Hey if your on a budget and you want some fresh produce this is the place to come. All the locals come as well as students. They have all fresh produce and man are they cheap. I picked up some plums and were they cheap. Really good tasting too. I also picked up some salted Onion Pistachios and those were nice. Drank that with the Hakasain sake I bought there too. Great place. Good Prices! read more

Where do I start? Basically, it's worth going there and getting ridiculously frustrated over never finding a parking spot. The fruit is just fresher, the vegetables always just look healthier, and the fact that they carry pastries from a company called 'sconehenge' is flat out awesome. I used to go here on Saturday mornings with my daddy and help him pick out food. It's sentimental. What can I say? read more

Hands down the best place to get local and fresh produce. Not the best place if you're like me and can't decide which of the 25 types of grapes you want to buy (I still go though - it's worth it). Location is kinda far from campus so for students might be more inconvenient than the local Safeway or Walgreens, but if you love produce, this is where you'll be able to find all the quirky stuff that other places won't be selling. It's always quite busy from what I've experienced, but that just shows how popular it is! read more

I love Berkeley Bowl for certain items. Their prices for produce are pretty good; as for the non-produce stuff... some items are more expensive than what you'd find at your normal chain grocery stores) and their selection of produce is really good. Nowhere else can you find like 10 different pluot varieties, for example, in the summer. Parking is hard to come by, but you can sometimes find street parking as well. Customer service is good. Their bulk foods section is also pretty sweet. Love their dried fruits. read more

This place blew my mindpiece. Imagine the best Whole Foods you've ever been to. But far less corporate. Mix in a few ethnic markets, a great butcher shop, and a first-class food court. And there you have it. I was in the Bay for a few days this weekend, and we managed to pop into BB twice -- once for lunch for 11, and once for a breakfast burrito. Bravo, I'll be back. read more

Parking sucks, but it does everywhere in Berkeley, so people who give it minus stars for parking...aboohoohoo to you. Nothing you can control. Anyways, what can i say about Berkeley bowl that hasn't been said by other people? This place is like Whole Foods without all the pretentiousness and the prices, I think, are little better than WF. Don't get me wrong, it's still pricey though. They have almost everything you want, from puffed quinoa i nthe bulk section to pre-made cookie dough. Their fish selection is on point. Also, produce selection is good, however, some produce is so-so looking. My family goes into china town and to larry's produce for a lot of stuff and korean markets and ranch 99, so we wouldn't buy produce here unless it's a "specialty" kind that you can't get at the asian markets. Just beware of idiots in the parking lot. Because parking is scarce, people turn into animals with tunnel vision only. Other than that: lovelovelove. read more

The greatest supermarket ever. Some caveats: Iif you shop there, please be courteous and move your shopping cart off to the side, do NOT park it in the middle of the aisle while you are comparing homeopathic pet therapists with your friends. Don't bother selecting anything frozen, because it will all be slush by the time you reach the checkout. And finally, like it or not you'll have to bag your damned groceries yourself because they seem to hire some kind of juvenile delinquents there who think that heirloom tomatoes belong at the bottom of the bag. Did I ever tell you about the time I saw a girl working behind the customer service counter, wearing her pet rat on her shoulder?? Still I love this place. Gee maybe I'd better take my picture down now! read more

I LOVE the Berkeley bowl and wish they would open up in Marin!! They have the best selection of fruits and vegetables, an incredible bulk section, amazing vitamins and herbs, and the best prices on organic produce in the Bay area! Plus, they have wonderful prepared and to-go food, delicious baked goods and much, much more. I wish they opened at 8:00 a.m. vs 9:00 a.m. but I like the fact there is a cafe next door where you can have coffee and baked goods or breakfast burritos while you wait for the store to open. read more

The selection is amazing BUT I am so over being bashed into by the carts of aging hippies carelessly rushing to their organic amaranth puffs and chia seed sprouts. Never even mention that hellish parking lot where people steal the parking space that you've been patiently waiting for. The produce is beyond compare but so it also is at BB West. This store is a magnet for rude shoppers and it shows on most of the people who work here. read more

Do not use the instacart delivery option! BB claims they have no relationship with Instacart (separate company) and when something goes wrong with the delivery... not a BB problem. Instacart for their part is not people..it's software and very limited one way communication. No way to comment back or take issue with the reulting order problem...other than, the "we value your busness..." nonsense.. well get back to you. Phone wait at Instacart is over an hour. Had to dispute charges through my CC account.... I'd also point point out that though BB claims they just "provide the link" to instacart the two are nearly inseparable. Once you click the instacart link, on the BB website you can't go leave and go to instacart.com...it directs you back to the BB website..round and round. After clearing my cache ..I was able to go to instacart dot com where I found in the agreement default, the persons actually pulling and delivering your from the BB are not employees of anyone neither BB or Instacart.. so good luck with that part..... read more

I LOVE THE PRODUCE! Variety at decent prices for the area. Though I feel like they often run out of basil. I also LOVE THE CHEESE SAMPLES and HAND DRIER in the bathroom! read more

I normally shop at Berkeley Bowl West, but I was on Shattuck and decided to drop into this one instead. I much prefer BBW over this original BB. The parking situation was pretty bad, and most of it was paid parking. We got lucky and found a spot behind for free. The layout of BBW is better, in my opinion, because it is broken into "sections" rather than aisles like BB, and I think that helps with the crowding issues. Also, I couldn't find the baby shitake mushrooms and they were out of thai basil. Still, I walked out with two bags of produce, a couple of cans of clams and tomatoes, spices (a small bag of dried rosemary for 18 cents!) fresh bread and milk all for $20. Oh, Berkeley Bowl, what would I do without you? read more

This is THE BEST grocery store on the planet. Yes, I just made that claim. And although I can honestly say I haven't even been to 1/10 of the world's grocery stores, Berkeley Bowl is just that good. It makes me drive miles out of my way to go grocery shopping. It's one of the reasons I will never move out of the Bay Area. And just walking thought the door makes me happy. Why? Well... They have a HUGE selection of organic produce. Even the huge Whole Foods in Oakland doesn't have the selection that Berkeley Bowl does. Did I mention the biggest spread of organic meats in the East Bay? Don't hold me to that, but there's grass feed beef, organic poultry, marrow bones, and many types of fish. They ave a BIG dairy department, including grass-fed milk, cheese, and butter; about 30 brands of yogurt that are actually good for you (NO Yoplait here!!!) including Siggis and Brown Cow; and a whole wall full of eggs, including lots of pastured varieties. You will find a large area devoted to bulk foods and spices, most of them organic. Also, there's a big selection of organic coffee beans. The center has a good organic grocery section. There are a lot of gluten-free options. On the side is a mexican bar (think Chipotle, but with more options) that's a cheap and healthy place for lunch. There are TWO coffee bars and an attached cafe. And, BEST OF ALL, the prices are AMAZING. Just the other day, I bought all the food I needed for dinner at Whole Foods just because I was there. I was at BB the next day, and boy was I sorry when I started looking at how much I had overpaid. For all the same stuff, Berkeley Bowl's prices were almost TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT LESS than Whole Foods. Well, why aren't you shopping here already?!?! read more

Great choice of veggies, ethnic foods, skin care, bread, cheese, wine..you name it. It has come a far piece since the days in the old bowling alley. I just wish the employees didn't make you feel like you were 1-in the wasting and 2-wasting their time. It makes me wonder how the management treats everyone-they all seem so unahappy. Too bad because they obvioiusly are doing well and have so much to offer. read more

I'd heard the wonder of Berkeley Bowl from others so I decided to check it out on my trip to Amoeba, UC-Berkeley, Rasputin, and Chez Panisse......now I regret it. Why, you ask? Because I live in Ohio and I couldn't/can't do my grocery shopping there. Spectacular produce selection (Meyer lemons, Buddha's Hand, Durian, Quince, Blood Oranges - it looks like China Town in Toronto but cleaner and better.) Wonderful bulk foods (3 types of Figs and 2 dates.) Great looking fresh fish. An in house bakery and warm food station. Free parking. Loads of samples (probiotic muenster cheese and Hobbs' Farm Bacon when I visited, plus about 5 fruits.) About 70 varieties of chocolate including designers like Sharffen Berger and Vosges as well as plain ol' Hersheys. A selection better than Whole Foods with prices more like Trader Joes - hell, they even sell pepsi and "non-organics" for those who just need their fix. Even the vegan hippies jamming the aisles were more tolerable, friendly, and down to earth than the soccer-mom pseudo-healthy yuppies at Whole Foods here in Ohio. read more

This is one of the best groceries stores in the country. It's like a farmer's market, a natural foods store, and an Asian store rolled in to one. Where else can I go when I need twelves kinds of fresh mushrooms, four varieties of basil, rambutan, Cheerios, organic ketchup, bulk granola, bulk shampoo, bulk pre-packed pickled herring, natto, and some fresh bread? I mean really. I sometimes try and think of usual foods to look for just to see if I can stump them. So far, it's Berkeley Bowl: 7, Monica's Brain: 0. The prices here are comparable to other supermarkets, but the bulk section is cheaper, as are the high-quality Berkeley Bowl store brand items. They also always have sale items along the front and back of the store, and in the back of the produce section, there are bags of discount fruit. I will buy a huge bag of ripe bananas for 89 cents, peel and freeze them, and then use them for the world's cheapest and most tasty smoothies for the next few weeks. It can be crowded here around 5-7, when folks are shopping after work for dinner, making it hard to browse and appreciate the variety. Earlier in the afternoon is pretty relaxed. I also come by here after the Tuesday farmer's market a couple blocks away, to pick up dry items that the farmers don't sell. The folks at the Berkeley Bowl info booth are always happy to keep my farmer's market purchases safe behind their desk as I scuttle around for milk and flour. Food lovers of all stripes: check this place out, and prepare to be wowed. read more

Had some canolis from here last night... And they are amazing!!! Every bite is as if you are voting into heaven. And your eyes get bigger and bigger out of amazement. Of course this want the first time that i have gotten them, but I knew I should write my review because it was well needed. I have also eaten the burritos here and they are also delicious. You similar not regret eating at their little cafeteria area inside. I wish to come back and try it almost of their options.!!! There are plenty of seats outside if you came here to eat it if their cafeteria area. I havnt actually shopped at the actual grocery store but IU plan on trying it out poetry soon. I'm sure that it will be just as amazing! read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - Canolis - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

I am new to Berkeley. And I must say that i won't feel like an official resident, even with my new ID and Library card, until I review the much talked about Berkeley Bowl. Berkeley Bowl is my neighborhood Grocery Store, I can't say that I am disappointed. I have yet to go there and not find an item. My first visit, I was so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of variety that I just wandered the aisles, and then walked out with nothing. I soon got over that, and now am able to dig in the bulk bins with the best of them. I love you Berkeley Bowl! read more

My last review was so basic. Since then, I've been to Berkeley Bowl regularly for my grocery shopping and I have to say that it is 10-fold better than Whole Foods. Berkeley Bowl is not pretentious. It's not ridiculously expensive. It does not follow trends. First, parking is easy. There's an underground parking lot that has elevators that'll take you to store level. There is also parking outside the store in their parking lot but I don't like parking out there because the spaces are tiny. The underground lot is the way to go. Second, the selection is amazing. AMAZING. You can practically find any variety of anything here. You need a bunch of tiny sea beans? THEY HAVE THEM (really)! What about cauliflower of any color or mushrooms from all over the world? They have them! If your recipe calls for something ridiculously weird and you find yourself thinking "I have no idea where to get that", go to Berkeley Bowl. Third, the people are so friendly and helpful. Fourth, they have a Bargain Section near where the seafood is and you have to check it out. They were selling a bag of rice avocados for $1, a huge bag of grapes $1, a pineapple $1. If you're ready to eat whatever the day-of, check out the bargains! The pricing in general is really good too. Also, the other day, I bought their house made salt and pepper chips in a little brown bag near the deli section and jeez it was good. And I usually get my tempeh from here because they have a gluten free tempeh which trader joe's does not. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!!! Incredible variety of fresh vegetables, meat, seafood, and fruits. All are reasonably priced. It can even be cheaper than Safeway sometimes! It is one of the BEST places to get pre-mixed salad greens at an unbeatable value. LOTS of organic, fresh, locally-grown products and they are much more affordable than Whole Foods, or even Trader Joe's! (another one of my favorites.) For asparagus alone, the sell 6 varieties AT LEAST. Even less common mushrooms like shitake mushrooms are sold in 3 different sizes (S, M, L)!!! They have an olive bar where a decent cafetoria operates (in case you get hunry from shopping), and even a sashimi counter. I like Asian cooking and therefore I am VERY GLAD to be able to find all the Asian sauces and spices, beancurb products, preserved goods, snacks, rice and noodles HERE IN BERKELEY, in my neighborhood (without going to the 99 Ranch Market in Richmond, that is!). TONS of health, wellness, yoga, healthy cooking, and spirituality-related magazines near the cashier. As for service - So far all the cashiers that I've met are friendly, quick and cheerful. My ONLY complaint is the limited parking, since this is CLEARLY Berkeley's TOP grocer and everybody comes here! read more

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This is like Whole Foods without the glitz and glam. Berkeley Bowl has mostly everything under one roof. They have a huge produce section. I would say the prices are a tad bit affordable then Whole Foods. Minus one star for a lackluster bakery section and or department. There is a public eating area inside of the place. That can be turned into a decent sized bakery department. read more

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Maybe the best grocery I've ever been to. It's like Costco, but for healthy people. What a gem!

C'mon man! You've never been to Berkeley Bowl. Get off the Whole Foods junk train and get down there! Crazy crowded and a little chaotic (just like Berkeley) but this store is just another level of great selection with a mind numbingly robust produce section. See how many things they have you've never heard or seen before. Crazy good butcher and fish market too. Excellent hot foods and when there isn't a global pandemic, you can sit there and eat. The people watching alone is worth making this place worth hanging out in! Go to the Bowl! read more

If you can get past the crowds and the jumble in the parking area, this place is great. The produce is awesome. I've never seen the quality or the variety of different kinds of fruits and vegetables. Not only is there variety, but the quality of the produce is usually top notch. It has the best selection to be found. Heck, I can burn hours just cruising around looking at all the produce. Of course, I wouldn't know what to do with some of them, but that's not what's really pertinent in this review. read more

Do I have to leave??? Produce, produce and more produce,Fresh produce and dried products. dried beans, rice, cereal, pasta, nuts, seeds.... dried everything, including spices. When I was there they had five kind of fresh figs and perhaps 6 kinds of fresh mushrooms, maybe more. I bought chanterelle mushrooms for $14 a pound, three kinds of salt, four kinds of beans and fresh peaches. I could live here. Very reasonable prices, huge selection. I will be back! read more

There a few things that could make this place better: accessible parking and a non-foul odored meat section. I personally love shopping for exotic foods, and the instant I came here I was in heaven. I mean, literally, do I need 8 types of avocados from which to peruse? Of course I do! Maybe a durian to suit my fancy? Or mabye some dragonfruit at $13.99 a pound! I was completely blown away by their produce selection. Some of their specialty aisles were just as amazing. They had sriracha, furikake, and other great Asian treats. Even things I thought you would have a hard time finding in an organic variety they seemed to have. If you are looking for something exotic and delicious, check this place out. Just make sure to be relaxed if you have problems with a lot of people, otherwise you may start to hemorrhage. To sum it up: great foods, amazing variety, way too many people, and certainly not enough parking. read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - Durian - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The parking around here is horrible. But the wide assortment of fruits and vegetables with its low price justifies the struggle of getting there. NOT! This placed should be renamed to: BERKELY BRAWL!!!! As noted previously, there are areas that are "ripe" only for one thing: a pointless confrontation. Such areas I've noted are: 1. The canned tuna sectiion: If get canned tuna, do it quickly and conceal your purchase between two heads of lettuce or otherwise, you receive lip thwarting from those who decry you as the reason for the ceaseless and ruthless murder of dolphins. On a particlarly bad day, she might even take a protester's swing at your jaw. 2. The coagulated cheese section: how inappropriate: cheese near a convergence that unites the potato chip buyers, alternative beer drinkers, an impatient shopping line, baguettes section, olive afficionados section and tea, burritto, and sushi lines!!??? That's like placing an ant, fly, grasshopper, horsefly, dragonfly, spider, and centipede in a mayo jar! 3. The mixed salad section. In fact, the entire produce section should be siphoned off as being a biohazard zone that is a threat to mankind. Shopping carts are like sluts changing hands 3 or 4 times in a span of 5 minutes. If you leave your shopping cart unattended in what you think is a safe and unobtrusive space, you will, in a matte of minutes, tick off some angry old man who is "fed up" or some feisty college girl who has just gotten back from her elective GE course on the virtues of Che Guevarra's reveolutionary ideology, who will toss your collard greens, washington thick artichokes, brown mushrooms, and muscat grapes into the fray, otherwise known as the mixed salad and arrugula section! Each time I come here against my will. Each time I exit, I'm happy that I stocked up my refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables. The other negativity is that the term "shopping cart road rage" was probably invented within the premises of Berkeley Bowl's produce section. read more

This is a tourist attraction as much as a grocery store. Their produce is legendary. They have a lot of other unique items that you won't find in your run of the mill grocery stores. I really like the food at the deli too especially the burritos. The only downer is parking which is always a hassle! read more

In my opinion, Berkeley Bowl is the greatest grocery store in the World to ever exist! :) It's not a co-op, yet it seems like it. It's not just a typical grocery store, it's amazing. The prices are so reasonable, so for those that wish to save money, you indeed will there. And it's not a high end grocer, yet it seems like it because they have such quality premier groceries! I miss you, Berkeley Bowl :(. You have been temporarily replaced by Davis Food co-op (which is pretty darn rad!) and the Nugget. But no other grocer will have that special place in my heart, except you :). I'm such a corn-ball!! -Best selection of fresh, organic produce -Best selection of grains! -Incredible meat counter and seafood counter -You find such random, international stuff too -Best selection of craft beers A few reasons why I love this place! And that being said, that's all I have to say about that! Happy Shopping!!! read more

I have had mixed experiences at the Berkeley Bowl. Tonight I experienced a cashier who openly antagonized me, saying I had too many items for the checkout. If I had bagged the mangoes it wouldn't be. She was just not nice. When I spoke to customer service they were kind of immature, young and not quite rolling their eyes at me but essentially smirking in that way. She just said that she would speak to her about it " to get her side of the story."- Insinuating that my side was not true. No words apologizing for my negative experience, nothing. Basically you're talking to 18-year-olds who have had no customer service training. I had spent $96 on vitamins, and when ahead and return them. I would rather invest in Amazon then the Berkeley Bowl. It's really too bad, a little customer service training would go along way. Well management ever get, that they are in the customer service business? read more

My favorite place ever. No only is the produce affordable and great quality, but the food court area! I love the katsu curry and the breakfast burritos are the best ive ever had. Love love love read more

This is my favorite store, EVER! I live about 30 min away from Berkeley Bowl and I drive here once a week to get my groceries! Bulk section is giant and the variety is amazing, along with the produce selection... The organic produce section is giant! If you haven't been here go! Meet and seafood counters are giant... I have never got meat here, because I don't eat it! read more

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

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Berkeley Bowl is an a absolute staple in Berkeley! The freshest fruit, vegetables, seafood and meats! From organic to pasture raised to conventional whatever you heart desires they have it...Parking can be a hassle I don't care doesn't detour me and that goes for both locations...Can be a mad house in there but well worth it you definitely won't be disappointed!!! read more

Burrito station: I got a burrito at the takeout station here at the BB and loved it! It was inexpensive, but the quality of the food was really, really good! I ordered a chile verde chicken burrito with cilantro rice, black beans, salsa, guac, sour cream, cheese! It was to die for and actually liked them better than my childhood all time favorite burrito in the Mission in SF. There were so many options, too. Different type of meats including the lamb, different rices, beans, and tortillas! Loved it so much that even if I was staying in SF that I went to Berkeley again to get another one. Could not leave the bay area without having another. read more

Just for the amazing selection of produce and bulk foods section, Berkeley Bowl gets 4 stars from me. I shop the organic section and their organic kale was cheaper than what I paid at the Farmer's Market. Only $1.79 each for bunch of tuscan kale! I always make it a point to stop here and get produce when I'm in town. read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - Organic Tuscan kale $1.79! - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

At a fugal pace, our fathoms were spaced to enter local Elysium of market taste. Rulers were drawn to mete the math, the repetition was knotted to cup the caffe. Tiny Ode to Berkeley Bowl during COVID-19. read more

My favorite place to shop. Their little gem lettuce is to die for. We're regulars. I don't buy meat there but their fish is very fresh. I've been adicted since 1989. read more

Good place. I like going here for lunch. Can't wait to come back! Plus do some groceries while your there. read more

I really enjoy grocery shopping at Berkeley Bowl. The limited parking isn't fun but inside always holds an amazing culinary adventure! I'm always finding new fruit varieties or dry foods I haven't seen before or noticed. Their selection is incredible and I love the discount fruit and vegetable section towards the back! I can usually find great deals for fruits that are definitely still edible. My latest finds include a watermelon I got for 99 cents and a cantaloupe for 69 cents. The to go food is too pricey for me and overall same as everything else except for the left side of the store. I just go for the produce and dry foods. read more

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I LOVE YOU, Berkeley Bowl! I recently moved to the East Bay and I've already become addicted to this amazing supermarket. Would you like to buy some mushrooms? Do you want large button, small button, crimini, portabello, oyster, enoki, chanterelles, or maitake? Did you say you were looking for apples? It's apple season. How about Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious, Cortland, Jonagold, Braeburn, Granny Smith, and well, you get the idea. I never knew there were so many types of everything. It can get a bit overwhelming deciding which of the five types of limes I really need but I appreciate the optionality. The produce prices are extremely reasonable for the quality you are getting. I go out of my way to do my produce shopping here even though I still go to the Asian market for meat and other items. It's so worth the trip to Berkeley Bowl just to be surrounded by beautiful produce. read more