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Whole Foods Market
Categories: Food Grocery Food Specialty Food Health Markets Grocery, Health Markets [Edit]
399 4th St(between Clara St & Harrison St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 618-0066
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
A local family operated franchise emphasizing knowledgeable, friendly, and personal service with a wide range of vitamins, herbs and supplements, diet… read more »
583 reviews for Whole Foods Market
Review Highlights
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"They've got the best food buffet/salad bar." In 74 reviews -
"They also have a great selection of Ice Cream and Vino." In 27 reviews -
"Some amazing amazing produce (you choose." In 113 reviews
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583 reviews in English
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Review from Tresna L.
4/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
By American standards it's on the pricey side, but for a travelling Aussie it's a great respite from the fried carb loaded food that seems to be everywhere else and is also relatively inexpensive.
There's a seriously impressive array of drinks - juices, teas, kombuchus, beers, wine along with mountains of pre-prepared food: including a gigantic salad bar that has interesting items like steamed sesame broccoli, quinioa, chopped kale, and blanched green beans. If you're after a healthy dose of veggies this is a great spot to come.
I'm usually not in to salad bars or buffets - anywhere that encourages laymen to start serving themselves food is generally a recipe for disaster: an invitation for hepatitis and other foodborne illnesses. Fortunately, the salad bar here is fairly well maintained and clean and people seem to understand the idea of not cross contaminating food with incorrect serving tools.
Make sure you check out the chocolate section too for a huge assortment of organic and gourmet treats. -
Review from Jon T.
4/1/2012 5 Check-ins Here
Conveniently located between Caltrain and Union Square, this Whole Foods feels quite large compared to some of the others in SF. Also, they always have a great prepared foods section. Lots of Indian and some great vegan options (including pizza, and I've heard, vegan pigs in a blanket.)
Because of the location, lines can be quite long here (to the point that they have an associate guiding traffic.) If you're only buying a few things, best to check out at the coffee area (and grab a vegan muffin while you're at it.) -
Review from Travis M.
San Francisco, CA
3/27/2012
yeah, this is the best whole foods
if you go between 10-11 in the morning it feels like christmas when they roll out the fresh kale, spinach lasagna, roasted chickens, etc at the salad bar.
another thing i really enjoy is the kombucha on tap, it's like $2.60.
they have some good looking soups but i think they're overpriced. you can make an awesome salad for cheaper if you don't put a baked potato on top.
everyone's friendly enough, the double line thing is kind of weird though. if there's a line on one side and not the other and you take the empty side you may get some "looks". that's why i try to order at the coffee bar. -
Review from Shawn C.
Updated - 3/26/2012
What on earth happened to the burrito???
I've been coming here for years and frequently order the burrito which used to be a decent size. Tonight I had to look around for the candid camera when I was handed a burrito the size of a Tootsie Roll. Seriously? Some new cost-cutting manager in charge? It was practically nothing but a rolled up tortilla with maybe a teaspoon of stuff inside. I mean this thing was smaller than your average child-sized burrito.
Well, back to the Mission if I want a burrito from now on I suppose.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/18/2008
Great quality, super-fresh produce, clean store, and nice service...but ouch--how much did that… Read more »
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Review from Lani P.
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
The discovery of a Wholehoods not 10 minutes walk from my hotel (W Hotel on 3rd - you're so sweet to ask!) was, after a week of eating takeaway, a sweet sweet relief. I'm not sure I've ever been happier to stand before a full salad bar, gluten-free goodies and general grocery items.
We all live in a time when bespoke is the ultimate and bespoke you get with the Salad and hot bar where with your Kraft
Brown box (2 sizes available) in hand you can tailor a salad to fit your mood. Feeling the need for something to warm the cockles of your heart? Then take a little from the soup bar, some roast vegetables (I highly recommend the sesame broccoli) or teriyaki chicken. Feeling worn down an need a vitamin boost? Mix kale with spinach, add tofu or the protein of your choosing - there is plenty - baby corn, fetta, beetroot and more. The combinations are seemingly endless.
I've been back to court Wholefoods a second time and resurfaced with more than the salad I initially went in for. Did you know you can buy toothbrushes made from plastic yoghurt containers? Despite this I was once again wowed by the selection and can see why this health-conscious outfit have the international reputation they do. -
Review from Tala D.
3/7/2012 11 Check-ins Here
This is my go-to Whole Foods. It's clean, organized, has a good wine selection & the staff is adorable. My only gripe is one of the guys behind the meat counter can be a bit abrasive at times.
Parking is not an issue because there is a free garage you can park in attached to the store. The entrance is on Harrison.
The line here moves very quickly and usually has a staff member directing people to the next register. So even if the line looks unbelievably long, don't give up! Also, if you have just a handful of items you can check out at the pastry bar next to the cheese bar.
Bulk section could use some rounding out. I often can't find things that shouldn't be hard to find. The bulk section is also quite small. I go to Rainbow for most of my bulk foods. Cheese selection is fantastic and you can often find good sales here. I got a round of aged ash rind goat cheese for $7.99 (normally $10.99). It seems this location gets better meat than others (particularly the one in San Mateo). Maybe it's a demographic thing, people in SF want better quality stuff?
Check the weekly flier on their website to find the good deals. Also keep an eye out for the one-day sales on Fridays where they have deals like 20% off ALL beer. -
Review from Khaoula B.
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2012
Maybe the best service I have ever encountered in any grocery store. It is my second home. Great proucts, fresh produce, nice seating area. I am giving 4 stars because they dont carry some of the organic products that more specialized stores such RainBow carry, plus it is expensive.
I still go there though more than any other place. Very much worth every penny. -
Review from Melissa L.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2012
Oddly enough it's more expensive for me to purchase lunch from my office's cafe than it is to purchase an equivalent lunch at Whole Foods. How expensive can raw, organic vegetables possibly be?
Out of all the WF's in the City this is one of my favorite. Aside from the convenient location and free, hassle-less parking (hello California St!), I like that they are able to fit in a full deli, cheese section, coffee bar, wine section, seafood and meat counters and a very large salad bar. Make sure to stop by and check out the flower stand, as the guy that works there is awesome and has given me some really great advice on how to extend the life of cut flowers. It's never that crowded here and the aisles are fairly spacious so there is no need for a battle of the carts. Given the size of the store, I do appreciate the variety of items stocked on the shelves. The checkout area is set up to allow for expediency so the long lines move fairly quickly, with a "traffic cop" assigned to direct the flow of patrons to the next open cashier.
Upon first glance, the food may seem pricey, but they have great sales on certain seasonal items every week that are an absolute bargain. In addition, they source some of their produce from nearby farms that also sell at the farmer's markets in town. However, I noticed that the prices were raised recently for some of the prepared foods and the number of options has been reduced.
I often eat their soups (love Mike's minestrone), salads (it's not easy to make a salad tasty while keeping it super healthy) and sandwiches (ability to customize sandwiches) and have never run into any issues with folks "returning their samples" to the salad bar or coming across expired or less-than-fresh food items.
In general I'm happy with the service received here but I should mention that during the holidays I was overcharged and/or mischarged for several items as my clerk seemed overly distracted while speaking to his colleague about their Secret Santa gift exchange. This is the only time any issue has occurred for me at this location. Was I annoyed? Absolutely! However, I wonder if that clerk was seasonal as I hadn't seen him before and haven't seen him since.
Yes, some of the items are really expensive but for some of the fruit and vegetables, it's worth it. -
Review from Dru M.
1/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Whole Foods, no matter what city I'm in, is always a go to for me whether I'm in the lines for a meal, grocery shopping or just browsing/people watching. Below are a few of my favorite things about this location, but honestly...I can't think of anything negative to say. Great employees, clean store, two thumbs up on variety...just an all around great place to shop.
Highlights -
*Hot Food, Soup & Salad Bars - Something for everyone. Not personal favs - fresh veggies, brussel sprouts and mushroom barley soup.
*Cheese Selection - If you like cheese...you'll be in heaven.
*Wine and Beer Selection - Goes great with Cheese. See above.
*Sushi Section - pre-packaged, but constantly being made. With that being said...expect your rolls to be very fresh.
*Bulk area - nuts, cereals, dried fruits, etc.
*Organic Products are everywhere! So...if that's your thing, you'll be very happy.
*Produce Selection...one word would be lovely!
*Seafood and Meat Counters...awesome variety, super fresh and good prices.
Parking - free garage...BONUS!
Checking out - painless. You wait in a short line and as registers open up, an employee points you in the right direction.
One thing - do your part and bring grocery bags with you. It's easier to carry stuff and the planet will thank you.
Overall...I've been a Whole Foods fans for years and this location just confirms how great their brand really is. -
Review from Lizzy M.
Oakland, CA
3/27/2012
I love everything about Whole Foods but the stuck up vibe that seems to permeate throughout the place.
They got great produce, all the vitamins, quality meats, wonderful cheeses, delicious items ready to eat on the go, a decent wine collection and some nice baked goods.There's also parking here!
maybe I'm the bitch but I always feel like the other shoppers are either in their own world or looking down at mine. The employees have the same sort of cult mentality too even though IT IS THEIR JOB to be friendly and courteous and helpful. Maybe they're unsatisfied with their job but I was always one to believe you must be happy with your job weather it's digging ditches, dealing with litigation, singing, ringing up other people's purchases, playing with a ball, tending to growing things, slaughtering an animal, driving a truck, serving and protecting or whatever, you have to at very least like what you're doing. Maybe the employees thought they were getting involved in a life changing situation and were disillusioned to find in the end it was just another thing they didn't want to to do.
In their defense I will admit the girl with the penetrating stare was very knowledgeable about the oranges she was putting out and the fellow who bagged my groceries was a sweetheart.
Maybe none of this matters because I will be back if not to this location to the other. -
Review from Bill H.
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm writing this review for Whole Foods purely for the salad bar, which is pretty damned good for the money. A healthy greens n' beans selections, the chicken and turkey is always plentiful and decent looking, and there's a good hot bar available as well. I only wish the fruit section was a little better than tomatos and cranberries. No matter, I can walk out with a pound of salad for eight bucks. Nice.
Pro tip: The line by the cafe / bakery is much quicker than going through the actual checkout line. -
Review from Mei C.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012 5 Check-ins Here
The keys to shopping at Whole Foods:
* Avoid the middle sections unless you need base cooking products like olive oil, baking powder, milk, yogurt, sugar etc.
* Exercise your judgement in picking and choosing from the organic produce, meat & seafood selections, personal care and diet supplements
* Take stock of the variety of nuts, grains, legumes selections in the bins
* Avoid heavily processed and packaged goods {chocolates, cookies, processed meats anything in a cardboard or plastic packaging
* Avoid the take out / buffet area unless you want a quick / somewhat pricey but quality lunch
* Admire and sometimes indulge in the flower bouquets available.
I found that if I use these rules of thumb, I get a lot out of Whole Foods. The prices and quality become reasonable and perhaps even better than what you can find at other grocery chain stores like Safeway et al.Listed in: Love
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Review from Corey D.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2012
As a weekly and often times daily shopper over the last couple of years, I am repeatedly disappointed when an entire transaction takes place without a hello, goodbye or thank you from the Whole Foods employee standing directly in front of me.
Sadly, I think the "hip" attitude of smug indifference has finally pushed me away from quality food choice and the convenience of location. -
Review from Jenn C.
1/22/2012
I remember when this was being constructed - I was looking forward to having some additional options for lunch provisions while at work! Til a couple years ago, I've pretty much always worked in SOMA and this is a great place to pick up food for work lunches - they've got anything you would expect from a larger WF but the layout is definitely unique and it takes some getting used to find things. Small-ish but functional bulk section at the end of the produce area. Great wine selection.
They have an excellent selection of chocolate, tea, bottled drinks and a fantastic hot/cold bar. The little coffee bar makes excellent soy lattes and you can get parking validation for the garage upstairs! The service was always friendly and the store was always wells stocked and tidy. Sometimes they have little concerts in the produce section - I hope they have continued that little customer appreciation effort!
Loads of vegan and gluten-free options throughout the store - Whole Foods is pretty good about stocking that sort of thing. Look for the awesome candy bars by "Go Max Go" in the chocolate section (Jokerz is my fave!). -
Review from Corey D.
3/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sure beats the crummy one I go to back in Tucson! It's huge. So that rocks! It's staffed well, also rocks. And there is an amazing array of "real foods" as they're signed that I couldn't help but take back to the hotel with me. Beet chips, herbs de provence kale chips, coconut macaroons with chocolate nibs (these were the highlight) and more bars than you'd believe. I didn't quite understand the check out setup (you get into two lines to keep both moving but who knows who's next?), but really nothing to complain about. I forse heading back one more time during this trip to pick up other paleo sweets. These macaroons are amazing! (Coco-Roons by Wonderful Raw Baking Delighs... find them!)
Listed in: No Food. No Drink.
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Review from Erica T.
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was my first time going to Whole Foods to get lunch and it didn't disappoint, but things are a bit pricey.
When I first entered, they have home made dressing... WOW! I have to come back and get a jug, it should be much better than buying bottles from companies that add preservatives and other useless ingredients that just add more calories.
There is soo many things to choose from for lunch. Hot items, salads, soups, cold items, sushi, sandwich, pizza, burrito, etc.... TONS to choose from. Just be forewarned that everything here is about $7.99 a pound... so don't get too much or it will be costly!
Everything here looks fresh. I ended up getting a Salmon/carne asada burrito and it was pretty good. I would probably not get carne asada (a bit dry) again, just the salmon. My co-worker got the teriyaki chicken, mushrooms, broccoli, and string beans.The chicken was cooked without getting burnt and dry. -
Review from TJ P.
San Diego, CA
4/10/2012
Whoooooooooooooole Fooooooooooooooooooooods!
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Review from Mikaela s.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Over priced health and gourmet foods. I give them three stars because if there is not another health food store in sight then of course I am happy to go to Whole Foods. They are also a great option in towns that would normally not have another health food store; but I have some BIG problems with them.
The Bad:
First and most importantly, the company originates in Texas and the CEO has been quoted making fun of health and organic food. So basically he is a money hungry CEO not interested in what is better for our bodies or the planet.
Second they are incredibly overpriced for items you can get in a mom and pop health food store for way less.
Third they have made a lot of those mom and pop health food stores close because most people re more "comfortable" going to a Whole Foods.
People, keep your money local; when possible support the local health food or gourmet store. The money is reinvested in your own community thus benefitting you!!
The Good:
Health food in random places in San Jose, Maryland and everywhere across the country that normally would only have Safeways. I have a serious Kamboucha and coconut water addiction so Whole Foods always is an important part of my life. -
Review from Ada K.
Stanford, CA
1/8/2012
I love Whole Foods and everything about it, from the variety of interesting and also convenient items they offer to the general feeling I get when inside the place. There are some great finds here like the bulk veggie chips (so delicious--and slightly healthier than the standard chip alternative), the great variety of granola, the soup selection, the yogurt selection (Siggi's Icelandic yogurt is awesome) and the reason I come here so often: Three Wishes (Whole Food's own version of 2-buck chuck-- not bad!!)
Here's what I do not like about this location: testers...they do not exist.
Sure, ever so often on a Friday you can find wine tasting (ok, that part's pretty cool) or a random sampling of energy bars, but realistically, this Whole Foods does not even come close to its counterparts when it comes to offering customer's testers/samples/snackies!! Not even close.
My main complaint is the lack of fresh cut fruit to try. It doesn't even feel like Whole Foods because of this. The little open fresh fruit containers were always one of my favorite things about shopping at Whole Foods. It makes the trip like an experience...like going to a farmer's market or a fresh fruit stand.
I mean we're spending an arm and a leg on the produce, it's nice to treat us to a few blueberries and grapes once in a while and to entice us to buy that pricey produce (because once you try it, you realize it's oh so yummy and fresh and okay, sure, you really do want to spend $5.99/lb to bring some of that greatness home...) Win, win.
So...
Dear SoMa Whole Foods,
START DOING WHAT ALL THE OTHER WHOLE FOODS LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR AGES...
POP OPEN SOME BERRY VARIETY PACKS, SLICE SOME ORANGES, CUT OPEN A MANGO OR TWO...
and both you and your customers will be happy as a result.
Thanks! -
Review from Romy I.
San Jose, CA
2/7/2012
Their salad bar is awesome and quite extensive. I know it's corporate but you know, I was raised in a working class family in a rednecky sort of place so I'm grateful that I've gotten this far on the healthy food kick you know? by all rights at my age i should be eating cheetos and sipping sodas grooming myself for massive diabetes and cancer afflictions before i hit 40. i'm doing it and i'm doing it good.
The bathroom is not hard to find either so this is a great pee place. a lot of grocery stores do not give you the benefit of the bathroom or even if they are required to do it they hide that thing so no one can find it. and damn that thing is clean.
I'm still wondering if there's some kind of conspiracy to never hire ugly people at whole foods. what is this? i'm sort of kidding, maybe it's that people who work here eat good food so they look good? i'm not sure if I could pass any good looks test if i had to take it.
it's expensive if you're not careful but if you stick to the fruits and are skillful with the salad bar you will be fine. i also like it because the people at the tabled seating area tend not to harass me or loudly sell stupid stuff in public recited in loud voices as is the custom in our day. maybe they are extra polite, i dunno. i also sat next to construction workers who talked to me about my moneyball book, so it's not only a place where rich people eat. nice vibes. -
Review from Elisa L.
San Francisco, CA
1/7/2012
Hot foods are great and go by the lb - $7.99 per. Huge selection from salads, meats, rice, noodles, pasta, you name it. Lineup goes down pretty quick.
Crowded though, wish there was more room to walk around, as it gets busy! -
Review from REBECCA P.
Martinez, CA
12/8/2011
This place made me angry enough to come back 3 years later and leave this review.
FatHairyWOWObsessedCheckerDude actually had the nerve to ask me if I was stupid. And all because I asked where I could put the hand basket as there was stuff stacked where you would normally put the dumb thing. He whispered it like a pussy, of course, but I heard it and so did my friend.
I made the little ahole cry a little but I doubt he'll be pulling that smack on anyone ever again. And even though this place offered me a gift certificate, I'm still giving it 1 star for promoting the angry wannabe emo kid to the front when he should have stayed under the rock he crawled out from. -
Review from Robecta M.
San Francisco, CA
3/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of the best Whole Foods I have been by far. I was particularly impressed with their soup selections.
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Review from Tasha D.
San Francisco, CA
3/19/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Iiiiiiiiit's a whole foods. Good salad bar, soup bar, lunch options; over priced but convenient location. Glad it's there, not motivated to write more than three sentences on its behalf.
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Review from Ann S.
11/4/2011 72 Check-ins Here
I love how close in proximity this Whole Foods location is to my apartment. I'm basically here everyday. Whole Foods can accommodate to anyone's diet which makes it such a great place for people with allergies and restrictions.
Plentiful parking! -
Review from Kathy A.
2/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
This Whole Foods has a awesome hot bar and salad bar. Plus they have pizza, burritos, sandwiches...you name it! What a great place to grab a quick lunch. The rest of the market has some more limited selections (like no bulk and a smaller dairy section). They also offer free parking which is awesome!
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Review from Ben Y.
Monterey Park, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a pretty small location...the isles are small and it just seems more packed than the wholefoods i'm use in LA.
Note: don't get the stuffed scallops or oysters rockfellers...they are AWFUL -
Review from Alyssa W.
Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA
12/4/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This is my favorite Whole Foods in San Francisco! What makes this one better than the rest? The following reasons:
(1) Lots of parking. I usually come at night (after 7p), and can grab a spot right near the entrance.
(2) It's huge.
(3) The most diverse hot food selection of SF Whole Foods.
(4) The check-out system. Everyone enters the check-out area in 2 lines. In an alternating pattern, the first person in the line gets to go to the next available check-out clerk. When it's busy, they usually have a staff member coordinating everything. It's so much more efficient this way! -
Review from Prague G.
San Francisco, CA
3/21/2012
Well stocked and I've never had problem finding parking space.
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Review from Sally T.
10/4/2011 10 Check-ins Here
Dear Whole Foods in my hood,
I love you and hate you all at the same time.
I love your proximity, the cheerful flowers that greet me at the door, 365 frozen raviolis, cherry cocoa ice cream, salad bar, deli counter, CHEESE, hand held pies, teeny cutesy green shopping carts, and the ever friendly ushers to tell me which register to go to.
i hate your proximity, the cheerful flowers that greet me at the door, 365 frozen raviolis, cherry cocoa ice cream, salad bar, deli counter, CHEESE, hand held pies, and especially those teeny cutesy green shopping carts that makes me think I'm not buying too much until I get to the line where your friendly register line ushers or whatever the are called, smiles coyly knowing the register they're sending me to will take all of my money.
As much as the numbers on the receipt makes me want to kick myself, while using every four letter word my mother used to smack me for saying, it's my fault for being lazy and not wanting to walk further or push a granny cart for sustenance.
Don't worry, I'll keep coming back.
Sincerely,
Glutton for your hand held pies and punishmentListed in: in my neck of the woods
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Review from James V.
San Jose, CA
9/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Got terrible service from a Barista named Aaron at the coffee bar. I will give my business to Epicenter Cafe for coffee needs from now on.
I was just shocked by how bad his customer service was. Not to mention he overcharged me by $1.50 - oh well there was his tip! -
Review from Esther A.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the best salad bars I've ever encountered at a WF. Their hot bar is pretty expansive as well and they offer a large variety of soups. The check out lines may appear lengthy but don't worry. The line clears out fairly quick since there are several check stands and its usually directed by a staff to ensure a smooth flow.
The seating area past the check out stand can get a bit cramped. And if so check out the seating area upstairs on your way to the garage. There, you should find additional available seating. -
Review from Ann L.
Updated - 10/16/2011
Sun 10/16/11 got 3 California Organic Mangoes from Coachella, CA on sale: 3 for $10! They are giant green mangoes on the outside, sweet & juicy when ripe (a bit soft).
Charged it.
Put them in my purse so I didn't need a bag - saved 5c!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/23/2011
First time to the Whole Foods in SOMA. I didn't realize how close it was to Downtown SF. Cool.… Read more »
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Review from ruggy j.
Updated - 12/28/2011 8 Check-ins Here
I'm a slave to their hot bar, but only recently did it dawn on me that we might be getting duped. If you look at the ingredients in some of the "healthy" fare, you'll notice all sorts of questionable ingredients, wonky vegetable oils, and far too many eyebrow raising elements than you might expect. Plus, it carries quite the price tag for moderately palatable food stuffs. Not sure how I was blind to this previously, but while I'm still a fan of the variety, I've become a little cumbersome with the reality of this situation. Insert sad face here.
Listed in: South of Market action, Whole Foods, Blowin' my wad on groceries, Groceries in SF
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/12/2011
Vegan beef rolled tacos at the hot bar! When you're feeling like something a little naughty (but not… Read more »
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Review from Richa A.
9/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I am beginning to outgrow the Trader Joe's/ frozen meals phase of my life (but I still love you and miss you, TJ!). I am not any less lazy, though. Whole Foods is great because there are always yummy ready-made options (burritos, pizza, deli, salad bar, sushi, hot food bar...), tons of interesting snacks (I recommend the okra chips!) and the produce selection is wonderful.
I expect my grocery store experiences to be exciting and magical, and this Whole Foods does not disappoint. They feature a lot of local vendors/products, like Bar Gelato bars, Three Twins ice cream, and probably other stuff but my expertise is dessert, people. They have these cocoa snaps in the baked goods area right now which are amazing.
Some of the stuff may be a bit pricy, but the selection is so large and the Whole Foods 365 brand is usually pretty comparable to the prices at Safeway... Personally I find it worth it because it makes me look forward to eating at home, as opposed to spending money eating out all the time.
The best part is that I can always wander over here for a late dinner, since so many of the take-out places in SOMA cater to the business/lunch crowd.
Staff is so friendly, there are weekly specials, bathrooms are clean, you get credit for bringing in your own bags, the space is warm yet spacious... I don't think there's much more I could ask for in a grocery store! -
Review from Rika P.
11/11/2011
If you are a fan of a great salad bar with tons of variety, come to Whole Foods. If you care for a great selection of kale salad, come to THIS Whole Foods at Harrison + 4th.
Don't come here if you're tight on grocery budget. Price is slightly higher than Safeway. -
Review from Jessica T.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 7/20/2011
Whole Foods is now my go-to spot for lunch during work-days.
Their salad bar rocks.
You can pick from a vast assortment of different lettuces, different toppings, and can even pile on quinoa mixes and garlic noodle mixes. Their dressings are great, and all of the vegetables have a refreshing crisp.
I adore that they stock spinach Bolani bread and Eggplant Pesto Dip, and always appreciate how approachable their staff is.
If you have want choices and quality when it comes to work lunches - Whole Foods is what's up.
Trust.Listed in: Vegan Friendly Spots, Where to get groceries
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/9/2009
I love sparkling drinks.
I'm not a big drinker. You can keep your rum and cokes. You can keep your… Read more »
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Review from Cara D.
9/22/2011 12 Check-ins Here
This is a very generous Four Stars, but I guess I do love this Whole Foods and can't bring myself to give it less. Maybe it's like a Three-and-Four-Quarters, ya know?
I bought a LivingSocial deal recently where I could get $20 worth of groceries for $10, and I was completely sold. I spent $5 over when I finally went the other day, so for $15, I bought $25 worth of these yummy offerings:
- fresh mozzarella cheese
- kalamata olives from the olive bar
- light organic raspberry vinaigrette
- Odwalla carrot juice
- candied pecans imported from Spain
- 3 kiwis
I have to say I was pretty happy with my purchases.
This store is a little confusing at times. It can be kind of a maze. I guess because of how they want to use up the space. They have wonderful looking organic produce which I usually don't buy because I am too cheap but once in awhile they have steals I can't pass up -- like when I scored a three-pound bag of pears for $1.99. Even the nice lady who checked me out could not believe it!
A coworker of mine swears by the soups. I did have the corn chowder once and it was super delicious -- the poblano peppers in it gave it a seriously welcomed kick. Her favorite is the chicken tortilla soup, but if you come too late in the day it may be gone.
My office has catered from here before and we bought these huge trays of chicken enchiladas. They were a hit.
If there's anything I don't like, it's that one time I returned some sanitizer that I really didn't like and the dude at the service counter kind of gave me some attitude. Another is that I am many times hit up for money by fundraisers and others upon leaving. Also, and this can be a tip too -- the people around lunch hour that come shopping here are really crazy. I do not always care for them.
The Verdict: Overall I've had good experiences at this store, and I'm pretty much a regular. -
Review from deepz s.
Mountain View, CA
12/13/2011
I usually shop there thrice a year to get my salad vinegars. They have top class excellent quality plain balsamic vinegar aged 18 years. I also love their fig balsamic vinegar.
They also have a wide variety of loose (pay by ounce) dry organic herbs which is a good deal since you dont need to buy a cormick sized bottle that may go waste...i'd love to flavour my oilve oil with these herbs...
Also, they have an an Olive Bar, which is slighlty on the pricier side ($9.99/lb) but its worth it if you want to give it a try..
some other items that make me happy are
1) himalayan rock salt
2) organic cocoa powder
3) fresh ground almond butter
4) wild honey by weight
5) cold pressed extra virgin and flavoured oilve oils
6) salad bar -
Review from Lefty R.
San Francisco, CA
12/3/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I generally like Whole Foods because they have an excellent selection of high quality produce, cheeses and other products. One thing I do NOT like is the trend toward stocking their 365 house brand and fewer other options. Knock that off, now!
For SF, the parking garage on Harrison is pretty good - acknowledging the spots are pretty tight and not too friendly to full size vehicles. This location finally figured out how to handle their line, by creating two lines and have someone steer customers to the next checker avoiding squabbles between petulant shoppers. The checkers are generally friendly, but could use some lessons in bagging groceries. I can't count the number of times the heavy stuff goes in one bag, the light stuff goes in the other and I'm listing to one side as I walk home. And yes, I want the beer in a bag damn it.
