The Best Starbucks Food To Order, According To Employees & Customers

best starbucks food

When it comes to Starbucks, it’s not always just about the coffee – they have a ton of food options that’ll have you hooked from the first bite. While some Starbucks food items are definitely worth skipping (looking at you, Kale & Mushroom Egg Bites), there are plenty of downright delicious picks.

Starbucks employees and die-hard fans just weighed in on their go-to food orders on Reddit, and their answers may surprise you!

Get ready to explore the best Starbucks food, straight from the experts who know it best.

Starbucks

1. Turkey, Provolone & Pesto on Ciabatta

This lunch sandwich came up several times amongst Starbucks employees and fans. It features sliced turkey breast, melted provolone cheese, dry-roasted red peppers, and basil pesto in between slices of ciabatta. One sandwich has 32 grams of protein, too!

Starbucks

2. Ham & Swiss Croissant

Next up, the classic Ham & Swiss Croissant! I always ate this for breakfast when I worked at Starbucks, and can confirm it's very worth ordering.

One Reddit user admitted that they "eat wayyyyyy more" of these than they "care to admit." They said that "They’re just so damn good” – very true!

Starbucks

3. Egg White Bagels (Custom)

One Starbucks employee said that they use their mark-outs (1 free food item + 1 free bev every shift!) to make their very own concoction: egg white egg bites on an everything bagelwith avocado spread. Sounds delish.

Starbucks

4. Potato, Cheddar & Chive Bakes

These baked bites were mentioned a whopping 10 times on the Reddit thread.

“Grew up hating eggs, never never [ate] them," one person wrote. "But I will tear up those chive bites with some sriracha, salt, and pepper."

"Hear me on this one," another user commented. "Always double toast your egg bites and toast your panini sandwiches from the case open faced. Always.” Now I've gotta try it!

Tip: to get any heated food item at Starbucks double-toasted, simply say 'extra crispy' or 'double-toasted' when you go to order.

Starbucks

5. Spicy Falafel Pocket

This Starbucks food menu newcomer seems to be pretty popular already. It came out in January 2025 with their winter menu launch, which also includes the never-seen-at-Starbucks drink, the Cortado.

“The falafel wrap just came out, but I'm in love,” one user said.

“Me too!" another person agreed. "Never been huge into falafel – it always tasted dry to me. This one is just right. Also the new dipping sauce is a welcome add on.”

"The fact that it's vegan too makes it perfect,” one more Redditor gushed.

The Spicy Falafel Pocket includes smashed falafel, creamy hummus, roasted red bell peppers, pickled onions, and a spicy herb sauce packed into a lavash flatbread.

Starbucks

6. Iced Lemon Loaf

“That damn lemon loaf,” one user quickly commented. And they're so right for that.

The Iced Lemon Loaf would be on weekly rotation when I worked as a Starbucks barista. It's entirely too sugary, but perhaps that's what had me hooked. And that thick layer of icing, too!

Starbucks

7. Cinnamon Coffee Cake

“I love their blueberry scones and their coffee cakes," one Redditor wrote. "They pair nicely with a large iced blonde americano 😋.” Sounds yum!

In fact, Starbucks has a ton of great bakery items, but this coffee cake typically comes out on top for being super moist, plus its crumbly topping is downright addicting.

Starbucks

8. Spinach, Feta & Egg White Wrap

The SFW is a total classic when it comes to the best Starbucks food items. It's 100% vegetarian and is made with fluffy cage-free egg whites, spinach, feta cheese, and sun-dried tomato cream cheese. It makes a nourishing savory bite for breakfast or lunch.

Starbucks

9. Egg, Pesto & Mozzarella Sandwich

I fear this breakfast sandwich is my new addiction whenever I go to Starbucks. The egg is always fluffy and flavorful, the cheese always melty, and I think the pesto adds a nice tang to it all. Plus, it has 21 grams of protein, so I don't have to worry about feeling hungry after I chow down on it.

“I'm a fan,” one Redditor said.

“Garbage for my cholesterol but 🤌🏻,” another person noted.

"I've been putting chili oil on it as well and its soooo good,” one more user said. Spicy!

Starbucks

10. Cheese Danish

The Starbucks Cheese Danish is very good, but one employee's minor edit to it sounds ahh-mazing: they add a sprinkling of the Cinnamon Dolce topping (AKA cinnamon and sugar) on top to up the sweetness!

I wouldn't necessarily recommend ordering your danish like this at the counter to avoid eye rolls from your baristas, but take it home and add your own cinnamon sugar, and boom – you've got yourself a truly elevated Starbucks snack!

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Sound the alarms: Starbucks' Valentine's cups have landed in stores! Four adorable cup designs hit shelves on January 3, with plenty of time left for you to snag your favorite design (or a few of 'em) ahead of Valentine's Day. Of course, the Starbucks Valentine's cups are covered in nothing but pinks, reds, and hearts.

You're not gonna want to miss this year's Starbucks Valentine's cups, because just like any reusable cup, they let you take $0.10 off your coffee order, plus earn 25 bonus stars if you're a Starbucks Rewards member.

Scroll on to see the cutest Starbucks Valentine's cups for 2025!

See The New 2025 Starbucks Valentine's Cups

Starbucks

Valentine’s Day Cold Cup

Starbucks' Valentine's Day drop includes some pretty bold designs, including this playful pixelated piece. This 24-ounce cold cup goes for $22.95, and it's perfect for holding your iced lattes and cold brews and keeping them cold all day long.

Starbucks

Pink Floral Cold Cup with Straw Topper

The next cold cup boasts a ton of eye-catching florals and an adorable straw topper for extra curb appeal. This baby hold 24 ounces and will cost you $24.95 at participating Starbucks stores.

Starbucks

Hot Pink Heart Tumbler with Charm

For all you hot drink lovers out there, you're def gonna want to snag this 12-ounce tumbler ($27.95) to help you get nice and caffeinated on your morning commute. It even comes with a heart charm for extra whimsy.

Starbucks

Valentine’s Day Tumbler

The final Starbucks Valentine's cup is this fun ombré tumbler that holds a whole 16 ounces. Find it at your nearest 'Bux for $14.95.

Surprise! Peep The Starbucks Lunar New Year 2025 Cups

Starbucks

Year of the Snake Cold Cup

The Starbucks Valentine's cups aren't all that's new to cafes – the coffee chain also dropped 3 adorable new cup designs for Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake!

The first item is this 24-ounce cold cup. We simply adore all the colors featured on this one. Plus, it comes with a cutie little snake straw topper! Find it for $24.95.

Starbucks

Year of the Snake Stainless Steel Tumbler

Next up is this stainless steel tumbler that'll keep 12 ounces of hot liquid, well, hot for the entire day. The illustration is just too cute! This baby goes for $22.95 at participating Starbucks locations.

Starbucks

Year of the Snake Ceramic Mug

Finally, the most adorable Starbucks mug of all time! This 14-ounce mug is shaped like a lil' rainbow snake to spark joy every time you sip. Shop it for $16.95 in stores.

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If there's one thing I love to see, it's celebrities going makeup-free. And I'll celebrate it every single time! In addition to Drew Barrymore taking her makeup off on live TV (and throwing her extensions on the ground) and Millie Bobby Brown showing off her acne in selfies, Lady Gaga loves to go makeup-free. Remember when she performed at the Oscars with no makeup and ripped jeans?! Well the actress and singer just posted another adorable selfie without a stitch of makeup.

Here's what Lady Gaga had to say about "Die With A Smile" alongside her no-makeup selfie.

Lady Gaga is "so grateful" the song is #1.

To celebrate "Die With A Smile" (her song with Bruno Mars) hitting number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Lady Gaga posted a photo of her laying in the grass with a huge grin on her face — and without any makeup.

"Thank you to all of the monsters and hooligans for helping make 'Die With A Smile' #1 on the Billboard Hot 100! We love you and are so grateful," she says in the post. "Having multiple songs of mine hit #1 across three decades feels surreal, and I am overwhelmed by the love and support you have shown me from the beginning. I have so much more in store for you and can’t wait to share it."

Friends and fans flooded the comments with everyone from Noah Cyrus saying, "you’re so gorgeous," to a fan account adding, "Thank you for your art! So proud of you and Bruno. You deserve this!"

And she loved recording it with Bruno Mars!

The song was released on August 16, and in a statement to Page Six, Lady Gaga praised Bruno Mars as a collaborator. “Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating,” she says. “I was finishing up my own album in Malibu, and one night after a long day he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on...It was around midnight when I got there, and I was blown away when I heard what he had started making.”

After revealing they "stayed up all night” to finish both writing and recording it, Lady Gaga continues, “Bruno’s talent is beyond explanation. His musicianship and vision is next level. There’s no one like him." There's no one like you either Gaga!

Has "Die With A Smile" been on repeat for you? Let us know your favorite Lady Gaga song on Instagram!

If you’re a trueTrader Joe’s fan, you probably already carry your pickle tote bag everywhere. And, of course, you can’t forget the frenzy for the-ever stylish Trader Joe’s mini tote bags! TJ’s is here to shake (or, rather, shred) things up with an all-new tote bag design – and it’s super cheesy.

Trader Joe’s

That’s right – Trader Joe’s latest and greatest tote bag design (which you can shop from end caps near the TJ’s checkout lines) features all things cheese! Any charcuterie, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, and pizza lover will immediately fall in love with it.

Eme Estevez / Dupe

The tote is covered in “charmingly cheesy” illustrations of all the varieties of cheese Trader Joe’s has to offer. They’re perfectly colorful and bold, so you’ll adore looking at it every time you make a grocery trip.

Fans are calling the new design "sooo cuteee" and "un-brie-lieveable." One Instagram user even said, "now that’s a tote worth getting if you are cheeseboard obsessed. 🥳🥳🥳"

Jayda Anderson / Dupe

The bag is certifiably heavy duty, made of 100% cotton, and features reinforced seams with two handles long enough to hang comfortably on your shoulder – perfect for you if you walk to your nearest Trader Joe’s instead of driving there! It measures 18.5 by 13.5 inches to carry all the snacks, frozen meals, and beverages your heart desires.

Trader Joe’s

My favorite part of this new TJ’s tote is that it’s also covered in tons of cheese puns, which are quite “pun-gent,” per Trader Joe’s.

The cheese puns in question? “I’m wheel excited to be here. You cheddar believe it. To brie, or not to brie. I am fondue you. Life’s so gouda.” I’m a firm believer that everyone loves a good pun, so this bag is an instant source of entertainment.

Alexy Almond / PEXELS

The new Trader Joe’s cheese tote bags are just $4 each. I’ll definitely be snagging one for myself and a few more to share with the TJ’s lovers in my life!

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Many people look for the new year to bring new opportunities and, in some cases, a fresh start altogether. But for me? As a longtime entertainment reporter, there is one thing I can’t help but get excited about when another year rolls around: the upcoming movie releases and, of course, the most anticipated television shows. While I'm looking forward to see what happens to Eleven and the rest of the Hawkins crew in Stranger Things 5 on Netflix, there are a bunch of new TV shows that have been at the top of my watch list from the moment they were first announced, including Suits: LA and It: Welcome to Derry.

Here are the 2025 television shows that should be on your radar (if they aren’t already!).

Severance Season 2 — On Apple TV+ January, 17 2025

Apple TV+

After Mark Scout, Helly, and Irving learn the truth about the “severance” experiment and manage to break free from its clutches in the Severance season 1 finale, the three coworkers (along with the rest of the Lumon Industries employees) are forced to return to work in the second installment of the series. Now that Mark and some of his peers know what the company was really doing to the Lumon staff, one could only wonder: What are Lumon Industries's hidden objectives? (And what’s with all the GOATS?!)

Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on January 17, 2024 and stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Dichen Lachman, Dichen Lachman and Patricia Arquette.

The White Lotus Season 3 — On HBO and Max February 16, 2025

Mario Perez/HBO

Pack your bags, White Lotus fans, because our favorite hotel residents are catching a first-class flight to…Thailand! While there are a bunch of new guests checking into a luxury hotel, there’s one returning guest who needs no introduction. Natasha Rothwell, who made her debut at Belinda Lindsey in The White Lotus season 1, is the only returning cast making a brief cameo in season 3. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, here we come!

The White Lotus season 3 is coming in February and will star Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal.

The Last of Us Season 2 — On HBO and Max in April 2025

Liane Hentscher/HBO

I can’t be the only one still thinking about that bombshell season one finale of HBO’s The Last of Us! And apparently, I’m not the only one who’s eager to see the continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story in season 2. Fans of the video game adaptation have been keeping their eyes peeled for a new update about season 2. And one teaser later, we might have just gotten the news we’ve been looking for. Following the 2024 Emmy Awards, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content Casey Bloys toldDeadline that The Last of Us season 2 will premiere around “generally first half of the year [2025], I expect them to be in the Emmy window.”

The Last of Us season 2 will star Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Wright, Tati Gabrielle and Ariela Barer.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 — On Prime Video in 2025

Erika Doss/Prime Video

It's almost time to return to Cousins Beach, and I have missed all the hydrangeas, fair rides, and ocean sunrises. We haven't heard for sure whether season 3 will be the end of the road for this series, but if it follows even a few chapters in the third book in The Summer I Turned Pretty series, We'll Always Have Summer, then we will absolutely be getting some drama.

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 premieres in 2025 and stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Rain Spencer, Jackie Chung, and Rachel Blanchard.

It: Welcome to Derry — On Max in 2025

Warner Bros. Entertainment

Bill, Richie, Beverly and the rest of the Losers Club members might have been able to defeat Pennywise in It: Chapter Two, but that doesn’t mean we've seen the last of Derry, Maine. Serving as a prequel series to the It movie franchise directed by Andres Muschietti, Welcome to Derry will delve into Pennywise’s origin story and how the child-preying clown arrived in Derry. But that’s not even the best part: Bill Skarsgård, who starred in It and It: Chapter Two, will reprise his role as the killer clown in the upcoming HBO series, which will be released in 2025. So until then, no accepting red balloons from creepy clowns, okay?

It: Welcome to Derry will star Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Joshua Odjick and Morningstar Angeline.

Stranger Things Season 5 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

I’ve been a fan of Stranger Things since it premiered on Netflix back in 2016, and come next year, longtime fans like myself will finally get to see how the story ends. Last time we saw Eleven, Mike, Will and the rest of the Hellfire Club crew, they were facing an impending apocalypse after Vecna’s devious plan came to full fruition. So, will the group of friends defeat Vecna and save their home? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see because Stranger Things 5 likely won’t premiere until late 2025. Now, all we need is that release date, Netflix…

Stranger Things 5 is coming to Netflix soon and stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Amybeth McNulty, and Priah Ferguson.

Suits: L.A. — On NBC in 2025

David Astorga/NBC

Court is back in session! Only this time, our favorite lawyers from the OG Pearson Hardman firm are not on the case. Thanks to Netflix, the original Suits (which starred the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle) experienced a renaissance of sorts upon its arrival to the streaming service in June 2023. And as a result, NBCUniversal ordered a spinoff series earlier this year. But instead of the bustling streets of New York City, a new group of lawyers are setting up shop in the Golden State in Suits L.A.

The new spinoff will center around an entertainment and criminal lawler named Ted Black, who launches his own law firm in California after moving from the East Coast. Originally, Suits L.A was slated to be a part of NBCUniversal’s 2024-2025 lineup. However, according to Deadline, there was a slight change in the production location, making a Fall 2025 release more likely. So, who’s up for a Suits marathon?

Suits L.A. is speculated to premiere sometime in 2025 and is set to star Ted Black, Josh McDermitt, Rachelle Goulding, Victoria Justice, Troy Wingush, Bryan Greenberg, Lex Scott Davis, John Amos, Kevin Weistman and Alice Lee.

Wednesday Season 2 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

Looks like Jenna Ortega won’t be giving us another macabre number anytime soon because Wednesday season 2 won’t arrive on Netflix until 2025. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega teases the upcoming installment will be much “darker” this time around. “I think the feel that we’re going for is a little bit more horror-inspired,” the Beetlejuice Beetlejuicestar adds. “Not to say that suddenly we’re the goriest show of all time. I mean, there’s six-year-olds watching.”

“This season is going to be bigger and more twisted than you can ever imagine," Catherine Zeta-Jones says in the new Wednesday season 2 first look.

“If we showed you any more, your eyes would bleed,” Ortega says. “And I'm not that generous.”

What TV show are you most excited to see in 2025? Personally, I can’t wait for Sweet Magnolias season 4 to drop! (Margarita, anyone?) Make sure to follow us on TikTok and Facebook for more TV exclusives and latest news updates!

This post has been updated.

Kate Middleton has been top of mind for a lot of people over the last year after the princess announced in March 2024 she was battling cancer. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown," she shared in a video update. "This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved." And in honor of Kate's 43rd birthday, Prince William posted the sweetest tribute honoring her strength and perseverance.

Here's what Prince William had to say in Kate Middleton's birthday tribute.

Prince William celebrates "incredible" Kate Middleton's "strength."

Kate Middleton turned 43 on January 9, 2025. In honor of the big day, Prince William took to Instagram to celebrate, praising his "incredible" wife.

"To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable," he says in the post. "George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W."

And well wishers flooded the comments. "Happy Birthday Catherine, wishing you a wonderful year ahead surrounded by family and loved ones," one user says, while another adds, "Happy Birthday Princess of Wales! What a gorgeous photo. Wishing you a wonderful year 😍 xx"

And the tribute comes after revealing Kate was doing "amazing" following her cancer battle.

The birthday celebration comes after the prince shared an update on Kate in early November that had us all breathing a sigh of relief. “She's doing really well thanks. And hopefully, she is watching tonight. So cheering me on," he said before the Earthshot Prize awards (via People). “She's been amazing this whole this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success."

"From what I understand, Catherine is doing very well," royal author Robert Jobson added in an interview withHello!that same week. "She is back training at the gym and doing all the things she wanted to do."

We're sending Kate Middleton so much birthday love! For more about your favorite members of the Royal Family, check out Meghan Markle’s New Netflix Cooking Show Will Feature Some Of Your Fave Celebs.