When I moved to New York nearly 10 years ago, I had never heard of Aldi. Now, Iām hooked. I visit this affordable, versatile retailer whenever itās time to stock up on groceries. In case youāre an Aldi newbie, let me share a few fun facts with you. Aldi is a German-owned grocery chain with over 2,100 locations in the U.S., and itās known for its variety of discounted food and household items. Most of the brands youāll see in-store are Aldi-specific, but the retailer does carry the occasional mainstream brand like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Thereās a rumor that Aldi and Trader Joeās are run by the same parent company because of similarities in their branding, but the short answer here is that the two stores are independently owned and operated. (The long answer is that you can likely consider TJās a distant cousin.)
Ready to give Aldi a try? Donāt miss these eight go-to products that I scoop up every time I shop there.
STÅK Iced Coffee

Source: Sarah Lyon
Donāt get me wrong. I love picking up iced coffee while out in my neighborhood. After all, I live in bustling New York City, and my options are by no means limited. But sometimes, my day is too hectic to squeeze a mid-afternoon java run into the mix. Iāve tried many store-bought iced coffees over the years, and STÅK has been a longtime favorite. As someone who loves the taste of traditional iced coffee but isnāt really into cold brew, this brand always delivers. Although you can typically find STÅK at your normal grocery store or even at Target, buying it at Aldi will save you a couple of bucks.
Keurig-Compatible Hot Cocoa Pods

Source: Sarah Lyon
I have been a Keurig devotee for almost a decade now. Even though Iāve accumulated enough regular coffee pods to last me approximately 10 months, I grab these hot chocolate K-cups whenever Iām at Aldi. Especially now that the weather is getting cooler, itās time to up my supply of these guys. Truly, what could be better than curling up with a good book and a mug of hot cocoa on a lazy fall afternoon? This dark chocolate flavor is too good to resist.
Fresh Fruit, Especially Raspberries

Source: Sarah Lyon
I go through cartons of raspberries like Iām taking part in some sort of professional fruit-eating competition. There are worse personality traits, of courseābut raspberries generally donāt come cheap! At Aldi, though, fruit is priced very reasonably, so itās a great place to stock up. During this visit, a carton of raspberries ran me $2.99ācompare that to $4.99 or more at the regular grocery store. When Iām not eating these plain, I often add them to my morning yogurt or oatmeal.
Dips, Such as Spinach Parmesan Tzatziki

Source: Sarah Lyon
Just like its cousin Trader Joeās, Aldi is full of great dips. This tzatziki is absolutely delicious paired with pita chips, carrots, bell peppersāyou name it. I swear the spinach parmesan flavor makes it that much better. Oh, and itās made with Greek yogurt, so you can even consider it somewhat healthy.
Cheeses, Including Gouda Cubes

Source: Sarah Lyon
āDo you like cheese?ā āWhy yes, I do. My favoriteās gouda.ā (If you didnāt pick up on that classic Sheās the Man reference, we canāt be friends). But seriously, I do love gouda cheese, and these little cubes are perfect for snacking (and portion control). Aldi has an excellent cheese selection in general. Itās typically where I go if Iām hosting a large group of friends and want to put together a charcuterie board that doesnāt break the bank.
Household Goods and Decor

Source: Sarah Lyon
Donāt forget to stroll through Aldiās aisle of household goods! This selection is always changing, but I wanted to highlight a favorite find from my most recent visit: this adorable cane serving tray. Wouldnāt it look beautiful on a coffee table or a bar cart? Aldi does a great job of bringing in pieces that are super on-trend, and as a cane lover, I knew this was absolutely coming home with me.
Bread and Desserts

Source: Sarah Lyon
Iām one of those people who will always opt for the savory option over the sweet one, but when I spotted these mini cupcakes, it was game over. I simply cannot resist anything sāmores-flavored. Aldiās section of bread and baked goods is not to be missed. Whether youāre shopping for your own household or planning to entertain, youāll find tons of tasty rolls, cakes, and more.
Microwavable Quinoa and Rice

Source: Sarah Lyon
Last but not least, I always stock up on packages of microwavable quinoa and rice at Aldi. These save me so much time when Iām cooking healthy dinners during the week. I love throwing quinoa into salads or eating it alongside stir-fried vegetables and chicken. These packages can be heated up in just 90 seconds and contain multiple servingsāthey never fail me!