I ranked Canada's biggest grocery stores as a newcomer and my top 3 will shock you

No Frills

No Frills' tagline is "Won't be beat." Well, it's tough to see it being beaten as far as I'm concerned.

Their fruit, veggies and baked goods are consistently top-tier. If I had to nitpick, their meat selection can be a little limited sometimes, but what's there is still solid. I’m especially a fan of their Korean meatballs — they're so flavourful when paired with the right spices and sauces.

I also love how my local No Frills store is always stocked with Buldak carbonara noodles.

The real MVP, though, is their No Name brand. A 900 g pack of spaghetti or fusilli is just $1.99. You can grab 908 g of frozen chicken strips for only $6, and frozen pizzas range from $2 to $3.50.

Their stores are so easy to navigate too, and the overall shopping experience is always easy and stress-free.

And let's not forget the sticker rewards. I recently snagged two beautiful wine glasses through that rewards system. I've been chasing one of their woks forever, but it's always sold out!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Metro

Metro's produce, meat, and fruit are all incredibly high quality, in my opinion.

The meat section stands out most for me, especially the beef. Their tenderloin, sirloin steak, lean ground beef, and Angus sirloin tip roast are consistently excellent.

Metro also has some solid deals on groceries and household items, but for my usual shopping haul, it does tend to be pricier than No Frills.

That said, if I were hosting friends for a BBQ, Metro would be my first stop — the quality of their beef, chicken, and fish is worth the splurge.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Rabba Fine Foods

Rabba is just the old reliable, and it never lets you down.

It's open 24/7, 365 days a year, and since it's right on my doorstep in Toronto, it's incredibly convenient.

It's a great place to get your essentials, especially if you're running low on basic items, and it can tide you over until your next big grocery shop.

I also use it to supplement the stuff I can't get during my usual shop, such as Prego spicy marinara sauce and KFI's butter chicken or tikka masala sauces.

A guilty pleasure of mine? Their red velvet cheesecake slices from the fridge. It's dangerously good.

Rabba's Kitchen is also a solid option when you need something quick. You can grab a sandwich or pita wrap made fresh with quality ingredients.

That said, it's not cheap. I wouldn't do a full weekly shop there but for the sheer convenience, it's tough to beat.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Walmart

There's a reason Walmart is one of the biggest companies on the planet — the Walton family didn't become billionaires by accident.

Walmart Canada is honestly a great place to shop as far as I'm concerned. You might head in for groceries and walk out with something totally unexpected. One time, I left the Dufferin Mall location with a pair of Gaelic football gloves!

It's also my go-to spot for affordable bedding, like duvet covers and sheets.

But my nearest Walmart is a bit of a trek, which honestly breaks my heart.

Yes, I know delivery is an option. But I'm old-school. I like to hand-pick my groceries, check best-before dates, and I live for the thrill of an impulse buy.

Plus, being there in person means catching all those in-store deals.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Costco

Costco Canada is a bargain hunter's dream — just look at how many Kirkland Signature brands are cheaper than name brands at Walmart.

Costco is ideal if you are buying in bulk. Back in February, I went skiing in Mont-Tremblant and we stocked up on food at Costco for a group of 10.

We loaded up on a massive tray of lasagna, ground beef, tacos and other family-sized items. I was surprised they didn't stock any beef patties, though. Still, the amount of food we ordered was actually very cheap per person and lasted us for four days.

I'm not a Costco member, so this was my only experience there. I'd consider getting a membership, but the nearest location is far enough that I’d need to rent a car to make it worth it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Loblaws

Although Loblaws owns No Frills, it feels like the more polished, upscale older sibling in the family.

Walking into a big Loblaws — like the one in Leslieville — is like entering another world. The place is massive and even has catering options, a full-on pizzeria, and a huge fishmonger section.

You can find just about anything there, and the quality is undeniable. But for me, it's simply out of budget. Unfortunately, I just find it too expensive!

Rating: 3 out of 5