Trader Joe’s

This review is solely based on what I saw outside the store today, and not the staff or the goods themselves.
Today I saw a TJ’s crew member tossing what appeared to be perfectly good produce into a landfill bin outside. This is incredibly disheartening. I understand that there is probably some sort of protocol in place that requires team members to dispose of produce that is past its cosmetic prime, but I encourage you to look into proactive options such as donating these blemished fruits/​vegetables to needy organizations, food banks, or for starters, composting!

Love this place. However, for some reason whatever I make never tastes as good as what they do in their displays… there must be a secret ingredient they don’t tell us… the Jojo secret.

Really, its as good as it gets! I love it here, staff is always friendly, if you look lost they will help you find your way. I once, while in the chips aisle saw a hot new item, I opened a bag of lemon herb chips, (Don’t laugh!) it looked interesting, once the flavors hit my mouth, my face and tongue had a sudden disgusted-​ugly reaction; my face crunched up and my tongue twisted in different directions. It tasted awful! To my surprise, a TJ employee saw my facial expression and laughed, he said, no worries, if you don’t like it, we don’t want you to pay for it and politely took the open bag of nasty chips away. TIP: If you buy a product and bring it back for any reason, they will most likely return it without question. (It should be a reasonable return, however).
This is my go-​to super market, I love their unique and seasonal products. Their selection of cheeses is great, flowers are beautiful, wine is divine, quality chocolate and much, much more.
Oh and did I mention the prices. very low! I guestimate you wouldn’t spend more than $ 7 for any item. They got good pricey people! lol
I love Trader Joes in Lafayette, it’s my one-​stop-​shop, they have a small parking lot, street and metered parking all around.
See you tomorrow! :)

Love all things about Trader Joe’s: service is impeccable, great organic selection and awesome prices. The only thing about this location is that parking can be really challenging.

Excellent customer service. Very helpful in finding things. Clean and plenty of parking.

Not my favorite one in the East Bay but I live here so I make the most of it.
They do have a nice sampling area. The recipes for their products are usually so yummy. It gives me ideas for potlucks.
My biggest problem is that they treat the ripe fruit badly and it gets smushed in my bag. Last night, the cashier threw my pear down to the bagger. Seriously? I told her to be careful and she said, «Oh, I thought it was a lemon». If you’re going to sell ripe fruit, then your staff needs to know how to treat it.

I love Trader Joe’s. We just moved here from the peninsula, were I adored the staff at the TJ in Millbrae and they loved my girls. Here in Lafayette is all a different story. There are a couple, if not more of female employees that cannot stand the vision of kids getting closer to them, nor they make an effort of hiding it. Another bad experience today at the cash register. My 2.5 ys old was ready to help the cashier by passing the food. The cashier grabbed and dragged the little cart from my daughter’s hands and rolled her eyes. My daughter’s hands still on the little cart and almost tripped hitting her chin. The cashier acted annoyed all the time. didn’t acknowledge my daughter and when I asked for stickers she just shoveled them in her hands. Another bad episode happened during Christmas when the employee at the sample table refused to give my daughter (2 year old) a lollipop because she wasn’t able to talk or to point out at the monkey… come on people. you are working in the wrong place. Go find a less family oriented store, don’t ruin it for us

I have to stay with a 3 star for TJ’s because careful shopping will yield great results. The best value is in the cheese and dairy. In fresh veggie and fruit products, it seems that one out of 4 avocados are overripe and soon discarded. I have stopped buying their berries for the same reason.

Best Traders Joes in the east bay. Why? I’d say the lack or lines and the quick ins and outs I do whenever I come to this location. Trader joes was the pioneer of health conscious grocery shopping so as the loyal person I am I continue to come here instead of over priced & expensive whole foods. Don’t get me wrong, I likely can afford both the same but trader joes has what I need so why bother with their competitors ?
Yes I’ll be back.

I don’t know why but for some reason I always assumed that Trader Joe’s was way more expensive than Safeway. I started shopping here for the family I work for and realized that there are certain items at Trader Joe’s that are cheaper than Safeway. A gallon of milk (non-​organic) for instance is cheaper here!
I absolutely love the free coffee and free samples. I have been able to find some really great new cheeses thanks to the free samples.
The Salted Caramel Gelato is my go-​to dessert when I am looking for something insanely sweet. I love the Chinese entrees in the frozen section. Trader Mings Kung Pao Chicken is something I make at least twice a month. The falafel in the frozen section is really delicious, I am a sucker for a quick and easy falafel.
I also find really lovely greeting cards here and they are only $ 1!!! I like to stock up each month. The flower selection is beautiful and really well priced. The variety of plants that are on display are always interesting and I am always so tempted to buy a new plant every time I come.
The customer service here is on point! Every single employee that I have interacted with has been incredibly kind and professional.
The parking here can be a real nightmare during the weekend and 3pm-​6pm on weekdays. I am lucky that I live near by so I can just walk.

The store is OK but it is not fair of the customers to park in the lot of the businesses next door. If you are going to the Lafayette Post Office, that has 10 minute parking, all of the spots are full with customers shopping at Trader Joe’s.
The management of the Trader Joe’s store should be a better neighbor and keep their customers in their own lot and not impact the other stores. There are times that the Post Office can’t back in their trucks due to the arrogant Trader Joe’s customers that think they have a right to park in the neighbors parking lot and the Post Office delivery driveway. These same customers leave their baskets in the parking lot and in front of the stores.
I guess these Trader Joe’s customers think they have a sense of entitlement!
TRADER JOE’S MANAGEMENT WAKE UP AND BE A BETTER NEIGHBOR!!!

I go to this Trader Joes all the time!
They always have their products in stock.
I have cashiers that I always go to and they are pretty nice!
I love their sparkling water and their salads… there is nothing that this place does not have or that has that is not good. The workers are always offering for help. If you live near by, take advantage of this awesome grocery store!

This is a pretty terrible Trader Joe’s. As a Lafayette lifer, I can say this parking lot has been notoriously bad for as long as I can remember. The shopping experience inside isn’t any better. If you want to stand stupidly for several minutes at a time, just trying to squeeze past some oblivious shopper blocking your only exit, this is the place for you. Today, I literally found myself completely circled by shoppers on all sides with absolutely no way out. So I waited patiently while more than one person noticed they were blocking me and simply turned back to shopping… possibly assuming someone else would let me (with my little one year old in the shopping cart) out. I don’t know what it is, but this store attracts the worst of Lafayette. And I mean the worst. There is always the promise of a woman staring at 10 identical packages of Italian sausage for waaaaay too long, all the while blocking off access to the prosciutto. «Excuse me» «Pardon me» «Scuzi», all go unnoticed. Finally I reached rudely in front of her and grabbed my item. I got the «how rude» look. I was just so happy she noticed me! I was afraid this was the Sixth Sense scene where I discover I’m really dead.
For some reason, I don’t need to contemplate the existential existence of my food items before selecting and placing in my cart. It only takes a matter of moments for me to grab my items and go. I just don’t fit in. I can’t seem to channel that utterly self absorbed state of being that it takes to shop here. The allure of cheaper prosciutto, smoked salmon, good cheeses and Two (and a half) Buck Chuck aren’t enough to keep me as a regular. I’ll stick to Whole Foods. Say what you will, at least people are friendly and considerate.

I really love trader joes and enjoy trying all of their enticing products. This location is close to my work so I freequent it often and the staff is wonderful. If I’m pondering over something, they’ll ask me if I need help and make friendly suggestions and at the register, the cashier will most often give me great recommendations on what to do with what I’ve bought. This store can get congested and parking is a mess but I always walk out with a smile and much more than I needed :)

So glad our lamorinda has had a TJs for a while. There are issues with the size and parking. So go early or park on the side street as the parking lot ca get busy with large cars, and it’s uphill with those groceries.
I’m fairly certain that they have all the TJ goodies even though the store is a bit smaller, they keep melons and plants outside. Stock up on dairy products, but avoid the meats, I’ve found that they aren’t that good.

Watch Trader Joes Lafayette. I have found several items expired. As an example, there was a lunch wrap at least 2 weeks out of date (Southwest chicken wrap)
I have also seen out of date food in other grocery stores. This is unacceptable and is obviously willful neglect. You will not find expired food in Diablo foods.

The store is great-​5 stars. Staff is friendly and helpful. One of the nicer ones to shop at in the East Bay. Why not 5 stars? The parking lot is a mess! I usually park on Mt. Diablo Blvd. and pay a quarter rather than deal with the BS. The post office and other retail shops are busy and how do I say this nicely? The average age of the people here are higher than most areas. If you go here during non peak times, you should be fine.

Kinda dinky for a Trader Joe’s. I went here for a change for lunch. Now, they’ve never had a huge selection of stuff for lunch (no salad bar like nearby Diablo Foods or my regular Whole foods), but you can definitely get by for vegan options.
I ended up with my favorite eggplant wrap and a kale salad. I refrained from getting the vegan cookies. Didn’t look at the beer (it was lunchtime), but I imagine it’s nearly identical to other stores.
I probably won’t go back anytime soon — it’s out of the way for me, and I prefer Whole Foods for lunch. Still, there’s nothing really wrong with this store apart from feeling small.

Good produce section? They have it.
Quick meals if you’re in a hurry? Yes.
Specialty wines? Check.
Trader Jose’s beer? — Si!
Flowers for any occasion? Got that too!
Good selection of bakery goods, coffee and snack stuff as well. And service is always helpful, you never wait long once the bell gets rung. But why did they change Gone Bananas to bites?

No complaints here.
Large space (compared to El Cerrito Plaza
Well organized.
Friendly and helpful staff. They seem to go out of their way to help.
Well stocked shelves.
I honestly just came in to use the bathroom but c’mon it’s impossible to go into any Trader Joe’s and NOT buy something! I picked up a couple of bottles of OJ
and some snack items.