I compared 3 Trader Joe's cult-classic products to the Whole Foods versions, but only one was worth the money

Products from Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider

• Grocery chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have amassed loyal customers.
• I tried three customer-favorite products, including each brand's orange chicken.

People have tons of opinions about Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.

Both grocery store chains have drummed up support and fostered loyal customers, some of whom rave about their products online, including one TikTok video from February 2022.

I've never had much allegiance to either grocery store, but fanfare made me curious about all the hype.

This week, I decided to put three customer go-to products to the test: dark chocolate peanut butter cups, orange chicken, and cauliflower gnocchi. On Wednesday, I visited my local Trader Joe's and Whole Foods in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood.

Ultimately, I'd only buy one product again.