I've been shopping ALDI extensively in the United States and even reviewed the corporate headquarters of ALDI in Mülheim an der Ruhr. You knew they were a German company, right? In the ten years that I've written reviews on 30+ stores from Chambersburg PA to Cape Coral FL and even Tulsa OK, I've not shopped at an ALDI in Germany. So with my visit to Düsseldorf, I had to check them out! And guess what? They're exactly the same! Same basic products (labeled in German, duh) and they carry shelf-temperature beer and wine. There's still a deposit required for the shopping trolley. The shopping bags still aren't free. And you'll be bagging your own groceries. It's the same as they do in the USA. Even the store layout is mostly the same with the produce, bakery, deli, fresh meats, frozen and the "aisle of awesomeness" https://www.aisleofshame.com/what-is-the-aisle-of-shame/ in the center with random stuff like an espresso maker and a car jack and a package of women's intimate wear. I was intending to just check out the shop and then go get a kebab from the restaurant down the street but got hooked. These prices are bonkers! I got two crunchy rolls from the bakery area, a tub of tuna salad, a tub of cheese-stuffed peppers, and some sliced gouda. I spotted a small tub of Dutch chocolate and vanilla custard for dessert. (Of course, I forgot about utensils but thankfully the hotel's coffee service has a spoon that worked out.) All that plus a one liter bottle of bubbly water and a commemorative Aldi shopping bag for €7.49 (about $9.00)! The fact that I don't speak any German and the clerk spoke no English didn't matter. The food products have pictures or they were clear enough to understand. My Visa card swiped just fine. A fab shop! [Review 16264 overall - 142 in Germany - 1770 of 2021.] read more

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