Valley Farm Market La Jolla

Valley Farm Market in La Jolla is a neighborhood gem with excellent produce, great prepared foods, and quality meat and seafood. I have scored multiple times on their Midweek Madness Specials, with such things as Wagyu Ribeye or Lobster tails for a fraction of the normal cost. The crew at the counter are always attentive and cool to chat with about their current favorite item. And the cashiers greet you with a warm smile and ask you how your day is going. This place feels like a neighborhood store should feel.

What I absolutely love about Valley Farm Market La Jolla is the incredible selection of prepped meals—they have everything you could want for a quick and delicious bite! Beyond the fresh fruits, veggies, cheeses, and top-quality butcher cuts, they offer salads, pastas, roasted veggies, salsas, desserts, and more—all fresh, fairly priced, and super convenient. I grabbed their roasted potatoes, prepared carrots, and chicken breasts, making dinner effortless. The cold pasta salad was the perfect next-day lunch. Absolutely delicious—highly recommend!

La Jolla Valley Farms Market is one of my favorite local spots. Their meat selection is excellent, always fresh, well cut, and you can tell they take real pride in quality. They carry a great variety too, from everyday staples to specialty cuts you don’t usually find at bigger grocery stores. Beyond the meat counter, the whole store is impressive. The produce is fresh, the shelves are well stocked, and they have a really nice mix of local and imported items. The staff is friendly and always willing to help or make recommendations. It’s the perfect neighborhood market if you care about quality ingredients and personal service.

I have to agree with the fact that reviews say it’s expensive! Meat department is great but make sure you take out a second mortgage prior to heading there! Their burgers and fries made in the kitchen are pretty good. Poke bowl below average. The 4 star is definitely for the burger and employees!They are very friendly and seem to love their jobs!

Always like shopping at Valley Farms! Friendly and smart! The best meat, chicken and seafood in town. Veggies and fruit are top notch!

I love this place, meat counter guys are awesome! They really give you the local butcher shop feel and the quality is without a doubt the best in town. This is the only place to go to get a good cut of meat in the La Jolla area.

Great selection of fresh meats and produce. I get the pre made meals out of the Hot case a couple of times a week. Try the Surf and Turf with no Pico.

This place is wonderful. Delicious and high quality foods… and the butcher section has a wonderful butcher (Nelson) who knows what he’s doing. Nelson’s friendly customer service and knowledge has made me a customer for life. Definitely recommend.

I went in here for my first time just to check out the products and prices. They have an amazing butcher shop. Some of their meat and fish are already marinated. They've also got prepackaged takeout food. The store prices weren't as high as I thought they would be, although the prepackaged macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes seemed a bit pricy. I didn't check out the butcher shop prices, I'll do that on my next trip. I did see on their Instagram that they have specials on Tuesday and Wednesdays. This week was ground chicken for only $3.99 a pound There are some fun finds up and down the aisles. I found some dehydrated garlic, which will be great for when I am not prepared with fresh garlic. I also found Marie's refrigerated salad dressing, which is so yummy! At the checkout, they have some fresh bakery items. If you haven't shopped here, you may want to check it out. I think there's something for everyone. When I checked out their Instagram, I couldn't stop scrolling. Today Dayle checked me out. She was great - young, happy, and super sweet. I'll be back!

This place is unique as a marketplace several items you might not be able to find elsewhere their interior deli looks good. I'd like to try it soon. the folks there seem friendly

I stepped one foot into the store and the Very Bad Fish smell is unbearable. We were looking forward to browsing and seeing what we can buy. I cannot understand How the manager can allow this to happen. If the fish is bad throw it out! If the ventilation needs improving, do it! Don't ignore the problem

Cute market in La Jolla with all the essentials. They have great deli items and produce, perfect for an odds and ends type of trip. Reasonably priced in my opinion for La Jolla.

BEST EVER tri-tip! It helps if it's Wagyu! Thank you Valley Farm for the amazing marinaded meat.

There is something special about this place... I came in when it first opened several years ago, but it has changed in a variety of ways. First, the service is now absolutely outstanding! Every time I come in here, the employees are so nice and friendly. I keep thinking to myself that one day, I'm going to come in and get the Jerry Springer treatment, like all other grocery stores. However, it hasn't happened yet... Other improvements that they have made include the variety of produce and the prepared foods that they store in a separate refrigerated area. They used to have only a couple of refrigerators with doors on them, but now they also have a full deli style refrigerated section with a variety of wraps, salads, sides, fruit, salsas, guacamole, etc. The Kitchen is the best part! They added items to the menu including bowls, salads, tacos, and burritos. Valley Farm Market is best known for their BBQ meats such as brisket, tri tip, and chicken. The great part about the Kitchen is that it combines the best BBQ meats with classic menu items for an amazing lunch... Thanks for making me feel at home in my hometown!

The market is full of healthy options, and has a pretty large selection. The REAL star for me here that I did not expect, was the lunch from the meat deli. I ordered the Bird Is The Word sandwich that comes with fries... fries are probably my favorite food (simple, I know) and these are some of the BEST fries I've had. They were double battered, crispy with just the perfect touch of softness in the middle, and seasoned well. The sandwich was incredible. Plenty of turkey slices, delicious bacon, avocado, and greens. I was full and satisfied. Paired it all with a kombucha and Carlsbad strawberries. Taking hubby here for a lunch date so he can enjoy with me! ETA: We tried the poke bowl and poke nachos today. UNREAL. The portions are PLENTY, and the poke tastes fresh.

Wow. What a great discovery. I dropped my granddaughter off at a dance lesson and had an hour to entertain myself. Oh, I will enjoy this place on a regular basis. It was 5:00 so a little snack seemed to be in order. I saw a few different versions of poke in the butcher dept, and my eyes went right to the Ahi poke. Here's what I liked: 1. Higher quality of fish than I've had at any poke restaurant 2. Simply dressed with some sort of sauce but sauce does not drown out the flavor of the fish. It's a 'barely there' sauce and other than green onions, no other accoutrements. 3. Great service.. I asked for some slices of lemon. They had none, but I was offered lime slices. Perfect. 4. Tables outside to sit and enjoy my poke snack 4. On sale... $3 off all poke for month of March. I'll be back next Tuesday when I drive my granddaughter to dance class again.

Service is terrible. Waited 15 mins for a rice bowl which they clearly forgot. When I reminded them they said 2 minutes which actually took another 10. Live close by will never go back.

So many great and healthy things at this neighborhood market! We were thrilled to find natural wine + they had tons of fresh Carlsbad strawberries so we grabbed some as well. Hard to come by an amazing neighborhood market with beautiful produce selections - we appreciate you providing amazing stuff to Windansea!! Haven't been here in a few years and will be coming back more often.

I'm a long time patron of their original Spring Valley location, and have been waiting for a chance to try the kitchen offerings at the new spot in La Jolla. The menu looked great! I decided on an ahi poke bowl, grabbed a cold beverage and took it down to the beach at Windansea to enjoy. None of that is happening in Spring Valley. The poke bowl was awesome! It costs about the same as a chicken club sandwich combo at Chick-Fil-A now and is so much better. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of ahi I got, and the quality was every bit as good as I expected from Valley Farms. I'll be back asap for another ahi poke bowl or maybe try the brisket sandwich.

Great place to get specially meats & produce . The best quality and the best customer service . The food they cook is awesome. Everything I've had is top notch! Will definitely shop there frequently! I fully recommend this store to everyone! You guys are awesome!! Keep up the good work !!!

This place is a hidden jewel that needs to be found by everyone. They have the freshest and tastiest poke available, and don't forget to check the whole kitchen menu and amazing hot and ready to eat meals available in the hot case, all made from scratch in their kitchen.

This business occupies the ground level of the building which houses The Collins Coastal Apartments. The folks who live in the Windansea neighborhood are fortunate to have a branch of Valley Farm Market open up in their midst. They carry a fair amount of products, but the main attractions were the butcher block and deli counter. A kitchen that serves some hot food was the reason for my visit. The menu had a selection of ten different sandwiches made to order which all come with seasoned french fries. I chose the Snake River Farms Brisket Sandwich. It consisted of slow smoked chopped brisket topped with BBQ sauce, beer battered onion rings, and provolone cheese on a brioche bun. It took the kitchen a little over 10 minutes to prepare my food. At $15, I would say the price was high, but the quality of the ingredients was good, especially the meat. The fries were nice and crispy. If you're local and live nearby, this is a fine option for some grocery shopping that doesn't involve one of the big box chains.

Very cool to learn that Valley Farm Market has expanded with this location in La Jolla. The store is not as large as the Spring Valley location I have been visiting since I was a young lad, but it certainly serves its purpose with quality items and small kitchen. There is no doubt the Butchery is the star here. They carry the same delicious 'Pollo Asado" at the meat counter, so that's a good thing, and they are making some tasty eats as well, like the burger I ordered from the kitchen. I had the VFM Burger for $9.99 which came with zesty fries. You can choose the type of patty you want for the same price. I went with the bacon & jalapeno burger patty. It's important to note that all the burger patties are ground and formed in house. I asked for the burger to be temped no more than medium. The burger patty was very flavorful.The burger comes on a toasted brioche bun, and served with a melee of ingredients, including their secret sauce spread, which is mighty tasty. The burger was cooked a tad over than I would of liked, but it was still quite juicy and flavorful. The brioche bun was good, but the bottom bun got pretty soggy quickly. They should but a layer of cheese on that bottom bun to protect it and on top of the patty as well. I'm just saying. By the way, the fries that came with the burger were excellent. They were very well seasoned and crisp. The meat counter was impressive, and the fruit and vegetable were small but pretty nice. I wish they offered seating inside and outside along the window, but apparently the City of San Diego called it no bueno, unless additional improvements to the building are made. As a result, there is no sitting. I ate on the curb outside. The people who work here are friendly and helpful.

I've been to this location a few times now and wanted to love it for the local concept and the location but after today's experience I won't likely be back. The smash burger and fries are delicious if you're in the area but I'd drive a little further south to Swagyu PB for a better wagyu burger and experience. The meat counter is extensive and the quality is good, but good luck getting help. I noticed 5 or 6 Caucasian male workers, 1 Caucasian female and 1 Latino female... so maybe if I wasn't an Asian female, then I'd get better service here. Speculation for sure. In any case, there are many specialized items but for the items that aren't, you can find them cheaper at other grocery stores.

Some of the best tacos I have had in San Diego. It's a small market just 3 minutes away from the water but they have a kitchen in the back. I got 3 tacos and they were some of the best tacos I have had in San Diego. Because they do bbq I was able to get tri tip and brisket tacos along with carne asada. 3 tacos for less then 10$(taco Tuesday so each taco was a 1$ off) they were filled well with meat. Handmade tortilla and spicy red salsa. They even threw in some tortilla chips as well. I definitely will be back. They have a good sized menu with other options that sounded amazing. Everything from a burger to chicken sandwich. So happy I found this gem in La Jolla.

My husband has stopped into Valley Farm Market a couple times to get fresh meat and lunch for us. We've enjoyed both the poke nachos and the brisket sandwich. We've also had the different poke offerings standalone and made our own poke bowls at home. The food from the deli counter is very fresh and really tasty. The guys at the deli/meat counter are also very friendly. I actually stopped in on Christmas day to get some fresh produce for a salad and was surprised they were open. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted and welcomed into the store. They had a decent amount of organic veggies and even had some bagged salads available. They do offer packaged products as well like sauces, chips, etc., but they are a little pricier than here. Overall, Valley Farm is a great addition to the neighborhood and while the products may be a little bit more expensive, they are high quality. Note: Deli counter for sandwiches isn't available until after 11AM.

Super cute market under an apartment complex. Had quite a few parking spots. They have so many unique items I've never seen at a regular store. They also have a kitchen with food! Tried out the Nashville chicken sandwich and the wagyu smashburger. The smashburger was really good. Their waffle fries are amazing, $2 extra charge, but totally worth it! Their Nashville chicken had a nice bun, but the chicken was very over cooked. I wouldn't recommend this one. It wasn't spicy at all, not sure if it needed more sauce or if it was just the burnt flavor overshadowed the rest. Tried some of their grocery items as well. Tri tip and ribs were good. The breakfast burrito was just okay, as were the tamales. Wouldn't get those two again. Their baked potato was very tempting and cheesy looking! Will def be back to take at a look at more of their unique items. Their coffee offerings looked awesome!

It was fun having a little grocery store in the neighborhood when it opened, but the produce was always so so and the meat prices have gotten astronomical. The marinated chicken and beef are way too sweet. The burger is actually just a slider. Now I only buy chicken, ground beef, and half and half. Edit - I am surprised by the complaints here about service, everyone has always seemed super friendly and helpful to me.

WHAT A JOKE!! This incredibly overpriced market is ridiculous! $10 for a jar of jam that sells for half that at a regular market. Smells like fish and rotted meat all the time. Customer service is lacking. Gelsons is not far away and worth the extra half mile drive.

When a bunch of La Jolla Dads invite a kidless schlub over for a man-day, the kidless schlub would be silly not to say yes. Once again, these are La Jolla Dads. Oh, what does that mean? Well, LJDs (La Jolla Dads) buy their meat at Valley Farm Market. The stack of 20 or so steaks, a mixture of ribeyes and NY strips were pulled from the fridge and placed on the countertop ready for seasoning. For me that means some salt and pepper before hitting the grill, that's all. After finding the hottest spot on the grill, a quick turn for some crosshatching, a single flip and an additional turn for aesthetic, my finger test told me that I was teetering on medium. A few minutes rest would put me at a perfect med-rare and I hit the nail on the head with my cook - the steak was perfection. I'll be the first to admit that I settle on what's available from my local Ralph's when I'm craving a steak for dinner and I need to remind myself that a drive to Valley Farm and the additional money spent is well worth it for what you get. The quality is sky high and you really can't find much nicer owners/operators.

Valley Farm Market in La Jolla is what every neighborhood market wants to be when it grows up. Excellent selection of all the essentials -- from produce (much organic, which is all we buy), to meat and seafood (best poke around), to groceries, beer, wine, bbq supplies, and everything in between. Never too crowded, always helpful staff. An easy 5 stars.

Had a terrible experience there just now. Tried to order a poke bowl, was told by the guy behind the counter those aren't his job and the guy who makes them was on break. Waited maybe 5 min while he stood there doing nothing.. Then he helped 5 other customers w take out meat orders. Finally after almost 15 min the guy on break came back and made the stupid bowl. Why couldn't the other man do it? I live up the street used used to stop in there for wine etc... not anymore

Very nice market with a great meat selection. The prices are competitive despite the location. I go here often for prime beef as it is closer to me than Siesel's which is my other go to for meats.

Used to be good. Not anymore. Now they take old produce and fake like it's fresh - saw them shaving off the gray bottom of a bunch of celery and putting it back on the shelf. When one of the freezers broke, I saw them putting partially thawed stuff back in. Would definitely not trust the freshness of anything perishable. Management's decision to try and increase profits by cutting quality is a long road to nowhere. Sad. (Agree with other reviewers that the people who work there are very nice.)

I am so so so excited these guys opened here at the coast. I shop at their Spring Valley market due to having had a route out that way with a former job. I digress.... Anyhow, the meat is on point. The poké is bomb. I don't even want to mention this next point for fear of it forever being sold out, but the baja shrimp cocktail is TO DIE FOR!!! oh my goodness!!!!amazing on soooooo many levels. Yes it's expensive. Its la jolla. Shrug. But the cool ujique dips and spices and organic chips and crackers. So awesome. Thank you guys for opening.

Just moved to La Jolla and came across this small business. The food was amazing, great service. However sometimes I do come across this young gentleman who Is always alone and is multitasking a lot. I feel horrible and leave to not over work the kid. He is very kind to me and other customers which makes my shopping experience really enjoyable, great service from aaron and micah, who know me as usual. Fruit and vegetables are fresh, desserts are delicious. Burgers and bowls are AMAZING. Farmer's market is outstanding and I cant wait to shop at there other location.

Bad attitude of guy behind seafood counter at dinner time means we'll probably avoid this place for dinner. With no one behind us in line you would think the guy could smile or at least say nothing. Instead we got "What else?" "What else?" "What else" growled at us as the premium-priced seafood options were slopped angrily into a container? Looked good, why was he mad at the food? Bad day? Maybe? Hard to find employees? Of course. But come on, this is unprofessional. Is there a manager watching somewhere?

I always enjoy going to Valley Farms and I loved the cleanliness and location of the store but man the sandwich I got was such a disappointment! I ordered the Don (originally wanted to tritip but last minute chose the Don) and it was a sad looking and tasting sandwich. So not worth $10.99. Tons of bread, hardly Any meat and cheese and there was this weird clear oil they use on it that made it so I had oil dripping down my hands as I ate the sandwich. My husband and I stopped by to get a couple things and some lunch before headed to the beach for a date afternoon and didn't even look at the sandwich until we got down there. Imagine the disappointment when I open my box to this. Bummed I didn't get to enjoy a good sandwich. Makes me nervous to even attempt the other ones that are even more expensive.

What a gem, this is a great little market with a great variety of items from pre cooked to a butcher shop. Try some reasonably priced grilled chicken to pick up on your way to the beach or some fresh squeezed juice...yum!!!

cirfub-nujget-ceSbe7 the fact that you can even call this a sandwich is honestly embarrassing. How do you have the audacity to charge your clients for a stale piece of bread with a slice of salami with a piece of lettuce. I wouldn't feed this to the prisoners of Guantanamo bay. You call this an Italy sub? Oscar the grouch would throw this away. Do better.

We have been shopping here a couple times a week since they opened. La Jolla is fortunate to have a specialty grocer since Jonathan's closed after 45 years. The customer service at Valley Market is exceptional. Especially at the counters for meat, fish, pork and chicken. They offer a variety of grill ready sausages, burger patties and kabobs. In addition marinated Salmon, Shrimp, Carne Asada, Pollo Asada, even Rimel's sauce marinated chicken. The seafood selection is superior with sushi grade Salmon and Ahi, plus locally caught yellowtail, Halibut, Swordfish etc. Fresh poke and ceviche too. The fresh produce and selections from coffee, salsa, chips, tortillas and beer are locally sourced. Even carry Julian pies and baked goods. You got to check them out! One block to Windansea beach, if your picking up lunch. You might even have a celebrity sighting like I did (Stick Figure Band).

Please note that a lot of these reviews are too properly typed and I'm sure are fake. I'll give it 2 stars because theres a few good employees. I'm gonna be honest and tell the truth unlike most of these reviews. The place is dirty, most of the employees look like they hate their job (and act like it) and theres very little to no customer service. Social distancing is a joke here, I would be careful.

They're having some quality issues. We were thrilled when we called to see if they had yeast in stock and the said, yes. I went down immediately but when I arrived it wasn't on the shelf. They sell "cake or compressed yeast so they had to get it from the refrigerator in the back. The first one they brought out had black spots on it, which looked like mold. They got a replacement and I shopped for red bell peppers. Well, unfortunately when we used the bell pepper a few hours later we found mold growing in that too. It's a little concerning. I guess I wouldn't normally write a review in this situation but a few weeks back when I popped in for some garlic we had quality issues with that product too and could only use about of it. Their prices are on the high end so they should have higher quality standards, hopefully things will improve.

UPDATE: the owner Derek knows hospitality. He was so sincerely apologetic for the experience and insisted we try again. Again - this store is great overall. The first review I really wanted to leave 5 stars review but The Don was a disappointment so I felt I needed to communicate it. I'm updating my review to 5 stars now!!! The brisket sandwich is so delicious and you HAVE TO GET IT!!! It comes on a toasted bun, with cheese and tons of tender chunks of brisket. The bbq sauce is the best I've had in San Diego (no joke, I'm from the south). The onion rings were cooked to perfection and the waffle fries were seasoned so well. Please bbq lovers, go try this sandwich ASAP. You will be so happy you did. Thank you Derek and the culinary team for turning our experience into a great new one. We will be back (often)!!!

Best butchery selection! Poke always perfect! Best fruit and vegetable selection! Best location! Best service!

They young man at the sandwich counter acted like we were an inconvenience. We asked a few questions about sandwiches and he rolled his eyes and gave one word answers. We left without ordering and will never come back.

I'm soooo happy this amazing store is open. The staff is awesome, the meat department is A1. All the items are so unique and cream of the crop. I got a chicken sandwich is one of the best I ever had. I can't wait to try everything from the deli!

If the Spring Valley location is any indication this is going to be amazing. Fills a huge gap in the community and can't wait to get quality meats and try and variety of foods they always have in Spring Valley.

Nice selection of food you won't find elsewhere, but it is overpriced for certain basic items. ($12 for pasta sauce! The very same one is at Vons for $7.) But last night there was a guy walking around without a mask. No employee said anything. He also was walking around with his dog (not at all a service dog, as the dog was sniffing around everything and everybody). This is a health violation on two counts -- guy with no mask and a dog inside. Management: Please do better. Until then, I'll go somewhere else.

I am so thrilled with the opening of Valley Farm Market in La Jolla!!! This market is perfect for fresh, organic produce, quality meats and cheeses and the most helpful deli/butcher. I now do my regular shopping here - it is so clean and the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. I needed active yeast for a recipe (as a novice I had no idea what it looked like) and Tony went above and beyond to check a delivery for me and tracked some down. This is truly a family, neighborhood grocer and I am proud to have it in town!

We love getting their prepared food and having a beach picnic, especially during Covid as a safe dining with a view option. Brisket sandwich is AMAZING.

I can't say enough good things about Valley Farms in La Jolla. This is my neighborhood grocery store and go to for delicious drinks and the bread is amazing. It took me a while to realize that they hadn't menu and they made their own food that you can order either when you are there or you can call it in ahead. I've had some delicious Buffalo tofu bowls in Hawaiian tofu bowls. The snacks and yogurts and chips here are elite. I don't know how else to describe it but they have high and stuff. Therefore it is a little bit more expensive so I wouldn't recommend doing your book of shopping here but rather get select items. I love the strawberry hibiscus yogurt and the jalapeño cheddar bread. These are two items that I can't find other places easily. They sell a lot of meat here which is also apparently really good I have tried one kind before which was the Beef that you would put into tacos I can't remember what it was called but it was delicious.

Honestly, all I can say is the guys in the meat department are really rude. When you ask for something lots of huffing and puffing like you are interrupting them. Makes me wish SIESELS market was a little closer but, makes it worth the drive. Quality of fish and meat is solid tho.

Bad customer service. Employees were super high as we were trying to order and making a joke out of everything. Food wasn't prepared well due to their mental state and left us feeling sick after. Love the concept but poor employee interaction

Props to these guys for pulling off such a wondecurated village market. Top notch fresh fish, American Wagyu, produce and pretty much everything you'd need if you're a visitor or a local wanting a break from the grocery chains. Best part is the helpful Butcher and Staff aiming to hook you up with something fresh and delicious. Update 4/2/20 another shout out to Valley Farms for supporting our community adding curbside and delivery.

Super overpriced for the same brands Vons sell down the road. Most things seem to be 50-100% more expensive than Vons. Organic ice cream is $14 a carton! It's a cute and clean store with a decent variety, but I've never seen prices like these for standard organic brands (and I'm used to San Francisco organic markets)

Cute market and conveniently located. Kitchen selection is amazing, food is delicious and always on point. Complements to the kitchen for always getting my order right and in a timely manner. Staff is friendly. Price are reasonable.