Glad to have TJ's in our neighborhood. I would give them five stars if they would maintain a number of brands that I miss. They tend to let go of brands that compete with the store brand. read more

Trader Joe's - Menlo Park, California - Grocery Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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This Joe's is smaller than many others, but I've never had a problem finding my regular stuff. The staff is super chill too. I really wish they had a good source for grass fed meats (other than ground beef) but the fact they even have that is awesome. This place is mobbed on the weekends, so I try to go Mondays. I think they get new produce on Tuesdays though. read more

This is what I buy: Honey wheat pretzel sticks (awesome w/ nutella) Pita chips Pita bread Hummus Vegan cookies Nuts Ginger chews Chocolate covered ginger 24oz water bottles (sports caps) Zone bars Luna bars Green tea bread mix Tejava Biscotti ...OK, you get the point , everything is good! The produce is not very good and the parking situation needs help, but everything else is awesome! read more

Today the checker and the person loading the bags tossed the food including apples and tomatoes into the shopping bags. I was taken aback. I don't understand this place. Do they mistreat their workers Who in turn treat the customers accordingly? Are there any managers at this store who monitor their employees' behavior? *** Avoid! Rude checkout workers. Crushed some of the fruit. Enough to switch to Whole Foods read more

What brings me in: dairy, frozen stuff, snacks (especially the nuts and dried fruit), cereal, and chocolate. Great deals on a lot of stuff. Like that it's a busy store and things have a fast turnover. Fresh fruit and veggies is their weakest section. Like the staff. Especially loved the cashier who rung me up on a chocolate run (Chocolate ice cream, chocolate-covered pretzels): he just handed me a spoon, not waiting for me to ask, not passing judgment. read more

I've had nothing but good experiences when I shop at this Trader Joe's. The cashiers are friendly and give stickers to your kids. They also give out balloons - your kids even get to choose which color. Great customer service. I can't live without the kettle corn and the strawberry licorice. And the fruit is always fresh and tasty. The only downside for me is that I could never shop for an entire week of meals here. When I try, I end up filling my freezer, fridge, and cupboards with packages of stuff that feel like snacks. So I just shop here for a meal or two and all the yummy snacks. I think I'll start buying flowers here too, the flowers looked lovely today. read more

This is now the Trader Joe's closest to my home, so I'll be coming here regularly. The organization of the store seems a little disorganized, but it could just seem this way since this store is new to me. I like that the aisles are wider than in other Trader Joe's, more than one cart can easily make it through. After shopping in some smaller Trader Joe's, i appreciate this. The staff seemed pleasant, and if i had needed help, there were people around to ask. Almost everything i came in for was in stock, which is not always the case at some stores. All in all, a good shopping trip, and I'll be happy to return:) read more

I don't usually go to this Trader Joe's location, but I went for the first time today and was beyond happy with the customer service I received. Donovan and Sebastian helped me out & if you ask me they deserve a raise. In short, I will definitely be coming back here. read more

Trader Joe's is one of the happiest places on the Peninsula. Every time I go here, everyone from the staff to the customers are all smiles. They have a great array of frozen and preserved food with an ethnic flair. Their liquor and wine is cheaper than some national chain specially liquor stores. They have a wide selection of baked goods and they even have fresh meats. I generally find that TJs has less variety in produce and fresh meats than a regular grocery store, but for alcohol and snacks (chips and cookies), they can't be beat. I particularly love their hand-made whole wheat-corn tortillas. They are kind of like pre-made chapatis. One thing I don't like is that whenever I buy cheese, it begins to grow blue fuzzies within a few days. So, I only buy cheese from TJs when I am going to serve it that day. read more

The parking lot is cramped with very faded lines. If you dont park perfectly, they will give you a ticket. The manager said that that the employees are always getting tickets. I would be weary of parking here and I will never park in the lot so I cant shop there anymore. I was a very good customer there but will now shop elsewhere from now on. read more

I discovered what I really love about Trader Joe's: their frozen entrees for one. I wish I'd discovered this back when I started living alone, as opposed to now that I'm living with my fiancee. I love my mom's french onion soup. TJ's is almost as good. The frozen manacotti is dang good. The frozen eggplant parm is also great. I just adore the dinners they have. Plus their prices are great. I can't believe it's so cheap for the quality you get. As a side note, their wine selection is huge, and they have a bunch of ports! The store is also tres small! read more

Seriously.... do you have to yelp trader joe's? It's about as consistently awesome as it gets. I remember growing up in l.a., and when trader joe's first opened nearby, you'd go there to get a couple things, but still have to go to the "real grocery store" to get all the other stuff..... luckily, now you can get everything here. The prices are great, the products are great, and the staff is so nice. I could almost take a half a star away because the produce sometimes is inconsistent, but I still think they deserve 5 stars. read more

My rating choice was a tough decision: should I give Trader Joe's 3 or 4 stars? I've been going here several weekends in a row now. I first stop at the farmer's market for fresh produce, then head to Trader Joe's for everything else. As a general grocery store, I'm often disappointed at the lack of options. I wanted condensed potato soup.... wasn't available. I needed some cheap root beer to slow cook some pork... the only options were fancy bottled root beer. The popularity of the grocery store can also pose some challenges. I think several people have the same idea as me: farmers market first, Trader Joe's after. This means the store can get packed at around 1pm. The lines are long, the aisles are crowded.. it takes some patience to survive this crowd. On the other hand, Trader Joe's has some really great options. The cheese selection is outstanding. I think I counted 7 different types of cheddar cheese last time! Plus, there's lots of seasonal goodies, like pumpkin bread mix and apple cider, waiting to tempt you at every aisle end. Their meat selection also appears to pretty good. I was happy to find some family-farm raised chicken and pork tenderloin at reasonable prices. So, overall, a mixed-bag. Because the quality of food compared far exceeds that of Safeway, and they provide a cheap alternative to Whole Foods, I'm giving Trader Joe's 4 stars. read more

Great food, great prices! Whether you want something premade or want to make something yourself, it's the place to go. read more

Great customer service and fun, delicious, and well priced products! Love this place :)

Ahhh my beloved TJ's... I used to live kitty corner to this place and make all too frequent trips for missing ingredients, and usually... snacks. Always there... always convenient... always something tasty to pick up. Cheaper than walking down another block to Dreagers, and usually not as busy(or more efficient with their lines). I like being further, and miss being further from a TJ's now! read more

My friend and I came in yesterday around 4 for some groceries. Was busy but not crazy busy. She was able to try some of the little yellow heirloom tomatoes. She wanted to make sure she likes it before buying it. All of the staff were very friendly towards us and there were many on hand. 90% of them were stocking up. Over all: Good experience, good prices, different varieties, healthier, and great staff. read more

I love TJ's in general and this particular location is probably my favorite one. It's nice and clean. The one mistake I keep making, though, is coming here on Sunday nights when most of my favorite goodies are already gone or, worse yet, snatched right before my eyes by another customer. Love their return policy. Love the tasting samples. Love the smiley hippy cashiers. read more

I love Trader Joe's. And I particularly love the Menlo Park one because it's so close to home. I always come on weekday evenings to try to avoid the crowds on the weekend. I try to do most of my grocery shopping here and supplement with the Safeway's nearby if I'm unable to find something. They have great prices on spices and produce, and we love their enchilada sauce -- great flavor with a kick! I also keep my cabinets stocked with pasta from them. Their curry simmer sauce make dinner easy, and I like trying new grains that I find there. Their frozen food/snack aisle is downright dangerous, and I've probably tried every sweet item there over the years. I can't seem to leave the store without spending less than $100, but it's okay because my cart will be full loaded and I won't have to shop again for a couple of weeks at least. read more

In my opinion this is the worst Trader Joe's I have ever been to. Look at the fruit and vegetable expiration dates. They are often 1 or 2 days away. Who is going to eat a bag of grapefruit in 2 days? Enough to make me go to Safeway. Stay away! read more

Please bring Mango Black Tea back. It is the main reason I shop at Trader Joe's. Thank you.

Okay, I'll admit it. I do 90% of my shopping at Trader Joe's. They still don't carry gallon jugs of Crystal Geyser water so Safeway gets that portion of my business, and I still rather buy my fruits and veggies at Farmer's Markets because they are fresher, support local farmers and last longer, but for everything else, TJs rocks! I love the many, many interesting items they have to offer and am an obvious "other cart" shopper. I look at intriguing items in other people's carts, ask if they've had them before and if they have, I'm quick to go get one to try. It's a fun way to meet people in the community and a great way to find the best food items. I have two complaints...one is that Trader Joe's corporate just doesn't get how popular they are so they always select locations where there are many other shops, so parking is hell! They wouldn't take the Alma Plaza in Palo Alto when it was offered to them because it was within four miles of the Mountain View store...another place that is hell on wheels to find a parking place. No...they're going to add a store in Town & Country...another place where parking is a b**ch and it's a pain to get in and out of. The second is that when I fall in love with an item, it's the kiss of death. If I love it and it becomes critical to my menu plans, well, it's discontinued. I guess that's the curse of having an uncommon palate. Those little mini quiches, were awesome! Gone. The Limoncello pound cakes they had the last few holidays were so good (as were the other flavors), that I'd purchase a bunch (they're foiled wrapped and so last forever), and then serve them with strawberries and whipped cream in the summer. They were far superior to the normal shortcake...but now...gone. The separately wrapped chocolate banana bites....long gone. Come on. If you can offer the whole banana...you can get someone to do the bites. Not everyone wants the whole banana...just a couple bites can satisfy the palate without the mess of biting into the big guy and having the frozen chocolate shatter into your lap to immediately melt into your favorite outfit. Still all in all, parking hell aside, Trader Joe's is like Disneyland for the adult palate. BTW if you want a real taste treat, buy the Greek style whole milk yogurt, drizzle Duarte's Ollieberry Syrup (you'll have to go to the coast for that or call and have them ship it to you) over the top, add a handful of walnuts and it's absolute heaven. A meal/a dessert, all in one. read more

Lots of people are ecstatic about TJ's. It just is SO different. You want $2 wine, you got it. And most of it is Ok, not great but drinkable -- we buy chardonnay and sauvignon blanc by the case. My wife loves a cereal they have, 4 boxes at a time. For produce go to Safeway or Sigona. Know that Joe makes it by branding his own convenience foods. Don't shop here for staples such as flour, sugar, white vinegar, detergent, etc. It's a convenience mart for former yuppies, but hey, the staff wears hawaii shirts. My gripe: Where are the great California beers? TJ markets its own labels plus other downstream stuff. ADDED: Meredith's claim above that this place is cheaper than Safeway is just baloney -- or is that prosciutto? read more

I live close to this particular Trader Joe's and I often shop here 4 times a week. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable except for a few stragglers I often enjoy chatting with them as I shop or check out. The meat selection at this particular location is not as extensive as at the Palo Alto location which is the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. read more

Great Trader Joe's. Clean, plenty of room between aisles, great selection including gluten-free. Produce is fresh. Biggest plus: Staff - They are the bomb. Latest is recipe check out guy gave me for oysters. DELICIOUS and takes 2 minutes to make. YUM. More practical biggest plus: The prices for quality and volume one can buy to feed family --- with growing, bigger than am I, young man as son in house, is almost entirely irreplaceable in this area esp. with current gas prices. Trader Joe's: Thank you. read more

I am giving 4 stars, rather than 5, because often times I find myself leaving Trader Joe's with everything from my shopping list, except for one item (that they didn't have.) But it's a GREAT grocery store. Here is what you should buy at Trader Joe's: Frozen Gnocchi (I prefer the cheesy ones) Polenta Chocolate Lava Cakes (frozen) Frozen cheesecake Fresh pizza Chinese chicken salad Fiesta chicken salad Eggplant Parmigiana (microwaveable) Any of their cheeses Their "just" juices...sugar-free=super-healthy (dilute them with water) The Greek yogurt (with or without the honey) The stuffed portabello mushrooms (produce section) You just can't get these things anywhere else! read more

Super friendly staff, which is nice considering the staff at the TJs by my house in Milbrae is god-awful. Minus one star because whatever I seem to need the day I go in to shop, be it limes, Ahi steaks, jalapenos...etc., they are out. The new shipment is always coming the next day. But because they have so many wonderful options, I can always easily change my menu for the day. (They really do have those fresh shipments the next day. I just have crappy timing.) read more

This has become our primary grocery store, and my favorite part is that the employees always seem genuinely happy to be working there. This store has somehow managed to create a "small local grocer"/family feel; there's an "experience" that makes shopping here fun. They have a "find Jo-Jo" (a stuffed monkey) game that keeps my child happy, food samples, stickers for kids at the registers, and (best) happy staff. The staff is unusually outgoing, and some have even memorized my child's name! Our favorite products here are: - organic catsup (no HFCS!) - hearts of palm in a jar - organic pot roast (ready to serve!) - packaged salads for mom to bring to work - low-sugar juice boxes read more

Compared to the Redwood City TJ's, it's a lot less chaotic, the lines are shorter and actually has more parking when you consider both its private lot and the nearby muni parking lots in this part of Menlo Park. Things are actually in stock (one of my biggest frustrations with the RC one) and the staff has been fairly nice (one of the cashiers was very nice about double bagging my stuff since I was parked a few blocks away in the muni lot and carrying groceries with my big preggo belly). Maybe I shouldn't be sharing all of this with the world since I enjoy the fact that this TJ's shadily exists and is not overpopulated with angry rush hour customers. Prices and items are the usual -- middle of the road, if you want prices that are unbelievably cheap go to Grocery Outlet or Smart & Final. Overall, glad I finally looked up the location of this branch and keep it as an option when I'm passing by the area. read more

This place is just what you need, just be prepared for it to usually be FULL! Always a cart wrangle as you pass through the isles, but you'll eventually find nearly everything. read more

Really upset with them for completely double charging me and then Jason (a manager) said I would need to come back in with my receipt and request the refund. Wow, this just happened. They could confirm it on their end quite easily and I am so angry and pissed that I would have to drive back to their store to fix their error. Calling corporate and will not be shopping their nearly as often. Customer service needs a refresher course. read more

good alternative to safeway, whole foods, and other major grocery store chains in the bay area. "tj" carries many organic products and also makes their own in house brand of certain goods such as peanut butter and cookies. i've generally been pleased with the produce and meats that i've purchased here and can definitely see myself coming here more often going forward. they also have a nice little sample stand in the back where you can grab samples while you shop. cashiers are pretty friendly and they offer a cash only line if you prefer the old-fashioned non-electronic way of paying for your groceries. this location is not that big, but they have plenty of dedicated parking and a great location right in downtown menlo park. note that hours are a bit limited, 8am-9pm daily, so not the best if you're looking to go at the crack of dawn or in the late hours of the evening. read more

If you are in Menlo Park and want to get your TJ's fix, this will do the trick. I agree that the location is sparkly clean, spacious, well-staffed, and efficient. But I prefer the San Mateo location for its easier parking and more casual feel. But if you are a Sunday shopper, this might be a nice stop after the Farmer's Market. read more

Perhaps I'm being too hasty but I don't believe I want to shop at this store. I called and asked the clerk if they carried a particular brand-name item. He rather sharply responded "I doubt it; 95% of our products are Trader Joe's-branded" and then said he'd check. When he returned, he said "We have [X product]." I replied "Thank you very much; I appreciate your help." He hung up on me. Trader Joe's is closer than Whole Foods but I'd rather drive farther than reward a business that hires rude employees. read more

Pretty good selection, and better parking than my SF TJ's.

I don't come to the TJ's a lot because I forget that it's there! I came the other night and it was a pleasant experience. I went at the end of the day and they are doing some construction so it seemed to be a bit of a mess but that's totally expected. The staff was friendly and they had everything that I wanted =]. read more

Normally my experience at this location is excellent. On Friday at 5pm I arrived to pick up just a couple of things. The lines were long and moving slowly. The black cashier with long dreadlocks was rude to me telling me that I should go to the express lanes. There happened to be 14 people waiting at the express lanes. He began telling the customer in front of him that some people are just too stupid to go to the fast lane. They were looking at me and laughing. I must say I was unhappy with this treatment. I put down my groceries and left the store. I intend on filing a formal complaint with the store manager. AVOID THE DREADLOCK MAN read more

I'm not quite sure if yelp reviews are even looked at by management of large organizations but I wanted to mention how incredibly kind an employee was to my son this past Sunday. I was in the store with my 98 year old grandmother and my 3 year old. It was a bit overwhelming since my grandmother needed the cart for support while me son wanted to push it. At one point my son fell back off the cart (which I blame myself for not watching him closer). As soon it happened I had three women running towards us each offering to help. The trader joe employee which I unfortunately didn't ask for her name offered us an ice pack and a treat of an apple or banana for my son. The service and inventory are always great in the store and I think everyone knows that but the kindness that was shown was amazing. Thank you! read more

Unprofessional staffs! They are rude and disrespectful, not even a short greeting. You even have to say hi to them and bagging your foods. Very p​ure management! read more

I've always loved Trader Joe's so I'm biased. A great selection of frozen goods for the lazy chef. Meat and chess selection ids expectational. Wine selection is awesome. The fruit and veggies .. well I wish there was more seasonal land local produce @ TJ's. I find that this location is overly crowded with students and rich stay at home moms. I love it anyways. read more