Traders Joe's is always a staple in our kitchen! They have fantastic packaged and frozen foods for the best price and deals! They never have sales unless it's a seasonal item but it's because they always offer competitive prices. J also love buying their dairy products, best deal for pasture raised eggs, milk, yogurt and so much delicious cheese. Their produce is not super fresh, definitely go to Berkeley bowl for that. But they good pre made salads and foods. A fan favorite being the Greek salad. Avoid after work hours and weekday evenings! They often run out of stock, so mornings are best! read more

This is easily the worst TJ's in the East Bay. I've gone in and left because they literally had no bread. Like NONE. Just muffins left. How does that even happen. Like BUY more! The parking lot is tiny. The store is small also. Homeless people loiter outside asking for your food. read more

Trader Joe's used to be a great easy place to get food during lunch however this new rule they implemented restricts me from getting lunch and is inconvenience to my daily life. The worker named Manny at this location was especially disrespectful and was being very rude to everybody in the line. Trader joes is destroying their own reputation and business and I will not be coming back. read more

too much time in USA..Berkeley days...365...wish you were here...got some cards and water..haha

Where should I begin? Trader Joes is awesome! Knowledgeable Staff and delicious snacks! I buy some of my favorite treats for the week here. Chewy candies, specialty cookies, sparkling water... The sparkling water (despite the tax in Berkeley on carbonated drinks) is reasonably priced and tasty! Interesting flavors like tangerine-vanilla, green apple, and watermeleon-lemonade. The trader Joes guys (and gals) offer a wide variety of services and are always friendly and kind. Willing to talk about products, great at cashier and have the store in tip top shape! Visited by students and community members a like the store is a thriving local mecca, very special in many ways! Lots of Asian foods, seasonal items, and TJ's staple items! A place to pick up rice, noodles, soups, and fruits and veggies for cheap. Every section has something worth trying out to eat. Tortillas, falalfal, or pre-seasoned chicken or meat, pastas or salads, it's just a fun place to shop! Note: samples are regularly given out! Stop by for the action! read more

I'm not waiting for 30 mins to check out of the grocery store. Every single time you come to this location the lines are out the door, doesn't matter what time of day. If you like long lines and waiting around all day this is the perfect location for you. Try to just to buy one thing at 6pm and let me know how it goes. Joke company read more

I love that there's always parking in the parking lot for this location. And it's less crowded than some of the nearby ones. Very easy to shop you go in and you go out and they have pretty much everything you need. Love the service here there's two lines so it makes it very fast. read more

I haven't been here in a while, many years. So many years that the hot sauce and Brazilian pizza places are now gone. My aunt lobbied against this place with others thinking it would be the downfall. My issue is the too small parking space, so when I go, I usually park outside. The only issue is that I had to reacclimate myself to the store because nothing was where I expected. The wine section moved, the veggies were in a new place, and so on, but those are rich people's problems. The store was nice, clean and organized. I don't know about the bathroom, but previous trips let me know that that room is best avoided. I had surgery three weeks ago and am not supposed to lift more than five pounds. My basket clearly had two bags with many more pounds. I regretted the huge purchase. But the cashier was super nice and agreed to unlock my basket so that I could take the bags to my car. Once in the garage, he said that he'd walk me to my car, which he did and he put the bags in my car. I was eternally grateful because I knew that taking the bags to the car would have been a challenge. I am also grateful that I was able to find a spot within a block of the store. But three weeks out, walking and holding things can be a challenge. And that challenge is usually rewarded with a well earned nap. Because of the help, I had the energy to run two more small errands before going home for that nap. read more

I'm only writing this review because of HOLIDAY SEASONAL ITEMS !! I usually go to the El Cerrito Trader Joes. I was specifically in search for seasonal items (Candy Cane Decaffeinated Green Tea!), but El Cerrito ran out quickly! I'll call in before physically going into TJs to see if they have what I want in stock. The employee said that because seasonal inventory is ordered around 8 months in advanced, they didn't account for how popular some items might be, so certain seasonal items are out of stock very early on (ex. How are you going to run out of CANDY CANE TEA the first week of December?!) Anyway! He recommended I go to the Berkeley TJs (this location) since students aren't as present due to COVID-19 restrictions etc .... LO' and BEHOLD, they had an entire row of my candy cane tea left so I snagged 5 !! (oops sorry LOL). They had so many other seasonal items in stock, so get your seasonal items here while they're there !! The only downside to this TJs is the parking. The parking lot is super small, so be careful which parking spot you choose. You might be lucky with street parking nowadays because of COVID restrictions ... buttttt Anyway! TLDR: If you're on a hunt for specific seasonal items, call in advance to which TJs you go to, but this TJs in particular had plenty of seasonal items in stock when I went :) read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

Such a great corner spot to have this particular Trader Joe's! It was a bit cumbersome to cross the street and get to, since there was a game on, a lot of cars were turning right and running red lights. Lol I loved the set up of this particular Trader Joe's with all their display areas Trader Joe's is always known for having unique foods for people with allergies, and all the cashiers seem to be friendly, as well as getting people through the line at the fastest piece they could possible! read more

Trader Joe's - Love this - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

They towed my vehicle from their lot this evening. I am a student at BCC. Cost $500 out the gate...be warned they give you 90 minutes and then apparently make an announcement over their loud speaker. Not surprised the assholism.continues unabated. Lost my business going forward so not sure they got it right with a one star from me re: this unfortunate policy IMHO. read more

Like any other Trader Joe's except I think this one is a little smaller than the ones in the area. First thing I saw was someone stealing the flowers in front of the store.. she just took it into her car !!! read more

No less than 30 people deep in each line at 6:45pm on a Thursday. That's absolutely unfuckingreal.. I'm here to grab one thing and leave not spend my evening at Trader Joe's...this place is a straight up joke. What happened to 10 Items or less and getting people out of the fucking store? Complete failure at this location. read more

Usually always easy and quick service but today I had a terrible start to my day by having to deal with a bitches attitude who was checking me out. Careful going in the mornings, might ruin your day too. Really needed to add to me being a stressed student, thanks a lot. read more

I tried to buy just a few things and didn't have a lot of time... Right before the cashier rings me up (young guy with curly hair and mustache). He goes and starts chatting with the cashier next door and some lady that wants to keep her bags behind the counter or some deal. It takes a while, and just when I thought he was going to ring me up... he doesn't even say a word to me and grabs the items of the cashier and lady next to him and just walks away. Dude was completely rude. If you need to help someone else... at least acknowledge me since I'm standing right in front of you. Thankfully the girl next to him helped me. This is the latest example of rude snobby behavior... mostly by the younger white kids that work here. The older black fellow and even the security guard are really cool, always super polite. I will stop coming to this store. There are other bigger and better stores to shop from... like Berkley Bowl. read more

I don't love this branch of TJ's as much as others - it's busy inside, always seems to have a line outside (during Covid) and parking is more challenging. I also find myself going to TJ's less and less often, however, for two reasons. First, a lot of their food is mediocre when it comes down to it - it's just REALLY well marketed. Second, I avoid many of the items at TJ's for ethical reasons, which I'll list below. A little background: Trader Joe's is owned by the German retail company, Aldi Nord. Trader Joe's is often viewed with fondness, like a quirky friend that brings you interesting things to eat. But, as with any company, we should be looking beyond that strategically nurtured image and focusing on the company's impact on society and the planet. In other words, we should be asking: How ethical is Trader Joe's? I'm giving Trader Joe's 2 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact for the following reasons: * I was surprised to find that there were no pasture-raised eggs to be found at Trader Joe's. 40% of their fresh eggs are still from caged hens, which live their entire lives in a space equivalent to a letter-sized sheet of paper. The Cornucopia Institute has compiled a humane scorecard for eggs and Trader Joe's eggs get their lowest rating: 1/5. I think it's a fair assumption that this also applies to their products that contain eggs. * There's almost no transparency on Palm oil sourcing at TJ's. A customer service rep revealed that TJ's still source palm oil on commodity markets or, at best, from an RSPO-certified supplier. Sourcing on commodity markets provides no assurance that the palm oil is obtained without slavery or deforestation. * TJ's is focused on processed rather than fresh food, which increases both the packaging and carbon footprints. Even a lot of the fresh fruit and veg are packaged in plastic and not much of it is from local, organic farms. * There's no bulk section for staples like flour, sugar, nuts, etc. * TJ's is a notoriously secret company. It's almost impossible in some cases to find information about sourcing. This secrecy over suppliers and ingredients leaves consumers in the dark regarding ethics. * Suppliers of a few of their own-brand products were revealed by recall to include ConAgra, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and the Wonderful Company. None of these companies rates well, ethically, in my opinion. * On the positive side, you can find a few ethical products and brands there, like Miyoko's vegan butter. * TJ's reportedly does a good job of donating leftover food to food banks. The bottom line is that although Trader Joe's is fun and cheerful, it doesn't rate so well, ethically, in my opinion. Trader Joe's lack of transparency benefits nobody other than the company and its suppliers. Check out my related article on the Green Stars Project for more detail. read more

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My previous review of this business is missing, one of the many I have written of thousands on Yelp, resulting on frequent invitations for Yelp's Elite status as a reviewer. I went in to purchase a gallon of water, and the only option had a price listed on the shelf as $3.99. At the cashier, the gallon was listed as $1.00 less, at $2.99, which after CRV ($0.10 bottle deposit for a gallon sized plastic bottle was surprising), was $3.09. There wasn't any tax reflected on the receipt. I commented the price wasn't reflecting the sign under their product, and she and me (a name I call myself) traveled over together to investigate. The water I purchased, from New Zealand, was different than the water listed on the sign, alkaline, and so she was confident their computer had the real price. I am surprised that an ecologically responsible and distantly sourced water, New Zealand Artesian, would be such a deal! Was this Antarctic run off, triple distilled? Fabulous. read more

Trader Joe's - Receipt for a gallon of water. - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went in today with my dog which I now realize was my mistake for not seeing the incredibly small "no pets allowed" sign at the door. I was confronted by a manager on a Tuesday morning and was told that I could not keep the dog in the cart - which I immediately apologized for (because I didn't know). After apologizing and removing my dog from the cart to a carrier I stopped to let my friend know what I wanted to grab from the store so I could step outside with the dog. I am mainly upset because while I made a mistake and immediately apologized, I was treated like a criminal. The manager approached me in a very aggressive manner and stared at me while I let my friend know what groceries to grab for a minute (albeit I was also already really close to the door ~15 steps away). She confronted me again and said "You have not left yet so I am going to have to walk you out" in a very aggressive tone. I completely understand that I was in the wrong for bringing a small dog. However, I did not appreciate the manner in which she confronted me an escorted me. It was as if I committed a crime. Ironically, I had already been in the store for over 10 minutes, other employees interacted positively with the dog, and she has been inside numerous times with no issue (same with other small pets). I felt that maybe she was taking out her anger on me (which was inappropriate) and her workers were eating the snack at the tasting station instead of working. I do understand the health code violation now, but I think there was a better way to approach and confront me. All in all I complied, and apologized, but did not appreciate being treated like a criminal/with an aggressive tone and escorted 15 feet to the door when I was most certainly not in anyones way. read more

Huge TJ fan. Really rude check out people. Store smelled and very un TJ like. I would suggest someone go to another store. The woman that checked us out did not acknowledge me or speak a word to me. read more

I love Trader Joe's. But I had an awful experience at this store last night. As I was shopping, a dog leapt out of his owner's buggy, barking and almost biting my face off. I screamed, and another shopper who was also startled and I both told the owner that dogs were not allowed in the store. She ignored us and kept on walking, dog in tow. I reported this to the manager (a stocky bearded man) who listened and agreed that dogs were not permitted in the store. But even after I pointed out the woman, hoping that he would speak to her about not bringing the dog to the store again, he refused to do anything about it. When I asked a cashier about the dog policy as I was checking out, he said, "It's not our job to police dog owners." I'm appalled and disgusted. It's against health department regulations to have dogs running around in stores, but this store permits it. read more

Always good prices, nice selection and you never feel like your being robbed in comparison to Lucky's or Safeway. Fast cashiers and they know how to pack a bag. read more

Love this store everywhere I go and this location is no exception! The employees were quick and nice and the store was extremely organized and clean. Thanks guys :) read more

Good sized Trader Joe's. Always busy and crowded due to student traffic. Located a bit aways from campus.

This is a smallish Trader Joe's. I prefer this smaller store. Same content as a larger store, same products just a little more compact. The staff in this store are friendly and efficient. Not unlike staff across the T.J. spectrum but this crew seems very much on top of things. The clientele is very local. This store defines neighborhood grocery. Thumbs up all around. read more

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The plant deals here are amazing! Check out the rotating plant offerings at the back of the store, near the parking garage, for a variety of succulents, flowers, and foliage. I've gotten a healthy domino peace lily, monstera deliciosa, dwarf umbrella tree, and calla lily from here. Each of these were under $10 even though some were plenty big and could go for $20 at a nursery. I did get a ficus repens from here that died though no matter what care I gave it, the only plant that has ever died on me. Note that many of these plants will come with gnats in the soil too, so every time I bring home a new plant from TJ's I have a small gnat problem for a few weeks. It's easily solved by underwatering in the beginning and killing the gnats on sight for a few weeks. I wish that this TJ's had a larger seafood selection. The majority of seafood offerings are either smoked or frozen. The only consistent fresh (vacuum sealed) fish that is sold here is farm raised salmon which, in my experience, doesn't taste as good as the salmon from other major grocers. The staff are always professional and fast and there are always baskets or shopping carts available. During shelter in place there have been a ton of flies at the university ave entrance. Many local stores have had this problem though because of the front door being kept open all day. Regardless, it's pretty gross to walk through a mist of flies every time I enter. I'm hoping that'll improve as the pandemic ends and its safe enough to leave the doors closed. read more

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I love Trader Joe's! I prefer Trader Joe's over Safeway and Berkeley Bowl because of its' location. It's right across the street from the 51B AC Transit bus, which come every ~10 minutes. Their produce is significantly cheaper than Safeway, but meat is relatively cheaper at Safeway. Their snacks are delicious, but what really sets Trader Joe's apart are their extreeeemely friendly employees. They never fail to help you if you're looking lost. Like any other grocery store, they will be packed during the weekends and at ~5/6 when people get off work. If you only need a couple items, grab a basket because you get to skip the long lines with the basket only line, which goes by really quick. My favorite snack item of all time is the Chocolate Stars, but they're only available during the winter, so stock up when they're back!! TLDR; best grocery store in Berkeley! read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

The staff is very friendly here and the place always seems clean and organized. I never have any issue finding parking here with the attached garage. I find that this TJs has more variety than usual. read more

This is a great little shop in downtown Berkeley. Not your largest, most spacious shopping experience, but it packs a punch and carries all your TJ favorites. It's always well staffed, no matter time or day and for the most part produce looks sharp. However, if it does get busy, it def gets crowded quick. From the reviews, looks like there is parking, but I always walk, so I can't confirm. read more

I have fallen in love w/ TJ's succulents in 2" circular pots. They are only $1.99 apiece. This is the store where I first saw them a couple of weeks ago when I stopped in to pick up some groceries while waiting for our order to be ready at Smoke Berkeley a few blocks away. I parked in the garage and was given a cart and offered hand sanitizer. The succulents were alongside the ramp down into the store. I found three and chatted briefly w/ a nearby staff member about succulent addiction. I planted them, finding they were bigger than they looked at first because the plastic sleeve around them compressed them a bit. They are robust and healthy and are available in a wide variety. Then I bought another five in El Cerrito to fill an empty pot after obsessing about them for a day or two. I observed another customer in El Cerrito refuse paper bags a few weeks ago so she could load her groceries in the reusable bags in the trunk of her car, so I have adopted that habit in an effort to cut down on the paper bags coming into the house. Each TJ's store seems to have its own procedure for checking out. In this store they want you to wait to approach the cash register until your items have all been scanned. Easy enough to do. I like this store. read more

Trader Joe's has never disappointed in my life with any customer service or food items. I always love everything I brought home even if I have never tried it before. Today was no exception, except I needed to use the restroom badly after getting my takeout. The door person graciously let me inside to use the restroom with no questions and even let me cut the line! There was nowhere else near us that would let me use the bathroom, even the restaurant I had placed my food order at! The Trader Joe's employee just joked and told us that we couldn't secretly buy something because then we'd have to go back in line. Wow, let's just say that I had come to support the mom and pop stores but I will never stop giving my money to Trader Joe's. read more

Best place to do most of our shopping. Lots of fun new items every season. The staples remain the same for the most part. This store is very clean and the employees (crew) are very friendly. This store also has a parking garage (small but still, free patron parking in Berkeley!) and very convenient hours. Produce seems to be a bit better than in most stores. Stock is rotated on a very regular basis and if the shelf is missing an item, as usual, a crew member will check on it for you. This store does offer the WOW experience that all Trader Joes strives to offer all of it's customers. read more

You can not dislike a Trader Joe's. They always stock something for everybody. Whether your in there for snacks, free samples, groceries, or simply to pee. There is always nice sale on their produce and goods. It is hard leave this store empty handed espeically when they carry so many vegan cookies and frozen treats! read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

Big thank you to Adrienne! She helped me with getting some orchid flowers this morning for my mom. She was so knowledgable, took the time to answer all my questions, and helped me pick out the flowers. I am grateful for her help and was touched by her kindness. She is truly very dedicated, and I could tell how much she cared. Thank you again. read more

We are all suffering during this COVID 19 pandemic. Even some of the simple things are now met with many obstacles. It's a difficult time. Grocery shopping was a breeze today. I was a little nervous because I was with my 10 year old son and I had to instruct him "not to touch anything" and to "stay 6 feet away from everyone" They have lines marked in the potential line to remind people "that we are all in this together" "stay 6 feet away" and they are sanitizing the carts for you, they are making sure to limit the flow of people entering and exiting the door safely, they are also offering hand sanitizer on your way out. Very Hygienic and made me feel safe. I won't lie, I was stressed and worried because people are dying from COVID- 19, and I'd been somewhere else about 10 days ago and was horrified. Trader Jo's on University in Berkeley is doing a Great Job. Thank you!!! read more

During a weekend visit to the Bay area, I stopped by this Trader Joe's with my friend. It was the closest Trader Joe's to UC Berkeley/where my friend was living. We only had to walk a few blocks, and since I knew I could only buy as much as I could carry, that prevented me from going overboard on this TJ's run! There are certain snacks I always like to get from Trader Joe's. So, while my friend did her grocery shopping for the week, I perused the different aisles, looking for the treats I so love to take back to Hawaii with me. Even though I had never set foot in this Trader Joe's store before, it was relatively easy to find everything. And, it's always fun to see what types of new snacks/items the different stores bring in. Here are some of my recommendations: Peanut Butter Pretzels: I do like the dark chocolate-covered pretzels from Trader Joe's. But, these peanut butter ones covered in milk chocolate are one of my favorites. They feature square-shaped pretzels filled with creamy peanut butter and doused with a luscious milk chocolate coating. These are seriously bite-sized pieces of heaven. I like creamy peanut butter, and I like how each piece sports a good amount of PB. And, though I like dark chocolate, the milk chocolate exterior makes each pretzel even more indulgent. I try to make my stash last for as long as possible and ration my portions! These pretzels are addictive, though, so I get at least two bags (three if there's a sale). Candied Pecans: You can find these packs in the section with the nuts (almonds, cashews and dried fruits). I love these candied pecans because of their texture and flavor - they are sweeter than some of the other treats (the spicy pecans), but I like the crunchier texture. It's a great mix-in for salads or just to snack on by itself. Just be careful if you do the latter ... these pecans are addicting, and since the bag isn't that big, you can easily finish an entire bag in one sitting while watching a movie! I try to sprinkle a little bit over time on the top of my salads. Praline-Pecans: These are currently my favorite treat from Trader Joe's, and I don't mind paying the $6 price tag because it's totally worth it. I like the sweet-salty taste and texture. They're different from the candied pecans because they are bigger and coated with more sugar. They're also crunchier. I do throw some of these into my salads as well, but I also tend to snack on them solo. The square containers can be heavy if you buy in bulk, but to me, it's totally worth it. Cowboy Bark: Ah, the perfect marriage of a sweet-and-salty snack. This dark chocolate bark is one of my favs cause of the saltier treats that top it - I love the peanuts, pretzels and toffee bits that add some salty flavor and added crunch. Because this is dark chocolate, the snack isn't overly sweet. The package is only half full (just like the pretzel bag ... it's half full with air) but this is the perfect treat for someone who likes sweets in moderation - aka, not something straight-up chocolate! read more

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This trader joes does not do a good job with checking up on their produce. I have seen moldy zucchini, moldy raspberries, and more. So disappointing to buy what I thought were fresh strawberries, only to find mushy and moldy ones only two days later. yIKeS. Besides limited fresh produce, the rest of the store is decently stocked. read more

After hearing so many (Canadian) friends talk about this place, it was time to see what this chain was all about, and more importantly, why it made people feel good. The inside is quite large, but seems to carry more of the indie chain type goods. With that said, I can't really verify this since I was quite unfamiliar with a lot of the brands. The shoppers inside sure looked like they felt good though. Prices were average. I was surprised they didn't charge through the nose, but with that said, they were still a bit too high for my liking. The samples they had sure were tasty though. Especially the mushroom ravioli. One thing I like about American supermarkets is their booze section. Quite a decent selection actually. I wish stuff like this were legal in Canada. read more

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Trader Joe's can feel like a bargain and this store is a convenient location for me that offers later hours. But in trying to explain/apologize for an innocent mistake, the store manager Brandon M. chose to be rude and condescending. It was a shock as most of the time employees at Trader Joe's are incredibly friendly and the good vibes had made me feel less guilty about the excessive packaging practices. But after my interaction I went back to Berkeley Bowl, and again reminded me why shop anywhere else besides the Bowl or Monterey Market for produce. That alone should make us avoid Trader Joe's. The convenient frozen/packaged goods at Trader Joe's are still less healthy processed goods, and now doing some research, it seems overall the store chain is worth reconsidering if worth the effort, especially in Berkeley where there are so many other options. https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/trader-joes-sucks-worst-grocery-store https://groundswell.org/the-truth-behind-trader-joes-what-you-may-not-know-about-tjs-brand/ So maybe I can thank the one bad customer service experience for opening my eyes. read more

As a college student on a budget who's trying to eat healthier, this ma place. I go here for most of my grocery needs, and it typically has everything. Slightly small selection of fresh fruit/veggies, but good selection for meats, packaged goods, and frozen foods. Unfortunately, it does not have a great selection of breads, so I can't find like the most basic loaf of bread at times. Also great for buying flowers for my girlfriend! read more

When I visited in late September this Trader Joe's was pumpkin spice INSANE! Totally on trend with this contemporary foodie obsession. Among my favourite things from the store were Sweetango Apples! These were the crunchiest and sweetest apples I have ever had. Not cheap at $1.29 U.S. but totally worth it. I bought these Powerberries to share with family. Delicious!!! We all loved them. I do not think I have ever had anything quite like it before, an odd flavour combination but it worked brilliantly. I could not believe it. Their Cultured Salted Butter From France is produced in Brittany and was only $2! I used it when I made everyone breakfast burritos. Yum! I lived on their Harvest Salad with Grilled Chicken during the trip and I was not alone. For only $5 you got this huge deeply satisfying and filling salad. Their Crispy Crunchy Mochi Rice Nuggets are SUPER crunchy and quite large. They taste like cubes of corn, actually, even though there is no corn in them. They were great in my tomato soup! The one thing I knew I HAD to buy was their Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend which was only $2 and came in a glass container. My friend The Happy Whisk had told me about it before I left and I saw mmmisformommy use it on chicken! Can not wait to start product testing. Everything we bought at Trader Joe's was delicious and fun. They really know how to tap into trends and make food entertaining. Despite how the tall building is, this Trader Joe's was only one level and smaller than I was expecting but wow, what a fun foodie place to shop. I also love that the clerks wore Hawaiian t-shirts and were incredibly friendly and outgoing. I can absolutely see why people love to shop at Trader Joe's. They have done a fantastic job at balancing pre-prepared food with top quality fresh ingredients. They make food fast and easy to purchase and consume without breaking the customer's bank. Bravo Trader Joe's. Bravo! Read full review here: http://www.suziethefoodie.com/trader-joes-tour/ read more

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