Owner (?) or whoever was working there on Saturday mornings came outside to yell at me about garbage I was throwing away in the (correct) garbage can. Very odd and rude way to communicate with someone who was not even in the store. Will not be shopping there. read more

Teresa is the best part about this place honestly she's the best part of my morning she works so hard knows everybody and I mean EVERY BODY in the neighborhood she's so sweet and aware of how to help. When she's there I can't wait to say hello and feel like a local (which I am) and if she's NOT working I won't even go in there: To all the whining people complaining about price and selection or whatever- feel free to walk down to Walgreens and deal with all that entails. It's a LOCAL store in Nob Hill and an icon in this community. Simple business - cost of that floor space vs making a profit- it's gonna cost more how do people not get that? Anyhow thank you Teresa for making us feel welcome and appreciated. You're so lucky to have her- she is building clientele daily and an absolute 5 star asset to the company. If she wasn't there I would honestly never shop there. Thanks for making a difference read more

Really expensive but the lady is nice. It's not meant to be cheap you can go to chinatown or trader joes nearby . But she needs to pay her bills somehow and its in a very expensive neighborhood . That's the price of convenience. Have gotten last minute flowers, wine, and limes here. read more

Don't bother.. the selection is a ioke. Absolutely nothing to shop for. Waaaay over priced ! Like an insult literally. Out of touch with reality and what people need now. Small Fories the tiger box $8 Nasty pre wrapped cheap sandwich $13 no kidding. It's worth going for a laugh Short opening hours. Some people got it all figured it out. LOL It's worth a visit though... so you can see for yourself . You ll realize that this business owner is investing ZERO dollars into stocks or anything. Keep up the good work read more

VJ Grocery - $13 dollars junk - Grocery Near Me - San Francisco, California

Prices are a little high (that is with ANY convenience store you go to in SF), but the lady who runs the shop is so sweet and nice! Even offered me free cheese with my crackers I bought. I also notice they have the most beautiful flowers in the morning. Definitely don't deserve a 3.5 star rating... read more

Favorite place in the City to shop for day-to-day items. Store is fantastic, along with the staff. read more

Very rude staff. Got shamed for purchasing a Diet Coke by the cashier. I would recommend going elsewhere. Also very expensive for a corner store. read more

Prices are not listed so you'll end up being surprised when you buy a 4.99 single tomato. Makes you feel scammed.

Cashier was extremely inappropriate -- staring and making rude comments about my body. I am currently recovering from a restrictive eating disorder and this really was not what I needed while trying to get myself a literal drink. read more

The workers here are very nice, especially the older woman that's behind the cash register most days. Lost a star just because I don't recommend natural produce or refrigerated goods from here. This is a simple, quaint corner store for when you need boxed or bottled goods very quickly. read more

The owner is awesome and very nice every time we come in. She gave us a free drink last time because we waited a minute or two for her place to open. Bottle of wine and ice cream is our go to. read more

Basic mini grocery store on Nob Hill. Friendly staff. They restock consistently. Good selection of wine (which is great for this shelter in place time period). It's not as busy as some of the other grocery stores around the same area, which is great if you Really need something. It's somewhat small, but they have the basics, and its right by the 1 bus stop. So you are able to pick up groceries and get on the bus to head home. read more

Got all the little bits for a quick stop and very easy / flat walk from the Fairmont & lady is lovely

This is probably a 3.5 star little market, but it gets the bump to 4 because it's got a good vibe. Yep, tie always goes to a good vibe. Solid service, fresh cut flowers by the door, and a few chairs and a table out front. Classic. San Francisco is a City full of little neighborhood markets - Mom and Pops that have been around for ages. They date back to before we expected a Whole Foods like shopping experience. This place is arguably in one of the more posh neighborhoods in SF. Yet VJ Grocery retains a certain down to earth classiness. Everyone needs a corner market. This is a spot with a decent enough selection of dry goods, fresh produce (by corner market standards, quite solid), dairy, frozen food and of course liquor-wine-beer. Prices are not too bad given the location. It's not the swankiest place, but it certainly does the trick. Like I said, the vibe is good. The folks who work here always seem nice if not effusive, although it seems like they know their regulars. I tend to just pass by and grab a mineral water. As it happens, they also fill a niche because there is a limited number of markets up on this part of Nob Hill within two-three block radius. If you happen to be hanging out in Huntington Park, this is one of the few options within a block, and I believe the only one still on top of the hill. read more

See all

Large, though pedestrian, wine selection. Flowers that are often wilting. Decent variety of ice creams on offer including the limited edition German chocolate cake from Haagen-Dazs that we ate for dessert tonight. For all the praise I can't give V-J Grocery & Delicatessen (aka my corner store), I am glad they were there to dispense a tiny, over-priced packet of Advil the last time I had a splitting headache. read more

Its may be the only convenience store near my place that sells wine and baguettes which are basically the staple of my diet, but I still refuse to go here unless I am in a serious bind. The prices are high and the service sucks. The lady behind the counter carried on a full conversation while ringing me up, never once acknowledging me as a PAYING customer for crying out loud. I think she would have paid even less attention if i was robbing her! $2 bucks for an everything loaf of bread that had to be toasted in order to be edible. I guess they can be that way because schmoes like me are too lazy to walk further for better quality and price points. read more

I have nothing but nice things to say for VJ Grocery. They're a friendly neighborhood market on the corner of Clay and Taylor. Super friendly owner and staff, and they have been stocking up very well for our quarantine needs. They also got masks if you need one! Both the owner and the store clerks are super friendly and quick to help. Thank goodness they're here on the block - very reliable hours and location. read more

Locally owned neighborhood market in the nob hill area. There is street parking which offers roughly 50-50 odds of having a spot open when you drop by, but really you will be walking here. This place is best used by those living nearby, who just need a small grocery thing, bottle of wine or light snack when they've run out of something/have company over. It's not a major supply destination is what I'm saying. If you are airbnb'ing it, are at the nearby hotel, are drifting through Huntington Park or the cable car museum and need a nosh whilst you trek through the city this can be an a great asset, but is not really worth a specific trip out for. The wine selection is surprisingly deep, and they have the largest collection of it's it (San Francisco based ice cream sandwiches. They are pretty tasty but seriously unhealthy for you.) flavors I've ever seen. They try to get a decent selection of fresh produce in stock as well as other healthy choices. Pricing is premium as it's in one of the more expensive neighborhoods in one of the most expensive cities on planet earth. So if you live/are staying close by and/or are trekking across the city it's a handy little stop. read more

The cashier was friendly. It's a quick and easy place to get water and snacks. Fast walk from the Fairmont where I was staying.

DO NOT PAY WITHOUT CHECKING YOUR RECEIPT. We were in San Francisco for a few days and not wanting to walk down the major hills we stopped in to VJ Grocery for a few items. It was closing time and the lady was a bit irritated and rushing. I paid by credit card and left. Later in looking at the receipt there were 2 items charged that I did not buy. 1 charge for a $.99 soda and another stating misc for $1.25. Now that I see the other reviews this seems to be a scam. Beware and shop somewhere else! read more

I really really dislike shopping here, and only do it if I'm desperate or SUPER lazy. Their selection of everything is terrible and you get the feeling that everything is expired. All of the produce looks overripe and when you go to the cash register, it seems like the staff just throw out random numbers. $1.50 for a tiny grapefruit? I think not. A thorough cleaning would really do this place good, although it would be impossible to scrub out the terribly rude and inappropriate employees who work there. The few times I've been in there the employees have been having inappropriate conversations, fighting amongst themselves, or completely ignoring their clientele. The last time I went in there, the area around the register stunk to high heavens and a seemingly homeless man was asking the woman at the cash register to smell his rotting gloves RIGHT in front of me. I was absolutely horrified and ran out. Basically this place is terrible. Do yourself a favor and take your business elsewhere - anywhere really, to save yourself a very unpleasant and expensive shopping experience. read more

I really wanted to like V-J. But from the first trip, it didn't look good. I stopped in literally 5 minutes after moving into my new place a couple blocks away to buy sponges to clean and a pen to write a check for the movers. My 2 sponges cost $4 and when I asked if they sold pens, the woman behind the counter handed me a Bic from a drawer next to the register and said "$2!". I just sort of stared at her blankly until finally she said, "$1.50!" Whatever. I gave it one more try a week later and bought a lime for like a buck seventy-five then couldn't bring myself to spend another nickel on their "convenience" items. Do yourself a favor: walk the couple blocks up the hill to Le Beau and don't bother with the V-J. read more

The prices are high: $11 for a 6-pack, $1.95 for a 20 oz. bottle of soda (started the year at $1.50, then $1.75) If it wasn't across the street from my house, I wouldn't bother. I've purchased a number of items that were past the sell-by date (now I check on everything) Why 2 stars? This is where Frank Bullitt shopped. They probably still have those same Swanson TV dinners he ate, too. Be sure to check the sell-by date. correction: $12 for a 6 pack now read more

How I hate this store, and how I wish it was not this way. The location is excellent--so close to my house, it's right where the 1 drops off (or picks up, depending on whether you're an optimist or a pessimist), and it appears so cute from the outside. Rows and rows of red wine! Flowers right outside! I'll just stop in for a bottle of red, a bouquet, and a couple tomatoes on my way from work! Wrong! The flowers are brown up close, the vegetables mostly rotten and fly-ridden, oh, and once, the woman working there would not take my credit card for an 8 dollar purchase. minimum 10 bucks, she said, even though i had made a $5 purchase the day before. a couple days later, i stopped in for something small, and she refused to sell me something because she didn't have change for my 20 dollar bill. Nice! read more

First things first - the lady who works here Xiun (pronounced Shawn) is a total sweetheart. She is very nice once you get to know her. The stars are for her. The store itself on the other hand - not so good. A lot of things are expired...a LOT. Check EVERYTHING. I'm serious. Like, canned stuff...things in jars, etc. You know, the things that are good for 5 years? They are probably expired. This is probably the case because the prices are so damn high. Oh, and don't get me started on the "fresh" bread. It's just bad. If you need a baguette or something, just give one of theirs a squeeze before you decide to buy. Chances are, it's hard as a rock. Don't trust refrigerated items either. Yogurt, cheese, milk...I've seen all of these items there expired. If you look at their freezer section, everything is covered in chunks of ice. I'm pretty sure that means it's freezer-burned. I have had to get a few fresh veggies here and there in cases of emergency (read: laziness) and have had to modify my selection due to over-ripeness. They really need to be more diligent in removing things from their shelves that are no longer fresh (or within their best by date). Like other reviewers, head up the hill a couple of blocks to Le Beau and get fresh food cheaper. Oh, and it's really annoying that they close so early. They could make a lot more money being open even till 10pm or something. read more

Do NOT shop here. Check your receipt, they are ripoffs!!! I will never go back. I live 3 blocks away and I will gladly walk a mile somewhere else before going back in here. I have been here twice and both times I had a random extra $1.00 charge, from the same lady. I asked her about it the first time and she claimed that it must have been leftover on the register. That was a lie because there was a female who checked out less that 2 minutes before I walked up to the register. Fine, I don't want to argue with you, just give me my dollar back. About 6 months later, after I had already vowed to never go back, I caved and went in for a couple of items I needed for dinner. The EXACT SAME THING happened. I looked at my receipt, and a random $1.00 charge was the first thing listed. I couldn't believe it. What a scam! I called her out on it again, and she again faked ignorance and said she didn't know what happened. Liar, you punched it in yourself! I had her give me a total refund and I walked out of the store without anything rather than give them a penny more of my money. If you do make the mistake of going here, check your receipt carefullly! read more

I don't know why all the reviews are so hard on this little grocery store. I certainly haven't had any bad experiences with expiration dates. For those of you who don't want to wait a week before you fruit gets ripe, this is a good place to get sweet oranges, or other fruits that are ready to eat. I picked up a mango last night and it's ripe and delicious. The tomatoes are ripe and taste far better than the flavorless kind I find at most grocery stores during the off season. So I guess it depends on your perspective, but there are definitely good things to be found at VJ Grocery. read more

I don't know what all these negative ratings are about. Yes it is a little pricy... It IS San Francisco, and it IS on Nob HIll. Most people forfeited clearance items when they moved there. Sorry. As for Xiun (the lady behind the counter), she is one of the SWEETEST women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting or talking to. She is shy because of the language barrier she sometimes encounters with customers, and after spending a little over an hour talking to her and noticing how many customers treat her as an object and not a person I would tell you that it is not her fault about her shyness. Next time you go to VJ's ask her how her day is and watch her eyes LIGHT UP. She is just shy about interacting because she has been ignored for such a long time. I love VJ's, it has a true neighborhood feel during a time where rushed, business like demeanors are way too often encountered. Service is lacking? I reply to that by saying manners are what is truly being lacked by those who make the statement. read more

This is a great little corner store about 1/2 block from my home. They have a nice selection of wines, the store is always clean and unlike many other corner stores, it is well stocked. Tom is always pleasant to work with and really cares about the store and their customers. This place has a good selection of snacks, frozen foods, cheeses, and dairy products. We have even found a few missing ingredients here when cooking at home and realizing that we are out of something crucial to prepare the meal. read more

Check your receipts for random charges. Yesterday I was charged 1.50 for one plastic bag. But there have been times before when I brought my own bag and the charge was still there. She put in in before she asked me if I needed one. I didn't argue Over a dollar fifty but it has happened at least 5 times now. The store is average. Prices are on the higher end. No unique produce, products or service. I will keep going to le blue. At least there you get what you pay for without being ripped off. read more

This is a small corner grocery store with a helpful staff and a surprising variety of items (food, fruit, vegetables, wine, medications, etc.). They keep their fruit and vegetables "just ripe" so you can enjoy them immediately. Always ask if you can't find something as the item is probably somewhere. If you are hungry, you will find something to eat here (pre-made sandwiches, frozen dinners & entrees, canned foods, dairy products, etc. The choices are surprising as I find myself looking through the store more carefully as not to miss something new and tasty. I like the fact that I am not "hounded" by the staff but are asked nicely, and they sense when you just want to "review the store". Nice experience! read more

I went in there to scope it out as we're moving to the neighborhood. The owner was SO nice and friendly. They have a pretty decent selection of fresh produce, and a little of everything...pantry items, frozen food, drugstore essentials, paper goods, cleaning supplies, fresh bread (including Killer Bread) and bagels. It has all the stuff we won't be able to get at TJs, and in a pinch we can get all we need here! read more

this market is great to shop at when you need something in a pinch! also I love the ladies who run it, they are super sweet and friendly. it has an interesting history (featured in a movie called bullitt). good vibes all around! read more

I thought it would be impossible to make this city feel small. I was wrong. Leave it to the corner store guys to always put a smile on my face, ask how I am doing, and how my latest date was. Johnny is there to give you his biased skinny on all of the neighbors (which always makes me laugh), Tom is like a brother who gives you good advice and Shawn always greets me with a smile. A few times I was a little short on $, they just say bring it by on your way to work. In short, after 9 years here, Its fun to trim a city of 700k down to 50 or so neighbors. Since all the guys there know the neighbors they introduce us all and its so nice to put names to faces you regularly pass on the street or see on the bus. VJ Grocer. Bringing neighbors together. read more

Their refrigerator is not cold enough. Milk I buy here is always sour or curdled before the sell-by date. In general, terrible selection. read more

The rumors are true... I stopped in to pick up a bag of chips and a kombucha. I asked for a receipt and there was the extra $1.25 charge. The excuse was the same, "must have been left from the last customer". Got the refund but never going back there again. read more

Love this place.. total opposite to the Walmarts/targets of the world.. it doesn't hurt that Steve McQueen filmed a scene in there too.

Overpriced, limited selection but extremely convenient to where I live. Xiun is awesome if you take the time to get to know her.

Convenient location. Good selection of wines, hard alcohol, spirits, and cheeses and any other snack cravings you have. I don't get why people come to this business expecting a Whole Foods Or Trader Joe's experience. This is a LOCAL family owner grocery store and has been for over 40 years. It's old fashioned. Also, people complaining about how this store "scams" and tries to secretly overcharge customers, complete bogus. read more

I've been going to VJ grocery store for twenty years. It's possibly one of a handful,of actual " MA and PA " grocery stores ,left in San Francisco. Needless to say,after twenty years,you get to know the people behind the counter. Spiro,who owns the store,but is seldom there,has great stories. A raconteur from Greece . Tommy,his son in law runs the store on a day to day basis. I consider him a friend . John aka Johnny K ,is also a Greek. Very old school ) If you have never visited this place,it's worth it,just to meet him. He is always dependable to have a political or other worldly point of view. I guarantee you,he won't disappoint . He has become a travel destination for visitors to the city. Sean. ( Chinese. Go figure ) This woman has been working at VJ for thirteen years . She is always behind the counter,after three PM. If you want to catch up on the latest gossip,in Nob Hill,she is the person that you want to talk to. She hears it all,from the locals. If I'm away for a few days and want to catch up on the latest local news,I just ask her . This store has the most interesting cast of characters you could ever imagine . For tourists,this is a must see. Clint Eastwood filmed in and around the store for two weeks,a few years ago. Watch the movie and you'll see the store and apartments above the stores interiors . You'll have to Google the film. There are pictures of Sean with Matt Damon on the wall. Steve McQueen ... If you've ever watched the film Bullet , you must visit the store. So much of the film was shot right across the street. This is where McQueen lived . The " Rock " was filming in the same block last year,for one of his adventure films. I don't know why,but they shoot so many films in the block VJ market is on. I would die of starvation,if this little corner store was not there . They cater to the needs of the public,as well as us locals . A+ You will not find another like this place. If your visiting from out of town,make this a must see destination ... read more