I was at Lidl yesterday, and bought almost nothing. I went before and loved it. Though it was raining like nuts, so maybe that affected me. Since I have been diagnosed with milk and wheat allergy, I think Lidl is not for me anymore. Their steak section was completely empty, their freezer meals were all with dairy or wheat. But, I did find a huge bag of potting soil for 2.99! Otherwise, they have a great selection of pastries and cheeses and lunch meats, it is worth checking it out. Just not for me anymore, sadly.

I like Aldi, but Lidl is better. More organized, selection, and low prices too. The Aldi is closer to us, so we end up going there more frequently. I cook a lot from scratch and mostly international foods, so I have to go to a Lotte or HMart to get specialty international produce but I try to go every week or every other week to Aldi. Love their organic milk (dairy and non dairy), fresh produce, wine, chocolates etc

They are just so different..

For me, Traders Joe's is good for frozen shrimp and fish, butter (winner in a food mag tasteoff recently), some jarred sauces. Bigger selection than Aldi.

I love Aldi though, for the high quality, organic produce that is cheap-and I'm picky..of course there are some veg and fruit that look old...no matter, there is always someone putting out new produce so I just buy whatever is fresh. Yesterday, it was grapes, eggplant, apples, lemons. Last week it was incredible blueberries at .89c a box. Always pick up some of their cheeses.

I also scoop up any of the German cookies, cheap wine for cooking, and often find things on the non-food aisle (garden tools, shoes, socks, storage boxes, outdoor furniture).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was so disappointed when I went to Aldi's for the first time.I'd heard it compared to Trader Joe's and that what I was expecting. It was NOT like that at all.

You need to go more than once. The first time I was like-hmmm. Now I love it

I agree. I felt the same way the first time I went to Costco. Now I love them both!

It's different, with TJs I know what's there and go in knowing roughly what I want to buy while getting distracted with whatever new or seasonal product they have put out.

With Aldi, it feels a bit like treasure hunting. But so satisfying when you find some random thing that's sold for double the price at whole foods. Or when you discover something new, like chocolate brownie batter hummus (dear God, so good). Or the random gardening supplies. The cheap twig I purchased there years ago is now a proud Aldi purchased azalea bush in my front yard.