Stopped by Trader Joe's on the way to Ravinia Music Festival to pick up food for a picnic dinner. Needed a loaf of ciabatta, an assortment of crackers and fig and olive crisps to go with our European tinned seafood. (The salmon and tuna pates from France are amazing.) Added a trio of cheeses in one pack. Iberico, Cabra and Manchego. Perfect. The vegan tzatziki dip was so fresh and creamy. Should have added some cucumbers. Maybe next time? The Ranier cherries were so sweet and juicy. Delicious. No wine for our group, but we did grab some iced chai lattes and kombucha. Bring a bag. Plenty of parking. A perfect shopping stop at Trader Joe's on the way to Ravinia Music Festival. read more

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Why have I never written a review for Trader Joe's? I love TJ's -- from the floral section to the frozen aisle to the seasonal items. I went crazy in the Pumpkin section -- pumpkin (gluten free) muffins, pumpkin body scrub, tea, triple ginger beer -- and picked up chicken soup, frozen ginger cubes, jumbo blueberries, a cinnamon broom (I get this every year), mochi bites and more. I only went in for soup and popsicles and I came out with three bags. I love it! So many good products and I really restrained myself. Super nice and friendly staff. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

We are a huge TJs house hold, and always have their meals stocked in our freezer because you just never know when you need a quick pick me up meal. The Northbrook location is one of our favorites to shop because they are the one store that always seems to have our favorites in stock. They keep their coolers and freezers stocked at all times, and the staff is so incredibly helpful when you're trying to find something and you may not see it out. They will check the back for you and if they have it they won't hesitate to bring it out. I also love their selection of floral, they always have the best blooms whether you're just looking for a pick me up, to make a fun bouquet or event just for greenery. They have it all, my favorite is picking up their eucalyptus for our showers. The best shower steamer - if you know you know. I also recently bought some of their mini totes there, and the staff was telling me they usually have a line out the door waiting for them but this time they decided to put them out bit by bit so everyone had a fair chance, and I am grateful for that! The only thing I wish was a bit easier was the parking, boy does the parking lot get busy. But so worth it to have a great shopping experience! read more

Love this store! Everything always fresh and delicious! Love chocolate covered figs! The best! read more

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As far as Trader Joe stores, all the ones in Illinois that I've been in are not large like ones in California, but they carry a good selection. No sales on items, but prices are not as high as say Mariano's or Jewel, etc. Great cheese selection with ones we've not seen elsewhere, including a cheddar with caramelized onions. Sometimes I've been a bit disappointed with freshness of produce. We get all wines to cook with here. (For dishes, not the cook) Usually fast checkout by personable staff. Always some fun plants to buy. Store is always clean. I'm glad we have one nearby! read more

5 stars just for the parking lot. This is the best TJ's parking lot I've ever seen. Their lots are notoriously terrible, but this one is great. It's one lane traffic which is brilliant because it makes it easier to navigate, and there are plenty of spots (even on a Sunday morning at 10:30am). A+++ Also the store was fully stocked (more so than the Evanston store and Glenview store, which have been disappointing as of late). The cashier was also super friendly. Sadly this is a long trek from me so not really realistic to be a regular stop, but it was quite nice. read more

Trader Joe's is always so great. The staff are so friendly and helpful and nice. I love their frozen selection and cheeses.

I come here all the time. The staff is always friendly, the lines move quickly, and it's one of the few stores where I can count on consistent produce. The parking lot can get a little chaotic during peak hours, but inside the store everything runs smoothly. The seasonal section is always fun, and the flower selection is great for last-minute gifts. It's not huge, but it's well-run. Always a reliable stop. read more

I'm blown away this morning by the Kindness and service of one of your employees, Kate at this Northbrook location. I was doing early morning shopping, she was attentive and friendly so we got to chatting. When she asked what I do I told her to I'm a special education teacher. She said please wait right here! She ran and then returned with a beautiful flowers and said thank you, you help make the world a better place I don't encounter pure kindness in the world like hers too often. Not only does Kate make the world a better place too, she makes your business a better place that patrons desire to frequent. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

Love TJ's! The staff is always so friendly and helpful. The management is courteous and accommodating. The store is clean and organized! Thumbs up! read more

Was visiting from out of town and was shocked over the parking situation for this Trader Joe's!!! It's ample and plenty compared to the other locations I've frequented where it's a cramped lot that requires creativity to find a parking spot. Went in for some simple breakfast items and Dan the cashier was a hoot!! Loved his humor and customer service, thanks for making my sis and I smile! read more

Da best. Cindy slays forever. That lady knows what's up. She knew exactly what my mean little creature wanted and it doesn't take a village; just a Cindy read more

Please go through your fruit and vegetable bags and take away the ones that include produce covered in mold. They shouldn't be displayed for customers to purchase. Waste of money. Thanks a lot. read more

Love TJS.. everyone at Northbrook location is fabulous. Love them and all their help.

One of my last stops before we were all quarantined during this covid-19 time was Trader Joe's. I stocked up on what I thought would be enough frozen meals, snacks and other favorites to get my family thru this time. And today, about 6 weeks later, we were out of favorites and my kids (despite my many instacart orders from Marianos) have been complaining we have nothing to eat. I haven't really been anywhere, let alone to any grocery stores, so I was a little bit worried about a trip to Trader Joe's. However, I threw on my mask and a pair of gloves and got ready to grocery shop. What I forgot was a coat since there's a line outside so they can control the amount of people in the store...and it's a relatively chilly day in Chicago. Fortunately, the line moved pretty fast and a very nice man who works there handed me a disinfected cart within 5 minutes. Based on my instacart orders I expected them to be out of a lot of things, but they had everything my family has and more. My cart was overflowing with favorites and my biggest concern was if I would have enough room in my freezer. I felt completely safe since all the employees were wearing gloves and keeping an appropriate distance from customers. And all customers stayed away from each other too. The man who checked me out was friendly as always and gave me some good tips for making my purchases even tastier. Ex: add cheese and beans to the frozen mini chicken tacos to turn them into nachos. My kids were so excited when I got home with several bags of their favorite food items that they even helped me put everything away (after I cloroxed it all of course). I'm trying my hardest not to leave my house during this time and stocked up for at least several weeks. I do wish they'd get on the delivery/curbside pick up train like many other grocery store, but wouldn't hesitate to go back to Trader Joe's during this time read more

What can I say I'm a fan of TJs and this location albeit small is well organized and filled with helpful and friendly staff. Always amazed at the smiley great attitudes they present. Affordable pricing interesting foods coming in and out and a nice variety of fresh and frozen foods. The fresh aisle at this location is pretty small so it might not have the variety your looking for but does pretty well. The frozen is always filled with a rotating selection of meals. The wine and beer selection isn't my favorite at TJs in generally but have slightly improved over the years. This location was one of the first in the area and continues to hold up in quality!! read more

So I know Covid has really done a number on getting good staff nowadays, but unfortunately, for sure it has now since for the first time EVER, I've experienced one of the worst examples of a Jack hole behavior from an employee here! Ugh. Normally staff here and almost all TJs are trained very well. They usually greet you when you're at the cashier with some friendly chatter about "oh that's a nice choice, have you tried these before, how's your day, etc. This particular day however was different. Some older dude working here (name rhymes with Cravid) motions me over to ring up my groceries and is totally silent and stoic even under his mask. No hello how's your day, no nothing. I proceeded to activate my phone to pay and he says to me in a rude tone: "I'm not ready for you to pay". It didn't stop there, he added, "You can stand there all day and it won't take your card until I'm ready." Huh?! Wtf?! Did I just hear this Jack Hole correctly?! Dude needs serious training! I know this location gets lotsa difficult soccer moms, but dude keep your issues at home! I was dumbfounded! I called one of the managers when I got home and got the usual "so sorry etc we will talk to him etc." I didn't buy it because this manager couldn't wait to hang up the phone it seemed. Didn't take my name, didn't ask any questions, nada. Who said Millennials have issues? Boomer shoulda stayed retired and kept his baggage at home. A question to management: how'd you let this one pass training? read more

Here's what you need to know: Great location with the true and awesome Trader Joe's customer service. The wine selection is not as grand or expansive as in other stores but the awesome location off I-94 and the staff ensures a good experience. The store is ALWAYS BUSY so you will have to likely wait in a line for a bit to check out. They always have a good selection of tastings in the rear of the store and the bathrooms are super clean. The store selection of produce and meats is what you would expect from the Trader Joe's - limited selection and no real bulk options, but reliable quality that you won't struggle with. They stand behind their satisfaction guarantee so if you're struggling with the quality of your fruit (or whatever) they will be happy to return your purchase or replace it for you. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

I was in the evening of 9/14/20 and was slack jawed at the amazing customer service I was provided with the manager working the customer service desk. I had the smallest of concerns and she couldn't have been more pleasant, understanding, and thoughtful! I do not say this lightly when I tell you it was really one of the most amazing customer service moments I've ever been on the receiving end of in my entire life. I apologize for not remembering the woman's name who assisted me, I would love to make sure she is recognized for her outstanding work. Thank you Trader Joe's #682. read more

Thank you thank you thank you thank you! I recently hosted a work event and was tasked with buying wine and beer for all the guests. I barely drink alcohol, so I was the absolute wrong person for the job. There was a time I used to drink more wine, but now I'm pretty clueless when it comes to knowing what to get. That being said, I was in a time crunch and headed to TJ's and immediately reached out to the guy stocking beer. I told him my situation, and how I really wanted to support a local brand. It turned out that they carry Temperance beer in a can (and you can buy it by the can). My hubby always brings Fat Tire to events, and so I relied on his go-to as well. Next, the beer expert employee turned me on to the wine expert employee, and this guy was AMAZING. I don't know why I didn't think to catch his name, but he was so beyond helpful. He asked me questions about my guests, their demographics, and I ended up with 3 red and 3 white options that satisfied absolutely everyone. Now that World Market has closed, I will be coming back to TJ's the next time I need to purchase wine or beer. They have a fantastic selection of different price points, and I even learned about a brand new wine that had just hit the market. read more

I love the variety at this location, I'd say the quality is pretty close to great! They have fresh produce, good vegetarian/vegan, and organic options. Great selection of breads. And wide beer and wine selection. The place is always clean and sanitized well and organized, the workers are always in a great mood and always wiling to help. Everyone who works at here is very friendly. Well stocked, all employees wearing masks. I had a great experience buying wine in this store. That said you still get can get in and out very quickly. Overall, great location with diverse products you cannot find elsewhere. read more

There's nothing I can say about Trader Joe's that tons of people haven't said before. Lots of fresh produce. Nice frozen appetizer selection. Wine and spirits selection is varied. read more

This Trader Joe's is the Darth Vader to every other Trader Joe's Luke Skywalker. It didn't have to be evil, but because of a few unfortunate circumstances and the hoity clientele, this TJ's has shown me there is a dark side to Hawaiian shirts. Inside the store is meh, IMO. I hate that there were so many fewer aisles and products than at my regular rounds of Trader Joe's. I hate that no matter how double-wide they make the aisles, the entitled soccer moms of the area will still try to run your lonesome ass down in the frozen foods section. Be prepared to fight for that tub of Ginger Cats Cookies (for people). I detest that the lines, even though every register is open, extend into the aisles to the point that you have to double-back through every aisles because everything is so blocked that you can't exit. And I really hate that some wackadoo, loudmouth mom got tired of waiting in her line, so she walked out, over two lanes and right in front of me in my lane like I didn't exist, then proceeded to wave her cart-with-a-million-things toting daughter over to join in the cutting off. Uhm, No. I have a jug of mango green tea and s'mores ice cream bars in my reusable shopping bag and you WILL NOT be f*cking with my spot in line. I know it's not the fault of the store but the people who were shopping at this location on my particular visit were out of they damn minds. No one was bothered that this clone-drone 50-something wifey took free reign of the standard TJ check out system at 3 different registers, and one customer even encouraged and commended her for throwing a mini tizzy while in line behind a very old man who was taking a while to check out. Earth to Sunday Glenview TJ's shoppers: There are other people on Earth besides you; pack up your Death Star sized SUV and go back to whatever evil galaxy you're from if you can't grasp that concept. Again, I know it's not the good Trader's fault, but the demon shoppers, insane parking lot and holier than though attitude of every Tom, Dick and Harry buying 18 cent bananas and Joe Joe's make this store just not worth it for me. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

This Trader Joe's is located in the Nordstrom Rack plaza right off of the Lake Cook exit in Northbrook. I especially love their Dark Chocolate bar with Speculoos cookie spread (I don't even like dark chocolate, but these are tasty!), and their Cookie Butter (great on white bread, and a nice change from Nutella). On Fridays, they have cheese-tastings in the sample section, so go check them out! The staff here are super friendly and really cool, and check-out is a breeze. Parking is plentiful in the shared lot, but watch out for the constant flow of pedestrian crossing! +Cookie Butter :D +friendly staff :D read more

Trader Joe's is located in The Village Of Northbrook shopping plaza, next to Saks Off Fifth. Trader Joe's is an affordable market with many culinary treats. I love going to Trader Joe's for all kinds of tasty treats back at home and enjoyed my visit to this location this afternoon with my husband. When we arrived, we made our way to the back eventually and were treated to a delicious chocolate cake sample. The employee who was preparing the samples said that the store was sampling the chocolate cake in honor of Mother's Day. She also had pieces of dark chocolate (72% dark) to sample as well. The chocolate cake was so perfect and will have to look out for it when I get back to California so that I can share this one with my mom (since I missed celebrating Mother's Day with her today). Anyways, I walked around the store and picked up a few goodies and then headed to the register. All of the registers were full and so I had to wait. The employee who rang me up was pretty friendly. If I lived in the area, I would be back here. read more

So funny because I agree with all the 5 star reviews...haha Im so ashamed for not writing this review sooner as I love this brand and this store. We come here all the time. The service is always friendly and helpful like most trader joes. The products are always 5 star. I love that greek food comes from Greece, french food from France and for the prices its a steal. The quality is always top notch! As I type this review, Im crushing their chocolate pecan tart....Mmm My kids love the free lollipops and I love that they carry seasonal products like lead free pumpkin spiced candles for $3.95 (which is a steal) Thank you Trader joes for being awesome!!! read more

I love Trader Joe's, in fact, I am going to say that I am a little addicted to Trader Joe's! Okay who am I kidding...I have a Trader Joe's problem. When I am on the road or traveling I always go and stock up at Trader Joe's. Once in Brooklyn I fully stocked my hotel mini fridge full of TJ products! But that is another story!!! I love this location because it is located directly off of I94 and I usually find myself here twice on the weekends. I know that going to Trader Joe's on the weekend is not a great idea but I need my Trader Joe products. The parking lot is huge but I do find many angry drivers in here. I am a little scared in the parking lot here because there is definitely "Parking Lot Rage" going on. I should probably go and add that word into Wikipedia because I think I might have invented it. The staff located in here is always willing to help and they are super nice. Recently I needed some of that whole wheat pasta and the staff was so helpful that they went in the back to get me a few packages. I am totally addicted to there whole wheat pasta. I hope I am not kicked out of the "Family" for eating this stuff. It is so hearty and it tastes so good. I really love the meats here too and the prices are very reasonable. I asked the manager here about pink slime and was happy to find out that TJ's does not use the stuff. If you do not know what Pink Slime is I will let you go and look it up yourself but it is not good. I love there lean ground beef...it is 94/6 and is so low in calories, fat and sodium. I make tacos and killer burgers with the ground beef plus I know what I am putting into my body. I also love there chicken legs too...I am always marinating those things before I throw them on the grill. My little one loves chicken legs. She is always saying. "I am eating them like an adult!" I use to cut the meat off for her but she is a big girl now. After loading your cart full of food it is now time to stock up on the wine. Trader Joe has some amazing prices on wine. TJ's has taught me that it doesn't have to cost $24 for a nice bottle of wine. I have no idea how they keep the prices so low for great tasting wine. Oh I almost forgot you need to pick up some cheese to go with your wine. I found a chunk of the Rosemary Asiago Cheese here and my wife is so addicted to it and she does not even like cheese. Oh boy I think our whole family has to go to Trader Joe's Rehab!!! read more

I am hanging my head in shame right now. Chin down, eyes tilted down, maybe a tear or two coming from the corner of my eyes. I CANNOT believe I haven't written a Yelp review for one of my most frequented places...Good Ol' Trader Joe's, in Northbrook!!!!! Please TJ's don't hold it against me. I am rectifying the situation now!! The prices. You can't beat them. I appreciate that so much. Not to mention the fact that their prices are low all the time, coupons aren't in their vocabulary. Time saver! I love their products options. AND they are getting in new products all the time. Sometimes they are out of items, but they usually get it in quickly. The quality of the products is awesome. Not to mention the dedication to quality ingredients. I do have one tiny complaint. Sometimes their produce disappoints me. It isn't always up to the TJ's standard. I have to look over any produce very carefully before I put it in my cart. Plenty of parking. Sometimes it is safer to park farther away during busy times, people can be a bit aggressive. :) The service is impeccable. Everyone is so cheery and friendly, even when you are in the errand running mode and not so. They still love you! They are wonderful about returns. You don't like it-return it. Did you know that? Not to mention who doesn't love someone in a Hawaiian shirt! Plus, if you do need help getting it to your car, they are there for you! I will admit that TJ's doesn't have it all so I am forced to visit other grocery stores, but know my love is here! See you soon, TJ's! read more

Seeing as my original update is from 7 years ago (wait, what?!), I figured it was time for an update. In theory, I love TJs. Innovative products, great service. I go out of my way to come here for their peanut butter with chia and flax (no sugar) - it's my favorite PB anywhere. But... shopping here is a huge pain in the behind. The aisles are so narrow and crowded. Because of this, I hate having a cart, which then means that I basically can't bring my child (because a stroller would be just as bad), which makes TJs extraordinarily inconvenient for me. Now that mainstream grocers (including Whole Foods) are catching up on some of the "trendy" products that TJs is known for, while offering easier experiences, I find less and less reason to go out of my way to go to Trader Joe's. Except for my peanut butter. And everyday seasoning grinders. Those things are amazing. read more

We came here because we had heard they had a good selection of kosher for passover wines, and the rumors were true! More than your standard Manischewitz and Mogen David, they have about 6 different varieties including a moscat, a black moscat, a cabernet, a couple of chardonnays, and another red table wine. The kosher for passover wines are marked with a bright blue "kosher!" sign, but we didn't see them immediately and had to ask for guidance and suggestions from a super friendly, super helpful, TJ's employee. Wish I had gotten his name to thank him for being so great! And to hold him accountable for the quality of these wines, TBD on Monday! read more

I am trying out the trader joe cold brew coffee concentrate this week, bear in mind that I enjoy a good cafe americano iced, and was hoping this would be close to the mark. I think this gal hit it on the head with this line - "The iced coffee doesn't have that depth of taste that you can only get from espresso because it's cold brewed" Having said that, it's not bad and I do enjoy 1) making it by the cup 2) not wasting any coffee in the pot http://www.thehappygirlexperiment.com/2013/08/happy-food-trader-joes-cold-brew-coffee.html read more

I have been going here for years. The staff are nice and friendly here. The parking is terrible here. If you want to park far then come here. I wanted to park in front but you have to wait for ten minutes. People are so impatient that they can't wait for you to find a space that they have to honk at you or go really close to you. I wish that there was cameras in the parking lot. If you like terrible parking and people being impatient drivers then this place is for you. read more

I've fallen "off the wagon"; does this mean I have to give back my 1st TJAA button?? I couldn't do it! I'm just not strong enough! Last night I needed some samosas for my Mo's dinner and ended up buying half the store. I thought I could push through this addiction but those spanakopitas were just too good to pass up. What really gets you, in all of these locations is that employees are funny and extremely friendly, it doesn't help. Plus everything is so cheap!! If this addiction overtakes me I just wanted you all to know that appreciated the support, it has nothing to do with your FUCing or comments. I am a Trader Joe's addict, but at least I eat well. Sadly enough, as I write this confession I'm crying while I eat my glorious pretzel bread. read more

I LOVE Trader Joe's. I LOVE this Trader Joe's. I LOVE the people that work at this Trader Joe's. I do not however, LOVE the people who frequent this Trader Joe's. The food is presented well, the store is clean, the employees happy. The clientele, however, is pushy and rude. Not just once, many times. My daughter walked out with eyes wide open last time we went. Just brace yourself, use a cart, and hold your ground....and then be SUPER nice to the person checking you out as they have to deal with the clientele every day! Bless them!! read more

Great store! I don't shop here for everything, but this is an outstanding store with many surprises. The specialty items are great. Things like the frozen crescents, snack items, and wines. I'm not a fan of the "Two Buck Chuck." There are a lot of other inexpensive vino's to choose from, many at or below one of those member club prices. The people are great here. They are always ready to help. Cashing out is a breeze. All and all, a great experience. read more

I'm happy that this Trader Joe's is here so I don't have to go to that weird strip mall with the Sara Lee outlet in it. Not that there's anything wrong with the Sara Lee outlet of course. I work in the burbs and sometimes I swing by here to get some goodies for my cabinets. Sometimes the goodies even make it home. Ok, usually I end up eating half a bag of dried peaches, as well as some other treats in the car before I even hit the city limits. This store has a huge wine and beer selection. Better than a lot of other TJs. The rest of the goods are the usual Trader Joe's roundup. I came in and stocked up on snacks that were the hit of a pal's birthday party. I highly recommend the ice cream cake and the sea salt brownie bites. If only the birthday boy hadn't forgotten that he put the owl beer (Hitachino Nest White Ale) in the freezer. Waking up to exploded owl beer and glass in the freezer is a real mood killer. read more

Trader Joe is whole foods ugly cousin. Things are a little more old fashioned in this store. Good organic food with variety. The store is a bit small and seems that they are limited in many ways. The bakery is small if they have one and I'm not sure if they have a meat department. Most of the items are prepackaged ready to cook. This is good to have some quality food available to eat anytime. Again I would not do all of my shopping here however they do have great prepackaged and pre-seasoned seafood and the frozen deserts are outstanding. Great organic grocery store with a unique variety of high quality food. read more

My rules of thumb on Trader Joe's hold true at this one as with others...it's hard to find a better selection of consistently really decent cheeses at a better price, so it's the obvious pick if you want to put together a nice quality party tray and not go broke doing so. It's a go-to place for affordable and tasty specialty items, if not comprehensive enough for basic staple shopping. It has cheap booze (though, skip the Charles Shaw, and pony up a few more bucks for a lot better wine, and it's an even better deal). And it's so darned cute. But, I tend to not review chains for their products, because they're pretty standardized across the board. This review is based on the service in this particular store, which is always really friendly, even when the store is super busy. The sample guys and girls, the checkers, the employees roaming are all really, really pleasant, and that makes all the difference in the world. The store's set up well, with aisles wide enough to accommodate the volume of shoppers they get (the store in my previous locale failed on this reward, and constant traffic jams in the aisle made it a harrowing experience...much better in this store. I haven not run into the obnoxious clientele that seem to make up most of the complaints in other reviews, but then again, I also tend to shop here an hour before close on weeknights, which is apparently a low soccer mom saturation time. Call it good judgment. read more

In general I like Trader Joe's but only for some specialty items. There have been times when I have been close by and just a need to pick up a few mundane items for dinner or baking. Most of those times I leave empty handed. But those specialty items will blow your mind. Recently we went to a chocolate and wine tasting. We tasted ten different chocolates blindly. At the end when the names were revealed the chocolate that scored the highest was none other than the Trader Joe's brand of 72% cacao dark chocolate! (It's from Belgium.) Another crowd favorite was the Valrhona Nior Amer 71% cacao, also sold at Trader Joe's. Of course while we at Joe's we couldn't help but buy some other goodies to try. Along with our chocolate bar purchases we bought the dark chocolate covered almonds and the chocolate covered sea salt butterscotch caramels. The almonds were only okay but we enjoyed the caramels. read more

I wasn't as impressed with the NBK Tj's as other ones. This location bigger and has a much more extensive wine and beer department. The two times I have been here, there wasn't much business. As a result, not much help around either. Their samples were all that memorable either. I pushed it up a star because I love TJ's, but prefer my local one in Glenview. There are not in the location listed above. Their new address is 127 Skokie Blvd, still in Northbrook. read more