Trader Joe’s

I’ve been in Seattle for a year and avoided this place thinking it was another Whole Foods. Oh. My. Gosh. The prices are pretty darn good. It’s far from whole foods. The wines, cheeses and their brand names are very decently priced. And some unique combos are usually taste tested towards the back. Again, why am I just now shopping here. Between this place and the Asian market downtown I have everything I need without paying insane prices in the city.
The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about the company and products.
Last time we came here they had a tomato soup and cowboy caviar combo that wad Amazing. Before that a sweet potato, kale and feta pizza. The imagination in the ingredients is delish and easily affordable which I love. A win for sure considering what you pay to live in this locarion.

I love how big this trader joes is compared to the other ones. Trader joes always has the best customer service. People are friendly, happy to help you find the things you’re looking for, and pretty easy to track down.
I would give this place 5 stars but I came in two times and never saw their chicken salad, so I ended up trying a few other that I didn’t like as much.
Parking is an ease they have a huge parking garage and street parking, but the garage is just more convenient.

Small store but friendly staff. Parking blows but can’t beat their prices when compared to any other greedy store in the area.
Not sure how people afford shopping anywhere but here…

My first time ever to Trader Joe’s. I bought the dill pickle popcorn. It was sooo good. I bought a few other things and was impressed that the prices were so reasonable. Will definitely be going back.

What isn’t there to love about TJ’s? Same hours every day to make it easy on you, inexpensive but completely fresh and delicious produce, and a ton of natural snacks and dishes you can’t find in other stores. This is the only place I shop for my food and I’ve even begun to use their all natural toiletry products as well. Their tea tree face wash is amazing! And the greatest part — aside from how good the store is for your body — is how great the prices are. I’ve never walked out of TJ’s feeling like I spent too much money.
Things I love about this location specifically:
Convenient to anyone who lives near Market in Ballard.
Covered parking just footsteps away from the front door.
There are frequently local musicians playing in the area between the parking garage and the door.
All around: recommend. Just go.

Traders is a good place to go to if you know what you are shopping for, like most places in Seattle, traders prices are great with some and not so much with others. The staff are friendly and very helpful actually assisting you looking for things by going your the isle without saying, like most places it’s on isle 12, this is a friendly way of providing great customer service and really does mean a lot about when we have so many choices of places to go.

I live in Everett but work in Ballard — and with a busy week didn’t have time to do my usual grocery shopping in Everett before our weekend out of town coming up. I had a small list of necessities, and while there are plenty of options in the area (QFC, Safeway, Fred Meyer, to name a few) this Trader Joes is simply too convenient to pass up. Street parking could be attempted, but a parking garage that posts several parking spots is a good excuse for me to not make a miserable attempt at parallel parking on the street — score!
First of all, like all TJ’s, this store is über organized and tidy. I’ve been in a couple of times at this location — and while I can only compare it to the Everett location — and the staff here are extraordinarily friendly but not in an annoying way. The first visit found me wandering aimlessly with nothing particular in mind to buy, and someone offered me assistance looking for something. This time, I was more prepared and thus required no offers of help (though with the number of staffers there, I know they’d be quick to assist if need be!). Their prices seem a little high, but a good majority of their product at least seems to be organic. I don’t normally look for organic foods, but I think it’s a bonus that TJ’s has a focus on wholesome foods. I picked up a rad bag of multicolored carrots for $ 1.99, a yummy chopped chicken salad for lunch, etc etc.
Wandered over to the dairy section — or for me, the dairy free section. I was pleasantly surprised to see cultured coconut yogurt as a dairy free alternative. At $ 1.49 a cup, it seems pricey but then again it’s a specialty item that I have not seen elsewhere. Have yet to try it, but I am sure excited to!
At check out I paid with a combo of cash & debit — jokingly saying how I was inconveniencing the cashier. Then a witty TJ’s staffer, who came over to assist bagging my groceries (like a pro I might add — it was like he was playing a game of grocery tetris!) joked with me about my paying combo. I also had to buy a couple of gift cards and it was a breeze (note — gift card max value is $ 100).
My experience here made me realize, though they are more expensive, they kind of make grocery shopping an «experience» rather than a job on the to do list (hey, at least for me). I usually shop a discounted chain grocery store back in Everett — but I think I might just become a semi frequent TJ’s shopper.

Great store, always parking on bottom level of the garage.
Friendly employees, as always.

I love this Trader Joe’s!
It’s really convenient to have this TJ’s located in the Ballard Blocks. I never have to worry about parking here, because there’s ample parking outside along the church and the curb, but it’s also connected to the parking garage. In other words, you don’t need to take a Xanax to make it through the parking ordeal like in Cap Hill. Yikes!
This location is always decently stocked, Sundays being the worst, because everyone (hipster) within a 5-​mile radius comes here on Sunday. Even then, I find that I can usually find the essentials, it’s just the bashing of carts and running over toes that I need to worry about. This location is also very clean and well laid out. There’s no guessing as to where to find things.
The staff at Trader Joe’s, particularly at this location, is always very friendly and helpful. They will always go out of their way to ask you a question during check-​out, even if it’s just to ask if you’re having a good day. Sometimes I overshare with them, but I figure that’s what they get for asking! Haha.

Great store! …as all Trader Joes are. Great, friendly staff. Amazing food. Can’t ask for more!

I love Trader Joe’s, not only is it the healthiest grocery store but it is also reasonably priced. Way better than PCC or whole foods that’s for sure. Don’t forget to check out the Greek goddess salad dressing that they carry! Also their morning breakfast maple chicken sausage is really really good as well!

I am changing this review because sometimes it is just bad timing. Ive been a TJ’s loyal shopper for a long long time.

I have been working in Ballard for years now, and Trader Joes is a great convenience to everyday life.
It is a good location at the Ballard Blocks. Street parking can be a little tricky after 5pm, but there is also the Ballard Blocks parking lot which is another parking option.
They have a great selection of food, drinks, and flowers. The variety of their ready-​to-​eat section is impressive, ranging from lots of salads, wraps, and microwaveable options. I was also very excited when they brought in ready-​to-​eat soups in the refrigerated section. It is nice that they even have fresh produce and meat selections. I always try to check out the sample station in the back to see what the tasting of the day is.
Staff is always friendly, attentive and helpful. The lines at the register can get long during busy hours, but they always move along quick and efficiently which I appreciate.
Unfortunately, I had one negative experience with their ready-​to-​eat salads. Last year I had the salad with shrimp for lunch, and I went home from work that day extremely sick with food poisoning. I had to be taken to the hospital overnight for treatment. The next day I saw on the news that Trader Joes was having recalls on some food items including sprouts and edamame hummus. This was so scary and disappointing.
I come here a lot less now since this experience, and if I do purchase ready-​to-​eat foods I steer clear of their salads with seafood or sprouts.
Overall very convenient, lots of nice options and friendly staff. Steer clear of the ready-​to-​eat food containing seafood or sprouts.

I went to a bunch of Trader Joe’s when I was in Seattle simply because as a family on vacation we needed to pick up lunch on the cheap and Trader Joe’s seemed to fulfill our need for cheap and healthy. This location is great and they seemed to have everything I was looking for, except for the pesto and quinoa, I love that stuff. Parking here is really easy. there is some street parking. but there is also a big three level garage. I mean how much easier can it get?! The store is nice and clean and after visiting 5 Trader Joe’s it’s all meshed together and everything is the same. I love Trader Joe’s simple as that, once you’ve seen 1, 2, 3… you’ve seen them all. Well there is one difference I usually shop in Bellingham and the TJ’s here charge .50 more for their relaxation tea and .50 less for a bag of inner peas… weird.

I don’t shop at TJ’s very often, as I’m weird and like to ask where my produce and meat comes from, but TJ’s does do packaged center aisle items (frozen entrees, cookies, cereals, boxed dairy milk alternatives, toothpaste) well, and often a tad cheaper than other box stores. The impulse chocolate selections are also a pretty solid choice regardless of your cacao content preference. This particular store is a couple blocks away from my work, so it’s proven itself to be a good place to come and pick up a salad on my lunch break when I’ve forgotten lunch at home, and it’s also right across the street from my physical therapists office. There’s plenty of street parking, although waiting for someone to fail miserably at their parallel parking job can mean it can take awhile to traverse down to park yourself. The cashiers have also been exceptionally nice.

Love all things Trader Joe’s!
Consumerism at its best — the only knock against them is they always seem to be out of some of my fave items when I want them & the peddlers out front of the store!
I always love the produce, cheese & wine sections because I always find something new!
Fearless flyer whoop whoop!

This is my go-​to grocery store, what a great place! Parking can be a bish sometimes with parking around the building, garage parking can be difficult as it shares a building with L. A Fitness so peak hours can be tough to find parking. Bus line is right up the corner so it makes it easy to catch the bus home.
Great produce, fruits and meats. I really love their to-​go pre packed/​made sandwiches, wraps, salads, and even dinner entrees like meatloaf, lasagna, grilled chicken etc. It is exactly what Im looking for! I love stocking my pantry with their items, snacks on snacks all up in my pantry!
Employees are nice and helpful, always restocking the shelves and putting more stuff out. Check-​out always has multiple lanes open and if one line gets all queued up, they are quick to open another lane. Cashiers are friendly and nice to chat with while checking out, I like the fact that they always ask or check your eggs to make sure they arent cracked.
Anyways, a great TJs location! I believe I am a «regular» here on my Unilocal app.

This is by far my favorite Trader Joe’s in town (my second being the Queen Anne location). On a week day, you can find a lot of parking so it doesn’t get too competitive trying to find a spot. The inside of the store is rather spacious and not crammed at all. I think they have a great selection of stuff and recently discovered their appetizer selection. If you’re thinking of throwing a party, you can find a lot of frozen goods. Just defrost and microwave/​bake and wa-​lah, it is done. I had a mini party and served the mac and cheese balls and they were delicious.
The roses are beautiful/​fresh and also cheap. Most of the stuff here is really affordable.
The only thing I dislike about most Trader’s is that there is usually a street peddler waiting outside of the store to ask you to sign this or that or donate some money. I have nothing against people gathering around the area but they park themselves right in front of the door some times blocking the entrance.

Compared to the majority of Trader Joe’s locations in Seattle, the Ballard location is top notch. They almost always have every item that i’m looking for and are constantly sampling new items that I probably wouldn’t have considered otherwise. There ARE peak hours where you’ll be inundated with families and their kids (weekends are high traffic times) but they always have plenty of friendly and helpful cashiers that will get you through checkout quickly. Small anecdote, I handed over a reusable bag that ended up having one of those huge brown Seattle spiders in it. Rather than freak out, the cashier calmly killed the spider and even cleaned out the bag for me. Just another example of the level of customer service. I like TJ’s however I like the Ballard TJ’s a lot.

Shopping at TJ’s is a schizophrenic experience: The happiness I feel when shopping at TJ’s is always offset by the incredible angst and rage I have trying to maneuver my car into one of TJ’s designated @#*$& parking spots (and/​or watching other people hopelessly back their cars ten times into the same spot, while I sit and contemplate why there is no god).
Whether it’s the U-​district or this Ballard location, TJ’s corporate marketing staff gauges your love for their stores by making the parking spaces so small, getting your SUV into a spot and getting in/​out of your car afterwards is the equivalent of suffering a massive vehicular wedgie. If your ride of choice is anything larger than a 2×4 mounted on two tin cans, good luck parking here.
Came into this store looking for a chocolate cake for a friend’s birthday. TJ’s has an assortment of (cheap) chocolate cakes and other pastries at this location, but not U district. Got some seriously chocolate chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, which was very good and moist and a nice tiny size (serves 4 – 6).
The unspoken rule of TJ’s is that one cannot leave the store without partaking of its great wine deals. So two bottles of Chardonnay and one chocolate cake later, I was having a great conversation with the cashier about good cheap wines. This is another great thing about this place. Genuinely personable staff who don’t make you feel like they’re putting up with you like a Grandma in the nursing home. But once you leave the store and approach your car in the parking lot, the Psycho music starts up again, and your vision tunnels and closes in on your car — jammed between a Ford Explorer and a van. And then, all fades to black.