I love to come here and buy their uncooked chicken wing drummettes. They are in the freezer department and come in a 4 pound bag. It's nice to use them for football game and sporting events on TV. Drumettes are the larger portion of the chicken wings so they are more substantial for a snack. read more

Smart & Final Extra! - Grocery Near Me - El Cajon, California

I have to post in appreciation of the store's efforts to include more Gluten Free food selections in this location! The selection is now more varied, from shelf to freezer, and I appreciate the clearly marked areas of GF foods. The prices are fair and the quality is extremely good. Only one tiny drawback.... The recent remodel resulted in wider aisles but they are still very difficult to navigate with Shopping baskets if there are more then 3 - 5 people passing in the aisle. Staff rocks!!! The staff is cheerful, always ready to help and checkout is efficient! I especially enjoy checking out with cashier, Pamela... she is professional, welcoming and her positive interaction compels me to return to this location instead of shopping at a competitors who are located closer to my home. I choose to shop at Smart & Final and I choose this location... I value my time, my money and I appreciate quality. read more

I only shop here because it's so close. I bought edamame that was on sale thinking it was a steal... I ate some to find it tasting a little dry. I look on the back for the expiration date and it's THREE months expired. Are you kidding me? I'm pretty sure it's a violation to sell expired food!! read more

I only shop here every now and then because it is the closest grocery store by my house. To be plain and simple, if there were other stores nearby, I would never go to this one. The parking is terrible. It always seems to be cramped/full, not to mention the parking lot is dirty. It is littered with trash and to-go boxes, cans, etc. The check out lines are ridiculous. There will be a line of 15 customers (no exaggeration) and they will NOT open up a new lane. I literally spend more time waiting in the check out lane than I do actually shopping. read more

The buying experience is usually very pleasant for me. This place carries most of the products I need. read more

They didn't have what I needed on the shelf in the meat dept. I asked Ashley for help and she walked all the way back there herself and found it. She called a gentlemen to date it for me so I can buy it. Usually in a grocery store you dont see that kind of help anymore. She went above and beyond to help me. read more

The cleanliness of this particular locations bathroom was TERRIBLE. It reminded me of a scene from a horror movie.

Your typical local neighborhood smart & final. Clean, well stocked, and friendly helpful staff. I like that they carry items in bulk. It saves me from having to make multiple trips to the grocery store as well as a lil moolah. read more

Walked in to fill a cart with supplies for a school party. Walked out after I heard the manager named Gus loudly and condescendingly scold an employee for dropping a bag of chips in an aisle. I don't want to give my students' money to a place that treat employees poorly. Off to Costco I go! read more

Lines are always too long! Remedy this please and open more registers...especially during the evenings when people do their shopping. I'm typing this while I stand in a line longer than the Baja peninsula... read more

This used to be a really good store before different the mgmt. took over. Now you have to wait in line as there is usually only one open. And there seems to be arguing between the staff. I will be searching for another place to go. read more

I kept getting emails about grocery delivery. I did it twice (the first time delivery was free) and now I have INSTACART that took a $149 subscription fee from my account. I went online to Smart & Final and paid for my grocerys and they shared by bank account info with another company. Don't be scammed by them. They don't ask they just give account info and that company will charge your account. They have taken no responsibility either. I'm sure this is totally illegal, to share someone's bank information with another company! read more

Customer Service is very poor, I have been talked to rudley before from a checker and complained to the manager. More recently I was waiting in a very long busy line, while the check next door closed her check stand, ok. Then one of her co workers came up with about as many things as I had and asked if she would open, Her name is Silvia, She did letting the co worker check out in front of the line I was in with about 6 others waiting. When I was in the parking lot, I saw the checker who did that and asked if she realized what she did. she said she was in a hurry and did not want to wait. WTF, so am I, and the other 6 people you cut in front of B**tch!! I hope management reads this casue your new young checkers SUCK! read more

I went in today just to pick up a few things, store was clean and stocked however when I got to checkout the employee was very rude. I was on the first check stand and the employee that rang us up was Kassandra. I tried conversing in friendly conversation multiple times with her and she did not say a word. She only told me that I needed to sign when it was time to pay and told me to have a nice day. When she was scanning and checking out she had a disgusted look on her face. I have been going to smart and final for years and am very appalled at the service I had today. read more

normally the bad attitudes here don't get to me but the cashier armida I had tonight just was so rude. Didn't even say hello. Acted like I was ruining her night. The only time she spoke to me was when she said my total. Then she piled all my groceries into 1 bag when I clearly has 2 making it more difficult for me. Then After I left she turned on her nice charm and started being all sweet to the person after me. I don't know what I did but no customer should be treated this way read more

ekkkkkkkk me thinks this store has lost touch with who is keeping their store open....it is the fuxn customer...i see their doors closing soooooooon, and what they call a manager "oscar"....i asked that stool to please double bag my heavy items so as soon i pick them up they do not fall out the bottom and break.....that fool would not double bag my items....thanks i do not give my money to bullshit....and neither should you...i will never shop this hole again......even if they are giving all their shit way for free.....they have fux fux mentality .... read more

The store is nice and has some great buys but the customer service is definitely lacking. They still don't let you bring bags in and have the nerve to charge you for theirs. I had a large order yesterday and was still unloading my cart when the lady freaked out that I had my own bags. Saying they are not allowed in the store. She asked if she could start bagging some of my things with their bags, when I said ok, just bag the smaller items, she started schlocking things into bags placing heavy items on top of fragile items because she was trying to hurry. When I proceeded to come over and start placing heavy items on the bottom of my car and stacking lighter items on to my items were falling out of the cart she asked if I needed more bags before she could give me the total. I said you're not actually charging me for bags are you? She told me, I'm sorry, but if they were mine to give away I would. I mean is that even legal? You can't bring in your own bags, but we'll be happy to charge you for ours? Otherwise your stuff will be falling out of the cart while your trying to get it thru the parking lot! This is the second time I've left the store so pissed off I swore I'd never go back. Trying to juggle $250 worth of groceries and pay your bill and stack your items properly so that your bread and bananas aren't crushed is not fun. This is a terrible way to treat customers! read more

recently remodeled to be more like a grocery store than a warehouse store. Some of the more restaurant supply items are harder to come by but it is large and clean with a large selection of goods in single & bulk. You have to know regular grocery store prices tho because sometimes it does tend to be higher here, The staff were friendly and helpful. I have a feeling the parking can be tight in the late afternoon, evening and weekend as they share a parking lot with Sizzler. read more

I would shop here only if they have something in sale price, especially their foster farm chickens. Sometimes I buy food containers. Parking space is plenty. read more

Saw Big sign, 18 packs $9.99. What the heck good deal I'm going to buy one. Looked at receipt and it says $13.99. Went back in and checker tells me you have to buy two to get that price. I stated; well your sign says 9.99 nowhere does it say , have to buy two. Then she tells me it's in our add. I explain I don't have an add and I'm going off what the sign says. She tries to show me the add and I just point to the BIG sign that says 9.99 and nothing else. What a joke, talk about suckering people. SHAME ON YOU dumb and start. read more

I've been shopping here for our company for a while, and have had no problems with the employees at all. The store is always clean and if i can't find what i need, someone always helps out. We had a luncheon at work and before cleaning out the hamburgers from the freezer, we had an employee ask if we needed help. He went to the freezer in back and brought out what we needed. And then helped with the rest of the bulk order. Great Job...... Thanks Guys read more

Excellent team spirit, support & the Best Customer Service ever - i own a deli, for the last two years almost, i am there daily basis, not once i was neglected... just wonderful people. Thank yo so much fora job well done. You are the best. As soon as i walk in the store, i am greeted with wonderful staff, working very hard to get the job done right... From Pat to Gus and to all floor staff - read more

Aaron, the Service Manager went out of his way to help me locate, call other stores and even ordered the item to ensure I would have it in time for my party. I have always had decent service at this store but today the customer service was exceptional and the Regional Manager(s) should take a good look at Aaron and his qualities and require all other managers follow his lead. Oscar was also extremely helpful and very friendly also. read more

Rotting food, expired food, wrong prices and nasty employees. I have been shopping here for years but only because it's the closest store to my house. Because it's close by I have ignored the problems but no longer. On many occasions the sweet potatoes are rotting and have flies. I told the produce department manager about it but it keeps happening. Often times food on the shelf is past expiration. Also watch out because when an item is on sale and usually rings up regular price. Smart & final company policy according to their website is that if an item rings up for a higher price they're supposed to give you the item free. I have brought it to their attention many times that they've overcharged me & they've never given me the item free. They either don't know their own companies policy or don't care. Also they harass you over returns. Company policy again on the website is total customer satisfaction no matter for return or exchange for any reason. However the manager is harass the customer returns. If a product has been partly consumed they often won't take it back because you ate part of it. They don't care if you liked it or not. I once bought a prepackaged party salad tray and the tomatoes were rotten. We ate everything but the rotten tomatoes. The manager gave me a hard time saying where is the rest of the salad. We were hungry and didn't want to waste food. It's enough of a reason to return because part of it was rotted. If the item is still sealed they harass you about why you're returning something you didn't even try. They will give you a hard time whether the item has been opened and partly consumed or not. You're allowed to return something because you didn't like it or for any reason according to their policy. I believe this store trains their managers this way in order to intimidate customers from returning items. I spend thousands of dollars a year shopping at this location. But no longer. read more

I really loved this store but something has changed. I got terrible produce once and noticed that all of the bagged salads were actually slimy inside the package. The fresh lettuce was wilted. I bought what I could find that looked okay but it smelled awful when I brought it home. Also bought blueberries and they were also bad. I thought this must have just been an off day in the produce department and just threw the stuff out. I had mentioned to the cashier that the produce department looked pretty rough and she said she had heard that a few times! Anyway a week later I bought tomatoes in a sealed package. when I opened the package and turned over each tomato the bottoms had black rotted spots. Something is wrong with the temperature or the produce is just not being rotated. The store is also dirtier than it used to be. I'm hoping things improve. This store is close for me and I want to like it but something is not right read more

I am wondering if they carry BelVita Blueberry Breakfast Bars. That really would be a plus because Costco sells BelVita but in Cinnamon/ Brown Sugar, yuck. read more

I would really like to thank Freddie that works here he really made my night when he found more orange fanta in the back and also help me find something else with no problem so thank Freddie you made me a happy camper. read more

WOW ! What a nice surprise on our first visit to this store over the weekend. Expecting it would be like our Murrieta store which is a bit dumpy and horribly laid out; we found a nicely lit and organized, well stocked store that we will definitely revisit when we're down here! Great store! read more

I think that this store is well managed, but the prices could be more competitive with Costco prices. Many times I will choose to go to Costco over smart and final because many of the grocery items I get on a regular basis are cheaper at Costco. The staff is friendly and the store is very clean. Overall, it is a good grocery store, but because of it's lack of competitive prices I wouldn't give it five stars. read more

every girl that works here is sooooo beautiful!!! I'll go here for the rest of my life. oh yea and they work hard too

Awesome staff and great produce selection. Cashiers are always friendly and smiling, I appreciate being rung up by happy enployees. It can get REALLY busy in an instant but they call up everyone up to help and get us out fast. I like the energy here, it makes me want to come back instead of going elsewhere. read more