Panera is like food made for people who got told to watch their sodium, but somehow it still costs way too much. Everything tastes muted as hell. Not disgusting, not great, just soft, bland, and overpriced. It is basically hospital food in a nice sweater.
Trader Joe’s is a fun store, but most of the products people treat like must buys are just average. The packaging is good, the store has personality, and the rotating seasonal items make shopping there feel more interesting than a normal grocery run. That does not mean the food itself is exceptional.
A lot of the hype seems driven more by branding and the shopping experience than by product quality. Some items are genuinely good, but most of the cult favorites are just decent grocery store products with stronger presentation.