Cheap Grocery Stores in and around Portland, Oregon

Photo by Mike Jones

Save more of your monthly food budget at cheap grocery stores in Portland.

Portland is an expensive city, which makes it even more important to save anywhere you can. I’ve gathered a list of the best discount grocery stores, liquidation grocery stores and bakery outlets in and around Portland.

If your to-go grocery store is getting expensive, try to find your staple items at these stores. While you might not always get the same brands, you will find a variety of pantry staples, meat and dairy options, fresh veggies and snacks to fulfill your weekly meals without going over budget.

Here’s a list of the best places around the city to shop smart and spend less. Did I miss your favorite cheap grocery store? Send me a message.

First, let’s explore some ways to save on groceries:

How to Save on Groceries

Shop your kitchen first. Look through the ingredients you already have and build meal ideas around those items.

Have a list. Plan your meals and write down what you need.

Shop the sales. Keep a bit of flexibility with your meal plan by shopping what is on sale, such as finding a discount on your protein, choosing a cheaper vegetable or fruit, and buying the grain or bread that’s on sale.

Have a budget. This can help you narrow down what items you prioritize during your shopping trip.

Beware of sales traps. Buy one, get one half off or 10 for $10 deals sound great, but only buy them if it’s something you regularly use and can finish before it expires.

Sign up for grocery mailing lists, texts and apps. I know, I know. None of us want another email clogging up our inbox or app taking up space on our phones. But if you find a store you’re shopping at each week, you should be part of its rewards program to ensure you get the best deals possible. Many grocery stores reward you with exclusive deals just for being subscribed.

Try the 3-2-1 grocery shopping method. Want to keep grocery shopping as simple as possible? Fill your grocery cart with three vegetables (don’t forget to shop frozen!), three protein sources, two grains, two fruits and one dip or spread. Find ways to interchange these ingredients throughout the week to make the most of your meal planning.

Now, let’s explore the grocery stores where you can save big.

Cheap Grocery Stores in and around Portland, Oregon

This list includes liquidation and discount grocery stores along with bakery outlets.

Daily Deals Market

If you’re willing to be flexible with your weekly meal plans, this is the place for you. As a grocery liquidation store, think of this as the place you go for what you are going to consume this week. You’ll find everything from produce to dairy to meat along with pantry staples and home supplies. By keeping food from going to waste, you will find items near their expiration date.

There are four Daily Deals Market locations in and around Portland:

600 Southeast 146th Ave., Portland
3552 Southeast 122nd Ave., Portland
2109 Saint Johns Blvd, Vancouver
9907 Southeast 82nd Ave., Happy Valley

Deals R Us Grocery Liquidators

Does finding food for $1 seem too good to be true? It’s a reality at Deals R Us Grocery Liquidators. This is a liquidation store, meaning it receives surplus items from other retailers. Known as a hidden gem for bargain grocery shopping, you can stretch your food budget and stock up on all the items you need to make easy weekly meals.

As a liquidation store, you will find items near their expiration date. Be sure you plan on eating the items you buy the same week.

Deals R Us Grocery Liquidators is at 17310 SE Division St. in Portland.

Grocery Outlet

Grocery Outlet, Bargain Market! I hope you all sang that as you read it. The outlet sells groceries and other products for 25-70% off retail prices, which results in big savings for you. Go into this store with an open mind. You may not find your favorite name brand items, but you can still create full meals from what Grocery Outlet has in stock.

Insider tip: Sign up for the WOW! Crowd by downloading the Grocery Outlet app and you’ll receive $5 off $25 coupon when you register.

There are more than 14 locations in and around Portland.

Right Place Market

Prices so low that everything is a bargain? Sign me up. You won’t find an online presence for this discount grocery store, but you are guaranteed deals when you walk in the door. Explore what is in stock and you’re sure to find everything you need for fulfilling meals. There’s fresh foods, meats, canned goods and pantry favorites at steep discounts. As a liquidation store, be prepared to use what you buy the same week.

Right Place Market is at 11827 NE Halsey St. in Portland.

WinCo Foods

WinCo is my all-time favorite grocery store. Employee owned. Bulk section. Wide aisles. Plenty of checkout lanes. Did I say bulk section? What I love most about this store is you can easily get everything you need for the week all in one place. Plus, you will quickly discover just how much cheaper items are here. Stop the generic brands for even greater savings.

Insider tip: Make the most of your shopping trip by signing up for WinCo digital coupons.

There are more than 14 locations in and around Portland.

Franz Bakery Outlets

My great grandma introduced me to bakery outlets. She would visit the Franz outlet once a month to stock up, grab a free sample and then go home and freeze most of the loaves. Follow grandma’s frugal bread practices at these Franz Bakery Outlets in and around Portland.

At the outlet stores, find bagels, English muffins, bread, cookies and more at 25-50% off.

There are five Franz Bakery Outlets in and around Portland: