Love TJs. The best part (aside from the low prices)? Free samples! And I love that it changes almost daily. I always, always get some when I need my greek yogurt fix. You just can't beat it! The plantain chips and crispy green beans also comes highly recommended. And sunflower seed butter. Ohhh yeah. read more

I've noticed that their prices have gone up recently, which is disappointing because I actually liked doing my main food shopping here. I'm going to have to search for a different place now, because as it stands, getting food here now feels like luxury grocery shopping to me. My bank account is certainly not pleased :( haha. Not all of their prices have gone up, though, so I'll still get bananas (and a few other items) here at least lol. read more

"Every time I go to Trader Joe's (TJ's), I think it's going to be expensive. I expect to pay an arm and a leg for my kosher steak, or my veggie sticks, or my fruit shoeleather stuff, or whatnot (lots of whatnot). But when I leave, the bill rarely ever comes to more than $50, which is a lot less than I pay at Shaw's, a grocery store that claims to *want* to save you money. So TJ's is ... TJ's. It's a nicely-kept store, with semi-friendly staff (they do have their occasionally surly moments, like when "Shep" told me he wasn't feeling well but they wouldn't let him take the day off.... thanks, Shep, really inspiring confidence in me there), and a great selection of products you really won't find anywhere else. I love their trail mix, frozen foods, and corn salsa, which is the best salsa I've ever had (I'm a sucker for corn). You won't lose weight shopping here, and you won't be helping the environment like with Whole Foods, but you'll save money and enjoy your time there." read more

Oh how I wish this place was bigger. My first experience with Trader Joe's was during college when I lived in Coolidge Corner. It has to be the most amazing grocery store ever. Food is very cheap and very scrumptious. They have the most awesome snacks that you can munch on all day at your desk or at home (and some are even rather healthy). The pre-marinated meats are delicious. The fruit is fresh. The food is unique. It's CHEAP. I even got an orchid which I'm currently staring at right now. Yes, an orchid! And it was CHEAP. $14 for a very healthy orchid. Be careful when you get any flowers though because some have stayed there a LONG time and don't always look so fresh. It usually gets really crowded especially after work. It's hard to maneuver through the small aisles so I'd recommend going on some off hours if you can. The staff is very friendly and the lines go fairly quickly. I hope they open a Trader Joe's in the South End pronto! read more

Trader Joe`s on Boylston street is fantastic! Yes I admit that its not as large as other Trader Joe`s, but this place gives you SO much more. When you enter the shop you are meet with a garden of flowers and you leave with fantastic organic food and healthy snacks you never thought you would buy... The service is excellent! This Trader Joe`s is adorable, its as if you enter a new harmonic flower-power world! if you need it to be larger, go somewhere else. If you are sick of getting lost at Shaw's, this is the place to be! I simply love Trader Joe`s on Boylston street! read more

My typical routine when going to this Trader Joe's.... Enter Hop on escalator to go down See HUGE line Get back on escalator to leave I don't understand why this place is sooo busy, well I do but... It gets busy after work but it is busy every day right after work so, one has to ask, why the hell don't the employees anticipate the tide wave of people and get on the registers before they have to start ringing bells for more Hawaiian shirted folks to belly up to a register!?!?!? read more

So this location is indeed small, but it's perfect for shopping if you don't have a list of specific things that you need.....if you do, I would just go up to Shaw's because Trader Joe's isn't going to have everything you're looking for. That being said, you can still find a lot of bargains, and if you've got the time, go here and then finish shopping at Shaw's....you'll definitely save some cash doing it that way. The upside of that is that they have LOTS of snacks for cheap, and the things that they do carry are the best of the Trader Joe's assortment. I loaded up a huge bag of snacks for co-workers yesterday for $25. Also, for the size of the store, they have a good selection of frozen foods. I am deducting two stars for no booze and the small produce section. read more

I love this grocery store. Only thing missing here is booze! They have everything else you could ask for in a Trader Joe's! Including a never ending supply of their peanut butter cups :D Produce and cheese are always super fresh and the staff always seem happy and helpful. Sometimes the lines get a bit crazy and you are waiting a long time, but to avoid that just don't go between 5 and 7 on weekdays (I used to live 4 blocks away, and you figure that out after 2 weeks). read more

This is my local TJ's and it's definitely an adventure. During the busy hours, be prepared to just get in line while you do your shopping. It is tiny but they fit a ton of stuff in there and the staff is always helpful and efficient at moving things along. I am always amazed at the total I spend for the amount of food I get. My necessities here are pasta with the TJ's brand tomato sauce, the frozen spinach and artichoke dip, and the breakfast hash browns that are just like McDonald's. They usually have good samples as well. Had to take a star off because they don't sell wine at this one which is really sad and inconvenient. There's just no space for it. I've heard rumors that they want to add on....fingers crossed! read more

I like this Trader Joe's. It's in a particularly convenient place for Christmas shopping, so I can hop in after hitting up the Pru and Newbury Street and get some free samples of coffee to perk me up and some Christmas treats to give as gifts. It's super tiny, so sometimes it's hard to navigate the store without getting in people's way, and they don't have the widest selection of all Trader Joe's, but they have everything you require from a TJ's. For some reason, my most common TJ's purchases lately have been coffee and coffee filters. Their coffee's great and it's all whole-bean, so you have to grind it yourself, and their #4 coffee filters are, like, 1/3 the price of the one's at Shaw's. A bunch of their organic/natural options are a lot cheaper than Shaw's, too. Now, if only this TJ's wasn't such a long walk from Hynes or Copley, I could go get some Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies right now. read more

La La La La La La LOVE IT! I've been shopping here for quite some time. What I think is great, is that it has nearly everything you need, and nothing you don't. When I go to big stores, I'm like, "ooh, grape juice on sale...marshmallows...". Just stuff you really don't need. But TJs is great for my weekly shopping of cheeses, pastas, canned goods, eggs, soy milk. UMMM GREAT PRICES ON OLIVE OILS. $6.99!!! That's a steal. Good cheeses and cheese selection. makes it easy to try new things even if you're not sure you like it. Ummm...also CHEAP FROZEN FRUIT!!! Great for smoothies and snacks! Did I mention CHEAP!? read more

This place is a fucking closet. Its pretty close quarters and prepare to get bumped into. However, the staff is excellent. Seriously, if the line is snaking all around the store, don't expect to wait more than 10 minutes to check out. Also, everything is stocked all the time. read more

I love any and all Trader Joe's. I feel like they all have little personalities that make them special. My hometown Trader Joe's is huge. They carry every non-alcoholic bit of happiness. Coolidge TJ's carries wine. I also swear that they pump happiness directly into the place (or maybe that's just the wine) Work TJ's is crowded and almost not endearing until you reach the super cute, old, friendly sample dude in the back corner. Back Bay Trader Joe's leaves me in awe. It's humble and nothing too impressive until you really start to think about it. You travel down the escalator into bliss. Alright, the first time you go down it really just looks like a cluster#$%(#. Then you realize that the place is easy to navigate, prices are the same as other TJ's despite the BBY location, it's clean, and impressively stocked. It is incredibly small but they manage to fit so much in there! I always think I can easily stop in for a few quick things because it's so tiny. I almost want to curse myself as I walk out with two full bags but I'm so happy that I just can't. If only they sold wine... read more

This Trader Joe's is conveniently located on Boylston. It is proudly the "smallest Trader Joe's on earth." Though its small, it is mighty! I think they still have a pretty good selection for the size. A lot of their prepared foods are still available at the location. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I love Trader Joe's! Its cheap! Never thought I would ever find a place like this! This location is nice also! Near the mall and on a busy street! Easy access from the green line right off the T! SO big plus here! Now the store it self is a pretty good size. you can find a lot here! With a lot of choices! Now its not the size of like a Shaw's/Star market but it does serve its purpose! They sell a ton of items. All that are their brand. The things I really enjoy here are their granola bars and candies they make! All of them are very yummy! The prices here are also on the cheaper side as well! I mean the food taste good and the price is right...Cant fight with that! Win, win for us both! Now while you check out you will see huge lines with people waiting. Let me tell you! Its worth the wait! For one the lines go by VERY quickly. They always seemed to be fully staffed! Friendly people! So really when it comes right down to it what more can you ask for? Not to much! Maybe some off street parking. Other wise I love this chain! I will be going back when I'm in Boston! We sadly don't have any in VT. Really wish we did! VERY STRONG 4/5! Check them out! read more

I totally agree with all these good reviews. The 3-star review is to get your attention: This is a much smaller Trader Joe's than the others in the area. They DON'T have the usual cheap wine here. It is great for food but the choices are limited. read more

Average trader joes here. It's the only one in Boston and it's so tiny! I miss the one I used to go to in NJ. Overall, this trader joes doesn't jack up their prices but overall, it's still expensive. I wish they had wine too. They have a small assortment of everything a full size trader joes has. Overall, I'll come back for certain items that I love from trader joes. read more

It's so nice to have a Trader Joe's in Back Bay. We love having a walkable alternative to Shaw's. Plus, TJ's beats Shaw's prices on a number of products, like milk, butter, and some types of produce. The products are mostly the same here as at any other TJ's, so I'll focus on specifics to this location. Here's what is great about this particular Trader Joe's location: 1. Like other reviewers mentioned, this store is an absurdly small space. BUT they make great use of it. You just follow the narrow aisles and will make it through every section of the store. Their food offerings are nearly as comprehensive as I've seen in bigger locations. 2. Friendly, helpful personnel--the cashiers are always cheerful and quick, and I've always been able to quickly get help when I need it. 3. Free samples! There's a small booth toward the checkout where you can always find something yummy to try. And since the store is so small and crowded, they also make sure to have the sample product available right there so you don't have to fight back through the crowds. 4. The line moves really fast, no matter how long it is. Now the drawbacks: 1. No wine or beer. Someone told me that in MA, once you have 3 or more locations that carry alcohol you are considered a liquor store and subject to different regulations. It makes sense then that TJ's would choose some of its bigger stores to carry wine. Still, I am sad I don't have the option of inexpensive wine from my local TJ's. 2. You do have to walk through the entire store even if you need only one thing. It's so cramped and maze-like that you really can't avoid walking the aisles unless you want to cause a traffic jam. 3. Like any TJ's, I don't think this is a true substitute for Shaw's or another "regular" grocery store. You can't necessarily count on all the staples being here on any given visit. For example, if I want tomato puree, I've got to go to Shaw's. So while this Trader Joe's lacks the depth of stock and the plain acreage of more suburban locations, it does a great job with the available materials. It's so much preferable to have a crowded yet well-run Trader Joe's in the city to not have one at all! read more

I love Trader Joe's. I would super love if this particular Trader Joe's was a little larger and sold alcohol, but alas, can't win 'em all. Everything I've ever gotten from here has been tasty, and prices are very reasonable. After work (5-7pm or so) on weekdays the lines can be insane, but they move really quickly. I've waited in a line that literally looped around the entire store and simply got in line on arrival and did my shopping as the line moved. I'd say I was in and out in under 15-20 minutes. That's how long the shopping probably would've taken me anyway. Happy to have this store in my neighborhood and frequent it often! read more

The worst lines of all time. Go here anytime except for maybe 8am on a Sunday and you will be totally fucked waiting in the basement of a grocery store for 20+ minuets simply to pay. Everything is crammed together, they do not carry alcohol or beer of any kind (or wine), and its a nightmare to get through the Berkeley College to simply get something. I would love to never ever step foot in here again but until they open one in the South End we must resort this horrific location... read more

Teeny, tiny. It's comical how everyone just know how to grab things as they walk by because you can't stop in a spot too long. It was incredibly busy on the Saturday afternoon I stopped by so maybe it's not so bad on a weekday? Maybe. I love TJs but this is just too small and cramped for me. I want to be able to pick up items and leisurely decide if I want it. It looks like a complete TJs with everything you might need. read more

As a previous Burlington Vermont grocery shopper, i've been spoiled the lat 4 years of my life. Vermont has such a wonderful number of co-ops, with their own feel and great selection of goods. Trader Joe's is the closest experience I get to that in Boston. If you are feeling the blues from megamarts with no soul, I prescribe you two trips to Joe's and you'll thank me in the morning. The personality is jumping off the shelves here. Whether that be the drawings of fenway and boston terrier's or "You know your from boston if" quips to the "Trader Ming's" line of asian cuisine. I feel like its impossible to not be intoxicated by the charm of this place. The only disadvantage about this location is that it's basically Joe express. This means that they are missing a large number of goods that you would find at a bigger trader joe's (like the one in brookeline). Most notably they are missing the infamous two buck chuck! So while this store may be lacking in the amount of goods, it certainly makes up for it in character. Go check it out! read more

1) I found my veggie burgers and soy ice cream sandwiches for half the price they are at Shaw.s 2) Delish Spicy Blackbean Dip. Yum. 3) Shrimp stir fry that I'm making for dinner tonight for 4 bucks, yes! read more

Sometimes I feel like I'm sponsored by Trader Joe's, that's how much foodstuff I have from here. In fact, part of the reason I came to college in Boston is because I knew that Trader Joe's existed out here too. It's ridiculous how much money I save by shopping here. It's tiny but efficient, if you don't need to get alcohol. They even manage to fit a sample station in the corner, where you can try a bit of whatever they feel like promoting that day (potato pancakes with applesauce last week. yum). My favorites: Fiber Bread, cheap pastas, 15 cent bananas, huge cereal selection, really good hummus, frozen food that actually tastes good, strawberry soy yogurt, mochi ice cream, chipotle salsa, orange peach mango juice...okay, I'm not going to lie, EVERYTHING here is good. In fact, a gift certificate to TJ's would make me happier than anything else. I like the Fenway murals all along the walls when you first walk in. If you look closely, the scoreboard has TJ playing against WF (Whole Foods, no doubt). Obvi, TJ is winning. read more

I visited Trader Joe's after admiring an exquisite orchid that my boss had picked up for a co-worker in appreciation of Administrative Professionals' Day. I figured if my boss had purchased the orchid it couldn't have been exorbitantly expensive (since she is pretty frugal) and secondly I knew Trader Joe's has a reputation for very low prices. I was right about the price. I found a similar orchid (the last of the moth variety) for $17.99. I have seen other orchids close in size at a much higher price point (closer to $30). I ended up buying the orchid and so far I've been happy with the purchase (I've had it about 2 weeks and it hasn't died yet) Since I was on my lunch break I didn't have a whole lot of time to explore the rest of the store. From what I could tell the Boylston Street location is on the small side. I found the service to be fairly prompt and was overall happy with my experience. I will have to go back to further explore this location. read more

Beware: Don't take pictures of the upstairs wall mural of Fenway Park. Otherwise some dude will tell you that he's gonna force you to delete all the pictures in your camera. The review: Smallest TJ's I've ever been to, but they have a nice compact selection. The staff are nice and helpful plus it's in a prime location. So not bad at all but had to take off a star for: "the photo nazi" read more

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This is a great place to stop on your way home for something to go with dinner or even to do some regular grocery shopping. Everything is always fresh and my favorite thing is to buy a big bag of spinach, some dried cranberries, crumbled gorgonzola, fat free raspberry dressing, grill up some chicken and have the best salad EVER for dinner. Their frozen stuff is great, I like their mini tacos and the frozen fruit is really good for making smoothies. Some things are more expensive than other places but for the most part they are pretty reasonable. I love that they give you those heavy duty paper bags with handles because walking the 5 blocks or so to my apartment with a tangle of plastic bags isn't my favorite... read more

I started shopping at Trader Joe's recently on a whim, after I realized my walk would be shorter than the one to Shaw's (It gets cold in Boston! Don't make fun!). I have no idea how their groceries are so cheap, since I can only imagine how much it costs to lease a space on Boylston Street... but I make no complaints! It's magic, I guess. Also, I know it's a little antiquated, but I really appreciate a grocery store with good customer service. I worked in one for years. I know it's no fun to be nice to people all day. But it really makes a difference to me when cashiers put in the effort (I am talking to you, sullen teenagers at Shaw's and attitudinal hipsters at Whole Foods). Everyone who has rang up my groceries has been super nice- like, full-on conversation nice. Which is way cool. Major complaint: it's really, really small- I've heard it's the smallest TJ's in the country. But they remodeled recently (or so I heard from the cashier) and they really make the most of the space. If I'm looking for something specific, I'll probably trek the extra couple of minutes to Shaw's... but for basic necessities or foods you didn't realize you wanted, TJ's definitely has them beat. read more

This is the worst Trader Joe's in the area. It's very small and no matter when I go in there, it's always packed with people. To top it off, they don't sell beer or wine. Even though the Coolidge Corner and Cambridge stores are pretty busy too, I definitely prefer them because they're more spacious and they do have beer and wine. ..but if this is the best you can do, it's still Trader Joe's and they still have awesome food for pretty cheap. read more

I have to start by saying that, before this summer, I thought that Trader Joe's was exclusively good for buying overpriced, vegan, gluten-free organic nonsense. How wrong I was. Milk, bread, eggs, pasta sauce, many vegetables, ground beef, cheese, basic lunchmeats, dried fruit, and and nuts are all cheaper here than any regular supermarket I've ever been to. Additionally, while the line at most locations I've been to is humongous, it moves very quickly, and the staff is quite friendly. Unfortunately, this particular location is very very small. It's missing a lot of things I'd really like to get (canned veggies, fish sauce, a good selection of spices) and the whole place is oppressively cramped. Also, I can never seem to find acceptable-quality onions or red potatoes here. Overall, though, it wins my vote just for being inexpensive while not sketchy. Oh, and you can still get overpriced, vegan, gluten-free organic things, if you look hard enough. You know, if you're into that. read more

this store is a true treasure, especially if you are South End/Back bay resident. I don't mind local cute grocery stores, but often they are overpriced and so many times after spending $100 on groceries your fridge still pretty much empty(or look like that) At TJ you can actually spend around $60-70 and have a little bit of everything in your fridge. I enjoy my every visit and shopping here.Employees are very helpful and nice.Never a problem to get some quarters for your laundry (most of the stores are not that cool about that).Its great that they are having a little chat with you while packing your groceries (Lilly is the best).Absolutely right attitude and professionalism.Great food quality, great prices, very convenient. read more

Been here plenty of times, but just went again today. Love everything here. It's one of those few places were the price is justified by the high quality of the products. Despite being significantly smaller than the Shaw's not too far away, it's much better than it in my opinion. The free samples of their products are usually good, and with the cost of food continuously going up, it's only a little bit more expensive than a regular supermarket. I do recommend going in just to look around, because pretty much all of their products are Trader Joe's brand, meaning you won't find them anywhere else. read more

I'm putting my usual love for Trader Joe's aside and reviewing for only this location. I've been here a couple times now and continue to be frustrated on the size. I think I have to move out of the way 3-4 times or wait for someone else to move before grabbing an item I want. There's so many people passing through the narrow aisles I think I spend more time scooting one way or another than I do shopping. Due to the small space, the check out line wraps around a small corner of the store. It's best to wait until you're in line to shop through that area, but the downside is your have to shop fast because the line keeps scooting. If you have to go here, know what you're coming for and get out as fast as possible. read more

There's just something about Trader Joe's that fills me with joy. Could be the ridiculously nice cashiers, the great looking and or smelling food or the idea that they've always got something new to try. Either way I like Trader Joe's even if this one is in a cramped basement which gets insanely crowded and busy after work hours. But I think even if there was a makeshift TJs in a back alley behind a crack house it would still get plenty of customers. The long lines and crowds notwithstanding while you're waiting in line there is often a small sample kiosk to try a new treat while you wait. I would have to say though they change up the layout every couple of months which can be a hit or miss. Plus is the prepared foods are now right at the front so you can grab and go easier if you're just going for lunch. Not so much if you're grocery shopping and have to back track with a cart or a basket. There's not that much space in that particular area and I reckon that hits between passing customers happen more often than not. read more

Trader Joe's has always been my favorite grocery store, with their terrific selection of international flavor and health food. The prices are very reasonable, and often much better than Shaw's/Star Market. Only problem with this location is the size-- it is MUCH smaller than, say, the Cambridge location (on Memorial Drive). The produce is generally much better than other stores, but typically only comes in multiple quantity packaging. read more

I'm pretty much happy with this smaller Trader Joe's store even though I wish they had a larger produce section and sold wine and beer like their Cambridge location. Quirky facts: they have a bathroom (you can actually use) and will give you $10 rolls of quarters, one roll per visit per person. I like the mural of Fenway Park, where all the people are painted using dots. read more

The smallest TJ's I've ever seen, and in a basement to boot. Selection is quite limited. I thought the most insane TJ's location was the one on 14th Street in New York, but this one might just take the title. The staff is nice, for the most part, but I can't imagine making this a regular stop unless you're desperate. read more

This is one of my favorite places to shop for groceries in all of Boston! I live nowhere near here, but I always try to stop by to grab some bananas or stock up on food whenever I'm in Back Bay -- sometimes that means I have to be that annoying person carrying two large paper bags of food on the T. Oops. Yes the store is small and the smallest branch of all Trader Joe's in Boston, but they have everything from fresh produce, frozen meals, desserts, to flowers and thank you cards. The food is healthy, delicious, and reasonably priced - I would say less expensive than whole foods as well as other chain stores like Shaw's and Hannaford. I also enjoy the free samples. Like others mentioned, there is always a long line but it moves relatively quickly. Staff are so so so friendly and helpful. They are very efficient at what they do and talk to customers while they are waiting for everything to be packed. It's a pleasant experience shopping here. read more

I love Trader Joe's, I really do. This branch however only gets 3 stars from me. The place is tiny, especially compared to the other one in Coolidge Corner. Because of its size, the products here lack scope and the lines get dragged out very quickly. It doesn't help either that the aisles are so small, filled with people who tend to leave their carts and obstruct your path. Every single time right before I descend from the narrow escalator, my heart would be beating with the anticipation that I'll get to splurge on strange goodies that Trader Joe's is often equipped with. Some people find grocery shopping a chore, but I think it's ridiculously fun. As soon as I step into this store though, I become so underwhelmed by the selection. That being said, this is still a Trader Joe's, and I still enjoy the quality of whatever I buy here. They carry some obscure products that is difficult to find elsewhere. The other day, I was able to purchase a bag of chocolate covered potato chips after failing to do so at other stores and chocolate specialty shops. Location is also convenient for when I'm roaming around the area and happen to crave something from Trader Joe's. If size permits one day, they should add a liquor section. In the meantime, I won't be doing any real grocery shopping here. It's much too inconvenient. Trying to find street parking here will give even the calmest person road rage. Other locations away from the center of Boston have private lots. read more

Bread is always stale, very limited selection of produce, huge lines, and no fresh meat. Shaws and Whole Foods (both nearby) have a larger selection, fresher vegetables, and a butcher on site. Also, this Trader Joe's does not sell alcohol. read more