Official notice to 9-to-5 women who want to stay trim during the lunching hour: Gelson's has a good salad bar where you can actually control the portion size as well as the fat content (a.k.a. salad dressing) of your eats. There's nothing too complicated on the bar, meaning, there aren't "interpretive pieces" (like pre-mixed salads that are actually as calorically costly as a McGriddle and require some scoop-investigate-scoop action). Drum roll . . . my salad and my friends' salad prices average at around 4.5 to 5 dollars. It's true! When a typical salad is 10 dollars in the O.C., this means you have simultaneously cut your waistline and debts to your spending account. Happy dress dance! So dear girls, kindly direct your attention to Gelson's for a nice calm lunch visit that packs vitamins, is low calories, and has a neat spot where you can actually dine near their floral shop. And it looks like there is a fireplace near the floral shop/eatery (odd, but cool, so fire this thing up in the winter please!). And yes, it's truly a nice place . . . I think what I like most about it is that I feel surrounded by a warm, loving, elderly group of individuals who frequent there midday. I like their vibe. Neurotic cell phone maniacs are usually not there, so if you're *that* person and reading this review, please stay out . . . tra la la, a cup of a tea and relaxation, and fiberocity. The customer service at Gelson's is exceptional. My only qualm is that I attend there regularly, and know the entire salad bar sampling of food choices by heart. And now, in fact, I'm slowly transforming my entire office to go there, so if the Gelson's staff could diversify the fresh chop, it would make the gals (and me) happier (hence the 4 stars-- not 5). Gelson's you are so lucky. While I try not to be, I'm kind of an overzealous person, so that when I like something, I am pretty much marketing this place like I'm an advisory committee for a proper lunchtime experience. I'm not, but that's what happens when you really like something I suppose. One other thing: do not expect to go here for great deals on the grocery selection. They are not "deal-doers" of pre-packaged/processed/frozen foods. In fact, the best value you can get is from their fresh stuff. I think that says a lot for a grocer. You know, anyone can sell packaged food. Just ask Amazon. Or heck, as Meg Whitman too. read more

I like Gelson's. It should probably be added to www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com though.. Whenever I walk into this place I am overwhelmed by the smell of good things, I am not sure what they are but the smell of this place I find extremely comforting. Yeah their stuff might be more expensive than other grocery stores (be careful buying perishables because the turnover is not quite as good as Ralph's) but their deli is delish. The tuna salad, unbeatable. And the staff is really really friendly. I don't know how theyre doing with the economy though, Hope they will be ok. read more

Absolutely terrible service. I stood in front of the hot food case, waiting to order, for 10 minutes before walking out with nothing to show for it. Another customer asked me if I was in line, and, after telling her that I was, the employees of Gelson's proceeded to assist her instead of me. For a place that prides themselves on quality, a place that uses far too much packaging for everything, and a place charges a significant amount more than other grocery stores, they sure suck at serving customers. I was willing to spend the ~$10/lb they charge for hot food, but not if they're going to ignore me. Absolutely unacceptable. Will never go back. read more

I called in advance to the floral department to order a boutonniere. The lady said come and pick up anytime the following morning because she would make it ahead of time. When I went to pick it up, it took two people, and still they could not find it. There's a reason why I ordered it ahead of time, so we don't have to wait and rush on the day we needed it. Terrible service Gelsons! Thanks for nothing! read more

Do not go to the deli market for lunch! You'll be spending your entire lunch hour waiting on someone to help..

Would I shop at Gelson's for my day-to-day groceries? No, I'd go broke. The prices are consistently higher than my neighborhood Ralph's for the same products. However, there are things Gelson's carries which neither Ralph's nor any other regular supermarket does. Gelson's has real USDA Prime meat. You're paying through the nose for it, but if you want the quality, they've got it. Bays English muffins. Hard to find elsewhere--one Ralphs did have them, but expired--and once you've tried them, you'll never eat a crappy Thomas muffin again. Boar's Head deli meats. La Brea breads. Fresh, delicious, crisp croissants--not the mushy heavy kind that passes for croissants these days at Trader Joes or wherever. The ice cream section is die for. My husband gets the best lemon sorbet there. Heinz sweet gherkins! Believe it or not, we couldn't find them anywhere else. It's all Vlasic. Bleah. Fat free Pringles. Not the reduced fat, the fat free that are delicious but half the calories. Pretty much, they have all the name brand stuff and then some, and a great cheese and great meat section, and an awesome deli. If it wasn't for the outrageous price on easy-to-find items, it would be a five-star. read more

DO you looove spending $3 for a measly pound of green beans or at the overpriced food counter, salar bar & soup station? Even though you can buy all that for much much less elsewhere but too lazy to figure that out? Hmmmm Then this is your place! YAY!!! read more

This place never disappoints. It's spotless. I mean impressively clean all the time regardless when I've gone in there. You can definitively feel the workers sense of pride in the store appearance. You will pay more or items and I have yet to locate any Seitan there. But everything else is easy to find and in stock There's a salad bar that's good Wish they den out oil in their pasta as I don't eat foods made with oil. That's just how it goes though People are usually friendly and not over attentive, I prefer not to be bothered too much when I shop so it's perfect. read more

I am on a quest to find my perfect supermarket. Gelson's is not quite it, but it will do while I continue my quest. Even when I try to head out to other places, I tend to end up back at Gelson's. The scariest part of the store is the beef. It is lovely looking and based on the price, it is made of gold. I believe that sustainably farmed, grass-fed beef *should* probably cost this much. But it was unclear to me if this was that beef. $28 for a steak might be more than buttonwillow can bear. I think I would rather go to directly to the farm to pay this much. The market it most reminds me of is Andronico's in NorCal. It has good produce, a butcher, some selection of high-end goods, and some excellent deli products. I think I like their prepared foods quite a bit. They never look like they have been sitting there too long, and based on the lunch line I experienced today, they have pretty good turnover. As mentioned in another review, they also have sushi prepared fresh, which is a nice perk. They have a decent selection of good bread and decent wine. They have some nice store brand dried fruit and nuts (a hint as to the store's origin?) and something a little fun on nearly every aisle. But is it my fav ever? No. I am not sure that what I want exists, really. I want someplace where I can cheaply get something as mundane as kitty litter, as low-brow as triscuits, a great hispanic, asian, and indian foods section, a decent deli, great organic produce, and a spectacular high-end cheese and wine section. A bakery with fresh bread would be nice too. Is that asking too much? UPDATE: One of the features I have learned to love about this market is the Deli. They have a nice range of good meat, and they slice it very well! read more

Great service - even when I come in wearing sweats - YES i have shopped in sweats :P Not cheap, but they have a great selection of gourmet items, from cheeses, to hoity toity european stuff, to chilean fruit (I have never heard of) in a small glass jar for $10. I love to come here for lunch. They have an MMMmmmazing deli and even better bakery. I looooove their salad bar! It's always fresh and has a decent variety of toppings to make your otherwise healthy choice of a lunch, no so healthy. Although I would rather pay way less and buy produce at places like Ranch 99 or Henry's, Gelson's does have a cool selection in the produce area... uncommon stuff like dragon fruit - by the way, how the heck do you eat it? read more

The new poke salad bar is amazing. I love the squid salad. The poke was fresh too. For $16.99 is a pretty good deal.

I love this place. This is the only place I know of that will actually serve a holiday dinner hot. I am not talking about cooked and ready for reheat. I talking about hot grab the container the wrong way burn your hand hot. Now you have to pay a little extra and you cannot have it on Christmas eve. The customer service here is exceptional. Someone always willing to help. Try to find a customer service person in Albertsons or Ralphs. You might have to search the entire store to find two. This is the only store I eat the pre made food. I guarantee you that you will not find a better or fresher turkey sandwhich than this place. read more

This is a review for Gelson's sushi. Pretty decent actually. I would probably go back. You can find the sushi in the back of the store. After looking at their selection, I wasn't finding what I was looking for. I wanted a traditional spicy tuna roll (rice, tuna, and cucumber). The chef behind the counter asked if he could go help me and I asked him for a spicy tuna roll with cucumber. Within 3-4 minutes, I had my own spicy tuna roll. It was a pretty chubby roll, but I still think $8.29 is just a little expensive. But it IS Gelson's after all. The sushi rice tastes pretty good. Tuna is pretty decent actually. They give you a nice heaping pile of wasabi. Wasabi is pretty mild. I was able to tolerate a pretty big scoop of wasabi on each piece of the roll. Presentation wasn't great, but I didn't have high expectations for sushi found at a grocery store. I would go back though. I'm interested in a spicy tuna hand roll. read more

See all

I love this local grocery store! We've been shopping here for 11 years and have gotten to know everyone pretty well. I've been meaning to leave this review to compliment everyone on the great job they did handling our country wide lockdown and helping keep the sanity at this store. Kelly and Shirley (who is now at a different store) are amazing. All are wonderful employees and can't thank everyone enough for all that they have dealt with during these times. Thank you!! read more

I'm reviewing this place, even though it's a grocery store (I mean, who reviews grocery stores, right?) because it's not your typical grocery store. Unlike Ralphs or Albertsons, you won't find Gelson's around every corner. I love this place! Everything is so neat, clean and my shopping experience is brought up to a whole new level. I always go here with my son and the ladies always know how to handle possible tantrums. Whenever I'm not sure what to cook for dinner, the butcher or the floor attendants would often pick out the ingredients and tell me exactly how to cook them. The sushi bar in the back is wonderful. The chef would personalize your order if you know exactly what you're looking for. You will also find the best fois gras outside of France (in Irvine anyway). The only reason why I gave them a 4 is because they fall on the pricy side. Still, the price is often so worth the pleasant experience. read more

Their bakery section is really good. You have to try all of their cookies, especially checker board. Good selection of wine. Good produce too. Haven't tried their deli yet but it looks fresh. read more

Much more style than substance. Ridicuosly overpriced. Maybe I'm just spoiled by Costco.. Doubtful that i'd return to gelson's read more

I love Gelson's Market. It is clean, well stocked and all the people working here is professional and friendly. I sometimes forget to get my cart and end up holding armful of items( everything looks inviting here )...there is always someone bringing basket for me! No waiting time in line, they open a new lane quickly for you. What I like most about Gelson's Market Irvine is its flower department. Ms. Sherine is the best. I think buying flower is very exciting either if it is for yourself or for your loved ones. She makes it special. She makes perfect arrangement. It makes me feel like I am buying an art piece. All I have to do is...tell her the price range, who is it for and the occasion. She comes up with a beautiful arrangement. After visiting several times, she even remembers my taste! My friends say the same thing, so she must have excellent memory! She is friendly, knowledgable, and truly professional. I don't go other flower shops anymore. read more

Not my one-stop-shop since it can be on the pricey side for everyday shopping. I often visit their deli/salad bar for lunch or dinner. Another reviewer noted bad chowder. I've never had problems with their soup. But with any deli/food bar, use good judgement and hopefully you won't be one of the unlucky few. All the employees here are soooooo nice! And they are sincere about it too. Steve the wine guy is great and though I don't come here on a weekly basis, he always seems to recognize me. read more

We have been housebound for several months due to critical illness. Friends showed up with Gelson's deli items---soup and muffins on Sunday. It was so welcomed because we have been Gelson customers since 2004 land know their quality. It was like getting a hug from home, the chicken soup was so memorable that we did not want it to end. The muffins equally delicious as usual. Because Gelson's as a company rewarded us with this quality, it is imperative that we give them this shout out and to our friends as well. read more

If you're looking for an Upper End supermarket, Gelson's is your local stop. It offers higher quality and specialty goods that you won't find in other supermarkets. However, you can usually find most of what's in this store - veggies, meats, frozen goods, for a lower price at Ralphs and Albertsons. Go here for the Sushi, for the Deli Food, and for anything that you can't find at the Ralphs across the street, or the Albertsons across the Freeway. Or go here if you have extra cash you really want to burn. read more

Ok, so this review is limited to the deli counter at Gelson's Market. I've been to 2 seperate locations and both had amazingly tasty sandwiches and sides! This is a big deal for me because ordinarily I am not at all a big sandwich guy. I don't typically think of a sandwich as being a good meal but rather a fall back meal, when you have nothing else to eat. But I do actually go out of the way to go grab a sandwich from here. So far, I've only had one of the sandwiches, the Health Club on wheat. It comes with turkey, turkey bacon, avocado, sprouts, tomatoes, and lettuce. It's delicious! The turkey bacon here is actually good! Does it taste like bacon? No, nothing that isn't bacon actually tastes as good as bacon. However, it is a pretty good substitute for the real thing. Yet, despite the sandwich being the main draw for this meal, for me, it's the two sides you get to choose that really keeps me coming back for more! I have yet to have a bad choice for a side. I've had sides such as the curried couscous, the pan-asian chicken salad, the barley salad, all of it DELICIOUS!! I admit at $9 it is a bit of an expensive meal but it's a hell of a lot healthier and just as satisfying than picking up a burger and fries. read more

I'm so sad they no longer have a Gelson's by me (the one in Pasadena) So whenever I'm in this area I always make a stop to grab some self-serve poke. I don't really get anything else in the store, maybe a couple items that stand out. The salad bar and food area look good, but I honestly just stick to the poke bar. I get a small bowl of marinated tuna and add masago and crispy onions to make my own poke salad at home. I do get the sauces on the side; ponzu, eel and spicy mayo. I don't like mixing them with my bowl because it's just too intense and makes everything soggy. I've checked out here a couple times and am never charged for the sauces until my recent visit. They charged me the salad bar price for it randomly too. I didn't want to make a big deal over $3, but these things do add up. Other than that the tuna does taste good and I do like their sauce options and taste. I might try the one near La Canada next time I'm in that area since that's closer for me, but this location is great, staff is friendly, and they have a lot of options to choose from. read more

Gelson's was the only place on Thanksgiving that had basters. Thank you Gelson's, total lifesaver! read more

Only 3 stars because of the price but really that shouldn't be relevant because of the area. I go here during lunch for the salad bar. Its 6.99 a pound but its really fresh spread of vegetables and toppings. The hot bar is also 6.99 a pound but that includes ribs, mashed potatoes, meatloaf, vegetables and fish. Its always super clean so they probably deserve another star so hell, I'll upgrade them to 4 stars because I totally forgot about the bakery. They have cookies by the pound, cakes from Vick something or other bakery, fresh bread from La Brea Bakery and tons of other tempting treats. read more

Gelson's (the original high-priced grocery store) is awesome. They have a great butcher and deli-meats section, and (generally speaking) great service. Lately I've found their product selection to pale in comparison to Whole Foods, for example, however they always feature quality goods, even if their prices are ludicrous in some areas. The only thing holding it back from 5-stars is that their checkout employees have been less-than-happy lately. Bordering on rude... Regardless, the rest of their departments are great, with great service. Pro-tip: Buying flowers? GET THEM AT GELSON'S. Great prices with pro-quality arrangements. read more

I literally live here! I love this market. They have some hard to find protein juices that cannot be found at Whole Foods even. Also, there are many items at Gelson's that are priced better than at a traditional grocery store. Gelson's in Long Beach has the best hot/cold bar area in my opinion :) But never the less they are all fantastic! read more

They have great customer service and a nice variety of high quality and hard-to-find groceries. The bakery is our favorite department, love the lemon cake. The head baker is so nice, helpful and accomodating. read more

Welcome to Gelson's, home of the slowest deli in the USA! This is a nice grocery store, but I really dislike shopping here. The prices here are really high - in many cases they are more $ than whole foods. The selection of foods is boring, like a Ralph's. It's not unique. And, the deli is unbelievable slow. This store is right by my house, so I go more often that I should and I am ALWAYS amazing by how slow it is. read more

I love this market! The produce is always so fresh and taste so good! The deli is the same.They let you have samples before you buy.Everyone is so helpful and friendly.I buy lactose free products and Gelson's has the brand Green Valley in yogurt, sour cream and even butter which is delicious!! I live in Trabuco Canyon but work in Newport Beach so I stop at Gelson's in Irvine on my way home. It is well worth the little extra you pay. read more

I wish we had this store in Miami with such great quality food the variety and taste freshness is superb

I have been coming to this location for years. The staff is what makes this such a great experience. My favorite cashier is Kelly. She is always so funny and pleasant. She is the cherry on the Gelson's Sunday. Shout out to Sherine in floral, a true artist. And Carmen in the deli. read more

Gelson's is in the wrong category here. I consider it in my "restaurant" category. Gelson's is a GREAT place to go for a work lunch. No wait for a table. No waiters/-tresses to deal with. All the selection in the world! Get some soup (always great selections and one of the FEW places that does not put too much salt in their soup), choose ANY beverage you want (this is a grocery store afterall), and there are PLENTY of sides in the deli. Buy enough for dinner that night. Super-convenient, if you ask me. Oh, and the cashiers are always nice. And you can even sit outside, although the inside is nice, too. read more

Been here many times. Excellent choices and quality on the salad bar. Prime rib is rather pricey, but the tri-tip is a more reasonable alternative at the carving station. There is also turkey. So many wonderful choices in the deli section. This is a big store, well lit, well organized, with helpful and friendly staff. Restrooms are clean and well maintained. Nice area to sit and eat your deli treasures. Wi-Fi. Really nice flowers and plants, especially orchids available. Plenty of parking. Great place for a work lunch, or grabbing dinner on the way home. read more

I highly t commend this specific Gelson's and I go to many of them. The staff is super great and knows the product. They go our their way to answer questions and provide you with what you need . read more

Really like the people who work in the Irvine store. They are so focused on customer service. I do have a problem- they do not provide prime rib at the carving station anymore. The explanation I was given was they were tired of throwing out leftovers every night. Supposedly I can drive to Newport Beach and get it. This is unacceptable! Since the store opened, the prime rib sells out every night before the deli closes. Why should loyal customers, many of us elderly, have to make such a drive? read more

Just had a disheartening experience at this store. It used to be so great, but has sadly been going downhill since a change in store management. I bought a bunch of groceries. I had a bag. After I paid, the cashier left my groceries sitting on the counter and proceeded to price and bag the next customer - a man. When I asked why she hadn't bagged my groceries, she said it wasn't her job - as far as I know Gelson's bags groceries and she was bagging groceries for the nice looking man behind me?? I asked to see the manager; the assistant manager said it might be my fault or I might not be telling the truth and he wouldn't know until he talked to the cashier?? I said, ok. Talk to her now and he said no. I will talk to her later. I asked to see the manager who pretty much said the same things. Both were unconcerned about the situation. Its not a big thing, but symptomatic of a business that does not care about its female customers. I used to spend a lot of money in this store...guess I will move over to Whole Foods. read more

We were scheduled for a pick up order at 9am. When we arrived to pick up the order they told us they were coming out. Only to call 20 min later to say they hadn't started shopping for our 60 item order yet. We ended up waiting in the parking lot for 45 min for them to put the order together and the manager was upset with us that we couldn't come back at a later time. She yelled at my husband for ordering too much food and coming on time to pick up our order haha, we were so taken back. It made my husband and I extremely late for work. I think we are more upset that it took time out of our work day and costed us more money just because we weren't able to go into work on time and set us back about an hour. I also missed an appointment because of it. Wasn't an ideal experience. After spending 500 dollars for this order and dealing with a manager that made us feel awful about ourselves, she never apologized once. She said she would not apologize for the delay because our order was too complicated? She said she hadn't even looked at what time the order needed to be ready and there was too many items. Said it was our fault and we were honestly nice to her and her team the entire time. Really put us in a weird mood after we came here. We will never come back to this Gelsons after our experience here. Plus she gave us expired items? read more

Sherine in Floral is exceptional! She is my 100% go-to for any flowers in OC. Always unique, beautiful, fresh flowers and she is an absolute pleasure to work with... Thank you for the best flowers, every single time... read more

Love this place they have high end quality food there already prepped food is awesome fresh food fresh fruit Customer Service top notch can't say enough good things about this place the place is a little old but still looks nice the bakery is awesome that Cafe is great and definitely one of the best of florist that I've visited in Orange County read more