BU Students’ Top 3 Trader Joe’s Finds

Looking for a new TJ’s staple? Here are 3 BU students’ current favorites. 

By Jacqueline Liu

Less than a mile from Boston University’s Central Campus, the Brookline Trader Joe’s is the best place for an endless selection of delicious, unique, and affordable food options. Conveniently located right in front of the MBTA C-line Coolidge Corner stop, BU students can easily grab snacks throughout the week or pick up groceries after class. 

Here are some of BU students’ top Trader Joe’s finds (not sponsored):

1. Mochi Ice Cream

As the weather gets warmer in Boston, a pack of Mochi Ice Cream seems only fitting to include as our number one TJ’s pick. 

Ellie Zhou (QST ‘26) says this delicious treat is a “refreshing snack with a nuanced texture from regular ice cream.” Each bite contains the ideal ratio of creaminess from the ice cream and chewiness from the mochi. 

This delicacy was one of the first items Zhou purchased from Trader Joe’s when moving into her new apartment with her roommates at the beginning of her sophomore year, and it has been a “staple in their freezer ever since then.” She also noted that “it is literally impossible to get sick of these” because they come in “so many different flavors” like Green Tea, Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla, Ube, and Caramel Apple. 

Whether you’re looking for a quick mid-day snack or a small dessert after dinner, Zhou’s find might be exactly what you need.

1. Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings

For only $3.49 for a pack of six soup dumplings, this microwavable meal is not only “convenient and cheap” but also “almost restaurant-quality” with some added soy sauce and vinegar, said Jaden Hsiao (CDS ‘26). 

Hsiao emphasized that “as a Taiwanese,” he has a “pretty high bar for Xiao Long Baos” because “soup dumplings are a famous cultural dish from his country,” but he was actually “pleasantly surprised by how good they were.” 

The ginger adds to the tanginess of the soup dumplings and entirely elevates the taste of any other frozen soup dumpling from Maruichi or H-Mart. This meal is perfect for when you’re feeling lazy in your dorm room but still want something hot and comforting. “The sudden burst of broth just implodes the savory taste of the pork in my mouth,” said Hsiao. 

However, the only downside to the dumplings is that they are constantly sold out at the Brookline TJs, so if you ever see them there, you better stock up while you can! 

1. Peas & Carrots Sour Gummy Candies

For all the sweet tooths out there, Matthew Park (QST ‘26) emphasized that his favorite candy from Trader Joe’s is by far the Peas & Carrots Sour Gummy Candies. The carrot gummies are “soft and sour,” whereas the pea gummies are “gooey with a chewy outer shell.” Park joked that these candies are “an excellent way of getting his veggies in.” 

But in all seriousness, these gummies are made without any gelatin or artificial color, so technically, they “could be a healthier alternative to regular store-bought gummies,” Park emphasized. 

Priced slightly over a dollar, these affordable citrus-flavored Peas & Carrots Sour Gummy Candies are, undoubtedly, Park’s “favorite find at Trader Joe’s.”

Whether it be fresh produce, a microwavable meal, an on-the-go snack, or a refreshing beverage, Trader Joe’s has it covered for Boston University students. Next time you’re due for another Trader’s run, try out some of these students’ special picks!