Aldi
1767 N. Milwaukee
(between Leavitt St & Wabansia Ave)
Chicago, IL 60647
- Nearest Transit:
Western (Blue O'Hare)
Damen (Blue)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sat 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sun 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
51 reviews
Skokie, IL
"Groceries in the city are expensive. So why not get some extra value for the money you spend? Peapod isn't dramatically more expensive…" read more »
14 Reviews for Aldi
Hey its aldi... cheap and sweet. They have wine too! All I can say is thanks for saving me some money so I can buy more cases of wine. Oh and I love the fit and active protein bars... although I don't eat them for the protein, they just taste like candy and I love them.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Oh Kewl!!!! I buy my already made, ready to eat box of brownies here! They are only a dollar and taste magical.. sorta. They carry a lot of ya know.. foods that are full of preservatives but so what, we're all gonna die someday anyway. Mmmm cheap quick fix brownies. P.S. double check the expiration dates people, my brownies will expire in a week. So I better finish them up in time or better yet, gobble them up all in one sitting. Which choice is wiser? I can't decide. One day when I do feel the need to stock up on some cheap ass groceries, I will remember Aldi. Remember... no grocery bags, you gotta pay for them or bring your own. That's when my ginormous hand bag comes in handy. NO CHECKS, LADY!!!!! Amen to that.. Cash and debit cards only.
Ditto on avoiding weekends and weekday evenings.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (6)
Cool (4)
So all of their sundries are more than likely filled with high fructose corn syrup, sodium, or partially hydrogenated oils, but beggars can't be choosers. Shit, when it comes to food at prices this low, you know how those costs were saved.
I bought produce here. Lots of it. For cheap.
Don't judge me.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (11)
Cool (2)
Bloody hell. I work hard for my money and I feel that I deserve a pleasant, stress-free shopping experience full of exciting choices and superior customer service.
Aldi does not really give me those things... it's often chaotic; choices are limited to "do I want beans or not?" (rather than regular v. low-sodium, organic v. conventional, individual-sized v. economy, etc); customer service is a cashier who might not dent all your cans if you're lucky.
But really: thirty-nine cents for a can of vegetables. $1.59 for Raisin Bran. $1.89 for a nice bag of salad. Everyday. The quality is fine, and the prices are outstanding. When it comes to pantry staples, canned goods, and items about which I don't feel compelled to be brand-specific, you can't beat it.
When I was little, my family was poor & my mom shopped at Aldi out of necessity. Now that she & my dad are more comfortable, she still makes it her first grocery stop. For years I thought this was lame, but now I'm starting to see the wisdom in it. In short, ditching my ego means I have more money for Things That Matter. So I guess me & my Yelp sack will see you there!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (2)
Cool (3)
Cheers, Aldi.
I've rustled up some pretty involved dishes from exclusive Aldi produce I'll have you all know, without consulting that Aldi based recipe book.
It's not teeming with variety or fresh food, plus some more choice items will appear one day and disappear for the next few months. I once bought some dates there, for example, for a Sticky Toffee Pudding, but I've never seen them again. And the staff won't necessarily know what a lot of the produce is.
Meat and veg is decent. Beef, pork. Get yer chicken from elsewhere, Ciales Poultry maybe.
Avoid weekends.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Suggested New Aldi Catchphrases
1. Aldi: If you can get food any cheaper, then you must be stealing.
2. Aldi: We don't sell meat here, animals wander in and never come out.
3. Aldi: Bags Schmags, use this empty toilet paper crate.
4. Aldi: You're only poor if this is your regular grocery store.
5. Aldi: Welcome to Eastern Europe!
6. Aldi: What? You think you're getting this cart without a security deposit?
Love-Hate. Hate-Love. I will return.
People thought this was:
Useful (7)
Funny (12)
Cool (6)
Since this place is close by, it's my go to place for the basics. I only wish this Aldi was nearly as good as the Aldi in Germany...where you can actually depend on them for grocery shopping rather than a few random products. The problem here is that...........
A: the inventory is so inconsistent that I never know if they will have what I am after.
B: DO NOT go around 5-6 pm because you will find ma and pa and their 2-5 kids that load up 2-3 carts of groceries in one stop. Need I mention that getting behind them in line is a real downer???
C: Yes, you have to pay for a cart deposit, but I never really buy enough there to justify needing a cart..You also have to buy the bags, but hey, why don't you go green and bring your own.
D: I would skip the produce. Occasionally in the summer the veggies are ok. But most often they are a little sketchy.
E: I admit they have great deals from time to time. You just have to snatch it up right then and there because when ma and pa come with their brood and fill their 3 grocery carts, there will be none left for you!!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
I always referred to this as the 'Good Aldi'. It was one of the first to start breaking out the Winking Owl wine, and Northstar six packs. The down side is that you can't do your weekly grocery shopping here. Example: No packaged cheese slices, but 4 kinds of Creme Puff Pastries one week.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
What the fuck, Aldi?
Are you a 7-11 on steroids? Are you a really piddly grocery store?
Some places can pull off an identity crisis with style. flair.
Regretfully, Aldi, you are not one of these places.
Bring change, unless you want to carry all your groceries. The carts are locked up and it takes a quarter to set one free. You also need cash or your debit car in order to pay. And your own bags to carry the groceries out of the store.
I guess it depends on how much you like a bargain. These days, I guess i'd rather spend a bit more but not have to drive/bus/walk all over town to get everything I need.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
From the same people who bought you Trader Joe's, there's ALDI or shortened for Albrechts Discount out of Germany. Europeans love this place in Europe and there's no reason you shouldn't either. All the above points are true, this place is great for essentials and the occasional quirky seasonal item. I've been able to procure young duckling during Thanksgiving for under $8. I would skip the produce aisle and head down North Ave to Stanleys where the produce prices are usually even cheaper and fresher.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
When I moved to Bucktown after years away I was sure that gentrification would have taken care of the dearth of grocery stores situation. Well, I was wrong. And so the Aldi became our default grocery store. At first, I was a bit perturbed at not having a "real" grocery store nearby, but it turns out that Aldi is pretty damn decent at fulfilling the typical basic grocery needs.
Aldi is different first and foremost in that it carries only its own brands 95% of the time. This can be a scary prospect, but the house brands are pretty good--I even like the spaghetti sauce more than most brands widely available. Some of the meat, like cold cuts and ground beef, isn't exactly the most amazing quality, but still all right. I've heard a lot of people complain about the produce, but in my experience it's acceptable, if a shorter shelf life. And the prices are the best you will ever see in your life. You don't have to worry about counting pennies so much here--I mean, you could shop for a week or more on $30.
The issues: well, quirks are the quarter for a cart , cash or debit card only, and no free shopping bags--really not an issue once you're used to it. The main problems I have are that inventory is very inconsistent--things you find one week are gone the next; and there is not a large selection of light or low fat items. You can't buy certain things here, like herbs, so you have to make trips to other stores to get them. So it's not an everything under one roof situation.
But overall, the Aldi here is usually clean, stocked, and easy to navigate, with pleasant staff. Aldi is a lifesaver for those of us on severe budgets. And I will keep telling myself that every time I get depressed walking in here.
People thought this was:
Useful (7)
Cool (3)
My unscientific studies show that people either love or hate aldi's.
You get it or you don't.
I do most of my grocery shopping here because its a real bargain, its the closest grocery store to my house and when I go at 7:30 on a weeknight they are usually empty and its a quick in 'n' out.
Its good sh*t.
The frozen foods (pot pies, veggie Southwest pockets, etc)
The basics (flour, sugar, condiments, pasta, soup, etc)
Fridge section (dairy, cold cuts, etc)
The Grandessa "label" has delicious specialty sausages, fresh salsa (think "Jack's"), desserts and frozen entrees.
On and on....
Downsides: (to this location at least)
One week you'll have delicious fresh guac and then its gone. Never to be restocked.
I've found that when i go early in the week the shelves are a bit bare and I can't find my usuals.
Weekends are a nightmare. Just a warning.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
I will admit it. I am scared of Aldi. Now, before I am accused of being a label whore, I admit that I am an equal opportunity grocery hater. I despise the Dominick's I go to. I want to spit on the Jewel.
But Aldi creeps me out more...maybe it's the way it's organized. I don't know. I do get a kick out of they way that some of the brands there try to trick you into thinking they are mainstream - like instead of Del Monte they could have Del Ponte.
I don't want to say don't go. I can't say go.
SIGH. What am I to do?
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Where else in bucktown can you get a bottle of wine for $3?
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
My Neighborhood
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,… -
My Adventures in the…
So this is what they call the Heartland... They…
Hot and New
- Sura Thai Bistro
115 reviews
Neighborhood: Lakeview
- Kuma's Corner
422 reviews
Neighborhood: Avondale
- HB Restaurant
73 reviews
Neighborhood: Lakeview
- The Pain Stop Massage Therapy
16 reviews
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
- Veerasway
23 reviews
Neighborhood: Near West Side
