Trader Joe’s

LOVE Trader Joe’s– Hate the parking lot! South Tampa needs another one. Every time I go there, I find a line on the street waiting to get into the parking lot. It is frustrating, especially when you just want to run in for a few items.

Love love love this store. Although small they have so many unique items you could peruse aisles for quite some time. Happened to be in the area so went looking for my caramelized cheddar cheese. Hard block of cheese embedded with caramelized onions. I love cheese and this is by far one of my favorites of all time. I eat it plain but am planning to try it in a grilled cheese sandwich this time. Yummy! The store is so well stocked with such varieties it is hard to choose and you always leave with more than you planned. Only drawback is limited parking but this weekend was wonderful with loads of spaces and fast service. If you haven’t been to a trader joes you need to make a point of going. I am sure you won’t be disappointed and will find something to try.

I am so happy Trader Joes has come to Tampa, even though its been here a few years now. It has become my go to place for most of my groceries. I also love getting beautiful $ 5 rose bouquets! I have many favorites here: prices on most items, frozen foods (spanakopita, spinach and kale bites, bean burritos), and the regular greek yogurt. I also love trying new items as they come out. Most of the dips are great to bring to a party and the indian dishes are amazing too! I am a lifetime customer. It would be nice if they added more rare items like active dry yeast. I do not bake bread all the time but nice to have everything in one store.

Just visited and I enjoyed the place! They have a great selection of food. Their 5 seed granola bars are to die for! I would go there just for those! All of the staff were friendly. I’d go back when I’m near the area.

When I first moved to Tampa, I looked for one thing: Trader Joe’s. Truly, my life line in LA was having that Trader Joe’s in Westwood.
I’ll keep this review short because I’m pretty sure there’s not enough words that can truly describe how much love one human can have with an establishment.
Friendly staff, great selection of food, and all around a fun, enjoyable environment.
If you’re still shopping at other grocery stores, you’re making a mistake my kind friend. Switch over to the Trader Joe’s side. #teamTJ

This place is wayyyyyy over rated. … Parking is almost impossible. I just do not have the patience for this place. The food is not bad. Prices are pretty high but you can find some good bargains. I’d so rather shop at fresh market. So Easier To Get IN AND out.

Love TJ’s! So excited when they came to FL!
The first place with reasonable priced organic food! Some of the organic veggies are only .20 cents more than the regular. I always choose organic when I’m there. Can’t beat the price.
Beautiful flower bouquets from 3 $ and up.
The staff is sooo friendly. If you want they will let you try any product in the store. They will also let you return if you are dissatisfied. Great customer service if you ask me.

Trader Joes is one of my favorite places to shop. Whether I’m in need of a quick (yes I said quick) shopping trip or need items for the week TJs is my go-​to spot.
The parking lot isn’t spacious but don’t let that deter you. If you go during non-​peak times (go at night) and avoid Saturday mornings per se, then you’re golden to get a parking spot. People normally exit pretty regularly so you won’t be waiting long for a spot of there aren’t any available.
I love the assortment of fresh vegetables that Trader Joes offers and the fact that all produce items are purportedly GMO free which is a big deal for me. The organic produce offerings are pretty plentiful and reasonably priced which I appreciate.
There are many prepared meals available, such as salads, wraps, sushi, and soup, as well as prepared (marinated) raw meat if that is your thing. If you are looking for vegetarian or vegan offerings there are plenty. I also enjoy their selection of breads, nuts, and dried fruit.
The frozen section houses carnivorous, vegetarian and vegan options: meals, deserts, vegetables, and fruits are varied and well-​stocked.
I love that I can get dairy-​free milk and organic dairy products from here. The cheese section is also pretty expansive. I especially like the organic Greek yogurt.
The wine and beer section has quite the selection as well. The bottled water from New Zealand is delicious. The variety of crackers and snack foods are good to bring to parties or to stock for your next gathering.
The selection of fresh-​cut flowers and potted plants are nice. I especially like that they carry potted herbs and orchids. I enjoy that there are fresh plants and cut flowers alike. I can keep fresh cut flowers and plants on my home for a reasonable price. In fact, every time he shops there my boyfriend always insists on buying me flowers because the prices are so reasonable (he’s generous and wonderful and I’m spoiled).
I especially like and appreciate that Trader Joes gives back to their local community as evidenced by their community board. Way-​to-​go TJ’s!
Check out TJ’s and see what all the hype is for yourself!

Love this place! Trust and believe I only go for one thing and one thing only… Speculoos Cookie Butter! I literally by pass every and anything else in the store. I know that’s bad, but I’m being completely honest.
I will say, everyone is super nice, fast, & efficient. I get in; I get out. Good tip: Be prepared to be patient in their parking lot!

YES! YES! YES!
We moved away from Southern California (Trader Joe’s Mother Ship) 9 years ago at a time that they simply hadn’t expanded into Florida yet. It was on the top 5 things we missed most from SoCal, and then we slowly watched them open stores in Florida, seemingly everywhere but where we lived. The frustrations as we dreamed for a TJ’s to open near us was beyond compare. But now we have moved to Tampa, and are just a few miles from here!!! This was such a big deal, that before moving here, we checked to make sure there was one here, and as such all is GOOD!
So what’s the deal with this whole TJ’s cult thing anyway? Maybe it is one of those California things, but if it were, how would they have expanded so much.
Here is the answer: Trader Joes was like Whole Foods and Fresh Market LONG before the concept even existed, except one major difference: PRICE. TJ’s has phenomenally GOOD products without the massive mark-​up you get at the other places, and it has been that way for decades. So while that «California wholesome» trend has spread across the nation, it started with TJ’s, and in my opinion it is still the best.
If for nothing else, stop in, grab a free cup of coffee, taste some cool new product they are selling, enjoy the vibe, and find the hidden monkey! While you are doing it, you are sure to have lots of ooohhhss and ahhhhs, then check out with far more than you expected and wonder why the total was so much lower than it would have been at Whole Foods, Fresh Market or Publix.
Oh yeah, I’m a fan! Have been for decades!

I now under stand why there is a line to get into this place at times… Not! I’ll never understand the lines and police escorts to get in at times. But I do love coming here during off hours because of the awesome organic items you can catch here for great prices! Not to mention their cool little trader joes sauces and packed food items. It’s like a treasure hunt.
When throwing any get together, this is my go to. I can make an affordable charcuterie and cheese board for next to nothing compared to going to a different grocer. No one even knows it’s trader joes! (looks like my secret is out)
Be sure to look for their sriracha garlic honey BBQ sauce, the frozen gnocchi’s, assorted cheeses, any frozen meal, chimichuri rice, beer and wines… Pretty much everything in their frozen section is great and useful to whip up a fast dinner. Thanks for coming to Tampa trader joes. Now build more parking!

The Trader Joes in Tampa is my favorite grocery store for several reasons including superb customer service, excellent selection, and the overall shopping expierence. At many chain grocers employees are trained to demonstrate good customer service, but it can feel forced and unauthentic. However, the service at Trader Joes is genuine because staff wants to answer questions and cares about the quality of the products sold in their store.
The selection and price of healthy and interesting items at Trader Joes is beyond my expectations and beats the competition. For instance I recently purchased 32 ounces of extra virgin olive oil for 8 bucks. I also love the frozen food selection and particularly enjoy the Kung Pao chicken. However, the spice selection sets Trader Joes apart from any general grocer. For instance I purchased Trader Joe’s smoked ghost chilies and poultry rub for less than 10 dollars. Lastly the wine selection is also excellent and even the 2.99 Trader Joe’s Cabernet is good.
I used to dread going to the grocery store, but Trader Joes makes grocery shopping fun and intersting. Items are perfectly displayed and even the lighting creates a comfortable environment. I wish Trader Joes continued success.

What a nice store! I love this store tremendously more than the Tampa location!
There’s actually more than enough enough parking spaces for your car, there’s a colorful waterfall outside, and they have newer products in rotation too! #storegoals.
Try going there for holiday themed items if that’s what you’re after because they seem to have more of a newer product selection.
I will say that the staff is equally as friendly as the Tampa location. That’s one thing that remains consistent, and keeps me returning to any Trader Joe’s location.

I love Trader Joes! BUT always avoid it because of how busy it is. I am talking about the South Tampa location here. The worst part is that the parking lot is so so tiny and all of the spots are for compact cars. I am shocked that the city let them build the store with such a small lot. The store its self and products are fantastic! I visited Trader Joes South Tampa on Saturday around 1:00 (early November 2015). The parking lot was super crowded but surprisingly the store was not bad. I could actually maneuver through the store without running into people. I think the newness has worn off and the people who were previously avoiding due to crowns can now relax a little and go enjoy the store they waited so long for.

I mostly come here for unique/​rare items only sold at Trader Joe’s. They are a little bit pricier than regular grocery stores due to the fact that almost everything here is organic.
The store is relatively small compared to most grocery stores with a high demand of people making it a little crowded at times. The selections here are very high-​quality and the shelves are usually very well stocked and organized. An example of one of their good quality rare items would be the truffle cheese in the cheese section. They have a pretty decent and well organized wine area too.
Parking is a nightmare on weekends due to a small lot. However, it’s a lot smoother during the weekdays/​nights. You would just have to use your best judgment on when you would like to go shopping here to avoid the crowds.
At the checkout line, recycled paper bags are the bagging option of choice for your groceries. They also make sure that you are tempted with an array of organic chocolates and candies before you leave. The staff here are typically friendly.
I find this place as another more casual alternative to going to a Whole Foods.

Trader Joe’s my love
of sweet fancy food joe joes
will treat me special.
This is Trader Joes. It’s full of frozen and pre-​cooked bachelor meals, tons of junkfood disguised as healthy, and well priced organic produce selection. Gluten free? Yep, they have that too. Did I mention the samples – all day everyday. As much as I love TJs, and think it’s a good thing, I don’t go super far out of my way or fight crowds and parking. Stop in for some specialty items if you’re in the neighborhood. Great selection of beer, and as always the infamous «3 buck chuck».
Educate yourself. Eat better. Shop at Trader Joes.

We have seen many Trader Joes at different locations but never have a chance to go into one. The first Trader Joe’s we have seen is at Atlanta near the Ah Ma Kitchen a year ago. We were curious what kind of the grocery store is that.
After the nearby UYE event, we have a chance to actually have the first hand experience in this grocery store. The people who has shop there are 70% skinner than me. That tell me the food there is organic, gluten free, or healthy food. My friend warns me about the parking space. It is better to go there at off hours to get a parking. At the entrance they already have some food taste. When you walk into the store, the herb plants are on the side of the entrance. I like mix herb plant because they are the fresh ingredient for cooking. You just need to plug a few of them when you need it for cooking.
The grocery store is not as big as Publix or whole food. But they do carry enough material for cooking. We have bought the Seasoned Rack of Lamb (all natural), Rice drink, Seasoned Kale Chips and the Bacon end tip. The price is reasonable here compare to many place. The end tip bacon is 3.65. After remove the fat, we still have a lot left for the lean meat. The dessert tasting is provided at some time. Some good some tasteless due to too organic ingredients.
I would recommend this place due to the quality, pricing, and healthy living.

I think my dreadful accountant has secretly become my life coach. I pray he does not notice and begins charging me for his encouragement on self-​restrain. For the last two months, I have become a frugal gourmet. I have fasted, barely eaten out, limited my alcohol consumption to the weekends, and become quite a chef. In the process, I have discovered other things to do besides eating out. Not to mention the obvious bank savings, weight loss and radiant skin. That man has kept a tight leash on my extravagances. I feel like a French woman even when I still sound like Rita Moreno in West Side Story.
I have made new friends. Healthier and friendlier friends (may my other friends never read this.) I trust their choices. They give me great advice. They are never judgmental. And the cool part is that I visit them often, and I see them all at the same time. They keep the best flowers. They live in Trader Joe’s.
I am obsessed. I have tried so many dishes and they never disappoint. From the fancy frozen appetizers like Spinokopitta, risotto croquettes, lamb lollipops, amazing cheeses and prosciutto, capicolla, olives… breads… to the wine. I love a wine they sell: «Liberté» and another cheaper one called «Pensamiento.» The beef taquitos and the chicken ones are great baked. I broil them at the end and they become incredibly crunchy. No frying needed. The frozen quinoa has become the perfect substitute for the typical Puerto Rican white rice. I make poor choices when I am hungry. Now I have many healthy options that take a couple of minutes of microwaving.
There is a sense of wholesomeness in the place. Potted herbs welcome you as you enter. The various flowers greet you as you walk into the isle of colorful fruits and vegetables. The Willy Wonka candy factory closed down and turned into a tangible rainbow. Pick a color and hold it on your hand and smell it. I will tell you a secret: they give you scratch and sniff stickers at the cashier!!! Yes. They smell of pizza, cotton candy, licorice, popcorn, root beer. How fascinatingly childish and loving!
I have bought potted lavender, basil, rosemary and lemongrass. My cat, Vincent, has become a cilantro thief. He thinks I don’t notice the missing sprigs, but his breath betrays him too. Trader Joe’s offers great choices at great prices. No, it is not a supermarket. It is quaint, and personal. Four or five aisles to wonder and feel wonderful at. Even at its busiest, I have had no problem finding parking or waiting on a long line. The experience goes by too fast. I rather it took me longer even if I love to read ingredients, ask the staff questions and relish smelling the flowers.
I walk in excited and leave carrying cardboard boxes loaded with fresh produce, sunflowers springing out, a loaf of bread sticking to the side and a big smile on my face. An old man passes by and says: «you smell like cotton candy.» I beam at him with happiness. I look down to find a sticker on my chest.

Ok… Let me begin by saying this is my first time here. Since the first time I heard the name «Trader Joe’s» I’ve heard NOTHING BUT THE HIGHEST of PRAISE and UPLIFTING. So I was really REALLY excited about trying this place out.
As of matter of fact… As I write this review and look to my right… I see nothing but 4 stars, 5 STARS consistently.
For what? FORRRRRRRRRR WHATTT PEOPLE! I cannot even effectively communicate my disappointment. If you blink, you’ll miss the produce section, there’s only about 4 – 5 aisles TOTAL in the entire store. I walked around the entire thing in 7 minutes flat. It’s an teeny weeny speck of a health food store.
The highlight of my Trader Joe’s haul was SEEING A HUGE SIGN THAT SAYS «TRADER JOE’S PRODUCE IS GMO-​FREE» THAT IS A VICTORY. (Regardless of how small the produce section is) I also got Curry Sauce and Roasted Seaweed snacks that I was excited about. I noticed that the prices are OKAYYYYYY, not sky high on everything.
If you want healthy alternatives, GO TO ROLLIN’ OATS!!! GO TO ROLLIN OATS AND NEVER LOOK BACK!!!

Trader Joe’s is a unique grocery store that has something for everyone. Upon entrance, you will be greeted by beautiful bouquets of flowers which are available at great prices. You then move into the fresh produce section, followed by meats and cheeses. I love to pick out a new cheese each time I visit. last time it was a smoked gouda and it was delicious. Along the far wall, you can find the perfect wine to pair with it as well!
So what are my TJ must-​haves? Coconut oil cooking spray and Speculoos Cookie & Cocoa Swirl. I always get dried cranberries for my oatmeal here too. There is a great selection of frozen items, but my only complaint is that there’s not really any order to things. It’s very hard to find something specific in an unlabeled aisle!
My absolute favorite things from Trader Joe’s have to be their fall seasonal items! The pita crisps with cranberries and pumpkin seeds are downright heavenly. I’d skip the pumpkin bagels but spring for the pumpkin cream cheese. I’m still on the hunt for these pumpkin macarons I keep seeing. they must be sold out every time I go!
I usually only go to Trader Joe’s late in the evening, so I’ve never had an issue with parking. However, the parking lot isn’t set up very well so I can certainly see how it could be a problem during peak hours. The staff is always super friendly and available to assist you with any questions you may have. I recommend visiting Trader Joe’s if you like unique food items and want to add some variety to your every day meals. Or if you just love cookie butter and pumpkin flavored everything!