Best grocery store hands down in my area!! I wish I would have discovered this place years ago!! Excellent organic produce, poultry, and dairy at reasonable prices. Wayyy better than Whole Foods. read more

Very friendly staff, wonderful service, and a great selection of items. However, I'm not crazy about the gauntlet as I enter and exit the store, having surveyors calling to me (one almost knocked me over as he was fooling around with his group) and people trying to hand me meat samples. Update: the people at the door are no longer there so I'm upping my rating to 5 stars. Great place to shop. It would be nice, though, to not have to stand in a separate line for organic fruits and veggies. read more

I love Berkeley Bowl West. I could spend hours walking up and down the aisles and debating over whether I want just some fruit or ALL OF THE FRUIT. Fresh, organic vegetables and fruits; cheese selection up the wazoo; bulk items like popcorn, pasta, beans, and baking stuffs... I love this place! The lines are pretty long on the weekends, and for real, you suddenly feel like you're in a packed Costco. Try to get there during the week before rush hour. Then it's like heaven. read more

Did I die and go to organic and vegan heaven? My boyfriend and I were running late when we arrived here and we chose a bad time to make our first ever trip to this Berkeley Bowl. We started our shopping, going up and down each aisle, and got through a couple rows before hearing "We will be closing in 15 minutes..." I wish we had more time to explore, but what we saw was amazing! We scanned dozens of fruits and veggies, a little concerned that nothing we saw was organic, until we rounded a corner and found an entire organic produce section! They seem to have way more vegan and vegetarian substitution options than some other grocery stores, which is neat. I'm vegetarian and I can really appreciate such a wide selection of things I can try! And they had tons of international foods which is super cool. I was particularly pleased to find out that this location has Dandies Marshmallows (called the other location and was told that they didn't!). Goodness, I just wish we were able to spend more time here. My ONLY concern is price, but I knew exactly what I was getting myself into on that front. With the rare selection and variety of goods they sell here, I can't complain too much. Because of this, though, I can't see this as a weekly grocery store for me. But it's amazingly awesome as a location to hunt down some uncommon items that other stores don't sell! It was a little awkward to drive to but parking seemed simple. It looked like they even had an underground parking garage? It can also get a teensy bit crowded in some parts, but that may just have been the rush of people pre-closing time. Overall: as Yelp suggests... "Yay! I'm a fan." read more

5 stars right off the bat! My first time here I was running a on tight schedule so it was brief and wonderful all at the same time. Today I came about an hour before closing time and I was able to wander around and see all the dairy, produce, spices, breads and everything in between, all FRESH, daily and big varieties. Hot tables are pricey but nutritious and tasty, this place just makes you want to stay eating healthy and experiment with all the flavors they have to offer in your home dishes. One more add on this place is definitely one $ sign, crazy cheap prices. I'll gladly travel two cities over to shop here. read more

Berkeley Bowl West - Excellent produce area for a great price - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ok, the parking sucks. But parking sucks in all of Berkeley anyhow. At least theres not as many hippies trying to befriend me to join their cult, or panhandlers with entitlement issues. I always go in on the weekdays before 12 so I don't have to deal with the Self Rightous Yuppie/health conscious / politically correct idiots that Berkeleys been wrecked by. The employees are nice. but the reason I give 5 stars is the Burrito place makes killer Burritos! It amazes me that they're so good! And the people that work there are nice. read more

The first great thing about this store is that it separates the organic fruits from the non-organic fruits. Each has its own separate section. That makes it easy to find what you want. If you want lunch from the deli, the Chinese food counter, the burrito bar, make sure to get there about 11:30am before the rush. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in line for a while. read more

Great cheese selection, great deli, great bulk section, great produce selection, great bakery selection, great organic selection, great beer and wine selection, and great meat selection. Foodies will LOVE this place and so will hippies. You'll find things that you won't find anywhere else and things you never thought was edible. You are better off buying regular grocery items like laundry detergent at chain stores. Not designed for the clinically obese or average American... small aisles and this place can get packed. Avoid during food-centric holidays like Thanksgiving... it's a nuthouse. Evenings can also be a pain. It's best to get there right when they open... you'll get first pick of all the fresh produce. There is ample parking... there is a lot in front, underneath, and next to it. This place is 10x better than the original location in every way. The cafe serves pretty good food too. They also carry goat milk and Sambazon Acai! read more

I went on a field trip with some of my girlfriends here a few weeks ago and I had such a great time! There is an amazing selection of everything! I loved browsing through the dry goods section to see all of the different types of teas, granola, tapioca, and nuts that they have. However, my favorite place by far was the produce department! They have little tasting plates above the mangoes (who can resist that!?). There are three to four sizes and/or colors of every single item. Ever seen a yellow carrot or a purple cauliflower or extra extra large avocados? I even found my favorite type of eggs here from Judy's farm. I used to not think that I could tell the difference, but when we scrambled the eggs from Judy's...you could absolutely tell the difference. I have never seen so many varieties of Honest Tea in my life or organic gluten free salad dressings (Annie's). I had been searching for Annie's French dressing everywhere - and found it here! The best part? Everything was so well-priced. Sometimes when I go to great gourmet markets, I feel like I am being robbed of my hard-earned money. I absolutely did not feel that way and will likely make a stop there every single week from now on (and I don't live anywhere close by!). If you haven't been, you should run there immediately - - but don't go hungry, or you will literally buy the entire store. read more

BBW has almost everything you need for your kitchen needs. I really enjoy seeing the organic, local produce section separate from the conventional produce. The division of the produce makes it easier for me to quickly shop for what I need. There is sufficient parking in both their underground garage and parking lot. The best time to shop at the Bowl is weekday mornings. Overall, a great place to shop for organic, seasonal produce at very reasonable prices. read more

My favorite grocery store in the east bay! This store has a little bit of everything. Some of the random produce I've picked up here: sea beans, curry leaves, morel mushrooms just to name a few. There is a great variety of prepared food and some grocery items that make cooking at home a little easier. They have great fresh pasta that is cheap and won't make you cringe in the check out line. My favorite thing here is the bargain produce. There are bags of vegetables and fruit for $1.00, they are usually bruised or about to spoil and are for quick sale. These bags are great if you walk in and find some vegetables to cook for that day. I've walked out of here with bags of artichokes, kiwis, and some chanterelle mushrooms and each one was only a buck!!! The bags are put out at random times in the day so there is no set time but be sure to always check it out when you're in the store. This grocery store does tend to get crazy-busy. If you're not a fan of crowds I suggest going in the morning when they open. Avoid any time near lunch or after work because the lines can get a little long. Watch out for some weekend times because the store will be packed. It's well worth the wait because the prices are comparable to some local Chinese grocery stores that have killer deals. Gives 99 ranch a run for their money haha read more

Berkeley Bowl is my go to grocery store when planning out weekly meals. Their selection of fresh produce is enormous and prices unrivaled. Their deli selection is also great (e.g., prosciutto!) and I love their bulk selection (grains, spices, cereals, etc.) They have a great cheese selection (and daily samples) and a pretty diverse beer aisle. They sell by the bottle so it's possible to try them all. And their meat/seafood counter has a lot of variety (e.g. oxtail, uni, sushi grade fish, chicken hearts(?) A word of caution: I'd avoid the meat counter during peak hours -- you're guaranteed to wait a while. You'll see what I mean... The downside to Berkeley Bowl is that when it's busy, it's an awful, infuriating madhouse. For instance, people giving you flat tires and leaving unattended grocery carts in the middle of a crowded walkway. However, with the selection they have, I'll pretty much put up with anything. read more

I would love to rate this place higher... but for those that live in SF, there's no reason to cross the bridge when Rainbow is in area... and much more diverse in specialty foods. Berkeley bowl has many WONDERFUL items! But it's like shopping at a confused mash of Safeway/whole food market/a corner ethnic store. I overall enjoyed my short trip here... but I can't help but point out that the cashier was biting her hang nail the entire time she was ringing my items. I am likely more germ a phobic than most... but this just crosses the line! read more

In terms of produce selection, variety, and price this place is incredible. They've got an awesome cheese selection and I like that not everything has to be a super organic no name brand here. The prices are very reasonable and you have a very local, berkeley feel to this place However the cafe is less than desirable. Despite having a cool soda bottle selection, the food itself was soggy, cold, and tasted rather fishy. It was a salad and California burger. read more

I wish I live near by Berkeley bowl, they got varieties of fruits, milk, yogurt. Everytime I shop here, I feels like I'm in a candy store, a healthy version of candy store. I love the concept they carried so many different kind of products, fresh vegetables and fruits. Luckily my bf work near by Berkeley bowl, I always make some requests before he go home! read more

Going to Berkeley Bowl is really depressing. It's incredibly frustrating that you have to go to Berkeley for this kind of market. There's nothing in San Francisco that's even close. The quality of the food is amazing. Many of the prices are really good - there's a cheese I first bought, on sale, at Whole Foods in San Francisco for $12 and the regular price at BB is $9. The variety of the produce is simply amazing - you can't find some of the things BB sells anywhere except the Ferry Building Farmers' Market. I saw produce being brought in from one of the farmers that sells at the best farmers' markets in San Francisco. The variety of many other foods is amazing. Here in San Francisco, I have to go to Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Rainbow, and a handful of farmers' markets. If I lived in the East Bay, I would only have to go to one store. read more

Recipe for Berkeley bowl west Combine original ingredients of Berkeley bowl. Excellent and inexpensive produce Wide variety of meats More types of fruit and veggies than you knew existed Huge bulk food selection Slightly grumpy checkers High popularity with pushy people Now add the following Ample parking Wider aisles Fantastic cafe More understandable floor plan Slightly less grumpy staff Combine. Makes one Berkeley bowl west capable of a highly pleasant shopping trip provided you don't go at 1 pm on a sunday. read more

We're hooked and plan to shop each week at BB West even though we live on the other side of the tunnel. I hated going to the original BB due to limited parking and long lines at checkout. The whole place is incredible - lots of parking, uncrowded on a weekday, tons of organic produce and fresh sushi grade fish. We bought five different types of sashimi plus trimmings (shiso, radish sprouts, takuwan,avocado) for $60 to feed six people. A great way to save and entertain at home. You can find so many things that a normal supermarket will not carry. We haven't tried their cafe yet as they seem to be in the process of getting it togeher. This would have been a five star rating, but minus one star for the inexperienced checkers; we've been overcharged several times and had to bring it to their attention - no apologies. Do NOT talk to others standing in line and get distracted, but keep your eye glued to the check-out register. We caught a $13 error and they never said "sorry". read more

The best place to shop for your food needs in the entire Bay Area! They have a HUGE selection of organic and non-organic fruits & veggies, a superb selection of meats (for the carnivores), the largest selection of olives you will ever find, and tons more. On top of everything, prices are very reasonable. Shop here. read more

i've been going to berkeley bowl since its beginning in an actual bowling alley. Nice hippy place. Now love the bins, get all my stuff for baking bread and granola. Then there's the old fruits and vegies packaged in 99 cent bags, great. And the fu fu health section has safe alfalfa seed for spouts. But i won't buy the milk there anymore, got a gallon well within the sell by date and it was sour. Usually no big deal, just a morning with no milk in the coffee, but the darned store wouldn't take it back. In my 70 years I've taken back bad milk maybe twice, never had a problem in exchanging it. What's with my favorite store? As so many of us are, I'm poor and can't throw money away. jeese, a trip to safeway for milk? read more

Went there today with a large group of friends from SF after a few month hiatus and was so disappointed. I've raved about this place but management must have changed. Food stalls were terrible! Burritos were big, fat and juicy. Now, they skimp and it's a shadow of its former self. The chinese food stall is awful as well- weird, strong tastes with nothing very tasty. Between rice or the chowmein, skip the chow mein, it's taste and feels like rubber. Lots of moldy fruits on sale (i'm surprised nobody checks on whether these old fruits can be sold), and prices have increased. Variety is still there. Good quality of veggies and fruits. I use to think living close by BB would be delight. Now, I wouldn't care to cross the Bay Bridge for BB since lots of other places do what they do in the city. read more

The good: Pretty good products, and good prices. The bad: Unorganized and unprofessional. Poor store layout and shopping experience. Some deli products mislabeled with inaccurate ingredients. read more

This store gets 2 stars because it has a nice frozen food section and a good bulk food section. Other than that, there's no reason to shop here. The organic produce stinks. I've very rarely gotten something here that wasn't about to rot or didn't have any flavor. Even worse, I've had awful luck in the meat and seafood department. Each time I've been burned and it's not just money I've lost. I've lost lots of time cooking pork and salmon that just wasn't worth buying. For example, I got some pork that was so fatty and chewy it was hardly edible. Then I got wild Pacific salmon that was so chewy and gristly, it was inedible. I had to eat a frozen dinner instead. Now I have to drive all the way back to return it. I do have a life and I don't have to waste my time cooking your inferior meat and fish when there are better markets out there. Oh well, Berkeley Bowl, you may be worth an infrequent visit to the bulk food section or frozen foods, but other than that, farewell! read more

I love this place but who wouldn't if your looking for unique items that you can't find anywhere else. Raw milk for one that doesn't cost an arm and leg. read more

I see people LOVE this place. I guess that's good for me, since I'll get parking at BB East. It's O.K. but what I don't like is the supermarket set-up. Or the leafy greens in giant plastic clam packets. And most of all, the organic groceries shoved over in a corner by themselves. I really missed the organic section at BB East, so I never shop at West. Therefore I can't really comment on anything else, except the fish section. Where I waited FOREVER b/c it was understaffed with people who were alternating between slicing salami for folks at the other end of the counter, and helping fish customers. And after that big long wait, the fish wasn't fresh. At BBW there's a parking garage. Which is CRAZY when it's busy. If you want to explore the myth of laid-back Berkeley, park in the parking garage for fun. read more

Honestly, this place needs a lot of improvement. The selection of products is interesting, but generally overpriced, and the customer service is pretty awful. The cashiers and other workers we've encountered have been rude, terse, and made a lot of mistakes when ringing up our groceries. They seem pretty unhappy, as I've overheard them talking about issues they have working there. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because they sometimes have products that can be hard to find elsewhere, and the building is new, plus parking is OK as long as you don't go at a busy time. We go back every once in a while because we have really wished we could like it, and add it to our other favorite groceries in the area, but we've unfortunately never had a very good experience at either of the Berkeley Bowls. read more

Real food! Real GOOD food. I love this place. If you are trying to be healthy and need a good source for staples and fresh-this is the place. Their Japanese specialties are excellent and there are many cool things to find like their selection of teas, wines, cheeses, and breads to name a few. We found BB to be a great option from the politics and high prices of Whole Foods. read more

I like this grocery. They have tons of organic food, fresh oysters, lobster, etc. They are not over priced, not like whole foods. Once I got small 10 avocado for less than $2. Usually there have samples for tasting cheese. This is very popular place, so you should be careful when you drive into their parking lot. read more

Excellent place to stock up your pantry, check out exotic and interesting items you may not see at other big box grocers, and also pick up prepared foods, if you're not in the mood to cook. Both Berkeley Bowl locations have parking issues - so be prepared - or go when it's not busy (typically later in the evening). I like the underground parking garage for BB West as it's convenient. What I don't like is the garage can be kinda creepy at night, even though it's well-lit. Wish they'd have security do a check every now and again. Whether you choose Berkeley Bowl for your weekly shopping or as the place to get that hard-to-find item for that recipe you're working on, this is a great place to shop and find what you're looking for. Chances are, they'll have it. read more

Hell is other people, and that's why I can't give Berkeley Bowl 5 stars. It's tough to give 5 stars to a business I'm always eager to leave. It's so good that it can get extremely busy. It's all about the produce and the bulk food. Always check the aisles for current deals on local produce. And, don't forget to peruse the bargain produce section nestled between the organic and non-organic produce. It's not uncommon to walk out of Berkeley Bowl with two full bags of produce for under $25... if you hit it at the right time (early on weekdays I've found to be best), the bargain section really is that good, you just have to be flexible with what you're looking for. The bulk food section is well-stocked and priced. I love that I can purchase items that I don't use every day (such as Fenugreek seeds) in smaller quantities. There is ample parking, even when busy. The underground lot is expansive and so are the two to three above-ground private lots. read more

Listen people. When's the last time you were here and not felt like someone was going to plow you down with their cart to get to the kombucha? Why oh why don't they have carts sized in proportion to the narrow aisles? Berkeley Bowl has exceptional products and options and produce, which it owes to its constant state of chaos! The store layout needs some rethinking. The entrance itself is a bottleneck with the bread section and a la carte food customers. It's time to rethink this! The customers have become increasingly aggressive over the years. Someone hit my car in the parking lot while I was in the store and left. Bummer dude! How about following all those tenets on your bumper stickers. Be nice to each other. The organic kale will still be there. read more

I'm not huge fan of Berkeley Bowl, but it has its uses; in those areas where it is useful, it typically excels. For: 1) Produce: The produce section is pretty good and falls into two well-demarced camps: Organic and "regular"("inorganic" would do, but that might cause a confusing lack of clarity for those who care about such things). Given that I don't care to piss away my cash on fads and government approved labeling practices, I pretty much strictly attend the regular section. The produce is reasonably fresh, the prices are fine, and there are choices; 2) Choices and Depth: One area where BBW exceeds every expectation is the depth of their wares in most areas. Just today, I was tripping down the aisle and noticed that should I ever have cause to purchase such things, BBW carries at least three brands of ghee (yick) and more varieties and brands of coconut oil than I could count in the few seconds that I was in the vicinity; 3) Prices: The prices appear comparable with what you might find at one of the larger grocery chains, except when it comes to produce. The regular produce at BBW is cheaper than elsewhere, excluding Monterey Market; 4) Space and layout: Some thought went into the floor plan, and it's used well-ish. Sure, there's always going to be a dip-shit or two standing on what they've determined to be the moral high ground which, coincidentally, is precisely in the middle of the aisle (it's for your own good; someone has to lead the way), but there's usually enough room to maneuver past any three finkers bravely daring to challenge the status quo; 5) Going early pays off. Most local visionaries tend to sleep in until 11 on most workdays, so anytime before that, Monday through Friday, should make your trip faster and happier. Against: 1) Timewarp: Unlike the other Berkeley Bowl, which drops one off sometime in 1968 or 1969, BBW only sends you back to 1999, sans festivities. Recent, yes, but still annoying; 2) Berkeley sucks. 3) Congested arteries: No, not mine, rather the two major thoroughfares adjacent to BBW tend towards congestion. Part of that is the volume of traffic, but most of the blame can be placed on poor city planning decisions that have impact not only here but in other places around town as well: few or no protected left turns, a purposefully reduced number of alternate routes, vanishing lanes on Ashby, etc. 4) Probably not worth the effort for most grocery needs: Unless you live in the neighborhood, it's a ways away (in the East Bay metric, anyhow). Sure, they've got three kinds of ghee and God knows how many varieties of olive oil, but how often does one really use ghee? My point: most needs one might have can be adequately met elsewhere with greater ease and convenience. Overall, a low 4 stars read more

I absolutely love this grocery store. They have a superb selection of organic and conventional produce, bulk items and spices. I love the deli section, especially the house made sliced turkey, which is delicious. Of course, the only issue here is that it is usually packed with so many people; but I cannot complain about that since we're all here for the same reason. read more

While I love this store, and appreciate *some* of it's products, I have gotten a rotten (very very rotten on the inside) pineapple, a mushy watermelon (that was handed to me by a store clerk, when I asked where the watermelon's were, he was standing beside them, I just hadn't noticed them yet). I go for the *fresh* produce, and get yuck on the first 2 trips to this store. I do like their coffee bean selection, but the organic bean grinder (there are 2 grinders, side by side) is just a disgusting mess. This was at about a month after opening. I assume that so many Berkeleyites are prefering the organic coffee beans, that this poor machine is just put to such high usage, the store employees cannot keep it clean. but, really, once or twice a day, come by and clean up the grounds all over the tray under the grinder opening, and sweep up the floor in front of it? Okay, thanks. I also go specifically for the St. Benoit yogurt, in those charming ceramic containers. I pick one up (Plum) and notice that the expiration date is YESTERDAY. Uh, yuck? I pick up 5 other containers, and see that they are all outdated as well. I'm sorry, but this is unacceptable. At about a month after opening, I would hope that someone is getting a clue here. I did ask a dairy case employee if he could look in the back for a fresher yogurt, and he did bring out a handful of them that had a 2 week post date on them. So thank goodness for that. Why else do I make the trek to this store, if not for my St. Benoit's? ;) I won't be returning for the produce, after my pineapple and watermelon rot, I simply have lost my inclination to try again. What a shame, too. Isn't that what this store was originally based on? Fresh produce? I still go for very specific offerings, but if I find more nastiness, I think I'll just stick to 'Whole Paycheck'. thanks very much! Oh, and a big "P.S."---I've only had ONE encounter with a Berkeley prius driving (actually she was in a Toyota pickup truck) parking spot nazi! She made eye contact with me while I was still sitting in my car, then purposefully opened her car door and slammed it into my car door! What a nutjob!, but that's par for the course in this city, I suppose . . . read more

Positives: Great meat selections. Great produce selection. Fairly good turn over of produce. Like that I can get a few international products that I miss from living overseas. Yay parking lots: in front, underneath, AND across the street. Lots of options for lunch: fresh soups, taqueria counter, asian food, sandwiches, salad bar, and prepared salads. Negatives: Yes this store has WAY to many choices but my review dropped down 2 stars purely for the lack of customer service. I have yet to be greeted with a smile or even a hello from ANY of the tellers. Just look at my face and acknowledge that there is a new client in front of you. They all seem to be more interested in talking to one another or the guy bagging my groceries. Don't bother asking anyone in the store stocking shelves where something else is or if they know if there is a particular product available. Clearly employee training is take this box, unpack and put on shelf. read more

Love love this place !! I go crazy over the organic fruits and veggies !! In addition, there's a restaurant/ café next door! Just can't get enough! The bakery has some fine cakes and pastries too! read more

First, I love BB, especially the produce and Meat&Fish. I had an odd experience with my organic celery. When washing it seems to have a very slippery coating on it. I've never had celery with a coating on it. I washed it very thoroughly to get that coating off. read more

They generally fixed the old BB's parking situation with an underground lot, but expect to wait several minutes for the lines of people with carts to descend the elevators. Better yet, carry your stuff down on your own! Much better traffic flow through aisles than old BB, but whoever designed the organic section must have also designed the old BB, because it is designed to be one giant traffic jam. Honestly, a kid with Lincoln Logs could have done better. Still giving it a 4 star, as the hippie product selection is still excellent, the prices are still reasonable and I have less desire the rid the world of 50% of it's population when I leave than at the old BB. read more

I have a hard time imagining that anyone could dislike Berkeley Bowl West. I'm a fan of both Berkeley Bowl locations, but West is even better than the other place. Sure, you have your occasional outlandishly priced product (I remember seeing some magical apparently unicorn-rendered organic almond butter for 20 something bucks, once), but they are generally easy to avoid, because there are so many options. The produce section is the best part of this store, though, hands down. So many varieties of food to choose from, and so much to explore. Want to try a dragon fruit, just for the heck of it, for example? You can find them here. When I want good arugula, guavas, tamarindo or yucca, I know I can rely on BBW. I also come here to find delicious cheeses, tofu from hodo soy beanery, and awesome bulk goods. The pre-prepared food in their deli-like section is pretty good, too. When I feel lazy and want someone to make a gigantic burrito for me, but don't feel like eating out, or need to get off my bum and grab some groceries anyway, this is a nice option. I have to say, the parking situation is pretty fantastic here, considering how impacted parking can be for Berkeley businesses. Multiple lots to choose from, and if you live in the right places, you can always take the Emery-Go-Round and skip driving completely. The only con is that solicitors hang outside pretty often (yes, I love our oceans/forests/feel sorry for illiterate children/recognize the need to address X,Y, or Z injustice, but sometimes I just want to get my groceries...not to devalue how hard it is to solicit donations) Final note: my boyfriend is addicted to the pizza bagels sold here. Pizza bagel lovers take note. read more

Other than the parking i really like this place. I really find items that i wouldn't find anywhere else. Well stocked and my place to go to make my own cereal. Fish? Bread? they got everything. read more