I Tried The Most Expensive Grocery Store in America, and Here are My Thoughts
My full review...
When I arrived in California, I was on a mission and literally came with a dream and my cardigan. While most people touchdown at LAX and immediately go for the Santa Monica Pier, hike to the Hollywood Sign, head to Beverly Hills or look for the nearest In-N-Out, my first and most-anticipated spot was Erewhon. I dashed over to the world’s most expensive grocery store and stood in a long line to get my hands on the Hailey Bieber smoothie. If you’re wondering, no, I hadn’t eaten anything yet at this point, but like I said, I was on a mission. So, what did I do? I spent $22 on a 16oz. cup and then proceeded to spend another $70 in the grocery store. While I didn’t try the $19 strawberry that they source directly from Japan, I managed to sample a variety of Erewhon’s most popular menu and store items. So, here’s my full review.
Hailey Bieber Strawberry Glaze Smoothie
Rating: 10000/10
When I tell you that this is the best smoothie I've ever tasted, I’m being serious. Blended with fresh strawberries, avocado, dates, maple syrup, sea moss and collagen, it tasted like pure bliss in a cup. And yes, I will be visiting again this year just to get my hands on that smoothie again (and maybe hike to the Hollywood sign this time).
Matcha Overnight Oats
Rating 5/10
I can’t function without my daily cup of matcha. So, when I saw that Erewhon had matcha overnight oats, I was immediately intrigued. Now, were these the best overnight oats that I’ve ever had? Short answer, no. But I am willing to try their other flavors. The matcha one didn’t fully have that umami matcha bitter taste that I was looking for. It just tasted like regular overnight oats with nothing in it.
Buffalo Cauliflower
Rating: 7/10
I was shockingly surprised at how good Erewhon’s buffalo cauliflower was. This was my first time eating cauliflower (I’m more of a broccoli girl), so I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t know if I can say this is the healthiest vegetable dish ever, but there’s something about a vegetable being coated in delicious, rich sauce that I can’t seem to get enough of. Slightly spicy with just enough buffalo flavor, these little bites are coated in rice flour, arrowroot and nutritional yeast, flash-fried in avocado oil and seasoned with salt, pepper and oregano. If you don’t get anything else from Erewhon, you have to make a dash for the hot bar and try these.
Turmeric Chicken Tenders
Rating: 7/10
Yes, I was super basic and went with some chicken tenders for my hot plate meat. I mean, you can never go wrong with some chicken tenders and sauce, right? These tenders were decent, and I would definitely get them again. Their special T&T sauces is what truly makes this dish stand out, but I like that the tenders are made with buttermilk, coconut cream, shredded coconut, and of course, turmeric, aka the star of the show.
Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese
Rating: 3/10
Am I on a gluten-free diet? No. However, I just had to try the famous gluten-free mac & cheese to see if it truly lived up to the TikTok hype. Long story short, it wasn’t my favorite. But I am a southerner, so maybe I’m just being biased. Overall, it was very oily, greasy and cheesy, and lacked flavor.
Buttery Croissant
Rating 10/10
Of course, I’m saving the best food item for last. After ordering my smoothie, I tacked on a buttery croissant last minute. I’m always down to eat a good croissant, and this one did not disappoint. It was flaky, buttery, pillowy, soft and everything you’d expect a croissant to be.
