We tried this app that aims to reduce food waste with food deals. Here's what we scored

Saving food from becoming waste is saving diners money at local restaurants.The Too Good To Go app enables customers to purchase unsold food at steep discounts from nearby restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and convenience stores.Some are touting bags of food for more than 50% off.Recent deals in Indiana have included $18 worth of goodies from Pot & Pans Pie Co. for $5.99 and $50 worth of frozen sausages from Old Major Market for $16.66.

What is Too Good To Go?

With a mission to reduce food waste and slow climate change, Too Good To Go launched in Europe in 2016 and operates in 19 countries. It expanded to the U.S. in 2020.

How the Too Good To Go app works

Users open the app to find local restaurants with pickup times and prices for goods. Most offerings are Surprise Bags, the contents of which customers won’t know until they pick them up.

Customers pay through the app and pick up the goodies during the designated period, usually right before a shop's closing time or early the next day.

Too Good To Go hasn’t technically launched in the Indianapolis area – that involves public relations and marketing, but that hasn’t stopped restaurants from signing up.

The company typically launches in a market when it has about 50 restaurants, a spokesperson told IndyStar.

See Too Good To Go app food hauls

The numbers of orders available vary based on location or timing.

Downtown Indianapolis Whole Foods is testing participation with five each of $9.99 prepared foods bags from its deli and $6.99 bags of baked goods per day.

Amelia’s bakery at The Stutz, 1060 N. Capitol Ave., can offer between three and 15 orders a day.

May 23, 2025: Krispy Kreme, 5940 E. 82nd, Indianapolis

Too Good To Go Krispy Kreme doughnuts May 23, 2025.

Purchase: Surprise bag

Contents: 

• 1 dozen assorted doughnuts

Paid: $6.16

Valued listed in app: $18.49

Priced at store: $15.99

May 20, 2025: Whole Foods Market, 320 E. Market, Indianapolis

Purchase: Bakery bag

Contents:

• Classic Brownies 4-count, $7.99
• Lemon Poppy Muffins 4-count, $7.49
• Guava Pastries 4-count, $7.49
• Vegan Vanilla Cupcake, $3.29
• Multigrain Pan Loaf, $4.99
• Cinnamon Raisin Bagels - 6-count, $5.99
• French Roll 6-pack, $4.49

Paid: $6.99

Value listed in app: $21.00

Contents priced at store: $41.73

March 20, 2025: Whole Foods Market, 320 E. Market, Indianapolis

Too Good To Go Whole Foods prepared foods bag March 20, 2025.

Purchase: Prepared foods bag

Contents: 

• Three packs of Herb Turkey Breast totaling 2.25 pounds

Paid: $9.99

Value listed in app: $30

Contents priced at store: $35.49

March 20, 2025: Amelia’s at The Stutz, 1060 N. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis

Too Good To Go Amelia’s bag March 20, 2025.

Purchase: Bakery/Cafe surprise bag

Contents:

• Carrot Jam Danish, $5
• Francese Bagguette, $4.50
• Country Loaf (whole wheat sourdough), $8

Paid: $5.99

Value listed in app: $18

Contents priced at store: $17.50

February 26, 2025: Amelia’s at The Stutz, 1060 N. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis

Too Good To Go Amelia’s bag February 26, 2025.

Purchase: Bakery/Cafe surprise bag

Contents:

• Semolina Loaf, $8.50
• Cinnamon Roll Croissant, $4
• Garlic Herb Twist, $5

Paid: 5.99

Value listed in app: $18

Contents priced at store: $17.50

January 26, 2025: Whole Foods Market, 320 E. Market, Indianapolis

Too Good To Go Whole Foods prepared foods bag January 26, 2025.

Purchase: Prepared Foods Bag

Contents:

• 1 pound Sonoma Chicken Salad, $13.12
• .72 pound Lemon Rosemary Chicken Breast, $12.23
• 1.3 pounds Classic Tuna Salad, $16.89
• .92 pound Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, $9.19

Paid: $9.99

Value listed in app: $30

Contents priced at store: $51.43

January 19, 2025: LiftOff Creamery, 111 E. 16th, Indianapolis 

Too Good To Go LiftOff Creamery bag January 19, 2025.

Purchase: Dessert Cup Surprise Bag

Contents:

• Three scoops of ice cream. Flavors are unlabeled.

Paid: $3.99

Value listed in app: $12

Contents priced at store: $11.97

January 19, 2025: Whole Foods Market, 320 E. Market, Indianapolis

Too Good To Go Whole Foods bakery bag January 19, 2025.

Purchase: Bakery Bag 

Contents:

• Seseme Seed Bagels 6-count, $5.99
• Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies 4-count, $7.50
• Chocolate Chip Cookies 6-count, $6.49
• Whole Wheat Pitas 4-count, $4.99
• Rubicon Bakers Vegan Chocolate Blackout Cupcakes  4-count, $6.99
• Cherry Turnovers four-count, $7.49

Paid: $6.99

Value listed in app: $21

Contents priced at store: $39.45

December 21, 2024: Whole Foods Market, 320 E. Market, Indianapolis

Too Good To Go Whole Foods prepared foods bag December 21, 2024.

Purchase: Prepared Foods Bag

Contents:

• Two 16-ounce containers of Zesty Crabberry Orange Sauce,  $7.99 each
• Two  24-ounce containers of Herbed Mushroom Gravy, $9.99 each

Paid: $9.99

Value listed in app: $30

Contents priced at store: $35.96

December 20, 2024: Whole Foods Market, 320 E. Market, Indianapolis

Too Good To Go Whole Foods bakery bag December 20, 2024.

Purchase: Bakery Bag

Contents:

• Brioche Roll 6-count, $6.39
• Country White Pan Loaf, $4.99
• Multigrain Pan Loaf, $4.99
• Chocolate Dipped Palmier, $2.75
• Carol’s Cookies Toffee Crunch Cookie, $2.99
• Cream Cheese Brioche, $8.39
• Braided Brioche, $8.49
• Glazed Sour Cream Donuts 4-count, $6.49
• Butter Croissants 4-count, $7.49

Paid: $6.99

Value listed in app: $21

Contents priced at store: $52.97

November 21, 2024: Whole Foods Market, 320 E. Market, Indianapolis

Too Good To Go Whole Foods bakery bag November 21, 2024.

Purchase: Bakery Bag

Contents:

• Cream Cheese Cinnamon Roll, $2.75
• .84 pound Chai Caramel Cookies, $10.91
• Pumpkin Brownie Blondies 4-count, $7.99
• Brioche Hot Dog Buns 6-count, $6.99
• Seeduction Pan Loaf, $5.49

Paid: $9.99

Value listed in app: $30

Contents priced at store: $34.13

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at [email protected] or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: We tried this app that aims to reduce food waste with food deals. Here's what we scored