Too Good To Go is the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food, reselling items from local cafes, bakeries and grocery stores for up to 70 per cent less than their usual retail price.
It’s a budget-friendly and easy way to save food from going to waste.
After making waves overseas, the popular app launched in Australia in 2024, allowing users to purchase “surprise bags” from venues across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Queensland.
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While it’s been around for a while, 7You has only just jumped on the bandwagon to see what all the fuss is about.
Here’s how we got on.
Holly, 7You Deputy Editor
I’ve watched my fair share of viral videos featuring UK-based content creators unboxing Too Good To Go surprise bags on Instagram.
But in all honesty, I had no idea the app was available on Aussie shores.
I’m someone who does a weekly food shop and would consider myself fairly organised when it comes to cooking from Monday to Friday. But when the weekend rolls around, that’s where I tend to cave.
Saturday night takeaway is my guilty pleasure, but it’s no secret that prices are soaring.
So, I took this as the perfect opportunity to place my first Too Good To Go order, and I was pleasantly surprised to see just how many options were available on Sydney’s Lower North Shore.
The timing was perfect, too, as many restaurant chains and smaller food spots pack up their surplus items between 6 pm and 7 pm, meaning I could quickly pick one up before dinner.
I spontaneously ordered a $14.99 surprise bag from a roast chicken shop in Kirribilli, and the portions were pretty generous.
Luckily, no one in my household has any dietary requirements, so opening the bag to find a variety of salads, sides and a hefty leg of roast chicken was a treat.
Perhaps for those with allergies or dietary restrictions, placing an order could be tricky.
Since using the app, I’ve spoken to friends and family in the UK who say they have an endless choice of supermarkets, café chains and independent restaurants to choose from.
Watch this space — perhaps Down Under will catch up soon.
Sophie, 7You Managing Editor
Unlike Holly, I didn’t actually know much about Too Good To Go.
But armed with my new app download and my Seaforth postcode, I set about seeing what I could get my hands on in the local area.
After a quick browse, I decided that a $12.99 bakery option was the best of the bunch, with a “Surprise Bag” from the Manly branch of Harris Farm taking my fancy.
And boy, did it not disappoint.
In total, we received three diffrent packets of different bagels, a loaf of bruschetta and a loaf of sourdough — all of which would have cost a lot more than $12.99 if you were buying from the shops.
They also happened to be perfect for a carb load and therefore ideally suited to myself and my husband who have both trained for marathons this year.
I did enjoy using Too Good To Go and would think to use it again, but I think it would be especially good if a few more options jumped aboard in Sydney, particularly in the suburbs where people live.
If you’re someone (like me) who eats a lot of carbs, I think the ‘Surprise Bakery’ bags are worth a look, and if you check in early enough, I think you can get a general grocery bag too — which I’d like to see.
But it would be particularly fantastic if more cafes and chains hopped on board. I’ll keep my eye out.
