It used to have better quality food than Aldi, but I honestly think Lidl is struggling a bit in the US and I haven’t found their prices to be better than Aldi and Aldi’s quality has gone up (except the bananas, what is with Aldi bananas??).

The best deal at Lidl are their wooden toys around Christmas time. Hape quality but for Lidl prices.

Anonymous wrote:I live in DC but went to Lidl for the 1st time last week just because I’d never been and was out in College park. It wasn’t good. It felt like it was a worse version of Aldi. Am I missing something?

I found it to be almost identical to Aldi except it had a handful of good baked goods. I find both to questionably cheaper. Sure a 3-pack of red peppers costs less than at giant but they are also very small and questionable quality. But I am guessing savy shoppers know what to buy there versus other stores.

Is there any reason for me to go to Lidl over Trader Joe's? Trying to get excited for the new one on Wisconsin but the "we're have weirdly cheap food" ad campaign doesn't appeal to me.

Its open for business

Has anyone been to the new one?

We're near the NE DC Aldi so that's our main store for basics. I've been to the SE Lidl a few times and I describe it as Aldi with a touch of Whole Foods. The bakery is great - very nice croissants for 69 cents. Larger and better selection of produce and meat and cheese than Aldi, and lots of interesting frozen food, but the quality has varied, so you have to try it and see what you like. Overall, worth a trip every month or two, but it's not worth a regular trek.

It's hit or miss. I still have to go to Costco or another grocery store to back fill b/c there's no deli and their bakery stuff (which is so limited to begin with) is always hard and open-air (ew).

The produce is mostly good and affordable, but their housebrand food tastes meh, but it does the trick most of the time.

The super Walmart is better IMO

The Lidl in Takoma Park is excellent. The one in College Park is very Soviet-forward. Students pick it dry and they don’t restock.

I like LIDL a lot. I go to the one on New Hampshire Ave. in Takoma Park, MD.

What I like about it:
Not nearly as crowded as ALDI which can be crazy.

Lots of good store labeled items such as fair trade chocolate, tea, organic, gluten free.

Better produce than ALDI. ALDI has so much rotten produce that I stopped going there.

Lots of plants / huge garden section with excellent prices.

Much better frozen / dessert section than ALDI.

Has brand names (Cheerios, Chobani, etc.)

We already have Lidl in DC - OH, you much mean NW DC!

Anonymous wrote:I live in DC but went to Lidl for the 1st time last week just because I’d never been and was out in College park. It wasn’t good. It felt like it was a worse version of Aldi. Am I missing something?

It's a more expensive version of Aldi, IMO and not as good a selection.

But you don't need a quarter to get a shopping cart!

I live in DC but went to Lidl for the 1st time last week just because I’d never been and was out in College park. It wasn’t good. It felt like it was a worse version of Aldi. Am I missing something?

Coming this summer

https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/lidl-plans-third-washington-dc-store