Tips for a first timer to Jungle Jims

I think I am going to road trip it up to Jungle Jim's this Saturday. Any advice besides bringing a cooler with some ice and packing along a map printed from the website?

-Scott

EDIT - Anyone want to tag along?

Buy some beer. They have a lot of awesome beer that we can't get in louisville / indiana. Also, their prices tend to be lower than a lot of the stores around louisville. I was there in december and picked up 4-packs of Founders Imperial Stout for 9.99, 4-packs of Samuel Smith beers for 8.99 and a 6-pack of Founders porter for 8.99. Also, they have a ton of singles that cost the exact fraction of their pack i.e. one beer from a $6 6-pack cost $1, not $1.50 so there's no reason not to mix and match.

I also came back with a ton of jolt cola, thirty 3/$1 lighters (with things such as dinosaurs and naked women on them), ostritch filets and some alligator sirloin. they sell entire pig's heads for about $11. It takes a few hours to explore the store.

Buy some beer. They have a lot of awesome beer that we can't get in louisville / indiana. Also, their prices tend to be lower than a lot of the stores around louisville. I was there in december and picked up 4-packs of Founders Imperial Stout for 9.99, 4-packs of Samuel Smith beers for 8.99 and a 6-pack of Founders porter for 8.99. Also, they have a ton of singles that cost the exact fraction of their pack i.e. one beer from a $6 6-pack cost $1, not $1.50 so there's no reason not to mix and match.

I also came back with a ton of jolt cola, thirty 3/$1 lighters (with things such as dinosaurs and naked women on them), ostritch filets and some alligator sirloin. they sell entire pig's heads for about $11. It takes a few hours to explore the store.

Caleb,

Interesting post. We came back from J.J.'s about two weeks ago and the conversation on the ride home turned to how high we thought the beer prices were. That being said they do have a fairly good selection of products not readily available in the L'ville area.

I would say, my advice is, be prepared for your deltoid muscles to hurt, and don't be discouraged if the kids in the grade ahead of you can do more bars than you can. I totally fell into that trap.

I would say, my advice is, be prepared for your deltoid muscles to hurt, and don't be discouraged if the kids in the grade ahead of you can do more bars than you can. I totally fell into that trap.

Hah! Only in my case, it was the kids in the grade behind me because I've never had much upper body strength.

I would say, my advice is, be prepared for your deltoid muscles to hurt, and don't be discouraged if the kids in the grade ahead of you can do more bars than you can. I totally fell into that trap.

Hah! Only in my case, it was the kids in the grade behind me because I've never had much upper body strength.

Ouhhh bad flashback..........I cracked a horn there last year jes tryin' to keep up.

Scott.....I think you got it covered on things to bring. Just may want to include a big wad of greenbacks or a fresh credit card. So easy to get carried away.

Their "international" section (most of the store) is not to be believed. It's just jaw-dropping. They have a great wine store, with lots of fantastic prices. In their olive bar, they have antipasto salad. It is so good. Make sure to get some of that! Eat BEFORE you go, or God help you!

Take as much cash as you want to spend, then take only that and your ID in with you.
Leave your wallet and any credit/bank cards in the car.

You'll seriously want to spend more than you can afford or your vehicle can hold!

Take as much cash as you want to spend, then take only that and your ID in with you.
Leave your wallet and any credit/bank cards in the car.

You'll seriously want to spend more than you can afford or your vehicle can hold!

This was really good advice for us when we went- otherwise we could have been in serious trouble at checkout.


I will say, though, as great as it is for the International foods/meats/fish/produce etc we were both disappointed with their cheese selection. They have a lot, but I wasn't impressed by the selection, it's poorly organized, very little signage and there is no one to help you with recommendations, etc ( the guy we tried to talk to hadn't a clue what a Comte was ). We planned to buy alot as we are cheese fiends, and decided we'd rather save our money and spend it at Lotsa Pasta or Whole Foods.

Deb

I think I am going to road trip it up to Jungle Jim's this Saturday. Any advice besides bringing a cooler with some ice and packing along a map printed from the website?

-Scott

EDIT - Anyone want to tag along?

Don't miss the Salsa/Hot Sauce aisle.......and bring a change of undies!

I tend to start at the back (International Foods) and work my way to the front, just so I don't feel rushed knowing refrigerated items and fresh produce have been sitting in the cart for an hour.

Take your time, it is such a mad house it is easy to feel rushed. And get a jalapeno pretzel from the deli, actually get several, your gonna love it.

If you're into wine, they'll have every wine recommended in the latest Wine Spectator Magazine - and at decent pricing and case quantities.

Also - while in general I agree with the cheese comment - their butter selection is incredible. I'm not sure that one needs over a dozen imported high fat content butters, but if you're about to do some baking . . .

Seafood and international have been mentioned, but the butcher/meat shops - with whole calves head, turducken, rabbits, and general offal - is wonderful. They seem to be getting more of a mix of Hispanic, Asian, et al clientele, and their stock is keeping up with them!

The only place outside of Chicago I've found durian fruit. Always a dozen or two varieties of apples. We normally end up with a couple of fruits we've never seen before.

Just enjoy! It's not all that far, and one can always return. (Oops - I forgot - this is Louisville, and Cincinnati is a major trip for people who won't drive in to or out of the burbs here <G> )

Andrew, I know when we were in school at Sullivan they took us to the Valu Market on in the shopping center out off South Third Street and they had a whole pile of Durian fruit. This was in 2000, so no guarantees. But I'll bet you could call and ask them.

Stephen D's getting it from somewhere nearby. He was just making a cocktail with one today, according to his Facebook status update.

Andrew, I know when we were in school at Sullivan they took us to the Valu Market on in the shopping center out off South Third Street and they had a whole pile of Durian fruit. This was in 2000, so no guarantees. But I'll bet you could call and ask them.

Stephen D's getting it from somewhere nearby. He was just making a cocktail with one today, according to his Facebook status update.

Thanks! I'm excited . . . although my wife normally won't allow me to bring it into the house. If I rememer correctly, in order to import it it has to have been frozen, which tempers the aroma, but even with it she couldn't get it close to her face!