Trader Joe's Fans Voted These Products as Their Favorites in This Year's 'Customer Choice Awards'

If your favorite foods are Kraft Mac & Cheese and Flamin' Hot Cool Ranch Doritos (yes, I'm still confused), then Trader Joe's is not for you. But part of the appeal of the grocer's focus on its own brands is that, as a Trader Joe's shopper, you learn to find new favorites. (In my early 20s, I practically survived on frozen taquitos; I moved further away from Trader Joe's, and I haven't had a frozen taquito since!)

Understanding customers' devotion to very specific Trader Joe's items, for 13 years, the grocer has released its Customer Choice Awards, with this year's winners being released this week. "Thousands of customers responded to our call for votes to name their very favorite Trader Joe's products," the brand wrote. "We've tallied the ballots, and while some of the winners may surprise you, others may be just as you expected."

Firmly in that expected group is Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken which won the Favorite Overall category for the second consecutive year. The frozen food section staple has won in previous years as well — though it was upset in 2020 by Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.

That doesn't mean the seasoning blend has been kicked to the curb: It landed in this year's overall runners-up along with Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Unexpected Cheddar, and Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese.

And the excitement doesn't stop there. Trader Joe's tallied up votes for eight additional categories, including things like snacks and vegetarian items. Here's the full rundown:

• Mandarin Orange Chicken

Runners-up

• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
• Unexpected Cheddar
• Everything but the Bagel Seasoning Blend
• Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

• Non Dairy Oat Beverage

Runners-up

• Spiced Apple Cider
• Ginger Beer
• Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice Beverage
• Tangerine Juice

• Unexpected Cheddar

Runners-up

• English Cheddar with Caramelized Onions
• Baked Lemon Ricotta
• Syrah Soaked Toscano
• Triple Crème Brie

• Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones

Runners-up

• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
• O & H Danish Kringle
• Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Brookie

• Mandarin Orange Chicken

Runners-up

• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice
• Joe's Diner Mac 'n Cheese
• Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

• Scented Candle Tins

Runners-up

• Body Butters
• Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream
• Hand Sanitizers
• Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner

• Teeny Tiny Avocados

Runners-up

• Bananas (conventional & organic)
• Persian Cucumbers
• Arugula (conventional & organic)
• Carrots of Many Colors (all)

• Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets

Runners-up

• Organic Corn Chip Dippers
• Organic Eloté Corn Chip Dippers
• Chili & Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
• Bamba

• Soy Chorizo

Runners-up

• Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto
• Vegetable Fried Rice
• Cauliflower Gnocchi
• Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels

See the whole list and product descriptions at traderjoes.com.