Trader Joe's

Despite the reasonable prices, the food-quality falls short of expectations. First, too many foods include too much sodium and added sugar per serving. Purchasing food from this store on a regular basis would almost certainly cause people to become ill as a result of the development of diabetes and/or hypertension. I've included photographs of some  healthy foods. However, you must invest time and move around those food items to determine the ingredients. Wouldn't it be good if the store manager created an area where only foods with no sodium or extra sugar were stored?

Great products: veggies, fruits, fish and beauty products. I love the Argan oil you sell. I would love if it were in at least 6 ounce jar. Great for skin and hair. It doesn’t stain clothing nor bedding.

Pros: Friendly, helpful staff Consistently fresh produce Great selection of vegan and seasonal items Clean, well-organized store Cons: Can be crowded during peak hours Tip: Best to visit during weekdays to avoid crowds.

This is a Trader Joe's for the downtown and student population of Berkeley. It's also conveniently located for pedestrians - at the intersection of MLK and University. It's well laid out for the size, but has a weird checkout area (with two lines) that can get backed up. This Trader Joe's contains all of the classic products and prices you might expect from the chain, as well as frequent sample offerings and ample parking.

Good selection, prices a bit higher than usual. Layout of store is different than most TJs

Good old Yrader Joe's. What else could I say? It's in a great location, accessible via public transit by bus and BART. Even after all of these years, I keep on discovering a new delicious item. It's never-ending, and my taste buds love that. They have a pretty solid and friendly team that work together and really keep the shelves stocked neatly and organized, floors clean and slip free, and even the longest lines don't stand a chance with the fast paced professional work of the cashiers at the register, where I always strike up a good brief conversation with laughs and foodies chatter. Making the check-out a pleasant experience. Prices are good but you won't find deals like the big box supermarkets, and that's okay and fine by me. I'll choose healthy over big brand multi-million dollar company junk foods any day. Now, if you don't mind, I've got some meal prepping to do. Thanks Yrader Joe's on University Ave in Berkeley! 🙌🏽

The best balance of price and quality, for mostly natural and wholesome ingredients. When I’m staying in America, I more or less feed myself entirely out of Trader Joe’s. It’s the closest you can get to living like a European in the middle of the great American experiment. Nothing at Trader Joe’s is mind blowingly superb, but that’s the idea: it’s not pretentious, it’s just the best a person of modest means and good taste can do for themselves, on a budget. I regret how over packaged the produce is, and it’s a good week older than it would be if bought at a farmers market or Berkeley Bowl or certainly at home in Europe. But it’ll do. And compared to Safeway or any of the other huge chains, you are far better off feeding yourself and your family from Trader Joe’s Trader Joe’s is very smart about tempting you with various kinds of snacks, prepared foods and desserts. The wise shopper tries to limit this or the bill and the calories will pile up quickly. Tried and true staples that remain affordable are the frozen Indian entrées, the tofu, the olive oil, European basics, and the round tub cookies. The huge blocks of chocolate are Belgian. You can find websites that tell you who the manufacturer is of a lot of of their goods, which are re-labeled classics. Vitamins are a great value. The coffee is hit or miss but I still find their Italian roast whole bean to be tolerable and affordable (not by European standards but massively better than rank Starbucks or long-deteriorated overly strong Peet’s ). Trader Joe’s is definitely one antidote to the catastrophe that has hit the American food chain.

coming here on a busy day (sunday/monday) with a uti will make you want to off yourself in the middle of the store. the line for checkout wraps throughout the store and makes it impossible to navigate, which is not helped at all by the unobservant and stubborn clientele. Expect to say “excuse me” without ever hearing it back more times than you can count. The bathroom is somehow always a 7+ minute wait. On the plus side, it’s Trader Joe’s and the food’s decently priced and pretty good.

Where should I begin? Trader Joes is awesome! Knowledgeable Staff and delicious snacks! I buy some of my favorite treats for the week here. Chewy candies, specialty cookies, sparkling water... The sparkling water (despite the tax in Berkeley on carbonated drinks) is reasonably priced and tasty! Interesting flavors like tangerine-vanilla, green apple, and watermeleon-lemonade. The trader Joes guys (and gals) offer a wide variety of services and are always friendly and kind. Willing to talk about products, great at cashier and have the store in tip top shape! Visited by students and community members a like the store is a thriving local mecca, very special in many ways! Lots of Asian foods, seasonal items, and TJ's staple items! A place to pick up rice, noodles, soups, and fruits and veggies for cheap. Every section has something worth trying out to eat. Tortillas, falalfal, or pre-seasoned chicken or meat, pastas or salads, it's just a fun place to shop! Note: samples are regularly given out! Stop by for the action!

Nice town ..Berkeley ...near the campus ..more groceries I like delightful grocery Go back again ..sunny

I love that there's always parking in the parking lot for this location. And it's less crowded than some of the nearby ones. Very easy to shop you go in and you go out and they have pretty much everything you need. Love the service here there's two lines so it makes it very fast.

I haven't been here in a while, many years. So many years that the hot sauce and Brazilian pizza places are now gone. My aunt lobbied against this place with others thinking it would be the downfall. My issue is the too small parking space, so when I go, I usually park outside. The only issue is that I had to reacclimate myself to the store because nothing was where I expected. The wine section moved, the veggies were in a new place, and so on, but those are rich people's problems. The store was nice, clean and organized. I don't know about the bathroom, but previous trips let me know that that room is best avoided. I had surgery three weeks ago and am not supposed to lift more than five pounds. My basket clearly had two bags with many more pounds. I regretted the huge purchase. But the cashier was super nice and agreed to unlock my basket so that I could take the bags to my car. Once in the garage, he said that he'd walk me to my car, which he did and he put the bags in my car. I was eternally grateful because I knew that taking the bags to the car would have been a challenge. I am also grateful that I was able to find a spot within a block of the store. But three weeks out, walking and holding things can be a challenge. And that challenge is usually rewarded with a well earned nap. Because of the help, I had the energy to run two more small errands before going home for that nap.

They towed my vehicle from their lot this evening. I am a student at BCC. Cost $500 out the gate...be warned they give you 90 minutes and then apparently make an announcement over their loud speaker. Not surprised the assholism.continues unabated. Lost my business going forward so not sure they got it right with a one star from me re: this unfortunate policy IMHO.

Trader Joe's has the cheapest packaged food by far! I don't come for the veggies and fruits, which berkeley bowl is better for but the cheese and dairy is so affordable. I love their sharp cheddar cheese and Cabot cheddar. As well as their house brand Greek yogurt and cottage cheese is so affordable. They have great Tj alternatives to popular foods such as pirates booty, chips, and frozen food. They also have a great frozen vegetarian, plant based selection! Not only with impossible chicken nuggets but plant based burgers and sausages. Also their wine selection is hugeee! Great for cheap wine and higher end stuff as well

No less than 30 people deep in each line at 6:45pm on a Thursday. That's absolutely unfuckingreal.. I'm here to grab one thing and leave not spend my evening at Trader Joe's...this place is a straight up joke. What happened to 10 Items or less and getting people out of the fucking store? Complete failure at this location.

Such a great corner spot to have this particular Trader Joe's! It was a bit cumbersome to cross the street and get to, since there was a game on, a lot of cars were turning right and running red lights. Lol I loved the set up of this particular Trader Joe's with all their display areas Trader Joe's is always known for having unique foods for people with allergies, and all the cashiers seem to be friendly, as well as getting people through the line at the fastest piece they could possible!

Usually always easy and quick service but today I had a terrible start to my day by having to deal with a bitches attitude who was checking me out. Careful going in the mornings, might ruin your day too. Really needed to add to me being a stressed student, thanks a lot.

I'm only writing this review because of HOLIDAY SEASONAL ITEMS !! I usually go to the El Cerrito Trader Joes. I was specifically in search for seasonal items (Candy Cane Decaffeinated Green Tea!), but El Cerrito ran out quickly! I'll call in before physically going into TJs to see if they have what I want in stock. The employee said that because seasonal inventory is ordered around 8 months in advanced, they didn't account for how popular some items might be, so certain seasonal items are out of stock very early on (ex. How are you going to run out of CANDY CANE TEA the first week of December?!) Anyway! He recommended I go to the Berkeley TJs (this location) since students aren't as present due to COVID-19 restrictions etc .... LO' and BEHOLD, they had an entire row of my candy cane tea left so I snagged 5 !! (oops sorry LOL). They had so many other seasonal items in stock, so get your seasonal items here while they're there !! The only downside to this TJs is the parking. The parking lot is super small, so be careful which parking spot you choose. You might be lucky with street parking nowadays because of COVID restrictions ... buttttt Anyway! TLDR: If you're on a hunt for specific seasonal items, call in advance to which TJs you go to, but this TJs in particular had plenty of seasonal items in stock when I went :)

Like any other Trader Joe's except I think this one is a little smaller than the ones in the area. First thing I saw was someone stealing the flowers in front of the store.. she just took it into her car !!!

I tried to buy just a few things and didn't have a lot of time... Right before the cashier rings me up (young guy with curly hair and mustache). He goes and starts chatting with the cashier next door and some lady that wants to keep her bags behind the counter or some deal. It takes a while, and just when I thought he was going to ring me up... he doesn't even say a word to me and grabs the items of the cashier and lady next to him and just walks away. Dude was completely rude. If you need to help someone else... at least acknowledge me since I'm standing right in front of you. Thankfully the girl next to him helped me. This is the latest example of rude snobby behavior... mostly by the younger white kids that work here. The older black fellow and even the security guard are really cool, always super polite. I will stop coming to this store. There are other bigger and better stores to shop from... like Berkley Bowl.

I love Trader Joe's. But I had an awful experience at this store last night. As I was shopping, a dog leapt out of his owner's buggy, barking and almost biting my face off. I screamed, and another shopper who was also startled and I both told the owner that dogs were not allowed in the store. She ignored us and kept on walking, dog in tow. I reported this to the manager (a stocky bearded man) who listened and agreed that dogs were not permitted in the store. But even after I pointed out the woman, hoping that he would speak to her about not bringing the dog to the store again, he refused to do anything about it. When I asked a cashier about the dog policy as I was checking out, he said, "It's not our job to police dog owners." I'm appalled and disgusted. It's against health department regulations to have dogs running around in stores, but this store permits it.

I went in today with my dog which I now realize was my mistake for not seeing the incredibly small "no pets allowed" sign at the door. I was confronted by a manager on a Tuesday morning and was told that I could not keep the dog in the cart - which I immediately apologized for (because I didn't know). After apologizing and removing my dog from the cart to a carrier I stopped to let my friend know what I wanted to grab from the store so I could step outside with the dog. I am mainly upset because while I made a mistake and immediately apologized, I was treated like a criminal. The manager approached me in a very aggressive manner and stared at me while I let my friend know what groceries to grab for a minute (albeit I was also already really close to the door ~15 steps away). She confronted me again and said "You have not left yet so I am going to have to walk you out" in a very aggressive tone. I completely understand that I was in the wrong for bringing a small dog. However, I did not appreciate the manner in which she confronted me an escorted me. It was as if I committed a crime. Ironically, I had already been in the store for over 10 minutes, other employees interacted positively with the dog, and she has been inside numerous times with no issue (same with other small pets). I felt that maybe she was taking out her anger on me (which was inappropriate) and her workers were eating the snack at the tasting station instead of working. I do understand the health code violation now, but I think there was a better way to approach and confront me. All in all I complied, and apologized, but did not appreciate being treated like a criminal/with an aggressive tone and escorted 15 feet to the door when I was most certainly not in anyones way.

I don't love this branch of TJ's as much as others - it's busy inside, always seems to have a line outside (during Covid) and parking is more challenging. I also find myself going to TJ's less and less often, however, for two reasons. First, a lot of their food is mediocre when it comes down to it - it's just REALLY well marketed. Second, I avoid many of the items at TJ's for ethical reasons, which I'll list below. A little background: Trader Joe's is owned by the German retail company, Aldi Nord. Trader Joe's is often viewed with fondness, like a quirky friend that brings you interesting things to eat. But, as with any company, we should be looking beyond that strategically nurtured image and focusing on the company's impact on society and the planet. In other words, we should be asking: How ethical is Trader Joe's? I'm giving Trader Joe's 2 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact for the following reasons: * I was surprised to find that there were no pasture-raised eggs to be found at Trader Joe's. 40% of their fresh eggs are still from caged hens, which live their entire lives in a space equivalent to a letter-sized sheet of paper. The Cornucopia Institute has compiled a humane scorecard for eggs and Trader Joe's eggs get their lowest rating: 1/5. I think it's a fair assumption that this also applies to their products that contain eggs. * There's almost no transparency on Palm oil sourcing at TJ's. A customer service rep revealed that TJ's still source palm oil on commodity markets or, at best, from an RSPO-certified supplier. Sourcing on commodity markets provides no assurance that the palm oil is obtained without slavery or deforestation. * TJ's is focused on processed rather than fresh food, which increases both the packaging and carbon footprints. Even a lot of the fresh fruit and veg are packaged in plastic and not much of it is from local, organic farms. * There's no bulk section for staples like flour, sugar, nuts, etc. * TJ's is a notoriously secret company. It's almost impossible in some cases to find information about sourcing. This secrecy over suppliers and ingredients leaves consumers in the dark regarding ethics. * Suppliers of a few of their own-brand products were revealed by recall to include ConAgra, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and the Wonderful Company. None of these companies rates well, ethically, in my opinion. * On the positive side, you can find a few ethical products and brands there, like Miyoko's vegan butter. * TJ's reportedly does a good job of donating leftover food to food banks. The bottom line is that although Trader Joe's is fun and cheerful, it doesn't rate so well, ethically, in my opinion. Trader Joe's lack of transparency benefits nobody other than the company and its suppliers. Check out my related article on the Green Stars Project for more detail.

My previous review of this business is missing, one of the many I have written of thousands on Yelp, resulting on frequent invitations for Yelp's Elite status as a reviewer. I went in to purchase a gallon of water, and the only option had a price listed on the shelf as $3.99. At the cashier, the gallon was listed as $1.00 less, at $2.99, which after CRV ($0.10 bottle deposit for a gallon sized plastic bottle was surprising), was $3.09. There wasn't any tax reflected on the receipt. I commented the price wasn't reflecting the sign under their product, and she and me (a name I call myself) traveled over together to investigate. The water I purchased, from New Zealand, was different than the water listed on the sign, alkaline, and so she was confident their computer had the real price. I am surprised that an ecologically responsible and distantly sourced water, New Zealand Artesian, would be such a deal! Was this Antarctic run off, triple distilled? Fabulous.

I have fallen in love w/ TJ's succulents in 2" circular pots. They are only $1.99 apiece. This is the store where I first saw them a couple of weeks ago when I stopped in to pick up some groceries while waiting for our order to be ready at Smoke Berkeley a few blocks away. I parked in the garage and was given a cart and offered hand sanitizer. The succulents were alongside the ramp down into the store. I found three and chatted briefly w/ a nearby staff member about succulent addiction. I planted them, finding they were bigger than they looked at first because the plastic sleeve around them compressed them a bit. They are robust and healthy and are available in a wide variety. Then I bought another five in El Cerrito to fill an empty pot after obsessing about them for a day or two. I observed another customer in El Cerrito refuse paper bags a few weeks ago so she could load her groceries in the reusable bags in the trunk of her car, so I have adopted that habit in an effort to cut down on the paper bags coming into the house. Each TJ's store seems to have its own procedure for checking out. In this store they want you to wait to approach the cash register until your items have all been scanned. Easy enough to do. I like this store.

Huge TJ fan. Really rude check out people. Store smelled and very un TJ like. I would suggest someone go to another store. The woman that checked us out did not acknowledge me or speak a word to me.

Always good prices, nice selection and you never feel like your being robbed in comparison to Lucky's or Safeway. Fast cashiers and they know how to pack a bag.

Good sized Trader Joe's. Always busy and crowded due to student traffic. Located a bit aways from campus.

This is a smallish Trader Joe's. I prefer this smaller store. Same content as a larger store, same products just a little more compact. The staff in this store are friendly and efficient. Not unlike staff across the T.J. spectrum but this crew seems very much on top of things. The clientele is very local. This store defines neighborhood grocery. Thumbs up all around.

The plant deals here are amazing! Check out the rotating plant offerings at the back of the store, near the parking garage, for a variety of succulents, flowers, and foliage. I've gotten a healthy domino peace lily, monstera deliciosa, dwarf umbrella tree, and calla lily from here. Each of these were under $10 even though some were plenty big and could go for $20 at a nursery. I did get a ficus repens from here that died though no matter what care I gave it, the only plant that has ever died on me. Note that many of these plants will come with gnats in the soil too, so every time I bring home a new plant from TJ's I have a small gnat problem for a few weeks. It's easily solved by underwatering in the beginning and killing the gnats on sight for a few weeks. I wish that this TJ's had a larger seafood selection. The majority of seafood offerings are either smoked or frozen. The only consistent fresh (vacuum sealed) fish that is sold here is farm raised salmon which, in my experience, doesn't taste as good as the salmon from other major grocers. The staff are always professional and fast and there are always baskets or shopping carts available. During shelter in place there have been a ton of flies at the university ave entrance. Many local stores have had this problem though because of the front door being kept open all day. Regardless, it's pretty gross to walk through a mist of flies every time I enter. I'm hoping that'll improve as the pandemic ends and its safe enough to leave the doors closed.

I love Trader Joe's! I prefer Trader Joe's over Safeway and Berkeley Bowl because of its' location. It's right across the street from the 51B AC Transit bus, which come every ~10 minutes. Their produce is significantly cheaper than Safeway, but meat is relatively cheaper at Safeway. Their snacks are delicious, but what really sets Trader Joe's apart are their extreeeemely friendly employees. They never fail to help you if you're looking lost. Like any other grocery store, they will be packed during the weekends and at ~5/6 when people get off work. If you only need a couple items, grab a basket because you get to skip the long lines with the basket only line, which goes by really quick. My favorite snack item of all time is the Chocolate Stars, but they're only available during the winter, so stock up when they're back!! TLDR; best grocery store in Berkeley!

The staff is very friendly here and the place always seems clean and organized. I never have any issue finding parking here with the attached garage. I find that this TJs has more variety than usual.

Big thank you to Adrienne! She helped me with getting some orchid flowers this morning for my mom. She was so knowledgable, took the time to answer all my questions, and helped me pick out the flowers. I am grateful for her help and was touched by her kindness. She is truly very dedicated, and I could tell how much she cared. Thank you again.

My FAVORITE place to be, I'd live here if I could. I prefer this one over the one on Cottage simply because the other gets TOO crowded (especially around 7pm on Mondays). It's not the most spacious, but it definitely carries very fresh, affordable, and DELICIOUS produce + ready made frozen dinners. The cashiers are so kind and friendly - they always strike up a nice conversation! Some personal favorites from TJ's: Frozen: Chicken Tikka Masala, Orange Chicken, Fried Rice, Pizza Bites, Jackfruit thai curry Snacks: Spicy Cheesy Cheetos!!! (seasonal but amazing) Pastas: Huge fan of their lobster ravioli They have an amazing wine selection as well! :)

This is a great little shop in downtown Berkeley. Not your largest, most spacious shopping experience, but it packs a punch and carries all your TJ favorites. It's always well staffed, no matter time or day and for the most part produce looks sharp. However, if it does get busy, it def gets crowded quick. From the reviews, looks like there is parking, but I always walk, so I can't confirm.

Trader Joe's has never disappointed in my life with any customer service or food items. I always love everything I brought home even if I have never tried it before. Today was no exception, except I needed to use the restroom badly after getting my takeout. The door person graciously let me inside to use the restroom with no questions and even let me cut the line! There was nowhere else near us that would let me use the bathroom, even the restaurant I had placed my food order at! The Trader Joe's employee just joked and told us that we couldn't secretly buy something because then we'd have to go back in line. Wow, let's just say that I had come to support the mom and pop stores but I will never stop giving my money to Trader Joe's.

No complaints about this Trader Joe's! Though not as large as the one I have back home, this one is perfect for a college town like Berkeley. It has everything I can think of (with my limited budget and cooking experience). There's even a hidden Oski in the market that you can look for and get a lollipop for! I thought that was the funniest thing. Plenty of carts, always a normal and not-too-crowded flow of traffic, and though I wouldn't come here late at night by myself due to the homeless population near this area, the foods are fresh, pricings are standard, and there's even a bus stop right across the street to go back home wherever you need to go. Staff here is always friendly and nice, and I've never encountered any problems.

We are all suffering during this COVID 19 pandemic. Even some of the simple things are now met with many obstacles. It's a difficult time. Grocery shopping was a breeze today. I was a little nervous because I was with my 10 year old son and I had to instruct him "not to touch anything" and to "stay 6 feet away from everyone" They have lines marked in the potential line to remind people "that we are all in this together" "stay 6 feet away" and they are sanitizing the carts for you, they are making sure to limit the flow of people entering and exiting the door safely, they are also offering hand sanitizer on your way out. Very Hygienic and made me feel safe. I won't lie, I was stressed and worried because people are dying from COVID- 19, and I'd been somewhere else about 10 days ago and was horrified. Trader Jo's on University in Berkeley is doing a Great Job. Thank you!!!

You can not dislike a Trader Joe's. They always stock something for everybody. Whether your in there for snacks, free samples, groceries, or simply to pee. There is always nice sale on their produce and goods. It is hard leave this store empty handed espeically when they carry so many vegan cookies and frozen treats!

Best place to do most of our shopping. Lots of fun new items every season. The staples remain the same for the most part. This store is very clean and the employees (crew) are very friendly. This store also has a parking garage (small but still, free patron parking in Berkeley!) and very convenient hours. Produce seems to be a bit better than in most stores. Stock is rotated on a very regular basis and if the shelf is missing an item, as usual, a crew member will check on it for you. This store does offer the WOW experience that all Trader Joes strives to offer all of it's customers.

During a weekend visit to the Bay area, I stopped by this Trader Joe's with my friend. It was the closest Trader Joe's to UC Berkeley/where my friend was living. We only had to walk a few blocks, and since I knew I could only buy as much as I could carry, that prevented me from going overboard on this TJ's run! There are certain snacks I always like to get from Trader Joe's. So, while my friend did her grocery shopping for the week, I perused the different aisles, looking for the treats I so love to take back to Hawaii with me. Even though I had never set foot in this Trader Joe's store before, it was relatively easy to find everything. And, it's always fun to see what types of new snacks/items the different stores bring in. Here are some of my recommendations: Peanut Butter Pretzels: I do like the dark chocolate-covered pretzels from Trader Joe's. But, these peanut butter ones covered in milk chocolate are one of my favorites. They feature square-shaped pretzels filled with creamy peanut butter and doused with a luscious milk chocolate coating. These are seriously bite-sized pieces of heaven. I like creamy peanut butter, and I like how each piece sports a good amount of PB. And, though I like dark chocolate, the milk chocolate exterior makes each pretzel even more indulgent. I try to make my stash last for as long as possible and ration my portions! These pretzels are addictive, though, so I get at least two bags (three if there's a sale). Candied Pecans: You can find these packs in the section with the nuts (almonds, cashews and dried fruits). I love these candied pecans because of their texture and flavor - they are sweeter than some of the other treats (the spicy pecans), but I like the crunchier texture. It's a great mix-in for salads or just to snack on by itself. Just be careful if you do the latter ... these pecans are addicting, and since the bag isn't that big, you can easily finish an entire bag in one sitting while watching a movie! I try to sprinkle a little bit over time on the top of my salads. Praline-Pecans: These are currently my favorite treat from Trader Joe's, and I don't mind paying the $6 price tag because it's totally worth it. I like the sweet-salty taste and texture. They're different from the candied pecans because they are bigger and coated with more sugar. They're also crunchier. I do throw some of these into my salads as well, but I also tend to snack on them solo. The square containers can be heavy if you buy in bulk, but to me, it's totally worth it. Cowboy Bark: Ah, the perfect marriage of a sweet-and-salty snack. This dark chocolate bark is one of my favs cause of the saltier treats that top it - I love the peanuts, pretzels and toffee bits that add some salty flavor and added crunch. Because this is dark chocolate, the snack isn't overly sweet. The package is only half full (just like the pretzel bag ... it's half full with air) but this is the perfect treat for someone who likes sweets in moderation - aka, not something straight-up chocolate!

A cashier was vocally hostile to me as I was about to put my two items down. "Can't you see I'm still with someone else!!!" she nearly shouted. The other customer was paying at the cashier's other side! She then accused me of being a druggie. "I can tell about people like you!"she said in a loud voice. I was well-dressed; hardly riff raff. I tossed the sandwich in utter disgust. I went immediately to the manager. The cashier followed me and brazenly evesdropped on my conversationwith her boss! The manager refused to speak with me away from the emotionally disturbed employee, so I left. No accountability. Employees can be prejudiced and act on it. What was really going on? I think the young woman is "woke" and as an older Caucasian man, I am fair game. Are we as a society going to subscribe to ideological filters at businesses? How very inappropriate it is for an employee to verbally abuse a customer who is PRESUMED to have a different ideology. Given the frosty disposition of the young woman who was the manager on DUTY, I suspect the store's organizational culture is woke. Perhaps white men over 40 should avoid Trader Joe's in Berkeley, California. Let financial losses be the counter-message to aggressive ideology being used as a weapon against CERTAIN TYPES of customers. But, hey, I'm just a druggie. LoL. Maybe an ideology fueled by resentment is a kind of drug for the weak who seek to dominate. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

This trader joes does not do a good job with checking up on their produce. I have seen moldy zucchini, moldy raspberries, and more. So disappointing to buy what I thought were fresh strawberries, only to find mushy and moldy ones only two days later. yIKeS. Besides limited fresh produce, the rest of the store is decently stocked.

Trader Joe's can feel like a bargain and this store is a convenient location for me that offers later hours. But in trying to explain/apologize for an innocent mistake, the store manager Brandon M. chose to be rude and condescending. It was a shock as most of the time employees at Trader Joe's are incredibly friendly and the good vibes had made me feel less guilty about the excessive packaging practices. But after my interaction I went back to Berkeley Bowl, and again reminded me why shop anywhere else besides the Bowl or Monterey Market for produce. That alone should make us avoid Trader Joe's. The convenient frozen/packaged goods at Trader Joe's are still less healthy processed goods, and now doing some research, it seems overall the store chain is worth reconsidering if worth the effort, especially in Berkeley where there are so many other options. https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/trader-joes-sucks-worst-grocery-store https://groundswell.org/the-truth-behind-trader-joes-what-you-may-not-know-about-tjs-brand/ So maybe I can thank the one bad customer service experience for opening my eyes.

After hearing so many (Canadian) friends talk about this place, it was time to see what this chain was all about, and more importantly, why it made people feel good. The inside is quite large, but seems to carry more of the indie chain type goods. With that said, I can't really verify this since I was quite unfamiliar with a lot of the brands. The shoppers inside sure looked like they felt good though. Prices were average. I was surprised they didn't charge through the nose, but with that said, they were still a bit too high for my liking. The samples they had sure were tasty though. Especially the mushroom ravioli. One thing I like about American supermarkets is their booze section. Quite a decent selection actually. I wish stuff like this were legal in Canada.

As a college student on a budget who's trying to eat healthier, this ma place. I go here for most of my grocery needs, and it typically has everything. Slightly small selection of fresh fruit/veggies, but good selection for meats, packaged goods, and frozen foods. Unfortunately, it does not have a great selection of breads, so I can't find like the most basic loaf of bread at times. Also great for buying flowers for my girlfriend!

When I visited in late September this Trader Joe's was pumpkin spice INSANE! Totally on trend with this contemporary foodie obsession. Among my favourite things from the store were Sweetango Apples! These were the crunchiest and sweetest apples I have ever had. Not cheap at $1.29 U.S. but totally worth it. I bought these Powerberries to share with family. Delicious!!! We all loved them. I do not think I have ever had anything quite like it before, an odd flavour combination but it worked brilliantly. I could not believe it. Their Cultured Salted Butter From France is produced in Brittany and was only $2! I used it when I made everyone breakfast burritos. Yum! I lived on their Harvest Salad with Grilled Chicken during the trip and I was not alone. For only $5 you got this huge deeply satisfying and filling salad. Their Crispy Crunchy Mochi Rice Nuggets are SUPER crunchy and quite large. They taste like cubes of corn, actually, even though there is no corn in them. They were great in my tomato soup! The one thing I knew I HAD to buy was their Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend which was only $2 and came in a glass container. My friend The Happy Whisk had told me about it before I left and I saw mmmisformommy use it on chicken! Can not wait to start product testing. Everything we bought at Trader Joe's was delicious and fun. They really know how to tap into trends and make food entertaining. Despite how the tall building is, this Trader Joe's was only one level and smaller than I was expecting but wow, what a fun foodie place to shop. I also love that the clerks wore Hawaiian t-shirts and were incredibly friendly and outgoing. I can absolutely see why people love to shop at Trader Joe's. They have done a fantastic job at balancing pre-prepared food with top quality fresh ingredients. They make food fast and easy to purchase and consume without breaking the customer's bank. Bravo Trader Joe's. Bravo! Read full review here: http://www.suziethefoodie.com/trader-joes-tour/

No Canned Pumpkin for our dog could be found at this Trader Joe's. he is on a special diet and this Trader Joe's does not provide canned pumpkin products. Only seasonal/holiday the store employees said, seems to be a good Trader Joe's but lacking in Canned Pumpkin and pet friendly service our goldendoodle was needing.

This is specific to this TJs. I will still go to TJs but just not this one because of the employees. There are two reasons. First, I bought a pie the other day and the cashier couldn't rub his three IQ points together to figure out that a pie should be carried flat. Instead he packed it in the bag like a box of cereal. Of course when I got home and noticed this it was a big mess. It was after ten so I couldn't take it back. I still haven't but I will. My friend told me these geniuses packed a pie for him the same way and destroyed it too. The other thing was when I walked into the bathroom, and one of the employees was in the stall taking a leak. It's a big pet peeve of mine that guys ought to piss in the urinals and shit in the toilets. I think a lot of these guys are afraid another guy will get a peek and they are embarrassed about their size. These guys should just wait until nobody is around so they can use the urinal without embarrassment. And if they need to piss in the toilet, pick up the damned seat! He didn't and when he had left, I looked, and sure enough, it was splattered with urine. Thanks. So rude and inconsiderate! I'm glad I only needed the urinal. Worse, when he left, he pretended to wash his hands but merely went through the motions because I was there. He touched the soap dispenser but only squirted out a tiny drop of soap the size of a peanut, and rinsed it off without even spreading it on his hands. He didn't even make his hands wet, just his fingers to rinse the soap drop off. The entire "wash" from reaching to the soap to grabbing a paper towel was three seconds. Four, tops. Then I assume he was out stocking the shelves. Maybe the apples. Or pears. No thanks. I'll go elsewhere unless I hear that this TJs starts to educate their employees to wash their hands, and that there's something called gravity that will pull pies out of their tins if they are packed on their side or upside down! A few reviews complain that this store is dog friendly. That's the BEST thing about this store. I'd rather have a dog slobbering all over the food than having some guy handling my food after taking a leak without washing his hands. I'm sure he doesn't wash his hands after taking a dump either. Yum.

You know, the more I go here, I more I realize it's actually not that bad. Growing up, I always thought Trader Joe's would be one of those rich snooty health food places where they sell asparagus water and things of that sort, but I was wrong. Trader Joe's will still have some of those products with the gimmicks and niches of gluten-free, dairy-free, non-caged, and all that which are overpriced; however, they have a much wider array of food that is also cheap and affordable. From the $1/lb of pasta, to the surprisingly cheap produce (as common as $1 bag of carrots to as unique as $2 box of fennel), Trader Joe's is a lot more than what I thought it originally would be.

Shorter women with long brown hair was extremely rude to me while I stepped aside to pick up a phone call from a loved one who had a horrible day. She told me I had to go to the bathroom & wash my hands? I vaxxed & why would you interrupt my 3 second phone call. Sounds like she was just bored & wanted a power trip. Avoid this Trader Joe's.

I have recently warmed up to Trader Joe's. I typically will do my grocery runs at Alameda Natural Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, or Rainbow Cooperative yet ended up at the Trader Joe's in Berkeley. Kudos for Trader Joe's for labeling which of their Trader Joe's brand products are vegan. I picked up Soy Chorizo, Organic Crimini Mushrooms, Super Firm Tofu, Avocados, Sprouted Flax Bread, Trader Joe's brand Walnut Chocolate Chip Vegan Cookies similar to Uncle Eddie's kind, organic black beans, organic fresh basil, some whole grain pasta, & more. It was also nice to enjoy a sample of Pomegranate juice along w/ tortilla chips & salsa. I should note that there are a few room for improvements not just at this branch of Trader Joe's, but all branches of Trader Joe's that I have been to. I would love if Trader Joe's carried bulk goods & stocked staple items in bulk such as dried beans, nuts, & oats. Some of the produce has too much packaging & would like to see the produce in more minimal packaging. While I loved seeing so many great vegan items labeled on Trader Joe's brands that made the ubiquitous label checking for this vegan less cumbersome a final area of improvement is that all of the non-dairy cheeses including the soy cheeses along w/ the almond cheeses all contained dairy so none were vegan. It would be nice to have one kind of vegan cheese as they have lovely Gluten-free made in San Francisco cornmeal pizza crusts here. Luckily after Trader Joe's I was able to head over to nearby Animal Place's Vegan Republic for some vegan Follow Your Heart Mozzarella Cheese to make my vegan gluten-free pizza. Overall Trader Joe's provided a great shopping shopping experience for me & will be back!

At this particular location, I feel as though the cashiers or so rude and sarcastic. I've encountered a cashier by the name of G. Yazmin with dark brown or black hair who was sarcastic with me. Never say hello, a frown in her face, and looked as though she hates her job. Her tone of voice sounds as though she's all pissed off. Maybe she had a bad day who knows? But, all I can say is if you're having a bad day do not take it out on the customers. I don't need to go shopping and encounter sour puss face with an attitude and rudeness. I'm not going to go into details but just wanted to make a point that Trader' Joe needs to provide training to their employees on customer service. Customer service is lacking big time! Wipe that smirk off your face Yazmin!

Regular lunch time outing to grab a bite to eat. The review is long overdue the people in this store the young ones are not friendly or happy at all. Damn if you don't like your job it's YOUR CHOICE CHANGE IT! First off the young lady who checked me out didn't say hello and acted like she could hear. I said I'm requesting money back. She said you want your receipt....of course I do and my $$$$$! Train your staff Trader Joe's better customer service is a MUST! Still going to patron 9-28-18 OFFICIALLY NOT GOING INTO THIS ESTABLISHMENT AGAIN! Bunch of racist ass rude people! Only person in line for 15 items or less and as soon as I walk up to checker (other people walking up) to get in line...checker ask me to go back in line because there two lines and they walked up on the side where he was reallyfucking idiot! Then the people walking up said oh no she's fine she was here before us!!!!!I'm good not going back fuck this traders Joe's.!!!

Stocked up on our frozen favorites! Green chili tamales, Pork Shu-mai, Arugula Pizza, and Mini beef tacos. Roasted red pepper hummus and pita bread and we're ready for the weekend!

Love this branch! It's smaller but well stocked and the employees are professionals. Great customer service.

Public Health Alert! I was eating my favorite lemon chicken and arugula pre-made salad and CRUNCH, bit into a @$#%!! roach-bug thing It was such a shocking experience and I would never think that this would ever happen to me, and nonetheless getting a premade salad from TJ's! I asked my co-worker to take a look because I could not believe what happened. Take caution and look at your food, thank goodness the containers are see through. Makes me start to wonder where the kitchen that made this salad is at, it certainly needs a visit from the health inspector!