I've been thinking about what it is that makes Trader Joe's special. Part of it is indeed the products -- nowhere else have I seen cold brew coffee concentrate, or cookie butter, or frozen garlic fries, or those curly lentil snack things that are actually really addictive (and healthy!). My husband still misses the "mixed up everything" chips or whatever they were called. But the other half of the equation is the staff. They are paid well and like their jobs and it shows. They know the products, they are always glad to help, they are friendly and I think their cashier and bagging training should be an industry standard. No joke, they know how to pack a grocery bag like a PRO -- everything fits, it's evenly distributed, nothing gets smashed, and they're so fast half the time I'm still trying to find my wallet when it's time to pay. The only thing I'd change about this location? The parking lot, which is poorly designed and mildly annoying. But I don't care, I love me some TJ's. read more

I need a 6th star stat! Nothing beats good ol' TJ's. NOTHING. If I could only go grocery shopping at one place, Trader Joe's would be it. They always have fab samples of new products to try. And nine times out of ten I end up buying them. Not to mention, there's always new and interesting products showcased on the end caps. Prices are ridiculously reasonable. You will easily pay double at Jewel, Dominick's, and triple at Whole Foods. You get what you pay for, and often feel like you're ripping them off. A variety of their foods are vegan, organic, gluten free, or vegetarian. And it's labeled right on the box for you, so you don't have to go searching through the ingredient list. They have a small section of household supplies, toiletries, and supplements. ((Pick up some mango shave cream. It leaves your skin silky and the scent is intoxicating)) :::Tips::: - Don't shop late at night, especially on a Sunday. They get 2 shipments a day and there's often a lot of the hot items picked over by the end of the night. - Many food items do not have preservatives (YAY!) Eat 'em quick or else they will go bad - Frozen foods end up with a LOT of freezer burn if not eaten//used within a couple weeks - Buy booze. They have some stellar wines for under 10 bucks - If you can't find a staple item, be warned that some items are seasonal or are only around for a specific time (boo) - Produce can be tricky. You can always buy just one of some items. The organizational culture of TJ's should be followed by many other companies. They carry great products at a reasonable price and the staff is beyond friendly and always helpful. Kudos to Trader Joe's. You have a customer for life!! read more

This TJ's has the benefit of crew members who are just helpful enough -- not the ones who pop up unexpectedly, interrupt you in the middle of a thought, and have to make sure you're finding everything you need. They understand that half the beauty of a place like TJ's is finding new stuff to try, and they leave you to it. This location gets crazywackybonkers packed on weekends, and the later in the day that you go (even on weekdays). Get there early for your best shot at wandering around in relative peace and quiet. Also, their Pound Plus chocolate bars can't be beat for baking. Cannot. Be. Beat. You'll not find a nicer chocolate for a better price. Showing people you care with tasty baked goods doesn't have to cost a fortune. Do it! To TJ's in general: bring back those Mexican Hot Chocolate cookies. Please. I miss them, and I know I'm not the only one. Yes, it's a few years after you had them, and yes, I know I'm still holding onto my fond taste-memories. That should tell you something. I'd save up and buy a pallet if you just carried them again, and I'd stand on streetcorners and make people taste them and swarm your store to buy their own boxes. read more

I have always had tasty stuff at the snack shack! Yup, they have food to taste while you are shopping. They also have recipes for you to use when you are making the food. They also put side dishes back there, so you can get a whole meal. Great idea! Also the wine here is great! They buy overstock from the airlines, so you can get a great bottle of wine for like $5. Hubby's favorite right now is Nerello Del Bastardo, aka the Bastard Wine. Hey, it helps me remember what to get! I HATE grocery shopping, but really here it's not bad at all. It's a small store, easy to navigate and stuff is where it actually makes sense. Everybody who works here truly appears happy to be there. They even give out balloons to little kids. I wish everywhere I shopped was like Trader Joe's! read more

Traders is the shit! I love this place they have such nice employees and amazingly delicious food. I have tried alot of stuff from Traders and serioulsy only disliked maybe 3 things ever. Everything is healthy, you dont have to worry about a bunch of preservatives,by products, and any other nasty shit in your food when you shop here. Being a vegetarian, Traders has made grocery shopping so much more enjoyable becasue almost everything is clearly marked vegetarian or not.No need to flip to the ingredients and spend 2 minutes reading through all of them. Employees-- two words -Cheerful,helpful Fav pick----Peanut butter puffin cereal,veggie meatballs,faux chick strips,soy milk, $.99 noodle bowls, minestrone soup, frozen green beans Prices-Cheap!! Everything is so cheap you get so much more for your money here! Bring your own reuseable bag and you get a chance to win a bag of free groceries. I'm still waiting for my time to shine. If you have kiddy poos they will have fun finding the mokey that is hidden within the store. BTW they donate and support local business and no for profits. I'm partial to them becasue they donate food to my work and the animals really really appreciate it:) Oh almost forgot they have a clean public restroom! I love this since my bladder is the size of a pea and I have to go potty everytime I'm there. read more

I love Trader Joe's. From all these reviews, who doesn't love Trader Joe's? I found a new favorite thing at Trader Joe's that I am also in love with: chili feta. Either I missed it before or it is brand new, it's great. Super flavor, kicky but not lethal; and it works so well on its own or as an addition to favorite recipes. Great on salads and with appetizers. My meat-eating-guy loves it with: you guessed it, meat! I always seem to find something intriguing at Trader Joe's. Their organic produce is spot on and talk about 100 ways to do and say "chocolate"... super quality dark on, in, and all over things. Their whole grain pastas are also quite good; they cook up well and for the cost you get really generous portion sizes. I am also a sucker for their flowers. But watch out on Friday afternoons (at least at this location) ... they almost need a whip and a chair when it comes to the droves of folks stopping in for wine, tastes of wine, cartons of wine, all things wine related. The staff and employees are not only engaging, but they truly seem to love their jobs. There is only one thing missing: I never seem to be their when they ring that big old bell! read more

Trader Joe's... I love you. Part of the Aldi family, you make grocery shopping fun! I love going through the aisles, looking at all the new products. The Staff here is awesome. Everyone is so friendly! I've never had a problem with parking, but it sounds like if you come on the weekend, there will be issues. I look forward to every visit! read more

I have been to this Trader Joe's many time and have always had a great experience, but was very disappointed tonight. Walked up to the door at 5:15 and employees standing inside unlocked the door to tell us they were closed. We thanked them and walked away thinking ok they closed early because it was New Years Eve. However, as we were pulling away, we saw them open the door and let another customer on. The store with a shopping cart. I guess they weren't closed for everyone. read more

Back in the old days, it used to be that $2.99 could only buy you a bottle of Boone's Farm. But thanks to Trader Joe's, buying wine on a budget doesn't have to be embarrassing any more! I was first led here when I tried the whole gluten-free thing and needed a bigger selection than the "other" grocery stores. Thankfully, that didn't last long (the gluten-free thing), but TJ's has enough goodies to keep everyone happy. Their frozen food section is awesome. Cheap food, cheap wine, great staff. Remind me why I used to shop at Jewel? read more

Great place with great prices! Their organic items are offered at great price, especially dairy. Frozen section is great and fruit selection is good although somewhat overpriced. Their prepared foods section has great quick bites and they have a very large selection of healthy snacks. Great International food items too read more

I love Trader Joe's - I love the products, I love the employees, I love the feeling I get when I'm here and I love the excitement of trying everything I've bought as soon as I get home. I can only give this location 4 stars because the customers really suck here. I know Trader Joe's cannot control who enters the store, but it is part of my experience. I came here on a Sunday just as church got out (I'm assuming since I wasnt one of the good Christians that attended) and this place was swarming with hungry, tired brats who could not help themselves but whine, scream and run around the store. And this past week, I went late at in the evening and almost ran over a little snot-nosed kid running away from his mom. I do not blame these children, I blame the parents who are too busy getting their wine (to deal with the whine) and think little Bobby is cute. But I shall not begrudge TJ's for this - I understand that the reason I am attracted to this place (great products, good prices) is the same reason the grocery purchaser for a family would also find this place attractive. I just now know what days of the week and times of the day I will not be buying my tasty treats. read more

Trader Joe's is a low-budget foodie's dream. I love that I can walk in here and find new foods or at least new combinations I can try to recreate or look for in a restaurant. Trader Joe's is the perfect place to go when looking to answer that question, "what should I bring to the party?". You can pick up a great bottle of wine, a couple packages of distinctive cookies, or a few cheeses and you're good to go. When dining at home TJ's is the perfect place to pick up the basics - frozen veggies, pasta (1.99 or less!), chips and salsa, ect. The frozen food section is great when you don't want to cook when you get back home. Oh and the TJ brand of cereal is awesome if you are looking for a box of cereal under $4. The staff at the Glen Ellyn store is helpful and friendly and make it really feel like it is a neighborhood market. On a typical trip I pick up the following: vanilla yogurt honey tortilla chips Fire Roasted Salsa colby jack cheese "a strawberry walked into a bar" bars Recent obsession(s): Sea Salt Brownies Pomegranate Limeade And you can't beat the regular offering of free samples. Make sure you stop by and taste what's new. To the left of the sample station you'll find a collection of recipes to try. Oh and the music selection playing in the store is awesome. read more

Trader Joe's is absolutely one of my favorite grocery stores, particularly this location. It's comforting to see how much their employees, and the company, are taking social distancing measures seriously. They are limiting the number of people inside the store, and are consistently wiping down carts and baskets. Due to the limit of the people inside the store, you can expect a short wait, however I have not waited longer than 10 minutes. Within the store, they have positive reminders about social distancing inside. Despite the precautions, the employees remain chatty and friendly! read more

My first TJ's experience and the place that always keeps me coming back. They have a wide variety of unique and fun food. A lot of this stuff seems to be the stuff sold at Whole Food's but repackaged and much lower in price. Works for me! This location has my heart so I always go here when I can, the people are friendly and the shelves are always well stocked. One of my all time favorite products is the seasonal pumpkin butter. When that stuff comes around I definitely stock up! Thank you Trader Joes! read more

Great store I've been going here for years. They're doing a great job keep customers safe during the pandemic and appreciate them monitoring the number of customers going into the store. Feel much safer going here than a regular grocery store! Also they're always stocked and super friendly! plus it's an extra bonus that they're releasing more plant based and vegan food items :) read more

Welcome to Ireland, England, Italy, Wales... I'm reminded of the grocery stores in Europe. The display of it all! I feel like cooking all 3 meals 7 days a week for the rest of my life, it's just so lovely. Here's what's good: it's clean, the prices are clearly displayed everywhere and some of the food has a description which is super helpful, TJ's is unique and filled with a variety of exciting odds and ends of unusual flavors, there are samples every day and they are delish, the staff is friendly and helpful and you will never fail to find something surprising that you don't need but you MUST take home. Mine was a decorative broom dried in cinnamon oil and 6 advent calendars. I'm now writing this review, enjoying the scent of my cozy apartment. It's too early for the holiday mood and yet here I am baking a pumpkin pie and listening to Christmas music (ya, I'm one of them ;) One criticism: the prices can be either really really good or really retarded. Meaning there are $12 tiny chickens that I can get for $6 at a regular grocery and there are $0.70 (ish) big bottles of sparkling water that I can get for $2 at Caputo's or Jewel. I have to shop around I guess. I highly recommend the spiced apple cider if you can grab it before it's sold out for the season, very tasty. Don't forget your $3 dollar wine folks, THREE DOLLARS! The frozen mandarin chicken is a digestible bomb of sexy explosions for the tastebuds, also TJ's sells these dried mango fruits thingys covered in spicy pepper. Find them, buy them, eat them. Oh my gosh, I should never review groceries... I must stop now. read more

Trader Joe's - I found $3 wine, just sayin - Grocery Near Me - Glen Ellyn, Illinois

I love TJ's! I've loved probably 98 percent of what I've ever bought here. Stay away from the Goddess salad dressing (soy sauce in salad dressing....no thanks) and the Egg-less Mayo (whoever thought of that one needs to be shot after being force fed it). Other than that, everything is great! I love that the staff is friendly, but I'd rather have someone (the stockers) try to talk to me as I am trying to find something in the store instead of the cashier. (Does the cashier really need to know what I did over the weekend?) As far as this location...it's very good. However, I got to talking a friend in the city and comparing prices. It seems that our Glen Ellyn TJ's is pricier than the city TJ. Hmm. This will take you down to 4 stars. read more

I don't normally shop at Trader Joe's but I was passing one today and needed a few things so I stopped and tried to enter the store but was told there was a waiting line. I looked at the line and it was at least 20 people deep. I told the employee monitoring the line "no, I'm not waiting, I have a life and it doesn't include waiting in line at the only grocery store that makes you do this." Come on people, it's not that great. read more

Trader Joe's is the place I go to get myself a little treat when I am grocery shopping. I don't normally buy my produce there but the specialty items are top notch. Looking to try a new cheese? I'm sure they have something you will like. I really like looking at the different sauces they have. My most recent find is a Peanut Satay sauce. I can't wait to try it out. Make sure to stop by the sample table in the store and try a sample of whatever they have that day. I know it is just a ploy to get me to buy whatever they are sampling and it works quite frequently. The employees at Trader Joe's are some of the best grocery store employees I've ever met. If you need help finding something they don't just tell you what aisle it is in, they take you to it and will probably suggest another item it goes well with. read more

I love this place too. The selection is fabulous and their prices are WAY better than Whole Foods. Unique and varied, they offer a little of everything. Looking for wild rice -- already cooked -- or uncooked? They've got it at a great price. If you're not a health nut, unbutton the pants and try the frozen Fettucini Alfredo and a bottle of their great cheap wine with your next movie. You won't believe how tasty -- and unmushy -- it is. If you are a health nut, their meatless meatballs are the best. I initially ate them under duress, thanks to my vegetarian husband. Now, I just eat them myself. Easy, good and designed specifically for your diet. If you don't like something, take it back and they'll refund your money, no questions asked. No, I don't work here but I'm glad they have nice employees who do. read more

the new brazilian cheese bites at trader joe's are fantastic!!!! i hope they never stop carrying them!

Went to this location in Glen Ellyn quite often during 2014/2015. Lots of customers. Place always has my fave - Asian noodle salad. This was the typical TJ - clean, well - lit, lots of helpful employees, and huge selection of healthy items. read more

It's a Trader Joe's and has organic selections and other good groceries only they carry. The only real complaint is a huge factor in choosing where I shop: customer service. Staff isn't bad, but definitely not welcoming. Checkout is not good at all. The checker rarely even acknowledges you are there. A kid named Ryan just chatted with his buddies the whole time; no eye contact, hello, how are you?, smile, nothing. Normal for this location. Not a customer focused store. read more

Of all the Trader Joes in the area, and I'm referring to the one in Naperville and Downers Grove....this location is my least favorite, mainly due to the layout. Also, my last visit was in early December and they were out of most items that were peppermint/christmas advertised in their online flyer and that was definitely a bummer. Like the other TJ locations though they have friendly, helpful staff willing to assist you. This location is most convenient to work, and my drive home so I won't stop going to this location, it's just not my favorite. read more

I'm from California where Trader Joe's was founded. You can say my expectations are set a little higher than the folks here in Glen Ellyn, IL. What I like about this Trader Joe's is their staff. Everyone is very friendly, they greet you with a smile and occasional small talk. Not too chatty or getting too personal but enough to make you feel like they love their job and they're happy to be there, regardless if that's really the case. LOL What I don't like about this place is I feel like it's rarely fully stocked. It could be my choice in the timing of my grocery runs, but still, every time I shop here, there's only 1-2 choices left when purchasing produce. Like most women, I'm sorry but I like to look at my tomatoes (example) or what not to see if they're bruised or getting old before I buy them. Because honestly, who really uses everything they buy that same day? So, anyway, when you're consistently provided with only like 2-3 tomatoes to choose from. Not much choice is given. It's like you end up settling because you're already there. Oh, I do like their specialty branded items you can't find elsewhere. Yikes, maybe that's what got me to return. That and the smiling faces! What can I say, I'm a sucker for nice cheery faces! read more

My go-to Trader Joe's on my way back home. Big location, fun and friendly staff. I always go during busy times (4-5pm) but it isn't so bad getting back on the highway. Love it here! read more

Love the staff at Trader Joe's: always friendly, always helpful. I have to eat gluten free and here are a few of my faves: Nutty bits (chocolate & nut snack bites-YUM!) grain-free granola, gf waffles, and oat cranberry flaxseed cookies. Lest you think I only eat junkfood, I do buy other stuff there, but I'm highlighting the gf stuff for this review. As for "regular" food, my husband can't rave enough about the Trader Joe's Multigrain bread. I also love their sample counter and the combinations they make and give recipes for. read more

A stop here really brightened my day. Fresh garland, holiday music and spirit and at check out, James was such a delight, he took that extra moment to connect. Put a smile on my face, I must have looked like I needed it.....and I did. read more

I love Trader Joe's, so I might be a bit biased. The employees at this store are so friendly, not pushy, and simply happy to be doing what they are doing. It makes the grocery trip that much more enjoyable. I can't say that I have ever bought anything from this store that I have not liked. Everything is fresh and well stocked. I really don't think anyone could be disappointed by shopping here. The store is always clean and if you have a question there is always an employee nearby to help. read more

Trader Joe's, I have happily boarded your ship. What I like about you is pretty obvious--healthy food at discounted prices. Grocery shopping does not get any better than that. I love hopping around aisle to aisle like I'm in some organic paradise where I can buy whatever I want without breaking the bank. Oh and the floral shirts crack me up. The wine selection is pretty big, too! I bought a bottle of wine that had a goat on the front. It was delicious! Did you know Trader Joe's is owned by Aldi?? I just found out, and now I hate Aldi less. So there you go, Trader Joe's has opened my heart even more. read more

Always awesome! Try the pumpkin butter, it is lovely. This is a great place to find something for a recipe that will make your diners say "Hmmm, what is that?" I recommend the goat cheese, the 21 season solute and any of their delicious coffee blends. I also like shopping there for nuts, as they have a large assortment of raw, roasted and flavored nuts. Spiced apple cider is where it's at, people. Buy it by the case. read more

Always happy to support Trader Joe's because they do such a great job of cheerfully supporting their customers. And during Covid, that service is on steroids. Someone is always outside greeting customers and wiping down carts, and making sure those waiting in line, honoring social distancing, feel respected and welcome. Thank you, TJ, for all you do!!! read more

Amazing staff. I feel very confident going there, they allow a certain amount of people in at a time, have spots marked for every 6 feet to wait in line, and spots marked at the check out to keep distance, but the people are the most important thing. I appreciate the people that work there doing that extra work to help me feel safe and as I left today and told the person I appreciate them, they said "we appreciate YOU". Everyone I have dealt with there has been friendly and this is a place that I want to continue buying from. I do a trip once a week now for most of my groceries there. THANK YOU read more

omg-this could be as good as it gets. First time in a long time since I've been here, and they had SO many things that were organic for half the price of stuff at Whole Foods!! I got a box of cereal, bananas and something else all for under $5!! AND the box of cereal - which I was taking a risk at getting since I didn't know the brand - turned out to be really good!! (It was their frosted flakes for only $1.99!!) OK I know this review isn't really helping. BUt they seeme to have a wide range of things including wines, beers, cheese, produce, cereal, snacks, honey, you name it... I only spent like 5 minutes here.... bc I had to be somewhere else.... The people working at the store and the people shopping at the store were friendly and people generally seemed to be in a good mood here... SO....needless to say, I'm a fan and I'll definitely be back. [EDIT] I realize I was super super happy my first time back at Trader Joes and for good reason. Upon a little more objective reflection, this place IS great - it's no Whole Foods in Lincoln Park, but it does the job. They have some really great prices, but being a smaller store, they don't have a HUGE selection, but they do have a WIDE selection of good things, and you can't go wrong. Plus, their fresh packaged foods like salads good for lunches and such are cheaper then WF. So I can't complain. Not everything is super cheap, but they do have a good selection and some of it is a LOT cheaper than WF. I'm still definitely a fan, and I will still definitely come back. This is now a must-go-to-shop grocery place for me. :) read more

I like this place for very specific items: Fresh flowers Thin-crust pizza Frozen chicken/fish Tea tree tingle conditioner (your scalp will thank you) Everything else is overpriced IMHO. read more

Small parking lot, but so thankful for everything they have here. I bought some tea tree shampoo and conditioner for the first time. It's quite nice. They don't have any contact solution thought qq read more

This is going to be short and sweet but oh so important for you to see. My husband and I shop here on a regular basis. We love the products and prices. Two days ago, when I was checking out, the checker (and I am so sorry I did not get his name!) asked me how I was doing and I let slip (overly honest little me) that my husband was in the hospital so not great. We are there as a couple all the time so maybe they noticed. While he was ringing up my groceries I saw him subtly whisper something to an associate and next thing I know he gave me a beautiful bunch of flowers. Which, of course, made me lose it. We try to be so strong and then someone shows kindness, you know... As my one friend said, "Now THAT's how to run a business!" And you know what I found out. Another friend of mine had let someone know at Trader Joe's that she had just lost her mom. Same thing. They gave her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. And let me also say--we live closer to two other Trader Joe's and this one is our favorite. Can't wait to return with my hubby who is getting out of the hospital tomorrow and will most assuredly want stuff from TJ's. read more

I was going to try to be eloquent in this review, but I'm just going to come out and say it. I freakin' love Trader Joe's. I probably do the majority of my grocery shopping here nowadays, for a variety of reasons - not the least of which are the incredible prices. It really is hard to find a better value for your money. I especially like the frozen prepared foods, and the wine selection, and the chocolate - I don't think I've tried anything from here that I didn't like. Plus, the staff is always super-friendly. I'm so glad this is in my neighborhood! read more

I love TJ's! This location was the first one that sparked my interest and I must say THANK YOU! Love all the fresh and tasty options as well as all the helpful people. read more

I am a big fan of Trader Joe's in general, although that said, just because something is on the shelf at Trader Joe's doesn't make it healthy (a general assumption that is kinda a pet peeve of mine). This particular Trader Joe's is great. The people are friendly and knowledgable, the selection is pretty good, the customer service A+, the store is clean and organized. Sometimes the produce goes bad before expiration, but I bring it back and they always make the process of exchange really easy!! Wine selection is also very nice - great variety! read more