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

My FAVORITE place to be, I'd live here if I could. I prefer this one over the one on Cottage simply because the other gets TOO crowded (especially around 7pm on Mondays). It's not the most spacious, but it definitely carries very fresh, affordable, and DELICIOUS produce + ready made frozen dinners. The cashiers are so kind and friendly - they always strike up a nice conversation! Some personal favorites from TJ's: Frozen: Chicken Tikka Masala, Orange Chicken, Fried Rice, Pizza Bites, Jackfruit thai curry Snacks: Spicy Cheesy Cheetos!!! (seasonal but amazing) Pastas: Huge fan of their lobster ravioli They have an amazing wine selection as well! :) 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

See all

I stopped at this Trader Joe's this afternoon after renting a Tux down to street for a fancy soirée next month. Although I'm cautious, Gayle is thrilled. The corner of University and MLK sure looks different from the strip mall days of Kragen Auto Parks and Netivot Shalom across Berkeley Way. I'm sure Berkeley welcomes the sales tax revenue, but I do wonder about how the already challenging traffic has been affected and how many Progressives fell on their swords in fighting this development.. And as far as the housing above the store, better them than me. This TJ's is pretty much like the others, except at around 5 PM, there were no hordes (including check out). It was pretty easy to figure out where my favourite items were located, and I was in and out of there within 15 minutes. The added bonus here, are the diverse "Only in Berkeley" people watching opportunities. And even in far off lands (like St. Louis Park MN), Trader Joe's does bring an interesting mix of people together. read more

Quite great... when I was in college (decades ago), I used to come to this exact site to get my outlet daily bread...ahh, the days of affordable provender! Does anybody else resonate with this stroll down memory lane? that ugly Kragen thingy toward University, the Entenmann's outlet towards Berkeley Way? Another tangible reminder of time marching on. Nice underground garage provided (enter on Berkeley wy, off MLK Jr)... great displays, love the windows that allow so much light in while one shops, easy to grab things in/out.... access to aisles is great. Store is clean, checkers seem to wear smiles on their faces. It was so easy to grab some groceries early this afternoon... a joy when no nerves are frayed from twiddling thumbs (or being on BB) in the queue (cuz there was no wait!!) Attractive to the city of Berkeley....which finally got its very own TJ's. Operational hours 8A-10P every day. read more

You know, the more I go here, I more I realize it's actually not that bad. Growing up, I always thought Trader Joe's would be one of those rich snooty health food places where they sell asparagus water and things of that sort, but I was wrong. Trader Joe's will still have some of those products with the gimmicks and niches of gluten-free, dairy-free, non-caged, and all that which are overpriced; however, they have a much wider array of food that is also cheap and affordable. From the $1/lb of pasta, to the surprisingly cheap produce (as common as $1 bag of carrots to as unique as $2 box of fennel), Trader Joe's is a lot more than what I thought it originally would be. read more

I think I'm in love... with a grocery store. So reliable (open 8am-10pm every day). So fun (colorful, diverse collection of foods). So genuine (friendly, energetic workers). Trader Joe's offers GREAT variety -- visiting this store is like foodie heaven. Each aisle is lined with unique and fun-looking snacks. I feel like a child, but it makes browsing (and eating) so fun! There are often samples being served towards the back of the store, too. I advise checking out the wines/beers. For beers, they have a custom option! Take whichever 6 individual beers you're interested in and put them in the custom box, and the cashier will ring them up separately at the register. I've also been trying to get into wines lately, and TJ's is excellent at holding a diverse, eclectic, and affordable collection. More about the food: The personal salads are amazing and come in the perfect size for one person. My favorites are the Kale & Edamame and the Super Spinach Salad. And don't forget about the snacks! I love the mini ice cream cones and the soy ice cream sandwiches (great alternative for those who are lactose intolerant). Just take a look at TJ's snack aisles and you'll be satiated for life. The lines tend to get pretty long, so be prepared to wait. Fortunately, they're good about opening more lines when needed. The workers there are all incredibly friendly, and I often find myself and others holding pretty interesting conversations with them. They genuinely seem to care about how you're doing, and it seems like they love working at TJ's. This comes from years of personal failed street parking, but parking is truly a pleasure here. The garage fills up during peak hours (weekends and after work on weekdays) but since people go in and out pretty quickly, you can always find a spot within a couple minutes. It's so convenient, especially since University is not the easiest street to find parking on. For the newbies: Once you enter the garage, there are clear signs telling you to go counter-clockwise. Don't go the wrong way! Overall, Trader Joe's is an all-around fabulous grocery store. The only negative attribute I can think of is the pricing (some items are a little more expensive than their generic equivalents at Safeway), but I think it's still definitely worth a visit! read more

This Trader Joe's is a welcomed addition to the neighborhood by friends of mine that can walk here from their house. They were very excited to shop here on Grand Opening day. This TJs is a terrific store with a fresh new store look and some parking issues most everything in the East Bay has. It is a small store and I imagine it will have some long lines at peak times, naturally. Yesterday was a delight when we chose to check out and and it only took a few minutes. People working there were very excited and helpful. It was a grand opening fun day! I am glad I was there and my daughter loved all the fresh and wholesome goodies I brought home. Blueberries, Raspberries and Bananas ... You will see the staff here restocking the shelves a lot! read more

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

See all

This is specific to this TJs. I will still go to TJs but just not this one because of the employees. There are two reasons. First, I bought a pie the other day and the cashier couldn't rub his three IQ points together to figure out that a pie should be carried flat. Instead he packed it in the bag like a box of cereal. Of course when I got home and noticed this it was a big mess. It was after ten so I couldn't take it back. I still haven't but I will. My friend told me these geniuses packed a pie for him the same way and destroyed it too. The other thing was when I walked into the bathroom, and one of the employees was in the stall taking a leak. It's a big pet peeve of mine that guys ought to piss in the urinals and shit in the toilets. I think a lot of these guys are afraid another guy will get a peek and they are embarrassed about their size. These guys should just wait until nobody is around so they can use the urinal without embarrassment. And if they need to piss in the toilet, pick up the damned seat! He didn't and when he had left, I looked, and sure enough, it was splattered with urine. Thanks. So rude and inconsiderate! I'm glad I only needed the urinal. Worse, when he left, he pretended to wash his hands but merely went through the motions because I was there. He touched the soap dispenser but only squirted out a tiny drop of soap the size of a peanut, and rinsed it off without even spreading it on his hands. He didn't even make his hands wet, just his fingers to rinse the soap drop off. The entire "wash" from reaching to the soap to grabbing a paper towel was three seconds. Four, tops. Then I assume he was out stocking the shelves. Maybe the apples. Or pears. No thanks. I'll go elsewhere unless I hear that this TJs starts to educate their employees to wash their hands, and that there's something called gravity that will pull pies out of their tins if they are packed on their side or upside down! A few reviews complain that this store is dog friendly. That's the BEST thing about this store. I'd rather have a dog slobbering all over the food than having some guy handling my food after taking a leak without washing his hands. I'm sure he doesn't wash his hands after taking a dump either. Yum. read more

Trader Joe's here is smaller than the other locations. parking area is smaller too. (50 car spaces). came mid morning, plenty of parking. store likewise not crowded. evenings probably different scenario. buys: michele st chateau chauvingon blanc (6.99) -good in the past, now ? -joseph's everything bagels (6/2.99) -are these really bagels? doesn't taste like it, very doughy, no crunch. even safeway's is bette. -light whipped cream cheese(1.99). nice flavor. -$3 pizza looked tempting, passed. might forget to referigerate it. notes: -wouldn't shop here in evenings, probably packed. read more

TJ's, as I like to call it, is as good as it gets for grocery stores. Why? Because they've got the freshest produce and food. I mean there aren't many places where the bread goes moldy after 2 weeks-- mainly because they don't have preservatives. Although it may not be the best thing to buy because of the short shelf-life, it's great for parties or for large, voracious families, such as a pack of hungry wolves. Other than that, I love all their food, from the microwaveable broccoli to the ice cream and candy section. Man, they do desserts right. I've had almost all the ice creams and you can't go wrong with them. I still prefer the chocolates which are amazing. And they have so many!! Ritter sport is the best and I love the chocolate orange jelly sticks (brings nostalgia of good old college days). Aside from that, they usually have really good fruits and vegetable variety. Like Costco, they have a sampling station. I've never tasted anything bad from them. Most of their samples make me want to go buy the product right after tasting it. I usually come out with more than I planned on buying. But the best part are the prices. Because they don't advertise, prices are low. Salads are $1.99 a bag. Bananas are 19 cents each! You cannot get any cheaper than that unless you go to Costco, but at Costco, you need to purchase a yearly membership. So TJ's still comes out cheaper. Check-out is fast as there are so many lanes open and most people are super nice. I love this store! So many good food at good prices. read more

I have recently warmed up to Trader Joe's. I typically will do my grocery runs at Alameda Natural Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, or Rainbow Cooperative yet ended up at the Trader Joe's in Berkeley. Kudos for Trader Joe's for labeling which of their Trader Joe's brand products are vegan. I picked up Soy Chorizo, Organic Crimini Mushrooms, Super Firm Tofu, Avocados, Sprouted Flax Bread, Trader Joe's brand Walnut Chocolate Chip Vegan Cookies similar to Uncle Eddie's kind, organic black beans, organic fresh basil, some whole grain pasta, & more. It was also nice to enjoy a sample of Pomegranate juice along w/ tortilla chips & salsa. I should note that there are a few room for improvements not just at this branch of Trader Joe's, but all branches of Trader Joe's that I have been to. I would love if Trader Joe's carried bulk goods & stocked staple items in bulk such as dried beans, nuts, & oats. Some of the produce has too much packaging & would like to see the produce in more minimal packaging. While I loved seeing so many great vegan items labeled on Trader Joe's brands that made the ubiquitous label checking for this vegan less cumbersome a final area of improvement is that all of the non-dairy cheeses including the soy cheeses along w/ the almond cheeses all contained dairy so none were vegan. It would be nice to have one kind of vegan cheese as they have lovely Gluten-free made in San Francisco cornmeal pizza crusts here. Luckily after Trader Joe's I was able to head over to nearby Animal Place's Vegan Republic for some vegan Follow Your Heart Mozzarella Cheese to make my vegan gluten-free pizza. Overall Trader Joe's provided a great shopping shopping experience for me & will be back! read more

Shorter women with long brown hair was extremely rude to me while I stepped aside to pick up a phone call from a loved one who had a horrible day. She told me I had to go to the bathroom & wash my hands? I vaxxed & why would you interrupt my 3 second phone call. Sounds like she was just bored & wanted a power trip. Avoid this Trader Joe's. read more

Super Friendly Staff! Very well staffed location, every corner we went, there was someone, stocking, organizing or just making sure everyone's O K. With that being said, I found everything I needed. My son also found Oskey (sp?) the bear. If you didn't know they hide a bear everyday, if your child finds it, they get to dig a price from the bear treasure box. Oh also, you can taste pretty much EVERYTHING! They open a package and you get a free taste, even wine. Lots of reasons to love TJ's! read more

Trader Joe's - He found Osky the bear! - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Public Health Alert! I was eating my favorite lemon chicken and arugula pre-made salad and CRUNCH, bit into a @$#%!! roach-bug thing It was such a shocking experience and I would never think that this would ever happen to me, and nonetheless getting a premade salad from TJ's! I asked my co-worker to take a look because I could not believe what happened. Take caution and look at your food, thank goodness the containers are see through. Makes me start to wonder where the kitchen that made this salad is at, it certainly needs a visit from the health inspector! read more

Trader Joe's - Total gross out - roach-bug parts in the Lemon Arugula Salad! - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

A cashier was vocally hostile to me as I was about to put my two items down. "Can't you see I'm still with someone else!!!" she nearly shouted. The other customer was paying at the cashier's other side! She then accused me of being a druggie. "I can tell about people like you!"she said in a loud voice. I was well-dressed; hardly riff raff. I tossed the sandwich in utter disgust. I went immediately to the manager. The cashier followed me and brazenly evesdropped on my conversationwith her boss! The manager refused to speak with me away from the emotionally disturbed employee, so I left. No accountability. Employees can be prejudiced and act on it. What was really going on? I think the young woman is "woke" and as an older Caucasian man, I am fair game. Are we as a society going to subscribe to ideological filters at businesses? How very inappropriate it is for an employee to verbally abuse a customer who is PRESUMED to have a different ideology. Given the frosty disposition of the young woman who was the manager on DUTY, I suspect the store's organizational culture is woke. Perhaps white men over 40 should avoid Trader Joe's in Berkeley, California. Let financial losses be the counter-message to aggressive ideology being used as a weapon against CERTAIN TYPES of customers. But, hey, I'm just a druggie. LoL. Maybe an ideology fueled by resentment is a kind of drug for the weak who seek to dominate. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! read more

Regular lunch time outing to grab a bite to eat. The review is long overdue the people in this store the young ones are not friendly or happy at all. Damn if you don't like your job it's YOUR CHOICE CHANGE IT! First off the young lady who checked me out didn't say hello and acted like she could hear. I said I'm requesting money back. She said you want your receipt....of course I do and my $$$$$! Train your staff Trader Joe's better customer service is a MUST! Still going to patron 9-28-18 OFFICIALLY NOT GOING INTO THIS ESTABLISHMENT AGAIN! Bunch of racist ass rude people! Only person in line for 15 items or less and as soon as I walk up to checker (other people walking up) to get in line...checker ask me to go back in line because there two lines and they walked up on the side where he was reallyfucking idiot! Then the people walking up said oh no she's fine she was here before us!!!!!I'm good not going back fuck this traders Joe's.!!! read more

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

It's rare that I get to this side of the bridge now that I'm not working at Cal anymore; but I had errands to run and dinner to grab with the bestie, and since I was out and about and had my car and my credit card on me, it seemed like a pit stop would make a lot of sense. I was gonna hit the more-familiar-to-me Emeryville location until my aforementioned bestie said the magic words: "Lots of parking". So I stopped in, and true to his word, I parked 30 feet from the door and walked right in. They had everything I needed, and I only waited about two minutes in line, and I was back on my way. Can't say that I'll cross the Bay Bridge to hit this TJ's over my other local options, but it was way more easy in-n-out, and the lines were way shorter, than what I'm used to, in the city. read more

Stocked up on our frozen favorites! Green chili tamales, Pork Shu-mai, Arugula Pizza, and Mini beef tacos. Roasted red pepper hummus and pita bread and we're ready for the weekend! read more

When we lived in the apartments above this Trader Joe's, Trader Joe's became an extension of my kitchen. Before this Trader Joe's moved into the neighborhood, this part of Berkeley was in dire need of a grocery store. This Trader Joe's is on the smaller side, so it may not carry all of the items you're used to seeing. That being said, for such a small store, it has a decent-sized wine and liquor section. It's hopping after work (5:30 - 7:00ish seems to be prime time), but even during peak hours, the lines move relatively quickly. Best times to shop are weekend mornings - so quiet you can almost hear a pin drop. I'd avoid the parking lot at all costs. The lot is small and chaotic, and the spaces are tough to get into; if you can find street parking, that's a much better bet. read more

Love this branch! It's smaller but well stocked and the employees are professionals. Great customer service.

No complaints about this Trader Joe's! Though not as large as the one I have back home, this one is perfect for a college town like Berkeley. It has everything I can think of (with my limited budget and cooking experience). There's even a hidden Oski in the market that you can look for and get a lollipop for! I thought that was the funniest thing. Plenty of carts, always a normal and not-too-crowded flow of traffic, and though I wouldn't come here late at night by myself due to the homeless population near this area, the foods are fresh, pricings are standard, and there's even a bus stop right across the street to go back home wherever you need to go. Staff here is always friendly and nice, and I've never encountered any problems. read more

Trader Joe's - Entrance to the store! - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

No Canned Pumpkin for our dog could be found at this Trader Joe's. he is on a special diet and this Trader Joe's does not provide canned pumpkin products. Only seasonal/holiday the store employees said, seems to be a good Trader Joe's but lacking in Canned Pumpkin and pet friendly service our goldendoodle was needing. read more

I'm sure I'm not alone in my assessment that a Trader Joe's in Berkeley was far too long in coming. Just like for every other conceivable thing under the sun in Berkeley , there were detractors who opposed the opening of this location of Trader Joe's. Just like for many of these "causes" in Berkeley , some folks really need to relax. Hey, it's a Trader Joe's, not a Super-Ultra-Megalo-Wal-Mart. The girlfriend & I were actually here on Opening Day & have since returned thanks to the relative centrality of its location to other places of interest. This Trader Joe's seems smaller than any other one I've been in & consequently seems to have less selection of some types of items (I, of course, noticed that there is less variety of liquor). Even so, any Trader Joe's is an improvement to the quality bargain grocery abyss that is Berkeley . The parking garage, found on the opposite side of the building from the front doors, is small, but any dedicated parking in this area is better than jockeying for street parking. On our couple visits to this store, it was not crowded at all. There certainly was not the crush of traffic jamming nearby streets as was once such a major concern for some. The new Trader Joe's in Berkeley has its quirks, but is still a Trader Joe's. As such, Berkeley now has a viable quality bargain grocery option. read more

Love this place! I've been stopping here each time I drive my sister back to Berkeley to pick up groceries. This is definitely 1000000x better than stopping at the old Safeway nearby. The best part of all is the underground parking. It seems a bit smaller than other Trader Joes I've been to and there are less samples to try here. Overall, this is definitely an improvement to University Ave. read more

Albeit too far from Northside, they do have a nice selection of deli meats and cheese for students to make an easy meal out of a sandwich. They also have a wide array of junk foods which is also a good snack for college students to stress eat after a long day. I've just had their double layer ganache chocolate cake. The taste is because it needed more ganache to make it a perfect chocolate cake. Otherwise, it's satisfactory and won't necessarily satisfy a chocolate cake craving. I'm unsure if I would get it again. Lastly, if I had more space in my room and owned a vase, I would definitely avail myself a bouquet of flowers from this store. They do have ample selection of flowers in the store. read more

Trader Joe's - The double later Chocolate Cake. Taste is ok only because it needed more chocolate ganache filling in my opinion. - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

Being disabled AND fat is tough. When you ride in a store scooter, people sometimes think you are just being lazy. I'll spare you the deets about my disability, but I dare anyone to try to walk through a store in my body. This review is *only* for Derek behind the manager desk today 6.29.18. I told him that I may need a push at the top of the ramp because the cart stops. He looked at me as if I was speaking Greek. I started to go up the ramp to the parking lot and the scooter couldn't go. I then clumsily backed down the ramp and hit my ankle in the process. Derek did not acknowledge any of this, as if I was truly, really a bother. I hope you never get disabled, then fat. But if you do, I promise I'll treat you eons better than you treated me. read more

Woo! Been waiting for this place to open. I've been like that lady in the Meryvn's commercial with her nose pressed up against the window chanting "open open open." I hoped it'd open before I had to move, and am sad it didn't open sooner. It's nice having a grocery store less than a block away. Came here literally first thing in the morning to get pet food (the pet conveniently ran out last night), and some food items for dinner this week. The place was super clean and staff very friendly though it's a brand new place so I'm not surprised. read more

Convenient hours at a convenient location. Trader Joe's has a number of things going for it, including the parking lot and late hours. 1. You can get good beer that is relabeled because Trader Joe's pays cash for brand-name stuff but can't sell it with the original label because the TJ price is so darn low: Joseph Brau's labels tastes like Gordon Biersch Trader Jose's Dark Premium Lager tastes like Negro Modelo Trader Jose's light lager tastes like Corona Score! 2. They are very generous with stickers for kids 3. Dark Chocolate covered power berries. 4. Carnitas meat ready to heat and eat 5. Gluten-free bread that tastes good (Udi's) 6. Clear Gluten-Free labels on food. 7. Parking lot 8. Free samples 9. two buck chuck (great for cooking). This is their Charles S What are you waiting for? Go get some delicious TJ grub. read more

Great selection, friendly staff, decent price! When I need a quick and cheap lunch, there's so many different things to choose from. I guess something to keep note of though - my coworker bought a frozen burrito from there, didn't realize that it was expired, and when he opened it up, it was moldy... so be careful about expiration dates! read more

This Trader Joe's is your average TJ's with some Berkeley flavor--meaning you'll see random people wearing outrageous outfits walking through the aisles, security guards at the alcohol section, and that downtown Berkeley smell. The cashiers seem friendly and the store was relatively clean. Do you want to feel healthy even though it's not that healthy (because TJ's ain't no Whole Foods)? Hit up your neighborhood Trader Joe's! read more

Trader Joe's, you are awesome! You're the only place that I will ever find speculoos spread. PS. Speculoos on a fresh, hot waffle is completely amazing! TRY IT! read more

Trader Joe's - Speculoos heaven! - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

I normally wouldn't review grocery stores but this is the new one in Berkeley that just opened up and wanted to comment on a few things. The parking structure inside the building is pretty impressive and convenient for shoppers. Free too. The flowers are ridiculously cheap. 4.99 for a dozen roses!? 3.99 for random small bouquets!? The bathrooms were really clean. (probably because it's new) Everything else was pretty much the same so I dont have much to complain about but I did want to note that this trader joes doesnt have free sample coffees. Boo. After grabbing my trader joes green mangoes, chocolate pringles, and red wine salami, I left. Notice these items are not produce items but just snacks.... I'll stick to my asian stores and Berkeley bowl for my produce items. read more

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

My shopping trip here was a breeze because they gave a parking lot. Needed items for my ex's upcoming wedding chocolate fountain. Except for marshmallows and regular pretzels they had everything I needed and more. Of course, I found a few things I wanted to try myself. There were many people in the store Saturday AM but they had lots of checkers so there was only one person ahead of me in line. Delighted they have done organic choices and I'd love to see more. Like salsa, catsup and other condiments. read more

I'm a berkeley bowl fan but TJ is growing on me. Their fruits are amazingly good. I love their chocolate croissant. One thing that surprises me is the staff are not that kind there. I have gone in there with a stroller hoping to carry a basket. They don't use baskets at all during the pandemic, so I asked if I could park my stroller inside the store so I can put my baby in a cart. They really were not very responsive or kind about it. This is over several visits. Once in a while, I meet a very friendly person but it's not very common for some reason. read more

I come here about once a week or so to pick up snacks and basic groceries. I wouldn't consider myself particularly known by the staff. Today I was checking out and my card didn't go through. After several attempts my cashier politely and calmly involved whom I'm guessing was the manager at the time, who also tried to no avail to scan my card. Utterly embarrassed and perturbed that I was stuck with no other card despite having money in my account I apologized and was about to leave. The manager volunteered to pay for my groceries and said I could pay it back when I could. Confused for a moment that the store was footing the bill on some type of credit, I said "ok." Quickly realized that she was personally offering to pay. I declined and said I would talk with my bank and get my groceries later. Main point, decent nice people work here. Having a card declined (even when you know there's money in your account) is always embarrassing. All the staff and the manager were kind, understanding, and incredible to payr my grocery bill on faith. Wish I could name employees, but was flustered and didn't look at name tags. Was in today at around 10:00 AM. Thanks Trader Joe's staff for being so kind! Got a new card from my bank and will be in later to pickup my superfood burritos! read more

I don't like the recent new design of the Berkeley store. All the vegetable and bread area have been replaced with alcohol. And the former small alcohol section has now all the bread, nuts and vegetables. This area is too small, and was packed with customers while the new alcohol section was empty. In this period of Covid, I don't like to have to be shopping next to too many people. I left the store without buying anything and don't plan to return again. I went instead to the Emeryville store instead. This is not convenient for me because the Berkeley store is walking distance from my home while I need to use the bus to go to the Emeryville store. I hope the Berkeley store get reorganized at it was before. read more

I love Trader Joe's and am so happy to have one in the neighborhood. I like how this TJ's is increasing the quantity and quality of its fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat, and hope it continues with this even more! Good prices, good selection of items, good size for a store (I don't like enormous warehouse-style grocery stores). The customer service is very friendly and good. Docking one star for the parking lot that is too crammed, with spaces that are really difficult to maneuver in and out of. (Also, if you're walking there, the intersection -- with cars darting to turn left or right -- can be dangerous.) But aside from these two things, this Trader Joe's definitely gets a thumb's up from me! read more

TJs always have terrible parking lots. This parking garage is definitely up there on the list. The number of spots are few and very few of the patrons seem to know how to park properly. I once witnessed a woman tear her entire bumper and side mirror off her SUV on one of these poles. The staff is very friendly and the new checkout system for hand baskets makes the lines go so much faster. Avoid Sundays and Mondays especially around 5-7. read more

My fiance and I like to get snacks and drinks here. It's convenient, and I've never had trouble finding parking, unlike the rest of downtown Berkeley. Today we went there to grab a bottle of wine. We wanted something really cheap, 2 buck chuck. Trader Joe's didn't disappoint, and stocked a very healthy selection of $3 and $4 bottles. We looked and looked and looked...and everything looked about the same. So I asked one of the staff that happened to be squatting on his heels, taking inventory on the wine. "Which $3 bottle of wine would you recommend? We like reds, mostly on the drier side." He smiled to himself, started to speak, but paused and kept staring into the $3 and $4 bottles in front of him. "Hm, eh, mmm...." We stood and watched him think, his eyebrows flexing and relaxing. Even his beard couldn't hide him scrunching his lips left and right. "........Can you do $5 wine?" "ha, yes of course!" and he led us to the row behind, pointing to the 2014 Greystone Petite Sirah. "One extra dollar really makes a difference....petite sirah is dry at first.....smooth finish.....I really like it......." "Done. I like your recommendation." And now I'm home, sipping the wine. It's quite good for $5. In fact, it tastes like a $20 bottle and looks like a $20 bottle. Thank you Trader Joe's employee with the beard, what a great suggestion. I'll be back to next week for another recommendation. read more