Aldi... what do you recommend?

Zelda247 · 20-06-2015 9:14am #1

i have just moved into an area where there is an Aldi, i am not really familiar with the store, what do you recommend of their products.

The Hill Billy · 20-06-2015 9:24am

OP - try the forum search function. Here are a couple of search results that you may find useful...

Aldi threads in F&D

Aldi threads in C&R

I've moved this thread to the main Food & Drink forum as your query is appears more related to general produce rather than cooking or recipes.

tHB

Bannasidhe · 20-06-2015 9:26am

I do all of my grocery shopping in Aldi with the exception of coffee. As a former chef I tend to stick to 'basics' (i.e. I cook

) so can't comment on their ready meals with the exception of their curries which I believe are superior to either Marks or Tescos.

At the moment I am happily eating my way through Rosamund Grant's Taste of the Caribbean cookbook using only Aldi bought products and enjoying some seriously good food every night at an average cost of a fiver for two people.

fussyonion · 20-06-2015 8:00pm

There's a good few things from Aldi we love so I'll list them here:

-Specially Selected Madras Curry Sauce (Aldi's curry sauces get rave reviews here. This one has a spice pot attached to the top of the jar, and it's delicious)
-Naan breads (You get two in a pack for 79c and they're lovely)
-Brannan's Deli Style Roast Beef Slices.
-HotDog Rolls
-Orange Squash

And all their cheeses are fabulous!

Spanish Eyes · 20-06-2015 8:04pm

Tea. McGraths Gold Blend. Passed the Ma's taste test, so all is good there!

Kavanagh's Porridge. Just the big 1k bag. Creamiest I've tasted so far.

Jams.

Greek Style Yogurt.

Curry sauces.

There are lots more, I just can't think at the moment, although I am mentally going up and down the aisles as I post!

Enjoy, you will find lots to please you in Aldi.

gordongekko · 20-06-2015 8:05pm

Tis all good

mirrorwall14 · 20-06-2015 8:08pm

I do my whole shop in aldi except for the baby formula because they only stock SMA and he's on cow and hate. Well worth it. 50e in tesco and I get a skimpy carrier bag 50e in aldi and I've filled half a trolley!

foodaholic · 20-06-2015 8:51pm

Their dry age steaks in the black box are fab

fermanagh_man · 20-06-2015 8:54pm

Find there fruit is poor quality, especially the berries

Gloomtastic! · 20-06-2015 8:57pm

I think the thread may be shorter if you ask what to avoid!

God bless Aldi, this recession would have been an awful lot worse if they weren't around.

Dizzyblonde · 20-06-2015 9:31pm

Ribeye steaks, tinned tomatoes, tomato purée, brioche burger buns, rice cakes, cheeses.

Pretzill · 20-06-2015 9:36pm

I'd second their rib eye steaks. I wouldn't normally buy my meat at a supermarket but Aldi are one of the better ones - also for really good extra mature chedder and really tasty brannagins smoked rashers.

Their veg and fruit can be hit and miss prefer a veg shop but they are impressively cheaper here and if you remove any veg/ fruit pre bagged from their plastic hell straight away - they stay fresher for a bit longer.

fussyonion · 20-06-2015 9:40pm

Pretzill wrote: »

I'd second their rib eye steaks. I wouldn't normally buy my meat at a supermarket but Aldi are one of the better ones - also for really good extra mature chedder and really tasty brannagins smoked rashers.

Their veg and fruit can be hit and miss prefer a veg shop but they are impressively cheaper here and if you remove any veg/ fruit pre bagged from their plastic hell straight away - they stay fresher for a bit longer.

Love the Hickory Smoked rashers!

meeeeh · 22-06-2015 8:07pm

Pretzill wrote: »

I'd second their rib eye steaks. I wouldn't normally buy my meat at a supermarket but Aldi are one of the better ones - also for really good extra mature chedder and really tasty brannagins smoked rashers.

Their veg and fruit can be hit and miss prefer a veg shop but they are impressively cheaper here and if you remove any veg/ fruit pre bagged from their plastic hell straight away - they stay fresher for a bit longer.

+1 on this

I also like their continental meats. For whatever reason their chorizo is friendlier to my stomach than some others. I also like their parmesan and low fat mozzarella is great to mix with full fat one so pizzas are not so wet. And big thumbs up for me for their specially select olive oil.

Fruit and veg is not that great but I actually think Irish supermarkets sell dreadful quality of especially impoted fruit in general.

Reputable Rog · 22-06-2015 8:17pm

I had one of their rib eyes last week ( not the specially selected) , divine.

Roxirose · 22-06-2015 9:43pm

Chili tuna
Olives
Brioche rolls
Fresh pesto
Dried chili flakes
Perlenbacher
Mascarpone
Greek style fat free yoghurts

Zelda247 · 23-06-2015 8:39am

I tried their Speciality Curry Sauce, the Madras one and indeed its lovely, going to try the Korma one next. I also bought some of the Kavanagh's porridge to try (not the Organic version). I might try the McGrath's tea bags, mind you I find it hard to believe that they have won a Taste Award and the like of Barry's Gold have not.... mind you i don't know how these thing are awarded.

fussyonion · 23-06-2015 10:09am

Zelda247 wrote: »

I tried their Speciality Curry Sauce, the Madras one and indeed its lovely, going to try the Korma one next. I also bought some of the Kavanagh's porridge to try (not the Organic version). I might try the McGrath's tea bags, mind you I find it hard to believe that they have won a Taste Award and the like of Barry's Gold have not.... mind you i don't know how these thing are awarded.

The McGrath's tea are made by Robert Roberts. I used to love them but they taste different now; like they changed them somehow.
Aldi do this with a lot of products; they did it with their cream crackers...they stopped selling them for about a month and when they returned, they had changed the recipe.

Yeah, love the Madras curry sauce; the Rogan Josh one is lovely too.

Zelda247 · 23-06-2015 11:23am

Oh thanks will try that one as well.

somewhere on the boards i read that Aldi used to do frozen mashed potatoes but can't find them in our one, do you know if they have discontinued?

i like cooking but can't be bothered with making mash... it has always turned out yucky.

thats a shame about the tea... never mind .... i often wonder why on earth people change a formula
when it works.

byronbay2 · 23-06-2015 11:56am

Most of the below are not massively superior to what is available in other outlets (the exception being the cheddar cheese) but they are as good as any and so much cheaper!

Fresh basil pesto
Specially Selected cheddar
Frozen North Atlantic prawns
Butchers Choice sausages
Cashew/pistachio nuts
St. Etienne beer
Not from concentrate orange/apple juice
Wagon Wheels (6 for 99c!)

They also have lots of foodstuffs like pasta, rice, porridge, noodles (20c!) etc. which are as good as any and massively cheaper. Then you have your Super 6 for fruit/veg (8 nectarines for 49c type thing) and the special offer meat section e.g 4 pork chops for €3. This is the icing on the cake!

yellowlabrador · 23-06-2015 12:03pm

the 'free from' range is good too.It's a lot cheaper than elsewhere and te biscuits and cakes are lovely. They've a good selection of ice lollies and ice creams too.

Pretzill · 23-06-2015 12:56pm

Zelda247 wrote: »

Oh thanks will try that one as well.

somewhere on the boards i read that Aldi used to do frozen mashed potatoes but can't find them in our one, do you know if they have discontinued?

i like cooking but can't be bothered with making mash... it has always turned out yucky.

thats a shame about the tea... never mind .... i often wonder why on earth people change a formula
when it works.

Not sure I'd go down the processed potato route until someone told me about Aldi's frozen baked spuds - 4 large in a packet - Ok microwaved if you haven't the time but baked in the oven they are actually very authentic! And 1 is more than enough per person.

josephineperry · 23-06-2015 1:38pm

I shop at Aldi pretty often, I find it quite good, and it's cheap. I don't usually buy meat there, but all the other products are good quality in my opinion.

Kat1170 · 23-06-2015 1:48pm

Pretzill wrote: »

Not sure I'd go down the processed potato route until someone told me about Aldi's frozen baked spuds - 4 large in a packet - Ok microwaved if you haven't the time but baked in the oven they are actually very authentic! And 1 is more than enough per person.

Sorry, I'm going to need this one explained to me. They are frozen baked potatoes, that you bake in the oven ?? Would that not just be the same as baking a potato in the oven ??

Pretzill · 23-06-2015 3:04pm

Kat1170 wrote: »

Sorry, I'm going to need this one explained to me. They are frozen baked potatoes, that you bake in the oven ?? Would that not just be the same as baking a potato in the oven ??

Well yes - but don't take as long and they're for the microwave really - I know completely lazy but if all the spuds are gone and you have a packet of frozen ones in and are in an incredibly lazy dinner mood they are handy - ala Frozen chips/frozen roasties ( except I hate them but these actually resemble a proper potato)

Edit to add; I had a similar reaction when I first heard about them - but if there's frozen mash too well...;)

whiskeyman · 23-06-2015 3:21pm

As already mentioned, all the staples are great.
Fruit and veg can be iffy, but usually good if you go earlier in the day, as otherwise you can be left with very little selection.

Their choc coated choc-chip biscuits are the best 'visitor' biscuits to have and I've tried!
Thier coco-pops are nicer than normal cocopops.
Shower gels, toothpaste, mouthwash, are every bit as good, although I find their razor and razor blades not as good as the branded unfortunately.
All their cleaning products are quality also.

I havent tried much of their frozen stuff, as the quality of the other food is great.

Hero777 · 23-06-2015 3:25pm

Their Toro Loco Red wine is really nice, would def recommend

Kev W · 23-06-2015 3:26pm

They do lovely scotch, too.

fussyonion · 23-06-2015 3:50pm

Kev W wrote: »

They do lovely scotch, too.

I wonder if Aldi do glasses too because I just read that as "They do lovely crotch too."

fussyonion · 23-06-2015 3:53pm

josephineperry wrote: »

I shop at Aldi pretty often, I find it quite good, and it's cheap. I don't usually buy meat there, but all the other products are good quality in my opinion.

The meat in Aldi is fantastic.

Their steaks, in the black box, are probably the best I've ever had. The roast chickens are tender and juicy (when cooked, obviously), the mince beef is perfect and the pork's excellent.

Compared to Tesco, who seem to always stock chewy tough meat, Aldi win by a mile.
I had a chicken from Tesco recently that was tough...that was a new one me; tough chicken!

yellowlabrador · 23-06-2015 3:58pm

the free range chicken is very tasty

The Hill Billy · 23-06-2015 4:38pm

byronbay2 wrote: »

Wagon Wheels (6 for 99c!)

That's it - I'm getting Mrs Billy to do all our shopping in Aldi from now on!!!

ardmacha · 23-06-2015 4:42pm

Rhubarb yogurt. mmmm..

cobham · 23-06-2015 5:00pm

I shop in Aldi now for most things.

Glutenfree items = great selection now, lovely sodabread and apple pie

Fresh coffee
Biscuits/granola
Chocolate
Fruit/veg espec when on offer
"Specially selected" meat in vacuum packs eg steak but also have had lamb and pork = all good.
Sliced ham and smoked salmon
West cork yogurt
Currysauces with separate dried spices.
Magnum washup liquid

I also enjoy the serendipity of seeing what is on offer in the non food items that vary from week to week. I like the size of the shops, not too big, can zip around and stuff is not moved from regular spots. You rarely have long to wait at checkout. Staff are friendly and efficient...

fussyonion · 23-06-2015 5:11pm

The Hill Billy wrote: »

That's it - I'm getting Mrs Billy to do all our shopping in Aldi from now on!!!

They might be Aldi's version (someone can correct me if I'm wrong)...I can't remember, but whatever they are they're fricking delicious.

cobham · 23-06-2015 6:03pm

Curry Sauce:

Would they be the ones in glass jar with spices attached to lid in own container? There about 6 varieties with different strength of curry and are own brand "speically selected". I think the keeping separate of the spices til cooking time is the key to the better flavour 'hit'.

fussyonion · 23-06-2015 7:29pm

cobham wrote: »

Curry Sauce:

Would they be the ones in glass jar with spices attached to lid in own container? There about 6 varieties with different strength of curry and are own brand "speically selected". I think the keeping separate of the spices til cooking time is the key to the better flavour 'hit'.

Yeah, that's them.
They're gorgeous and I don't think I've ever seen sauces like it anywhere else.
I'm a big fan of Indian curries and these Aldi ones are pretty spot-on for authenticity and flavour.
Love them.

Zelda247 · 24-06-2015 8:42am

I was going to ask about their wine, they have a Malbac which seems to have won an award, anyone tried this?

swaywme · 24-06-2015 8:58am

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

I think the thread may be shorter if you ask what to avoid!

God bless Aldi, this recession would have been an awful lot worse if they weren't around.

Agree

fussyonion · 24-06-2015 9:49am

Zelda247 wrote: »

I was going to ask about their wine, they have a Malbac which seems to have won an award, anyone tried this?

I haven't tried the Malbac, but I often buy their Kookiburra Shiraz and Kookiburra Merlot. They're about €5.49 a bottle and really nice.

I can also recommend the Cambalala Sauvignon Blanc (€5.49) which is gorgeous when chilled nicely...really crisp and fresh.

I personally didn't like the Baron St. Jean wine they sell (€3.99) but each to their own.

Oh, and their Exquisite Fleurie is absolutely delicious!

And their champagne too! I actually thought it was much nicer than Moet (not that I drink Moet often); there was actual flavour there, as well as bubbles, and it actually beat Moet hands down in a blind tasting test a few years back when a group of champagne experts tried it.
It's called "Monsigny" and it's €19.99, I think.

Dubl07 · 24-06-2015 12:08pm

Great steaks in the black packets. The cottage cheese is very nice. Clontarf Whiskey at under €19 is almost as good as Jameson and beats the likes of Paddy hands down. Pistachios and Cashews in the foil packets. Currently have new Irish Queens potatoes.

YFlyer · 24-06-2015 7:09pm

Anyone know about the Aldi €500 voucher that's on facebook? The plan is to share and like the logo.

L1011 · 24-06-2015 9:16pm

YFlyer wrote: »

Anyone know about the Aldi €500 voucher that's on facebook? The plan is to share and like the logo.

Yes. Its fake. They're all fake, always.

Lucena · 24-06-2015 9:21pm

The O'Shea's beers are supposed to be quite good, they're brewed by the same crowd that do O'Hara's. Not sure if they're permanent or just on occasional special offer.

Zelda247 · 30-06-2015 2:20pm

Just tried the Aldi porridge, just the regular one not the Organic.... omg... its delicious.... far nicer than Odlems or Flavahans.... cannot believe it... a huge pack for less thank 2 euros.

Going Strong · 30-06-2015 2:29pm

Aldi's Original Rye Crispbreads are stunningly good. Lovely slightly salty and nutty flavour to them. Nice and healthy too which offsets their Salted Caramel Choc Ices! Which are, err, also good for you.

Dubl07 · 30-06-2015 2:35pm

AVOID the Mango sorbet. Tastes artificial and acrid. Not a patch on the sorbet they used to stock. I was so delighted to see sorbet back in the freezer I didn't read the ingredients.

Ryath · 02-07-2015 12:16am

They've started doing a spatchcock chicken recently really tasty and cooks in just 45 minutes. Would slightly prefer the garlic one

https://www.aldi.ie/en/product-range/secret-chef/our-ready-to-cook-range/products-detail-page/ps/p/lemon-pepper-spatchcock-chicken/

https://www.aldi.ie/en/product-range/secret-chef/our-ready-to-cook-range/products-detail-page/ps/p/garlic-and-herb-spatchcock-chicken/

Zelda247 · 02-07-2015 8:25am

Sounds lovely... will give it a try.

Zelda247 · 12-07-2015 9:13am

I finally had the Aldi Angus Sirloin Steaks last night, oh my God they were delicious... absolutely 10/10.... and they were on special offer I think a euro off.... definitely one the the nicest steaks I have ever eaten.

Glenbhoy · 16-07-2015 12:41am

Zelda247 wrote: »

Oh thanks will try that one as well.

somewhere on the boards i read that Aldi used to do frozen mashed potatoes but can't find them in our one, do you know if they have discontinued?

i like cooking but can't be bothered with making mash... it has always turned out yucky.

thats a shame about the tea... never mind .... i often wonder why on earth people change a formula
when it works.

The mash seems to be an autumn/winter product, it stopped in Mar/Apr 2014 and then came back in around October and seems to have disappeared from the shelves around the same time this year.

I've recently discovered their frozen garlic and chilli (also parsley etc, but I've not sampled them), for me these are the first, time saving ingredients, comparable to the real thing (i've tried a lot of variations of these, particularly the garlic and chilli in olive oil or vinegar). Great time saver.

Stackers salt and vinegar are also superior to pringles imo.

Aldi... what do you recommend?

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