# Trader Joe's fans, tell me your favorites **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825 "2026-06-11T17:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/21 "2026-06-11T21:41:38Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > Around here, they sell small “ciabatta” baguettes, each one about the size of a generous submarine sandwich roll. I use those to make Italian subs. I get one of those ciabatta baguettes, and their “Spicy Italian charcuterie” or whatever it’s called (it’s three different Italian deli meats packaged together). Plus a slice of provolone, and a salad of shredded lettuce, red onion, sliced banana peppers, roasted red peppers, tossed with some garlic powder, basil, oregano, salt, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. Rivals any sub from a good sandwich shop. Oh, Trader Joe’s olive oil is both high quality and cheap. Trader Joe’s tangerine juice is the only bottled citrus juice I drink. Most bottled orange juices are too sweet for my taste, but their tangerine juice has a tartness that I like. These are a seasonal item only available in December, but Candy Cane Joe-Joes are awesome. They’re like Oreo style cookies with bits of candy cane in them,. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/22 "2026-06-11T21:58:11Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Oh, yes these are so good too! And the dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Dark chocolate covered mints. Maybe even better than Sees. Just keep out of the sun. Be prepared for the narrow aisles and crowds. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/23 "2026-06-11T22:09:39Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I hadn’t known of them before this thread. But with these endorsements I’ll hit TJs on the way home today for a bag. Report back tomorrow. They’re best if you love pain. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/24 "2026-06-11T22:22:42Z")
Tomorrow? We don’ need no steenkin’ tomorrow! My earlier post is about an hour old as I type. 🙂 In that hour I’ve finished my early dinner out, hit TJs, gone home, cut open the bag (9 oz FTR), and have eaten about 25% of it. On an already full stomach. They are _very_ hard to stop eating. They are very crunchy and toothsome, a pleasant degree of mildly hot, and very addictive. I’m not a huge “lime on everything” fan, but the lime adds a pleasant extra dimension to the whole thing. If I was designing them for myself, I’d reduce the lime maybe 20% and crank the heat maybe 20%. But for a mainstream audience I unreservedly give them two thumbs up. Can recommend! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/25 "2026-06-11T22:24:06Z")
Their gluten-free papadum crackers are great. [Papadums Lentil and Chickpea Crisps](https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/papadums-lentil-and-chickpea-crisps-070198) Also the above mentioned triple-ginger cookies. Anything else I’d recommend that others haven’t already are things that wouldn’t travel well. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/26 "2026-06-11T22:56:36Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Tomorrow? We don’ need no steenkin’ tomorrow! My earlier post is about an hour old as I type. 🙂 > > In that hour I’ve finished my early dinner out, hit TJs, gone home, cut open the bag (9 oz FTR), and have eaten about 25% of it. On an already full stomach. They are _very_ hard to stop eating. > > …[snip]… Wow, I’m deeply ~~repressed~~ impressed! You are surely a guy who _gits 'er done_! They ARE absolutely hard to stop eating. When they have a bag open in the store for sampling, I usually keep circling back to the spot over and over until I start getting side glances from the help. But if I buy a bag for myself **I’m doomed!** I guess I better stop by TJ’s tomorrow… What are you drinking as an accompaniment? (For my records.) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/27 "2026-06-12T01:49:44Z")
A unique indulgence: **Belgian Almond Cookies**. Small, thin crispy rectangles that I swear have a whole stick of butter in each one. And… **Cocoa Dusted Chocolate Truffles** (dark, but melty… decadent). They used to be a holiday treat, but I think they have them all year round now. These are both mainstays at our poker games, along with dark chocolate coated almonds and the aforementioned Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels (and they now have an almond butter variety). eta: You can always check [https://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/](https://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/28 "2026-06-12T02:29:18Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > I’m a sucker for their frozen vegetarian samosas. Those are okay but there are similar ones available in Indian grocery stores, if you have those near you. But some of the frozen Indian meals are better. For example, the [Baingan Bharta](https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/baingan-bharta-095249) (a dish of roasted eggplant) is quite good, as is the vegetarian biryani and a couple of others. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/29 "2026-06-12T02:38:51Z")
No love for cookie butter? ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/30 "2026-06-12T03:16:27Z")
Dried mandarin orange slices ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/31 "2026-06-12T03:22:31Z")
My boss scarfs those down all day. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/32 "2026-06-12T05:09:09Z")
They are addictive. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/33 "2026-06-12T12:32:20Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > What are you drinking as an accompaniment? (For my records.) I’d had my fill of wine at dinner out just before, so just water with my tortilla chip / rolls. At home, other than coffee first thing in the morning, water is nearly all I drink. Plus the occasional can of grocery-store branded fizzy water like La Croix. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/34 "2026-06-12T13:38:11Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I like these tightly rolled corn chip chili lime hot can’t stop eating them thingies. Did I mention they were hot and spicy? They might even cause pain, but you have to keep eating them no matter what. For those without a TJs near them, they also sell these at Costco right now. They’re amazing. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/35 "2026-06-12T14:35:14Z")
According to Google, they also sell them at Walmart. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/36 "2026-06-12T14:54:25Z")
Also in the chip department, I like the Organic Elote Corn Dippers and the White Truffle Potato Chips. I make my own baba ganoush using TJ’s Greek Chickpeas with Parsley & Cumin, Grecian Style Eggplant with Tomatoes & Onions and a little tahini. Pop in a blender and you have a pretty tasty dip. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/37 "2026-06-12T16:08:00Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > TJ’s Greek Chickpeas with Parsley & Cumin, Grecian Style Eggplant with Tomatoes & Onions and a little tahini. Pop in a blender and you have a pretty tasty dip. You have my attention! ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/38 "2026-06-12T16:22:22Z")
I really like the TJ Green Dragon hot sauce. Not too hot but really flavorful. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/39 "2026-06-12T16:28:15Z")
The only Trader Joe’s we patronize - and thus it’s our favorite - is the one in the Rockridge district of Oakland. It’s the only union TJ’s anywhere close to us. Because of TJ’s hostility to their employees, we won’t shop at any other TJ’s location. With any luck, your son is getting his PhD somewhere in the Bay Area so you can shop at a union TJ’s! ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825/40 "2026-06-12T17:16:29Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Because of TJ’s hostility to their employees ?? Every Trader Joe’s I’ve been to, the one main thing I’ve noticed is that the employees all seem happy to be there. They are _way_ more pleasant to interact with than pretty much any other store. I always took that to mean TJs was a _good_ place to work. How are they hostile to their workers? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-fans-tell-me-your-favorites/1030825.md?page=3)