San Francisco public works removed a memorial for KitKat - the cat run over by a Waymo... So I came in for some cat toys to build a wreath to tie to his tree. KitKat was a loved cat in San Francisco. All people who visited the area knew him. I go to the area often ever since a kid as a church my mom liked was just a few doors down from here. I had already dropped off a basket but apparently it was a 'danger' - his whole memorial and all the flowers. Perhaps it blocked the sidewalk or something. My idea was to make something that could get tied to the tree and not be a nuisance to anybody. Trader Joes has my cats favorite cat treats and I love getting him toys. I thought little KitKat would love the toys from here too. TJs didn't disappoint and I found garland for a wreath and some mice with feathers - cats love that sort of thing. I busted out some floral wire - something I've never done before in my life - but for little KitKat - I suppose I can go above and beyond - especially after his treatment from SF public works. TJs is a pleasant shopping experience as always and I enjoy my visits very much. My favorite TJs in near Granite bay/ Roseville where customers and workers have a wall of their pet photos by the pet section. read more

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I love Trader Joe's because they seem to know how to choose a product to put their label on that. It's better than it's competitors brands, flavors and textures. When I see the Trader Joe's label on any product, I trust it. I went in yesterday because I must have my blister peanuts. It's a very southern thing I love it. The store is easy to get around in and thank you for having that mobility card for people with handicaps. The staff is always super friendly and I love going in there thank you. read more

It's a Trader Joe's so you know what to expect. What you do need to know is that they are down the street from Sunset view Cemetary and Golden Gate Mausoleum. If you need flowers to bring to your loved one buried out there, this is the place to go. read more

Bought chicken breast, went home and this is what I got, black chicken! Went back to the store and they gave me a refund. read more

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This is a great Trader Joe's and the perfect time to shop is 8:45pm Saturday night. Lots of staff stocking the shelves. My brother works at a Trader Joe's in Philadelphia so he was able to get a 20% discount. Sweet! read more

Trader Joe's house feta is the best, bar none. It is the only feta that I have found that uses a combination of sheep and goat milk (probably roughly 70/30). None of the others that I have found anywhere - even in specialty markets - uses anything but sheep milk. It makes all the difference. It's the real stuff. If you've never had it, you have to try it. You'll never go back. read more

Super busy, the staff is very kind and helpful, but I got two artichokes and the minute I took them home I realized they were extremely old, the bottoms being very soft and having a large hole in the middle. No good! read more

Way too small for the amount of business that goes through there. When I went to take the cart full of my groceries out to the parking lot the cart gets stuck after you're a few yards away. I had two big heavy boxes of groceries. There was nobody there to help. There was no way to get the cart to go any further, and I had to take a cart from another store which shut down too, but at least it was closer. I don't know how they expect you to be able to get your groceries to your car. This is ridiculous. I will never shop there again. read more

Montrell was amazing and so kind! He made my mom's experience shopping at this location a pleasant and welcoming time. He kept up a fun and polite conversation that had my mom very pleased at the end of her shopping trip! Thank you Montrell!! read more

I adore this store!!! They have the most creative foods anywhere that I know of. From the standard favorites I buy to the ever rotating list of items that are seasonal or just being tested out. It's an absolute culinary adventure of delight. Almost everything I've bought there has been superb. The store is clean, bright and inviting. I only buy my orchids here because they have the best prices and quality. The staff bends over backwards to treat their customers well and help them find whatever they're looking for. read more

Normally ok experience but the guy cashier with the colored glasses and gray hair was such a jerk at 8:30 in the morning

I go to Trader Joe's because the food in inexpensive and healthy compared to all other stores. And, until yesterday, the staff is always friendly, culturally competent, and helpful. As a disabled person, it's a great place to shop. It has also felt safe for my partner and I because we're interracial and both disabled. When we're really struggling, I will break up my EBT (food stamps) with a credit or bank card. Every clerk, until yesterday at Trader Joe's knows the process for this. First the clerk has to check the amount on the EBT card. Then they allow me to put the remaining balance on the EBT card and then the remaining from that on a card. Pretty easy, and not embarrassing as using two cards holds up the line. The guy we got yesterday (I don't know his name, only that he had dark hair and was extraordinarily tall) didn't know how to do this. When he started to do it incorrectly, and I said, you've got to run the amount first, he said, "I know what I'm doing!" but he didn't. He asked how much I'd like to put on the card when I already said all of it and that is also not the process. I'd like to add here that this was my partner and my first time shopping alone without help because he has medical issues. He asked that this clerk please bag a certain way so he could carry the food, but he was really grumpy and ignored my partner. Not nice. We wanted an extra bag (and pay for it) so he wouldn't hurt himself carrying the heavy bags. Anyway, the guy couldn't figure out how to do it, and the line was getting angry. They mocked me for taking so long (plus I'm in a wheelchair, so making fun of the lady in a chair is common). I asked for the manager or someone else to please help and the clerk refused. This happened at least 5 times and my partner had to ask. When the manager came over, the clerk said I was "aggressive" (lie to make himself look good for not knowing his job). So the manager had an attitude like "angry cripple old lady" here. He was able, with a lot of push back that increased the hostility from customers, to do this. Please train your employees in how to work splitting EBT and cards, so that it's easier on customers, less humiliating and doesn't create anger, frustration, and derision among people in line waiting. What came after was not your fault, but it would have been avoided if your clerk knew how to handle splitting how to pay for food. I was actually shocked, 16 years of shopping at Trader Joe's, that a clerk was so rude. Thank you. read more

I'm really getting fed up with this Trader Joe's. At least 25% of my visits, one or more of the freezers has been emptied out due to a malfunction, meaning a lot of frozen foods are not available. Come on, Joe; when your freezers are breaking that often for years on end, they obviously need more than band-aids; give them the serious overhaul or replacement that the need! Then there's the mindboggling inconsistency in unavailable products. I don't mean products that have been cancelled or are temporarily unavailable, I just mean that they run out of stuff and go for days or weeks without getting it back. Employees of other TJ's tell me that this is due to inattentive inventory management and lazy ordering. Today they had no gallons of nonfat or 1% milk; how does that even happen? Then there's the bags of moldy out-of-date produce. I once had to return to the store with a bag of slimy and moldy green beans, and the guy at the desk just shrugged and suggested that I closely inspect bagged produce before putting it in my cart. Um, yeah, I *could* do that, or maybe TJ employees could keep an eye on the produce themselves? read more

I just had the coolest experience at Trader Joe's! Last week when I was here I discovered they had little bottles of Hendrick's Gin martinis. I bought one, took it home and put it in the freezer to chill. I opened it and poured it into a martini glass w/ olives and enjoyed it. I didn't check to see how many ounces are in a bottle but I figure they hold 2-3 martinis. We'll see. I offered to bring some to our book group next month and am picking up one for our friend Sue's birthday later this month. I returned to TJ's today to pick some up. I went over to the shelf and, getting in front of a woman's cart, I put six in mine. I looked at her and told her I wasn't cutting in front of her, just getting the martinis. She said she wouldn't have noticed and I replied that it would have been wrong of me and got behind her. A woman in the line next to me was concerned that the red flap was down on my cart and my bottles could fall out, so she put them in the cart, put down the flap and put the bottles back. We got into a conversation about the martinis and just as I was about to suggest she take one of mine and I would pick up another, she suggested it! I handed one to her and the woman in front of me handed one back to me. It was such a wonderful, friendly interaction! Four bottles are in the little freezer in the garage chilling for the book group. read more

4-26-21 Always one of the last stops before checking in at the airport. No matter what city we leave from, if there is a Trader Joe's in driving distance, we will come by. Now that we are older we don't need a separate suitcase to bring omiyage back for family, work friends, hobby friends and other acquaintances. I sure miss those chocolate dipped potato chips much like Japan's Royce brand. Hint hint, please bring it back. I like their Jojoba oil, it costs less than Down To Earth at home. Usually buy the individually bagged nuts or trail mix. Also pick up something for the vet staff too as fur baby spends boarding time there. Always admire their reasonably priced flower bouquets. read more

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You can never go wrong shopping here. The food is fresh, delicious, and at a great value. The service is excellent if you need help finding something. read more

From the security staff to the checkout and restocking staff, the employees here are courteous and friendly. They help me find what I'm looking for and are cheerful. Thank you, TJs. read more

Rude manager in the return department today Sunday June 8, 2025. He did not honor the store's return policy.

I love Trader Joe's in general, and that's why I'm stopping to write a review about this particular location. Been there twice recently, and noticed behaviors of new hires make me want to not return. The cashiers have been great as always, but the people stocking are not doing the job well in terms of customer experience. In the frozen food aisle both times, pairs and groups of employees were dominating the space up and down the aisle by quite loudly talking abt their personal lives or sports etc without regard for the clientele around them. It's rude and disrespectful, and it's weird no manager has effectively reined in this behavior. I visited other aisles just to avoid them, but returned to find them still at it. Also, some of the shelve stockers are a bit rude with how they move through the aisles with product carts. I asked another employee about the location of a regular product, and while he was friendly, he had no clue about the product's existence at all. Look, I know these are young people with lives outside of work, but just so you know, El Cerrito Plaza Trader Joe's is missing the mark. read more

The Trader Joe's in El Cerrito Plaza is my favorite Trader Joe's in the East Bay Area. It wasn't too busy typically early in the morning, but was pretty consistently busy throughout the day. Lines/check-outs were well placed so that those standing in line were not in the way of merchandise. There are check stands for baskets only to help speed up the flow of traffic at check-out. When I first moved to Albany I was a little hesitant to come to Trader Joe's in part because I had become so accustomed to self check-out, but the prices, quality of food, and variety of offerings here were unparalleled so coming here became a habit. I tried a bunch of different things at this location and my staples were the breads/bakery items, meat, cheese, fresh produce, frozen meals and pizzas, frozen fruit, condiments, sweet treats, and prepared/to-go salads. I developed a set of regular favorites unique to this store and enjoyed both walking and driving to this location. The workers were kind and helpful if needing direction. Parking is plentiful, but during busy times I had to park on the street outside the parking lot or I would go home park my car and walk here. Periodically there is a farmer's market in the parking lot that takes up a number of parking spaces. This was one of my last two places to stop for food in California the day I moved back to Washington State. I got some fried chicken from the Albany Safeway and scones from here to be my nourishment during the drive. Hedgy and I both enjoyed the scones. They are easy to eat in a sit-down and on-the-move kind of setting. Made sure to pack a few napkins and a trash bag for the 15 hour drive so the crumbs weren't flying around the car. read more

Trader Joe's - Hedgy with scones from Trader Joe's for our drive to Washington State. - Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I had my first negative experience here today. It was not with the store itself, but the shopping cart I was using; it worked normally while in the store but when I got out to my car and after I put my grocery bags in the trunk, the cart would not roll any more at all. I believe it was their cart security boundary system but I was within the parking lot, right out front of the store. I had a difficult time getting the cart to an area of the parking lot where it was not blocking any cars as none of the wheels would even roll. I looked like a fool struggling to even get the cart to move across the parking lot. read more

Everyone who works at this Trader Joe's is super nice. A better selection than a lot of other Trader Joe's.

I like it that Trader Joe's pretty much carries the same products in each of their stores. They don't carry too many items. I know I can't get everything from Trader Joe's, but I can get a lot of what I need. This was the first time I have been in this Trader Joe's, and I found everything I was looking for. Their help was friendly. Since they have a policy that encourages you to try something new, and if you don't like it--you get your money. So, I accidentally bought a product from a different TJs, and tried it anyway. I didn't like it or finish it. I threw the rest in the compost, washed the container, and gave the container to the cashier who called a manager over to ok it--and I got credit for it. Never have any TJ's staff ever grilled me about it--I love that!!! If you look at my pics, you will see some the the things I purchased. Things I usually don't buy from TJs: single pieces of fruit--I find their prices on indi read more

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Busy location, farmers market in parking lot on Weds ? Well stocked and lots of employees. Tried the potatoes/ Chile tacos today and if you were ever a jack in the box taco fan these have enough of hint of that taste to bring back memories with only palm oil as negative. Also there is a pet store in the back to help with that errand. read more

Love this Trader Joe's! It's my to go place for most of my shopping and conveniently located in the El Cerrito plaza. Pros: -friendly staff who go out of their way to help you -while they can't hold boxes for you, they do let you take their cardboard boxes after they stock their shelves. They totally hooked me up tonight. Thank you Trader Joe's team. You're the best!!! -lots of outdoor parking available Cons: -n/a read more

We've had two recent experiences purchasing refrigerated food and orange juice that was past the sell buy date. I had to throw out a quart bottle of expired orange juice. I will continue to shop there, just more diligently, as I can only conclude it's store policy to sell outdated merchandise. read more

I bought pistachios and they were gross and crusty. Also their strawberries were moldy and not fresh. Please change your stock regularly. Idk how you mess up pistachios read more

Trader Joe's - Pistachios - Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

We found out after we feed 3 potstickers to our little one , she's 15 months old. This is crazy ! We been shopping at traders joes for a long time , we buy all our food for baby from this shop now I'm worried about food safety and quality control! Please don't do this to customers! Buyer beware ! read more

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A solid Trader Joe's store - plenty of parking and easily accessible by BART or bus. There are long (Covid) lines outside though, every time I go by. I find myself going to TJ's less and less often, 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

Trader Joe's - THE best item at Trader Joe's - compostable pop-up sponges. Beats all their copy-cat processed food and condiments that you'll never finish! - Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

If you're black , they're going to follow you and the security will look at you suspiciously . Felt very uncomfortable will shopping there right after a day off . read more

Great service by friendly and helpful employees. Great flower section. Great cheese section. Great wine section.

I always thought this place was way too expensive for my blood but recently I have had a complete change of heart and now this is my go to grocery! They have a lot of variety when it comes to produce and it's always been pretty fresh but it's mostly packaged so I have to take it out of the wrapping to better store them but you can't beat their prices and even organic! Their jumbo brown eggs are delicious and about half the price compared to the popular other chain starting with "S". Even on sale, TJ's still has lower prices by a couple of dollars and who doesn't want to save money these days! They have a decent meat and fish section and surprisingly the fish was equally fresh and flavorful for dollars less as well! They had great breads and their own "specialty" items you can't get anywhere else and it's hard to resist not getting them if you have a sweet tooth. Parking can be tricky during peak hours and weekends but I highly recommend this place for some serious $$ savings. The restrooms are cleaned regularly which is always a plus and the staff are very friendly and always willing to help! I'm sold! read more

I shop here 1 - 2 times per week. Lately, it seems like the employees aren't that happy. Used to be they were engaging at the register and if on the floor (even if stocking) they would go the extra mile if I needed help. Anyone else seeing a change? Gonna go heavy on the kindness so they know they are appreciated and hope to see a change. read more

Busy Trader Joe's here. Before the Pinole location this would be the only location to go to. People come to this location to do their grocery shopping. I think when the Pinole location being open this location has not been too busy as it use to be. With a Lucky being nearby this grocery store surely gets a lot of people. It is amazing El Cerrito Plaza has two grocery stores. It hard to see Trader Joe's from San Pablo Ave. It is amazing that people know that there is a Trader Joe's in El Cerrito Plaza. Thankfully the sign that is posted on San Pablo Ave informs drivers that is a Trader Joe's at this shopping center. read more

*** During Covid Review *** I used to love going to Trader Joe's but since Covid started, it's been a bit more difficult for me. I love that they limit how many people come into the store, they have marks on the ground where you should stand to be 6 ft. apart and they have marks in the store too. Like any trader joe location, they have limited items during certain times, so if you like something grab it while you can! They do like to change their stock items based on seasons. I like that this location is well stocked and they do try to keep items stocked even when it's 4pm. The employees here are very nice and easy to ask for assistance if you need help. My only complaint would be the line. During certain times of the day, there will be a line from trader joe all the way to CVS. Overall though this trader joe location is great. read more

The packaged vegetables are not fresh and spoil quickly. The fresh salads and deli items also spoil quickly. Bfbtjdysgdhr+4#&$?-" vsgflhsurskydkydkyhfekydymdtkdbdjyx.bxmhxmhxmhxmhxmhdmhdmhd.hdmhx.bxmhdmhdkydh Xykdmhhjhfluhfdkyfhcbcbxmbx vxngdmhfmhdmhdmh read more

I go to TJs at least once a week get almost everything I need and on occasion things I didn't know I needed. There is limited cleaning supplies and types of frozen or canned vegetables. I like Lima beans and blackeye peas and have to go elsewhere. Sometimes they something new like Tamarind Sauce. It was so good I immediately went back and got three bottles now the don't have it. This also happened with seasoning in a pickle and vanilla bean paste but I didn't get back in time and had to wait more than six months before they had it again (when I immediately bought three each). The jalapeño tartar sauce never turned up again (so sad). I miss the free tastes and the coffee samples but the pandemic ended that (wish that would return). read more

While I have a bone to pick with the company's love affair with plastic, since everything at a Trader Joe's location, from the produce to the beverages, is covered or encased in plastic, with few alternatives, I love the store itself. The staff are friendly, the prices are unbeatable, and they even play great music over the PA system (golden oldies). I can't think of a single unpleasant experience I've had here, but always enjoy returning to replenish my supply of high quality, affordably priced organic fare and meat analogues. Keep up the great work, gang! read more

Yea this used to be a essential stop every time I got to the Plaza but my last three trips have been less than desirable. The cashiers are down right rude now. They forget to give me my change they give other people my reusable bags. It's always a very cold exchange everytime I go. The one in Berkeley and Emeryville dont have this problem. What's wrong with this one? Is it a by-product of the pandemic? It's very convenient to come here but I think I'll avoid coming here if I can. read more

I like this spot. I was so happy when it opened because going to the flagship store in Emeryville was a nightmare. The store is well stocked, the employees are pleasant, and they take back returns like a boss! Interestingly enough, going here made me a super fan. I have several stores that I can visit and I often met my husband there when he's coming back from his gym in Berkeley. I don't come here as often, but I have started shopping there again and I'm glad to rediscover this underappreciated gem of a store. read more