I was looking for a fast, cheap, healthy, portable lunch to take on a picnic to a nearby beach or…read morescenic viewpoint in Monterey and Kim's Oriental Market delivered on all counts! Thanks to my YouTube habit, I found this quaint, tiny, family-run Korean grocery in a travel video on inexpensive meals in Monterey. The travelers praised the freshness of the ready-to-eat refrigerated banchan dishes and the just made kimbap rolls availabe for purchase on the checkout counter. Perfect for my use case. I parked on the street around the corner which was easy to find & free for 2 hours. The store is small and packed with anything you can imagine from an Asian grocery. The upright cold cases are toward the back left, and the frozen proteins are in a deep freezer near the checkout counter. When I arrived around 1pm on a summer Tuesday, no one was in the store, but I could hear Korean voices in conversation from the back room. I did my shopping in the banchan case (pickled cucumber & kelp salad - yum!) then poked my head through that open doorway to ask, "May I purchase kimbap?" The grandmother / proprietor jumped up to say, "Sure! Are you ready to check out?" The plastic-wrapped roll was about 7-8 inches long and stuffed with typical kimbap ingredients: nori, rice, krab, carrot, daikon, tofu). A filling meal for me at $2. With my $4 salad, the whole cost was $6 and I had leftover salad for picnicking the next day. Sorry, I failed to take any pictures (bad Yelper!), but if you've ever had ready-to-eat foods from a Korean grocer, you know what to expect.

Fantastic selection of goods for all meals, snacks, and treats. Yum yum! Wonderful service and good…read morevibes always.

Just wanted to leave an update: since my last review, the owner actually took time out of her day…read moreto find my Instagram and block me. I only realized it when I tried to check their hours and couldn't find their page unless I used my work account. I honestly think that's a bit harsh, especially because my review was fair and even included positive feedback. I just mentioned that the owner's attitude came off a little rude. This response kind of proves the point. It's giving unnecessary mean-girl energy, and it definitely doesn't reflect well on the business.

They sell nearly expired products. The Thai paste expires May 2026. Manuf May 2024. Two years on…read morethe shelf. No refunds. Beware.

I stopped in here with my husband the other day, on a long road trip where I wanted a deli sandwich…read morefor lunch. We chose Safeway, though there are other nearby options. I enjoyed browsing the produce and bakery items and ended up buying more than the sandwich, chips and drink that I intended. The restroom wasn't perfect but it was useable and I didn't have to wait. Aisles were all well-stocked and the produce and flowers looked especially good. The staff was friendly and polite, and parking is easy. The location is not far off the 101 so it's easy to get to.

I always use the app for Safeway to make sure I get the best deals and the best prices. You also…read moreget a good amount of reward points as well that I always like to use.

Always great food. The service is always great. Kitchen is inside a small market with options to…read morepurchase your groceries.

Stopped in on the way to San Luis Obispo. It's a nice little market. It has a meat counter, a…read moretaqueria and a few aisles of grocery items. We got California Fries with carnitas, 2 carnitas tacos, 1 pollo, 1 chicharonnes and a hamburger and fries. My daughter loved the California fries, they had lots of meat and cheese. The tacos were so good, the tortillas they make were amazing! The 2 salsas they gave me were both good too. I was excited about the chicharron taco because I've never seen that on a menu but the chicharrons were soft. I just assumed they would be fried and crunchy so that was my bad. My husband liked his hamburger and fries too. We also got a few snacks and drinks so it was a nice one stop shop.

Found a product for a Thai recipe that I could not find elsewhere. Very nice staff. Very reasonably…read morepriced.

Super friendly , helpful service and an awesome variety of foods and some cool kitchen tools as…read morewell.

Del Rosa Deli is a Salinas staple and has been for many decades. Their sandwiches are delicious and…read moreeasily some of the best in town -- definitely top three deli sandwiches in the City of Salinas in my opinion. It's a go-to spot for a lot of farmers and people who work in the ag industry, and the location is easy to access. The drive-through also makes it very convenient, especially when you're trying to grab something quick during the day. The only downside is that they close early, I believe around 4, so you have to plan ahead. Overall, a solid four stars. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture this time, but I'll take one next time and update the review.

Another place found through Yelp and it was a good find. The place was really busy. The employees…read morewere nice and helpful. I went with the Tri-tip sandwich and a drink. The meat was very tasty and the bread was nice and fresh. This is definitely a return visit place. They have a good selection of other sandwiches too. They have places to sit inside so I was able to relax while I ate my food.

My wife and I had an incredible lunch experience here today. I've been seriously craving a…read moretraditional, no frills hot dog, and even though it was not on the menu, the staff went above and beyond. They were kind enough to sneak a couple onto the grill for us, which was an amazing gesture. The hot dogs were absolutely delicious, served on a high-quality bun shipped directly from the East Coast (the same ones they use for their Philly cheesesteaks). It was a fantastic, flavorful surprise. As you can see from the photo, my wife thoroughly enjoyed diving right into that massive foot-long! The service was top-notch, the food was spectacular (such great quality and flavor), and they truly care about their customers. We will absolutely be returning and highly recommend this spot to anyone in the Seaside area! Thank so much, its really a pleasure to find a crew that love their trade !

3.5 STARS HELLO,…read moreMEAT SWEATS! Escaping the 4th of July warzone in The City, we headed to Carmel for a quiet staycation. The Carmel food scene tends to be mid and overpriced so I was in search of more affordable, local gems in Seaside and Marina areas. And...TikTok brought me to The Meatery, a boutique butcher shop and eatery. BUTCHER SHOP Array of ethically sourced meats - amazing looking marbled steaks, pork, veal, and handcrafted sausages (Mmm, blood sausage and fermented garlic sausage!). They also have house-made sauces and spice blends, condiments, compound butters, duck fat, and more. There's even fresh dog food (e.g. beef sirloin, brown rice, and blueberries) which I bought for my dogs. EATERY Made-to-order sandwiches and BBQ (brisket, pulled pork, ribs, etc) in the hot case. House-made sides (potato salad, mac salad, and kimchi) are available in the cold case. Bottled drinks including beer available. You can order ahead online but we ordered in-person. Note: Check Toast for the most up-to-date prices; the online menu has the old prices. There's about 6 tables for dine-in. Self-serve water. Bus your own tables when finished. F O O D * 18 Hour Smoked Brisket Sandwich ($18): https://tinyurl.com/rceamucw - Requested mix of wet/moist and lean brisket A signature item, the brisket sandwich was sorely disappointing. While I enjoyed the fresh, soft bun, tangy cola-cola bbq sauce, and acidic pickled onions, the lean brisket was very dry and tough (at opening time). * Calamari Steak Po'Boy Sandwich ($18): https://tinyurl.com/yn7zsvz6 The unique coastal twist on a New Orleans classic sounded promising on paper. The sesame roll was light and fluffy, and the slaw had a delicious creamy tang. Unfortunately, the thin, fried calamari steak was dry and chewy, while the heavily salted breadcrumbs overwhelmed its delicate flavor. * Dino Beef Rib ($21.50/lb): https://tinyurl.com/j8dsxnvc Eyeing this on another table, we decided to order it after trying the sandwiches. Def the highlight of our meal - the beef rib was rich, tender, and deeply savory. Not overly fatty with a crispy bark. Light on the seasoning and smoke so the tangy BBQ sauce came through for a boost of flavor. * Wedge Fries ($8) Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the wedges were dusted with their house seasoning mix (savory w/ a touch of smoky flavor) and served with a side of their fermented chipotle ketchup. * Kimchi Cucumber ($7.50) A blend of napa cabbage and thinly sliced cucumbers, the kimchi was mild and tangy. The perfect acidic in-between bites. S E R V I C E Warm, friendly service. Food came out fast. Overall, maybe we visited on an off day for the eatery. I can see why The Meatery is a local fav for their butcher shop tho. I mean, if I lived nearby, I would be all over 'em sausages! P.S - 3.5 stars rounded up for a small business.

Great place to shop for unique items and specialty items…read more Definitely recommend. Great selection of meat etc

It has an amazing variety of cheeses and many other gourmet foods. Their bakery alone was worth the…read moretrip. All there goods are beautifully presented with clean and well lit aisles. Would definitely recommend