I love Lidl. Can get so much for $20.

Aldi and Lidl are dire competitors in Europe, and also here.

I found their back goods onsite worst than Safeway, everything not sealed looked nasty

Bumping an old thread. I finally went to Lidl (it was a trek-- about 35 minutes away!) and was a bit disappointed that there was not more German/international products. Croissants, chocolate and cookies were from Germany and excellent. Also snagged some waffles from the bread section. Everything else seemed to just be US products. Was especially disappointed in dairy and cheese. Maybe the restrictions are too much that we'll never get the authentic stuff there.

Anyone have an updated list of what they like there? Will there be an alpine week?

I go to both. Usually switch off.

Anonymous wrote:How does it compare to Aldi?

It's better but similar.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lidl had better authentic items from Germany.

I live in Germany and only shop at Lidl if there is no other option. The items might be ‘authentic’ from Germany, but they aren’t the best quality.

We’re happy to get any kind of authentic German food here. Lidl’s food for German week is actually not bad at all. They even had Dampfnudeln.

In which location did you find the Dampfnudeln? I’m so excited, I’m going to surprise my kids.

They only have them during Alpine week (should be in September)

Thanks. I ran to my Lidl in Springfield; needless to say no one there knew what it was even after I showed them a picture of it. lol

Meat, meat is better at Lidl and frozen foods, meats, veggies. Produce also might be better on occasion, not berries, never berries, but peppers and potatoes and such.
The rest is a mixed bag, honestly.

In Takoma Park (newer store), the bakery is quite good. They have AOC/DOP cheeses which are decent. Decent pickles, olives, olive oil, chocolate, smoked fish. Limited fruit and vegetable options (they always have shallots, rarely have Spanish onions, always have basil, rarely have other herbs, etc.). The oat milk is good. The eggs and dairy milk are affordable. The frozen food/packaged food has interesting finds, but it's overall not healthy fare.

DH is German and we like Lidl. I've found their bakery items to be pretty good insofar as grocery store bakeries go. He's a fan of their chocolate and their red cabbage, and we both find the cheese selection to be great for a discount grocery. We have also gotten frozen schnitzel there, which yum although terribly unhealthy. And I can waste a lot of time browsing the aisles in the middle where they have all the toys and random household goods. Our toddler has several of their wooden toys. To us it just feels a little nicer than the average Aldi (although the Del Ray Aldi is not bad).

I agree with a PP who said a lot of their stuff is heavily processed and their produce is pretty iffy - I find this to be true of Aldi as well, and Trader Joe's too for that matter. But it's a nice addition to the mix of grocery stores. It's especially fantastic at Christmas when they bring out all the stollen and holiday chocolates, etc.

I go to the Mosaic Lidl and the Falls Church City Aldi... The LIDL is more than twice the size of the Aldi.

I like the frozen seafood (it seems like everything is 'sustainable'). Great prices on guacamole, cheeses, ice cream, chips, etc. etc. LIDL has quickly become my #2 grocery store (behind Trader Joe's).

Will LIDL replace my trips to traditional stores, like Wegmans? No, but I'm definitely visiting the traditional grocery stores less now that I've discovered LIDL...

How does it compare to Aldi?

I find the Fairfax one dirty and unappealing. The few "baked fresh in-house" items I've tried (bread, croissants) have been terrible. Produce quality mostly poor. I might go very sporadically for cheap featured items ($2 pumpkins near Halloween) but that's it.

I go sporadically and usually get Fairlife milk, maybe some ice cream treats or two, meat for grilling, and ground coffee (they carry my brand). A lot of their stuff is heavily processed, IME. (I am forced to read every label due to myriad food allergies in our household). Not impressed with their produce.

There is a new Lidl in Mosaic District on Gallows Rd in Fairfax across from Aldi!