Too Good To Go App: How to Save More of Everything
I am not affiliated with any of the products, companies, or brands mentioned in this article.
Save money, stop food waste, and enjoy delicious food. What do all these things have in common? The Too Good To Go app. If you haven’t heard of Too Good To Go, you’re missing out on some amazing deals on some yummy food. But don’t worry, if you want to know more about this app and how to use it, I’m here with my Too Good To Go review to walk you through my experiences with this money saving tool. Let’s dive right in and learn how to save more money, more waste, and more time (basically, save more of everything!).
What is the Too Good To Go App?
Too Good To Go is an app available on iOS and Android systems that connects users to local restaurants, bakeries, and stores with extra food at the end of the day. The app seeks to reduce food waste by allowing companies to sell food they would otherwise throw away at a big discount to customers.
The app was launched in Denmark in 2015. It was created by a group of young entrepreneurs who dreamed of finding a solution to food waste from local buffets.
Where is Too Good To Go Available?
Since its start in Denmark, Too Good To Go locations have become popular across many European countries. The app was unavailable in the United States until 2020 but has been steadily expanding. It's especially popular in larger city hubs like NYC, Dallas, and Chicago.
You can find Too Good To Go across the country- but the availability of restaurants is limited. While places near bigger cities will have a wider variety, most of the country only has one company operating with the Too Good To Go app: Circle K.
How to Use Too Good To Go
A Too Good To Go surprise bag I got from a local bakery… It was delicious and took me and a friend multiple days to finish!
When I first downloaded and tried to use Too Good To Go, I was a little overwhelmed. I felt there wasn’t enough explanation for redeeming the food bags. So, for other people like me, I’ve listed my experience and step-by-step instructions for downloading and redeeming your first Too Good To Go order.
Download the app
Put in your area code
Browse the local offerings and select the grab bag you want to snag
Click “Reserve”
Enter your payment information to complete the reservation
Once you’ve paid for the surprise bag, you’ll have to wait until the pick-up window to get your food.
To pick up a Too Good To Go Order:
Follow any instructions from the app (specifically if it tells you where in the store to go for pick-up). If there are no instructions, head to the front counter of the store you chose to order from and tell them you’re there for the Too Good To Go order.
Show the employee your redemption number on the Too Good To Go app.
They will hand you your surprise bag (or items- always bring a bag just in case the store doesn’t supply one)
Now this is very important: swipe on your app to finish pick-up. It’s important to have one of the store employees watch you do this.
Now you have a tasty mystery bag to take home and enjoy!
What to Know About Too Good To Go Surprise Bags
Aside from saving food waste and money, part of the appeal to the Too Good To Go app is the mystery. Sometimes, however, the mystery is not as exciting as you would like.
Too Good To Go is not in control of what ends up in your surprise bag, and since it’s a surprise, neither are you. Some people have had a lot of great luck with getting good value and amount of food. Others have gone to redeem their orders and ended up with something that wasn’t worth the price.
To avoid disappointment, check out what the in-app reviews say about that particular restaurant/store’s bag. If they say it’s a great value or a good amount of food, it’s probably worth it. I stick to anything rated at 4 stars or higher.
Also, if you have dietary concerns, always read the notes in the app for that particular restaurant. It’s a grab bag, so you’re likely not going to have any say in what you get.
My Experience With Too Good To Go
The sandwich counter at Whole Foods was where you went to pick up this particular Too Good To Go Whole Foods order.
I have used the Too Good To Go app three times to order mystery bags. My most recent redeemed bag was some prepared foods from Whole Foods.
The pick-up window was right around closing time, and it was hard to track down the person in charge of the Whole Foods Too Good To Go orders. But aside from that it was a great experience.
Here’s what I got in my Too Good To Go Whole Foods surprise bag:
A rotisserie chicken
A serving of penne vodka with Italian sausage
Broccoli salad
Roasted broccoli and garlic
An herb-crusted salmon filet
All of this cost me $10.65.
Part of what I received from my Too Good To Go Whole Foods order… The salmon and broccoli salad were already eaten by the time I went to take the picture (YUM).
Another time, a friend and I checked out a local bakery’s Too Good To Go bag. We ate the goodies from that bag for THREE days, and it only cost me around $5. We got so many different pastries, cookies, cupcakes, and a large slice of blueberry pie that we chose to split.
If you have a sweet tooth, I highly recommend checking out any local bakery that partners with Too Good To Go.
Final Thoughts
I love the Too Good To Go app for three reasons:
It saves me money
Tells me the impact I’m making on the environment by saving food waste
Allows me to try out new places that I otherwise wouldn’t.
I’ve found some of my favorite new places to order from because of this app. I especially love the mix of local businesses in my area.
The only big downside of the app is that it hasn’t grown much in the USA. It would be such a benefit for the environment and for people who are struggling to make ends meet and want to enjoy a little treat. More people should know about this app, and more companies should consider using it.
Want to save more money on food? You can get all kinds of free food on your birthday at different restaurants!
