This review is for what used to be Lee's Fruit and Vegetables at 309 Grocery. Mr. Lee sold it a couple of years ago, so it's under new ownership now. I've been in since the change, and the new folks are solid. Friendly, easy to deal with, and everything I picked up was fresh and exactly what you want from a neighborhood produce spot. It's not Lee's anymore, but it's still a good, reliable place to grab fruits and vegetables. Definitely worth stopping in if you're nearby. read more

As a hungry vegetarian, I need my tofu. I love that this place has the traditional tofu in the water bin. It is affordable and fresh. It is family-owned owned and I like to support small businesses. The family is professional and courteous. read more

Went in to quickly grab some vegetables for a couple upcoming dinners. A lot of the veggies did not look fresh but found some packages that looked decent. As I start to prep them the same day I purchased, I've found mold on all the vegetables I purchased. I'm normally cool with just cutting off some black spots off broccoli, but there was way too much for me to feel comfortable. Disappointed a place with fruit & vegetable in the name doesn't have fresh produce. If you need packaged goods though, they have a decent selection. Outside of that, would not recommend. read more

Friendly neighborhood place for groceries. Prices are reasonable, not as good as Shoprite but better than many other places. They sometimes have relatively uncommon items (especially Asian items) which are difficult to find elsewhere. 3.5 stars read more

We visited several times and it's always clean. They have a few interesting items. They always have fresh flowers. The prices on some things are too high. But the prices on many things are OK. read more

This store is here for forty years. Owner is very friendly and keeps the place clean. It's a small store but has all the essential food items. Some are a little pricey but a good grocery store overall. If you're looking for something but can't find, please ask. You might be surprised to know what all they have. read more

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Whenever I stay my friend's place in jersey, I tend to go here for some grocery shopping. Well this is very close to my friend's apartment, so it gets an edge over the Shop rite. The store carries are the necessary stuff, though it is bit cramped. Specially during the evenings expect to wait in the line to get to the cash counter. Don't expect the produce to be fresh all the time. They accept credit card only above ten dollars. read more

This is a serious mom n pop shop, I see the owners at the store all day every day. So I'm definitely a fan of this place, their produce is fresher than Pathmark and I can get more of a variety sometimes. I like that they carry some a wide variety of chocolate and snacks. It is a little bit more expensive but it's actually not bad as far as prices go. You can get a nice bouquet of flowers here too. I wish they took amex, but they only accept visa/mastercard. There seems to ALWAYS be a long long line around 6 or 7ish when the rat racers (me included) get off of work. Perhaps they should get another register and checkout person. read more

A small family owned business. This place is small, but they know how to work around the scarce space. Each aisle is organized and easy to find what you're looking for! Even the fruit were nicely stacked and organized on top of each other. The employees here greet you with a warm and welcoming smile. You don't encounter these types of markets here in Los Angeles! read more

So so sooooo thrilled to have discovered this little gem right down the street from my office!! They have everything you need, it's all super fresh, and the prices on produce are in line, or often cheaper, than Acme and Shoprite. I have been so pleased with the selection of everything and the freshness!! The store is also very organized and clean as well, it's a pleasure to shop here. Happy to have discovered it and can't recommend it enough. read more

One of the few spots in JC that has Indian cooking staples like curry leaves. I find the owner to be really nice once you visit a few times. Prices are way better than the convenience store by Grove Path. It's a little far for me, otherwise I'd go more often. read more

I have shopped here for many years and it is a neighborhood gem. The new owners seem to be making some small but noticeable changes to increase selection. They have also organized a bit differently to maximize the available space. read more

Super friendly staff, with solid produce. Can find pretty much anything you might need here, and they've got a nice selection of Korean/Asian grocery goods as well. read more

Very rude, don't know how to speak to their customer I used to come to this grocery almost every day. One time I did not had cash and my purchase was 9.86 and the credit card limit was 10 dollar I asked him nicely if he would be ok with this amount since it is 20 cent less than 10 dollars he almost yelled that no and he will charge me extra 2 dollars !! This is beyond being rude and at the same time stupid !! read more

We recently moved to the area and found Lee's to be our go-to spot for groceries. It's a small family-owned business that offers an inexpensive selection of produce and Asian groceries - it's also a nice reprieve from the riffraff found at 99 Ranch. read more

Best grocery place in JC! If you need fruits or vegetables, forget the shoprite. Support the local stores. Come check this place out. By the way. Try out the 'Tate's cookies' they are carrying. Those things are da bomb. Don't see them being carried in many places. Plus the people have always been super friendly to me. Five stars! read more

My favorite mom and pop grocery store. Quality fruits and vegetables, wide variety of goods and friendly owners. I personally love the availability of Asian and Korean supplies, especially the homemade kimchi. Support local business! read more

Let's think about our average bodega and then let's think about Lee's Fruit and Vegetable. I mean, it's like apples to oranges. For anyone that does their Full Blown Grocery shopping here - dumb! Of course some grocery store items are expensive, you're not at a grocery store. For anyone that picks up last minute things for dinner, like potatoes, bread, herbs, or milk - smart thinking! I love this place, and their homemade kimchi is the bomb. Viva la Korean owned 'bodegas!' read more

Of all the bodegas we have in downtown JC this ranks probably somewhere in the solid middle. Not the best and not the worse. Has a decent selection of the essentials - OK produce (some stuff was on its way out) and basic groceries. All of the stores are small - but this one made me feel a bit claustrophobic. The people there weren't really chatty - but gave enough of a friendly mom n pop vibe that I'd stop in for a last minute thing - or am too lazy to walk farther since this is the closest store to me. $10 minimum credit card and the lady always gives you a free banana. read more

I live close to Lee's, so I am certainly a little biased. BUT it also says a lot that I've been to the other bodegas in the historic downtown area, up and down Newark and Grove, and still find my way back to Lee's. The selection is good, and my main sustenance is their homemade kimchi, which is spicy and delicious. Dairy can be hit or miss, I've had a few things that went on to expire before their sell-by date, I'm assuming because their refrigeration system is not great, but I've also experienced this problem from Tender Shoot Farm and the grocer next door. read more

Lee's Fruit and Vegetable is a reliable place to pick-up necessities for your apartment. A very busy Korean-owned bodega, it carries classic American items as well as Asian classics such as Kim Chee, Tofu, frozen fish, extra large bags of rice and Bok Choy. While it scores high points for convenience and friendliness, the busy bodega could be cleaner. We noticed three health code violations. 1) Egg cartons stacked too high (over the refrigerator coils). 2) Expired milk and soy milk products. 3) Dirty, moldy areas in beverage refrigerators. Also, the produce is often over-ripe and unfresh. Our suggestion would be to clean up the place and store perishable items properly. The JC Department of Health would surely fine the place for these minor yet pervasive health code violations. We love Lee's, that's why we want it cleaned up. read more

Horrible customer service and sells EXPIRED FOOD. I used to like this little store and would stop in a few times a week. Now, for the second time, I ended up buying food, getting it home and realizing it was expired (dairy product OVER A MONTH PAST EXPIRATION). It happened again yesterday and I bought it back today with my receipt and asked if there is anyway I could exchange it. The man at the register out right refused to help me. Didn't say sorry or anything and acted like I did something wrong or insulted him. He was just really rude and said no you can't have your money back. I couldn't believe it. I want to support small business owners. Especially those in Jersey City but it's really hard to do that with such horrible customer service. They lost my business. read more

The older man who owns this place is rude. The produce is poor and the place is over priced.

Since I have recently discovered the wonderful world of Fresh Direct, I no longer shop at any super market, but there is always that moment when I have every ingredient laid out ready for me to transform into something that hopefully half reassembles the pictures in the recipe book, I forget one thing and have to run somewhere and get it, to Lee's I go. The Korean couple that owns this place are generally nice, the workers are really helpful. I once needed major help when picking out a ripe avocado and pathetically asked one of the guys to help, he didn't hesitate at all and I enjoyed a fresh guacamole that night for dinner. That said, the only annoying this is if you go in there after work like everyone else does, then be prepared to wait on a long line while you "dance" around other shoppers who are trying to reach over you to grab some bananas. Note: Credit card over 10 dollars only. read more

One of the better stocked bodegas downtown. If you don't see what you're looking for ask--they might have it. My go to spot for last minute ingredients for dinner or when friends drop by unexpectedly. Do be sure to check your produce well before buying as well as the expiration dates on the dairy and meats. I've never had a problem but I'm always careful. read more

This is a great bodega for your fruits, vegetables, breads, flowers, and other random items. The produce is fresh and reasonably priced. The basil leaves are some of the nicest and freshest that I have ever seen. They're open unitl 9pm seven days a week. The owners are sweet and the woman gives me a free banana or piece of chocolate if I bring my own grocery/shopping bags. While the indoor space isn't big, they've taken advantage of the high ceilings and stacked their many items up high! read more

I am updating my previous review because I have seen a huge difference in the quality of the produce being sold at Lee's; no more spoiled fruits and veggies! Conveniently located on Grove Street a block from the Path station, I often stop here on my way home to pick up fruits, vegetables, eggs, yogurt, etc. read more

This is a great place to pick up healthy groceries. The owners are very kind and will help you with anything. Their produce always looks fresh. read more

Good fresh fruits and vegetables and selection of assorted can goods and bread Decent prices but cash only unless you spend 15/20 so bring cash of only picking up a few things read more

I love the shop, it is small but has everything I need. The owner is very friendly and generous :D

I wanted to give them 5 stars! I love their produce and I am a regular. I went in and thought I will thank them but the man is absolutely RUDE. The lady is really sweet but that man can learn a thing or 2 about manners! I was a $1 short of 10 dollars. I even asked him to charge me the entire 10 (I did NOT ask him for change in cash - keep in mind) He went on for a good 10 mins. I just left all the items there and walked out. I am unsure if I want to go back but seriously Mr. Lee how have you survived with that kind of mean and rude spirit! read more

Good for fruits and vegetables. They are almost always fresh and the bread is of good quality. The prices for these items are very reasonable and on par with the Mass market shoprites and pathmarks. The other more grocery items are not so much. they get kinda pricey. BUT for fresh produce, cheese and milk on the cheap... On your way home, so you can cook dinner? I think this is your best bet. read more

Great little bodega. The owners are friendly and professional, and they carry quite a range of stuff, from the basics to the gourmet, for a modest-size space. I look to them for quality juices, a great range of gluten-free products, as well as everything you'd expect from a neighborhood grocer. Plus, they stay open late, which isn't the norm for downtown JC. read more

Great produce and store and local neighborhood merchant, customer service is outstanding. one detraction is only one cash register for credit cards made for a long wait. Fortunately I had cash. read more

Mom and Pop shop, good quality and selection of produce, lots of asian groceries difficult to find in the area. Highly recommend!

Worst experience ever ! Mrs Lee, the owner is NOT customer friendly, frustrated lady venting out her grudges on customer it seems. The aisles are narrow and one can not take even a small stroller inside or for that matter not even a shopping cart. Most items are marked up compared to other stores in the area and on top of that the berries often have fungus, as there is no proper cold air containment in the aisles. Yucks !!!!! Worse still,she creates a big fuss in accepting that the stuff she is selling has fungus and refuses to take her rotten stuff back ! Worst experience ever ! read more

I love this little bodega. I'm of no relation (nor Korean) to the owners by the way and absolutely agree that it's small and a bit pricey but...aside from paying for convenience, this is prime real estate for bodegas in JC so imagine what the rent must be. Why the four stars? I doubt there's anywhere else in JC where you can find brie cheese, fresh baguette and artisan breads, Pocky sticks, Japanese curry, and Korean Bibimbap sauce ALL in one place. Think of it as a Whole Foods and H-Mart fusion--crammed into a TINY 400 sq foot space. You'll find a huge selection of yuppy (yours truly not excepted) paleo-organic-non-gluten flours kitty corner to crunchy granola trail mix goodies. Certainly there are items they don't stock but what I love about the owners is that they really try to run a tight ship and have a soft spot for folks trying to find ingredients to make Korean foods (the owners are Korean). A case at hand: I wanted to make Zaajeongmyon a few weekends ago and they didn't have black bean sauce in stock. The owner asked if I could come back the next week and she'll remember to put it in her next inventory. I said that...I'd really like to make it that night (it was like 12 degrees that night, and a piping hot bowl of noodles would've been perfect). For anyone who knows the dish I'm talking about, there's no way to make this dish without the sauce. So what happened? She had her husband get some from the kitchen for me, and I got myself a thankful piping hot bowl of Zaajeongmyon that night. TIP: If you happen upon anything that's less than fresh in the store, take it to the owner. read more

This is just around the corner from my apartment, so I usually stop in at least once or twice a week -- usually for soy milk, rice noodles, and some assortment of fresh veggies. Occasionally we're feeling too lazy to go to a proper grocery store, and will also pick up some canned foods, potatoes, etc. For the most part, I've always been able to find what I need. I love that the woman at the counter sneaks in a banana to your bag sometimes! read more

This place is small and you try to pick up anything things start falling. Mrs. Lee is one of the most passive-aggressive people I have ever seen. She may be unhappy in her life but that is no excuse not to be customer-oriented. read more

I love this little grocery store: it literally carries everything I need. In particular, it has loads of fruit, vegetables, and herbs; plus all kinds of organic foods and little luxuries. I stop in three or four times a week on my way home from the PATH. If I were a meat-eater, I would have to go to a bigger store from time to time, but Lee's is perfect for me as a vegetarian. Both of the proprietors are lovely people - Mrs. Lee is especially friendly and helpful. read more