I have a soft spot for European-style discount grocery stores that punch way above their weight. After my deep dive into the Aldi in Great Neck, I knew I had to check out the Lidl that opened in Fresh Meadows, Queens - and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. This store, nestled at 187-04 Horace Harding Expressway in the Fresh Meadows Place shopping center, has quickly become one of my go-to spots for quality ingredients at prices that make you do a double take.
Wondering how Lidl stacks up against Aldi? Read my full Lidl vs. Aldi: Two European Grocers, One Clear Winner breakdown.
A European Grocer Lands in Queens
Lidl, the German-founded supermarket chain, has been aggressively expanding its New York City footprint, and Fresh Meadows was a smart pick. The 28,000-square-foot store sits alongside CVS, Starbucks, and Kohl's - a prime, accessible location for Queens residents looking for an affordable alternative to traditional supermarkets. The store is open daily from 8am to 10pm, making it easy to swing by before or after work.
Walking in, you're immediately struck by how clean, organized, and surprisingly well-stocked it feels. It's not as sprawling as a full-service supermarket, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in value. Here are my standout finds.
European Jams & Beers - The Aisle That Sets Lidl Apart
This is the section of the store that reminds you Lidl is, at its core, a European grocer - and that heritage shows up beautifully in the jam and beer aisles.
On the jam side, Lidl's private-label preserves are made in the European tradition - high fruit content, less sugar, no fillers. Think flavors like strawberry vanilla, forest fruit, pear ginger, and wild plum. These are small-batch-style preserves you'd expect to pay $10+ for at a specialty store, priced like pantry staples. I love using them swirled into yogurt, spooned over a no-bake black forest cheesecake, or spread thick on fresh bread straight from the in-store bakery.
European Beer Selection (Mostly German) at Lidl
The beer selection at Lidl leans proudly into its European roots. You'll find rotating imports and private-label European-style lagers and ales that rival what you'd pay triple for at a specialty bottle shop.
German-style Hefeweizens and crisp Helles lagers are perennial staples, and Lidl frequently stocks Belgian-inspired ales and Czech-style pilsners. If you've never tried a Belgian fruit beer - think raspberry lambic or cherry ale - Lidl is an excellent low-stakes place to start. These are the bottles you open at a dinner party and watch guests reach for the label to figure out where it came from.
Turkey Tenderloin Breasts - A Weeknight Game Changer
I wasn't expecting to walk out of Lidl with turkey, but here we are. The Butterball® turkey breast tenderloins in rotisserie style stopped me in my tracks. At a price point significantly lower than what you'd find at a conventional supermarket, these are perfect for a quick, lean protein dinner any night of the week. Turkey tenderloin is one of those underrated cuts - it's incredibly juicy, cooks fast, and soaks up marinades beautifully. Whether you pan-sear them with garlic butter or roast them with herbs, this find alone is worth the trip to Fresh Meadows.
Frozen Fruit
Frozen pineapple chunks - another frozen fruit option for smoothie bowls or baking
Frozen mixed berries - strawberry, raspberry, blackberry blend, good for smoothies
Frozen mango chunks - common Lidl freezer staple, pairs well with blueberries in smoothies
Wild Blueberries - Big Bags, Bigger Saving. Peak Harvest frozen wild blueberries - 3 lb "family size" bag, around $7.79
If you bake, blend, or make overnight oats (or all three, like me), the Peak Harvest frozen wild blueberries at Lidl are a revelation. Wild blueberries are smaller and more intensely flavored than cultivated varieties - they're what I always use in Blueberry Coffee Cake. The savings here are remarkable compared to what you'd pay at Whole Foods or even a standard grocery store. I grabbed an extra bag to stash in the freezer because, at this price, there is absolutely no reason not to. These are the kind of finds that make the Lidl haul feel like a mini treasure hunt.
Steak Selection - Don't Sleep on the Meat Counter
This is where Lidl quietly outshines expectations. The fresh steak selection at the Fresh Meadows location is impressive for a discount grocer. From sirloin to ribeye cuts, the quality is solid and the pricing is a fraction of what you'd find at a butcher or upscale supermarket. Lidl is well-known for its rotating meat specials, and the Fresh Meadows store keeps the case well-stocked. If you're planning a weekend grill session or a reverse-sear night, this is a legitimate stop for your protein. I always recommend checking the weekly ad before you go, because the limited-time steak deals move fast.
I've grabbed sirloin from Lidl the other day and put it to the test in my pan-seared sirloin steak recipe, and both delivered a beautifully seared crust at a fraction of grocery store prices.
Dairy & Yogurts - An Unexpectedly Large Selection
I've said it before about Aldi, and I'll say it again about Lidl: the dairy and yogurt aisle is seriously impressive. The selection spans everything from Greek-style yogurts to European-style full-fat options, and the variety of flavors rivals what you'd see at a specialty grocery store - at a fraction of the price. If you're someone who cycles through yogurt quickly (hello, breakfast parfaits and dressings), Lidl's dairy section is a budget-friendly lifesaver. The store carries both its own private-label brands and name brands, so there's something for every preference.
And the quality? It's exactly what you want when you're making a silky no-bake berry cheesecake or Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake - rich, creamy dairy without the premium price tag. Organic milk runs just $2.89.
Kombucha & Fermented Drinks
GT's Synergy kombucha, large bottle - 48 fl oz, raw and organic, best value per ounce, flavors like Trilogy and Gingerade.
GT's Synergy kombucha, small bottle - 16 fl oz single-serve size, around $3.30 to $4 depending on flavor.
Lidl also sells private-label kombucha under its own brands. In the US lineup, that includes Liquid Remedy kombucha (e.g., a mango passion flavor, 12 fl oz can, $1.99, organic and sugar-free at just 5 calories).
Bottled Water
- Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water - bottled at the spring source, packaged in recycled PET plastic.Ssingle 1.5L bottles run roughly $0.89-$1.49.
- Crystal Geyser multi-packs - 24 to 35 count cases, lowest per-ounce pricing - typically land around $0.01-$0.03 per fl oz.
- Lidl private-label spring water - store-brand alternative, typically priced below name brands
- Sparkling or flavored seltzer water - common addition to the beverage aisle for a no-sugar option
Lidl is Cheaper Than Walmart
Not only is Lidl on par with Walmart - it's actually cheaper. Here's the full breakdown:
Lidl Beats Walmart on Price
According to a 2026 Consumer Reports study that used Walmart as the national pricing baseline, Lidl comes in 8.5% cheaper than Walmart on average, making it one of only six retailers in the entire country that undercuts Walmart's prices. Aldi is right behind it at 8.3% cheaper. That's a meaningful difference - for a household spending $300/week on groceries, that gap translates to real annual savingss.
How They Stack Up
Here's where the major chains land relative to Walmart as the baseline:
| Retailer | Price vs. Walmart |
|---|---|
| Costco | −21.4% (cheaper) |
| BJ's Wholesale Club | −21.0% (cheaper) |
| Lidl | −8.5% (cheaper) |
| Aldi | −8.3% (cheaper) |
| WinCo | −3.3% (cheaper) |
| H-E-B | −0.2% (cheaper) |
| Walmart | Baseline |
| Market Basket | +1.2% (more expensive) |
| Whole Foods | +39.7% (more expensive) |
The Northeast Advantage
The savings at Lidl are especially pronounced in the Northeast - which is great news for NYC-area shoppers. Lidl and Aldi are the most competitive discount grocers in that region, consistently beating Walmart on everyday staples like produce, dairy, and private-label pantry items. In areas where Walmart Supercenters are less prevalent (like much of New York City), Lidl fills that value gap beautifully.
The Catch: Selection vs. Savings
Walmart's big advantage isn't price - it's breadth. Walmart carries thousands of name-brand SKUs in every size, while Lidl runs a leaner 80% private-label model with a smaller overall inventory. So if you're loyal to specific brands, Walmart wins on availability. But if you're shopping for quality staples at the lowest possible price - especially in Fresh Meadows - Lidl is genuinely the smarter stop.
Have you shopped at Lidl in Fresh Meadows? Drop your favorite finds in the comments - I'd love to know what I missed!
Comments
No Comments