Where to find Kinder Eggs in D.C.?

November 25, 2009 10:16 PM

Where can I find Kinder Eggs in the Washington, D.C. area?

I know they were technically banned in the '90s, but I used to see them in German delis around here long after that. This may be futile, but where should I hunt for them now?

posted by zxcvz to Food & Drink (17 answers total)

We are swimming in them in Canada- maybe get a Canuck pal to send you some. They're called "Kinder Suprise" here btw.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 10:37 PM on November 25, 2009

erm, "Surprise."
posted by ethnomethodologist at 10:37 PM on November 25, 2009

Kinder Surprise eggs are banned in the U.S.

Yes, this fact is lame.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 10:40 PM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

They're called Kinder Surprise or some variation thereof everywhere they are sold, as far as I can tell. The only places I have seen them in the entire U.S. (and believe me when I say that I look for them at every single place I go to that sells anything remotely candy-related) have been in delis that cater to western European immigrants (a few Italian places and a German place here in NY, but both were years ago), so your German deli idea might be a good place to start.

Or, you know, bribe a Canadian to send you some, as mentioned above.
posted by bedhead at 10:43 PM on November 25, 2009

Thanks for that link, croutonsupafreak. I knew that's why they were banned, but now I have a concrete link to reaffirm my irritation at this fact. Looks like I'll just have to keep buying craptons of them every time I visit Europe.
posted by bedhead at 10:45 PM on November 25, 2009

You could try Cafe Mozart downtown.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:51 PM on November 25, 2009

Rodman's on Wisconsin Ave has all sorts of grey-market imported candy. Despite the ban (and after the 1997 recall) I've seen Kinder Eggs there.

Though it's been a while since I was in there, and the content of their candy aisle is in constant flux.
posted by toxic at 11:32 PM on November 25, 2009

My sources tell me that the German Gourmet (Bailey's Crossroads and Falls Church) sells kinder eggs, including a larger size available only in the winter.
posted by wam at 12:01 AM on November 26, 2009

Not sure how helpful this might be, but in Chicago I invariably find them at Italian and Polish grocery stores.

I have also in the past ordered a case from Canada.
posted by sugarfish at 5:09 AM on November 26, 2009

I have seen them at the Italian Store in Arlington before. I'm heading to that shopping center later today and if I remember I'll check there for you (if they are open, that is).
posted by gemmy at 6:03 AM on November 26, 2009

Last weekend we went to the Strip District in Pittsburgh, and we found a LOT of Kinder stuff in a polish market, complete with polish packaging minus the brand name. I'm not recommending that you go to the strip district, but it was news to me that Kinder operated in that many markets, so you might possibly try that angle. I believe we also saw some Kinder goodies in a greek/Mediterranean store.
posted by TomMelee at 6:07 AM on November 26, 2009

I see them at the German Gourmet pretty often. They also occasionally have sour sticks.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 6:30 AM on November 26, 2009

There's some all the way out in Manassas, a few months ago anyway.
posted by mathlete at 7:27 AM on November 26, 2009

Not sure how helpful this might be, but in Chicago I invariably find them at Italian and Polish grocery stores.

In that same vein, I've seen them in Middle Eastern markets in the Minneapolis area.
posted by gimonca at 7:57 AM on November 26, 2009

Try your local specialized candy store. If it is a small mom and pop type place that sells other German chocolate, they might be able to order them for you. I have had some success with this in the past. They were super expensive, and you might have to make a minimum order.

And yes, they are now called Kinder Surprise. I get them here at a local hardware/sporting goods/army surplus store. I think the key is to look for locally owned stores, not a big chain that will be liable for large lawsuits.
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:47 AM on November 26, 2009

I just came from the shopping center at 3123 Lee Hwy in Arlington with the Italian Store. They are closed today (Thanksgiving), but I peeked in the windows and didn't see any (they usually keep them on a counter you can see from outside). You might give them a call tomorrow to see if they have any: [phone].
posted by gemmy at 10:08 AM on November 26, 2009

I just got back from the German Gourmet's Lee Highway location and they had a ton of the little kinder eggs and some of the big ones too.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 8:20 AM on November 27, 2009