Too Good To Go connects shops, bakeries, supermarkets and restaurants with customers who buy unsold food, usually as a discounted surprise bag collected during a set window. It can save money and redirect edible food, but availability, value and genuine waste prevention vary by business and location.
The original firsthand review on this page found ordering and collection straightforward and enjoyed the low price. It also identified the defining trade-off: you may not know what you are buying until pickup.
How it works
- Open the app and browse participating businesses near you.
- Check the collection window, price, rating and dietary information.
- Reserve and pay for an available surprise bag.
- Arrive during the stated window and confirm collection in the app.
- Inspect, transport, store and use the food promptly.
What the original review found
| Strength | Limitation |
|---|---|
| Simple interface and payment | Offers depend heavily on location and timing |
| Low-cost way to try a business | Contents can be unpredictable |
| Collection was easy | Narrow pickup windows may not suit a journey |
| Food remained useful | A large bag can become household waste if it is not eaten |
| No subscription required for ordinary use | Dietary needs may be difficult to accommodate |
Does it genuinely reduce food waste?
Selling food that would otherwise be discarded is preferable to disposal, but the app is one downstream tool. Prevention—forecasting, purchasing and production that avoid surplus—remains better than creating excess and finding a buyer afterward.
The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 estimates food waste across households, food service and retail and supports the global target of halving food waste. A marketplace app can contribute, but company meal or emissions figures should be read with their calculation method and boundary.
How to use it well
- Choose a pickup already near your route rather than making a long dedicated car trip.
- Read recent ratings and the collection instructions.
- Treat the listed category as a guide, not a guaranteed menu.
- Bring a suitable reusable bag or container when the business permits it.
- Check food promptly and follow local food-safety storage guidance.
- Share or freeze surplus before it becomes waste in your home.
Who will like it?
It suits flexible eaters, people who enjoy surprises and customers located near participating businesses. It is less useful for strict allergies, precise meal plans, limited transport or households unlikely to use a mixed bag quickly. Contact the business rather than assuming an allergen-free selection.
Value is not guaranteed
Compare the food received with what you will actually eat, not only the claimed retail value. A cheap bag is poor value if most of it is unsuitable. Ratings can reveal consistency, but contents will naturally change because genuine surplus is unpredictable.
Use the app as one part of a wider routine. Our guides to a zero-waste kitchen, sustainable eating and lower-impact home cooking focus on preventing waste before it occurs.
Bottom line
Too Good To Go is easy to use and can deliver excellent value while finding a home for surplus food. It works best as an occasional, flexible purchase—not proof that every bag represents avoided waste or a substitute for better stock planning.
I’ve only tried it once so far – I love in the suburbs of Portland, OR, USA – and it was a poor experience, due solely to the content of the items received. So the app works great but caveat emptor… which is basically impossible if you’re getting a surprise bag!
Tl;dr: great idea, maybe need some twerking. Not the dance. Lol
My opnion: a cart that serves salmon..fried chicken steak..steak…and then you get the ” SURPRISE BAG”. guess what I got? A chili dog!!!! Talk about surprise…is this a bait & switch?? How are you ” saving the planet”…??? This seems like a scam! By the way..I paid $4.99. It was crap! your organization..I don’t respect you.
I used it in Brooklyn, NY: it’s great, but you have to be careful. Every bakery and grocery will give you bagels/muffins, so you may want to steer clear, even if it appears they have other things (an empanada place gave me 5 muffins, which isn’t even on their menu.)
But I also got 4 slices of excellent pizza for $4, which retails in NYC for at least $10 (and these had vegetarian toppings.) Another place gave me a pound+ of freshly made pasta and a jar of delicious tiramisu, which could have retailed for $10.
I downloaded “Too Good to Go” here in the US, but can’t seem to find a lot of restaurants nearby. Do you have any idea if there are any other apps similar to this that is more widely popular in the US?
I love the concept, but can’t really use it as most US-based restaurants owners dont use it
Hi Kylie, to my knowledge Too Good To Go doesn’t have a clear competitor in the US.
You should ask the restaurant owners to get listed on the app! 😉
I am a Danish guy who uses Too Good To Go every week in Copenhagen. I see that the article is mainly pointed towards American consumers. And yes, I was in New York last week for business – and I can confirm that there are restaurants (mainly in downtown Manhattan) who actively use Too Good To Go.
The selection and quality was nowhere close to being the same as in Denmark. However, I was able to grab some (almost free) food, which was great 😉
Too Good To Go is an excellent app.
I actually know the people who started it in Oslo. They are brilliant. 🙂 I have not used any other apps to reduce food waste, but I can really recommend.
That might make you biased! 😉
However, I agree. Too Good To Go is a great app that can save you a lot of money.