Peanut Butter Pretzels: I do like the dark chocolate-covered pretzels CANDY from Trader Joe's. These peanut butter ones covered in milk chocolate are one of my favorites. They feature square-shaped pretzels filled with creamy peanut butter and doused with a luscious milk chocolate coating. These are seriously bite-sized pieces of heaven. I like creamy peanut butter, and I like how each piece sports a good amount of PB. And, though I like dark chocolate, the milk chocolate exterior makes each pretzel even more indulgent. I try to make my stash last for as long as possible and ration my portions! These pretzels are addictive, though, so I get at least two bags (three if there's a sale). read more

My experience at this TJ has been great. Parking is not difficult and the store is well-stocked. The staff are respectful, helpful and very nice in general. read more

This update is about Customer Relations ( though as I write this, I am munching on TJ's Mushroom Turnovers). Yesterday, I went to Adronico's on University Ave to get a jar of pickled watermelon rind. ( sounds peculiar, it is a very Southern condiment, sweet ant sharp) At the check out counter, as the clerk was ringing up my few purchases (the condiment section was full of nostalhia), she was telling a fellow worker( who was not working) about her plans for her summer vacation.Never once did she even make eye contact. I sighed. Even though TJ is taking lots of business away from them, The Adronico's staff does not understand an important part of TJ's success. One never needs to say, " Hey there, I am important, without me you'd have no job" At any Trader Joe's. read more

Trader Joe's is a wondrous experience for the uninitiated. For starters, the employees are so mellow and friendly you'd think they were working in a head shop. We were barely there two minutes, when a friendly chap in a Hawaiian shirt sidled up and chatted with us as he idly played with his fat-beaded necklace. We also got to meet the woman who creates ALL the hand-painted signs and shelf labels. When we suggested that drawing cartoon cherries and writing prices in colourful liquid crayon was the coolest job in the world she seemed genuinely surprised and replied serenely, "yeah, I guess so." Shopping here is fun. Almost every item is draped in their nutty packaging. They also feature peculiarities like "peanut flour" and "frozen chocolate dipped bananas" and TWO types of dried mango. And as a Canadian, the concept of $2 wine makes my synapses fire madly. In retrospect, I should have got a bottle. Fuck it, I should have bought a case. Obligatory Title Pun: Hey JOE, where you going with that dried mango in your hand? Menu Readability: A harlequin delight. Need to mention: The prices are quite reasonable. What this place teaches me about myself: I could spend a lifetime in Trader Joe's. read more

what is so special about this place? Why all the hype? Their corporate HQ extols the virtues of bringing your own bag but they package their produce in plastic.... All of their food, save the produce, is highly processed and therefore not very good for the body. You're better off going to Fred's Market around the corner and keeping your dollars local. read more

Everyone has their own spiritual "happy place." It may be a particular tea garden, a shoreline, a coffee shop nestled in a busy intersection. Mine happens to be Trader Joe's. No shame. Great selection of fresh produce, bread, your typical items. What makes it stand apart from any other grocery store is all their customized items that you may call hipster but really just haven't tried them before making your judgment call. From the dark chocolate bars filled with cookie butter to fig butter to their amazing pumpkin pecan oatmeal, there's always something quirky and delicious for any person's taste buds. The service is also spectacular - they always open my egg cartons to make sure that none of them have cracked, and actually make really interesting conversation. A trip here is always filled with love, food, and happiness. All of those words have the same definition, but you get what I mean. read more

An almost-perfect TJs. Garage parking so the pup doesn't get hot while he's waiting in the car, ample wine selection, all the regular groceries you find at any TJs but seemingly more at this location (?) and the happiest, most polite customers of any TJ. Cashiers are friendly and efficient - help them bag, people! I usually go to whatever TJ is closest when I'm linking trips to grocery stores, and you can't get everything at TJ (nor would I want to) but you can definitely get the bulk of your grocery items here and get a lot of specialty items at Berkeley Bowl. They complement each other nicely. Only thing keeping it from 5 stars - no coffee samples and the worst cell phone service I have ever seen while shopping. read more

Good eats, great prices! This is a perfect place to buy all your veggies for your salads for lunch. IMO, the best time to go is between 10a-1p or 2p-3p. After that, parking in that tiny garage can be a bit tumultuous. read more

I love Trader Joe's in any city. This spot just happens to be really central, which is both awesome and aggravating. Parking is easy enough: I haven't seen the lot full yet. But driving up and down University on busy days... well... yuck. This store is full of young, energetic college students, who are always entertaining. I've seen frat pledges (I assume they're pledges, or else just freaks) running around like superheros, check out clerks who ask me if animals can have various mental disorders (he was serious), and a guy with a snake in his pocket. This is a weird place. You should definitely come here for your Z bars. read more

I definitely have a love-hate relationship with Trader Joe. Can't live with it and can't live without it. Pros: 1) Prepared foods are soo0 good and affordable 2) An eclectic wine collection, local and international (also affordable) 3) Really friendly and happy employees that go out of their way to help you find something you need and will often recommend stuff they have tried themselves. CONS: 1) Parking lot mayhem 2) Sometimes I find rotting fruits/veggies sitting around 3) They are out of bread by 6pm !! 4) Almost always there will be expired food on the shelves read more

As a frequent customer of Trader Joe's (in many states and cities), this one is pretty awesome in comparison. With an attached parking lot for your convenience, friendly and helpful staff, awesome sampling sessions in the back, aisles fully stocked, and an amazing freezer section, TJ's is definitely doing things right! I will say this though, their produce could be a bit better, but I just love going here to fill up my pantry, grab some inexpensive and healthy lunch options, and to fill up my freezer for dinners and snacks. TJ's makes my fridge happy and stocked to the max. The best part of this TJ's in particular is their beer, wine, and even liquor selection! Whether you are planning a party, gathering, or dinner with their food, it could be nicely paired during your shopping experience there with a bottle of something tasty to accompany your meal. With free parking, load up your vehicle with as much as you can because no matter what, you will spend less here than other stores. PS- Don't forget to bring your recycled/reusable grocery bags! ;) read more

It's my friend's 21st birthday on my so led visit to this particular location... so you know there's gonna be some alcohol involved, and great alcohol too since this is a 5-star review.. so what did I find? Patron in my pocket for only $14.99! Thanks to Trader Joe's.. I've just realized I'm a fan of the silky smooth orange liquor produced by Patron and possibly tequila in general, yay for more alcoholic consumerism! And thanks to Trader Joe's, I don't have to worry about dropping $59 a bottle, http://www.1-877-spirits.com/spirits/patron-citronge. So besides the cheaper than general alcohol, this Trader Joe's is awesome! In my 5min experience I was able to note free underground parking (note for new visitors, the parking is one way aka counter-clockwise.. so don't make a wrong turn and create havoc like some drivers were), a super clean store, a cheese cutting section (yum, I'll be back), a pretty good alcohol selection (there's more wine than hard liquor and a very small selection of beer, but there was some Japanese beer - SCORE!), and a lot more that I didn't see... I will definitely be back here to check everything out. And to get another bottle of patron. :x read more

Would've loved a heads up on the closing time change to 9. Otherwise y'all usually great.

This is the TJ's I shop at almost every week for the essentials. Yes I'm a lifelong convert now.. unless they do something terrible to change the business or stop carrying their bite sized everything crackers, I'll keep coming back. There's nothing like this in Australia where I grew up, just the main safeway type supermarkets with the usual branded junk, or expensive health food stores. I don't like to spend lots of money or time shopping, so Trader Joe's is the perfect solution. Reason I give 4 out of 5 stars is because you can't get EVERYthing here, for example specialty items like nutritional yeast or frog's legs. Also half the produce isn't spectacular so I generally get that from somewhere else like El Cerrito Natural Grocery. Thanks Trader Joe's! read more

Rude and disrespectful employees. From the manager down. Terrible way to do business. Attitude adjustment and professional values need to be taught. read more

We love TJs! We don't usually go to this location but had to stop in here for food items on the way to a BBQ. This particular location isn't our favorite because parking is tough and there was a line just to get into the lot. Then once inside, the lot is awful to navigate - poles everywhere, narrow spots, not much room to turn. And no street parking that we could find. But in general - TJs IS THE BEST! We love all of their pre-made salads and meals and always find fun recipes to try. Wine and whisky selection is excellent. Their price points are great. Staff are super friendly and helpful. Free samples and coffee are always fun. When there are seasonal items we always snatch them up because it's so sad when they disappear! We don't love the lines and it took us forever just to purchase some veggies and meat, but the store by us is a bit quieter. read more

Smaller than most Trader Joe's but ironically much more difficult to navigate. It's crowded and disorganized. I couldn't find the one thing I was looking for, despite knowing a friend who had bought said item there recently. I'm not a huge fan of Trader Joe's to begin with, but this one has such a small selection of products that I don't think I'd ever bother coming again, despite the convenient location. I think you're much better off going to the one on College. read more

IT'S HERE! I love Trader Joe's (used to not be a big fan, but I've come around) and this one is clean, friendly and totally walking distance from my house. Hurray! read more

Since this Trader Joe's has a cool ramp that I can ride my cart down and make a grand entrance, it has become my new favorite TJs. The spacious square design with plenty of room in aisles, helps me get in and out quickly, which is extremely helpful when my imaginary butler is on vacation or mad at me. It's not that I dislike shopping for food, I'd just rather be shopping for clothes, shoes, handbags, etc... Not too many parking spaces in garage but this is Berkeley people, you are supposed to be walking! If your lucky like me and have great parking karma, you will get a spot quickly. Otherwise, you might sit there like a dumbass for 10 minutes while you circle around and wait. Props to the cashier who gave me cooking tips and chatted it up. Since I'm always down for a good conversation during the checkout process, this was the cherry on top. Woo hoo... can't wait to stop here again and ride the ramp in. Rock on! read more

Of all of the TJ's that I have visited in the Bay Area and In New York, this one is my absolute favorite. It's conveniently located a few blocks from BART or a 15 minute bus ride (for me) door to door, AND they have a parking garage for those who drive. This location is rarely annoyingly packed (aside from the holiday season) and the isles are well space so that if there are a lot of shoppers, it isn't terribly annoying to get around. They are almost never out of the products that I look for and the staff is bubbly and friendly. Therefore, besides the fact that Trader Joe's is an awesome place to shop for all kinds of amazing things that you can't get anywhere else, this particular location makes shopping an absolute pleasure. read more

I live nearby and have been waiting for a year for this place to open. Overall I find the staff very helpful and friendly, and some prices are cheap. But frankly, I am not impressed and here's why: * So much candy and sweets - aisles and aisles of them * So much of their fruits/veggies are prepackaged. Hello? Aren't we trying to reduce waste? * Not a great selection of fruits, veggies, or meats/fish. Whole Foods is much better for this. * What's up with all the frozen foods? Aren't we leaning away from layers of processing, and wasting so much refrigeration energy? I think if you took out the wine section, frozen foods, and all the refined sugar stuff, the store would be about half of what it is now. Perhaps I was hoping that this store would be a place for one-stop shopping, but I was wrong. I am really not clear about what all the fuss is about. read more

I'm kind of ambivalent about Trader Joe's. I would not come here for weekly grocery shopping trips because: a) It's difficult to find everything you need and all the familiar brands (go to Safeway for that) b) The prices are okay but not ideal for someone on a college student's budget c) You get distracted so easily by all the beautiful designs and unique snacks (peanut butter filled pretzels...whattttt) What I WOULD come here for: a) Organic and delicious tasting produce b) Novelty gifts for the holidays (Chocolate Passports AKA chocolates from around the world) c) Free samples! d) If I need to kill some time and get lost in this colorful emporium of unique brands and cowbells. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Yea yea Trader Joe's is awesome. I am not rating it for their two buck chuck or their chocolate covered organic soy nuts. If you're a TJ shopper you will know about all the delights contained within. It's really not a peaceful hippy experience shopping at Trader Joe's. Their store layout is conducive to wandering around looking for things and major aisle traffic jams. Why is the baking chocolate above the frozen entrees? This location is better than some but the wider aisle gives the impression that there are less of them which means more wandering. One positive thing is this Trader Joe's has it's own parking garage that seems adequate. Their liquor department is slightly larger than the average TJs and the produce department seems smaller. In summation this is a Trader Joe's like most others. Has the same products and the same annoying aisle layout and spaced out clientele. read more

Shoot man; they give you FREE SAMPLES. What is there not to like? Don't come here during the busy times, such as during the week after 5pm. The lines are too long between 5pm and 7pm, and there is no good food left at the end of the day. But if you come at, say, Sunday at 8am, then you will fall in love with this joint. Trader Joe's always has the best produce and fat-free, vanilla greek frozen yogurt, not to mention amazing whole wheat bread and peanut butters. read more

I am so sick of being harassed by canvassers every time I try to shop here. It's like running a gauntlet of people asking me for money whenever I need to grocery shop. They really need to get these people away from the door. You can shop at other stores in Berkeley without being bothered and they didn't use to hangout here, but recently it's gotten bad. read more

I waited for 2 years for this place to open, got to experience the magic of having a TJ's a few blocks from my apartment for 2 weeks, and then had to move cross country. Go figure. While I was able to enjoy the bliss of this location, I loved it. Easily accessible, right on the AC Transit 51 bus line, close to Downtown Berkeley, a parking garage, what more could you want? The employees were very helpful when assisting customers. The smaller size of the store made it necessary to locate some products in a counter intuitive location. Check out was always quick. Absolutely LOVE the Berkeley murals in the store. They did a great job decorating the store for the community of Berkeley and the students of the University. Go check out the Memorial Stadium mural on the north wall and look for the axe stuck in the tree. Go Bears! read more

This place was right on the spot since the first time it opened. Trader Joe's really tries and makes effort for following food trends - they really know how to make their food fun and interesting, making the shopping experience very engaging. Everything I ever bought here was delicious, and of course you want your food delicious and tasty! What I really like is how employees are wearing hawaiian shirts and are extremely friendly and helpful, supporting the idea behind Trader Joe's. When you take into consideration all of these aspects, it5 is no wonder that everyone likes to shop here. Trader Joe's have just done an excellent job in coming up with pre-prepared food that has fresh ingredients in it, which you can't often find at other stores. They make food shopping interesting, healthy, delicious and fun, and what is more important, anyone can afford it. I would say a job well done to Trader Joe's! read more

Yay Trader Joe's! High quality produce at a decent, affordable price. Growing up, I never really went to Trader Joe's. Maybe it was because I never really lived near one, or that my parents avoided the store but I'm glad I was able to discover it during my college years. Trader Joe's is a small market that promises the best quality ingredients. The cool part about each store is that they will have unique types of food and products you won't find anywhere else! The cool part about this Berkeley location is that there's a convenient parking structure. This ain't like the rest of the city where you have to pay for street parking. But the best part about Trader Joe's HAS to be the 19c bananas. That's right, you heard me. All day, everyday. 24/7. Trader Joe's sells each banana for 19 c each! Overall, Trader Joe's is great if you have the money to spend on top quality food. Shop well and prosper, read more

This Trader Joe's is really convenient for any UC Berkeley student. It's not too bad of a walk from campus and the staff are very friendly. This Trader Joe's is heavily staffed so there's always an abundance of people around to ask questions to. The check stands are relatively fast too so it's not too long of a wait. I like the large variety of food here. I could spend so much time here just trying to decide what to buy. I love the veggie chips here! I was a little disappointed that there wasn't any sesame oil although there was soy sauce. I guess I need to venture to 99 ranch to get some sesame oil. read more

Customer Service 0 out of 5 , Shop at your local mom and pop grocery stores guys they'll brake their back to see you smile!! RIP TJ

My husband and I are pretty happy this opened up here. It's clean and convenient and the staff has always been so helpful and nice. With that said . . . I want to know why Trader Joe's is so bad about their packaging? Why does produce have to come in a styrofoam tray with tons of saran wrap around it? Why does everything have to come in these non biodegradable packages? Why Trader Joe's? =P So many people love TJs, I think they should be more environmentally conscious about their stuff, especially in Berkeley. read more

My first impression was that the building is the colour of baby pooh. But I have lived in this neighborhood for three years and observed it transform in the last year. Trader Joe's is a nice addition, with a friendly staff that I am happy to have around. But I do hope that people will still go to Fred's Market, in part because their Beer selection is amazing, and Mona is a total trip. It would be a real loss to the 'hood if Fred goes away. ---**i hope that seedy hot tub place goes away***--- read more

Can you guys please stick with one Covid plan? One day theres inside bagging, then a cardinal sin the next. One day we wait in additional line indoors, the next not. Decide what you want to be safe. Ill tell you rn people are super lax about distance, even workers holding a sign that says stand 6 feet apart has to wade through dozens at shoulders distance. read more

This TJ's is huge! More varied selection than you tend to see. And NO LINES despite it being a trendy grocery store in a town swarming with college students. read more

I love shopping at Berkeley Bowl, but lately I've found myself in Trader Joe's more and more frequently. This can never be my only grocery store though, mostly due to the so-small-you-blink-and-you-may-miss-it produce section. They do carry a moderate selection of meats and dairy. For snacks and liquor, Joe's can't be beat. The store is always well stocked and clean. This location has free parking for those with cars. Everyone is very friendly, especially the young cashiers who card me every time I buy liquor--I know I look young, but damn! read more

I love TJs. This is my local one. It can get kind of crazy on Sunday nights, and parking can be tricky in the hour after everyone gets off work, but I wouldn't trade the convenience for anything. I love TJs because of the packages of vegetables, cheeses, frozen foods, and awesome salty and sweet snacks. The selection is great. Their selection of wine, beer, and liquor is also worth checking out, and won't hurt the wallet too much. Whether you're looking for a quick dinner, planning an intimate dinner for your family, or a huge party for friends, TJs can be a one-stop-shop for all things hospitality. read more

Goat cheese, spinach, chicken, salsa on a wheat tortilla. You can get all those ingredients at TJs for under )$20 and feed 4 friends two wraps each. It's not the cheapest grocery store but you get what you pay for and you are what you eat. That's right, I'm a healthy chicken wrap typing this review. You are a jelly sandwich. read more

I work right across from Trader Joe's, so its definitely the place of choice for a quick lunch pick up. I also love how this Trader Joe is right on the corner, and when I need people to come get me, it's always the location I tell them to meet me at. Basically, you won't miss seeing this place! The staff is always really nice and every time I go, it's always super clean!! read more

Welcome to Trader Joe's Berkeley. This location serves the Cal student population and car shoppers too. The store itself seems as spacious as other locations. The alcohol selection seems slightly bigger here. There's free parking in the same building as the store, but you can have to hunt for the entrance to the lot behind the building. Bathrooms are clean, and the employees are friendly. And if you want to know more about the grocery chain, Trader Joe's is almost always a great shopping experience. If you're not familiar with their grocery concept, they hire friendly conversationalist, try to make shopping fun, always have free samples, sometimes coffee/sometimes juice, and tend to make their own brand products. Some people describe TJ's as the place you shop when you can't afford Whole Foods. Myself, I prefer TJ's over Whole Foods as I'm a sucker by the friendliness of everyone there. Granted if you are shopping during the peak times, it'll be hella busy, so you may want to be strategic and try other times. By often cutting out the middleman, this is where TJ's gets it prices. Also for manufactured food, their ingredients tend to be easy to understand and tend to be natural. Not everything is natural nor organic, but TJ's does a good job at trying to be upfront for you to decide. Oh, and the beer, wine, and liquor. Yum. TJ's stocks all three. Although they made their reputation with bringing the price down on quality wine, they also seem to be doing it with their beer and liquor too. It's fun watching people running in at 5 or 6 pm to stock up for their social that night. Actually kind of wish there's a http://meetup.com group for people who like Trader Joe employees. They tend to pick such nice and interesting blokes, which helps me to want to shop there as who does not want to support friendly people. As a heads up, it's hard to not walk out of TJ's spending at least $30. Something about going in to pick up one thing, and you'll walk out with a bagful. Oh, don't forget to try out the chocolates above the frozen isle. Love the peanut butter cups and the chocolate mints. Other favorites - the Greek pizza two pack, the pesto pizza, the marina sauce, the corn pasta for gluten free peeps, the eggs, the cheese selection, the Everything cracker, the spinach or arugula bags, the mixed nut selection, the cards for 99 cents, and the flower assortments. What's yours? I'm always curious about what others try. read more

Unfortunately, I won't be back to this store. I will always go to the Rockridge store instead. Not only is the selection more limited, but the staff are not up to par. I had one of the most unpleasant experiences I can recall with Richard, the store manager. He was very rude and should not be in a customer service role. In contrast, Ginger, another person that worked here was so much nicer and made me feel a bit better upon leaving the store. read more