TJ has never been my go-to spot for shopping, but I do go to TJ for snacks, snacks, snacks. In fact, I pick up my snacks for work to hide in my office to keep me through the day. As such, the nut collection for snackage is wonderful especially the following which are individually packed for the right serving/handful. oh my! Omega Trek Mix Breakfast Trek Mix Simply Almonds, Cashews and Chocolate Trek Mix Because of this and a wider variety, I've been on a nut binge worse than a springtime squirrel. read more

I LOVE Trader Joe's. It's funny. When you're from Hawai'i and you go to the continental US, you GOTTA bring back omiyage from Trader Joe's. My cousin who lives in California shops there as her regular grocery store. I should be so lucky! We have our regular TJ specials. I love their grinders. They're reasonable and they make awesome omiyage. Okay, yeah, so what if I don't really share them. If you wanted to, they'd make good omiyage. Lol. I really like the chocolate, coffee, and sugar one. I use it on my iced coffee every night. Imagine my dismay when we went to Vegas and they said they were out. Imagine a crack addict shaking. That was me. Luckily for me, THIS TJ's had them. They even had a new one to stoke my addiction. Cinnamon Sugar. What!?!! Perfect for the princess who eats cinnamon toast almost every day. The hubs just loves the waffle caramel cookies. I don't care for them, but when he goes, he buys at least 5 bags for himself. Yeah, piggy! I buy myself some trail mix, big packages and individually packed snack size for when I need to grab and go. They even sell Myntz!, which I really like because they don't have artificial sweeteners. We also always end up with beef jerky and pistachios and cashews. We're always surprised with how reasonably priced everything is. Maybe we're used to the sticker shock of Hawai'i, but we love shopping at Trader Joe's. Now if they could bring one here, we'd be all set. read more

Okay. Let's get something straight. If they had this place in Hawaii, I don't know if I would be so enthusiastic about following my wife in here to get my snacks. My wife absolutely LOVES it here. If we take a trip to the mainland, we're going to have to track down a Trader Joe's. That's just how it is. We go to the Vegas one all the time. That being said, I kinda secretly like this place more than I let on. I like the hokey Hawaiian/surferish vibe you get there. I like checking out all the cool, delicious, natural snacks they have. Maybe that's what it is. I know I'm going to get to eat all the ridiculous stuff my wife buys. It also makes me feel good to buy others stuff that they can't get on the Rock. Maybe that's the true appeal. Warm in my tummy. Warm in my heart. The people there are also very, very, very nice and friendly. They make you feel at home. Feels like they stole some of our Aloha spirit. Next time you go there, you just gotta buy a whole truckload of caramel waffle cookies. Those things are the shiznit!!! I can eat a whole bag in one sitting. The best thing about it is that no one in my house will eat it, so I got all those bags to myself! I won't describe it because I probably wouldn't do it justice, but let's just say that it's soft, chewy, caramel goodness!! You can pretty much get any snack for anybody here. It works perfectly if you're buying snack souvenirs like us all the time. I mean, who doesn't like to eat, right? I only held back a star for their rating because I think if there were one here in Hawaii, the novelty of these guys would probably wear off. Well, hopefully, or we'd be there every week. read more

Holy crap so good. I'm rarely disappointed with items I find here. Their food is fantastic, flavorful, affordable, and usually good for you. For example, they sell a bunch of different very tasty burritos that are full of protein, and have practically zero fat. I dishonor my male gender by enjoying shopping here, and discovering new items they put out. I would estimate that 90% of the things I eat come from here. Honestly. I would work here if they paid enough. Yes, this is sort of like the carpet cleaning cult on that episode of Seinfeld. Come join us. read more

After going to Trader Joes twice today (yes, twice just today, at 3 pm and 8 pm), i thought it was about time I reviewed it. I'm a college student and I'm just getting used to this whole stocking my own kitchen thing, and I often find supermarkets like Ralphs and Vons daunting and incredibly overwhelming. Plus, my wallet is almost always hurting when I leave those mega-markets. Trader Joes, however, is a totally different animal. Everything they have is delicious, reasonably priced, and interesting. Not every grocery store can boast chili mango popsicles (yum), roasted seaweed snacks (yum), and pistachio toffee (yum, yum, yum). This one is definitely on the small side, but has just about everything you need. I get all of my groceries at Trader Joes, except peanut butter (When it comes to peanut butter, I gotta have the processed stuff. Organic is just not the same). Best of all, the people who work here are awesome. They're always so friendly, eager to help, and really knowledgeable. I've received cooking advice from them on more than a few occasions, and they never fail to ask how my day is going, no matter which employee is helping me out. Yes, the parking lot is absolutely insane, but it's definitely worth it. If I'm feeling especially impatient, I'll park further down towards Raplhs, and just walk the few extra feet. Definitely beats fighting a soccer mom in her massive SUV for a spot. read more

I don't know how this trader Joes operated before it expanded. Friendly staff. Only negative is that during rush hours it's hard to find parking in the parking lot. I have to circle around a few times and vulture someone's spot. read more

You might like this place if you've been to Zabar's (Upper West Side New York) . Especially if that visit was awhile ago, you're not planning to go to New York soon, and you like a consistent experience at every outlet in the chain. (okay, don't expect TJ to have anything like the yummy Lox you get at Zabar's) It's not a place to go if you like quiet shopping or like to live simply. They have lots and lots of little specialty items of their own store brand that seems to drive some shoppers happy. read more

What can I say? I LOVE Trader Joe's in every way. Healthy Creations? Check! Friendly and helpful staff? Check Check! Great Prices? Check! There are so many things that I could rave about its stupid. Trader Joe's has a place in my heart. Like a best friend. This grocery store is all about good vibes. You feel good eating healthy, organic food, given to you by wonderful, happy staff that always have a nice thing to say about something. My checking account is never shocked by my shopping trips and no matter what you choose off the shelf you know it is going to taste amazing. I love shopping here and even the busiest day doesn't deter me! Thanks Trader Joes! read more

Located a quick drive from my mom's house, I'm able to stop in here to buy a select list of foods: 1) chocolate covered almonds 2) orange chicken 3) cheese crunchies My three non-healthy items need to be replenished weekly so when I'm visiting home I come here often. The orange chicken comes frozen in a bag and takes 30 minutes to make. I mix it with broccoli so that I can feel like I'm eating a decent meal. Easy dish to make and it tastes good.. There are about 20 close parking spots right out front plus an additional huge parking lot allocated to the entire shopping center. Usually I can get a close spot. read more

I just popped into grab my favey salad--with green beans and corn..Mmm you'll soon find that I am going to post up a lot about corn related foods..because I love it so hard. But I digress. I love dropping by the demo/try me station because it's always nice to chat it up with the friendly Trader Joe team and discover new foods. Which they've never steered me wrong. The earlier you go the better! There were a handful of team members awaiting at the checkout stands and since I only had a handful of items the checker met me in the middle to handoff my items and send me on my way. read more

We love Trader Joe's, especially since it has expanded! They recently bought the store next door and it's the perfect size. The store was once crowded and items were packed in to this location, but with the expanded size, everything seems to flow more smoothly. The prices are a bit high, but you get what you pay for. They always have excellent quality food and great customer service. read more

I heart Trader Joe's! Great prices, great meat selection. Lots of pesticide free produce choices and a wonderful wine section. Enough said. read more

i really really really love trader joes... i always find something new and exciting... i never feel ripped off everything is amazing here! i like to sample food.. i once saw a food network celebrity at the TJ's in PB their holiday cookies are the BEST!!! (reason for my recent visit here). parking sucks...but not going to dock them for that...just park far away and walk, so you don't have to deal with the craziness i feel like eating some cheese...please don't get the italian truffle...b/c they always run out and there wont be any left for me read more

One of the greatest grocery chains ever. Period. Coffee choices here are perhaps the best things to get at Trader Joe's -- but that's just one among an umpteen number of things you'll want to compulsively buy and eat here. read more

Like most Trader Joe's- this one is small too! Regardless of it's size, it is always stocked with the things I need- fresh veggies, snacks, herbal supplements and wine! The one thing that I love about this Trader Joe's is the staff... every time I walk into this TJ's the staff are always friendly. Even during Holiday rushes (they always have one) the staff are still there smiling and making sure that asking about your day is priority! On a side note- if you're a fan of fish, TJ's frozen mahi mahi is to die for!! It is super cheap and easy to cook! Their pre-prepared meals are delicious and the mochi ice-cream is always a must! read more

Great place! I used to live in the area and I shopped here for years. I have always had a great experience. The staff are super helpful and friendly and the food is amazing. I definitely recommend shopping here! I come back almost every time I'm around the area. read more

The best staff I've ever had to serve me. Bought some sunflowers for the mama and the guy says why don't you have some daffodils on the house for her. Score!!!! Thanks for brightening me and my mama's day! read more

It's a Trader Joe's. So you know what you're going to get. Cheap stuff that's fairly high quality. Mediocre produce, good cheese, great frozen foods, cheap wine. So there's that. The parking lot here is a nightmare, so try and avoid between 5-7 PM on weeknights, and midday on weekends. Unless you're into torture. More importantly, this TJ's just expanded into the store beside them and basically doubled it's square footage. They didn't add any more food into that additional space, but made the aisles into LUXURY aisles. Way wider, carts can pass each other easily, and dramatically more capable of handling the inevitable crowds. I'd venture to say it's one of the more pleasant shopping experiences around town now. read more

My girlfriend and I had just moved to the area and Rob had given us the best Traders Joe's experience! He let us open a box of Cookies to try out before we bought the product. He also gave us a house plant when he heard we had moved into the area. This will be our main grocery outlet from here on. What amazing customer service!! read more

This is by far my favorite grocery store. There are many people who think Trader Joe's is much more expensive than other store. This is a total misconception. Their prices are better than most places on the majority of similar items and bang for the buck, you get the most healthy food for the value. The people who work there are always happy and there is never a bad vibe. I can't say the same for the Von's on Sante Fe Dr. I've been there twice and both times heard employees complaining. The alcohol prices are pretty good too! read more

My favorite Trader Joes store. Friendly staff, ample parking. I am now having to shop at the Hillcrest TJ and really displeased with their parking situation. Ok but Back to *ENCINITAS* location - my favorite! Love the return policy, if you dont like something: bring back for refund. Same goes for your dog. My dog has sampled a few treats and if he doesnt like them, trader joes takes them back. A MUST try item at this grocery store: CRANBERRY LEMONADE. Get it when you can, its seasonal. booo. Wish it was all year long. read more

This store is in the corner of a large shopping center and there are nowhere near enough parking spaces close to the store. Be prepared to either circle the smaller sort of sub-lot in front to TJ's or to park in a different part of the center and walk to the store (which is only really an issue if you buy lots of groceries.) I do like this store, especially after the remodel which made it easier to get a shopping cart through more of the aisles. It still gets crazy busy on the weekends, though, so bring your patience. My favorite frozen products here are the frozen banana slices covered in dark chocolate, the fruit bars (especially the strawberry and mango varieties) and the Korean short ribs. I also love the variety of trail mixes, the dark chocolate peanut butter cups and, my latest find and current obsession, the dried mandarin orange slices. Other than the aforementioned Korean short ribs, I've not found any entrees I'm absolutely crazy about, but most of them are perfectly fine if you're in a time crunch and just want to get a reasonably tasty and affordable meal on the table. In the dairy case, there are lots of great cheese choices, most of which are better deals than you'll find just about anywhere other than Costco. Then there is the wine selection. To this day, I haven't tried the 2 buck Chuck, but I can vouch for some of the other choices you'll find on those shelves. Another thing I like about this place is that it is adequately staffed. If you have a question or need help while you're shopping, you can always find someone on the floor. And when they're busy, they have every register open. The cashiers are typically friendly and efficient. read more

There once was a trader named Joe Whose parking lot did kind of blow He still got five stars For having chili in jars And lines that did quickly flow read more

Great customer service. I usually come here for the organic dairy products there usually better priced then other markets. They also have a wide variety of cheeses. The frozen aisle also has some good meals ( and i am not a fan of frozen food). And if your into seafood they have a decent selection I usually go for the wild Alaskan fishes and they actually have wild shrimp (i try to stay away from farmed seafood). Bonus: they give out free samples daily. :) read more

I love staff at the TJ's on O-side on El Camino Real! Almost everyone there (especially Jacquie & Eric) are so friendly and helpful and they recognize customers. The store is always clean and well stocked and they will special order things if not in stock. The food quality is high and prices are reasonable - plus I LOVE their no questions asked return policy!! I bought a $30 bottle of wine that I didn't like. I had poured a glass from the bottle and they let me exchange it for a different bottle without any of the attitude that most other stores have about returns. read more

This is a real nice grocery store in Encinitas. You can go to others nearby, but you can beat the quality, price and customer service of this place. read more

I shop here 2-3 times a week because of their great selection of fresh, organic foods. I've never had a bad experience here. They have an awesome staff at this location and will go out of their way to help you get what you came in for. I love my local TJs :) read more

Big thank you to Maura who went out of her way today to help me pick a wine to pair with mussels. I asked other employees who honestly didn't know, she came right up when I was in line to assist me. Before that Pablo came by and helped me with a piece of bagel my son had dropped and insisted to help trash it for me. I got to teach my son so much at the store today because of downright good people. These wonderful people make our shopping experience at Trader Joe's always enjoyable. Class act people they have found to run this amazing store. Henry gave my son way more stickers than he needed and it was just so thoughtful. People like this make the world right! Kindness goes a long way ! Thank you Trader Joe's! read more

I love Trader Joe's. I have been to some about in the area, but I feel as if the one in Encinitas has the most friendly staff. They are always well-stocked on all of their foods and their employees are all so well informed on their products. I'm not sure if it's the laid-back feel of the Encinitas surfer vibe, but this is for sure the best and friendliest place that I've been too. read more

Obviously Trader Joes is an awesome place to get reasonably priced and tasty food... however, the past 3 times I have shopped at this location, the customer service has been rude and condescending. The first time I was checking out and the lady checker noticed the kind of vodka I got that happened to be in a really pretty/unique blue glass bottle... I responding "Yes, I admit I judged a book by its cover for this one..... I dont know what it's going to taste like though" and she responding in a terribly rude tone "um. vodka." She commented about my ID also. I left feeling angry. The next time I approached a lady in the coffee isle and she was working on some sort of inventory. I hadn't bought coffee at TJs before and noticed all of the whole bean selection and wanted to know where the ground coffee was. I said "excuse me.. I have a quick question... whenever youre finished"...trying to be POLITE.... and she looks up at me with disgust and said "what".... I asked her about ground coffee and she awkwardly stared at me and said "its almost all whole bean. you ground there.... obviously." EW! FINALLLY I thought I was getting out of there without a mean encounter and was picking out bread at the end. I reached for the kind I always get and saw a huge selection and stepped back to look at the others..... Then a lady came to "fix the bread" or whatever she was doing... and saw me reach away and said "ohhhh K" and I replied "Im just thinking about mixin it up a little..." and she said "okkkk whatever." mean mean for no reason. This is customer service. I have about 5 years of customer service experience and YOU ARE AT WORK. there is no reason to be outright mean. I was overly polite and have been burned so many times here. It's so predictable that I will plan my TJs trips at the Carlsbad location from now on. No fun. It's grocery shopping- why so dramatic????? read more

I went to the one in Bressi Ranch & there was a line to get in the door so I drove all the way to this one & there's an even longer line!! I know they're trying to flatten the curve, but they should find other ways b/c this is a stupid waste of everybody's time! So then I went back to the Bressi Ranch one & they have a huge line now too! Sooooo not worth it. They even cut their hours; I'm going to Vons! It would be totally hilarious if they put themselves out of business! read more

It's bit of a drive,if I have some stuff to do that side I do not miss to stop by the store. I like their eggs,basil and occasionally frozen food.Always a nice shopping experience.What's up with the bell on the registers,I like the sound of it.I love the flowers in the front and of course their cards,they are unique and for 99c they are a sure buy. read more

[UPDATE] Current highlights include: - chili pepper sauce - Blissful ice cream bars read more

Trader Joe's rocks. This was a place I really missed while living in Maui. They are reasonably priced, and they have a great selection of (mostly) healthy and fun foods. The cashiers are always so friendly, and always offer some great recipe suggestions that send me (or one of them) running back through the store to add the ingredients to my cart! read more

Great wine selection with knowledgeable 'wine guys'. Often the label means nothing, they get it from big wineries which don't want to be associated with 'sale' events. They are snobs, so take advantage f the great deals. Also the best place for some ethnic ingredients for your Thai or Mediterranian dishes. For some reason, i find a lot of very attractive women there also, I hold my wife's hand firmly... read more

How can anyone not love Trader Joe's. Next to Disneyland, this has to be the happiest place on earth. Love their commitment to natural and organic. Their prices beat everyone else's for similar products. The workers are so cheerful. Even the customers are always smiling. Plus they do goofy things like sing for birthdays. If the parking were better I might come here every day just to hang out. read more

I love this place. Yeah, it's a corporation, but... I think you have to search for items with HFCS here. Frankly, don't think I've ever seen any.... I just love the quality of their stuff. Really - whoever their buyer is should be commended. Don't buy much meat here. The stuff I've had is...just okay. Their organic chicken is probably my favorite meat item. The leeks here deserve 5 stars - perfect, clean, sweet and cheap! Also love the organic arugula, sliced crimini, variety of seasonal fruits and cheese selection. Recently a friend brought over the goat cheese with blueberries. I NEVER would have bought this, but it is insanely yummy...like cheesecake. The Alsatian Tart is so f'ing good with a glass of red. And their wine selection is cheap and great. Everything (except two buck chuck) tends to be pretty reliable. Good organic produce, fantastic chocolate, great frozen items (the croissants are better than most bakeries!)...and the employees are super nice. Yeah, it's owned by the Aldi family...but they really do it right. My only gripe is that the stuff isn't local. read more

Love this place! The staff are very nice and they always have a new interesting products .. I have been going there for the past 11 years

While there's no question Trader Joe's is just another big corporate chain of grocery store and that's evident shopping at many of them, I really like this one. The service is top notch and their organic foods beat the crap food at the Ralph's in the same center for price. Add that to Trader Joe's quality and what more can you ask for in a specialty market? p.s. Am I the only one who thinks the guy crying about the fact they have booze could use a little fun in his life? read more

This is my go-to place to pick up a lunch salad and snacks. Employees are friendly and happy, they have their usual great selection of trail mixes/dried fruit (which I get bags and bags of). Trader Joe's produce is usually not as good as other local markets, but I think their Fuji apples are some of the best around. Great place to get beautiful, inexpensive flowers too. Worst thing about it is the parking, which can get crazy at times (sometimes I circle around in frustration and end up going to Sprouts instead, other times there are plenty of spots to swing into). read more