On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Meat Shops, Grocery, Health Markets
Neighborhood: CastroMon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Loading...
This place is fantastic for all of your organic and natural grocery shopping. They have a great selection of organic meats, dairy, fruits & veggies (more at their sister store, Golden Produce, three doors down), snacks, beer & wine. The prices are always reasonable -- I've done some comparison shopping between here and Safeway across the street -- some things are slightly more, some are less -- but the quality that you get from Golden is always better and the place is cleaner and more friendly.
A lot of people don't know about the amazing made-to-order sandwich counter in the back, next to the meats. They will pile on all the deali meat, cheese, and veggies you like for $6.50. They also have a few specialty hot sandwiches, always made fresh when you order, for $7. The hot pulled pork sandwich is absolutely incredible. So is the grilled eggplant & veggies, when you're in a vegetarian mood. I go here frequently for a quick delicious sandwich. There is never a line.
They also have a great selection of exotic (many organic) bottled beverages. I can sometimes spend 10 minutes trying to decide what kind of fancy tea or mate blend to have with my sandwich.
And they take credit cards, including American Express. Couldn't ask for more.
These people have a WALL of tea. I am obsessed with tea. This works out great.
One day, standing in utter reverence of this wall, I quickly tried to count the different varieties of tea they carry and maxed out at 200+. I bet there are far more. I don't even know how that inventory order is possible, but I bow low in gratitude, which is easy, because the people who work here are just so sweet.
Even though Golden is pretty small, I can stock up on a week's worth of groceries, including produce, canned stuff, yurm-y coffee, Amy's frozen entrees, deli stuff, yogurt, you name it.
The deli itself is fabulous. Raw meat stacked up in a refrigerated counter never looked so pretty.
Prices are probably higher than at Safeway next door, but at least you won't have an old woman in a tinfoil hat running you down with a shopping cart. That's worth a couple extra dollars.
Parking is near impossible, so bring a sturdy tote and only buy what you can carry. Close to all Muni train lines and the 22.
Another decent supermarket in my neighborhood. The people here are really nice. I usually get cantaloupes and some produce at this place. Cold cuts are decent. Pretty good prices; that's why I come here. When you buy certain things, make sure you check the expiration date. Sometimes they're passed the expiration date. All in all, I like this place.
If you can't find certain produce here, go down the street to their second location, which has more produce than meat.
Friendly service, good meat and seafood counter, hard to find natural products without waiting in line at Rainbow. I come here when I have questions about a new recipe I want to cook and need advice on cuts of meat or types of seafood, cooking suggestions, spices. More expensive than Safeway or Trader Joes, but not as much as Whole-Paycheck. Produce store a few doors down carries excellent selection of produce, herbs, dairy products, and bulk goods. I wish they were both open later.
Living on Duboce Park affords me the luxury of shopping here several times a week. I love chatting with Sally and Patrick when I come in. Their prepared dinners are usually fantastic unless the person who makes them is on vacation, in which case there's no much besides salad.
My fave is the shrimp/asparagus over noodles. I DO wish they would bring back the shrimp wraps w/dipping sauce.
I should subtract a star because often times on weekends and the beginning of the work week they are out of some of the Honest Teas and Greek yougurt I love but hey, they really do their best.
Excellent meat/seafood counter and they will have organic turkies for the upcoming holiday season! And I feel I'm supporting the local small businesses even though Safeway looms large across the street.
I still love this grocery. I give them a 5 for the service and a 5 for all the non-meat items, but I have to downgrade them to a 2 for the meat, I've just received bad meat or fish from them far too often (this is when I've tried to use the meat on the same day I buy it!). I just don't think they get sufficient turnover on the meat to ensure maximum freshness in that department.
So my current recommendation is to buy what you can at Golden Natural, but buy your meats at Safeway (sigh). I guess when we get Whole Foods in the neighborhood at least there'll be a viable meat/fish alternative.
Finally. Golden Natural Foods, the companion store to the awesome and popular Golden Produce (just a… Read more »
So happy this place is in my hood! Affordable, has everything you'd need, and the staff are helpful.
This place rocks! I love that they have multiple varieties of soy jerky (near the register) and great Amy's Frozen Food entrees.
Minus one star because they won't trust me to bring my own bag into the store with me :(
I wandered by this little store after brunch today. It's great! Great selection of healthy and organic alternatives to standard grocery store fare with some yummy decadence mixed in (7 Layer Bars? Really?). And they even have grass-fed meats!
Glad to have discovered this little shop... I'll be back!
Love this place. Close to home, affordable, easy to find things, friendly owners, + keeps me avoiding Safeway :)
I have this weird thing where I LOVE to walk around this store and stare at everything...they just seem to have a little bit if everything you could ever need!
Highlights for me are the large inexpensive wine collection (love those Argentian wines), cheese selection, variey of jellies and spreads, pre-packaged meals, wide range of frozen treats, and a wall of tea. Yes, a WALL. Floor to ceiling. I have never seen anything like it.
They also make a kick-ass sandwhich, just don't go too late at night, because they don't like to light up the grill. They do it, don't get me wrong, they just don't *like* it.
One time the cashier sort of made fun of the dinner I was buying- a large bowl of pre-cut fruit and a bottle of wine. Normally this would piss me off, but she cracked me up. I think she said something along the lines of "Wow! Is that your dinner! Who needs more?"
Four words: Rice milk chocolate bars.
I've been on an allergy diet for the past three weeks (no dairy, no soy, no gluten, no refined sugars), and while Rainbow Grocery is my main stop for most of the unfamiliar ingredients I need, Golden Natural Foods is a close second. Most importantly, they sell a chocolate bar without dairy and refined sugar. It doesn't feel quite like a "diet" anymore now that I know I have such a wonderful substitute, and it makes this difficult experience much more enjoyable.
I like their selection overall - they also sell Coconut Bliss, a wonderful non-dairy frozen dessert. I'll never go back to regular ice cream ... at least excluding BiRite ... if I ever get to return to consuming dairy products.
A pretty small store but they have a fantastic selection of:
- Yogurt (random I know, but really really healthy yogurts here)
- Meat/ fish
- Tea
- Whole grain products (flax seed, real oatmeal, wheat flours, etc.)
- Vitamins/ health supplements/ holistic treatment options
If you are looking for some interesting and flavorful organic, all natural, *insert whatever health related buzzword you can think of*, you should check out Golden Natural Foods. Not a huge store but I tend to go for quality over quantity.
I've been a fan of Golden Produce for years, and was excited to hear they had opened this second bigger store right down the street, with a much larger selection. Now I can officially give Safeway the finger!
They really do have a little bit of everything, but my favorites are in the frozen food aisle, which seems like it was curated by the folks at Trader Joe's, with gourmet frozen pizzas, pastas, Indian and veggies. I also like the produce guy -- he's always sweet and willing to tell me what's in season.
My favorite thing about Golden Natural Produce? Their little mini grocery carts! They're so cute and convenient. I'm never shlepping around a basket again.
I really like this little store!
First of all, the women who work here (maybe the owners?) are super friendly and nice. Beyond that, they have a great selection of products. So many types of tea (seriously, it's hard to pick!), bars (Lara, Clif, etc) and I saw this morning that they have like every flavor of Synergy Kombucha, which I've just discovered I love. Oh, and they have a great cheese section, too! I picked up a great Garlic Jack from Marin Cheese Co the other day and today I bought a Pesto Jeck I'm excited to try. They have a nice selection of green cleaning and household products and other high quality products - meat (good deli meats, meat counter, Aidells sausages, etc), frozen foods, dairy (good yogurt selection and Straus Milk!), great chocolate, cereal, soy milk, canned goods, etc. I'm definitely a fan - support this local business!
The grocery section gets four stars for having a great selection of organic and local foods.
The produce section gets three stars for having the basics: bananas, tomatoes, onions, etc.
The meat and seafood options always look fresh, but all of them being hormone, rBHT, and everything else-free, they are expensive. Three stars.
TWO stars for the actual sandwich making portion of the store, which is my main reason for coming here since I work around the corner. 9 times out of 10, my coworkers and I end up with the wrong sandwich, added or deleted ingredients, and the price is different every time. We've been sticking it out and giving them second, third, eighth chances, but really, how hard is it to make a sandwich with FOUR ingredients?
A good all-purpose neighborhood market is a rarity, and that's a shame in a city like SF. Where I live in the Mission there's lots of specialty food places but only Bi-Rite sells top-quality meat, produce, wine, and other grocery items. And you know how expensive and crowded Bi-Rite is!
Luckily, Golden Natural Market - the people behind the balls-to-the-wall-best-produce-in-town Golden Produce - is close enough to me that I can stop by at least once a week and get some meat and wine (the 2 things their older sister store doesn't stock). And their stuff is *good*, especially the meat. I just cooked up some of their bacon; it is as from heaven. Maybe when I come down from this bacon high I'll have something critical to say, but for now it's 5 stars for GNM.
How much do I love this store? Lemme count the ways!
1. It's a hop, skip and a jump from mi casa. Bonus.
2. They have really neat stuff to take your time staring at, reading labels of and letting your culinary mind dance about as you brainstorm what's for dinner. Always fun.
3. The butcher is super nice and always chooses the best cut in the case.
4. The seafood is pretty damn good.
5. The produce is so so, but that's why you go a few stores down to the produce part and have at it.
6. The little ladies that work here are always happy, polite and friendly and make me really feel like I live in a "neighborhood."
7. Their tea selection is fantastic.
8. They carry a ton of Amy's Frozen stuff, which is great if #2 is a bit tired after a long day at work.
9. They have a decent wine section, which is always a bonus for me.
10. They carry China Cola. Yay!
If you need more reasons, go check it out yourself, but I love that this is my neighborhood market and when I am feeling like being a bit more healthy and nice to my body, it's a must stop! The only bummer is that it isn't cheap, but neither is Whole Foods and if you want good quality stuff, ya gotta pay for it.
It makes me so happy to see that these folks are getting so much love here on Yelp.
I've been a big fan of Golden Produce for a couple of years, so much so that I pretty much avoid Safeway now.
And now it's wonderful that they have a sister store with a meat counter, a varied selection of natural and organic prepared foods (Amy's, etc) AND one of my absolute favorite chocolate selections: Chuao.
I highly recommend picking up the Spicy Maya or Chinita Nibs.
And if you want to feel good about supporting a local family-owned store, go see the nice folks here.
Well, ain't this a purty place right off the J-Line on Church?
Yes, yes...I know I'd be a lot healthier if I went organic and stopped drowning myself with pesticides. But I was raised in the suburbs...I don't know any better. How was I to know that a Hot Pocket was not a natural food? But I may have to reconsider now that I've shopped at this spanking new organic foods store.
I've been to Rainbow Grocery many times, but it does bug me how they don't have meat there. Well, this place does, actually a pretty big meat counter, and all sorts of packaged foods that look good even to a chemically-infested joe like me. I didn't know they were connected with Golden Produce down the block since they look nothing alike.
I just may have to take the J and start a new diet regimen...eat sprouts, have wheat germ instead of Rice Chex, drink soy instead of dairy. Yeah right...
Spitting in the face of giant conglomerations (you really could spit at Safeway from here), are the lovely people of Golden Produce. Instead of bemoaning the fate of small businesses everywhere, these fine folks have opened a second store on the SAME block as their first store! (Take that Starbucks!) Looks like they finally got past whatever piles of red tape & bureaucratic butt-kissing they were trying to overcome, and have managed to open their new store, to feature an expanded list of high quality grocery items.
Golden Natural Foods is a great new local source for organic meats, cheeses, teas, chocolates and other essentials. They also appear to be supporting all the local businesses they can (just noticed the Just Desserts items there the other day - yum). Local breads and dairy products noted as well. One of the owners says they're not finished yet, that they plan to offer hot pre-made items as well in the back area. Oh, and I'm already addicted to Baji's papadums snacks - cilantro chutney flavor.
Prices are average for smaller stores, stellar if you consider that the actual mom-n-pop (n various other family members) work the registers here, and that you're getting great selections of organic and local items. (Except for the beer. Don't buy beer here. $10 for 6-packs.)
The store is so clean, my Japanese mother-in-law would approve! (The aforementioned spitting was all rhetoric - Yelp hype - forgive me.)
You know how when people at a smokeout make the inevitable late-night pilgrimage to a grocery store, and the bright fluorescent lights and shelves of neatly organized food seem totally surreal? (If not, watch the Flipmode episode of Space Ghost.) Anyway, this store made me feel that way while sober--so bright, shiny, meticulous, and shockingly uncrowded. Sort of the opposite of its parent store Golden Produce (incidentally, between the two of these you've really got a one-stop grocery destination here).
But what excites me most is the meat counter here--finally a local-but-affordable meat store on my bike commute. Another nail in the coffin of Safeway shopping...
This is really a neighborhood gem!! They have such a wonderful variety of fresh and healthy foods, there is meat and produce (also at their sister store, Golden Produce right down the street), the store is clean, the staff extremely friendly and helpful. This is a wonderful find, Safeway will never see me again!!!
I could not be more stoked that this place opened at this location. I've been a devout fan of golden produce for a while but needing to drag my ass elsewhere to get my organic packaged foods, no more!
they have great fish and meat too, non-gluten wheat-free rice chips, and an awesome selection of yogurt. yum! they also have like i dunno everything i want. their prices are good too. yey!
does everyone know this place is here?? i mean the first time i went in i had a mini heart-attack/orgasm like oh my f'n god this place is amazing and so close to me. and so not snobby a la bi-rite/rainbowgrocery/wholefoods. i like that. i save sooo much money shopping here. hooray.
Wow, this place is phenomenal! I've been walking past it daily now without stopping in since it opened up a month ago. From the outside this place seems so tiny and then you walk into the store and realize how far back it goes! It's clean, bright, organized, well stocked, and uncrowded. Meanwhile, I had just come from buying my Muni-Pass at Safeway and that joint was a zoo!
Upon walking in I was surprised to learn that in the back there's a fantastic natural meat counter! I'm starting to believe there is a god after all because I've been praying that a really nice organic meat counter with beautiful chicken breasts, sausages, and steaks would materialize near home for months!
Oh and great baked goods, wine, beer, cheeses, natural toiletries, snacks, frozen goods, produce, and more. They're a little pricey, but who isn't in this town? I'm on board!
Hmm... I had a fine experience at Golden yesterday, but I wouldn't say it lived up to the 99 incredible reviews that caused me to make the trip over here.
I would have called it a small, basic market with a decent selection of meats, cheese and higher-end goods in general and a very friendly staff. The produce section was pretty anemic -- though the items they did have were great looking -- and now I'm realizing that this is probably due to their sister produce store down the street. So okay, you're supposed to get your produce at the other location. Not my ideal setup, but fair enough.
The credit/atm system was down during my visit yesterday, so I'm looking at an $84 cash bill for my groceries... and this was not mentioned until after I checked out.
In all it's a fine little store and undoubtedly (from the the many local 5 star reviews) the best in the neighborhood. But if you've got a Whole Foods or another higher-end grocery in your neighborhood, I would not recommend going out of your way.
If I lived in Duboce or Castro, or even just took the N- I'd be all over this market! Falletti is still my go-to healthy market, but mainly for proximity reasons.
GNF has great variety of bulk foods, frozen foods, boxed foods & produce!
This will definitely be a pit stop on my walks to the Mission.
OOOH! I just realized it makes a great faster alternative to Bi-Rite for Dolores Park picnic foods! SNAP!
Uniquely friendly and educational employees and even customers.
Prices are quite reasonable for some products and market for others: but in the world of health, you get at least what you pay for.
Please let's bring them together with "support@blackduckimpor..." so we can have vegan cheeses there too? Also, there is a need for larger sized vegan yogurts if you know of a vendor to mention. They love to share cooking and health secrets.
Great alternative to the Safeway. I'm a big fan of the quality meats, and the fact that they now stock most of the kitchen essentials that Golden Produce doesn't carry.
I've also tried the sandwiches and they aren't bad.
This is beautiful. It is so wonderful to finally have a store like this in my neighborhood. What I am really excited is their meat/seafood section, this had been one area seriously lacking in the hood. We got some serious help on everything from a fella that was working there, from lasagna advice to which bottle of wine to go with it.
I am in LOVE with this store!
p.s. I would so like to meet the guy I saw in there the other day wearing the red sox cap reaching for the artichoke.
Golden Produce meaty goodness! I cannot tell you how excited I am to not have to take the train to Drewes or the Ferry Building to purchase good quality organic meat!
The family that owns the Golden Empire is so sweet and so great and I plan on supporting these guys in their effort to bring organic meats to our neighborhood and I cannot thank them enough.
Request: Artisian cheeses!
Suggestion: Put a sign on the counter at Golden Produce and maybe a sandwich board to improve business! I had no idea you were finally open!
Congratulations nice Golden family I know how hard it was to get that store finally open, SF does not make it easy for the small business owner.
Thank you thank you... you made my week!
1/20/08 UPDATE:
Though the meat and fish department is pricey they have some really beautiful cuts of meats and fish. The lamb shanks were beautiful and delicious.
Their prices on everyday items are pretty good. Better than across the street. They have eco-friendly products of all kinds that are not so priced out of their minds expensive that they are accessible to everyone.
I'm even happier now.
_____________
Original Review
I was so happy when I found out the same family who owns Golden Produce opened this store just up the street.
It is very nice inside and although they are still building up their inventory, they have a lot of good things at good prices. Nice to see an alternative to the giant grocery across the street.
I had often wished that Golden Produce sold meats and fish because I like their store and I'd really rather not go to a giant grocery. The meat department is limited right now, but the meat and fish are good. I look forward to shopping here and watching them grow.
At last: my dream of Golden Produce marrying a butcher shop has come true! I've been hovering around the storefront for a few weeks, waiting VERY anxiously for this place to open. I went in yesterday (their second day - I'm sad I wasn't there on opening day!) and perused their new branch of amazing foods. Wine and beer? Check! Extensive frozen and refrigerated foods sections? Check! Household cleaners, toiletries, pet food? Check x 3! And...butcher counter??? CHECK!!!!!!!
Another store patron asked the butcher (note: they have a butcher working there, not just some meat thrown in packages and wrapped in plastic) what wild game he could get. The amazing butcher rattled off a zoo's worth of exotic meats, saying with a week's notice, the lucky carnivore could purchase any number of dead animals. I thought of turducken. I thought of kanga-snake-elk-duck-goat. I'm in love.
It's just opened, so things are not quite the perfect, tight ship run down the street at Golden Produce. Also, this place will be focusing on foods besides produce; be prepared to make two stops to get all your food. I have total confidence in this family to make this place every bit as amazing as the original GP.
Best of all: we are one step closer to total Golden domination of this neighborhood. I have visions of Golden Laundromat...Golden Movies...Golden Bar...Golden Bikini Waxing...yeah. I can only hope.
This is such an exciting addition to Church St, and a logical extension of Golden Natural Foods. In a nutshell, you'll find high-quality animal parts for your morally superior eats. Seriously though, really good quality meat and friendly service mean I'll never buy a styrofoam box of chicken at Safeway again! A lot of the sundries are just repeats of what is available at the produce stand, but there are some interesting buys here, especially if you are looking for a specialty ingredient. They have a staple collection of vegetables, a wide variety of frozen foods and a selection of widely available wines. Nothing special to find here, so keep walking to Bi-Rite for the good stuff.
I absolutely recommend crab enthusiasts to RUN to Golden Natural Foods and pick up their crab cakes. They are so delicious with a little horseradish-lime aioli and greens and they are a great deal at $5 a pop.
A great selection of items.
I wouldn't go out of my way for a visit, but if you happen to be in the 'hood and want a 'Safeway' alternative stop in. They sell the rice dream ice cream sandwich singles(most stores want you to purchase the 4pack)-my kryptonite. Prices are very reasonable, the store is very clean and organized and the meats and baked goods are fresh. A moderate selection of loose and bagged teas, and a few bulk items. There seems to be a bit of misused space towards the back of the store, so it'll be interesting to see if the owners expand the deli or increase the selection of bulk items. Nothing you couldn't find at other natural grocers, but a nice addition to the area. . .
Hallelujah, Sweet Jesus!
Golden Produce's long awaited Market has opened!!! I've been waiting for this day with bated breath, and not much information as to when it would open (though I asked every time I went into Golden Produce...)
Yay! Yippee! Hurrah! "Congratulations!" I told the owners in GNF, and back in GP as well. I asked if they are still keeping the Produce store, and the man said, yeah. I now never have to go to Safeway, unless I need to stock up on mixers for a party, which is never, cough *
Since all my hosting revolves around food, I can split my time and money between Golden Produce and Golden Natural Foods. And since it's going to the same place, well all the better for them. Best of luck to you Golden Natural Foods, may you follow in the footsteps of your older sister. GNF still has a bit of growing room, the store, only open a week, hasn't quite filled out yet, but I know she's going to turn into a knockout.
update
4/8/2008
The store is developing quite nicely! I love that they stock products from responsible companies. No Scott tissues here, you can get your 100 % recycled toilet paper, and various green cleaning products along with your free range meet. Seriously the ONLY reason I go to Safeway now, is for cash back...oh, and MUNI passes!
Wow, San Franciscans must really hate chain stores...
This place is ok. I like to be able to get everything I need at one store or at least find decent alternatives.
Golden Natural Foods has an excellent selection of natural and organic foods, but all the cereals come in close to $5. Many of the other pre-packaged goods are pretty close to that including a small bag of organic dried cherries, not to mention some stuff they definitely have at Trader Joe's for a few bucks less. Decent selection of beer too but again at a premium price.
There's no produce section save a small scattering of mangoes and pomegranates around the meat counter. They have dry goods containers although I am a little scared of seeing what the price per pound is on some of the stuff.
This place is pretty much an over priced Trader Joe's with a meat counter. Pretty good store if you're extremely strapped for transportation but you will pay.
High praise for GNF and GP. I eat way fewer burritos now that I can stop into Golden real quick and grab something tasty like beef stew loaded with carrots, all kind of curries, or swordfish w/ risotto for $5.99. If you're inclined to cook, they have an awesome meat counter and all the basics. And they have a nice selection of chocolate and novelty Asian sodas and bottled drinks.
Finally opened last evening. Beautiful space and a great compliment to the Golden Produce. GNF is clean, well lit and easy to navigate. Sensibly laid out too. Prices are reasonable and there are a lot of hard to find grocery items. What makes me most happy is there is now a fresh meat section that offers some of the best cuts of meat I have seen outside a prime butchers shop. AND the butcher has promised to source locally! All meats are sustainabley farmed and growth hormone free. Ask for a cut of game and he can get it for you. The selection is a little short, but as the weeks go on we will be seeing a much larger selection in the cooler.
The deli looks to offer many delectable items which I may be putting my fork to soon. There is a fair selection of wines not normally found locally and may become a cultist selection.
This is the best the hood can get! Thank you!
Hooray, another way to eschew Safeway!
The same lovely people who own and operate Golden Produce down the street have opened a clean, bright, spacious market next to Burgermeister and El Castillito. This place literally just appeared today, ostensibly from behind a large plywood wall that had been hiding its development from public eyes.
The major difference between the new model and the old one is that the new one features a large butcher counter in the rear, and the older store is where the produce is (and there it will stay, assures the lady I spoke with).
The groceries they offer tend toward the organic and natural.
Please support these mom-and-pop businesses rather than the big corporate mess across the street!
Kangen water now available!
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
Save green with spud!
Neighborhood: Civic…
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Fruits & Veggies
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Lower Haight
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Lower Haight
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Health Markets
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
- n. - 1. the liberating, PG13-rated act of…
I lived in the castro for almost a couple yrs...…
The places I regularly go to in the Mission when…
Places where you can get amazing stuff without…
Without these places I wouldn't make it...…
Along with the Haight-Ashbury, this neighborhood…
This is why I live here...... Eat, Drink and be…
