I appreciate the whole European market feel. I'm not a fan of those cold-war style, wide-aisled, fluorescent-lit ancient chains. At TJ's, you can start to figure out which brands are good and which... More

I appreciate the whole European market feel. I'm not a fan of those cold-war style, wide-aisled, fluorescent-lit ancient chains. At TJ's, you can start to figure out which brands are good and which - not so much. But it's all pretty cheap, so who cares. BUT Why oh why - do these people with these carts and some gaggle of hipster-bred children think it's okay to park their carts perpendicular to the cheese so they can enjoy their sample of raspberry vinaigrette - like it's the best thing that's happened to them all day. And then they're so put out when you say "excuse me." Perhaps I should be a little more zen in life. And I will - elsewhere. Perhaps the yuppies could be a little less self-absorbed and consider that some shoppers are in a rush at the grocery store.
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Trader Joe's is rather small for a grocery store but it has heart and depth. The focus here is on fresh healthy products for a cheap price. The alcohol section here is known for its great... More

Trader Joe's is rather small for a grocery store but it has heart and depth. The focus here is on fresh healthy products for a cheap price. The alcohol section here is known for its great selection and discount prices. Fruits and vegetable are not as appealing though because most are wrapped and sometimes look very beaten up. The deli and freezer section contain a selection that includes German ham, Irish butter, and Mochi ice cream. While some household products are available, this store focuses mainly on food. Service is very helpful and efficient but it can be difficult to shop here because invariably I need something that they don't carry.
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I gave it 4 stars because it's got some stuff you just can't get elsewhere: organic meat and chicken for regular-people prices, nuts and cheeses and jams for a fraction of what you pay at the Food... More

I gave it 4 stars because it's got some stuff you just can't get elsewhere: organic meat and chicken for regular-people prices, nuts and cheeses and jams for a fraction of what you pay at the Food Temple (Whole Foods). And some nifty stuff that's just unique, like the nut flours and simmer sauces. Also wine at the best prices in town. Service is caring and cheerful, and they don't make you carry membership cards, which I give them points for . And the free hot coffee and samples can perk up your after-work shopping experience. I haven't liked their house brands of most prepared-type foods, though. For example, frozen stuff: I've actually thrown away their burritos and tamales, because they just tasted kind of boring and blurry. And their house brand cookies would be ok to bring for a scout troop snack, but not what you'd want to serve if you had friends over for a really nice tea. The house brands are just blah, so don't put your expectations too high. Produce is more expensive and worse than Safeway, and you have to buy their little plastic packages of it. And their parking lots are in the running for the worst-engineered in the city.
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Even back in the late nineties this place had the latest organic, natural, health food. And now, since it does a good job of following the trends, it has more selection than ever. Sometimes it... More

Even back in the late nineties this place had the latest organic, natural, health food. And now, since it does a good job of following the trends, it has more selection than ever. Sometimes it doesn't have everything I need, but most times I am completely satisfied. I love the attitude of the employees and the great food. They take things out of circulation if they start to decline in quality. THAT'S good business. Their buyers taste EVERYTHING so most, if not all, products are good. And affordable delicious food is a godsend for those with simpler budgets.
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For the not-so-affluent, Trader Joes offers bottles of wine for $3, that are actually better than some offered at triple the price, cereals and chips that undercut the prices of "health stores" and... More

For the not-so-affluent, Trader Joes offers bottles of wine for $3, that are actually better than some offered at triple the price, cereals and chips that undercut the prices of "health stores" and lots of things that make cooking well rounded meals easy. It's probably the best place for many university students to shop because of this. They have lots of prepackaged foods as well, but again, more interesting and less expensive than the fare of regular grocery stores. I'm often surprised by what they have that I would like!
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Alright, I know some of these titles are getting kind of lame. I just can't help it. Back to the point, Trader Joe's is a great place to go grocery shopping. I think of it like Whole Foods goes... More

Alright, I know some of these titles are getting kind of lame. I just can't help it. Back to the point, Trader Joe's is a great place to go grocery shopping. I think of it like Whole Foods goes cheaper. I like to go there, but usually find that I need to go to Safeway to pick up the rest of the supplies for the week. My favorite buys there are Cliff and Luna bars (which are usually about a buck each), their premade salads which are great for taking to lunch (the Chinese chicken is a fav) and Trader Ming Soyaki (sounds stupid but is REALLY good--try mixing it into a turkey burger, and you almost forget you're eating just turkey). There is a small parking lot attached to the one in the U-district. Sometimes it gets pretty busy, and you made need to wait, but at least its available.
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I love Trader Joe's, they have interesting new foods to try out and a generally fun store to shop around in. The prices are reasonable and the employees are always very nice.......my only... More

I love Trader Joe's, they have interesting new foods to try out and a generally fun store to shop around in. The prices are reasonable and the employees are always very nice.......my only contention is their parking lots! I do not drive a large car and it still takes manuvering to avoid hitting a cement post. I say enjoy the shopping but park on the street.
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I love this Trade Joe in that its food is delicious. Parking never bothered me as I work a few blocks away and could aways walk over there. Food there are fresh with a good quality. I especially... More

I love this Trade Joe in that its food is delicious. Parking never bothered me as I work a few blocks away and could aways walk over there. Food there are fresh with a good quality. I especially love Trade Joe brand truffle there and Mochi (a kind of icecream that they sell there.
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The only thing stopping me from going to this TJs when I go to work up in the U District is that the store is so darn crowded, small, cramped and the parking is a pain in the you know what. You... More

The only thing stopping me from going to this TJs when I go to work up in the U District is that the store is so darn crowded, small, cramped and the parking is a pain in the you know what. You have to drive in to the tiny little garage to park (and there's ALWAYS someone holding up the line to get into the garage, so there's a traffic jam on Roosevelt), or find a spot on the street. I wish TJs would have found a better location but I know why they picked this one. I wish they would move to the old greengrocer market up 45th that closed down a few years ago (and bums sleep in front of it). That place has more parking! I love TJs but I grumble when I think of this one.
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Love buying wine at Trader Joe's, but the actual event isn't fun. Like people before me have said, the aisles are super narrow and parking is a major headache. But once you're on your way back to... More

Love buying wine at Trader Joe's, but the actual event isn't fun. Like people before me have said, the aisles are super narrow and parking is a major headache. But once you're on your way back to your car with awesome wine, dried fruit and organic spaghetti sauce you'll find it's worth it. Their prices are great, too!
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