I'll drop my rating one star, as under new ownership, the variety of product offerings has decreased. It seems like the offerings are more of the mainstream varieties, and fewer of the artisan or small-batch ones. This is evident in their soda and chip selection, particularly. The new owners are nice enough, for sure. No issue there. I just appreciate that the previous owners tried to carry different things that set them apart from what one would find at Safeway or another larger grocery. read more

Very expensive, I get they're trying to cater to all the rich people who live on Arlington but some of us need groceries and have bills we have to pay. Prices out of control but good quality stuff. Still much more affordable at a chain though. read more

Sadly, greedy pricing is appears to be a new policy. $9.49 for a half gallon of milk?

This is a great market, but the deli here is a poor value. My sandwich was $15 and they served me a meager portion of meat. Awesome local market, stingy deli. read more

Young's Market - Cheap portion for $15 - Grocery Near Me - Kensington, California

So nice to walk a short distance thru this quiet neighborhood and find this little restaurant! I had a fine breakfast of perfect eggs over easy, toast (seemed like a homemade wholewheat) and an ample amount of potatoes! Good bacon! Good coffee! So glad this place is so close to my B&B!! read more

** The following review reflects my shopping experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. ** "Thank You Everyone at Young's Market" says the highly deserving handmade sign in front of the store. Even though I gave them a well-considered four-star rating just a couple of years ago, I felt a need to upgrade them to the full five stars during the depths of this pandemic. Y'see, this family-run market has been our go-to spot for essential groceries. By essential, I mean a bag of Tasty Bite, a box of frozen Boca burgers, a pint of Hint of Mint Arctic Zero faux-ice cream... ...or most desperately, a quart of 2% milk for our morning coffee. The things we took for granted during normal times seem all the more valuable now. With all of us hidden by masks, it's hard to express the gratitude we feel since our smiles are robbed from us at the moment of transaction with the staff. I just know it's nice to feel so welcome by the friendliness of Sunny and Monica. Yep, five stars because there's so little else we can count on these days. Thank you indeed. RELATED - Exploring Kensington? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18 read more

See all

Great hours; staff very accommodating, good produce selection and quality. I can find all the basics and then some.

Love young's market. Always have great produce, meat, wine, etc. So fortunate to have them close by. Recently taken over by the market on Colusa, they have tried to continue the great serviced provided tirelessly by the family that ran it so well before. Although not the same, the quality is there. read more

Great neighborhood market! They always seem to have the exact item we're looking for. And the employees are super-friendly and helpful, too.

Trippy little market, that does NOT have everything according to other posts...which would be nice, though unrealistic...I never expect that from any store, of any kind, large or small. Went in looking for a basic sandwich spread for my husband, they have other stuff for making sandwiches, but nothing basic in that kind of product. I ordered a toasted sandwich...as I was waiting for it, the guy took out the container to put the toasted sandwich in once it was ready to go...then, this other guy, I believe the owner or manager who has been there forever, came from the back room, saw the sandwich container buy the sandwich making area, grabbed and touched it without wearing any gloves, and shoved it around, with a bewildered look on his face... WHY? Why bewilderment when your establishment offers a variety of sandwiches, and some other deli to go items, and not understand why there would be a waiting empty container for an obvious customer? There were by the time he came out, 3 or 4 additional people waiting for service, as I was the first one there, and placed my order first. Very gross, very unsanitary, will never go back...if you say something, they cannot handle it...very fragile egotistical men-people who work there. Don't go handling food containers that you have no business handling - even if he did have gloves on, he came from the back room behind the meat counter, so I would have had no idea what he had been doing even if he did have gloves on. NOT sanitary food handling practices. read more

What a great little market! It is well-stocked, sometimes better than local Andronico's! New owners are very friendly and helpful. Generous hours too. We feel so lucky to live near this excellent market and also love Kensington's Fine Foods in the same building. read more

During these COVID-19 times, the fact that they have both toilet paper and kimchi is a joyful thing, #ThankYouThursday read more

Convenient neighborhood store, usually has what I need. A bit more expensive than Lucky's but worth the convenience. Produce is not always fresh. Service is average. The store is small so aisles are narrow. read more

Young's Market has truly turned the corner over the past 4 years and has become a real gem of a traditional Mom and Pop type place. Remember the TP shortage in 2019 well the owner IMMEDIATELY purchased a half cargo unit of Korean TP with more in stock. This should have been front page news on our Outlook. Was this Just business or community service, I think both. The physical presence of store has cleaned up nicely ... it looks great. The staff is kind and very helpful and will hold or order special items. THANK-YOU YOUNGs MARKET you are a betterment for our community. read more

I've tried several times. For one thing, there is a new owner. But not much of a change there. Prices are what you'd expect for a small grocery store kind of in the middle of nowhere. Full list price on everything (possibly more)? I work right down the block and it's a frustrating area to get a reasonable bite for lunch. Their sandwiches are SUPER expensive. I'm not into spending $16 for a sandwich. There's nothing really else prepared except for a few salads and some prepared sushi in a cooler by the checkout. My go-to is the sushi, but their cooler is too cool and sometimes the sushi is on the verge of being frozen. The wasabi is liquid. I gave up on it. The salads are tea leaf salads, but expensive. I went to try one and the checkout clerk looked at them, came from around the checkstand and looked at the others and said they were all expired. But I think the biggest turnoff of this place is it is SO unbelievably filthy! Look at the deli counter. Look at the old lamps above covered in thick dust. The glass on the meat all has a filthy haze to it. The place badly needs remodeling. If this is what *I* see, I can't even imagine what's behind the scenes. Yeah, so I wish someone would buy it out from the current owners (that just bought it), and put some TLC into the place. And there are businesses and offices in the area. We need places to get lunch. You're missing out! read more

They had toilet paper... thats enough too say right?!!!! And they have alot of it lol... !.!. read more

It's been a while, the new owners aren't new anymore, and it's time for an update. a) Selection: The selection is pretty good considering that this is not a full-fledged grocery store, though it pays to inspect before you buy. The produce, the dairy, and the bread are particularly prone to lapses, so keep an eye out. b) Pricing: It's high. I was comparing condiment prices between Young's and the cheese shop on the corner, and in every instance Young's was more expensive, sometimes significantly more. I think of Young's as an upscale convenience store, at least as for as pricing and stock go. c) Checking out: Here's the part that gets me. They seem like nice people. They're mostly helpful and pleasant when you're wandering around the store, but when it comes time to checkout, they get really weird. Super fucking weird, in fact, and it's an anomaly I can't really wrap my head around. I've been yelled at on a couple of occasions, have gotten charged for items I bought at the cheese shop despite literally having the receipt held out for inspection, have had onerous and lengthy counterfeit inspections (real people pay cash, folks), and a host of other odd and disquieting interactions. If I want to be treated like crap, screamed at, and oh-so nearly accused of theft, I'll skip the hills and go see the experts at Safeway. In the final wash, I can't recommend this place. They likely do have that thing that you need at the last minute and will likely provide a choice, but checking-out will feed a bad mood, and the behavior exhibited is fuel for calamity. So, 2 stars even. read more

I have to hand it to these guys for fleecing the hills people and retired boomers who spend $10 for a gallon of milk without batting an eyelash. I can't blame them for gouging such types. 5 stars for solidarity against the ruling class elites. Keep up the good fight, comrades read more

I bought guacamole, and it ended tasting sour and I looked at the best by date, and it was already 3 days past. I wish I could return it but I had already taken like 3 dips out of it before questioning the whole thing. Anyways. feel bad for the owner cause he told me he got robbed one time when all I asked was if I could use the bathroom. Lol, won't be going there for a while after that. read more

I've always adored this market. As other folks have said you can always find something and it's amazing how they seem to have everything and anything you need. This was my first market in Berkeley when I rented on Colusa Ave in the 70s. I find myself back again after so many years since it's on my route to other appointments. So happy it's as great as it ever was! read more

When I was attempting to check out, the cashier (younger man) was chatting with the customer in front of me. I started to take things out of my basket and he responded "Ma'am, please don't do that." He then turned to the other customer and said, "See, this is what I'm talking about." If you don't want people to take their items out of the basket, put up a sign to that effect. If you want people to continue to pay your exorbitant prices, treat them with respect. And if you want to treat people with respect, don't make an example of them in public just to emphasize your pet peeve. read more

Young's reminds me of my old and long gone neighbourhood grocery back in Iowa (Bringle's). There's the meat counter, the rotisserie chicken, and a cleaner and better organized look than I remember. My ex-wife's family used to shop here when she was growing up in Kensington, and we did too. We did the large grocery runs at one of the larger stores and supplemented often here. And even though I've moved on, Young's and the "Since 1936" sign is still the "obelisk" that I look for the few times that I end up in Kensington. read more

I love the market. The rotisserie spare ribs are sooo good. You had toilet paper when nobody else did. But recently I went in and one of the deli guys (not the younger ones) was wearing his mask as a chin hammock. Like for multiple customers. Mask just covering his chin. Everyone else has one on. Employees. Customers. Dude. You're handling food. Why is this so hard? read more

This market a great. Perfect when you have any empty fridge in the morning. Just walk down the street pick up a Sandwich or some eggs and other supplies. read more

Great market with a good selection of items! We love the ice cream selection, Bernie's apple juice, and rice triangles. We are lucky to have them so close by. read more

They do have ALOT of different items that are great! Always polite and kind!. A bit dirty in the front area by the entrance, the two times I've been there. I needed to let the worker know their produce was rotting. Super high prices. And convenient when I'm in that area. Will try again because there are so many others who love this place read more

Great local market. Yes, it's more expensive than Target (shocker!), because it's a small local market. If you want cheap, go to Walmart. This market serves the local community and does a great job of it. Semifreddis bread, wonderful donut bread made fresh by the owners daughter, spam musubi near the register, and some other nice things. I don't do my primary shopping here, but find myself going their almost weekly to get something. The butcher shop they share space with is fantastic. Minus one star for produce. Some is good but much of it is not great. read more

This wonderful little market is an excellent place for many of our shopping needs. The butcher inside (run by someone else, so they have a separate register) is even better! The rotisserie chicken and ribs are great! The best things about the market: convenience, reasonable selection of products, many categories. What could be better: produce. Another plus: late hours! read more

Sadly, this market could be fabulous, but isn't. What's good: Excellent selection of products, including good produce and many unique choices. Challenges: Narrow aisles make "safe distancing" very difficult. Unacceptable: staff are often impatient, rude or simply unhelpful. read more

My family and I used to do business with Young's Market when it was actually owned by a family called Young. The Sibling and I went to the same schools as the Young Children. The Youngs provided a lot of the food for the Scouts and for community gatherings. We have a history with the Young Family and Young's Market. Those were the good old days when the Youngs and Gordy the butcher were there. We were saddened to learn when the Young Family decided to sell the business. The new owners kept the Young's Market name. Wise move on their part. Nowadays, it is a convenience store for us. If we need an item or two or three, this is definitely the place to do so. Or an occasional treat. Ben and Jerry's ice cream or other frozen treats. Chips and cookies. Gordy the Butcher no longer presides over the meat counter. It took some time before Larry the Butcher aka Larry Fefebvre (as mentioned in Kenneth R.'s review of Kensington Fine Foods) succeeded Gordy. Larry has made the meat counter his own that it is now a separate business inside Young's Market. Another reason to come to Young's Market when possible. SYOY! read more

Small market but they always have what I need. Why this place gets 5 stars: - the avocado guarantee: ever sliced open an avocado to find it brown inside? Ticks me off. If that happens with an avocado you get at Young's, they'll give you your money back or give you a new avocado. Just tell them (don't have to bring in the avocado). Of course, the avocados I get from Young's are always perfect inside, so I've never had to take them up on this. - homemade kim-chi. yep. - they take recommendations on products they should carry -- and then start carrying them. - good prices -- often times less expensive than Safeway or Lucky's - super friendly. They remember me! My only wish is that they had Acme bread instead of Semifreddi's, but I guess that's blasphemy in Kensington... read more

Young's market has recently upped its vegan selection! You can now buy Daiya shreds or slices, Beyond Meat burgers or Tofurky sausage, almond milk eggnog for Christmas, and ready-to-eat vegan meals with soy chicken. I had shopped here occasionally before, but will come in much more now that I know about the new selection. read more

Owned by a one Mr. Khalid, Young's Kensington market is at once quaint, functional, and reasonably priced. I would not go here for your heavy-duty shopping, but if you need to nip on down to the store for a quick ingredient or snacky nuts, this is the place to go. This place is also a great excuse to ride the Arlington on my motorcycle when the wimmin wants something. They also have a fine integrated butcher. I would generally shy away from produce shopping though (not bad, but quite limited selection). Let me also say one extremely important thing: this place is the ONLY reliable source for A&W Diet Cream Soda in the east bay that I have found, and trust me, I have looked. Not only did I see it there, but I spoke to the manager, and ordered 15 cases (360 cans) at a significant price break. Now THAT is the kind of service that you do not get from the supermarkets. Thank you, Young's Kensington Market. I love you for your cream soda, and SO much more. Heart! read more

Let's make this clear: This is not the place to do your weekly full cart shopping extravaganza. In fact, I don't think they even have any carts. Now that we have that clear, Young's is great for what it is... the only place in Kensington to swing in and pick up what you need. Not a lot of selection, but they'll have at least one of what you need... probably. The service is friendly, they've got pretty good sandwiches, and it's right there. I give them kudos for stocking Sharfenberger chocolate for me to indulge myself in on a semi regular basis... and without a trip to Andronico's. I'd give them five stars except for the fact that they don't have a single type of non-dairy ice cream... be it soy, Coconut Bliss, or otherwise. Bummer for me and my lactoid/vegan friends, but ah well, it's better than the average corner store. read more

I make my point of always shopping at Youngs Market in Kensington. They are a wonderful small business with a great selection of groceries. They are not big at all but have all the essentials. The best part about it is its meat market which is actually separate I believe. The meat and fish is so fresh looking. A bit on the pricey side but so worth it. Tonight I will be using there beautiful skinless chicken breast to make fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken. The gentleman that helped me with the chicken was super kind. Love having places like this to go to and support. I have been coming here sense I was a little girl, so I'm proud of its survival and will contribute to it whenever I can read more

See all

I went in the market last week. I asked the owner if they ever wiped off the basket or cart handles with sanitizer. She said they didn't need to because they cleaned the store once a day. I said that all the other stores in the area were cleaning them off between customers. She said they didn't have time. Then the woman who checked me out was pretty rude. I won't go back. read more

They have really stepped up during COVID. This was always my grab 1 or 3 things store to go to but for the past few months, we have done the majority of our shopping here. They have done great keeping up with the increased demand. I think during the "before times" I would see them unloading their truck once ad day and now I swear they are unloading it all day long because they keep having to restock. I am very thankful for all the hard work the owners have put in over the past year. read more

There's a lot of overpriced groceries in here, but whatever, it's a fancy pants neighborhood. Personally, I'm all about customer service. It's a good thing I was in a good mood before I got to the register. My total was $12.01 and as I hand over my $20 I notice the Take-A-Penny, Leave-A-Penny tray full of pennies. Any other clerk would have picked out a penny for me and I almost took one myself, but thought maybe this perfectly capable individual will just round the total out to $12. As she wrinkled her brow and focused on carefully on selecting the exact 7 dollars and 99 cents I proceeded to dart my eyes back and forth between the tray, the register, and the confused look on her face. When she finally handed me back the exact change I almost asked for a refund so I could just take the damn penny, but the Warriors were on and I was in a hurry. Somebody teach this dummy. I ain't got time for that. read more

This is a wonderful, family owned store. Has an amazing selection of first quality items. Highly recommended.

I secretly love needing a couple more items for dinner because I can go down to Young's (open til 9pm!) and check out what kind of veggies they've got today, pick up fresh bread, and look at ice cream. I am grateful for this neighborhood store and appreciative of the friendly staff. One time, I was looking for a habanero and they happened to have one at the register because they'd pick some up for another customer. Not a regular product so they gave it to me. What a nice coincidence. read more