“They’re made for us by pretzel experts out of Wisconsin, who know just the right ratio of ingredients needed to get that rich, mahogany color, delightfully chewy consistency, and malty flavor in every bite. We find that their flavor profile and texture make them a real boon to burgers, and many other styles of sandwich, as well” – Trader Joe’s
I saw these Trader Joe’s PRETZEL BUNS in the bakery section about a week ago. They looked just perfect for a hamburger. I wondered if they would be any good for a burger. Here’s my honest review.
Wow, these are So Good. They were as good as I could have hoped for. My wife really like them too. These buns are just perfect for burgers as well as to make sandwiches with. As soon as I saw them I knew I had to try them with a burger. Somewhere between a pretzel and bun, but leaning way more to the bun side. Don’t worry they’re not pretzels. They’re buns with a hint of pretzels. They are soft but not too soft. They have just the right texture, soft but slightly chewy, especially on the dark exterior. They are just a little bit denser than a regular hamburger bun .
I lightly toasted them for my burgers.
PRETZEL BUNS are $2.99 (4 buns) I would buy these again.
LIMITED (AVAILABLE DURING SUMMER / grilling season)
If you are fan of “tinned” or canned fish, you probably know that Trader Joe’s has gotten into this popular food trend more and more the last few years.
They now carry quite a few varieties of tinned fish and keep adding new items like this new one: SKIPJACK TUNA FILLETS in olive oil.
Of course Trader Joe’s sells plenty of kinds of cans of tuna. They probably have about 4 or 5 different cans of tuna which include 3 varieties of ALBACORE TUNA (packed in oil, water, 1/2 salted…) YELLOWFIN in olive oil, plus two kinds of SKIPJACK (not like this though)
They came out with a tin of CALAMARI in olive oil (Squid), which is quite good if perhaps not for a #tinnedfish newbie. So let’s consider a far easier entry for most people, like a can of salmon. They have the regular stuff then they have what may be the best canned salmon you ever tasted. The level up salmon in the pink square can they call “Lightly Smoked Salmon”.
Now, they’ve introduced this gourmet level tuna SKIPJACK TUNA FILLETS in olive oil. Just glancing at it, you can tell this one is fancy. Its in a lovely looking rectangular can which indicates much more “gourmet” compared to the other cans of tuna. For a good reason. This is totally Gourmet level tuna. A Must Try product. Isn’t the design gorgeous?
Trader Joe’s says: ‘”Has there ever been a better time to be a tinned fish enthusiast? It seems like all sorts of prepossessing piscine proteins are popping up on shelves, and we here at Trader Joe’s are proud to do our part with options like Trader Joe’s Skipjack Tuna Fillets in Olive Oil. They’re made for us by a supplier in Tunisia, who sources their Skipjack Tuna in the Mediterranean, which is caught via sustainable pole-and-line fishing methods to reduce by-catch. The loin of the Tuna is cut into long, flat fillets, then lightly salted and cooked to perfection, then packed in Olive Oil so that they’re ready to be used in all sorts of culinary contexts right out of the tin.”
Here’s my honest review of Trader Joe’s new Skipjack Tuna Fillets in Olive Oil. This may be the best can of tuna you ever tasted. This is one of those Must Try new items. This tuna is so freakin’ good!
Ingredients are simple: Skipjack tuna, olive oil, salt.
And by the way, check out that this has a whopping THIRTY FOUR GRAMSPROTEIN per can! Sweet.
You may know Skipjack Tuna as “light tuna”. This can is the highest gourmet level of it.
Open the can up and you will see some nice meaty fillets of pure tuna, flaky, and moist looking all covered in tasty olive oil. The tuna is so delicious. Skipjack Tuna is slightly darker with a more intense flavor than albacore tuna. Yes, you may think that this is a bit on the pricey side at $3.99 for a “can of tuna”. But trust me, this tuna is truly Level Up Gourmet. A bit like those very pricey super deluxe imported gourmet jars or cans of tuna (like Ortiz) which go for 3-4x the price of this one, albeit those are generally Albacore tuna (white) while this is Skipjack Tuna which looks a little bit darker than albacore but is delicious.
“So, how best to enjoy these Skipjack Tuna Fillets? That’s the real beauty of them—you can use them in all the same situations you would with everyday canned tuna, like tuna salads, melts, and casseroles, and in more elevated instances like charcuterie boards, on pasta primavera, or in a Nicoise salad. We find that their firm, flakeable texture and mild flavor make them a great choice for simply snacking on while served on a cracker or crostini. ” – Trader Joe’s
How does this compare to the $1.79 pouch of Skipjack? I guess you could easily say that this gourmet version kind of makes that pouch seem like cat food compared to this one.
HOW TO USE SKIPJACK TUNA: Is this gourmet four dollar can of tuna “Too Good” just to make a tuna sandwich? Maybe, but then again maybe no, as it just may make you the best tuna sandwich you ever had in your life.
Seriously. I made a fantastic tuna salad with this tuna which I used to make a Tuna Melt (on TJ’s Rustico Bread). This tuna melt was so amazing and delicious. It was yes, perhaps the best tuna sandwich I ever had.
My first thought when I tasted this tuna was how perfect this would be for making a TUNA NIÇOISE salad. This tuna would be outstanding for the classic French salad with tuna (Salade Niçoise) A recipe link follows…
You can eat the tuna right out of the can. Maybe add a sprinkle of lemon. You can do things to it, such as make a great tuna melt, tuna salad, put it on top of rice, a Japanese style rice bowl with some nori (seaweed snacks)…. Oh and the oil that comes with this is excellent. I say use it, don’t toss it. Use at least a bit of it on the tuna, or save some for a dressing. Its just natural juices and olive oil and its yummy, filled with umami.
IS SKIPJACK TUNA A HEALTHY AND ETHICAL TUNA CHOICE VS ALBACORE TUNA? Yes.
“Choosing pole-and-line-caught light skipjack tuna is your best choice for a low mercury and sustainable option“. Skipjack are smaller fish with lower levels of mercury than yellowfin or bluefin. And Sustainable and Wild.
Trader Joe’s SKIPJACK TUNA FILLETS in Olive Oil $3.99 (6 oz net weight, drained 4.2 oz) I would buy this again.
PRODUCT OF TUNISIA
SKIPJACK TUNA: In Japan its a prized fish known as Katsuo
Katsuo Fish with Cherry Buds, print by Hiroshige, 1830
#tinnedfish #tinnedfishlovers rejoice!
update: june/july 2025 – Now these are MIA. I can’t find these on the shelves! Argh! Perhaps too popular!
Here are just a few of the New Items that Trader Joe’s has recently released, circa Spring 2025. Some of them I’ve already tried, some I hope to try in the near future.
Which of these sound good or most interesting to you? Which would you want to try first!? Me, I’m thinking that those two new cans of tinned fish could be very promising finds for those of us into #tinnedfish….
“A soft rustic sandwich bread with rolled oats, molasses, flax seeds and sunflower seeds”
WHY TRADER JOE’S MULTIGRAIN RUSTICO SANDWICH BREAD IS A MUST TRY
Trader Joe’s Multigrain RUSTICO BREAD – This is a very tasty bread you may have seen at Trader Joe’s at some point. Its a little soft with an oblong shape, kind of like a long skinny rye bread. The slices are roundish, again like a rye bread. The outside is coated with rolled oats and seeds.
I tried it and liked it. I found it good for making all kinds of sandwiches and seems especially good when toasted or grilled. RUSTICO BREAD is both a little “rustic” as well as seeming a bit on the healthier side from some of the ingredients such as whole wheat, rolled oats, molasses, flax, sesame, and sunflower seeds. While its soft it’s not too soft, this has a little hearty body to it.
Each slice has 4 grams of fiber. At 80 calories per slice, its a bit on the lower calorie side as some Trader Joe’s sliced breads come in at 120-150 calories per slice. The roundish slices are probably a tad smaller than regular square shaped sliced bread. While the bread is soft it still has a little rustic nature from the seeds and oats hence the “Rustico” name. And while it has seeds I would also say its not “too seedy” for those picky eaters who might object to seeds, like some kids I think might. This is a good compromise all around.
Both of us really liked this bread trying it out for the first time. We found TJ’s RUSTICO BREAD to be another good addition to all the many breads we would gladly pick up again at Trader Joe’s, which is a list which seems to keep getting longer and longer all the time, as they have so many good breads.
The RUSTICO BREAD makes excellent toast and sandwiches. For example, say Avocado Toast or a Tuna Melt. Heres what it looked like all grilled up for a Tuna Melt I made on RUSTICO Bread. It looks good and tasted even better.
This is a new Small Lot coffee that Trader Joe’s just introduced. Its an organic coffee from the mountains of Colombia.
“Well balanced with notes of dark chocolate and red fruits” 100% Arabica Whole Bean
This is a medium roast. I think its just a tad slightly lighter than my current Go To standard at Trader Joe’s, which is their excellent ORGANIC BOLIVIAN coffee, also Medium roast.
Trader Joe’s has this to say: “Replete with rich notes of dark chocolate and ripe, red fruit, yet silky and smooth-drinking, this Coffee straddles the lines of “serious” and “approachable” at the same time.”
I found it to be a good serviceable coffee, that was very smooth and a little fruity. It smelled good. I liked it and thought this is a good serviceable all around coffee. No, this will not replace my current fave, the Organic Bolivian coffee, but still I think this is something you could quite easily drink a few cups of. So in that sense I agree with Trader Joe’s line about it straddling the line between “serious and approachable at the same time.” This may not be the top favorite of all the TJ’s small lot coffee I ever tried (that would be the Ugandan “Mountains of the Moon” coffee as I’ve said a million times) but I think it would fall somewhere in the middle. Again, very serviceable and very drinkable.
So I would call it worth trying if you are one of those people who like to try out every Small Lot coffee from all over that world that Trader Joe’s comes out with. I know I do.
This is a “Limited Edition” $9.99 (12 oz bag)
Update: I mixed a little bit of one of my Trader Joe’s favorite (medium dark) coffees, the Organic Sumatran into this, and loved the blend.
TJ’s says: “The Canadian bakery that makes these sub-shaped Rolls for us uses a slow and gentle fermentation to achieve an airy crumb. The soft insides are complemented by a hearty exterior that can support all kinds of cold cuts and condiments—not to mention a healthy helping of meatballs, sauce, and melty cheese.”
I saw these and really wanted to try them as I thought these would be great for making a hero, specifically an Italian meatball hero. Right out of the bag, these are soft and seemed to me just the tiniest bit under-baked, to allow for some additional cooking or toasting. So take that into account.
Meatball Hero; I sliced the roll down the middle, and added my ingredients inside. After I finished adding the ingredients of my sandwich, in my case grilled meatballs, grilled yellow peppers, some homemade tomato sauce and two kinds of cheese, Fontina and Pecorino. I put them in the oven for 5 minutes or so until it got nice and golden brown and crusty.
My Italian meatball parm hero came out perfect on these Artisan Sandwich Rolls. Crusty on the outside and nice and soft on the interior to soak up all the goodness of my ingredients. The meatball hero was very tasty and along with a salad that was our dinner.
I can easily see these rolls being good for most any sandwich, especially those like any kind of “hero”, “sub”, “grinder” or whatever they call it in your neck of the woods. The 4 rolls work out to less than 90 cents per roll which will be hard to beat for price. Rolls where I am cost at least $1.50 or more.
“You’ll find these Sandwich Rolls to be equally delicious, whether you’re enjoying a cold Italian grinder, or a hot Philly cheesesteak. And when lightly toasted, they develop a wonderfully thin, crisp crust. They can also be pressed quite successfully in a panini grill if you’re craving a traditional Cubano…”
These are a good new addition to all of the many wonderful snacks that Trader Joe’s sells. If you like things that are a little Spicy you may love these new rice crackers. These are a little similar to those rice cracker snacks called Rice Cracker Medley. These however have a bit of spice added to them along with the sweet.
These are made from RICE so naturally Gluten Free. Theses don’t have a laundry list of chemical names in the ingredients either, it looks pretty simple.
As a fan in general of “spicy”, albeit not crazy spicy, I found these Just Right in the heat department as the spiciness is counterbalanced by the slight sweetness of the crackers. There are about four or five different shapes. I found they are a really good match with a little cheese.
We found these to be ever so slightly addictive! The two of us could not keep our hand off the package.
NEW ITEM: Trader Joe’s frozen OKONOMIYAKI, a Japanese Savory Vegetable Pancake with a sweet and savory sauce and dried bonito flakes
Product of Japan
What is OKONOMIYAKI you ask? Okonomiyaki is a kind of savory pancake, which almost everyone in Japan loves. They are eaten all over… at home, at restaurants (see picture) and from street vendors. They are really popular, and they’re delicious.
(note: Just to be clear this is Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki which has noodles. Someone from Osaka would get into a fight over this and Osaka vs. Hiroshima style, like New York Pizza vs Deep Dish pizza.)
These pancakes have chopped cabbage and a few other veggies mixed into batter with flour and eggs, like a pancake batter but savory. This is poured onto a grill and cooked. These will usually have some kind of protein element added as well, such as thinly sliced pork belly or squid or shrimp. But they can have just about anything in it as its very name states. “OKONOMI” in Japanese means something like “however you want”, or as you like it.
Trader Joe’s says: “Directly translated, Okonomiyaki is derived from two words, yaki (meaning “grilled”) and okonomi (meaning “as you like it”), a testament to its customizable nature. In Japan and in Japanese-inspired street food scenes across the globe, these savory pancakes can be made with a wide variety of ingredients, including different veggies, proteins, and cheeses, and topped with everything from mayo to seaweed to dried, shaved fish flakes. For Trader Joe’s Okonomiyaki, our supplier in Japan has opted for a relatively simple, yet sublimely satisfying combination of cabbage, yam, and green onion held together in an eggy batter. When prepped at home, it takes on a crisp texture on the outside and a light and creamy texture on the inside. And if that wasn’t enough, they’ve also included a packet of sweet and savory okonomi sauce and delicate tuna flakes so that you can enjoy your Okonomiyaki, appropriately enough exactly as you like it. ” – Trader Joe’s
(what it looks like just out of the package)(here’s what mine looked like all done – the yellow bit is an egg I added)
So I saw that Trader Joe’s came out with a frozen OKONOMIYAKI. Frankly I had my doubts that a Trader Joe’s version would be any good. My wife (Japanese) was especially skeptical. But guess what? We were both pleasantly surprised at how tasty these actually are. These are good! They are made for Trader Joe’s in Japan. This one is a simple basic version that has chopped cabbage, scallions, Japanese yam, and other items. My one gripe is the Okonomi sauce they give you could be a bit better (the best being OTAFUKU brand). This sauce is just OK. If you have Worstershire sauce, I would add a bit of that.
Word seems to be getting out about these too, with the internet saying this is a Good New Item. Its going a bit viral.
For five bucks, this is well worth trying. One could be a snack for two people. But better one each!
These as we’ve said, can be added to, as you recall these are “however you like it?” You can learn how to customize these. To start with for example we just said to each other lets add an egg (scrambled) when it was almost finished cooking and that improved it quite a bit. I suggest at a minimum think about adding an egg if you want.
As Trader Joe’s says, these are a very simple basic version of something you may learn to customize with other things. You can add things to put on top like some grilled pork belly (very typical), cooked bacon or other grilled pork, grilled shrimp, squid (typical), chicken or tofu for that matter. (Hmm, I think these might work with sliced up grilled Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs? I think those might match well with this Okonomiyaki.)
Believe it or not these pancakes are terrific when you add cheese and get the cheese melted all over. Grate up cheddar and when you are finishing the bottom, put it on top and cover till the bottom side is done.
But even just as is this fairly basic version that Trader Joe’s gives you is fairly tasty. In the package you will find a cooked frozen pancake plus two little side packages. One is the sauce you will put drizzle all over it and the other has the yummy dried bonito (tuna) flakes, known as katsuobushi, which are a linchpin of Japanese cooking. Most people in Japan drizzle Kewpie mayo on it too so if you have that great, if not you can add a bit of sweetener to some mayo and spread that on.
TIP: you can add other toppings. If you have TJ’s FURIKAKE flakes, sprinkle a bit on top. Pickled red ginger (benishoga) is a typical thing many Japanese add.
This version from TJ is more or less a basic vegetarian Okonomiyaki (not counting the dried tuna flakes which you add as a topping)
HOW TO COOK Trader Joe’s Okonomiyaki: Open it up and take the sauce packet and put it in a dish of warm water to defrost. The package instruction says to nuke the pancake first a minute or two to defrost it, then grill it in a pan. (TIP If you do the defrost stop there. I strongly suggest you DO NOT COOK this by microwaving it. The pancake should get pan fried for correct crispy outer texture)
TIP: I skipped nuking altogether. I just let it left it on the counter for about 20 minutes to defrost and that worked fine. Then tossed it into a hot cast iron pan
Pan fry the pancake with a little oil or butter on low-medium heat until it looks GDB on the bottom and gets a bit of crispiness. Flip and let the other side finish.
OPTIONAL, of course but i think adding an egg makes this way better and a bit more of a meal. I removed the pancake from the pan to a plate, then tossed in an egg with a little butter, scrambled it and put the pancake back on top of it and cooked it for about a minute. Or just do a sunnyside up egg and put that on top before you dress it with your sauce.
When the pancake is golden brown and delicious, plate it, then dress it. Cut the corner of the sauce package and drizzle the Okonomiyaki savory sauce on all over it, in lines, then top that with the whole package of dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi, which are an Umami bomb). Another option you can add is a drizzle of mayonaisse, especially Kewpie which is sweeter than our mayo. Pickled shredded ginger (benishoga). Nori flakes…
Also it has great pictures of what the real McCoy looks like!
It just so happened that right after i wrote this post, there was a Japanese street fair festival nearby that I passed which had a vendor selling Okonomiyaki and it had the longest line of people waiting to buy it (sticker shock, they were 12 bucks!) I took a few pictures to share.
Trader Joe’s “Pineapple and Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs”
I previously tried, and gave a good review, to the regular Trader Joe’s “Chicken Meatballs”. Those original chicken meatballs seem to me to be quite a popular Trader Joe’s item. So popular that often I even find these were sold out.
Both the original version and this new Pineapple Teriyaki version of the meatballs, come already cooked and are sold in the refrigerated case. I have bought the regular chicken meatballs pretty often as I find they are a really handy item to have in the fridge. You can use these meatballs to come up with a meal, fast and easy, so are very handy. Plus as they are vacuum sealed, these can last quite some time in the fridge unopened, easily a week or more.
I am guessing the original flavor meatballs were so popular item that Trader Joe’s decided to come out with another flavor. Which are these new ones, the Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs.
If you are a fan of the original ones, you will probably like this new version as much as those. Maybe even more. Both are made from “all natural, minimally processed chicken with no artificial ingredients“. The Ingredients include: chicken, dried pineapple, tamari, mirin, sea salt, sugar, vinegar, pineapple juice, pepper, ginger, garlic, rosemary….
Here’s what Trader Joe’s says about the new Pineapple Teriyaki version (link)
“… Now available in our refrigerated cases on an everyday basis, Trader Joe’s Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs are made with all-natural ground chicken, are certified gluten free, and arrive fully cooked, so that all you have to do is heat them up in the oven, microwave, or air fryer, then serve. On their own, they make a great savory snack or appetizer (especially when paired with something tangy to dip them in). They’re also awesome when tossed with your favorite noodles (we’re particularly partial to our Squiggly Noodles), and make a mean meatball sub with our Sandwich Rolls, too.”
So how do the new meatballs compare to the original version? Well, here’s my honest review.
I liked the original ones and I like these too. I find the new Teriyaki version quite good. Possibly even a little better than the original meatballs? These have little more flavor, just a touch (not much) of sweetness and are softer. I did not find the added flavors too strong, these are the subtle side. The pineapple and teriyaki flavors don’t overpower things. They taste just slightly sweet. Texture wise I think these are a bit softer than the original meatballs, due to the added ingredients, dried pineapple and pineapple juice. I found the original meatballs could get a little rubbery as they have just meat with nothing else. Also there seems to be a few grill marks on these as if they were perhaps grilled?
Meatballs in an Asian Stir Fry with Broccoli and Peppers
Like the original meatballs, I think the best methods to cook these would be either stove top, baked in the oven, or in an air fryer. All which will give them a little browning which helps these. I don’t think these meatballs will be as good simply heated in the microwave as they won’t get browned.
To try these new meatballs, I thought I would use them first in an Asian style STIR FRY with vegetables (see above).
For my stir fry, I sliced the meatballs into about thirds. I got them browned up by stir frying them in a wok with a tablespoon of oil. After about two minutes like that, I tossed in my cut up veggies, red peppers and broccoli then continued to stir fry everything. When it all looked just done in maybe 4 minutes, I added in a basic Asian sauce*.
The dish turned out quite good. We served it with rice.
Another time, I grilled these sliced in half, up in a pan in olive oil along with yellow peppers and a lot of fresh garlic. Very yummy.
You can try pairing the grilled meatballs with a variety of sauces. For example Trader Joe’s new Korean Yangnyeom sauce would match well as its savory, a little sweet and slightly spicy. So many other choices to consider for sauces. SWEET CHILI sauce for one?
If you want to go “full Hawaiian” I could see using these to come up with some kind of dish in that vein, grilling these with some pineapple cubes (fresh or frozen) and for a sauce additional Teriyaki (soy sauce, sugar and a pinch of vinegar.) Add a little cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
Too complicated? OK, a even easier, simple Terikayi sauce recipe: soy sauce, brown/dark sugar, a splash of lemon (or vinegar) for tartness, a pinch of cornstarch (or even flour if you stir it in smoothly) Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
If that’s still too complicated, use TJ’s SOYAKI! I saw someone on TikTok just dump a package of the meatballs plus a jar of that in a pot. Not what I would do but they said, “good”
I think these meatballs would be a great addition as TJ’s suggest for a dish made with their SQUIGGLY NOODLES.
I didnt try the combo yet but think these might match well with Trader Joe’s new Japanese item, OKONOMIYAKI. Slice them and get them nice and grilled to serve with them.
A package of Pineapple Teriyaki chicken meatballs is $4.29 (12 oz). That’s 30 cents more than the regular chicken meatballs which are $3.99.
Six meatballs are stated to have 160 calories, and 13g of protein
Day 59 is for this EASY 3 ingredient teriyaki pineapple chicken meatball skewer dinner! Ingredients: ✨Costco teriyaki pineapple chicken meatballs ✨Costco Mini bell peppers ✨Trader Joe’s frozen fried rice Directions: ✨Heat your skillet to medium heat. ✨Add in peppers – cook a few minutes. ✨Add in meat balls – cook for 6 minutes or until til brown. ✨Microwave one cup of rice for 2 minutes. That’s it! Serve and enjoy! #foodtiktok#3ingredientsrecipes#easyrecipe
“Made with bold, full-flavored garlic and rich, creamy inimitably Irish butter, that was churned in the green rolling hills of County Cork”
I had read all over the internet about these new Trader Joe’s potato chips. That they are really good. Crazy good.
I was lucky to be at TJ’s when they happened to be giving out samples of these chips. The nice lady giving them out, jokingly warned us “Careful with these, they’re kind of addictive”. I ate a chip. Just one bite in and you realize she was not kidding. These chips are crazy good. They should come with a Warning Label on the package.
Once you start eating these, it will be hard to stop.
The chip are a PRODUCT OF IRELAND, and of course made from Irish potatoes. They have the perfect crunch, being cut just a little bit on the thick side, along with having ruffled edges. That garlic butter seasoning on these is so tasty and so good. The ingredient list even lists mushroom extract, which would supply some more Umami. All which leads to the “addictive” warning label I think these should come with.
My wife bought a bag of these. I was lucky to get a few to taste as she held onto the bag with here life. She got very possessive. I had to beg her for a couple of chips which she grudgingly gave me. When I asked for a few more, she told me to buy my own bag. She admitted she could not stop eating them. She was already Addicted. So be warned.
GARLIC BUTTER IRISH POTATO CHIPS, $2.99, 5.5 oz bag. Trust me the bag will go fast.
Better buy two while you are there and save yourself an extra trip.
Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants) 
Recent Comments