Smart & Final

Good store, good pricing and good service. Some of the products change without notice and the quality is not always the same, however this is life. I have been shopping here for 20 years and I will continue to do so.

Smart & Final finally got a make over, now it turns out really good. Consider this is not a Newport Beach Location, they have done the wonderful job to transform.
Back then this store was dirty, smelly. Always had some unpleasant drunk people around their parking lot sleeping/​hanging after they gets their free food from cross of the street. Now, all good with this new team, they took care the neighborhood.
Yes, this is not a Trader Joe’s or Mother’s Kitchen, but for a big family with limit budgets. They do offer some advantage without heading to Costco. Now it became my routine spot to shop for grocery.
By the way, this is the store designed for all the fast food /​truck food bushiness which means from fresh produce, utensils to household cleaning they have amazing selection and price is right. I’m a mom on budget, and this is a perfect place for me. Sure, they have beers for boys, too. During holiday, they have amazing gift card promotion, such as buy 100 and get 20… keep an eye on their ads.
I would give them a 5 stars if they could have more selection on cheese. maybe later.
Be smart, keep doing the good job.

This place is so close to our house that it’s my convenient go-​to for food essentials, helping me avoid crap-​tastic traffic during the work week on Harbor en route to Albertson’s. They don’t have EVERYTHING I need, so Albertson’s is a bi-​weekly trip.
Boyfriend and I have even affectionately nicknamed it «Fart & Smile». We think we’re clever.
Imagine a mini-​Costco grocery… no frills, basic produce, no seafood/​deli/​meat counter, good prices on the basics. And when I say «basics» they have pretty great pricing on booze.
It’s also where the sugar-​holic in the household *AHEM, BRANDON* purchases his (decently priced) super sized palettes of Gatorade and Red Bull. The foodie in me feels like I’m at an Al-​Anon meeting, admitting I allow this crap in our fridge.
S&F’s clientele skews heavily Hispanic, which mirrors the surrounding demographic and influences their offerings. For example, they have five to ten different kinds of peppers/​chilis, however I couldn’t locate a shallot. So set your expectations.
Cilantro? Yes.
Dill? No.
Boyfriend and I got in our first scrap because the pasta aisle at Fart & Smile was remiss of the noodle variety we’d decided to cook for dinner. I, being the fluid and flexible Pisces that I am, was totally cool switching it up to a lasagna, while my precise, type-​A Aries HAD to have cannelloni.
I made him drop my ass off to start prepping marinara while he went to Albertson’s.
So, with that being said, the caveat of shopping at S&F is that you may not always find the ingredients you need. This might result in a disagreement with your other half about dinner plans, which may in-​turn result in a «drop me off, DAMN IT» kind-​of altercation when said significant other is inflexible about expected menu options for dinner and insists on going to Alberston’s.
God, I hate that Alberston’s. I just can’t put a finger on the why.

I love Smart and Final! It’s like a block from my house and the prices are good. I also have a secret crush on Martha who works during the day. She’s pretty awesome. I pretty much only eat fish and they have a good selection for fresh small portions.

Good prices on a lot of things, but there are few items that are pricey compared to other stores, but then again, that’s how it is everywhere. Store isn’t that big, so the idles aren’t very wide, but they’re decent compared to the Stater Brothers on N. Newport Blvd. Fruits and vegetables look good and they have a small case with Mexican bread. Only complain at this store is they usually don’t have enough registers open and the lines back up quickly, with no real room to stand in line without blocking other shoppers. It’s not your high end grocery store like the Von’s or Ralph’s on 17^th St, but it works and the prices are better

I normally shop at the location on Bristol but this location is actually equal in distance for me so I decided to give it a visit. I was impressed with the size of the store and it is much larger than the Bristol location. As a result of the extra square footage, they have more product offerings. It’s not quite as robust as the S&F Extra in Orange that I checked out, but still very expansive. The prices are decent and service is okay. S&F typically understaff”s their stores from what I have seen, but the employees are usually willing and helpful. This is a good location and I will shop here with higher frequency.

Friendly service

OPEN OPEN OPEN more lanes!!! Seems to be the mantra for this location — the lines are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too long. I’ve left groceries and went to the little mexican market down the street — the prices are great but the lines, noooooooooo way.
OPEN MORE LANES — more than 3 people in line and another lane should be opened, it’s not Costco but the lines made me feel like it! and not a pizza slice to be found (the only consolation to the lines at Costco)

I shop here every week. I really like the produce dept. the prices are good and so is the quality.

We love Smart and Final! No hassle of the giant warehouse stores when you just need groceries and party supplies.
I shop here on a weekly basis for their great prices on basic necessitates.
If they only carried some more natural foods they would get 5 stars. But other than that I would not change a thing!

I love their generic products and their milk has no pesticides or hormones… sweeeeet. My family loves u!

Very short experience here, bought $ 100+ worth of ice for an event. Oh yeah, and $ 10 worth of cups.
BTW, this was the cheapest place closest to the OC Fair that had ice within 5 mile radius. $ 3.99 for a 20 lb. bag. When I had called over the phone inquiring on the price, the girl over the phone was courteous. I had a totally opposite and negative experience at a competitor by the fair that I won’t mention (it rhymes with Skater Sister).
It’s too bad because we first bought $ 60 over there and endured the negative experience since we should’ve just came here in the first place.
Thanks Smart and Final! We know where we are going again next year!

Overall, I am a big fan of the Smart & Final chain and shop at their stores often but «whatEVER» the managers at this location are doing to keep up customer service, it is a big improvement from other Smart & Final stores that I have been in. The cashiers are NOT chatting around the customers as though we don’t exist; the floor staff are not only knowledgeable and happy to assist, but they escort you to the item you are seeking… WOW… not acting like the customer is a necessary nuisance is SUCH a refreshing change. In fact, in contrast, please read my other review of the Huntington Beach Smart & Final for a VERY different Smart & Final review!

I had not been in this particular Smart & Final store in a few years, and so I was surprised when I walked in recently and saw the improvements that the store has made. The new vegetable section is impressive. I disagree with another reviewer about the produce not looking fresh because on the day that I was in the store, the produce looked great. You’re not going to find organic selections here, though.
There are certain things that are always on my Smart & Final list because they’re less expensive and/​or it is handy to pick up restaurant supply types of items here. I mean, if you need a chef’s hat to put on your husband while he bastes the Thanksgiving turkey, then you’re in luck.
The sizes of items, like canned goods, are often large, but if you are selective about what you buy at Smart & Final, the pricing is to your advantage. Like, you get a huge jar of nice quality capers for the same price as the tiny jar in the market. I’ll take the huge jar, thanks.
The best thing that I have ever purchased at Smart & Final is my «Update» brand coffee air pot — NOT made in China. Perk fresh coffee and into the air pot it goes and stays hot. Happy.
What still needs some major improvement is the wine selection because it is mostly yuck.
I like Smart & Final, and they have done a great job in updating this store.

Guess what? Meat. Smell. Again.
Coincidence? I think not!

Good place to go if you don’t have a Costco Membership and you’re throwing a party! I usually get my bulk plastic cups, silverware, and other things for parties here!
They also have some regular sized things that a normal grocery store has at cheaper prices but I wouldn’t make this my normal grocery store because majority of their products are in big/​jumbo sizes. The fruits and veggies never look fresh here!
They have cheap prices on almost everything so if you use a lot of something and Costco doesn’t carry it they probably have it here!
They have a recycle center in their parking lot so lock your car doors! There’s a lot of homeless people walking around the area.

«…the smaller faster warehouse store…». Oh please, that jingle is shamful and should be changed to «…the most amazing store EVER!» Geez how I love you! When in need for Cinco de Mayo paraphernalia; Smart And Final really came in the clutch to bestow upon me all that is natures glory.
pluses:
+cartons of Horchata — natures necter
+Cap’n morgan spiced rum — (for the horchata, and yes it is amazing)
+large glass «bee-​hive» jar with ladle
+piñata named Pedro filled with Pica Fresa
+Carne Asada goodness
+guac
+chips
minuses
–no gasolina para mi coche *shaking my fist at costco*