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Al's Food Market
Categories: Food Grocery Food Specialty Food Meat Shops Grocery, Meat Shops [Edit]
3550 Somerset AveCastro Valley, CA 94546
(510) 582-6625
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Al's Food Market
Review Highlights
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"Great wine and booze selection, great produce and meat." In 15 reviews -
"...have a bbq going most days with hot dogs, ribs and tri tip." In 4 reviews -
"This is a great little neighborhood grocery store." In 3 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Lisa B.
Castro Valley, CA
2/23/2012
I love this market so much that I want to write poetry.
It looks like your average crappy, weird locally owned beer/wine/groceries joint from the outside, but inside you can fulfill all of your grocery needs.
The meat counter is small, but well stocked. That's true of the store as a whole. For such a small place, it's amazing what variety there is. And how well they hide some items!
I do about 90% of my grocery shopping here. The prices are a little higher than Safeway, but the experience is just so much nicer. -
Review from john k.
Castro Valley, CA
4/9/2012
Al's is a good local market that has some good features. They have a great beer selection, especially if you're into microbrews/local beers. They have a REAL butcher on hand and have Harris Ranch meat. The produce is fresh and they always have a big selection of fresh bread.
And don't forget the BBQ outside. Good stuff. They do Harris Ranch meat from inside and do it well.
Every time I go to Al's, it reminds me how much I hate Safeway.
Support your locally owned business's -
Review from Irene S.
Castro Valley, CA
2/20/2012
I really want to like Al's Market but I find that the service is OK and often you find things on the refrigerator shelf and such to be expired. I have learned to be more careful after having to dump out yogurt I bough which are expired. Don't just check one can, check them all! My mistake was honking because one had ok shelf date the others there did as well. I am a busy mom and sometimes I just don't have the time to scrutinize the expiration dates.
The other reason I took off a star is because they do not have much of any organic products. I find that the prices that they have for regular items is what I pay for organic items at Safeway.
There was also a time I called ahead of time when I called to see if they have almond milk. I was walking there with a stroller with a baby, so I wanted to be sure they had it in stock. I was told that thus I have it but it turned out they only have an almond coconut blend. I ended up buying it anyway but it was a bit annoying since I did all ahead.
The meat department is pretty good though. I really want to support this local business but there is definitely room for improvement. -
Review from Denise H.
Castro Valley, CA
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Been coming here for 20 plus years. The only place to get your meat!!!!! Great friendly service and right down the street from me. It gets a little crazy around 4-5pm so go before or after, otherwise you will wait in line for meat. It goes pretty fast though :)
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Review from Casey S.
12/24/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Locally owned, and it shows. Not only is their meat counter fully stocked with stuffed bell peppers and the like, there are also some local jams, sauces, breads, and jellies for purchase. This is the good stuff we're talking about here!
Plus, the BBQers outside make a mean tri-tip. -
Review from Babes R.
Castro Valley, CA
9/16/2011 15 Check-ins Here
love love love this place. it is so close to home and convenient. All the people that work there are very nice and friendly their butchers section is fabulous. they will even special order meats for you if you want something they do not have.
Sometimes you do have to check the dates of items because sometimes they are out of date.
They seem to always have the best fruits and veggies and they support the local growers which is very nice.
They have one of the best BBQers in Castro Valley. You can smell the food from a block away. -
Review from Kathryn F.
Castro Valley, CA
6/29/2011
Al's is the greatest market. They are easy to walk to and have a bbq going most days with hot dogs, ribs and tri tip. Beware though, not all the BBQers are the same (i have seen three). The young (30ish maybe, I think his name is George) Latino guy is the best and manages the grill well. The Al is great too. The older guy never has tri tip ready between Noon and 1pm and when he does tri tip sandwiches, he uses about 2-3 oz or meat, where the bread is about 80% of the sandwich. They other two guys give you a lot more meat.
Market - 5 stars
George - 5 stars
Al - 4.5 stars
Old guy BBQer - 1 star -
Review from Sandra R.
Castro Valley, CA
5/13/2011
Ohhh I love Al's!
Its this small little family owned store thats packed with stuff. I love the small town feel of it. It does get crowded at around after school time but everyone there is so nice, employees AND customers. Its great when I have to run in for only a few things and I don't want to scrimmage at Safeway. They do have a big selection of imported items that I have never heard of so thats interesting. I like getting my meat from the nice men at the butcher counter and how it comes wrapped in paper with a little smile face. I laughed out loud when I read the tag on my meat the one that referred to them having one of the oldest butchers alive. That still tickles me. The kids who work at night are cool too.
Great place!
I wish they still carried Berkeley Farms milk :( -
Review from Joelle F.
Castro Valley, CA
1/6/2011
Al's Market is the BEST local market in CV!!!!!!! It was my first job ever; I worked as a cashier for nearly 5 years, and I miss it terribly.
The produce and the meat are what Al's is best known for. All of the meat products are from Harris Ranch, made in the U.S., and all of the produce is purchased by local venders. The employees are all great people, who will learn to know your face and name. The best part about Al's is the family oriented environment that's maintained, and all the generations and generations of customers that still come in to this very day. Although some of the prices may be high, to me, Al's is priceless.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MARKET!!!!!!!!!!! :] -
Review from Brittany H.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2009
Great location, maybe a 2 minute drive from my house.
I would recommend coming here for produce and meats only - everything else is extremely expensive compared to your local grocery joint. Granted, I'm all for supporting a local store, so sometimes I'll buy my staples at Al's... but frankly, I'd rather go down Redwood Rd to Trader Joe's. I'm not wealthy by any means, so saving for little things does add up for me.
A plus is that it's rarely crowded... unlike Trader Joe's and Safeway which take 20 minutes each to get out of due to the lines.
Again, produce and seafood = A+. Those are about the only things I'd get from Al's, unless I felt especially hermit-like and didn't want to be around the mass of people at TJs or Safeway. -
Review from Bevy M.
Castro Valley, CA
9/10/2007
In a world that has a dramatically shrinking inventory of independent grocery stores, I salute Al's Market. It is my favorite place to shop in Castro Valley. I don't know about you, but I am sick of the mammoth supermarkets that require a one-hour minimum just to get through the shopping list.
Yes, it's small -- and Perfect. I love it that they have everything -- a wide inventory, well-stocked shelves, terrific butcher (it's the only place I'll buy ground beef), incredible rotissierie chickens, excellent variety of frozen food (the only place I can find Stouffer's Welsh Rarebit). Very fresh produce, and they carry Peet's coffee, Semifreddi's breads, and a variety of baked goods from a small number of East Bay bakeries.
Service is personal and friendly. You can zip in and out in less than 10 minutes, with absolutely everything you need.
Prices are a bit higher than Safeways, but they also have specials, and for the convenience, it's more than worth it.Listed in: Why Castro Valley is Fabulous
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Review from Debbie B.
Alameda County, CA
4/15/2011
I love this store!
Family run markets are pretty much extinct these days. In the big chain stores, you just don't get the personalized customer service and fresh quality of fruits, veggies, and meats. Al's Market has great customer service, the freshest cuts of meat, and a good selection of fruits and veggies. And the BEST parking lot BBQ around! When George is outside manning the BBQ (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), you know you are going to get the tastiest Tri-Tip around! Yes...I am addicted! -
Review from Liz T.
Kansas City, MO
6/29/2008
Looks can be deceiving. My sister mentioned that this place looks like a place where underage kids go to buy cigs and alcohol. That statement is so far from the truth. This is a neighborhood joint and um, if you've been here long enough, I hear they know your whole family....
My BF's family lives not too far from here and I've been here numerous times. One thing I've caught on is that they have great selection of meat. My BF's family loves to BBQ and I was sent here for a meat run (well, it was more like a sausage run but that just sounds weird) and they had so many choices! It was all so very delicious and I've heard that you can basically get any cut of meat if you ask for it. Very good for people who like the bone in pork chop and odd cuts for French cooking.
Ooh and girls scout cookies! Boy they temp me every single time they're there. -
Review from T F.
Castro Valley, CA
9/28/2008
As many yelpers before me have said, Al's is more expensive than the local Safeway or Luckys, but you are paying for the convenience. It is well worth it to me when I'm in the middle of a recipe and realize I don't have an ingredient to run down to Al's and be in and out of there within minutes. I've been know to go there for the milk, bread and eggs run also. Nice not to have to wait in line @ Safeway when Al's is so close.
They've got all the basics...haven't tried the meat counter yet, or the tri tip out back...smells good tho! -
Review from Laurie S.
Castro Valley, CA
6/16/2007 3 Check-ins Here
This is a great little neighborhood grocery store. It is always clean and well stocked. Well stocked is very important, because it always seems that these neighborhood grocery stores run low on certain items at any given time. Not here! The employees here are always friendly and helpful.
While we enjoy this little store, we don't do our regular grocery shopping here. Overall, the prices are higher than your chain grocery store which is to be expected since it's a small business. We do use it regularly for those things that you just forgot or run out of. The real gem here, is their meat counter. It's like going to the old butcher when we were kids. Their meat is excellent quality and priced well for what you get. Their produce area is always well stocked and fresh as well. -
Review from Karen C.
South San Francisco, CA
1/13/2010
It's too bad I can only give 2 stars because I really want to support the small mom and pop market, but I have to, and these are the reasons:
I used to shop here all the time and it was only because I was missing an ingredient for dinner or needed some beer. Many times, I was in a rush and would buy the item and bring it home to find out it was expired merchandise. After this happening a few occasions, I took my time in the store for once and found many many expired items...cereals, cheese in the fridge section, and many others. I also bought pre-cooked ribs in the butcher dept. to open the package at home and they were rancid. I about threw up when I took the plastic off the meat. Thankfully, they refunded my money, but, it was really inconvenient.....
The produce selection is okay and the beer selection, thankfully, is better. The groceries are definitely more expensive than other regular markets, but you'd expect that because I'm sure they don't get the bulk discounts the full-size markets get.
The teens they have working there are sometimes chatty and the owner/manager has to yell at them to get them to work. It's too bad because I do like the convenience of Al's when it is actually convenient and I don't have to return stuff! -
Review from dean c.
Castro Valley, CA
5/11/2008
Go here only for meats and produce, or little odds and ends if it is closer than Safeway.
Their produce SMASHES on any other stores besides the farmers market at CV Bart. Papayas, citrus fruits, artichokes, grapes, all very tasty and very plump. i have nary had a bad apple from their produce.
The meat department is also VERY knowledgeable. Tell them what your in the mood for and they will fix you up with the best, most tender meat in town (For the record, when meat is brown that means it is tender, not going bad like most Americans seem to think). -
Review from Cat R.
Castro Valley, CA
9/21/2007
I have stopped going here and I live down the street. That's how much I do not like Al's Food Market.
They people who work there think they are better then every one. And they never have what you want. For a few weeks I go in and get my tea... I'm hooked and then all of a sudden they don't sell it any more. So I get hooked on a new kind of tea and then the same thing happens!!! And it's not just tea, it's also cheese, wine, and crackers. And Heath bars!!! You should always have Heath Bars!
And for the longest time the Pepsi fridge was not plugged in so on a hot day when I wanted a cold mountain dew, forget it. I asked them why isn't it plugged in? And they replied with the other fridge is plugged in. DUH! But I want a Pepsi product, not a coke product.
They are also expensive. And price would not be an issue for me if they had better customer service, or if for once I could get my first choice. Not my second or third choice of beverage.
I've just stopped going there, because it's not like it used to be when I was a kid. Lame. -
Review from Mrs. M.
San Lorenzo, CA
2/25/2009
I used to shop at Al's all the time.. why did I stop? I must've been crazy! I ran in yesterday and was greeted like an old friend...and then the magic began...
I almost started jumping up and down when I realized ALL of their meat is from the US. With the new labels in effect, I've been horrified to see that much of our meats in the larger stores come from Canada, Mexico, and other far off places. Leave it to Al's.. all beef is from Harris Ranch right here in California! The ground beef is ground on site at Al's (not in some far off factory that grounds up meats from hundreds of different animals at once.. have you ever seen the show on PBS about ground beef? I didn't eat it for a few years after seeing that show!!). The pork and chicken are all grown and processed here in the US (did you know that Foster Farms ships their stuff out of the states for processing and packaging and then ships it back to the US for us to buy? EWW!). Yippey!! I am so happy to have a source for meats now!
Don't forget to peak into their small, but well stocked, produce department. Everything is so fresh and while it's small in size, it's big in variety. I found lemon plums yesterday... yum-o! The strawberries looked and tasted like they were grown in the peak of the summer.. so sweet and delicious!
I won't be doing all of my grocery shopping here, but I will be back for meats and their yummy produce... and kicking myself for the time I've been away from Al's. Sorry Al. I'm glad to be back! -
Review from M. W.
Pleasanton, CA
5/5/2011
For such a small town, Castro Valley is filled to the brim with grocery stores and markets. However, there is none like Al's. I do the bulk of my shopping at Trader Joe's, but I do all other shopping at Al's. They carry items I can't find at Safeway or Lucky's. Many people say Al's is more expensive than Safeway, but I really don't find that to be true. My husband and I decided to do a test for 2 months, shopping at Al's and Safeway, buying the same items to compare. Guess what? Al's was a mere $5 more when all the receipts were finally tabulated.
Al's has THE BEST produce, the freshest meats and they carry yummy "Just Desserts" cakes & Semi-Freddes breads. They also have George who does bbq in the parking lot. (And good bbq it is!!)
My only complaint is the employees at the registers. While the "old timers" in the back (especially Larry and Nick) and the guys behind the meat counter are soooooooooo friendly, a number of the employees (especially the younger people) can be rude. I purposely go out of my way to be extra friendly and kind, yet I have watched and experienced the rude ones treating us customers as inconveniences. I have even heard several young register clerks gossiping about the "older" employees. (Not cool!)
But, I LOVE Al's and love supporting this wonderful local CV business. -
Review from Vince B.
Castro Valley, CA
3/31/2010
My Neighborhood Market..
Everybody that works there is cool. GREAT selection of everything.
Why give Safeway the business? They
are not even close to Al's. -
Review from Jennie P.
Cute little mom&pop grocery store. It's conveniently located around the corner from my office, so if we're in need of something REALLY QUICK, we go to Al's Market. We made so many stops here for milk, creamer, ketchup, bread, etc.
There's a little, itty, bitty parking lot and during lunch hours, there's a little BBQ going on. I've never tried it, but I always see them grilling away.
Very friendly people. Surprisingly has a bunch of stuff in their itty bitty store. Still, it's a nice little market to have in Castro Valley. -
Review from Lanie T.
Hayward, CA
11/29/2008
I love Al's so much! I often go there when I am tired after work and cannot face the Big Stores.
In addition to their great meat shop and produce, they also feature a wide selection of spirits and wine. Many of their prices there are competitive, and they will also help you find what you need.
They also carry Stewart's diet root beer and orange sodas--which are incredibly yummy!
Their staff is the best! Rather than the irritating false friendliness of Safeway--which I detest--Al's employees are genuine, and they remember you.
While their prices are slightly higher, you can mostly find what you need at Al's, which is always a surprise. Despite such a small store, and a bit of a roadblock at the entrance with the shopping carts, I can usually navigate the aisles easier than at Safeway or Lucky's--those stores invariably plant a big product display in the middle of many aisles--making it impossible for more than one shopping cart to get by.
You can also splurge on chi chi dinners, such as a great Harris Ranch meatloaf, which I purchased Friday...and where else would but Al's would the tag feature next to the price:
"See Larry at Al's Market. The oldest clerk in the world!" -
Review from Irene S.
Castro Valley, CA
5/17/2010
The meat is a little more expensive, but the quality is excellent. I've purchased cheaper meat at Safeway, and didn't like it because of the gristle. It's convenient. And itt's a great place to hit for the more unique ingredients that are sometimes found in the expensive grocery stores.
My complaint is the "damp" smell coming from the freezer. And the "frosted over" ice cream cartons. Some of the cartons looked to have frost an inch thick. That only happens when the doors are left open, condensation occurs, then freezes. The Buds ice cream on the bottom shelf looked ok, but the ice cream on the upper shelves could be a lost cause.
Be careful driving the parking lot, some people whip in and out of spaces! -
Review from Scott R.
Castro Valley, CA
4/13/2011
Stores like this are a dying breed. I love the store because I can walk to it from my house. I can pull my son in his wagon right through the store. The wine and beer selection is better than Safeway or Lucky, great produce and meats. The prices are not cheep, but really not anymore expensive than Safeway. They do b.b.q. out front 2 or 3 times a week. It has a nice small town atmosphere that you can't get at a big box grocery store. The best part is I don't have to bring my club card to save a quarter on a jar of pasta.
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Review from Bob S.
Castro Valley, CA
6/3/2011 35 Check-ins Here
Great local owned neighborhood grocery store. Great meat, produce, and selection, in and out in 10 minutes!
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Review from leslie s.
Castro Valley, CA
10/20/2011
We were looking for a new place to shop after PW closed. We found Als and love it. I was glad they carry Clover Stornetta milk products, their meats and poultry are 1st rate. But my favorite thing is the BBQ. Bill,s tri tip is awesome and he does a pretty mean rub for chicken. Im looking foward to his stuffed flank steak, think il give that a try this weekend. I try to shop local, and give small buisness' my dollars, glad i found Als!
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Review from Cindy L.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2008
Since Al's is right down the street from my house, I frequent it fairly often. It's a simple local market located right in the middle of a CV residential neighborhood. Many times it is so much easier and faster than going to the busy Safeway across the City. The prices are a bit higher than a chain supermarket- but it's easily traded for the convenience.
Listed in: Castro Valley
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Review from Karen N.
Castro Valley, CA
7/31/2007
The perfect corner grocer, complete with an authentic retro feel. The butcher department is great (they stock high quality Harris Ranch products and others) and you can special order just about anything. In the summer they often get their fruit fresh off the truck from Brentwood so it's fresh and ripe, not plastic (like Safeway's). For such a small place they have a wide selection that will get you through most any last-minute culinary crisis. And for holidays throughout the year, the windows are custom painted. Checkers are quick, so you can be in and out in two minutes flat.
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Review from J C.
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2010
Love the meats. Way better than any of the chain stores. For the longest time I'd buy from a chain store but not any more. We've BBQ hamburgers several times with meat bough at Al's and I have to say they were awesome. I'm a huge fan and would recommend everyone check it out. Summer is here and Al's is the Best in the Valley. You'll taste the difference. Yum
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Review from Julia D.
Castro Valley, CA
9/28/2008
They may be a bit expensive, but it is made up in customer service. If there is an item you want them to carry all you have to do is ask. The butcher counter is the best in the area, you can't beat the flavor or the quality. This has always been the store at the corner and welcoming, friendly atmosphere. I have been going here since I was a child. Now that I have moved back to Castro Valley, I have continued to shop at Al's Market.
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Review from Randy C.
Castro Valley, CA
8/24/2010 36 Check-ins Here
It's cool for what it is. Wish they had more stock items and lower prices. But its a nice litltle spot that i can run to in an emergency
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Review from Madhuri K.
Castro Valley, CA
5/24/2010
Great meats and surprisingly enough - their limited produce is very tasty - a lot like a farmer's market. I also like how friendly and helpful their staff is.
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Review from Bret M.
Castro Valley, CA
12/18/2011
When we first moved to CV, we looked askance at Al's... From the outside it looks like your run-of-the-mill liquor store. Then one day I actually went in and was hooked by the high-quality taste on display. The meats and produce at Al's are second to none... The difference between Al's and Safeway is that you'll find perfect-looking, but utterly bland and tasteless strawberries, tomatoes, etc. at Safeway, while the same thing at Al's will taste so good that you'll wonder if you really remembered what they were supposed to taste like all those years. Al's always seems like it must be too small to have everything you're looking for, but then you find it's got just about everything when you try them. These guys are my first choice when I go shopping, and I'm always sad on the rare occasion when I realize they *don't* have some item I need, condemning me to visit a larger store. The staff is always friendly and helpful, particularly at the deli, and I inevitably leave feeling happy and well-served. This is what all neighborhood grocery stores should be like. Long live Al's!
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Review from The H.
Livermore, CA
7/2/2009
Top notch local grocery store! Great meat and seafood department. This really is a great store. Great wine and booze selection, great produce and meat. I like the produce guy, Lou. He knows a lot about melons and is always looking for the best ones. Sure some of the regular staples of life are more expensive than the mega marts, but this is a hold out of neighborhood markets with service and style. The butcher will order anything you would like and they really know their customer's by name. Their produce is alway top notch. Keep a neighborhood store alive and visit Al's!! To the little thugs out there, I wouldn't mess around with this store, you may walk away, if you get away, with a limp.
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Review from Michael M.
San Leandro, CA
6/29/2009
Fresh produce, good quality meats, and what looked to be good prices on wines and spirits too. I like this market. Also very friendly people who were ready to help which always goes a long way with me. And, they stock Everet and Jones HOT BBQ sauce. How can you go wrong?
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Review from Michele N.
Castro Valley, CA
1/8/2011
My family and I love this market! Especially the meat counter. I think the parking lot BBQ'd tri-tips are one of Castro Valley's best kept secrets! A must try.
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Review from Warren V.
Castro Valley, CA
9/18/2009
Convenient but CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATES! I often find stuff onthe shelves that has expired or is close to expiration. Thant said, I find Als just fine for quick trips for a few items. Otherwise the pricing is a bit high. Good meat counter. Good produce. GREAT PEOPLE.
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Review from Mary H.
Castro Valley, CA
6/11/2008
Great for picking up things I forgot at Safeway. The produce is really fresh and yummy. We've had chicken breasts in the fridge raw only for a day and had them smell so I tossed them--- two times.
Al's gives to the community.. they are involved in my school's scrip program and for that they earn a star, convenience earns another star. -
Review from DANNY B.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2009
very good store ..they have everything you need and if they dont have it they will order it for you.. i wanted some catfish the guy said they didnt have any but he can order it and it will be in the following day... the guy that worked there was very helpful and kind...
