Gelson's has better quality meats than WholeFoods and Lazy Acres. If you like good quality grass fed beef, Gelson's is the best. I highly recommend them. I'm a fan. read more

One word: ADDICTED How in the world has it taken us over 7 years to try?! My sister has been living in the area that long and we never tried it until last month!! What is wrong with us?!! I used to think Whole Foods was top of the line, boy was I wrong! Gelson's is in a league of its own! My sister scoped it out first for me, seeing if it was worth the hype and the price tag! It goes above that! The whole store is amazing even though I've only gone to the cookie bar and the hot bar LOL. The beautiful display of cookies & pastries is amazing! My favorites are the sprinkles, ruelachs, cinnamon hearts and the rainbow shortbread!! They are so simple but sooo good and soft on my teeth! Now the hot bar/deli is in a league of its own!! It is always on point! The soup is fresh, the food doesn't look dried out, everything looks so appetizing and delicious! You have to try the soups! {turkey chili & chicken noodle FTW}. The orange chicken from the hot bar is EVERYTHING!! I could eat it everyday!! 10x better than Panda Express! The penne Bolognese is legit! Especially with a few turkey meatballs from the deli counter!! Their ground turkey is out of this world!! Jennie O who?!! I also love their cheesy potatoes and potatoes au gratin! Run don't walk to Gelsons!!! I need to win lotto just to eat here everyday!! LOL! ^__^ read more

Pro tip: never come here hungry, because you'll want to buy everything. Gelson's is one of my favorite grocery stores. They have everything you could need, and the service staff is very friendly and helpful (Danny is a total dear & goes above and beyond to make sure you get everything you need, Ruben was very helpful the other day as well, and Ivan the cheese guy is awesome (he gave me the 411 on their next shipment of Saint Albray (my favorite Washed-rind cheese) . The deli section is also great- love the salads. The pesto pasta salad and Jessicas antibiotic are my two favorites. Susan at the deli is such a sweetheart and was super helpful today. She was so patient and kind as I was placing my large order. The other people who worked in that same section were super nice as well, but I didn't catch all of their names. Client service is so important, and these kind employees make me want to come into the store as opposed to going on a grocery delivery app. I also come here every year for Passover for the lamb shank bone- the butcher saves them gives them out for those who need them for their Seder plates which is super awesome. Can't think of another grocery store that is kind enough to think of Jews on Passover. Pesach is actually coming up & Purim is next week, so it looks like I'll be back for regular groceries and all of my kosher for Pesach needs pretty soon. Anyhow, I really enjoy shopping at this location, and I will be back. read more

Love the new bar here!! I've been stopping in periodically since they added it. The wine and beer list is excellent and it changes/rotates I think monthly. The small plates and other food options are high quality and delicious! My favorite is the ceviche and my husband's is the burger. They're both simple, but the quality of the ingredients makes them exceptionally tasty, reflective of Gelson's high quality shopping experience. The prices are more reasonable than almost any other bar in Irvine. The bartenders are awesome!! They're friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. You can even sip your wine and have a snack at the bar while someone gets everything on your shopping list! Bonus: they do not accept tips, but if you must, they donate the money to a food bank charity. Seriously, check it out!! PS-The white/rosé wines/champagnes are served in chilled glasses. read more

Gelson's Irvine - Rosé in a chilled glass - Grocery Near Me - Irvine, California

Yes this market is expensive and tbh I don't shop there for most of my staple groceries. I do go there for the great food in their deli department - some amazing staples to try: Thai peanut pasta; all of Jessica's salads and their bread- fresh from the oven - yummm! Great salad bar and I love their poke bar - very fresh and easy to customize. They have fresh produce that stays fresh at home - I stopped buying produce from the market across the street because it consistently rots within a day or 2. Customer service is ALWAYS on their A-game. All markets should take their cue on how to treat people from Gelson's business model. read more

Service was great! Thank you Francisco of the seafood dept. The lobsters were all sweet and tender! read more

Gelson's Irvine - Whole lobsters! Sweet and tender! - Grocery Near Me - Irvine, California

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I love the friendly lounge atmosphere there. Great service by the staff. Food and drinks are reasonably priced. I wish they have more entree choices. read more

Okay...I forgive you Gelsons but I will not forget the previous poor experience in April 2021 from the deli counter worker. I work in the area and decided to pop in after a 3 month hiatus and take a look around since the parking lot was less full and I noticed this store has finally finished its remodel and the construction related storage on the side lot has been removed. As soon as I walked in, I was delighted with the remodel. Everything is new and the layout has been improved. The Salad Bar, Poki Bar, and Soup Bar is now open. HOORAY!! They even have a sit down Sushi Bar and a sit down Wine Bar now. I decided to do the salad bar because let's be real, it's been well over a year since I actually seen a real self serve salad bar. I'm beginning to feel a human again little by little. By the way they keep this super clean and sanitary. No worries on my end. I'm still hesitant to do a sandwich at the deli counter here again, especially since finding out that Ralph's Fresh Fair across the street still makes sandwiches with any kind of the Boars Head proteins they have in the deli display case at your request without any hassle. Anyhow I'm glad I visited today. I will probably put the Salad, Soup, and Poki Bar back into my rotation again. read more

There are a lot of things to like about Gelson's. To start with, it's an immaculately laid out store. Everything is perfectly placed. You can't even find a cucumber out of synch with the stack. The produce is excellent. There isn't a dead apple to be seen. It's always being checked too. The salad bar is the best in Orange County. They don't miss much of anything here. What I really like though is that they have items that are unique and hard to find without going online. For example, they have a high protein, low carb granola that's about 1/2 the cost that you will see on Amazon. I like that I can find it without any effort. The Peking is easy and abundant, they always open lanes when too many people are in line and they have friendly staff. You get what you pay for here and it's not cheap overall. If you are looking for deals on normal, everyday items like paper towels, they are rare here but most people go to chain stores for those types of items. read more

Centrally located in a shopping center. Large store which is clean and well organized. The best thing about this store is that they house my favorite drink - Bruce Tea The staff are friendly and polite. read more

Gelson's Irvine - Grocery Near Me - Irvine, California

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Great location. Though I do feel the prices are high, they carry many local products and brands you can't find at other grocery stores. Not too busy, friendly staff, very helpful. Good if you are looking to change it up a bit and shop seasonal to save a bit of money. read more

I haven't been to Gelson's in years because I live in a different city now. There is plenty of parking and for the time being, it looks like only one entrance is open for the public. I went to Gelson's looking for the limited edition pumpkin pie Ellenos Greek yogurt and I bought 2! The yogurt was something I saw on my friend's social media and I love pumpkin pie, so it was a no-brainer. We're in the middle of a pandemic and pumpkin pie makes me super happy. Okay? The store was clean and the lines were short. I paid and left with my new yogurt. read more

I really like Gelson's Market regardless of location. The produce is always fresh and attractive. All the shelves are stocked and organized. Every detail from the bakery to the deli to the dairy aisles is tended to and the employees are always friendly. Of course, you're in the Bentley of supermarkets so you better be happy when you walk out of there. I shop here out of convenience, not out of status. I like a decently priced Pinot Noir as much as the next stressed out English teacher, but sometimes I'll pay a bit extra for convenience because I happen to be sitting in the plaza. I come to this center often and on occasions I find myself in need of mint leaves or a bottle of wine or something that isn't worth going across the street to Ralphs for. Sure the prices are high but you can't really complain if you chose to walk in here. I mean, you don't go into Coach and then complain the there's not discount bargain bin do you? So yes, you will pay a premium but it's worth it given the quality, freshness, and overall shopping experience found in a Gelson's. Don't like the price tags or the pretension? Go to Trader Joe's. read more

Overpriced with expired food. The produce seems good but I just realized that I bought a box of cereal that expired 4 weeks ago. Not worth the hassle of returning it. Prices for pretty much everything are inflated too. I'm willing to pay a little more if the quality and service is truly superior, but it's not at Gelson's. read more

Gelson's Irvine - Selling cereal that expired a month ago - Grocery Near Me - Irvine, California

Gelson's what I like to call the model grocery store. When I shop I prefer a super clean, well stocked and quiet trip. Drama free. No line cutters, no screaming unruly kids, no rude adults. Not much to ask for right? That's why I come to Gelson"s. The parking lot is even super clean. The workers are professional, polite and very helpful. But I'm here for food right? You shop at Gelson's you'll kind of forget because it's such an ideal grocery store. Well stocked everything. Vegan, gluten free, organic. The coffee aisle has my favorite organic Stumptown. If you really know your coffee you should know Stumptown. Even other city roasters are on the shelf. They even have a coffee bar inside and not a Starbucks. The deli counter has so many choices that taste as good as it looks. I come for the Marco Polo pasta, the Artichoke is awesomeness. The Beet salad is bright with a fresh clean taste. On and on. I love Gelson's. Kris Jenner even raves about Gelson's on talk shows. If you want a nice grocery shopping experience go here. They even have organic stuff for the Yoga enthusiasts or people into the Holistic world. They got you covered. It's clientele is more my type of people and speed. Mel M Yelp 18:131 read more

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Gelson's can be a fun albeit a pricey shopping experience. You'll have to expect your wallet to get thinner than usual. But at this store, near the hot deli side, they had many of their advertised specials all in one display. So that was a nice touch for all us bargain hunters. I went at 3 PM in the afternoon and there were more employees than customers - mostly the older wives of Irvine, not worthy of a reality show perhaps. Employees were cleaning the store and polishing the fixtures. If you're a neat freak, this place will give you peace.Every piece of fruit or vegetable was perfect. Same thing with the meats and seafood, well stocked bakery, shelves, salad bar, and even the hot deli. I come here after I jog or play tennis at nearby Irvine Valley College when I don't want to eat at one of the fast food places around. I also like to check their produce section because they often carry some stuff other stores don't. Today, they had Meyer Lemons from Australia at $5 a pound, and some Galia melons whole for $1.00 a pound. I passed on both. I did buy some sweet. juice squirting pluots at $3.99 a pound. They had merlot flesh colored elephant heart plums for $2.99 a pound. They also had seedless Muscat grapes in green and red. Muscat grapes are used to make the sweet spicy muscadine wine for desserts. But by making them seedless, they're less spicy and sweet as a grape. To me, it was just good, bot great. I really like their hot deli. They had a special on the Chinese slaw - $5 a pound instead of $6. It's made with thin sliced cabbage, peanuts, sliced red and green pepper, sliced Chinese peas, and carrots in a sesame oil and wine vinegar sauce, topped with almond slices. Excellent. I've also had their fried and roast chickens, various potatoes, and their salad bar. All excellent. Salad bar is $5.99 a pound. So cool they have free wi fi in their seating areas, though I took this meal home. Their seafood section wasn't fishy smelling like other places, and their meats were well marbled. But $16.00 for a 1.5 lb. rib steak was pricey indeed. Their dairy and juice areas were really well maintained. Not a single expiration date i glanced at were even close to being here, I like their bottled beers from around the world - from Japanese beers to German Hefeweizen, and decent wine selection from vinters such as Ravenswood.. They have a decent international foods selection such as Thai curry mixes. Each flower and plant in their florist section was perfect, and cheaper than at the florist shop. The greenhouse grown blooming azalea's were especially nice looking. But my favorite place here is the large bakery. I have never ordered a cake here, so I can't say how good they are. But they are decorated like works of art. I most love the breakfast and dessert pastries. This time, I had the custard walnut pastry and the apple custard pastry. With some French roast coffee I made at home, they were yummy. Overall, my thinner wallet paid the $20 dollars for all that and I was a happy camper. read more

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I just have a hard time falling in love with Gelsons. I think it is partly their pricing, and partly their not so friendly staff. Yesterday I came here to get lunch... thinking I was going to Mothers Market, but thats another issue. Brain fog apparently. I walked around the store, then found the "deli" type area. I went to pick a number, there were none. Apparently they were stuck up inside the machine. Got that fixed, and there were only two people ahead of me. It took about 15 minutes to get my lunch. I ordered the Deluxe Meal, which is a sandwich and two 1/4 size salads, for just under $10 I ordered the tuna salad sandwich on sourdough with lettuce, avocado and sprouts. I have to say, the sandwich was delicious, and fresh, and very big... which is why I am choosing 3 stars instead of 2 here. I ordered the Chinese cole slaw and Summer Succotash. Both were delicious and my meal was so filling. I just have a hard time when everything seems to cost more than a general grocery store... and when the staff is just generally not so friendly. read more

Gelson's Irvine - Deluxe Lunch - Black pepper turkey on sourdough with avocado, cranberry mayo, sprouts and lettuce. - Grocery Near Me - Irvine, California

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Nice selection for pre made salad, staff are nice & great produce selection- yes little pricey but good quality... now the bakery is another story - if you want to order a custom cake ... check, Re check, call to make sure they understand what you want ... (2 stars for bakery) read more

Came to the store at 5:45pm on a Saturday to get a lemon garlic rotisserie No lemon garlic, just a few bbq rotisseries. Basically an empty rotisserie section. Super bummed. Ended up leaving and going elsewhere. read more

Gelson's Irvine - Grocery Near Me - Irvine, California

Decent, good quality sandwich. I had turkey on sour dough and was very pleased that avocado was a free option unlike most places that can charge up to $2. My sandwich was around $8, plenty of turkey and the pesto spread was delicious. Probably wouldn't be my first choice to go eat but for a high quality sandwich with boar's head meat I wouldn't mind going back if I was in the area. They have plenty of other options for hot food that I was tempted to try and the chicken kale salad looked good. read more

Gelson's Irvine - Turkey sandwich from deli - Grocery Near Me - Irvine, California

Was hoping it would be better, like a Bristol Farms, or even an Irvine Ranch Market, but after a couple of trips to give them a chance, I have concluded that it's like a lower quality version of Trader Joe's, but pretending to be more upscale than it is. Staff is very friendly, and the checkout process is similar to Trader Joe's which is cool. The deli counter is quite nice, and has some unique offerings. The sushi looked above average for grocery sushi, but I didn't try any. However, the produce section is woefully, embarrassingly tiny, and completely inadequate to do any real shopping. Also too much of the merchandise that I looked at in the aisles was EXPIRED, so keep a careful eye on the packaging for expiration dates from 2+ years ago! It wasn't all expired, but when I look at a dozen items and 2 of them are way out of date, that's a really bad percentage. I'd go back there for the deli counter, but that's about it. read more

A little pricey, but the quality is always good, and they have a nice selection to choose from!

I come here for only 1 thing and it's those Bhu Keto bars they have in the cooler. I can't ever find this brand anywhere but here at Gelson's. To make things even better, the cashier, Kelly, is such a delight!!! She serviced me and gave me such a fun conversation. I can't be happier to see my favorite cashier. I wish her well and I hope Gelson's treats their star employee with the same courtesy as she treats me. Thank you read more

At the last minute (11/22/23) I rushed over to Gelsons Irvine to see if I could get a small amount of sliced turkey from the carving station. Of corse it was closed, but to my delight the deli was open and there were already brined and roasted breasts. You could only get a whole 1/2 breast or a half 1/2 breast, so I went for the latter as only my husband was having turkey. She put some juices in the box and I was able to get turkey gravy, too. My husband loved it! Yes it's expensive at $16.99 a lb, but t was delicious and saved the day! I will repeat for Christmas The gal at the counter was very pleasant and helpful. read more

Now that I live in the Midwest, I really miss Gelson's! Nothing really quite compares to it where I live. I visited this one the last time I was in Irvine, and it was the same Gelson's I know and love: immaculate and meticulously organized, a huge selection of high-quality food and goods, well-thought-out layout, nice lighting that makes you feel relaxed, etc. I stopped at the bakery / coffee shop that's within the store for a cup of black coffee. It's easy to run in and get your coffee because the coffee shop is right by the entrance. They also have a large variety of desserts, baked goods and pastries in the case at the coffee shop. I had to resist getting a slice of layer cake or one of the profiteroles. Everything looked delicious. read more

I was a frequent customer of the deli counter at this Gelsons for over 20 years. Now, I have decided to take my business elsewhere for the following reasons: 1. Food (e.g., prime rib or turkey sandwiches) is not prepared "on time" and I have been told that I need to wait "a while" for the food to be ready, even though it is after 11:00 AM. When I have patiently pressed for more details, I was told "maybe another 15 or 20 minutes." Today, I finally gave-up waiting for my meal because I ran out of time, and left. 2. The quality and ingredients of certain deli selections have been inconsistent (e.g., mildly spicy, not spicy, or way-too-hot-spicy). Due to these unpredictable inconsistencies, I have not been ordering those selections for a long time because I am no longer willing to drive to this Gelsons only to find out the deli selections are inconsistent when I arrive. 3. When I recently asked to converse with a manager to express my concerns as a long-time Gelsons customer, I was told a manager was not around and someone would take a message from me. Please note this review is for the deli selections only and NOT for the counter staff, baggers or the cashiers. The counter staff, baggers and cashiers are very hard-working people and I have never had any problems with them. Thank you to them for their excellent service. In the past, I was happy to pay a premium for the quality and consistency of the meal selections at this Gelsons. Now, I no longer care to patronize this store for the reasons mentioned above, despite having been a loyal customer for many years. read more

Always great produce and terrific meats Have very heathy options to choose from as well like plantain chips, assorted yogurts, vegan items, low-fat,high fiber, low sodium and non-dairy options too. They have fresh deli items and yummy soups and rotosserie chicken. Pre-packaged food items great for lunch or snacks in deli area too! Breakfast bar items and sushi bar along with new bar area make a nice selection of options. Excellent checkout services from Dylan and Ryder too. Highly recommend! read more

Very disappointed to find out this location has no famous Gelson fresh squeezed orange juice!! Closest one is Newport Beach??

This location is highly recommended in Irvine, California. The store is very clean and well stocked at all times. There is a wide selection of food, especially in the deli and bakery areas. It is always a pleasure shopping at this supermarket. I am always impressed and thankful for how clean the store is. All of the staff are very friendly and professional. You are always greeted with a smile and a hello. They work very hard to help you if needed. A+ service all the way! read more

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Extremely overpriced so not so good quality food. I get organic blueberries from Whole Foods for $5 and they were almost $8 at Gelsons... the meat section was very limited and extremely expensive. If you want quality night as well go to Whole Foods. read more

It's a really nice clean supermarket with ample parking spaces outside. They have decent prices, but most likely they won't have the lowest prices in town. I have found each aisle to well organized and well stocked. When you enter the market from the right side, there are several food options including a nice salad bar in case you want to pick up something for lunch. They have a deli where you can either buy a ready-made sandwich or have them make one for you while you wait. They have a number system, so if it's really busy, be sure to grab a number! read more

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Best grocery store ever, the Irvine location has a wonderful young man named Christian who did the most fabulous and the best job ever

I totally don't write reviews but this time I would like to give a shout out to one of your employees in the salad department @ your Irvine location, her name is WILMA! She was very friendly, patient, and very polite. I am not a salad person but she helped me all the way, she did not give up until I finally decided what I want. She really went above and beyond. I would give her 10 stars if I could. I would definitely look for her next time for my salad ! read more

The cheese is just regular cheese put in a package with some nuts still looks fancy then you charge $30. I've tried all the hot soups they have no flavor. read more

Holiday turkey: I ordered online 2 pre-cooked turkeys ready to eat and pick up on Thanksgiving Day. My brother picked them up and I couldn't believe what they gave us - 2 pre-cooked FROZEN turkeys!!!! They needed to be in the oven for 3 hours, I was in shock. I even spoke to someone on the phone before ordering. The turkeys tasted good, but what a nasty surprise. read more

The Irvine Gelson's grocery store has had a total remodel and it is spectacular! They have a wine bar they have a sushi bar and they have a cheese counter. Their meat department's lamb and pork is the best in town. (I buy my beef at the butchery in Costa Mesa) The staff and check out clerks make sure there's never more than three people in a line waiting. They are all pleasant and engaging and no job is too small for them to assist their customers. I highly recommend The Gelson Irvine location and shop here regularly. read more

Was at pollo loco and had to pick up coffee and oat milk for my morning breakfast and decided to stop by Gelson's. As soon as I walked in, I saw bouquet of flowers at the entrance, the deli and salad bar. The store wasn't busy and it was easy to walk throughout locating the items that I was looking for. They had more of a selection of food and brands compared to your regular grocery store and Whole Foods. They also had a deli, bakery and coffee area and did I mention an on-site florist with a floral section along with plants. The staff was friendly and quick to assist with any questions I had while roaming around. read more

I love Gelson's deli. The food is so good. I preordered the prime rib for a small dinner party. They went a little under the amount I ordered which I was concerned about. I didn't think I would have enough meat for these hungry ladies but it was enough. I have sampled a lot of their other dishes and they are good but I just needed help with the protein. I was able to just reheat when I got home and it turned out perfectly. I would recommend preordering the meat that is served hot there or you will likely get super dry pieces. I will definitely use them again for another catered event. I wished I lived closer though because they don't send out coupons to me! read more

This used to be a well run and well stocked gourmet market, with an emphasis on their deli department. They recently remodeled the store and added a bar. Good grief. Now the deli is awful. Never have pre-made salads, as before, and staff are snarly and unhappy. So if you want a glass of wine and stare out the parking lot, then this is the place for you. But forget delicious food and a yummy salad or sandwich. Try Ralphs across the street. read more

So far everyone I've met at this location has been very friendly as well as helpful, from the managers to the box boys to the counter servers! I've never had anything not be delicious, I eat at the the deli counter a couple times a week. The sandwiches are made fresh and if you get the sandwich comp with 2 sides, try the fresh fruit and home style potato salad, my choice. I took my friend and he choose the fresh Turkey Leg, no complaints were received. They also have items you can (or at least only I can find) on their shelves. read more