ALDI's always makes me sad when I go. Everything I've bough that's 'similar' to another packaged food has been far inferior. (ex, cheddar penguins, protein bars, cheese slices). 80% of the store is really bad quality, packaged & fake, or frozen stuff. On the other hand, their cheap produce can't be beat (OMG $.60 avacados). So lesson learned -- I buy a ton of produce ('real food') and avoid most of the other things. The cashiers always comment that my assortment is 'so healthy', but mostly I've realized that actual food tastes better and I feel better when I eat it.
On the other hand, I lived in DC for ~2 years and have a huge, huge amount of love for TJ's. I lived only a few blocks away from the Foggy Bottom TJ's, so it was really convenient & worth battling the huge crowds. Growing up, my parents always called TJ's an expensive place, and went there exclusively to buy nuts, dried fruit, and desserts. But for me, in DC, it was wayyy less expensive than other options around (WF, Safeway, etc). I worked crazy hours at a consulting job -- so when I didn't work late enough to have my company pick up the dinner tab, I'd often come home tired or wanting to veg out, or at least to not cook. Soo, I enjoyed their selection of frozen food. They have some pretty unique offerings, as well. I would constantly see people loading up on their seafood wraps. I, on the other hand, am obsessed with their cheese.