Is Too Good To Go Worth It In Portland? We Tested the App At 3 Downtown Locations

Too Good To Go is a European app launched in 2016 that describes itself as a marketplace for surplus food. It now operates in more than 30 American cities, including Portland, where the concept has been slow to catch on. Businesses sell "Surprise Bags" of expiring or leftover food at discount rates of up to 50% off retail value. In downtown Portland, participation skews toward independent cafes, bagel shops, bakeries and sushi spots. Larger corporations like Whole Foods, Krispy Kreme, IKEA, and Embassy Suites participate sporadically around the greater Portland area. Some neighborhoods don’t see any participation as businesses haven’t signed up to use the service.

As a customer the free app is easy to navigate and the purchase process is seamless — reserve, pay, pick up. What is inside your Surprise Bag is a mystery until you open it, and ratings on the app reflect that gamble as some businesses consistently deliver, while others disappoint. The site promises steep savings on food that would otherwise go to waste. But are the items actually priced as low as advertised? And in a tricky economic moment, can an app like this make a dent in your food budget? Well, we put the app to the test. This is not a sponsored post, just Stumptown Savings doing what we do best, finding out if it’s worth your money.

To see whether the app delivers on its promise, I purchased Surprise Bags from three downtown Portland businesses — a bakery, a cafe, and a donut shop — and compared cost, quantity, quality, and overall experience. The items were bought the night before and scheduled to be picked up the next day. Luckily the pick up windows all fell around the same time.

Surprise Bag Contents: Six full size cupcakes of assorted flavors

Verdict: Saint Cupcake is the only Portland business on the app I saw with a perfect 5.0 rating, and the experience delivered. Six gorgeous cupcakes for under $7 breaks down to around $1 per cupcake, which is great when compared to their full price at $4.75 each at the counter. They were beginning to turn by the time I picked them up so they would need to be consumed that day, but the value was undeniable. I gave them five stars across the board.

Surprise Bag Contents: Five baked goods — four individually wrapped pastries (two brownies were stacked together)

Verdict: This was the smallest haul of the three, and the one where the gap between savings and satisfaction was most noticeable. Most of the pastries were already on the dry side at pickup, and I discovered they are baked by Musette PDX, which explains their full-price premium. Once reheated they were fine. The math still works at around $1 per item, but this taught me to go in with tempered expectations when using the app. They were wrapped in cellophane, so crumbs were an issue. Luckily the cafe gave me a bag for my order. Although they were delicious, unfortunately I did tick one star off my rating, so it got four.

Surprise Bag Contents: Six full size donuts of assorted flavors and a dozen donut holes      

Verdict: The best overall value of the three spots across the board. Six full-size donuts and a dozen donut holes for $3.99 is a steal! The staff asked if I wanted the box taped shut because it was filled to the brim with goodies. The items were the freshest of all three orders and would hold up for a few days, making the deal feel even stronger. I would absolutely purchase from them again, on the app and off. Five stars!

The app calculated my total savings for all three orders like this: original value $48.00, paid $16.00, savings $32.00. A solid deal on paper.

But when I checked each business's website and calculated the real retail value of every item I received, the numbers told a different story. The actual combined retail value of all three bags was $74.49. I paid $16.00. My real savings were $58.49 — not $32.00. That is a difference of $26.49, or about 55% more than the app reported.

Why the gap? The app likely values items at end-of-day clearance price rather than full retail — so a cupcake that costs $4.75 at the counter might be worth $1.50 by close of business, and that is the number the app uses. It is a conservative estimate, and it is likely intentional. That protects the user experience and keeps app and store ratings high.

Either way, if you are tracking your savings, know that the app is likely underselling what you purchase. The food I received was full-size and not too different from what I would buy at full price earlier in the day. Calculating at retail is fair. And at 78% off retail across all three bags, the savings are real.

The biggest limitation to Too Good To Go right now is not the app itself — it is the number of local retailers using it. The best options sell out fast, food may be near expiration, and Portland's current selection is inconsistent. 

On the plus side, the app is user friendly, works domestically and internationally, which makes it a great savings tool for travelers on a budget. Until more restaurants and businesses get on board locally, the Too Good To Go app seems to work best as an occasional win rather than a weekly savings strategy. Right now, it’s not a replacement for grocery shopping or takeout but is a great option for snacks or a sweet treat. And in this case, the savings are hard to argue with.

The app has a built-in referral program that gives you a $2.00 voucher every time someone signs up and completes their first order using your link. It is a small bonus that stacks up to use towards future app purchases, and a nice incentive to spread the word to people who have not tried the app yet. Interested in trying Too Good To Go for yourself? Sign up using my referral link here (💰) — it is free to join!