Who doesn't love Trader Joe's...really. Their products are amazing. They back everything they sell and they will let you try anything! I shop at Trader Joe's all the time, the only frustrating thing about this location is the parking lot. It is really busy and the spaces are really tight. Try the frozen Chicken Tikki Masala.... read more

Hey Joe, I once was lost, but now I'm found - was blind, but now I see... How could I have been so wrong for so long about you, Joe? We just got off on the wrong foot. Here all along I thought you were this overpriced specialty yuppie trap, when all along you were the answer to all my hopes, longings, and prayers for fun, tasty and CHEAP urban grocery shopping. Maybe I'm still riding on the high from my recent (and now regular) patronage of Trader Joe's, but I fee like a kid whenever I go here. I skip down the aisles, wax effusive over the turkey meatballs to strangers, and whistle in disbelief and admiration every time their ruthlessly efficient employees manage to cram an entire cart's worth of provender into two bags (I swear, they must have a masterclass on proper bag packing technique - it never ceases to amaze me). I'm still barely scratching the surface, but here are my current favorites: Chicken Salsa Verde burritos; garlic naan; turkey meatballs; chocolate-filled chocolate Joe-Joes (their version of Oreos); Honeynut Joe O's (better than Honey Nut Cheerios, which I never thought possible); turkey meatballs (I can't mention them too many times); and of course, the best thing since bottled beer, peanut butter filled pretzels (actually, forget bottled beer - they're the best thing ever, period) I'm not sure how much longer the honeymoon will last, but for now, Joe, my heart (and stomach) is all yours. XOXOXOXOXO Jake read more

Trader Joes is a goldmine for the lazy gourmet. With hundreds of $2-$4 ready-made sauces (I particularly love their masala, Cuban mojito sauce, picadillo, and tagine sauces), you can literally add fish/chicken/peas to the sauce, heat and have a cheap, quality dinner in MINUTES. They also have amazing pre-made frozen foods (I love the pad thai bowl) for very reasonable prices. Other finds include their 5lb bag of frozen chicken breasts (so cheap!), all of the pre-seasoned/marinated meats (just throw that baby in the oven for an hour and you are done!), various oils & vinegars, all of the spreads (olive tapenade, wasabi mustard, yum!) and the desserts (several pound chunks of ghiradelli chocolate, great cheesecake, and amazing gelato!) Their wine and beer selection is also UNBELIEVABLY cheap and quite decent quality. Definitely recommend Trader Joes for those who wanna make a gourmet meal without the time investment! That said, this is NOT the best place to go for basic ingredients - the fruits/veggies are generally pricey, and you can get flour/sugar/rice/etc. (same quality) for FAR less money by going someplace like Market Basket. read more

It is completely beyond my understanding why people do most of their grocery shopping anywhere other than Trader Joe's. Most of the food doesn't pass through a third party wholesaler, it comes directly to Trader Joe's. Translation: no markups and dirt-cheap prices for high-quality food. Pretty much anything here is the ultimate in value and quality, but here is my tribute to All Things Trader Joe's That Make My Life Better: - Pre-peeled, vacuum-sealed and cooked beets. Do you have any idea how long beets take to cook thoroughly? Considering that I eat about 2 beet salads per week, this has saved me approximately 1 million years in prep time. - Pre-cooked and vacuum-sealed lentils. Lentils also take about an hour to cook. Trader Joe's cuts that to 5 minutes. - Frozen pizzas. A favorite since college. - Frozen sweet potato fries. Delicioso! Best frozen sweet potato fries ever. - Heirloom tomatoes. Very hard to find, sweet and delicious. - Frozen turkey meatballs. You'd never know they're turkey, and they're slightly spicy. Make a quick pasta night so much easier. - WINE on the cheap. My bloodtype is Relax Riesling. - Tri-color potatoes. Make for a slightly healthier version of roasted potatoes and are delicious. - Frozen spinach and artichoke dip. So tasty. I'm sure there's more. That's just what I thought of in 2 minutes. Usually I leave here with 2 chock-full bags of groceries, plus a few bottles of vino or a six-pack of beer, and I've never spent more than $100. If I don't buy alcohol, it's almost always less than $50 for a week's worth of groceries for two people, and I bring my lunch to work. Amazing. read more

The employees at this Trader Joe's are friendly and extremely helpful. During a momentarily lapse of brain power, I went to check out at the register one day and after the cashier scanned $100 worth of food (I had just moved into my new place), I realized I didn't have my wallet. D'oh!! They told me they would hold my bags for me as I rushed home to go grab it. I only live a couple miles away, but there was a lot of traffic and I worried that they would get rid of my stuff, thinking I wouldn't come back. Once I got home and retrieved my elusive wallet, I called the store to tell them I was on my way back. I got back to the store about 20 minutes later, and not only had they saved my bags, they also had put them into their store refrigerator so my food would stay cold. AND! They had "suspended" my order in the cash register, so they didn't even have to rescan everything. They got my bags from the fridge, swiped my debit card, and I was out the door less than a minute later. They assured my flustered mind that it happens all the time, and they were unbelievably friendly and funny. They earned a loyal customer after this ordeal, and have been a pleasure ever since. read more

Great prices, friendly staff, and free samples. Who could ask for anything more? Oh, wait, I could - - DECENT PARKING! I know this isn't TJ's fault in the slightest, but why is it - I beg of you! - just why does the parking lot suddenly turn people into headless chickens? It's bizarre, it's irrational and it further solidifies the hard evidence people won't walk two feet to haul their loot back to their oversized SUV's. That being said, the staff here are so friendly and patient despite the hordes of absolutely insane/obnoxious people that it's a pleasure to shop here. Well, that and you can get a solid Friday night dinner for under $20. With wine or beer - and I'm not talking two-buck Chuck. There are many, many wines for under $10, several decent ones under $5. Peel your eyes, dodge between a few well-shod ankles and, voila. $4 Tempranillo. $5 Bordeaux. $6.50 FABULOUS Cotes du Rhone. read more

Two girls walked into a Joe's. One girl asked another, "Hey, is there a place where I can turn on my sprinkler??" Girl 1: "Yes! It's right next to where the free coffee and samples are." Girl 2: "I lovee this Joe's!" [After the release...] Girl 2: "I love this free coffee! I love free coffee! Mmm.. I love Joe's." Girl 1: "Did you see the cookie sample?" Girl 2: "Cookie sample with the free coffee?? I luub Joe's even more now!" Two MORE reasons to love Joe's: Tuscan White Bean Hummus and Mushroom Turnovers. Yumm! read more

The worst parts of this Trader Joe's are the clown car parking lot, and the ridiculous zoo of people inside. But these things don't matter, because this Trader Joe's has a glorious wine section. In a town where not every Trader Joe's carries the good stuff, this one stands out as an awesome boozy oasis. Because I am able to get a case of quality wine for under $100, I am more than willing to navigate the crazy parking lot and crowded interior. Especially since I know I can have a glass of wine afterward. read more

I don't get TJs. Everything always goes well for me there, I'm happier when I leave than when I arrived...consistently. It's hard to not start by mentioning the oddly happy staff. I hear they pay well but the staff is freakishly glad to be working there. The frozen section also does me right with mini apps (pastry bites, spanakopita etc) and the beer aisle is a pared down version of good beers, not cold but TJ can't do everything right. The only other big downside is that the produce can be less than fresh, but they have avocados for a buck a piece in the winter. Huge. TJs just makes me happy. It makes me always want to be close to one because they have some one of a kind items (i.e. salsas, cereals, gyoza). read more

After a heated debate (read: normal conversation) about the varying needs of women versus men I thought: Ok. That's it. I'm going shopping. And off I went to Trader Joes. This Trader Joes location is a wonderful store. It's filled affordable every-day luxuries ranging from fresh cut flowers, varietal wines, organic soaps, heirloom produce, and more. I come here every few weeks to stock-up on impromptu party food and ready-to-eat meals in case I'm too lazy for take out. On this particular day I was off to grab butter and soymilk (crap. I forgot the milk) but left with two bags of wonderful delights. That's when it hit me. This place can close the gap between "You never cook" and "Can't we do something romantic?" Ladies-- We've all been told the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. But who has time or space for elaborate meals and clean up on a regular basis? Trader Joes ready-to-eat meals will cut down on preparation time and alleviate mess. Whip up a quick Italian dinner with fresh bread, a caprice salad, and some frozen turkey-bolognaise sauce over pasta. Easy. Or Bake up some Wild Pacific Salmon with tomalito and red bell peppers over pre-cooked jasmine rice that microwaves in 3 minute. Cinch. On a cold winter night, skip the pub and microwave their four-cheese macaroni (easier and better than most homemade versions I've had) and pair it with breaded chicken fingers. They sell vegetarian version of this meal too. Just be sure to wear a cute apron and remove all traces of packaging! Gentlemen-- Traders Joes has the power to transform YOU--a seemingly average Joe-- into Don Juan (sans hell). Get over to TJ's and stock up $3.99 wine (or beer if that's her preference) for the next movie night. Trust me-- all movies end a lot better after a few glasses of wine. And next time you're headed over to her place, swig by to grab a bouquet of $5.99 flowers and enter suavely with "Have a vase?" Just don't expect a scene. We love it. But you're going to have to build to the finale. Which sort of brings me to desert. This place has a great selection of berries, sweets and creamy delights. Stagger these three things like a well-run advertising campaign and over time you'll have one happy woman with some seriously jealous friends. Everyone likes to feel special and taken care of. Here, under one roof, you can stock up on supplies that guarantee all your needs are met. Cause you da bomb. read more

Don't get enough contact with angry liberals jabbering into their phones and acting entitled to entire aisles of a grocery store? Do you like witnessing overly permissive parenting? Come here, especially on a Sunday evening. I don't think the selection is much different from other average-sized Trader Joes, although they're sometimes out of the stuff I like most: Persian cucumbers, large-sized nonfat Greek yogurt (TJ's brand). No big deal. The TJ's brand offerings are usually good, sometimes great, rarely bad. Fine. What makes me kind of dread coming here is the clientele. Everyone is on the phone, barely controlling their kids, and giving you the stink eye for wanting to do normal grocery-store things, like get to the onions around their unmoving selves + carts, or move down the wine aisle. Cambridge, would it kill you to bag your own effing groceries when other people are in line behind you? Can you focus a little less on posting your snarky review of the no-peanuts trail mix to facebook and a little more on not blocking everyone's access to delicious frozen foods? And can your hold your kids' hands? Just while you're in the store? The customer service here is friendly, but almost too much so: a little more guidance to clueless consumers might help a little, especially with the grocery-bagging thing. read more

I used to live very close to a Trader Joe's in Falls Church, VA. It was nothing to write home about, as its prices were higher than those of the nearby Giant and its offerings were not as varied as the Whole Foods across the street. I recently moved to within two blocks of the Prospect St Whole Foods, which is quite dangerous for my pocketbook. I enjoy being able to walk there with my reusable grocery bags, but have now switched allegiance to this Trader Joe's. I'd heard the Trader Joe's was good but assumed that it had similar qualities to the Falls Church one I'd frequented for about two years. I like three-buck Chuck as much as the next bargain shopper, but did not feel like firing up the Hoobaru just for that. Earlier this week, I had to fire up Hoobaru to get a charger for my trusty Lappy 486 at Micro Center. I went right after going for a run at the gym and was starving by the time I procured said charger. I trotted over to the Trader Joe's to pick up a snack, and instead found a panoply of produce, CHEESE, tamales, chocolate sticks, and baby arugula. I have a raging fetish for those tamales now, and fully comprehend why one of my colleagues has filled up most of the teachers' lounge freezer with them. I confessed to the cashier that I had regrettably waited to shop at his place of work because I'd considered it too far away--he laughed at me when I subsequently confessed that I live in Central Square, but in a welcoming way. Hoobaru, you're now back in suburban grocery mode...the gas you consume will be well worth the savings and the delightful groceries! read more

O Trader Joe's! How I do love thee! Remnant of my western youth, transported now to the banks of the River Charles. Purveyor of all that is nourishing and good! Thy cheeses and thy nuts do none compare. Thy Two Buck Chuck is but the best: it giveth great value. Would that all merchants were so fair and modest. All the stars in all the heavens are not enough to lavish on thee but I must content myself with five. read more

Thank you Saint Joe, for selling me over a pound of shrimp for $6 that would otherwise cost me $20. Bless you for your pizzas and potstickers that save me when I am too lazy to cook and would surely starve. Just so you get the idea of how fantastic this place is, I travel all the way from Ashmont (Dorchester) just to shop here. The food selection is impeccable, in fact in some areas they have more (and healthier) options than the Super Stop and Shop that's close to me. I dont know how they do it but everything seems cheaper as well, which is a major plus. The beer and wine selection is great; I'm always psyched to pick out something new with my boyfriend, and get a free sample of some chicken soup or quiche while we're at it. And, even if it's after 5 and the store resembles downtown Tokyo, the cashiers always seem excited see the next customer in line. Oh, great Saint Joe, I will never forsake you! read more

I have nothing creative or funny to say about Trader Joes, so I shall list my faves and fave nots. FAVES + Frozen Tamales + Chile Verde (needs more spice, so ye gatta spice it up) + Three buck Chuck (is that a hint of vanilla I taste?) + Dried fruits and nuts + Cheap tasty beer + Cheese (including cheese curds!) FAVE NOTS - Frozen fishies read more

It's Trader Joe's. Parking, selection, friendly staff, products you can't find anywhere else. It's wonderful. Can't live without it. Parking lot is somewhat difficult to get into from Memorial Drive*, but it's Cambridge. And it's a freaking zoo at prime time --again, Cambridge. But this location occupies some weird vortex over a rip in spacetime that eats iPhones. Twice in less than 12 months my fiancee has had two of them rendered useless here: one dropped/destroyed, the other stolen. It's not the store's fault. They're fine. But you've been warned. Maybe leave your iPhone at home. *Pro tip: turn left at the Pleasant Street extension one street before the parking lot entrance. Or left at Magazine street one street past the parking lot. You can sneak in the back from either. read more

I make a point of going on not-weekends. The place is a zoo and people don't watch their children and elderly parents, and then you end up hitting these people with your cart by accident and you feel bad about it (sort of), and nobody wins. But if you can get here during the week, it's great. The selection isn't the broadest (I stop here for some produce and then at Whole Foods to fill in the gaps), but what they do carry is cheap and I like a lot of it. Raw almond butter for $5 a jar? Compare that to $11 anywhere else, assuming you can even find it anywhere else. Inexpensive recycled paper towels, organic unsweetened rice milk in big containers, and Ezekiel 4:9 cinnamon raisin bread. This is why I love TJ's. Also, the cute guy who works there that I always see but never talk to. Him too. You know who you are -- the haircut looks great, and if you ever want to lift my phone number off the reusable bag gift card entry form thingie, I promise not to tell your manager. read more

I have to say I love pretty much anything I buy here. The red curry sauce? Excellent, and so simple. The frozen crab cakes? Delicious. The Sparkling Pomegrante Juice? Awesome. I could go on and on. I agree with other reviewers that it's not the place to buy fresh fruits and veggies, as they tend to be higher priced, but everything else is so cheap and really great. And they have a great wine selection at really reasonable prices! I've always found the Cambridge location to be very clean, and the staff are always helpful and friendly. A must go! read more

The staff here is really friendly and they have a wide selection of organic foods at fair prices. If you love eating healthier (or appearing so) I'd recommend shopping here. But the real reasoning behind the 5 stars: 12 bottles of "2 Buck Chuck" wine for $36. 'nuff said. read more

Ten long months of being car-less kept me away from this TJ's. But now. the spell is over! I grocery shop her with the intentions of getting everything I need but produce and cheese. Someone already said it - produce is cheaper elsewhere. Most of Trader Joe's produce is shipped from California, you might as well go to a farmer's market while you wait. I also prefer to get my cheese locally too, nothing against TJ's cheese though. I can no longer be bothered to cook interesting new dishes - because Trader Joe's has done the work for me. I always pick up 4-5 frozen bags of their dinners/rices/pastas/mex/chines/japanese dishes. Since I started doing this, life has gotten better. Their fish is excellent. I'm not a big fish-fan, but since we started trying one a week, there has only been one let down. I have long been a fan of their indian pouches, but am now venturing into the simmer sauces - how freaking great are those! Price can't be beat. AND I can pickup nice wines and beers at the same time. I'm in heaven. I just wish this store were bigger... though that would probably steal some of the allure away. Another thing to watch out for is... Saturday/Sunday afternoon shoppers. You can't move around in there! I try to do my grocery shopping at night, when it's less crowded. read more

Normally I avoid Trader Joe's like the plague because my past experiences have proven to be super crowded chaosness. I also recall the veggie section being random- as in today we have cucumbers and lettuce but no green peppers, sorry. Last night I found refuge at TJ's while my now ex was removing her belongings from my apt. I had plans to meet a friend but there was a good 45 min space where I needed to hide and I stumbled upon TJ's. Perhaps I was dazed by my heartache and found the crowd soothing but it wasn't nearly as crowded as I remembered. To boot I got some really great food and for way cheaper then whole foods. Now when I get my appetitie back I'll have some yummy grub. read more

Great place for a decent selection of wine at reasonable prices. I wish all the trader joe's had a wine section, but alas this is the closest to me. Their 2.99 wine is actually quite drinkable, but i'm usually picking up a $12 reisling or $10 pinot which seems priced lower than other liquor stores in the area. I'm always surprised by how many people they have working in a store that isn't exceptionally large. The staff seems friendly and are usually helpful if you have a question. I'm not a fan of their pricing for small or individual pieces of fruits and vegetables. I understand this speeds up checkouts and makes it easier to know exactly how much you'll be paying without having to weigh everything, but when i think about how much i'm actually paying per pound it sometimes more than double or triple what regular supermarkets charge. read more

Things I will no longer buy anywhere except Trader Joe's: - Wine. - Fancy beer. - Smartwater. - Frozen stir fries. - Frozen pizza. - Frozen lunchy items (noodle bowls, veg enchiladas, etc). - Frozen vegetables. - Canned tomato sauce. - Prefab sandwiches. - Lamb Languedoc, Chicken Provencal, or Cassoulet (TRY THEM!). - Jars of Portuguese White Bean Soup or Spanish Chicken Stew (ditto). - Paper towels/TP. - Eggs. - Nuts. - Shallots. - Parmigiano reggiano. - Trail mix, of any sort. - Dried fruit, of every sort. - Kitty litter. (They carry Space brand!) Anywhere else, you're either paying a pointless markup or getting a totally different product from the excellent Trader Joe's version. read more

I've been to a handful of Trader Joe's but can't say I've found one thats blown me away with this kind of service. Aside from the usual shopping pleasures of delicious foods; I had one type of cookie I came hunting for at this location during my most recent visit. The staff couldn't find it on the shelves and were terribly curious to see if they had ordered it before at all. I informed them it was in fact a Trader's Joe cookie, the Meyer Lemon thin ones, and they spent 3 employees and 30 minutes searching for it. They found it in the inventory and managed to give me a few boxes during my checkout! Talk about amazing. What was even more incredible was the manager noticed there was no set place for those cookies on their shelves anymore so she had them make room and keep them in stock for good. Very happy with the outcome as I love these cookies and will be returning often for them! read more

I honestly think my favorite part of shopping at Trader Joes is that I know that not only will I be helped by employees, I will actually enjoy talking to them. Whether I'm asking what aisle the Peanut Butter is on, or exchanging friendly banter with the cashier, everybody is always in a great mood, and is more than willing to help. Definitely don't get that same vibe from Shaws... The food is great - I rarely like settling for anything but the aforementioned Peanut Butter which is less than $2/bottle, and is made of just peanuts. Can't beat that combo. The pre-made sandwiches, sushi packages, and fruit smoothies are tasty, quick fixes, and their gigantic box of Trader Joes O's is 2 - 3 times cheaper than any sugar packed cereal you'd typically find elsewhere. I'll once in a while shop at Whole Foods for some specialty items, but nevr for the bare essentials since it's so pricey. TJ's has everything I need, in addition to chocolate peanut butter cups which I don't need, but will gladly devour in one sitting. My one negative is that parking is difficult at peak hours, which actually attests to how many people love shopping here. Try to avoid Saturdays, and go late on a weekday night. read more

Amazing place: it makes me happy! Grab brie-water crackers and cheap wine: you are all set to have a relaxing afternoon/night. Noteworthy deals on wine! There are some "not-so-bad" wines for cheap! Also, check out the appetizers and the desserts (the tiramisu and the chocolate cake-- they are killers) read more

Thank god for Trader Joe's. I have no idea how else I'd live on my impossibly small grad student stipend and not either starve or spend all my time making everything from scratch. Everyone else has already said it all -- this isn't the place to buy produce or staples like flour, but other things are pretty decent (including the meat). I have good luck with the frozen foods section, and wish I had a larger freezer to hold it all. There are free samples, and little dixie cups of coffee and tea which is kind of nice. This location carries wine and beer, which is a plus. The beer is reasonably priced, but typically lacking in a lot of body, though probably fine for people who aren't beer snobs. read more

They have wine. Really, that's all I wanted to say in this review. Automatically makes it better than other Trader Joe's. Since I am writing a review, I will add that the frozen chocolate covered bananas are da bomb diggity. As is the dark chocolate covered ginger. They have beer, too. Maybe I'll see you in the sample line soon. You can watch me juggle bottles of wine while I wait . read more

Great location and fantastic staff for a Trader Joe's. We all go here for various reasons, but this location has the added benefit of beer and wine! Great prices for food and drink and what make me happy to always come back here. This is the best place to grab a good/healthy snack for a low price. The only negatives I encountered were the produce and no liquor sales. The produce is not top notch and spoils quickly. I'd suggest getting your fruit somewhere else. No hard liquor sales is also a bummer, as I know of a couple TJ's in mass that do sell liquor and the prices are a steal! All in all, the fantastic staff, low prices, and good selection of food is well worth it. I've always met a smiling face with TJ's staff. Their food is great, and there is a reason while I've shopped here for years and keep coming back. read more

Around 8 PM on July 7, my cashier, N. Hannah, allowed my apples to fall on the floor and just put them back on the checkout belt like they hadn't just rolled under the station behind her. When my boyfriend said that we no longer needed an item, she told him to put it back. And when he left to do just that, she said to me, "Are you roommates?" I told her, no, that's my boyfriend. She just looked at me and said nothing-- just stared at me blankly. We're gay, there's nothing subtle about the way I treat my boyfriend in public, and I don't think the question was innocent. I noticed a large crucifix around her neck. We bagged everything in our own bags, and then she proceeded not to give us the bag discount. So, Point 1, don't let your employees ask about customers' private lives. I spent $160, but even if I had spent $5, it's none of your damn business. Point 2, if you have religious beliefs that impel you to treat people differently, don't get a job that requires you to work with the public. If you're a nasty piece of work who doesn't get along with others, I hear working from home is nice. Point 3, if you have an employee that is giving out service that differs depending on whether she approves of the customer's lifestyle, you need to fire that person, and if you don't, that's on you. read more

I love this Trader Joe's...except on Sundays when they are out of mostly everything but beer and wine. --Not that it's a bad thing, but a girl needs to EAT! :) Produce is decent and they have organic choices too! Meats are good, I have tried mostly everything there for meats. The list includes: Grass Fed Beef/Steak (which I haven't seen there since), Cabernet Pot Roast (to die for!) Chicken Sausage, Minimally processed 99% fat free Turkey Kielbasa, and more! Frozen foods at TJ's are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I stock up on everything from frozen vegetables, meals, desserts, pizzas, etc. I haven't really had anything that I disliked, most items are things I put on my LOVE list. Good selections of Beer and WINE here.... although this is one of the only TJ's that sell Beer and Wine anyways. They have plenty of affordable but tasty wines. Good beers such as Magic Hat and Chimay, Duvel, etc are sold here and are CHEAPER than liquor stores, YAY! In a nutshell, I go to TJ's for a few reasons; VERY affordable (sometimes way cheaper than other supermarkets for things), FRIENDLY staff, environmentally conscious, unique choices, and last but not least--BEER AND WINE! I will continue to visit TJ's quite often! read more

I wrote a review on Whole Foods, so I couldn't possibly leave TJ's out, as I generally swing by both in the same day. Several times a week, actually. So here it is... I would like to believe that I'm classy enough to have a refined palate that can pick up on a wine that is smooth, oaky, with a cherry finish...or a peppery wine with licorice on the back end...but who am I kidding....I'm just as fooled if you put the three buck chuck in a glass and tell me it's a foo foo wine....so just go buy me TJs wine and I'm happy as a clam. Or a drunk. A happy drunk, that is. I feel like most of the employees take a happy pill before going to work, as they are unusually friendly and personable to strangers, compared to most of us Bostonians. Sorry Boston. It is what it is. I grew up here, so I'm allowed to say that. The staff are more than happy to walk you to your item you are looking for. They often strike up conversations at the register as well. Additionally, as a past resident of Honolulu, I'm a big fan of a place that lets you wear Aloha shirts to work. Some even pair that with Mardi Gras beads...a bit of a fashion faux pas if you ask me, but hey, to each their own. Generally, I'm not big into frozen prepared foods, however TJ's has some great quick appetizers...among my favorites are the vegetable bird's nests and the raspberry and brie filo rolls. Good to have in your freezer for a quick app for unexpected visitors or a last minute gathering. Minus one star because I really wish they would have a better organic selection, as the one they have blows. read more

This is a great Trader Joe's with great service. I've never had to wait long in line here. It can get pretty crowded, but the staff is efficient. They have a pretty good flower selection in the front and have pumpkins around this time of year. I tend to stick to some usual favorites at TJ's. The produce selection isn't always great, but there bagged greens are usually pretty good and reasonably priced. I'm also a fan of their cheeses, pizza dough, rosemary crackers, chocolate cats (like teddy grahams), spices and frozen naan. They have wine and beer for reasonable prices which is always nice. read more

I usually buy all my food in large supermarkets where I use my discount card to register my purchases with big brother in order to squeeze out every cent of my money. That being said, I love to poke my head into Trader Joe's every now and then. Consider it a cross between a specialty store and an organic store with plenty of items from each category, and none of the exorbitant prices. Trader Joe's has helped me understand that quick fix bachelor meals don't HAVE to taste like cardboard. Also the home of the famous two buck chuck. a selection of cheap Trader Joe branded wines made from the rests from good vineyards across the country. There is no better bang for the buck wine. read more

I came late to the cult of Trader Joes, but now I have truly drunk the Kool-aid. They do a lot of things really well, including chicken spring rolls, Lemon chicken curry soup, soy yogurts, Pizza sauce, salsa, chips...I could go on, but I'll stop with their Organic crunchy Peanut Butter - I am absolutely obsessed with this stuff; I took two jars of it back to Ireland this Xmas to the considerable bemusement of my parents. It's that good though, nutty yet with that faintest hit of oiliness. Two caveats: a) the produce section has a limited selection - I eat a lot of fruit but find the choice here v limited. Second is that this location should be avoided like the plague on Sat/Sun afternoons, when every aging radical in Cambridge heads down there and discovers their inner Republican at the wheel of their shopping cart. The parking lot can be a headwreck too; especially as they share with the Micro center. One tip I've learned is to enter and exit via the side entrance on Magazine Street - MUCH easier than trying to exit onto Memorial. Or you could just go after 8:30 on weeknights, like I do... read more

Great, friendly employees. They have plenty of beer and aisles of wine at reasonable prices. Since I'm still exploring to figure out what kinds of wine I like, it's been really useful to come here a couple of times. I don't live nearby, and wish they sold alcohol at the store in Newton, but that's not TJ's fault, it's Massachusetts'. As always, there is a good selection of coffee, tea, free samples, fruits and veggies, dried fruits, nuts, cereals, and so on. There are basic spices and baking supplies, as well as canned goods, but don't expect there to be too many spices or to have all the baking supplies you need. That's just how TJ's is. I tend to get my produce there, as well as their *huge* wonderful Pound Plus chocolate bars (I love the dark ones, but they have milk chocolate, as well as bars with nuts). I leave the baking supplies and canned goods to Costco or another larger grocery store. Best things to get here: - Chocolate: Pound Plus bars or smaller, fair trade bars - Wine and Beer - Produce - Cheeses (Brie, Havarti, etc) - Pizza Dough! (Wonderfully elastic, and around $1) - Lunch (Wraps, salads, etc, under $5) read more

Four stars for location, three stars for check-out speed, five stars for parking and selection. I love this TJ's. Sooo much selection and ample parking. I just wish that they'd make check-out faster. The lines get very long very quickly. Great beer/wine selection as well! read more

This is my regular go-to grocery store in the Boston/Cambridge area. I have never had issues with stock-outs even during busy week nights. The produce selection is broad enough compared to other TJ locations in MA. You will find plenty of parking if you drive here. For students coming from different Harvard schools, there is also a shuttle that stops literally right across from the back side of Trader Joe's. You can't refuse door-to-door service as a student, right? Friendly staff here is consistent with TJ's brand of high quality customer service. read more

Where else can you start your day conversing with a Nigerian and a 7 ft. tall Russian in Japanese? Now I know you all know about the inexpensive groceries, tasty frozen entrees, dried fruit and wine galore. Let's discuss the lesser known qualities of this particular Trader Joe's. 1. Convenience...I only have 2 words: EZ Pass! 2. Breakfast....that's right, like Starbucks but cheaper. You know that little voice that always nags you to do something but you end up ignoring it because you're too lazy to bother? In my case it's getting an EZ Pass...I mean, how easy would my life be with an EZ Pass? But nooo...somehow I always find myself running to the grocery store binge shopping so I can justify using the cash withdrawl option at checkout. That's how I discovered convenience & breakfast goes hand in hand at Trader Joe's. Once I slowed down and just accepted my state of work delinquency, shopping at 9 a.m. for my most important meal of the day became ever so enjoyable. Not to mention shopping in a clean and open environment with good conversation and better deals. Which leads me to this morning...Japanese isn't even one of the languages I can claim to speak, but there you are...breakfast, convenience, and intriguing experiences that can be found when you too shop at Trader Joe's. read more

What a huge difference some more square footage and beer/wine makes!! I made a planned pitstop here one day last week when I had a car, specifically so I could stock up on wine, beer, and 'things in jars that are heavy i.e. spreads and stuff'. I normally don't review different locations of the same store, but this location is so far superior to the one on Boylston I had to make note of it. Was it me or did they just have more selection along with all that extra space? Ouf. Love it. 92% of my kitchen is stocked with stuff from TJ's. I don't know how I could ever live far from one!! Boylston, get on the ball, buy some more retail space and sell wine!!! read more