Vibe/Interior: It feels like a mix between Whole Foods, H Mart, Sprouts, and a farmer's market all…read morein one! There is something for everyone Standouts: The produce section was unlike I've ever seen. There's an area where you can package your own greens, endless options for fruit, every kind of tomato you can think of and more! Service: Staff were friendly and knowledgeable Parking: Free parking lot Pro Tips: Look for the signs that say 'Special' for the best deals

Berkeley Bowl is a true East Bay institution, and the produce section is the main reason we keep…read morecoming back whenever we're in the area. The fruit selection here is exceptional. A must for us every single visit is the Honey Glow pineapple -- if you haven't tried one, you're missing out. They are incredibly sweet, almost like biting into pure sugar, but in the most natural and refreshing way. It's the kind of fruit that's hard to find at your average grocery store, and Berkeley Bowl delivers consistently. Beyond the pineapple, the quality across the board is impressive. The blueberries are plump and flavourful, the oranges are bright and juicy, and the wider fruit selection never fails to catch our eye. It's clear that real care goes into sourcing what ends up on those shelves. For anyone living in or passing through the East Bay, Berkeley Bowl is absolutely worth a stop. It's one of those places that makes grocery shopping genuinely enjoyable, and the produce alone is reason enough to visit.

I suggest this grocery for vegetarians and vegans. Berkeley Natural Grocery has less meats than…read moreanyone as far as I know.

Yeah no. Back in the mid 2000s, til about 2012, I regularly shopped in this small local,…read moreemployee-owned grocers because it was close to where I lived, I prefer small, neighborhood markets, and I liked that everything was organic. I liked the long-time manager Michael (now many years retired). I was out of state for about 10 years, and returned a few years ago. I have dropped in here now and then for an item or two (or just to use the restroom, which is always very clean), and left empty-handed each time because the prices are laughably exorbitant. You can tell a lot about a business - grocers or other - by the mood or attitude when you walk in. I don't know if employees have been burned by bad customers or if it is just more post-pandemic 'Weltschmerz,' but whenever I stopped in here I never felt welcomed, or as though the staff actually enjoy working here. I hear no customer-staff friendly banter, see hardly any smiles. It is just stony-faced, entitled (mostly white) people getting what they need, not interacting with or making eye contact with others, much less exchanging smiles or friendly "hellos." It is one more example of the bratty coldness that has taken over most of Berkeley, which breaks my heart. This used to be a lovely market to call my "neighborhood market," but absolutely no longer is. Before any employees or the manager chime in with a response to defend their laughably exorbitant prices by reminding me of how small a market they are - whoa there, little kitties - your prices are still higher than Monterey Market up the road or another employee-owned market, Berkeley Bowl. I can't even afford to puchase a bottle of mustard here, and must get it at Trader Joes. Be honest: This market is for VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE ONLY or for people who DON'T MIND MAXXING OUT THEIR CREDIT CARDS HERE so that they can feel like one of the "cool kids" for shopping here. Your produce is beautiful, your shop very spic 'n span clean, I appreciate that you offer non-GMO and Fair Trade groceries, but you could do better, truly, by making the less-than-ridiculously wealthy people feel more welcome here. You'd have to care about us first though.

I know where the best balls are, and no, this isn't a gay bar review. I'm talking about freshly…read moredeep-fried falafel balls, so take your mind out of the gutter, will ya? I'm talking about a tiny Middle Eastern kitchen inside the Berkeley Organic Market. I just happened on this spot as I was walking and feeling peckish in the family-friendly Elmwood neighborhood. One woman was behind the counter, so I assumed she was not only the face of Badan, she was Badan. I ordered the $9.99 Falafel Plate with three freshly deefalafel balls, hummus, baba ganoush, and a salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, turnip, pickles, and feta cheese (photo). It came with a fluffy pita quartered for easier scooping. The market only has one table out on the sidewalk which I shared with a young mother and her daughter. I can say unequivocally that everything tasted fresh. I believe the woman who prepared my plate made everything that morning, and it made me want to come back and try the shawarma, the lentil soup, and the wraps. Great balls. You're welcome. FOOD - 5 stars...truly fresh combo plate with standout falafel balls AMBIANCE - 4 stars...not much room here but a relaxing to-go option SERVICE - 5 stars...she was great TOTAL - 5 stars...psss, it's in the market RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

Ice Tea was Tea-licious very cool and refreshing just right amount of sweetness felt rejuvenated…read moreafter words :) will try again;)

This place is amazing. They use super clean ingredients and a lot of it is soy free which can be…read morehard to find. I do the weekly online pickup order - they always well organized and they have plenty of other options in the store. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable too. I will riot if this place ever closes!!

Wow! I can't believe I'm just discovering this place. They celebrated 20 years last week... better…read morelate than never. I'm trying to cut back on door dash and eat healthier, and this is great. I started doing the family dinner at wholefoods, but I prefer TSH because they use mostly organic ingredients and glass jars. I stocked up this week and spent about $450, which may last over a week. I say about because you get $1.50 back for every jar you return and I got a lot of jars. I grabbed 2 of each of the things that jumped out at me to get some variety and make sure meals are filling. I've been spending about 3k/month between DoorDash and going out, not counting grocery shopping. I'm really hoping this helps me save at least $1500/month on food... and more importantly give me time and energy to live a fuller life and enjoy my family more. My only disappointment is the lack of meat options. They have some chicken options and ground pork and ground beef, but my husband was still hungry after dinner yesterday and opened up a jar of sardines because the pork soup only had a few pieces of pork sausage. I'm really hoping to find more satiating meals here. The flavors are pretty tasty. I had one of the sauerkrauts, the cauliflower humus, a squash and cashew soup that were all tasty so far. The Lithuanian veggie borscht was very tart and escarole with tomatoes was ok. I'm saving my recipes to keep track of what we like and don't. The staff is super friendly and vibe is low key. Free parking next door is very convenient, just remember to return their carts. I'm also grateful they deliver all the way to SF and through the tunnel. Good luck getting DoorDash to do the same for the same price.

I love my neighborhood spot with Marco at the helm. Positive…read morevibes always and can always grab Something needed in a pinch.

Alex Market is the little market that could! They have an amazing selection in a VERY small space…read more Most of the brands are local and/or organic which offers a contrast from a lot of other bodegas. They even have my favorite gluten free bread (Bread Srsly). The owner and staff are very friendly and greet regular customers warmly. Recommended if you are in the area!

Stopped by Shattuck Market and overall it was an okay experience, but the customer service felt a…read morebit unprofessional. One interaction with an employee came across unnecessarily blunt and made the environment feel a little uncomfortable. The store itself is fine and has what you need, but a more polite and consistent approach to customers would improve the experience a lot. Not terrible, just room for improvement on the service side.

This is a reliable market super close to where I live and the owner is incredibly friendly and…read morehelpful. Such a neighborhood gem compact with helpful essentials!

Monterey Market is one of my go-to spots for produce, especially if you like variety. Their…read moreselection is huge, and the mushroom section is on another level, way beyond what you see at a normal grocery store. Fun fact: this place is famous for carrying hard-to-find and foraged produce and has been a quiet favorite of Bay Area chefs for decades, which explains why half the fruits look like they belong in a cooking show challenge. That said, the quality isn't flawless. This past summer the corn on the cob was disappointing, with a few ears already rotten at one end once you peel back the husk, so definitely inspect before buying. Also, the clientele is usually fine, but this visit featured an unnecessary checkout cameo from a full-volume Karen who felt the need to explain how standing in line works. The cashier chose silence, which felt like a statement. Still a great market overall, just keep an eye on the corn and maybe bring a little extra patience to the register.

We really appreciate the fruits & vegetables from here. It's a smaller scale, clean, well run…read moreproduce market with really fresh fruits & vegetables. The cashiers are pleasant & know their stuff. Parking lot can be annoying with its tight spots & configuation. There are plenty of spaces on the street tho, too!

Today I drove all the way from San Jose with my daughters to shop here. Hands down the best grocery…read morestore I've ever been to...beats Staff of Life in Santa Cruz and Rainbow Foods on SF which are also favorites. The quality and selection is unbeatable. I have to shop at three different ethnic stores in the South Bay to find what I need here all in one stop. Please bring a Berkeley Bowl to the South Bay! I know it's wishful thinking. I told my daughters today we will make two monthly trips for groceries here and nearby Three Stone Hearth.

Took off one star from my last review for what has been my favorite grocery store for many years…read more Why? Because I've finally had it with the lackluster, tired attitude of most of the staff who work here. WHAT'S HAPPENING, Berkeley Bowl West Management? Why aren't your employees happier? There is a huge difference between your workers (particularly the checkers) and the checkers at Trader Joe's, as one example. The latter are usually pleasant, friendly, cheerful and seem to enjoy their jobs for the most part. Everyone has an off day once in a while, but every time I shop here, the checkers seem to be anxious for their next break. There is a crack in your foundation. It's also a drag to so often have overcharges that would go unnoticed by me if I had not taken a receipt. I can't recall a time I was UNDER charged, but overcharges happen often. I love, love, love that you do not play music in your store. My sensitive nature thanks you, very much.

Came in with my mom who seen this place and wanted to look around and we were NOT disappointed!! We…read morewere able to find traditional herbs that we've been looking for, for a long time and were treated very well. The owner was very knowledgeable about different ways to utilize the herbs and all the herbs we inquired about!! We will definitely be back! Our new favorite go to place!!

I had a lovely experience here…read more Did nit know what i was coming for but wanted to explore the shop. The owner was very kind and welcoming. You can sign up for classes for late spring 2024 through their website. The owner has many teas and can help guide you for a possibly remedy (if you are experiencing parasites for example after a trip overseas) or something as simple as needing to boost your immune system to avoid being sick. He can also offer teas that help you retain supplements you take and if you are experiencing depression he will offer a 30min consultation for $45 prior to determining what herbs to prescribe you and to make sure they don't have a negative effect on medicine you might already be taking. *your teas have to seep 15 min prior to having them. He also makes a great lip balm and a lovely facial serum. Two tea sachets and one face serum cost me $70. I will definitely keep him in mind for future needs.

Great values, nice people, very expensive, limited selection, potentially old/not-as-fresh produce…read more I've been coming here on and off for the past few years (lockdown excluded) on my way home after RSF visits. Convenient place to grab something like a spice, frozen meal, or miscellaneous kitchen item. But you'll pay for that convenience. I find items are marked up ~20% compared to TJ's or Safeway. That said, I recognize this place isn't a massive chain and goes out of its way to maintain certain standards/values that regular grocers don't. I recently bought some cookies (pictured below) and a pound of pinto beans which came out to $8 after a 10% discount (tip at time of writing: get discount by filling out survey). Cookies actually tasted fantastic. The dried pinto beans seem to be a bit old based on how long it took to prepare them, still okay though. I decided not to go for the fresh fruit because they looked battered. Overall, nice place that's conveniently located, but on the pricier side and doesn't have enough to cover all your grocery needs.

they scam you at check out they dont show you the price of anything, add a huge tip and then charge…read moreyou 2x the price of a normal store. the students who work there are scamming. the food is stale, you can see from the other reviews, the food is not super safe. not a good safe place.