Best produce ever in the Entire Bay Area and Central Valley. Check out both locations

The reason why this places deserves a 1 star reviews is for one, the crowd here is really unfriendly and rude, like pushing people's carts of the way, not saying excuse me or any signal that they're going to hit you with their cart, and cutting in line. I've lived in Santa Cruz, Palo Alto, and now here in Berkeley, and I've never experienced the rudeness of locals here. There are students with baskets that seem to move along, but the vast amount of the Desperate Housewives of Berkeley Hills with their little cart filled with hapa babies and the 1-Liter Lululemon reusable bags are rude and have tunnel vision. The elderly that come here are hit or miss; they either are the sweetest or the most prejudice people on Earth (like overhearing this Elderly couple talking badly about a gay couple holding hands). In addition, parking is terrible and no one follows the parking signage. There's always some kind of parking drama here no matter what time of day. You're best off walking here. I only gave it an extra star because the workers here are nice and have to tolerate this on the daily. I would lose my patience working here. read more

I am done with Berkeley Bowl's rude staff and lack of customer service, specially those who work the cash registers who chat with each other while checking out customers, and just don't care that the line is getting longer and longer. Price -- if you want cheap vegetables, go to the numerous asian markets in the east bay; all other products, specially the meats and seafood, are too pricey! I've moved on, thank gad, we have it in Berkeley now, Sprouts, where customer service, parking, prices, and selection are tops. And there's Ranch 99 in El Cerrito - yes its crowded on the weekends, but seafood is excellent price and lots of parking! I only go to Berkeley Bowl because it's near my office for the occassional time I don't bring lunch, but I avoid it all cost.....staff are rude and don't care and customers are even worse! read more

You haven't been to Berkeley until you've been to Berkeley Bowl! Berkeley Bowl is amazing!! enough said... But wait, there's more! It's a great place to find more than you'd ever bargain for, especailly when it comes to produce and all the varieties they have in stock. 3 different sizes of avocados... lets get them all! Dry fruits, nuts and quinoa, they have those too! They've got a café and deli, a ginormous selection of produce (organic and natural) and it's pretty much a supermarket catered to the healthy within. Healthy eaters be warned, come here once and you'll keep coming back. They have a huge assortment of fruits and vegetables, stocked daily. The meats and fish are questionable as I've never boughten that here. Eggs are on the cheaper side. Actually everything here is inexpensive! It's difficult to describe the entirety and atmosphere of Berkeley Bowl until you've experienced it for yourself. On any given day, it's packed! With people pushing carts each and every way, everyone looks like they're on a mission. This location in particular tends to get crowded as parking is limited. The parking spaces are super tight. If you havn't been to the one on Heinz Ave or Oregon st., it may be worth checking out! Happy eating y'all! read more

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I think this is one of the best grocery stores in the world. It can be overwhelming at first, but once you know what you are into it is divine. read more

Best produce and nut section ever and you really do have to give it up for the expansive organic and non produce selection. They literally have every type and size of vegetable you could ask for. If you need some delicious Acme bread, there's usually a solid inventory. Meats aren't overly expensive at the butcher shop. All of these things is what keeps me coming back for more. And the fact that I only live a few blocks away. What's not fun is the parking lot. What's not fun is that any other grocery item you may need is a tad bit pricier than what you'd find at Safeway or the likes of. :: Although, I have noticed some Berkeley Bowl brands that are some great deals. :: A great stop to fill up on produce and organic meats, but maybe not the best spot to stock up on your pantry and grocery items. It will put a dent in your wallet. read more

Fruits are the the standout here. The variety is excellent, coming from the East Coast, this is heavenly. Everything was sweet: Strawberries, blueberries, mangoes - so good. And of course being in CA, wine selection was both plentiful and relatively inexpensive. Perfect for vacationers who are renting a place with a kitchen. read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - sweet mangoes - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The Berkeley Bowl is a Victual Tower of Babel. Where else can you get matzoth meal, dried persimmons, imported goat cheese, prepared food, Kombucha, detergent and garbage bags in the same place? But it also glistens with mystique and the myth that it's all for the people. With the exception of the fish market, where a super-friendly staff serves freshly-cut sushi, the produce is inferior and prices for everything are high. The parking lot is like rush hour on east I-80. When I first began to shop here I was--like everyone else--willing to deal with freeway-rudeness so I could get Korean hot sauce, red peppers, Sicilian olives and Spanish cheese under the same roof. I began to take a closer look after I tried to return a bottle of wine with a bad cork and the manager said he never took wine back. Nor would he let me return an unopened bottle of the same wine because it might have a bad cork. When I asked an employee about different kinds of pasta sauce I was told there wasn't time to answer a question like that. I would rather go to (shock!) Market Hall, where the produce is better and the prices are the same as the Berkeley Bowl. Or Yasai's where people answer questions and the aisles aren't crowded. Or Ranch 99 in El Cerrito, where the aisles are as crowded but the pricing is remarkable. Each one excels at customer service. Each one offers a speciality that's more than having it all under the same roof. read more

This is the Nirvana of produce markets. Bring out-of-staters or out-of-towners as a tourist destination. For shear variety, they'll be overwhelmed. And it's all beautiful. Everything they can source locally, they do. They identify the origin of all the produce they sell, organic or conventionally grown. Conventional fruits and vegetables less expensive and much more likely local than Safeway. Organic is too, and much less than Whole Foods. If you can't stop at a farmer's market every few days (or as a supplement to that), this is the place. read more

I only find myself coming here when i'm not in need of any meat/seafood since it can get pricey here (at least on an undergrad/recent college grad budget). Every time I come here I do find that parking is difficult. The lot is always full and if you don't walk you'll have to wait a bit for people to start trickling out. The place itself is quite large and I love how they have bins for you to pick out grains/dried fruit/nuts. They also differentiate between the organic and normal produce so it's easy to spot. They have a great selection and I find that the fruits/veggies are much cheaper here than Safeway/TJs. They also have tons of fresh Acme bread that I enjoy. Gotta get that sourdough! I also enjoy that they have a kitchen to get burritos/burrito bowls, chinese food, sushi, etc. I'm giving them 3 stars because on my most recent visit I was treated very poorly. When I was checking out I was holding my bags and an older gentleman that was bagging basically took them from my hands. When we were almost done bagging he took a tone and said why wasn't I helping when I had an extra bag and after that he walked away. This was the first time i've been treated so rudely by someone in a customer facing role. If he wanted me to bag my own stuff I easily would have obliged but I thought it was rude for him to make me feel like I should have been helping him rather than just standing there when I was ready to pay. read more

Steve is still doing a really great job, as far as the service! I appreciate his willingness to answer my questions. Because I am running a daycare, we always buy in bulk. Steve goes above and beyond to lend me a helping hand, and I really appreciate it. Thanks Steve! read more

Parking is horrible! The store has what I need when I'm home in Berkeley. You can find so many great deals under one roof. This place reminds me of rainbow grocery in the city. Sometimes I get there at the right time for the produce deals in the back of the store. They always have excellent deals. There is a cafe and deli. I haven't tried either yet. read more

Amazing selection. LOVE all of the mushrooms. They have lots of foraged ones, including lobsters. Great protein counters. Minus one star for too small of a parking lot and no speed bumps. Some woman was driving so fast she almost hit us as we were walking out of the store. I went back yesterday and, although I love the selection, especially the mushrooms, I find the store to be annoying. The isles are barely big enough to have two carts pass and they have promotions and their worker carts in them as well. Also, I did get in line that had a cashier in training sign but it took almost 20 minutes to get through the line with only two people in front of me. Train them more after hours first! When people are finished shopping they want to get on to the next thing in their busy schedules. Also, open more lines! Minus another star. read more

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When I first heard of the Berkeley Bowl, I literally thought it was a concert hall that I just happened to live across. Nine years later (I swear it did not take me this long to correct this perception), I think of this place as one of the best supermarkets to get quality yet affordable produce. I'm always impressed with the wide selection of fruits and vegetables that they carry, and after several years shopping here, I still think that the price is right. Well, let me clarify: the price is right for the produce. This is not the place to go shopping for your staple, brand goods; I still head to my local Safeway or Trader Joe's for those kind of items. In the past, I used to get frustrated by some of the passive aggressive shopping behavior; I felt like people used to use their carts to mark their territory in a way that was completely unnecessary. However, during my most recent visits, I have not had that feeling (which makes me think that I've slowly become an East Bay yuppie, or maybe I can attribute that change to some aisle redesign). I also feel like even if the lines are long, I can get out relatively quickly. This place rocks! read more

Berkeley Bowl!! I would love you even more if you were closer to my house! :) I came here a couple weeks ago as it was my first time and parking was packed house, it took me forever to find park! Everyone and they momma was at Berkeley Bowl! Before walking in, I'm asking my friend, SO why is this grocery market called Berkeley Bowl. He reply's, "well it used to be a bowling alley". Ahhh ok... I understand now! If I had it my way I would call this the inside farmers market! haha Walking in the place is HUGE! Produce market had a lot of varieties of fruit and vegetables and the prices are reasonable! The meat department was kind of the high end, so ill continue going to my meat market. Pros- the huge variety of fruits and veggies -the household products that they sale there -The meat department (although kind of pricey) -the different type of coffee that they have here for all my coffee drinkers Cons- The parking, the parking and one more time: THE PARKING! Its just way to small and its ALWAYS crowded! Be aware! read more

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How do I write about the original Berkeley Bowl without getting all misty-eyed about the original original Berkeley Bowl? That's the one I remember fondly from my college days. Yes, it's that old and so am I. It used to be in a smaller venue, a former bowling alley across Shattuck where it felt like a family-run operation with the freshest produce a Berkeley undergrad could ask for when he tried to organize study potlucks in his lonely studio apartment on College Avenue. I remember discovering produce I had never heard of like romanesco zucchini and crookneck squash in order to make quiche because real men did make quiche back in those days. I even remember meeting Rita Moreno over the Roma tomatoes and telling her how much I loved "West Side Story". I think I did a few choruses of "America" with her or maybe that was just my fantasy flashback of what happened - but I digress. Years later, I came back with Jamie W. but to the much bigger location where they had long since taken over the Safeway that was there. It's still a wonderfully expansive place to get fresh produce (photo: http://bit.ly/1B498Je) but the vibe has changed considerably. First of all, the cramped parking lot is a still life of massive gridlock and honking horns. We felt lucky to get a space at all and escaped without a fender bender. Second, the inside has lost its ramshackle charm in favor of a deluxe Whole Foods vibe which didn't make me want to sing any more choruses of "America" except perhaps the line about "always the pop-u-lation growing". Grabbing a $3.50 slice of the Artisan Veggie Pizza (photo: http://bit.ly/17HJjRz) was all we could muster on our last trip and only to find ourselves subject to a political activist melting our ears off with his local ordinance rhetoric. I guess I'm not that fresh-faced Berkeley undergrad but neither are you, Berkeley Bowl. read more

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Guess what? I'm sipping the Berkeley Bowl Kool-Aid and I'm not afraid to admit it! That's right- I'll wait 10 minutes for a spot in Berkeley Bowl's GOD-FORSAKEN parking lot. And yeah, I could write a book in the time it takes to wait at the check out counter- no biggie. And sure, I'll gladly pay full price for this all natural organic mush rather than... well, then again, maybe I won't be having the organic mush... An amazingly vast and affordable fruit and vegetable section http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Fr0AZR3S8hUMCFC3mzRDkw?select=Lfg6y7z1mxCttPiARkbg3Q A wide variety of bulk dry spices and fruits(I love the banana chips) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Fr0AZR3S8hUMCFC3mzRDkw?select=prtr7ufKPwdStRpjLIHkww A beer selection not for the faint college student heart http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Fr0AZR3S8hUMCFC3mzRDkw?select=FGDpXZJSXpRtbNzk9Pys5g Even a great cheese section that the most novice cheese connoisseur can appreciate http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Fr0AZR3S8hUMCFC3mzRDkw?select=XwFBTLhamWAbXvUEfb3o7Q Find me at Berkeley Bowl the day after I get my paychecks... Such an awesome place. read more

Worm in the Wild Alaskan Salmon! I do my grocery shopping here every Friday. Thank god I saw the worm while cleaning the fish!!!! It simply means that the fish was not kept in a good condition and you should be carful! This is a health issue. I will add a picture with the date of purchase and the WORM. I called the store to let them know they should take the Wild Alaskan Salmon off the shelves and asked to speak with a supervisor. There was no supervisor in the store. They took my number and said he will call me back. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and don't get the fish. read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Berkeley Bowl is like an unvarnished Whole Foods meets your local Farmers Market, with a distinct Berkeley vibe. If you are a vegetarian or like a wide choice of veggies, then Berkeley bowl is for you! After all, what grocery do you know has 8, count them: 8 different types of eggplant? (Standard, Japanese, Indian, etc.) Or has almost as much Asian greens as those specialty Asian grocers like 99 Ranch, but still has the familiar American type produce? The Bowl has been around for decades, but they moved locations about 20 years ago from just down the street to this large location, which I think used to be a Safeway back in the day. They might even sell roses somewhere in the ginormous cavern of food, which only reminds us that it has been over 50 years since Cal went to the Rose Bowl. Like it's competitors like Whole Foods up on Ashby, Berkeley Bowl has a deli and eat-in seating area. Not quite as nice, but they have some good offerings. I dropped by for a quick bite, and found one of my favorite Chinese dishes, a Deli version of Mapo Tofu in a bowl, and this being Berkeley, I ordered it with brown rice. Only $5.49 Don't come here expecting a fancy glitzy place like Dragers, or mood lighting and faux wood crates like the remodel of Safeways. NO, come here for the real thing, a wide variety of fresh goodies for your fridge, pantry and table. Truly, you can have fresh produce come from Berkeley Bowl to your table. Which reminds me of Joe Carcione, the old Green Grocer on TV decades ago, who always used to pronounce those greens as Veg-Tables, instead of vegetables. read more

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I defy you to find someone who hates Berkeley Bowl. Okay, okay, perhaps a 6 year old who hates fruits and vegetables might throw a tantrum. Otherwise, this place is sheer bliss. The produce aisles are chock full of organic greens, bountiful apples of every variety, and a host of fruits and vegetables I've never even heard of before. The produce prices are great; sometimes it's fun to pick an Unidentified Organic Object (UOO) to bring home for dinner. (Note to self: make sure to look up a recipe first so that you know what to do with it... nothing's worse than biting into something that's supposed to be skinned and cooked). Out front are bins of items on sale, currently pears and pumpkins. Awww, how seasonal! Of course, there are the aisles of general groceries running through the middle of the store, but don't get tempted just because it's convenient - the prices are ridiculous. Stick with your local supermarket for items in cans and jars. I am, however, a huge fan of the bulk bins, despite the fact that they're overpriced; there's a great selection of nuts, dried fruit, trail mix and granola, and I always buy too much (after tasting all of my options, of course... how else do you know what to get??). There's also a great selection of loose tea leaves, which are fun to browse. This has also become my favorite shopping destination due to a recent discovery. Ever since I moved to NorCal I've been on the hunt for a world class turkey sandwich, the kind I used to eat near-daily in NYC. I'm happy to report that Berkeley Bowl is the #1 sandwich spot I've found thus far. You need to get a ticket if you want to buy meat (a pound of sliced turkey, for example), but if you want a gourmet sandwich alls you need to do is fill out a nifty little form with your preferences for bread, meat, cheese, and fixins. My current favorite: roast turkey with mayo, salt, pepper, lettuce & tomato on a Dutch Crunch roll. For $6, it absolutely cannot be beat. read more

You know when you're in your 8am yoga class and the instructor tells you to shavasana and take yourself somewhere peaceful? You're trying to breathe in and breathe out and picture the waves on that serene beach you went to that one time with the girls, but you can't get out of your own head with what you have to do later that day. Well, hear me out. Berkeley Bowl is the place of dreams. Imagine endless valleys of rhubarb and romaine, mountains of wild rice and flax seeds, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, dry farmed tomatoes, on-the-vine tomatoes. Chanterelle, oyster, maitake, morel, woodear. Every. Single. Farmers Market. You. Have. Ever. Been. To. Packaged into a neat little corner off downtown Berkeley, BB is my bb. There needs to be a grocery store like this in every neighborhood of America. It's hard to find every color of the spectrum of God's green earth and ones you never even knew existed. That alone is inspiration for the week's meals! But like most natural stores, many non-fruit/veggie items will cost you. It's nice to have that selection too, but I find myself only buying veggies here. (Can an RD tell me if I'm eating too many mushrooms?) There's only a Whole Foods nearby, so you can't really win. If you're lucky enough to live nearby, pick up that granola and those fresh ingredients for a family-style meal. You might feel like that scene of the Office where Kevin is force-fed broccoli, or you might just love it. read more

There are a lot of things that I likely would love about Berkeley Bowl, but the customers who shop here are horrendous. It starts in the parking lot and I honest-to-god avoid this place because I just cannot deal with the snotty attitudes and rudeness of the shoppers. Never in my life, other than shopping at BB, have I had someone nearly run me down and then shoot me a look of boiling hatred like it was my fault. And it's happened multiple times! Forget any courtesy or apologies -- people will cut you off, run into you, trap you with their cart, and generally act like shopping is a competitive sport. It winds up being a stressful and annoying experience. Not BB's fault, but seriously, people. Stop acting like selfish jackasses. I will say that a bulk foods guy knew the codes to every bulk item they stock and I was incredibly impressed by that! read more

My daughter will ask for a field trip to the Berkeley Bowl because she enjoys gathering fresh ingredients for dinner. She loves it when we get inside and there are fruits and vegetables as far as she can see. She wants everything! Raspberries, blackberries, bananas, apples, cuties, grapes, celery, carrots, tomatoes, onions, radishes ... and artichokes are her favorite. I love the Bowl too ... they undoubtedly have the best organic veggies assembled in one place. And it is wonderful to see my kid so happy eating what is good for her and right from the source. However, now they are constructing another one ... and it will change traffic patterns in Berkeley forever. At 9th and Heinz, behind Sharffen Berger Chocolates, a huge Berkeley Bowl and parking garage are being erected for the world to enjoy. Easy access. Just a mile off 80 at the Ashby exit. That means more traffic in the neighborhood and more crazy people who have to get their organic vegetables. Or maybe that means the original BB will be a little more friendly since the crazies will be on the other side of town at the new store. We shall see. We are so lucky to have the Berkeley Bowl! People in Kansas could only dream of such a thing. read more

OMG. Saw this on Facebook and had to share. SOOOO TRUE!!! Note: I go to Berkeley Bowl 3-4 times a week. Berkeleyites Are All About Peace--Until You Enter The Berkeley Bowl Parking Lot... Sure, 99 percent of the time you won't find a more peaceable city, but God forbid you try and park your car at the Berkeley Bowl, all bets are off. Despite what all their bumpers claim, the folks in this parking lot have no desire to "Coexist," and "Zen" they are not. But from a strictly people watching perspective, you haven't lived until you seen the fierce Prius on Prius aggression in person. (Credit: Kathyrn Peoples) BEWARE the parking lot! (But it's still worth it once you see the amazing produce section and the rest of the store!) :) read more

I love Berkeley Bowl. The produce section is amazing (and competitively priced), and unlike a traditional store that has one kind of strawberries or blueberries to choose from, Berkeley bowl has lots of options by different growing region and price range for almost every fruit/veggie (don't even get me started on the amazing mushroom section). It reminds me of a farmers market, sans the farmers. They also have hard to find fruits and veggies (seasonally), which I learned when I was shopping for lychee. When my Italian mother was in town from Boston, I brought her here and she was amazed by everything from the cheese selection to the international section, to the 20 different types of granola they make in house (among many other things). Their burritos are delicious and inexpensive, and have a great coffee bar. They also make pizza (pretty meh though) and sell it by the slice, desserts, and Asian food (hoping to try the veggie lumpia soon). If you're looking for an interesting wine, beer, or coffee - this is totally the place. They have tons of spices and nuts in bulk, and you can find some hard to find things there too (bay leaves, matcha powder, teas, etc). Tips: parking is tricky, as this place is always super busy. The store is tight, so try to use a basket and avoid pushing a cart. Also, I wouldn't suggest buying things here like your typical General Mills cereal or Kraft Mac and cheese, because the mark up is insane. read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - Produce section - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

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If you come across a vacant parking space a block or two from BB, take it. Parking in their small parking lot is a test in patience and an obstacle course. You have cars getting in and out of tight spots, cars waiting to get into a spot, and pedestrians walking to and from their cars. It's a little crazy to say the least. If you can get by with a basket while shopping, do it. It'll be so much easier to get around without bumping into people or having to wait for people to get out of your way. If you can shop here during non-peak hours, shopping will be less onerous of an activity and will prevent an uptick in your blood pressure. After work hours hours, Saturdays and Sundays, and days before the holidays are all crazy times. If you can manage to heed all of the above advice, you will have a much better shopping experience here. For an avid cook like me, BB is amazing. Their produce section needs to be seen to be believed. They have a large organic section, as well as regular produce. Expect to see many varieties of fruits and vegetables. I once counted how many kinds of eggplants they had and I counted 8. They have a nice seafood section with both wild and farmed fish and sushi-grade seafood. Their meat case has a nice selection of organic and regular meats (pork, beef, chicken) and cured and uncured meat. They usually have a couple of kinds of organic and grass-fed beef from which you can choose. Their dairy, deli, prepared foods (salads, Mexican and Chinese food), bakery and cheese cases are also quite substantial. I like to buy my meats and seafood here as they always cut them up to my specification. Spices, dry pastas from Italy, cans of San Marzano tomatoes, cheeses, Asian groceries, chocolate, specialty flour and grains, and exotic ingredients are my usual purchases here. On our last visit, I needed stuff for the Asian Short Ribs I was planning to make, so grass fed short ribs, veggies, and Takara Plum Wine were on the list and I was not disappointed. If you're lucky enough to live close to BB, you will never want for good food! read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - Dinner tonight--Wild King Salmon Steak! - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I do love this bowl. I hadn't been to a Berkeley bowl in years, and based upon the last one I went too, I wasn't necessarily, exceptionally impressed....with his one I am. Fresh,vibrant, abundance of wonderful treats; both healthy and sinful...yet another place I could quite possibly spend hours in. Not only is this bowl new, its absolutely huge! And they provide a nice little cafe as well. So much more exploring and indulging to do here. The staff that all work here also are as impressive as the store- everyone seemed cheerful and helpful. Pleasured to now work close by :) read more

This place is a ZOO. In the parking lot, aisles and at the check stands. Can't do this again, ever. Even when there are rock bottom prices for organics. I would rather save my sanity. read more

After finding out that BB wasn't too far from Thai Temple, my friends and I strolled over. Good thing we didn't drive because parking is very limited and crazy crowded. Holy crap! This is the cheaper version of Whole Foods Market. Great selection of produce, meats, seafood, dried fruit and nuts, tea, and cheeses. Huge potential for spending way more on items that you don't really need. Only drawback is the bread selection. I was looking for some good, soft, sourdough bread comparable to that of Draeger's but no such luck. They had more of baguettes than anything. I would return if in the area so for now, I'll stick with TJ's or check out Monterey Market. read more

I never knew I could like a grocery store so much, but here I am. I tell people this all the time, but Berkeley Bowl has the biggest produce section you'll ever see. There are so many different kinds and sizes Of fruits and vegetables. Every time I go I find a new fruit I've never even heard of! They even sort their avocados by size. They also have a great section of bulk teas, nuts and pasta. I always buy matcha green tea there and almond butter. I will say though, this place gets really crowded and I try to avoid it on Sunday's or around dinner time. . read more

well I am writing this review because every time we go there, my mom keeps insisting that I write berkely bowl is excellent on the review. My family loves Berkeley bowl including both the clearance and non-clearance produce. Their staffs are very helpful and friendly as well. read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - These berries were probably $1.50..yay for clearance produce - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

great produce, bakery items have changed not quite as good or fresh and prices raised. Canola oil is sneaking into everything like whole foods. bummer. the burritoe bar is decent but you need take it home and grill the the thing in a pan,. as there tortilla warmer does not work to well and you end up with a soggy mess and doughy gooey burritoe disaster. read more

Most everyone knows that this is a great supermarket, with moderate prices. Great variety, lots of produce, fresh fruits, bulk items, full service meat counter, wines, assorted cheeses, breads, some imported foods, etc. The prepared foods section has many soups, salads, pastries, pre-made wraps, sandwiches, and decent hot food in warmer trays. And they stock my favorite salsa. I also love that they have a small dining area (has a microwave oven and toaster too) with free WiFi. Sometimes after shopping I come here by for a quick lunch - grab a cup of soup, fresh bread, something to drink, and maybe a salad item. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/berkeley-bowl-berkeley?userid=8Ces6YdT6j7BYycnZLrSng#DXIgMVVpmxDzd6KnV26UaQ My rating is just 4 stars, because I shop for groceries often all around the Bay Area, and know that I can get some things cheaper or better at other shops or FMs. Tip: Restrooms are located at the end of a hallway, tucked on the left side of the dining area. read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - lunch - cup of chicken noodle soup and a couple of prepared food items - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

Honestly just leaving this review to say if you are going to go to a Berkeley Bowl, go to Berkeley Bowl West. Just pulling into the cutthroat parking lot here gives me cold sweats and by the time I'm in the store I've escalated to full on heart palpitations and shallow breathing. Especially if you dare to venture here on the weekends or around lunchtime, the store is like a game of Supermarket Sweep. Except you win nothing and retain only the slightest chance of maintaining your dignity as you claw your way through the aisles, attempting to navigate your way around carts that people have inexplicably abandoned as they wander off to browse the (admittedly great) produce section. So, five stars for produce and a great meat department, 0 stars for the ensuing PTSD. read more

What do you do to a struggling Safeway location? Yes... Berkeley Bowl fits just right here. Coming off the Ashby exit, I came to know this location very well. Remembering their original location on the same block as Kirala (now Any Mountain), I'd never shopped there since I didn't have a car in those formative years. I used to shop at this Safeway during my yogurt runs across the bay, when Berkeley was ahead of its time in many respects. After all, who started this farm to table concept again?... Yes, thank you, Ms. Waters! Entering this store, it is bustling busy with shoppers and staff streaming through the aisles. They have an extensive holistic and health conscious section that is consistent with Euge's (http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=8hvXl0oJmU61l17LG9aDag) hippy moniker! The far right section of this store catches my eye every time. This is where their prepared foods and bakery can be found. Recently tried their Spaghetti Bolognese (http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) for a future dinner and, for the price, the portions were very generous, especially in comparison to Nijiya Market in the City. If I lived here, would shop here on a regular basis. The only minus is that the parking lot was redrawn and the spaces are especially tight here. Pretty sure that a door ding and bumper scrape on my car came from here. You might be better off parking your European vehicle on the streets and pay the meter instead. read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is Whole Foods on Steroids. I enjoyed shopping here for some fruits and vegetable. Got some truffle cheese, unsalted almonds, steak, sausages, mushrooms etc. Very fresh and clean! read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is my mom's favorite grocery store. It's a yearly pilgrimage for her since she lives far in the Central Valley. We came here recently because she needed sea beans for her tuna poke and this is the only grocery store we could find them in. We spent over 2 hours going to each aisle, looking for things that we don't normally find elsewhere, or had a good deal. Us country bumpkins have a different idea of what a good deal is, but we did find a few, mostly in the produce section. And the produce section is glorious! Berkeley Bowl has so many types of produce, from apple varietals to sea beans (or sea asparagus). The hot foods section is what differentiates it from a Whole Foods. It's not a rip off. There's a deli, Japanese food, Chinese food, Mexican food, and desserts. I got a bunch of onigiri for lunch while my mom got 2 banh mi sandwiches. All of it was less than $25 (I got *a lot* of onigiri..). The eating area is small, and doesn't accommodate for carts. But people don't seem to be annoyed with carts parked to the side that blocks the bagel area. There's also water available for patrons, along with a toaster and a microwave. Parking at Berkeley Bowl is horrendous. Worse than a Trader Joe's. The spaces are small, and it's hard to find a spot, especially during peak hours. My mom and I took Bart, which is a few blocks south. I really like Berkeley Bowl. I wouldn't make a special trip from the city to go there, but if I lived nearby, it would be my one stop shop for all groceries. read more

The best of everything in an original, down to earth, pre-WholeFoods grocery market. . . . . read more

This is my regular store and it's part of what keeps me living in Berkeley. I'm a little sad the fish section is under renovations but staff promise that it will be wonderful when it reopens I think November (2020). There is no place better in my opinion for quality meats and fresh vegetables. Staff are always kind and friendly. read more

The produce is fantastic - great selection and the prices are reasonable. The boxed goods are not cheaper than Whole Foods, and many are in fact more expensive. It's a good grocery store but I shop there only as a last resort. Here's why: the people are absolutely insane. As other reviewers have noted, I have never known grown adults to be so petty, rude and mean. In trying to wait for a pedestrian in the lot, someone behind me nearly clipped me and when I called out "Hey, that's rude!" she called out several expletives starting with the letters "F" and "C" to indicate that she was Empress of the Parking Lot and I dare not impede her progress even if it meant running down old ladies. Whether it is entitled, over-privileged white people in the People's Republic of Berkeley (take away their breeding privileges, ok?) or the fact that the aisles are narrow, or the workers are surly - who knows. All I know is that I want to stay the hell away from that place. Whole Foods may not be union, but they take good care of their workers and it's a lot friendlier there. For a good co-op experience, go to Rainbow Grocery in SF - it's a much better atmosphere and you'll walk out with cheaper bulk goods. read more