Aldi

This Aldi is smaller and a bit more crowded than others I have been to. Same great choices but tighter flow. The parking lot is crowded as well. So glad I don’t live in Woodbridge.

I really LOVE Aldi. I only wish the Woodbridge Aldi looked as nice as the Manassas one. I think that’s why people downgrade the grocery store. When I went to the Manassas Aldi, it’s so much nicer, neater, and organized compared to the Woodbridge one.

Aldi is a great place to stock up on staples; the stuff you need week-​in, week-​out. Most of their items are private label. I felt like I was in Twilight Zone the first time there, as they actually concoct fancy looking packaging and branding for their products, but it’s all brands I’d never heard of. They also carry a limited selection of items, and most items come in only one size. Many items, particularly larger ones, are simply stacked in the cases on the pallets they arrived on, rather than arranged on shelves. Over the last couple years they’ve greatly expanded their selection of specialty items, such as organic, low fat/​low carb and gluten free.
Aldi’s items are, for the most part, high quality, and competitive with whatever name-​brand product whose packaging they’re loosely imitating. My experience is that they’re using the same suppliers all the other chains use for their private-​label products. If you can live with the store brand whatever from your current grocery store, you’ll likely be happy with Aldi’s version. And Aldi reliably undercuts Walmart, and well, let’s face it, Walmart is undercutting everyone else.
As mentioned in other reviews, you need a quarter to liberate a shopping cart. You’ll get it back when you return the cart. Coincidentally, there are zero carts in the parking lot or around town. Do yourself a favor and bring the reusable bags you guilted yourself into buying. Or liberate boxes from the store (a practice the staff condones) to carry your purchases. Payment is by cash, EBT or debit only. No credit cards or checks. No dumb loyalty card.
The entire business is built around minimizing your overall grocery bill, and basically everything they do differently from other grocery stores serves that end.

I love Aldi! While they don’t have the greatest selection at times, I come here often for basic food items, like cereal, milk, produce, cheese, pasta, jam, crackers, etc., and the total is much lower than at pretty much any other grocery store.
Pretty much everything is «off brand,» but for the most part I find it hard to tell the difference. They even carry their own brands of things like soy and almond milks, and gluten free foods!
The aisles are stocked simply – bottom shelves are often just pallets of goods – but the presentation at the store doesn’t make or break the taste of the items.
Cashiers are super efficient, and usually quite friendly. Just make sure you have cash or you’re paying with debit, and definitely get a cart before you go in or you will have to catch all your groceries as they come off the conveyer.