Trader Joe’s

After living up north for a while I became to love Trader Joe’s. When one finally opened in Houston I was literally there on the first day. (Did you know the crew stayed up for like 24 hours straight painting and getting it all ready? It looks great in there.) Anyway, now I live outside of the loop and I still drive in every other week or so to «stock up» on TJ items.
Nut Mixes, Salad dressings, frozen staples and produce. The items that are always on my grocery list right now: Bacon/​Onion dressing, Omega Nut Mix, Almond butter, Hot Mustard dip (not hot actually), FF Cottage Cheese, Cauliflower rice and of course whatever else I can grab on the way out. Prices are reasonable and the quality is good. A bag of apples for example is something like $ 2.99? Can’t beat that.

I became a regular (big fan!) after learned about this place since the end of 2015. I am always looking forward to their fearless flyer and come at least once a month. I already tried many of their stuff. The descriptions are very helpful for foreigners like me. This place has all kind of «weird» and new things and it made grocery shopping and eating more fun. The pictures on their website are very helpful. I also like their «what’s new» on the website. Their customer service is the best in town, compare to other grocery stores. Highly appreciated the tasting, which is different all the time.
Their complete salad is tasty and convenient. As a Chinese, I recommend their new chicken spring rolls. I guess most people know they have good instant oatmeal (variety flavor and keep having new ones), easy, quick and tasty. It’s good with either water or milk.

I absolutely HATE grocery store shopping but when I discovered TJ’s, it became bearable and dare I say, enjoyable. Most grocery stores are huge and if you don’t know the exact layout, you could easily spend a solid hour picking up 10 items. Don’t even get me started on trying to find «specialty» items. Trying to track down someone who works there to help can be a nearly impossible task in itself.
Trader Joe’s is different. The stores aren’t massive so there aren’t a ton of aisles. With that being said, they don’t have the kind of variety other stores have but I am rarely disappointed in their products. When I am, I can just return it with no questions asked! This particular Trader Joe’s used to be known as the historic Alabama Theater.
For those on a particular diet (vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, etc.), Trader Joe’s should be your one stop shop. I’ve mainly eaten a vegetarian diet for a couple of years now and I can say TJ’s definitely has the better vegetarian/​vegan products than other stores around. Plus their prices are waaayy better! Sure, not everything is cheaper but I’ve found the things that matter to me (e.g. Fruits, wine, veggies, tofu, wine, eggs, did I say WINE??) are usually cheaper and taste better.
They also have a few items that are absolutely addicting! Since you are reading reviews on Trader Joes, I’ll assume you’ve already heard about their infamous cookie butter. While the cookie butter is good, my latest obsession is the package of milk chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels! Sooo good! These are a must try for sure!
I think the one thing that I’ve always been impressed with at Trader Joe’s is the customer service. It’s not even just at one particular store. Every TJ’s I’ve been to sets the bar high for customer service. From checking your eggs and frozen packages to insisting on helping you and your third trimester belly to your car with your groceries, Trader Joe’s does it right by their customers. Therefore, until this changes, they will always have my heart.

Well, this was my first trip here and I loved it!!! I went over my budget of course but got a lot of great stuff at great prices!

This is the first time that I have been to a Trader Joe’s since moving from WA (fairly common there). This one is larger than most & organized well. We shopped the wine selection and found a couple amazing deals. Of course, I picked up some 2-​Buck Chuck for cooking mussels… OK, it is $ 3 now and not Charles Shaw :(
There was one bottle that we purchased for just $ 10 that was the best find of the day. We sought out to only buy wine under $ 20 and wanted to see who could find the best one. Unfortunately, my friend found that one… I lost!
OK, now back to the review… the staff members are soooo friendly and though the line was long, it moved quickly. I just wish the location was closer to Pearland!

Great selection of frozen foods and packaged foods. Not as great of a selection of fresh produce, but decent for the size of the supermarket. I find many of their produce options are cheaper than comparable supermarkets. I especially like their spinach greek yogurt dip and different cereals.

I can’t find the hype about this place, why so much hype?!
All you middle class, lower middle and poverty level people, I’m about to tell you that this store isn’t all that in a bag of chips.
It’s just all talk, no action. Yeah, it fooled me. The layout of the place is pretty cramped, lots of people everywhere, so browsing can be very challenging.
Mostly you are looking at bodies and not food. The prices aren’t as reasonable as most of the food is either organic or local.
You have a better chance at going to HEB or your local farmers market for freshness, quality, and quantity.
Heck, I find a better selection at the .99 cent store when I’m looking for specialty foods.
Organic isn’t always the best, just grow your own vegetables and fruits. It’s not all that difficult. Maybe it’ll teach you a thing or two about life.
The people that shop here are strange individuals, lots of skin and bones, sketchy looking humans. It’s more like you’re watching a replay of The Coneheads.
Oh and not to mention the atrocious line that comes when you decide you wanna check out. Boy, was it long.
So, basically it’s not worth it. Stick to the stores you know and also being around these types of stuck up rich people, makes you wonder why some people heads blow up so big when they get some moola in their lives.
Just to finish, the parking sucks and people can’t drive. No, they won’t yield to you if you are backing out first, and yes texting and driving is much more important to them than actually driving.
I didn’t see any deals nor steals, so being a college student, average Abe, or just getting by this place wouldn’t be for you.

The selection is actually quite nice and prices were pretty good, possibly better than Kroger or HEB, definitely cheaper than whole foods.
The glaring issue came when I wanted to cancel my order of bananas because they charge $ 0.29 each coming up to about $ 2 per bunch instead of about one flat dollar like everywhere else. As I asked for it to be cancelled, asking repeatedly because the cashier could not hear me, he said Oh and began to literally ring a bell to signify to not only the manager but everyone else in line that I had an issue.
That takes off two stars in my book since south park already addressed this douche move in their nineteenth season. I’m sure I’ll enjoy the products by the time I get home, but at the moment of purchase I wanted to do nothing but return everything to make a point, but instead I took it like a bitch and didn’t make a fuss.

LOVE this place! I’m there at least once a week to buy groceries and wine.
The people are friendly and knowledgeable on the wines. They get pretty busy though and run out of stock fast but I alway find other stuff to buy.

While sometimes they do run of stock or don’t sell certain things i.e. coconut flour, cauliflower … I still love TJ.
I live next to another supermarket but I would WALK (1.5 miles round trip) to TJs to get my fresh produce for making dinner.
pocket friendly prices. clean eating doesn’t have to be costly thanks to TJs

I love this place! I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed like some of the other TJ groupies, but I definitely enjoy coming here and understand the hype. I wouldn’t recommend shopping at Trader Joe’s for your entire grocery list — You have to know how to shop here and what’s worth it to get the best deal.
You can’t beat the prices for wine here. The 2 buck chuck is the way to go, but they have a huge variety of reds and whites that won’t even come close to breaking the bank. I also come here for nuts, dried fruit (mango is my favorite), coffee, and some of their frozen meals/​snacks. I love their gyoza, and I will occasionally stock up on some of their frozen meals if I know I won’t have tons of time to cook throughout the week. Desserts/​sweet bites are the best here too.
Staff is always friendly, and the line moves pretty quickly. My only request would be for them to have at least 1 express lane similar to other grocery stores — Sometimes I’ll run in just for coffee or a bottle of wine (k let’s be real… maybe a few bottles), and it seems unnecessary to wait in a crazy long line. They do move quickly though, and the staff is very helpful if you need assistance carrying your bags out.
Big perk: I was buying their dark chocolate sea salt caramels the other day and the cashier asked if I wanted to try one before. I mean, I did, but I was going to buy them anyway. We cheersed our chocolates and then I was able to take the rest for the road. Day made!

I think I’m the only person I’ve ever known who is not obsessed with Trader Joe’s. I get it… they are the Yakuza of awesome snacks. They own everything excellent and fatty in the delicious and creative snack department. And oh, snap… «Two-​buck Chuck,» or whatever it is now after inflation and tax.
This store just stresses me out though.
Produce is not as abundant or nearly as beautiful as Sprouts’, and their toiletry and food items are so much more limited in selection than Sprouts, too. You either like pumpkin rooibos or coconut Chai, or too bad, so sad. «No soup for you!»
If I was going to go camping for a few days and needed some super awesome snacks, this would be a great place! My life is made up of more than snacks though, so I’ll remain a Sprouts girl. Yeah yeah, I know. I’ll keep my happy ass over there to make room for everyone else to park. Hey, here to help.

I love going to Trader Joe’s for random snacks when I’m in the area. They do such a great job on unique snacks, crackers, and cookies! They also have really great desserts and candies. Every time I go in there, I’m just like TAKE MY MONEY! (That’s how much I love it)
This is what I normally look for when I go to Trader Joe’s:
–Tea: they have a great selection from white teas, green teas, herbals, and black teas. They also have chai spiced tea in a powder form which is pretty awesome. The teas are also pretty affordable and really yummy.
–Snacks: They have a wide variety of snacks including pickle flavored popcorn, chips, kettle corn chips, crackers, and so many different types of cookies! I also love getting the flat almond and chocolate brittle cookies. The cowboy bark is also really good. I also like to try something new when I go there. They had some pretty good cranberry orange scones too!
Another really good deal they have is a dozen macarons for like $ 7. The macarons are frozen, but they still taste pretty good, so I think it’s a great deal.
Wine: wine for $ 3? Yes please!!! They have a pretty decent selection of wines and they’re all at a reasonable price. I don’t think I’ve had a horrible wine from them yet. Most of it, is more underrated wine, but still has great flavor.
SPECULOOS COOKIE BUTTER!!! If you have never had this before, you haven’t lived yet. Please go to Trader Joe’s right now and try it. It’s like a peanut butter made out of cookies! It’s amazing and quite possibly the best spread I’ve ever had. They also have one now that has a chocolate swirl, so that’s like combining cookie butter with nutella. I can die happy now. Just to give you an idea of how good this is, they have sold out of this stuff before, almost on a weekly basis.
I would definitely recommend you checking out this really hipster grocery store and try some of their snacks! You can give them as presents! (my boss definitely has done that before… -.-)

Amazing all around. They have way fair pricing, especially I have noticed on their wines. My fav is an Asti by the Trader Joes label. Only $ 4.99 but I prefer it hands down to the $ 15 – 20 competing brsnds. I have always been well taken care of by the staff, they are super knowledgeable on their products. Checkout line moves like lightening speed — don’t worry if the line is 25+ ‘cuz you’ll soon be through it and out the door.
If they sold Pepsi and Marlboros, they would get the fifth star. The only items I buy regularly are coffee and snack foods. Dig their Honey Wheat Pretzel sticks!

Love, love, love! Cheapest source for organic options.
They are true to their promise to accept all returns no questions asked! Several times I’ve tried something new and not been a fan, and returned the opened package.
Frozen Indian is the best for those week nights when you can’t be bothered to cook.
2 buck chuck is great, but ALSO keep an eye out for all kinds of changing rare wines for super cheap (e.g. Lambrusco — sparkling red — from Italy for $ 4!)
Love the interesting and ever changing beer selection as well.

Cute Trader Joe’s in a historic building!
Plenty of parking (in the front and back — there are two entrances to this location)!
Has everything you’d expect a Trader Joe’s to have (aka Maple cookies and cookie butter)!
I’m not one of those people that does all of my shopping at Trader Joe’s — I’m partial to Fiesta for produce — but I love having this Trader Joe’s close for cookie cravings and occasion things that I prefer to buy here!

I love this Trader Joe’s. They have a great variety of items and a really helpful and courteous staff. The amount of off-​beat awesomeness is well… awesome! This is where I fell in love with Cookie Butter. Not the healthiest product inside, but one of the tastiest for sure. They have a lot of great food choices for everyone. Very very herbivore friendly. I love their Meatless meatballs! Nice selection of beers and wines too.
Comparable to Whole Foods, but more niche. My kind of place!

I love this Trader Joe’s! I mostly come in here for frozen foods, cheap wine, and ready to eat microwaveable food when I’m too lazy to make dinner.
The Two Buck Chuck wines are $ 2.99 and are pretty good! My go-​to is the Charles Shaw Pinot Grigio which is nice to have after a rough day at work.
The fruits and vegetables are always fresh here. There are ready made frozen foods to take home that always taste fresh– it’s much more affordable to get food here than Whole Foods.
Another plus about this location is that there’s a pet section for food/​treats for cats and dogs right near the front entrance facing South Shepherd Drive. My dogs love the treats here and they are super picky eaters.
This location is super busy on the weekends so I recommend coming here on weekdays if possible. Check this place out because it is definitely worth it!

I love Trader Joe’s! The grocery store is great, and the employees are awesome. I can always leave knowing I have really great food to stock my refrigerator and cabinets with. I have never bought anything from here and have been disappointed.
I love the green plant juice which i love to drink by itself or to add to my smoothies; also the potatoes in the frozen section with mushrooms and green beans are like a heaven to pair for a side with any meal. Last but not least the best ever the BANANA NUT CLUSTER cereal omg! For a banana freak such as myself this is insane! Lol

So what do you do when you first arrive in Houston and have a long week of work and need to be wary of how much you spend for the company? That’s right you grocery shop in the nearest Trader Joe’s.
The TJ is located in a retrofitted theater which is super cool. It’s also large compared to other Trader Joe’s in California which gives more space for romping and storing of more goods!
They had my staples and what I needed for the week which were honeycrisp apples, protein bars and shakes, and raw almonds.
The parking situation feels like could be a mess during normal business shopping times. We came around 8:30pm which was pretty much close to closing time.