Wonderful Trader Joe's is South Pasadena!! Great selection, they have a big plant and flower section in the front, and all of the staples, including their snacks, desserts/baked goods, frozen section, veggies/fruits. I bought a mostera here for $16 that is now huge! Great place to buy flowers for a hostess, or little plants as gifts, since the pots are nice and not expensive. Many mini succulent garden plants, and potted plants to choose from! Don't miss their cards, they are so cute! Parking is in the lot outside and sometimes you may have to wait to park, during their busy times. The spots are a little tight, but it's a great store. read more

Had a great time sticking up for a Funston outting. Great selection, found everything that I needed, no complaints. Staff were really friendly as well. read more

One of the smaller Trader Joe's locations. Free parking. Have more selection of plants/flowers at front entrance. They have a good selection of groceries and snacks. Friendly and helpful staff. Quick at checkout. Halloween mini totes available right now! read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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I found a stink bug in my Baby Spinach and Greens salad . I'm officially traumatized. I will not be buying prepped salads or salad bags anymore . read more

I've been shopping at this location for a few years now. I still choose this location over the new one down the street. Although parking is extremely limited, I'd still choose to come here. I've always enjoyed the friendly staff here. Because of the size of the location, the selection of everything is limited. read more

I walked out of TJ today feeling really flat. It's a bit sad cos that TJ culture is gone. I asked the cashier about the wine that's in the fearless flyer and he knows nothing. He just continue ringing up my wine and groceries. The staff aren't friendly and honestly they don't look happy working at TJ. People used to love working there and now you can see it's just a job and you're just a customer. I've been a loyal fan of Trader Joe's for years. What got me started shopping at TJs was the food samples coffee and the warm and friendly staff. They know the wine picks, they've tried the food and they make good recommendations... they know their stuff and they know the customers. I think i shopped at TJ more for that TJ culture than the actual groceries. Yes they have even cuter packaging now and prices on the basic groceries are still reasonable but I can find that easily at other markets. It's sad to see it's lost its soul read more

I stopped by this location on Sat, July 13th right before 1:00 PM, and boy is this location small. Stock: They seemed to be well stocked when we came. I got some salads, apple cider vinegar, greeting cards, grapefruit hand sanitizer. The store is pretty tiny so all the aisles are close together. It is hard to get around the store with your cart and the amount of people walking around. Customer Service: The guy who helped us was nice, but nothing out of the ordinary. I have yet to experience my I had a bad day, they gave me flowers kind of ordeal but oh well lol. Parking: Small! Super small. We got lucky with a spot when we came by! All in all, I might just try to visit other bigger locations next time. I was getting anxious from all of the people in the store at one point. read more

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I was never a traders joes person but after seeing some TikTok videos I can say that it's winning me over little by little. They have plenty of gf chips (for my wife) and a lot of premade oven or microwave foods and the meats and cheeses and veggies salads premade wraps all bomb.! Everyone is very friendly and the store is small but with a might punch of stuff and deals. I will definitely come back again read more

I've been shopping at Trader Joe's for years including this one in SoPas. I usually have an ok and sometimes a good experience here but yesterday wasn't one of them. After walking around the store a few times, I asked an employee to help me find something since I didn't see it on the shelves. She pointed to where it was then, walked over to it, got it, and brought it to me. When I thanked her for that she said thank you but in such a way as to say F' you now get lost, as if I was some kind of trashy person. I get that this is LA and people here aren't very nice and even nasty but wow. You'd think an employee would be appreciative of my business and me spending money there. You do have a job because of customers like me after all. I didn't say anything and that's probably for the better because I can be a real SOB if you push me past my limits. I've been to the Pasadena store on Lake a couple of times lately and the vibe is a bit better but not by much. I guess I'd be treated better if I had piercings, tattoos all over and weird colored hair like so many others. I think I might just start shopping somewhere else that doesn't have overpriced and overprocessed food and that treats me with a little courtesy and decency. I wonder what Joe Coloumbe would say if he were alive to read this? read more

Everyone here is so kind and helpful. Produce is fresh and I always find what I'm looking for. Great job!

Though there's a new much larger Trader Joe's in the area this OG location will always be my preferred spot to shop. Love that though the space is tight it's always well organized and fully stocked with friendly staff who are more than willing to quickly grab anything you might need. Don't ever close pls! read more

This location is always super busy and parking can be a challenge, but the customer service and great product selection make up for it. I stop by here and there to grab snacks and occasional grab lunch for work. The staff is always super friendly and helpful. I picked up some of the peanut butter cookies and they were everything I was hoping they would be. read more

Trader Joe's - Crispy crunchy peanut butter cookies - Grocery Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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This review is for the cashier "B." who got upset at me for asking for more bags (which I offered to pay for) to hold the rest of my items. B. huffed, rolled her eyes, and told me I should have asked before she started bagging, even though I asked for them from the start. I've worked customer service and get we all have bad days but she took this so personally I'm wondering if they take the twenty cents out of her pay. read more

James was my cashier today and he was so sweet! Great customer service and such a positive attitude

Wanted to find a new TJ to shop at since I always see good items posted on social media yet the TJ I normally shop at never has the items. This location is closer to home but I definitely won't find myself coming here again. Parking is horrible. Luckily there are tons of street parking as well. This location has VERY cramped aisle. It was very hard to shop without having anxiety with everyone touching shoulders. I normally like to look at a few items but it was impossible to do it here. You're constantly having to move cause everyone around you is trying to move along as well. Couldn't find what I was looking for sadly. Their check out process is also different. There are 2 register side by side per aisle. At least the checkout process was quick. I managed to stop by another TJ in Pasadena down the street where I was able to shop leisurely without feeling rushed. read more

I fell in love with shopping at Trader Joe's. They have excellent food quality not found in larger chain stores. They are always priced better than I could guessed They have hair products for low prices and their often branding am it makes it easy to find your favorite things and return again and again without being too confused in all of the long aisles of the liquor stores read more

This is my go to TJ's, I love coming here the employees are always friendly and always willing to help. What people fail to remember is for the most part TJ's have similar parking. Also if you go to any market during certain times it's busy. But I bet you they don't have practically every lane to check out open. You know what to expect when going into one. Also to the person who called an employee the R word. It's 2024 please do not be ignorant, go and educate yourself. If you had an issue, instead of assuming someone is Intellectually Disabled you should have spoke to a manager. Because coming on here and complaining isn't it. If you didn't feel "comfortable" you could have went to your car and called. Anyways back to my review the store and parking lot are always clean. Their selection of flowers are always on point!! The flowers last longer than other places. I love finding new items to try from here. read more

This is my go-to Trader Joe's. The parking is better than most others; the cashiers have always been friendly and helpful; I shop on my scooter and some even helped me organize my food so that the Vespa very warm over-engine storage could be used for canned goods vs. perishable salads. While this store is smaller than some others, shelves are always fully stocked, and staff is helpful if an item cannot be located. Overall, I'd recommend this store over most others. Stay-tuned, a newer, bigger version of the SPas store is coming to Fair Oaks/Mission very soon. Lastly, one-star reviewers, please find another place and Ralph-Kroger yourself elsewhere! read more

Trader Joe's - Vespa shopping at wonderful Trader Joe's South Pasadena - Grocery Near Me - South Pasadena, California

I have been a loyal customer of this store since 2003. For over two decades, I've come here at least once or twice a week, and I purchase liquor and groceries almost every week or twice a week. I've watched this store change over the years -- it used to feel warm, welcoming, and personal. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly cold, corporate, and robotic, with forced conversations and a lack of genuine care for long-time customers. Today was the tipping point. I walked in, as I have for years after a long honest days work, and realized I forgot my physical driver's license. I had a picture of it on my phone and explained that I am a frequent, well-known customer. Despite this, I was flatly denied my purchase of the alcohol. No understanding, no flexibility, no acknowledgment of my loyalty -- just a cold, scripted "no." I find this incredibly disappointing. After more than 20 years of shopping here, I expected better treatment. I'm not some random walk-in -- I am a loyal, repeat customer who has supported this store for decades. Instead, I was treated like a stranger, and frankly, like my loyalty means nothing. This is not the store I grew up with. Corporate policies seem to have taken over, and in the process, the human touch and care for returning customers have disappeared. Sadly, you have lost a very good, very loyal customer. read more

Shopping in Pasadena, California... I was on a hunt for Mochi Cake Mix and Ube Pancake Mix. I didn't have enough space in my luggage when I was in Virginia - when I saw these items - so, I thought that I would be able to find these items here in Pasadena. No such luck. I did find my favorite greeting cards for 99 cents plus tax. The paper is high quality, the words are comforting, and the artwork is beautiful! The fresh fruits and vegetables seem to be reasonably priced. The flowers are so pretty and colorful! The variety of goods (pet supplies, cleaning agents, personal care items, snacks, etc.) always amaze me! Service is helpful and friendly! Restrooms are clean and much appreciated! Environment is air conditioned, organized, safe, and clean! I think Trader Joe's is one of my top five mainland stores! read more

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There's limited parking here with a very small lot a and street parking around the neighborhood. But it's the closest TJ's to me. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. I love their selection of products, definitely feels very catered to young adults with their easily prepared meals and assortment of snacks. I always want to try all the new things. This grocery store is always clean and well stocked. Also, their florals game is on point. The flowers are always very fresh and gorgeous, and always seasonal. I love coming here to make my own flower arrangements. read more

My husband and I come here once a week and usually our visits are very fast we grab pay and go. Today we met Manny, and what a kind man he was to us. He smiled spoke to us and was very friendly, I say this because we don't usually get that here. Definitely a great grocery store trip today, hope we see him again. read more

There is a Trader Joe's across the street from the gym, one on the way home, and this one, which is close to my house. Of the three this location is my favorite because the employees are very friendly, helpful, and enjoy engaging in conversation. They have a variety of vegan options, good deals on alcohol, and fun seasonal items. Their greeting cards are fantastic - high quality and only $1. I still send birthday cards to my friends, so I stock up on every visit. I also love their Orchid selection. An Orchid is such an elegant, classy gift. The store is small, but the layout is well organized so it's easy to maneuver. However, it can get a bit cramped when crowded. The parking lot is also small but there is plenty of residential and street parking. On a few occasions someone was passing out samples. They don't do it every day, but it's a start. read more

Came to get a refund and that manager disrespectfully threw my receipt. He is rude! Horrible personality!

Closest Trader Joe's from home, but I prefer to go to other locations.. overall 3 stars!!! Why go to other Trader Joe's instead? The space in the aisles feels so cramped when compared to my go-to locations, the San Gabriel and Hastings Ranch Trader Joe's! When it's crowded, there's very little space to move around and browse for new food finds. Taking my time and looking for new food discoveries is what makes Trader Joe's such an exciting place to shop, but this is kinda difficult to do when the store is lacking in square footage. Moreover, the South Pasadena Trader Joe's has limited parking, and I prefer to find street parking to avoid the hassle. (2 stars) During COVID, Trader Joe's has definitely done a great job enforcing the use of masks, limiting the number of customers in the store to encourage proper safe distancing as well as making sure that carts are sanitized between customers. Is there any other market chain that does as good and as organized of a job as Trader Joe's? Thank you for these efforts to slow the spread Trader Joe's staff. (5 stars) read more

There was a weird incident yesterday and I feel bad writing this if the cashier is mentally disabled. So I went up to the cashier and he didn't lift a finger. He didn't take the groceries out of the cart and after he scanned, he WATCHED me bag my own groceries. I don't work there. HE works there. And he WAVED the paper receipt infront of me, wanting me to get it while I was bagging my own groceries. HOW WEIRD. Like if I self checkout- fine. I'll bag my own groceries. HE might have mental retardation. I am not sure. And if that's the case, I am sorry for writing this. But if he doesn't and he's just weird, then someone should teach him better. Anyway, if you see a skinny Benny Blanco with moustache and really bad acne, go to another cashier. Even if there's a wait. read more

Breaks my heart to say it, but this Trader Joe's does NOT live up to the expectations set by virtually every other TJ's store I've visited, as far away as Omaha, NE. If I'm honestly considering all components of this D+ experience, I would be remiss to not point out that the overall rating is hurt even further by a few clueless-yet-entitled South Pasadena customers here; I suppose as residents of "One of America's most endangered places," it is their collective right to mindlessly block an entire aisle with their cart, then cop an attitude when I smile and say "excuse me"... or literally block half the parking lot through way with that same cart while unloading, and then LEAVE IT in the traffic lane, or rush to get ahead of me in the checkout queue, then complain and ask to speak with the "Captain" about a PROBLEM WITH A PREVIOUS PURCHASE??? ... to delay me even further. Several Mates here-- which at virtually every other Trader Joe's store I have visited are the exemplar of outstanding customer service-- were equally mindless. I will acknowledge my mistake of pulling a full-size truck into this parking lot, but you two employees with the pallet jack, moving empty boxes to the east storage area near the dumpsters? Who then, for reasons that still defy logic and being on the clock, walked away from it and left it where I was trying to back up, presumably to go goof off with another employee over by the loading dock? Are you for real? Inside, it's a smaller store as many have said, and I would not hold that against them. Surprisingly, they still had a pretty good selection, although a lot of items were missing, especially in the frozen section. It's October 2022, are we still blaming Covid for delayed distribution, or is this a stocking issue? No one facing products in the dairy either, so lots of holes and long reaches into the cooler to grab what's left in the back. More mates hanging around inside, talking to each other casually, while hordes of people navigate their carts through narrow aisles. Check out guy was on target, casual kindness and lightning efficiency scanning and bagging. One bright spot. You're better than this, Trader Joe's. But so are the stores in Pasadena, Monrovia, La Cañada, Whittier, San Dimas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City.... read more

I used to go the one near Arcadia,I never found it this one,I wonder if it is a new one .it is nice but no bananas chips ,I didn't find my favorite banana chips here.other than that all good read more

I love Trader Joe's and this location. The staff are so friendly and the quality of the food you can't ever go wrong! Place is clean and always well organized read more

Staff at this Trader Joe's are very pleasant and helpful. I enjoy shopping there Prices are reasonable too. Stay this location for many years to come ! read more

Has that old school Americana vibes. They have free parking in there lot. Not that big of a lot so can get packed really quick. A great variety of groceries that are for the most part healthy. Also very very affordable. Best place to come for your grocery needs. Highly recommend read more

Trader Joe's - the outside of the store - Grocery Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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I grew up close to an early Trader Joes. Going there was a treat, as was reading the monthly Fearless Flyer, even if my mom wouldn't buy most of the delicious things it advertised. I enjoyed TJs in college and in my first apartment, but then after moving to Silver Lake, I stopped going because it was always mobbed. Hard to park, crowded aisles, and too much of a scene. So for a long time, I hit Gelson's. Spendy but lovely. And they have everything you could imagine. I recently moved from SL to Echo Park and hadn't really gotten into my grocery shopping groove yet. I'd tried Lassens (ok for quick pickups), 365 (decent but my lord, that parking lot needs a second level and half as many spots so there is actually space to park, and a few others. A lot of friends love the South Pas TJ's so I gave it a try, and I must say that I'm really impressed. I park in the surrounding areas, make my way in, and find what I need very quickly. The staff are all very chill, very kind, very helpful and --this is rare--they also seem very happy to work at this particular location. And both the prices and the selection are wonderful. So now when I need things, I pop up the 110 and hit TJs with no fear of parking or crowd issues. Recommended! read more

This is a small Trader Joe's, but the store layout is very organized and the shelves are well stocked. They have a decent sized parking lot & additional parking across the street (after 7pm). It's a great location in South Pasadena and the staff are super sweet! Lalo is my preferred cashier, but all the other cashiers are nice as well. He helped us ring up our groceries and snacks in a jiffy. They have a nice selection of flowers at TJs. Mandy was so helpful when I couldn't decide on an orchid to get, but she was patient and was able to narrow down the right pot of orchids. Thank you Trader Joe's for a pleasant shopping experience! I would highly recommend this TJ location for all your grocery shopping and snack runs! read more

TJ's is my best grocery store and specialty destination- I love finding new products!! If I had to say one thing that is disappointing- certain items just aren't available. Case in point, green onions! I use them all the time. And apparently the stores only get one box at a time. It would be great if the supply met the demand based on each store. There are other items, this is just one that gets me. Love you TJ read more

This location, although quite busy and some tight space parking (like many other TJ's) was very efficient in their check-out process. There's one line for 2 aisles and the staff is quite fast in ringing people up. It's a little bit smaller but I was able to find some good ideas, such as the Portuguese Egg Tarts! These egg tarts are delicious! Not like a typical Asian egg tart, these have more flakey pastry to them and the filling is more custard-y than egg-y. Overall, good experience here and as it's the closest to where I am, I will be back! read more

Friendly staff. Parking is a bit difficult here, but I'm often able to find street parking when it gets too packed. read more

Trader Joe's - My fav snack!!! - Grocery Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Extremely busy Small parking lot No more sample coffee(company making more $ that way) People (customers) always in the way Changing where they put product (annoying) And for some weird reason they took down the maximum occupancy sign that's required. Maybe because it's so busy they don't want people to know. read more

A community water cooler... I love this little space, stocked with "essentials" and then some! From beauty supplies, like eye serum and soap, to treats for my dog and treats for my family, coming here can be as friendly as a comfortable blanket or as adventurous as a treasure hunt. read more

Trader Joe's - My favorite purchase today -- to ring in the warmer weather (after our freak hail/snow fall!) - Grocery Near Me - South Pasadena, California

We lost our home in Altadena during the Eaton fire. My Dad mentioned it to Curtis (I believe he is a manager), and he comped our groceries. The kindness was overwhelming and was one of the first things that brought us joy after an absolutely brutal experience. Trader Joe's has always been our families favorite grocery store and this proves why. Thank you so much for being so kind to us. read more

A great tiny TJs. I didn't find the seedy raspberry jam I went in for... but I was fine with the healthier replacement I found. Although it's small the selection is packed in - lots of respectful people maneuvering their carts around left me feeling like I was part of a puzzle. But, I found parking quickly on a Sunday morning and was in and out quickly. read more