The produce was subpar and the cs matching today. No one was around to answer any questions and when we did track someone down, the question was met with a shrug and a grunt. God forbid you need a box for your wine bottles. Beware of a jerk name Matty who deserves to be fired. Guess customer satisfaction isn't on top of Trader Joe's list. We left without purchasing wine. Their loss. read more

This is a Trader Joe's and I want to give it 5 stars because the store is great. However, the clientele is more what you would expect at Walmart and I want to give it 1 star based on that. And what's very ironic about this, is that the Walmart up the road actually has a better behaved group of customers than this place. Every time I have come here, it is overcrowded with rude people that would rather run over your toes with a cart or bump into you rather than say "excuse me" and act like they're entitled to. I know they cannot control who comes to their store, but it does make for a not so great experience and luckily, I'm right in between this one and Bressi Ranch and go up there since the customers know how to behave up there. read more

I have always loved Trader Joe's selection of products, but not all TJ's are created equal. This one has ample parking, a good layout, and best of all great workers! I can always find someone to ask questions to, never see things out of stock, and always feel like the employees are happy to be there. It's also nice to have a Ralph's in the same area, so that if there is something that you can't find at TJ's you can still get it all done on one trip. I'm obsessed with too many of the TJ's products to name, but will give this tip. Read the Fearless Flyer! They do a great job of explaining new products, sales, etc. I don't read any other store flyers, but this one is a must read. read more

First time I ever came here, I asked the cashier about their gluten-free offerings. She quickly closed her register and said "Let's go shopping" then dragged me into the first isle to begin our journey. Got a sweet crash course on GF plus she sent me home with some useful info sheets. After that visit I thought, wow she was helpful. Turns out, ALL of the TJ employees are helpful!! Something you see every day at TJ: The stockers drop what they're doing and guide you to what you need, plus make sure they've answered all your q's. If something is not on the shelf, they always check the delivery area, and often come back with a case of what you need, hand you one then stock the shelf. Or they check computer then tell you the future delivery status. TJ and the employees are fantastic! read more

Trader Joe's - Sooo yummy! - Grocery Near Me - Encinitas, California

Love trader joes! Always have friendly cashiers which makes it an even more awesome experience ! Snacks are all heavenly. Best nuts ever! The cottage cheese is divine, way better than the super salty yuck cottage cheese from Canada! There is nothing I've tried that I hate from trader joes and there are prices are very good! Highly recommend going here !!! read more

Best shop I'find everything what helps me keep my diet . I eat only vegetables and fruits. Hear I found fresh and organic . read more

I'm hard of hearing and usually need to read lips when communicating, but not in this store, because it's easy to hear the staff loudly yelling. They yell at customers, especially the disabled. It's disturbing and demeaning. If you're hobbling on a cane, then they'll deny you entry and yell at you for missing the handicap shopping hour. If you're hearing impaired, then they'll yell at you for wearing a shield and not understanding their muffled masked jargon. Walking the wrong way on an isle, against the circles, they'll yell at you for not following directions. It's a tough place to shop, thus I've stopped. No other store mistreats customers this way. read more

Trader Joe's - Beware - Grocery Near Me - Encinitas, California

First time to this tiny little nugget of a Trader Joes. ;) Smaller than what I'm used to with a Trader Joes, but nonetheless still very clean and pristine! Honestly my TJ's experience has always been a positive one and this one was no different. We drive over specifically for Bavka! Last nights Seinfeld show was the inspiration... Lol (My friend watched it, told me about it & I just had to try it!) Apparently a woman was attacked due to buying the last Bavka at TJ's on Seinfeld! What the heck? Soooo, with violence and greed as my inspiration, we made our way to the Bavka. ;) When we were in line our cashier was a hoot! There wasn't a line behind us so we were able to comfortably explain the reason for our visit. He was so sweet and engaging, just the "community sort of feel" you like from your grocery store visit. So all in all, come on down, or come on up! Depending on what direction you're coming from! ;D read more

Trader Joe's - Heat up with some hot Coconut Macadamia Herbal tea - Grocery Near Me - Encinitas, California

I just walked in to pick up some olive oil and walked our with bags upon bags of groceries. Such is a hungry persons visit to Trader Joes. By the point you know how great this place can be especially if you are vegan or have some other way of eating that isn't mainstream. I try to do most of my shopping at Tj's but if you make more... ummmm... actual meals then you will need to visit your grocery store as well. This location has really friendly staff and polite customers. The parking and driving is plain awful. Just keep your cool and go in with the mindset that you might have to park a little of a walk away. Right now it is the holidays so they have all sorts of olive oil gift sets and sweets. I dare you to walk in and just get ONE bottle of olive oil... read more

This TJ's is worth more than 3 stars. I'd even say that it's a 4 star spot. The reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because of the overall shopping experience. The store is clean and well-stocked like you expect from TJ's. They have the yummy samples at the back of the store. All of the employees are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I think the checker people are actually the quickest checkers I've seen at any TJ's. The actual store is good, four-star stuff. It's the other shoppers here that make the store suck. First, this parking lot had to be created by the devil. There are nothing but angry and aggressive SUV's driving around trying to scheist each other out of a spot. They'll run your ass over if you're walking by and in the way of the spot too. Once you finally get a spot and somehow enter the store without dying, you then get to experience the same game of bumper cars but with carts, baskets and screaming children. People in this store simply do not give a fuck if you're in their way. No excuse mes, pardon mes or even get out of the ways. Just bumping of shoulders, elbows, baskets and carts. If you're having a good day, come here to become frustrated and angry at others. read more

Trader Joe's is always awesome. It was my first time going to this location. I usually go to TJ's when I want to put together a cheese board for a wine night. I love their low prices and great selection of cheese and wine. My faves are their Blueberry Vanilla Chevre and their Brie, Yum! As for their wine, I stick to Côtes du Rhône which was recommend to me by my coworker who can you call a wine enthusiast lol read more

I love Trader Joe's and frequent them wherever I find them. This one is in the Ralph's shopping center almost at the corner of Encinitas Blvd and El Camino Real. Convenient to my hood. They have everything that most Trader Joe's have. It's an older one, so the aisles are narrow, which is too bad. They had some good organic produce and just about everything else I needed. Lots of parking in the main lot, and some spaces right in front of the store. read more

This isn't my normal TJ's but it's still a great store. The expansion made a huge and positive difference. The store is now one of the biggest TJ's I've ever seen. The aisles are wide and there's plenty of room to breathe and move around. Parking at this location has always been tough but they are in the midst of some type of construction remodel in the parking lot so hopefully, the parking situation will improve. They have the very, very, very best samples at this store. Usually, you get to try at least 2 and sometimes as many as 4 different things here. Well done, guys, well done. Finally, the mascot (a lemur) is legitimately tough to locate, even for us big kids. Great store. read more

Been shopping here for while but it is sadly my least favorite Trader Joe's I have ever been in the county of San Diego and when I travel in Northern California. They are out of a lot of products but I relate that to what is going on in the world right now but the Customer Service is subpar for a Trader Joes. The only person ever talking to you is the employee making sure you are wearing a mask. I was going to ask a question today and they dodged me and I felt uncomfortable calling or asking a cashier. The other time I actually asked for help I was given a BS answer. I asked what was the difference between two different juices. She said, "First off is the size" and that was it. I walked away. I got eyes, not the answer I wanted. I am always waiting when it is dead when checking out because all the employees are talking amongst themselves so I just stand there until someone offers to ring me up. This place sucks. read more

We are so fortunate to live in San Diego with access to Trader Joes. This California grown company has evolved from it's humble roots as a funky store in Pasadena to a major chain of markets. The Encinitas location recently underwent a major expansion and we have a massive store now. I love shopping here, I always run into somebody that I know. Not everybody is as fortunate as the people in California. On my last shopping trip I helped an older lady read the orange juice labels to find the not from concentrate variety. She told me that she lived in Colorado and was so excited to be able to shop here. Trader Joes is still growing and I hope that as new markets emerge they are able to keep up the quality annd value that they offer now. read more

Trader Joe's is a quality grocery store! The items available are healthy and they taste great! There are also so many speciality diet options like vegan friendly, gluten free, vegetarian, lactose-free and more. Coming here and browsing through the foods always makes me want to try different healthy snacks and dinners. The fruit is priced great and it's always fresh. There is also a great, and cheap, wine selection! Ask any of the friendly employees to help you find a good one, and you won't be disappointed! The positives of this TJ is it great location off of El Camino Real, it's always clean, and the employee are extremely friendly. The downsides of this location would be the crowds and the horrible parking lot. I have sat in my car and driven in circles for 20 minutes trying to get a spot here before. Ps. I would highly recommend the TJ red cherry licorice read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery date with Daddy! - Grocery Near Me - Encinitas, California

I'm giving it 5 stars ever since this store added a ton of space. It has got to be the biggest trader joe's in San Diego County- no kidding. Before the remodel, it felt cramped and I seemed to have to maneuver my cart carefully to get through the aisles. It always seems to be busy, so the added space was much needed. Everyone is friendly and the store definitely has a laid-back surf vibe. The only pain is the parking lot-- As others said, avoid the after work rush. And don't bother trying to get a spot on the right side of the parking lot-- just go in front of the furniture store. It's not that far :-) read more

Great store with friendly staff. TJ's is a great grocery store that is very unique and actually cool. They offer most of what you need and their prepackaged sandwiches and salads are perfect for work. I enjoy getting their Pizza dough and making a homemade pizza. Beer selection is always interesting and they have a great wine selection with reasonable prices. Their cheese section is an adventure to the different countries and that's a good thing. The flowed are great and affordable. The greeting cards are cute and only cost a buck! The lines are always moving and when packed they will open check stands until they are open. The bread section is cool. Their best section arguably is the frozen food section. They have such a crazy cool selection of foods. Stop in the back and grab a food/drink sample. And last but not least try to spot 'Ringo' the stuff animal that they place in a different spot everyday for the kids. It's things like this that make TJ's a unique experience. read more

Trader Joe's - The foundation for an old fashion. - Grocery Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Talk about the best customer service and friendly atmosphere....I love TJs in general, and Encinitas goes above and beyond in friendliness and helpfulness. They always ask me if there is anything I can find, and wait....the prices ROCK!! Hubby and kids LOVE sweet and sour chicken even my picky 8 yr old son who pukes at everything!), and we just love the garlic fries, among everything else there....TJs knows how to do business, for anyone from the single crowd, all the way up to the married with children crowd...thanks... Also, TJ's rocks for having LOTS of gluten free options....try the Sesame Corn chips, and the rice salt and pepper crackers....OMG!! read more

One of the safest places to shop at right now due to the safety protocols they are practicing and enforcing here. The company has every right to take actions to protect their employees and their customers. They require masks for entry, limit the number of people inside at once, and offer sanitized carts and baskets upon entry. My favorite place to shop during the public heath emergency. read more

I gave Trader Joe's a second chance after discovering a large moth in the "triple washed" salad, BUT yet again Trader Joe's fails me. I just discovered a black feather in my chicken wrap. Pictures speak louder than words. Never ever buying pre made things from there again. Watch out before you take a bite! read more

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

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Great food. Great customer service. Everyone is always friendly. My daughter loves looking for Ringo and the free samples.

My grocery shopping seriously takes place in this spot and it's always clean, organized, and has a great selection of fresh items and snacks! Also, love their frozen foods section. Being a customer of many years, I would just love to request, if at all possible, to bring back the dark chocolate covered edamame..best EVER! Don't know what happened but they have disappeared and it makes me sad. Is there any way they can return?? Pretty please? :) oh, also all employees are super friendly and efficient! read more

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Love the store but sometimes the music is way to loud . My ears were bleeding when I left today .

OK -- there is nothing about this Trader Joe's that I have been able to find that makes it especially more or less interesting than any other market of its kind. It's clean, reliable, fun to browse and tends to have every single thing I am looking for. Except duck pate. They have chicken pate, but no duck pate. And the wine selection seems a tad bit more limited than usual. But, in all, it's a standard Trader Joe's. The parking lot can be a menace, and people can forget, at times, that they have manners while shopping, but there is nothing else negative I can say. And I find that the staff is especially friendly and helpful here. So kudos for that. Heading for the beach and need some nice, reasonably priced cheeses, meats and crackers? This is your spot. read more

This was the first Trader Joe's I have shopped at. I thought the employees were nice and the food selection was unique. I like the low key or down to earth atmosphere here. Usually just bought items that can not be purchases at other places, like their dried fruit or trail mix. The bakery area often has nice selection of muffins and cupcakes. read more

Customer service is so beyond freaking good, I actually carried a brief convo with the cashier. Gosh, I hate that I can't remember his name, I'm typically good at those things. Nonetheless, I heard that the Trader Joe's prenatal vitamins were easy on the stomach and also vegan and just all around great! So I grabbed some, I was literally in and out with my shopping and I was extremely surprised because it was packed with people. I just loved the experience I had shopping and being able to chit chat a bit with an awesome human. While I'm in the San Marcos/Carlsbad area, I'll be shopping here. read more

Love love love Trader Joe's! So many great healthy options at cheaper prices than other stores! And the convenient meals like prepared salads, chopped veggies, and frozen foods are all outstanding! The produce can be hit or miss but overall TJ's is a staple grocery run for our family! read more

I went to Trader Joes to grab a few favorite items today. I rarely go to this grocery store since it always has a longggg line to get in, however today I decided to brave the line. When I finally got to the front of the line, I was greeted by an employee at the door, stating I was not allowed to bring ANY of my own grocery bags into the store. He very rudely told me to take them back to my car or place them in the yellow tub outside of the store, and I can pick them up again when I leave the store. I then asked him if I have to pay for bags when I check out. YES??? are you kidding me? The local governments put this "bring your own bags" or you'll get charged for bags into effect, so I did. But now you can't bring your own bags for groceries and you still have to pay for bags when you check out??? Every single grocery chain in this area lets you bring your bags in the store and even pack your bags for you. At the checkout I was given the option to just toss all my groceries in a cart and take them out to my car that way, and pack my own bags when I get to my car?? I will pass on that idea, not a great one. Trader Joes, I can only guess that you are afraid people will bring the virus in your store with their bags? If so, you need to eat the cost of the bags for your customers, thats just poor business practice Trader Joes. Also, there is a big sign in the front of the store stating that you must wear a mask EVEN if you have a medical reason that you cannot wear a mask! Just a heads up for those with such health issues. I am seriously disappointed with the corporate decisions, at this Trader Joes that I have been shopping at since 1998. read more

This is the best Trader Joe's. I come every week and I always find what I need! The staff is super friendly and proactive! This is always my choice! read more

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

Every girl has that one guy in her life that she just can't let go. She may go through ups and downs and experience many difficult break ups. She may try out other guys, but for some reason she just keeps going back to him. At times, he might make her feel depressed and fat, while other times he's right there to support and comfort her when she's having a bad day. He might make her feel jealous when he sees several other women, and even some other men, on a daily basis. He's got a little bit of everything inside: sweet, salty, fresh, and prepackaged, ready to go when you need it. For some reason, he's not completely right for her, but he prevents her from wanting to find someone who is. For me that guy is Trader Joe. As a young single woman who unfortunately can't cook very well, Trader Joe's has been the biggest enabler and savior at the same time. He is my go-to guy and I see him weekly to get my fill of precut and prewashed fruits and veggies, packaged meals with cooking instructions, and ready to serve snacks and appetizers. Best of all, he's cheap! He also provides me with lots of sweet goodies, but can balance it out with healthy food. He's even got a little bit of ethnic diversity in him! Everyone that works here is very friendly with the exception of one grumpy chick. Trader Joe keeps me single by making it easy to cook for one (who needs a family to eat dinner with?), making it easy for me to not know how to really cook (I mean, what guy wants a girl that can't cook? haha), and keeping me fat and happy (what guy wants a fat chick?). I love you Trader Joe! read more

I used to work at Trader Joe's years ago and remember the customer standard. It is still upheld during Covid. Chandler from this location answered the PHONE and still gave the best customer service with product knowledge. Glad to know Trader Joe's is still the best! read more

BUSY BUSY BUSY, a frenzy of parking and people WHO MUST shop here and are SO very angry that there are NOT enough spots for the SUV's. Ah surburbia.. Enter the store and there are waaaaay too many people....but still some very tasty foods. If you can get past the crowds of anxious suburbanites trying to samples tastes and navigate the narrow isles, you will find some good eats and you can't beat the great selection of fish. The employees must be medicated since they all seem to retain a serene demeanor despite the crazy customers they have to deal with on a daily basis. read more

Always love shopping at Trader Joe's and this is a nice location, well stocked, friendly and helpful staff and great products. Parking lot is pretty busy, as is the store, but still well worth the atop. Quality is great and I love that they come out with new products seasonally so you always have something new to look forward to. Prices are fair, though I think the meats are a bit pricey and they do charge for shopping bags here. Excellent grocery option in the area! read more

I've been shopping at TJs for 20 years and the staff has always been wonderful. That ended today. I encountered the rudest woman controlling the line to get in, and I won't be back. I waited 15 minutes in line and when it was my turn to go in she decided to inform me I couldn't take my own bag. Every visit since Covid started I've carried in my bag and bagged the groceries myself after paying. Today the lady made me return to my car, meaning I'd have to stand in line again after putting my bag away. Not worth the effort, there is a Sprouts a block away that is fine with someone carrying a bag and has friendly employees. read more

I like this roomy location. The store aisles are wide and you're not having to bump into each other while you shop. I also love that all TJ's have a tasting station. This is the only store my son asks to go with me to and the first thing he does is run to see what's cooking. I was exposed to TJ's when I was a kid in LA. There was I think the first one opened not far from me. Their prices are fantastic and only here you can find special foods made just for them. The 3 in 1 body wash is fantastic, I only buy the Better than PB and Sprouted Bread from here. Also their Red Argentinian Shrimp that goes as fast as it comes in. Their PH water is priced better than the stores. So is most of their wines. The staff is always helpful. The new Pacific Highlands location has a wine tasting booth at 3pm daily! read more

I never come to Trader Joe's but I never have a bad experience here either. This one is located near a Ralph's which I like ( if I cant find what I need at Trader Joe's, just walk over to Ralph's). The staff is really nice and seem like a big family. They knew where everything was and were very helpful when it came to picking out the right bbq sauce to use for my bbq home made bbq chicken pizza. The price isn't bad, everything seems to have a somewhat different flavor than the generic brands of food (not bad or good just different) and the staff is great. I personally love this place and still can't figure out why I go to Ralphs more than here. Maybe it is for the Ralphs rewards saving on gas, I don't know. All in all, great place to grab some groceries. read more

It's already all been said about Trader Joe's. If you've lived in the area for even the briefest of times, I'm sure you've seen the place. Some may think its just for crazy Californians or hippies or whatever, but its really a great little chain of stores. The English Cheddar with Carmelized onions ... YUM! Seems to be a Trader Joe's only kind of thing. Small rice crackers, their cheesecakes, wine selection, how they always seem to have something tasty to try in the back that is very easy to make at home with 2-3 of their ingredients. Trader Joes is fabulous. Come check it out for yourself. read more

My freezer is always stocked with their croissant dough now. I used to but the chocolate ones as well but lately (maybe I'm imagining things) but it seems as if there's less chocolate in them. Maybe the reality is that I just want more chocolate! :) Anyhoo...the croissants are the perfect size! If I want to make chocolate croissants, I just snip the baked croissant and stuff it with some pieces of dark chocolate. If I want almond croissants then I make an almond paste from almond slivers, powdered sugar, and egg white and stuff that in the croissant. I even have the proofing done in the oven and have the oven time and bake it to perfection; this really impresses house-guests! And every now and then I serve the croissants with ham and cheese...yum! They recently sold bromlieads here for only about $12; they were really big ones too...these make great in-door plants or shade out-door plants and at that price they are a deal... The three types of pizza dough are fun too...kids love rolling the dough and topping them... Recently I found turkey breast stuffed with apple, cranberry, and stuffing...all you had to do was roast it. This would be perfect for the holidays; I will definitely look for it at that time. read more

I love this Trader Joe's location. I first discovered TJ's back in the early 90's while visiting a friend in LA. Coming from NYC there was just nothing like it back East that I had ever run into. Since moving out here shortly thereafter, I have truly fallen in love. I would have to say that the items and ambiance of this store satisfy my every dietary need and then some. The employees have all worked here forever and everyone is happy and friendly and groovy and they just take care of you. Since the early days this store has blossomed and I can't imagine shopping anywhere else except Henry's because I get a discount there. Henry's definitely has a better selection of supplements and organic beauty, skin and hair products but you can't beat TJ's for the selection of foods both fresh and packaged. I even prefer the produce. read more