Mike’s Discount Foods

Sometimes you’re broke as $#!+ but still want to eat something besides Ramen™. May I introduce to you, friends, Mike’s discount foods! Sometimes it’s a bit of a crapshoot if you’ll find anything good or not, but I usually find stuff like (vanilla flavored) Coconut Silk™ (yum!) for like $ 1.50, or packages of chicken breasts for a few bucks, etc. Yesterday I spent like $ 15 and came home with four bags of food. Score. Obviously, some stuff you’d better cook soon, such as the produce, but that’s kinda how it goes. Don’t just sit there with empty cupboards, go to Mike’s.

I’ve been to Mike’s Discount Foods in Fridley, Coumbia Heights and Anoka, and there IS a difference. Hands down, the Fridley location wins for selection and for staff friendliness.
Veggies, fruit and dairy are the best buys, seasonally you can score huge (especially beneficial if you have a large freezer). Mike’s foods are usually close to expiration or peak, choose carefully if buying fruit — the upside is if used immediately, the ripeness is perfect, no waiting required. If waiting at all to consume, you do risk losing your fruit purchase within days, knowing that going in makes a difference in the overall experience.
If you find something you like, best to buy it now because the stock is continuously changing and it may be gone within days.
Big savings, only wish there were a store closer to where I live (near Maple Grove — if Mike is reading this, ha!)

If money is tight, and the food bill is bill this is the place to shop. Great deals on fresh fruits, vegetables, salads, ice cream and yogurt. If you like something pickup more than one it may not be there next time you shop. Some products have expired dates but are still good, check the Internet for information on purchasing expired good.

I also reviewed the Columbia Heights store of this chain.(avoid it). But this branch/​store is much better. The staff friendlier and the store seems a tiny bit cleaner (not by much though) than the store at 45^th Avenue NE.
Here the deals are better. There is much more selection as this is a larger store. Frozen foods, dairy and produce seem to be buyable and eatable within reason. Never have had a problem if watching carefully what you purchase.
Considerable savings on some items recently (spices, fresh mushrooms, yogurt, frozen chicken tamales.
Most canned goods is off brand. Many of the major brand items (discontinued items or flavors that didnt sell well) are one of a kind that you wont find at the regular store
Items tend to move fast here. I have found something I liked and gone back a couple days later only to find it sold out. So buy accordingly.
Items tend to be one time deals as items are being discontinued or hitting an expiration date (Mike’s gets items that other grocery stores or suppliers want to unload)
Downside, some items turn out to be of poor quality taste wise, No refunds only monetary allotment towards another purchase. And bad sticker pricing (cant figure out from the sticker what the actual price is), not all items marked with signage.
Long lines on Senior Discount Day (tuesday) Only one cashier.
Some items are marked so close to regular store (cub and rainbow) prices, better off buying elsewhere.