Aj&#x27;s Market

IMHO Such a…read morebeautiful produce market! We had just finished having breakfast at The Cook House and my friend needed to buy a bunch of green onions, so across the street we go! The first thing I noticed before entering the market, was the freezer compartment chock full of Marianne's Ice Cream! Unfortunately, we didn't have a cooler in our trunk to keep any frozen goods cold, so we had to forgo buying Marianne's. The market is bright, clean, and full of beautiful produce and other staples. Cashier was friendly.

what would improve Capitola Village produce is to have organic fruit and vegetables? I stopped…read morethere once and they did not have any organic apples at all. I have not been back because I do not like to have fruit with pesticides because not only is it on the outside. It can go into the inside. And you can't wash off the inside, especially the berries.

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Marianne's Ice cream

Sunnyside Produce

4.5(40 reviews)

1.2 mi

I recently left a pretty scathing review of Capitola Produce Market near Gayles Bakery because the…read moreexperience there was genuinely disappointing. But right afterward we came to Sunnyside Produce and the difference was night and day. That contrast made me realize how important it is to give credit where it's due, especially after calling out bad service somewhere else. Sunnyside absolutely deserves praise. From the moment we walked in we were met with kind helpful people who were actually attentive and happy to assist. There was no attitude or indifference, just friendly efficient service. The team here clearly cares about what they do and about the customers walking through the door. The produce is fresh vibrant and well-organized, with a great mix of organic and local options that are thoughtfully stocked. Everything looked clean and cared for from the shelves to the displays, and it made shopping here feel relaxed and enjoyable. The prices are solid too, better than most other local places when you factor in the quality. It does not feel overpriced, and you actually leave with the sense that you got value for your money. What stood out the most to me is the atmosphere. This place has a soul. You are not just shopping, you are being welcomed. That is rare. After our visit I felt like this review needed to be written not just to balance out a negative one, but because Sunnyside Produce genuinely deserves recognition for doing things right. If you are looking for a place with real service, real food, and real people, this is it.

Excellent produce market in Soquel .They have a very nice assortment of fruits and veggies.Plus an…read moreassortment of other items like dip chips ect.The employees here a very helpful.They have a nice parking lot

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Tomatero Organic Farm

4.7(56 reviews)

2.2 mi

Always the best quality and freshest produce with amazing prices---especially for the low income…read moreseniors.

OMG! I just bought their strawberries down at a grocery in Long Beach. THE BEST STRAWBERRIES IVE…read moreHAD IN A LOOOONG TIME! They are sweet juicy deep red and so lovely to eat. I will buy you whenever I see them available!

Tomatero at the Clement Street Farmers Market , Great Produce at Fair Prices

Broccoli and more today at the farmers market

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Red Kale

Everett Family Farm

4.8(30 reviews)

1.9 mi

I have loved the Everett farm since I first discovered them. I never go with an agenda and always…read moreleave with something delightfully fresh. There current hours are "open daily, 10-5" and I don't think that's reflected on the Yelp page. Definitely cruise by if you're in the area.

This is my local farm stand and I love it. Yummy fruits and veggies, awesome mushrooms, excellent…read morecider. When there the people are very nice, and when not it is easy to pay with Venmo. I like the peace and quiet and rustic surroundings as well. Yay!

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Aptos Farmers Market

4.5(50 reviews)

0.5 mi

Ten year update! I still like this one. It's just the right…read moresize. The vendors are welcoming and their choices are good. Love to stop and enjoy the bluegrass band playing, they're so talented. Last words...when I'm in town.

What a great experience! First, they have lots of free parking available. Dogs are not allowed due…read moreto food safety. They had lots of different booths to choose from. Mostly food but there are some booths that sold other goods. The booths all seemed stocked well and fair prices. Vendors were friendly and greeted me as I walked along. I recommend to bring cash but it seemed like most vendors offered some type of digital payment as well. They did have some options to get food to eat there. Not a bad way to kick off a Saturday morning.

The farmers market is in Cabrillo College parking lot D

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Beckmann's

Bella Farms

4.3(6 reviews)

3.7 mi

I was delivering furniture to the owners of Bella Farms when I realized that they owned an apple…read moreorchard. I love to cook and was in the market for some fresh apples and they had some picked and ready to purchase on a cart at the side of the road. I made fresh apple pies and apple crisp with the apples... the best ever. The people here are very friendly and helpful. You don't find apples any fresher and the pies and other deserts that you can make with them are impossible to beat. Make the drive, buy the apples, and make delicious, loving memories for your family.

On line it says there is t a farm stand, I'd like to know where. Went but no farm stand…read more Disappointed!!!

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Soquel Quality Meat Market

4.5(33 reviews)

1.2 mi

In love with the vegetarian burritos, they're affordable and delicious beyond measure... and have…read morenever been disappointed with any meat purchase here. The carnitas inside the burrito as meat looked amazing too !!! Their 3pk 20OZ beer is a great deal.

I visited Carne for the first time after shopping the Sunday Farmer's Market. The selection of…read moremeats and assorted merchandise is outstanding which, coupled with the food preparation services, seems to offer a unique experience. The service definitely needs focused improvement. I had an employee made me feel as if I was a shoplifter. As I browsed the merchandise, I chose a Burrata cheese and held it in my hand. The employee came up to me and took it "to check the price" and told me it would be waiting at the register. As I continued to browse, he called my attention to give me the price and placed it burrata next to the register. When I came back to pay, the employee had placed the Burrata back on display. He then went to pick it back up and told me "he wasn't sure if I was going to buy it". I then made a friendly comment/compliment, that I would like to try one of the steaks, to which he replied "do you want one now?" and acted disinterested and ready to walk away when I replied I would come back since I live in the neighborhood (for 35 years). In order for this upscale business to thrive, excellent service has to be of the highest priority. Santa Cruz is unique in its demographics. It is the responsibility of the business to treat each customer as they should be treated.

BBQ Port Shoulder - Bo Ssam!

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Aptos Foods

4.9(14 reviews)

1.5 mi

I love this grocery store! There are so many fresh and local produce options. The avocados were…read moreperfect and affordable. There's a wine section in the back that I haven't checked out yet, but will before our holiday comes to an end.

Aptos Foods is such a great local market! I only wish we lived closer so we could shop there more…read moreregularly. They share the same parking lot as our favorite bakery in Aptos (Companion Bakeshop) so it's always nice to pop in after our bakery runs! They may be small(ish) in size compared to your typical supermarket, but they more than make up for it with their incredibly thoughtful selection of goods. Plus it's super organized and clean, which makes shopping here such a treat! From health food products to pantry staples, and from organic produce from local farms to wine and even greeting cards/gifts by local artists, Aptos Foods can easily be a one-stop shop for everyone! They even have natural and organic skincare brands like Mad Hippie and those machines that grind fresh peanut butter and almost butter (love those!). To top it all off, the staff here is welcoming, friendly and ready to help if you need it!

Glass cloche x2! Two sizes, one with a gold knob.

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New Leaf Community Markets

3.5(175 reviews)

2.1 mi

This store kinda reminds me of nuggets with beautiful display of different foods. They had a lot…read moreof choices as far as the salad bar, sushi, and some deli options. I got the california sushi roll. It was tasty but a bit dry. I probably won't order their sushi again unless I see them make it fresh. The produce were pretty good and I was amazed by their parmesan reggiano display. Customer service was great. Our cashier was friendly and professional. Parking lot was a little busy but didn't have a problem looking for a spot. IT's a shared parking with other businesses.

The overall store is fine! Good options for organic whole foods and I enjoy their hot food bar…read more My low rating is directly for their meat department. Every single time I have to get meat from them, they are so rude. No customer service and not welcoming at all. I always feel like I am bothering them when I have to get meat. I'm not alone in this feeling as my friend also experiences the same (lack of) service from them. It's a shame because everyone else seems great!!

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Safeway

2.0(178 reviews)

1.7 mi

Santiago helped me with a balloon arrangement. He was awesome, very helpful and pointed out the…read morediscount with buying a dozen balloons

Not sure how this place is even considered a Safeway. As many people know it needs help with almost…read moreeverything from parking to stocking items to overall customer service.

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Out front

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Self checkout

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23 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Nikos L.

79

8

6

15 years ago

Best Chicken Shwarma!! I stopped in to check out the new grocery store out of curiosity while getting fuel. Inside I found a huge variety of ethnic foods, most of which I have to travel to San Jose to get. It is amazing how much good stuff they have in there. There were some excellent curry sauces that my family enjoyed immensely. They also have a huge and interesting variety of cheese, meat, coffee, tea, ice cream, produce, baked goods, spices, and chocolate. So I went back, this time out of my way, to get there. Who would be running the grill/deli counter but the the most likable fellow: Thier! He is a chef rock-star in my book, and I would often go to his last restaurant for burgers, falafel and chicken shwarmas. I hope he makes more rice pudding. This place has something for everyone. I would skip 41st to shop here. read more

Aiden W.

0

1

0

7 years ago

If I could give negative stars I would. I've spent so much money here, just to find out the owner is transphobic. I was banned along with my partner after needing to simply pee while shopping. I went into the men's bathroom, which is a single room bathroom no stalls. I lock the door behind me and come back out to see the owner. He tells me that he doesn't want me coming back here anymore and that he doesn't want my money anymore. I tried to elaborate with him more but he doesn't want to talk to me and tells me to just get out. I used to love the store. It's between my college and home. I used to stop there with friends and my partner all the time. Now my partner our friends and everyone we know will be avoiding this place. read more

Jessie A.

4

5

0

7 years ago

Our family loves AJ's!! We've been coming here a couple times a week for several years. It has never done us wrong we eat the half marinated chicken, prepared pasta and macaroni salad, beer, wine and sandwiches and often do a late night run for chips and those big cookies. I'd rather run here for fresh fruit and salad than wait for parking or in line at Safeway for milk, ice cream or even yogurt. Love Gizdich pies for potlucks and they have a good selection of tasty non alcoholic drinks too like speciality root beers, yum yum! read more

Jenice S.

0

4

0

1 year ago

AJ's Market is a great little store that truly surprises you with what it has in stock. It may be small, but it carries a wide variety of items--many of which you wouldn't normally find in regular grocery stores. AJ does an excellent job keeping the store well-stocked, and the variety he provides is impressive. It's a hidden gem worth checking out! read more

Isaac J.

0

7

5

8 years ago

Absolutely love coming here. Always get a fresh burger from the restaurant while I'm filling up my car, then I top it all off with a car wash. I hate going to Safeway and AJ's is always my go to for anything I could ever need. Small family run business, I'm more than happy to come here and support a small business. read more

Sondra S.

0

1

0

10 years ago

Knowing Aj for atleast 30 yrs . We met at work at Seagate in ScottsValley when it first started out as a company. Life is funny and I see that he has done excellent in life since then. Aj is very nice and his Chevron shows he is a great guy. Great to see how well he made life for himself. My best to all. read more

Leland F.

1

10

0

8 years ago

I want to give this place a 5 star. The market is a 5 star but the food counter can fail depending on who is working it. The training is obviously not consistent because neither is the service. One day something is made one way and then another it is prepared differently and they always have an excuse. read more

Doug M.

66

2

12 years ago

For all these people giving random horrible reviews of AJs there is obviously a problem with you not the establishment. All this is based on the fact that everyone else has glowing reviews of the place. Stop reviewing if your opinions are stupid. read more

Angie C.

0

1

0

7 years ago

All of the staff here are ASSHOLES. Each time I've been into this store, they followed me around and kept looking at me as if I was stealing. Calm down...I'm not gonna steal a couple tomatoes & a gallon of milk haha ridiculous. read more

Jacob W.

0

2

0

5 years ago

The owner of Aj's market is homeopathic and a racist he banned me and my boyfriend after we spent over a 100$ there said we dont want your kinda here he wouldn't refund us our money told us to leave or he will call cops read more

Zack J.

0

4

0

13 years ago

Great place. They got everything you need. Found this spot while looking for gas before heading home. Got a burger & fries. It was awesome. Will get it again next time I'm back in town. They are bomb...a must try. read more

Bryan L.

201

1

0

8 years ago

This place sucks balls, this place puts nasty ass avocados in your food, they say fuck it and put it in, shits stupid. Don't make stupid decisions and put nasty avocado in my food. Just peal a new one. Not hard. read more

Susan M.

82

29

0

5 years ago

there burgers out rank a place like burger by leaps and bounds. First they use a half pound burger so its bigger then normal put that with a huge roll and its perfect. Get the mushroom burger well done though read more

Shabaz F.

0

11

5

7 years ago

Just stopped by to get a quick bite. Got the chicken shawarma plate! It's was pretty good! Service was fast and I was in a time crunch.. that's a plus! Check them out! Food was good read more

Carrie D.

0

5

0

12 years ago

This place is extra shady.. Always count your change the owners are crooks.. Been lied to and cheated on several occasions.. I really wanted to like this place read more

Shadow N.

0

3

1

9 years ago

Not enough food there needs to more food food is too good to not be there too much gas Nonna food food food food food food

Carma H.

57

129

0

15 years ago

We live down the street from here and get our meat here often. Great service GREAT prices and always fresh.

Aidan T.

0

1

0

13 years ago

Well all I can say is....... Go here! They have great food and the staff is awesome! Keep it up A.J.!

Lisa R.

0

5

0

14 years ago

29 reviews and 5 stars for real... there pretty dam good but not that good..had to be the first

Brittany C.

0

3

0

13 years ago

One stop shop.. Great food, fuel, and friendly faces. Love the Gyro wrap!

Aj's Market - grocery - Updated September 2026

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Ronnie's Meat Market

3.7

(28 reviews)

OMG. Wear hair nets and beard covers for God's sake. So gross. I won't purchase anything from…read moreeither the butcher or the deli at this store. Yuck.

Love the pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. Meat market has good selection and make great sausage.read more

Mel's Market

3.9

(18 reviews)

Rad corner store. Pokemon card packs for $3. In this economy???…read more Easy spot to stop for road trip snacks or a last minute drink. I have even purchased rice here when I ran out at home. It's an awesome one stop shop. The employees are always great! Love chatting with them and having fun conversations. Lots of parking out front.

Something of an eclectic neighborhood convenience store…read more While there is always parking avaible, it's partly because this is a you go we tow lot. That means if you park here, do not go inside and/or leave your car for a few hours it won't be there when you get back. Consider yourself warned. I'm pretty much ok with that as well, there will always be a spot right up front when you visit. That's not something that you should assume will be possible in santa cruz. Inside there are a couple of tables, a bench overlooking the front lot/street and a small cozy not quite a garden spot in back. Even though this is a convenience they try hard to make it not feel like one. The seating winds up being cozier then you'd think. In addition to the shelves of overpriced dry goods (you know the drill. They have everything you forgot to bring, but it'll cost you.) they have their own prep kitchen which they use to make fresh deli things of varying degrees of tastiness. Basically if you get a sandwich or a burrito you find meh-that was prolly not one they prepared on site. Good selection of Marianne's ice cream treats(nutty bars, chocolate covered cheescake slices etc) all the it's it made (Pay attention. The mint and the green tea flavors look-but do not taste-identical) a decent wine selection, a solid craft beer aisle, and a daily rotation of thoroughly snackable items. While I wasn't any too impressed with the breakfast burrito(outsourced from a vendor), I do consider this a decent sammich/soup/chil/salad choice. Also a great choice for whatever you need for that grab and go food run. Pricing is whatever you want to spend. Ye olde hood snack of chips and a soda clocks in at less then five, but a couple sandwiches, soup, salad, bread and a bottle of wine can get you into the forty ish dollar range. Overall it's very much the decent choice if you are nearby.

Deluxe Foods of Aptos

3.9

(154 reviews)

2/5: I bought some pre-pack sushi. Unfortunately, the rice was overcooked and mushy. I assume this…read morewas a problem for this particular day. I'll probably try it again, because the quality of the fish was very high. They also have ready-to-go hot food, plus a sandwich menu.

Friendly Clean…read moreOrganic Very good apothecary shop and the young lady helping me was tremendous!!!

Pointside Meat Shop

4.6

(14 reviews)

This was my first time ever had this particular sandwich spot. I've seen a handful of people sit…read moreoutside or walk along this corner pressure point. I wanted to check out the other stores since they had a little market outside. I ended up ordering the Firebird sandwich with an Izzy and I was surprised on how many different styles of drinks, wine and so does they have inside there? Sandwich shop. They also had deli meat you could buy and stuff you could take home with you. The lady that helped me was incredibly friendly impatient since I had no idea what I wanted to eat. She gave some options since I wanted a hot sandwich and I liked cheese that melts. Lol when I got my fire sandwich, I neglected to ask if there was any condiments or vegetables inside besides the bell peppers. I always like lettuce or something with a crunch. Sandwich was pretty basic, but I think it needed something extra like a spicy aïoli sauce or something added to take it up to a different level of flavor. I usually like different flavors within sandwiches so perhaps I'm just picky. Overall, I thought the sandwich shop itself was incredibly cute and I liked all the drink drinks and glasses or even bottle of wine you could purchase and then walk down the way to the beach! That's exactly what I did after I ate my sandwich.

We shared both the Tri-Tip & Chimi and the Hot Bird, and the tri-tip really knocked it out of the…read morepark. The arugula and chimichurri packed an exquisite punch, and the meat was thinly cut (but thickly piled on) and soft. The flavor combo of rich steak and intense herbs on top of fresh ciabatta with some sort of subtle creamy garlic sauce? Perfection. The Hot Bird is thermally hot, not spicy, and very rich and creamy. The meat had a subtle smokey flavor and the roasted peppers were almost tangy, but it sort of melted away into the richness of the mayo and turkey. It was tasty, but the chimichurri really "wowed" me. I don't think I'd order the Hot Bird next time, but I'd drop the $14+tip on the chimichurri again in a heartbeat.

Sunnyside Produce

4.5

(40 reviews)

I recently left a pretty scathing review of Capitola Produce Market near Gayles Bakery because the…read moreexperience there was genuinely disappointing. But right afterward we came to Sunnyside Produce and the difference was night and day. That contrast made me realize how important it is to give credit where it's due, especially after calling out bad service somewhere else. Sunnyside absolutely deserves praise. From the moment we walked in we were met with kind helpful people who were actually attentive and happy to assist. There was no attitude or indifference, just friendly efficient service. The team here clearly cares about what they do and about the customers walking through the door. The produce is fresh vibrant and well-organized, with a great mix of organic and local options that are thoughtfully stocked. Everything looked clean and cared for from the shelves to the displays, and it made shopping here feel relaxed and enjoyable. The prices are solid too, better than most other local places when you factor in the quality. It does not feel overpriced, and you actually leave with the sense that you got value for your money. What stood out the most to me is the atmosphere. This place has a soul. You are not just shopping, you are being welcomed. That is rare. After our visit I felt like this review needed to be written not just to balance out a negative one, but because Sunnyside Produce genuinely deserves recognition for doing things right. If you are looking for a place with real service, real food, and real people, this is it.

Excellent produce market in Soquel .They have a very nice assortment of fruits and veggies.Plus an…read moreassortment of other items like dip chips ect.The employees here a very helpful.They have a nice parking lot

La Reina Fresh Marke

4.8

(12 reviews)

Really kind customer service great food bread was delicious I really liked the options they had in…read morethe store not only Mexicana food but other ethnic food

Waiting for my churros to be made outside in the parking lot, I stumbled upon this Mexican…read moresupermarket and I am glad I did. It is an ideal location not only for native Santa Cruz residents but another option besides Safeway Trader Joe's etc. the prices here are fair. I noticed quite a few college aged customers likely due to its proximity to UCSC. Not only Mexican ethnic items but this place has everything you need. One stop shop. Very clean probably the most cleanliness grocery I've been to in a while . No smell in the meat carnecia area at all . All aisles fully stocked , very safe area ,close to downtown . No sketchy people asking for change or anything like that . Snacks Cereals , beverages , ice for your ice chest for the beach , grab it here on your way and close to the freeways.

Johnnie's Super Market

3.3

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Love the friendly service and so convenient and close in the small town of Boulder Creek.read more

I liked this little supermarket (would hesitate to call it a proper supermarket but I'll respect…read moretheir own naming convention) quite a bit! In particular, they had the Vita Coco Pressed Coconut Beverage which I like better than regular coconut water because they blend additional coconut meat into the drink which enhances the creaminess and overall taste. It was really affordable at $2.99 for 16.9 oz. Normally I see the same product reaching $4 or more at other stores. I would imagine it's not that easy to drive Hwy 9 to get down here, so I'm not sure how they're able to sell it for that cheap, but the product tasted fine and was well before expiry. Perhaps the rent is just much cheaper for stores there? I would most definitely stop by again the next time I'm on Hwy 9 for a quick snack and drink combo!

AJ's Market

4.0

(4 reviews)

I love AJ's for so many reasons. They have an amazing assortment of excellent, healthy food -- from…read morefresh produce and wholesome snacks to a delicious assortment of chocolate. Their mocktail and ice cream selection is incredible, and the Halal meat is always cut perfectly and fresh fish comes in from Stagnaros, usually on Tuesdays. . The burgers are some of my favorites with a place to sit and enjoy your meal which is really nice. But more than that, it's the people who make AJ's special. The friendliness of the staff and the welcoming, family-run atmosphere make you feel right at home every time you walk in.

Harrowing in a dispute / vehicle damage scenario - acceptable food and we historically really…read moretreasured this spot, but aberrantly underdeveloped ownership / staff (unfortunately).....ideally will change ownership and return to a solid model

Grady's Market

3.8

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I decided to check out the taqueria based on a recommendation from an IG foodie. I ordered a fish…read moretaco & a torta. Both were ok, and they charged 3% for using credit card. I walked over to Village Produce to buy salsa because I heard the market is outrageously pricey. I'm glad I tried but I will not be returning.

2 dollars for a 16.9 oz bottle of Kirkland water is not right. If you're super rich you'll love…read morethis place. 4 dollars which is how much they wanted to charge me for 2 of them is egregious. I could get a flat of these waters for less than that at Costco.

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