5 stars highlighting excellence in customer service, hot food, alcohol, and coffee department. everything you need is here and more

Was encouraged to check out this grocery store by my boss and I was so happy to find its extremely diverse and extensive options at my fingertips! Even though it was busy, it didn't feel too busy and the checkout process was very quick. It was very clean and well kept as well. There were spices, vegetables, and fruits I had never heard of before and was happy to see organic and non organic versions of most things. Prices were reasonable and they also had a large area of homeopathic and health/wellness goods. read more

Berkeley Bowl West - Persimmons - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing selection of fresh produce' meat and fish. If you can't find it at Berkeley bowl you probably shouldn't be eating it!

I finally braved the crowds and made it to Berkeley Bowl... the parking was a little intense but at least there's tons of it! I went on a Sunday afternoon, probably not the best idea... it was super crowded! Loved all of the produce, I picked up a lots of fresh fruits and veggies and just roamed around. They have a really great selection of pretty much everything. I wanted to get some of meat in the butcher section but the line was too long for me...I also had a few wings and lumpia from the hot food area. Surprisingly the lines to check out were short! Great service, I'll be back maybe during the week when it's not as crowded! read more

Hot bar, 10x superior to any steam table food at WF or any other vendor. This is how food is supposed to be prepared, low cost and fresh. Rotating menu online. The ethiopian veg entrees are far superior to any restaurant. Berber chicken very different than the berbere recipes on the internet. This one is cooked over time and is boneless. Produced a red grave which goes well with rice. Very different than a roasted recipe. Tender. At least 4 boneless thighs in there with mixed in breast meat. Better than most restaurants because they take time to cook. Difficult because you cant make more if you run out and if you make too much you have a food waste problem reducing profits. Never see this in the current restaurant environment. The ethiopian dishes only exist at this location. There is someone very talented back there cooking. Gomen Bewat different than internet recipes. Superior to American version of greeens plus ham hock. Was more like stew. Carrots were cooked long enough to melt in mouth and not be baby food mush. Sweetness complimented melt in mouth soft greens. Slightly spicy and smoky. Different from the misir wot blend of allspice snd cinnamon. Like hearty vegetable stew. Some thickener in there made it different. Maybe lentils. Excellent. Browned caramelizd onions and carrots contribute to slighty sweet taste to offset the spice. Takes time to cook. Collard greens no resistance. Fibers completely broken down. No stringy sensation. 9.99 for 2 entree items. Noodles or rice included and doesn't cout as one of the items. Highly recommend. Sandwiches also cheap, around $10-$11, nothing as delicious or as reasonable as the hot bar. Buy and eat in the other building across the breezeway. read more

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I wish there was one in every city. I would love to have a Berkeley bowl in my city. I love the variety. Overall great place to have lunch and shop for dinner. read more

Berkeley Bowl West is a busy grocery store - it's always busy, for good reason ... they have extremely good prices on fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, bunched herbs, bulk things (like pasta & dried fruits/nuts). I think that most people who work regular hours (Mon-Fri, 9AM-6PM) only have the opportunity to go for groceries outside of those hours. I am one of those people, and even thought it is busy, I always am heartened by not only the folks who work there, but also the other shoppers I encounter. Today (a Sunday, around 3PM) I read more

Berkeley Bowl West - pluot tasting! - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

I dont have anything bad to say about this supermarket. They literally have almost everything you would need under one roof. The selection they have for produce here is crazy. You can have 1 fruit or vegetable from multiple choices of vendors. They have a their own deli that serves amazing sandwiches. The butcher section here is amazing too. I haven't found another place that can even compare to this market. All the staff here is extremely helpful and they don't have any attitude like some other supermarkets ive been too. I travel from the city 1 to 2 times a week here to get my groceries. I really wished they would open one in the city but I doubt it would happen read more

I adore this place! If I ever end up with a recipe with a random spice or veggie I know Berkeley Bowl will have it. I call it Disneyland for foodies, I could honestly just walk up and down the aisles in awe of the selection and variety of items. They also have a great hot food section. The prices aren't as high as you would assume for this kind of niche grocer store. As the egg shortage continues, I found this to be the cheapest place to find eggs. The parking is also great, I have never had an issue. read more

This is a great place to grab plenty of fresh produce, veggies, and groceries at good prices. Staff is super helpful and the layout of the massive space is well organized. You can find almost anything here! I also love to buy lunch here, they have the best Korean fried chicken wings !!! read more

Aside from the over crowded isles and the overwhelming amount of options, I was able to find Pasco's Shikishima Choujuku Shokupan Sliced Bread. It's a Japanese soft bread that's made IN Japan, frozen, and kept frozen until use. It's the softest bread I've ever had and it's wonderful. I also find myself browsing all the veggies as I am a dear fan of the fungi. Their selection is immense and the varieties are incredible. I have, without a doubt, confidence that if you're looking for a specific type of mushroom - you will find it here. Their bulk items are fabulous. I was able to purchase a TON of injera from bulk at a cheaper price than that of a prepackaged and the spices are all there. I'm a fan of their deli area since I find myself there during lunches but be sure to make time for this type of lunch break. It gets busy. read more

Berkeley Bowl West - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I am a huge fan of the Berkeley Bowl, and have been a frequent customer for many years. This review is for their new compostable opaque green produce bags. I appreciate the value of using less plastic however I think the total environmental balance of these is often overlooked. Since they have started making these the only choice in the produce section I have been throwing out roughly half of the produce that we buy. You don't see what you've got and you forget you buy it again. This is particularly bad if there is more than one shopper in the household. You don't see things that are on the turn and should be cooked, but instead end up in the garbage, I think the net resource consumption of water and energy to grow and transport plants that are just thrown out, exceeds the value of the green compostable bags read more

Best grocery store around. Amazing produce, breads and deli. And baked goods! Staff are so helpful.

Amazing grocery store. So much produce, both organic and not organic. A ton of prepared food options, insane amount of bread, spices, bulk bins. I'm pretty sure you can find anything you're looking for here. Wish they'd open one of these closer to where I live. read more

My favorite grocery store not just in Berkeley, but in the entire East Bay. Here's why: Fantastic selection of beautiful, fresh produce Spanking clean store - even the restrooms, much appreciated The lighting is nice, much softer/or less harsh than other grocery stores Comfortable, wide aisles, so even when the store is crowed on occasion there is ample room to get around other carts Helpfulness of staff whenever I have a question about anything, including when I must return an item Even when the store is very busy, they have many cashiers going, so the lines move briskly They have items often not found at other grocery stores Parking is easy in front of the store or in their garage (free) *And my favorite "plus" - it is QUIET! They do not blare irritiating music, like most other retail stores Some negatives: If you park in their outdoor lot, the spaces are rather narrow The cashiers are usually not particularly friendly, seem a bit harried There is a male manager - perhaps the owner, not sure - who rather shoehorns people out the door, if they are not racing to the cashier fast enough when it is close to closing (unnecessary, even a bit rude) At close of day, they make multiple PA announcements every 5-10 minutes that they are closing, which is superfluous, when one or two announcements would be sufficient I recently had an overcharge of $23.00 for a bag of unbleached bulk flour, because the cashier thought my carefully written "0" on the tag was a "6", and charged me for wild rice instead of flour. I did not notice the error until I got home, necessitating a drive back to the store for my $23.00 refund the next day. I live a half hour drive away. If I don't check the receipt before I leave the store or drive away, I would often have missed overcharges. I much prefer this "West" location to the smaller one on Oregon street. I missed this supermarket terribly when I lived out of state. It is totally worth the drive from where I live, to shop here. read more

I love this Berkeley Bowl location for its great selection of organic and vegan products. I'm embarking on a change in my food choices and have felt so fortunate to be able to find the things I need to support this life change. Organic fruits that are fresh and don't taste like they were grown in a hot house. Truly vegan items that have simple life affirming ingredients! The staff are knowledgeable and helpful and make great suggestions. It can be chaotic when filled with shoppers but for some reason I always run into someone I know and get to catch up and that just makes it a better shopping experience. They have ample parking and the store is laid out so that getting from section to section is smooth. I also like that they have the food court across the way that features a local restaurant on a regular basis and exposes you to new eating experiences. Overall this is the best Berkeley Bowl and my go to place!!! read more

Love it. Great produce and beautiful flowers and Great service as well It's a 1 stop shop you can find everything you need From the best fruit and Vegetables!! read more

We had so much fun yesterday shopping at Berkeley Bowl West. It was crowded and the lines suck but you can't beat the product selection. I am in love with the Tea selection. They also have an incredible food area that you can have freshly made sandwiches, burritos, salads, etc. I like this location better than the original Berkeley Bowl. It just seems cleaner but it is just as busy. They had a good soup selection as well. We got delicious burritos, coffee, and pastries. Everything was excellent. They have a little cafe off the store but to me it isn't much. I like the grocery store itself. The parking is kind of weird like they have a little lot or you go underground. I think it is worth going and like I said: the produce is phenomenal and great prices, too. Oh and they have an excellent bulk foods section, also. read more

We came here on Saturday for the first time since they have a nice bulk section for teas and tea containers. I also needed a number of grocery items for my French artichoke soup. I found everything here including Canadian white mushrooms and loose leeks which are usually sold in huge bundles in other stores. I was able to find everything I needed. Their prices are competitive with Sprouts with some items such as their canned anchovies being more expensive. Their prices are a little lower than Whole Foods. We got there five minutes before opening and there was a line of people waiting and I anticipated an amazing supermarket experience with this being the bigger Berkeley Bowl (West Berkeley Bowl). In the front of the store, there were tons of berries and I was impressed by the quantity. Strawberries were very ripe but lasted two days in our fridge. As I got into the back of the store, I noticed a less attractive setup and there were dead ends that led to no where. It was difficult to find items and I had to ask several employees to locate items. In terms of brands, I would say there's more variety at other stores but this place really shines in terms of fresh produce. My Canadian mushrooms were so fresh and soft (the freshest I have ever encountered) and the leek was also extremely fresh as were my organic tarragon herbs. I spent 55 minutes inside the store to locate 15 items. Other than produce, my original interest was their chai teas as they have 3 kinds of chai (orange, ginger and classic). The bulk section didn't have organic classic chai and what I found was very powdery and looked like poor quality so I ended up with four small pre-packaged bags of classic chai that added up to a little more than half a pound. Maybe their tea is sourced from China because the smell reminded me of a Chinese herbal store and nothing like chai. In fact, the smell was so lacking that I actually had to add my other chai (from a tea specialty company) to their chai to get more spice in it because their organic chai has almost no spice but the tea leaves itself were high quality. I probably won't be coming back for more of their tea. The tea is relatively cheap (22 dollars a pound compared to the 35 a pound I paid online elsewhere) but it didn't have the flavor I was looking for. This supermarket is a bit disorganized and very chaotic. It's a stressful environment and I was happy to leave. Due to the significant number of produce they sell here, you will likely be over or undercharged for items. For example, they have three kinds of ginger (Chinese, young and Hawaiian). I found two incorrect charges on my receipt. However, I can understand a place like this is difficult to get the prices right for every item. Unless it's a big difference, I simply let it go. Lastly, they have large Cymbidium orchids here for about 47 dollars each (two pink ones and one yellow one) and I know many places don't carry this kind of orchid so that is pretty cool. read more

Love coming to Berkeley bowl for their fresh produce and fresh everything really So much selection between organic and regular farm produce. Loved observing vegetables and fruits I've never seen. Also love looking at the granola and freshly made nut butters as well. read more

Berkeley Bowl West - cucumbers and avocados - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The baggers could use a little more training. As in: don't throw my produce into an empty bag that's sitting on a hard surface, I spent time picking out produce that isn't bruised and going bad only to have it ruined at the checkout. If you're going to start bagging my groceries, don't just leave without a word and not finish. If you're going to bag my groceries, please make sure everything gets bagged. For context, I always help bag, even if a bagger is working, but if they ask to bag I usually say ok since that's their job. I'm tempted to start saying no all the time. read more

Five stars for produce! We LOVE shopping here for the fresh produce, solid prices, and the absolute variety of fresh foods you can find here. I also prefer this location to the other Berkeley Bowl because it is far more spacious both inside the store and in the parking lot. Service is fast and friendly, and there are always folks to help out. Also, the food plates on the side of the store are absolute value meals. Once they had Berber chicken over basmati rice and it was delicious. I still think about that Berber chicken. Tip: make sure you grab some dried veggie/okra chip bags near the bulk section. They are tasty and great for snacking. I was also shocked to see Berkeley Bowl with their own Ice cream brand. Finally, I love that they have a variety of Asian goods (sauces, snacks, veggies, drinks) that are always pleasant surprises to find. While meats and other non-fresh produce products are quite pricey, we sometimes treat ourselves to an alcoholic drink from their wide selection (check out the ciders and stouts wall). We love the aesthetic of the variety of goods inside - produce is always so easy to find here. read more

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I had a wonderful experience with Jolene in the floral department. We had an unexpected loss of someone in our family and Jolene was extremely flexible and helpful in obtaining and arranging flowers for the memorial service. It was comforting to work with someone who cared. Thank you Jolene! read more

TAKEAWAY THXGIVING DINNER BEST EVER. i'm a pretty good cook, this was better than i've ever done. diestal turkey and ALL the trimmings. just warm it all up. an entire pecan pie! have always loved this place for quality, selection and staff. and now i know their takeaway is outstanding as well! thx BB!! read more

Best in the West! Abundant choices, smart and friendly people! Don't deny yourself!! Find items seen no where else! Gift and holistic items also! read more

I am pretty sure in saying that this is probably the best market in the country there selection, especially with produce is beyond belief and my dad that the prices are pretty good because they have a lot of inventory to move. Retired professional chef I tried to go to this market whenever I can just because it reminds me of why I got into the food business and it's very exciting to see all the food and possibilities. I strongly suggest that this store is even worth a special trip to go visit because it is pretty unique and special read more

Could I recommend Berkeley Bowl West enough? HARDLY! I know it's wild to say that one of my favorite stops in the San Fran area was an immaculate grocery store, but it was. I went to Berkeley Bowl daily for breakfast at the cafe! I highly recommend the turkey, cranberry, brie, baguette sandwich. It was my favorite way to start the day! The grocery store itself has everything you could ever want and some of the freshest produce I've ever seen, period. I also became a bargain bin connoisseur! It was fun waiting with everyone to see what they were going to bring out for the clearance-priced foods! I mean you could get an entire bag of fruits or veg for $1... all because they aren't "pretty looking". But, seriously... that's a true bargain bin especially when the produce and items being put out are still so fresh and ready to eat. I had a great time here and even purchased a Berkeley Bowl reusable bag to take with me everywhere to commemorate my time there. read more

So many great things to browse through but the sea of people is intimidating and overwhelming. Aisles of people pressed against one side trying to stay out of other people's way and I heard the parking garage is bigger at this location but it is still tight. They have a wide selection of produce, dairy, grains, beans, spices, deli, and bakery items. They also have hot entrees and soup. I wish they have a couple more options for the sides for the combo deal because not everyone wants rice. The bakery items I bought on this trip were excellent. Their house egg salad has onions in it and hey, I liked it. They don't have a large section for Asian snacks but surprisingly they have a few Thai Lay's. This truffle one is STRONG. read more

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They do not accept WIC . I came in today to get fruit and milk for my child for school tomorrow. And no one knows how to even accept the payment for WIC . At the end the manager stated they do not accept WIC why not ? read more

I love shopping at Berkeley Bowl. They have 3 areas of free parking: a garage under the market; an outside parkling by the entrance; and a large parking lot across Heinz Street. If you have an electric car--you are in luck because there are electric chargers in the garage. You can take stairs or an elevator from the store to the garage. There is a pick-up area in the garage for pick-up orders. There is an area where you can park and lock your bike, too. This is a massive market! I especially love the fresh produce--which I find sometimes fresher than farmers markets. If you are looking for unusual vegetables, this is the place to look. Want herbs or spices? They sell in packages or in bulk if you if you want to save money. They have a place to buy food and sit down to eat it across from the market. In the market, there is: a large selection of cheeses; steaming hot soups; sandwiches; a bakery with tempting, and beautiful pastries; a fresh fish market (that doesn't smell), a meat market; fresh kombucha on tap (bring your own growlers or buy them there); a good selection of chocolate candy bars; beer, wine and hard liquor; a coffee bar--and if you are 65 or older you can get a free cup of Joe; fresh beautiful flowers; starts for your garden, and much, much, more. read more

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It's independent. The produce is fresh (that said, I wish they would not cut it down...go ahead and leave the dirt on, will stay fresher!) It's a relief not to have the sanitized supermarket aesthetic. And I can generally find even the more obscure items that I would go to a specialty market or search for online. Something to be said for THAT. read more

One of the best groceries around with lots of fresh produce and items. The deli section with sushi, burritos, Asian takeout and bakery items are fantastic too especially for bringing to nearby parks for a picnic. There is a discounted section in the very back next to the bathrooms too. Not a lot of items but nice to snag occasional deals. read more

The best vegetables and fruit ! Great variety of spices and bulk food Lots of great pop ups that change monthly read more

This review is for desserts only. Today I wanted a lemon meringue tart and bought this lemon cheesecake. It was expensive and salty. Disgusting. Dear American bakers, if you want to balance desserts add acidic NOT salt. I went to pastry school so I know about desserts. This is a common problem in this country. Next time, I'll find an European bakery. read more

Berkeley Bowl West - Lemon cheesecake - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was struck hard by a speeding cart mid-day. Hard enough to knock the wind out of me. This wasn't "crowded chaos" it was middle of the day and the shopper had plenty of room to build up speed. Adding insult to injury, the clerk's response: "Hope you have a better day" as if being hit by carts is just part of shopping here. Other stores don't feel like this. The aggressive, unsafe culture seems unique to Berkeley Bowl and it's time management took safety seriously. read more

They have Shropshire blue cheese. They have cheese curds. They have these little toffee thingies that are cracktacular. They have this cocoa fleur roll on perfume that smells like flowers and vanilla. They have beets that come in ten colors and mushrooms I've never seen anywhere else and and and! It's waaaaaay crowded on Sundays but find a quieter day and check it out if you're a foodie who wants to see and taste all of the goodness. read more

My go to store for veggies and bulk items. Unlike the original store there is plenty of parking without the angst and stress. I prefer the outside lot on Heinz where the vibe is mellow and even if I don't remember exactly where I parked it's easy to scan the entire lot without wandering about hopelessly underground. The veggie choice makes me feel like a kid in a candy store, only healthier. If you want candy, there are great choices in the bulk section. Nearby are offerings from Oaktown Spice shop. The mark down veggies are there to use right away, although I recently bought a pack of 3 kinds of small tomatoes that were still fine a week later. The Customer Service desk has graciously helped me locate items I couldn't find on my own. My only issue is to keep myself in check and not overbuy. Did I mention they have Bit-o-Honey candy in the bulk section? read more

Have heard about Berkeley Bowl during covid - oddly enough :) Since I am always on the search for good produce that oddly enough can be hard to find other than at farmer markets I decided to check it out. Very happy I did! The parking at this location can be tough BUT once your in head to the fruit section! There is so much to pick from for a reasonable price and hands down the best tasting fruit. They have an assortment of other items - it is a grocery store - BUT be warned the other items can add up very quickly. read more

The other location is BY FAR WAY BETTER than this one... went in yesterday because I was in the area. The employees are HORRIBLY RUDE!!, the flow of the store is off completely.. and the Deli soup Kale, Chicken & White Beans was NOT DONE!! After coming all the way from SF to shop this is the last experience I expected. When I called to inform them about the soup today the customer service counter was so dismissive & unconcerned. I WILL NOT RETURN!! But I will be calling the store manager to complain about the $12.00 deli soup that should have been cooked!!!! Smh! ‍ really gotta cook your own food nowadays. read more

I think because it used to be Japanese owned a long time ago, I've been able to get most of my Japanese food from here consistently for years. The vegetables are always fresh and after visiting the East Coast last year, I just didn't know how good we had it. Daikon- and different types- a staple here. The meat is a little pricey but you have one-on-one contact with an actual butcher. The vegetables are a wide variety and the bulk food is well utilized and gets turned over often. I probably wouldn't eat the Asian inspired take out but do love the rice balls and containers of potato salad. The lines can be a little long so going on off days and at night seems to work out. read more