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    Berkeley Bowl West

    4.1 (1.6k reviews)
    ModerateCafes, Bakeries, Grocery
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Berkeley Bowl West Photos

    BERKELEY BOWL WEST ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Berkeley Bowl West

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    Entrance
    Brian V.

    Really popular grocer that has been serving the greater Berkeley community for decades. This location was opened in 2009. They're known for their organic produce or just their produce variety and selection in general. I know for a fact that they are one of few places that get stone fruit from a central CA farm that I am very fond of. I've heard of this place through several of my family members who went to UC Berkeley and been wanting to go. Finally got that chance recently. The folks here are friendly and I would say the vibe is similar the popular grocer chain that started in Austin, but with a more organic community vibe. I came through looking for some fruits and stumbled across their craft beer section, which I have to say, had a pretty impressive selection including some rare, esoteric beers that some of my craft beer buddies would geek out on. I then went to the cafe across the way to get a beverage. That cafe is great too! (I think they're affiliated). Didn't have much time to explore or shop, but me and my fam got some stuff before we left. A true gem and am envious of what the denizens of Berkeley or students have here.

    Mango, Strawberry/Red Bean & Strawberry/Chocolate mochi - handmade treats!  VERY GOOD!!
    Hillari A.

    Been shopping here for decades now, but thought I'd post something recent. These past weeks a new Tokyo Central has opened and I thought would give BBW a run for its money, but no. I went this am to BBW and they again had fresh strawberry mochi! JC did not - too funny! I'll stick to my BBW for my weekly items and even some of my fav "Japanese" items as well! Keep doing you, BBW, I'm here for it!

    Goodies for the home!
    Jacqueline F.

    See my last review. This is generally a good store and all the details is in that one. However, they do have issues with taking returns and that is a problematic for me. And it makes me not want to try new things. But they have all the fruits and veg at a good price and the sales are pretty good too. Things are more expensive now, but they are not impossible. At some point, they will have sales on all the gluten-free flowers and stuff and that's when I can stack up on all of my baking goods and get ready for the holiday season. I do like coming here. I do respect their prices. And the people are generally nicer than they've been in a while. I will continue shopping here. The store is generally clean and I've never had a complaint about anything like that. Sometimes their products are a bit hard to find, but it's not a big deal.

    Abi H.

    I come to Berkeley Bowl West once a week and always have a stellar experience. Yesterday, I was even more impressed by their teamwork and ability to work through high stress situations! It was crazy busy, as usual, and it was a Saturday, so the checkout lines were super long and all of the cashiers were going as fast as they could. All of the card readers went down while we were in line for checkout, we were next in line and were pretty bummed to either have to pay with cash or write our card down. It only took about 30 seconds before the leadership team came out and helped to direct everyone on next steps. None of the team members appeared to be phased by this situation which, to me, is a sign of great training and support! They pulled out their backup card readers where they had to manually input our totals and were ready to keep rolling. Thankfully the main card readers were back online before it was our turn and checkout resumed as normal for everyone. I'm always so impressed with how the Berkeley Bowl West team gets through their busy days in general, but this was the cherry on top. You all are the best! Also, if you've never been to Berkeley Bowl West make sure you set aside AT LEAST one hour, if not more, to explore the entire store. They always have bright and bountiful in season + local produce. And typically, each produce item has multiple suppliers so you can usually find one within your price point. I'm a pretty particular shopper and will seek out deals, so my weekly produce hauls at Berkeley Bowl West usually cost me about $25-$30. That's just on produce alone and for high quality local produce, you really can't beat that! They do also have a bargain produce section all the way in the back corner by the meat/seafood. This section has bags of produce for about $2/each and even whole cartons of berries for $1. Because it's the bargain section, you will definitely have to peel through the bags when you get home because they are older items. But you can, and I have, totally get your entire week's produce just in the bargain section for under $10. You do have to beware of narrow aisles just because of how crowded it gets, but the team does an amazing job at keeping aisles clear of hazards/trash as well as maintain a gorgeous farmer's market style aesthetic for the produce.

    Black Pearl Cherries
    Lloyd C.

    When my wife lived in the East Bay, she frequently shopped here at Berkeley Bowl West. I've shopped here a handful of times. I love the sushi grade seafood and produce here! I mean there is so much variety and such a huge selection, it makes your head spin. In a good way of course. She stopped in to see what kind of fresh fruit she could find. She ended up only buying some bananas and cherries.

    Figs and tomatoes galore!
    Howard B.

    Hands down this is the best grocery store that I've been in. Is it crowded with challenging parking? It sure is! Just breathe deep, be patient and kind and this grocery store will deliver a treat that will dazzle your taste buds.

    Ohh
    Stefan T.

    I suppose I'm as enthusiastic as some people are of Costco - which I can't understand. At Costco they always gave less: shorter shopping hours. Don't even bother to put your groceries in a bag. Fewer items and selection. Impossible to buy smaller quantities - which is odd for a person coming from Germany where you can even open any package of almost anything and just buy one - one soda can, open a 6 pack of bottles - just buy one... At Berkelely Bowl you get more: more customer service, more produce items, more shopping bags. And I like it. Whole Foods and trader Joes is probably still my normal spots but if I lived closer to here I'd leave those two in the dust. Especially around the holidays I'm looking for something a little better than normal. Something maybe where price is the last concern. Sure you will pay a little more but its worth it if it plays a part in your once a year holiday meal.

    Big avos for $1.59 each.
    Joan L.

    BBW was beautiful this morning. Both my teriyaki salmon rice bowl and squash soup was waiting for me upon opening. I love soup in the morning!

    9/1/24 Food & drink options. My department

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    11 days ago

    Fresh vegies and lots of selections name it and they have it.Love the chocolate cupcakes!!!

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    2 months ago

    5 stars highlighting excellence in customer service, hot food, alcohol, and coffee department. everything you need is here and more

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    5 months ago

    Amazing selection of fresh produce' meat and fish. If you can't find it at Berkeley bowl you probably shouldn't be eating it!

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    Page 1 of 41

    Berkeley Bowl West Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Berkeley Bowl West

    Do they still accept ebt?

    Yes, but not for hot food. The Cafe doesn't accept EBT, gift cards.

    Is the deli organic?

    Not really. They may have some organic things, but in general it isn't.

    Do you take EBT?

    Hi Melody! Yes, we do - at the point of sale, you can use your EBT card as you would any payment card. Thanks!

    Has anyone noticed a time of day (or day of the week) when the store is not so filled with Instacart shoppers?

    Is there a time of day or week that is not too crowded?

    I was there on 3/27 at 11:45am and it was a 40 min wait. On 3/18 at 11:15, it was a 10 min. wait. They are keeping the store at about one-half customer capacity. I would think it's a little more crowded during the weekends.

    Is there a difference between Berkeley Bowl & Berkeley Bowl West when it comes to flowers, the amount and the different types? Thanks…

    Can't speak specifically to flowers but the Heinz store is a much larger store than the Shattuck store and I have definitely found larger quantities and greater variety at the Heinz store. One small issue for me: I need specifically Chinese cuts of… Read more

    Are dogs allowed in Berkeley bowl?

    No.

    What is your address thanks?

    920 Heinz Ave Ste 200, Berkeley CA

    Does Berkeley Bowl have bulk cooking oils?

    I don't think so

    Thai ice tea?

    They do have thai iced tea in cans/bottles. It's in the same aisle as their non-dairy cheese options and the refrigerated tofu.

    Does anyone know what kind of mushrooms they carry here besides the generic button or portabello ones?

    In the organic section they usually have those, cremini, shiitakes and a couple other kinds. In the non-organic section many other kinds as in season such as black trumpet, porcini, chanterelles, morels, etc. in this area Monterey Market usually has… Read more

    What are the yummiest and or the best hard to find items here?

    Definitely check out their produce section. Chances are you'll find fruits and vegetables you've never seen or heard of before.

    View All 14 Questions

    Review Highlights - Berkeley Bowl West

    ORGANIC PRODUCE: Like the original Berkeley Bowl, all of the organic produce is in its own section.

    Mentioned in 45 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    CoRo Coffee Room - espresso con panna

    CoRo Coffee Room

    (241 reviews)

    $$

    West Berkeley

    We came on a Sunday morning and it was busy, with a line out the door and about a 35 minute wait…read morefrom getting in line to getting our drinks. Parking was easy though, with plenty of street parking nearby. The person at the register was friendly and gave helpful tips and recommendations. While waiting, we spent time watching the co-op roasting facility in the back through the glass windows. That is what really makes this place stand out. There is indoor seating but at 11 am it was completely full! There was some outdoor seating that was open. We tried the rose latte and it was spot on. The rose flavor was subtle and well balanced, not overpowering at all and the coffee was delicious! The only downside was that there were no gluten free pastries available that day, although I have heard they sometimes offer them. Overall, great coffee, a relaxed vibe, and a unique experience that is worth checking out and we will be back!

    My morning at CoRo made me want to spend more time in cafes…read more I ordered a pot of Kyoto Bancha (Temple Pine) sourced from Blue Willow and it was expertly prepared. I didn't have time to get a second infusion of water, but it was offered to me. This place was buzzing on a Monday morning but I was lucky enough to nab a table inside. I didn't use the wifi but judging from the number of laptops around me, it works. Also, if you're looking for outdoor seating, they've got plenty of it.

    Mind Coffee - Earl Grey Cream Cloud ($8)

    Mind Coffee

    (252 reviews)

    $$

    Mind Coffee is one of my favorite coffee shops in Berkeley - it's easy to miss unless you know…read morewhere to look. I came here recently for a pick-me-up while I was walking near campus. It was an unexpectedly warm day, so I stopped in for an iced caffeinated beverage. I was indecisive when it was my turn to order, so the barista recommended the orange blossom matcha sparkler. This sounded intriguing and refreshing, so I decided to give it a try. My beverage was prepared about two minutes after I ordered it, and I was immediately refreshed after the first sip. The orange blossom flavoring was very subtle and provided just the right amount of sweetness and floral essence to counter the matcha's bitterness. The fizziness made this a perfect drink for a hot day. I've tried Mind Coffee's espresso on a prior visit, and I can now say they succeed in both the coffee and matcha categories.

    I was absolutely stunned when I first walked in. Mind Coffee feels like you're immersing in an art…read moregallery, apple store, forest, and a craft shop all at once. We ordered an Americano, the Earl Gray Matcha Einspanner Latte, and the Sakura Matcha Mindspanner Latte. The presentation was gorgeous, from the cups to the cream. The Sakura Matcha Mindspanner was definitely my favorite all around. The hint of sakura combined with the bold matcha was a very fun flavor experience. I think sadly, in the Earl Gray Matcha Einspanner, the matcha overpowered the earl gray. The flavor was there, but it was extremely subtle (don't get me wrong, I'd definitely get it again). Also, their espresso is unmatched. It really reminded me what a good espresso shot should taste like. The staff here were super friendly right off the bath. Even though there is an ordering kiosk available, they still went out of their way to greet us and let us know that they are there to also take orders and answer questions. I was also a bit bummed that they were sold out of their Orange Blossom Latte. I feel like it would taste like an orange creamsicle. They were very reassuring that it's a regular menu item and that I can hopefully get my hands on one before it sells out for the day next time! I can't wait to see what they come out with next!

    Berkeley Bowl West - cafes - Updated May 2026

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