I Tried These Trader Joe's Products – My Honest Review

Disclosure: All Trader Joe's products in this post were purchased by me. This post is not sponsored, and all reviews reflect my honest opinions.

My Top Pick

[Ghost Pepper Potato Chips]

★★★★★ [5/5]

This is one of those snacks I grab almost every time I visit Trader Joe's. It's available year round, so you can usually find it on the shelves.

If you're used to Korean spicy chips, the heat is a bit different. Most Korean spicy chips have a gochujang-based flavor, while these have a jalapeno and ghost pepper-style heat. They're super spicy, but they're also incredibly addictive.

My Top Pick

[Chocolate Crepe Wafer Cookies]

★★★★★ [5/5]

Skipping these on a Trader Joe's trip? No way. These are one of my must buy items every time I visit.

They're made with crispy crepe wafers rolled into thin layers and coated in chocolate. They are incredibly addictive. It's one of those treats that's hard to stop eating once you open the box.

Good pick

[Ketchup Flavored Lattice Potato Chips]

★★★★☆ [4/5]

These chips do a great job of capturing the flavor of dipping potato chips into ketchup. I've tried other ketchup flavored chips before, but most of them tasted more like vinegar than ketchup. 

Good pick

[Fusilli Corti Bucati Pasta]

It's not easy to find dried pasta with this kind of rough texture at regular grocery stores. The rough surface helps the sauce stick to the pasta better.

I also think it's reasonably priced for the quality, so I'd buy it again.

Good pick

[Sea Salt Crystals]

★★★★☆ [4/5]

This is a good sea salt for baking, considering the price. I've been using it for making breads.

You can twist off the top and reuse the container, and it also comes with a built-in grinder, which is convenient when you need ground salt.

Good pick

[Novello Italian Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil]

★★★★☆ [4/5]

From what I know, Trader Joe's only carries this olive oil once a year. So, I almost didn't include it in this review since it's no longer available, but I wanted to finish most of the bottle before sharing my thoughts.

After using almost all of it, I can say it tastes much fresher than the less expensive olive oils I usually buy. It's more expensive, but the quality makes the price feel reasonable.

I mostly used it for salad dressings. Personally, I think it's too good to use just for everyday frying.

Worth Trying

[Tteok Bok Ki]

★★★★☆ [3.5/5]

This wasn't really my style of tteokbokki. The black pepper flavor stood out more than I expected.

The package only comes with rice cakes and sauce, so I added fish cakes and eggs from home to make it feel more complete.

Personally, I'd rather spend a little more on a version from H Mart that already includes fish cakes, or just make it from scratch.

Worth Trying

[Aglio Olio Seasoning Blend]

This seasoning is nice to sprinkle over pasta.

The flavor is pretty mild though. I found myself using quite a bit before I could really taste it, so it's not something I think is essential to have in my pantry.

Worth Trying

[Smoked Oysters]

★★★★☆ [3.5/5]

These smoked oysters have a noticeable fishy smell, but I still find them useful to keep in the pantry. The can is small, and since it can be stored at room temperature, it’s easy to have on hand.

I like using them for a quick oyster pasta when I don’t have fresh oysters.

Mixed Feelings

[Canneles]

★★★☆☆  [3/5]

As someone who loves baking, I probably wouldn't buy these again. The price isn't that cheap, and you still have to bake them in the oven.

That said, they're not bad. If you enjoy canneles and don't have a bakery nearby that sells them, these are a pretty convenient option to keep in the freezer.

Mixed Feelings

[Fig Butter]

★★★☆☆ [3/5]

Like dried figs, this has a flavor that reminds me a bit of dates. If you're a big fig fan, you'll probably enjoy it.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of figs, so I don't see myself buying it again.