Safeway

I’ve been going to this safeway for 10 years. It has a bunch of problems caused by being a small space in a very busy populated areas, plus the downside of just being a Safeway. I’ll share the pros and cons:
Pros:
1) Nice prepackaged washed salad mixes and other pre-​prepared items like pico de gallo.
2) Nice beer, liquor and wine selection
3) The black guy butcher is extremely helpful and has been there a long time
4) Large parking lot with validated parking
5) Across the street from caltrain so it is handy to shop for dinner after work
6) Some of the checkers are very fast
7) Wells Fargo ATM right outside
Cons:
1) A lot of the fresh produce is wilted/​not high quality
2) There’s really long lines between 5:30 — 7:30 or so.
3) Some of the cashiers are very slow. Do some surveillence before picking a line
4) They close the bathrooms anytime there’s a baseball game. The other times you have to pick up a key from the cashier
5) Prices for certain things are always very high. For example, onions are usually $ 2 a pound and I have never seen them on sale. I have not seen chicken or steaks on sale in a long time.
6) They have reduced the space for poultry and the prices are pretty high
7) If you don’t like Greek Yogurt, good luck. That’s almost all they have for yogurt.
8) I have gotten salmon that was not fresh. i generally ask the butcher how fresh things are before I buy
9) They stock some shelves during the very busy evening rush with their carts blocking whole sections of the aisle.
I shop at another nice privately owned grocery store for my nice produce and meats. But for basics I go here because it is convenient to Caltrain.

They need new management. Many things l buy are never fully stocked. I try to call in but she doesn’t speak English or pretends not to then puts me back. I literarily stayed on hold for 20 mins then I hung up

Have been using this store for 8 years now in my neighborhood. But in the last few months, this location is getting worse and worse. There seems to be no order going on, they have a huge sign saying if there is a long line at check-​out and exceeds a certain number, they will open another register. I stood there one day and nobody came for over ten minutes. Just last week, I went in to order my usual deli meats, only to discover they have changed the brands and the new meats are not as good and what I usually got for 6 – 7 $ a pound, is now 12.99 a pound so needles to say that I won’t be using their deli anymore. Staff are rude and unhelpful at times also, not sure what the future brings for this location, but they would want to buck up or they could get a lot worse in the future.

Gotta love the new breakfast burritos at the deli for only 2.99. The big downside is they are sooooooo slooooow in making everything. So if your in a rush you might want to reconsider. so now my dilemma is do I set my alarm an extra 15 minutes early to compensate. Is it that worth it? Love some feedback on that one

An absolute nightmare of disorder & visual chaos. Couldn’t even find the entrance but had to call to be directed inside! The «main» entrance is closed/​obstructed/​malfunctioning. The «side» entrance is via the office building, so it does not look like Safeway at all. Inside is a complete mish-​mash of disorder and visual overload/​overkill with the signage and stuff.
Not one star, but two, because they are super-​well-​stocked (unlike TJ’s), and the beer & champagne are crazy-​cold.

I sent this to Safeway 1^st but figured everyone should be aware of this issue.
Hello– I was at the San Francisco King St store and needed to order a cake for a birthday party. I’ve had to wait for someone to help in the bakery department for a few minutes before as it’s not always managed but today I waited for 20 minutes while other store employees passed by offering little to no help to get someone over to help me order a cake. There was another lady in front of me who had been waiting for a while before I got there. Finally I was fed up and went to the registers, I was told to go to THREE different check stands from 2 cashiers who also seemed bothered that I was asking for help before finding a manager to help me and even then the manager barely seemed concerned and actually said «you waited there that long?» as if I was supposed leave or something. I literally didn’t even know if this store took orders for custom cakes and I wanted to ask the question before I ordered it and I was so upset I just left and didn’t ask the manager. I needed someone to talk to who knew what they were doing and I got no help. Very VERY aggravating. I will also be posting this on Unilocal

Please replace the African american working the self service checkout. You have to ask her for the bag. Unlike other associates who hand you the bag/​s you need, this one particular lady, I have to ask for the bag every time.

Man, they really get you with the prices!
2.49 each if you buy two sandwiches, but the hidden message is only if you buy with card you will get that price.
Bananas are expensive here tooo! Go to trader joe’s.
I guess this place is super convenient, as it is right in the crack of two muni lines.

I went to the freezer aisle and saw the sign above that said «Gluten-​Free & Vegetarian.»
I walked to said freezer door.
I looked at said freezer door.
Frozen pizzas.
*Sigh*
Such as the typical experience at this Safeway. The signs may not be up to date and employees are just as confused as you are.
Btw, the veggie patties and morningstar products were halfway down the aisle the other way. But that was it. Only about 10 morningstar products. No Gardein or any other widely known frozen vegan food products. Luckily, they still carry products like Earth Balance, Veganaise, and Tofurkey deli slices, but they are scattered throughout the store in the produce and refrigerated sections.
Many people say that this Safeway is great for Caltrain commuters who want to grab something for the ride.
DON’T!
Each line is always at least 10 people deep since there isn’t enough room to add more registers. Be prepared to wait in line for at least 15 minutes. So unless you have that much time to wait, don’t take the risk and miss your train. (But if you miss your train, now you’ll have a whole ‘nother hour to wait in line!)
It’s just a shame that San Franciscans can’t get a decently sized grocery store that doesn’t take years to check out. Oh well.

The only reason I come to this Safeway is because it’s within walking distance from my house. Since it’s squeezed into such a small space selection can be lacking.
The produce department has major freshness/​quality issues; make sure you inspect your selections carefully and check expiration dates on packaging, because they will leave expired food on the shelves. On multiple occasions I’ve brought home fruit or cheese that already had mold on it. Yesterday I was briefly enticed by the strawberries, but all three of the boxes I picked up to check had a fruit covered in mold near the bottom.
If you’re coming here by car, you would do better to hit up the Safeway on 16^th and Potrero, but if you have to stop here, there is garage parking with an entrance on Townsend. Parking is free with validation if you shop here.

There is such thing as a nice looking Safeway. Conveniently accessible from King, 4^th, and Townsend Street, and underground parking that will be validated with a $ 5 purchase.
Kinda cramped, but CLEAN.
The staff seemed a bit annoyed but hey, I don’t expect much. I’m frequenting the ones on 16^th and in the Western Addition, and I’m used to things. Ha.

Definitely one of the busiest Safeways I’ve ever been to! Be prepared for long wait in line. I waited about 15 minutes just to check out and it was hectic to get around just because it was too crowded.
This place is understaffed and there isn’t enough cash registers to check people out.

It’s a nice enough Safeway but their predatory pricing on brown sushi rice vs white sushi rice is unfair. Ideally they should be charging people more for white rice and less for those trying to be a bit more healthy. In reality they gouge you on the brown. Sure it’s a mere 50 cents but percentage wise it’s significant and when you multiply this by the number of purchases in a year times the number of people buying and you realize the nickel and diming really adds up.
Shame on you Safeway. The brown rice war begins now.

close to the caltrain station easy to get to good grab and go to a picnic or lunch on the go

Generally a convenient place for your basic grocery needs — prices are fair and they carry all the essentials. However, their selection is somewhat limited. Some things that I regularly buy (San Marzano canned tomatoes, Wallaby greek yoghurt, and Kind peanut granola, to name a few) all cannot be found here and require a visit to Whole Foods a few blocks north.
The seafood department is terrible, with the fish nowhere close to being fresh. They also lack an olive bar, and the cheese selection is poor. As such, although the location is convenient, I find myself making the trek to Whole Foods more and more — although pricier, their selection of items is greater and higher in quality in general.

The coolest Safeway I know. The deli Is definitely a game changer. Everything is always delicious and fresh. A more limited selection due to space constraints. But a great place to come in for a hot meal even when you don’t need groceries.

Often I can find exotic things here that i can’t find at whole foods. This store reliably stocks the same exact things i always buy (my weekly shopping list is dave’s killer bread, kale, haricots vert, broccolini, crunchy organic peanut butter, bonne maman jam, cheerios, coconut milk, bananas and organic gala apples). Usually if i wait, i can buy cheerios for under 25 cents an ounce, etc.
However, the location of this store brings crazy fighting, shoplifters, and other bad stuff. For example, apparently, they have a terrible problem with people mischaracterizing their organic gala apples as regular gala apples to save 50 cents a pound. as a result, a year or so ago, they started putting a second sticker that marks the organic ones. however, they use a type of sticker that is impossible to remove. a few months ago they seemed to be switching over to stickers that are easier to remove (or maybe the organic galas they were stocking were more waxy). but the batch i bought this week are back to the same annoying situation with the stickers. maybe they were so easy to remove that people were removing them in the store?
I’ve added a photo of the sticker residue i end up eating on every apple to the gallery.
it drives me NUTS. please, figure out some other solution so i can eat my posh apples without a side of paper and glue!

I think I’ve been here 7 or 8 times in the 7 days that I am staying in San Francisco, cause it’s so close to where I was staying.
Prices. $ 2.99 for a pound of grapes ON SALE. I didn’t think that a bag of grapes ended up costing $ 7-​$ 8. $ 3.99 for six eggs, going up to $ 8.99 for a dozen eggs. Man, these eggs must be golden. $ 7 for a watermelon, that is, you need to have the Safeway Club Card.
Other food is decently priced, I guess, especially their hot selections, $ 3.49 for a pound of wedges, Mmmm-​Mmmmmmm. $ 2.99 breakie sandwiches. OMNOMNOMNOM.
Of course, nothing compared to No Frills back in Toronto or ChinaTown in SF, where the prices of groceries are cheaper.
All in all, your average grocery store that hold many items (meds, bakery, meats, alcohol, snacks, fresh produce).

$ 8.99 for a dozen «free-​range organic no-​GMO the-​mama-​was-​grass-​fed» eggs? For that price I could probably fund a startup to deliver them to my doorstep for less!
In all reality, it’s a Safeway. Mid-​price range grocery store, but it’s all there is near the 4^th and King area. Does the job, and has a solid breakfast/​lunch option with hot meals for $ 6 and less.
Pro-​tip: wear a hoodie, skip the shorts. For some reason, no matter how sweltering it is outside, the store is usually always more frozen than … well, Frozen (please don’t sue me Disney).

Take me out to the ball game, buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks!
Choose the safer way —
+ Location and convenience: Right across from Caltrain and right near the ballpark. Perfect for some pre-​game cheaper peanuts and cracker jacks. No need to go hangry on the train!
+If you are a health fiend, the natural foods aisle is pretty extensive for a Safeway.
+Quick in and out for paying — in fact, just as fast as reading the quick tips in this review. Okay, maybe not thaaaaat fast.
— A decent selection, but for such a large location they are missing some of the cool specialty items I’ve seen elsewhere. The foodie «cool» factor as in «oooh new, cool product» or «super unique.» The ethnic/​Asian foods aisle is measly.
–So many doors and aisles can be a bit of a maze with the store’s layout
Shop Safeway — it’s the San Fran safer way! New slogan?