My Favorite Trader Joe's! Unbeatable Prices & The BEST Staff! This is, hands down, one of my absolute favorite Trader Joe's locations to shop at. It's my go-to for everything--it's the perfect store for snacks, plus quick and healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The prices are simply unbeatable, especially when it comes to their wine and spirits selection. Every single time I'm hosting a party, this is the best option for my liquor. They always have special prices on high-brand liquor companies, which saves me a ton. Honestly, though, the best part of this store is the staff. The customer service here is on another level. Shawn, Nick, Elias, Caleb, Aiden, Tim, Alexis, Al, Frederick, and Felipe--and that's just to name a few!--are all amazing. Every person I've interacted with has high character and provides genuinely great customer service. They make shopping here a true pleasure. Love this place and can't recommend it enough! read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

I started going to this branch when I started going to the Whole Foods across the street. I was happy at first. This branch is big like many TJs, staff members were very pleasant and helpful, and they sell everything that any TJ branch sells. My first couple of visits were late at night. However, when I came here around 5 pm on a weekday, parking was cramped. (The parking is also underground.) Therefore, I won't come back here and will continue shopping at the Olympic-Barrington branch. Which is closer to me anyway. read more

I came to this location on a whim after visiting a friend in the area. I have to say, I was very impressed with the cleanliness, organization and how well the store was stocked on a late Saturday afternoon. The staff was also very welcoming, particularly Mike who was very knowledgeable with assisting and answering all my questions. Parking was easy to find and the floral section in front of the entrance was beautiful and had a wide selection for a smaller store! A great location to shop if you are a Trader Joe's fan. read more

After Tower St. Johns Imaging completed hubby's diagnostic test, we decided to check out this Trader Joe's location as it was literally steps away. But if you need to leave your car somewhere safe: Public parking access just south of Wilshire Boulevard on east side of 23rd Street (can't confirm if Trader Joe's validation is required as we were on foot.). Metered Wilshire Boulevard availability. (We meter parked with just enough minutes to browse here.) Not sure re. residential. Read restriction signs carefully. Bike parking at front entrance. Enjoy the vibrant array of seasonal floral/plant offerings here, we did. Déjà vu! Store configuration similar to Beverly Grove/Burton Way location where I used to shop when I lived in Beverly Hills... Spacious, well stocked easy to navigate aisles. No list, no reusable shopping bags, we bought a few things I could visualize from the list on the fridge and headed home. Whew, meter was still ticking; no ticket. "This is a GREAT store! Why don't you shop here more often?" "Well dear, I would if it was more geographically advantageous to my appointment schedule. BUT if you'd like to plan another visit, a field trip, it can be arranged just text me a memo, er post it on a Post It and stick it on the fridge... Stay tuned, we'll be back. read more

No matter which Trader Joe's I visit, the experience is consistently warm and welcoming. The staff are genuinely kind, helpful, and present, and it never feels forced. Kudos to the managers who clearly set the tone. Their calm, upbeat leadership shines through in the team's attitude, creating a space that feels friendly, easy, and human. Great customer service is rare. Consistency like this is special. You can't go wrong with Trader Joe pricing either. $1 cards and love their flowers. Note to Management last few times I visited the Trader Joe's in Santa Monica on Broadway one year ago they do not water their beautiful plants. I recommend the Trader Joe's on Wilshire and 22nd. read more

Great location! Much larger than many others I have been to, very well spread out in the line of checkout is not too bad. They have free parking underneath the store, making it very easy. The prices are always fair and I love seeing what seasonal items they have in stock. Friendly staff, good shopping option in Santa Monica! read more

This is a nice Trader Joes in a busy area. Street parking hunting can be avoided because theres a Trader Joes parking structure. All the employees were helpful and friendly. It's a little crowded inside but it was also busy today. Saw some Trader Joe's branded ube cookies but the packaging makes no mention of the Philippines lol. Saw We also checked out the matcha items and were easily guided by an employee. Mike, the cashier was very friendly and made check out a breeze. Thank you! read more

See all

Wide and picturesque Trader Joe's! Pleasing to the eyes and spacious! One of the best I have seen during my travels. read more

See all

Big F- to this store for not enforcing California law, which states that pets cannot be admitted into grocery stores. Wholefoods and others have caught on that most people don't want dogs in grocery stores, and have posted signs outside asking customers to not bring pets inside. However, there are apparently no such signs at this location, and my allergies need to suffer as a result. Perhaps I'll take my business elsewhere. read more

Excellent service with a full TJ inventory despite a somewhat smaller store. Ina miracle for a TJ, the parking is actually manageable!! read more

Trader Joe's has good service and products but... The garage entrance to the elevators is filthy and appears to never gets cleaned. Come guys, please clean up, there's tons of old stickers and the floors are really filthy read more

Trader Joe's - Elevator entrance from garage with posts full of old stickers - Grocery Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

The bathrooms are not clean. The customer service is terrible. They literally wait for you to bag your own stuff with an attitude. Limited organic food. Parking is a nightmare. I do not recommend this location at all. I will drive further to avoid this place. read more

Come for the dark chocolate peanut butter cups! They are magic because of how fast they disappear, they're too good! The grocery store is different from usual grocery stores in that they don't have the typical brands. But everything is tasty. The service is friendly and the ambiance is nice and the store is always clean. Also as of March 2025 they have the cheapest eggs in Santa Monica read more

See all

Leaving the beach with a full tank of coffee in your system is like racing against the clock--you've got to make it before things get... messy. So, I pulled over at the Trader Joe's in Santa Monica. Let me tell you, this is the cutest little store! Don't get me wrong, I love Trader Joe's in general, but it's so fun to see how each location has its own personality. I walked in, desperate and on a mission, and right there--like a beacon of hope--was the restroom. Now, could it have smelled a little better? Sure. But honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by how clean it was. Crisis averted! I'm definitely coming back to actually shop here in the future because, well, this store saved me. read more

It's Trader Joe's! Well priced, great selection or rarities and staples. A better than decent wine and beer selection (you can break up six packs and buy a single can!), more types of cheeses than you could shake a stick at (if that's your thing)... The place is always clean, the staff is helpful and seem to actually enjoy their jobs. I actually look forward to my TJ runs and for what surprises I find. read more

Had a fantastic visit to my favorite location. They had a lot of great new items. The best experience I had was with the staff members that helped me get everything l wanted I was with my girlfriend that's handicapped she needed some extra help getting items that she couldn't find and the staff went beyond & above just outstanding. Elana was extremely helpful. Leslie went out of her way and Cori found everything that we needed three beautiful ladies what a Fantasy wonderful staff members. They also had an item that they said was sold out Corri went in the back refrigeration and my made sure that we could try the new item. The manager was fantastic as well and Aaron the cashier was so helpful , appreciate the whole entire store thank you for the selections and thank you for the outstanding customer service outstanding read more

Trader Joe's - The girls were great - Grocery Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We enjoy coming to the Wilshire Trader Joe's! There is convenient parking for bikes right in front of the store, but more often than not we arrive on foot. The selection is good, there are a dozen cashier stands so it never takes long to check out (exception - it kind of got wild that first weekend of COVID lockdowns but that was like unprecedented), and everyone is very nice. I confess I enjoy most the loose assortments of beers you can buy by the can. Nice way to try different kind of varieties. Lastly thank you for donating some cottage cheese to the recent Staff Appreciation Week at McKinley Elementary. It was a great touch to the bagels donated by another community favorite Bagel Nosh. This store has been a wonderful supporter of our school in the past and I hope we get to continue our partnership into the future! read more

This review is for ALL the local TJ's, not just the Wilshire Santa Monica location. I'm old enough to recall when TJ truly was novel, unusual, and a good deal. That was the 1990's. Fast forward to 2026. The PRICE INCREASES, of which Millennial and Gen Z types don't seem to ever take notice, are ***CONSTANT*** and serious. I do not know of any chain that has raised prices as consistently and aggressively as TJ's. I was just in today and saw that Patagonian Scallops that were $9.99 last week are now $13.99. That is a 40% increase in a week. The frozen Ahi Tuna that crept up from $6.99 to $7.99 to $8.99 is now suddenly $9.99. I can go across the board, from olive oil to vinegars to pasta (the bowties suddenly went to $1.29 whereas the other varieties of the same Italian brand remain at $.99.) ??? Chips, cottage cheese, wines, frozen international specialties, have all seen steady, sustained increases; those increases are I believe, INTENTIONALLY small, individually---twenty cents here, twenty cents there, a dollar here, a dollar there, but they are CONSTANT, SUSTAINED, and buyers don't even realize that suddenly while they weren't paying attention, suddenly, they're paying 40% more for an item in their basket. Yes there has been a lot of general inflation and tariffs no doubt have something to do with it, but, still, TJ's is perhaps THE MOST AGGRESSIVE PRICE RAISER OUT THERE in groceries. If you're near a Grocery Outlet or Aldi or Jons Market you can now beat TJ's prices, often by a lot. TJ's prices fruit by the piece; ridiculous; was it like $1 plus for ONE small grapefruit or apple? Time to review how much you buy at TJ's. Note the prices, mentally, or write them down, and take note when they rise, at your next visit. I spend a lot less here than I used to; and will continue to cut back further. read more

It's a small trader joes located in santa monica, which carries limited categories. The layout of cashiers near the exit is very weird, two sides of stations, customers go into the middle, which is hard to wait and form in an organized line. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Maybe there should be a special category for some businesses like this one that deserves 6-stars for their operation during the Covid 19 Virus Emergency. The strength and value of any relationship is determined during times of stress and crisis. During this period of the Covid19 Virus Emergency I have never seen any consumer level organization respond as well to the crisis as Trader Joe's. They must have some incredible management and strong relationships with their suppliers and distributors. While the distribution and organization lines collapsed at Ralphs, Whole Foods, Vons, and Target, Trader Joes did not skip a beat. They immediately responded by re-organizing their operation, store procedures, distribution methods, and stocking hours. They trained their excellent employees on new roles, assignments, and policies. They made sure that customers were safe with new shopping protocols and rules. They kept their shelves mainly stocked with most items almost every day when other stores failed day after day. It's as if they were an army practicing this for this assault for a year. Like they knew it was coming. If it were not for Trader Joe's, my life would have been a lot more difficult. They kept all the food flowing in daily allowing me not to have to worry while I was trying to help other people with their needs. That is why I will give them my unofficial 6-Star rating--something I rarely give. I will tell you, if you want to learn how to run a grocery operation, get a job here and work your way up. read more

See all

Love this Trader Joe's. Convenient location and great selection. Fast, friendly, and efficient service. I agree with one other reviewer in that the only downside is they don't discourage people from bringing in their pets. I have friends with true service dogs which cost tens of thousands of dollars who've had to retire their dog due to being attacked by an entitled person's pet. It's not just TJ s, it's every market in town. It's not the store's job to discern which pet is ok and which is not. Leave the pets at home so those with true service dogs can shop safely. read more

Can I just say I love Trader Joes. I always find things in there I didn't know I wanted, or needed and always come away trying something new. This particular location is one of the newer stores of theirs and it's great. It's big and spacious, clean and well stocked. Plenty of parking underneath and on street level outside. There's a little bit of something for everyone here. Prices are reasonable and it's enjoyable to shop at. read more

See all

This is a weird Trader Joes, we had to take an elevator to get inside and it took forever to open. It was dirty and gross inside and seemed sketchy. The layout of the store seemed off from other Trader Joes, it was stinky when we first walked in like rotten fruit smell. Grabbed a few snacks and checked out where I had great interaction with the employees. I always appreciate the great service I get at Trader Joes, employees are always super nice, they get 5 stars. This Trader Joe's feels more like a .99 cent store Trader Joes to me. read more

Staff been always friendly and efficient, they run a great business model This is new good cause they r doing ~ recycling food I hope to see the recycling bins sometime soon Paper/can/flammable/non glamble read more

NOT a fan. The line is like NYC when 800 A DAY DYING. The wine and booze section is small. The guy managing traffic standing by wine knows nothing about wine and didn't even realize how small the booze section is. And they force you to put on hand sanitizer. Like a pushy chick at Bloomingdales forcing perfume on you. No means no, dude. M I am spoiled by Santa Barbara but just no. I'm never coming back to this location. I like the one on Olympic around Bundy. read more

Trader Joe's - Long line that moves slowly. - Grocery Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I like the inventory and the prices. However, this store allows non-service dogs in their store, which is illegal. Just today a customer said, "Oh, it's okay, he's a comfort dog." or whatever, which is not a legitimate reason to have a dog in a store. Trained service dogs are the only dogs permitted by law in grocery stores, not comfort animals or whatever people call them, which are actually pets. read more

Very disappointed with this location and its employees. Today I walked in with my psychiatric service dog and was refused service and asked to leave... A male employee stormed up to me and my dog, frightened her, and said dogs aren't allowed in the store. After I told him she isn't he demanded to see proof that she was in fact a PSD. When I showed him the letter he intimidated her and said her behavior was not that of a service dog... it's very clear that he didn't believe me and didn't want me there. So unbelievably out of character for a Trader Joe's store *and* employee. Left an awful taste in my mouth. If he was truly informed of ADA regulations he would've asked me the two questions that are legally allowed to be asked and let me continue to shop in the store. If you have any type of service dog, avoid this store at all costs - their coworkers will target, harass, and chase you out. read more

Great store -- super well stocked with street parking if u need to grab something quickly. I didn't use the actual parking so I cannot comment. This Trader Joe's is spacious and have everything unlike the Trader Joe's close to UCLA which is always low in stock. Their check out counters are efficient and I rarely have to wait long. read more

I love this Trader Joe's! Very organized and the staff is always super friendly. I love that they offer free underground parking, a luxury in LA. I only wish they didn't exclude dogs from their stores; then it would truly be a place of inclusivity. read more

THIS BUILDING IS A NIGHTMARE. WHOEVER CREATED THE BUILDING LAYOUT SHOULD BE SUED FOR SAFETY HAZARDS!! Parking Lot: 1).If you have a big SUV just park out on the street. It's literally IMPOSSIBLE TO PARK AND GET OUT. Someone almost hit my parked car just trying to back out. There's no room in the structure to turn or park or do anything! 2). There is 1 elevator to get from the parking lot into the actual Trader Joe's. There is a staircase but it takes you outside to the street instead of the actual store. (People will probably start parking in TJ parking lot and leave to go elsewhere ) so they don't have to pay for parking. 3). Some spots are inaccessible because people don't park between the lines. 4). Leaving the structure there are so many BLINDSPOTS. GO SLOW WHEN YOU EXIT. There's no mirror to see if anyone is walking before you make a right turn. The elevator 1). It takes literally longer than it should be. There's no space to get in! We all had to wait in a single file line in the parking lot and in the store and then pack ourselves into the elevator. It took about 3 mins. It's embarrassing! 2). People are aggressive and will push into you to get into the elevator to get to their cars 3) THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER ELEVATOR. The store 1). It's new and it's nice. They have mainly a huge produce section and other things you would see at Trader Joe's. I felt like the frozen food section was tiny compared to other stores. 2) the employees are nice. They're still getting used to the store layout so they don't really know exactly where everything is but that's normal in my opinion. Checkout 1). Lots of cashiers 2). Bagging section is small 3.) The checkout station takes up about 25% of the building. So good luck if you're visiting for the first time. It's not completely awful but I don't think the building design was made properly with the staircase and elevator issue. I hope they can fix that. read more

Trader Joe's - Example: People don't properly park in the parking lot. - Grocery Near Me - Santa Monica, California

So thankful that there is finally a trader joe's closer to downtown Santa Monica, than the Olympic and Pico stores, a lifesaver. Best part is that if you cannot find what you need at TJ's, you can go across the street after to Whole Foods. I am impressed by this location. It is by far the most spacious store I have been in and everything is organized well. The line is always moving, the samples are always available and they are never out of coffee. My only complaint about this location is that the elevator is slow and the stairs are not convenient. If you take the stairs from the parking garage, they take you to the street and you have to walk around the corner to get to tha main entrance. Other than that, this location is a hit and our once a week main stop for groceries! read more

Trader Joe's is amazing. So much versatility! They have the best salad kits. This is a dream if you're looking for packaged food.

Really appreciate this store. Close to home. Easy in and easy out in the early hours. Staff work their ...off. I appreciate that. Especially appreciated the guy going to get a bucket of water so I could drive several hours with all the flowers for my mom and keep them looking great. That was above and beyond. He saw I was getting a great deal of flowers and I mentioned if it was good to drive two hours plus and he offered to get the bucket with water. At first I thought I was getting punk'd because while my actually profession is excelling at training service professionals, I have (as my wife will attest) absolutely no expectation for excellent service anymore. If they smile, I'm in shock. This store was well organized, the staff were quite knowledgeable and the hustle is something I always respect. Appreciate! read more

I get the same feeling that I get from every Trader Joes. Vibrant colors I was sorted fruits and vegetables, the smell of organic produce, and a greeting from a multitude of Hawaiian shirts. Same great products addedd with a clean fresh look. read more

See all

This is a good Trader Joes. Staff helpful and efficient and for that matter The clientele is generally polite and civil Quite unlike the EC plaza experience which I stopped going to long ago as it seemed to be one of the epi centers of passive aggressive East Bay unhappiness read more

What's happening with their produce and why is noone commenting on how moldy and spoiled all their fresh fruits and veggies are?? All their tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, berries, grapes, pretty much anything fresh is growing mold and rotting inside packaging. I mean if you cannot keep up with logistics and deliver food in time then don't bother putting mouldy food on shelves and poisoning customers. read more

Terrible store... been to so many trader joes and this one is bad! Parking sucks and the store is messy. No bueno!!! read more

This is my review about elias. He is rude, sadistic and unprofessional. Dont know why they were having him do these interviews and him acting like hes going to hire me going "yeah we would love to have you as part of the team! You would be a great fit..etc" getting my hopes up for it when he could have just been honest with me instead of saying all that. Not only that but he even double checked if my phone number was correct saying hes going to reach out to me if he wants to set up another interview. So ofcourse me being passionate about trader joes i was really excited to work there. I see this Trader Joe's calling me and ofcourse its elias the one i did the interview with going "hey how are you doing? Its elias" just being really fake. Then going "so i talked to the rest of the team and we're not interested in hiring you. Good luck out there". Hes a sick person who was just toting with me because he knew i wanted to work here. No one has to hire me, but the way you went about it was unprofessional and just disrespectful when you know very well Trader Joe's has the email option for rejection letters. I will say Emmanuel from this Trader Joe's is wonderful. Very kind and does try to rectify a bad experience in to a good one, not like elias who doesnt have integrity even though thats one of the actual core values of Trader Joe's. read more

Pretty much like every other TJ, except they (and the one on Olympic in West L.A.) have this fantastic bread- Farm Shop Multigrain Batard. I drive over there from Venice just for the bread, which for some reason is not at any other TJ's, as far as I know. A slice with some creamy goat cheese and a ripe pear or grapes...yum. read more

I just had the worst grocery shopping experience of my life at this Trader Joe's. I shop here at least once a week for my groceries and will not be coming back. I was harassed by a male employee, mid thirties, dark longer hair and beard, for having my service dog in the store. He asked me to leave before asking if my dog was a service dog then pressed me for what kind of service dog he is. I wish I had stayed to get the employee's information but the incident triggered my condition and i promptly left. Fortunately my girlfriend and my dog were there to help me out. I will never shop at this location again and am seriously considering giving up on Trader Joe's altogether if they're the type of establishment to employ aggressive bigots like the one I was harassed by. read more