Trader Joe's Kimbap

Nate's Notes: Post updated. New pic and paragraph below.

Good morning, folks! It's time to look at Trader Joe's Kimbap. Neither Sonia nor I had ever tried this dish before, but we both like sushi so we decided to give it a whirl. This one's primarily a video review in stunning 4K resolution but for those of you who just want to relax and read, here's a few paragraphs on our findings...

This Asian dish comes frozen and it thaws in 2-3 minutes in the microwave. The packaging recommends serving it hot or cold while Koreans who know the dish say it should be served at room temperature. I found hot or room temperature worked great while chilling the kimbap in the fridge made the mouthfeel a little funky.

Still, the taste and texture are remarkable considering it comes frozen solid. There's an unexpected sweetness to the dish—akin to sesame sauce—plus all the rich veggie flavors you get from tofu, burdock root, carrot, radish, spinach, and seaweed. It's filling, satisfying, convenient, and reasonably priced at $3.99 for nine big sushi-roll-esque discs.

Update: we purchased this product again just so we could try it pan fried. With this preparation method, you only microwave for one minute from frozen. Then apply egg wash and fry on each side 2-3 minutes. The result is absolutely scrumptious. The product is more structurally stable this way and packs even more savory flavors. See pic below.

Product of Korea. The packaging and traderjoes.com only specify that it's vegetarian, but there's nothing in the ingredients that wouldn't be vegan, and other actual vegans out in cyberspace have declared that it is, in fact, vegan. I give Trader Joe's Kimbap eight out of ten stars while the beautiful wifey will go with nine out of ten.

Bottom line: 8.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Cinnamon Bun Oat Creamer

All right, fall fanatics. Here's a limited time seasonal product review for you. Trader Joe's Cinnamon Bun Non-Dairy Oat Creamer is back by popular demand for the autumn 2026 season. I'm pretty sure this is the third annual appearance of this nondairy cinnamon roll flavored creamer. It's sweet and scrumptious and makes plain old coffee taste like a freshly baked cinnamon roll.

For just two bucks, you get 16 ounces of this oat-based kosher vegan coffee additive. The sugar and oats combine for a pastry-esque essence that does bring at least the suggestion of a real cinnamon bun. The spices are warm and aromatic and not overbearing in any way.

It's silky and smooth—just thick enough you can froth it up a bit. There's some pea protein in the ingredients, but it doesn't show up in the flavor profile, thank goodness. It's agreeable enough with coffee, but I suppose you could have it with tea or even cold brews. The beautiful wifey liked putting a splash or two on her oatmeal.

If I'm going to have coffee, I still prefer traditional dairy creamers, but I must admit this stuff isn't bad. I grew up with alternative milks and have had plenty of oat milk and nondairy foods and desserts throughout the years. This is great for folks with many dietary restrictions: it's dairy-free, lactose-free, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan. If you're sensitive to seed oils, you might wanna sit this one out.

Also check out: Trader Joe's Non-Dairy Brown Sugar Oat Creamer.

As many of you know, my wife Sonia is the resident coffee aficionada and is, predictably, far more into this product than I am, so we'll just let her score this one solo. She would buy Trader Joe's Cinnamon Bun Oat Creamer again. She'll throw out eight and a quarter stars for this buzzworthy alternative to conventional coffee creamer.

Bottom line: 8.25 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Guava Bars

More popsicles? Yes. Summer doesn't end until September 22 and it's still friggin' hot. In no way is pumpkin spice appropriate just yet...unless we're talking about Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake. That's good enough to eat anytime.

Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Guava Bars are still available at our local TJ's as of the time of writing this review, but I know they're already done for the season at many locations. I'm thinking we'll see them again next year, but then again, we're talking about Trader Joe's, so your guess is as good as mine. They really hit that passionfruit and guava hard this summer. I hope some of those fun items return for 2027.

Trader Joe's Organic Guava Fruit Spread

Trader Joe's Sparkling Guava Juice Beverage

Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Orange Guava Juice Blend

Trader Joe's Organic Guava Nectar

Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Granola

And I think there were some tarts we missed this time around, but hey like I said, there's always next year...maybe. At any rate, I like these tropical popsicles almost as much as the recently-reviewed Trader Joe's Pineapple Coconut Bars. At $2.99 for the box, this product is a little cheaper overall, but you're only getting four bars as opposed to six. Each bar is bigger, however, yielding a slightly greater overall net weight.

I really enjoyed the creamy texture of the aforementioned pineapple coconut bars, but here there's guava puree in the top section, which does render a thicker liquid than juice. The guava section (the top) is a pinkish color while the bottom part is orange-colored passionfruit juice. They're very similar in flavor, but if you pay attention, there is a slight difference. The guava part is a bit sweeter, and the passion fruit is a little more tart.

There's something kind of fun about getting two popsicles in one here. It's like Trader Joe's couldn't decide which tropical fruit to go with, so it just said, "Screw it, do both. Two tropical fruits are twice as nice." It's a happy little reminder that summer isn't over yet, despite the pumpkin spice industrial complex trying its darnedest to convince us otherwise.

Three bucks for four bars. Kosher. Vegan. Sonia gives Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Guava Bars eight out of ten stars. Like I said, I'd repurchase the pineapple coconut bars before these, but they're certainly not bad. Seven and a half stars from this guy.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Pineapple Coconut Bars

Ryan Hall says September is going to be abnormally hot for most of the USA. If you're like Sonia and me that means it's still tropical popsicle season. Apple, pumpkin, and sweet potato can wait a few more weeks until the air gets a bit cooler. But if you're one of those poor, misguided individuals that just has to get your PSL on the moment the kids are back at school, then sit back, relax, and click play on our Ultimate Fall Foods Playlist on YouTube. Or take a gander at some classic written reviews of fall stuff—much of which has already returned to Trader Joe's—right here on our blog.

For the rest of you, we're here to tell you that Trader Joe's Pineapple Coconut Bars are refreshing and tasty, and they've got pretty decent ingredients and non-threatening nutritionals. At just 90 calories per bar, I'd say they're worth checking out.

They're pretty pineapple forward. That might be our biggest complaint. The coconut cream gets overshadowed by the pineapple juice concentrate in the flavor profile. Sonia wishes there were coconut shavings throughout the bar to add more coconut flavor and some texture. I don't disagree.

The coconut adds a nice thickness to the texture and a greater level of creaminess than I expected. These are not just frozen juice popsicles. They're sweet and smooth, and they really hit the spot for any "beat-the-heat" type situation. I just wish the actual coconut flavor were there in a bigger way. It's not really a piña colada vibe. It's more like PINEAPPLE with a whisper of coconut cream.

There is something undeniably satisfying about eating a frozen treat when it's 95 degrees outside and the humidity is doing its best to turn you into a damp towel. These are particularly good for that kind of weather because they're not so heavy or rich that you feel like you've made a terrible mistake halfway through eating one. Grab a couple, sit outside, and pretend you're on a tropical island instead of standing in your backyard watching your neighbor mow his lawn.

Sonia and I would both buy Trader Joe's Pineapple Coconut Bars again. $3.79 for six individually-wrapped popsicles. Gluten free. Kosher. Vegan. I'll throw out eight stars once again. The beautiful wifey will spring for eight and a half.

Bottom line: 8.25 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Gnocchi

The first thing that jumps out at me about Trader Joe's Gnocchi is the value: it's only two bucks...and it's imported from Italy. We're talking four servings of authentic Italian gnocchi for $1.99. And it did indeed provide two separate meals for two adults in our case. That's pretty mind-blowing in terms of cost-effectiveness and affordability.

The second thing that jumps out at me about this product is its shelf stable status. No refrigeration required. This bag of gnocchi wasn't even purchased on our last Trader Joe's run—it's from quite a few months ago. The "best by" date is in December of this year. It would have stayed good for the better part of a year. I didn't even know that was possible. You could buy a dozen of these and have them on hand in your pantry to prepare for months and months after you purchase them. That's ultra-convenient.

Just boil for two minutes. Drain. Simmer in your favorite pasta sauce for two more minutes. We decided to bake ours in the oven in a non-TJ's tomato sauce along with some beef sausage, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. Came out great.

We added some Trader Joe's Aglio Olio Seasoning as well as some Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute. The whole thing tasted wonderful. The gnocchi is potato-based, so there is a faint potato flavor to it. There's also a hint of sourness from the lactic acid which is added as a natural preservative. It blends quite well with the cheeses, sauce, and sausage.

I'm sure it's not quite as impressive as fresh-made stuff from an Italian restaurant, but the texture of this product is possibly the best gnocchi mouthfeel I've experienced to date. It's "pillowy," just the way good gnocchi is supposed to be. I'd also call it soft, fluffy, and slightly chewy.

If you were lacking the extra ingredients or wanted to keep things uber-simple, these would be fine simmered in some butter or olive oil with just a dusting of sage or your favorite Italian seasoning blend. You could toss them in soup in lieu of croutons or dumplings. I'd even throw them on a salad if I had a bunch of greens begging for carbs of some kind.

Sonia and I would both definitely buy Trader Joe's Gnocchi again. Found with the other pasta products. Product of Italy. Eight out of ten stars from the beautiful wifey. Seven and a half stars from me, losing a couple points because they're not exactly a flavor extravaganza on their own. They do need a bit of help. Also, some folks may find the sour lactic acid flavor off-putting. Still, the value is outstanding.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Almond Flour Tortillas

Trader Joe's Almond Flour Tortillas will run you $3.69 for 6 gluten free, vegan, and kosher tortillas. Of course, Trader Joe's Corn Tortillas are also gluten free, vegan, and kosher, and they're the way to go if you're looking for an old-school experience that's probably more authentic in terms of Mexican cuisine. Watch out for the mold on those corn tortillas, though. They don't last long once they're opened.

We found these almond flour tortillas were quite edible past their best by date. No mold. No additional stiffness, though I must point out that they're somewhat stiff to begin with. I think that's just the nature of the almond flour. There's a slight rigidness to these tortillas that you don't really have with corn tortillas or even wheat flour tortillas. It's a tad off-putting to me.

Sonia didn't seem to mind the texture much. She happily ate them with her salsa de queso. We made a few other things with them after the salsa de queso was gone. They're perfectly adequate for any kind of taco.

Flavor-wise, there might be a hint of nuttiness, but you really wouldn't guess they were made with almonds in a blind taste test. They do approximate the flavor of traditional flour tortillas pretty well. The beautiful wifey is definitely a fan of the flavor here, and when it comes to tortillas, she knows her stuff.

I just can't envision many situations that would call for almond flour tortillas. As mentioned above, if you're avoiding gluten, I'd stick to corn tortillas, but that's just me—and these are significantly more expensive. I suppose some folks might have sensitivities to both wheat gluten and corn. I'll let the beautiful wifey score this one since she's the expert. She gives Trader Joe's Almond Flour Tortillas seven and a half out of ten stars.

Bottom line: 7.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Corn Tortillas

Corn, water, and lime. That's it. Those are the ingredients in Trader Joe's 100% Corn Tortillas. That's this product's biggest strength and its biggest weakness.

What do I mean by that? Well, I love seeing a short ingredients list. It means there's nothing unhealthy or weird going on. Products like that usually taste clean, fresh, and pure. This product is no different. These tortillas have a great corn flavor and a great texture...provided you eat them pretty fast.

We ate a few of these tortillas shortly after getting them home from our latest Trader Joe's run. Sonia's a pro at microwaving tortillas for a few seconds between layers of damp paper towels and serving them with her Mexican meals. We had some turkey tacos with these little maize mats, black beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, and sour cream, and they were perfectly delicious.

We stored the remainder all zipped up in our cool, dry pantry. We opened them back up exactly on the best by date printed on the bag less than a week later to eat with our salsa de queso, and there was already visible greenish mold on more than half of the remaining tortillas. Even the ones untainted by mold had a stiff, nearly inedible texture by that point. We were able to resuscitate just two of them by heating them up for a spell, and even then, they weren't half as good as the ones we ate straightaway. Hear more of our thoughts by watching our video review on YouTube.

We checked online to see if others noticed how quickly this product spoils, and yes, there are plenty of other people saying the same thing. This is a decent product, but don't wait to eat them and don't trust the "best by" that's printed on them. Plus, you can get more bang for your buck buying a 30 pack of Guerrero or La Banderita, which are both good as well, for less than a dollar more than this product.

$1.69 for 12 tortillas. Gluten free. Vegan. Kosher. Found near the other breads, pitas, and flatbreads. Would buy again but only to eat basically on the same day we purchase them. Seven out of ten stars from Sonia and me for Trader Joe's 100% Corn Tortillas.

Bottom line: 7 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Onion Flowers

Finally, you can get a Bloomin' Onion from somewhere other than Outback. Trader Joe’s has decided to take a stab at this classic appetizer with their new Onion Flowers. Imported all the way from Thailand, these frozen apps aim for those same crispy petals, but the results are kind of a mixed bag. At $5.49 for a box of two, the price point is definitely more affordable than any sit-down restaurant bill. Sonia and I gave these a spin using both the air fryer and the oven to see if they could live up to the hype.

The actual flavor of these onions is fantastic, featuring pristine, sweet white onions wrapped in a light, tempura-esque batter that happens to be entirely vegan. However, the execution leaves a little to be desired. No matter how we baked it or fried it, the middle just would not cooperate. We tried the air fryer for one and the oven for the other, and both times the center remained stubbornly underdone and raw-ish. The batter also felt a bit stingy, especially near the core, and the final presentation fell quite short of the bar set by the restaurant version. If you're looking to impress guests, these might look more like wilted weeds than blooming flowers.

Trader Joe’s also committed the ultimate appetizer sin by failing to include a dipping sauce, despite showing one on the cover art. To save the day, I whipped up a custom recipe modified from something I got on ChatGPT, that honestly carried the whole experience:

Of course, I had to shrink the measurements down a good bit since I was only making enough for two people. Also note that if you don't have those exact ingredients, Google Gemini or ChatGPT will gladly help you alter the recipe based on what you do have on hand at the moment. AI may be coming for all of our jobs, and maybe eventually our souls, but I'll be darned if they aren't helpful in the kitchen. This sauce was delicious, creamy, and spicy and it worked perfectly with the sweet onion petals.

In the end, these aren't going to replace the theatricality of a freshly fried restaurant appetizer, and they definitely lack the structural integrity of their famous ancestor, but they're a solid choice for onion fiends like us who don't mind a little rustic presentation and a slightly mushy center, making them a fun, flavorful snack for a casual night in. Sonia and I are both in agreement on the final score, giving the Trader Joe’s Onion Flowers seven and a half stars. They're worth a try for the flavor alone, provided you have the right sauce to back them up.

Bottom line: 7.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's 2 Affogatos

If you love the taste of coffee, then Trader Joe’s 2 Affogatos might be right up your alley. If you’re like me and mostly view coffee as a delivery vehicle for cream and sugar…well, buckle up.

First things first: this is an import. But not the kind you might expect. When you think affogato, you probably picture an elegant Italian cafe with a tiny spoon and someone named Giuseppe dramatically pouring espresso over gelato. Instead, this product is imported from Thailand, which was a bit surprising. Not bad. Just unexpected. Kind of like if someone tried to sell you Pad Thai imported from Italy. No offense to Thailand. It just feels like we swapped passports somewhere along the way.

Preparation is pleasantly simple. Keep the cups frozen, then when dessert time rolls around, dump the little packet of instant coffee into the center of the frozen dessert and add hot water. That’s it. In about ten seconds you’ve got yourself a DIY affogato situation.

Flavor-wise? Trader Joe's 2 Affogatos absolutely taste like coffee. No ambiguity here. The vanilla non-dairy frozen dessert does a nice job softening the bitterness, creating a creamy, melty coffee float vibe. But the coffee flavor still comes through loud and clear. For hardcore coffee fans like Sonia, this is a win. She gave it seven and a half stars and would most likely buy this product again.

For me, though? I’m more coffee-neutral. I don’t hate it, but I don’t exactly crave it either. And because the coffee flavor dominates, the whole experience leans a bit too espresso-forward for my taste. I'm throwing out six and a half out of ten stars.

Another downside: the servings are tiny. At $4.49 for two small cups, the portion-to-price ratio feels a little stingy. That said, I appreciate the creativity and the vegan-friendly approach. The dessert itself is fully vegan, which is cool. I’m also curious how it would taste if you swapped the hot water for hot milk—or hot oat milk or coconut milk if you want to keep it plant-based. That might make the whole thing richer and more indulgent.

Trader Joe's 2 Affogatos Vanilla Non-Dairy Frozen Desserts are neat to try, great for coffee lovers, but probably not a repeat buy for me. Still, if Trader Joe’s ever releases a full dairy Italian-import affogato, I’m absolutely lining up to try that one.

Sonia's score: 7.5 out of 10.

Nathan's score: 6.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Thai Peanut Satay Sauce

Let's talk about the Great Peanut Sauce Trauma of years past. Once upon a time, Trader Joe’s released a different satay sauce that was so aggressively fishy it basically required an apology letter to our taste buds. It was a dark era for our pantry, and we spent a significant amount of time avoiding that specific section of the condiment aisle out of pure fear.

However, time heals all wounds, and we finally decided to give the new-ish Thai Peanut Satay Sauce a fair shot. At $2.29 for an 8.1-ounce jar actually imported from Thailand, the price was low enough to gamble on, even if our expectations were safely tucked away in the basement.

The good news is that the overpowering fish sauce has been officially banished from the recipe. This new version is built on a much friendlier foundation of coconut milk and coconut sugar, which already makes it a thousand times more approachable than its predecessor.

It boasts a complex flavor profile that actually makes sense, featuring a blend of peanuts, curry, garlic, shallots, lemongrass, red chili pepper, and cumin. When we first cracked open the jar, the sauce was a little stiff. Honestly, it had the structural integrity of a chilled stick of butter, but a little heat fixed that right up. Once it warmed through, it transformed into a smooth, savory, and aromatic dream.

Since we aren't exactly the type of people who keep wooden skewers lying around for a random Thursday night, Sonia skipped the traditional satay presentation entirely. Instead, she threw together some improvised peanutty chicken noodle bowls using rice noodles and chicken breast we had on hand. We topped the whole thing with pickled julienned carrots and crushed peanuts for that essential hit of acid and crunch. The result was genuinely impressive and very tasty.

We’re happy to report that the redemption arc is complete, and both Sonia and I would definitely buy this product again. If you want to see us actually cook and eat this, please watch our video review. Sonia gives Trader Joe's Thai Peanut Satay Sauce a solid eight out of ten stars. I'll go with a respectable seven and a half.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Korean Japchae Fried Rice

Sonia and I are both quite fond of Korean barbecue, but we've never tried things like jumeokbap, kimbap, hotteok, and japchae outside of Trader Joe's. Fortunately, we've had good experiences with almost all of them. Let's hope that lucky streak keeps up.

Enter: Trader Joe's Korean Japchae Fried Rice. It's a product of South Korea. It's a fried rice medley with japchae sweet potato glass noodles mixed in. There's a great balance of flavors like the constituent veggies: shiitake mushroom, carrot, onion, green and red bell pepper, cabbage, spinach, and green onion along with spices like garlic, black pepper, and salt.

We heated ours on the skillet for about 12-13 minutes. We served it with lightly seasoned salmon. Sonia only added a bit of onion salt and black pepper to the fish so the flavors of the japchae fried rice could shine most brightly.

It's a nice umami flavor. It goes great with salmon, but we're certain it would go well with fried egg, tofu, or even bulgogi beef. We both think it's even better than the above-mentioned japchae noodle stir fry.

$3.99 for two big servings imported from the other side of the world. Found in the frozen section. Would definitely buy again. I'll give Trader Joe's Korean Japchae Fried Rice eight out of ten stars. The beautiful wifey will go with eight and a half.

Bottom line: 8.25 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Crustless Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam Sandwiches

Trader Joe's Uncrustables. That's clearly what we've got here. Not the first time TJ's latched on to a popular food concept and developed their own store brand variety of it. Probably won't be the last. Let's see how they stack up to the leading brand.

Let the duel begin. Big Joe's offering comes out swinging with the certified "vegan" label right on the box. Not sure what might be in the Smuckers product that would deny its vegan status, but it is not considered officially vegan. I think it's because their sandwiches are processed on the same equipment as the Chocolate Uncrustables which contain some dairy.

Price: Smuckers Uncrustables are showing $4.39 for the four pack at all retailers in my area as of the time of composing this review, while TJ's product is $3.79. You might get a coupon deal or a BOGO once in a while with the name brand, but on a day to day basis, Trader Joe's wins again.

Variety: There's only one flavor of Trader Joe's Crustless Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwiches. Smuckers offers not only strawberry, but also grape, raspberry, honey, and the previously-mentioned chocolate hazelnut variety. I think they might have a couple new flavors, too. Round 3 goes to Mr. Smucker.

Peanut Butteriness: I like TJ's product on this count. It's a very rich, wholesome peanutty flavor. It feels and tastes more natural than the leading brand. There's also an extra gram of protein in Joe's Crustless PB&Js. I'll give this round to Trader Joe.

Jam/Jelly: There's not enough strawberry jam in this sandwich. I'm okay with a PB&J that heavily favors the PB element, but folks who want a sweeter jelly situation might lean towards classic Uncrustables. The judges favor Smuckers on this go around.

Bread: Both products offer similar white bread made with unbleached enriched wheat flour. Neither Sonia nor I think either product has a significant advantage over the other in this instance. This round is a draw.

The net weight of Trader Joe's product is 8.89 oz as compared to only 8 oz in the case of the Uncrustables four pack. So not only are TJ's crustless sandwiches cheaper, but they're actually slightly larger than their competition.

No knockouts. No disqualifications. Just a good, clean fight. And with that, we'll turn to the judges. By a narrow but unanimous decision, Trader Joe's product wins the bout.

Sonia and I would both buy this product again, found in the frozen section. Thaw for 2 hours in fridge or 1 hour at room temperature to prepare. We'll probably buy Smuckers Uncrustables again, too, since they're available pretty much everywhere and we appreciate the different flavors. We both give Trader Joe's Crustless Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam Sandwiches eight and a half out of ten stars.

Bottom line: 8.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Spicy Dynamite Sauce

To me, this stuff tastes just like spicy mayo. It's a nice flavor with a good bit of heat that creeps up on you after a while. This product is vegan and its base is a vegan mayo spread made with soybean oil and sesame oil.

It's surprisingly thick and creamy. It coats quite well. The first things we tried it on were traditional hamburgers. It works just fine in lieu of regular mayonnaise.

I'm most excited about trying this stuff in my "tuna melt surprise" which involves dumping a bunch of random condiments in a bowl with a can of tuna, mixing it around, plopping it on some bread, topping it with cheese, and then heating it up in the oven or air fryer.

Most of our thoughts about this product were expressed in our short video review, embedded below. So why not watch the video, hit subscribe, click the "like" button, and leave us a comment about your thoughts on this product?

$2.99 for the 18 serving squeeze bottle. Product of Thailand. Sonia and I probably wouldn't buy it again, but if you're vegan you might want to check it out. Six and a half stars from the beautiful wifey. Seven out of ten stars from me for Trader Joe's Spicy Dynamite Sauce.

Bottom line: 6.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns

There are only two sets of heating instructions on this bag and one of them involves a steamer, which we don't have, so we opted for the microwave this time. Just plop three of the miniature bao buns on a plate lined with parchment paper—that's right, they want you to put parchment paper in the microwave—sprinkle with water and cover, heat on high for one to two minutes. Ours took about 1:50 to reach the perfect temperature and texture.

The buns came out soft, supple, and slightly moist. The "meat" of this dish features oyster, king oyster, and shiitake mushrooms. Sonia is a fan, while I...um, I just don't really like mushrooms. The filling has carrots and onions and a tasty spice blend that includes garlic, ginger, and soy sauce among many other ingredients.

Honestly, I think I really would have loved this product if it contained anything other than mushrooms. I did taste it though, and all the elements are high quality and most folks would probably enjoy it. One drawback: it doesn't come with a dipping sauce. We experimented with a couple different condiments in the video below including soy sauce and yangnyeom sauce.

$4.79 for nine bao buns. Vegan. Product of Vietnam. Sonia would buy again. She'll give Trader Joe's Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns nine out of ten stars and I'll sit this one out, score-wise, due to my bias against mushrooms.

Bottom line: 9 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Crispy Potato & Poblano Pepper Tacos

Visually, these remind me of tacos dorados or fried tacos, although it's been many years since I've had them—the size, the crispy and slightly oily outer tortilla, and the way they're folded tightly so you can barely see what's going on in the middle. If you want a fast food reference, the two for a buck Jack in the Box tacos are similar.

Obviously, the filling is significantly different here. Instead of your typical beef and cheese taco with lettuce and what have you, we've got mashed potato and shredded poblano pepper instead of meat. Sonia says it's similar to a Mexican meal called "tacos de papa," the specifics of which vary from region to region in Mexico.

To me, the execution of Trader Joe's Crispy Potato & Poblano Pepper Tacos leaves a little to be desired. The filling in our six tacos was anything but uniform. The first one I tried barely had any pepper. The second one I grabbed actually had more poblanos than potatoes. The one without many peppers was quite bland, as you might expect. The one with a bunch of poblano had a nice peppery kick to it, but it was fairly one-dimensional flavor and texture-wise.

Fried potato chunks would have worked better than mashed potatoes I think. They're "meatier" in texture and they have more flavor, too. A larger variety of veggies would be in order as well. The peppers are a good start, but a taco needs a handful of different textures. Sonia thinks the peppers and potatoes by themselves are fine in this instance. I suppose we could have added our own lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream if we wanted.

Surprisingly, the beautiful wifey also likes the flavor. I think it's okay. It's just lacking something—not necessarily meat. A corn and bean salsa would have gone a long way. Maybe some cheese, too.

In its current format, I would think this product would stand as "vegan," although it isn't labeled as such. $4.99 for six potato tacos. Product of Mexico. Sonia would buy Trader Joe's Crispy Potato & Poblano Pepper Tacos again, while I would not if it were up to me. If they wind up in our freezer again, I'll eat one or two, but I'll dress it up with something for sure.

Sonia's score: 8 out of 10.

Nathan's score: 6 out of 10.

Trader Joe San Soyaki

A quick internet search will reveal that Trader Joe's is just about the only place that sells "soyaki" sauce. Plenty of other folks are peddling bottles of teriyaki with sesame seeds as a primary ingredient. It seems fairly self evident that "soyaki" is a mashup of the words "soy" and "teriyaki," but if regular teriyaki has soy in it anyway, then wouldn't all teriyaki be soyaki? Seems to me that the sesame seeds are the things that make this product unique, but I guess "sesameyaki" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Trader Joe's Soyaki is bursting with the umami flavor of soy sauce, but behind it there's a surprising amount of cane sugar sweetness along with garlic and ginger purees. You can taste sesame, vinegar, and tamari, and the whole thing is nice and savory. There are enough sesame seeds that they not only provide a bit of nuttiness to the flavor, but they add some texture, too.

My instincts would gravitate towards poultry or fish as the perfect pairings for this sauce, but I suppose steak wouldn't be out of the question. We used our soyaki as a marinade for salmon and it was scrumptious. We served it with rice and salad, and it was just perfect for dinner.

I hear it goes quite well with tofu as well, so if you're prepping a plant-based meal you're in luck because Trader Joe's Soyaki is certified vegan. It's also kosher. $3.99 for 21 oz. Would buy again. Eight out of ten stars from both Sonia and me for Trader Joe's Soyaki Sauce.

Bottom line: 8 out of 10.