Powka

Not sure if this is the right thread to discuss such casual topic, but will give it a shot.

Any UK expats in US, particularly CA, who miss Iceland store? I used to buy their cheap frozen food all the time, they had some great stuff (especially 8 breaded chicken breasts for 2GBP); can't find anything similar here. Everything costs like 10 times more.

Is there an alternative to Iceland or maybe Aldi in California?

Hotscot

I used to shop Iceland when I was poor but the stuff is low quality.
Many supermarkets here have similar packaged processed foods in their freezer sections.
Aldi's isn't here yet although I see they have plans to expand into California.

I can imagine waxing nostalgically about Iceland but do you really want their low quality?

Powka

Well, I'm kind of poor right now myself here in LA, and I was never really bothered by 'low quality'. It always tasted good to me, especially those chicken breasts (with water in them) -- low cal, high protein, VERY cheap.

No, I've checked all major supermarkets, nothing comes even close to the prices of Iceland. C'mon, 8 breaded or spicy chicken breasts for 2 GBP. You can barely buy 1 chicken breast for this price here, with no bread, marinade or anything.

It's a shame they don't have any alternatives. Food is really expensive here. Oh, guess we'll wait for the better times then

dunroving

Especially for meat and chicken. 8 chicken breasts for £2? Barf.

dunroving

Have you tried Sam's Club?

Hotscot

Food4Less, WinCo..that's about the cheapest I can think of.

I do in fact shop for food in WinCo...good selection of veggies at great prices and even though I don't use them they have those big bins of bulk stuff where you serve yourself.

In terms of quality produce though I do avoid processed food. In my fifties and conscious of health.

Pulaski

Yeah, I miss their horse lasagna!

A lot of food is not cheap here, especially better quality meat, but many stores seem to run from one promotion to another, so we often buy food on 2 for 1 specials, or similar deals. I also pick up "orange label" cuts of meat if I'm shopping in the evening, especially steaks, which, given that we usually do a little additional (4-8 days) "dry aging" of our steaks, that they are "short dated" is not a concern (to us).

FatFrank

Nice.

When we "were poor" and living in CA we found an astonishing price difference between food at the "American" supermarkets and some of the supermarkets frequented by the Hispanic population. Our eldest son was playing soccer for a "Spanish" team in Santa Ana and some of the parents on that team gave us great recommendations on where to shop....they did tell us to keep our wits about us though.....

Guindalf

Mmmmmm, Arctic Roll.

That is all.

Sally Redux

I agree food has really shot up in price lately.

Wal-Mart might have some cheap breaded chicken.

Bob

Walmart?

Dollar Tree, bit minging but they usually have breaded chicken and yes, it's a buck a packet. Scraping the barrel on quality and actual meat content I think, but some of their other stuff, frozen veg etc, isn't to bad.

No idea if they're in CA though.

Other than that, find the dodgy Indian, Guatemalan and Brazilian grocery stores, they tend to be cheaper.

Sally Redux

We do have Dollar Tree.

Made me laugh remembering I took my daughter and a schoolfriend there, years later the friend told me what a great, exciting trip it had been

AmerLisa

We've got a Dollar Tree here, although never thought of buying food in there.

They do have Grocery Outlet (California as well) that has some discontinued stock and sell for pretty cheap. They do sell some produce and dairy products as well. I used to go in there with my grandmother and they do have pretty good prices and stock.

http://www.groceryoutlet.com/

Not sure how much their breaded chicken breasts are, but you may be able to find something.

Bob

It's good for the soy milk, baking goods and junk food type sweets and household bits and pieces...well tablet styluses anyway

Pulaski

Soy milk is one of the foulest creations on God's earth. I'd sooner drink yak pïss than taste soy milk again. Mrs P bought some to try it shortly after little Miss P was born, and it was unbelievably foul.