I'd have to say that I will be going to this Trader Joe's instead of the one in San Carlos. This one you can actually get parking! Hello? What a great thing. The inside is not that crowded with people, and I usually get all strange when there's too many people. Can't handle it when people bump me with their carts. Ooohhh makes me so angry. So yeah going to shop here to avoid any cart bumps. read more

Customer service is not a thing that this Trader Joe's takes seriously. 1 employee in particular, Rico, went out of his way to be completely rude and unprofessional and just be a total dick. I was just trying to use the restroom after buying over $30 worth of groceries and he told me I was not allowed to enter the store to do so. I had been told by the checker that I could drop off my groceries in my car and then return to the store to use the restroom. Rico told me I was lying and that no matter what, I could not use the restroom. Don't know why this so-called "crew member" had to go out of his way to give me a hard time when I was just trying to use the restroom, but not only won't I be patronizing this store anymore, I will be sure to report this to corporate as well as the regional manager. read more

If I don't mind driving the extra couple of blocks and Hillsdale traffic, I'd rather drive to the TJ's near Hillsdale mall rather than this one. There have been multiple times that I came here and they didn't have the hummus I usually get (cilantro and jalapeno), or slim pickings on the (somewhat) fresh produce (I've purchased zucchini here before, and 2 days later I noticed that some of the zucchini were growing mold). I know to check the expiration dates on TJ's packages no matter which one you go to, but expiration of fresh produce is not easy to figure out. I would definitely only purchase fresh stuff here if I knew it was going to be used within that week. This location is less crowded than the Hillsdale location. It's a quick and convenient after work stop for me, so I don't mind stopping by for dry or frozen goods. read more

Wifey loves Trader Joe's and whenever we visit the mainland, we have to go here so that we can stock up on the 73% Cacao dark chocolate. Ever since I tried the Larabar, I now need to have that as well when we go to Trader Joe's. This particular one seems like most of the other ones I've been to before. But the parking lot is not designed well and seems chaotic. read more

Great store! I love that they carry lots of organic and fair trade products and the prices are reasonable (way cheaper than Whole Foods). The return policy is very hassle-free and the staff is friendly and helpful. One major complaint (why I took off 1 star) about TJs is that they need to weed through their perishables more often to remove moldy items or items that have expired (some locations are worse than others, but I've noticed this is a problem in many TJs). It's exciting when I find organic produce (asparagus, red bell peppers, etc.) at TJ's, because the prices are more reasonable than Whole Foods or most other places that carry organic produce. We love TJ's cereals, coffee, organic chicken broth, and so many other items. Favorites from the freezer section (not always the healthiest choices, but this is what my family likes): * Pizza (in particular, Margharita, Goat Cheese, Organic 3 Cheese for my kid) * Potato Masala Burgers * Some of the frozen organic vegetables (vegetable medley, for instance) * Organic frozen strawberries (for fruit shakes) * Chicken Pot Pies * Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough One of the BEST things in TJ's freezer (if you do any cooking and want to save time w/o compromising quality): Crushed Garlc (by Dorot) - you can pop out one clove's worth at a time for cooking, and it isn't oxidized like the kind in the refrigerator case (gross!). I use it for stir-fry, marinade, or garlic bread. Huge time-saver and super convenient! One thing to skip: The Chocolate Lava Cake - IMO, the quality of the chocolate is inferior. Save your calories for something worth it, like the bon-bons. They used to have really good frozen gnocci (plain kind - no sauce, no fancy filling) - haven't seen that anymore. Bummer. The kind they now have (frozen pesto-filled or unfrozen - ick!) I don't like. It is a bummer is when you get attached to something and it gets discontinued (or you discover it's seasonal). I was saaaaaaaad when they stopped carrying a delicious pink grapefruit marmalade that was to die for. read more

I like Trader Joe's a lot but this location is too busy - I always end up searching for parking to fight with the people going to Circuit City or having to park far away. Bottom line: Trade Joe's is cool but me likes the San Carlos location much better. read more

I like shopping here because the selection is good for someone who cooks every night. I have to be able to feed variety, and also mind the allergies of a family member. So it is a juggling act. TJs offers lots of products. During the pandemic, I have to check carefully the quality. No one can control what has happened so we have to be mindful. The only thing that never makes the best by date is the 1% milk. It goes bad quickly. Since Im the only one drinking milk, it has to last me a week. Also, the meat section can be better. We need veal, ossobuco, etc. But overall I am happy. BTW bring back Mortadella pls. My Italian blood needs it. Lol. Keep the aisle uncluttered. Overall I still find it convenient and positive to shop there. Thank you. read more

This one is not as crowded as some others,spacious and tucked into an old shopping center that is easy to get to and has parking! Friendly help here and all the products specific to Trader Joe's we love! This one is cool! I will return! read more

Driving in Foster City can be dicey with all the grandmas and first time drivers going 20 mph in 40 mph areas so I try to spend little to no time on the roads there. This Trader Joe's is a few minutes from my house so I sometimes get stuck behind the above mentioned drivers but it's still my store of choice. It's always well stocked and there are usually employees restocking anything they are out of while I shop. It can get a little cramped but not as bad as I have seen in some of the other stores. I like that they carry random things like wheat pizza dough, tofutti cream cheese, egg whites in a carton and frozen wild mahi mahi that I can't always find at markets closer to my house. I don't generally buy meat and vegetables, except ground turkey, at TJ's since there is a Ranch 99 across the street from my house for that but for everything else, I head to TJ's. read more

Ahh, TJ's...there is always something new to try here! Staff is so friendly, and the crowds are expected. In fact, I recalled going to TJ at their opening time..got there two minutes early and there was a crowd of ppl waiting to go in... Anyway, i go here for my mochi icecream fix - 2.99!! nijiya sells same for 3.99, but @ TJ, i can get so much more different items. read more

When I think of Trader Joe's in its most ideal way, I think of this place. The store is spacious, the staff very helpful, the selection of quick bites to eat at an affordable place is surprisingly high. read more

I love Trader Joes and this location has a better layout and I don't think its as busy as the one on El Camino in San Carlos. They have a large selection here and they seem to have more checkout's. read more

So I come here at least once a week. I try to eat as many veggies as possible and i love that they have the pre-cut stuff (like sweet potatoes, squash, green beans you name it, they have it). I like the sample dishes they prepare and have taken several of the recipes home to try out. My two favorite were the ham and potato soup and the chicken and green chili. Both only have about 5 ingredients and I get compliments every time I make them. they have the best selection of dried fruits and nuts as well as a great frozen food section. Don't forget to try the peppermint Jojo's at Christmas time. You can buy them by the case and freeze them for during the year. Yummy! you'll never go back to oreos. read more

Trader Joe's always has a great selection of food at an affordable price. Recently I've started to go to TJs instead of Whole Foods. Although the selection is minimal relative to Whole Foods, the prices are reasonable. However, would not recommend this store unless you are nearby. It's the smallest Trader Joe's I've been to, and the selection is noticeably worse than other locations. Many of the fruits and vegetables were not very fresh. read more

Though this is not my "home" TJ...it is the only one I go to. By my work, so massively convenient and always in good stock as well as price. When it comes to produce Wednesday seems to be the best day. The cashier are beyond friendly and the staff as a whole seem to take stock and pride in the store appearance. See you tomorrow TJ as I am sure I will find some reason or another to take the short walk across the street to pay a visit maybe to buy my single orange after my lunch hour jog. read more

Ah, the wonderful feeling of discovery. This is the very first Trader Joe's I have ever been in, and I wanted to figure out 2 things: 1. What was the hype all about? 2. What was I having for lunch? So to answer #1, I've tasted some of the food before as it has been brought to the house to eat, and I've enjoyed everything that was brought in. But what was the actual experience like? After actually finding parking (it shares a parking lot with TJ Maxx & Circuit City), I walked in for my mini-adventure. Sure, it seems dumb, but hey, you gotta find adventure where you can find it. And i was hungry. Walking in I had a good idea that this place was indicative of California grocery stores. It was homey, quite crowded for a friday morning in my opinion, and everyone was goin crazylike. I have never seen so much hussle in a supermarket when it wasn't the day before thanksgiving... Just browsin around, I was offered a taste of Spinich & Artichoke dip in the back, slightly surprised that someone was talking to me, i said no, which was answered back with a quick and confident "...but it's good!" which sold me on it. It tasted as good as he made it sound like, which is hard. Just the quirky little experiences with the guy in the back, the people watching, the cute assortment of random things, and the fact that i got a complete sushi platter for about 5.99 (answer #2) , i give this place 4 stars. It lost 1 star because there are really no counters at the registers to put copious amounts of stuff & the sushi was good, not AWESOME. I prefer sushi awesome. In all fairness though, everything else I have ever eaten from there was incredibly awesome. read more

Literally the worst Trader Joe's I've ever seen. Dirty, cluttered, all the shelves were EMPTY! Very disappointed.

Went In this location to buy some of the gluten free muffins for my husband. As I was looking at the date I noticed they were moldy! So I basically walked out! Probably won't be back to this location! If I could notice, I'm sure the person who works there putting them on the shelf did also.... read more

I hate Trader Joes. The food is as gourmet as its gonna get.....bland food for bland people....just kidding all you cranky-coz-I-havent-eaten-a-biiiiig-juicy-steak-in-five-years-Vegans!!! LOL!! As for the cashiers they talk too much....takes FOREVERRRRRR!!!! This is not just any random experience....but every Trader Joes I've been to....Millbrae, San Mateo, etc.....the cashiers think you're their best friend and start yapping about blah blah blah.....while I smile politely and secretly wishing I could duct tape their mouths shut. read more

Trader Joes is the best go to shopping for taking gifts back home to Hawaii. Snacks are tasty and they always have something new. The staff always helpful and friendly. read more

Great branch. Always clean, and the produce always fresh not too big though . The staff are all friendly and very helpful. This is definitely one if the better branches. It's medium sized but it pretty much have almost everything. read more

I stumbled on to this location while on my way to Park Plaza for lunch. Prior to this discovery, I visited the locations in Daly City, SOMA and SF-Masonic. As a San Francisco resident who works on the Peninsula, I am always on the lookout for places to shop at lunch or after work as time savers. Now that I've found this Trader Joe's, I go to this location all the time. Sometimes I have to park a bit farther out than I'd like, but I always find a spot. This location also doesn't seem to run out of items as quickly as the other locations. This is also a great place for me to stop on the way home from work and/or the gym on those days I don't feel like Whole Foods. If you're claustrophobic, be forewarned. The store is the smallest of the other TJ locations I've been to, and the lines can be extraordinarily long, especially before a holiday. I can really stock up on inexpensive snacks, meals-to-go and frozen food. read more

I work across the parking lot from TJ's, so I wind up stopping in frequently, sometimes more than once a day. I'm kind of a fruit and veggie snob, so haven't bought much here. I was surprised the other day when I got a melon and it turned out to be pretty darned good. Two buck Chuck? yeah, fer shur. read more

Okay, so after a long hiatus I'm finally back to doing reviews. My wife has put me to shame in the Yelp review department so it's time to redeem myself. So, first up: Trader Joe's. I've got a real love-hate relationship with these guys. Or rather, an agnostic-love-whatever relationship. I used to drive past Jose's with nary a thought because they were always overcrowded and I just didn't crave many of their wares. Then my wife totally got me hooked on their cheaper-than-Whole-Foods staples, they've been part of my regular shopping regimen ever since. And then, about a year ago, they made one of my employees sick. As in, hospitalized-for-two-weeks sick. She got listeriosis from a batch of tainted chopped white onions and was in very bad shape for some time. It was a bad scene. In the end, she got better. I've pleaded with her to seek recompense TJ's for the thousands of dollars of medical bills but she is anti-litigious to a fault. And yet, I'm willing to overlook the fact that they nearly offed one of my employees and continue quaffing more than my fair share of Two Buck Chuck. Does that make me a bad person? Naaah. I just try to pay close attention to where my food comes from. I tend to steer away from raw food that comes from potentially sketchy places. I think my employee does the same thing now. So, hey... sounds like three stars to me! Hey, that's 60% of a hand. I could get by just fine without, say, my ring finger and pinky, right? read more

Great food, great selection and the nicest staff. You know how occasionally you get a cashier on a bad day or a new hire? (Which I don't care I think its expected) This has never happened to me here, always smiles and great service. read more

I absolutely love Trader Joe's! T.J.'s is the BEST! BEST prices BEST value BEST quality BEST location BEST selection BEST customer service read more

Not a good TJ's. Tiny, crowded, staff not helpful, and it's got a funky layout to the aisles. There are a ton on the greater Bay Area -- skip this one. read more

Pretty typical Trader Joe's experience. Of course, when you get used to your local Trader Joe's, all the rest feel a little off. That being said, I thought it was strange how far it was from downtown. read more

Love the store, all their products, and most of their employees. I especially look forward to trying out their food samples. Often times this one lady serving samples, tall dark/grayish hair with glasses, she is not very friendly, not welcoming, and many times if she sees you coming she will leave the booth simply so that she won't have to pass out food samples, or leaves the area for quite some time so there are no samples given out. This is not just once or twice - this is most of the time when I see her. Just a recommendation you might want to put somebody in that position that really enjoys what they're doing, welcomes customers to try your samples, smiles and freely passes out those samples because those samples are what gets me to try new things. And other customers enjoy those samples too. read more

Shopping at Trader Joe reminds me of my shopping experience in the mall. You can't always find exactly what you want. You will have to browse through all items aisle by aisle. At the end you are likely to end up with a bunch of random stuff and still didn't get what you plan to buy. Perhaps that's why I enjoy shopping here. Love their frozen snacks and fresh produce. Only wish they have more boxed lunch/ ready made meals variety. read more

Trader Joe's in San Mateo!!! When I went to school at College of San Mateo, I would usually come here before I go home in San Francisco. Get a variety of frozen foods and snacks. Friendly fun staff glad to answer any questions when you ask them. I came here this time hunting down for my Aloe Vera Juice. It is very bland and raw, literally raw. It's sour and it's good for you. It is a supplementary diet, and immunity boost I think! Not bad $7.99 for a gallon. It is even certified organic and some type of council. Overall Trader Joe's is good. Like the other ones, this one closes pretty late as well 9pm I believe -Parking- Parking is available as it's located in a large parking lot! read more

My new TJ for office food. I can see it from our offices in Crossroads! The best and fastest TJ's bagger/checker I've ever had is here. Unfortunately I don't remember her name. But she's the one whose hands you can't see because they're moving so fast. I thought I would be late to my 11am meeting, but she saved my butt! Woe betide the poor patrons who get stuck behind me and my bulging cart if I have a normal or - dear god - SLOW checker! read more

Muuuuuuuuhahahahaha. This Trader Joe's is right across the street from my office. I get there at 9 AM and get my grocery food fix without the fuss. I feel like I've won something and pulled one over on everyone else! It's all going according to plan.... read more

Trader Joe's is the best! The crowds suck and the cashier's are slow but the food makes it totally worth it. read more

I often hit this location during the workday to avoid the shitshow at SF TJs. Although the selection is a little more limited here, the easy parking and short check out lines make it a worthwhile stop. Certain wines and products that sell out quickly in SF are usually still well stocked out in the burbs. A downside to suburban grocery shopping is that some of the baggers don't understand the importance of high density, all in one bag, double bagged groceries. I have 2 flights of stairs to conquer upon arriving home, I like to take as few trips as possible. The baggers do accommodate the all in one bag request, it's just not an automatic. read more

They have the major items we need when going grocery shopping but not quite everything so we usually have to go to a Ranch or Target to get the "missing" items. What makes this place (or any TJs) is the frozen food selection. It's got a more usable selection that other places and they taste much better. Naan's are the thing that come to mind. Mango mochi ice cream is also a must. Try it. You'll understand then. read more

Quick Stop: Landed early this morning and was stuck in the apartment with no car. I wanted a quick bite to eat. Just like any other Trader Joe's, this one was busy. I grabbed a chicken tarragon wrap and baked Cheetos (the Trader Joe's brand). Both tasted great. Might consider going to Trader Joe's for my lunch meals. The cashier was quick and friendly. Other employees seemed busy. All employees were helpful. It's worth shopping here. read more

I really hate the parking at Trader Joe's because it's one way and there's always so many cars circling for a spot. My staples from Trader Joe's: bags of lettuce, baby carrots, cheddar cheese, balsamic vinaigrette dressing, olice oil, butter (if it's not buy one get one free at Albertson's or Safeway), wheat bread, wheat english muffins, yogurt, toasted unsalted almonds, cereal (Ilike "Just the Clusters", vitamins and sometimes snacks. read more

I live close to this TJ's, which is within about a mile of a huge Whole Foods and Safeway. Given the choices, I almost always make my way to TJ's rather than one of the bigger chains. Whole Paycheck has some neat stuff and is a nice place to get expensive hot food, and Safeway has the whole variety thing going for it, but Trade Joes is #1 for their prepared/frozen/delicious selection. Plus they have great affordable cheeses and breads, and the famously great selection of wines. Oh, and TJ's always seems to have free coffee and food in the back - love that. The staff has always been helpful and the store is always clean, which I definitely appreciate. Bring your own bags when you visit and they'll enter you into a monthly raffle for free groceries. Can't beat that! read more

Great customer service, TJ's management look to this store for new hire training. I always see people on the floor stocking fruit/veggies/ packaged goods. Easily the best beer selection of the local TJ's. My daughter loves exploring the mini garden area out front. read more