Salem Grocery

From SoCal and this felt a lot like erewhon. I think the deli section was actually better though…read more This mortadella (locally sourced) is out of this world. Picked up some cave aged cheese too. Would be here regularly if I lived in the area.

I really like this grocery store, and I try to come whenever I'm back…read more I have no idea why the reviews are so low. I MUCH prefer shopping at local markets like this, instead of Safeway. Actually, I hardly ever go to Safeway anymore. Shelves are always well stocked, store is very clean, and just a pleasant place to shop at. I've never tried the food at the self-serve buffet, but it usually looks pretty fresh. I like that it's never too crowded here, so you can maneuver your way around the aisles easily.

0.7 mi•Union Square, SoMa

Deli Counter

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Trader Joe's

4.2(248 reviews)

I absolutely love Trader Joe's no matter where I am in the United States, so I was beyond thrilled…read morewhen we got to our hotel in San Francisco and realized there was one just a block away! We were in San Francisco for about a week, and having a Trader Joe's so close was a total lifesaver. We could easily stop in and grab breakfast foods, snacks, and, of course, our favorite peanut butter cups. It saved us from having to spend a ton of money eating out for breakfast every morning, and we were able to stock up on snacks that lasted us for the entire trip. This Trader Joe's was definitely a different experience than the one we're used to back home in the St. Louis suburbs. Since it was right in the city, you actually had to take an escalator down to get into the store, which was kind of fun and unexpected. I also felt like there was surprisingly more room in the aisles than I expected for a city location. The checkout line was a completely different story! It wrapped around the store, which honestly gave me a little anxiety because I felt like I needed to hurry and get everything because the line looked like it was going to take forever. But they had a ton of checkers working, and the line actually moved incredibly fast. Before I knew it, we were checked out and on our way. It was just really nice to be somewhere familiar while experiencing a totally different version of Trader Joe's in another city. Having one so close to our hotel made our trip easier, more affordable, and a little more fun. And yes, we absolutely stocked up on those peanut butter cups!

This TJ's is conveniently located in downtown and has the most interesting people in there,…read moreincluding workers who enjoy their jobs so much, they're singing with the 80s music piping through the speakers. I like getting my sweet and savory snacks here, as they're comparably less cost with less unwanted ingredients than other places. Lines can get long here but it moves pretty quickly.

Love this

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Bi-Rite Market

4.3(1k reviews)

1.8 mi•Mission

•$$$

Bi-Rite, I love you in so many ways…read more Next to the farmer's market, they have the BEST produce. They even tell you what farm it came from. It costs more than the farmer's market but they truly have as many local producers and growers as possible. They have weird stuff too. Need a limequat? An aged persimmon? A yellow raspberry? They might have it, if it's in season. They have really good sandwiches and don't charge you more for gluten free bread. They toast the sandwiches! The people who work here are very diverse and really nice, many of them have worked here for years and really know their stuff. The store is cozy and well laid out. Parking can be a b!$:h, so plan accordingly.

They discriminate senior citizens…read more They discriminate senior citizens They discriminate senior citizens

0.7 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights

Bernard heights sandwich

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Nijiya Market

4.1(1.1k reviews)

We were in the area for a festival and were so excited when we saw this Japanese grocery store. It…read moreis a lot bigger on the inside than it looks and they have so much to look at. We had recently visited Japan and were interested to see if we'd find some of our favorite products here and were happily surprised were there. They have a large selection of prepared foods, including some incredible looking sushi (I wish we had bought some). The cold drinks had a great selection of options with some hard to find flavors and brands. From the produce to meat, seafood, and shelf stable items, it was overwhelming how much this store had. I loved the wide variety of candies and snacks. We picked up some new-to-us and some familiar items while we were here. I also picked up some spices and ingredients that are harder to find. The pricing on everything was very fair, and considering that a lot of these items are imported and not always easy to source, I was so excited! The staff was also friendly and efficient, since there was a festival going on the store was very crowded, but the check out lines moved quickly.

Such a great Japanese convenience store…read more They have everything from fresh sushi, candy, seaweed, noodles, produce, and so much more. Love stopping here when I need a quick snack or meal, and the tuna onigiri is my favorite. There's a ton of imported drinks and desserts as well. Definitely a must stop when you're wanting some asian goodies.

Omg-- what to buy?

Pork kimchi rice bowl (07/2023)

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Salmon Nigiri

Gus's Community Market

4.4(381 reviews)

5.2 mi•Outer Sunset

Solid place! Love how they have little kid carts, fruit samples, and great service…read more Very organized but can feel a little tight when there are a lot of folks inside. Rotisserie chicken is alright. Reuben sandwich is delicious.

I came here to buy some produce and they had almost everything. The produce section was fresh and…read morewell-stocked and there were helpful labels on the items. They had a nice meat section was well. The other aisles were also well arranged and it was easy to find what I was looking for. There were genuine discounts as well. The prices are good, better than many other places in SF. I saw a lot of locals shopping here with confidence, knowing their way around the market. The checkout queue was small and the process was smooth.

Juice

Bunch of organically grown chard! Pumpkin season!

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Whole Foods Market

3.5(946 reviews)

1.1 mi•SoMa

While galavanting around San Francisco, I decided to keep lunch simple and stopped by Whole Foods…read moreMarket in SoMa. The hot food bar was an easy, convenient option that let me grab a quick meal without much fuss. Sometimes you just want something straightforward.

This Whole Foods was the first Whole Foods in San Francisco when it first opened. If I wasn't their…read morevery first customer, I would've been one of their first 50 or so. It's sad to see what has happened to the store this year. I don't blame the store but homeless people now go into the store, help themselves to the food/salad bar, and simply walk out. I once saw a security guard point to the correct door in which to leave thru. if you want a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, you have to ask a store employee. The corner of the store at 4th and Harrison St., used to actually have a great bar that served craft beer. You could order food and sit there and watch tv and talk to folks sitting nearby. The Whole Foods on Market Street at 8th had to close to similar conditions that this store is going through. I'd hate to see this SoMa store close but it seems to be getting that way. Soma Wally

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The Good Life Grocery

4.3(139 reviews)

2.2 mi•Potrero Hill

good life grocery is the best. i love shopping local, and the employees are always so friendly and…read morekind. it's wonderful to have a grocery store in the neighborhood spreading positive energy. the store itself is quite small and some things may be priced higher than at a larger grocery store, but it's perfect for grabbing some quick things and in-season produce. highly recommend good life!

Like many San Francisco neighborhood markets, it's overpriced, but relative to how overpriced…read moreeverything else seems to be in Potrero Hill, it doesn't feel *that* overpriced. In fact, you can snag some good deals on produce and cheese here if you're willing to try something new. Speaking of produce, it's always beautiful here. I don't think I've ever seen an unappetizing leaf, fruit, or vegetable. I discovered this place after parking in front of it for the nearby library branch on the same day I listened to KEXP for the first time. I was prepping for an upcoming weekend excursion, and while I usually buy my groceries in the South Bay, closer to where I'm headed, I decided to change things up and get (mostly) everything in one fell swoop. I believe I got a prepackaged side dish that was delicious. And some fruits and carrots for the road ahead and the weekend beyond. I've returned a couple of times, and the people who work here have always been kind and helpful. It's a busy little place. Spend even a few minutes here, and you'll hear neighborhood acquaintances having friendly conversations about whatever. I got some really good cheese the last time I was here, after returning a book to the library. Are you sensing a theme?

Produce

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Produce

The Good Life Grocery

3.4(217 reviews)

3.3 mi•Bernal Heights

Friendly staff, Fresh sushi, good variety of organic food. Thank you for being in Bernal Heights. I…read moreappreciate your service.

San Francisco has good places with good views on a clear day to could see different angles and…read moreparts of San Francisco from the different Heights. From Diamond Heights you can see Downtown Financial District San Francisco skyline and from Pacific Heights you can see the Marina and the Pacific Ocean and from Sutro Heights you can catch a glimpse of the Farallon Islands and from Bernal Heights you can see the view of the Mission District. One place in Bernal Heights where you can see and find good drink and food is at the Good Life Grocery on Cortland Avenue. The Good Life Grocery has two San Francisco locations. The first one is in Potrero Hill ( by Loard's Ice Cream) and the second location is in Bernal Heights. Inside the Good Life in Bernal Heights you will see organic produce , coffee , ice cream, and seafood. This place reminds of a Bi- Rite/ Whole Foods Market but with a Bernal Heights neighborhood vibe. They also sell food to go like sandwiches ,salads , sushi, and wraps. This is a good place to pick up anything from drinks and food and then go and enjoy the views at Bernal Heights Park of the Mission District and the Downtown San Francisco skyline. Good Life Grocery reminds me of the different city" Bi- Rites" they have a fine wine selection from local vineyards with reds and "whites"to pair well with some culinary "delights "the Good Life is open in the morning and closes at 8pm weekdays and weekend "nights " Then go to a park called "Bernal Heights" , and see the Mission District views and "sites " and on the other side of the park you can see the Bay Bridge and the Downtown "city lights" from a distance as you enjoy the Good Life's tasty drinks and "culinary bites"

2.6 mi•Dogpatch, Potrero Hill

Salsa purchased that I've not seen at other markets

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Mainstay Markets

4.3(44 reviews)

Charming neighborhood market. I could envision living in the area and stopping by regularly. It has…read morea great selection for such a compact store, from fresh produce and everyday groceries to ready-to-eat meals like salads.

This market felt pretty pricey, but on the bright side it had all the essentials you'd need if you…read morelived in one of the nearby apartments. You can literally walk here from your apartment which a lot of times beats driving or ordering from a chain grocer. The interior is laid out well and they do a good job of keeping things stocked and clean. Staff is pretty friendly as well. I haven't tried their food items yet, but they looked pretty tasty as well.

I seen this character taking food from the kitchen at a restaurant on my social media feed in SF

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Front entrance and signage

Trader Joe's

3.7(358 reviews)

0.3 mi•Nob Hill

There are very few full-sized grocery stores in San Francisco, California. It is a dense city,…read morewhere space is limited! Given that, i am very appreciative of this trader joe's. It has everything someone needs for their usual grocery shopping.

Have been coming to this location since they day they opened and have never had such a shitty…read moreexperience before..and they've had some pretty shitty cashiers at this location. Worst so far was Alexandria last night. Checking out...i asked for double bags and she grabs the bags and puts it in front of me. I'm confused so i ask her, am I suppose to bag these? She says "If you want.' I've never had to bag my groceries here so i say "i don't want to." Awkward silence and glares the rest of the transaction. After I pay, she rips the receipt out and throws it in the bag and immediately walks off. I'm like WTF? Why are you so pissed that i am asking you to do your job? I crumble up the receipt and throw it back at her. Entitled little snot.

Hand cut style noodles

Tj haul

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

14 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Joshua M.

669

14 years ago

A gay bashing occurred INSIDE THIS store last night [June 15th, 2012] at around 1AM. A fellow friend of mine witnessed this and walked out and across the block and proceeded to call 911 to try and help the tiny Latino man pleading for help and getting beat up and called a faggot by a huge white dude as people looked on and laughed. The attacker ran out of THIS store and then attacked my friend on the street. A police report has been made but the police are doing NOTHING about it. WHY didn't a STORE CLERK call the police or do ANYTHING while a CRIME was being committed INSIDE THIS STORE?!!! I am outraged and appalled. All of the onlookers and THIS store and the attacker should all be held responsible and should have to pay for the injustice and HARM they put on TWO HUMAN BEINGS. My friend is missing a tooth and had to have 14 stitches in the EMERGENCY ROOM and is swollen and in pain and will take weeks to recover from this. I tried to call THIS stores phone number listed and no one answers. DO NOT shop HERE unless of course you enjoy getting beat up and malled and have NO ONE come to your aid. THIS STORE should be SUED and put out of business. This is a travesty and disgusting. THIS store and whomever was working that night should be ashamed of themselves and should have to face criminal charges. read more

Teej A.

14 years ago

BOYCOTT!! Gay Bashing happened in front of this store on Friday 6/15/2012 while the cashier and other people inside the store cheered and laughed while the beating took place. Don't believe me, I've included an story about the bashing from the local paper. They didn't list the store but now you all know who. http://sfist.com/2012/06/21/local_gay_claims_geary_liquor_store.php read more

Daniel R.

14 years ago

Owners and employees encourage hate and violence in their store. Great place to get beat to death, if you're into that kind of thing. Tip for the owners: if you're going to open a store in the Gay Capital of the United States of America, you might not want to beat your patrons. read more

Javier B.

218

14 years ago

I will not be buying anything here. Getting cash from the ATM or eating next door at Irving Pizza, if they in fact own that place as well. Gay bashing is not tolerated in this city and business that allow it, should not be supported. read more

laila p.

14 years ago

hate crime perpetrated and cheered on by employees/owner. http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2012/06/good-samaritan-assaulted-after-breaking-fight-tenderloin-fueled-anti-gay-slurs#comment-563536660 read more

Julie L.

136

14 years ago

Homophobic and racist supporting market. There are plenty of ghetto places to go. Choose one that you know you, at minimum, the market will call the cops if you're getting harassed or beat up. read more

Christopher R.

17 years ago

i love this store its my favorite neighborhood store it carries all the important things i need like juice booze, cheap beer cigarettes, what more in life does anyone need?? read more

Andrew A.

14 years ago

This place is owned by homophobes, they don't deserve a cent of anyone's business and certainly won't be seeing any of mine. Boycott Salem Grocery! read more

Sharon K.

519

8 years ago

There is rude short bald man that works here at night. He's a awful person. This store should be shut down how he treats and talks to customers read more

Aaron D.

242

14 years ago

Evil Homophobic store needs to be shut down by the city for violating state and federal hate crime laws, yes flash mob, protest, and boycott. read more

Julie H.

14 years ago

Don't need to go into the store to know that they are gay bashing homophobes. I'll never spend a dime in this place.

Morad G.

7 years ago

Great neighborhood spot to grab sandwiches. If your in the area you should definitely try out the Broadway sandwich.

Alejandro A.

1 year ago

employees who work there hate their jobs and are awful at customer service when the owner isn't there.

Noah M.

14 years ago

Evil. Hateful. Evil.

Salem Grocery - grocery - Updated October 2026

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Bread & Butter Market

3.3

(81 reviews)

I have my first toasted sourdough bread tuna sandwich. After my co-workers recommended the…read moresandwich. The crunch of the warm bread and the tasty tuna together is absolutely delicious! Highly recommended the bread to be toasted or hot sandwiches. I normally get their tuna salad. But today I had the sandwich and it's absolutely amazing! Will come back for the sandwiches!

One of the nicer places in the Tenderloin area for food and other market needs. A large selection…read moreof salads, they all look great. I had two including the marinated mushrooms, only suggestion on that dish is they should cut them in half so they actually marinate. Sandwich was great and the people who run or own the place are delightful. Also market itself is clean and bright, fun to roam around in.

Grove Street Market

4.4

(34 reviews)

I know I stopped in this convenience mart a time or three. I've lived in the neighborhood for…read moreyears. The owner of Tim's Market a few blocks away shared Grove Street Market's rent had been jacked up forcing them to dramatically raise prices. Sadly, those prices were beyond what I felt comfortable paying and I left without buying anything. In addition, inventory seemed limited, the space wasn't being used to maximum effect (I could ballroom dance in the area between the coolers and the shelving) and the floor was dirty. They could do better: Scrub the floors! Add two shelves of product. Expand inventory by 30% and clean up the place. Perhaps that'd help prices stabilize and be attractive to more customers. I'll come back to try one of GSM's sandwiches- they seem to have a great following. I want to support a local mom 'n' pop.

one block from home! the little basic household things are a…read morebit expensive here. however, sandwiches are good and inexpensive and great service as well. I had the Pastrami Sandwich on a Dutch Crunch with Provolone Cheese. crunchy, chewy, yummy!

Amigo's Market

4.1

(14 reviews)

My favorite corner market to go when I need to pick up a few produce items for dinner!…read more Service is always with a smile and a friendly "How are you?." For a tiny market, they pack as much as they can, with produce and veggies spilling out onto the sidewalk. Dirt cheap prices, and fresh tasting veggies. No wilted lettuce or darkening fruit here! Plus, they sell Vietnamese baguettes to make banh mi at home! The crazies will come in here a lot, but the owners take no bs. There's no liquor or alcohol sold here so you won't have a problem with drunks coming in and harassing you...usually. I can always count on Amigo's market for helping me out with late dinners. Thanks guys!

I came here after reading old reviews . If I'm not mistaken this was my second time coming there …read more The first time I gabbed noodles and canned dinner. This time I needed so fresh vegetables for a dinner I plan on making. This place is in walking distance of my Sro . I was not greeted but there was an elderly man standing by the door . Not sure what that was about . I went grab so fruit. The strawberry looked that there needed to be swapped out for new one most of there fresh vegetables are bad don't look good at all. I did find some carrots and lettuce that looked fresh I found grapes that looked good most of the grapes where opened the place is not clean I went to the other freezer section an it smelled like cat shit I did heavy looked at most of the meat I got a small thing of ground beef that looked ok . They also have a cat in the store so that why it smells in there the cat looked well taken care of . They also do not take food stamps. I would not recommend this place really unless you getting small snacks

Green Street Market

3.4

(89 reviews)

This place has changed so much FOR THE BETTER since new management took over a while back. The…read morestore is now clean, well-lit, and well organized. They offer a wide selection of regular items that a corner store might carry such as convenience items (soaps, canned goods), as well as some fresh fruit and vegetables, and a very large selection of drinks, snacks, and a really fantastic deli sandwich menu. My go-to here is the Momma's Boy sandwich

I'm a Hugh fan of their freshly made sandwiches My personal…read morefavorite is The Honey Moon on Dutch crunch toasted

Soma Supermarket

3.6

(11 reviews)

Such a hidden spot near mission Street…read more Soma Supermarket has pretty much everything you need in a little market. Produce, kitchen food necessities, and even a deli and burrito spot. It's very clean and the staff are helpful. I think there was a smoke shop inside too but I'm not sure. They also carry Burma Superstars Salad! Such convenience. Will come back.

Are used to love this place. They are reasonably priced and a great selection of items. However,…read moretheir Covid response has been terrible. I understand that businesses are struggling to keep up with everything during the pandemic, but there is no excuse for how they have been handling things. Literally NOBODY who works at the store even wears a mask. This is in direct violation of statewide orders and puts every single person who walks into the store at risk. Completely irresponsible. Tldr: NOBODY WEARS MASKS. Just do it! Why is it so hard to do something so simple?

Green Apple Market

4.5

(32 reviews)

There was a kid working on SaturdayI'm it was the best time of my life so I loved it we have the…read morebest register ever

Lo and behold, an indie market with a myriad of snacks, sundries, ingredients for cooking a fine…read moremeal and surprising wonderful things in store. I found this corner grocer by happenstance. Waiting for hours on a nearby medical appointment for family, I was starving for a snack and drink so I asked the front staff of the waiting room for suggestions. General directions were given about the best options, and here's where I ended up. Green Apple Market occupies a corner and isn't seedy looking, like the smokes and liquor store is directly across the street. Writings and designs on the shop windows indicated specialty on many halal items -- perfect for people striving adherence to such food codes. You'll see popular salty snacks and chocolate and candy bars throughout the store, but also, multiple shelves of imported (European, Mediterranean and beyond) goods. Including a big line of stuff from Italian snack manufacturer Balconi, which now that I've tasted it, they're possibly my fav mass produced mini sponge cake bakers. Plethora of beverages in the refrigerated shelving. Towards the rear, find a nifty counter showcasing the halal meats, a little area of produce, a fridge/frozen section in front, other shelves hold bags of grains, rice, spices... the variety of goods is intriguing and impressive for a neighbor grocery. The nice cashier was busy stocking shelves when not helping customers. Incidentally, two pizza pie spots seem to be in this same street intersection, and they appear to meet the definition of "hole(s) in the wall". Had I been waiting much longer at the medical office, I probably would have wandered down to seek some pizza sustenance. Meantime, if you're ever passing through or in this Nob Hill adjacent district and need a quick snack and beverage, you'll be wise to check out the Green Apple Market.

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Great local market with fresh produce, amazing wine selection, and more! Very friendly staff.read more

The staff and owner are rude and disrespectful. I used to shop here every week until I asked the…read moreowner if they had sweetener at their coffee station to which he replied, "I can't wait not to deal with fucking customers anymore". This business doesn't doesn't deserve the support of the community if they have no respect for their customers.

Rainbow Market And Deli

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I hate that the closest market to my apartment is run so poorly. Half the time, they're out of…read morebasics -- their restocking has nothing to do with what has been sold, but what they found on sale at Costco (or elsewhere). Worst thing: Yesterday, they restocked the store, and this morning all their boxes were on different corners in the neighborhood. What? They make a FORTUNE in this neighborhood, yet several mornings a week, the pile of boxes and trash is waist-high. For the City to pick up. And the cashier finds it more important to talk on his phone while he makes a crappy attempt to wait on people, than it does to pay attention to what he's doing. I asked him for peanut butter the other day, and he didn't even understand what I meant. Good grief, no, peanut butter is NOT stored in the dairy cooler.

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this place is amazing they give amazing service and have great food and snacks for everyoneread more

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