Trader Joe's

Other than trying to find a parking spot, Rockridge TJs is a joy to shop at. Their prices don't change all the time, looking at you, Safeway. There are always enough clerks, and they seem happy. Two different stories, bad corporate offices make for frustrating shopping.

The best TJs in the Bay area. Or at least the best one I've been to, and I've been to a lot of them. Parking is not bad (except at peak times) and the staff are the best. So kind and helpful. And you'll find all the stuff you need with enough space to maneuver.

If you don’t like Trader Joe’s we can’t be friends lol I love TJ, but don't like coming here on the weekends bc it's too packed. However, I was so happy I found the mini Tote bags here! The blue and green colors are sold out, but I got a total of 7 for my nieces. Cashier said someone actually brought 40, so they have to put a limit of 10 which is still a lot. These are so cute for little girl or as a lunch bag. I only kept one for myself bc one is enough.

The only trader joes i hate going in. Its the employees they rude and catty. I understand working with the piblic is hard but its hard not to match petty energy when its given. Definitely not my napa store

This is the best Trader Joe's in the Oakland Bay Area, nice wide aisles, shelves always stocked, friendly, helpful staff.....

I do everything I can to go to this location more often. Most of the cashiers are very friendly. I live near this particular store and go twice a week and I’ve never had any issues with any of the employees, or products, or the store in general. It’s by far the best Trader Joe’s I’ve been to.

Im really about my experience at this location. I got about 10 bags of groceries for 277 dollars. Any other store it would have easily been 400 bucks. I dont know of trader Joe's prices differently between locations but this location has better inventory and seems cheaper

Love this location. Today I really wanted taco seasoning- the most amazing employee, Rah made my dreams come true ! He searched them in the back- one box left! Thanks so much!!

staff are always really nice! it's organized well but usually pretty busy. the parking situation can get sticky so i usually just go around the block to the parking garage and it goes much smoother!

Short walk from Rockridge Bart, pretty much right across the street from the station. It may be a small spot with a not-too-large parking lot, it is a solid Trader Joe's with all the TJ staples that I like finding at any other Trader Joe's location. If I find myself in the Rockridge area, I like swinging by here to pick up some groceries.

I love TJ, but don't like coming here on the weekends bc it's too packed. However, I was so happy I found the mini Tote bags here! The blue and green colors are sold out, but I got a total of 7 for my nieces. Cashier said someone actually brought 40, so they have to put a limit of 10 which is still a lot. These are so cute for little girl or as a lunch bag. I only kept one for myself bc one is enough.

All Trader Joe's are quite similar. One room for improvement in all Trader Joe's is to add bulk bins. I think that would be a nice addition. I also find that produce at Trader Joe's is frequently packaged and sometimes even Safeway has a better selection of produce. Trader Joe's does offer many vegan items that are clearly labeled vegan. Some of the best things to get here include canned beans, organic ketchup, hummus, tofu, bread, and all in all is quite alright since prices can be fairly affordable. Staples are solid here. For produce I tend to frequent farmer's markets and love the bulk bins at Rainbow Grocery in SF yet Trader Joe's is still solid so will be back.

Trader Joe's is no longer one of my favorite places to shop, with regard to this location in Rockridge - I'll give a few reasons: - parking lot is a nightmare with frequent thefts/break ins - mostly packaged food with so much plastic! - one female cashier who us often there when I shop is frequently rude and snobby, I always feel like I've done something wrong when I get in her line. There's one worker there, an older man named Scott, who is always courteous, friendly and helpful. I've seen him helping blind customers with their shopping. Now that Pharmaca is closed and cars are being targeted in broad daylight, I tend to avoid Rockridge TJs and do my shopping at Sprouts.

I've been going to Trader Joe's for years and for the most part have found it to be an interesting and economical place to shop. Lately, however, I've found a number items to be stale or worse. Yesterday, the frozen salmon I purchased, which has always been good in the past, turned out to be clearly spoiled and inedible. This is not just a waste of money, it's also a public health danger. I don't think I'll be going back for a while to see if the problem is resolved.

I love this Trader Joe's. The variety of food changes often. Food is fresh. Employees are helpful and friendly. Only wish service included home delivery. That would make it 5 stars!

Trader Joe's. I like Trader Joe's. The only thing in general that I dislike is the limited edition items and the portions may be on the lower side of things. This specific location is always great for me. It's somewhat spacious compared to the one on university Ave. My favourite time to go is during the morning; the earlier the better. Stamp members are always nice and willing to help you. They make their way to leas you to the store, oh and you can literally try anything you'd like. Since this location is near or in the zone of what is considered a college town they got six pack glass beer or so that's what I heard a staff member say. Some items are unique here with their beer. Anyone seen an A's logo on a tin IPA? BART?! You can't miss the frozen section, always nice, quick, easy, and tasty meals speedily for a uni student or anyone pressed on time.

I've been here countless times now, and now that schools (especially UCB) is back in session, they are busier again. During the summer I think the locals can sense the slightly "depressed" levels of crowding, which is pleasantly noticed in May and we take for granted for until we have our usual population levels back in August. Despite any cyclical changes in foot traffic levels throughout the year, I find the staff here always so friendly and pleasant - even if when I may have to bring faulty items back (never any pushback and they geniunely seem to care if I have concerns). Plus it's on my commute path so it's very convenient after work to stop by! Though I am a sucker for more novel food items, TJ's keep it interesting by roatating seasonal/ introducing new stuff once in a while. A must in the neighborhood.

This is a great Trader Joe's with their healthy products, and good prices. This one is a relatively small store, and sometimes it is really crowded around mid-day. I have waited in line for 20 minutes there. My recommendation is to go early--like 8 am. There was no waiting in line outside. Trader Joe's is so popular that if you go later in the day--they may run out of what you are looking for. Did you know that you can ask to try a product before you buy it, and you can eat as much as you wish. They also have a hassle free return policy. Don't love it--return it. Their staff is friendly, too. And remember, go early and miss the crowds.

I'm never let down here. Of all the grocery stores I go to, these are the friendliest, quickest at the register and often ask if they can help with anything. I over packed my bag, while helping the checkout person. When I left, the bag dropped on the ground and one of the bottles broke. Immediately, I was taken care of by two of the workers there. They ran and got me a new bottle and re-bagged everything on the spot outside. That is customer service! Thank you. I will always come back.

Parking sucks tho! Too many cars trying to get through parking lot and waiting for a spot to open to park. . Bad parking lot design!

I LOVE TRADER JOES. 5* Even in times like this when things are stressful and the community is concerned, the staff continue to maintain their positive attitude. The store is well stocked, the staff is extremely helpful as usual and the lines outside (respecting the 6 feet separation ruke) have designated security to ensure a smooth shopping experience. I have to say, the shopping experience was great and I cannot thank the Trader Joes team enough for making us all feel safe while shopping, keeping the store fully stocked and greeting each and every customer there with a smile. :-) -- First visit 5* This is a great place to buy fresh food and has a huge variety. The additional reason to live this place are the people working here because they are so kind and warm making the whole shopping experience great. They make the effort to recognise regular customers and honour if their way to make you comfortable and are most helpful. This is my regular grocery store and I'm glad !! I highly recommend it :)

Everything But the Bagel Seasoning is now a must. Sitting right next to the sea salt, pepper grinder, Kikkoman, and Tampico on my counter! I'd had their version of the smoked salmon and actually enjoyed the seasoning more than the fish. You truly can put this on everything. Salads, grilled proteins, and veggies. Maybe even fruit! $1.99 a bottle so shake it up!

I enjoy that every Trader Joe's will evoke the same sense of familiarity wherever you go. You know exactly what great products they have, and approximately where they're located. The store is always clean, organized, and well-stocked. Trader Joe's excels at having their own brand of many packaged foods, and it's cheap! Some of the staples I always get are the Trader Joe's brand of Greek Yogurt, hummus, almond butter, nuts, and frozen foods like Chimichurri rice and bibimbap. They also have a good assortment of pre-made packaged foods like veggie hummus wraps, packaged salads, soups, etc. Trader Joe's biggest weakness is its produce. It's just not its forte. The assortment is limited, with maybe one variety of apple, mango, etc.. And the produce is also usually more expensive than regular stores. My strategy is to go to Berkeley Bowl for produce, and Trader Joe's for staples and packaged foods. You get the best of both worlds, and can save a lot on groceries!

Trader Joe's is always quality but the staff at this location are particularly great! Specifically Ivan- seems like he's always working and every time I have a question, he asks me if I need help before I even decide to ask! Then he makes sure to find me an answer no matter what! He's been incredibly helpful on several different occasions which is awesome when so many products come and go fast! Just wanted to shout him out because he's been so awesome and friendly

Excellent customer service they tend to be out of items more than I would like the lakeshore location is always fully stocked. ITrader Joe's cut & packaged watermelon is suspect I buy a lot I sure hope it's real fruit the color, texture & appearance concerns me.

Who doesn't love Trader Joe's!!! Great selection of everything and reasonable prices that are affordable for everyone. Friendly staff and easy to find items. They even have their own alcohol selection from wine, whiskey, etc.

This Rockridge store is in a nice location - close to Bart and local busses. The car park is hectic so head to the side parking lot (off Miles Ave) if you don't enjoy parking lot battles (it's gettin' real in the Trader Joe's parking lot) - or use the BART parking lot across the street on evenings and weekends. Staff members are friendly, and everything is easy enough to find inside this compact and accessible store. I do 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.

TJs continues to get and provide all manner of groceries, despite the fact that everyone seems to think their food supply is running out (public service announcement: it isn't). In this time of pandemic, be prepared to encounter long lines so that customers can socially distance, and be prepared to stand 6 feet apart on the sidewalk at all times. Bring a mask unless you want to get hate stares. Yelp currently reports that Trader Joe's is delivering groceries. THIS INFORMATION IS INCORRECT. I confirmed this with the store yesterday when I called them. They were disappointed that Yelp wasn't checking it's facts, particularly during this time of crisis. NO GROCERY DELIVERY & NO PHONE ORDERS. On the up-side, if you do decide to wait in line with the rest of us, you get all sorts of delicious foods at good prices when you get through the doors. Don't miss the chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches and their delightfully cheap bourbon collection!!! #AmCoping

Look how many items they are missing. This is very commom here for them to be missing these items. I think im going to start shopping at the berkeley bowl. They seem to have more of these items in stock

Ok all these reviews of people saying ample parking must not go shopping on Sundays because I've thought more than once I was never going to make it out of the parking lot alive. Store itself is great, typical friendly employees, great prices & products albeit with entirely too much plastic used. Better layout but worse parking than Emeryville location.

Pleasant experience grocery shopping here or grabbing something for lunch. I prefer this Trader Joe's over Emeryville.

Parking is tough in this neighborhood - but the store has its own designated lot. Employees and store is what you've come to expect from a typical TJs. TJs is always a pleasant shopping experience. This particular store is no different. Very popular stores and restaurants surround the area. I was also at the Safeway down the road and that particular 'lifestyle Safeway' has all the negative aspects to a small grocery store (selection) yet all of the negative feel of a big store. Great time to buy some cookies or chocolates as gifts from here. I like the brandy beans - and they still have them in stock as of yesterday - which is surprising as it usually sells out fast. I feel like the Safeway down the road tried to copy a Trader Joes but somehow couldnt' pull it off. Maybe the managers of that store should come into this one and learn how its done.

I have been buying flowers from Trader Joe's for years. Something is going on with the flowers. Last 3 months most flowers are dead within a couple of days and start getting smelly in the vase. Please go back to being an amazing place to buy flowers from.

Had a bit of a rough day at work, and stopped by Trader Joe's on College for groceries. Everyone at this location are always super friendly, but my 5 star rating was prompted by Ben, who was at a cash register. I had questions about recommendations, and he was so patient, sincere and had some really great suggestions. The visit and interaction made my day a whole lot better! I look forward to buying and trying out the recommendations in the near the future! Thank you Ben and to the rest of really great staff!

I am always satisfied with the products i buy from this trader joe's! I'm a fan of the layout of the inside of the store and their friendly service but the parking lot is another story. obviously there's no room to expand the parking lot but no matter which day or time i go, I nearly always have to find street parking or somewhere in the very back of the second lot. I've also nearly been hit several times by people driving the wrong way back to the first lot- i think more visible signage would really be appreciated. Other than my constant battle with parking my experiences here have been really great.

Fast and friendly staff. Quality food products and produce. It can get busy which is expected considering the location.

Review during the Carolli: They got it together here! Very organized, clear spots where to stand when you wait in line, wipes available to disinfect your cart, allowing only a certain number of folks at a time...I got there around 9 am and there was a good line. I'd say I waited about 30 mins. to get in. But once I was in, it was a calm environment with room to walk around. If there was an item not on the shelf, they were happy to check in the back for me. I really appreciated my shopping experience and all the workers who greeted everyone with a smile and positive attitude. **Limit 2 on hand sani. They do not allow you to bring in your own grocery bags. Paper bags provided free of charge.

PICKPOCKETS STEAL WALLETS INSIDE THE STORE! VANDALS BREAK INTO CARS IN THE PARKING LOT!!! No security guards, either!!! And when you go to speak with customer service, you are told they have no security cameras inside the stores, and may be getting some in the parking lot. They don't even have a protocol to take incident reports, that' s how little they care to document that this is happening. If one googles "Pickpockets at Trader Joe's" there is a plethora of information, so there is no way they can say they are unaware, or fake a look of surprise as the person to whom I reported the theft today tried to pull off. They know what is happening in their store. They don't get my after tax dollars anymore. Plus, it is hit and miss on staples that should be there every day, overly packaged and damaging the earth, anyway. No bueno TJ's!!!!! Adios!

Nice, spacious Trader Joe's. It was busy when I went so there was a line. The line veered to the right side of the building near Zachary's where it is shaded. They had mini yellow watermelons and caramel cookie crunch as well as pistachio gelato..Mmm mmm good.. Can't go wrong there! As well as beautiful peonies for $7.99. Get them b4 they r gone!! On June 13, 2020, they have a free gift for graduating high-school seniors..

Love this trader joes. All of the staff are friendly and incredibly helpful. Prices are great and the organization makes it easy to find everything

TL;DR Trader.. trade.. I like you. Trader Joe's, more like ... Trader Low's .. cause they all have low prices here!!! Everyone here is so nice, they have cheap eggs, they have free coffee, they have free samples, they have friendly people, they have succulents for $5, like a whole pot of them. I was low key mad cause I was looking, well this was a while ago. But i was looking for cocoa powder, but they didn't have any. I asked and they said they weren't gonna have it until July. I think Trader Joe's does well in terms of their ethnic cuisine though, like Chinese food. Have you tried it? I did hear their Chinese food is authentic and cheap. I like ALLLL the Trader Joe's. They have really cheap bananas. Did I mention they have eggs? They always ask if I want a double or single. I'm talking about bags. They also ask me about my day. They are very friendly. Who doesn't love Trader Joe's? They have cookie butter. Where else are you gonna find your weird coffee flavor almond stuff ... I don't know. I'd give them a 6 if I could. I do like the one on University more though. It's right next to BART, the Rockridge Joe's have dog bowls outside for your dogs. They also don't have trash bags. Maybe they should have some trash bags. - Donni W.

I really liked this Trader Joe's. It has a very hospitable feeling that makes you feel right at home, even if this is your first visit here. Option are pretty decent, but I always wished that Trader Joe's had a bigger bakery section. They have some bread and pies, but it's very limited. Still they have a ton of unique foods that you can only buy at Trader Joe's and this location is probably one of their better ones overall. If you love food shopping at a very friendly environment, then this would be the place for you.

Uncharacteristically rude service with cashiers who ignore you, fail to greet you, and then proceed to start negative passive aggressive conversations with other cashiers about other customers. They don't even offer to bag your items and seemed to consider it troublesome. Definitely not a first time experience either. Store clerks frequently block isles and fail to move out of the way. Overall one of the worst Trader Joe's locations I've been to. Other locations have clerks greet at the door and are overall helpful and friendly. Will definitely share an update in our Facebook group! Also this location never seems to have any ACV.

I like this Trader Joe's. It's small, but packs a punch. Limited parking, but I always seem to find a spot. A nice selection of flowers, beer and wine. They do seem to always be out of a lot of the produce options, but a nice array of meats and cheeses and frozen goods. What really sets this TJ's apart from the local competition is the staff. Always happy, smiling and willing to go the extra mile to be helpful makes it more of a pleasure than a pain. A great spot to pick up items and replenish the stock, maybe not the best when you're looking for a heavy produce/stock up on supplies trip.

poor cleanliness, sing toilet bathroom dirty no repeated maintenance or up kept for customers and it smelled like urine ... but they want your money and think that there deserving of paying customers but can't provide a sanitary environment. say no to inhumane business practices

First of parking here is easy! It is also a walking distance from the Four Points across the street. Can you say awesome or what? This TJ is packed with goodies as usual. BUT better than that I found a bottle of 2007 Riesling Spatlese late harvest sitting in one of their shelves. The bottle is also from Germany and tastes almost as good as what I really desire. Paired with my favorite truffles from France and I'm happy! The staff is very efficient if not super busy! So the tendency to be snappy with customers when questions are asked is there. I witnessed it :(

Picked up TJ pita bread $1.49 a pack. Took Bart there - Rockridge Bart Station.

Found what appears to be an earwig in a bag of kale from this store. Luckily found it before there was some accidental extra protein in my salad! It was in a sealed plastic bag. Not sure how that happens....

Nancy S. I love your store (Oakland, College Ave). Almost all my shopping is done there. You have things no one else has. I especially love your big Argentine shrimp, and the Alaskan Wild Sockeye Salmon, your new chocolate peanut cups and Espresso Beans, your wonderful cheese choices, all reasonably priced. I could go on. But I have been disappointed lately in some things that have been discontinued. The main one at issue is Valrhona chocolate (71% my favorite), by far the best chocolate you had, much smoother and creamier than the alternative. No one has anything to match it. I simply can't believe you did that! But, even through this challenging delivery time, you have done a fantastic job. Your staff always friendly and helpful. Delighted that you're offering more and more organic fruits and vegetables. Thank you! (And please bring back that chocolate!!!)

This is my go to grocery store in the Oakland-Berkeley area. Always well stocked, unless you have the misfortune of hitting the Sunday-Monday night crowd!

Staff are amazingly friendly and helpful! Love the pork buns, the cheeses, lamb vindaloo, Sapporo, and so much more. I miss the "food stand" and free coffee.

My favorite trader joes location! Alameda one is waaayyyy too crowded. The lines extend all the way to the food aisles...that is no way to shop! I find that they also carry less of a selection for certain items. E.g. no organic arugula, but will have regular arugula. The Lake Merritt location I do prefer over the Alameda one, but only if I'm around the area. It's actually the closet one to where I live, but I prefer the one in Rockridge. This location also gets very busy and has thee WORSE parking lots ever. This one gets a little busy during after work hours since it's right off the BART station, but lines are never outrageously long. Staff are friendly here and will go out of their way to help you find stuff. The other day I had to buy dip for "dip Tuesday" at work. I wanted to being TJ's 5 layer dip. I couldn't find it, so this employee helped me check the back. She tried really hard, but no luck. They either sold out, discontinued it, or worse maybe recalled? Idk.

This is a really nice Trader Joe's! The one I usually go to in LA is smaller & feels more cramped. This one is big, spacious, & everything is neatly organized. The produce looks fresh & it's a great place for healthier snacks. I can see parking being an issue during peak hours but we were able to find parking easily on a Sunday afternoon. I wouldn't mind coming to this Trader Joe's all the time if I lived in the area.

I love going to Trader Joe's for my groceries but I have noticed the customer service going downhill here. On my most recent trip here, after getting my items and winding up at checkout the cashier commented on my T-shirt (just a regular shirt with a pop culture reference) and then proceeded to go on a long personal tangent. I couldn't even get a syllable in, dude would cut me right off as I could breathe a sound. Kind of reminded of the feeling I had back when watching the 2020 Presidential debates as the Orange Idiot constantly talked over and interrupted Biden. The cashier didn't even ask me the basic stuff ("Did you find everything you needed?" Etc.) that's part of the job. At the end of the cashier's monologue he seemed pretty satisfied with himself and I just wanted to go. Ruined my grocery trip. Most of the cashiers have been fine, but a lot of the new and younger ones seem to lack in reading social cues or just have big egos. Won't be back here for awhile, and when/if I do I'll definitely avoid that cashier guy...young guy, slightly curly hair, tallish (5'8" ish). Dude must not have many friends if he has to resort to using customers at the checkout line to puke out a word avalanche. Berkeley Bowl and Whole Foods (Temescal) will be my regular grocery spots for the next few months.

This Trader Joe's is on the Site of a former Lucky/Alberson's. When I manage to patronize this TJ's, I'm usually on foot as the car is parked at Rockridge BART or this is a brief respite along the Pittsburg/Baypoint Line. I also like that there's a Pharmaca that shares the same parking lot. This Trader Joe's has wide aisles, friendly folks and a neat Rockridge meets Cal Berkeley vibe. And even when there's a lot of people here, the maneuvering and check-out process seems almost pleasant. The selection (at least what I'm looking for) is "same as it ever was" and the only challenge left is figuring out the familiar, yet different layout of the store.

This is the best TJs in the world. I've been going here for almost 10 years and the staff always goes above and beyond. I'm also very blown away at how well they have handled the pandemic and take such great precautions to protect their staff and customers. Great job! I wish all grocery stores would model your protocols because it really makes a difference. I feel safer shopping here than anywhere else. Thank you TJs Rockridge!

Trader Joe's parking lot. is small. so is the store. wouldn't come here during peak hours (evenings), lunch time was fine. sampled uncured organic hot dog in bun(4.99) -sweet taste with some nice spices -good taste without condiments eats:snack-O's onion rings(1.99) -yep. habit forming, tasty without the usual msg, salt. -must be the "sweet onion seasoning". notes: -aisles narrow -friendly associates here. -small store, less chip brands to choose from -many cashiers open during nonrush hours, almost no wait paying. 3.5 stars,