Important Notice:We have made the tough decision to say goodbye to the Foursquare City Guide mobile app, effective December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Visit our FAQ for more information or to download our Swarm app.
Planning a trip to San Francisco?
Foursquare can help you find the best places to go to.
Berkeley Bowl
Supermarket and Grocery Store
South Berkeley, Berkeley
"Great selection of produce, meats, dairy and more."(3 Tips)
"The best selection of kombucha I've ever seen."(3 Tips)
"Cheapest produce in the east bay!"(2 Tips)
"Make sure you are kind to your fellow shoppers and staff."(2 Tips)
104 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- great selection of produce
- kombucha
- great value
- restaurants
- orange juice
- (15 more)
Sort:
- Popular
- Recent
Ira SerkesDecember 28, 2013Why is it called Berkeley Bowl? When I first shopped at Berkeley Bowl, they were at 2777 Shattuck Avenue ... a converted Bowling Alley! That's now Any Mountain sporting goods (nice deco facade too!)
The best grocery store in the bay. Even non organic stuff is fresh and can be much cheaper than other stores. Look for good deals.
Peter BoltonAugust 7, 2018The lunch items are delicious and well priced! A burrito for $6, a pizza slice for $3, or a massive plate of Chinese food for $8. Plus, a kombucha bar on tap to try the latest flavors.
Ryan LeggettJanuary 3, 2016The best grocery store anywhere. Buy all the produce and don't miss their honey roasted peanut butter.- The parking lot situation is still crazy here despite them opening up the West location on Heinz. Still my favorite stores to shop for organic, out-of-the-ordinary produce and sundries.
- Clarice DeOHJanuary 28, 2018This is the best market I have been in Bay Area. They have a wonderful selection of fresh fruit and meats for a fair price.
Katherine M.July 16, 2014My favorite grocery store in the Bay. I miss it constantly. Predates Whole Foods; so named because it's located in an old bowling alley. Insanely cheap, plentiful produce. Other items are $$ though.
Alex DobyanJuly 23, 2017For PA natives like me, this seems like the closest thing there is to Wegmans in the area. That's a major compliment: means wide selection of specialty items, good prepared foods, and decent prices
Brian StraussDecember 22, 2014It's really hard to beat the produce, meat, fish, and cheese selections. Excellent ethnic staples and bulk sections too. Good prices. Heavily trafficked by the patchouli set.
Daniel GraysonDecember 2, 2018Nirvana doesn't look this good. All grocery stores will feel but pale shadows after you experience this majesty.
Megan AllisonOctober 18, 2018The produce selection is UNREAL. Totally unmatched for fruit and vegetable shopping in the whole Bay Area.
the hidden gem is on-site geta sushi: onigiri, tonkatsu, and nigiri.
This is the significantly better of the two stores, but it is easier to park and move around at the new West store. You'll find more stuff and better quality produce here
Marta TapperoApril 8, 2016The best supermarket around! Has a lot of variety, great great great fruits and vegetables and very cheap in comparison with some around.
joel rambaudMarch 5, 2015yes the original Berkeley bowl was in a converted bowling alley , I do have what is most likely the last pin from that bowling alley , an example of good business
Aaron BoboAugust 19, 2014Avoid this place on Sundays!! The vultures come out. Don't forget to take a number when ordering at the counters or else you will be shunned by all of the wannabe hipsters. Cheap with lots of options.
Always crowded. Go when ur n a good mood. Best produce in the east bay. Parking lot is crazy and the city now charges for street parking. Better parking at the new Berkeley Bowl West.
- Danika LandersMay 7, 2012Great selection of produce, meats, dairy and more. I'd say this is on my list of top grocery stores I've been too. I just wish I lived closer!
- Marissa COctober 5, 2015Great selection of produce and bulk goods. Don't forget to BYOB (bring your own bags)
Verlasso SalmonNovember 7, 2012Not only is the Verlasso Salmon sustainable, but it also has better texture, flavor, and fat content than regular farm raised salmon. Give it a try! Read more
Flight the urge to park at Walgreens unless you have a receipt from there (if you do, put it on the dash). There is a security officer patrolling the area for infringers.
Andy FongJune 24, 2012The largest, most diverse selection of produce I have ever seen. There were at least 12 different types of citrus fruit, 10 different plums, etc.
Produce heaven!! Make sure to stop by the bargain section to see what discounted produce you can buy ;)
Ellen McGrodyDecember 15, 2015The selection of bottled drinks is really nice. More local coffee than I've ever seen.
Go to the produce aisle. Freely ogle fruit and vegetables on display. Treat fellow shoppers with slightly more care and reticence. Get burrito with chips to go.
Alan-Arthur AureliaJuly 19, 2017Good supermarket, tons of produce. But a disappointing international section. Love the Asian food selection, but the Indian food and any other region is severely lacking.
You're first stop should always be the bargain bin, located in the conventional produce section. 7 mangos for $1.39=#winning!- Cheapest produce in the east bay! I refuse to go anywhere else.
TraX ActionsMarch 16, 2014Go early as it gets hectic there, cheese samples and made to order burritos!
Ken OrvickSeptember 25, 2014Go to the bulk section and find some great deals on dried fruit, grains, and so much more.
Andrew WilsonSeptember 11, 2014This grocery store is so good, it has ruined grocery shopping for me ... everywhere else ... forever.
Chard looks soo fresh and so clean, tomatero strawberries do not contain teeth or hair
Park on the street if you can. The lot is brutal. Also, be polite to your fellow aisle-mates - it's close quarters here.
Tiago FerreiraNovember 9, 2015It's like the local version of Whole Foods but cheaper. Loved the prepared food there.
Come early, by 9:15am there usually one or two parking spots left. Best time to get here is 20min before opening, 1hr. before closing and never on the weekends.
Come by and check out our vast selection of wine and beer. And feel free to say hi to the bearded guy who works there, I won't bite.
Roberto DelgadoJune 24, 2011If you know how to make Seitan. Check out the buy-in-bulk section where you can buy Vital Wheat Gluten by the pound.
Amanda PainterJanuary 1, 2012If you happen to have plastic bags from variety of places, you can recycle them here by the door. Reduce your carbon foot print and recycle
The new configuration is awesome! I never even realized that they had bulk dried herbs and spices.
948 Photos
Foursquare © 2024 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Open until 8:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Sat
- 9:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Sun
- 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
(510) 843-6929
Features
Credit Cards
Yes
See More
You might also like
- 8.6
"Lots of bike racks and always great grocery options."
Asher Kahn-Krell - 9.2
"The breakfast burritos in the cafe are huge and delicious. The salsa is made in-house and you should get it on the side to maximize how much you get"
Libby Lee-Egan - 7.9
"I love whole foods a lot a healthy food they have a great selection of meat a little pricy but you pay for what you want also they have great good that they prepare that you eat there."
Brian LeBlanc
Places people like to go after Berkeley Bowl
- 6.0
"I like that it’s open early. Good stop in the morning for some water or juice"
Rich Yannacone - 9.3
"Great service, tasty pizzas, perfect pricing. A classic-go-to in Berkeley"
Escott Hayashidiaz - 8.4
"Tasty sushi and robata grill items. Noodle soups are under rated. I love the chirashi. Always jammed on the weekends."
Brian Strauss
Appears on 110 lists
Created by Foursquare City Guide
41 items • 157 followers
Things to Try Before You Die - East Bay
Created by Gian Pepe
48 items • 81 followers
Where to find Sauce Goddess in California
Created by Sauce Goddess
64 items • 7 followers
