Such a wonderful local store. Much needed after another store had left the town. Thank you for providing such great produce and groceries. In doing so at reasonable prices. Your produce undercuts the prices of many other local stores while not sacrificing anything on quality. Top quality produce all around Thank you Dean's Produce for providing a wonderful first-time experience! read more

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They are a reliable grocery store with the essentials with especially a special selection on pastas, greens, meats, crackers, and you name it. The quality is excellent. The San Mateo location does not have pizza bread anymore whenever I go, but the Millbrae location does! read more

Dean's Produce - Mandarin oranges! - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I stopped by this market because I happen to notice an eye catching deal for blueberries- $0.99 a box. Then I walked in and saw strawberries for $3.99 for a box. The blueberries were sweet. Not a disappointment. I didn't buy the raspberries, so not sure how they tasted. read more

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I've bought the Russian-style fish from this store three times now, and every single time it's been rotten. The most recent one said it was packaged on August 6th, but as soon as I opened it, the smell was awful, the skin was peeling, and it was clearly spoiled. Definitely not safe to eat. This isn't the only issue. Last month I bought a bunch of groceries, and several of the items including chocolate bars and canned food were already expired. It seems like no one's checking dates on the shelves. Customer service isn't great either. Staff are usually in a bad mood, and the tall guy at the register has overcharged me more than once. I've even noticed things on my receipt that I didn't buy. I'll be returning the fish for a refund, but overall, this store needs to seriously improve how they handle food and treat customers. read more

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Fantastic selection and people. Lots of Uk and other international products. We love the Wedemeyer bakery sourdough bread.

Dean's Produce has a wide variety of European grocery items such as tea, coffee, pickled vegetables, bread, pastries, sauces, honey,sandwich meats, and cheese. The prices are reasonable for most items. There are some, but not many, organic products. The shelves are well stocked, and the store is clean. read more

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Got a few chocolate bars yesterday and was gonna dig into one today and found that it expired almost 6 months ago. read more

Dean's Produce - Purchased yesterday on 3/31/25 and this dang thing expired months ago. $3.49 wasted. - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Mateo, California

Beware of erroneous charges - 1) sometimes they don't honor the price tag and says "the price tag is a mistake." 2) they "mistakenly" overcharge you at times, and 3) adds "bag charges" without even asking. I always carry my own bag. I had to ask more than twice to have the unnecessary charge removed. The quality and variety of the produce are great. read more

This is a gem of the store. The produce here is always reasonably priced and lasts much longer than the produce you can get at Safeway or Trader Joe's. Don't get me wrong, Trader Joe's is my happy place, but I come here for my produce. read more

Wow we picked up a few things here including figs and plums and they were so ripe and sweet. Difficult to find quality fruit like this!

We love Dean's - so many great international products. Now that Draegers has closed, we go to Dean's 3x a week for groceries and treats. Staff are always friendly and they are open late read more

My family has been loyal to Deans for two decades (to their Millbrae location first), so it pains me to leave a negative review - I hope that the management/owners can do something about a handful of their employees. We have been tolerating their behavior in part because we know how difficult life is these days. However, this was pretty gross. While I'm sure the hyper aggressive will label this as a Karen-esque review, I believe it's appropriate to complain when only certain employees behave rudely and do things that are a little... unhygienic. I'm picking mangoes from their outdoor fruit stands on Saturday August 5th at 12:45 PM, when their male or male-presenting cashier employee comes over. He is picking through the fruit (not organizing it per se, but selecting one, perhaps for a customer). As he is doing this, he is awfully close to me, I can hear him chewing and sucking on something in his mouth. He is also tossing mangoes aside and one of them hit my hand. I move aside to let him do whatever he is doing. Then, here is the gross part - he is still standing beside me - he SPITS what later appears to be a lychee seed - so it flies past my face. Later he rang up my groceries without saying a word. Alright, cool, I'm grossed out thinking this employee eats and spits while handling produce. Good thing we can wash our food, obviously. This review is a long time coming, as a lot of my mother's visits involve her being treated the same way. Deans did not used to be this way and it is frustrating that this kind of behavior occurs when the family/owners of Deans are nowhere around. read more

Lovely local market that carries great produce, local bread, and lots of European goodies. I love coming here to pick up bread (all kinds such as focaccia and white bread) and bakery goods. Lots of good produce too. Fresh. They also have lots of Milka chocolate bars which are a favorite. There's a ton of biscuits and cookies from all over Europe, and neat jams and fruit preserves. I stock up on digestives and jaffa cakes here, it's the best. They also carry lots of teas and cool Greek frozen foods. read more

Dean's Produce - european biscuits - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Mateo, California

This was a great find in San Mateo!! I was in need of some vegetables before heading home, and this place just stood out!! Given the location, I was really surprised that the prices were so reasonable!! It's a pretty good sized market, very fresh vegetables along with other items. And the employees were very friendly, I would definitely come back here!! read more

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The food is great, although the overly aggressive, rude older lady with glasses, overseeing the cashiers is way too much! The sweet cashiers can do a much better job without this overbearing Karen of a woman breathing down their necks. Somebody needs to teach her some manners before a customer teaches it to her. Get her out!! read more

Dropped into this little treasure of a place for the first time earlier today. I will be coming here on a regular basis now. Excellent produce and very fair prices. read more

I've been coming here for 10 years now but unfortunately I feel like there's been a decline in my experiences, most specifically around the quality of the produce. I stopped buying anything from the frozen section years ago since items frequently had freezer burn, indicating either age or they defrosted at some point and froze back. More and more the produce just doesn't hold up and things start going bad soon after purchase. Bananas going from green to black. Berries getting mushy or moldy. Cut into a nice, firm apple and it's dark inside. Other examples as well. They still have a great and cheap selection of spices and dried goods but I've lost confidence in the quality of most of their fruit and veggie options. They seem to have a big issue in how they're transporting and storing! read more

My go to store. I buy everything I can at Dean's before I try anywhere else. Produce is so much more reasonably priced than Safeway. Cheese and dairy section is fun. Great spices. This review was long overdue! read more

What happened to Deans best customer service?? HANDS DOWN THE WORST CASHIER GUY EVER. He never greet you with smile[ not a problem} the problem is that hes always in bad mood. i try to not ask anything to avoid a rude response never going back to Deans again read more

I love Dean produce but front cashıer guy sooo rude seems lıke hes not happy to work there ı use to go there every 2 days but now maybe once a month bsc of thıs unhappy employee read more

I have fruits every day. Literally!! Check this out....the best part in my humble opinion here at Dean's Produce are their fruits. They are insanely really good. Their oranges, pineapple, papayas, and especially their black grapes are crazy sweet and good. So fresh too. They also sell fresh veggies of course, including European/Mediterranean crackers, to Greek and Kosher foods. It's just fantastic!! Just a few weeks ago, I bought a pint of Indian ice cream (Mango Kulfi). Man.... it was so good!! If you're looking for fresh fruits and great service, this place is legit! Cheers! read more

Dean's Produce - When presented with options, try them all. :p - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Mateo, California

I got my peaches from Dean's produce and so many other things. The best thing we can do on the weekend is to check out our city's little downtown areas and enjoy walking and watching our neighbors and supporting our neighborhood local businesses. We are blessed to have so many small shops owned by families who worked so hard to provide the best and fresh products to our homes. There is no big franchise here that likes to pack stuff for months and months and then sell to their customers. Dean's Produce has been serving our neighborhood since 2004 and established by a Greek family. Thank God they survived during a pandemic and are still careful about Virus rules and regulations. My favorite shopping is seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables. People who work there are very friendly and efficient. Please try and enjoy your shopping. I highly recommended two locations, Millbrae and San Mateo. read more

Love Dean's produce! Their items are always fresh and they have so much variety! I went to get bread and there were many items to choose from. Will definitely go back! read more

The prices are good. The produce always seems to be being restocked. Most of the stuff is pretty good. The prices are always good. The taste of the fruit and veggies isn't always the best. A lot of other options for a produce store. Service is always adequate. read more

Double-check receipts for overcharges and unexplained "purchases" amounting to $7.00 or more. An occasional incident might have been a mistake. Two or more occurrences are not coincidences. read more

The picked foods in the jars and the produce is fantastic and reasonably priced. The dried fruits and nuts section is fantastic and very competitively priced. Pretty much everything else is overpriced in my opinion. If you go in and shop smart, this place is fantastic. read more

I'm glad we have Dean's downtown as another option to Draeger's. I was sad to see Trag's go. Dean's is pretty affordable and they have good produce. This week I've tried strawberries from four different places and Dean's are still the best. The only negative about their produce is it seems like they don't consistently restock everything (but this could be a benefit to shoppers since this could just mean they are only buying fresh and in-season items). Last week I got some black plums. I went to get more this week but they did not have any. This happened with another item I was looking for too. They will probably get them back in, but if you need a specific item for a special recipe or something, you might be out of luck. I appreciate that Dean's carries many ethnic items that other stores don't (candies, spices, some frozen items, etc.), but this also means they have less space for brands that are common in other stores, so you may need to make another stop if you want a specific brand item. They haven't been out of much lately either and I've only had to wait in a short line once. read more

Love love love this little store. Its strong points include the Middle Eastern and European goods, produce in season that you can't find anywhere else (currants, sour cherries, dragonfruit, super-ripe figs), organic produce, and a dizzying array of nuts and dried fruit. Weaker points include the iffy state of some cooler and freezer items--a moldy wrap sandwich, or pelmeni that had clearly defrosted and then stuck together in a giant clump before re-freezing. Also, their regular inventory seems to vary widely, especially in the dairy and packaged meat cooler. read more

Thank you so much, Dean's Produce for your spontaneous random act of kindness:) Besides finding all the fruit and vegetables I needed (and amazingly you had lots and lots of pasta and other essentials), you gifted a complimentary bunch of daffodils to women shopping at the store. That really made my day:) read more

Dean's Produce - a vase of daffodils - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Mateo, California

Very nice local market with fresh produce. The prices are good, they are good on stock and the customer service is great. I really like shopping here. Keep it up. read more

Absolutely love Dean's Produce! Ironically, I don't go here for the produce - instead, it's my go-to for interesting charcuterie (excellent salami selection) and Middle Eastern/European snacks (digestive cookies, imported chocolate, teas, and even halva). If you're adventurous, they have an interesting drink case as well - I've tried a couple bottles of kvass and teas I couldn't find anywhere else. They also have a bargain bin in the back, for any of you who like discount produce. Definitely worth a look. read more

Dean's Produce - Lots of teas and Middle Eastern/European snacks!! - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Mateo, California

What a great addition to downtown San Mateo! With Draeger's just down the street selling some very similar items I think they are going to notice a drop in sales from their international section as prices here at Dean's are considerably lower. I was especially excited to hear that they stocked some item's from my homeland yet upon visiting I found that most of those items were Chocolate (Crunchy, Time Out, Flake, Aero, Smarties, Galaxy, Lion bar ect). I had been missing this Chocolate dearly yet recently I haven't been into Chocolate so much but it's great to know that should I have a craving for them I know where to come as prices are a steal at $1.29 each! Powell's charge $1.99 for these and Rocket Fizz $2.29. Other British items I was pleased to find were Jacobs Cream Crackers, PG Tips, Branston Pickle ($5.99 as opposed to Draeger's costing $7.49 last time I purchased some) and Crumpet's ($2.99) Not by a brand I have ever heard of but Crumpets nonetheless. *TIP* These are amazing lightly toasted with Honey... You're welcome! They also have many other international items from Turkey, Greece, Italy ect at very reasonable prices as well as some of the freshest Fruits and Vegetables I have seen. 16oz of Strawberries here are just $2.59 and they're so plump and juicy. Their dried fruits and nuts selection is also very impressive, they have a huge shelf dedicated to them Hours are slightly limited (7am-7pm) and credit cards are only accepted for purchases $5 and over. read more

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If I were 'Dean', then I'd change my store's name to reflect what's really going on within its walls. Dean's Produce really is more of a Produce and International Products shop, the latter of which makes Dean's quite rare 'round these parts, indeed. (Psst! There's also a Dean's in Millbrae, so, not completely rare, I guess.) Beyond the very decent fruit and veg selection, from both local and int'l growers, one can find specialty foods such as Weisswurst in jars, massive containers* of black olives from Lebanon and beyond, feta cheese from various countries, British mainstay McVities Digestives, Ritter Sport Schokolade from the Fatherland and the list goes on and on. Bringing the focus back to the states, Dean's also sells a lot of items produced here in No. Cal, among them are bread loaves from Bay Area bakers, free-range eggs from Sonoma Co., and cheese from Marin. I'd be a Dean's shopper regardless, but, as an ex-expat, I find myself going to Dean's when I'm feeling especially 'homesick' for Europe. *Aaaand I go to Dean's when I'm in need of righteously large glass jars for my lighting needs. (See picture.) read more

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This has become out go-to grocery during COVID. Great selection of peak ripeness fruits and veg, with lots of varieties. Good basics, and then deep choices in Turkish and other middle Eastern cheeses and frozen foods and spices. Plus almost everything from Bob's Red Mill. They were inundated with customers at the beginning of COVID and adapted and are gracious. read more

We are regular customers of both their San Mateo & Millbrae locations. This family-run business has a large selection of fresh produce at the best prices. They have a great specialty & international product selection as well. We've been consistently impressed by the quality of their produce compared to other shops in the area and the fact that they bring in new items regularly to further expand their specialty offerings. Especially now, during the Covid crisis, it's apparent how much care is put into their stores from keeping their shelves stocked to the cleanliness/sanitary practices of the store. Thank you to the entire Dean's team, we are lucky to have you in our neighborhood! read more

Today tried to speak with the owner of the store and ask why store carries so many products made in Russia. The owner started to scream that I don't know what I am talking about, told me that I was harassing her and was in front of my face within seconds. Very unprofessional and rude behavior. All this for asking a simple question. Will never shop there again. read more

I have been coming here for years and my review is very overdue because Dean's has been consistently selling fresh, reasonably priced produce for generations. Located in downtown San Mateo, parking can be challenging except for the most off peak hours. I usually buy most of my fruit from Dean's. As with any grocery store, seasonal fruits drive what I purchase throughout the year, however I usually almost always pick up a bunch of bananas regardless of the season. They have quite a large selection of international foods, spices, and cooking condiments as well. As for the store itself, it's well organized, and quite clean throughout the store. The staff here is friendly and I'm usually in and out without much of a wait. read more

I enjoy this produce market almost as much as a farmers market. Well maybe as much since there is no sun beaming down on my head while I shop. Deans Produce has a great selection of fruits and they are always fresh. They have some good sales and it's usually not crowded so you can walk In and grab what you need and go for a walk downtown or grab some fruit and drinks and take a stroll over to the park downtown and enjoy the fresh air with some fresh fruit I also love to pick up my nuts here (not the buts that fall off the family tree) but some good seeds or but to snack on they have a big selection already packed for you. They are also fresh and the prices are good The employees here are friendly they enjoy their fresh fruit just as much as their customers. Parking is tricky since it is located in the downtown area. You need to pay at the meter or take a longer stroll and park over by the park on one of the side streets if your lucky to find a spot read more

Just bought a butter Came home and saw black spots on it Checked the expiration it's was passed read more

I've been to both Millbrae and San Mateo but the latter is closer to where I live. The best things about Dean's are the reasonable prices, variety of international items, and surprises here and there. I don't know how the owners do it but they often have organic produce for much less than Safeway and the quality is higher than Trader Joe's. However, it's not a constant: things rotate as the seasons do and you get occasional surprises here and there. I know how to select fruit and veggies so that helps me. If you really want to save, the back of the store has a bargain bin. International items from all over the world: in particular, high quality pasta at low prices from Italy - go ahead and try a brand you've never heard of. I'm a fan of Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern food and they have some excellent bourek, spanakopita, etc. in the frozen case. Recently I saw some kibbe, kunef, and Russian pierogi as well I have to try. Lots of different spices, canned fish (high quality stuff comes from Spain, Portugal, etc. - not what Americans usually think of), teas, jams, olives, olive oil, chocolate. For bread, there are occasional local deliveries of Afghani? thin flat bread in large sheets - one of my faves. Also, pita, sourdough, baklava, lavash, Russian pastries. Lots of Bob's Red Mill products. It's really a great store to explore. If there's one thing I wish the store carried more, it would be Asian vegetables: they have bok choy and napa cabbage but it would be great to have veggies like gai lan, taro, etc. Back at Millbrae, they even used to carry Chinese noodles (cheung fun) but no longer. Another nice note: they have the strongest, most durable plastic bags. Sure, you pay for them but they're far from flimsy and quite reusable. read more