Cheapism is editorially independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site.

Food & Drink / Food Trends & Trivia

Trader Joe’s Hall of Fame Features Shoppers’ All-Time Favorites

Published

•

By

Campbell, USA - May 9, 2016: Trader Joe's grocery store in campbell California with sign above the entrance. A San Jose sharks flag is hanging to celebrate their success.
NicolasMcComber/istockphoto

With a large, cult-like fanbase, Trader Joe’s values the opinions of its customers so much that at the beginning of each year, the grocer reaches out to collect votes on shoppers’ favorite products. Over the years, a handful of products have consistently scored in the top spots in their respective categories. To give other products a chance to shine, TJ’s has taken these five fan-favorite products, which have won their titles at least five times, out of contention and moved them to what it calls Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame. 

Related: Trader Joe’s Superfans Reveal Their Must-Have Products

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Trader Joe’s

First Introduced: 2004

Awards Won: Favorite Overall, Best Entree

Even if you’ve never stepped foot inside a Trader Joe’s, you may have heard about TJ’s orange chicken. The easy-to-prepare Asian-inspired frozen entree is practically synonymous with the grocery chain, making it a well-deserving inductee as the top main course.

Related: Taco Nachos and Other New Trader Joe’s Hacks

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Cheapism

First Introduced: 2010

Awards Won: Best Desserts/Sweets

Reese’s who? Decadent dark chocolate married with salty, creamy peanut butter? These peanut butter cups are a no-brainer in the sweets department at Trader Joe’s.

For more helpful shopping tips, sign up for our free newsletters.

Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets

Trader Joe’s

First Introduced: 1992

Awards Won: Best Snack

These salty little bites of heaven have been a staple at Trader Joe’s for three decades. Leaving peanut butter pretzel nuggets out of TJ’s most elite products would be like excluding Babe Ruth from baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Unexpected Cheddar

Unexpected Cheddar Cheese
Trader Joe’s

First Introduced: 2011

Awards Won: Best Cheese

At first glance, unexpected cheddar looks like aged parmesan — but unexpectedly, it’s cheddar. It’s a go-to for snacking or cooking and is as reliable as it is delicious. Hall of fame material, evidently. 

Soy Chorizo

soy chorizo from trader joes
Trader Joe’s

First Introduced: 2011

Awards Won: Best Vegan/Vegetarian

Trader Joe’s is no slouch when it comes to vegan and vegetarian products, and soy chorizo takes the cake for the most coveted of the bunch. 

Trending on Cheapism

Meet the Writer


Rachel Schneider

Rachel is a Michigan-based writer who has dabbled in a variety of subject matter throughout her career. As a mom of multiple young children, she tries to maintain a sustainable lifestyle for her family. She grows vegetables in her garden, gets her meat in bulk from local farmers, and cans fruits and vegetables with friends. Her kids have plenty of hand-me-downs in their closets, but her husband jokes that before long, they might need to invest in a new driveway thanks to the frequent visits from delivery trucks dropping off online purchases (she can’t pass up a good deal, after all). You can reach her at [email protected].

“

More posts from category