Trader Joe’s

I’m a huge TJ fan and shop at our TJ’s in northern Cal. weekly. At this Austin location, they had everything I love and buy regularly at home; nuts and seeds, great veggies, many breads, and uncured meats. What’s not to love. The staff were really cool too.

You can find me here sometimes, dancing in the aisles, pushing my shopping cart along. They seriously play the best music! (Someone told me once it’s a sign of getting old, that your favorite songs wind up being played in stores and elevators. However, I don’t think that rule applies here! I don’t, I really really want to believe that’s not true. I’m young, I’m not old!)
I fall victim to their Machiavellian plans to draw me into the store to just one or two items, then walk out with a shopping cart full of food. I can’t resist! It’s all soooo good. Before TJ’s made their grand entry into Texas, I would take advantage of Southwest’s two bags free allowance, so I could stuff an extra bag full of their goodies from California. What’s not to love? Cookies, lots and lots of cookies. Wine, lots and lots of wine. Beer, lots of it. I go for their own label stuff. Lately, I’ve been stocking up on their organic instant coffee (yeah, keep it to yourselves coffee snobs, instant coffee can be good, especially when you are in a hurry out the door.) Oh TJ’s, I’ve got my dancing shoes ready for my next visit! ;-)

Just got our Jojos in pumpkin, kale chips, sea salted Kale, banana bread mix with chocolate chips, juicing fruits and veggies and heirloom tomatoes. Morgan wanted cookie butter and of course breakfast bars. Ready for the week.

Fell in love with TJ in California years ago. So happy to be near one again! All hail Two Buck Chuck!

You have to be selective. Buy the Basil plant, take care of it and it will provide you will a full year of very good Basil and you won’t pay the prices at the grocery store.
California import that has really taken off and done well. As they should have. Limited selection but generally very good quality and prices. This type of retailer will prevail in the coming years, providing quality food to those who need and appreciate it.

Love trader joes! Great experience here. Store was clean, in stock and the staff was very friendly. The cashier was so great to my daughter and gave her stickers which really made her day. They have kids shopping carts in large supply here which makes shopping so much fun for her.
I especially love their wine selection as well as herbs, produce and cheese. Can’t get enough of this place!

This location is just like the Trader Joe’s I’ve visited in NYC. My list of pros and cons is the same and the good outweighs the bad enough for me to keep coming back…
Pros:
— lots of organic and healthy food options (obviously you still have to read labels and dodge a lot of the packaged stuff if this is a priority for you)
— prices are very reasonable
— they always share samples… yippee!
— exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable staff
— store is clean and I like that it’s not overwhelmingly gigantic
— their «2 buck chuck» (is that an official term? I dunno) wine is a steal and always good enough for table wine
Cons:
— the layout of the store is interesting but can create awkward walking traffic jams
— the plastic packaging on produce is crazy wasteful (and you don’t have an alternative option for avoiding a lot of it)
— wish there were more local food options

I hate grocery shopping. I hate it so much that I’ll wait until all I have in my fridge is a rotten carrot and a carton of spoiled milk. I HATE grocery shopping… until;
Trader Joe’s! Being from California and growing up in San Francisco, I know TJ’s quite well. When I heard they were building one in Austin, I knew my grocery store anxieties would be quickly gone.
The store is small and has all you need. Don’t get me wrong, there still is some small things you’ll need to pick up at some of the bigger stores but you can’t go wrong with Trader Joe’s.
1.) they make it easy to eat healthy, natural, and organic, for a moderate/​normal price.
2.) it’s small and NOT overwhelming like the big Texas chain grocer across the way.
3.) employees are so nice!
4.) candy, baked goods, prepared meals *om nom*
I won’t shop anywhere else unless I have to

Well gang, coming to Austin from Florida was tough because I had to give up my Publix experience. That also meant giving up Publix subs which I am still somewhat distraught over. Having said that, Trader Joe’s has been my savior during this difficult time. I always look forward to coming to this place for multiple reasons. The first is their wide variety of healthy food options at competitive prices. They are constantly stocking the shelves with fresh produce and goodies and they have so many great meat choices as well. I love getting the pre-​cooked sirloin because it has only 2 ingredients (you guessed it, grass-​fed sirloin and pepper) and you just have to put it in the microwave for 3 minutes and BAM! Sorry I got excited there. The same goes for their pre cooked Carnitas meat, absolutely heavenly, my adorable Unilocalers!
The second thing about Trader Joe’s, and I am not sure if this is just this location because I haven’t compared, is the incredibly friendly staff here. They are always extremely nice while you’re checking out and great conversationalists which helps to enhance the experience immensely. I always meet the greatest people here at the checkout.
I would also like to you advise you beautiful people that they offer free coffee samples on the regular so you can crush a nice cup of joe, of all various flavors depending on the day, whilst you procure your weekly sustenance. How can you beat that?
Thank you Trader Joe’s for showing me there is more out there besides Publix and Whole Foods. This is my go-​to spot!
Side note: If you come here on a weekend day, it is going to be absolutely packed with people so make sure to plan accordingly. They are all nice, upscale and successful people but still you must maneuver them which can be somewhat challenging.

First off, I didn’t know this place existed until I was in the East Coast and my friends were raving about it. I picked up a few snacks and meals to hold me over for the week. I was first in shock with the prices. Extremely affordable compared to other grocery stores around. I enjoyed most of my meals and the prices allowed me to try a numerous of things without budgeting.
The customer service was amazing. When I got home the first place I went shopping for groceries was Trader Joe’s. The customer service was even more impressive. They get you through the lines quick. The best part was my bill was under $ 100. I left thinking, «wow, these people really love their job».
You must try their coconut body and face cream. It’s paraben free, which is a huge plus. I absolutely love their organic sweet frozen corn. They have a great selection of organic products at affordable prices. They definitely have my vote.

Trader Joe’s is my favorite place in the world!!! No joke, I always talk about it, I go there every week sometimes twice, I am eager to take everyone who has never been, and this is basically the only place I buy groceries now. At first, I knew this place only because of their cookie butter, but THEN, I realized that this place is super on point when it comes to their other products AND customer service.
First of all, their PRICES. For such high-​quality products, they are really stinking cheap. This is because TJ’s buys directly from small suppliers and is able to bargain really good prices and slap their name on it (Trader Joe’s, or maybe Trader Giotto’s or Baker Josef’s), thus providing their customers the best prices. Compared to prices of products of the same quality at HEB or Central Market, TJ’s is always a few cents cheaper. For someone who is always looking for healthy, plan-​ahead, money-​saving meals, this is gr8!!!
Second, aside from their average products, they have a HUGE assortment of really good, unique products. Some of my favorites: Cookie Butter (ofc), Cookies & Crème Cookie Butter, Gummy Bears, GUMMY TUMMIES (must try these — they are like gushers), Strawberry Yogurt-O’s (MY FAV CEREAL), Mushroom Quinoa Roll, Shelled Edemame, Eggplant Hummus, Inner Peas, Inside-​Out Carrot Cake Cookies, Green Tea Infused Mints, Cookie Butter CHEESECAKE (limited time), Cookie Butter Ice Cream, Joe Joe’s (their version of Oreo’s), their HUGE chocolate selection, etc. My boyfriend loves the Onion-O’s & their frozen pizzas (which are cheap, for only like $ 4 for a whole pizza?). They also have a lot of food products you can give as gifts — a TON of chocolates, biscuits, snacks, etc. They also have a killer wine selection, for cheap! OH, and their CHEESE. UGH, best place to buy cheese!!! 1000 Day Gouda?! Double cream brie + fresh baked bread (from Baker Josef’s), yes, so yes. Also, they even have like Green Onion Pancakes… I have tried them, and they are delicious.
Third, like I said, the whole TJ’s environment and shopping experience is ALWAYS a good one! The employees are always eager to help. I have never once met a mean Trader Joe’s employee — how can someone be mean wearing a Hawaiian shirt?! There’s a section in the back where you can sample some of their products. Little-​known secret: You can just try a lot of their food just by asking an employee. Never had cookie butter before? Ask the sample-​section employee, and chances are they already have an opened container ready for you to try. (:
The only downside is that sometimes a product you are looking for isn’t on the shelf for that day or even that couple of days. Since they buy from small suppliers, the supply isn’t as consistent or as plentiful as you would find at another grocery store. BUT THAT IS SUCH A SMALL DOWNSIDE, because every trip to Trader Joe’s should be an adventure!!! (Especially spent in the «frozen dessert» and baked treats section.) For example, just this past week or so, they started selling Piñata Apples in the apple section — I had no idea what they were, but bought them anyway.

I have been many times here to get my favorite products and even try a few new ones. Today I was nearby and stopped in to reload my freezer of lunches for work. One thing I notice they do not carry too much season items like for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Halloween but perhaps it is purchased quickly. There are always a steady crowd here but plenty of parking. The store is not huge but very organized. Need to treat it like a large convenience store full of different items and not too many difference choices for a special type if item. There are always new items present when I visit and some go away for a while. Make sure to bring in your own recycle bags but will give you a paper bag if you forget and not sure you will be charged $.10 for it.
The wine selection is very good and enjoy trying different jelly flavors. I never tried a frozen entrée I did not like except a lasagna which was messy to make in the microwave. I love the meatballs, pastas and macaroni and cheese. You will also find many products from other countries like World Market. The people working there are extremely nice and friendly and back in the corner of the store they usually serve samples.
Be careful when you exiting the shopping center where vehicles coming down Bee Caves Road are usually traveling fast.

I was actually thoroughly surprised at my Trader Joe’s experience. I did not realize that the prices were on the cheap side. I like that they have specialty, different items for a good price. I can definitely see how the same exact special item would be at least $ 5 or more at Central Market or Whole Foods.
I found myself getting wrapped up into a conversation on Joe C’s check in at the Trader Joe’s further up north. They were discussing the pumpkin seed brittle. I just knew that this was something I could not live without. I contemplated for a moment if I wanted to fight the traffic and head that way. Then Larry W. informed me that there was one on Beecave. Once I discovered this there was no question and I arrived at Trader Joe’s within 15 minutes.
I walked up to the front of the store and I immediately noticed the pumpkin patch outside. Then I noticed the price on the pumpkins which were quite a bit less than the pumpkins at HEB and central market. I then got a basket and ventured inside. I noticed that the size of store seemed a bit small. I am not sure if all Trader Joe’s are like this… according to Allyson K she says they are even smaller in Chicago. Maybe we are just used to big stores in Texas? … Everything IS bigger here, right?!
Anyway I ended up picked up some produce for a great price. I eventually found my pumpkin seed brittle along with other pumpkin stuff I could not pass up. I walked out with the pumpkin scone iced cookies, pumpkin bread and muffin mix, pumpkin bread pudding and pumpkin chai tea. I grabbed a couple of seasonings as well.
When I got to the check out the dude was super friendly and asked me some questions. I wanted to purchase a reusable back for 99 cents and he told me that they have free paper bags. I told him this was my first visit to a trader joe’s and he said well then we are giving you this reusable bag. AWESOME! saved me 99 cents! That was really nice of him and unexpected.
The store was awesome and impressive. The customer service was delightful. I just wish there was one closer to my neighborhood down south. I do not like getting on freeways if I don’t have to. Will I come here regularly — no because it is not close enough. Will I make special trips here for special items — absolutely! Will I sport my free reusable bag around town — hell yeah! Until next time Trader Joe’s. Thank you to Joe C and Larry W for helping discover new things!

OMG OMG OMG TRADER JOE’S! It’s like a myth right out of sorority land! Finally, I get to see what all of the excitement is about!
I walk in, «Oh, this is a lot smaller than I thought it would be… most veggies are pre-packaged…this is why I don’t like Target much… OMG KETTLE CORN! You win my heart!»
Seriously though, the prices are strangely cheap, and for shelf-​stable foods and frozen foods, this is an amazing store! The people who work here are super sweet, nice, chipper, bubbly, and enthusiastic like me, so I love that!
Only 4 stars though. The salads I’ve tried have been wilted and old, and I still feel like there’s something unnatural about their low prices. The store is very clean, and it’s always a fun experience when I finally decide to visit!

How can I NOT write an update?
Like srsly, omg, fuh reals.
Trader Joe’s gets me talking like a valley girl in love.
They’ve got these salads… have you seen my pictures? Go look at them. I’ve eaten maybe 10 different ones. 10 DIFFERENT ONES! But wait, there’s more. Seriously, they keep popping them out of nowhere! Just recently they starting putting that MexiCali salad on their shelf, and crap, I can’t eat it fast enough! The dressing is laced with sassy awesomeness and a hint of parmesan.
And they’re all like under $ 5! REALLY! And then they’ve got these crazy TV dinners that are delicious and so random.
And then there’s the cookie butter. Don’t get me started with him.
Oh and the hummus. I love their hummus. So good.

I recently read an article on «X number of things you may not know about Trader Joes» and a lot of them I did not know and was pleasantly surprised by, but one thing I do know? My love for this place is undying!
I luv grabbing that lil red ‘buggy’ (is that Texan for shopping cart or did I make a wrong local dialect turn at Georgia?) and exploring my favs, the «oldies but goodies», and all the new stuffs on the shelves! It is like the Discovery Channel meets Supermarket Sweep! Everything is so fresh and beautiful and affordable! It’s like Whole Foods’ beach bum uncle that always gives you a shiny quarter and a hair ruffle every time he sees you! There is just an awesome laid back familiarity here, from the aromas to the tasting station to the fantastically sweet staff, that makes me a die hard loyalist!
I drive from the Arboretum to Bee Caves, braving the hellscape of MoPac for my TJ fix… and I am always rewarded for my bravery with a bottle or three of «$ 2Buck Chuck»! I will be soooo happy when the new TJ’s opens in my neck of the woods!
Though, for me, being a oenophile on a budget, their wine section is where my party is at! Whenever I go in it is like my birthday in that I don’t know what amazing gifts the TJ Wine Gods have left for me to find, but I know it is gonna be good and not break my MoneyBalls! I usually walk out with my lil wine tote full of 6 glorious wine finds in a Cloud9 Wineuphoria. And, in true Austin fashion, when inquisitive onlookers ask what wine I just adopted, I always reply «they’re rescues».

Doing a happy dance in the parking lot of a grocery store isn’t normally my thing, but Trader Joe’s seems to inspire this kind of joy in their shopper base. They have some of the most enthusiastic people working the floor, their store-​brand products are delicious and their prices are affordable, sometimes bordering on «what, is that all?» cheap.
TJ’s is a drive from my house, but I try to go once a week. Today I stocked up on:
* Crushed garlic ($ 1.99÷9 oz jar) is one of the only preservative-​free, shelf stable products on the market. My current favourite TJ item.
* Unsulfured dried mango snacks, $ 1.99÷8 oz. Also available with spicy chile coating.
* Nuts, nuts galore: wasabi almonds, marconas with rosemary, honey roasted cashews, lime & chile mixed nuts, pine, macadamia, roasted, unsalted, it’s all here. Really.
* Dark chocolate with almonds, $ 1.79 for three bars.
* Fresh shallots, 99 cents/​bag of three large ones.
* Seasonal products like pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin croissants, pumpkin butter and pumpkin cereal bars. Get ‘em before they’re gone.
* Frozen products, many of which are all-​natural, minimally processed, preservative-​free. Shrimp gyoza, turkey meatballs, Thai pad see ew noodles, tom yam soup, vegetable pakoras. Eating-​in for lunch has never been tastier.
Did another little dance of joy on my way out the store to my car.

Trader Joe’s kicks WF’s butt! Trader Joe’s is much smaller, but their prices are better and the quality is always superb. I have no idea why it took TJ’s forever to come to Austin, but they’re finally here!
We now finally have some Two Buck Chuck, which is pretty decent for cheap wine — excellent for cooking. Their wine prices are very good overall.
I’m so happy they’re finally here I can hardly stand it. Things I love about TJ’s: medium sized store, easy parking (except for opening weekend), super friendly and helpful staff (ALWAYS!), Italian Truffle cheese, their brands, fresh organic produce, too many things to list, but most of all, their selection and prices. Welcome to Austin, TJ’s! (They have the best initials, too ;)).

Dear Joe,
It’s been a long time. When I left you 13 years ago you promised that you would follow me in less than 10 years. I realize it is hard to control things like the economy and expansion.
I had to settle for annual visits just to get to see you.
Imagine my delight when you finally came to your senses. You just could not live without your # 1 fan any more. It took you a while. You got to Texas and went to Dallas and Houston and San Antonio first. Seriously? Austin is the best place to be in this great state. But you came to you senses.
I love your new home. You did a great job decorating your place to reflect Austin with the cool murals of Barton Springs, Zilker Park, the Botanical Garden, Mt. Bonnell, the Bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge and even the food trailer touch. Everywhere you look, there are the playful touches of Joe, Giotto, Ming, Jose with both the lei’d back feel of Hawaii and Austin as well as the great state of Texas interspersed throughout the place, including your Cowboy Caviar.
I am finally able to enjoy your Trader Joe’s private labeled items which come free of artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, GMOs and MSG. And I am happy to have your oh so low prices back. You sell inexpensive Prosecco and oh so many fab affordable wines. I missed your frozen enchiladas. I missed your Mushroom and Black Truffle flat bread. I missed the endless array of tortillas to please so many, from traditional, whole wheat, to whole wheat corn and so many gluten free options. I heart your ready-​to-​eat salads, especially the spinach & kale Waldorf salad. Oh, and imagine my surprise when I found Bacon Cheddar! You had me at Bacon! Actually, you had me at Joe!
This is one of your larger stores and the aisles are almost wide enough to shop three carts wide.
I felt like a groupie in a mob this trip. The word is out and there was a cart shortage and a checkout line that wrapped 1.5x around the inside of the store. You handled it all with grace and speed. The line wait was only about 15 minutes.
I will be happy when you get in the groove and folks learn you are not going anywhere so there is less of a crowd. But you deserve the attention. You have found Austin and are here to stay.
Welcome Home! I’ve missed you!
Love,
Your #1 Fan
p. s. I started a song for you a few years ago and I am now finally able to finish the lyrics.
— — — — — — — — — —
(to the tune of Please Come to Boston)
— — — — — — — — — —
Please come to Austin forever Trader Joe’s
There is so much room for you to kick the ass of Whole Foods.
You can sell your wine and beer on the cheap.
In a location I hope to frequent soon.
Please come to Austin
Don’t say no. I want you around the corner from me
And we said, hey Trader Joe’s, why don’t you come on down
Austin IS your kind of town
We need two buck Chuck and organic stuff at prices like yours
I’m the number one fan of the store they call Trader Joe’s
You’ve come to Austin to live forever.
The keepin’ it weird lifestyle was just too hard to resist.
You found a place that looks out over Rollingwood
Where the cookie butter falls from the sky in front of your store.
You came to Austin. You didn’t say no.
And now you’ve come home to me.
And we said, hey Trader Joe’s, you finally came to town.
Austin IS your kind of town!
Here it’s three buck Chuck and no artificial ingredients.
I’m the number one fan of the store they call Trader Joe’s
I’m the number one fan of the store they call Trader Joe’s

So on TJ’s opening weekend in Austin, I stopped in for three things:
1. Cookie Butter.
2. Chocolate chip granola bars.
3. Ethiopian Peaberry coffee beans @ $ 5.99 for 13 ounces.
I’m pretty sure Jesus Himself would have braved the crowds for that, and have made some new friends in the process. This sure is one happy place.