place to explore.

I will put a link to one discussion of many about Trader Joe's on GardenWeb's own Cooking Forum.

Many people list lots of their favorite things to buy there, so you should get plenty of ideas.

I Love Trader Joe's!

Here is a link that might be useful: Trader Joe's favorites

I too don't understand the infatuation with Trader Joes. I've bought some toffee macadamia nut popcorn snack there that was great and bought a natural peanut butter for $1.50 a jar. The meat looks nice but is limited and pricey. It's certainly NOT a place to do all your grocery shopping. One friend likes the cookies they have and my sister buys gluten free pasta there. The good thing is that they don't charge you to go into the store and they don't make you check out twice. And they actually have a lot of checkouts going so there's no long lines. That is good.

I've been there several times trying to figure out what is the big attraction but failed to find it. I find much more to buy at their sibling store, Aldi.

I've been a Trader Joe's fan since they first opened years ago. One (of many) things I love is they made buying organic fruits and vegetables affordable. They also have salad makings at a fraction of what a regular grocery store charges (fresh bagged lettuce, arugula, spinach etc.) They always give you a choice of organic or locally grown blueberries, strawberries, seasonal fruit, veggies etc. The cheese has many of the same choices that a Whole Foods or Bristol Farms has, but at half the price. The eggs have everything from free range or normally housed a fed at very fair prices. I love the the frozen food section and the fish and sea foods (frozen). I could go on but most of you have fallen asleep by now....sorry.

No I don't work at TJ's...I just recognize quality and fair prices when I see it.

Susan

I'd love to have one near me. My son talks about shopping there when he travels. I have a huge Wegmans near by. Is TJ's anything like Wegman's?

For those who didn't see the link, I divided up and listed what several posters on GW's Cooking Forum like to buy at Trader Joe's, separated by ----s
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organic, vegetarian baked beans which we really liked (no HFCS). vegetarian low fat refried pinto beans "salsa style"
Cuban style black beans which we have not tried yet
cacciatore simmer sauce for chicken/pork
breads
beautiful orchid plants.
Fage whole milk Greek yogurt
----
*Pistachios
*Savory thin mini Crackers (a sesame cracker) they come in a larger cracker too, but I like the minis.
*Sesame Sticks
*Cambozola cheese (semi soft brie type veined with blue cheese)
*Capers
*Morella Cherries (next to the jams)
*Creme Fraiche
*Sun Dried Tomatoes
*Rice Pilaf
*Greek style Yoghurt
*Saffron (great price)
*Two Buck Chuck wines
*Hand lotions
*Yellow kitchen sponges (the kind that are thin until you wet them
I could go on and on...I do most of my grocery shopping there and love to just browse up and down the aisles
----
Dried monmorency cherries
Spices (cheap and good)
Balsamic vinegar
EVOO
Grapeseed oil
TJ Barbecue sauce
Organic ketchup
Artichoke hearts
Joe-Joe's (TJ's healthier version of Oreos)
Dark chocolate covered raisins
Graham crackers
Cereals-just tried Whole Grain Chocolatey-filled Cereal Bites
Moka Java Coffee
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
----
Sweet Potato Fries
----
Pound Plus Chocolate
Cereals
Tuscan Beans (in a can)
Papadums (in the snack aisle)
Grade B maple syrup usually cheaper than anyone
Peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets
Flavored pistachios
Flax seed tortilla chips
cookies shaped like cats, birds, various animals.
----
Candied ginger (yum!)
dried fruits of all kinds
grape seed oil
olive oil - I like the Greek stuff
Good price on McCann's Irish Oatmeal
3 buck chuck - my fave is the the rose
simmer sauces - various types nice to have on hand for a quick dinner
chicken gyoza - frozen - also nice for a quick dinner
----
New Mexico Pin Coffee
----
ham steak (it's about a pound, from the Niman Ranch, & has excellent flavor
frozen biscuits (six to a box
stuffed pork chops & chicken breasts.
good prices on nuts (cashews, pecans, almonds, peanuts, available, salted, non-salted, light salt, roasted & raw) & dried fruits, too.
The lemon loaf is excellent, & good for morning coffee or dessert.
They're also known for their wine selections & prices, & prices on selected liquor.
----
nuts
blocks of chocolate for dipping
organic sugar
vanilla
roasted red peppers
Greek yogurt
dried bananas
low sodium deli turkey
cheeses
eggplant hummus
Judy's Breadsticks (sunflower seed studded whole wheat bread)
mini pita bread (so cute)
21 Seasoning Salute
wine
coffee beans
truffle oil (seasonal)
naan
maple syrup
graham crackers
chocolate truffles
cheese puffs
----
milk and eggs
----
Their flour tortillas are the closest to home made that I've ever found in a store.
----
I love the Trader Joe's Hummus quartet, and the fresh mozzarella is the cheapest around.
----
Bread
Fresh-cut flowers, plants
TJs Habanero Lime Salsa, TJs Vegetarian Chili, Cream Cheese, shredded cheese to make dip for Chips/Tortillas
Wine -- NOT 2-buck Chuck
Milk, Eggs, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Cheese
Cereals
Frozen: fish filets, Sweet Potato Fries, vegetables, Streudel, fruits and berries
TJs Ice Cream -- especially their Mint Chip!
Some frozen prepared foods -- as the whim suits me
Tejava Ice Tea
Lavander Sachet bags, Scrubbers, Dish Soap, shampoo
----
Yea - get all the stuff listed above.....
And several cases of 2 Buck Chuck - we like the Merlot, Cab. and Chardonnay the best
----
orange champagne vinegar
cheapest crumbled feta and goat cheese around
orange cranberry scones
mini challah
kettle corn popcorn (it is addicting!!!)
frozen creamed spinach (however, the calories will kill you!
frozen juice bars...i love the mixed fruit ones
My one hate is the frozen vege enchilladao
----
Picatta sauce - jar - great for a quick dinner w/ leftover grilled chicken breasts - I add a can of artichoke hearts-serve over angel hair pasta
Sweet Potato fries - frozen
Wasabi peas
Sesame sticks
Gorgonzola roasted crackers
Roasted Red pepper soup - in a carton - add nothing - just heat.
Stuffed Olives - 2 kinds - garlic & blue cheese - jars
Marinara sauce - jar
Alfredo sauce - jar
Sour cream - can't remember the name - Red & wht container - cheap & thick
----
TJ's Gourmet Fried Onion pieces. Ingredients are onions, vegetable oil (canola and palm), wheat flour and salt.
----
Greek yogurt -- not TJ's Greek style, but the real Greek stuff
"soft whole wheat bread".
Monte Pollino olive oil
canned beans
beef broth concentrate in little packets
Havarti cheese
whipping cream that's not ultra-pasteurized
triple gingersnaps
----
I looked over many of the fresh beef labels yesteday, and I couldn't find one that didn't say 'natural, no anti-biotics, no hormones, vegetarian diet'. All of them. I could have missed a package, but my impression is all of their beef was 'clean'. I have seen grass fed product on the shelves.
----
White balsamic vinegar
TJ fat free Balsamic Vinegarette, Eggplant Garlic Spread, Honey Wheat Pretzel sticks, Sun Dried Tomato Brushetta, Swiss Almond crunch Cookies, TJ Mini Chocolate Chips, Fruit sticks (like roll-ups), Vegetable Fried Rice, Chicken Shu Mai, Ground Buffalo STeak Burgers, Vegetable Egg Rolls, Tri Sampler Goat Cheese, Corn and Chile Tomato-Less Salsa, Fire Roasted Tomato Salsa, All frozen Vegetables, Pumpkin Butter, Red Pepper Spread w/Eggplant & Garlic, Trader Giotto's Spaghetti Lunghi (extra long spaghetti)
----

I like their Salsa Verde, and their Double Roasted Salsa is one of the best jarred salsa's I've had. If you get this, make sure it's the Double Roasted and not the Fire Roasted. Their Chimichurri Rice is fabulous! It's in a bag in the frozen section
----
Dried fruits, nuts
spices
jarred Indian simmer sauces
Plugra butter (cheapest around!)
Frozen veggies (green beans are the BEST)
Jarred marinated mushrooms (the only ones I can find w/out peppers)
pasta
varietal rice (wild, brown, jasmine, basmati, etc)
oils
gluten free products (with flavor, thank you!)
seasonal stuff (this year it was Mexican Hot Chocolate cookies)
Chocolate covered, peanut butter filled pretzels!
----
Triple Ginger cookie thins (really delish)
Cheeses-Port Salut, Compozola,most of their blue cheeses are good, mascarpone
Creme Fraiche
Spicey hummus
capers
Dijon mustard
Roasted unsalted nuts
DH likes Chas Shaw merlot (3$ here)
most of their organic dairy products are good
----
Multigrain vegetable lasagna (frozen)
Chicken burritos (frozen)
Brown basmati rice
Parmesan cheese, grated
Meyer lemons (in season, the only place I can get them locally)
Flaxseed and soy tortilla chips
Whole wheat pitas
Nutty Chocolate breakfast bars (kids love 'em)
Marinara sauce
Whole wheat pastas
Smoked salmon (fresh)
Ak-Mak crackers - Stone ground whole wheat sesame flats
Menage a trois sliced sweet peppers (frozen)
Marinated tuna or mahi mahi steaks (frozen)
Canned beans and tomatoes
Fage Greek yogurt
Harvest grains blend
Orange champagne vinegar Makes a wonderful dressing
Sweet & Spicy Pecans - Serve on a salad w/ above dressing and strawberries!
----
GLUTEN FREE chocolate cake! It is yummy and worry free! A special treat for me. They also carry a variety of other products that make life easier -- pizza that doesn't taste like cardboard and GF tortilla (rice flour).
----
frozen Pineapple...
Almond Meal...
General Tso's sauce...
Chamomile/Lavender hand soap.
Envirokidz cereal
Ketchup.
Pad Thai
Brown Rice Pasta
Italian chopped salad
----
blue cheese, crumbled feta and fresh mozzarella. I love their caponata. ÂUnsweetened vanilla almond breeze (great for low-carbers). I also use their soaps - body - clothes and dishes.

jodi_in_so_calif - Lucky you :-) When I lived in So. Cal., I shopped at TJs a lot. Here in upstate NY there are none, but there is a very dedicated group trying to get one in the Capital Region. Of course, with NY's stupid laws, liquor is ONLY sold in liquor stores, so no 2 Buck Chuck, and no states within a reasonable driving range that allow it either.

TJs was my go to place for party hors-d'uvres because I could get a good variety in small amounts and all were delicious!

Thanks everyone! esp. Petaloid for the list from the link. Very very helpful. I will go with more purpose next time and see what there is to find. I cook for one, am nearly always on a diet (it seems), and eat pretty basic things, so the variety of baked goods or treats doesn't appeal too much. But I'll check out the frozen foods in particular. When I was there yesterday the place was so crowded it was difficult to do serious label reading.

I love their shrimp and green beans (haricots ver). That's two items, not a casserole dish.

The chocolate truffles they carry are to die for.

I don't go much but have liked everything purchased there.

Like their soap/shampoo choices also.

Did anyone say nuts yet? The nust are a terrific value, and you can buy a couple bags and freeze them.

Cereal. Milk. Butter. Rice. Bread.

All the frozen vegetables are excellent, especially the roasted corn. Try the roasted corn!

Almond butter is a good deal if you like it. My sister paid $11 for it in a health food store. Not sure of TJ's price, but it's much less. Peanut butter, honey also.

Actually, everything is good, but I've never liked their frozen prepared items like the enchiladas, for example. None of it tasts good to me. Salads are OK.

It's a wonderful place to shop, and nice change from the big box grocery stores.

Socks, I mentioned nuts but I forgot to say something about their cashew butter. I had to go on a yeast-free diet a number of years ago and the dr. suggested cashew butter instead of peanut butter. Loved the stuff. Not sure if they still carry it though.

Jodi-

It's a specialty store.
The only place around here where I can get my Devonshire cream and Trois Petits Cochons Pate.

Trader Joe's is a fun place to look around and maybe get some healthy snacks. We can't do all our shopping there, but the items seem to be good quality. My DD used to LOVE the mini shopping carts they had for kids, but the store by us got rid of them because someone complained :(

Lilly-
Wegmans is a full grocery store (my favorite!) they offer everything plus a "natural" section where you can get organic items, gluten-free things and more specitaly items etc etc.