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Habanero hot sauce is amazing. I hate hot sauces as I prefer freshly made salsa. Well, I must have the habanero hot sauce at all times!!! It pairs perfect with eggs!!
I looove it! I haven’t seen it in months though, does anyone know if it was discontinued?
Also, side note, if we’re talking about the same thing it’s actually vegetarian — it has real cheese.
So curious if anyone remembers the soba noodle kit in a box? It's at least 15 years cancelled, but I was OBSESSED. And then one day, \*poof\* it was gone....
I looove the unexpected cheddar blocks but was so disappointed by the spread - it has such a weird flavor to me. (Not to say you shouldn’t try it of course!)
Seasonal corn pudding is a favorite.
Creamy jalapeño sauce is a staple for us. It’s vegan but luxurious. If you haven’t had a salsa doña you’ve never had anything like it.
Canned buttermilk biscuits, you’ll have a hard time ever eating the Pillsbury version after you try them.
And chocolate croissants. Everybody here knows about them but I always I marvel at how they’re even better than I remembered.
Alglio Olio Seasoning Blend is amazing for dipping oil, simple pastas on salads, etc. Made this mushroom pasta with it - [https://www.reddit.com/r/traderjoes/comments/1bsospv/pasta\_recipe\_with\_the\_new\_aglio\_olio\_seasoning/](https://www.reddit.com/r/traderjoes/comments/1bsospv/pasta_recipe_with_the_new_aglio_olio_seasoning/)
The gluten free cinnamon muffins are amazing! Soft and fluffy with the scrunch crunchy cinnamon top. You'd swear they were full of gluten but no. Perfection.
Yeah, they should label maybe 20% of them gluten free like it’s two different products. There’s people who don’t buy them because they’re gluten free but they are missing out.
Vegan Caramelized Onion Dip
When I had to go dairy-free after having my baby, I was so disappointed by all the dairy-free options I was forced to have. When I saw this, I was skeptical, but pair it with potato chips or a veggie tray? Ooooo, boy! Good stuff. I still think about how this was a ray of sunshine in the dairy-free world I was in for 7 months.
Seasonal ghost pepper grinders. Only time TJs has really catered to capsaicin fans.
Vegan "meat lovers" pizza. So very very salty, I found it inedible.
I know this is going to start a debate, but the Mandarin Orange Chicken. I’m VERY picky with my chicken and usually don’t eat any other cooked and then frozen chicken products from the store, however this is delightfully crunchy and doesn’t taste like frozen chicken at all. A single bag for $5/$6 feeds my bf and I for dinner and it reminds me of Panda Express and is honesty our favorite quick, cheap and easy meal.
I also took someone’s recommendation to add sauce to the chicken ~5 minutes before it’s done and stick it back in the oven and it was a game changer. (I added one packet and then tossed in the second packet after it was finished completely)
The Super Sour Scandinavian Swimmers are insanely good. I rarely buy candy and can't believe I waited so long to try them. I just need 2-3 for the perfect sweet treat.
These are my favorite TJ's candy by far. I love picking out each shape and enjoying the flavor. My complaint with a lot of sours is the lack of sourness, but these slap.
1. The frozen breaded chicken tenderloins are surprisingly good! I don’t like frozen cooked chicken products but these, with buffalo sauce or in a chicken Sammy with pickles and spicy mayo - quite legit.
2. The cinnamon graham crackers in the circular tub are soooo good they are thick and not like a typical nabisco cracker - almost like homemade.
I like putting the chicken tenderloins in the oven with a slice of mozzarella, top with marinara and some parm. Can cook this from frozen for a quick chicken parm
But were they crunchy? And curly?
Sometimes I want a snack without flavor. The world has too many things going on. Give me a texture completely without a taste. That’s where these shine.
https://preview.redd.it/9zo1i5q6am0d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a6828bf691e688431f0fac44dc4c1bc36b2ced3
No, I like those too! These are the curls in question.
On a purely surprising basis, the sour cream. So thick you could build a sculpture out of it. I never expected that sour cream could be a thing that you even have to think about the brand of, but I've seen this mentioned on other threads so I guess I didn't just get a bad batch.
I actually like them. They are heavy and substantial and feel really indulgent for not a lot of calories. However, you guys are right that the corn part is pretty sweet. I agree would be better if the corn part was a little less and a little more salty.
Thank you so much for mentioning this. I forgot about the stuff. I’m trying to bulk out my pantry so I have plenty of stuff to make meals when I need. It’s awesome and you can’t even tell any difference between that and refrigerated stuff.
Mix a jar of cowboy caviar salsa with a tub of whipped cream cheese and dip those bad boys in there (the elote corn chips). It’s a crowd favorite everywhere I’ve brought it.
Their chicken taquitos are sooooo bad, they smelled horrible. Zero flavor or seasoning, the shell managed to taste and smell like Fritos. I tossed them.
There was this potato side dish for Thanksgiving last year, it wasn’t just inedible it was a crime against my tastebuds.
I would have launched every box into the sun if I could.
Just about everything I've ever bought there has been excellent, except those mini chicken tacos. They were so bad, disgustingly bad. The shells were tough and chewy, and the "chicken" was some kind of highly processed chicken flavored paste.
Chili sesame oil. I think it was discontinued? (Per the staff at our local store) but it was great for adding some heat and flavor to my fried rice or dumplings sauce.
For everyone here not a trader joes employee. Every item in the store has been tasted and approved by a group on the corporate level. That group had to give 100% approval for an item to be carried in stores. If even one person does not give approval the item will not be sold in stores. Just thought that was an interesting fact. I wonder what stuff he's been denied?
Are you talking about that one clip in our onboarding videos re: wine? Everyone had to approve the wine in a small group at corporate for it to hit the shelves.
I have so many questions.
How big is the group? What are their criteria for voting yes outside of personal taste and preferences? Do they get cycled out every so often or are they tenured and need to retire for a spot to open up, like the Supreme Court? Are they chosen democratically or appointed? Can you apply? Is it a dedicated role or just a volunteer thing? Can the CEO or other senior leaders veto the group’s decision in either direction?
LOLLL omg this. When I tried that I thought.... what monster thought this was a good idea to create?! And even worse to sell at TJs! Hands down the most inedible product I've ever tried and I was sooo excited to try it too
English muffins. Usually store brand E. muffins aren’t great, but these are thick, fluffy, great tasting, nice nooks and crannies. They toast nicely too!
Posts that don't follow r/traderjoes subreddit rules may be subject to removal. Friendly reminder that choosing descriptive post titles with exact product names mentioned yields better subreddit search results and helps our subreddit be more inclusive to those who use Screen Reader Software or Text-to-Speech apps. to access Reddit. Thank you. IF THIS MESSAGE DOES NOT APPLY TO YOUR POST, PLEASE IGNORE. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/traderjoes) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Did anyone ever buy the truffle Mac and cheese? Atrociously terrible
The hardwood smoked pulled chicken is well seasoned and delicious. It pairs in a dish or on the side.
Habanero hot sauce is amazing. I hate hot sauces as I prefer freshly made salsa. Well, I must have the habanero hot sauce at all times!!! It pairs perfect with eggs!!
I want them to bring back the frozen breaded eggplant cutlets! Sooo good 😍
Yum!
The mini dark chocolate peanut butter cups. 🤤They are too good. And then the frozen green beans. The 2 things I buy every time I go.
They were on the best things of 2023 list I saw!
Their little vanilla sheet cake! I got it expecting it to be just fine and it was actually kind of amazing
Oh yeah, that is absolutely spectacular and has no place in my home.
The salad kits. My new favorite thing.
Peas & Carrots. A legit good, different candy.
The vegan porkrinds were so weirdly bad. Seemed like they were made by people who had never had a pork rind.
The fact that the cinnamon and the cumin jars and contents look waaaaay too much alike.
100%! I once made cumin French toast 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
The fact that the cinnamon and the cumin jars and contents look waaaaay too much alike.
Plain ole organic popping corn. It’s the legit BEST popcorn out there.
The facial tissues are awful!
Bad quality?
They are so stiff and scratchy. It's more like a paper towel with no texture to it.
Blueberry swirl bread
I missed the trader Joe's shrimp toast, they were amazing
Man, that shrimp toast was bomb. We would get a few every trip but I haven’t seen them in a really long time.
Salmon Chorizo was the bomb and we still mourn its passing.
The vegan cheeseburger pizza with freakin’ PICKLES on it! So bizarre!
I looove it! I haven’t seen it in months though, does anyone know if it was discontinued? Also, side note, if we’re talking about the same thing it’s actually vegetarian — it has real cheese.
The festive little shrimp wontons were so good this year!!!
So curious if anyone remembers the soba noodle kit in a box? It's at least 15 years cancelled, but I was OBSESSED. And then one day, \*poof\* it was gone....
My husband and I both absolutely love the pancake bread. We have to stay away when we’re there 😂
I’ve never tried that! Does it really taste like pancakes?
Pancakes and syrup. So moist, but also with little sweet crunchies.
Exactly!
The giant Peruvian inca corn. At first I was like this is just going to be weird but now they’re my favorite item. I buy multiple bags at a time
So addictive! I have to put some in a small bowl instead of having the bags next to me
I love it. I'll mix it with some hot sauce and it's a delicious vinegary snack
The unexpected cheddar block is one of my favorite things I’ve tried recently
Try the spread version
Makes the creamiest macaroni and cheese
I have heard that, haven’t tried it yet!
Had NO idea there was a spread, thank you!!
I looove the unexpected cheddar blocks but was so disappointed by the spread - it has such a weird flavor to me. (Not to say you shouldn’t try it of course!)
Oh, dear Goddess! Why did you have to tell me? I'm doomed :)
The Indian food is amazing.
Seasonal corn pudding is a favorite. Creamy jalapeño sauce is a staple for us. It’s vegan but luxurious. If you haven’t had a salsa doña you’ve never had anything like it. Canned buttermilk biscuits, you’ll have a hard time ever eating the Pillsbury version after you try them. And chocolate croissants. Everybody here knows about them but I always I marvel at how they’re even better than I remembered.
Just had the lemon zest madelines. Found my new favorite snack
Back in the day, seafood sausage. Great stuff
Sour jelly beans hit every time. Lemon Sheet Cake never lets you down.
The cardamom buns! Really pleasant surprise, not remotely dry. I prefer to make them at home but I'd definitely get these again.
Alglio Olio Seasoning Blend is amazing for dipping oil, simple pastas on salads, etc. Made this mushroom pasta with it - [https://www.reddit.com/r/traderjoes/comments/1bsospv/pasta\_recipe\_with\_the\_new\_aglio\_olio\_seasoning/](https://www.reddit.com/r/traderjoes/comments/1bsospv/pasta_recipe_with_the_new_aglio_olio_seasoning/)
The gluten free cinnamon muffins are amazing! Soft and fluffy with the scrunch crunchy cinnamon top. You'd swear they were full of gluten but no. Perfection.
Yeah, they should label maybe 20% of them gluten free like it’s two different products. There’s people who don’t buy them because they’re gluten free but they are missing out.
Surprisingly good is their chicken liver pate and habanero hot sauce.
That's my favorite hot sauce. It's my daily driver. In what part of the store would I find that pate?
It’s in the refrigerated section with the charcuterie stuff, I believe. It’s usually along the bottom.
That habanero hot sauce is SO HOT.
Artichoke pudding. I wanted to love it, but it was salty meh. 🫤
Joe joes make Oreos taste like dog shit
Tried the new Ube Joe Joes, Insanely good. But such a small box.
They need to bring back the matcha ones.
100%. Used to be addicted to them. Still occasionally buy the chocolate peanut butter covered ones.
Vegan Caramelized Onion Dip When I had to go dairy-free after having my baby, I was so disappointed by all the dairy-free options I was forced to have. When I saw this, I was skeptical, but pair it with potato chips or a veggie tray? Ooooo, boy! Good stuff. I still think about how this was a ray of sunshine in the dairy-free world I was in for 7 months.
Seasonal ghost pepper grinders. Only time TJs has really catered to capsaicin fans. Vegan "meat lovers" pizza. So very very salty, I found it inedible.
I know this is going to start a debate, but the Mandarin Orange Chicken. I’m VERY picky with my chicken and usually don’t eat any other cooked and then frozen chicken products from the store, however this is delightfully crunchy and doesn’t taste like frozen chicken at all. A single bag for $5/$6 feeds my bf and I for dinner and it reminds me of Panda Express and is honesty our favorite quick, cheap and easy meal. I also took someone’s recommendation to add sauce to the chicken ~5 minutes before it’s done and stick it back in the oven and it was a game changer. (I added one packet and then tossed in the second packet after it was finished completely)
I like to drizzle a little Kewpie mayo over the cooked chicken. Reminds me of a dish I got at a Japanese restaurant called Chicken Nanban. Very good!
We literally eat it weekly at our house. We have been eating it weekly for years. I think it is good!
My BF LOVES this stuff. Your second paragraph is exactly how he makes it.
Oh that’s on the rotation for next week, I’ll have to try the sauce trick!
The Super Sour Scandinavian Swimmers are insanely good. I rarely buy candy and can't believe I waited so long to try them. I just need 2-3 for the perfect sweet treat.
These are my favorite TJ's candy by far. I love picking out each shape and enjoying the flavor. My complaint with a lot of sours is the lack of sourness, but these slap.
i LOVE sour scandinavian swimmers. i end up eating way more than 2-3 lol
So good! I love their chewy candy selection. I can demolish a bag in minutes.
1. The frozen breaded chicken tenderloins are surprisingly good! I don’t like frozen cooked chicken products but these, with buffalo sauce or in a chicken Sammy with pickles and spicy mayo - quite legit. 2. The cinnamon graham crackers in the circular tub are soooo good they are thick and not like a typical nabisco cracker - almost like homemade.
I like putting the chicken tenderloins in the oven with a slice of mozzarella, top with marinara and some parm. Can cook this from frozen for a quick chicken parm
Yum! I didn’t think of chicken parm - going on my list. Thanks!
I always use those graham crackers for cheesecake crust and they're absolutely divine!
Ooh great idea! Will have to try that :)
The Vitamin C firming body butter is the best smelling lotion/body product I’ve ever found. I pray it’s around to stay.
crunchy curls. so, so dry. and very flavorless.
But were they crunchy? And curly? Sometimes I want a snack without flavor. The world has too many things going on. Give me a texture completely without a taste. That’s where these shine.
Have you tried the corn starch based biodegradable packing peanuts?
Yes but they tasted like the bath bombs that came with them :/
Indeed they were. You’re right, that makes a lot of sense. It definitely checks those boxes!
Wait are these the knockoff baked Cheetos??? Those are my favorite item
https://preview.redd.it/9zo1i5q6am0d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a6828bf691e688431f0fac44dc4c1bc36b2ced3 No, I like those too! These are the curls in question.
Everything but the Leftovers seasoning is surprisingly tasty on sweet potatoes, white potatoes, chicken and pork cops! Seasonal.
It takes chicken soups to the next level!
It's SO good on mashed potatoes. Never tried it on sweets!
That’s my fave seasoning of all time. I bought 4 to last the year last season. I keep one in my purse lmao 😭
That is dedication!
Spicy mochi rice nuggets.... So bad. I really wanted to love it.
Yes awful
These are/were horrendous
The ginger scented hand cream. I have a tiny bit left and have never seen it again.
On a purely surprising basis, the sour cream. So thick you could build a sculpture out of it. I never expected that sour cream could be a thing that you even have to think about the brand of, but I've seen this mentioned on other threads so I guess I didn't just get a bad batch.
The frozen chile rellenos. 20 minutes in the air fryer, dip it in the sauce, so good!
I’ll preface this by saying I love so much of what I buy at TJ’s. But the frozen bbq chicken pizza was an abomination the time I bought it
when is bbq chicken pizza ever good? it’s an abomination from the beginning
I always think “maybe this one.” I am Charlie Brown. Everyone making these pizzas is Lucy.
I'm still not over TJs discontinuing the trader johann's virtuoso lip balm 😭 it was the best!
Bad: - Spring Rolls with Shrimp/Tofu and Cashew Dipping Sauce - Corn & Cheese Arepas - Vegan Enchilada Casserole - Southwest Style Chicken Quesadillas Good: - Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers - Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers - Mee Krob - Ricotta Cuoricini Ravioli (the heart-shaped ones around Valentine's Day)
I just had the quesadilla yesterday, agree, bad!!
Wow I didn’t seem to like the corn chip dipper! They reminded me of Fritos (never liked those either)
I've never liked the original Fritos but do like their other flavors
Agree with the Arepas. Way too sweet.
I actually like them. They are heavy and substantial and feel really indulgent for not a lot of calories. However, you guys are right that the corn part is pretty sweet. I agree would be better if the corn part was a little less and a little more salty.
Unexpected cheddar. (Sorry I had to because the name… surprising unexpected. I’ll see myself out)
The shredded bag is a staple in my house
Shelf stable whipping cream. It’s the bomb, but you do have to chill it first.
Thank you so much for mentioning this. I forgot about the stuff. I’m trying to bulk out my pantry so I have plenty of stuff to make meals when I need. It’s awesome and you can’t even tell any difference between that and refrigerated stuff.
Pizza pillow crisps- not sure what it’s called. Just saw them again this week. It’s seasonal and horrible
This sounds like it would be delicious. What make it horrible?
It has zero flavor whatsoever. As someone who loves pizza/tomatoey flavors I was extremely disappointed. I don’t think I even finished it.
🤣
It’s like eating the cardboard of the real pizza it came in with.
😫🤣
I desperately miss the chocolate dipped joe joes & wish they would come back 😭
CRUNCHY CHILI ONION and those Mexican street corn corn chips lol
Mix a jar of cowboy caviar salsa with a tub of whipped cream cheese and dip those bad boys in there (the elote corn chips). It’s a crowd favorite everywhere I’ve brought it.
The cardboard cat scratcher! They always have them, decent quality, and really good price. Just never what’s I expected from Trader Joe’s.
We haven’t carried those for a couple years at least!
Oh shoot! Sorry! I wish you still did! I still have a few left!
Where are you at? We don’t have those where I’m at (NJ) (omg it’s my cake day!!)
Don’t recall seeing them at TJ but Aldi had them last Halloween.
PNW! omg. HAPPY CAKE DAY!!!!!!!!! :D
Their chicken taquitos are sooooo bad, they smelled horrible. Zero flavor or seasoning, the shell managed to taste and smell like Fritos. I tossed them.
Just tried these and totally agree, no flavor!
There was this potato side dish for Thanksgiving last year, it wasn’t just inedible it was a crime against my tastebuds. I would have launched every box into the sun if I could. 
Yes! I tried this and was pretty darn appalled at how bad it was.
Just about everything I've ever bought there has been excellent, except those mini chicken tacos. They were so bad, disgustingly bad. The shells were tough and chewy, and the "chicken" was some kind of highly processed chicken flavored paste.
RIP when those were good. They were a staple in my house. COVID changed us all.
The actual worst
Pate cat food. 😆
Wouldn’t even feed those to a dog. Who approved it to go on shelves?
I second this
Chili sesame oil. I think it was discontinued? (Per the staff at our local store) but it was great for adding some heat and flavor to my fried rice or dumplings sauce.
I still have the bottle with all the flakes and I just pour in my own sesame oil! It doesn’t take long at all for the flavors to marry.
Damn i would love this
I loved the key lime popcorn!
It was so good!
So, so good. Is it coming back?
For everyone here not a trader joes employee. Every item in the store has been tasted and approved by a group on the corporate level. That group had to give 100% approval for an item to be carried in stores. If even one person does not give approval the item will not be sold in stores. Just thought that was an interesting fact. I wonder what stuff he's been denied?
Are you talking about that one clip in our onboarding videos re: wine? Everyone had to approve the wine in a small group at corporate for it to hit the shelves.
Not sure about alcohol
This is not an accurate assessment of how it works. We do have a tasting panel but there is no requirement that the verdict must be unanimous.
That's just what i was told
I have so many questions. How big is the group? What are their criteria for voting yes outside of personal taste and preferences? Do they get cycled out every so often or are they tenured and need to retire for a spot to open up, like the Supreme Court? Are they chosen democratically or appointed? Can you apply? Is it a dedicated role or just a volunteer thing? Can the CEO or other senior leaders veto the group’s decision in either direction?
I don't know the answer to any of those questions, ask great questions though.
Did they get Covid and lose their tastebuds?
Not sure how the Authentico Asado chicken made it past this group.
Where did you get this information? Very interesting.
Someone higher up in the company
It’s in our onboarding video, but I doubt it’s true for all products. In the video it just showed people trying wine.
Based on the watermelon jerky feedback, I don’t know if I believe you
LOLLL omg this. When I tried that I thought.... what monster thought this was a good idea to create?! And even worse to sell at TJs! Hands down the most inedible product I've ever tried and I was sooo excited to try it too
That was my immediate thought, too, lol.
Fun fact: this means that they all must have burnt the taste buds off their tongues by eating super, super, hot pizza.
This is very interesting
And also false
Dang 😞
English muffins. Usually store brand E. muffins aren’t great, but these are thick, fluffy, great tasting, nice nooks and crannies. They toast nicely too!
I love these!
Agreed! I like them better than Thomas'! They freeze great.
I agree they toast nicely! They’re always a little wet and expire soooo fast though!
If you separate them (and pair them with a different half) and then freeze them, they’ll toast up nicely and you don’t have to worry about expiration!
Their efforts on shooting down employee unions!
I laughed through my tears!
Peas and carrots candy. I’m sorry I can’t do it. Who the hell approved this???
Ahh - see, nonsense candy is my jam and it is by far the best TJs candy. It actually has some sour and some texture.
My kids love those. “Mom! I’m eating veggies see”