Nice store, sweet staff. They take pride in selecting their products and they almost always have everything I need, certainly several options for all of your basic groceries at a fair price. You can find a range of toiletries, teas... and handmade alpaca scarves/hats that give full support to workers and artists overseas. The produce guys really know their stuff and take pride in the selection. You can't find this stuff at Whole Foods because the independent management of this store allows it to more easily use local networks. read more

I am a business owner in the same neighborhood as The Natural Grocery Company so I have gone there innumerable times over many years. I don't know why I haven't reviewed them before. First, I love to support local small business as I am the same. I guess you could say it is what we used to call a "health food store". Most of their produce is organic. They carry packaged natural foods of every kind, fresh dairy products, fresh baked bread, a huge variety of dietary supplements. But what really makes it worth it, is the people. The staff, most of whom have been there for many years, are all friendly, personable, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to help. When Whole Foods opened a giant store less that a mile away, I was concerned for them, but after a brief small dip, they are holding their own. This is a testimonial to how loyal their customers are for the reasons stated above. It's a real Berkeley store too.I has that vibe. Thanks Corey and all for doing your best. read more

Expensive, healthy, unique items. Thank you! Like the fresh food as well.

Great store! good selection, clean, very helpful and friendly employees. One of the most pleasant natural foods shopping experiences in Berkeley. Good meat selection and frozen items, as well as being able to special order items that you do not see on the shelves. Employee owned and run, a good example of sustainable economics. read more

What amazes me about Berkeley Natural Grocery is not only can you get in and out doing a whole shop in 15 minutes and get all the local/organic food you want, but compared to other Berkeley markets, like Andronico's and Whole Foods, the prices are WAY WAY cheaper. Case in point: Cowgirl Creamery cheeses are up to SIX DOLLARS CHEAPER apiece! Plus for some reason their butters are much much fresher than Andronico's and Whole Foods. They must keep their refrigeration cleaner, or something. If you care enough to be buying cultured, local, organic, non-salted butter you want it to be good. read more

Produce is always fresh and my store of choice if I'm not buying directly at a farmer's market. It's not a big store, so there's not the stock of other larger groceries, but the freshness of the vegetables is dependable. And they have, in some areas such as apples, a big variety of choices. read more

My favorite store of all time. So small, yet it has everything I need. No on site parking, yet there is always parking out front. Most items are competitively priced. And it's a worker-owned cooperative full of friendly happy staff, most of whom have been there for decades. Why stress out at a gigantic crowded store like Safeway or the Berkeley Bowl or even Monterey Market when you can have an easy and pleasant experience at the Berkeley Natural Grocery? Life is to short to shop at Costco. Thank you, dear cooperative owners, for making grocery shopping a pleasure again. read more

This place is incredible. Everything is organic and the selection is great. We don't shop here 100% of the time because we can't afford to, but for a treat to taste buds and health, we do it whenever we can. The people are very nice here, too. The bottom line: Expensive but worth every penny. read more

Truthfully, these stores are worth patronizing only because they are quick in-and-out compared to a supermarket and have organic products. (And if you live very close to one of them.) While there are a few good staff working hard at the check-outs, at both stores there invariably are other staff standing around the aisles or gossiping with customers. Judging by the other reviews, these stores' shoppers' standards for efficiency seem to be rock-bottom and they don't mind paying high prices to support staff who don't work much. read more

NOT so expensive - Excellent wonderful place. In telling someone about this, I realized I've been shopping here since the 80s, including at times when I lived far away. As another reviewer says organic may not be the cheapest, but getting sick is more expensive. They actually care about the inventory here. Whole Foods has been shown to sell non-organic posing as organic. And Berkeley Natural costs less than Whole Foods. This place is a much less stressed environment than Berkeley Bowl. As for staff "not helping?" If even 2 customers are in line, a new line is automatically opened. If you want help finding something, just ask. Easy. read more

For a small store, they have a good selection of supplements and other health aids, and they are ready to help if I can't find something. They are on our way home from Pt. Isabel Dog Park, handy for quick pickup of yogurt, milk, cheese, whole-grain cereal and bread. I get produce at the farmers market so don't know much about that. read more

I buy organic and also lots of grains and bulk foods. This store is the best for that. The quality of their bulk product is superior. The taste is great. The price reasonable for what you are getting. I hope this store and its fellow store in el cerrito remain. And, they are not owned by Amazon! read more

I love this grocery store for a few reasons. One is that you can speak to someone who is knowledgeable. If they don't carry a product you can ask someone about it, one answer I got was that the buyer (who I was speaking directly to - face to face) had researched the product and found that it did not live up to their high standards regarding the types of ingredients used in food preservation. They are small and so don't have an entire giant isle dedicated to soda or cereal, but who cares? They have what I need. They are friendly. The prices? Well this may come as a surprise to many who are used to corporate giants, but you are paying the real cost of food production and labor when you go there. If we all did this we would all be getting a fair wage. Seasonal vegetables. Yes, if you buy an out of season cucumber here you will pay more. The last reason is that they buy from local farmers and business people and I for one believe in the strength of a local economy. read more

Once is enough. I needed two pineapples for a neighbor's brunch and was near this store. Admittedly, I didn't look closely at the $2.49 price, which turned out to be per pound -- not each (this is the first time I've ever seen fresh pineapple priced like this). So, with almost $15 worth -- two pineapples -- of fruit, I took them home. Cutting them open the next day, one was already turning brown inside, but flavorful. The other one was tough and flavorless, though it smelled good. $15 wasted. Colusa Market next time -- $2.99 per pineapple for fresh and flavorful fruit. read more

personally, i really cant stand natural grocery. its the kind of place where you get a dirty and organic watermelon for about $6/pound, and then you leave wondering why you only have 2 items in your recycled shopping bag, and your total still came to $115... to be fair, i know a bunch of people who love the great quality of the organic produce, and the selection of truly bizarre health products. my mom always goes here for kefir, for example. and you know, ill tell you a secret, which is that i also like their kefir. just don't buy that watermelon! read more

I love organic! Berkeley Natural seems to have impeccable standards. They really are on a mission to be a part of a healthful, happy, holistic economy that looks at health, environment, future generations. More expensive than most large "holistic markets" for several items. But they don't tend to sacrifice organic standards much, and have a pretty wide selection for the easily manageable size, including fresh produce, filtered water, bulk items, fresh prepared foods from a few local sources, frozen and refrigerated meats and dairy, and a vitamin and personal care section. 3 cheers! read more

OK. Local is great. And all the people there can be nice and very friendly at times. However through inquiries about a gluten free bread product over the last several months, I have seen a VERY unprofessional and rude side to many of the worker there. Basic customer service incompetence fails this business, in my book!! They had carried a product for almost a year when it disappeared from the freezer. I ask about if it could be acquired. Every time I want to buy this produce I was told I had to talk to someone, standing around while they make calls (which took 15-20 minutes), and then I had to make a second trip back in a day or two. I don't live around the corner, and it was A HUGE time investment to get a loaf of bread. Yet it's fresh baked and gluten free so I preservered. After 6+ special-request-pick-ups I finally asked if they would consider stocking this produce, since I am committed to buying it weekly. They said the best they could do was write me a standing order to come in once per week. I thought that would be great! However, those deliveries have been far less consistent than the orders put in previously on my behalf. I had to come back as much as 3 time to get my loaf of bread. Every time I asked if my bread had arrive, and explained that it was ordered to be delivered on Monday each week, the staffs responses where rude and unhelpful. Rather than getting apologies for the inconvenience I was routinely asked, "Well did you get a call? If not than it hasn't come in yet. (insert dead-pan face, and non-apologetic tone.)" I explained to that employee and many others since that I had picked up a half dozen deliveries and never once gotten a call. They always respond again with "Wait until you are called." If I do that I'll never get my bread folks. At one point we were told, "well we couldn't call you because you didn't give us your phone number. " In this particular employees hand was the our bread with the tag with my phone number attached to it. It was embarrassing to have to say "yeah, actually you are holding my phone number right now..." Still no apologize for delay, the false accusation, or the continuing lack of follow through on their part, and this was the manager I was dealing with! I make a point to be extremely polite to them about all of this. Running a small business is hard I know. However they aren't even trying to meet me half way or show any accountability. So after this I am getting a bit frustrated but still responding respectfully, When I was in a rush today and see the bread in the freezer case for the first time in months(Hallelujah!). I grabbed it rather than waiting around for someone to look in the back for one that may or may not be set aside for me. Finally I could avoid the long waits and hassle right? Wrong. Out of consideration I let the lady checking me out know that if there was a bag of bread like this one in back with my name on it to please put it out for another customer; that I was in a hurry and need to avoid the long process of dealing with the back room, and had obviously already gotten one. She got upset and said "so you want to cancel for standing order." I let her know that I do still want to buy bread every week, but that I was in a rush and it always take forever to check in back and that it isn't even there half the time. She followed me out to my car to inform me that my order was being canceled if I wasn't going to go back in and deal with the back. I was already climbing in my car, and was appalled and this crazy rude behavior. Seriously. BNG can waste my time over and over, and then they are going to jump down my throat for pick up a produce quickly and responsibly and buying it?? Good grief. read more

I admittedly spend too much money here but aside from Good Earth on the other side of the Bay it is my favorite grocery store. With a food sensitive family I was thrilled to find a place that made reading labels EASY. Most importantly they have a no-GMO policy that every grocery store should be so thoughtful to take on. Great selection, friendly staff. Because of the size of the Berkeley Store they have fewer supplements and beauty products but still have all the basic essential. read more

What a great place! It's small, but still manages to stock just about everything I need and I don't feel like I have to read every single label because I can trust them to stock healthy products. Very family friendly and welcoming, a very peaceful, non-overwhelming place to shop with little ones. Staffed by real people who keep working there for years who are knowledgeable and nice. The antithesis of a huge mega-corporation grocery store. Cheaper than Whole Foods, and less of a "rich yuppie" feel to it. I generally use organic/natural foods, but even if you don't, this place is good to know about when you have kids in tow and want to get in and out of the store FAST. I love this store! read more

Every time I go into this store I feel foreign. The Chinese and white people look at me as if they are shocked to see a black person. Just because of this, it makes me want to go in there more. They try to be friendly but it just doesn't work for me - It's all a cover up. I go there because they have quality food and my body is more important than their racists and ignorant personalities. They will definitely see more of me. 5 stars for the quality of food - 0 stars for the customer quality. read more

when we moved to the neighborhood a couple of years ago, I thought it was great that we had an organic grocery store near by. Two years later, I still love the store. After comparing prices for organic produce with several local stores, the prices at Berkeley Natural are competitive if not lower, as long as you buy within season, which is something I like to do. Very friendly service, limited grocery if you're used to Safeway or Andronico's, but always quality. read more

A decent natural grocery store with lots of tea, though the competition in the Berkeley-area is fierce--there are a couple other stores that I prefer over this one. read more

Nice place with friendly staff, but very limited offerings. Their produce selection doesn't compare with their El Cerrito location (let alone Monterrey Market) and the rest of the selection is also limited. Admittedly, they have limited space. But there it is. Certainly easier to get in and out of here than either Monterrey Market or Berkeley Bowl. read more

I love this store. It only has what I want and is only 4 isles. I don't have to wonder around through processed, sugary foods. It takes me 5 minutes to shop and checkout. The staff are really nice and helpful. read more

Great neighborhood grocery store with a decent selection of produce and wholesome, natural pantry staples. The employees are really nice and helpful. Plus, it's the only store around the area that won't require you to take out a second mortgage to purchase kombucha. However, they don't take Amex. read more

This is my very favorite grocery store (well, this and the even better El Cerrito Natural Grocery). The staff is nicer here than there though... It's the only grocery store that doesn't overwhelm me. It has everything I need, all organic, and prices comparable to Berkeley Bowl and less than Whole Foods. I love everything from the little grocery carts to the abundant samples! read more

My favorite Berkeley grocery. It's all organic and only what you want. I never have to read labels here. It's super fast for all my shopping because I'm not distracted by products I don't want. Cashiers are fast and there is always a spot out front. read more

Top notch grocery store with the kindest employees you'll ever meet.