This is a small local market that is convenient and is stocked with a good variety of products. The…read moreproblem is the produce is mediocre, even sometimes rotten, (especially bad when compared to Monterey Market up the street) and the owner/manager is rude. I swing by often but after recent visits I wonder why I spend so much money on overpriced bad produce from a nasty person. YMMV

Yeah no. Back in the mid 2000s, til about 2012, I regularly shopped in this small local,…read moreemployee-owned grocers because it was close to where I lived, I prefer small, neighborhood markets, and I liked that everything was organic. I liked the long-time manager Michael (now many years retired). I was out of state for about 10 years, and returned a few years ago. I have dropped in here now and then for an item or two (or just to use the restroom, which is always very clean), and left empty-handed each time because the prices are laughably exorbitant. You can tell a lot about a business - grocers or other - by the mood or attitude when you walk in. I don't know if employees have been burned by bad customers or if it is just more post-pandemic 'Weltschmerz,' but whenever I stopped in here I never felt welcomed, or as though the staff actually enjoy working here. I hear no customer-staff friendly banter, see hardly any smiles. It is just stony-faced, entitled (mostly white) people getting what they need, not interacting with or making eye contact with others, much less exchanging smiles or friendly "hellos." It is one more example of the bratty coldness that has taken over most of Berkeley, which breaks my heart. This used to be a lovely market to call my "neighborhood market," but absolutely no longer is. Before any employees or the manager chime in with a response to defend their laughably exorbitant prices by reminding me of how small a market they are - whoa there, little kitties - your prices are still higher than Monterey Market up the road or another employee-owned market, Berkeley Bowl. I can't even afford to puchase a bottle of mustard here, and must get it at Trader Joes. Be honest: This market is for VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE ONLY or for people who DON'T MIND MAXXING OUT THEIR CREDIT CARDS HERE so that they can feel like one of the "cool kids" for shopping here. Your produce is beautiful, your shop very spic 'n span clean, I appreciate that you offer non-GMO and Fair Trade groceries, but you could do better, truly, by making the less-than-ridiculously wealthy people feel more welcome here. You'd have to care about us first though.

Stopped by Shattuck Market and overall it was an okay experience, but the customer service felt a…read morebit unprofessional. One interaction with an employee came across unnecessarily blunt and made the environment feel a little uncomfortable. The store itself is fine and has what you need, but a more polite and consistent approach to customers would improve the experience a lot. Not terrible, just room for improvement on the service side.

This is a reliable market super close to where I live and the owner is incredibly friendly and…read morehelpful. Such a neighborhood gem compact with helpful essentials!

Awesome unique spot that I found while on a quest to try all the local ferments in the area. They…read morehave a fridge full of large-format bottles of kombucha and water kefir in cool edgy flavors such as nettle as well as more standard flavors like hibiscus. I only had the chance to try one thing and opted for the blood orange cardamom kefir made with molasses and vanilla bean. How cool. I really enjoyed it. Cardamom and blood orange are both easily overdone, but not in this case. Extremely well executed. I think the vanilla bean worked behind the scenes to help mellow everything out. Yum. I downed the bottle and returned it (for a cash refund of the bottle deposit) before moving on to my next fermentation destination.

This place is amazing. They use super clean ingredients and a lot of it is soy free which can be…read morehard to find. I do the weekly online pickup order - they always well organized and they have plenty of other options in the store. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable too. I will riot if this place ever closes!!

Everything is very fresh and they have quality produce. If you want to buy bulk, there are large…read morequantities available.

Monterey Market is one of my go-to spots for produce, especially if you like variety. Their…read moreselection is huge, and the mushroom section is on another level, way beyond what you see at a normal grocery store. Fun fact: this place is famous for carrying hard-to-find and foraged produce and has been a quiet favorite of Bay Area chefs for decades, which explains why half the fruits look like they belong in a cooking show challenge. That said, the quality isn't flawless. This past summer the corn on the cob was disappointing, with a few ears already rotten at one end once you peel back the husk, so definitely inspect before buying. Also, the clientele is usually fine, but this visit featured an unnecessary checkout cameo from a full-volume Karen who felt the need to explain how standing in line works. The cashier chose silence, which felt like a statement. Still a great market overall, just keep an eye on the corn and maybe bring a little extra patience to the register.

I love my neighborhood spot with Marco at the helm. Positive…read morevibes always and can always grab Something needed in a pinch.

Alex Market is the little market that could! They have an amazing selection in a VERY small space…read more Most of the brands are local and/or organic which offers a contrast from a lot of other bodegas. They even have my favorite gluten free bread (Bread Srsly). The owner and staff are very friendly and greet regular customers warmly. Recommended if you are in the area!

I know where the best balls are, and no, this isn't a gay bar review. I'm talking about freshly…read moredeep-fried falafel balls, so take your mind out of the gutter, will ya? I'm talking about a tiny Middle Eastern kitchen inside the Berkeley Organic Market. I just happened on this spot as I was walking and feeling peckish in the family-friendly Elmwood neighborhood. One woman was behind the counter, so I assumed she was not only the face of Badan, she was Badan. I ordered the $9.99 Falafel Plate with three freshly deefalafel balls, hummus, baba ganoush, and a salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, turnip, pickles, and feta cheese (photo). It came with a fluffy pita quartered for easier scooping. The market only has one table out on the sidewalk which I shared with a young mother and her daughter. I can say unequivocally that everything tasted fresh. I believe the woman who prepared my plate made everything that morning, and it made me want to come back and try the shawarma, the lentil soup, and the wraps. Great balls. You're welcome. FOOD - 5 stars...truly fresh combo plate with standout falafel balls AMBIANCE - 4 stars...not much room here but a relaxing to-go option SERVICE - 5 stars...she was great TOTAL - 5 stars...psss, it's in the market RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

Went in for the first time and they have great things! Love their huge drink section. Will…read moredefinitely be back!

Beautiful little convenience/grocery store in the waterfront District of Berkeley serving vegan to…read moremeat sandwiches delicious soup of the day and grab and go items as well as produce and beverages.

We are so lucky to have this sweet store on our block. Amazing selection of foods including…read moreexcellent homemade soups, fresh bread and vegetables. Super nice staff.

A really nice place with a good assortment of halal meat and groceries…read more Very good costumer service

As an Algerian living in the United States, it breaks my heart that I have to write this review. I…read morelove my community, and I make a point of supporting small businesses, especially those owned by Arab, North African, and Muslim families because they remind me of home. My family, friends, and I have shopped here for a long time, but after what happened today, that will no longer be the case. With the World Cup playing, I knew this store was selling Algerian jerseys. I wanted to surprise two of my American friends who have been proudly supporting Algeria by buying them jerseys. Today, I asked a friend to stop by the store and buy two jerseys. The employee working at the store today 06/30/25 between approximately 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. told my friend that the jerseys were $40 each. My friend noticed the jerseys did not have the star on them and politely asked whether they could be $35 instead (we had previously purchased 2 jerseys that had 2 stars and were $40) . The employee responded by saying, "As a matter of fact, I'll charge you $45." My friend asked why and even mentioned that he was Algerian, hoping there might be some flexibility. Instead, according to my friend, the employee responded by calling him a homophobic slur in Arabic. My friend is one of the kindest people I know. He wasn't rude, he wasn't disrespectful, and he wasn't looking for an argument. He simply wanted to buy two jerseys. Rather than make a scene, he paid for the jerseys and left. He later called me, and hearing how hurt and humiliated he was absolutely broke my heart. No customer should ever have to experience that. It is disgusting, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable.Whether you personally agree with someone's sexuality is your own business. However, when you are working in customer service, your job is to treat every paying customer with basic human dignity and respect. Calling someone a slur because of who they are or as a matter of fact who you think they are has absolutely no place in any business. An employee represents the business they work for. Their actions reflect on the store and its management. If this employee felt comfortable speaking to a customer this way, I have to question what kind of environment allows that behavior. I'm not asking for special treatment, not asking anyone to change their personal or religious beliefs. I am asking for the bare minimum: RESPECT . Every customer who walks through your doors deserves to be treated with courtesy regardless of their race, religion, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. I am very interested to see how the owners respond to this review. If what happened to my friend is consistent with how customers are treated, I believe it deserves to be taken seriously. No one should be subjected to homophobic slurs while simply trying to make a purchase. If they choose not to address this, I will consider reporting the incident to the appropriate agencies and organizations that handle discrimination complaints, as well as sharing my experience on other review platforms. This isn't about seeking revenge it's about expecting every customer to be treated with basic dignity and respect. I have always made an effort to support Arab, North African, and Muslim-owned businesses because they represent my community and my culture. That support, however, should never come at the expense of basic human decency. Until this matter is properly addressed, neither I, my family, nor my friends will be returning or recommending this business to others.