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Ashbury Market - CLOSED
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for Ashbury Market
Review Highlights
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"Great little shop that has all you need for a corner store." In 5 reviews -
"...meat and fish are always fresh and the produce is the same." In 8 reviews -
"...next to the cafe has awesome wines at every price range." In 5 reviews
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Lindsay W.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2011
I LOVE this place.
The people here are so, so nice. The quality of the food is good, they have pretty much everything you need, AND THEY DELIVER. For free for purchases over $10. That's such a small minimum! Crazy amazing! The delivery guy wouldn't even let me tip him. I may never go to the store myself again.
My only one complaint... I wish they had real maple syrup in stock! Everything else is wonderful.
Support this market! Keep it in business! -
Review from Josh S.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2011
This place just gets me depressed.
I live near by and I pass such a large space with so much potential. Cute old-timey lettering on the outside. I keep hoping they'll make something out of it., but it's a sprawling 3 store fronts full of nothing.
1. The market - old, moldy organic produce. It can't decide if it's a nice market or a corner store. In reality it is neither and that is probably why no one is ever in here. I can't totally blame them because there simply isn't enough foot traffic to buy the produce. They are offering delivery of fresh organic produce, but if it's like what they have in their store I want none of it. They had toothpicks once when we needed some in a pinch, and that's probably all this place will ever offer me.
2. Cafe - Currently under renovations. Never been in large part because there is no buzz. Rarely is someone inside and the only time I tried to enter the door was locked. I think they sell ritual coffee.
3. Wine Store - A sad sack of a wine store. In the Bay Area you can't simply sell what you can get at Safeway and be successful.
If they wanted to they could close up and restart with a really nice cafe then probably could give Zazie a run for it's money and you could use the other spaces for a fabulous boutique market for the richies up on the hill. But alas, this place simply doesn't have a clue. -
Review from Wes M.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2010
Ashbury Market is a fabulous illustration of both the pros and cons of the neighborhood corner market. On the one hand, it's undeniably cool that you can pop in here for so much different stuff (groceries, coffee, sandwiches, wine) on an otherwise residential street. On the other hand, not being in a true commercial district, the amount of customer traffic is limited, and the truly epic space is sorely underutilized (witness the abandoned butcher counter, and the near-Soviet sparseness of the wine shelves). When you think about the marginal impact this kind of retail square footage could have on, say, Cole between Frederick and Carl (only two blocks away), you have to wonder if Ashbury Market is really a net benefit for the neighborhood in this location.
Of course, I wasn't so much interested in the groceries as in the wine and deli side of things. Conclusion: they don't top Val De Cole as my preferred local wine purveyor, but I'm in love with the sandwiches (and the bright couch-filled room you can eat them in). The Amore di Carne on ciabatta, with apple, brie, and 3 kinds of pig, is an absolute must-try.Listed in: Haight-Ashbury & Cole Valley
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Review from John C.
San Francisco, CA
9/21/2007
You people are crazy. These guys are wonderful. 3 or 4 markets in one. Spendy, true, but open late and full of great food. And yes, very much in business.
5/08- AND, I'd have to say that I'm disappointed in the # of reviews written over a year ago, before they were really even open, that are slamming the place, and have not been updated. Yes, they're expensive- so don't buy all your food there. I think they're very nice, they work hard, and they're trying to make a living doing something special in a difficult business, so try to respect that.
Should Yelp reviews expire after a year or 15 months?
And no, I'm not related to them, so jog on with that one.
Feh.
I'm so pissed, I'm going to go shop there right now. -
Review from Annie G.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2007
Ashbury Mkt., how far you've fallen. Tsk, tsk.
This corner store (do people still call them that?) is one of the reasons that over the years I've become so curmudgeonly and hate change.
Located just up the street from my family home, this was the market where once upon I time I bought 3-cent sticks of Bazooka Joes and 10 cent Tootsie Rolls with money i found in the couch. I have such warm memories of the then-owners delivering my mom cheap grocery staples in a cardboard box (always with extra candy slipped in) when she had her hands full, as she more often than not did, with me and my 28 siblings.
Now it's become tres minimal, wine-oriented and "artisan", which is fine, since I've always been the kind of person who prefers all-natural peanut butter and things arbitrarily labeled "artisan", etc., and I like wine. It's also tres, tres expensive, so it's now the market I go to on a semi-emergency or strictly convenience basis, like when you are up writing a paper and are suddenly in a frenzy for Adam's peanut butter and some cheap vino.
The problem? Three times since the reopening I've found myself in this position. THREE TIMES they have been out of peanut butter. Out of peanut butter 3 out of 3 times?? They have almond butter and soy butter. No peanut butter. Who the fuck eats almond butter? Who does their inventory?
This place also closes way too early, like at 9 or something, so if I want anything past that time, booze for example--which I often do--I have to make the trek down to Haight and Masonic. Not convenient at all.
Who are their clientele? Who are these almond butter-loving geriatrics?
So basically, as a neighborhood market this place has proven itself 100% useless. They don't carry shit. The produce is bad and costs about twice as much as it should. It seems to close exactly when I realize I need something.
I hate. I miss the Wongs. -
Review from Jesse H.
New York, NY
5/16/2007
I can't believe the positive reviews for this place. Are you all smoking crack? *sigh*
I have to first and foremost say that I was VERY excited about the expansion/remodel. My excitement dwindled with the constant opening delays - the store didn't open until months after their target date. They'd say, "Oh, we're opening in two weeks." Two weeks pass... not open. "The beginning of next month." Nope. "The end of the month - we promise." Guess what? Nada.
Perhaps all the waiting caused me to set my expectations too high. But the fact of the matter is is that this is a very poorly stocked market. It's great that I can buy gourmet salts or "green" cleaning products. The fact that I swing by to pick up milk, butter, eggs... perhaps a bell pepper... and they don't have those items stocked... isn't so great. The meat counter displays more bare metal shelves than actual meat. I had hoped that this would be an uber-fabulous neighborhood grocery (which was what the owners claimed it would be). The place frankly isn't worth the effort when I know that I can go to other close-by markets and get all the items I need in one stop. SUCH a shame! :( -
Review from megan w.
San Francisco, CA
11/20/2005
Edit, 2007.
The Ashbury Market has been several incarnations of basically the same thing over the last few years, but this most recent one is a major undertaking. Now more than ever, they are fully utilizing the beauty of their space and location to create a corner market with elevated tastes; a good fish market, prepared foods, wine shop, pervasive greenwashing, specialty packaged foods, produce.
Overall, it's a huge improvement over what used to be basically a place to buy beer. And because it's a block from home, it's a luxurious place to pick up my Tofutti and Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day. And to a certain extent, I will pay for the quality-of-life statement I am making by running to my gorgeous corner market for whole wheat tortelloni, a box of environmentally-friendly recycled facial tissues, and a pint of Ciao Bella. Because I am white and fundamentally hardwired to spend more on products I perceive to be more righteous even though everything is basically made by Monsanto with different labels.
And don't get me wrong. I am overjoyed by the loveliness of Ashbury Market. I just may have reached the limit of what I will spend on a bag of groceries without crying afterward. Which never happens to me at the Haight Street Market.Listed in: Denizen
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Review from Kati S.
San Francisco, CA
7/7/2008
Who else can say that at their corner store market, they can not only pick up a carton of milk but also, truffle oil - I love it! Not that I'm the daily truffle oil-purchasing sort but still, great to have options. It's even better that this trifecta of grocery/cup o' Joe/booze is just doors away from mine but still - I'm a fan.
The owners are super friendly and are open to taking suggestions for items. I recently requested Marin Brewing Company White Knuckly beer (aka the best. beer. EVER.) and wa-la, just last week it was there - was being the operative word, as I snatched up those 22s with my hoppy little hands.
Sure, their prices aren't the bargain basement type but for the convenience factor, I really can't even start to complain. Thank you, Ashbury Market, for completing many a meal, snack or happy hour for me!Listed in: My Old 'Hood
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Review from Ken L.
11/25/2009 1 Check-in Here
So, I like this place because it's literally right next door to the current space I'm staying at with my friend. Can you say convenient? This place is definitely funky though, which fits well with San Francisco, but can be rather frustrating.
-Smart Water! They used to have it... what happened to you Smart Water???
-They have toilet paper, this is quite useful, and once again, convenient.
-I bought blackberries tonight, uh, can you say moldy? Into the trash they went.
-The owners work their asses off, I see them there all the time.
-They have ritual coffee in the cafe part so plus points there, but it's always awkward ordering, not sure why.
-The liqour store/section, whatever it is, uh, can you put price labels on ALL of the alcohol, that would be very helpful. Thank you.
***back to the store part***
-I can rely on you for cilantro, but unfortunately I can also rely on exorbitant prices. What. The. Hell.
Overall, the selection of what you can vs. can't get here is truly bizarre, questionable even.
Fun facts:
-There's an ATM in the liquor store section.
-Somebody leaves their motorcycle in the liquor section in the morning. It is blue, it is beautiful.
-Sometimes they leave a sign on the front saying something to the effect that "If we are still open you can come in through the cafe door", though once I did this, got my stuff, went to checkout, and was told they were closed. Oooops.
ps. Are they Turkish? I can't quite tell. -
Review from Leo H.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2008
While somewhat overpriced, and the staff can sometimes be a little cold for a neighborhood place, Ashbury Market has an interesting (if upscale) selection of items, and management is clearly dedicated to making the place a neighborhood establishment.
Glad they've added a few more 12-dolor and under wines to their stock. When I first started coming here, they would run out of inexpensive wines almost immediately.
The Deli is a good place to stop when you have nothing in the refrigerator, and want something healthy to eat.
Love the occasional live music in the wine shop.
Also, theses guys really know their cheeze, and have introduced me to some fine fromage! :-)
Lastly, I've spent considerable time and effort trying to get one of the surlier cashiers to smile at me, but she's a rock. I am up to the challenge however, and one day will win her affections. -
Review from J A.
Seattle, WA
3/24/2007
I'm really pleased the brothers and their crew have taken possession of a once dingy and less than impressive corner market. They've worked around the clock to bring new life to the market, and have hired some really wonderful employees. You'll find chefs making fresh food daily , a butcher, local produce, and just cigarettes and beer if that's what you need.
I really like the fact that you kind find specialty stone-ground mustard next to the good old fashioned yellow stuff. They have a nice variety, but are leaning towards specialty items. Prices are typical of SF specialty shops.
Their working on the wine/liquor shop in their original location and I'm excited to see what they stock. I hope that they work on the variety and add some California wines between $10- $30. You'll fins a lot of wonderful french and Italian wines, and a lot of expensive liquor, but the neighborhood is full of young couples who want a $20 bottle.
A little gem that I"m happy to have in my neighborhood. -
Review from Fady A.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2007 5 photos
This place is heaven... if you live in the area. It has all the essentials: a huge wine selection, a cafe, groceries, produce, gourmet food and cooks on staff.
Good owners, nice employees.
I live above this market, what more can I say...
Scrat -
Review from Steffy W.
San Francisco, CA
3/8/2006
Updated( Aug 26,07)
I love this store now. They've got EVERYTHING plus they've got rather reasonable prices. The store is now bright and hip looking. I love how friendly and helpful the staff is. They've even got my MightyLeaf tea!
ed (aug 14, 06): this is an impressive tidbit. the Ashbury Market has gone bellyup and the new owner has apparently msged me via Yelp to give them a new review in 6 months! I like that. That's definitely proof that there will be effort made to improve this potential gem of a corner store. They re-open by Oct, so if you're in the neighbourhood, make sure you go in and give them a chance!
Great little shop that has all you need for a corner store. A good selection of wines, fresh veggies and meats (although a bit on the pricey side) and even coconut milk for the thai curry i was making. The only drawback is that the salespeople are rather "one crayon short of a box". It's a convinient spot when I need things on an emergency basis (like my coconut milk)
(originally posted March 8, 06) -
Review from Stefan Y.
San Francisco, CA
6/15/2008
As a market, I really have come to enjoy the place. They have a very limited variety of cool drinks, however. Coffee is fine. The wine and beer is very agreeable and the sandwich offerings were pretty good.
Recently though, they have ventured into the breakfast world (over in the deli dept). This has been very disappointing. I was hoping for much more and the menu looked promising at first glance. The food has no flavor - very unremarkable. The Mexican Omelette consisted of Eggs, diced Tomato, swiss cheese and topped with avocado - bland! The hash browns were a decent portion, but undercooked with no seasoning added- the very definition of milquetoast. Where was the Mexican? Where was the salsa?
Another time I tried a Blackstone Benedict - same deal. Very bland and uninspired, sure not to offend or delight anyone.
Oh well, back to Pork Store Cafe for my Sunday brunch. -
Review from Andy V.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2008
I have been living in Haight-Ashbury for a couple years now, and have found the Ashbury market to be very accommodating to my needs. The meat and fish are always fresh and the produce is the same. On top of this, the folks that work at the market are extremely amiable and lovely. Another thing I like about the market is that is seems as if they are always working to improve things. For example, they just started selling hamburgers from the grill for $4.50 and you can get fries to go with it. This is a recent addition that makes me very happy.
The only thing I would say could use some improvement is the quality of their espresso. I sometimes get a latte from here in the morning and it usually doesn't taste very good. Although, and this goes along with what I was saying before, they are about to switch over to Ritual espresso beans, which I've had before and enjoy very much.
There is a wine/cheese/beer shop adjacent to the Ashbury Market which is also operated by its owners. I go in there sometimes to pick up some fine abbey ale and am always content with the price I'm paying. I'll often have a chat with the clerk and often leave with a smile. -
Review from nic f.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2007
ohmygod i wanted to like ashbury market version 2.0. the old ashbury market was toe up: expired items, surly service and an obvious indifference to restocking. when i heard about the new owners and their commitment to organic, high quality items, i was soooo excited.
yeah well it was all for naught.
ashbury market is easily the nicest corner store ever if you want to run in for a lime. ashbury market is also the most expensive corner store because that lime will cost you $3. they also seem to have adopted the reticence to reorder that plagued the previous owners: i've gone in for basics like milk, bread, cheese, blah blah blah and they've been out.
i officially broke up with ashbury when i saw that every single fingerling potato they had was bright green like a goddamn leprechaun, indicating high levels of solanine (which can be toxic). when i told the guy working at the counter, he just kind of shrugged and told me not to worry about it. nice. -
Review from Mel P.
3/9/2009
The market is small but convenient. If you are waiting for the bus or taxi it's nice to know there's a place you can get a little pick-me-up. Connected to the market is a little cafe portion where you can buy food to go or dine in with. I have to say, for $5.99, I ate one of the best burgers ever. Just your standard burger with fries. It was soooooo good, juicy, and moist, I didn't even eat it with ketchup! That's how you know it's good! Or I could have been just really hungry because I was walking up and down the damn hills! But I loved it regardless and I would love to come back and try the other items on the menu! Great place!
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Review from Ryan H.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 9/24/2010
My first review was written shortly after moving into the area. Now that I've had more time to compare with other shops around here, I can say that while their prices are still high, they are not unreasonable considering the selection. It also helps that the staff is always friendly and helpful.
People have mentioned that the shelves seem "bare", but who cares? They're always stocked well enough.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/18/2010
The convenience factor is definitely taken advantage of here, but they've also saved a dinner of… Read more »
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Review from Karen L.
Cambridge, MA
1/7/2010
I wish this place wasn't so conveniently located to my house. Everything here is way overpriced and the most of the staff is very rude. They are really good at making you feel like you're inconveniencing them for shopping there.. oh wait, that's your job so wipe that smug look off your face and just act neutral towards me! I avoid this place as much as possible but sometimes I get too lazy to walk down the street and I settle, so I guess it's good for something.
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Review from Velvet V.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2008
Love this market! I shop here everyday! Best cheese in the city by far. Love the hot bagettes although this week they have been cooler? I love the old school staff. Love there smiles. Wish some of the prices were more budget friendly? I know food is expensive these days. I like the quality items!!! Love organic, fresh, and hard to find selection. Thank you for being there when I need you! Also wish you could stay open later?
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Review from Food L.
Houston, TX
9/11/2008
Love this market. Has everything you need at a reasonable price. What else can you ask for from a market down the street? Great food at the cafe next door. Burritos and tacos are to DIE for. Wine store next to the cafe has awesome wines at every price range.
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Review from Jimmy N.
Truth Or Consequences, NM
3/7/2007
I am so excited for this new re-opening of the Ashbury Market! I'm missing the samosas of the old place already, but the great selection of food between the two locations next door to each other, the nicely-done remodeling of the old spot, and the potential for more lunch options keeps this spot as one of the best independent grocers in the city!
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Review from Joe C.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2009
Great neighborhood grocery and lunch spot. The food is good, the selection and service are good. The prices are a bit high, but not unusual for a Cole Valley spot. Feels like a family spot where everyone knows your name.
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Review from Michael M.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2010
Great Location - but they are always out of something (@ least 1 item) each and every time I go in there. I mean how on earth can you be OUT of Manila cookies???
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Review from M.M. F.
San Francisco, CA
7/16/2007
I've lived in this neighborhood for more then fifteen years, so I guess that qualifies me for a review.
Back when the Wong family ran this market, is was a true neighborhood gem: convenient, good service, well-stocked. After the Wongs sold the business, it went through several hands, most of them pretty indifferent. It was very much the same story for the smaller market next door. After Aziz sold his business, there were also a few new owners who were, understandably, more interested in fast money than being a community resource.
Then, the T____t brothers moved into the little store, and eventually both locations. I am completely convinced that this is nothing but a good thing.
For sure, there have been growing pains, days without milk, bread, or cigarettes, but the great thing about the new owners and their staff is that they really care about the market and are very open to hearing suggestions and criticisms. I agree with brewbacca: it's getting better all the time and is more than halfway to awesome.
The cheese guy (Colin) simply loves cheese and is willing to give anyone an education...and a sample. The produce guy (Karl) stocks beautiful seasonal food and is happy to give advice and handle special requests. I don't know the name of the meat counter fellow, but he has been very helpful to me in ordering what I like and giving tips for cooking his meats and fish. This is EXACTLY what I want for my neighborhood market.
Yes, I miss the samosas, but the polenta helps me get over that. And, as of now, nobody there can make a sandwich as fast and as good as Anatoly used to. But they all seem to really care about this little market and its neighborhood. I guess I could gripe to the wine guy, (hey, Fareed, more red wines for $10!) but the truth is, he tastes every wine they stock, gives excellent advice, and really listens to his customers.
Yes, you can't always find exactly what you want in the produce section, but everything there (so far) is fresh and delicious. That's the problem with a seasonal, organic market. But a seasonal, organic market isn't about bringing you strawberries in December; it's about bringing you the season's best. I recently compared the produce and meat prices at the Ashbury Market with Safeway and guess what: Ashbury Market is comparably priced and sometimes even less expensive than Safeway.
There are so many smart, thoughtful people who work there, Berge, Resat, Nalan, Claudia, Adam, Karl, Fareed, Manuel--when was the last time you knew the names of the people who feed you--that I have nothing but high hopes for this market.
For me, the bottom line is that the New Ashbury Market is a real community resource: friendly, responsive, caring, and a pretty good value if you care about organic, well-prepared food. They're wonderfully responsive to their customers too; try asking for that at a chain store. -
Review from Kevin O.
San Francisco, CA
3/9/2010
The misbegotten sibling of Bi-Rite. It's disappointing walking into a place that has such unfulfilled promise and empty shelves. Stock the shelves, and they will come in droves.
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Review from David A.
San Francisco, CA
11/8/2009
update on 3/17:
nice work guys. four stars it is! i love that you're consistently carrying quality basics like rituals coffee.
update on 11/29:
Okay, fellas... I'm bumping you up to three stars. Your selection of merchandise is still on the wonky side, but there's a marked improvement in the quality of your recent hires on the grocery side - better personality, better customer service, less stoned, less neurotic, less dirty.
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I really-really-really want to love you. Look, I think you have one of the best spaces, and I can't imagine how difficult it must be to keep our neighborhood happy given its diversity of characters (burned-out ex hippies, hipsters, gays, yuppies, french mommies/ daddies, and the insane), but here are a couple of tips that I didn't just dream up on my own... I'm speaking for at least six people here:
-Staff: Recruit away the folks who work at Real Food on Stanyan. Plain and simple, these workers are nicer and don't seem to be as bothered by customers paying for merchandise as your current staff (or past staff for that matter - I've been shopping with you guys since you opened and you get no stars for your surly workers). Your cafe staff (we'll get to the cafe itself later) look at us like we have three heads when ordering off of your menu and are overall bothered to wait on us. Screen for some personality when making hiring decisions - it goes a long way.
-Grocery: consistently stock the basics before going to the next level. I know someone mentioned in an earlier review how much they loved it that you carry coconut milk and I agree, that's great, but how about just regular milk not on the edge of expiring? Also, you change your product assortment way too often. Just when you get us accustomed to buying something, poof... you stop carrying it and then poof... it's back. Find someone who knows a little something about customer demographics and shopping patterns to buy for your market. Having lived in NY and relied on corner stores for daily shopping, it disappoints me that I can't experience the same with you - AND you have 700 times the space. If you combined your total space, you'd be the size of Zabar's! And last but certainly not least in this category, please offer fresh produce, or none at all. I'd never in a million years buy that one piece of fish you have splayed on ice, but I'd certainly like to snag a ripe tomato from time to time. Simplicity and focus are completely missing from your approach. I'm not even going to mention your prices - this is the least of your challenges right now. If you have the right merchandise, price is secondary - e.g., Whole Foods, Andronico's (and by the way, you're not even close to this model).
-The coffee shop/ cafe side of things: soooo perplexing, disorganized and just weird. Sometimes you have breakfast items like bagels, sometimes you don't. Again, be consistent and stop with the taco truck/ hamburger joint schtick - you're not good at this. Keep it easy and maintain a simple bfast option (croissant... bagels), and lean towards the soup and salad side of things for lunch and dinner - explore the Pax model, this could really work for you and is an untapped offering in Cole/ Haight.
-The wine shop: I don't even know what the fuck is going on in here. I have been in on several occasions when there's no one minding the place, only to have to put my items down and walk out. I'm sure our neighborhood teens love you.
We want you to be around for a long time and we want to give you our money, but right now, you're a bit of a mess. -
Review from Denny R.
San Francisco, CA
9/25/2008
very nice and clean little market in the ex's hood...we frequently make Vitamin Water (Power C) and Hagaan Daz (Banana Split) runs here and they never dissapoint...a little pricy but very friendly and convenient.
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Review from Sappy B.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2007
I love the changes that they made to this market, but it seems to be constantly changing. There's not a lot of rhyme or reason to the lay out. It's a cafe, then it's not a cafe, then it's back to a cafe/deli/market. They've got three beautiful amazing spaces, but needs to stay consistent. The deli food is good and the people who work there are very sweet and helpful. I just wish they would post prices on items in the market. I would be much more obliged to spend my money if I knew how much of it I was spending.
