Trader Joe's

Trader Joes has really good deals on fresh, healthy food. Their dairy items tends to be very reasonably priced (cheaper than local chain grocery store), and a lot of their pre-made stuff (with the Trader Joe's label), is really good. It tends to get crowded on the weekends though, so if you can go during the week it is probably easier, and you run less of a risk of certain things running out (a couple of times I've gone and they've been out of the yogurt or cereal I usually get).

I shop here at least twice a week. We have our staples, then we have our fun food. I try to shop from a list but often find something else that I want to try. The last time was the frozen avocados. They were scrumptious mixed in w/ fresh for guacamole. All bets are off if I come here when I'm hungry. Thank god they have a tasting station. That's another reason that I tend to get diverted off of my shopping list. Once I've tried what the tasting station is offering, I must buy it. Try to stay away on weekend, Monday and Friday. It's a zoo. Tuesday they have a farmer's market. The store is busier but it's manageable.

PROS: Great selection, well-stocked
CONS: sometimes very crowded

Trader Joes really doesn't need a review. They have built a powerful reputation for themselves of a natural and organic store that sells almost everything one needs from produce, vitamins and pet food. Not all is offered and they stress flash frozen quicky meals but the price is impossible to beat. The service friendly and the location great.

The El Cerrito Trader Joe's is really not very different from the others. It's in a mall, so parking is relatively easy. It's a little small and crampy, unlike a Safeway (but most TJ's are.) They carry the same things are the other TJ's do, and there are a lot of people that love Trader Joe's in El Cerrito. I highly recommend never going there on the weekends or in the evenings unless you want to spend the entire time either waiting for people to move in front of you or getting out of people's way. Seriously - this TJ's gets ridiculously crowded.

PROS: It's Trader Joe's.
CONS: The most crowded Trader Joe's I've ever been to.

If you have never been to a TJ's before, you first visit will be quite a surprise. DON'T BE INTIMIDATED! If you take the time to explore this store during several visits, you will become a fan!
On your first visit you will notice the store seems VERY BUSY and you may wonder about the checkout lines. DON'T WORRY - the lines move REALLY QUICKLY - I've never waited longer than 5 minutes here.
The brands are not "mainstream" brands that you will know from a store like Albertson's or Safeway's. But they do always carry the same products so once you find your favorites they will always be there.
This is a very ethical grocery store - there is a large emphasis on HEALTHY products as well as on organic products (healthy for our planet). When you start comparing the food to more conventional brands you will see that they are much lower in fat and calories, higher in fiber, etc. (Yet they still taste great!)
The store is small so some things can be hard to find, they are packed into every available nook and cranny. If you hear a friend talking about something they buy at TJ's be sure to ask WHERE in the store it is found. (Don't be surprised to get an answer that is something like "near the tortilla chips, and right down next to the floor.)
Everything here is also really well priced. Most everything here is what you would consider a "specialty" item at a store like Albertson's or Safeway. Yet the prices are CHEAPER than those more conventional brands. There will be brands that you can compare directly sometimes and these will also always be cheaper at Trader Joe's (Ex: Kettle Chips brand lightly-salted chips at now $5.99 at Albertson's, they're around $3.50 at TJ's.)
The store always is giving away free samples in the back corner. They also have a large selection of fresh-flowers, these make great hostess gifts when you are headed to a party (and, like everything else, are CHEAP). TJ's is famous for Charles Shaw wine, affectionately known as "2-buck Chuck".

PROS: Healthy, Organic, CHEAP
CONS: Can be an intimidating store for the new-comer

This store is very health conscious and their prices for almost everything that i have checked on are cheaper than Albertsons. They do have a few odd trader joe brands and cater for alot of the more unusual ethnic foods.

They always have samples to try and even when crowded the checkout line is fast.