Trader Joe’s

This is a very small Trader Joes. It has the essentials but it doesnt have as many options. If you are in dire need of certain drinks or meat products then this the Cup of Joe for you! I will stick to the Trader Joes in Studio City.

Just moved to LA want used to grocery stores being this busy, despite them being so busy they went and checked to see if they had any Chocolate Stout left and let me know when it should be in. The gentlemen at the register were very nice. It was a bit stressful being so crowded (they may need a bigger store) but over all a pleasant experience

Not the best trader joes compared to some in LA. I love the soy creamer and stevia that many trader joes puts out and this one didn’t have either and also was only sampling meat… Granted I may have come at a bad time or maybe they don’t have that demand at this one.
But Trader Joes is still the best. So four stars it is. Cute Girl Scouts outside too.

My review isn’t going to be much different from other patrons… THIS TJs is small.
But it still is quite awesome it what it has to offer– once you get over the parking lot situation.
It is slightly limited in what larger Trader Joe’s stores has to offer, but it has all the usual essentials all regulars come in for.
Because of its size, it is a bit tricky to navigate between aisles, but with everyone shopping you really cannot tell a difference.
Staff is super friendly and helpful. Overall, it’s a typical Trader Joe’s; which is AMAZING.

First thing is the parking is crazy Difficult! Ugh. But that just seems to go hand in hand with TJ. There is almost ALWAYS someone trying to talk to you about something they need money for, before you even get to the door. TJ does put up signs saying to not give money to solicitors but that went stop them from trying.
So once you get to the door, It’s actually a pretty nice store. I go to this one often so I’m use to the layout. Staff is courteous and friendly. I love that they always have some type of new food combination to sample. Solves my dinner plans 9 out of 10 times! Kudos to the mini kitchen and coffee. Gets me every time!
I am a big fan of their frozen wild caught fish. Especially the stuffed sole or occasionally flounder. Yum yum!
Prices are pretty reasonable. Still my favorite place to buy eggs. And i love their wine selection, including the 2 ½ buck Chuck. ;)
Don’t forget to pick up some fresh flowers. They are so reasonable, one should always have a fresh bouquet every week. Or grab an orchid plant and watch it bloom for a month or two. And CHEAP!

I love TJ’s The staff at this location is very friendly and helpful, and the neighborhood is super sweet. This store is always well stocked and everything I’ve bought or made from here is delicious. I go in the middle of the day or early in the morning to avoid crowds. This parking lot gets slammed. I try to find street parking, there is usually a spot available unless its the day before Thanksgiving.
I highly recommend their tri– color flax tortilla chips with a jar of their chipotle salsa, yum! This is a delicious snack that somehow promises to be good for you. Their cheeses are always so yum, and seem to be cheaper than at other markets. If you add a can of beans you can make nachos.
Meats here are always good, I’ve cooked the steaks, ribs, pork tenderloin, free range chicken, nitrate free sausage and bacon. The bread selection here is amazing, coffee and tea is great, nuts are well priced and always fresh. The chocolates are all to die for especially the salted caramel bar with sea salt, omg. I also highly recommend their BBQ sauce, all of the flavors they make are delicious, no HFCS and the smokey flavor is amazing. You don’t need to know how to cook, just put the sauce on a piece of chicken and bake it at 350 until cooked through and you’ll be happy. I love their little organic russet potatoes too, baked or twice baked. Their dairy is great, and again, much cheaper than Whole Paycheck or Gelsons for good quality.
I also love their frozen stuff, although some of it can be salty. The spinach filo appetizer thingy is deliciously crispy and not too salty. It’s actually low fat and good for you. It bakes in about 20 minutes. The frozen wings are great. The breaded chicken cutlets are old school good with salad, or spaghetti sauce and pasta.
The Dog treats here are always popular with my dogs, they scarf them down. Their greeting cards are very pretty and a bargain at 1 dollar each, I like to stock up on the blank ones. Booze, wine, beer, soda selection is awesome. The only thing I wish they made that they don’t offer yet is kombucha. I hope they are already on it.

The ONLY reason I’m giving 4 stars is the parking! It is so small and usually a line to the street waiting for someone else to pull out etc. But I do love this location. I usually come here with my 2 daughters (4 months. 4 years old), and the workers are always so patient or helpful with me and make my daughters smile at the checkout. All the workers are friendly and smiling whenever I come in contact with any of them.
Of course like any other TJ’s location it is on the smaller side and I’ve only come in the evening around 5 or 6, and there are usually longer lines. May be different in the daytime.

I love this store. It’s a great Neighborhood store. I can’t imagine not shopping here. The prices are great and they always have amazing products. I go in for a few things and always come out inspired to cook. It’s my go to to if you need a great present or some flowers. Oh and I bring my dog in. That’s really the best part

Super nice staff, and a good selection. Small but good.

The point of diminishing returns… and declining reviews…
TJ’s in TL has achieved it.
I’m a decades long TJ’s devotee… the majority of those years being right here in TL…
I’m writing now in regards to one major negative issue which if not resolved will certainly lead to a loss in clientele (if it hasn’t already)…
Lately when I enter this store and for much of the shopping experience, it is like navigating a mine field… of people…
Yes, this is a small store to begin with, which exacerbates the situation, but the root of this problem is: stocking of the shelves during the day…
Today, Sunday there was no less than five rolling carts of merchandise deployed at the same time, and that time was 2pm… on a busy Sunday…
Now maybe it’s in part because I’m an older guy and I tend to take my time, but I can’t imagine that a little lady would enjoy having to navigate not just the fast-​moving customers, but the folks working on the sales floor with their stocking carts. Even WITHOUT the carts, one of the things which we’ve loved about TJ’s (and is one of their claims to fame, so to speak)…the many clerks available to answer a question… HAS BECOME OVERWHELMING.
Has one ever uttered these words: «There’s too many employees!» …
I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE DAILY DELIVERY CAN’T BE PROCESSED BEFORE THE STORE OPENS…
I understand that many items might still need to be replenished during the day, but it can be done thoughtfully…
Presently the store wants to have more employees working when it’s busiest, for bagging, customer service issues, etc. …So at those times when the store is flush with workers on the clock, it makes business sense to have the shelves filled. …
But again, THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IS BEING SEVERELY DIMINISHED… and it’s within the scope and purveyance of Trader Joe’s management to make it better…
As a former retail manager, I know the old adage: Most unhappy customers don’t complain… they simply don’t come back.
Hence, I will be contacting them as well as the corporate offices about this.
If you agree with me, let the store manager know.

Because you live in Los Angeles I will say what you want to hear, do not go to this location at 11:30 AM to 1 PM or 5 PM to 7 PM, you will want to drive down to the Santa Monica pier and drive off the end because the parking is so horrible. Yes yes yes they do have all the tasty trader Joes food.
I do love Trader Joe’s grocery store better than any other grocery store, they have all the organic food and everything is super quality and super fresh. The only thing I buy from Ralph’s is organic ginger, but Trader Joe’s has great organic coconut oil, apples, frozen food, and tasty coffee to sample every single time. When I saw to Trader Joe’s in my vicinity I knew I found a home in my new main neighborhood.

This is my grocery place and I’m here multiple times a week. I love TJs for their array of healthy options, allergen-​sensitive snacks that are delicious, amazing wine selection, and generally easy shopping. They also have some items at a price you cannot beat at Ralph’s, like chia seeds, hemp seeds, coconut oil, coconut water, and gluten-​free breads and pastas.
But, like any Trader Joe’s I’ve ever been to, parking is a shitshow, aisles are narrow, and there are some items they don’t stock that you simply have to get elsewhere (i.e.: some cooking spices). BUT, if you go expecting those things you’ll be fine. :)
Tip: There is a ton of street parking in surrounding neighborhoods that you can use to avoid the parking lot frustration. Read the street signs for permit notifications, though!
The staff at this store is especially nice and it’s very clean. They even have a pet wall that one of the staffers started where you can bring a picture of your pet and they will put it up. I’m a sucker for sentimental things…

Can’t go wrong with Trader Joes. Especially if you’re grocery shopping for a small family. Price is right and selection here is great.
Friendly Staff:
Always very helpful and eager to help find what you’re looking for. Never have to wait in line at checkout for very long either, so service is quick!
Parking:
They have a small parking lot at the back of the store which tends to get crowded during busy times like lunch time and right around the dinner hour. There’s also neighborhood parking, but watch the signs for restrictions. I find parking way easier here than the Studio City location which can be a pain.
Watch Out:
For daily solicitors and sometimes homeless outside the store walking in from the parking lot side. It’s the only place I’ve seen them anywhere else in Toluca Lake. It can get a little uncomfortable sometimes especially if they’re aggressive. Trader Joes has a sign outside the store that says you don’t have to entertain them but it’s hard not to feel pressured. Not the store’s fault.
Don’t forget:
Reusable bags! 10 cent charge per paper bag of you forget.

TJ’s can’t be beat!
Hummus, best deal on avocados, 19 cents for bananas, every mixed nut package you could want, Better n’ Butter, Earth Balance, dried broccoli florets, etc.
I almost always buy the item they are sampling in the back. Those curry chicken pot pies are out of control!
The employees could not be kinder. Always a pleasure to chat with them!
Only struggle at this location is sometimes parking. If you time it right, it’s not a problem.

I’m not one to write giant chains reviews because they’re all pretty much the same. Like, you’ll never review Target, you know very well what to expect at Target… or Starbucks… you get the idea.
But I just wanted to mention one item in particular as a public service to my fellow Burbank and surrounding areas residents.
I just discovered Trader Joe’s Salted Caramel Gelto and I am in freaking love. This is happiness in a bucket. This is the bees knees. This is the cats behind.
Do yourself a favor and treat your self to this delicious beauty.
This has been a public service announcement. Feel free to thank me with compliments.

So i’m a bit more of a healthy motherfucker now.
Working out daily, eating sensibly, cut back on my alcohol intake (beer was a bitch to give up, took up meth instead) so naturally I feel the need to shop at Trader Joe’s, Fresh N’ Easy, Sprouts or last resort… that overrated, overpriced indoor hippie commune known as Whole Foods.
Today I wisely chose Trader Joe’s. Battled some old ladies and a couple of unwashed craft beer drinking hipsters for parking and strolled on in. The store is clean and bright, like my smile after a 5 minute sex session (that’s right ladies I ain’t got shit to prove), the shelves were perfectly stocked and organized, and the staff were all cool, like they were actually happy to work there… Lies!
I scooped up a shitload of salad, some avocados, some sort of basmati rice medley that when put in a rice cooker makes my pad smell like India, without all the homeless people and motherfucking trash, and a bag of raw almonds (protein is better than Viagra fellas) rolled out of there $ 25 bucks poorer, but so worth it.
So in closing the only other TJ I like is in Mexico, because much like Trader Joe’s you can get great deals on EVERYTHING there, but no cartels here. Hooray!

This one is whack compared to some of the other ones. Like the one on Vine is sweet. This is smaller than the others. They have an adjacent parking lot that’s always kinda a hot mess. But at least instead of Green Peacers they have hobo musicians outside of the store.
You may not be able to find exactly what you are looking for, like stuff you normally get at TJ’s cause this one is smaller.

I LOVE Trader Joe’s, however this location is one of the smaller ones. The parking lot is usually full, it’s also a bit tight so just be patient because you most likely will be sitting in light traffic just trying to turn into the lot. There is also lots of people traffic, be especially careful if you’re a walking, biking or driving in this area. There’s a little New York charm at this location because it is so small, but actually even their New York locations (Union Square, 6^th & 23^rd & Cobble Hill — which is an old bank and my favorite TJ location just because it’s so big and vintage inside) are bigger than this one, for all I know this could possibly be the smallest TJ location in the world. But it’s just as good as any TJ location, in fact it’s always very well stocked and carries all the same products you’d find at other TJ.
The staff is wonderful, they will show you everything, they know all their products pretty well. Its a cool little neighborhood vibe in this area with lots of local businesses near by such as: the Counter, Koshi Asian Fusion Diner, Bob’s Big Boy, Patty’s, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Prosecco. It all comes to life in the evening when the shops and restaurants turn on their romantic fairy lights. As a whole, I like coming to this TJ location because of the charm. It just puts you in a good mood.
Tips: Bring your own bags or reuse existing grocery bags from your stash at home, aside from helping the environment by reducing landfill, TJ will also give you $.10 back per each bag you bring to use. Parking is available on the street, read the signs carefully as always.

Honestly, I love this location. It is pretty small, which can make weaving around it kind of tricky. But I take this as a sign that we are meant to slow down when we enter those doors. The staff is awesome and I even find the shoppers to be less pretentious than I have experienced at other locations… maybe it’s the neighborhood?
While the size of the store does limit the types of items they have in stock, I have still managed to find all the TJ’s staples I need and even some new things I didn’t know they were carrying. Like gluten free pumpkin pancake mix — whatttt!
Also, this sounds ridiculous, but I swear I always leave with a smile on my face because the register peeps are always so friendly and easy to talk to.
I don’t think I can give any LA Trader Joe’s a ⁵⁄₅ because ALL of them have the worst parking lots/​situations I have ever encountered at a grocery store, but that is probably the only thing I have to knock about the Toluca Lake TJ’s.

This is THE grocery store. You don’t have to feel guilty about buying anything here. Everything is GOOD. It’s like you can be sure that anything you put in your shopping cart is going to be the right decision. The store seems small but it’s got everything you need. «They» say the place is expensive but for the quality of food, I have to disagree.
In addition to the wide selection of organic and natural foods, Trader Joe’s has a pretty decent selection of alcohol as well. The produce is mostly local market produce. The cashiers and associates are always friendly and helpful. There was a time that my roommates and I bought a canned food product without a can opener and one of the associates actually offered to open the can for us and wrap it up. EXTRA MILE!
The best thing about this store is that sample table. Oh, man. That sample table. That sample table. They get me every time and I end up buying the ingredients listed for that day’s sample dish. Double thumbs up!