There are plenty of workers on the floor and 1-2 cashiers as needed. Looked well stocked and organized for the most part. Treatment wasn't the best. I brought in my own shopping bag (the new Target bags) because I was only picking up a couple small items, no cart necessary. A staff member came up directly next to me while shopping, pretended to fix some chip bags that were in perfectly good order. Then startled me after already being there for a couple minutes by asking if I needed help with anything as I placed a bag of chips in my shopping bag. Clearly thought I was stealing. Get with the program buddy, shopping with reusable shopping bags are a thing! My cashier was totally fine, just going through the motions, pretty typical. I told her what happened and she said she'd share it with him, who happened to be the Assistant Manager. read more

We stopped coming here. It's always a miss. They only have fresh produce when the truck comes in. Then through out the week and on to the next they sell rotten vegetables and fruits. We've come many times and the broccolis look like they are on their deathbeds. Same as the many of the fruits, especially bananas! You may get lucky one day and find non rotting fruit and/or veggies. Watch out for expiration dates! Their bread has mold too, inspect everything before you buy it! They do have good milk though, but the popular ones run out. They have good bulk candy (again look out for expiration dates). read more

Smart & Final Extra! - Old bananas - Grocery Near Me - San Marcos, California

This is one of the better Smart & final I been to . They have bulk deals one food ideas and some times at a good price. This store staff is professional and polite and always do a food job. I got two case of water and some cinnamon rolls. Water was 1.99 plus crv and the rolls 87 cents. Thank you I vome back when I can. Q read more

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After purchasing a gift card in early December 2025 without a pin from this store, I am still awaiting the elusive call from Eddie in management to refund or replace the $150 gift card. read more

Found good deals , I recommend shopping here. and Melissa the cashier that helped me was kind.

Every time we buy gift cards here we have some kind of problem. I don't know if the cashiers are pocketing them or what but we have bought gift cards here and once it's time to redeem them, they are empty or were never activated. What made me actually make this review is that my mom went to buy a gift card and when she was checking out she asked for $20 on the card. The cashier said yes and charged her. Once it went through the guy told her he had to do it again since the register was supposedly not letting him do it for $20, and proceeded to tell her that he could only do $25 and up. My mom asked if she would be double charged since the transaction had already gone through. He told her no, and crumpled up the first receipt. She was wary but he assured her she would not be double charged. She bought the card for $25 this time and that was that. When she checked her bank statement , it had both the $20 charge and the $25 charge. So all this is just to say, DO NOT BUY GIFT CARDS HERE!!! they will scam you :( read more

Amy was rude to her staff. Bless the cashier who helped us. Produce was organized fine, staff was helpful except for Amy who seemed to be annoyed by her responsibilities. read more

I don't usually write reviews as I have been in guest service for 30 years and understand all kinds of frustrating situations. But I was in this Smart and final today and sadly I needed to purchase a whole lot of Romain lettuce for a business. Usually, we are better prepared, but unfortunately, we did not get what we needed today. So I had to clear out the majority of their Romain lettuce. This is obviously something I don't enjoy doing and would not do typically. While doing this, Marco, I believe is his name, came up to me to explain to me that I am not allowed to purchase all of it. At which point I argued that I am a customer and purchased it anyways. It felt very disrespectful and frustrating as a customer who is just trying to purchase the product that they have in the store. Again, I do see his frustration, but I did still feel that it was not appropriately handled or how it was directed at me. read more

Fills in the Costco gaps. This non-memberships grocery / office deli supply store is the ideal place to stock up on supplies for a party or event. Prices are better than Ralph's and Vons, and they sell individual sizes as well as bulk. - Candy, even vintage brands - Like ALDI but with brands names - Coffee syrups, tons of sugar free options - Cooking supplies (small and large) sizes - Pappy's Seasoning - Large selection of 505 hatch salsas here. Even though there's a location in Escondido, this is a much cleaner location. read more

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I just had the worst experience with a cashier ever. I quickly grabbed a few items for an upcoming party. Chicken franks were advertised at $3.99, sodas at $3.99, and chips at $1.99. I estimated my total to be around $35. When the cashier (Juana) told me the total was $54, I asked if all my discounts had been applied. She didn't even look and just said yes. I pointed out that the total was about $20 more than I expected. She rolled her eyes and again said all discounts had been applied. She called her manager over, and while speaking to him, she rolled her eyes repeatedly. I'm surprised he didn't stop her, but he didn't seem very sharp himself. She asked if I had clipped my coupons, and I said I thought so. I showed her my coupons, and she rolled her eyes again, saying I hadn't clipped the one for the soda. I'm new to this store, and their digital coupons are confusing. That doesn't mean I should be treated disrespectfully. When she rolled her eyes again, I asked her to please stop and reminded her I'm a paying customer. I told her I'd be sure to leave feedback. I grabbed my items and headed to my car. I noticed the kettle chips didn't have the discount, even though she said several times that it did. I called the Vista location to ask if I could get my refund there, but they said no. I was worried about what I might say if I saw that cashier roll her eyes at me again. I needed the refund, so I went back and had to deal with the lazy manager again. He seemed annoyed to have to leave the front office and actually work. He didn't apologize for the mistake and just gave me the refund. I didn't catch his name. One employee who was very sweet and helpful both times I needed his assistance was Vincent. He apologized when I came back and I told him what had happened. He needs to train Juana and the manager! I have always had positive experiences at the Carlsbad and Vista locations but San Marcos needs to retrain Juana and the manager who was on duty ASAP! read more

The string cheese we got didn't taste right but it said it's expire by next month. When we went to return it and get another one. We found out that most of those string cheese bags in the refrigerator were expired. Even the chicken thighs we got from this place smelled bad when I opened it to make dinner. I was wrong to check what the hype was about with Smart and Final. Never again!! read more

I like that they keep a full stock of the items I get there frequently for my business events. Pretty good service and decent bathroom cleanliness. Thanks read more

This is a great grocery store! The best thing here, are the prices, the tidiness of the store, the short lines and the friendly service. Also, surprisingly, their products in stock! Smart and final is not as common as Von's or Ralph's or Albertson's (by the way, why are they all named the same way?) It is not as comprehensive as your regular grocers, but you'll be surprised how you manage to get everything you need for a couple of meals here! They don't have everything and don't carry a lot of brands of one item, but they have one or two brands of many items which, when you think about it, is really what you need, unless you're a very specific shopper. They have a good selection of produce which even includes few varieties of berries and even organic bananas! And this is the BEST PLACE to get your party going or send your hungry kids off to school. They have two aisles of disposable dinner ware and containers (paper, hard plastic, styrofoam) for you to choose from for dirt cheap prices. I was so happy to find the small styrofoam cups I need for liquid nitrogen at work haha! I love this store. It's right off the freeway too! Please stay in business. read more

I hit Smart N Final whenever I'm making a bunch of stuff in larger quantities. Their prices are sometimes cheaper then Costco or equivalent. I like that I no longer have to scan a card to get a discount! I always forget lil cards! Great place for party supplies as well. Large trays with lids, Jell-0 shot cups. I also found Larger bags of Jell-o so I didn't have to buy a bunch of lil boxes and I could make Jell-o shots in ONE shot! ;-) People at the checkout are also very friendly. read more

This store has lots of restaurant and party supplies at great prices. We were able to buy restaurant to go bags for use at our home. How often is that you get to buy party supplies and regular groceries in one stop? This is great! read more

Another new discovery thanks to my dad. Smart & Final is a great place to shop for bargains, particularly if you're a seasoned shopper and know what a good deal looks like. Some things at Smart & Final are great buys while others are just sub par. They usually carry ground pork, which is a huge plus for my dad (it can be so hard to find!). Average-priced produce, inexpensive dairy and a good selection. I'm a fan! read more

Good store, large variety, super sized to include fruits and veggies. Pretty clean and plenty of stock. Some good prices on sale items. read more

Well stocked and organized Smart and Final. Produce was fresh, with better prices than Vons. This location has more restaurant supplies than other Smart and Final Extra locations- more bulk sizes and specialty restaurant items. I like their checkout system- one line and next in line gets called to the first available register. Great selection of canned foods. There is a Wells Fargo ATM outside in front of the store, too. The only thing was that the cart was dirty and sticky but they had a spray bottle and paper towels available so I had to clean the cart myself. read more

Got basic groceries for $30 which would have cost $60 or more at Ralph's! Staff member recognised from my expression that I needed help and approached me! read more

HAO, as per manager he things his lids don't apparently sell enough, loosing customers need to carry them. HAO!!! read more

Smart & Final Extra! - Grocery Near Me - San Marcos, California

The "People's Costco." You don't need a membership. It's also rather clean and organized. The beauty of SNF is that you have the luxury of a regular grocery store, but you can get them in bulk too - but in smaller quantities, crate size - and not wheeled out to your car on a pallet. For this reason, I go to SNF if I'm looking for a regular item, or alcohol for that matter. LOL Sure, it lacks electronics, DVDS, furniture, backyard items, but SNF does have pinatas (at some locations)? And cool Chinese zodiac paper dinner placemats? Regardless, it's a nice alternative since it's smaller in scale and you don't have to fight the Costco crowds. Though if SNF had $1.62 dogs (tax included), I'd consider forgoing my Costco membership. PS. You can also get a Quart of Naked Juice - Green Machine for $5.00. A quart is an elusive size for Naked Juice. Think about it. read more

I come here to get my yeast on. Huge blocks of Active Dry Yeast and also SAF instant yeast for awesome prices, far better than grocery stores if you do a lot of bread baking. This is my baking yeast pit stop. Seriously, if you do a lot of bread baking, shopping for yeast @ grocery store = epic fail city. You get about 20 times the quantity for about twice the cost- and Red Star/SAF are better brands IMHO than Fleishmann's and other grocery store brand. I also come here for the overripe banans on discount to make banana bread with. It is a bit like Costco here, except without the non-food related items. They're also carrying more higher end brands like King Arthur Flour- which is good :) I'm really picky about my flour, and King Arthur is one of my very favorite brands in terms of quality- so I'm very happy to see that SF finally carries KA flour. Checkout can be a bit slow, since people tend to have gynormous amounts in their shopping carts, a la Costco. read more

It's been two years since my last review so I felt it needed an update. I have to say, they haven't really improved on customer service but I have to upgrade my initial review because they have made some cosmetic changes to the store which makes it look a lot more updated. Their produce section actually looks official rather than an after thought. No organics but it's nicely stocked and it's no longer in the back. It's new home is to the left as you enter the store where the janitorial items once were. You can't miss it. They did not acquire new square footage but with the new redesign, it does seem larger. The new layout makes a lot more sense and is easy to navigate. I wonder if their customer service handbook will soon get a make over as well? P.S.Smart & Final - I suggest stocking shelves BEFORE you open. The dozens of employees stocking the shelves on Monday (around 11am) blocking all the aisles with their carts stacked so high with broken down cardboard boxes makes it difficult to maneuver through the aisles. It was certainly not pleasant nor safe for customers. read more

I still go to S&F for the excellent Tyson Sausage Patties and the Jones Dairy Link Sausage and Jones Dairy Breakfast Ham. Excellent products. Their produce section is still mediocre. I'll buy the long, green onions and once in a while a head of lettuce (if I can find one which isn't rusted). Seems like I always get hit in the face with a stream of water when doing so and they only put one roll of plastic bags in the overhead. I'd shop there more if they carried the following products: 1) Louisiana Seasoned Shrimp Fry and/or Chicken Fry seasoning. 2) Kikkoman Fried Rice Seasoning Mix 3) Sun-Bird Fried Rice Seasoning Mix 4) Kimchee in bottles. I tried a bag of 1st Street Potato Chips. I should have taken my own advice which I gave in my earlier review. They were salted to the maximum. Horrible! I know about snack foods. I use to OWN a snack food manufacturing company where I made potato chips and fried pork rinds. The chips themselves were fine... they just need to cut back on the salt. Way back! I also bought a few russet potatoes and had to toss half of them out. They had rotten centers and/or bruises so deep that about half the potato was gone when I finished peeling! I still have to go to WinCo for the products listed above and of course, the PRIMARY excellent shopping experience is at Costco for the highest quality over all. Oh, and tell Summer to smile once in a while and not be so terse. ;-) Otherwise, the employees I've spoken with have been nice and helpful which is sincerely appreciated. I hope S&F get better. They have a good location with a lot of parking in the area. If they would just step up the quality of their produce, add more specialty products, and open up a cash register when the line gets long. Who wants to grow old standing in line forever? ;-) read more

The store has a nice variety of items. Unfortunately it seems like the isles can be a little narrow.

This review is for the managers who were working midday on Wednesday this week. I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off (as per usual) and after chatting with the nice cashier, got distracted and left my wallet behind. They called me within ten minutes (they found my business card in my wallet) and let me know it was there. When I went to retrieve it shortly thereafter, the $300+ in cash that had just been paid to me that morning by a client was still all there. I like to believe that people in general are honest, but it made me feel good to know that the Smart and Final staff are part of that group and that they were compelled to promptly let me know what I had done. They actually notified me before I had even figured it out on my own! Kudos to them. read more

We are big fans of Smart and Final. Being owners of Onnys Thai requires us to pick up food from time to time. For the amount of food choices and produce that we sometimes require we know we can rely on Smart and Final to have what our needs are. Additionally the staff is very friendly and will always open up a new lane if they see anyone waiting in a line. We highly recommend Smart and Final not even for being a restaurant owner but for a typical family as they really have great deals on groceries and top notch service. read more

Ya know I love coming here for the quick trips. They usually have what I am looking for and the prices are good. They have good sales on chicken and that's what I came for this time. My only complaint is that they sometimes don't have enough lines open. This trip saw me 7th in line with only one register open....ugh. Other than that this place is aok with me. If you are looking to save some money off National Brands try the First Street brand. They put out a good product and can be significantly cheaper than the name brand. Smart and Final is one of 4 places we shop and none of them are those high priced grocery chains. Haven't stepped foot in one in ages. Give this place a try if you haven't yet. read more

Today is the first time I came in here to actually shop, not just grab mass quantities for a party. I needed something in between Costco and Sprouts or a regular grocery mart so I came in. I was surprised to learn it doesn't all come in mass quantity. I never knew I had a choice here on what I wanted to buy in single item and what my family would go through faster. The prices are on par with the regular markets, and you don't need the membership card. I am a fan. This location was cool also due to having produce. read more

This is gonna sound funny, but I only come to Smart & Final for condiment supplies such as ketchup/mustard/mayonnaise whenever I have a cook-out. That and party trays. read more

Dropped in here on Friday for a quick snack and bottle of wine. The wine and liquor selection is decent-to-ok, but this a great spot to come first for grocery shopping and even a snack run. I also got some interesting different gum flavors for the road, all for a great price! Staff is friendly, the store is clean, and the prices are good. What more could you ask for? read more

5 star for their customer service since 2003. Been going there about every 60 days. Kudos for those that work there and earned my 5 star rating. Not even a bad day, which I would just forget about and ignore. Very easy parking. Very easy in and out. Very few small parking spaces for those that want to avoid dents like ME! read more

To update my complaint regarding the sour coffee cream - today I went in and they replaced the cream. The manager thinks I have done this before with the cream but it was the first time. I should say that I always receive good service and thrown it away. I do appreciate the store, am a regular shopper and would remove my prior complaint if I could. read more

Nice prices and selection. Frozen options galore. They appear to have both consistent items as well as rotating products/ brands. My only complaint is the produce section - appears messy and most organic options were near spoiling. Average size for Smart and Final store. Service was fast and courteous despite being limited to 1 checker. Will certainly return for bulk and frozen items. read more

I love this place - located on San Marcos Blvd. it is a cross between Trader Joes and a food service restaurant supply store. I can get fresh produce (and it is always fresh) from potatoes, avocados, tomato and fresh fruits, get frozen proteins from chicken and shrimp to refrigerated products from ground round, bacon, chicken, and other bakery items. This place is a cross between Costco and a restaurant supply store - i can get various deli packaging and ziplock bags for all my cooking needs. Cashiers are very nice and helpful - lots of parking and they are on San Marcos Blvd. read more

They really need to teach cashiers to get the next one in line when opening a new register. Especially when the cashier in the line you are in is stopping to talk to the other cashier further delaying the speed. I usually only get stuff I can't get at Winco there but now I'll just go get those things sat Ralph's or Albertsons. read more

I cook almost daily for my family. The reason for my Chubbiness. Lol! This location has the best employees. They are Professional and Friendly. The Managers are great too! The store is clean and well stocked. I have the best shopping experience from time that I enter the store to the time that I leave. Great Job Everyone! Thank you for always being so kind! read more

Smart & Final offers very competitive prices on grocery items such as eggs, milk, butter and water under their First Street brand. Their ad's don't always offer the best prices for other items I am interested in (12 packs of soda for example). They do offer 24 packs of Mexican Coke & Pepsi if you prefer the glass bottles. The store is located conveniently off San Marcos blvd and right near the 78 freeway. I will come back for their First Street items. read more

I like this store. I really do. Its very large and has a lot of variety. They always have a good produce selection and the prices on meat are fair. I only have a a couple issues with this store in particular.They usually only have 2 checkers at the front at all times. I usually go here in the evening as do most when they get off of work, so you would think that the staff would accommodate. Unfortunately, there is just not the staff to meet the needs in the whole store. If you are looking for an item in particular, you will not be able to find someone to help with that...Just walk up and down every aisle:) So expect to wait in line...and its usually long as people who shop here like bulk, and the arts are usually full. The OTHER negative is the lighting outside of this store. As a female, I like for a store to be well lit at nighttime and this one, unfortunately at nighttime has none of their lights on. I was thinking last night, as I walked to my car, how dangerous it is to be in the dark night, hands full of groceries,and no lights... They can definitely afford to hire a couple more checkers at night and to power up those lights on the building. read more

Ok I love Smart & Final, and almost EVERY time the people are professional and courteous. Today I sent an employee to get some items and he got a cashier whom I can only assume was having a BAD DAY. She was nasty, wouldn't get off the phone to work with the customer ( my employee) and to top it off accused us of using a counterfeit coupon. When I called the store DIRECTLY back upon hearing how she had treated my staff, I asked for a corporate phone number or a manager on duty.(This same cashier happened to answer the phone) She told me to wait a minute then came right back on the line and said SHE was the manager. If she is a manager then help us all!!! Customer service is TRULY DEAD!!! I am following this up with a corporate call. We do NOT have to settle for this kind of service. We have options. And mine is to NOT shop the San Marcos Smart & Final read more